Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Independent Journalism Training Initiatives: Their Impact on Journalists and Journalism Education

Charitable foundations, media organizations, government agencies and various nongovernmental organizations have invested extensively in the last 10 years in training programs aimed at emerging democracies in an effort to create a journalistic workforce that is independent, well- educated, and well-trained . Despite this growth in training activity, there has been relatively little written about it. Largely unexplored, for example, is the impact these ad hoc training initiative might have on older, more established training institutions and what the future might be in terms of the ways in which journalists are educated in these countries. This paper explores these issues within the context of an evaluation of one particular journalism training program, the Knight International Press Fellowship Program, which has operated since 1994 and has sent American journalists to serve as trainers all over the world. The paper documents structural change, particularly in the area of journalism education, resulting from the training initiative.
Professional whitening strips in a university population.

PURPOSE To evaluate the clinical response of a professional whitening strip system used by a university-based population residing in Mexico City, Mexico. METHODS A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 6.5% hydrogen peroxide whitening strips used over a 3-week period. A total of 30 volunteer students and staff at the National Autonomous University of México (Mexico City) were randomly assigned to the peroxide or placebo strip groups. Strips were worn for 30 minutes two times a day for 3 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated using digital image analysis to assess change in L* a* b* tooth color, while safety was assessed by oral examination and subject interview. RESULTS Relative to placebo, the 6.5% hydrogen peroxide strip group experienced nearly a 4-unit color improvement (Deltab*). Treatment groups differed significantly (P< 0.0001) with respect to yellowness (Deltab*), lightness (DeltaL*) and redness (Deltaa*). Adjusted mean (SE) overall color improvement (DeltaW*) was -4.76 (0.27) for the peroxide strips, compared to the near zero, -0.21 (0.28) for the placebo control. Strip use was well tolerated. Minor, transient tooth sensitivity occurred more frequently in the peroxide group, and overall, no subjects modified or discontinued treatment early because of adverse events.
Genomic analysis of Mycobacterium bovis and other members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by isoenzyme analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Initially, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis was used to examine genetic relationships among 63 isolates of Mycobacterium bovis and 13 other members of the M. tuberculosis complex. The isolates were divided into five electrophoretic types, with a mean genetic diversity of 0.1. The strains were genetically homogenous, indicating that members of the complex were closely related. This supported the suggestion that they should be considered as subspecies of a single species. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was then used to differentiate these isolates, as well as 59 additional isolates of M. bovis from different parts of the world. PFGE differentiated these strains into 63 patterns (53 patterns for M. bovis). Isolates of M. bovis from Western Australia (n = 46) were more homogenous than isolates from other regions. Eight strains were identified in that state, and one predominantly bovine strain was isolated from two human beings and a feral pig. Although M. bovis isolates from different parts of the world had distinct DNA patterns, some were very similar. PFGE is a highly discriminatory technique for epidemiological studies of bovine tuberculosis. For example, it allowed differentiation between isolates of M. bovis cultured from animals in separate outbreaks of tuberculosis, it suggested the transmission of infection between certain properties, and it demonstrated the existence of multiple infections with different strains at certain farms.
Gradual onset of myocardial ischemia results in reduced myocardial infarction. Association with reduced contractile function and metabolic downregulation.

BACKGROUND With moderate reductions in coronary blood flow, adjustments in myocardial metabolism can occur with a normalization of the imbalance between the decreased O2 delivery and tissue O2 demand. This state of "downregulated" metabolism is associated with reduced function and minimal irreversible injury and has been linked to myocardial hibernation. We hypothesized that (1) this process would occur when perfusion was reduced to severely ischemic levels, but only when flow declined at a slow rate rather than abruptly, and (2) this would result in blunted ischemia and reduced myocardial injury for a given period of low blood flow. METHODS AND RESULTS The left anterior descending coronary artery in anesthetized open-chest pigs was cannulated and perfused with arterial blood by an extracorporeal perfusion pump. Regional function (percent segment shortening, %SS) was measured with sonomicrometry and a regional coronary vein cannulated for blood gas analysis and lactate measurements. Coronary blood flow (CBF) was reduced to 10% of control either in a step fashion (Fast Ischemia group) or gradually in a linear manner over 70 minutes (Ramp Ischemia group). In all animals, CBF was held for 60 minutes at this 10% level and then followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. In the Ramp Ischemia group, the linear fall in CBF resulted in an initial maintenance of both %SS and myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) followed by linear decreases in both variables (r = .98 to .99) as flow fell to the 10% level. The relation of MVO2 to function was linear (r = .99) over the entire flow range. Although %SS, MVO2, CBF, coronary pressure, and hemodynamics during the 10% flow period were not different between groups, the increases in coronary venous lactate and PCO2 and fall in pH were blunted in the Ramp Ischemia group compared with the Fast Ischemia group. With reperfusion, a significant decrease in end-diastolic length was present only in the Fast Ischemia group. Additionally, although the region at risk was not different, infarction was markedly reduced in the Ramp Ischemia group (6.6 +/- 1.9%) compared with the Fast Ischemia group (31.4 +/- 6.9%). CONCLUSIONS These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the downregulation of myocardial metabolism with gradually decreased flow to severe levels results in reduced myocardial injury for a given period of low flow. We propose that the rate at which blood flow decreases with myocardial underperfusion is a novel determinant of infarct injury. This may have clinical implication in situations in which there is a time-dependent component to the decrease in coronary blood flow in acute ischemic events, ie, thrombus formation at a site or coronary stenosis.
Loss of Jab1 in Osteochondral Progenitor Cells Severely Impairs Embryonic Limb Development in Mice

The transcriptional cofactor Jab1 controls cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation in diverse developmental processes by regulating the activity of various transcription factors. To determine the role of Jab1 during early limb development, we developed a novel Jab1flox/flox; Prx1‐Cre conditional Knockout (cKO) mutant mouse model in which Jab1 was deleted in the osteochondral progenitor cells of the limb buds. Jab1 cKO mutant mice displayed drastically shortened limbs at birth. The short‐limb defect became apparent in Jab1 cKO mutants at E15.5 and increasingly worsened thereafter. By E18.5, Jab1 cKO mutant mice exhibited significantly shorter limbs with: very few hypertrophic chondrocytes, disorganized chondrocyte columns, much smaller primary ossification centers, and significantly increased apoptosis. Real‐time RT‐PCR analysis showed decreased expression of Sox9, Col2a1, Ihh, and Col10a1 in Jab1 cKO mutant long bones, indicating impaired chondrogenesis. Furthermore, in a micromass culture model of early limb mesenchyme cells, alcian blue staining showed a significant decrease in chondrogenesis in Jab1 cKO limb bud cells. The expression of Sox9 and its downstream targets Col2a1 and Aggrecan, as well as BMP signaling downstream targets, Noggin, Id1, and Ihh, were significantly decreased in Jab1 cKO micromass cultures. Moreover, over‐expression of SOX9 in Jab1 cKO micromass cultures partially restored Col2a1and Aggrecan expression. Jab1‐deficient micromass cultures also exhibited decreased BMP signaling response and reduced BMP‐specific reporter activity ex vivo. In summary, our study demonstrates that Jab1 is an essential regulator of early embryonic limb development in vivo, likely in part by co‐activating Sox9 and BMP signaling. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 1607–1617, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of Regional Trade Agreements on Strategic Agricultural Trade in Africa and its Implications to Food Security: Evidence from Gravity Model Estimation

The problems of African agricultural development have been at the forefront of the debate on Africa’s development since the Lagos Plan of Action in 1963. During the 2004 AU meeting in Sirte, Libya and subsequently in the 2006 AU/NEPAD Summit on Food Security in Africa, concrete steps have been taken to work towards Common African Market on 12 selected strategic agricultural products. Eight regional trade agreements which are to form the building blocks of the African Economic Community are engaged in trade liberalization and regional integration process on the selected strategic agricultural products with the ultimate goal being the formation of Common Markets for Agricultural products. However, the recent proliferation of regional trade agreements (RTAs) has intensified the debate on their merits especially the merits of south-south trade agreements. This study contributes to this debate by analysing trade creation and trade diversion effects of African RTAs on trade in nine of the twelve strategic agricultural products. An extended gravity model is estimated. We address econometrically the endogeneity of RTAs using a panel approach. Results indicate that African RTAs have mixed effect on trade creation and trade diversion. Net trade creation is positive in three of the eight RTA and it is negative in two. Although a lot remains to be done, RTAs in Africa are an attractive means to speed up the move towards common market for agricultural products in the continent. This will have positive implication for food security and sustainable agricultural development in the continent.
Comparative evaluation of urinary bladder cancer antigen and urine cytology in the diagnosis of bladder cancer.

INTRODUCTION The diagnostic value of the urinary bladder cancer (UBC) antigen as a tumor marker is not clear yet. We designed this study to compare the accuracy of the UBC antigen and voided urine cytology in patients with bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-four consecutive patients admitted for a diagnostic workup for bladder cancer were enrolled. Two separate morning midstream voided urine samples were taken for urinalysis, both before performing cystoscopy. The samples were examined for urinary creatinine level, urine cytology, and UBC. Cystoscopy was performed. Resection was performed in the presence of an apparent pathologic lesion, and if no lesion were seen, random biopsies of multiple foci of the bladder were taken. The results of the diagnostic tests were compared with the pathology examination results. RESULTS Of 54 patients, 31 had histologically confirmed transitional cell carcinoma. Results were positive for UBC in 28 and for urine cytology in 16 patients. Sensitivities and specificities were 74.2% and 78.3% for UBC, 48.4% and 95.7% for urine cytology, and 87.1% and 73.9% for combined UBC and cytology, respectively. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 3.42 and 3.03 for UBC, 11.3 and 1.85 for urine cytology, and 3.34 and 5.73 for combined UBC and cytology, respectively. CONCLUSION The UBC test had acceptable sensitivity and specificity in our study. However, results of voided urine cytology are significantly more reliable. A combination of tumor markers may help diagnose new tumors and lower the requirements for cystoscopy during follow-up. Further studies are warranted to find a more accurate noninvasive test or a complex of tests comparable with cystoscopy for diagnosis of bladder cancer.
Performances of Microcrystalline Zinc Tin Oxide Thin-Film Transistors Processed by Spray Pyrolysis

In this work, we report results concerning the performances of thin-film transistors (TFTs) where the channel layer is based on microcrystalline zinc tin oxide (ZTO) processed by spray pyrolysis technique. TFTs made with ~30 nm thick ZTO channel layer deposited at a substrate temperature of 400°C and 300°C exhibited, respectively, a saturation mobility of ~2.9 cm<sup>2</sup>·V<sup>-1</sup>·s<sup>-1</sup> and 1.45 cm<sup>2</sup>·V<sup>-1</sup>·s<sup>-1</sup>; VON voltage of ~0.15 V, and 0.2 V; a sub-threshold swing of ~400 mV/dec and 500 mV/dec; ON/OFF ratio at the onset of hard saturation current of ~3.5×10<sup>5</sup> and 6×10<sup>3</sup>, for a drain to source voltage of 10 V (close to or below the gate to source voltage). This indicates that the substrate temperature is relevant in determining the devices' electronic performances.
French Physicians’ Knowledge about Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer: The Need for Continuing Vocational Training in Genetics

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine what medical specialists knew about recent findings in the genetics of breast/ovarian cancer, according to their speciality and the methods they used to keep themselves up to date. Methods: A national random sample of 1,169 surgeons and gynaeco-obstetricians was surveyed using a mailed questionnaire, to which 700 of those contacted responded (60%). Results: Two years after it had been identified, BRCA1 was known by only 54% of the practitioners, whereas BRCA2 was known by 49.1% 1 year after it was first identified. The lifetime breast cancer risk of women in the general population was estimated by 37.6% of the participants to be between 6 and 10%, and 35.7% rated the penetrance of a breast cancer mutated gene at between 70 and 90%. After multivariate adjustment, the overall score for knowledge of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer was mainly determined as follows: by the speciality (p < 0.001), since the gynaeco-obstetricians scored the highest and the general surgeons the lowest; by the size of practice (p < 0.001), since a larger practice was associated with a higher score, and by whether or not the participants were accustomed to reading the international literature (p < 0.01). Conclusions: These results show the need for physicians who are not geneticists to acquire further knowledge about cancer genetics. We discuss the role of international reviews in communicating the latest knowledge available in genetics to specialists working in other medical fields.
Evaluation of the effects of olopatadine ophthalmic solution, 0.2% on the ocular surface of patients with allergic conjunctivitis and dry eye*

ABSTRACT Purpose: Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.2% (Pataday†, Alcon, Fort Worth, USA) is a topical ocular anti-allergic agent that has shown high rates of efficacy in treating ocular itching, the primary symptom of allergic conjunctivitis, and allows for once-daily dosing. Since some patients suffer from signs or symptoms of dry eye in addition to ocular allergy, this study was designed to evaluate the safety of olopatadine 0.2% in a population of patients with both allergic conjunctivitis and dry eye. Methods: This was a single-center, 3-visit, double-masked, randomized study. Fifty-two patients diagnosed with ocular allergy and mild-to-moderate dry eye were evaluated. After a run-in period, patients were randomized to receive either olopatadine hydrochloride 0.2% or a tear saline, and self-dosed once-daily for 1 week. Outcome measures included tear film break-up time, corneal and conjunctival staining, tear volume and flow as measured by fluorophotometry, Schirmer's test, injection, and symptom evaluations. Results: No significant differences between the treatment groups were observed ( p > 0.05). No serious adverse events occurred during the trial. Variability in the presentation of dry eye can hinder the observation of treatment effects. Although the study design facilitated the comparison of olopatadine 0.2% against an agent that was certain to not exacerbate dry eye, future comparison of olopatadine 0.2% against other agents in its drug class would provide useful information about relative drug tolerabilities. Conclusion: As there were no significant changes in the signs and symptoms of dry eye, olopatadine hydrochloride 0.2% is safe to use in ocular allergy patients with mild-to-moderate dry eye.
The Colour of the Elected: Determinants of the Political Under-Representation of Blacks and Browns in Brazil

Abstract It appears to be beyond dispute that Brazilian politics is overwhelmingly White. Recent surveys indicate that the proportion of people of colour in the federal parliament is around 20%. But despite such obvious marginalisation, little is known about the causes of this political under-representation. This paper attempts to shed light on the main filters driving out non-Whites, i.e. Blacks and Browns, from Brazilian politics. To this end, we have carried out a survey of the skin colour of candidates to a seat in the City Council of Brazil’s two largest cities: São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in the 2012 elections. Given the lack of official records on the race or skin colour of these candidates, we chose to submit their photos, made publicly available by the Supreme Electoral Court, to classification by a team of researchers. The results have allowed us to gauge the extent to which the political alienation of non-White Brazilians is due to: (a) bias in party recruitment; (b) differences in educational capital and personal wealth between White and non-White candidates; (c) inequalities in the distribution of party and electoral resources; or (d) the electoral preferences of voters themselves. Apparently, the electoral opportunities of Blacks and Browns reflect the difficulties that these groups face when trying to ascend to the small elite of candidates that have the biggest funding and the most votes.
Left Ventricular Mass Regression after Two Alternative Sutureless Aortic Bioprostheses

Objective Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy in aortic stenosis (AS) constitutes a risk factor for cardiac morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of LV mass regression after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with two alternative sutureless self-expanding strategies: Perceval S (Sorin Group, Saluggia, Italy) (P) and 3f Enable (Medtronic, ATS Medical, Minneapolis, MN USA) (e) aortic bioprostheses. Methods Between March 2010 and December 2011, 129 patients with symptomatic AS underwent AVR with the Perceval S or 3f Enable bioprostheses in two cardiac surgery departments (Massa, Italy; Nuremberg, Germany). We analyzed 45 patients in group P and 19 in group E undergoing isolated AVR with a 6-month follow-up. The LV mass was calculated using the Devereux formula and was indexed to body surface area. Results Baseline patient characteristics showed no significant differences between the two groups. There were no in-hospital deaths. Two patients in group P died at follow-up versus zero in group E (P = 0.49). Mean LV mass index decreased from 146.6 (78) g/m2 at baseline to 123.3 (63) g/m2 at follow-up (P < 0.001) in group P and from 146.1 (47.6) g/m2 to 118.1 (39.8) g/m2 (P = 0.003) in group E, with no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.315). This effect was accompanied by significant clinical improvement. Conclusions: In isolated AS, AVR with sutureless bioprostheses is associated with a significant regression in LV mass at 6-month follow-up. No significant differences were present between the two alternative sutureless strategies. However, regression needs an evaluation with long-term echocardiographic examinations.
Intravenous Injection of High and Medium Concentrations of Computed Tomography Contrast Media and Related Heat Sensation, Local Pain, and Adverse Reactions

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of acute adverse reactions and degrees of heat sensation and local pain after intravenous injection of high and medium concentrations of iodinated contrast medium for computed tomography (CT). Methods: A prospective study was performed involving 729 patients who underwent contrast CT scans. High-concentration (370 mgI/mL) and medium-concentration (300 mgI/mL) iodinated contrast medium was assigned to 342 patients (group H, aged 20-90 years, mean = 59.8 years) and to 387 patients (group M, aged 20-95 years, mean = 61.7 years), respectively. An injection rate of contrast medium (1, 2, or 4 mL/s) at a base volume of 2 mL/kg of body weight was selected according to the protocols for the evaluated diseases and regions. Each patient was assessed for heat sensation and local pain at the injection site using a visual analog scale (ranging from none for 0 to severe for 10). Acute adverse reactions were recorded when they occurred. Results: There were no significant differences in patient background factors, including age, sex, history of prior adverse reactions, and allergies, between the 2 groups. The score for heat sensation was significantly higher in group H than in group M (4.46 ± 2.44 vs. 3.44 ± 2.45; P < 0.0001 for heat sensation). The data did not show a higher incidence of adverse reactions in group H than in group M (5 [1.46%] of 342 patients vs. 2 [0.52%] of 387 patients; P = 0.26) or a higher score for local pain in group H than in group M (0.98 ± 1.70 vs. 0.88 ± 1.49; P = 0.66), respectively. Conclusions: High and medium concentrations of iodinated contrast medium can be used for CT study with comparable safety profiles even though heat sensation produced by the high-concentration CM is greater than that produced by the medium-concentration CM.