Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Right ventricular load and function during exercise in patients with open and closed atrial septal defect type secundum

Purpose: This study aimed at evaluating (1) right ventricular (RV) mean power during exercise, (2) the contribution of flow and pressure to RV mean power, and (3) the impact of pulmonary artery pressure on RV function during exercise. Methods: Fifty patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) type secundum (20 open, 30 closed) were enrolled. All underwent standard echocardiography, a bicycle stress echocardiography, and symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing. RV mean power was calculated as the product of RV cardiac output and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP). RV function was assessed using RV fractional area change (FAC) at rest and at peak exercise. Results: RV mean power was linearly related with oxygen uptake (VO2) in patients with open (R2 = 0.88; p < 0.0001) and closed ASD (R2 = 0.90; p < 0.0001). The increase in RV mean power was steeper in open than in closed ASD patients (p < 0.0001). The change in RV cardiac output (7.1 ± 3.4 vs. 5.7 ± 2.4 l/min; p = 0.132) was not statistically different, but the change in mPAP (21.7 ± 9.6 vs. 12.8 ± 4.6 mmHg; p < 0.0001) and RV mean power (0.97 ± 0.56 vs. 0.53 ± 0.22 W; p = 0.009) were higher in patients with an open ASD. The change in RV FAC from rest to peak exercise was related to peak mPAP in open (R = −0.589; p = 0.010) and closed (R = −0.450; p = 0.021) ASD patients. Conclusion: RV mean power during exercise is higher in patients with an open than in patients with a closed ASD. The workload of the RV in patients with an open ASD is higher at rest due to a left-to-right shunt, at peak exercise due to an additional increase in mPAP. A higher increase in afterload may affect RV function during exercise.
Primary hyperparathyroidism: a review of 177 cases.

BACKGROUND We designed a comprehensive study to explore different aspects of primary hyperparathyroidism in a series of Iranian patients. Our study aimed to elucidate the demographic, pathologic, biochemical, and surgical findings of these patients. MATERIAL/METHODS In a retrospective study from 1981 to 2003, we reviewed records of 177 patients operated on with the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism in Shariati Hospital. Patients with secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism and those being re-operated were excluded. RESULTS 88.1% of the lesions were adenoma, 9.6% hyperplasia, and 1 case proved to be carcinoma. In 1.7% of patients, no pathologic gland(s) were found. The majority of patients were female (female-to-male ratio: 5.5) and their mean age was 41.9+/-13.6 years. Most of the patients (77.6%) had mild hypercalcemia, and the mean calcium level was 11.2+/-0.8 mg/dl prior to surgery. Patients with hyperplasia had lower calcium levels than patients with adenoma 24 hours post-operation, with mean calcium levels of 8.1+/-1.2 mg/dl versus 9.03+/-1.2 mg/dl, respectively (p=0.02). Mean weight of adenomas was 4.1 gram (range 0.8-25 g). Adenomas were mostly (74%) located in lower parathyroid glands and 6.3% of them were ectopic. CONCLUSIONS Primary hyperparathyroidism should be expected at younger ages in Iran. Parathyroid hyperplasia in a patient should alert the surgeon of the higher risk of postoperative hypocalcemia.
When the Ageing Society "Encounters" the Information Society: Internet Risks for the Elderly in Taiwan

Objective : United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) suggested that older people having the capacity to use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a vital indicator of active aging. This study aimed to explore the scope and the worries of Internet risks for elderly people. Method : The Delphi method and survey questionnaires were used in this study. Using the Delphi method, 15 experts were invited to write in three rounds of correspondence and reach an agreement on the scope of Internet risks for the elderly. A total of 1,021 respondents aged over 55 completed questionnaires. Results : The results revealed: (1) Internet risks for the elderly included four dimensions: financial, performance, psychosocial, and physical. (2) The elderly tend to worry about Internet risks, and are most worried about financial risks, followed by physical risks. (3) The seniors with older age, low levels of education, less than one year of Internet experience, and no online shopping experience are the most fearful of Internet risks. Conclusion : We suggest that Internet risk coping strategies is helpful for reducing internet fear, and should be incorporated into the computer curriculum for the old internet beginner, so that they can enjoy the Internet and aging actively. Keywords: Elderly, Internet surfing, Internet risk, Delphi method
Possible androgenic/anti‐androgenic activity of the insecticide fenitrothion

To date, within the field of endocrine disruption, much focus has been placed on chemicals that mimic oestrogens (so‐called xenoestrogens), and the number of such chemicals apparently detected continues to grow steadily. Less effort has been expended on investigating chemicals that mimic, or antagonize, other hormones. Nevertheless, a number of chemicals have been reported to have a weak affinity for the androgen receptor, all of which have, to date, been found to have anti‐androgenic activity in vivo. In this report, we present evidence that the insecticide fenitrothion can interact with the androgen, but not with the oestrogen, receptor. Using recombinant yeast expressing the human androgen receptor, we found that fenitrothion behaved as an androgen agonist in vitro when tested alone, and that it could antagonize the androgen DHT when both chemicals competed for the androgen receptor in vitro. In vivo studies using both intact and castrated male rats showed no conclusive androgenic or anti‐androgenic responses. Changes in organ weights suggestive of anti‐androgenic effects were mitigated against by the reduced body weights of fenitrothion‐treated rats. The toxicity of the compound precluded the use of higher dose levels to substantiate any tentative findings. Interestingly, fenitrothion (and related insecticides) is structurally similar to flutamide, an anti‐androgen used clinically that gives clearly positive responses in both intact and castrated rats. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adenovirus-mediated ING4 Gene Transfer in Osteosarcoma Suppresses Tumor Growth via Induction of Apoptosis and Inhibition of Tumor Angiogenesis

The inhibitor of growth (ING) family proteins have been defined as candidate tumor suppressors. ING4 as a novel member of ING family has potential tumor-suppressive effects via multiple pathways. However, the therapeutic effect of adenovirus-mediated ING4 (Ad-ING4) gene transfer in human osteosarcoma is still unknown. In this study, we explored the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of Ad-ING4 in human osteosarcoma and its potential mechanism using a MG-63 human osteosarcoma cell line. We demonstrated that Ad-ING4 induced significant growth inhibition and apoptosis, upregulated the expression of P21, P27 and Bax, downregulated the Bcl-2 expression and activated Caspase-3 in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells. Moreover, intratumoral injections of Ad-ING4 in athymic nude mice bearing MG-63 human osteosarcoma tumors significantly suppressed osteosarcoma xenografted tumor growth, increased the expression of P21, P27 and Bax, reduced the Bcl-2 and CD34 expression and microvessel density (MVD) in tumors. This retarded MG-63 osteosarcoma growth in vitro and in vivo in an athymic nude mouse model elicited by Ad-ING4 was closely associated with the increase in the expression of cell cycle-related molecules P21 and P27, decrease in the ratio of anti- to pro-apoptotic molecules Bcl-2/Bax followed by the activation of Caspase-3 leading to apoptosis via intrinsic apoptotic pathways, and the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. Thus, our results indicate that Ad-ING4 is a potential candidate for human osteosarcoma gene therapy.
Validity of the Brunel Mood Scale for use With Malaysian Athletes.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the factorial validity of the Brunel Mood Scale for use with Malaysian athletes. Athletes (N = 1485 athletes) competing at the Malaysian Games completed the Brunel of Mood Scale (BRUMS). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) results indicated a Confirmatory Fit Index (CFI) of . 90 and Root Mean Squared Error of Approximation (RMSEA) was 0.05. The CFI was below the 0.95 criterion for acceptability and the RMSEA value was within the limits for acceptability suggested by Hu and Bentler, 1999. We suggest that results provide some support for validity of the BRUMS for use with Malaysian athletes. Given the large sample size used in the present study, descriptive statistics could be used as normative data for Malaysian athletes. Key pointsFindings from the present study lend support to the validity of the BRUMS for use with Malaysian athletes.Given the size of the sample used in the present study, we suggest descriptive data be used as the normative data for researchers using the scale with Malaysian athletes.It is suggested that future research investigate the effects of cultural differences on emotional states experienced by athletes before, during and post-competition.
Improved quasi-orthogonal codes through constellation rotation

Orthogonal codes are a class of space-time block codes that achieve full diversity gain, though typically at a loss of code rate. Such codes have simple single-symbol decoders. The code rate can be made higher by constructing quasi-orthogonal codes (such as those proposed last year in [1], [2]) which trade a small loss of performance for full rate coding. In this paper, which builds on previous work in [1], we propose a novel rotation technique for improving the performance of quasi-orthogonal codes in terms of bit-error rate (BER). Numerical simulations show that significant improvements to previously reported results without rotation can be attained.
Assessing the Reliability and Validity of the Survey Measures of Guan, Jiao, and Xiao: Beyond Wang and Supple (2010)

Wang and Supple (2010) developed measurement scales for the indigenous Chinese constructs of guan and jiao. Guan referred to parents’ active monitoring, and jiao referred to parental advice and expectations. It was found that parental jiao impacted adolescent outcomes most effectively when it was successful in eliciting adolescent xiao, the respectful attitudes toward parental socialization. The present study was intended to replicate and expand Wang and Supple's study with a larger sample of Chinese adolescents, as well as a wider range of adolescent outcomes, in an attempt to provide stronger evidence for the concurrent and criterion validity of the guan, jiao, and xiao scales. Positive associations were demonstrated among guan, jiao, parental knowledge, and parental authority. Further, results of path analysis suggested that guan, jiao, and xiao appeared to be important factors in parent–adolescent relationships, but the specific socialization processes depended on the outcome of interest. Also, mother–daughter, mother–son, father–daughter, and father–son relationships were represented by different models.
Responsible citizens? How children are conceptualised as rights holders in Irish primary schools

This article draws on data gathered in Irish primary schools as part of a survey of primary teachers' understandings of human rights and human rights education. Using these data, the article analyses how teachers conceptualise the dynamic between rights and the children in their classrooms. While teachers recognised a place for human rights and human rights education in their teaching, the research findings suggest fragmented understandings of human rights and children's rights. The teacher attitudes, as well as the school and classroom practice and policy captured in the data, reflect ad hoc approaches to human rights education, which promote a culture of conformity and responsibility, rather than one of rights. In particular, this article highlights a tendency amongst teachers to conceptualise their pupils as duty-bearers in relation to rights rather than as rights-holders.
Creating learning environments for disengaged boys: bridging the gender gap with universal design for learning

Outcomes related to academic and social engagement for boys identified by their teachers as being disengaged and requiring tier two instructional supports were investigated when the Three Block Model of Universal Design for Learning (Katz, 2012a) was implemented. The mixed-methods study involved twelve grade 3 boys and their teachers in a rural school division in Manitoba, who were divided into treatment and control groups. Students were assessed pre and post intervention for the development of general self-esteem, academic self-esteem, liking of school, enjoyment of school, and engaged behaviour. Ecobehavioral measures of task assigned, groupings, and interactions were also taken. Data were collected and analyzed using both thematic analysis for qualitative data and a MANCOVA for quantitative analysis. The intervention significantly increased students’ engaged behaviour, particularly active engagement and promoted social engagement through increased peer interactions, student autonomy, and inclusivity.
Teenage colorectal polyposis and cancer may be caused by constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD)

Lynch syndrome is the most common hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) syndrome [1]. It is an autosomal dominant condition with mutations in the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes (mostly MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2) and in the EPCAM gene. Thus repair of DNA mismatch is hindered. High risk of CRC and gynecological malignancies is characteristic of the syndrome. The risk is also higher for gastric, small bowel, biliopancreatic and urinary tract cancers as well as for brain tumors [2]. The offspring of the parents both of whom suffer from Lynch syndrome have a 25% probability of inheriting mutated MMR genes from both parents. The condition is known as constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD). It develops in individuals harboring homozygous or biallelic MMR gene mutations. It means that the parents must have mutations in the same MMR gene MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 or PMS2. CMMRD is a rare condition with less than 200 patients reported since the first diagnosis in 1999 [3]. Due to biallelic MMR gene defect, these individuals are prone to develop various malignancies from early age. The spectrum includes different hematological malignancies and central nervous system tumors, as well as Lynch syndrome-associated cancers [4]. Besides, many patients with CMMRD have multiple caf e au lait spots resembling neurofibromatosis type 1. During their lifetime they usually suffer from more than one malignancy. Hematological malignancies and brain tumors are largely diagnosed in the first decade of life, CRC in the second decade, and other tumors in young adulthood [4].
Design and Control of Bridge Inspection Robot System

This paper proposes design and control methods for a bridge inspection robot system. A "bridge inspection robot" has been developed with the aim of checking the safety status of a real bridge, gathering accurate data and performing maintenance. The developed robot system is composed of the specially designed car for bridge inspection, the guide rail and the inspection robot. Especially, this paper emphasizes the system integration method to design and control the entire robot system. As a result, this robot has both automatic and manual modes for inspecting a real bridge. In other words, the robot is automatically able to inspect beneath the bridges and manually to inspect them by long-distance user. Also, the users can see the operating conditions of long-distance robot with 3-dimensional graphical user interface. Moreover, the users can feel the operating status of long-distance robot through haptic device.
Local Perturbations Do Not Affect Stability of Laboratory Fruitfly Metapopulations

Background A large number of theoretical studies predict that the dynamics of spatially structured populations (metapopulations) can be altered by constant perturbations to local population size. However, these studies presume large metapopulations inhabiting noise-free, zero-extinction environments, and their predictions have never been empirically verified. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we report an empirical study on the effects of localized perturbations on global dynamics and stability, using fruitfly metapopulations in the laboratory. We find that constant addition of individuals to a particular subpopulation in every generation stabilizes that subpopulation locally, but does not have any detectable effect on the dynamics and stability of the metapopulation. Simulations of our experimental system using a simple but widely applicable model of population dynamics were able to recover the empirical findings, indicating the generality of our results. We then simulated the possible consequences of perturbing more subpopulations, increasing the strength of perturbations, and varying the rate of migration, but found that none of these conditions were expected to alter the outcomes of our experiments. Finally, we show that our main results are robust to the presence of local extinctions in the metapopulation. Conclusions/Significance Our study shows that localized perturbations are unlikely to affect the dynamics of real metapopulations, a finding that has cautionary implications for ecologists and conservation biologists faced with the problem of stabilizing unstable metapopulations in nature.
PROBABILISTICALLY MATCHING AUTHOR NAMES TO RESEARCHERS

Publications are most important form of scientific communication, but science also consists of researchers, research projects and organisations. The goal of NARCIS (National Academic Research and Collaboration Information System) is to provide a complete and concise view of current science in the Netherlands. Connecting publications to the researchers, projects and organisations that created them in retrospect is hard, because of a lack in the use of author identifiers in publications and researcher profiles. There is too much data to identify all researchers in NARCIS manually, so an automatic method is needed to assist completing the view of science in the Netherlands. In this thesis the problems that limit automatic connection of author names in publications to researchers are explored and a method to automatically connect publications and researchers is developed and evaluated. Using only the author names themselves finds the correct researcher for around 80% of the author names in an experiment, using two test sets. However, none of the correct matches were given the highest confidence of the returned matches. Over 90% of the correct matches were ranked second by confidence. Other correct matches were ranked lower, and using probabilistic results allows working with the correct results, even if they are not the best match. Many names that should not match, were included in the matches. The matching algorithm can be optimised to assign confidence to matches differently. Including a matching function that compares publication titles and researcher’s project titles did not improve the results, but better results are expected when more context elements are used to assign confidences.
The mTOR Inhibitor Rapamycin Synergizes with a Fatty Acid Synthase Inhibitor to Induce Cytotoxicity in ER/HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Cells

Patients with ER/HER2-positive breast cancer have a poor prognosis and are less responsive to selective estrogen receptor modulators; this is presumably due to the crosstalk between ER and HER2. Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is essential for the survival and maintenance of the malignant phenotype of breast cancer cells. An intimate relationship exists between FASN, ER and HER2. We hypothesized that FASN may be the downstream effector underlying ER/HER2 crosstalk through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in ER/HER2-positive breast cancer. The present study implicated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in the regulation of FASN expression in ER/HER2-positive breast cancer cells and demonstrated that rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, inhibited FASN expression. Cerulenin, a FASN inhibitor, synergized with rapamycin to induce apoptosis and inhibit cell migration and tumorigenesis in ER/HER2-positive breast cancer cells. Our findings suggest that inhibiting the mTOR-FASN axis is a promising new strategy for treating ER/HER2-positive breast cancer.
Human nature and the Holy Grail

Darwin, Sex and Status argues that a human sociobiology that mistakes evolutionary theory for theories of psychology and culture is wrong, as are psychologies that could never have evolved or social sciences that posit impossible psychologies. Status develops theories of human self-awareness, cognition, and cultural capacity that are compatible with evolutionary theory. Recurring themes include: the importance of sexual selection in human evolution; our species' preoccupation with self-esteem and relative standing; the individual as an active strategist, regularly revising culturally provided information; and awareness as an impressionmanagement device. Culture is a somewhat structured information pool that itself evolves, often in ways that reduce the genetic fitness of its participants.
Trusting Your Beliefs: Understanding Beliefs and Behavior in a Trust Game

Predictions drawn from game theoretic models of human behavior involve many assumptions about subjects’ beliefs and how those beliefs translate in to action. Despite the importance of beliefs to predicting behavior there has been little attention to understanding actual beliefs. In this paper we utilize an experimental approach to study both beliefs and behavior in a trust game. We find that in a standard trust game many people expect to benefit financially from passing money in the trust game. Subjects in the experiment are relatively good at predicting the behavior of others, often by using their own behavior as a guide. Overall, players’ beliefs and actions rarely match game theoretic expectations. By looking at both beliefs and behavior we are able to shed light on what people actually believe and do. We suggest that to improve game theory’s ability to predict behavior we must understand how people actually reason.