Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shock-Excited OH Maser Emission Outlining the Galactic Center Supernova Remnant G359.1-0.05

A search using the Very Large Array was performed for 1720-megahertz OH maser line emission from a number of nonthermal radio continuum sources in the galactic center region. The 1720-megahertz transition has recently been noted for its potential as a tracer of shock activity. The most striking result was the detection of extended 1720-megahertz OH maser emission, as well as a number of compact OH maser features, along the interface between a large-scale continuum shell (G359.1-0.5) and its surrounding ring of high-velocity molecular gas. The morphological correlation among the neutral gas, the nonthermal shell, and the maser features provides strong support for the hypothesis that the 1720-megahertz maser line of OH arises from gas shocked by the impact of the expanding supernova remnant into the molecular material. However, the radial velocities of the molecular cloud surrounding G359.1-0.5 are more negative than that of the OH maser spots by more than 50 kilometers per second. Here it is suggested that only the low-radial-velocity component of the carbon monoxide material at the limb of the remnant satisfies the physical conditions required for collisional pumping of the OH 1720-megahertz line behind the expanding shock front.
Male Fertility After Inguinal Hernia Mesh Repair: A National Register Study

Objective: To determine whether patients who receive an inguinal hernia repair father the same number of children as the background population. Background: Although the effect of inguinal hernia repair on male fertility has previously been investigated through indirect measures, no previous studies have evaluated the final measure of male fertility, which is the number of children fathered by patients. Methods: Prospectively collected data on 32,621 male patients between the ages of 18 and 55 years who received 1 or more inguinal hernia repairs during the years 1998 to 2012 were found in 5 comprehensive Danish linked registers. Patients were matched with 97,805 controls, and the number of fathered children was recorded as the primary outcome. Results: Patients who were operated unilaterally fathered more children than controls (156 vs 147 children per 1000 individuals, P = 0.02), whereas patients who were operated bilaterally fathered the same number of children as controls. Unilateral Lichtenstein operation resulted in an increase in number of children fathered by patients (161 vs 151 children per 1000 patients, P = 0.009). No difference in the number of children fathered was found for any year following operation. Meanwhile, time between operation and first child was longer among controls than patients (log-rank P = 0.003). The youngest (18–30 years of age) bilaterally operated patients fathered the same number of children as controls. Conclusions: Patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair using Lichtenstein technique or laparoscopic approach did not father fewer children than expected. Thus, inguinal hernia repair using Lichtenstein or laparoscopic approach did not impair male fertility.
The influence of substrate peptide length on human β‐tryptase specificity

Combinatorial chemistry approach was applied to design chromogenic substrates of human β‐tryptase. The most active substrate, Ala‐Ala‐Pro‐Ile‐Arg‐Asn‐Lys‐ANB‐NH2, was selected from among over 9 million heptapeptides. The amide of 5‐amino‐2‐nitrobenzoic acid (ANB‐NH2) attached at the C‐terminus served as a chromophore. In order to determine the optimal length of the tryptase substrate, a series of N‐terminally truncated fragments of this substrate was synthesized. Pro‐Ile‐Arg‐Asn‐Lys‐ANB‐NH2, with the determined value of the specificity constant (kcat/KM) above 9 × 106 M−1 s−1, appeared to be the most specific substrate of tryptase. This substrate was twice as active as the parent heptapeptide substrate. We postulate that the optimal size of the pentapeptide substrate for the interaction with human β‐tryptase is associated with the unique structure of this proteinase, comprising four almost identical monomer subunits arranged in a square flat ring with its substrate pockets faced inside, forming a tetramer with a central pore that can be penetrated by this short peptide. Copyright © 2008 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ischemic pre-conditioning affects the subcellular distribution of protein kinase C and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 neurons

Abstract Brief ischemic episode, which in itself is not lethal, confers tolerance to subsequent ischemic insults. Since intracellular signal transduction system has been implicated in ischemic cell death, we studied the effect of pre-conditioning on the changes in the subcellular distribution of protein kinase Cγ (PKC γ) as well as CaM kinase II (CaMKII). Gerbils were pre-conditioned by a sublethal 2 min cerebral ischemia 24 h prior to lethal 5 min ischemia. The pre-conditioning generally downregulated PKCγ and CaMKII in the CA1 hippocampus. Especially at the starting point of the second lethal ischemia, the cytosolic PKCγ level was about 40% lower in the pre-conditioned group. Also, the crude synaptosomal CaMKII level at 24 h reperfusion following the second ischemia was significantly lower in the pre-conditioned group, showing enhanced recovery of CaMKII translocation. Present results suggest that ischemic pre-conditioning may downregulate calcium-mediated cell signaling system, enhancing normalization of calcium homeostasis, perturbed by the second ischemia of lethal duration. [Neurol Res 2001; 23: 751-754]
Teaching Writing to EFL Learners: An Investigation of Challenges Confronted by Indonesian Teachers

Teaching English writing skill which involves developing linguistic and communicative competence of learners is considered a challenging task. When teaching writing, therefore, EFL teachers in general and Indonesian teachers in particular encounter many challenges (i.e. difficulties). This study aims to find out Indonesian teachers’ challenges in teaching English writing skill and discuss possible solutions to remove, or at least, minimize, the problems. The data was collected by interviewing 10 English teachers who come from different part of East Java, Indonesia and teach English in either private or public Junior and Senior High Schools. The instrument used was structured interview. The data collected from the interview was, then, analyzed descriptively. The findings show that there are internal and external factors contribute to the challenges that the teachers confront. The internal factors include linguistic competence, native language interference, motivation and reading habits of the learners, while the external ones include the class condition, aids available for teaching writing and the availability of time. The research findings would facilitate the teachers and the concerning authorities to improve the ELT especially in teaching writing.
Phylogenetic Position of Amblyospora Hazard & Oldacre (Microspora: Amblyosporidae) Based on Small Subunit rRNA Data and Its Implication for the Evolution of the Microsporidia

ABSTRACT. Sequences of the small subunit rRNA genes of Amblyospora californica and an Amblyospora sp. from Culex salinarius were determined. These sequences were compared phylogenetically with 16 other microsporidia. The results suggest Amblyospora forms a sister taxon to the rest of the microsporidia examined. The basal position of Amblyospora is discussed with respect to the evolution of microsporidian life cycles. These sequences represent the longest microsporidian small subunit rRNA genes sequenced to date, 1,359 and 1,358 bp, respectively. Structural features and GC content (49% for both) are comparable to those of other microsporidia which have been sequenced.
Swallowing‐related activities of respiratory and non‐respiratory neurons in the nucleus of solitary tract in the rat

Swallowing‐related activity was examined in respiratory (n= 60) and non‐respiratory (n= 82) neurons that were located in and around the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) in decerebrated, neuromuscularly blocked and artificially ventilated rats. Neurons that were orthodromically activated by electrical stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) were identified, and fictive swallowing was evoked by SLN stimulation. The pharyngeal phase of swallowing was monitored by hypoglossal nerve activity. Two types of non‐respiratory neurons with swallowing‐related bursts were identified: ‘early’ swallowing neurons (n= 24) fired during periods of hypoglossal bursts, and ‘late’ swallowing neurons (n= 8) fired after the end of hypoglossal bursts. The remaining non‐respiratory neurons were either suppressed (n= 21) or showed no change in activity (n= 29) during swallowing. On the other hand, respiratory neurons with SLN inputs included 56 inspiratory and four expiratory neurons. Inspiratory neurons were classified into two major types: a group of neurons discharged simultaneously with hypoglossal bursts (type 1 neurons, n= 19), while others were silent during bursts but were active during inter‐hypoglossal bursts when swallowing was provoked repetitively (type 2 neurons, n= 34). Three of the expiratory neurons fired during hypoglossal bursts. Many of the swallowing‐related non‐respiratory neurons and the majority of the inspiratory neurons received presumed monosynaptic inputs from the SLN. Details of the distribution and firing patterns of these NTS neurons, which have been revealed for the first time in a fictive swallowing preparation in the rat, suggest their participation in the initiation, pattern formation and mutual inhibition between swallowing and respiration.
Association of Nail Dystrophy With Accrued Damage and Capillaroscopic Abnormalities in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

BackgroundThere are some nail abnormalities described in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the association between nail dystrophy (ND) and disease activity, accrued organ damage, capillaroscopic abnormalities, autoantibodies, and some markers of endothelial cell activation in patients with SLE. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of SLE patients from a rheumatology clinic in a tertiary care hospital. Patients were allocated in groups, according to the presence or absence of ND. Demographics, clinical data, disease activity, accrued damage, serology, nailfold capillaroscopy characteristics, serum levels of anti–endothelial cell antibodies, and plasma levels of endothelin 1 were compared between groups. Disease activity was assessed by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 index and accrued organ damage by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index. ResultsSixty-one patients were included; 50 patients (82%) were female. Thirty-two patients (52.5%) showed ND, and 29 did not. Besides a more frequent use of cyclophosphamide (46.9% vs 20.7%; P = 0.03) in the ND group, clinical features were similar. A greater organ damage was found in patients with ND (median Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology index = 0.5, minimum = 0, maximum = 6) than in patients without ND (0, 0, 3, respectively; P = 0.04); specifically, only the skin domain was associated with ND (P = 0.04). Onycholysis (40.6%) and longitudinal ridging (25%) were the most frequent nail changes. Nailfold capillaroscopy changes were more frequent in ND patients (40.6%) than in control subjects (13.8%) (P = 0.02). The most frequent nailfold capillaroscopy findings in the ND group were enlarged capillaries (40.6%) and microhemorrhages (12.5%). There was no association between ND and the autoantibody profile, plasma endothelin 1, or serum anti–endothelial cell antibodies. ConclusionsNail dystrophy was associated with higher accrued organ damage and the presence of capillaroscopic abnormalities. This suggests that ND might be related to chronic microvascular damage.
Factor V Gene (1691A and 4070G) and Prothrombin Gene 20210A Mutations in Patients with Behçet’s Disease

Objectives: Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of still unknown etiology, characterized by endothelial cell injury/dysfunction and thrombosis and/or aneurysm of large blood vessels. Thrombophilia may play a role in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in BD. The common inherited gene defects, factor V (FV) 1691A (Leiden) and prothrombin (PT) 20210A, are known risk factors for thrombosis. The FV 4070G polymorphism was shown to influence circulating FV levels and to contribute to the activated protein C resistance phenotype. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of FV 1691A, FV 4070G and PT 20210A gene mutations in Turkish BD patients with and without venous thrombosis. Methods: Seventy-one patients with BD (27 with venous thrombosis) and 91 healthy subjects were included in the study. FV 1691A, FV 4070G, and PT 20210A mutations were determined by a method based on PCR-RFLP. Results: The frequency of FV 1691A heterozygous mutation in BD patients with venous thrombosis (25.9%) was significantly higher than that in healthy subjects (8.8%; OR = 3.63; 95% CI 1.18–11.2). Although the frequency of this mutation in patients with venous thrombosis was higher than that in the patients without venous thrombosis (11.4%), the difference did not reach a statistically significant level (OR = 2.73; 95% CI 0.77–9.70). In BD patients with thrombosis, the frequencies of FV 4070G and PT 20210A were not significantly different compared to the BD patients without venous thrombosis and healthy subjects. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the FV 1691A, FV 4070G, and PT 20210A mutations are unlikely to play an important role in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in patients with BD.
Incomplete masculinisation of XX subjects carrying the SRY gene on an inactive X chromosome

46,XX subjects carrying the testis determining SRY gene usually have a completely male phenotype. In this study, five very rare cases of SRY carrying subjects (two XX males and three XX true hermaphrodites) with various degrees of incomplete masculinisation were analysed in order to elucidate the cause of sexual ambiguity despite the presence of the SRY gene. PCR amplification of 20 Y chromosome specific sequences showed the Yp fragment to be much longer in XX males than in true hermaphrodites. FISH analysis combined with RBG banding of metaphase chromosomes of four patients showed that in all three true hermaphrodites and in one XX male the Yp fragment was translocated onto a late replicating inactive X chromosome in over 90% of their blood lymphocytes. However, in a control classical XX male with no ambiguous features, the Yp fragment (significantly shorter than in the XX male with sexual ambiguity and only slightly longer than in XX hermaphrodites) was translocated onto the active X chromosome in over 90% of cells. These studies strongly indicate that inactivation on the X chromosome spreading into a translocated Yp fragment could be the major mechanism causing a sexually ambiguous phenotype in XX (SRY+) subjects.
Effects of reporting relationship and type of internal control deficiency on internal auditors’ internal control evaluations

This paper aims to explore whether an internal auditor’s evaluation of internal control deficiencies are influenced by the party with primary influence over the internal audit function and by the type of internal control deficiency. ,A behavioral experiment is conducted with internal auditors as participants in a 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial design. ,Results indicate that internal auditors are less likely to evaluate a pervasive control deficiency related to “tone at the top” as a material weakness than a process-specific control deficiency. Furthermore, internal auditors are somewhat less likely to evaluate a process-specific internal control deficiency as a material weakness when management has primary influence over the internal audit function than when the audit committee has primary influence. It is also found that the best practice of internal audit oversight (i.e., primary oversight of internal auditors by the audit committee) may lead to potential internal under-reporting of instances where the audit committee represents a material weakness in internal control. ,Limitations of this research include lack of economic consequences (e.g. future pay and job loss) associated with the internal control decisions made by the participants; less concise information provided to the participants than would generally be available to them; and lack of generalizability of the findings beyond the specific company setting and internal control scenario portrayed in the case materials. ,Not evaluating a pervasive control deficiency related to “tone at the top” as a material weakness seems to not fully align with relevant professional guidance and can possibly result in inaccurate internal information about the quality of internal controls. Furthermore, having an internal auditor’s evaluation of a process-specific internal control deficiency influenced by the party with primary influence over the internal audit function would not appear to align with relevant professional guidance. Finally, primary oversight by the audit committee of the internal auditors may lead to potential internal under-reporting of instances where the audit committee represents a material weakness in internal controls and, thus, possible communication of inaccurate internal control information. ,This study is the first to address whether the party with primary influence over the internal audit function influences an internal auditor’s evaluation of internal control deficiencies.
Sec5, a member of the exocyst complex, mediates Drosophila embryo cellularization

Cellularization of the Drosophila embryo is the process by which a syncytium of ∼6000 nuclei is subdivided into discrete cells. In order to individualize the cells, massive membrane addition needs to occur by a process that is not fully understood. The exocyst complex is required for some, but not all, forms of exocytosis and plays a role in directing vesicles to appropriate domains of the plasma membrane. Sec5 is a central component of this complex and we here report the isolation of a new allele of sec5 that has a temperature-sensitive phenotype. Using this allele, we investigated whether the exocyst complex is required for cellularization. Embryos from germline clones of the sec5ts1 allele progress normally through cycle 13. At cellularization, however, cleavage furrows do not invaginate between nuclei and consequently cells do not form. A zygotically translated membrane protein, Neurotactin, is not inserted into the plasma membrane and instead accumulates in cytoplasmic puncta. During cellularization, Sec5 becomes concentrated at the apical end of the lateral membranes, which is likely to be the major site of membrane addition. Subsequently, Sec5 concentrates at the sub-apical complex, indicating a role for Sec5 in the polarized epithelium. Thus, the exocyst is necessary for, and is likely to direct, the polarized addition of new membrane during this form of cytokinesis.
Banking on the Boom, Tripped by the Bust: Banks and the World War I Agricultural Price Shock

How do banks respond to asset booms? This paper examines i) how U.S. banks responded to the World War I farmland boom; ii) the impact of regulation; and iii) how bank closures exacerbated the post-war bust. The boom encouraged new bank formation and balance sheet expansion (especially by new banks). Deposit insurance amplified the impact of rising crop prices on bank portfolios, while higher minimum capital requirements dampened the effects. Banks that responded most aggressively to the asset boom had a higher probability of closing in the bust, and counties with more bank closures experienced larger declines in land prices.
miR-200 family expression is downregulated upon neoplastic progression of Barrett's esophagus.

AIM To investigate miR-200 family expression in Barrett's epithelium, gastric and duodenal epithelia, and esophageal adenocarcinoma. METHODS Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to measure miR-200, ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of miR-200 targets was used to predict biological outcomes. RESULTS Barrett's epithelium expressed lower levels of miR-141 and miR-200c than did gastric and duodenal epithelia (P < 0.001). In silico analysis indicated roles for the miR-200 family in molecular pathways that distinguish Barrett's epithelium from gastric and duodenal epithelia, and which control apoptosis and proliferation. All miR-200 members were downregulated in adenocarcinoma (P < 0.02), and miR-200c expression was also downregulated in non-invasive epithelium adjacent to adenocarcinoma (P < 0.02). The expression of all miR-200 members was lower in Barrett's epithelium derived high-grade dysplastic cell lines than in a cell line derived from benign Barrett's epithelium. We observed significant inverse correlations between miR-200 family expression and ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression in Barrett's epithelium and esophageal adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION miR-200 expression might contribute to the anti-apoptotic and proliferative phenotype of Barrett's epithelium and regulate key neoplastic processes in this epithelium.
Crowding valuation in urban tram and bus transportation based on smart card data

ABSTRACT Crowding in public transport can be of major influence on passengers’ travel experience and therefore affect route and mode choice. In this study, crowding valuation for urban tram and bus travelling is determined fully based on revealed preference data. Urban tram and bus crowding valuation is estimated in a European context based on a Dutch case study network. Based on the estimated discrete choice model, we conclude that crowding plays a significant role in passengers’ route choice in public transport. The average crowding multiplier of in-vehicle time equals 1.16 when all seats are occupied. For frequent travellers, this value is equal to 1.31. Our study results suggest that infrequent travellers do not incorporate expected crowding in their route choice. The insights gained from our study can support the decision-making process of policy-makers, by quantifying the benefits of measures aiming to reduce crowding levels for example in a cost–benefit analysis framework.
Intestinal lymphocyte number, migration and antibody secretion in young and old rats

This study demonstrates that the mucosal immune response to cholera toxin (CT) is compromised in old rats in comparison with young animals. The total number of immunoglobulin A (IgA)‐secreting cells is similar or higher in the intestinal inductor and effector sites in old animals. However, the number of specifically induced anti‐CT IgA antibody‐secreting cells is lower in these tissues in comparison with those in young animals. The kinetics of this immune response in the different gut‐associated lymphoid tissues studied suggests that the age‐associated decline in the number of anti‐CT IgA‐secreting cells in the intestinal mucosa reflects impaired IgA immunoblast migration. Our data from lymphocyte adoptive transfer studies indicate that factors intrinsic to both the donor cells and the host recipient influence the migration of immunoblasts from the Peyer's patches to the effector site. For example, donor cells from old donors transferred to either young or old recipient rats migrate slower than young donor lymphocytes transferred into old host animals. In vitro studies clearly indicate that ageing does not impair antibody secretion by intestinal mucosal plasma cells. Therefore, the age‐related decline in the intestinal mucosal immune response, e.g. diminished specific antibody titres in intestinal lavage, reflects fewer antibody‐secreting cells in the mucosa.