Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The judgment of equity in intimate relationships

This paper examines how individuals in intimate relationships come to decide whether their relationship is equitable. We study two types of intimate relationships-married couples and heterosexual cohabiting couples-using questionnaire data to analyse how a variety of factors affect the judgment of equity. We examine characteristics concerned with traditional role differentiation, the functioning of the couple as a small group, and status-conferring attributes. Our results show striking differences from one type of actor to another in the resources that are related significantly to the judgment of equity and in the impact of different classes of variables on equity
Improving aerobic capacity through active videogames: A randomized controlled trial

La tasa de mejoria mayor volumen de trabajo entre los diferentes tipos de Juegos de Video Activos (VJA) en jovenes adultos sedentarios fue investigado. Mejoras de la capacidad aerobica despues de una intervencion de 6 semanas entre los tipos de AVG tambien se comparo. Veinte participantes, despues de evaluaciones de referencia, fueron aleatorizados en uno de tres grupos paralelos: VJA estructurado (n= 6), VJA no estructurada (n = 7) y un grupo control (n = 7). Los participantes jugaron sus respectivos VJA 3 veces por semana durante 6 semanas (30 minutos-sesion). El grupo control mantuvo sus actividades normales. Trabajo maximo fue mejorado pelo dos VJA despues de cuatro semanas, pero solo el structurado mantuvieron esta mejora en la semana cinco y seis. La capacidad aerobica fue mejorado por tanto la no estructurada (Pre: 36,0 ± 5,2ml.kg.min-¹, Post: 39,7 ± 4,9 ml.kg.min-¹, p = 0,038) y estructurada (Pre: 39,0 ± 5,9ml.kg.min-¹, Post: 47,8 ± 4,3ml.kg.min-¹, p = 0,006). VJA. Estructurado VJA ofrecer mayores beneficios para la salud en la capacidad aerobica y la carga de trabajo maximo en jovenes varones sedentarios pero por lo demas saludables relativas a VJA no estructurada.
Drug-Disease Association and Drug-Repositioning Predictions in Complex Diseases Using Causal Inference-Probabilistic Matrix Factorization

The high incidence of complex diseases has become a worldwide threat to human health. Multiple targets and pathways are perturbed during the pathological process of complex diseases. Systematic investigation of complex relationship between drugs and diseases is necessary for new association discovery and drug repurposing. For this purpose, three causal networks were constructed herein for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and neoplasms, respectively. A causal inference-probabilistic matrix factorization (CI-PMF) approach was proposed to predict and classify drug-disease associations, and further used for drug-repositioning predictions. First, multilevel systematic relations between drugs and diseases were integrated from heterogeneous databases to construct causal networks connecting drug-target-pathway-gene-disease. Then, the association scores between drugs and diseases were assessed by evaluating a drug's effects on multiple targets and pathways. Furthermore, PMF models were learned based on known interactions, and associations were then classified into three types by trained models. Finally, therapeutic associations were predicted based upon the ranking of association scores and predicted association types. In terms of drug-disease association prediction, modified causal inference included in CI-PMF outperformed existing causal inference with a higher AUC (area under receiver operating characteristic curve) score and greater precision. Moreover, CI-PMF performed better than single modified causal inference in predicting therapeutic drug-disease associations. In the top 30% of predicted associations, 58.6% (136/232), 50.8% (31/61), and 39.8% (140/352) hit known therapeutic associations, while precisions obtained by the latter were only 10.2% (231/2264), 8.8% (36/411), and 9.7% (189/1948). Clinical verifications were further conducted for the top 100 newly predicted therapeutic associations. As a result, 21, 12, and 32 associations have been studied and many treatment effects of drugs on diseases were investigated for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and neoplasms, respectively. Related chains in causal networks were extracted for these 65 clinical-verified associations, and we further illustrated the therapeutic role of etodolac in breast cancer by inferred chains. Overall, CI-PMF is a useful approach for associating drugs with complex diseases and provides potential values for drug repositioning.
Burkholderia vietnamiensis Isolated from Root Tissues of Nipa Palm (Nypa fruticans) in Sarawak, Malaysia, Proved to Be Its Major Endophytic Nitrogen-Fixing Bacterium

Root-associating bacteria of the nipa palm (Nypa fruticans), preferring brackish-water affected mud in Sarawak, Malaysia, were investigated. In a comparison of rhizobacterial microbiota between the nipa and the sago (Metroxylon sagu) palm, it was found that the nipa palm possessed a group of Burkholderia vietnamiensis as its main active nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacterium. Acetylene reduction by the various isolates of B. vietnamiensis was constant (44 to 68 nmol h−1 in ethylene production rate) in soft gel medium containing 0.2% sucrose as sole carbon source, and the bacterium also showed motility and biofilm-forming capacity. This is the first report of endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria from nipa palm.
Identification and Characterization of a Na+-independent Neutral Amino Acid Transporter That Associates with the 4F2 Heavy Chain and Exhibits Substrate Selectivity for Small Neutral d- and l-Amino Acids*

A cDNA was isolated from the mouse brain that encodes a novel Na+-independent neutral amino acid transporter. The encoded protein, designated as Asc-1 (asc-type amino acid transporter 1), was found to be structurally related to recently identified mammalian amino acid transporters for the transport systems L, y+L, xC −, and b0,+, which are linked, via a disulfide bond, to the type II membrane glycoproteins, 4F2 heavy chain (4F2hc), or rBAT (related to b0,+ amino acid transporter). Asc-1 required 4F2hc for its functional expression. In Western blot analysis in the nonreducing condition, a 118-kDa band, which seems to correspond to the heterodimeric complex of Asc-1 and 4F2hc, was detected in the mouse brain. The band shifted to 33 kDa in the reducing condition, confirming that Asc-1 and 4F2hc are linked via a disulfide bond. Asc-1-mediated transport was not dependent on the presence of Na+ or Cl−. Although Asc-1 showed a high sequence homology (66% identity at the amino acid level) to the Na+-independent broad scope neutral amino acid transporter LAT2 (Segawa, H., Fukasawa, Y., Miyamoto, K., Takeda, E., Endou, H., and Kanai, Y. (1999)J. Biol. Chem. 274, 19745–19751), Asc-1 also exhibited distinctive substrate selectivity and transport properties. Asc-1 preferred small neutral amino acids such as Gly,l-Ala, l-Ser, l-Thr, andl-Cys, and α-aminoisobutyric acid as substrates. Asc-1 also transported d-isomers of the small neutral amino acids, in particular d-Ser, a putative endogenous modulator of N-methyl-d-aspartate-type glutamate receptors, with high affinity. Asc-1 operated preferentially, although not exclusively, in an exchange mode. Asc-1 mRNA was detected in the brain, lung, small intestine, and placenta. The functional properties of Asc-1 seem to be consistent with those of a transporter subserving the Na+-independent small neutral amino acid transport system asc.
The Increasing Weight of Crohn's Disease Subjects in Clinical Trials: A Hypothesis-generatings Time-trend Analysis

Background:The incidence of obesity is increasing worldwide. Recent evidence shows that the incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) is increasing as well. Adipocytes release a variety of proinflammatory cytokines and peptides. Visceral adiposity may play an important role in the initiation and perpetuation of inflammation in CD. We report on an analysis of body weight in CD clinical trials between 1991 and 2008. Methods:MEDLINE-based databases were searched for randomized controlled trials pertaining to CD. A time-trend analysis was carried out to investigate changes in weight and disease activity over time. Potential correlation between subject weight and clinical activity was studied. Results:Forty randomized controlled trials involving a total of 10,282 patients with CD conducted between 1991 and 2008 were included. No significant change in gender distribution was noted throughout the follow-up. A significant increase in weight (r2 = 0.360; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.4556–0.8813) and body mass index (r2 = 0.1431; 95% CI: 0.02628–0.2272) was observed over the time period. Study subjects demonstrated a significant increase in clinical disease activity as measured by the Crohn's disease activity index (r2 = 0.1092; 95% CI: 2.101–9.087) and disease duration (r2 = 0.06340; 95% CI: 0.02421–0.2530) over the same time period. Conclusions:We demonstrate increasing body weight over time from 1991 to 2008 in CD as evidenced by baseline data from randomized clinical trials. Adiposity may play a potential role in initiating and perpetuating intestinal inflammation, a hypothesis that should be explored further.
Novel Technique for Full-Thickness Resection of Gastric Malignancy: Feasibility of Nonexposed Endoscopic Wall-Inversion Surgery (NEWS) in Porcine Models

Full-thickness resection for gastric malignancy carries a risk of peritoneal dissemination due to opening of the gastric lumen. We evaluated the feasibility and safety a novel method of full-thickness resection without transmural communication, called nonexposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery in ex vivo and in vivo porcine models. Six explanted porcine stomachs and 6 live pigs were used for this study. After marking and submucosal injection around 3 cm simulated lesions, the seromuscular layer was laparoscopically cut and sutured with the lesion inverted to the inside. Consecutively, a mucosubmucosal incision was made endoscopically. Three pigs used for the survival study were monitored for 7 days. All 12 lesions were successfully resected en bloc without perforation. The 3 pigs survived for 1 week without adverse events, and necropsy revealed neither leakage nor abscess formation related to the operation. We demonstrated nonexposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery to be technically feasible and safe in both ex vivo and in vivo porcine studies.
Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Approach for Selecting Mobile Service Category (Consumers' Preferences)

There is an essential quest in the literature to open up the "black-box" of characteristics of the new information technology innovation by identifying the users' preferences on mobile service and service characteristics. In this paper, we study how Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach can be used to select the most important mobile service category. The results are based on a survey study in two universities in Turku/Finland. According to the findings, communication and information mobile services are the most important services for the respondents respectively, while entertainment services are the least important ones. The focus of this study is not on users of mobile services, but rather on mobile service characteristics. The results have important implications for mobile service/content providers on how to develop and implement specific mobile services.
Pharmacological Profile of JNJ-27141491 [(S)-3-[3,4-Difluorophenyl)-propyl]-5-isoxazol-5-yl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazole-4-carboxyl Acid Methyl Ester], as a Noncompetitive and Orally Active Antagonist of the Human Chemokine Receptor CCR2

The interaction between CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) with monocyte chemoattractant proteins, such as MCP-1, regulates the activation and recruitment of inflammatory leukocytes. In this study, we characterized (S)-3-[3,4-difluoro-phenyl)-propyl]-5-isoxazol-5-yl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazole-4-carboxyl acid methyl ester (JNJ-27141491) as a noncompetitive and orally active functional antagonist of human (h)CCR2. JNJ-27141491 strongly suppressed hCCR2-mediated in vitro functions, such as MCP-1-induced guanosine 5′-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate binding; MCP-1, -3, and -4-induced Ca2+ mobilization; and leukocyte chemotaxis toward MCP-1 (IC50 = 7–97 nM), whereas it had little or no effect on the function of other chemokine receptors tested. The inhibition of CCR2 function was both insurmountable and reversible, consistent with a noncompetitive mode of action. JNJ-27141491 blocked the binding of 125I-MCP-1 to human monocytes (IC50 = 0.4 μM), but it failed to affect MCP-1 binding to mouse, rat, and dog cells (IC50 > 10 μM). Therefore, transgenic mice, in which the mouse (m)CCR2 gene was replaced by the human counterpart, were generated for in vivo testing. In these mice, oral administration of JNJ-27141491 dose-dependently [5–40 mg/kg q.d. (once daily) or b.i. d. ] inhibited monocyte and neutrophil recruitment to the alveolar space 48 h after intratracheal mMCP-1/lipopolysaccharide instillation. Furthermore, treatment with JNJ-27141491 (20 mg/kg q.d.) significantly delayed the onset and temporarily reduced neurological signs in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis. Taken together, these results identify JNJ-27141491 as a noncompetitive, functional antagonist of hCCR2, capable of exerting oral anti-inflammatory activity in transgenic hCCR2-expressing mice.
E-Learnification Of Sri Lanka Higher Education Sector: Adoption Perspective

The adoption rate of e-learning is found to be in a poor state which is evident from the e-learning implementations as well as the e-learning readiness scores of Sri Lanka. The objective of this research is to develop a research model to identify factors that affect the adoption of e-learning in Sri Lanka. UTAUT was used as the theoretical foundation; however other variable extensions were included to improve the variance which the model intends to explain. Cross sectional survey was conducted with 358 responses which were analyzed using correlation analysis and regression analysis. Correlation analysis found that all variables were significant. However, anxiety was found to have a negative correlation. The model was able to explain 36.7% (R2=0.367) of variance in students acceptance of elearning. The findings show that Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, attitude towards elearning, Self Efficacy, Positive Facilitation Conditions, and Social Influence need to be improved to increase students’ acceptance.
Liposomal bupivacaine infiltration into the transversus abdominis plane for postsurgical analgesia in open abdominal umbilical hernia repair: results from a cohort of 13 patients

Background Achieving adequate control of postsurgical pain remains a challenge in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) infiltration has been shown to provide postsurgical analgesia following lower abdominal surgery. We assessed the safety and efficacy of a prolonged-release liposomal formulation of the local anesthetic bupivacaine administered via infiltration into the TAP in a cohort of patients undergoing open abdominal umbilical hernia repair. Methods Patients included in the study were 18–75 years of age, had American Society of Anesthesiologists physical classification status 1–3, and underwent open abdominal umbilical hernia repair with ultrasound-guided TAP infiltration immediately after surgery using an equal-volume bilateral infusion of liposomal bupivacaine 266 mg (diluted to 30 mL in normal saline). Outcome measures included patient-reported pain intensity (11-point numeric rating scale), satisfaction with postsurgical analgesia (5-point Likert scale), incidence of opioid-related adverse events, and time to first use of supplemental rescue analgesia. Results Thirteen patients underwent surgery and received bilateral TAP infiltration with liposomal bupivacaine; TAP infiltration failed in the first patient. Mean numeric rating scale pain scores were 0.6 immediately before TAP infiltration and remained ≤2.3 through 120 hours after infiltration; mean scores at 120 hours and 10 days were 0.9 and 0.4, respectively. Ten patients (77%) required supplemental analgesia; median time to first use was 11 hours. At discharge and day 10, 54% and 62% of patients, respectively, were “extremely satisfied” with postsurgical analgesia (Likert score 5). There were no opioid-related or other adverse events. Conclusion Although the current study was limited by both its lack of a control group and its small size, to our knowledge, it is the first published report on use of liposomal bupivacaine for TAP infiltration. In this cohort, liposomal bupivacaine was observed to be well tolerated with encouraging analgesic efficacy.
Correlates of Risky Heterosexual Behaviors Among Women Who Use Methamphetamine

Women who use methamphetamine are at heightened risk of engaging in sexual behaviors that increase their odds of contracting HIV or sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, little is known regarding correlates of such behaviors within this population. In a community-based sample of women who use methamphetamine (N = 322), we examined participant characteristics (i.e., demographics, drug- and sex-related behaviors, and mental health characteristics) associated with three operationalizations of risky heterosexual behaviors in the past 6 months (i.e., number of male partners, condomless sex with male partners, and both multiple male partners and condomless sex). Analyses revealed important distinctions in the correlates of risky heterosexual behaviors as a function of outcome. Results suggest that HIV and STI prevention strategies should consider characteristics associated with differing risky heterosexual behaviors. In addition, differences in correlates of these behaviors suggest a need for standardization in measurement and evaluation of sexual risk in research and practice with women who use methamphetamine.
"We will do it our own ways": a perspective of Southern Sudanese refugees resettlement experiences in Australian society.

The main purpose of my thesis is to understand, from the perspectives of Southern Sudanese themselves, their resettlement experiences in Australia, to provide knowledge about how their experiences of exile reshape their thinking of home, place, identity, gender roles, and traditional practices, to explore the extent of their resettlement and integration into Australian society, and to inform policy on the resettlement of refugees and the settlement services offered to them. The thesis explores the range of interactions and relationships among Southern Sudanese and between them and their Australian hosts. It demonstrates how these interactions and relationships shaped and reshaped the Southern Sudanese sense of identity and belonging in resettlement in Australia. The thesis also provides insights into the relationships between the war that forced them out of their homeland, their flight, life in refugee camp or in exile, and how these affected their ability to resettle. To understand these, I have listened to how they described their lives before and during the war, while seeking refuge, and of their present and future life in Australia. From this I will show how they reproduce and maintain some aspects of their culture within the context of the Australian society, as well as how they are adapting to some aspects of life in that society. In this thesis I also explore the concepts of place, home and identity. In order to understand these concepts and how fluid they are in the current transnational era, I follow Thomas Faist’s (2000) thinking about the causes, nature and the extent of movement of international migrants from poorer to richer countries (also Cohen 1997; Kaplan 1995; Appadurai 1995). Faist in particular examines the process of adaptation of newcomers to host countries and the reasons why many migrants continue to keep ties to their home or place of origin. These ties, according to Faist, link transnational social spaces which range from border-crossing families and individuals to refugee diaspora. In this, I argue that resettlement involves complex interactions between newly arrived Southern Sudanese and members of Australian society. These complex interactions include firstly an array of social interactions occurring between Southern Sudanese and the staff of support organisations delivering settlement services to them. I show how the Southern Sudanese perceived the services they receive vis-a-vis the staff’s perceptions of Southern Sudanese as recipients of their services. Secondly they include various kinds of social interactions, relationships and networks among the Southern Sudanese and between them and members of Australian society through making friendships, home visitations, joining social and cultural clubs, and becoming involved in professional associations and churches which are predominantly Australian. I show how these social relations and networking are being enacted and maintained and/or fall apart over time. I ascertain whether these relationships have enhanced their resettlement or not. …
The Role of Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria in the Prevention and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Other Related Diseases: A Systematic Review of Randomized Human Clinical Trials

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic inflammation of the small intestine and colon caused by a dysregulated immune response to host intestinal microbiota in genetically susceptible subjects. A number of fermented dairy products contain lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria, some of which have been characterized as probiotics that can modify the gut microbiota and may be beneficial for the treatment and the prevention of IBD. The objective of this review was to carry out a systematic search of LAB and bifidobacteria probiotics and IBD, using the PubMed and Scopus databases, defined by a specific equation using MeSH terms and limited to human clinical trials. The use of probiotics and/or synbiotics has positive effects in the treatment and maintenance of UC, whereas in CD clear effectiveness has only been shown for synbiotics. Furthermore, in other associated IBD pathologies, such as pouchitis and cholangitis, LAB and bifidobacteria probiotics can provide a benefit through the improvement of clinical symptoms. However, more studies are needed to understand their mechanisms of action and in this way to understand the effect of probiotics prior to their use as coadjuvants in the therapy and prevention of IBD conditions.
Symptoms, Affects, and Self-Rated Health

Objective: Self-rated health (SRH) is known to predict mortality and other health outcomes better than objective ratings, suggesting that patients have important knowledge that physicians do not. The study assessed whether SRH reflects changes in internal states, specifically symptoms and affects. Method: In an event-sampling study, 54 elders completed a SRH measure, positive and negative affect scale, a symptom checklist, and a pain scale every evening for 8 weeks. Using lagged (time series) hierarchical regression, the authors modeled associations of SRH with previous symptoms, moods, and changes in symptoms and mood. Results: The SRH was highest when symptoms had decreased from the previous day and lowest when symptoms had increased, suggesting that SRH reflects a sense of change. Symptoms and affects contributed independently to SRH. Self-rated health was more sensitive to positive than negative affect and also sensitive to changes of positive but not negative affect. Discussion: Patients may possess a subjective trajectory of health−an awareness of changes in symptoms and affect. This trajectory may constitute an important component of SRH and help to explain its ability to predict health outcomes.