Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Guaranteed velocity error control for the pseudostress approximation of the Stokes equations

The pseudostress approximation of the Stokes equations rewrites the stationary Stokes equations with pure (but possibly inhomogeneous) Dirichlet boundary conditions as another (equivalent) mixed scheme based on a stress in H(div) and the velocity in L2. Any standard mixed finite element function space can be utilized for this mixed formulation, e.g., the Raviart‐Thomas discretization which is related to the Crouzeix‐Raviart nonconforming finite element scheme in the lowest‐order case. The effective and guaranteed a posteriori error control for this nonconforming velocity‐oriented discretization can be generalized to the error control of some piecewise quadratic velocity approximation that is related to the discrete pseudostress. The analysis allows for local inf‐sup constants which can be chosen in a global partition to improve the estimation. Numerical examples provide strong evidence for an effective and guaranteed error control with very small overestimation factors even for domains with large anisotropy. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 32: 1411–1432, 2016
Development and initial evaluation of a culturally sensitive cholesterol-lowering diet program for Mexican and African American patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE To develop and evaluate acceptability of an intensive and ethnic-specific cholesterol-lowering diet program with a strong behavioral component in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHOD A comprehensive program with a behavioral component and culturally sensitive menus was developed in an effort to alter dietary behavior in patients with SLE. Four SLE patients, 2 African American and 2 Mexican American, enrolled in this program. Data on food intake (3-day food record), acceptability of the program (subjective response), and physiologic variables were collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. RESULTS The program was highly rated by all patients and found to be informative, easy to understand, ethnically sensitive, and to contain useful behavioral maintenance strategies. All 4 patients surpassed or were close to their diet goals at both 6 and 12 weeks. In this small group of patients, there was a statistically significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.04) and body weight (P = 0.001), as assessed by repeated measures analysis of variance. CONCLUSION The culturally specific cholesterol-reducing diet program was highly rated and appeared to be effective in changing the diet of this small group of SLE patients, as determined by their food records and body weight. The impact of this program, including the individual components on cardiovascular disease risk factors, needs to be evaluated in a larger multiple-arm study with a lengthier intervention.
The safety and efficacy of the administration of recombinant activated factor VII in major surgery and trauma patients

Recombinant activated Factor VII (rFVIIa) has been successfully used in the treatment of haemophilia A and B with associated inhibitors for some years. Activated Factor VII binds to activated platelets independently of tissue factor. The resulting stimulation of an exaggerated early thrombin burst at sites of vascular injury makes it an attractive potential treatment for massive, uncontrolled bleeding associated with surgery and trauma. This article describes the evidence relating to surgery and trauma. The lack of large, controlled trials of rFVIIa means that a definitive recommendation regarding its use cannot be made at present. However, in the context of clearly defined protocols and balanced treatment strategies, rFVIIa may have a role in traumatic bleeding. Large scale, randomised controlled trials in trauma are required, as is further work on the safety profile of rFVIIa with an independent international safety monitoring committee.
' s personal copy Investigating the chemical pro fi le of regenerated scorpion ( Parabuthus transvaalicus ) venom in relation to metabolic cost and toxicity

We investigated the biochemical profile of regenerated venom of the scorpion Parabuthus transvaalicus in relation to its metabolic cost and toxicity. Using a closed-system respirometer, we compared oxygen consumption between milked and unmilked scorpions to determine the metabolic costs associated with the first 192 h of subsequent venom synthesis. Milked scorpions had a substantially (21%) higher mean metabolic rate than unmilked scorpions, with the largest increases in oxygen consumption occurring at approximately 120 h, 162 h, and 186 h post-milking. Lethality tests in crickets indicated that toxicity of the regenerated venom returned to normal levels within 4 d after milking. However, the chemical profile of the regenerated venom, as evaluated by FPLC and MALDITOF mass spectrometry, suggested that regeneration of different venom components was asynchronous. Some peptides regenerated quickly, particularly those associated with the scorpion’s “prevenom,” whereas others required much or all of this time period for regeneration. This asynchrony could explain the different spikes detected in oxygen consumption of milked scorpions as various peptides and other venom components were resynthesized. These observations confirm the relatively high metabolic cost of venom regeneration and suggest that greater venom complexity can be associated with higher costs of venom production. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Conversas com pós-graduandos

Conversas com pos-graduandos , de autoria de Rosaly Hermengarda Lima Brandao, conhecida como Zaia Brandao, e composto por cinco capitulos, que correspondem a cinco ensaios, em que a autora aborda tematicas relativas ao oficio do pesquisador, baseada em sua experiencia como pesquisadora e orientadora de discentes. No primeiro capitulo fala de questoes referentes ao inicio do trabalho de pesquisa e a familiarizacao com a bibliografia da area a ser seguida pelo pesquisador. No segundo capitulo a autora se concentra em questoes metodologicas, dando especial enfase aos questionarios e entrevistas, e criticando os monismos metodologicos para a analise e interpretacao de fenomenos sociais. No terceiro, Brandao engendra uma discussao sobre a pratica interdisciplinar na pesquisa em educacao, utilizando em determinado momento uma experiencia propria para referendar a necessidade de uma interdisciplinaridade pautada no rigor cientifico. No capitulo quatro sao abordadas a flexibilizacao das fronteiras entre as areas do conhecimento e a nocao de verdade como um processo, bem como a instituicao da pesquisa em educacao como um campo cientifico especializado. O ultimo capitulo trata da necessidade de superacao do antagonismo entre as perspectivas micro e macrossociologicas na pesquisa em sociologia da educacao.
Cyclophilin A Peptidyl-Prolyl Isomerase Activity Promotes Zpr1 Nuclear Export

ABSTRACT The peptidyl-prolyl isomerase (PPIase) cyclophilin A (Cpr1p) is conserved from eubacteria to mammals, yet its biological function has resisted elucidation. Unable to identify a phenotype that is suggestive of Cpr1p's function in a cpr1Δ Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, we screened for CPR1-dependent strains. In all cases, dependence was conferred by mutations in ZPR1, a gene encoding an essential zinc finger protein. CPR1 dependence was suppressed by overexpression of EF1α (a translation factor that binds Zpr1p), Cpr6p (another cyclophilin), or Fpr1p (a structurally unrelated PPIase). Suppression by a panel of cyclophilin A mutants correlated with PPIase activity, confirming the relevance of this activity in CPR1-dependent strains. In CPR1+ cells, wild-type Zpr1p was distributed equally between the nucleus and cytoplasm. In contrast, proteins encoded by CPR1-dependent alleles of ZPR1 accumulated in the nucleus, as did wild-type Zpr1p in cpr1Δ cells. Transport kinetic studies indicated that nuclear export of Zpr1p was defective in cpr1Δ cells, and rescue of this defect correlated with PPIase activity. Our results demonstrate a functional interaction between Cpr1p, Zpr1p, and EF1α, a role for Cpr1p in Zpr1p nuclear export, and a biological function for Cpr1p PPIase activity.
Contrast Media Leakage to the Cerebrospinal Fluid after Intravenous Injection

We have tested a method to evaluate leakage of i.v. injected contrast media (CM) through the 3 partitions between blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in controls and in patients with acute cerebrovascular disease (ACBVD) to detect differences between normal brains and brains with ischemic lesions. High-osmolar (HOCM) and low-osmolar (LOCM) CM were used. In 55 patients and in 41 controls who underwent CT after i.v. contrast administration, lumbar CSF was collected 1 hour after injection and the iodine content in the CSF was measured. The concentration of iodine in CSF was very low, between 0.57 and 11.20 ng/l, and no significant difference could be found between patients and controls or between HOCM and LOCM. We conclude that under the conditions mentioned above, iodine detected in the human lumbar CSF does not reflect the true leakage of contrast agent through the blood-brain barrier.
The science of persuasion.

Vaccines save many lives, but not all parents are convinced that their children should be vaccinated. As a result, vaccine-preventable diseases still cause big outbreaks even in the developed world; meanwhile, a small but vocal community is spreading misinformation about vaccines and demonizing proponents of immunization. Scientists don't agree on the best way to persuade parents to have their children vaccinated. Studies on that question are often limited in scope, have different approaches, and contradict each other. Still, past work offers some clues on what works, scientists say. And persuasion isn't the only strategy; just making it easier to get vaccinated—or more difficult to refuse—can also have an important impact.
Comparative analysis of cervical arthroplasty using mobi-c(r) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using the solis(r) -cage.

OBJECTIVE Although anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the standard treatment for degenerative cervical disc disease, concerns regarding adjacent level degeneration and loss of motion have suggested that arthroplasty may be a better alternative. We have compared clinical and radiological results in patients with cervical disc herniations treated with arthroplasty and ACDF. METHODS We evaluated 53 patients treated for cervical disc herniations with radiculopathy, 21 of whom underwent arthroplasty and 32 of whom underwent ACDF. Clinical results included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for upper extremity radiculopathy, neck disability index (NDI), duration of hospital stay and convalescence time. All patients were assessed radiologically by measuring cervical lordosis, segmental lordosis and segmental range-of-movement (ROM) of operated and adjacent disc levels. RESULTS Mean hospital stay (5.62 vs. 6.26 days, p<0.05) and interval between surgery and return to work (1.10 vs. 2.92 weeks, p<0.05) were significantly shorter in the arthroplasty than in the fusion group. Mean NDI and extremity VAS score improved after 12 months in both groups. Although it was not significant, segmental ROM of adjacent levels was higher in the fusion group than in the arthroplasty group. And, segmental motion of operated levels in arthroplasty group maintained more than preoperative value at last follow up. CONCLUSION Although clinical results were similar in the two groups, postoperative recovery was significantly shorter in the arthroplasty group. Although it was not significant, ROM of adjacent segments was less in the arthroplasty group. Motion of operated levels in arthroplasty group was preserved at last follow up.
The Effect of the Affordable Care Act’s Expanded Coverage Policy on Access to Dental Care

Background:The Affordable Care Act included a dependent coverage policy that extends parents’ or guardians’ health insurance to adults aged 19–25. This policy does not apply directly to private dental benefits. However, for various reasons it could still have an indirect “spillover” effect if employers voluntarily expand dental coverage in conjunction with medical coverage. Objective:To assess the effect of the Affordable Care Act’s dependent coverage policy on private dental benefits coverage, utilization, and financial barriers to dental care. Research Design:Difference-in-differences models were used to measure the association between the dependent coverage policy and private dental benefits coverage, utilization, and financial barriers to dental care. We analyze 2008–2012 National Health Interview Survey data, comparing results in 2011 and 2012 with results from 2008 to 2010 (prereform period). Subjects:Adults aged 19–25 were compared with adults aged 26–34. Measures:Private dental benefits coverage, dental care utilization, and financial barriers to obtaining needed dental care. Results:Relative to the prereform period, private dental benefits coverage among adults aged 19–25 increased by 5.6 percentage points in 2011 (P<0.001) and 6.9 percentage points in 2012 (P<0.001) compared with adults aged 26–34. Dental care utilization among adults aged 19–25 increased by 2.8 percentage points in 2011 (P=0.062) and 3.3 percentage points in 2012 (P=0.038) compared with adults aged 26–34. Adults aged 19–25 experienced a 2.1 percentage point decrease in 2011 (P=0.068) and a 2.0 percentage point decrease in 2012 (P=0.087) in financial barriers to dental care compared with adults aged 26–34. Conclusions:The dependent coverage policy was associated with an increase in private dental benefits coverage and dental care utilization, and a decrease in financial barriers to dental care among young adults aged 19–25.
Long-Term Region-Wide Declines in Caribbean Corals

We report a massive region-wide decline of corals across the entire Caribbean basin, with the average hard coral cover on reefs being reduced by 80%, from about 50% to 10% cover, in three decades. Our meta-analysis shows that patterns of change in coral cover are variable across time periods but largely consistent across subregions, suggesting that local causes have operated with some degree of synchrony on a region-wide scale. Although the rate of coral loss has slowed in the past decade compared to the 1980s, significant declines are persisting. The ability of Caribbean coral reefs to cope with future local and global environmental change may be irretrievably compromised.
Linking trust, perceived website quality, privacy protection, gender and online purchase intentions

The purpose of this research is to investigate individual’s online purchase intention, Website trust, privacy protection, Website perceived quality and gender. The theory of reasoned action was employed to develop the conceptual framework. The research used a survey approach. Using cluster sampling, the respondents include active postgraduate students at the International Business School Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, reliability test, factor analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The study found that only Website content quality is significant in online purchase intention. Implications of the research are discussed herein.
Alterations of the immunological specificity of plasma membranes from cells infected with Marek's disease and turkey herpes viruses.

Summary Highly purified plasma membranes were isolated from chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with Marek's disease virus (MDV) or turkey herpes virus (HVT). The purification was monitored by the incorporation of fucose and marker enzymes specific for plasma membranes. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the membrane preparations contained two new virus-induced proteins. When reacted in the double immunodiffusion test solubilized plasma membranes from MDV-infected cells formed two specific precipitation bands with Marek's disease immunoglobulins. Antisera prepared against plasma membranes from MDV- or HVT-infected cells neutralized extracellular infectious HVT. After incubation of plasma membranes from MDV-infected cells with Marek's disease antibodies the buoyant density of the membranes increased from 1.05 g/ml to 1.08 g/ml due to the binding of immunoglobulins to the virus-induced membrane proteins. The Marek's disease mortality of chickens twice vaccinated with a plasma membrane preparation from HVT-infected cells was reduced by 94%. From the results it was concluded that the plasma membranes acquire new immunologic specificities after infection with MDV or HVT.
Newly synthesized synaptophysin is transported to synaptic‐like microvesicles via constitutive secretory vesicles and the plasma membrane.

The biogenesis of synaptic‐like microvesicles (SLMVs) in neuroendocrine cells was investigated by studying the traffic of newly synthesized synaptophysin to SLMVs in PC12 cells. Synaptophysin was found to be sulfated, which facilitated the determination of its exit route from the trans‐Golgi network (TGN). Virtually all [35S]sulfate‐labeled synaptophysin was found to leave the TGN in vesicles which were indistinguishable from constitutive secretory vesicles but distinct from immature secretory granules and SLMVs. [35S]sulfate‐labeled synaptophysin was rapidly transported from the TGN to the cell surface, with a t1/2 of approximately 10 min in resting cells. After arrival at the cell surface, [35S]sulfate‐labeled synaptophysin cycled for at least 1 h between the plasma membrane and an intracellular compartment likely to be the early endosome. Up to approximately 40% of the [35S]sulfate‐labeled synaptophysin eventually (after 3 h and later) reached SLMVs, which could be distinguished from the other post‐TGN compartments by their lower buoyant density in a sucrose gradient and their selective inclusion upon permeation chromatography using a controlled‐pore glass column. Our results suggest that newly synthesized membrane proteins of SLMVs in neuroendocrine cells, and possibly of small synaptic vesicles in neurons, reach these organelles via the TGN‐‐‐‐plasma membrane‐‐‐‐early endosome.
Mathematical prediction of imidacloprid persistence in two Croatian soils with different texture, organic matter content and acidity under laboratory conditions

In the present laboratory study, persistence of imidacloprid (IMI) as a function of initial insecticide concentration and soil properties in two Croatian soils (Krk sandy clay and Istria clay soils) was studied and described mathematically. Upon fitting the obtained experimental data for the higher concentration level (5 mg/kg) to mathematical models, statistical parameters (R 2, scaled root mean squared error and χ 2 error) indicated that the single first-order kinetics model provided the best prediction of IMI degradation in the Krk sandy clay soil, while in the Istria clay soil biphasic degradation was observed. At the lower concentration level (0.5 mg/kg), the biphasic models Gustafson and Holden models as well as the first-order double exponential model fitted the best experimental data in both soils. The disappearance time (DT50) values estimated by the single first-order double exponential model (from 50 to 132 days) proved that IMI can be categorized as a moderately persistent pesticide. In the Krk sandy clay soil, resulting DT50 values tended to increase with an increase of initial IMI concentration, while in the Istria clay soil, IMI persistence did not depend on the concentration. Organic matter of both experimental soils provided an accelerating effect on the degradation rate. The logistic model demonstrated that the effect of microbial activity was not the most important parameter for the biodegradation of IMI in the Istria clay soil, where IMI degradation could be dominated by chemical processes, such as chemical hydrolysis. The results pointed that mathematical modeling could be considered as the most convenient tool for predicting IMI persistence and contributes to the establishment of adequate monitoring of IMI residues in contaminated soil. Furthermore, IMI usage should be strictly controlled, especially in soils with low organic matter content where the risk of soil and groundwater contamination is much higher due to its longer persistence and consequent leaching and/or moving from soil surface prior to its degradation.
A Psychometric Assessment of E-S-Qual: A Scale to Measure Electronic Service Quality

As the Internet retailing market grows at an inceasing rate, those who use the Internet as a retailing channel have realised that service delivery and service quality are as important for the Internet environment as for the bricksand-mortar environment. The absence of a valid and reliable instrument to measure service quality in this new environment has, however, bedeviled the endeavors of both scholars and practitioners to effectively measure and thus manage service-quality strategies. The first scale developed that effectively captured the nature of electronic service quality from the perspective of online shopping through a retail Website was the E-S-QUAL scale. The objective of this study was to subject the E-S-QUAL scale to a psychometric assessment. The results revealed that the scale is effective in capturing the essence of electronic service quality, but that both scholars and practitioners must assess the underlying factor structure of their data before drawing any conclusions from their study. For this particular data set, a six-factor configuration proved to be superior to the four-factor configuration originally proposed. Several ways in which the data can be analyzed are demonstrated, and suggestions for additional scale development and refinement are offered.
The WRKY 45-2 WRKY 13 WRKY 42 Transcriptional Regulatory Cascade Is Required for Rice Resistance to Fungal Pathogen 1 [ OPEN ]

Blast caused by fungal Magnaporthe oryzae is a devastating disease of rice (Oryza sativa) worldwide, and this fungus also infects barley (Hordeum vulgare). At least 11 rice WRKY transcription factors have been reported to regulate rice response to M. oryzae either positively or negatively. However, the relationships of these WRKYs in the rice defense signaling pathway againstM. oryzae are unknown. Previous studies have revealed that rice WRKY13 (as a transcriptional repressor) and WRKY45-2 enhance resistance to M. oryzae. Here, we show that rice WRKY42, functioning as a transcriptional repressor, suppresses resistance to M. oryzae. WRKY42-RNA interference (RNAi) and WRKY42-overexpressing (oe) plants showed increased resistance and susceptibility to M. oryzae, accompanied by increased or reduced jasmonic acid (JA) content, respectively, compared with wild-type plants. JA pretreatment enhanced the resistance of WRKY42-oe plants to M. oryzae. WRKY13 directly suppressed WRKY42. WRKY45-2, functioning as a transcriptional activator, directly activated WRKY13. In addition, WRKY13 directly suppressed WRKY45-2 by feedback regulation. The WRKY13-RNAi WRKY45-2-oe and WRKY13-oe WRKY42-oe double transgenic lines showed increased susceptibility to M. oryzae compared with WRKY45-2-oe and WRKY13-oe plants, respectively. These results suggest that the three WRKYs form a sequential transcriptional regulatory cascade. WRKY42 may negatively regulate rice response to M. oryzae by suppressing JA signaling-related genes, and WRKY45-2 transcriptionally activates WRKY13, whose encoding protein in turn transcriptionally suppresses WRKY42 to regulate rice resistance to M. oryzae.