Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of host genetic and viral factors as surrogate markers for HTLV‐1‐associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis in Peruvian HTLV‐1‐infected patients

Human T‐lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV‐1)‐associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a complication that affects up to 5% of HTLV‐1‐infected individuals. Several host genetic and viral factors have been associated with the risk of HAM/TSP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a prognostic model for HAM/TSP developed in Japan in a Peruvian population of 71 HAM/TSP patients and 94 asymptomatic carriers (ACs). This model included age, proviral load (PVL), the presence of HLA‐A*02 and HLA‐Cw*08 alleles, SDF‐1 +801, and TNF‐α −863 polymorphisms, and viral subgroup. We describe frequencies for the four host genetic markers and demonstrate the presence of the HTLV‐1 tax B subgroup in Peru. Using cross‐validation, we show that the predictive ability of the prognostic model, as characterized by the area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve (AUC), does not differ from a model containing PVL only (both AUC = 0.74). We found some suggestive evidence of a protective effect of the HLA‐A*02 allele but failed to replicate the associations with the other three genetic markers and with viral subgroup. A logistic model containing PVL, age, gender, and HLA‐A*02 provided the best predictive ability in the Peruvian cohort (AUC = 0.79). J. Med. Virol. 82:460–466, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

Trade Practices Act – ACCC compliance role Compliance priorities Compliance objectives Information dissemination Information gathering ACCC co-operation policy for enforcement matters ACCC leniency policy for cartel conduct Inter-agency collaboration Requests for voluntary provision of information ACCC powers to issue statutory demands for information Resolving possible contraventions Formal administrative resolutions Litigated resolutions Notice of proceedings Formal demands prior to commencement of proceedings Proceedings against individuals Court rulings Enforcement of court orders ACCC intervention in private proceedings before the courts Action by business and consumers—promoting compliance with the Act
A Novel Power Injection Model of IPFC for Power Flow Analysis Inclusive of Practical Constraints

This paper describes a novel power injection model (PIM) of interline power flow controller (IPFC) for power flow analysis. In this model, the impedance of the series coupling transformer and the line charging susceptance are all included. In this situation, it is proved that the original structure and symmetry of the admittance matrix can still be kept, and thus, the Jacobian matrix can keep the block-diagonal properties, and sparsity technique can be applied. The IPFC state variables are adjusted simultaneously with the network state variables in order to achieve the specified control targets. Furthermore, the model can take into account the practical constraints of IPFC in Newton power flow. Numerical results based on the IEEE 57-bus and IEEE 300-bus systems are used to demonstrate the effectiveness and performance of the IPFC model
Changes in geometry of activily shortening unipennate rat gastrocnemius muscle

Muscle geometry of the unipennate medial gastrocnemius (GM) muscle of the rat was examined with photographic techniques during isometric contractions at different muscle lengths. It was found that the length of fibers in different regions of GM differs significantly, and proximal aponeurosis length varies significantly from distal aponeurosis length; the angle of the aponeurosis with the muscular action differs significantly among regions at short muscle lengths (full contraction). These data support the idea that the unipennate GM cannot be represented by a parallelogram in a two‐dimensional analysis. As the muscle shortens, the area of the mid‐longitudinal plane of the GM decreases by 24%, a decrease that may be explained by assuming fiber diameter to increase in all directions. The angle between fiber and aponeurosis is determined by more than fiber length. Hence, such important assumptions as a parallelogram with constant area and fiber angle γ changes determined by fiber length changes, freqently used in the theoretical analysis of the morphological mechanism of unipennate muscle contraction, do not hold for the unipennate GM of the rat.
Gonadotrophin Levels in Male Rats Following Impairment of Leydig Cell Function by Ethylene Dimethanesulphonate

The effects of the antispermatogenic compound, ethylene dimethanesulphonate on anterior pituitary and serum FSH, LH and prolactin levels in male rats were investigated. A rapid and sustained rise in serum LH, reaching castrate levels, indicated a normal pituitary response to androgen deprivation. Whilst no change in prolactin was observed, serum FSH showed a biphasic increase which is discussed in relation to the spermatogenic process.
Trehalose transport and metabolism in Escherichia coli

Trehalose metabolism in Escherichia coli is complicated by the fact that cells grown at high osmolarity synthesize internal trehalose as an osmoprotectant, independent of the carbon source, although trehalose can serve as a carbon source at both high and low osmolarity. The elucidation of the pathway of trehalose metabolism was facilitated by the isolation of mutants defective in the genes encoding transport proteins and degradative enzymes. The analysis of the phenotypes of these mutants and of the reactions catalyzed by the enzymes in vitro allowed the formulation of the degradative pathway at low osmolarity. Thus, trehalose utilization begins with phosphotransferase (IITre/IIIGlc)-mediated uptake delivering trehalose-6-phosphate to the cytoplasm. It continues with hydrolysis to trehalose and proceeds by splitting trehalose, releasing one glucose residue with the simultaneous transfer of the other to a polysaccharide acceptor. The enzyme catalyzing this reaction was named amylotrehalase. Amylotrehalase and EIITre were induced by trehalose in the medium but not at high osmolarity. treC and treB encoding these two enzymes mapped at 96.5 min on the E. coli linkage map but were not located in the same operon. Use of a mutation in trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase allowed demonstration of the phosphoenolpyruvate- and IITre-dependent in vitro phosphorylation of trehalose. The phenotype of this mutant indicated that trehalose-6-phosphate is the effective in vivo inducer of the system.
Spatiotemporal convergence and divergence in the rat S1 “Barrel” cortex

The size and response magnitude of receptive fields were evaluated for cells in the rat cortical barrel‐field by using standard vibrissal deflections of 1.14°. Such stimuli fell within the plateau region of stimulus‐response curves. The responses of all neurones to all vibrissae within and surrounding centre‐receptive fields were analysed for probability and latency of response. It was found that cells in supragranular layers had small centre‐receptive fields (average 1.6 vibrissae) with small excitatory surrounds (1.5 vibrissae) while cells in the granular layers had small, powerful centre‐receptive fields (1.4) with moderately large excitatory surrounds (2.6). Neurones in infragranular layers possessed large but weak centre‐receptive fields (2.6) with large surrounds (3.5).
Learning to Route

Recently, much attention has been devoted to the question of whether/when traditional network protocol design, which relies on the application of algorithmic insights by human experts, can be replaced by a data-driven (i.e., machine learning) approach. We explore this question in the context of the arguably most fundamental networking task: routing. Can ideas and techniques from machine learning (ML) be leveraged to automatically generate "good" routing configurations? We focus on the classical setting of intradomain traffic engineering. We observe that this context poses significant challenges for data-driven protocol design. Our preliminary results regarding the power of data-driven routing suggest that applying ML (specifically, deep reinforcement learning) to this context yields high performance and is a promising direction for further research. We outline a research agenda for ML-guided routing.
Correlations between Maternal Metabolism and Deranged Development in the Offspring of Normal and Diabetic Rats

ABSTRACT: In an attempt to define the pathogenesis of congenital malformations in diabetic pregnancy, a number of serum factors were determined in normal and diabetic pregnant rats and correlated to the outcome of gestation with the aid of multivariate linear regression analysis. The animals were from two different lines of Sprague-Dawley rats with documented differences in rates of fetal dysmorphogenesis in diabetic pregnancy. The diabetic rats increased less in body weight than the normal rats, yet displayed increased liver and kidney weights. The serum concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, triglycerides, the branched-chain amino acids, and asparagine, proline, alanine, citrulline, tyrosine, and ornithine were increased by diabetes. In contrast, IGF-I, glutamic acid, glutamine, cystine, and lysine were decreased in the serum of the diabetic pregnant rats. The maternal metabolic imbalance exerted profound effects on embryonic development. Thus, the embryos of the diabetic rats were smaller, had fewer somites, and contained less DNA and protein than the control embryos. In addition, the resorption and malformation rates were increased in the embryos of the diabetic rats. The regression analysis of the data revealed significant interrelationships between adverse embryonic outcome (rates of malformations and resorptions) and the maternal serum concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, β-hydroxybutyrate, branched-chain amino acids, and creatinine. This suggests that the maternal metabolism of the three major classes of nutrients covariates with the embryonic development in diabetic rat pregnancy. The monitoring of only one of these maternal parameters, e.g. the serum glucose concentration, may therefore not adequately predict the developmental status of the offspring. Our results suggest that the pathogenesis of fetal malformations in diabetic pregnancy is multifactorial. Thus, maintaining metabolites from all nutrient classes at a normal level may be important in preventing adverse fetal outcome.
The Employment Outlook for Youth: Building Entrepreneurship Ecosystems as a Way Forward

Since the outbreak of the recent financial crisis we have experienced some of the highest rates of youth unemployment in history. If we want to avoid branding the young people as a "Lost Generation", we need to act quickly. One important active labor market strategy to solve the youth unemployment crisis is entrepreneurship, helping them turn into job creators rather than job seekers. Entrepreneurship has received significant attention over the past decade with a rapid and often uncoordinated increase in entrepreneurship support programs. These constitute a major part of entrepreneurship ecosystems. In order to build effective entrepreneurship ecosystems, we need to understand the components and assessment indices of such ecosystems. This essay proposes a new conceptual framework describing entrepreneurship ecosystems. The proposed framework is expected to support policymakers and practitioners in setting up new entrepreneurship ecosystems and serve as a basis for future research.
Exploration of domestic water demand attitudes using qualitative and quantitative social research methods

Abstract The sustainable evolution of the urban water system requires the recognition of uncertainty embedded in both climate and human behaviour. A challenge that water managers and policy makers need to tackle, is to understand the way the society’s water demand behaviour is affected. The inaccuracy between attitudes and behaviours and the cognitive association of water use to living standards, hinders the projection of society’s response to management’s measures. Thus, it is necessary to identify leverage points, where water demand management policies should aim their efforts. This work presents two parts of a social research held in Athens: quantitative questionnaire gathering information regarding the domestic water demand attitudes and behaviours; and a series of qualitative interviews aimed at exploring in-depth, the domestic water use attitudes, and behaviours. This work presents the design and results of both methods and the combination of the quantitative results with insights from the qualitative work.
The Governance and Control of Open Source Software Projects

A comprehensive set of governance mechanisms and dimensions were investigated to identify combinations of mechanisms that are effectively used together in on-going volunteer-based open source software (OSS) projects. Three configurations were identified: Defined Community, Open Community, and Authoritarian Community. Notably, Defined Community governance had the strongest coordination and project climate and had the most extensive use of outcome, behavior, and clan control mechanisms (controller driven). The controls in the Defined Community governance configuration appear to effectively enable open, coordinated contribution and participation from a wide variety of talented developers (one of the virtues of open source development) while managing the development process and outcomes. The results add to our theoretical understanding of control in different types of information systems projects, as the combination of control modes found in OSS projects is different from those found in previous research for internal or outsourced information systems development projects. This could be due to unique features of OSS projects, such as volunteer participation and the controller being part of the development team. The results provide guidance for practitioners about how to combine 19 identified governance mechanisms into effective project governance that stimulates productive participation.
Photohemolytic potency of oral antidiabetic drugs in vitro: effects of antioxidants and a nitrogen atmosphere

The sulphonamide‐derived oral antidiabetic drugs carbutamide, chlorpropamide, glibenclamide, glibornuride, gliclazide, glipizide, gliquidone, glisoxepide, glymidine, tolazamide and tolbutamide were investigated for photohemolytic properties in vitro. Irradiation with a SOL 3 apparatus (solar simulating irradiation) revealed hemolysis in the presence of chlorpropamide, glipizide, gliquidone, glymidine and tolbutamide (all in the concentration 10−3 mol/l). Except for glymidine, which exerted photohemolysis in the concentration 10−4 mol/l, no hemolytic effects were seen in the concentration of 10−4 mol/l or 10−5 mol/l. Irradiation with TL 12 light bulbs (UVB), a UVASUN 5000 apparatus (UVA) or an experimental lamp (visible light) did not induce phototoxic hemolysis with either of the test substances. Addition of the antioxidants ascorbic acid, alpha‐tocopherol or superoxide dismutase significantly inhibited the phototoxic hemolysis. Investigations carried out in a nitrogen‐rich atmosphere reduced the hemolysis as well. These findings indicate an involvement of reactive oxygen species in the mechanism of action of the hemolytic process in the presence of oral antidiabetic drugs.
An evaluation of estimation methods for determining addition in presbyopes.

PURPOSE The optical correction of presbyopia must be handled individually. Our aim was to compare the methods used in addition to the refractive near vision, with the final addition used in presbyopic patients. METHODS Eighty healthy subjects with a mean age of 49.7 years (range 40 to 60 years) were studied. Tentative near additions were determined using four different techniques: one-half amplitude accommodation with minus lenses (AAL); one-third accommodative demand with positive lens (ADL); balanced range of accommodation with minus and positive lenses (BRA) and crossed cylinder test with initial myopisation (CCT). The power of the addition was then refined to arrive at the final addition. RESULTS The mean tentative near additions were lower than the final addition for ADL and BRA addition methods. The mean differences between tentative and final additions were low for all the tests examined (less than 0.25 D). The intervals between the 95% limits of agreement differed substantially and were always higher than ±0.50 D. CONCLUSION All the methods used displayed similar behavior and provided a tentative addition close to the final addition. The coefficient of agreements (COA) detected suggests that every tentative addition should be adjusted according to the particular needs of the patient.
Infectious bronchitis corona virus establishes productive infection in avian macrophages interfering with selected antimicrobial functions

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) causes respiratory disease leading to loss of egg and meat production in chickens. Although it is known that macrophage numbers are elevated in the respiratory tract of IBV infected chickens, the role played by macrophages in IBV infection, particularly as a target cell for viral replication, is unknown. In this study, first, we investigated the ability of IBV to establish productive replication in macrophages in lungs and trachea in vivo and in macrophage cell cultures in vitro using two pathogenic IBV strains. Using a double immunofluorescent technique, we observed that both IBV Massachusetts-type 41 (M41) and Connecticut A5968 (Conn A5968) strains replicate in avian macrophages at a low level in vivo. This in vivo observation was substantiated by demonstrating IBV antigens in macrophages following in vitro IBV infection. Further, IBV productive infection in macrophages was confirmed by demonstrating corona viral particles in macrophages and IBV ribonucleic acid (RNA) in culture supernatants. Evaluation of the functions of macrophages following infection of macrophages with IBV M41 and Conn A5968 strains revealed that the production of antimicrobial molecule, nitric oxide (NO) is inhibited. It was also noted that replication of IBV M41 and Conn A5968 strains in macrophages does not interfere with the induction of type 1 IFN activity by macrophages. In conclusion, both M41 and Con A5968 IBV strains infect macrophages in vivo and in vitro resulting productive replications. During the replication of IBV in macrophages, their ability to produce NO can be affected without affecting the ability to induce type 1 IFN activity. Further studies are warranted to uncover the significance of macrophage infection of IBV in the pathogenesis of IBV infection in chickens.
Nothing to Report?: Motivations for Non-disclosure of Social Issues by Indonesian Listed Companies

A study based on the extent of voluntary social disclosure practices of Indonesian listed entities using Global Reporting Initiatives as a simplified social disclosure index found that all Jakarta Stock Exchange listed entities voluntarily disclose some social information in their annual reports, but at a low level (14.15%). Stakeholder theory partially explains the disclosures but does not explain why some issues such as Child Labour, Forced and Compulsory Labour, Bribery and Corruption and Political Contributions are not disclosed by any listed companies. This paper examines the motivations for these non-disclosures and suggests that one of the more likely reasons that companies do not disclose certain items is to avoid scrutiny, particularly on issues where they are not performing or where it is evident that they are in breach of government regulations.
Phage antibodies with pan‐species recognition of the oncofoetal angiogenesis marker fibronectin ED‐B domain

Fibronectin (FN) exists in several polymorphic forms due to alternative splicing. The B‐FN isoform (with ED‐B domain inserted by splicing) is present in the stroma of foetal and neoplastic tissues and in adult and neoplastic blood vessels during angiogenesis but is undetectable in mature vessels. This isoform, therefore, represents a promising marker for angiogenesis, as already shown using the mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb) BC‐I directed against an epitope on human B‐FN. However, this MAb does not directly recognise the human ED‐B domain nor does it recognise B‐FN of other species; therefore, it cannot be used as a marker of angiogenesis in animal models. In principle, antibodies directed against the human ED‐B domain should provide pan‐species markers for angiogenesis as the sequence of this domain is highly conserved in different species (and identical in humans and mice). As it has proved difficult to obtain such antibodies by hybridoma technology, we used phage display technology. Here, we describe the isolation of human antibody fragments against the human ED‐B domain that bind to human, mouse and chicken B‐FN. As shown by immunohistochemistry, the antibody fragments stain human neoplastic tissues and the human, mouse and chicken neovasculature. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
FINANCIAL LITERACY RESEARCH ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA: CURRENT LITERATURE AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

The needs of financial literacy are becoming increasing important for undergraduate students in the Malaysian context. As a developing nation, rising cost of living and dynamic fluctuations price of goods and services demand people to be financially equipped in financial decision making, especially young adults which include undergraduate students. This paper reviewsfour published studies on financial literacy of undergraduate students in Malaysia. As a result, this paper presents research gaps from the existing literature, proposes research opportunities that not only targeted at scholars but academicians teaching financial literacy in schools and universities.