Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Locating the Australian Blogosphere: Towards a New Research Methodology

Much has been written about the potential impact of the blogosphere on future patterns of global, national, and local public communication; blogs and other forms of distributed, networked, non-mass mediated discussion and engagement may fundamentally reconfigure the conventional model of the public sphere as it was formulated by Habermas and others during the second half of the past century. However, for all the anticipation of a networked society to come, there is as yet little more than speculation about the shape of the future mediasphere, and the impact of blogs is often still documented by anecdotal evidence rather than thorough study. An increasing number of researchers have begun to examine the internal structures of the blogosphere, however, both in terms of its demographics (see e.g. Rainie, 2005) and in terms of the topical fields and genres now emerging (see e.g. Bruns & Jacobs, eds., 2006). Additionally, the increasingly distinct blogging practices within specific national, ethnic, and subcultural communities are attracting growing attention (see e.g. Russell & Echchaibi, 2008), and the trajectories of bloggers through the blogosphere over time are beginning to be traced (Kirchhoff, Bruns, & Nicolai, 2007). Major national and international events provide an important opportunity to study uses of blogs and document their impact on domestic and global publics. The role of blogs in covering the events of 9/11, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, or the 7 July 2005 bombings in London has been well-noted; news and political blogs have also become increasingly instrumental in local and national election campaigns. Our project aims to develop a rigorous and sound methodology for the study of this networked public sphere: using a mixture of quantitative analysis, data visualisation, and qualitative evaluation which builds on emerging blog network mapping tools (see Bruns, 2007), it aims to locate the key nodes in the Australian political blogosphere, examine their role as opinion leaders for the networked public in Australia, and investigate the interrelationship between the political blogosphere and the wider Australian mediasphere.
Honokiol and Magnolol Production by in vitro Micropropagated Plants of Magnolia dealbata, an Endangered Endemic Mexican Species

An efficient protocol for the in vitro propagation of Magnolia dealbata Zucc. , an important medicinal plant that is the source of the anxiolytic and anticancer compounds honokiol and magnolol, was established. This plant is wild-crafted, and conservationists have expressed concerns with regard to the sustainability of production. In the present work, two factors were found to be of importance for the regeneration of M. dealbata and the production of honokiol and magnolol. These factors were the type of explants and the combination and concentration of plant-growth regulators. Green, compact, nodular organogenic callus was obtained from leaf explants in a medium fortified with Murashige and Skoog salts and supplemented with 1.5 mg/L 2,4-dicholorophenoxyacetic acid and 1.5 mg/L kinetin. Shoot multiplication from callus cultures was achieved in the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 1.5 mg/L thidiazuron (TDZ). Phenol secretion was controlled by the addition of 250 mg/L of activated charcoal. For rooting, shoots were transferred to MS medium supplemented with several auxins. After root induction, the plants were hardened in earthen pots containing sand, soil, and vermiculite. The contents of honokiol (HK) and magnolol (MG) were determined in different plant materials by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection techniques. This analysis revealed that the honokiol and magnolol content in aerial and underground parts of micropropagated M. dealbata were higher than that observed in wild plants (both 6 months old). Our results suggest that conservation of M. dealbata is possible by means of in vitro multiplication of leaf-derived callus. The usefulness of M. dealbata regeneration and production of HK and MG may be attributed to the proper selection of explant sourcing and identification of the correct growth medium to support adequate growth. This careful selection of explants and growth medium leads to a very useful source of plant material for pharmacological and phytomedicinal screening applications and, above all, would safeguard this plant species from the threat of extinction.
Dealer Trade Group: High–Tech Venturing in a Low–Tech Industry

Early one morning in August 2001, Carter Crockett groaned as he pulled his rickety Honda Accord into the parking lot at 6:53 a.m. Todd Greenway’s new, oversized bright red truck was already there. Crockett was president of Dealer Trade Group (DTG) and Greenway was vice president of sales. Arriving before anyone else gave Crockett time to get ahead of the daily rush of activity; it used to be the best part of his day. But Greenway had started arriving earlier just so he could say he worked the longest hours. This early bird competition used to be fun but was becoming antagonistic. Greenway had an office next to the main entrance and Crockett had begun to resent the gloating of his unavoidable morning greetings. Despite a series of “bumps in the road,” Crockett, other senior managers, and investors believed that DTG was faring better than many online business-to-business (B2B) ventures. They knew the road would not be smooth. Indeed, it had not been: DTG offered a revolutionary, high-tech way of doing business to dealers who were mostly comfortable with traditional, low-tech automobile wholesaling. Yet sales were growing and DTG was beginning to establish credibility despite its online marketplace business model. Although DTG was still burning more cash than it was making, profitability seemed just a few months away. Crockett, who once worked at Microsoft, felt a growing sense of unease. Friction was rising between him and Greenway, who was an auto industry veteran. It had begun to undermine his authority with employees and his relationships with DTG’s investors and board. Privately, Crockett assumed much of the blame. He wondered if it was possible for him to earn Greenway’s respect and the board’s trust. He knew both were necessary to run DTG effectively. Crockett had headed DTG for 2 years. He knew other entrepreneurs who hamstrung their ventures by refusing to “let go of the wheel” when they should have. Was he taking this venture down a similar road? The original plan called for him to run DTG until they hired an industry veteran. When he suggested the idea of resigning to the board, however, they interpreted his concerns as common venture-growing pains and expressed no interest in finding an expensive CEO. Still, Crockett was uneasy. Would an industry veteran lead DTG more effectively? Was it time to get out?
Diversity Management in the Public Sector: Moving from Hobbyism toward Integration An Exploratory Case Study in The Netherlands

In research on diversity management we find a great deal of attention to be directed on tools and personnel issues. What we rarely come across are historical analyses of diversity management within organizations. In this paper we fill this gap and discuss the various stages an organization goes through in developing and implementing diversity policy. We do so by way of an in-depth, narrative case-study of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in The Netherlands. We show how ethnic diversity management has evolved within this organization over the past two decades and what pitfalls were encountered, while at the same time discussing the dilemmas which underlie successful implementation of diversity within organizations.
Telomerase Inhibitor PinX1 Provides a Link between TRF1 and Telomerase to Prevent Telomere Elongation*

Telomere maintenance is essential for protecting chromosome ends. Aberrations in telomere length have been implicated in cancer and aging. Telomere elongation by human telomerase is inhibited in cis by the telomeric protein TRF1 and its associated proteins. However, the link between TRF1 and inhibition of telomerase elongation of telomeres remains elusive because TRF1 has no direct effect on telomerase activity. We have previously identified one Pin2/TRF1-interacting protein, PinX1, that has the unique property of directly binding and inhibiting telomerase catalytic activity (Zhou, X. Z., and Lu, K. P. (2001) Cell 107, 347–359). However, nothing is known about the role of the PinX1-TRF1 interaction in the regulation of telomere maintenance. By identifying functional domains and key amino acid residues in PinX1 and TRF1 responsible for the PinX1-TRF1 interaction, we show that the TRF homology domain of TRF1 interacts with a minimal 20-amino acid sequence of PinX1 via hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions. Significantly, either disrupting this interaction by mutating the critical Leu-291 residue in PinX1 or knocking down endogenous TRF1 by RNAi abolishes the ability of PinX1 to localize to telomeres and to inhibit telomere elongation in cells even though neither has any effect on telomerase activity per se. Thus, the telomerase inhibitor PinX1 is recruited to telomeres by TRF1 and provides a critical link between TRF1 and telomerase inhibition to prevent telomere elongation and help maintain telomere homeostasis.
Equally high prevalences of infection with cagA-positive Helicobacter pylori in Chinese patients with peptic ulcer disease and those with chronic gastritis-associated dyspepsia

Approximately 60% of Helicobacter pylori isolates in the Western world possess the cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA). cagA-positive H. pylori is found to be associated with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastric adenocarcinoma. To investigate the cagA status of H. pylori isolates from Chinese patients with PUD and chronic gastritis (CG), H. pylori populations from 83 patients, 48 with PUD and 35 with CG, were assessed by two different cagA-specific PCRs, Southern blotting, and colony hybridization. The combined results from PCR, Southern blotting, and colony hybridization indicate a prevalence of cagA-positive H. pylori isolates of 98% (47 of 48) among Chinese PUD patients and 100% (35 of 35) among Chinese CG patients. Amplification with primer sets 1 and 2 yielded 52 and 95% of the 82 cagA-positive Chinese H. pylori, respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity of cagA-specific PCR for cagA-positive H. pylori isolates from Dutch patients with primer set 1 was 92% (112 of 122) and that with primer set 2 was 91% (50 of 55). The prevalence of cagA-positive H. pylori populations in Chinese patients with PUD and CG is almost universally high. Therefore, cagA cannot be used as a marker for the presence of PUD in Chinese patients. Our data further suggest that allelic variation in cagA may exist and that distinct H. pylori genotypes may circulate in China and Western Europe.
The Preterm Prediction Study: prediction of preterm premature rupture of membranes through clinical findings and ancillary testing. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network.

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine the relative importance of demographic characteristics, clinical risk factors, and ancillary screening tests in the prediction of preterm birth as a result of premature rupture of membranes. STUDY DESIGN A total of 2929 women were evaluated in 10 centers at 23 to 24 weeks' gestation. Demographic and clinical characteristics were ascertained. Cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin and bacterial vaginosis were evaluated. Cervical length was measured by vaginal ultrasonography. Patients were evaluated for spontaneous preterm birth caused by preterm premature rupture of membranes at <37 and <35 weeks' gestation. Multivariate analyses were performed separately for nulliparous women and multiparous women. RESULTS Premature rupture of membranes at <37 weeks' gestation complicated 4.5% of pregnancies, accounting for 32.6% of preterm births. Univariate analysis revealed low body mass index, pulmonary disease, contractions within 2 weeks, short cervix (</=25 mm), positive results of fetal fibronectin screening, bacterial vaginosis, and a previous preterm birth caused by premature rupture of membranes (in multiparous women) to be significantly associated with preterm birth caused by premature rupture of membranes in the current gestation. Short cervix, previous preterm birth caused by premature rupture of membranes in multiparous women, and presence of fetal fibronectin were the strongest predictors for both preterm birth caused by premature rupture of membranes at <37 and <35 weeks' gestation. Women with positive fetal fibronectin screening results and a short cervix had greater risks both of preterm birth caused by premature rupture of membranes at <37 weeks' gestation (relative risk, 4.9) and of preterm birth caused by premature rupture of membranes at <35 weeks' gestation (relative risk, 13.5) than did those without these risk factors. Multiparous women with all three risk factors had a 31. 3-fold increased risk of preterm birth caused by premature rupture of membranes at <35 weeks' gestation. CONCLUSION The combination of short cervical length, previous preterm birth caused by preterm premature rupture of membranes, and positive fetal fibronectin screening results was highly associated with preterm delivery caused by preterm premature rupture of membranes in the current gestation.
Design Factors and Socioeconomic Variables Associated with Ecological Responses to Fishery Closures in the Western Indian Ocean

We assessed the ability of socioeconomic variables (population size, perceived infringement, and community infrastructure) and design features (closure age and area) to predict ecological indicators of “success” in seventeen coral-reef fishery closures in the Western Indian Ocean. Success was measured as absolute fish biomass and coral cover in closures, and the response ratio of these variables indicating the level of difference relative to control sites outside closures. Fish biomass had a greater and more consistent response to protection than coral cover. Human population density had a strong positive association with the response of fish biomass, which was driven by lower biomass outside marine protected areas (MPAs) in high human population density sites, rather than higher biomass within MPAs. Perceived infringement was negatively associated with the absolute and response ratio of fish biomass. Coral cover was variable, weakly related to closure, and positively related to closure size and human population density. This, and previous regional studies, indicate that physical design features have a modest effect on the response of fish to MPAs, that design features interact with compliance, and that human population density around closures can indirectly influence the effect of MPAs on fish populations.
Printed Dual-Layer Three-Way Directional Coupler Utilized as 3$\,\times\,$ 3 Beamforming Network for Orthogonal Three-Beam Antenna Array

We present a novel printed dual-layer three-way directional coupler, which can be utilized as 3 × 3 beamforming network (BFN) to provide orthogonal three-beam switching capability. The three-way directional coupler is a passive component with six input/output ports. The signal injected into the input port is equally distributed into the three output ports, with a constant phase difference of -120 °, 0 °, or +120 °. Simulation and measurement results show that within 7% relative bandwidth, good matching, high isolation, equal power division, and constant phase difference have been achieved simultaneously. Utilizing the three-way directional coupler as a 3 × 3 BFN, an orthogonal three-beam antenna array for 5.8-GHz application has been designed, fabricated, and tested to verify its capability experimentally.
Access to dental care: solving the problem for underserved populations.

BACKGROUND Americans are enjoying an increasing level of oral health. However, oral health improvements are not being experienced evenly across the population. The poor, some minorities, institutionalized elderly people and other groups do not have adequate access to dental care. OVERVIEW The author discusses the need to understand clearly the barriers to care affecting underserved populations and presents a framework for designing access-to-care programs. CONCLUSIONS The author concludes that access-to-care problems are complex and will not be solved easily or quickly. A complete understanding of the barriers to care being experienced by any group under consideration must be achieved, and an improvement plan must be designed to address those specific barriers considering the demand for care, the dental work force and the economic environment. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Failure to understand the barriers to care and address them adequately will result in limited success in enhancing access to dental care for underserved populations.
Scattering from multiple conducting and dielectric bodies of arbitrary shape

A simple moment-method solution is presented for the problem of electromagnetic scattering from structures consisting of multiple perfectly conducting and dielectric bodies of arbitrary shape. The system is excited by a plane wave. The surface equivalence principle is used to replace the bodies by equivalent electric and magnetic surface currents, radiating into an unbounded medium. A set of coupled integral equations, involving the surface currents, is obtained by enforcing the boundary conditions on the tangential components of the total electric and magnetic fields. The method of moments is used to solve the integral equations. The surfaces of the bodies are approximated by planar triangular patches, and linearly varying vector functions are used for both expansion and testing functions. Some of the limitations of the method are briefly discussed. Results for the scattering cross sections are presented. The computed results are in very good agreement with the exact solutions and with published data. <<ETX>>
LIVED IN EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER

ABSTRACT Objectives: Breast cancer is a kind of cancer that develops from breast cells. Breast cancer usually starts off in the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply them with milk. The objectives of the present study are to explore the lived in experience of women with breast cancer and to extrapolate the various dimensions of lived in experience of women with breast cancer. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in different units of Metro Hospital and Cancer Institute, Delhi. Phenomenological approach was adopted for the study.The sample consisted of women with breast cancer who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A total of 15 women with breast cancer were selected using non probability - purposive sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used to assess the demographic variables of women with breast cancer.An interview schedule with open-ended questions was used to explore the lived in experience of women with breast cancer. The collected data from 15 women with breast cancer were analyzed using Collaizzi’s seven - step methodological interpretation approach (analysis framework). Results: The investigator explored the lived in experience of women with breast cancer by conducting audio taped interview. Various dimensions such as physical dimension, psychological well-being, dealing with stigma, behavioral dimension, immaterial belief, human connectedness, and economical dimension were identified by the investigator. Under each dimension, sub-themes were formulated based on their lived-in experiences. Conclusion: Nurses working in the different health-care settings have the opportunity to explore the feelings of women with breast cancer and incorporating this knowledge while providing care to strengthen their coping mechanism, improve self-reliance and enhance quality of life. Keywords : Lived in experience, Women with breast cancer, Various dimensions.
Comparative study of tamoxifen and raloxifene on endometrial cell proliferation of female rats in persistent estrus.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare the effect of tamoxifen and raloxifene on the endometrium of female rats in persistent estrus, by Ki-67 protein expression. Methods: The study comprised 60Wistar-Hannover female rats in persistent estrus, induced by a single subcutaneous dose of 1.25 mg of testosterone propionate on the second day of age. At 90 days of life, the animals were randomly divided into 3 groups of 20 animals each. Group 1 (control), received only placebo; group 2, the animals were treated with tamoxifen, 250 Kg/d; and group 3, the rats were treated with 750 Kg/d of raloxifene by gavage during 30 days. Then, the animals were killed, and the endometrium was removed for immunohistochemical analysis of Ki-67 antigen expression. Statistical analysis was performed by A regression model (P G 0.05). Results: Mean percentages of Ki-67 protein expression in the endometrium of rats in persistent estrus were 43.21% T 3.39%, 7.36% T 0.95%, and 7.20% T 0.76% in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P G 0.001). There was no statistical difference between groups 2 and 3 (P = 0.7159). Conclusions: The present results indicate that, at the doses and during the time of treatment used, both tamoxifen and raloxifene induce atrophy in a similar way of endometrial epithelium of rats in persistent estrus.
The Race for Evolutionary Success

The Earth appears to be at the beginning of sixth massive species extinction. This paper balances a review of the forces threatening species survival with a comprehensive scan of factors that could act as counterweights. These factors could lead to four types of evolution—cultural, regulatory, ecological, and technological—that could individually or in combination avert massive species extinction if humans implement solutions faster than new problems arise. Implications and future research opportunities are also explored.
Differences in prognostic factors between leukemia and lymphoma type of adult t‐cell leukemia

Prognostic factors affecting the survival of adult T‐cell leukemia (ATL) patients were analyzed in three groups: total cases, leukemia type cases, and lymphoma type cases. Factors found to be important overall, i.e. for total cases, were leukocyte count, ATL cell ratio in the peripheral blood, serum calcium levels and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level. Of those, LDH level proved not significant when evaluated separately for leukemia type or lymphoma type cases. Leukocyte count and ATL cell ratio were significant in leukemia type patients, whereas it was serum calcium level that was significant in lymphoma type; there were mutually exclusive sets of factors for the two groups. Thus, prognostic factors for ATL patients should be considered separately for each type of the disease.
Climate Politics, Strategic Behaviour, Hold‐Outs, Free Riders and Rent‐Seekers

This paper examines recent developments in US climate change policy from a public choice perspective. Policies such as ‘cap and trade’ threaten to impose substantial costs on individuals and businesses, yet their effectiveness at reducing greenhouse gas emissions is questionable. Support for legislation that restricts emissions can partly be explained by the strategic behaviour of various special interests.