Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutritional intake in soccer players of different ages

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dietary practices of soccer players of different ages. The diets of the members of four soccer teams (mean ages of 14.0, 15.0, 16.6 and 20.9 years, respectively) were examined. Our results show that the caloric intake per kilogram of body mass was significantly higher among the youngest players when compared with the adult players (P < 0.05). The contribution of carbohydrates to total energy intake was lower than that recommended for athletes. This contribution decreased with age from 47.4% of total energy intake for the 14-year-olds to 44.6% for the adult players. No significant differences in protein or total fat intake were detected among the teams examined. Overall, our results show that the nutritional intake of the soccer players was not optimal, and that this intake was poorer among the adult players than among the adolescents. On the basis of our results, we recommended that nutritional education should be given to soccer players at an early age and should continue throughout adolescence, not only with a view to improving performance but also to promoting more healthy dietary practices in the long term.
Pharmacogenetic Biomarkers to Predict Treatment Response in Multiple Sclerosis: Current and Future Perspectives

Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have significantly advanced the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), decreasing the frequency of relapses, disability, and magnetic resonance imaging lesion formation. However, patients' responses to and tolerability of DMTs vary considerably, creating an unmet need for biomarkers to identify likely responders and/or those who may have treatment-limiting adverse reactions. Most studies in MS have focused on the identification of pharmacogenetic markers, using either the candidate-gene approach, which requires prior knowledge of the genetic marker and its role in the target disease, or genome-wide association, which examines multiple genetic variants, typically single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Both approaches have implicated numerous alleles and SNPs in response to selected MS DMTs. None have been validated for use in clinical practice. This review covers pharmacogenetic markers in clinical practice in other diseases and then reviews the current status of MS DMT markers (interferon β, glatiramer acetate, and mitoxantrone). For a complex disease such as MS, multiple biomarkers may need to be evaluated simultaneously to identify potential responders. Efforts to identify relevant biomarkers are underway and will need to be expanded to all MS DMTs. These will require extensive validation in large patient groups before they can be used in clinical practice.
Dividend Policy and Corporate Governance Quality: An Empirical Investigation

The study intends to investigate the relationship between corporate governance quality and dividend policy in Pakistan. The sample of the study covers Karachi Stock Exchange 100 index listed companies from the period of 2008 to 2011. The results have confirmed the support of outcome model in Pakistan which confirms that firm’s dividend policy moves with the direction of corporate governance quality. Moreover, there are positive associations between size of the firms, profitability and dividend policy. Finally, investment opportunities and leverage are negatively related with dividend policy. These results, taken as a whole, indicate that better governed firms used to pay more dividends and it implies that firm-level corporate governance and country-level investor protections are complements to each other rather than substitution.
Lateral Entorhinal Cortex Lesions Impair Local Spatial Frameworks

A prominent theory in the neurobiology of memory processing is that episodic memory is supported by contextually gated spatial representations in the hippocampus formed by combining spatial information from medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) with non-spatial information from lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC). However, there is a growing body of evidence from lesion and single-unit recording studies in rodents suggesting that LEC might have a role in encoding space, particularly the current and previous locations of objects within the local environment. Landmarks, both local and global, have been shown to control the spatial representations hypothesized to underlie cognitive maps. Consequently, it has recently been suggested that information processing within this network might be organized with reference to spatial scale with LEC and MEC providing information about local and global spatial frameworks respectively. In the present study, we trained animals to search for food using either a local or global spatial framework. Animals were re-tested on both tasks after receiving excitotoxic lesions of either the MEC or LEC. LEC lesioned animals were impaired in their ability to learn a local spatial framework task. LEC lesioned animals were also impaired on an object recognition (OR) task involving multiple local features but unimpaired at recognizing a single familiar object. Together, this suggests that LEC is involved in associating features of the local environment. However, neither LEC nor MEC lesions impaired performance on the global spatial framework task.
Tingkat Kepuasan Nasabah Terhadap Kualitas Layanan Perbankan Syariah di Yogyakarta

The Customer Satisfaction to Islamic Banking Service Quality in Yogyakarta The Objective Of The Present Study Was To Find Out Service Quality's Factors that influences for customer satisfaction, the obtrusive criteria that affect customer satisfaction and analyze the level of customer satisfaction in each Islamic bank in Yogyakarta based adaptation CARTER models. CARTER is model based on SERVQUAL dimensions in addition with new dimension called “Compliance with Islamic law” which is suitable for the Islamic banking industry. Research was conducted by distributing questionnaires to 200 customers consisting of four Islamic banking in Yogyakarta. The analysis method used Structural Equation Model (SEM). The conclusions from this study regarding customer satisfaction about service quality in islamic banks has been above the moderate (high enough). The Factors that give big effect for customer's satisfaction in islamic banking are responsiveness, compliance , and empathy. With analysis of variance was concluded that the quality of every Islamic banks do not have significant differences DOI: 10.15408/ess.v6i2. 3570
Changes in reported orofacial symptoms over a ten-year period as reflected in two cohorts of fifty-year-old subjects

Objective. The study presents changes in reported orofacial symptoms over the course of a 10-year period. It was hypothesized that there was an increase of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and orofacial pain symptoms during the period concurrent with social and demographic changes. Material and Methods. All 50-year-old subjects living in two Swedish counties were asked to answer a mail questionnaire in 1992 and 2002. In the two cohorts, 6,343 and 5,798, respectively, responded (response rate 71.3% and 70.2%). Results. Striking differences in demographic, occupational, general, and oral health conditions were found. General health was reported to be less good, utilization of dental care decreased, whereas number of teeth increased. The prevalence of a number of intra-oral symptoms and orofacial symptoms increased significantly between 1992 and 2002. Reported bruxism increased from 18% in 1992 to 28% in 2002. Conclusion. The observed increase in reported orofacial pain symptoms during the 10-year period, concurrent with changes in society, deserves further attention by society and the dental community.
Intracerebral Infections as a Complication of Deep Brain Stimulation

Background: Intracerebral infections after deep brain stimulation (DBS) are rare. The published material is limited to 2 case reports. A review of 20 publications of 3,818 patients focusing on complications of DBS did not reveal one single case. For that reason, we decided to present our own experience of 4 patients with this complication. Objectives: To analyze and present our material regarding intracerebral infections after DBS. Methods: Four patients with intracerebral infection after DBS were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The 4 patients exhibited signs of intracerebral infection 2–14 days after DBS for Parkinson’s disease. CT and MRI verified signs of possible cerebral involvement. In 3 patients, positive cultures were obtained from the extracted electrodes. All patients recovered completely following treatment with antibiotics and removal of the implanted hardware. Two of the patients were later re-implanted. Conclusions: Intracerebral infection is a rare complication of DBS. It does, however, occur occasionally and should be taken into consideration when evaluating the risks of DBS.
The Direction of Terengganu Tourism Industry in Sustaining Business Growth: A Conceptual Framework

Business sustainability is recognized as a crucial catalyst to the industrial direction and business growth in any industry. This paper focuses on the Terengganu tourism industry efforts to create long term business Sustainability through higher profitability, effective management, business performance, and competitive advantage. The state of Terengganu in the East-Coast of Peninsular Malaysia is strategically located as a tourist destination. Therefore, the state tourism board needs to inculcate the right direction of its tourism industry among its tourism agencies and service providers. We argue that establishing the direction of tourism industry is critical in sustaining the business growth. To this end, numerous factors have to be considered in developing the industrial direction of the Terengganu tourism industry which includes heritage sustaining and development, the promotion of Terengganu heritage, the tourism product development, and human resources in tourism industry. This conceptual paper provides scholars and practitioner using underlying framework from the previous literature study regarding the direction in sustaining the business growth in Terengganu tourism industry. Keyword(s): Business Sustainability, Tourism Sustainable, Industrial Direction, Business Growth,
Hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant activity of Olax subscorpioidea Oliv. (Olacaceae) and Distemonathus benthamianus Baill. (Caesalpiniaceae)

Background: Liver diseases are on rise and remain a serious health problem. Olax subscorpioidea and Distemonanthus benthamianus are two plants used in Ivorian traditional medicine in the treatment of many diseases including jaundice and hepatitis. Objective: The present study was carried out to assess the hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant potentials of the hydro-ethanolic leaf extracts of these plants in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: The plant extracts at doses of 25 and 100 mg/kg bw, and silymarin (25 mg/kg bw) were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected once daily for 7 days to different groups of rats. Hepatotoxicity was induced on the 7th day in all the group animals except control. Rats were sacrificed on the 8th day and blood was collected. Serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant activity were measured using standard procedures. Histopathological examinations of liver rats were also performed. Results and Discussion: Hepatotoxicity induced with CCl4 was well manifested by significant increase in serum activities of GOT, GPT, ALP and GGT, and enhancement of total bilirubin and TBARS levels. On the other hand, the level of total protein, albumin, α1-globulin significantly decreased, and DPPH-free radical scavenging activity and TAP were lowered. Pretreatment with plant extracts and silymarin prevent the toxic effects of CCl4 by decreasing serum enzyme activities, total bilirubin and TBARS levels and improving serum TAP and DPPH-free radical scavenging potential. Histopathological observations showed almost normal hepatic cells with a mild degree of inflammation, lesser fatty infiltration and absence of necrosis among the rats treated at 100 mg/kg of extracts of both the plants. Conclusion: The results suggest that the hydro-ethanolic leaf extracts of O. subscorpioidea and D. benthamianus possesses hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant activity.
Evaluation of specificity of indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of human Q fever

Ninety-five acute- and convalescent-phase serum specimens from 48 patients suspected of having rickettsial or Legionella infections were assayed for antibodies to Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever. To evaluate the specificity of the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human Q fever, we compared the ELISA results with those of the indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) test. The ELISA data were analyzed by two different criteria for a positive test. The first criterion for positive results by ELISA was based upon diagnostic titers established in a study of 150 subjects who had no demonstrable cellular or humoral immune responses to C. burnetii phase I or phase II whole cells or phase I lipopolysaccharide. The second criterion was based upon diagnostic antibody titers in a study of 51 subjects who had been diagnosed as having clinical Q fever and had fourfold or greater rises in humoral immune responses to C. burnetii phase I and phase II whole-cell antigens. A comparison of the ELISA and IFA test results of the 95 serum specimens indicated excellent agreement between the tests (Kappa = 92.9%; P < 0.05). None of the 38 patients whose etiologies were confirmed serologically as Legionnaires' disease or rickettsial diseases other than Q fever were classified as positive for C. burnetii by the ELISA. Only one patient identified by the IFA test as having Q fever was not scored positive by the ELISA. These results suggest that the ELISA is useful for epidemiologic screening and as a diagnostic test for human Q fever.
A new method for stability analysis of nonlinear discrete-time systems

We address the problem of global Lyapunov stability of discrete-time systems with known coefficients. We develop a method for reduction of dissipativity domain effectively testing if the system has a convex Lyapunov function. Our implementation is immediately applicable to differentiable systems with bounded nonlinearities, but the method proposed is more general and applicable to nondifferentiable systems with bounded right-hand sides. Our main application emphasis is on stability analysis of recurrent neural networks. We illustrate how to use our approach with examples.
THE ROLE OF ENDOGENOUS AND EXOGENOUS LIGANDS FOR THE PEROXISOME PROLIFERATOR-ACTIVATED RECEPTOR ALPHA (PPAR-&agr;) IN THE REGULATION OF INFLAMMATION IN MACROPHAGES

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of endogenous and exogenous peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor &agr; (PPAR-&agr;), a nuclear receptor, on the regulation of inflammation in macrophages. To address this question, we have stimulated peritoneal macrophages from PPAR-&agr; wild-type mice and PPAR-&agr; knockout mice (PPAR-&agr;) with 10 &mgr;g/mL LPS and 100 U/mL IFN-&ggr;. We report here that the absence of a functional PPAR-&agr; gene in PPAR-&agr; knockout mice resulted in a significant augmentation of various inflammatory parameters in peritoneal macrophages. In particular, we have clearly demonstrated that PPAR-&agr; gene deletion increases (1) the mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation (extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and p38), (2) nuclear factor-&kgr;B activation, (3) I&kgr;B-&agr; degradation, (4) iNOS expression and NO formation, and (5) cyclooxygenase 2 expression and prostaglandin E2 formation caused by LPS/IFN-&ggr; stimulation. On the contrary, the incubation of peritoneal macrophages from PPAR-&agr; wild type with clofibrate (2 mM) at 2 h before the LPS and IFN-&ggr; stimulation significantly reduced the expression and the release of the proinflammatory mediators. To elucidate whether the protective effects of clofibrate is related to activation of the PPAR-&agr; receptor, we also investigated the effect of clofibrate treatment on PPAR-&agr;-deficient mice. The absence of the PPAR-&agr; receptor significantly abolished the protective effect of the PPAR-&agr; agonist against LPS/IFN-&ggr;-induced macrophage inflammation. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the endogenous and exogenous PPAR-&agr; ligands reduce the degree of macrophage inflammation caused by LPS/IFN-&ggr; stimulation.
Interferon-t upregulates prolactin receptor mRNA in the ovine endometrium during the peri-implantation period

Our objective was to determine the effect of ovine interferon-t (IFN-t ) on prolactin receptor (PRL-R) gene expression in the ovine endometrium. IFN-t is an embryonic cytokine which, via its paracrine anti-luteolytic activity, plays a critical role in maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants. Using ribonuclease protection assay procedures, we compared endometrial PRL-R mRNA levels in ewes that were intrauterine injected with either 2 mg bovine serum albumin or 2mg recombinant ovine IFN-t on day 10 of the oestrous cycle (day 0 5 day of oestrus). IFN treatment signiﬁcantly increased the abundance of both the long and short forms of PRL-R mRNA in the ovine uterus, but had no effect on the long:short form ratio. In situ hybridization experiments revealed that the increase in abundance of PRL-R mRNA in the uterus was localized to the glandular compartment of the endometrium. In pregnant ewes, a similar increase in PRL-R mRNA abundance was found to occur in ovine endometrium on days 14–15 post conception. Collectively, these data provided strong evidence that IFN-t modulates the level of lactogenic hormone receptor mRNA in the ovine uterus. Whether the effect of IFN-t on PRL-R expression is mediated directly or inﬂuenced, at least in part, by progesterone remains to be elucidated.
A Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase–Pax3 Axis Regulates Brn-2 Expression in Melanoma

ABSTRACT Deregulation of transcription arising from mutations in key signaling pathways is a hallmark of cancer. In melanoma, the most aggressive and lethal form of skin cancer, the Brn-2 transcription factor (POU3F2) regulates proliferation and invasiveness and lies downstream from mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Wnt/β-catenin, two melanoma-associated signaling pathways. In vivo Brn-2 represses expression of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, MITF, to drive cells to a more stem cell-like and invasive phenotype. Given the key role of Brn-2 in regulating melanoma biology, understanding the signaling pathways that drive Brn-2 expression is an important issue. Here, we show that inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling reduces invasiveness of melanoma cells in culture and strongly inhibits Brn-2 expression. Pax3, a transcription factor regulating melanocyte lineage-specific genes, directly binds and regulates the Brn-2 promoter, and Pax3 expression is also decreased upon PI3K inhibition. Collectively, our results highlight a crucial role for PI3K in regulating Brn-2 and Pax3 expression, reveal a mechanism by which PI3K can regulate invasiveness, and imply that PI3K signaling is a key determinant of melanoma subpopulation diversity. Together with our previous work, the results presented here now place Brn-2 downstream of three melanoma-associated signaling pathways.
Population-Based Case–Control Study of Chinese Herbal Products Containing Aristolochic Acid and Urinary Tract Cancer Risk

Background Consumption of Chinese herbs that contain aristolochic acid (eg, Mu Tong) has been associated with an increased risk of urinary tract cancer. Methods We conducted a population-based case–control study in Taiwan to examine the association between prescribed Chinese herbal products that contain aristolochic acid and urinary tract cancer. All patients newly diagnosed with urinary tract cancer (case subjects) from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2002, and a random sample of the entire insured population from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2002 (control subjects), were selected from the National Health Insurance reimbursement database. Subjects who were ever prescribed more than 500 pills of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or acetaminophen were excluded, leaving 4594 case patients and 174 701 control subjects in the final analysis. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by using multivariable logistic regression models for the association between prescribed Chinese herbs containing aristolochic acid and the occurrence of urinary tract cancer. Models were adjusted for age, sex, residence in a township where black foot disease was endemic (an indicator of chronic arsenic exposure from drinking water [a risk factor for urinary tract cancer]), and history of chronic urinary tract infection. Statistical tests were two-sided. Results Having been prescribed more than 60 g of Mu Tong and an estimated consumption of more than 150 mg of aristolochic acid were independently associated with an increased risk for urinary tract cancer in multivariable analyses (Mu Tong: at 61–100 g, OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.3 to 2.1, and at >200 g, OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.3 to 3.4; aristolochic acid: at 151–250 mg, OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1 to 1.8, and at >500 mg, OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.4 to 2.9). A statistically significant linear dose–response relationship was observed between the prescribed dose of Mu Tong or the estimated cumulative dose of aristolochic acid and the risk of urinary tract cancer (P < .001 for both). Conclusions Consumption of aristolochic acid–containing Chinese herbal products is associated with an increased risk of cancer of the urinary tract in a dose-dependent manner that is independent of arsenic exposure.
Statistical and ethical issues in monitoring clinical trials.

Most randomized clinical trials require periodic monitoring of the accumulating data. While the efficiency of trial management is enhanced by data monitoring, ethical reasons should primarily dictate the need to terminate or change a trial in response to interim findings. This article focuses on the ethical dilemma of when to stop a clinical trial and places statistical stopping rules in the context of such ethical decision making. Other issues include the organization of data monitoring committees and the problems of premature publication and exaggerated estimation in trials that stop early. Several topical examples are used to convey the relevance of these issues to current practice.
Management of Behçet's syndrome

Purpose of reviewThere is agreement that the management of Behçet's syndrome has recently improved, especially with the wider use of biologics. The aim of this review is to summarize the current management strategies in Behçet's syndrome. Recent findingsThere is growing experience with tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonists in the management of eye gastrointestinal and nervous disease in Behçet's syndrome. Interferon-alpha at lower doses may increase its tolerability. Other biologics such as interleukin 1-blocking agents and tocilizumab were used in a small number of patients and also seem to be effective. SummaryAlthough experiences with biologics have expanded and looks promising, this is mostly observational or retrospective. There still is a lack of controlled trials with these agents, especially in patients with major organ involvement.