Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Second-Rate Coverage of Second-Order Elections: Czech and Slovak Elections to the EP in the Media

Elections to the European Parliament (EP) are considered second-order national elections (SOE). The SOE model suggests that there is a qualitative difference between different types of elections depending on the perception of what is at stake. Compared to first order elections, in second order elections there is less at stake because they do not determine the composition of government. Given that voters behave differently in second-order elections, the question arises: do the media also consider second-order elections less interesting and therefore devote to them less coverage? The media play a crucial role in informing citizens about such events as elections; they function as intermediaries between the electorate and the political arena. However, little is known about how EU issues are covered in the media, particularly in the new EU member states. Conducting a content analysis and applying the second-order election model, this paper analyses TV news coverage of the 2004 and 2009 European elections in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in a comparative fashion. The findings are discussed in the light of existing research literature on the EU’s legitimacy as well as its alleged democratic and communication deficit, not least because the EU relies on the media in strengthening (albeit indirectly) its legitimacy by increasing citizen awareness of its activities.
Chronic Hepatitis C and Alcohol Abuse: The Single Center Experience of Novi Sad - Serbia.

BACKGROUND Chronic ethyl alcohol consuming is well known independent negative predictor of unfavorable natural course and therapy outcome of Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) infection. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to clarify the impact of alcohol consumption on fibrosis rate progression in patients with CHC and Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) rates in patients undergoing treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. METHOD This cross sectional retrospective study included 807 CHC patients underwent liver biopsy and hospitalized at Clinical center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia. According to the alcohol consumption equal or greater than 50 g/day prior to liver biopsy, patients were divided into two groups. We compared demographic, clinical, virologic and histopathological markers of CHC, as well as response to antiviral therapy. RESULTS We find statistically significant difference (p=0.001) in gender, but not in age (p=0.081), estimated duration of the CHC (p=0.470) and hepatitis C genotype (p=0.545) between two groups. Among patients with CHC who consume alcohol ≥50 g/day there were significantly higher incidence of intravenous drug users (p=0.000). Binary logistic regression showed that the only independent predictors of moderate to severe fibrosis (fibrosis ≥2) were age (p=0.000) and alcohol use (p=0.027). There was not statistically significant difference in SVR rate between two groups (p=0.810). CONCLUSION We believe that this good result in treatment outcome was the consequence of proper selection of patients based primarily on regulations of Republic of Serbia on the necessity of abstinence from the use of alcohol and psychoactive substances at least one year before starting antiviral therapy.
Development and validation of an Internet self-efficacy scale

The self-efficacy construct is a useful base for developing measures of the individual's self-perception and self-competency in interacting with the Internet. Using 277 responses, a 17-item Internet self-efficacy scale is developed and validated. A principal factor analysis of the scale supported a conceptually meaningful three-factor model with high alpha reliabilities. The recommended three-factor 17-item instrument measures Internet self-efficacy in terms of surfing/browsing, encryption/decryption and system manipulation. Evidence of reliability and construct validity is presented for the hypothesized measurement model and future research is discussed.
Denoising Multi-Channel Images in Parallel MRI by Low Rank Matrix Decomposition

Parallel magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) techniques can speed up MRI scan through a multi-channel coil array receiving signal simultaneously. Nevertheless, noise amplification and aliasing artifacts are serious in pMRI reconstructed images at high accelerations. This study presents a patch-wise denoising method for pMRI by exploiting the rank deficiency of multi-channel coil images and sparsity of artifacts. For each processed patch, similar patches are searched in spatial domain and throughout all coil elements, and arranged in appropriate matrix forms. Then, noise and aliasing artifacts are removed from the structured matrix by applying sparse and low rank matrix decomposition method. The proposed method has been validated using both phantom and in vivo brain data sets, producing encouraging results. Specifically, the method can effectively remove both noise and residual aliasing artifact from pMRI reconstructed noisy images, and produce higher peak signal noise rate (PSNR) and structural similarity index matrix (SSIM) than other state-of-the-art denoising methods.
Inexpensive and Highly Reproducible Cloud-Based Variant Calling of 2,535 Human Genomes

Population scale sequencing of whole human genomes is becoming economically feasible; however, data management and analysis remains a formidable challenge for many research groups. Large sequencing studies, like the 1000 Genomes Project, have improved our understanding of human demography and the effect of rare genetic variation in disease. Variant calling on datasets of hundreds or thousands of genomes is time-consuming, expensive, and not easily reproducible given the myriad components of a variant calling pipeline. Here, we describe a cloud-based pipeline for joint variant calling in large samples using the Real Time Genomics population caller. We deployed the population caller on the Amazon cloud with the DNAnexus platform in order to achieve low-cost variant calling. Using our pipeline, we were able to identify 68.3 million variants in 2,535 samples from Phase 3 of the 1000 Genomes Project. By performing the variant calling in a parallel manner, the data was processed within 5 days at a compute cost of $7.33 per sample (a total cost of $18,590 for completed jobs and $21,805 for all jobs). Analysis of cost dependence and running time on the data size suggests that, given near linear scalability, cloud computing can be a cheap and efficient platform for analyzing even larger sequencing studies in the future.
Single-Center Review of Infections Associated with 1,574 Consecutive Vascular Access Procedures

The objective of this study was to establish accurate infection rates and causes for vascular access procedures and provide information helpful in identifying means of reducing infections. Between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2001 (60 months), a single surgeon (AFS) performed 1,574 consecutive vascular access procedures (850 patients) in 1 academic medical center. Recently, a retrospective review of these records revealed that 87 patients (10.2% of this population) underwent removal of access grafts or fistula for infection. In these 87 patients, 131 grafts and 1 fistula were removed. Thus, 8.4% (132/1,574) of the total surgeries were for infection. This review included evaluation of repeat infection, causative organism, and HIV status. Cause of infection fell into 5 major categories. Of the 87 patients, 26 had multiple graft infections. Diabetes and hypertension lead to increased end-stage renal disease, requiring more vascular access procedures. Following thrombosis, infection is the most common complication in vascular access. Therefore, mechanisms to reduce infection would be well received. These data suggest that operative infection accounted for only 6% of infective procedures, and when the entire population is considered, the operative infection rate was 0.51%. However, infections secondary to routine dialysis make up more than 50% of this infective operative population. The authors note that 17% of the infective operations were in previously infected grafts that were not initially completely removed and 23% developed in nonfunctional grafts. Multiple graft infections played a significant role in the investigation and warrant further evaluation.
Estradiol concentrations in premenopausal women with coronary heart disease

BackgroundBecause of the beneficial effects of estrogen, premenopausal women are normally protected against coronary heart disease (CHD) and are at lower risk for myocardial infarction; consequently, CHD occurs very rarely in menstrually active women. Given this background, the aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that decreased concentrations of estrogen are associated with CHD in premenopausal women. MethodsFourteen premenopausal women with CHD were investigated and compared with a healthy control group comparable for age and cardiovascular risk factors. Relevant characteristics of patients and controls were assessed: age, blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, tnglycendes, former pregnancies, ovariectomy and related surgical interventions, smoking history and former use of oral contraceptives. To ensure the premenopausal status of the participants, the regularity of the menstrual cycle and the follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations were also assessed. Plasma estradiol and progesterone and urine estrone concentrations (24 h urine collection) were measured at day 6 after estimated ovulation to assess the relative increase in plasma estradiol and progesterone during the second half of the menstrual cycle. ResultsCompared with the control group, premenopausal women with CHD had significantly lower concentrations of plasma estradiol (408.9 ±141 pmol/l and 287.8 ± 109 pmol/l respectively; P= 0.0228) and total estrogen (2061 ± 693 pg/μmol creatinine and 1607 ± 448 pg/μmol creatinine respectively; P= 0.025) in the urine. However, the progesterone concentrations were not significantly different between the groups. These findings might be explained by a partial ovarian dysfunction, as the patient group had a significantly higher number of tubal sterilizations (eight compared with one).
HIRSUTISM IN KASHMIR: AN ETIOLOGICAL STUDY

Background: Hirsutism refers to the presence of terminal hairs at the body sites under androgenic control. Various factors, including genetic makeup and hormonal status, influence the rate and pattern of hair growth at these sites. Purpose: To study the pattern of hirsutism in Kashmir. Materials and Methods: Thirty five consecutive patients of hirsutism were included in the study. After detailed history taking, physical examination and relevant investigations, scoring of hirsutism was done using the Ferriman Gallwey (FG) scoring system. Findings: The FG score ranged from 10-34. Twenty patients had associated menstrual abnormalities. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was diagnosed in four patients, hypothyroidism in two and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in one. The rest of the patients had idiopathic hirsutism. Conclusion: Idiopathic hirsutism was the most common category, whilst PCOS, hypothyroidism and CAH were also seen.
Transcriptional Analysis of Estrogen Effects in Human Embryonic Neurons and Glial Cells

Estrogen exerts many effects in the central nervous system which extend beyond regulating sexual behavior and gonadal function in reproduction. It has been shown that estrogen has a range of both neuroprotective and neuromodulatory effects, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying estrogen actions in the human brain. We therefore analyzed the transcriptional response to estrogen by microarray technology in primary cell cultures of neurons and glial cells derived from 8- to 12-week human fetal brain tissue. Estrogen treatment of the cell cultures during a 7-day culture period revealed a number of genes with significantly altered expression. Fourteen genes were selected for further analysis by quantitative real-time PCR in order to confirm the gene expression changes observed by the microarray analysis. Six genes were identified with important roles in the nervous system that have not been described before to be estrogen-regulated. Three genes, IGFBP7, Transgelin and Cyr61, were further analyzed by immunostaining, and were found to be expressed in both primary neurons and glial cells. Our results indicate that estrogen may influence developing human neurons and glia through regulating expression of genes that are important for the development of the nervous system.
Kidney function assessment and its role in drug development, review and utilization

A key regulatory requirement pertaining to drug development is characterization of the role of kidney function in drug disposition and response, along with provision of corresponding renal dose adjustment recommendations. Traditionally, this information has been derived from Phase I pharmacokinetic studies in which regulatory guidance exists for pharmaceutical manufacturers on the design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of data. Categorization and stratification of subjects into kidney function groups and dosing recommendations have historically been based on creatinine clearance estimates using the Cockcroft–Gault equation. As new estimating equations have emerged, the choice of equation for assessment of kidney function has become an area of debate. This review highlights these equations and provides recent examples of the use of quantitative models, incorporating efficacy and safety to make rational dose recommendations in subjects with impaired kidney function.
Clinical Strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Carrying a blaTEM-21 Gene Located on a Chromosomal Interrupted TnA Type Transposon

ABSTRACT A clinical isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to produce a clavulanic acid-inhibited extended-spectrum β-lactamase with a pI of 6.4. PCR, cloning, and sequencing experiments showed that the corresponding blaTEM-21 gene was part of a chromosomally located Tn801 transposon disrupted by an IS6100 element and adjacent to an aac(3)-II gene.
Psoriasis vulgaris with the early and late onset--HLA phenotype correlations.

The purpose of the study was to classify psoriasis vulgaris basing on HLA phenotype and the age of onset of the disease. One hundred fifteen psoriatic patients were included into the study and divided into two groups: group I--with early onset (< 40 years) and group II--with late onset (> or = 40 years). Each group was subclassified according to Cw6 antigen expression: IA-Cw(6+)--early onset, IB-Cw(6-)--early onset, IIA-Cw(6+)--late onset, IIB-Cw(6-)--late onset. HLA class I antigen typing was performed in each of 115 subjects using the microlymphocytotoxicity test. HLA class II antigen typing was also performed in 20 randomly selected patients by means of the two-step microlymphocytotoxicity test. The occurrence Cw6, B13, B17 antigens was significantly increased in psoriatic groups in comparison with a control population. No difference between the groups was found with respect to class II antigen frequency. Cw6, B13 and B17 were the most specific markers for psoriasis with the early onset, whereas B27, Cw2, B44 and Cw5 seemed to be associated with the late type of the disease.
Ecological genomics of tropical trees: how local population size and allelic diversity of resistance genes relate to immune responses, cosusceptibility to pathogens, and negative density dependence

In tropical forests, rarer species show increased sensitivity to species‐specific soil pathogens and more negative effects of conspecific density on seedling survival (NDD). These patterns suggest a connection between ecology and immunity, perhaps because small population size disproportionately reduces genetic diversity of hyperdiverse loci such as immunity genes. In an experiment examining seedling roots from six species in one tropical tree community, we found that smaller populations have reduced amino acid diversity in pathogen resistance (R) genes but not the transcriptome in general. Normalized R gene amino acid diversity varied with local abundance and prior measures of differences in sensitivity to conspecific soil and NDD. After exposure to live soil, species with lower R gene diversity had reduced defence gene induction, more cosusceptibility of maternal cohorts to colonization by potentially pathogenic fungi, reduced root growth arrest (an R gene‐mediated response) and their root‐associated fungi showed lower induction of self‐defence (antioxidants). Local abundance was not related to the ability to induce immune responses when pathogen recognition was bypassed by application of salicylic acid, a phytohormone that activates defence responses downstream of R gene signalling. These initial results support the hypothesis that smaller local tree populations have reduced R gene diversity and recognition‐dependent immune responses, along with greater cosusceptibility to species‐specific pathogens that may facilitate disease transmission and NDD. Locally rare species may be less able to increase their equilibrium abundance without genetic boosts to defence via immigration of novel R gene alleles from a larger and more diverse regional population.
Chloride, a New Environmental Signal Molecule Involved in Gene Regulation in a Moderately Halophilic Bacterium, Halobacillus halophilus

ABSTRACT The gram-positive, aerobic, moderately halophilic bacterium Halobacillus halophilus is challenged in its environment by frequently changing salt (NaCl) concentrations. Recently, H. halophilus was shown to be the first prokaryote that is dependent on Cl− for growth. In a search for the biological function of Cl− in this prokaryote, we identified different Cl−-dependent processes, which suggests a more general role for Cl− in the metabolism of H. halophilus. To analyze the effect of Cl− in more detail, we concentrated on one model system, the Cl−-dependent production of flagella, and aimed to identify the molecular basis for the Cl− dependence of flagellum production. Here, we report that synthesis of the major subunit of the flagellum, FliC, is dependent on the Cl− concentration of the medium, as determined by Western blot analyses. The gene encoding FliC was cloned and sequenced, and Northern blot as well as reverse transcriptase PCR analyses revealed that expression of fliC is Cl− dependent. FliC is the first protein of known function demonstrated to be synthesized in a Cl−-dependent manner in a prokaryote. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of cells grown under different conditions revealed five more Cl−-induced proteins; these were identified by N-terminal sequencing and database searches to be orthologs of proteins involved in stress response in Bacillus subtilis. The data indicate that Cl− is an important environmental signal in this moderate halophile and regulates protein synthesis and gene expression. Furthermore, the data may suggest that Cl− plays a role in the signal transduction involved in salt perception by this bacterium.
Effect of precooling on high intensity cycling performance.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of precooling skin and core temperature on a 70 second cycling power test performed in a warm and humid environment (29 degrees C, 80% relative humidity). METHODS: Thirteen male national and international level representative cyclists (mean (SD) age 24.1 (4.1) years; height 181.5 (6.2) cm; weight 75.5 (6.4) kg; maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) 66.1 (7.0) ml/kg/min) were tested in random order after either 30 minutes of precooling using cold water immersion or under control conditions (no precooling). Tests were separated by a minimum of two days. The protocol consisted of a 10 minute warm up at 60% of VO2peak followed by three minutes of stretching. This was immediately followed by the 70 second power test which was performed on a standard road bicycle equipped with 172.5 mm powermeter cranks and mounted on a stationary ergometer. RESULTS: Mean power output for the 70 second performance test after precooling was significantly (p<0.005) increased by 3.3 (2.7)% from 581 (57) W to 603 (60) W. Precooling also significantly (p<0.05) decreased core, mean body, and upper and lower body skin temperature; however, by the start of the performance test, lower body skin temperature was no different from control. After precooling, heart rate was also significantly lower than control throughout the warm up (p<0.05). Ratings of perceived exertion were significantly higher than the control condition at the start of the warm up after precooling, but lower than the control condition by the end of the warm up (p<0.05). No differences in blood lactate concentration were detected between conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Precooling improves short term cycling performance, possibly by initiating skin vasoconstriction which may increase blood availability to the working muscles. Future research is required to determine the physiological basis for the ergogenic effects of precooling on high intensity exercise.
Supporting the attainment of disadvantaged pupils: articulating success and good practice : Research report November 2015.

The performance gap between pupils from more and less advantaged backgrounds in England is one of the largest among OECD countries (OECD, 2014). The pupil premium was introduced by the coalition government in 2011 to increase social mobility and reduce the gap in performance between pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Schools receive funding for each disadvantaged pupil and can use the funding flexibly, in the best interests of eligible pupils. In November 2014, the Department for Education commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) to investigate the differences between schools in the performance of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. The study aimed to identify: 1. Whether there are any common features of schools that have narrowed the gap successfully. 2. Whether there are any possible groups/clusters of schools that have narrowed the gap, and why this is the case. 3. What are schools that have narrowed the gap doing compared to other schools? What leads to them doing well? What lessons can be learnt from them? For the purpose of this study, disadvantaged pupils are identified in the national school datasets used in this analysis based on their eligibility for the pupil premium. This includes pupils eligible for free school meals at any point within the past six years (Ever 6 FSM) and pupils looked after by the local authority.
Tracheal tube cuffs and tracheal dilatation.

Although tracheal tube cuffs are well known to injure the trachea, attempts to design safer cuff systems have been only partially successful. In 14 dogs, we compared three models of high residual volume, low pressure cuffs, which are considered to be among the safest. Two were air-filled cuffs -- a maintained pressure cuff and a balloon reservoir cuff -- and the third was foam-filled. Tracheal dilatation was considerably more severe with mechanical ventilation than with spontaneous breathing, but the foam cuff produced significantly less dilatation (P less than .005) than the air-filled cuffs.