Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of the mode of delivery on oxidative-antioxidative balance

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the mode of delivery on the oxidant and antioxidant systems in mothers and infants and to demonstrate which mode leads more oxidative stress. Methods. The participants were divided into two groups according to the mode of their labour and delivery: group 1 (n = 33) women with normal labour and delivery and group 2 (n = 33) with scheduled caesarean section (C/S) and delivery. The maternal, cord, and infant blood samples in both groups were collected. The serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the total oxidant status (TOS) were evaluated by using an automated colorimetric measurement method. Results. The parameters indicating oxidative stress (TOS, oxidative stress index, and lipid hydroperoxide) in maternal, cord, and newborn blood samples were higher in patients delivering with C/S than those normal spontaneous vaginal deliveries (NSVD) patient group, while it was vice versa for TAC. Conclusions. It may be concluded that both the mothers and neonates in C/S group are exposed to higher oxidative stress as compared with those in NSVD group and the antioxidant mechanisms are insufficient to cope with this stress during C/S. This result indicates that the normal delivery through the physiological route is healthier for the bodies of mothers and infants.
Rejecting Unknown Harmonic Disturbances in $ 2 \times 2 $ Linear Hyperbolic PDEs

In this paper, we solve the problem of rejecting a harmonic disturbance containing unknown frequencies and bias entering a linear hyperbolic system of 1-D partial differential equations at one boundary, using boundary sensing and actuation anticollocated with the disturbance. By combining a full state feedback controller with an adaptive observer that estimates system states and the disturbance’s bias, frequencies, amplitudes, and phases with exponential convergence, the effect of the disturbance is rejected exponentially fast. The theoretical results are applied to a relevant problem from the oil and gas industry, and the performance is demonstrated in a computer simulation.
E-voting in Nigeria: A survey of voters' perception of security and other trust factors

In March and April, 2015, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, elections were conducted, using partial electronic voting means. Specifically, smart card readers were utilized for accreditation of prospective voters. While the 2015 election exercise was adjudged the best ever in the history of the country, it was not without challenges. One of these was the failure, in many instances, of the readers to authenticate eligible voters. This study is aimed at collating the perception by voters of security and four other factors capable of influencing their trust of the use e-voting system. Using questionnaire, the data collated from 306 participants were analyzed. Majority of the participants were male (63.7%), students (40.8%), within the ages of 18 and 24 years (39.5%), and intermediate in their IT proficiency level (50.3%). The study reveals that the proposed factors enhance voters' trust. Demographic differences were also found to affect the perception of the proposed factors. If the country plans to deploy full-fledged e-voting mechanism for future elections, voter education, with emphasis on voters with low IT literacy and the elderly, must be given due attention.
JOINT IMAGING OF PRIMARY AND MULTIPLE REFLECTIONS FOR RVSP : REAL DATA EXAMPLE

Seismic imaging for RVSP or drill-bit data recorded for deviated or horizontal wells is a challenging task. Conventional filtering methods such as dip-filtering will fail to separate the primary (upgoing) and multiple (downgoing) reflections because the drill path generates primary and multiple reflections with similar moveout and the same polarity. In this paper, I present a new migration method using both primary and free-surface reflections to image the reflectors below the drill bit. The merit of this method is that it does not require the separation of the primary and multiple reflections. This joint imaging is implemented using the autocorrelogram imaging condition because it can produce a subsurface image without knowing the pilot signal. Additionally, it is also capable of suppressing the static errors at the source or/and receiver positions. I test the sensitivity of joint autocorrelogram migration to velocity and statics shift errors using synthetic data for a 5-layer synthetic model and a source in a horizontal well. Test results on synthetic data show that our method is capable of suppressing spurious interferences and also performs robustly when seismic data are distorted by statics shifts at the source and receiver locations. In the field data example, the joint imaging approach produces better ”look-ahead” image compared with primary autocorrelogram images.
Chromosome 3 p Deletions in Head and Neck Carcinomas : Statistical Ascertainment of Allelic Loss 1

Loss of function of tumor suppressor genes is important in the origin and progression of common adult tumors. Loss of heterozygosity indicat ing allelic loss has been used to detect chromosomal regions that harbor these genes. Using over 20 restriction fragment length polymorphism markers spaced throughout the entire length of chromosome 3p, we have generated 3p allelotypes for 18-26 head and neck squamous cell carci noma cell lines. We then estimated the average heterozygosity over 19 loci for a random sample drawn from natural populations to be 7.80 and that for the tumor lines to be 1.65, indicating a gross reduction of heterozygosity, presumably due to allelic loss. Further comparison of per locus heterozygosity in normal and tumor DNAs showed which loci contributed to the general loss of heterozygosity. We showed that the commonly deleted region of 3p probably lies telomeric to D3S3 (3pl4) and centramene to RAH (3p25). This large region includes several putative tumor suppressor genes involved in multiple common tumor types of lung, breast, kidney, ovary, and cervix. The data demonstrate that chromosome 3p allelic loss is a common event in head and neck cancers and suggest that chromosome 3p tumor suppressor genes con tribute to the pathogenesis of these tumors.
A Novel Phase-Shedding Control Scheme for Improved Light Load Efficiency of Multiphase Interleaved DC–DC Converters

In this paper, a novel phase-shedding control scheme for multiphase interleaved dc-dc converters is proposed to improve the light load efficiency. The proposed phase-shedding scheme is based upon power efficiency estimation with a numerically constructed lookup table and a phase configuration selector to automatically determine the load current point of phase shedding for the minimization of the power loss during the light load condition. The proposed scheme is verified on a three-phase-interleaved dc-dc synchronous buck converter with a 12 V input and 1.2 V, 60 A output. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
A low upper limit on the subsurface rise speed of solar active regions

Comparison of observations and simulations provides a strong upper limit on the subsurface rise speed of solar active regions. Magnetic field emerges at the surface of the Sun as sunspots and active regions. This process generates a poloidal magnetic field from a rising toroidal flux tube; it is a crucial but poorly understood aspect of the solar dynamo. The emergence of magnetic field is also important because it is a key driver of solar activity. We show that measurements of horizontal flows at the solar surface around emerging active regions, in combination with numerical simulations of solar magnetoconvection, can constrain the subsurface rise speed of emerging magnetic flux. The observed flows imply that the rise speed of the magnetic field is no larger than 150 m/s at a depth of 20 Mm, that is, well below the prediction of the (standard) thin flux tube model but in the range expected for convective velocities at this depth. We conclude that convective flows control the dynamics of rising flux tubes in the upper layers of the Sun and cannot be neglected in models of flux emergence.
Comparisons of overground endoscopy and treadmill endoscopy in UK Thoroughbred racehorses.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY To date there is no information on the comparison of the more recently documented technique of performing endoscopy during ridden exercise in the field, with the more traditional method of endoscopy during high-speed treadmill exercise. OBJECTIVES To compare the results of upper respiratory tract endoscopy in UK Thoroughbred racehorses performed during ridden exercise in the field with those obtained during exercise on the treadmill. METHODS A direct comparison was undertaken in 4 horses whereby both procedures were performed in the same horse within 10 days of each other. An indirect comparison was also undertaken whereby the results of overground endoscopy performed in 50 racehorses was compared to the results obtained during treadmill endoscopy in a further 50 racehorses. Horses were matched for age, gender, use (National Hunt vs. Flat) and presenting complaint (abnormal respiratory noise vs. poor performance). RESULTS Dorsal displacement of the soft palate was diagnosed less frequently during overground endoscopy than during treadmill endoscopy. There was no significant difference in the diagnosis of dynamic laryngeal collapse between the 2 techniques. The treadmill exercise test was performed over longer distances at higher inclines, albeit at lower speeds than the overground test. In contrast to the treadmill test, the overground test was frequently performed in intervals. CONCLUSIONS The results of both the direct and indirect comparisons suggest that dorsal displacement of the soft palate is diagnosed less often during overground endoscopy than during treadmill endoscopy. Strenuous exercise tests may be more easily performed on a treadmill than by performing multiple exercise intervals in the field. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE Care should be taken in interpreting negative findings during both procedures, but particularly during overground endoscopy if racing conditions have not been appropriately replicated.
Effectiveness of 32 versus 20 weeks of prednisolone in leprosy patients with recent nerve function impairment: A randomized controlled trial

Background While prednisolone is commonly used to treat recent nerve function impairment (NFI) in leprosy patients, the optimal treatment duration has not yet been established. In this “Treatment of Early Neuropathy in Leprosy” (TENLEP) trial, we evaluated whether a 32-week prednisolone course is more effective than a 20-week course in restoring and improving nerve function. Methods In this multi-centre, triple-blind, randomized controlled trial, leprosy patients who had recently developed clinical NFI (<6 months) were allocated to a prednisolone treatment regimen of either 20 weeks or 32 weeks. Prednisolone was started at either 45 or 60 mg/day, depending on the patient’s body weight, and was then tapered. Throughout follow up, NFI was assessed by voluntary muscle testing and monofilament testing. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with improved or restored nerve function at week 78. As secondary outcomes, we analysed improvements between baseline and week 78 on the Reaction Severity Scale, the SALSA Scale and the Participation Scale. Serious Adverse Events and the need for additional prednisolone treatment were monitored and reported. Results We included 868 patients in the study, 429 in the 20-week arm and 439 in the 32-week arm. At 78 weeks, the proportion of patients with improved or restored nerve function did not differ significantly between the groups: 78.1% in the 20-week arm and 77.5% in the 32-week arm (p = 0.821). Nor were there any differences in secondary outcomes, except for a significant higher proportion of Serious Adverse Events in the longer treatment arm. Conclusion In our study, a 20-week course of prednisolone was as effective as a 32-week course in improving and restoring recent clinical NFI in leprosy patients. Twenty weeks is therefore the preferred initial treatment duration for leprosy neuropathy, after which likely only a minority of patients require further individualized treatment.
Work-Family Conflict Influences on Female’s Career Development through Career Expectation

Nowadays, women are still underrepresented in the higher positions in most organizations. Some crucial questions are whether family responsibilities affect female career development and career expectation influences the relationship between work and family conflict and career development of women or not. Through surveying the female teachers in Lin Yi University and Shandong Medical College, this article wants to know the correct relationship among work and family conflict, career expectations and career developments for women.
Comparative analysis of p53 gene mutations and protein accumulation in human non‐small‐cell lung cancer

A series of 54 resected primary non‐small‐cell lung carcinomas was analyzed for p53 gene mutations and for p53 protein accumulation and the findings were correlated with clinical parameters. Mutations in exons 5 through 8 of the p53 gene were identified by a denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) assay and cycle sequencing, whereas p53 protein accumulation was detected in paraffin‐embedded tissue by immunostaining using 2 different murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (BP53‐12 and DO7). A p53 gene mutation and/or p53 protein accumulation was found in 37 of 54 tumors. Mis‐sense mutations were closely associated with positive immunostaining, which was intense in 15 out of 17 cases with a mutation. In 10 tumors, obvious p53 accumulation was detected in the absence of mutations in exons 5 through 8. Conversely, only one of 8 p53 non‐sense mutations led to detectable p53 accumulation. The most frequent single base changes were G → T transversions and C → T transitions. The presence of a p53 alteration was not related to age, tumor size, stage or histology. However, we found a significant inverse correlation between p53 alterations and the presence of a K‐ras mutation. This was reflected in the overall postoperative survival data: patients with p53 alterations in their tumors tended to have a better prognosis than those without a p53 alteration; however, this difference was lost when cases with a K‐ras mutation were omitted from the analysis. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
From transparency to performance? Exploring how and why companies implement sustainability reporting practices.

Esta tesis se centra en el estudio de la implementacion de practicas de reporte de sostenibilidad (o RSC) en las empresas europeas. Estas practicas han adquirido una relevancia notable a lo largo de los ultimos 20 anos, siendo utilizadas actualmente por el 93% de las 250 mayores empresas a nivel mundial y por mas de 8000 organizaciones en total (de acuerdo a la base de datos de Global Reporting Initiative). Hasta la fecha, el considerable volumen de estudios existentes sobre las practicas de reporte a nivel corporativo ha permitido caracterizar la influencia de una serie de factores externos (como la presion social o el comportamiento de organizaciones similares) a la hora de adoptar estas practicas. Sin embargo, se dispone de mucho menos conocimiento respecto a las caracteristicas internas que influyen en esta decision, asi como a la influencia de ambas causas (externas e internas) en la manera que el reporte se implementa una vez adoptado. Por tanto, esta tesis se centra en abordar estos dos aspectos. Para ello, se ha generado un marco conceptual que permite integrar ambas explicaciones para la adopcion del reporte, combinando teorias institucionales (centradas en la influencia de fuerzas externas) y teorias organizativas (centradas en la eficiencia de una practica a nivel de compania). De manera analoga al ambito de la RSC, en el cual existe una diversidad de contribuciones que reconocen la importancia de los factores externos y los factores internos (estrategicos) a la hora de impulsar estas practicas, el marco conceptual generado tiene por objetivo propiciar un entendimiento mas completo de las practicas de reporte a nivel de compania. De forma adicional al marco conceptual se han formulado tambien una serie de hipotesis especificas que relacionan la existencia de determinantes externos e internos y las distintas estrategias de implementacion del reporte en cada organizacion.
Triplex structures induce DNA double strand breaks via replication fork collapse in NER deficient cells

Structural alterations in DNA can serve as natural impediments to replication fork stability and progression, resulting in DNA damage and genomic instability. Naturally occurring polypurine mirror repeat sequences in the human genome can create endogenous triplex structures evoking a robust DNA damage response. Failures to recognize or adequately process these genomic lesions can result in loss of genomic integrity. Nucleotide excision repair (NER) proteins have been found to play a prominent role in the recognition and repair of triplex structures. We demonstrate using triplex-forming oligonucleotides that chromosomal triplexes perturb DNA replication fork progression, eventually resulting in fork collapse and the induction of double strand breaks (DSBs). We find that cells deficient in the NER damage recognition proteins, XPA and XPC, accumulate more DSBs in response to chromosomal triplex formation than NER-proficient cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that XPC-deficient cells are particularly prone to replication-associated DSBs in the presence of triplexes. In the absence of XPA or XPC, deleterious consequences of triplex-induced genomic instability may be averted by activating apoptosis via dual phosphorylation of the H2AX protein. Our results reveal that damage recognition by XPC and XPA is critical to maintaining replication fork integrity and preventing replication fork collapse in the presence of triplex structures.
Q 1 2 A Protein Interaction between b-Catenin and 3 Dnmt 1 Regulates Wnt Signaling Q 2 and DNA 4 Methylation in Colorectal Cancer Cells 5

8 Aberrant activation of the Wnt signaling pathway is an 9 important step in the initiation and progression of tumor 10 development in diverse cancers. The central effector of canon11 ical Wnt signaling, b-catenin (CTNNB1), is a multifunctional 12 protein, and has been extensively studied with respect to its 13 roles in cell–cell adhesion and in regulation of Wnt-driven 14 transcription. Here, a novel mass spectrometry–based proteo15 mics technique in colorectal cancer cells expressing stabilized 16 b-catenin, was used to identify a protein–protein interaction 17 between b-catenin and DNA methyltransferase I (Dnmt1) pro18 tein, the primary regulator of DNA methylation patterns in 19 mammalian cells. Dnmt1 and b-catenin strongly colocalized in 20 the nuclei of colorectal cancer cells, and the interaction is 21 mediated by the central domain of the Dnmt1 protein. Dnmt1 22 protein abundance is dependent upon the levels of b-catenin, 24 and is increased in cells expressing stabilized mutant b-catenin. 25 Conversely, the Dnmt1 regulates the levels of nuclear b-catenin 26 and b-catenin/TCF–driven transcription. In addition, lysine27 specific demethylase 1 (LSD1/KDM1A), a regulator of DNMT1 28 stability, was identified as a component of the Dnmt1–b-cate29 nin protein complex and perturbation of the Dnmt1–b-catenin 30 interaction altered DNA methylation. In summary, a functional 31 protein–protein interaction was identified between two criti32 cally important oncoproteins, in turn revealing a link between 33 Wnt signaling and downstream nuclear functions mediated by 34 Dnmt1.
Crimen y crecimiento en Colombia

“Trabajos teoricos sobre el desarrollo han postulado interdependencias entre el entorno institucional y las posibilidades de crecimiento de una sociedad. Estudios empiricos basados en comparaciones entre paises tienden a sustentar estas teorias. Factores como la estabilidad politica o la violencia han entrado a formar parte de las variables explicativas en los modelos de desarrollo economico. Aunque la criminalidad colombiana ha sido por mas de cuatro decadas una de las mas altas del mundo, solo recientemente adquirio importancia en el pais la estrecha relacion entre la inseguridad y las variables economicas. La violencia o la justicia como preocupacion de las autoridades economicas en Colombia es un fenomeno de los noventa. Tradicionalmente en nuestro medio se han considerado los vinculos entre las variables economicas y la criminalidad en una sola via. En este trabajo se pretende aportar evidencia empirica para la hipotesis de que en Colombia la alta y creciente criminalidad ha afectado en forma permanente el potencial de desarrollo economico. Adicionalmente se presenta un primer esfuerzo por cuantificar el monto economico de las actividades criminales en el pais y lo que su dinamica ha implicado en terminos de crecimiento perdido durante la ultima decada. En la primera parte del trabajo se presenta una rapida vision acerca de la situacion actual y la evolucion del delito en el pais desde los sesenta. La segunda parte resume lo que la teoria economica sugiere en terminos de las relaciones entre las actividades, legales e ilegales, de transferencia de rentas y el crecimiento. En la tercera se cuantifican dos facetas de la relacion entre el crimen y las variables economicas. En la ultima se resumen los resultados y se plantean algunas conclusiones. ”
Current Concepts Review Update

Osteochondral lesions are pathologic entities affecting the articular cartilage and subchondral bone. In 1887, Franz König first hypothesized the potential etiologies for loose bodies coming from the articular surfaces of various joints. These lesions were originally referred to as osteochondritis dissecans. König stated that these injuries were most commonly a result of severe trauma, though they may occasionally be due to spontaneous compromise of cartilage and the underlying subchondral bone. Osteochondritis dissecans of the ankle, now commonly referred to as osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT), was first described by Kappis in 1922. Since the initial description, these entities have been increasingly studied and understood, and it is currently estimated that the incidence rate of these lesions is 27 per 100 000 person-years among the active military population. Initially establishing the diagnosis of OLT can be challenging. Patients may present with prolonged pain, swelling, and catching following traumatic injuries to the ankle or after seemingly innocuous incidents. However, many OLTs also arise without specific trauma, and may be related to repetitive injury. Others are asymptomatic and found incidentally on plain radiographs or advanced imaging. In patients who are symptomatic, identification of OLTs through radiographs can be challenging because these lesions are not always immediately evident, and thus further imaging modalities are often required to confirm the diagnosis. Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help identify both the location and severity of the lesion. Because of the increasing awareness of these entities, as well as recent advances in both nonoperative and operative approaches to care, we present an updated current concepts review of the literature on diagnosis and evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus.