Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of authorship criteria: effects of student instruction and scientific experience

Objective: To analyse medical students’, graduate students’ and doctors’ and medical teachers’ perceptions of research contributions as criteria for authorship in relation to the authorship criteria defined by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Design: Medical students with (n = 152) or without (n = 85) prior instruction on ICMJE criteria, graduate students/doctors (n = 125) and medical teachers (n = 112) rated the importance of 11 contributions as authorship qualifications. They also reported single contributions eligible for authorship, as well as acceptable combinations of two or three qualifying contributions. Results: Conception and design, Analysis and interpretation and Drafting of article formed the most important cluster in all four groups. Students without prior instruction rated Critical revision and Final approval lower than the other three groups. “Final approval” was a part of the least important cluster in all groups except among students with instruction. Conclusions: Conception and design, Analysis and interpretation and Drafting of article were recognised as the most important of the ICMJE criteria by all participants. They can be considered independent of previous instruction or experience. Final approval and Critical revision should be actively taught as important authorship criteria to future scientists.
Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract: A preliminary study was undertaken to investigate the severity of atherosclerotic lesions of neck arteries in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in comparison with matched controls. The working hypothesis derives from the recent view that the atherosclerotic plaque is essentially an inflammatory lesion. Thus, patients affected by a chronic inflammatory disease, such as RA, might show acceleration of atherosclerosis despite treatment with anti‐inflammatory drugs. In 19 patients with RA the prevalence of atherosclerosis of internal carotid arteries, as seen on high‐resolution duplex‐scanning of neck arteries, was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than in 19 controls, whereas no significant difference was found for the other arteries. Factors underlying this finding are not known; increased levels of homocysteine and other thiol compounds that may enhance atherosclerosis in RA patients deserve further investigation. Moreover, more specific factors of RA are currently being investigated. In fact, immune complexes fixing C1q bind to endothelial receptors, thus triggering an upregulation of adhesion molecules, such as E‐selectin and intercellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules 1, on the endothelium surface.
Relationship of Entrepreneurship Practice and Business Performance of Women Entrepreneur in Malaysia

The objective of this paper is to identify the dimension of Entrepreneurship Practices (EP) and Business Performance (BP) for women entrepreneurs in Malaysia. It is also to develop a conceptual framework and hypothesis for the relationship of EP and BP among women entrepreneurs in Malaysia. The population of this study is Malaysian women entrepreneurs. Women entrepreneur in Malaysia are chosen because of their potential role in business dan economy development. In future research, questionnaires will be distributed to respondents from the listing of women entrepreneur association in Malaysia. To analyze the data, the statistical packages for the social science (SPSS) version 21 will be used to analyze preliminary data (reliability test, mean, standard deviation and frequencies). To build and test research model, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique will be used. The dimension of EP and BP are identified and a conceptual framework has been proposed. This framework will be used to study the relationship of EP and BP among women entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Based on the proposed conceptual framework, the hypothesis is developed and future research is also included. The dimension and relationship of EP and BP hope to contribute to women entrepreneurship literature and research model as a benchmark for use to suit the goals of the organization, culture and business environment.
Joint Calibration of Transmitter and Receiver Impairments in Direct-Conversion Radio Architecture

Direct-conversion radio architecture is a low-cost, low-power and small-size design that has been widely employed in today's wireless devices. This architecture, however, induces radio impairments such as I-Q imbalance and dc offset that may incur severe degradation in communication performance if left uncompensated. In this paper, a new method is proposed to calibrate simultaneously a transceiver's own transmitter and receiver radio impairments with no dedicated analog circuit in the feedback loop. Based on a unified time-domain approach, the proposed method is able to calibrate jointly the frequency-independent I-Q imbalance, frequency-dependent I-Q imbalance and dc offset and is applicable to any type of communication systems (single-carrier, multiple-carrier, etc.). The existing methods in the literature either need a dedicated analog circuit in the feedback loop and/or are applicable only to a particular type of systems with some radio impairments present. The issue of training sequence design is also investigated to optimize the calibration performance, and analytical and simulation results show that the performance loss due to radio impairments can be recovered by the proposed method.
Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Activates p66Shc via Lectin-Like Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1, Protein Kinase C-&bgr;, and c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Kinase in Human Endothelial Cells

Objective— Deletion of the mitochondrial gene p66Shc protects from endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerotic plaque formation in mice fed a high-fat diet. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this beneficial effect have not yet been delineated. The present study was designed to elucidate the proatherogenic mechanisms by which p66Shc mediates oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) uptake by the endothelium, a critical step in plaque formation. Methods and Results— Incubation of human aortic endothelial cells with oxLDL led to phosphorylation of p66Shc at Ser36. Inhibition of lectin-like oxLDL receptor-1 prevented p66Shc phosphorylation, confirming that this effect is mediated by lectin-like oxLDL receptor-1. OxLDL also increased phosphorylation of protein kinase C &bgr;2 (PKC&bgr;2) at both Thr641 and Ser660, as well as c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Furthermore, inhibition of PKC&bgr;2 prevented the activation of JNK, suggesting that PKC&bgr;2 is upstream of JNK. Finally, p66Shc silencing blunted oxLDL-induced O2 −. production, underscoring the critical role of p66Shc in oxLDL-induced oxidative stress in endothelial cells. Conclusion— In this study we provide the molecular mechanisms mediating the previously observed atherogenic properties of p66Shc. Taken together, our data set the stage for the design of novel therapeutic tools to retard atherogenesis through the inhibition of p66Shc.
Responsivity to Stress in Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Due to Childhood Sexual Abuse

The purpose of this study was to investigate psychological, cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine reactivity to standardized stress tests (orthostatic challenge, Stroop Color Word Test) in drug-free adult women with chronic PTSD due to repetitive childhood sexual abuse. At baseline, the 11 patients showed significantly higher mean scores on the Symptom Check List-90 and the Profile of Mood States than 13 healthy female controls, whereas baseline cardiovascular or hormonal parameters showed no differences between the groups. Also, no significant differences were found between the two groups in cardiovascular and hormonal responsivity to the stress tests. Thus, in the presence of robust psychological differences, the patients with chronic PTSD due to childhood sexual abuse did not show alterations in baseline values of neurobiological parameters, nor did they react differently to a physical and mental stress test when compared to healthy controls.
T‐type voltage‐gated calcium channels as targets for the development of novel pain therapies

It is well recognized that voltage‐gated calcium (Ca2+) channels modulate the function of peripheral and central pain pathways by influencing fast synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability. In the past, attention focused on the modulation of different subtypes of high‐voltage‐activated‐type Ca2+ channels; more recently, the function of low‐voltage‐activated or transient (T)‐type Ca2+ channels (T‐channels) in nociception has been well documented. Currently, available pain therapies remain insufficient for certain forms of pain associated with chronic disorders (e.g. neuropathic pain) and often have serious side effects. Hence, the identification of selective and potent inhibitors and modulators of neuronal T‐channels may help greatly in the development of safer, more effective pain therapies. Here, we summarize the available information implicating peripheral and central T‐channels in nociception. We also discuss possible future developments aimed at selective modulation of function of these channels, which are highly expressed in nociceptors.
Grey Model for Evaluation and Analysis of Competitiveness in the Packaging and Testing Industry

The integrated circuit (IC) packaging and testing industry is an important link in the semiconductor industrial chain that may decide the success or failure of the foundry industry. The purpose of this study was to compare the competitiveness of the packaging and testing industry in the rear section of the foundry process in Taiwan. Starting from the financial data of six listed companies and using Grey theory, this study summarizes their five factors of competition: scale, growth, profit, efficiency and risks. The study confirmed that the model is able to effectively compare the competitiveness of corporations in the same industry.
The Issues of the Management of Receivables: Lithuanian Case

Abstract Constant changes in business environment determine the significance of receivables to business. The analysis of the current situation in Lithuania has revealed that a substantial part of business enterprises are facing the problem of overdue receivables. This issue emerged as extremely topical after the beginning of the economic crisis in 2008. A number of scientific studies confirmed that the level of receivables has a significant impact not only on smooth business operation but also on operational results and serves as the cause of numerous economic and social problems, faced by both business enterprises and the state. Rising level of receivables determines slower recovery of total economics because it has a negative impact on the sustainability of the public sector of the country. In addition, the scientists highlight economic problems such as production capacity losses, general decrease in competitiveness and failure to satisfy the debt claims. The social problems include the increase in unemployment rate, fall of living standards, dissatisfaction with poor economics of the country and uncertainty about the future. The aim of this article is to analyse the impact of receivables on business in Lithuania. The methods of the research include scientific literature analysis and statistical data analysis.
MR pattern of hyperacute cerebral hemorrhage

Magnetic resonance (MR) pattern of cerebral hemorrhage relates mainly to the relaxation and susceptibility effects of iron‐containing hemoglobin degradation products, as well as to their intra‐ or extracellular location. The purpose of this article is to report two acute stroke patients who underwent thrombolytic therapy and developed hyperacute cerebral hemorrhage during their admission cerebral MR survey. They constitute the earliest MR appearance of hyperacute intracerebral bleeding reported in the literature, featuring increased diffusion properties and persistent susceptibility effect on perfusion‐weighted imaging (PWI)‐series. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2002;15:705–709. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Patient attitudes toward resident involvement in cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVE To assess how patients in an academic ophthalmology practice feel regarding the involvement of residents in their cataract surgery. METHODS Using an anonymous survey, we asked patients with cataracts about issues related to resident involvement in cataract surgery, including informed consent, how likely they were to agree to resident involvement in their surgery, and the likelihood that they would seek care elsewhere if residents were to be involved in their surgery. RESULTS Participants indicated they should be asked in advance if a resident may assist in (83%) or perform (96%) their surgery. The person asking permission should be the attending surgeon. Most participants would agree to resident assistance (83%), and nearly half would agree to resident performance (49%) of their cataract surgery. Participants indicated that they would be upset if the resident assisted in (45%) or performed (74%) their surgery without their expressed permission. Few would seek treatment in a setting without residents if a resident were to assist in (7%) or perform (26%) their cataract surgery. CONCLUSIONS Most individuals would accept resident involvement in their cataract surgery provided full disclosure was provided by their attending surgeon.
Women, Aging, and Alcohol Use Disorders

SUMMARY The increase in prevalence rates of alcohol use disorders in younger versus older cohorts of female drinkers is many times higher than the corresponding increase in prevalence rates for male drinkers. Thus, the number and impact of older female drinkers is expected to increase over the next 20 years as the disparity between men's and women's drinking rates decrease. Due to differences in metabolism of alcohol, women of all ages compared to men are at higher risk for negative physical, medical, social, and psychological consequences associated with at-risk and higher levels of alcohol consumption. Aging women face new sets of antecedents related to challenges in the middle and older adult phases of life, such as menopause, retirement, “empty nest,” limited mobility, and illness. As women age, they are subject to an even greater physiological susceptibility to alcohol's effect, as well as to a risk of synergistic effects of alcohol in combination with prescription drugs. On the other hand, there is mixed research indicating that older women may benefit from the buffering effect of low levels of alcohol on hormonal declines associated with menopause, perhaps serving as a protective factor against Coronary Heart Disease and osteoporosis. However, with heavier drinking, these benefits are either reversed or eclipsed. In addition, any alcohol consumption increases the risk for breast cancer in older women. The possible beneficial effects of alcohol must be weighed with the fact that the research does not typically establish causality, that low-risk drinking equates to one standard drink per day, that there is a risk of progression towards alcohol dependence, and that there are alternate methods to gain the same benefits without the associated risks. Older women also experience unique barriers to detection of and treatment for alcohol problems. Current treatment options specifically for older women are limited, though researchers are beginning to address differential treatment response of older women, as well as development of elder women-specific treatment approaches. Treatment options include self-help/mutual peer support, which provides ancillary advantages, brief interventions in primary care settings, which have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing drinking levels, and cognitive behavioral techniques, which have been demonstrated to be useful; but more studies and larger samples are needed. Elder-specific treatments need to be appropriate in terms of content, to address the challenges associated with life stage, such as the loss of the parental role and widowhood, and in terms of process, such as delivery in a respectful therapeutic style and at a slower pace. Future directions in research should address the lack of assessment instruments, the risks of simultaneous use of alcohol and prescription medications, and the under-representation of older women in randomized trials of alcohol treatments.
The Association Between Women's Self-Rated Health and Satisfaction with Environmental Services in an Underserved Community in Lebanon

This research evaluated the association between women's self-rated health and a number of socioeconomic and environmental health indicators relating to drinking water services in an underserved Lebanese community. A population-based, cross-sectional survey using interviews was adopted to obtain information from female homemakers of 2,223 households in the town of Bebnine, Lebanon. The questionnaire included indicators on self-rated health, satisfaction with water quality, source of drinking water, occurrence of diarrhea, and socioeconomic variables, such as education, occupation, and perceived economic status. Self-rated health was categorized as poor, fair, and good. Odds ratios for poor and fair compared to good self-rated health values were calculated using multinomial logistic regression. A total of 712 women (32%) reported poor self-rated health. Women who perceived their household income to be worse than others in town were four times as likely to report poor health. Compared to women who were satisfied with drinking water quality, dissatisfied women were 42% more likely to report poor health. Women living in households reporting recent episodes of diarrheal illness had poorer health ratings than those without. The findings suggest a positive relationship between individual perceptions of water quality and self-rated health. Community concerns over their surrounding environment serve as a primary guide for infrastructural development and government policy.
Examining the Existence of Long-run Initial Public Offering (IPO) Underperformance at Three Different Stock Exchange Markets in Japan

This study conducted the examination of the long-run performance of IPO stocks in the Japanese market by measuring the monthly AAR/CAAR of sample IPO stocks. The study did this, so as to investigate whether IPO stocks in the Japanese market outperform in the long-run, as prior research on this phenomenon in the US market (Ritter, 1991; McDonald and Fisher, 1972) had found. The finding is that on the one hand, at TOPIX and TSE-2ND, stocks IPO firms that went public during 2004 to 2011 did not underperform the market in the long-run, as the monthly CAAR of sample IPO stocks on month 36 was not statistically significant. On the other hand, the finding also reveals that at MOTHERS, IPO firms underperformed the market throughout the period between months 2 and 36, and the monthly CAAR of IPO stocks at this market was –30.08 percent on month 36. The implication of this finding for the Efficient Market Hypothesis is that market efficiency held well at TOPIX and TSE-2ND; where during the sampling period abnormal returns could not be achieved and thus the long-run IPO underperformance was unlikely to occur. On the contrary, the departure from market efficiency was observed at MOTHERS: In the long-run, IPO stocks kept experiencing negative abnormal returns, and the existence of the long-run IPO underperformance was found to be significant. Long-run IPO underperformance did not exist, with only one exception: It is only at MOTHERS that the long-run IPO underperformance was observed, whereas at TOPIX and TSE-2ND the phenomenon was not observed.
A simple model for the fate of the cytokinesis midbody remnant: Implications for remnant degradation by autophagy

When a cell divides, it produces two daughter cells initially connected by a cytokinesis bridge, which is eventually cut through abscission. One of the two daughter cells inherits a bridge “remnant”, which has been proposed to be degraded by autophagy. The fate and function of remnants is attracting increasing attention, as their accumulation appears to influence proliferation versus differentiation of the daughter cells. Here, we present a simple model for bridge and remnant turnover in a dynamic cell population. We demonstrate that remnant proportions depend on the ratio of remnant and bridge lifetimes to the cell population doubling time. Our results yield new alternative interpretations for published experimental data, leading us to believe that autophagy‐independent pathways for remnant degradation may exist. In addition, using the model, we determined experimentally inaccessible parameters such as remnant lifetime. Our model proves to be a useful tool for studying bridge and remnant populations.
Wavenet Based Low Rate Speech Coding

Traditional parametric coding of speech facilitates low rate but provides poor reconstruction quality because of the inadequacy of the model used. We describe how a WaveNet generative speech model can be used to generate high quality speech from the bit stream of a standard parametric coder operating at 2.4 kb/s. We compare this parametric coder with a waveform coder based on the same generative model and show that approximating the signal waveform incurs a large rate penalty. Our experiments confirm the high performance of the WaveNet based coder and show that the speech produced by the system is able to additionally perform implicit bandwidth extension and does not significantly impair recognition of the original speaker for the human listener, even when that speaker has not been used during the training of the generative model.
Influence of malaria infection on peroxyl-radical trapping capacity in plasma from rural and urban Thai adults

Measurement of peroxyl-radical trapping capacity (TRAP) were made in plasma from patients with malaria from a rural and an urban Thai community. The results were compared with those from control subjects living in the same areas and chosen to match the patients closely. Measurements were also made of various antioxidants including nutritional indices vitamin C and α-tocopherol and the non-nutritional indices urate and protein-sulphydryl. Parasite counts, temperature on examination and the duration of illness were recorded together with measurements of plasma caeruloplasmin (EC 1.16.3.1), retinol and malondialdehyde (MDA). In general, most measurements made in the villagers were lower than those in the comparable urban groups. The exceptions were caeruloplasmin and MDA when the latter was expressed as MDA: cholesterol ratio. TRAP values were extremely low in 50% of the villagers and 25% of the urban patients with malaria and these results correlated with retinol and vitamin C and inversely with malonaldehyde. The results suggested that low TRAP values are associated with lipid peroxidation and that vitamin C and possibly retinol may be destroyed by the oxidative conditions present in the plasma in this disease.