Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
National Culture and E-Government Readiness

Diffusion of information and communication technologies is a global phenomenon. In spite of rapid globalization there are considerable differences between nations in terms of the adoption and usage of new technologies. Several studies exploring causal factors including national cultures of information and communication technology adoption have been carried out. The focus of this article is slightly different from other studies in this area. Rather than concentrating on the individual information technology an overall e-Government readiness is the focus. This research conducted an analysis of the impact national culture has on e-Government readiness and its components for 62 countries. E-Government readiness assessment used in this study is based on the UN E-Government Survey 2008, while the national cultural dimensions were identified using Hofstedeâ€™s model of cultural differences. The research model and hypotheses were formed and tested using correlation and regression analysis. The findings indicate that worldwide e-Government readiness and its components are related to culture. The result has theoretical and practical implications.
Microcycle Conidiation and Spore-Carrying Capacity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on Solid Media

The effect of spore inoculum density, medium concentration, and temperature on slime-spot formation, spore yield, and mycelium production by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on agar media were studied with a simple microplate assay. A steady-state spore yield (spore-carrying capacity) independent of inoculum density was reached only on media that supported good fungal growth and sporulation. The spore-carrying capacity was reached earlier, the denser the inoculum. On standard mycological media a high inoculum density (2.5 × 106 spores per ml) resulted in a slimy mass of conidia forming a slime spot, a phenomenon associated with greatly reduced mycelium formation and indicative of microcycle conidiation. In contrast, for a similar inoculum density, enhanced mycelial growth preceded sporulation and overrode slime-spot formation on highly concentrated media; a very low medium concentration resulted in much less mycelium, but spore production was also decreased. Exposure to suboptimal growth temperatures of 36 to 48°C for up to 8 days did not induce microcycle conidiation from inocula that did not form a slime spot at 28°C.
AN ALTERNATING SERVICE PROBLEM

We consider a system consisting of a server alternating between two service points. At both service points, there is an infinite queue of customers that have to undergo a preparation phase before being served. We are interested in the waiting time of the server. The waiting time of the server satisfies an equation very similar to Lindley's equation for the waiting time in the GI/G/1 queue. We will analyze this Lindley-type equation under the assumptions that the preparation phase follows a phase-type distribution, whereas the service times have a general distribution. If we relax the condition that the server alternates between the service points, then the model turns out to be the machine repair problem. Although the latter is a well-known problem, the distribution of the waiting time of the server has not been studied yet. We derive this distribution under the same setting and we compare the two models numerically. As expected, the waiting time of the server is, on average, smaller in the machine repair problem than in the alternating service system, but they are not stochastically ordered.
Connexin43 Interacts with NOV

The gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) is thought to be involved in growth control in several tissues. Using the doxycycline inducible tet-on system, we generated human malignant trophoblast Jeg3 cells transfected with either Cx40, Cx43, or C-terminal truncated Cx43 (trCx43). Cx43, but not Cx40 or trCx43, displayed a reduced cell growth of Jeg3 cells in vitro and tumor growth in nude mice, suggesting a role of the C terminus of Cx43 in growth regulation. Using gene array analysis, the growth regulator NOV (CCN3), a member of the CCN gene family, was found to be up-regulated only in the Cx43-transfected cells. Validation by reverse transcriptase-PCR confirmed an up-regulation of the NOV transcript exclusively upon Cx43 induction. In contrast to Cx40 or trCx43, induction of Cx43 led to a switch in localization of NOV from the nucleus to the cell membrane, where it is colocalized with Cx43. Coimmunoprecipitation showed a binding of NOV to the C terminus of Cx43 in vitro as well as in transfected cells. Jeg3 cells transfected only with NOV revealed that NOV itself acts as a growth regulator. We suggest that Cx43 is able to regulate cell growth via an up-regulation of NOV transcription, a change in localization of the NOV protein and a binding of NOV to the C terminus of Cx43.
Sexual Development in Fish, Practical Applications for Aquaculture

Aquaculture is one of the fastest rising sectors of world food production. Hundreds of fish species are cultured, providing an affordable, high quality food source. Two aspects of sexual development are critically important for the continued improvement of cultured fish stocks: sexual dimorphism and control of reproduction. In this paper, we review the main methods used to control sex determination in fish and their application in some of the most widely cultured species. Specifically, we review the techniques available for the production of all-male, all-female, and sterile populations. Techniques for endocrinological control of reproduction are also discussed.
DNA barcoding meets molecular scatology: short mtDNA sequences for standardized species assignment of carnivore noninvasive samples

Although species assignment of scats is important to study carnivore biology, there is still no standardized assay for the identification of carnivores worldwide, which would allow large‐scale routine assessments and reliable cross‐comparison of results. Here, we evaluate the potential of two short mtDNA fragments [ATP6 (126 bp) and cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) (187 bp)] to serve as standard markers for the Carnivora. Samples of 66 species were sequenced for one or both of these segments. Alignments were complemented with archival sequences and analysed with three approaches (tree‐based, distance‐based and character‐based). Intraspecific genetic distances were generally lower than between‐species distances, resulting in diagnosable clusters for 86% (ATP6) and 85% (COI) of the species. Notable exceptions were recently diverged species, most of which could still be identified using diagnostic characters and uniqueness of haplotypes or by reducing the geographic scope of the comparison. In silico analyses were also performed for a 110‐bp cytochrome b (cytb) segment, whose identification success was lower (70%), possibly due to the smaller number of informative sites and/or the influence of misidentified sequences obtained from GenBank. Finally, we performed case studies with faecal samples, which supported the suitability of our two focal markers for poor‐quality DNA and allowed an assessment of prey DNA co‐amplification. No evidence of prey DNA contamination was found for ATP6, while some cases were observed for COI and subsequently eliminated by the design of more specific primers. Overall, our results indicate that these segments hold good potential as standard markers for accurate species‐level identification in the Carnivora.
Precocious Puberty in a Girl with Floating-Harbor Syndrome

Floating-Harbor syndrome (FHS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by short stature, delayed bone age, mild to moderate mental retardation, speech problems, and peculiar craniofacial features. In these patients pubertal development has been reported to be normal. In this paper, we describe a girl with FHS who developed precocious puberty. FHS diagnosis was made at 2 years 5 months on the basis of peculiar clinical features. At 7 years 7 months, the girl began pubertal development; her height was 112.5 cm (-2.42 SDS) and pubertal staging was B2 PH2 AH1. LHRH test underlined LH and FSH peak values of 11.7 mIU/ml and 6.2 mIU/ml, respectively. Plasma levels of 17beta-estradiol were normal (8.5 pg/ml). Ophthalmological and neurological examinations, including nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, were normal. Treatment with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue was begun. At 10 years 1 month, because of reduced height velocity, her growth hormone secretion was evaluated with diagnosis of neurosecretory dysfunction; hGH therapy was begun. The patient showed a good response to hGH treatment, reaching a normal adult height (156.1 cm; -1.20 SDS). This report suggests that, in patients with FHS, precocious puberty should be taken into consideration; in these patients, a careful endocrinological followup for the possible presence of growth and pubertal disorders is needed.
Patterns of recurrence after resection of gallbladder cancer without routine extrahepatic bile duct resection.

OBJECTIVE Routine extrahepatic bile duct (EBD) resection in non-jaundiced patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) is controversial. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse patterns of recurrence in patients who underwent resection of GBC without routine EBD resection. METHODS This analysis referred to 58 patients who had undergone explorative laparotomy for GBC during 2000-2012 at a single, tertiary referral centre. Overall survival, time to recurrence, and patterns of recurrence were assessed in patients who underwent conventional negative-margin (R0) resection without routine EBD resection. RESULTS Of 58 patients submitted to explorative laparotomy for GBC, 26 (45%) patients underwent R0 resection without EBD resection (tumour stage T1b in five patients, T2 in 17, T3 in three, and T4 in one). The 3-year survival rate among these patients was 78% at a median follow-up of 33 months (range: 13-127 months). Seven patients developed recurrent disease at a median of 9 months (range: 2-25 months) after resection. No patients developed isolated recurrent disease at the EBD. CONCLUSIONS Of 26 patients resected for GBC, none developed isolated recurrent disease at the EBD after conventional resection of GBC without EBD resection. This finding suggests that routine EBD resection is of no additional value.
RUPTURED POLLEN GRAIN 1 , a Member of the MtN 3 / saliva Gene Family , Is Crucial for Exine Pattern Formation and Cell Integrity of Microspores in Arabidopsis 1 [ C ] [ W ] [ OA ]

During microsporogenesis, the microsporocyte (or microspore) plasma membrane plays multiple roles in pollen wall development, including callose secretion, primexine deposition, and exine pattern determination. However, plasma membrane proteins that participate in these processes are still not well known. Here, we report that a new gene, RUPTURED POLLEN GRAIN1 (RPG1), encodes a plasma membrane protein and is required for exine pattern formation of microspores in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The rpg1 mutant exhibits severely reduced male fertility with an otherwise normal phenotype, which is largely due to the postmeiotic abortion of microspores. Scanning electron microscopy examination showed that exine pattern formation in the mutant is impaired, as sporopollenin is randomly deposited on the pollen surface. Transmission electron microscopy examination further revealed that the primexine formation of mutant microspores is aberrant at the tetrad stage, which leads to defective sporopollenin deposition on microspores and the locule wall. In addition, microspore rupture and cytoplasmic leakage were evident in the rpg1 mutant, which indicates impaired cell integrity of the mutant microspores. RPG1 encodes an MtN3/saliva family protein that is integral to the plasma membrane. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that RPG1 is strongly expressed in microsporocyte (or microspores) and tapetum during male meiosis. The possible role of RPG1 in microsporogenesis is discussed.
Age protects from harmful effects produced by chronic intermittent hypoxia

Episodes of intermittent hypoxia, as produced in obstructive sleep apnoea, cause a carotid‐driven sympathetic hyperactivity and an oxidative status leading to cardiovascular and metabolic pathologies, which are less pronounced in patients >60–65 years old. In young rats (3–4 months) chronic intermittent hypoxia augments carotid body hypoxic responses, plasma catecholamine, renal catecholamine content and turnover, produces an oxidative status, and causes hypertension. In aged rats (22–24 months) chronic intermittent hypoxia does not alter carotid body responses, catecholamine‐related parameters or redox status, and does not cause hypertension. It is concluded that age affords protection to harmful effects produced by chronic intermittent hypoxia. Possible mechanisms involved in age protection and the significance of our findings in the diagnosis and therapeutic approaches to obstructive sleep apneoa in the elderly are considered.
A regulator from Chlamydia trachomatis modulates the activity of RNA polymerase through direct interaction with the beta subunit and the primary sigma subunit.

The obligate intracellular human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis undergoes a complex developmental program involving transition between two forms: the infectious elementary body (EB), and the rapidly dividing reticulate body (RB). However, the regulators controlling this development have not been identified. To uncover potential regulators of transcription in C. trachomatis , we screened a C. trachomatis genomic library for sequences encoding proteins that interact with RNA polymerase (RNAP). We report the identification of one such protein, CT663, which interacts with the b and s subunits of RNAP. Specifically, we show that CT663 interacts with the flap domain of the b subunit ( b -flap) and conserved region 4 of the primary s subunit ( s 66 in C. trachomatis ). We find that CT663 inhibits s 66 -dependent (but not s 28 -dependent) transcription in vitro, and we present evidence that CT663 exerts this effect as a component of the RNAP holoenzyme. The analysis of C. trachomatis -infected cells reveals that CT663 begins to accumulate at the commencement of the RB-to-EB transition. Our findings suggest that CT663 functions as a negative regulator of s 66 -dependent transcription, facilitating a global change in gene expression. The strategy used here is generally applicable in cases where genetic tools are unavailable.
Statin-induced rhabdomyolysis in patient with renal failure and underlying undiagnosed hypothyroidism

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome characterized by muscle necrosis which causes the release of myoglobin into the bloodstream. The manifestations of this syndrome range from asymptomatic elevation of serum muscle enzymes to life-threatening cases associated with extremely high enzyme levels, electrolyte imbalance, and acute renal failure. Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include dark urine, muscle weakness, and fatigue. Statins are commonly used drugs for the prevention and management of dyslipidemia. We present an interesting and critical case on statin-induced rhabdomyolysis with renal failure and previously undiagnosed idiopathic hypothyroidism.
A PHM system approach: Application to a simplified aircraft bleed system

Regarding Prognostics and Health Management (PHM), the stakes lie in system-level prognostics or even the prognostics of systems of systems, as decisions are usually made at system or platform level. In this paper, a method, which takes into account both the system redundancy and the adaptation of operational modes in degraded functioning, is proposed and formalized. This method makes the system-level prognostics more relevant. The main feature of the method is to re-compute the components Remaining Useful Life (RUL) using the degradation rate associated to the future operating mode(s) due to system reconfiguration. This results in an improvement of both the System RUL (SRUL) and the components RUL. The proposed method is applied on a simplified aircraft bleed valve system to illustrate its effectiveness. This method is primarily destined to aeronautic systems, which are usually resilient. It has not been tested whether or not it could be useful in other fields.
Cross-resistance between a Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxin and non-Bt insecticides in the diamondback moth.

BACKGROUND Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) crystal (Cry) toxins are expressed in various transgenic crops and are also used as sprays in integrated pest management and organic agricultural systems. The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) is a major worldwide pest of crucifer crops and one that has readily acquired field resistance to a broad range of insecticides. RESULTS Selection of a subpopulation of the P. xylostella SERD4 population with the pyrethroid deltamethrin increased resistance to both deltamethrin and Cry1Ac relative to an unselected subpopulation. Selection of a second subpopulation with the Bt toxin Cry1Ac also increased resistance to both Cry1Ac and deltamethrin. A complementation test between the Cry1Ac-selected and deltamethrin-selected subpopulations suggested the presence of a common genetic locus or loci that control resistance to both insecticides. A piperonyl butoxide analogue with potent inhibitory activity against insect esterases significantly increased the toxicity of Cry1Ac and deltamethrin against the respective resistant subpopulations, but showed no such synergism with the unselected subpopulation of SERD4. CONCLUSION Selection of one resistance phenotype resulted in the simultaneous selection of the other. This phenomenon could be due to a single mechanism acting against both classes of insecticide or to genetically linked, but separate, mechanisms.
Assessment of serum amyloid A testing of horses and its clinical application in a specialized equine practice.

OBJECTIVE To compare serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration, plasma fibrinogen concentration, total WBC count, and serum albumin-to-globulin concentration ratio (A:G ratio) in clinically normal (CN) and clinically abnormal (CA) horses. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. ANIMALS 111 CN horses and 101 CA horses hospitalized at a specialty clinical practice. PROCEDURES Shortly after admission, a blood sample (20 mL) was collected from each horse for a CBC, serum protein electrophoresis, and determination of plasma fibrinogen concentration; SAA concentration was assessed with a previously validated immunoturbidometric assay. Similar testing of a subset of CA horses was conducted at various points during treatment. RESULTS Total WBC count, A:G ratio, and SAA concentration were determined for all 212 horses; data regarding plasma fibrinogen concentration were available for 127 horses (of which 47 were CN and 80 were CA). Median SAA concentration, total WBC count, and plasma fibrinogen concentration and mean A:G ratio differed significantly between CN horses and CA horses. Correlations between these variables were poor to weak. For discrimination of CN horses from CA horses, the SAA assay had sensitivity of 53% and specificity of 94% (diagnostic accuracy, 75%); for the other assessments, accuracy ranged from 59% to 62%. Repeated assessment of SAA concentration in some CA horses revealed a gradual return to normal concentrations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that assessment of SAA concentration can provide valuable information regarding the clinical state of horses and may be more useful for patient monitoring and as a prognostic indicator than are traditional markers of inflammation.
Outcomes of an intensive couple relationship education program with fragile families.

Couple relationship education (CRE) has been proposed as one means to help fragile families stabilize their relationships. The current research is one of the first studies to look at the outcomes of a CRE program with fragile families in the areas of couple stability and marriage formation. Data were from the Family Formation Project, a federal and state funded program working with fragile family couples (n = 96) in a metropolitan area. A historical cohort control group quasi-experimental research design was used with a matched control group from the Fragile Family and Child Well-being Study. The intervention consisted of in-home education and support, group educational events, and social service referrals. Findings showed that couples had the same rate of couple stability as the control group but an increased rate of marriage. These findings suggest that CRE can help fragile families achieve marriage when that is their goal, but that some fragile families may need more than CRE to help them stabilize their relationship, or they may be better off separating.
Pilot Study of a 360-Degree Assessment Instrument for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Programs

Musick DW, McDowell SM, Clark N, Salcido R: Pilot study of a 360-degree assessment instrument for physical medicine and rehabilitation residency programs. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2003;82:394-402. Objective To perform a pilot test on a new format for multidisciplinary assessment of resident physicians’ professionalism and clinical performance in acute inpatient rehabilitation settings. Design In this pilot study, a 26-item ratings instrument was developed for use by therapists, nurses, social workers, case managers, and psychologists to rate inpatient residents. Results A total of 421 ratings forms were returned over four academic years. Alpha reliability coefficient for instrumentation sample was 0.99. &khgr;2 and analysis of variance procedures examined item mean differences. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were found based on resident sex (17 items) and rotation setting (20 items). No significant differences were found based on rater profession; mean ratings by profession ranged from 6.67 (physical therapists) to 7.46 (case managers). Conclusions Psychometric properties of this new ratings format are encouraging. The tool was a useful way to provide formative feedback to residents regarding professionalism and performance. Residency program directors can use this approach to fulfill Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education mandates to use a variety of assessment methods regarding resident education. However, potential sex bias and other issues affecting performance ratings should be considered in interpreting results and warrant further study.