Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Marital Intimacy in Parents of Exceptional Children

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of perceived parenting stress and parental depression on marital intimacy between parents of handicapped children versus developmentally normal children, and to investigate discrepancies between husbands' and wives' reports of marital intimacy. The parents of 31 autistic children, 31 Down Syndrome children and 62 developmentally normal children, matched for both mental and chronological age were studied. Results indicated significantly greater stress and depression, as well as lower marital intimacy for mothers of autistic children than mothers of normal children, and significantly greater stress than mothers of Down Syndrome children who fell somewhere between other groups of parents in all three measures. Fathers of autistic children experienced significantly higher parenting stress than the other groups, as well as lower marital intimacy but there were no differences amongst fathers on measures of depression. Low scores on subscales of identity and compatibility for mothers implying low self esteem contributed significantly to the lowered perception of marital intimacy. Implications for intervention, based on these findings, are discussed.
Heat accumulation during sequential cortical bone drilling

Significant research exists regarding heat production during single‐hole bone drilling. No published data exist regarding repetitive sequential drilling. This study elucidates the phenomenon of heat accumulation for sequential drilling with both Kirschner wires (K wires) and standard two‐flute twist drills. It was hypothesized that cumulative heat would result in a higher temperature with each subsequent drill pass. Nine holes in a 3 × 3 array were drilled sequentially on moistened cadaveric tibia bone kept at body temperature (about 37°C). Four thermocouples were placed at the center of four adjacent holes and 2 mm below the surface. A battery‐driven hand drill guided by a servo‐controlled motion system was used. Six samples were drilled with each tool (2.0 mm K wire and 2.0 and 2.5 mm standard drills). K wire drilling increased temperature from 5°C at the first hole to 20°C at holes 6 through 9. A similar trend was found in standard drills with less significant increments. The maximum temperatures of both tools increased from <0.5°C to nearly 13°C. The difference between drill sizes was found to be insignificant (P > 0.05). In conclusion, heat accumulated during sequential drilling, with size difference being insignificant. K wire produced more heat than its twist‐drill counterparts. This study has demonstrated the heat accumulation phenomenon and its significant effect on temperature. Maximizing the drilling field and reducing the number of drill passes may decrease bone injury. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:463–470, 2016.
Adding it All Up: The Macroeconomic Impact of Basel III and Outstanding Reform Issues

As the Basel III package nears completion, the emphasis is shifting to monitoring its implementation and assessing the impact of the reforms. This paper presents a simple conceptual framework to assess the macroeconomic impact of the core Basel III reforms, including the leverage ratio surcharge that is being considered for global systemically important banks (G-SIBs). We use historical data for a large sample of major banks to generate a conservative approximation of the additional amount of capital that banks would need to raise to meet the new regulatory requirements, taking the potential impact of current efforts to enhance G-SIBs' total loss-absorbing capacity into account. To provide a high-level proxy for the effect of changes in capital allocation and bank business models on the estimated net benefits of regulatory reform, we simulate the effect of banks converging towards the "critical" average risk weights (or "density ratios") implied by the combined risk-weighted and leverage ratio-based capital requirements. While keeping in mind that quantifying the regulatory impact remains subject to caveats, the results suggest that Basel III can be expected to generate sizeable macroeconomic net benefits even after the implied changes to bank business models have been taken into account.
When Real Estate is the Only Game in Town

Using data on household portfolios and mortgage originations, we find that households residing in a city with few publicly traded firms headquartered there are more likely to own an investment home nearby. Households in these areas are also less likely to own stocks. This only-game-in-town effect is more pronounced for households living in high credit quality areas, who can access financing to afford a second home. This effect also becomes pronounced for households living in low credit quality areas after 2002 when securitization made it easier for these households to buy second homes. Cities with few local stocks have in equilibrium higher price-to-rent ratios, making it more attractive to rent, and lower (primary residence) homeownership rates.
Financial reporting discretion and voluntary disclosure: Corporate research and development expenditure in Australia

Abstract The aim of this paper1 is to explain Australian R&D capitalization and voluntary disclosure. It is argued that the discretionary choices available to management in Australia with respect to the accounting for and the disclosure of R&D expenditure and activities can be explained by the reduction of information asymmetries and agency costs. The results confirm that three aspects of information asymmetry investigated are important in explaining the discretionary capitalization of R&D expenditure: research intensity; the use of R&D financing arrangements; and the percentage of subsidiaries not wholly owned. Furthermore, research intensity, and the use of R&D financing arrangements are significant in explaining voluntary disclosure of R&D expenditure and activities. These results are robust to the inclusion of controls for other economic characteristics of the firm including share issue, size, accounting performance, leverage, proprietary costs and tax status. © City University of Hong Kong.
Identification of the Serum Complex Which Induces Cerebellar Granule Cell In Vitro Differentiation and Resistance to Excitatory Amino Acids

The protein complex promoting in vitro terminal differentiation of cerebellar granule cells has been isolated from rabbit serum. We designate the complex the neurite outgrowth and adhesion complex (NOAC). The apparent molecular weight, evaluated by gel filtration, is 80–100 kDa. Rat cerebellar granule cells cultured in NOAC exhibit much lower glial cell contamination and survive, in their differentiated state, much longer than in 10% foetal calf serum. While they bind tetanus toxin, express specific antigens such as synapsin l, synaptophisin and A2B5, and release [3H]d‐aspartate in a fashion similar to that shown by cells cultured in foetal calf serum, they show a 60% reduction in the total number of kainate binding sites. Excitatory amino acid (EAA)‐triggered and depolarization‐stimulated calcium influx, measured in the presence of different agonists, is 50–80% lower in NOAC‐cultured cells. NOAC cells are resistant to excitotoxic stimuli carried by EAAs or by depolarizing treatments with 50 mM KCI or 6 μM veratridine. The marked resistance of NOAC‐cultured neurons to EAAs can be attributed to decreased calcium entry through EAA‐coupled and voltage‐gated calcium channels and possibly to other, as yet unidentified, phenotypic properties of these cells. These findings demonstrate that rabbit serum contains one or more polypeptide(s) endowed with the properties of promoting in vitro survival and differentiation of rat cerebellar granule cells and of conferring an EAA‐resistant phenotype.
Coughing in laryngectomized patients.

Ablation of the larynx implies withdrawal of afferent information from receptors involved both in the control of expiratory flow and in the genesis of protective airway reflexes including coughing. To investigate the effects of laryngectomy on the sensory and motor component of coughing, maximal voluntary cough (MVC) efforts as well as the reflex cough (RC) responses at threshold (T) and suprathreshold (1.8 x T, ST) levels induced by inhalation of progressively increasing concentrations of ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (fog) were analyzed in 10 laryngectomized patients and 10 control subjects. Cough intensity was indexed in terms of both the peak amplitude of the integrated electromyographic activity of abdominal muscles (IEMGP) and the ratio of IEMGP to the duration of the expiratory ramp (TEC), i.e., the rate of rise of IEMG activity (IEMGP/TEC). Cough peak flow was also recorded. Cough threshold was similar in patients and controls, as were IEMGP, TEC, and IEMGP/ TEC recorded during MVC and RCST. In contrast, during RCT, patients' IEMGP was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), thus leading to a significant decrease in IEMGP/TEC (p < 0.05) even in the absence of significant differences in TEC. Cough flow closely correlated with IEMG-related variables. Cough volume acceleration, i. e. , the ratio of cough peak flow to the corresponding time to cough peak flow was also significantly reduced in the patients, especially during RCT (p < 0.01). The results suggest that the lack of signals arising from the larynx may result in a reduction of cough volume acceleration as well as in the intensity of abdominal muscle contractions during RCT. These factors may contribute to facilitate the onset and/or the persistence of chest infections in laryngectomized patients.
Joint weighted bit-flipping decoder for use in diversity network coding

A new joint message-passing decoder is presented for use in a two-user cooperative wireless network. This decoder is designed for use with the diversity network coding scheme of Xiao et al. , which uses nonbinary network codes together with channel coding to achieve high diversity gains. The proposed joint decoder, together with appropriate modifications to the cooperative protocol of Xiao and Skoglund (2010), significantly reduces the required implementation complexity both at the relay nodes and at the receiver. The destination's joint decoder structure consists of two parallel weighted bit flipping (PWBF) decoders which exchange extrinsic soft/hard information regarding the two users' packets. It is demonstrated through simulations that the proposed joint decoder achieves not only the same diversity gain as in the work of Xiao and Skoglund (2010), but also approximately 5dB of additional coding gain. It is also notable that a significant improvement in system performance can be achieved after only two joint decoding iterations.
Near Surface Turbulence and Gas Exchange Across the Air-Sea Interface

Oceans and the atmosphere are tightly coupled to influence the energy budget, gas exchange and the global climate. For example, 20%~30% anthropogenic emitted CO2 was sequestered by oceans. The ocean surface boundary layer plays an intermediate role on the exchange of mass, momentum and energy between air and ocean. Quantifying transport terms (such as temperature, gas fluxes) across the air-water interface has been an important subject of physical oceanography for several decades.
The Significance of Mining Infrastructural Development on South African Economy from 1980-2013: An Econometric Approach

In this present paper we investigate the relationship between mining infrastructure and economic growth in South Africa from 1980-2013. The importance of this paper is to examine if there is both short and long run significant relationship between mining infrastructure and economic growth in South Africa. The data mining was collected from South African Reserve Bank (SARB) covering the range from 1980-2013 of the paper. Both Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) and Phillip Perron (PP) where used for stationarity tests. Johansen Cointegration test is employed in this paper; also Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is also employed in this paper. In the results we obtained that there is a positive significant relationship between mining infrastructure and economic growth. There is also a causal relationship between mining infrastructure and economic growth, meaning the development of mining infrastructure does promote economic growth. In conclusion the policy makers should improve private infrastructure which will equip human capital to be more useful in contributing towards knowledge and innovation. This means South African government and mining industry should priorities the development of infrastructure as component that will be sufficient towards economic development.
Emotional exhaustion is associated with work related stressors: a cross-sectional multicenter study in Malaysian public hospitals.

INTRODUCTION Emotional exhaustion is an important component of burnout. Burnout is common among doctors. It affects the physical and mental health of doctors, their performance and the quality of care they provide. This study aimed to investigate the level and factors associated with emotional exhaustion among doctors in pediatric practice in Malaysia. POPULATION AND METHODS A self-administered questionnaire was used in this multicenter cross-sectional study. It included questions on the socio-demographics, work characteristics, Emotional Exhaustion, Perceived Stress Scale and sources of job stress. Descriptive, univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted using the SPSS software. RESULTS A total of 197 doctors working in the Pediatric department in eight hospitals returned complete questionnaire. High and moderate emotional exhaustion was reported by 25.4% and 24.4% doctors, respectively. In bivariate analysis, 29 out of the 38 items of sources of stress showed significant association with emotional exhaustion (p <0.05). The significant predictors of emotional exhaustion in the multivariate analysis were: scoring higher on the Perceived Stress Score, dealing with patient's psychosocial problems, disrespectful interactions with colleagues/ subordinates, lack of appreciation from supervisors, lack of incentives and promotions, time pressures and deadlines to meet, and setting unrealistic goals of having them imposed on oneself (p <0.05). The most common source of stress was dealing with difficult parents (80.2%). CONCLUSIONS Emotional exhaustion is associated with sources of stress in the workplace but not with socio-demographic factors.
Cloning, purification, and properties of a phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

We describe the isolation and characterization of a gene (ptpA) from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) that codes for a protein with a deduced M(r) of 17,690 containing significant amino acid sequence identity with mammalian and prokaryotic small, acidic phosphotyrosine protein phosphatases (PTPases). After expression of S. coelicolor ptpA in Escherichia coli with a pT7-7-based vector system, PtpA was purified to homogeneity as a fusion protein containing five extra amino acids. The purified fusion enzyme catalyzed the removal of phosphate from p-nitrophenylphosphate (PNPP), phosphotyrosine (PY), and a commercial phosphopeptide containing a single phosphotyrosine residue but did not cleave phosphoserine or phosphothreonine. The pH optima for PNPP and PY hydrolysis by PtpA were 6.0 and 6.5, respectively. The Km values for hydrolysis of PNPP and PY by PtpA were 0.75 mM (pH 6.0, 37 degrees C) and 2.7 mM (pH 6.5, 37 degrees C), respectively. Hydrolysis of PNPP by S. coelicolor PtpA were 0.75 mM (pH 6.0, 37 degrees C) and 2.7 mM (pH 6.5, 37 degrees C), respectively. Hydrolysis of PNPP by S. coelicolor PtpA was competitively inhibited by dephostatin with a Ki of 1.64 microM; the known PTPase inhibitors phenylarsine oxide, sodium vanadate, and iodoacetate also inhibited enzyme activity. Apparent homologs of ptpA were detected in other streptomycetes by Southern hybridization; the biological functions of PtpA and its putative homologs in streptomycetes are not yet known.
Upper Central Incisor and Canine Tooth Crown Size in 47,XXY Males

Enamel and dentin thicknesses were measured in permanent tooth crowns of 47,XXY (Klinefelter syndrome) males. In 47,XXY males, enamel thickness in maxillary central incisors was significantly greater than that in control males or females, and dentin thickness in incisors and canines was significantly greater than that in control females, but smaller than that in normal males. These findings confirm the concept that human dental growth is affected by sex chromosomes. Amelogenesis is promoted by both X and Y chromosome genes, and sexual dimorphism in average tooth size is evidently determined by a promoting effect of the Y chromosome on dentin growth, probably through cell proliferation. This effect can also explain sex predilection for males in the numbers of supernumerary and ordinary teeth.
Role of Different Natural Antioxidants in the Modulation of mRNA-expression of Apoptotic Molecules in the Livers of Carbon Tetrachloride-Intoxicated Rats

ABSTRACT Overexpression of nuclear factor (NF-κB) or activation of Smad3 by transforming growth factor β (TGF-β1) induced by oncogenes results in overexpression of fibrotic processes and hence cell death. The objective of this study is to examine whether Silymarin (Sil) alone or in combination with Vitamin E (Vit E) and/or Curcumin (Cur) plays a modulatory role against the overexpression of NF-κB, and TGF-β that induced in response to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration. The present work revealed that CCl4 induced elevation of in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Apoptosis regulator (Bax), Smad3, TGF-β, and NF-kB hepatic mRNA expression (using Real-time PCR), administration of Sil alone downregulated these expressions. Treatment with Vit E acid and/ or Cur along with Sil produced best results in this concern. B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expressions were downregulated by CCl4; whereas concurrent treatment of Vit E and/or Cur along with Sil increased its expression. On conclusion, the use of Vit E and/or Cur could potentiate the antiapoptotic action of Sil.
A hypomorphic myogenin allele reveals distinct myogenin expression levels required for viability, skeletal muscle development, and sternum formation.

The myogenic basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor myogenin plays an essential role in the differentiation of skeletal muscle and, secondarily, in rib and sternum formation during mouse development. However, virtually nothing is known about the quantitative requirements for myogenin in these processes. Here, we describe the generation of mice carrying a hypomorphic allele of myogenin, which expresses myogenin transcripts at approximately one-fourth the level of the wild-type myogenin allele. The hypomorphic allele in combination with wild-type and myogenin-null alleles was used to create an allelic series. Embryos representing the complete range of genotypes from homozygous wild type to homozygous null were analyzed for their viability, ability to form normal ribs and sternum, and extent of skeletal muscle differentiation. Embryos carrying the hypomorphic myogenin allele over a wild-type allele were normal. In embryos bearing homozygous hypomorphic alleles, the sternum developed normally and extensive skeletal muscle differentiation occurred. However, muscle hypoplasia and reduced muscle-specific gene expression were apparent in these embryos, and the mice were not viable as neonates. When the hypomorphic allele was placed over a myogenin-null allele, the resulting embryos had sternum defects resembling homozygous myogenin-null embryos, and there was severe muscle hypoplasia. Our results demonstrate that skeletal muscle formation is highly sensitive to the absolute levels of myogenin and that correct sternum formation, skeletal muscle differentiation, and viability each require distinct threshold levels of myogenin.
Stability of Trichomonas vaginalis DNA in Urine Specimens

ABSTRACT Trichomonas vaginalis is an important pathogen in both men and women. Culture is considered the diagnostic gold standard, although studies have shown that PCR is more sensitive than either culture or wet mount for the diagnosis of T. vaginalis infections. We sought to identify a simple method for stabilizing T. vaginalis DNA in urine samples that could be easily applied to molecular testing. The stability of T. vaginalis DNA in 40 urine samples was assessed by storage for various times at either 4°C or room temperature with or without the Becton Dickinson urine preservative transport (UPT) kit. Overall, there was better stability of T. vaginalis DNA when specimens were stored at 4°C than when they were stored at 20 to 22°C and when the UPT system was used. T. vaginalis DNA was stable in specimens stored without using the UPT at 4°C for about 3 days and at room temperature for only 1 day. For specimens placed in the UPT within 24 h (times of 1, 6, and 24 h) of collection, the DNA was stable for up to 30 days when stored at 4°C. For specimens stored at room temperature, the urine should be added to the UPT ideally within 1 hour of collection, and in this case the DNA remained stable for up to 30 days. When storing specimens at room temperature, a delay of 24 h prior to adding to UPT led to an unacceptably high loss of assay sensitivity.
Polyangitis overlap syndrome: A fatal case combined with adult Henoch‐Schönlein purpura and polyarteritis nodosa

Henoch‐Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a rather common disease characterized by systemic hypersensitivity vasculitis in the skin and other visceral organs. It has a favorable prognosis unless it is complicated by severe glomerular disease. We report a distinctive fatal case of systemic vasculitis combined with HSP and polyarteritis nodosa (PN) in a 56‐year‐old man who died of progressive renal failure one month after the onset of the disease. He complained of arthralgia, purpura of both lower extremities, nasal bleeding and tarry stool, and acute renal failure was noted at the time of admission to hospital. A skin biopsy from the purpura lesion exhibited leucocytoclastic vasculitis with IgA deposition, and HSP was considered. However, renal failure progressed rapidly and subsequently was complicated by acute myocardial infarction. Postmortem examination revealed PN type necrotizing vasculitis in the kidneys, heart and mesentery resulting in acute multiple infarctions of these organs. We think the current case was a polyangitis overlap syndrome. It is important to suspect the polyangitis overlap syndrome positively when progressive acute renal failure is seen in a patient with HSP and to begin appropriate therapy immediately.