Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacogenetics of aspirin resistance: a comprehensive systematic review.

AIMS The aim was to perform a systematic review of all candidate gene association studies in aspirin resistance. METHODS Electronic databases were searched up until 1 December 2007 for all studies investigating any candidate gene for aspirin resistance in humans. Aspirin resistance was required to have been measured by a standardized laboratory technique to be included in the analysis. RESULTS Within 31 studies, 50 polymorphisms in 11 genes were investigated in 2834 subjects. The PlA1/A2 polymorphism in the GPIIIa platelet receptor was the most frequently investigated, with 19 studies in 1389 subjects. The PlA1/A2 variant was significantly associated with aspirin resistance when measured in healthy subjects [odds ratio (OR) 2.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24, 4.49; P = 0.009]. Combining genetic data from all studies (comprising both healthy subjects and those with cardiovascular disease) reduced the observed effect size (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.84, 1.54; P = 0.40). Moreover, the observed effect of PlA1/A2 genotype varied depending on the methodology used for determining aspirin sensitivity/resistance. No significant association was found with aspirin resistance in four other investigated polymorphisms in the COX-1, GPla, P2Y1 or P2Y12 genes. CONCLUSIONS Our data support a genetic association between the PlA1/A2 molecular variant and aspirin resistance in healthy subjects, with the effect diminishing in the presence of cardiovascular disease. The laboratory methodology used influences the detection of aspirin resistance. However, as heterogeneity was significant and our results are based on a limited number of studies, further studies are required to confirm our findings.
Economic values for recreational planning at Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT Although recreational planning in national parks has long taken visitor characteristics and perceptions into consideration, economic valuation to date has not been part of such planning. Our study applies economic valuation for recreational planning in the Horton Plains National Park (HPNP) in Sri Lanka. The study, using a pretested questionnaire, interviewed 188 respondents in order to identify existing visitor satisfaction levels as well as visitor perceptions on available facilities. The existing visitor satisfaction at HPNP was 54%. Two alternative recreational scenarios were, therefore, developed based on visitor perceptions on how to enhance visitor satisfaction at the park. A hypothetical travel cost method and contingent valuation method (CVM) were used to estimate (1) the welfare benefits in terms of consumer surplus and (2) the demand in terms of willingness to pay (WTP) for the proposed recreational scenarios. The sample size for the economic study was 352 respondents. The per-visitor welfare benefits were financially valued at Sri Lanka Rupees (SLR) 3794 (USD 1 = SLR 130) and SLR 7045 for scenarios 1 and 2, respectively. These values show a 15 to 30 times increase from the existing value of the welfare benefits. The net present value of benefits also increased from SLR 516.8 million to SLR 5296.92 million and SLR 9835.73 million under scenarios 1 and 2, respectively. Under CVM, the estimated mean WTP values were SLR 132.00 and SLR 190.32 under scenarios 1 and 2, respectively. These values can be used as a tool for revising pricing policies at HPNP. Visitors' response to the proposed recreational scenarios suggests the need for planners to institute proper recreational schemes to enhance the welfare benefits of visitors. The study underscores the role economic valuation can play in policy decisions relating to recreational planning in national parks.
Sulfur Poisoning of Metal Membranes for Hydrogen Separation

Many industrial chemical processes attempt to produce inexpensive purified hydrogen for use in industrial applications and in fuel cell power systems. Hydrogen-permeable metal membranes made of palladium and its alloys are the most widely used for hydrogen separation due to their high hydrogen permeability and their ideally infinite hydrogen selectivity. However, sulfur poisoning has been found to have negative effects on the performance of these materials. The goal of this paper is to present experimental and theoretical information that has been published in the open literature on the mechanism of sulfur poisoning of palladium membranes. Studies based upon the reduction mechanism of transition metals have been included when relevant to the subject of this work. The collected information has been critically reviewed and conclusions drawn. Copyright © 2009 Praise Worthy Prize S.r. l. - All rights reserved.
The Drivers of Police Reform: The Cases of Georgia and Armenia

This article analyzes cases of police reform aimed at eliminating corruption. It focuses on two cases sharing similar problems of corruption in the past but with different outcomes after undertaking police reform: Georgia and Armenia. It seeks to understand why police reform is more successful in Georgia than in Armenia and uses legal documents, external reports, and secondary literature in this cause. It concludes that the primary factor influencing the outcome is a change in the political elite. Other factors contributing to the outcome of the police reforms were the involvement of foreign actors, the content of the reform, and the magnitude of the corruption.
A multilingual collection of CoNLL-U-compatible morphological lexicons

We introduce UDLexicons, a multilingual collection of morphological lexicons that follow the guidelines and format of the Universal Dependencies initiative. We describe the three approaches we use to create 53 morphological lexicons covering 38 languages, based on existing resources. These lexicons, which are freely available, have already proven useful for improving part-of-speech tagging accuracy in state-of-the-art architectures.
OPTIMALITÉ DU MÉCANISME DE RATIONNEMENT DE CRÉDIT DANS LE MODÈLE ISLAMIQUE DE FINANCEMENT

Le rationnement de credit par les taux d’interet constitue l’une des techniques de gestion des risques en relation avec les asymetries d’information precontractuelles. Ce mecanisme, lorsqu’il est pratique par les banques conventionnelles, conduit le marche de credit a des equilibres sous-optimaux generant de la selection adverse (Stiglitz & Weiss, 1981). En effet, le rationnement de credit par le taux d’interet aboutit a l’eviction des firmes les moins risquees et induit par consequent l’augmentation du risque moyen du marche du credit, la diminution de la rentabilite des banques et une reduction de production reelle. L’objectif de cet article est d’analyser la pratique du mecanisme de rationnement de credit par les banques islamiques. Contrairement au cas des banques conventionnelles. Cette pratique permettrait aux banques islamiques de reduire les asymetries d’information precontractuelles et de relever le niveau de rentabilite du secteur bancaire
Persistency for synchronization-free regions

Nascent persistent memory (PM) technologies promise the performance of DRAM with the durability of disk, but how best to integrate them into programming systems remains an open question. Recent work extends language memory models with a persistency model prescribing semantics for updates to PM. These semantics enable programmers to design data structures in PM that are accessed like memory and yet are recoverable upon crash or failure. Alas, we find the semantics and performance of existing approaches unsatisfying. Existing approaches require high-overhead mechanisms, are restricted to certain synchronization constructs, provide incomplete semantics, and/or may recover to state that cannot arise in fault-free execution. We propose persistency semantics that guarantee failure atomicity of synchronization-free regions (SFRs) - program regions delimited by synchronization operations. Our approach provides clear semantics for the PM state recovery code may observe and extends C++11's "sequential consistency for data-race-free" guarantee to post-failure recovery code. We investigate two designs for failure-atomic SFRs that vary in performance and the degree to which commit of persistent state may lag execution. We demonstrate both approaches in LLVM v3.6. 0 and compare to a state-of-the-art baseline to show performance improvement up to 87.5% (65.5% avg).
Quality of tissue from punch biopsy forceps vs. round loop electrode in colposcopically directed biopsy: a randomized controlled trial

Objective To compare the quality of tissue from punch biopsy forceps (PB group) with round loop electrode (LE group) in colposcopically directed biopsy along with the evaluation of pain associated with each procedure. Methods Patients with abnormal cervical cytologic results and abnormal colposcopic findings were enrolled into a randomized trial into either a PB group or LE group. The quality of tissue was evaluated in regards to the size of tissue, site of tissue, and tissue damage. Each quality had 1 to 3 points and the sum of each quality contributed to the total tissue score that ranged from 3 to 9. Pain associated with each procedure was assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS). This was a clinical trial study and was registered at www.clinicaltrials. in.th (Identifier: TCTR20160404001). Results Ninety-six women who met all eligibility requirements were enrolled in the study. Forty-eight patients were randomly assigned to the PB group and 48 patients were randomized into the LE group. The characteristics of the patients were similar between the 2 groups with the exception of the median age. The median total tissue score was 8 points in the LE group which was more than the median of 7 points in the PB group with a statistically significant difference (p=0.014). However, the median VAS pain score in both groups was 3.4 (p=0.82). Conclusion The quality of cervical tissues obtained from biopsy with a round loop electrode was better than the punch biopsy forceps with no difference in the level of pain.
Minimum Four-Year Follow-up of Spinal Stenosis With Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Treated With Decompression and Dynamic Stabilization

Study Design. Prospective clinical study. Objective. To test whether posterior dynamic stabilization in situ with Dynesys (Zimmer Spine, Minneapolis, MN) can maintain enough stability to prevent progression of spondylolisthesis in long-term follow-up. Summary of Background Data. In spinal stenosis with degenerative spondylolisthesis, decompression and fusion are widely recommended. However, drawbacks of fusion remain length of surgery, blood loss, possible adjacent segment disease, errant instrumentation, nonunion, and pain at the bone donor site. The Dynesys system was introduced to stabilize the spine without adding bone graft for fusion. Excellent 2 years results have been reported. Methods. Twenty-six consecutive patients (mean age, 71 years) with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis underwent interlaminar decompression and stabilization with Dynesys. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically after a minimum follow-up of 4 years. Results. Nineteen of 26 patients could be evaluated with a mean follow-up of 52 months (range, 48–57 months). Pain on VAS and walking distance improved significantly (P < 0.001) at 2 years and remained unchanged at 4 years follow-up. Radiographically, spondylolisthesis did not progress and the motion segments remained stable, even in the 3 patients who showed slight screw-loosening at 2 and 4 years follow-up. One patient showed screw breakage with low back pain and motion at the instrumented level in flexion/extension views. At 4 years follow-up, 47% of the patients showed some degeneration at adjacent levels. Overall, patient satisfaction remained high as 95% would undergo the same procedure again. Conclusion. In elderly patients with spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis, decompression and dynamic stabilization lead to excellent clinical and radiologic results. It maintains enough stability to prevent progression of spondylolisthesis. Because no bone grafting is necessary, donor site morbidity, which is one of the main drawbacks of fusion is eliminated. However, the degenerative disease still is progressive and degeneration at adjacent motion segments remains a problem.
Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Viral and Bacterial Infections: Pathogenesis, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), or exosomes, are nanovesicles of endocytic origin that carry host and pathogen-derived protein, nucleic acid, and lipid cargos. They are secreted by most cell types and play important roles in normal cell-to-cell communications but can also spread pathogen- and host-derived molecules during infections to alter immune responses and pathophysiological processes. New research is beginning to decipher how EVs influence viral and bacterial pathogenesis. In this review, we will describe how EVs influence viral and bacterial pathogenesis by spreading pathogen-derived factors and how they can promote and inhibit the immune response to these pathogens. We will also discuss the emerging potential of EVs as diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
Molecular networks in plant–pathogen holobiont

Plant immune receptors enable detection of a multitude of microbes including pathogens. The recognition of microbes activates various plant signaling pathways, such as those mediated by phytohormones. Over the course of coevolution with microbes, plants have expanded their repertoire of immune receptors and signaling components, resulting in highly interconnected plant immune networks. These immune networks enable plants to appropriately respond to different types of microbes and to coordinate immune responses with developmental programs and environmental stress responses. However, the interconnectivity in plant immune networks is exploited by microbial pathogens to promote pathogen fitness in plants. Analogous to plant immune networks, virulence‐related pathways in bacterial pathogens are also interconnected. Accumulating evidence implies that some plant‐derived compounds target bacterial virulence networks. Thus, the plant immune and bacterial virulence networks intimately interact with each other. Here, we highlight recent insights into the structures of the plant immune and bacterial virulence networks and the interactions between them. We propose that small molecules derived from plants and/or bacterial pathogens connect the two molecular networks, forming supernetworks in the plant–bacterial pathogen holobiont.
Effects of psychosocial factors on monitoring treatment effect in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients over time: response data from the tREACH study

Objectives: To investigate whether, apart from effects of patient- and disease-related factors, psychosocial factors have additional effects on disease activity; and which factors are most influential during the first year of treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Method: The study assessed 15 month follow-up data from patients in tREACH, a randomized clinical trial comparing initial triple disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy to methotrexate monotherapy, with glucocorticoid bridging in both groups. Patients were evaluated every 3 months and treated to target. Associations between Disease Activity Score (DAS) at 3, 9, and 15 months and psychosocial factors (anxiety, depression, fatigue, and coping with pain) at the previous visit were assessed by multivariable linear regression correcting for demographic, clinical, and treatment-related factors. Results: At 3, 9, and 15 months of follow-up, 265, 251, and 162 patients, respectively, were available for analysis. Baseline anxiety and coping with pain were associated with DAS at 3 months; coping with pain at 6 months was associated with DAS at 9 months, and fatigue at 12 months with DAS at 15 months. Psychosocial factors were moderately correlated. Effects on DAS were mainly due to tender joint count and global health. Conclusion: Psychosocial factors have additional effects on DAS throughout the first year of treatment in early RA. A change was observed from anxiety and coping with pain at baseline being associated with subsequent DAS towards fatigue being associated with subsequent DAS at 12 months. Owing to the explorative nature of this study, more research is needed to confirm this pattern.
Implementation of ANPR System based on Image Extraction and Segmentation

This paper discussed on automatic parking system and electronic parking fee collection based on vehicle number plate recognition. The aim of this research is to develop and implement an automatic parking system that will increase convenience and security of the public parking lot as well as collecting parking fee without hassles of using magnetic card. The auto parking system will able to have less interaction of humans and use no magnetic card and its devices. In additions to that, it has parking guidance system that can show and guide user towards a parking space. The system used image processing of recognizing number plates for operation of parking and billing system. Overall, the systems run with pre-programmed controller to make minimum human involvement in parking system and ensure access control in restricted places. This paper presents algorithm technology based method for license plate extraction from car images followed by the segmentation of characters and reorganization and also develop electronics parking fee collection system based on number plate information.
Sign Languages and the Online World Online Dictionaries & Lexicostatistics

Several online dictionaries documenting the lexicon of a variety of sign languages (SLs) are now available. These are rich resources for comparative studies, but there are methodological issues that must be addressed regarding how these resources are used for research purposes. We created a web-based tool for annotating the articulatory features of signs (handshape, location, movement and orientation). Videos from online dictionaries may be embedded in the tool, providing a mechanism for large-scale theoretically-informed sign language annotation. Annotations are saved in a spreadsheet format ready for quantitative and qualitative analyses. Here, we provide proof of concept for the utility of this tool in linguistic analysis. We used the SL adaptation of the Swadesh list (Woodward, 2000) and applied lexicostatistic and phylogenetic methods to a sample of 23 SLs coded using the web-based tool; supplementary historic information was gathered from the Ethnologue of World Languages and other online sources. We report results from the comparison of all articulatory features for four Asian SLs (Chinese, Hong Kong, Taiwanese and Japanese SLs) and from the comparison of handshapes on the entire 23 language sample. Handshape analysis of the entire sample clusters all Asian SLs together, separated from the European, American, and Brazilian SLs in the sample, as historically expected. Within the Asian SL cluster, analyses also show, for example, marginal relatedness between Chinese and Hong Kong SLs.
The Twin Effects of Globalization - Evidence from a Sample of Indian Manufacturing Firms

Employees of globalized firms face a riskier menu of labor market outcomes. They face a more uncertain stream of earnings and riskier employment prospects. However, they may also have stronger incentives to train and upgrade their skills and/or may benefit from more rapid careers. Hence, the costs of uncertainty and the benefits of skill upgrading associated with globalization may be twin to each other. We provide statistical evidence of this so far neglected trade-off for a sample of Indian manufacturing firms.
Structure-specific recognition protein-1 (SSRP1) is an elongated homodimer that binds histones

The histone chaperone complex facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) plays important roles in DNA repair, replication, and transcription. In the formation of this complex, structure-specific recognition protein-1 (SSRP1) heterodimerizes with suppressor of Ty 16 (SPT16). SSRP1 also has SPT16-independent functions, but how SSRP1 functions alone remains elusive. Here, using analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques, we characterized human SSRP1 and that from the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and show that both orthologs form an elongated homodimer in solution. We found that substitutions in the SSRP1 pleckstrin homology domain known to bind SPT16 also disrupt SSRP1 homodimerization. Moreover, AUC and SAXS analyses revealed that SSRP1 homodimerization and heterodimerization with SPT16 (resulting in FACT) involve the same SSRP1 surface, namely the PH2 region, and that the FACT complex contains only one molecule of SSRP1. These observations suggest that SSRP1 homo- and heterodimerization might be mutually exclusive. Moreover, isothermal titration calorimetry analyses disclosed that SSRP1 binds both histones H2A–H2B and H3–H4 and that disruption of SSRP1 homodimerization decreases its histone-binding affinity. Together, our results provide evidence for regulation of SSRP1 by homodimerization and suggest a potential role for homodimerization in facilitating SPT16-independent functions of SSRP1.
Extended high frequency hearing and speech delay of unknown origin

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to examine hearing in the extended high frequency range in children with speech delay of unknown origin. Specifically, the study asked the questions, do children with speech delay of unknown origin have reduced hearing acuity in the extended high frequencies, do children with speech delay of. unknown origin and who have not acquired the high frequency sounds (Is/ and /z/) have reduced hearing acuity in the extended high frequencies, and/or do children with speech delay of unknown origin and a history of otitis media have reduced hearing acuity in the extended high frequencies? Participants: Four children ages 3;11 to 6;8 participated in the study. The children were selected because they met the following criteria: ( 1) diagnosed as having speech delay of unknown origin; (2) no hearing loss in the conventional audiometric frequency range (250-4000 Hz); (3) receptive vocabulary as measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-3 Edition (PPVT-m; Dunn & Dunn, 1997) within 1.3 standard deviation of the mean for their age (Standard Score 80+ ). Method: Data were gathered through a case history form, an audiometer, the Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation--2 (GFTA-2), a conversational speech sample, and the Speech Production-Perception Task (SP-PT). Hearing ability was assessed using an audiometer. These results were compared to normative values. In addition, each participant's asymmetry index was determined. To assess speech production, the GFTA-2 was given and a conversational sample was audio recorded. Percent consonants correct on the GFTA-2 and conversational speech sample were compared. Data Analysis: Because of the small number of participants, data analysis was descriptive rather than statistical in nature. The participants' conventional hearing thresholds were compared with normative data (ANSI, 1996). The participants' extended high frequency thresholds were compared to the normative values given by Margolis (1993) and Reuter (1998). The participant's errors on the GFf A-2 and the conversational speech sample were com�ed and described for fricatives and other errors. The participants' performance on the SP-PT was described and compared to production of fricatives. Results: Only participant 3 had a reduced hearing acuity in the extended high frequency range in his right ear. He also had the most severe articulation delay and a history of chronic otitis media Participant 1 had normal hearing in the extended high frequencies, but had difficulty perceiving the difference between the phonemes /f / and /8/. He also had a diagnosis of ADHD. These finding suggest that for some children speech delay is associated with chronic otitis media and extended high frequency hearing loss. V VI TABLE OF CONTENTS