Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential expression of hepatocyte growth factor in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension

Introduction Non-invasive biomarkers are needed to identify pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients who may benefit from early intervention. We sought to identify novel cytokines that differentiate patients with incident SSc-PAH from those at high risk for PAH. Methods The Pulmonary Hypertension Assessment and Recognition of Outcomes in Scleroderma (PHAROS) Registry is a multicenter registry of SSc patients at high risk for PAH (at-risk) or with incident right-heart catheterization-confirmed PAH (definite PAH). Serum from 10 at-risk and 9 definite PAH patients were profiled with Bio-PlexTM bead arrays for 48 cytokines and chemokines. We also evaluated the longitudinal change in cytokine profiles from 3 at-risk patients who subsequently developed definite PAH. Results Clinical features of at-risk versus definite PAH patients were not significantly different except for right-ventricular systolic pressure on echocardiogram (34 ± 7 vs. 45 ± 8 mmHg, p = 0.006), left atrial diameter (2.9 ± 0.5 vs. 3.7 ± 0.4 cm, p = 0.02), 6-minute walk distance (508 ± 115 vs. 393 ± 70 m, p = 0.02), mean pulmonary artery pressure (18 ± 4 vs. 32 ± 6 mmHg, p = 0.01), and pulmonary vascular resistance (111 ± 48 vs. 272 ± 109 dyn/s/cm5, p = 0.009). Serum cytokine profiling identified hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) as the only cytokine significantly different between the at-risk and definite PAH groups (225.8 ± 55.0 vs. 361.6 ± 164.5 pg/mL, q<0.1%). Profiling of longitudinal samples of at-risk to definite PAH patients did not identify any significant changes in HGF or other cytokines over time. Conclusions Definite PAH patients expressed higher levels of HGF than at-risk patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the utility of HGF as a predictive biomarker for SSc-PAH.
Monetary Shock, Banking Risk and Bank Lending Channel: Evidence from Indonesian Banking Industry

This study examines the existence of a bank lending channel in the Indonesian banking system and tests whether monetary policy shock is transmitted via bank risk in bank lending activity. We use banking micro-data from 2007 to 2016. Using static and dynamic panel data, we find some contrary results from the US banking evidence, in which less-liquid banks and smaller banks and not highly liquid and larger banks are able to insulate their credit supply against the monetary shock. These types of the banks could raise funds from their business group, loyal depositors, and strong lending relationships to shield their loan portfolio from risk. Additionally, well-capitalized banks face minimal problems raising uninsured funding. Therefore, they can provide more loan supply. Moreover, riskier banks suffer more in their lending supply against monetary policy shock. Even stable banks (characterized by higher Z score) are unable to protect their capacity to channel their loans when interest rates increase. It should be suspected that larger banks convert their loanable funds into short-term investments and also focus on generating income from high-risk non-traditional bank products during the contracting period. Hence, they suffer more with their loan portfolios. This provides a signal for Financial Services Authority (OJK) to scrutiny the behavior of larger banks that might take on riskier businesses. To anticipate this activity, the banking regulator must also refine the minimum loan-to-deposit ratio for different sizes of banks so that they can increase their participation in spurring economic growth.
Customer Participation Variation and Its Impact on Customer Service Performance: Underlying Process and Boundary Conditions

Drawing on the customer participation (CP) literature, this research proposes that CP variation is the degree to which employees perceive variability across customers with regard to customers sharing information, time, and effort and making suggestions to enhance the service delivery process and outcome. Drawing on the job demands–resources model, this research explicates the mediating process by which CP variation affects customer service performance and its boundary conditions. Study 1 uses data from a field study in the banking industry to show that CP variation negatively influences customer service performance through greater customer-related burnout. The authors show that this mediation process is moderated by contingencies that mitigate or exacerbate the indirect relationship. Study 2 further validates the CP variation construct by testing for discriminant validity against similar and related constructs, such as CP quality, in more diverse service industries (insurance, legal consulting, travel and tourism, health care, and physical fitness). Finally, an examination of the moderating role of CP quality provides a more nuanced picture of the intricacies between CP variation and CP quality. This article concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications for CP variation research.
Understanding the 'Healthy Immigrant Effect' in Canada

The ‘Healthy Immigrant Effect’ (HIE), as it is dubbed in the social science literature, is the finding that recent immigrants are healthier than the average locally born resident but that over time this health advantage declines. In the existing literature, this phenomenon is documented using only cross section data. The limiting problem with drawing conclusions about immigrant health dynamics from a cross section alone is that a researcher cannot separately identify changes in health with each year that an immigrant spends in a host country from fixed differences between entry cohorts. In this paper, I exploit the panel nature of the Canadian National Population Health Survey to document the HIE using four measures of health including both subjective and objective measures. I find evidence of the HIE, for all measures of health I consider. Further, interesting patterns emerge for different cuts of the data. Age at immigration and sex matter. The HIE is a phenomenon affecting only those that immigrate at older ages. As well, I find that the HIE affects both men and women, but the effects are found in different measures of health
The Hidden Cost of Flexibility: A Factorial Survey Experiment on Job Promotion

This article analyses the role of gender, parenthood, and work flexibility measures and the mediating role of stereotypes on the likelihood of achieving an internal promotion in Spain. We hypothesize that employers favour fathers over mothers and disfavour flexible workers (flexibility stigma) because they are perceived, respectively, as less competent and less committed. We also hypothesize that employers reflect their gender values in the selection process. These hypotheses are tested using data from a survey experiment in which 71 supervisors from private companies evaluate 426 short vignettes describing six different candidates for promotion into positions that require decision-making and team supervision skills. Several candidate characteristics are experimentally manipulated, while others such as skills and experience in the company are kept constant to minimize the risk of statistical discrimination. Contrary to our expectations, fathers are not preferred in promotion, as they are not perceived as being more competent than mothers. However, we find that flexibility leads to lower promotion scores, partly due to its association with a lack of commitment. Although the statutory right to reduce working hours for care reasons seems a major social achievement, this experiment shows that mothers may be indirectly penalized, as they are the main users of this policy.
Microbiological quality of some common dairy beverages available in Dhaka University campus of Bangladesh

Abstract Dairy beverages are nutritious and also highly susceptible to bacterial contamination posing a threat to human health. In recent years, production and consumption of dairy beverages are rapidly increasing in Bangladesh; however, the presence of bacteria including human pathogens in commonly consumed dairy beverages has not been evaluated before. Here, we focused on microbiological quality of some dairy beverages available in Dhaka University campus. We examined 25 samples from five different items locally named as Lassi, Labang, Borhani, Pistachio nut sherbet, and Strawberry milkshake. Non-selective medium PCA and different selective agar media such as MacConkey, SS, EMB, and TCBS, and Cooked Meat were used for isolation. Antibiotic resistance was assessed by disk diffusion method against Ampicillin, Colistin, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Ceftriaxon, and Gentamycin. In PCA medium, Labang and Strawberry milkshake, respectively, showed the highest (3.6 × 107 CFU/mL) and the lowest (1.76 × 103 CFU/mL) bacterial count. In MacConkey and EMB media, the highest bacterial growths were, respectively, shown by Pistachio nut sherbet (1.22 × 104 CFU/mL) and Lassi (2.96 × 103 CFU/mL) whereas no growth was observed for Borhani. Strawberry milkshake was found with the highest bacterial prevalence such as E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas Bacillus, Micrococcus, and Streptococcus whereas Borhani and Labang contained the lowest variety of bacteria. Isolates such as Shigella, Aeromonas, Micrococcus, Bacillus, Streptococcus, and Proteus were multi-drug resistant to Ampicillin and Colistin. Findings indicated that examined samples contained health risk factor. Findings may help relevant stakeholders to consider food safety issues of dairy beverages during processing, marketing, and consumption.
The transcriptome dynamics of single cells during the cell cycle

Despite advances in single-cell data analysis, the dynamics and topology of the cell cycle in high-dimensional gene expression space remains largely unknown. Here, we use a linear analysis of transcriptome data to reveal that cells move along a circular trajectory in transcriptome space during the cell cycle. This movement occurs largely independently from other cellular processes. Non-cycling gene expression (changes in environment or epigenetic state) adds a third dimension and causes helical motion on a hollow cylinder. The circular trajectory shape indicates minimal acceleration of transcription, i.e. the cell cycle has evolved to minimize changes of transcriptional activity and its entailing regulatory effort. Thus, we uncover a general design principle of the cell cycle that may be of relevance to many other cellular differentiation processes. One Sentence Summary Cells traverse high-dimensional gene expression space in a 2D circular motion, thus minimizing changes of expression changes (“Acceleration”).
GABAA receptor desensitization shapes the kinetics and plasticity of inhibitory neurotransmission

GABAA receptors are anion-permeable pentameric ligand-gated ion channels. They are the primary mediators of inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system. As with many other ion channels, they are known to desensitize. This is a process involving the entry into a long-lived closed state after exposure to agonist. Although studies of receptors in recombinant systems and structural work have provided a lot of information about the entry of the receptor into the desensitized state, its physiological role remains unclear. In this project I sought to further elucidate the physiological role of entry of GABAA receptors into the desensitized state using mutations in the desensitization gate previously identified by our laboratory. I initially studied these mutations in recombinant expression systems to further characterise their effects on GABAA receptor kinetics and thus demonstrated that desensitization indeed effects the kinetics of phasicand tonic-like responses. I then confirmed these phenotypes in cultured hippocampal neurons. Treatments of neurons with GABA and allosteric modulators of GABAARs were then used in combination with the desensitization mutants to assess whether desensitization has any long-term effects on inhibitory synapses. GABAAR desensitization was found to result in a PKC-dependent long-term potentiation of inhibitory synapses.
Morphometric Evaluation of Styloid Process Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography- A Retrospective Study of Chennai Population

Introduction: The styloid process arises from petrous part of temporal bone as an osseous projection and shows considerable anatomic variability. The elongated styloid process presents with various signs and symptoms. The manifestations may vary widely such as cervicofacial pain, cerebral ischaemia and even death. Diagnosis can be made by clinical evaluation and different imaging modalities of which Cone Beam Computed Tomography(CBCT) gives a more accurate measurement. The morphological knowledge of styloid process and its variation is essential as it has various clinical implications in the field of dentistry, cardiology and forensic sciences. Aim: The objective of the present study is to evaluate 3 dimensionally the structural variation of styloid process, to evaluate the length and to analyse the prevalence of elongated styloid process according to age and gender using CBCT. Study Design: Cross sectional retrospective study. Materials and Methods: A series of CBCT images from 100 patients comprising of 74 males and 26 females were collected retrospectively at Ragas Dental College, Chennai during the period from September 2016 to October 2016. CBCT of study subjects were obtained using Galileos Comfort Plus. Statistics used was Chi Square test and analysis was done by using the statistical package SPSS version 20.0 Results: The prevalence of elongated styloid process was 56.6% with more prevalence in males 46.5% with 47% being Type I elongation(with uninterrupted integrity of styloid process) and 41% had type A pattern of calcification(calcified outline of styloid process) Conclusion: This study provides 3 dimensional knowledge of anatomical variation in styloid process according to age and gender. Assessment should be done during routine assessment to rule out any abnormalities. Message:
Body Image at Postpartum: Being Overweight but Not Noticing!

Poor dietary habits that lead to obesity may result from distorted body image where individuals fail to accurately recognize own weight status. Previous researches have shown rising trends in prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of child-bearing age. African women have generally been reported to appreciate big bodies. This study investigated accuracy of body size estimation, ideal body size and the relationship between BMI and body size underestimation among postpartum women with infants six to nine months old in Kasarani sub-county, Nairobi City, County Kenya. Randomly selected 460 postpartum women attending health facilities for vaccination/growth monitoring of their infants took part in the study. Analysis included response from 433 postpartum women. Weight and height were measured and BMI calculated. Body image was determined using Body Size Scale (BSS) with 9 female silhouettes ranging from very thin to very obese. The mothers were asked to select the body they perceived to be their current and their ideal body size. Overall, 54% of the study population was overweight or obese. Three quarter (75.2%) of those who were overweight or obese underestimated their weight. Further, 37.6% of those who were overweight or obese desired to add weight or maintain weight. There was significant positive relationship between BMI and body size underestimation. Interventions that incorporate psychological aspects in nutrition education are necessary for postpartum women to have realistic body size goals as part of strategies to curb rise of obesity.
Codiophyllum mexicanum sp. nov. (Halymeniaceae, Rhodophyta), first record of a stalked red alga associated with sponges in the western Atlantic

ABSTRACT The species of the family Halymeniaceae are characterised by their multiaxial thallus and sexual reproduction, involving carpogonial branches and auxiliary cells borne in filamentous ampullae and tetrasporangia decussately or cruciately divided. Most species of the genera Thamnoclonium, Spongophloea, Codiophyllum and Carpopeltis belong to the group of red algae associated with sponges that, so far, have been recorded only in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In a survey along the Campeche coast of Mexico, however, we found numerous specimens of a stalked red alga associated with a sponge. On the basis of molecular rbcL sequences and morphological features, these specimens proved to be a species of Codiophyllum. Given its independent phylogenetic position within the genus, morphological differences with C. flabelliforme and C. natalense (the other two known species), such as almost cylindrical, non-extended or flabellate axes, the lateral branching pattern, flattened specialised proliferations, and its geographic distribution, we described it as the new species C. mexicanum, the first stalked red alga associated with sponges described and recorded for the western Atlantic.
Admission to a UK Major Trauma Centre following deliberate self-harm and attempted suicide: Prevalence and outcomes

Background The incidence of suicide is increasing and for every suicide many more attempt it. Exploring such admissions to UK Major Trauma Centres improves our understanding. Methods Data on admissions to the Leeds Major Trauma Centre (2013–2016) following suicide attempts and acts of deliberate self-harm were obtained from the Trauma Audit and Research Network database. Retrospectively, quantitative and qualitative analyses were used to explore frequency of admissions, demographics, mechanism and severity of injury, outcomes, and input from the Clinical Psychology and Liaison Psychiatry services. Results A total of 192 admissions were identified; average age was 38.5 (SD: 16.1, range: 11–93), and 72% were male. The most frequent mechanism of injury was ‘fall/jump’ (41%, n = 78). A significant effect was found for gender and mechanism of injury (p = 0.025) with males using a wider range of methods, and females choosing ‘fall/jump’ most frequently. A total of 114 patients (59%) had an injury severity score >15. The suicide attempt was fatal for 34 patients (18%). A significant effect for mechanism of injury and mortality was found, with hanging most frequently, and stabbing least likely, to be fatal (p = 0.001). Twenty-six patients (13.5%) were seen by Clinical Psychology. In 2016, 82% of admissions (n = 37) were seen by Liaison Psychiatry with 33 referred onto other services. Eighteen (53%) had pre-existing mental health difficulties and/or evidence of substance misuse; 14 (38%) were recorded to have one or more previous suicide attempt. Average length of hospital stay was 15.2 days (SD: 26.8, range: 1–284) and the average cost £2958 (range: £195–£55,266). The average number of days in critical care was 2.9 (SD: 5.4, range: 0–29). Conclusions This study increased our understanding of deliberate self-harm/suicide attempts in the Leeds Major Trauma Centre. It indicated the high cost of deliberate self-harm/suicide attempts with the majority of patients having high injury severity score, and most surviving. Further research into follow-up and preventative support for this group of patients would be beneficial.
Corruption in the Malaysian construction industry: investigating effects, causes, and preventive measures

Abstract Corruption has long plagued the construction industry, more so in the developing world. Given its impact, empirical evidence is needed to gain a deeper insight into the phenomenon. This paper examines the influence of corruption on project outcomes, explores the causes of corruption, and evaluates anti-corruption measures. Drawing on an empirical survey in Malaysia, the significance of the causes and preventive measures are prioritized. The findings suggest that negative encouragement is more likely to induce corruption, followed by the nature of the construction industry, and flawed regulatory systems. As for the preventive measures, enforcement of law, regulations, and sanctions, high integrity and honest construction culture, and effective reporting channel rank the highest. Finally, correlational analysis reveals audit mechanism and code of conduct as the most significant cause-driven preventive measures. The paper sheds new light on the salient issues of construction corruption and recommends feasible measures for its reduction.
Transport of Asian surface pollutants to the global stratosphere from the Tibetan Plateau region during the Asian summer monsoon

Abstract Due to its surrounding strong and deep Asian summer monsoon (ASM) circulation and active surface pollutant emissions, surface pollutants are transported to the stratosphere from the Tibetan Plateau region, which may have critical impacts on global climate through chemical, microphysical and radiative processes. This article reviews major recent advances in research regarding troposphere–stratosphere transport from the region of the Tibetan Plateau. Since the discovery of the total ozone valley over the Tibetan Plateau in summer from satellite observations in the early 1990s, new satellite-borne instruments have become operational and have provided significant new information on atmospheric composition. In addition, in situ measurements and model simulations are used to investigate deep convection and the ASM anticyclone, surface sources and pathways, atmospheric chemical transformations and the impact on global climate. Also challenges are discussed for further understanding critical questions on microphysics and microchemistry in clouds during the pathway to the global stratosphere over the Tibetan Plateau.
Application of Ultrasonography to Investigate Postpartum Anestrus in Water Buffaloes

ABSTRACT Anestrus is one of the most important production limiting disorders in dairy buffaloes and its underlying causes have been a current topic of studies. The objectives of this study were to explore the causes of anestrus in buffaloes with the application of ultrasonography. Two examinations were performed by transrectal ultrasonography at 12 days apart in buffalo cows that were not seen in oestrus at 60 or more days postpartum. As high as 54.5% buffaloes had silent ovulation and 45.5% suffered from the true anestrus with ovarian dysfunction. The duration of anestrus after calving was 60 ～ 90, 91 ～ 120, 121 ～ 180 and 181 ～ 365 days in 27%, 32%, 18% and 23% buffalo cows, respectively. Treatment with prostaglandin of cyclic buffalo cows with a corpus luteum (72.7%) resulted in higher estrous rate as compared with close observation of estrus (23.1%) by the farmer (p=0.021). Acyclic buffalo cows without any corpus luteum on ovaries were successfully treated with gonadotropin releasing hormone (70%), resulting in higher estrous detection rate than those treated with a vitamin-mineral mixture (20%) (p=0.035). In conclusion, poor heat detection due to silent ovulation is the most important cause of apparent anoestrus in buffaloes; however the percentage of the true anestrous is also quite high in postpartum buffaloes. (Key words : Ultrasonography, Postpartum anestrus, Water buffalo, Ovulation, Pregnancy)