Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation in Indonesia

In 1990, 30â€‰perâ€‰cent of Indonesian population had no access to improved drinking water source. Almost 65â€‰perâ€‰cent lacked access to improved sanitationâ€”and almost 40â€‰perâ€‰cent defecate in the open. One of the Millennium Development Goals' objectives is to halve these numbers of disadvantaged by 2015. We explore the recent progress using World Health Organization/United Nations Children Fund report and the Indonesia's Socio-Economic Survey. We conclude that the country still face a great challenge to meet the targets, especially on sanitation. We next illustrate the importance of these facilities by estimating their impact on diarrhoea incidence. We find that the relative importance of sanitation is higher than that of water. A household with â€˜unimprovedâ€™ drinking water source is about 12â€‰perâ€‰cent more likely to have diarrhoea than that otherwise. Lacking of improved sanitation, on the other hand, makes the household member about 23â€“27â€‰perâ€‰cent more likely to suffer from it.
Influence of vascular endothelial growth factor and radiation on gap junctional intercellular communication in glioblastoma multiforme cell lines

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive glial brain tumor with an unfavorable prognosis despite all current therapies including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. One characteristic of this tumor is a strong synthesis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an angiogenesis factor, followed by pronounced vascularization. VEGF became a target in the treatment of GBM, for example with bevacizumab or the tyrosine kinase inhibitor axitinib, which blocks VEGF receptors. To improve patients' prognosis, new targets in the treatment of GBM are under investigations. The role of gap junctions in GBM remains unknown, but some experimental therapies affect these intercellular channels to treat the tumor. Gap junctions are composed of connexins to allow the transport of small molecules between adjacent cells through gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). Based on data derived from astrocytes in former studies, which show that VEGF is able to enhance GJIC, the current study analyzed the effects of VEGF, radiation therapy and VEGF receptor blockade by axitinib on GJIC in human GBM cell lines U-87 and U-251. While VEGF is able to induce GJIC in U-251 cells but not in U-87 cells, radiation enhances GJIC in both cell lines. VEGF receptor blockade by axitinib diminishes radiation induced effects in U-251 partially, while increases GJIC in U-87 cells. Our data indicate that VEGF and radiation are both modifying components of GJIC in pathologic brain tumor tissue.
Role of CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells in Melatonin‐Mediated Inhibition of Murine Gastric Cancer Cell Growth In Vivo and In Vitro

Melatonin is an important immune modulator with antitumor functions, and increased CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been observed in tumor tissues of patients and animal models with gastric cancer. However, the relationship between melatonin and Tregs remains unclear. To explore this potential connection, we performed an in vivo study by inoculating the murine foregastric carcinoma (MFC) cell line in mice and then treated them with different doses of melatonin (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) for 1 week. The results showed that melatonin could reduce the tumor tissue and decrease Tregs numbers and Forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) expression in the tumor tissue. An in vitro study was also performed to test the effects of purified Tregs on melatonin‐mediated inhibition of MFC cells. The cell cultures were divided into three groups: 1) MFC+ Tregs; 2) MFC only; and 3) MFC+CD4+CD25− T cells. After treatment with different concentrations of melatonin (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mM) for 24 h, a dose‐dependent apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase was detected in melatonin‐treated MFC at melatonin concentration higher than 4 mM. There were no significant differences in the rates of apoptosis and cell cycle distributions of MFC among the three groups. In conclusion, the antigastric cancer effect of melatonin is associated with downregulation of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and its Foxp3 expression in the tumor tissue. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On the Road to Improved Performance

The rationale behind performance measurement requirements at all levels of government has to do with changing the way budget decisions are made. Supporters of performance measurement requirements argue that the use of performance measures will enhance, or even change, the way that budget discussions and subsequent decisions are made. This research addresses the following questions: How does the implementation and use of performance measures change the way that actors in the budget process communicate? Do performance measurement activities change traditional relations and communication patterns? Further, does communication with the public also change? This paper presents data from a recent national survey of state and local governments. Findings show that the implementation of performance measures and the use of performance data in the budget process change the perceptions and actual communication patterns of policymakers, budgeters, and agency and department staff, as well as the media and public. Comparisons are offered among levels of government, as well as across agency types and budget actors. An explanatory model is presented addressing the relation between organizational factors and communication outcomes. This research is important in furthering our understanding of how budget decision processes are affected by the implementation of performance measurement requirements and processes.
Heat shock protein 2 promoter drives cre expression in spermatocytes of transgenic mice

We generated transgenic mouse line C57BL/6‐Tg(Hspa2‐cre)1Eddy/J (Hspa2‐cre), which expresses cre‐recombinase under the control of a 907‐bp fragment of the heat shock protein 2 (Hspa2) gene promoter. Transgene expression was determined using Gt(ROSA)26Sortm1Sor/J (ROSA26) and Tg(CAG‐Bgeo/GFP)21Lbe/J (Z/EG) reporter strains and RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry assays. Hspa2‐cre expression mimicked the spermatogenic cell‐specific expression of endogenous HSPA2 within the testis, being first observed in leptotene/zygotene spermatocytes. Expression of the transgene also was detected at restricted sites in the brain, as occurs for endogenous HSPA2. Although the results of mating the Hspa2‐cre mice to mice with a floxed Cdc2a allele indicated that some expression of the transgene occurs during embryogenesis, the Hspa2‐cre mice provide a valuable new tool for assessing the roles of genes during and after meiotic prophase in pachytene spermatocytes. genesis 48:114–120, 2010. Published 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A strategic perspective of entrepreneurship

Contends that the E‐V‐R (environment‐values‐resources) congruence model provides an ideal framework for examining what entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial managers must achieve strategically in order to create and sustain organisational effectiveness and success. E‐V‐R shows how the environment is a source of opportunities and threats ‐ external key success factors; and that resources constitute strengths and weaknesses, strategic competencies which either match, or fail to match, environmental needs. Sustaining and changing this strategic fit is dependent on leadership, culture and values. Goes on to show that entrepreneurship is a process which is essential for establishing winning strategic positions and, as such, is relevant and vital for all types and size of organisation. Concludes with a summary model which relates the characteristics of successful strategic leadership with the key issues of risk and crisis management.
Minimum ten-year results of primary bipolar hip arthroplasty for degenerative arthritis of the hip.

BACKGROUND Bipolar hip arthroplasty has been advocated by some as an alternative to total hip arthroplasty for the treatment of degenerative arthritis of the hip. We sought to assess the results of this procedure at our institution after a minimum duration of follow-up of ten years. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 152 patients (173 hips) who underwent primary bipolar hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of symptomatic degenerative arthritis of the hip with a cementless femoral component between 1983 and 1987. Of the original cohort of 152 patients, ninety-two patients (104 hips) were available for clinical and radiographic review at a mean of 12.2 years postoperatively. At the time of the latest follow-up, self-administered Harris hip questionnaires were used to assess pain, mobility, activity level, and overall satisfaction with the procedure. Biplanar hip radiographs were made to evaluate bipolar shell migration, osteolysis, and femoral stem fixation. RESULTS At the time of the latest follow-up, nineteen patients (nineteen hips) had undergone revision to total hip arthroplasty because of mechanical failure, and three patients (three hips) were awaiting revision because of symptomatic radiographic mechanical failure. Twelve acetabular revisions were performed or scheduled for the treatment of pelvic osteolysis or protrusio acetabuli secondary to component migration. Acetabular reconstruction required bone-grafting, an oversized shell, and/or a pelvic reconstruction ring. The overall rate of mechanical failure was 21.2% (twenty-two of 104 hips), with 91% (twenty) of the twenty-two failures involving the acetabular component. Reaming of the acetabulum at the time of the index arthroplasty was associated with a 6.4-fold greater risk of revision. The rate of implant survival, with revision because of mechanical failure as the end point, was 94.2% for femoral components and 80.8% for acetabular components at a mean of 12.2 years. Of the remaining sixty-nine patients (eighty-one hips) in whom the original prosthesis was retained, seventeen patients (24.6%) rated the pain as moderate to severe. Nearly 30% of patients with an intact prosthesis required analgesics on a regular basis. Radiographs were available for fifty-eight hips (including all of the hips with moderate to severe pain) after a minimum duration of follow-up of ten years; twenty-eight of these fifty-eight hips had radiographic evidence of acetabular component migration. CONCLUSIONS This bipolar cup, when used for hemiarthroplasty in patients with symptomatic arthritis of the hip, was associated with unacceptably high rates of pain, migration, osteolysis, and the need for revision to total hip arthroplasty, especially when the acetabulum had been reamed. To the extent that these findings can be generalized to similar implant designs with conventional polyethylene, we do not recommend bipolar hemiarthroplasty as the primary operative treatment for degenerative arthritis of the hip.
Kant's Doctrine of Right: A Commentary

Introduction and methods of interpretation 1. The idea of the juridical state and the postulate of public law 2. The state of nature and the three leges Appendix. Iustitia tutatrix, iustitia commutativa, and iustitia distributiva and their differences 3. The right to freedom 4. The permissive law in the Doctrine of Right 5. The external mine and thine 6. Intelligible possession of land 7. The 'state in the idea' 8. The state in reality 9. International and cosmopolitan law 10. The 'idea of public law' and its limits 11. Contract law I. Why must I keep my promise? 12. Contract law II. Kant's table of contracts 13. Criminal punishment 14. The human being as a person Appendix I. On the logic of 'ought' implies 'can' Appendix II. The system of rules of imputation Bibliography Index.
Open-Label Phase 1B Pilot Study to Assess the Antiviral Efficacy of Simvastatin Combined with Sertraline in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Background 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors inhibit HCV replication in vitro. The combination of sertraline and simvastatin has synergistic antiviral activity in vitro, but there are no prior in vivo studies. Our aims were to prospectively assess the antiviral efficacy and safety of this drug combination in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Methods A total of 15 CHC adults (including 1 control subject) that were treatment-naive or prior partial responders/relapsers to standard-of-care therapy were enrolled at four centres (2 in Singapore and 2 in the US). Patients received simvastatin 40 mg once daily and sertraline 50 mg once daily for 7 days, and then 80 mg once daily and 100 mg once daily, respectively, for another 21 days with a 14-day follow-up. Results Of the 15 CHC patients, 13 completed the study. Subjects were mostly Caucasian (8/15), mean age 49.1 ±9 years and the genotype distribution was 1=10, 2=2 and 3=3. No subject discontinued dosing due to adverse events. Mean HCV RNA change from baseline was from -0.005 to -0.236 log10 IU/ml across study intervals. Three subjects had transient >1 log10 HCV RNA declines. No subject achieved >2 log10 HCV RNA decline. Conclusions The combination of sertraline and simvastatin is well-tolerated over the short-term, but has no significant antiviral or anti-inflammatory response in CHC patients. This may reflect in vivo differences in synergy between statin and/or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and incomplete inhibition of membrane protein prenylation with statin therapy.
Profiles of differential expression of circulating microRNAs in hepatitis B virus-positive small hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Abnormally expressed circulating microRNA (miRNA) may serve as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of cancer patients. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the differentially expressed circulating microRNAs in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to other HBV-positive benign liver diseases. METHODS The miScript miRNA PCR Array was used to detect the levels of 84 miRNAs in plasma or serum samples of patients with HBV-related small HCC (23 cases), liver cirrhosis (LC) (20 cases), chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (20 cases) and healthy controls (16 cases). MiRNAs with fold-change values ⩾ 2 or ⩽ 0.5 compared to healthy controls were considered to be deregulated miRNAs. RESULTS The results of duplicate plasma experiments were not reliable. Comprehensive analysis of the two serum experiments showed that the quality controls all met the requirements. We found 18 differentially expressed miRNAs. Relative to healthy controls, nine, three, and 11 miRNAs were up-regulated in the CHB group, LC group and small HCC group, respectively. In contrast, one, three, and three miRNAs were down-regulated in the same patient groups, respectively. Interestingly, miR-195, miR-25 and miR-16 were up-regulated, and miR-205 was down-regulated, in all three experimental groups. Moreover, only in the HCC group, miR-18a, miR-100, miR-145 and miR-223 were up-regulated 3.48-, 2.95-, 2.12- and 3.91-fold, respectively, and miR-200a and miR-222 were down-regulated 2.56- and 2.00-fold, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated the presence of six differentially expressed serum microRNAs in HBV-positive small HCC compared to other benign liver diseases associated with HBV.
Reasons behind management localization in MNCs in China

During recent years, the Chinese market has witnessed a large wave of management localization in multinational companies established there. The current world economic crisis even accentuates this tendency. Management localization is not a random operation. Our empirical qualitative research indicates five categories of reasons why companies encourage this practice: to reduce management cost, to resort to local competences, to replace the lack of appropriate expatriates, to develop and retain local talents, and also to maintain good relations with local government. Corresponding partly to the results observed in previous studies, the five categories of reasons nevertheless reveal certain differences linked to the particularities of the Chinese context. The impact of each category of reason is not without importance, both for company performance and the motivation of local managers.
Influence of defect dimensions on periodontal wound healing/regeneration in intrabony defects following implantation of a bovine bone biomaterial and provisions for guided tissue regeneration: an experimental study in the dog.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of defect dimensions on periodontal wound healing/regeneration in intrabony defects following implantation of a deproteinized bovine bone/collagen matrix under provisions for guided tissue regeneration. MATERIAL AND METHODS Contra-lateral one-wall intrabony [6 x 6 mm (wide/deep) versus 4 x 4 mm (narrow/shallow)] periodontal defects were surgically created at the edentulated mesial aspect of the mandibular first molars in three Labradors, i.e., three defects in each category. The defects were implanted with the bovine bone/collagen matrix and covered with a collagen membrane. Histologic/histometric analysis followed an 18-month healing interval. RESULTS New cementum encompassed the entire intrabony component in both wide/deep (5.6 +/- 0.5 mm) and narrow/shallow (4.2 +/- 0.1 mm) defects; bone formation amounted to 5.6 +/- 0.6 and 4.0 +/- 0.8 mm, respectively. Mineralized bone encompassed 57.5%versus 65% and the bone biomaterial 11.6%versus 13.1% of the defect space. A periodontal ligament with a width and composition similar to that of the resident periodontal ligament encompassing the entire aspect of the defects was observed. Root resorption/ankylosis was rare. CONCLUSIONS Both wide/deep and narrow/shallow intrabony defects showed a substantial potential for periodontal regeneration in this pre-clinical model. The contribution of the bovine bone/collagen matrix and guided tissue regeneration to this regenerative potential is not clear.
A randomized trial to promote physical activity among breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE Physical activity (PA) has been shown to provide health benefits for breast cancer patients. The effects of augmenting oncology health care provider (HCP) advice for PA with 3 months of telephone counseling versus contact control were evaluated in a randomized trial. METHODS After receiving brief HCP advice to become physically active, 192 women (age in years: M = 60.0, SD = 9.9) who had completed treatment for Stage 0-IV breast cancer were randomized to telephone counseling to support PA (n = 106) or contact control (n = 86). Their PA, motivational readiness, fatigue, and physical functioning were assessed at baseline (before receiving HCP advice), 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS Telephone counseling produced significant effects on the primary outcome of moderate-intensity PA of about 30 min/week at both 3 months (95% CI = 0.44, 57.32) and 6 months (95% CI = 3.06, 61.26). Intervention participants were also more than twice as likely as control participants to report improvements in achieving PA guidelines of at least 150 min/week at 3 (OR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.18, 4.98) and 6 months (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.00-4.48). Telephone counseling was significantly more effective than contact control in increasing motivational readiness for PA at all follow-ups (ORs = 3.93-6.28, all ps <.003). No between-groups differences were found for fatigue, while differential improvements in physical functioning did not remain significant past 3 months (p = .01). CONCLUSION HCP advice plus telephone counseling improved PA among breast cancer patients at 3 and 6 months and also differentially improved patients' motivational readiness at all follow-ups, suggesting the potential for exercise promotion in cancer follow-up care.
Progress in diagnostics and prevention of Legionnaires’ disease

In 1999, an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease affected many visitors to a flower show in the Netherlands. To identify the source of the outbreak, we performed an environmental investigation, as well as a case-control study among visitors and a serologic cohort study among exhibitors to measure exposure to possible sources. Of 77.061 visitors, 188 became ill (133 confirmed and 55 probable cases), for an attack rate of 0.23% for visitors and 0.61 % for exhibitors. Two whirlpool spas in halls 3 and 4 of the exhibition and a sprinkler in hall 8 were culture positive for Legionella pneumophila. One of three genotypes found in both whirlpool spas was identical to the isolates from 28 of 29 culture-positive patients. Persons who paused at the whirlpool spa in hall 3 were at increased risk for becoming ill. This study illustrates that whirlpool spas may be an important health hazard if disinfection fails.
Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus SHIV89.6-Induced Protection against Intravaginal Challenge with Pathogenic SIVmac239 Is Independent of the Route of Immunization and Is Associated with a Combination of Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte and Alpha Interferon Responses

ABSTRACT Attenuated primate lentivirus vaccines provide the most consistent protection against challenge with pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Thus, they provide an excellent model to examine the influence of the route of immunization on challenge outcome and to study vaccine-induced protective anti-SIV immune responses. In the present study, rhesus macaques were immunized with live nonpathogenic simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) 89.6 either intravenously or mucosally (intranasally or intravaginally) and then challenged intravaginally with pathogenic SIVmac239. The route of immunization did not affect mucosal challenge outcome after a prolonged period of systemic infection with the nonpathogenic vaccine virus. Further, protection from the SIV challenge was associated with the induction of multiple host immune effector mechanisms. A comparison of immune responses in vaccinated-protected and vaccinated-unprotected animals revealed that vaccinated-protected animals had higher frequencies of SIV Gag-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes and gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-secreting cells during the acute phase postchallenge. Vaccinated-protected animals also had a more pronounced increase in peripheral blood mononuclear cell IFN-α mRNA levels than did the vaccinated-unprotected animals in the first few weeks after challenge. Thus, innate as well as cellular anti-SIV immune responses appeared to contribute to the SHIV89.6-induced protection against intravaginal challenge with pathogenic SIVmac239.
Highlights May 8 , 2014 The paper includes the following contributions

A anti-slug control requires operation around an open-loop unstable operating point. One solution is to design a robust controller based on a mechanistic model. An alternative and more robust approach is to identify an unstable model of the system based on input-output data. We used a closed-loop step test to identify an unstable linear model. From this, we obtained a second order IMC (Internal Model Control) controller that can be implemented as a PIDF controller. From the asymptotes of the proposed IMC controller, we also derive a simple tuning for PI-controller. Next, we considered two types of robust H∞ controller (mixed-sensitivity and loop-shaping). The proposed model identification and control solutions were verified experimentally on two different test rigs. We found that the robustness and performance of the IMC (PIDF) controller is comparable with the H∞ controllers. However, the prosed IMC (PIDF) controller is easier to tune compared to H∞ control.
Women in Science: Career Processes and Outcomes

Why do so few women choose a career in science - even as they move into medicine and law in ever-greater numbers? This comprehensive study of gender differences in science careers provides a systematic account of how US youths are selected into and out of science education in early life and how social forces affect career outcomes later in the science labour market. The authors explore the extent and causes of gender differences in undergraduate and graduate science education, in scientists' geographic mobility, in research productivity, in promotion rates and earnings, and in the experience of immigrant scientists. They conclude that the gender gap in parenting responsibilities is a critical barrier to the further advancement of women in science.