Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing bus transit service from the perspective of elderly passengers in Harbin, China

Abstract With the rapid aging population, the number of elderly passengers using bus services for daily travel will increase. Thus, it is increasingly more important for bus companies to understand the specific service requirements and expectations of elderly passengers. However, we are not aware of any dedicated studies on service requirement and travel satisfaction of the elderly. As an inclusive society is considered a key aspect of sustainable development, guaranteeing travel satisfaction is a sine qua non for sustainable transportation. Therefore, this study develops a customer satisfaction index (CSI) for the elderly. Assuming that perceived service quality affects passenger satisfaction, a structural equation model (SEM) is estimated to derive the importance of 10 dimensions of perceived service quality: reliability, time schedule, route characteristics, ticketing, driver service, convenience, safety and security, cleanliness, comfort, and information services. Furthermore, the effect of satisfaction on loyalty and filing complaints against the service company is examined. SEM is developed using data from a bus passenger survey, administered in 2017 in Harbin, China. The results show while some service dimensions such as time schedule and reliability are less important to the elderly (possibly due to their less strict time constraints) other dimensions such as service and security, convenience and driver service are in need of improvement due to the fact that they are very important for the elderly but their perceived performance from the elderly’s perspective is low.
The miR-1206 microRNA variant is associated with methotrexate-induced oral mucositis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Five-year survival rates of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have reached 90% in the developed countries. However, toxicity because of methotrexate (MTX) occurs frequently. Variety in the occurrence of toxicity is partly determined by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in coding regions. Recently, five SNPs in non-coding pre-microRNAs and microRNA processing (miRNA) genes were identified in association with MTX-induced oral mucositis. This study aimed to replicate the association of these miRNA variants in relation to MTX-induced oral mucositis in a prospective childhood ALL cohort. Three out of five SNPs with a minor allele frequency more than 0.15 [CCR4-NOT transcription complex (CNOT4) rs3812265, miR-1206 rs2114358, miR-2053 rs10505168] were analyzed in 117 pediatric ALL patients treated with 5 g/m2 MTX (DCOG ALL-10). Oral mucositis was defined as grade more than or equal to 3 according to the National Cancer Institute criteria. rs2114358 in miR-1206 was associated with oral mucositis [odds ratio (OR): 3.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1–11.5], whereas we did not confirm the association of CNOT4 rs3812265 (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.27–1.80) and miR-2053 rs10505168 (OR: 2.50; 95% CI: 0.76–8.24). Our results replicate the association between rs2114358 in miR-1206 and MTX-induced oral mucositis in childhood ALL. Genetic variation in miR-1206 has potential as a novel biomarker to predict MTX-induced toxicity.
The F-Box Protein MAX2 Functions as a Positive Regulator of Photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis1[C][W][OA]

Light is vital for plant growth and development. To respond to ambient light signals, plants are equipped with an array of photoreceptors, including phytochromes that sense red (R)/far-R (FR) regions and cryptochromes and phototropins that respond to the ultraviolet-A/blue (B) region of the light spectrum, respectively. Several positively and negatively acting components in light-signaling pathways have been identified using genetic approaches; however, the pathways are not saturated. Here, we characterize a new mutant named pleiotropic photosignaling (pps), isolated from a genetic screen under continuous R light. pps has longer hypocotyls and slightly smaller cotyledons under continuous R, FR, and B light compared to that of the wild type. pps is also hyposensitive to both R and FR light-induced seed germination. Although photosynthetic marker genes are constitutively expressed in pps in the dark at high levels, the expression of early light-regulated genes is reduced in the pps seedlings compared to wild-type seedlings under R light. PPS encodes MAX2/ORE9 (for MORE AXILLARY BRANCHES2/ORESARA9), an F-box protein involved in inflorescence architecture and senescence. MAX2 is expressed ubiquitously in the seedling stage. However, its expression is restricted to vascular tissues and meristems at adult stages. MAX2 is also localized to the nucleus. As an F-box protein, MAX2 is predicted to be a component of the SCF (for SKP, Cullin, and F-box protein) complex involved in regulated proteolysis. These results suggest that SCFMAX2 plays critical roles in R, FR, and B light-signaling pathways. In addition, MAX2 might regulate multiple targets at different developmental stages to optimize plant growth and development.
A collateral pathway to the neostriatum from corticofugal neurons of the rat sensory‐motor cortex: An intracellular HRP study

A projection from large pyramidal cells in layer V of the rat somatic sensory‐motor (SSM) cortex both to the neostriatum and the brainstem was demonstrated by intracellular recording and injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Layer V neurons that project to the brainstem were identified either by antidromic activation from the cerebral peduncle or by tracing the HRP‐labeled axon into the internal capsule in histochemically processed sections. Intracellular responses to stimulation of the hindlimb, forelimb or mystacial pad were also examined.
Educating the girl child in rural areas.

This article discusses the importance of educating female children in India. There is ample evidence worldwide that improvements in girls' education benefit the status of the family and empower women. The World Declaration of Education for All was adopted in Jomtein, Thailand in 1990. It urged access to and improvement in the quality of education of girls and women to remove obstacles that hamper active participation. 1990 was the Year of Literacy and the Year of the Girl Child. Girls lag in education worldwide. The gender gap is widest in India in levels of literacy, school enrollment, school dropouts, and opportunities for vocational training. There is a need to educate the public, particularly mothers, about the value of girls. In rural and backward areas of India, there is fear of educating girls that is related to prevalent practices of exploitation and violence against women. Education and vocational training should be linked with anti-poverty programs. Adult literacy should be linked with girls' education. The National Policy on Education in 1986 targeted removal of sex stereotyping from school curricula and promoted diversified curricula and access of girls to vocational and professional training programs. The policy recommended integrated child care services and primary education. The national action plan for the 1990s focuses on protection, survival, and development of the girl child in India. Special schools for developing skills in nutrition, cooking, sewing, home economics, and child development should be set up in villages for girls 12-20 years old. The gap in girls' education is attributed to apathy and resistance of parents, unfavorable attitudes toward coeducation, poverty of parents, shortages of schools, and poor quality instruction. Girls' continuing education should be ensured by incentives, such as free books and clothes; time tables conducive to work; support systems; and work schemes.
Isolated wetlands and their functions: An ecological perspective

The recent U.S. Supreme Court case of Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (SWANCC) has had profound implications on the legal status of isolated wetlands. As a result, policymakers need ecological information on the definition and functions of isolated wetlands to respond to this decision. The term “isolated wetlands” is of fairly recent usage and has been poorly defined. In response, I recommend Tiner’s (2003b) definition as wetlands “that are completely surrounded by upland. ” Isolation needs to be considered with respect to specific processes and functions. I suggest that isolation not be viewed discretely but be considered within an isolation-connectivity continuum. Isolation has a fundamental influence on the way water enters and leaves a wetland. This consequently affects any wetland function that depends on water as a vector (e.g., pollutant transport and certain types of dispersal). These wetlands can also have a high level of endemism, extensive plant zonation, and high biodiversity. Isolated wetlands, however, do not represent ecologically isolated habitat for many organisms. I conclude that the effect of isolation may not be as significant as the term “isolated wetlands” suggests: many of the biological features of isolated wetlands may result from environmental conditions that also occur in nonisolated wetlands. As a result of SWANCC, assessment methods are needed that can help regulators distinguish between jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional isolated wetlands. I propose that the merger of simple, source-sink-transport vector concepts with landscape-level assessment methods could be useful in this regard. I point to the need for documented examples of organisms that spend most of their lives in waters of the U.S. but also require isolated wetlands. I conclude that wetland science would benefit from the development of a comprehensive view of isolation as a formative process across different regional wetland types.
Trends in cardiovascular risk factors of Siberian adolescents during socioeconomic reforms in Russia (1989-2003).

OBJECTIVE Prevalence and trends of cardiovascular risk factors among adolescent population in Novosibirsk during the reforms in Russia (1989-2003). STUDY DESIGN Four cross-sectional surveys of representative samples of schoolchildren aged 14-17 since 1989 (total--2,569). METHODS Body mass index (BMI) was calculated (kg/m2), blood pressure was double measured with Korotkov's method, and serum total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were estimated with enzymatic methods. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated with Friedwald's formula. Self-report of smoking (1 cig/week and more) and physical inactivity (2 h/week and less) was obtained. Diet was estimated using 24-hour dietary recall. RESULTS Prevalence of high TC, high LDL-C and low HDL-C significantly decreased in both gender groups. Prevalence of arterial hypertension also decreased in boys and girls. Frequency of overweight decreased more in girls. Trends in diet showed significant decreasing of total energy and basic nutrient intakes. Cigarette smoking rate decreased in boys and increased in girls. Physical inactivity rate was high in boys and girls. CONCLUSION Obtained data indicate similar trends to reduction in classical CVD risk factors, energy intake and life style changes among Siberian adolescents during the period of socioeconomic reforms in Russia.
Emotional impact of exposure to terrorism among young-old and old-old Israeli citizens.

OBJECTIVE Since September 2000, continuous terrorist attacks have exposed Israeli society to trauma, and the impact of these events on the mental health of the elderly Israeli population remains unclear. The authors sought to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress-related symptoms of distress, depression, optimism, self-efficacy, and sense of safety of the young-old and old-old Jewish population after 19 months of intense terrorism in Israel, in order to identify correlates of the psychological sequelae and compare symptoms and coping methods of these populations with those of younger adults. METHODS Authors did a telephone survey using stratified sampling with a national sample of young-old (65-74 years old), old-old (>74 years old) and a comparison group of younger adults (18-64 years old). RESULTS No difference was found in the level of exposure, traumatic stress symptoms, including probable PTSD, except for a nonsignificant tendency toward more depersonalization and emotional numbness in the elderly group, a tendency toward more sleeplessness, more re-experiencing of unwanted thoughts, hyperarousal, fewer avoidance symptoms, and less disengagement-coping in the old-old group. Younger adults were found to be significantly more optimistic. Young-old and old-old people used cigarettes/alcohol and tranquilizers more often to cope with the situation, and old-old people who used disengagement-coping felt less helped by it. CONCLUSIONS Young-old and old-old people do not differ significantly from the younger adult population with regard to their response to 19 months of intense and recurrent terrorism.
Loss of Heterozygosity at the RB-1 Locus and pRB Immunostaining in Epithelial Ovarian Tumors: A Molecular, Immunohistochemical, and Clinicopathologic Study

Alterations in the retinoblastoma gene (RB-1) are common in human neoplasia. The frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the RB-1 locus on chromosome 13q14 was studied in a series of 51 epithelial ovarian tumors (10 benign, 7 borderline, and 34 malignant). LOH was scored by the absence or reduction of the signal to < 50% of one of the alleles in tumor DNA compared with normal DNA. LOH results were correlated with retinoblastoma protein (pRB) immunostaining. LOH at the RB-1 locus was observed in 9 tumors (17.6%), specifically in 1 of 7 borderline tumors and 8 of 34 ovarian carcinomas (23.5%). Among the malignant tumors, LOH occurred more frequently in carcinomas with serous differentiation (7/23; 30%). A heterogeneous (10% to 70% cells) or diffuse (>70% cells) pRB immunostaining was less frequent in benign (1/10; 10%) and borderline (2/7; 28%) tumors than in ovarian carcinomas (15/34; 44%), an observation that correlated with the higher proliferative index in carcinomas than in benign and borderline tumors. However, lack or only focal (<10% cells) pRB immunostaining occurred in the vast majority of tumors with LOH at the RB-1 locus (7/9; 77%), a finding that may suggest a tumor suppressor role for RB-1 in these tumors. The results suggest that RB-1 may play a role in a subset of ovarian carcinomas, particularly those exhibiting serous differentiation.
Overexpression of Apolipoprotein B in the Heart Impedes Cardiac Triglyceride Accumulation and Development of Cardiac Dysfunction in Diabetic Mice*

The heart secretes apolipoprotein B (apoB) containing lipoproteins. Herein, we examined whether the overexpression of a human apoB transgene in the heart affects triglyceride accumulation and development of cardiac dysfunction in streptozotocin-treated diabetic mice. Blood glucose, plasma free fatty acids, and plasma triglycerides were similarly affected in diabetic wild type mice and diabetic apoB transgenic mice as compared with non-diabetic mice of the same genotype. After 12 weeks, heart triglycerides were increased by 48% in diabetic wild type mice. These mice displayed an increased expression of brain natriuretic peptide and deterioration of heart function on echocardiography. In diabetic apoB transgenic mice, heart triglyceride levels were identical to those in non-diabetic wild type and apoB transgenic mice, and brain natriuretic peptide expression as well as echocardiographic indexes of heart function were only marginally affected or unaffected. The findings suggest that triglyceride accumulation in the heart is important for development of diabetic cardiomyopathy in mice, and that lipoprotein formation by cardiomyocytes plays an integrated role in cardiac lipid metabolism.
Detecting herpesvirus DNA in uveitis using the polymerase chain reaction.

BACKGROUND: Herpesviruses are involved in the pathogenesis of many ocular diseases including keratitis, iridocyclitis, and acute retinal necrosis syndrome. The rapid and accurate diagnosis of herpetic infections has become increasingly important with the rising incidence of immunosuppressive diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect herpesvirus DNA in uveitis patients. METHODS: Aqueous samples were aspirated from 11 patients with active uveitis of suspected viral origin. Using PCR, masked samples were assayed for herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) to assist in supporting the clinical diagnosis of viral aetiology. Masked controls included 10 aqueous humour specimens from normal patients undergoing cataract surgery and specimens from seven patients diagnosed with active non-viral uveitis--Behçet's disease, sarcoidosis, Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis, or Harada's disease. RESULTS: Ten of 11 cases clinically diagnosed as being of possible viral aetiology yielded aqueous PCR positive for a herpesvirus. Eight patients were PCR positive for amplified HSV DNA, of whom two had acute retinal necrosis, one had corneal endotheliitis, and five had recurrent iridocyclitis. VZV DNA was detected in one case of iridocyclitis, and CMV DNA in one case of chorioretinitis. Successful therapy was based on the PCR results. Ten normal aqueous specimens and the seven uveitis samples from cases not suspected of a viral aetiology were PCR negative for HSV, VZV, and CMV. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that detecting herpesvirus DNA in the aqueous humour is useful to support a clinical diagnosis of viral uveitis.
Factors influencing outbound medical travel from the USA

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how Americans choose a country and medical facility to travel abroad for medical treatment based on the following factors country environment, tourism destination, medical tourism costs and medical facilities and services. Design/methodology/approach Online survey with the help of Amazon Mechanical Turk website was used for data collection, and 541 valid cases were used of American residents who had travelled abroad for medical tourism. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were undertaken to validate the scales. Findings Findings indicated four major factors that can influence American medical tourists’ choices of medical tourism destinations. These factors are overseas’ country factors, attractiveness of tourism destination, medical tourism costs and facilities and services. Both the convergent and discriminant validities for the constructs were established. The results of the measurement-model-fit based on various measures were within the suggested cut-off values. Research limitations/implications Out of the 541 responses of post-travel experienced medical tourists, it is hard to tell how similar/dissimilar the participants are in terms of ranking the four factors. To be competitive to attract global medical tourists, research suggests that the five popular countries of treatment, India, China, Thailand, Mexico and Turkey, identified in this study should provide high quality of medical and tourism facilities to patients. Originality/value This study contributes to the understanding of the underlying factors, which influence American medical tourists’ choice of destinations, with validated scales. For this exploratory research, 25 new items together with 34 items from other studies were adapted.
Treatment with 5-HT potentiates development of pulmonary hypertension in chronically hypoxic rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on development of pulmonary hypertension during chronic exposure to mild (15% O2) and severe (10% O2) hypoxia. In isolated lungs from normoxic rats preconstricted with U-46619, 5-HT (10(-12)-10(-8) M) induced dose-dependent vasodilation (n = 6), which was suppressed by the NO synthesis inhibitor nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10(-4) M, n = 5) and reduced by the 5-HT3-receptor antagonist MDL-7222 (10(-5) M, n = 6). The vasoconstriction that was observed with higher concentrations of 5-HT (10(-7)-10(-4) M) was inhibited by ketanserin (10(-5) M) and methiothepin (10(-5) M, n = 6 each). The vasodilator response to 5-HT was suppressed in lungs from rats exposed to 10% O2 but not 15% O2 (n = 6 each). In conscious rats, intravenous administration of 5-HT potentiated the pulmonary pressor response to acute hypoxia (10% O2, n = 5), an effect that remained unchanged after pretreatment with a 5-HT1 and a 5-HT2 antagonist (n = 4) but was attenuated after treatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor meclofenamate (n = 4). Treatment with 5-HT (5 nmol/h i.v. by osmotic pumps) for 2 wk in rats simultaneously exposed to 10% O2 increased pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, and muscularization of pulmonary vessels in comparison with their hypoxic controls (n = 12 each). No changes occurred in 15% O2 hypoxic rats (n = 12 each). The present findings show that 5-HT potentiates development of pulmonary hypertension in rats exposed to chronic hypoxia.
Implementation of evidence-based practice in nursing using action research: a review.

BACKGROUND As is often reported in the literature exploring the research-practice gap, applying the principles of evidence-based practice is easier said than done. Action research is a methodology with an explicit intent of linking the worlds of research and practice. This review attempts to answer the question: What is known about implementing evidence-based practice in nursing through action research? APPROACH A total of 21 action research studies have been used to answer this question. To prevent possible confusion over terminology, we used a conceptual framework that distinguishes various influencing factors in terms of four target groups (ranging from the individual end user to society as a whole) at whom the strategy is aimed and various strategies (ranging from individual feedback to contracting care providers) related to the same four target groups. FINDINGS Studies often failed to name the implementation strategies applied, necessitating deduction from the text by the reader. In most of the studies the implementation strategy was directed at a combination of target groups. Many of the projects reviewed reported positive contextual outcomes, "knowledge improvement" among nurses, and to a lesser degree, improved "performance. " Patient outcomes were the least reported outcome measure. CONCLUSION With an element of caution, this review concludes that the implementation of evidence-based practice using action research is a promising approach. Caution is needed because of the lack of detailed descriptions of implementation strategies, and their intensity and frequency prevents us from drawing firm conclusions. These are important considerations for any action researcher intending to implement EBP using this approach.
The Spatial Dynamics of the Economic Impacts of an Aquatic Invasive Species: An Empirical Analysis

This paper examines how the economic loss from an aquatic species invasion of a freshwater lake is allocated between users of the lake itself (own-lake effect) and users of neighboring lakes that become invaded because the lake is a new source of the invader (spillover effect). The empirical application concerns the Eurasian watermilfoil invasion in the lake-rich landscape of northern Wisconsin. Results suggest that coordinated management across lakes provides its highest economic value in the early years of an invasion, before high-value, high-traffic lakes are invaded, and drops quickly once the invasion claims these lakes. (JEL Q51, Q57)