Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between asymmetric dimethylarginine and endothelial dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), endothelial dysfunction caused by the inflammatory process increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA) leads to vascular dysfunction, whereas atherosclerosis and increased ADMA is associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors. Flow-mediated Dilation (FMD) is a radiological method to demonstrate endothelial dysfunction. In the present study, we assessed the availability of ADMA as a marker for endothelial dysfunction in RA patients. ADMA can be used as a simple and cheaper method for the determination of endothelial dysfunction. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty patients (1 male, 39 female) diagnosed with RA according to the classification criteria and 29 healthy volunteers (2 males, 27 females) were included in this study. ADMA was studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman's correlation tests were used for analytical analysis, and p<0.05 was considered as the level of statistical significance. RESULTS In our study, ADMA levels were significantly higher in RA patients. The ADMA level was inversely correlated with FMD. Although high levels of both C-reactive protein and ADMA were detected in patients with high disease activity, there was no statistically significant difference between these parameters (p=0.18). There were statistically significant negative correlations between FMD and age and disease duration (p=0.01, p=0.01). However, there were no statistically significant correlations with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor, and disease activity score (p=0.68). In RA patients, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between disease duration and ADMA, whereas a negative correlation was found between FMD and ADMA (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Our results support the hypothesis that ADMA may be used in the assessment of endothelial dysfunction in patients with RA. It will be cost-effective when commonly used. ADMA may be used in the assessment of endothelial dysfunction in patients with RA.
Evaluation of Genotoxity And Mutagenicity of DL-p-Chlorophenylalanine, Its Methyl Ester And Some N-Acyl Derivatives

DL-p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) and its derivatives were evaluated for genotoxic effects using Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis strains lacking various DNA-repair mechanisms in spottest and in suspension test. The mutagenic activity of studied compounds was determined by the Ames test. Reverse mutation test was performed with Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1537 without S9 mix. 0.02 M nitrosomethylurea (NMU) standard mutagen was used as a positive control. The results showed that the parent nonessential amino acid PCPA had no detectable genotoxic and mutagenic activities in bacteria. The methyl ester of this amino acid and its N-phenylacetyl derivative possessed weak genotoxicity. Meanwhile N-sec-butyloxycarbonyl, N-benzyloxycarbonyl, N-(p-nitrophenylacetyl) and N-(p-nitrophenoxyacetyl) derivatives of DL-p-chlorophenylalanine exhibited appreciable genotoxicity. Among the seven tested compounds only N-benzyloxycarbonyl and N-(p-nitrophenoxyacetyl) derivatives of DL-p-chlorophenylalanine have been found to be mutagenic. Only parent PCPA possessed antimutagenic properties in respect of nitrosomethylurea. The structural modification, which strongly affects genotoxicity and mutagenicity perhaps may be due to steric hydrance of the substituents, causing interference with enzyme and DNA interactions.
Revisiting Teacher Leadership: Perceptions of Teachers and Principals

The purpose of this qualitative study was to discover perceptions of teachers and principals regarding teacher leadership. The researchers investigated how selected Oregon teachers and administrators defined teacher leadership, as well as how they perceived roles, characteristics, and qualities of teacher leaders. Four themes emerged from the results: collaboration, interpersonal relationships, managing the work, and teaching and learning. Results showed that teacher leaders often acted in a collaborative environment and expected colleagues and administrators to be collaborative. Developing and maintaining positive relational skills were of importance, particularly related to caring and serving, as well as the dispositions of honesty, empathy, trustworthiness, and being a good listener. Managing work-related tasks was mentioned frequently: focusing on the vision for the school, enhancing the mission, chairing a committee, developing plans, and initiating tasks. Activities related to teaching and learning were of importance: planning, implementing, and evaluating instructional practices and student outcomes.
Locomotion control and gaits’ modality of a 3D snake-like robot

This paper describes our work on the studies of the locomotion of a 3D snake-like robot, which has been developed by our laboratory for special usage. In this paper, we first describe the mechanical design of the robot and its control system, then we give the basic formulas for the robotpsilas 2D and 3D locomotion, which are based on serpenoid curve. While having realized 2D locomotion of serpentine and concertina, many 3D motion gaits were obtained and the 3D motions of the snake-like robot were generated by changing the parameters of the 3D locomotion formula. Moreover, the performance variances under different control formulas were observed for each gait. These results help to better control the snake-like robotspsila locomotion.
Association Between PCR-SSCP of Growth Differentiation Factor 9 Gene and High Prolificacy in Small Tail Han Sheep

Abstract Small Tail Han sheep that has significant characteristics of high prolificacy and nonseasonal ovulatory activity is an excellent local sheep breed in P.R. China. The lambing percentage averaged 260% in Small Tail Han sheep. Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) gene, which was essential for growth and differentiation of early ovarian follicles, was considered as a possible candidate gene for litter size in Small Tail Han sheep. The genetic polymorphism of a part of the GDF9 gene was detected in 130 ewes of Small Tail Han sheep by PCR-SSCP. The results indicated that there were two genotypes (AA and AB) detected by two primer pairs. In both exon 1 and exon 2 of the GDF9 gene in Small Tail Han sheep, frequencies of AA genotype were 0.846 and 0.908, frequencies of AB genotype were 0.154 and 0.092, frequencies of A allele were 0.923 and 0.954, and frequencies of B allele were 0.077 and 0.046, respectively. The results of χ 2 fitness test indicated that both exon 1 and exon 2 of the GDF9 gene were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05) in Small Tail Han sheep. Least squares means of litter size in the first and the second parity for genotype AA were 0.30 (p < 0.05) and 0.77 (p < 0.0001) more than those for genotype AB detected in exon 1 of the GDF9 gene in Small Tail Han sheep, respectively. Fragments detected in exon 2 of the GDF9 gene had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on litter size in both the first and the second parity in Small Tail Han sheep. Litter size in sheep is lowly heritable, expressed only in females, and manifested relatively late in life. Access to genetic markers would thus be advantageous in selection programs. #Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (30300248 and 30140004) and National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2002AA211081).
Transformation of galena to pyromorphite produces bioavailable sulfur for neutrophilic chemoautotrophy

The aqueous concentration of lead [Pb(II)] in geochemical environments is controlled by the solubility of Pb‐bearing minerals and their weathering products. In contaminated soils, a common method for in situ stabilization of Pb(II) is the addition of phosphate to convert more redox sensitive sulfide minerals into sparingly soluble pyromorphite [Pb5(PO4)3X]. In this study, we conducted experimental studies to investigate the fate of reduced sulfur during the conversion of galena [PbS] to chloropyromorphite [Pb5(PO4)3Cl]. Powder X‐ray diffraction analysis indicated that the reaction of phosphate with galena under oxic conditions resulted in the oxidation of sulfide and formation of elemental sulfur [S8]. Under oxic abiotic conditions, the S8 was retained in the solid phase, and negligible concentrations of sulfur as sulfide and thiosulfate were detected in the aqueous phase and only a small amount of sulfate. When PbS reacted in the presence of the chemoautotrophic organism Bosea sp. WAO, the S8 in the secondary mineral was oxidized to sulfate. Strain WAO produced significantly more sulfate from the secondary S8 than from the primary galena. Microscopic analysis of mineral–microbe aggregates on mineral‐embedded slide cultures showed that the organism was colocalized and increased in biomass over time on the secondary mineral surface supporting a microbial role. The results of this study indicate that stimulation of sulfur‐oxidizing activity may be a direct consequence of phosphate amendments to Pb(II)‐contaminated soils.
Do senior bankers care about entrepreneurial behaviour?: case of senior managers of Iranian vanguard banks

Changing needs of markets, innovations of competitors, and creative ideas of leading companies, require managers to reveal more entrepreneurial behaviour patterns. Entrepreneurial behaviours are those behaviours that lead to innovative/opportunity oriented results which are the outcomes of an entrepreneurial process. The main question of this study is: "what are the factors affecting entrepreneurial behaviours of the managers of vanguard banks in Iran? " To answer this question, first, some interview sessions were held to recognise the key factors affecting corporate entrepreneurial behaviours of the bank managers. Then, these factors were classified into three main groups: 1) individual factors; 2) organisational factors; 3) precipitating events. Among these, the first two factors were studied in the quantitative phase, and the third factor was studied in the qualitative phase. Our finding confirmed that entrepreneurial behaviour could be construed at the nexus of organisational and individual antecedents, alongside certain precipitating events.
Genetic Tools To Enhance the Study of Gene Function and Regulation in Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT The bursa aurealis transposon has been used to create transposon insertion libraries of Bacillus anthracis and Staphylococcus aureus. To provide a set of genetic tools to enhance the utility of these libraries, we generated an allelic-exchange system that allows for the replacement of the transposon with useful genetic markers and fluorescent reporter genes. These tools were tested in the Nebraska Transposon Mutant Library (NTML), containing defined transposon insertions in 1,952 nonessential S. aureus genes. First, we generated a plasmid that allows researchers to replace the genes encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) and erythromycin resistance in the transposon with a noncoding DNA fragment, leaving a markerless mutation within the chromosome. Second, we produced allelic-exchange plasmids to replace the transposon with alternate antibiotic resistance cassettes encoding tetracycline, kanamycin, and spectinomycin resistance, allowing for the simultaneous selection of multiple chromosomal mutations. Third, we generated a series of fluorescent reporter constructs that, after allelic exchange, generate transcriptional reporters encoding codon-optimized enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP), enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP), DsRed.T3(DNT), and eqFP650, as well as superfolder green fluorescent protein (sGFP). Overall, combining the NTML with this allelic-exchange system provides an unparalleled resource for the study of S. aureus.
Assessing the Quality of Collaborative Processes

Use of effective and efficient collaboration is important for organizations to survive and thrive in today’s competitive world. This paper presents quality constructs that can be used to evaluate the success of a collaboration process. Two types of collaboration processes are identified: 1) processes that are designed and executed by the same facilitator who designed them, and 2) processes that are designed by a collaboration engineer and executed many times by practitioners. Accordingly, the quality constructs have been divided in two categories. Constructs within the first category apply to both types of collaboration processes. This category includes constructs such as process effectiveness and efficiency, results quantity, results quality, satisfaction, and usability. The second category contains constructs that are useful from the perspective of the collaboration engineering approach: repeatable collaboration processes executed by practitioners. The three constructs important for this perspective are reusability, predictability, and transferability.
Relationships between development policy, SMEs and total factor productivity in Thailand

Abstract The paper aims to investigate relationships between development policy, SMEs, total factor productivity, and total output in Thailand. By comparing the trends in total factor productivity growth of industrialized economies (i.e. OECD, Korea), this study aims to showcase the importance of total factor productivity progress in Thailand, thereby enabling useful policy decisions. The study employs annual time series data for 1975–2016 retrieved from the World Development Indicator. Results of the study show that manufacturing and development policy lead to total factor productivity growth in the short-run in Thailand. Findings of the study suggest that manufacturing (i.e. product innovation) and development policy (i.e. tax incentive) are positively related to total factor productivity growth in the short-run and economic development in the long-run. These capacities are determined by the same set of conditions that are closely linked to the state of total factor productivity and development policy.
Long-term outcome in Japanese patients with lupus nephritis

The objective of this study was to clarify the long-term outcome in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) according to the International Society of Nephrology and Renal Pathology Society classification. This retrospective analysis comprised 186 Japanese patients given a diagnosis of LN by renal specimen with a mean observation period of 12 years. Primary end point was defined as death or end-stage renal disease, and standardized mortality ratios were calculated. Five patients presented with histopathological class I, 62 with II, 21 with III or III+V, 73 with IV or IV+V and 25 with V. Fourteen deaths occurred, corresponding to an overall standardized mortality ratio of 3.59 (95% confidence interval 2.02–5.81, p < 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a 10-year overall survival of 95.7%. Nephrotic proteinuria (≥3.5 g/day) at baseline was identified as an independent poor prognostic factor for overall survival in Cox regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a 10-year renal survival as 94.3%. Male gender and nephrotic proteinuria at baseline were identified as independent poor prognostic factors for renal survival in Cox regression analysis. In conclusion, LN was associated with a 3.59-fold increase in mortality compared with the general population. Male gender and nephrotic proteinuria were predictive for poor renal outcome.
THE MONETARY TRANSMISSION MECHANISM: EVIDENCE FROM TURKEY

Purpose- The CBRT announced in April 2010 that included financial stability in its target function, and in November 2010 started implementing modified monetary policy strategy with new monetary policy tools. In this study, the effectiveness of modified monetary policy was questioned. Thus, primarily the impacts of intermediate targets on price stability, then the impacts of policy instruments on intermediate targets have been investigated. Methodology- The Johansen cointegration test and VECM are used to show long-run relationships and causality between variables. Then, Granger causality test is used to examine short-run causality between the variables. Findings- In the long run, while credit supply and USD exchange rate affect price level, the average funding rate doesn`t affect the price level. Credit supply, USD exchange rate and average funding rate affect TUFE in the short run. In addition, in the long run, while the required reserve ratio and interest corridor affect credit supply; average funding rate and policy interest rate doesn`t affect credit supply. Moreover, in the long run, policy instruments do not have an impact on the USD exchange rate. Reserve requirements cause changes in credit supply, and average funding rate causes changes in USD exchange rate in the short run. Conclusion- The exchange rate channel and the credit channel is valid in Turkey. In addition, while required reserves and interest rate corridor have a predictable impact on the credit supply, no policy instrument has a predictable effect on the exchange rate.
Assessment of tumour response to chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer: accuracy of the RECIST criteria.

Evaluation of tumour size modifications in response to treatment is a critical issue in the management of advanced malignancies. In 1981, the World Health Organization (WHO) established guidelines for tumour response assessment. These WHO1981 criteria were recently simplified in a revised version, named RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours), which uses unidimensional instead of bidimensional measurements, a reduced number of measured lesions, withdrawal of the progression criteria based on isolated increase of a single lesion, and different shrinkage threshold for definitions of tumour response and progression. In order to validate these new guidelines, we have compared results obtained with both classifications in a prospective series of 91 patients receiving chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. Data from iterative tomographic measurements were fully recorded and reviewed by an expert panel. The overall response and progression rates according to the WHO1981 criteria were 19% and 58%, respectively. Using RECIST criteria, 16 patients were reclassified in a more favourable subgroup, the overall response rate being 28% and the progression rate 45% (non-weighted kappa concordance test 0.72). When isolated increase of a single measurable lesion is not taken into account for progression with the WHO1981 criteria, only 7 patients were reclassified and the kappa test was satisfying, i.e. > or =0.75, for the whole population as well as for each of the responding and progressive subgroups. Since it provides concordant results with a simplified method, the use of RECIST criteria is recommended for evaluation of treatment efficacy in clinical trials and routine practice.
Fuld Object Memory Evaluation Adapted for School-Age Children

A modification of the Fuld Object Memory Evaluation (FOME) was administered to 232 normally functioning children in grades one through eight in a public school district in Phoenix, Arizona. The test was terminated once all 10 objects were successfully recalled by the child. Ceiling effects were observed as 226 out of 232 children (97.4%) recalled all 10 objects on or before the fourth trial. Ineffective reminders were rare. Ceiling effects were studied as a function of age and grade level. The information may be helpful when examining children with severe cognitive impairments or from different cultural backgrounds.
Establishment of the 1st World Health Organization international standards for human papillomavirus type 16 DNA and type 18 DNA

A World Health Organization collaborative study was conducted to evaluate candidate international standards for human papillomavirus (HPV) Type 16 DNA (NIBSC code 06/202) and HPV Type 18 DNA (NIBSC code 06/206) for use in the amplification and detection steps of nucleic acid‐based assays. The freeze‐dried candidate international standards were prepared from bulk preparations of cloned plasmid containing full‐length HPV‐16 or HPV‐18 genomic DNA. Nineteen laboratories from 13 countries participated in the study using a variety of commercial and in‐house quantitative and qualitative assays. The data presented here indicate that, upon freeze‐drying, there is no significant loss in potency for the candidate HPV‐18 DNA and a slight loss in potency for the candidate HPV‐16 DNA; although this is likely not scientifically relevant when assay precision is considered. In general, the individual laboratory mean estimates for each study sample were grouped ±∼2 log10 around the theoretical HPV DNA concentration of the reconstituted ampoule (1 × 107 HPV genome equivalents/mL). The agreement between laboratories is improved when potencies are made relative to the candidate international standards, demonstrating their utility in harmonizing amplification and detection steps of HPV‐16 and −18 DNA assays. Degradation studies indicate that the candidate international standards are extremely stable and suitable for long‐term use. Based on these findings, the candidate standards were established as the 1st WHO international standards for HPV‐16 DNA and HPV‐18 DNA, each with a potency of 5 × 106 international units (IU) per ampoule or 1 × 107 IU mL−1 when reconstituted as directed.
Abductor Hallucis Muscle Flap and Staged Medial Column Arthrodesis for the Chronic Ulcerated Charcot Foot With Concomitant Osteomyelitis

Midfoot ulceration is a common sequela of the diabetic Charcot rocker-bottom deformity. Because redundant soft tissue from a non— weight-bearing area is often scarce in this area of the foot, soft-tissue coverage may be challenging. Wound closure may be difficult to achieve with local wound care and off-loading techniques if the predisposing deformity that caused the ulceration is not addressed. In the same setting, surgical reconstruction is often feared when open wounds are present, given the potential for infection. Approaching these wounds with a rational stepwise and staged approach is prudent to eradicate the underlying infection and also to achieve durable wound closure and long-term deformity correction. The authors present the use of a local muscle flap and circular external fixation for closure of a recalcitrant Charcot plantar-medial midfoot ulceration and also discuss different adjunctive modalities to facilitate soft-tissue reconstruction in the diabetic foot.