Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternal Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism and Down Syndrome Risk: A Meta-Analysis from 34 Studies

Background Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme of folate metabolic pathway which catalyzes the irreversible conversion of 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. 5-methyltetrahydrofolate donates methyl group for the methylation of homocysteine to methionine. Several studies have investigated maternal MTHFR C677T polymorphism as a risk factor for DS, but the results were controversial and inconclusive. To come into a conclusive estimate, authors performed a meta-analysis. Aim A meta-analysis of published case control studies was performed to investigate the association between maternal MTHFR C677T polymorphism and Down syndrome. Methods PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Springer Link databases were searched to select the eligible case control studies using appropriate keywords. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95%confidence interval were calculated for risk assessment. Results Thirty four studies with 3,098 DS case mothers and 4,852 control mothers were included in the present meta-analysis. The pooled OR was estimated under five genetic models and significant association was found between maternal MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism and Down syndrome under four genetic models except recessive model (for T vs. C, OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.09–1.46, p = 0.001; for TT vs. CC, OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.13–1.97, p = 0.008; for CT vs. CC, OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.10–1.51, p = 0.001; for TT+CT vs. CC, OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.13–1.60, p = 0.0008; for TT vs. CT+CC, OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.60–0.94, p = 0.01). Conclusion The results of the present meta-analysis support that maternal MTHFR C677T polymorphism is a risk factor for DS- affected pregnancy.
Drosophila melanogaster Hsp22: a mitochondrial small heat shock protein influencing the aging process

Mitochondria are involved in many key cellular processes and therefore need to rely on good protein quality control (PQC). Three types of mechanisms are in place to insure mitochondrial protein integrity: reactive oxygen species scavenging by anti-oxidant enzymes, protein folding/degradation by molecular chaperones and proteases and clearance of defective mitochondria by mitophagy. Drosophila melanogaster Hsp22 is part of the molecular chaperone axis of the PQC and is characterized by its intra-mitochondrial localization and preferential expression during aging. As a stress biomarker, the level of its expression during aging has been shown to partially predict the remaining lifespan of flies. Since over-expression of this small heat shock protein increases lifespan and resistance to stress, Hsp22 most likely has a positive effect on mitochondrial integrity. Accordingly, Hsp22 has recently been implicated in the mitochondrial unfolding protein response of flies. This review will summarize the key findings on D. melanogaster Hsp22 and emphasis on its links with the aging process.
Posterior decompression surgery for extraforaminal entrapment of the fifth lumbar spinal nerve at the lumbosacral junction.

OBJECT In this paper, the authors' goal was to elucidate the clinical features and results of decompression surgery for extraforaminal stenosis at the lumbosacral junction. METHODS Twenty-eight patients with severe leg pain caused by extraforaminal stenosis at the lumbosacral junction (18 men and 10 women; mean age 68.2 +/- 8.9 years) were treated by posterior decompression without fusion using a microendoscope in 19 patients and a surgical microscope or loupe in 9 patients. The decompression procedures consisted of partial resection of the sacral ala, the L-5 transverse process, and the L5-S1 facet joint along the L-5 spinal nerve. The following items were investigated: 1) preoperative neurological findings; 2) preoperative radiological findings, including plain radiographs, CT scans, selective radiculography of L-5; 3) surgical outcome as evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale for low-back pain (JOA score); and 4) need for revision surgery. RESULTS All patients presented with neurological deficits compatible with a diagnosis of L-5 radiculopathy such as weakness of the extensor hallucis longus muscle and sensory disturbance in the L-5 area together with neurogenic claudication. On plain radiographs, 21 patients (75%) and 17 patients (60.7%) exhibited lumbar scoliosis (>or= 5 degrees) and wedging of the L5-S1 intervertebral space (>or= 3 degrees), respectively. The CT scans demonstrated marked osteophyte formation at the posterolateral margin of the L5-S1 vertebral bodies, and a selective L-5 nerve root block was effective in all patients. All patients reported pain relief immediately after surgery. The mean JOA scores were 11.3 +/- 3.8 before surgery and 24.3 +/- 3.4 at the time of the final follow-up examination; the recovery rate was 68.6 +/- 16.5%. The mean estimated blood loss was 66.6 +/- 98.6 ml, and the mean surgical time was 135.3 +/- 46.5 minutes. No significant difference in the recovery rate of the JOA scores or in the surgical time and blood loss was observed between the 2 surgical approaches. Four patients underwent revision posterior interbody fusion for the recurrence of radicular pain as a result of intraforaminal stenosis in 3 patients and insufficient decompression of the extraforaminal area in the remaining patient at an average of 19.5 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Extraforaminal stenosis at the lumbosacral junction is a rare but distinct pathological condition causing L-5 radiculopathy. Decompression surgery without fusion using a microendoscope or a surgical microscope/loupe is a feasible and less invasive surgical option for elderly patients with extraforaminal stenosis at the lumbosacral junction.
Reciprocity, Social Ties, and Competition in Markets for Experience Goods

Reciprocal customers may disproportionately improve the performance of markets for experience goods. Reciprocal customers reward (punish) firms for providing good (bad) quality by upholding (terminating) the customer relation. This may induce firms to provide good quality which, in turn, may induce a positive externality for nonreciprocal customers who would, in the absence of reciprocal types, face market breakdown. This efficiency-enhancing effect of reciprocity is boosted when there are social ties between consumers and competition between firms. The existence of social ties or competition alone does not improve market performance.
Drought, debate, and uncertainty: measuring reporters' knowledge and ignorance about climate change

Increasingly, the media are important sources of scientific information. Recent studies indicate that this is especially true for climate change. This study analyzes reporters' understanding of climate change by identifying sources of reporter knowledge about climate change, measuring reporters' acquired knowledge against the scientific consensus, and analyzing differences in reporter knowledge based on several factors that may influence climate change reporting. Results show that reporters who primarily use scientists as sources and who work the environmental beat full-time have the most accurate climate change knowledge.
Intergenerational Exchange and Subjective Well-being among the Elderly.

Previous research has generally found that no relationship exists between the morale or life satisfaction of the elderly and their interaction with kin, including adult offspring. This may be due to the fact that most studies have measured interaction in terms of quantity and/or frequency, ignoring other dimensions of these relationships. This study focuses on the exchange of aid between older persons and their children. Hypotheses regarding relationships between mutual aid and the morale of the elderly are developed and tested on a sample of 403 parents aged 60 and over. No relationships between morale and the exchange of aid are found. These results, while not conclusive in themselves, add to the growing body of evidence which suggests that interaction with kin has no demonstrable consequences for the emotional well-being of the elderly.
Predictive and statistical analyses for academic advisory support

The ability to recognize weakness of students and solving any problem may confront them in timely fashion is always a target of all educational institutions. This study was designed to explore how can predictive and statistical analysis support the academic work of adviser mainly in analysis progress of students . The sample consisted of a total of 249 undergraduate students: 46 % of them were Female and 54% Male. A one-way analysis of variance and t-test were conducted to analysis if there was different behavior in registering courses. Predictive data mining is used for support adviser in decision making. Several classification techniques with 10-fold Cross validation were applied. Among of them, C 4.5 constitutes the best agreement among the finding results.
Complications after gamma knife radiosurgery for benign meningiomas

Objectives: To analyse the results of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) for the trreatment of intracranial meningiomas and to assess possible factors related to the outcome and complications of such treatment. Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological data of 179 patients (194 lesions) treated with GKS for meningiomas between May 1992 and October 2000. The mean follow up duration was 37.3 months (range 6.4 to 86.3 months). The study determined the correlation between radiosurgical outcome including imaging changes after GKS and multiple factors such as tumour location and size, patient characteristics, venous sinus status, pre-GKS degree of oedema, other treatment modalities, and radiosurgical parameters. Results: The radiological control rate was 97.1%. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed complications after GKS in 35 lesions (25.0%) among the 140 lesions followed up with MRI. Complications were divided into peritumorous imaging changes (33 lesions; 23.6%) and transient cranial nerve dysfunction (two lesions; 1.4%). Radiation induced imaging changes were seen mostly in convexity, parasagittal, and falx meningiomas that were deeply embedded in the cortex. About 60% of these were asymptomatic and the overall rate of symptomatic imaging changes was 9.3%. Neurological deficit related to imaging changes developed in only three patients, and all the symptoms were transient. Conclusion: GKS for intracranial meningiomas seems to be a safe and effective treatment. However, meningiomas of the convexity, parasagittal region, or falx cerebri have a higher incidence of peritumorous imaging changes after GKS than those of the skull base. Therefore, the use of GKS needs to be considered very cautiously in cerebral hemispheric meningiomas, taking into consideration patient age and general condition, tumour size and location, pattern of cortical embedding, relation between the tumour and venous sinuses, presenting symptoms, and patient preference.
Cycle Ergometry During Training for Speed Skating

Endurance time on the cycle ergometer at a power output of 5.0 W/kg was evaluated in 23 competitive speed skaters in May and August, at the beginning and end of the summer dry land training period. Endurance time improved significantly in both successful (selected for international competition) and unsuccessful skaters. However, the magnitude of improvement in performance was significantly greater in the successful skaters. Endurance time during the August study was also useful in discriminating between successful and unsuccessful skaters during the next winter competitive season. On the basis of the present data it is suggested that senior male skaters who cannot achieve a 10-minute endurance time on the cycle during August have little chance for success the subsequent winter. Although endurance time on the cycle ergometer is less well correlated with speed skating performance than other laboratory tests, it is the only laboratory procedure which has been shown to be responsive to training and amenable to goal setting. Thus, endurance time on the cycle ergometer may represent a useful pragmatic tool for evaluating training progress in speed skaters. These results suggest the utility of goal setting strategies in the conditioning of athletes.
The rehabilitation of captive baboons

Eleven baboons who had been singly housed indoors for an average of 5 years were moved to outdoor social groups in an attempt to provide a more species‐typical environment and reduce high levels of abnormal behavior. Nine of the baboons were observed while in single housing and, over a 6‐month period, while housed outdoors socially to document long‐term changes in behavior. Abnormal behavior decreased significantly from an average of 14% of the observation time in the single cages to 3% in the sixth month of social housing. Cage manipulation and self‐directed behaviors also significantly decreased, while social behavior, enrichment‐directed behavior, and locomotion increased in social housing. Baboons that had been in long‐term indoor single housing were able to reproduce and form stable social groups without injury. This study provides evidence that even behaviorally disturbed nonhuman primates can be successfully rehabilitated to live in social groups.
Persistent, low-dose 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin exposure: effect on aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression in a dioxin-resistance model.

Most toxic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). A single, acute dose of TCDD can alter its own receptor levels thus complicating evaluation of dose-response relationships for AHR-mediated events. Since environmental exposure to dioxins is typically of a repeated low-dose nature, we examined the effect of such exposure on AHR expression. Three rat strains differing greatly in their sensitivity to acute TCDD lethality, Long-Evans (Turku AB) (L-E) (LD50 approximately 10 microg/kg); Sprague Dawley (SD) (LD50 approximately 50 microg/kg); and Han/Wistar (Kuopio) (H/W) (LD50 > 9600 microg/kg), were administered TCDD intragastrically, biweekly for 22 weeks producing doses equivalent to 0, 10, 30, and 100 ng/kg/day. Changes in hepatic AHR levels were quantitated at the protein level by radioligand binding and immunoblotting and at the mRNA level by RT-PCR. Cytosolic AHR protein was elevated at 10 or 30 ng/kg/day TCDD in SD and L-E rats; AHR mRNA was also elevated at these doses, suggesting a pretranslational mechanism. There was no apparent relationship between TCDD-induced AHR regulation and strain sensitivity to TCDD. Overall, "subchronic" TCDD did not greatly perturb AHR expression. The maintenance of relatively constant receptor levels in the face of persistent agonist stimulation is in contrast to the sustained depletion of AHR by TCDD observed in cell culture and to the fluctuations in AHR observed hours to days following acute TCDD exposure in vivo. Changes in AHR levels may affect dose-response relationships; the effect of TCDD on its own receptor at environmentally relevant dosing schemes is therefore important to risk assessment.
Vulnerability assessment of navigation station equipment network based on complex network theory

To deal with the impact of emergent events and keep air traffic control (ATC) equipment operation, planning and expansion research of ATC equipment has become an urgent problem. In this paper, the network model is constructed based on the route structure of navigation station in the ATC. Using maximal connected subset, network efficiency, node vulnerability, maintenance efficiency fusing flight flow, we evaluate the vulnerability of navigation station equipment from the perspective of network structure and network combined with physical condition. By analyzing the network in Southwest China, we find that random attacks lead to lowest vulnerability. Navigation station equipment network is a scale-free network. Node betweenness attacks cause the network efficiency changing rapidly. The vulnerability assessment value of the navigation station node integrated with the contribution of adjacent navigation station nodes follows the power-law distribution. Unreasonable distributions of equipment lead to some equipment redundancy. At the same time, we can also balance the distribution of network traffic load to improve reliability and sustainability of network. Considering the actual flow load, changing the flight flow can ensure the control of the working load of navigation station nodes in the limit load and reduce the vulnerability of navigation station equipment network. These methods provide a new theoretical basis for planning and expansion of navigation station equipment network, greatly reduce the impact of unexpected events and maintain the stable operation of civil aviation.
Enacting Collaborative Electronic Government: Empirical Evidence and Lessons for Developing Countries

It now seems clear that achieving the promises of e-government is a difficult task and this is even more challenging when working across organizational boundaries. A growing body of literature argues for the need of integrative frameworks in order to understand the complex socio-technical nature of electronic government initiatives. Based on the technology enactment concept, this paper contributes to the field by testing relationships often cited in the literature, but with little empirical quantitative exploration. In addition to the relationships originally proposed by Fountain, this paper tests additional direct effects and whether an inter-organizational construct is relevant, particularly when the e-government initiatives are collaborative in nature. Empirical evidence supports the original enactment framework and identifies a few additional direct effects, specifically from organizational forms to results and from institutional arrangements to the enacted technology.
A critical analysis of the independence of the internal audit function: evidence from Australia

Purpose – This study aims to critically analyse the independence of the internal audit function through its relationship with management and the audit committee. Design/methodology/approach – Results are based on a critical comparison of responses from questionnaires sent out to Australian chief audit executives (CAEs) versus existing literature and best practice guidelines. Findings – With respect to the internal audit function's relationship with management, threats identified include: using the internal audit function as a stepping stone to other positions; having the chief executive officer (CEO) or chief finance officer (CFO) approve the internal audit function's budget and provide input for the internal audit plan; and considering the internal auditor to be a “partner”, especially when combined with other indirect threats. With respect to the relationship with the audit committee, significant threats identified include CAEs not reporting functionally to the audit committee; the audit committee not having sole responsibility for appointing, dismissing and evaluating the CAE; and not having all audit committee members or at least one member qualified in accounting. Originality/value – This study introduces independence threat scores, thereby generating analysis of the internal audit function's independence taking into account a combination of threats.
The Effects of Fat-soluble Vitamin Administration on Plasma Vitamin Status of Nursing Pigs Differ When Provided by Oral Administration or Injection

Four experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of fat-soluble vitamin administration to sows or newborn pigs on plasma vitamin status. In Exp. 1 and 2, a total of 24 and 43 newborn pigs were allotted to control and vitamin treatments (vitamin D3 with variable addition of vitamins A and E) orally or by i.m. injection. In Exp. 3, pigs from Exp. 2 were allotted to 2 treatments (±vitamins D3 and E in drinking water) for 14 d postweaning. In Exp. 4, twenty-four gestating sows were used for 2 treatments (±injection of a vitamin D3/A/E product 2 wk prepartum). In Exp. 1 and 2, when vitamin D3 was administrated orally or by i.m. injection on d 1 of age, pigs had increased plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH D3) concentration 10 d after administration compared with control pigs (p<0.05). The injectable administration with vitamin D3 and E was able to achieve higher plasma 25-OH D3 (p<0.05) and α-tocopherol (p<0.05) concentrations than oral administration. At weaning, the pigs in the injection group had higher plasma 25-OH D3 concentration than those in the other groups in both studies (p<0.05). In Exp. 3, water supplementation of vitamin D3 and E postweaning increased plasma 25-OH D3 and α-tocopherol concentrations at d 14 postweaning (p<0.01). In Exp. 4, when sows were injected with the vitamin D3 product prepartum, serum 25-OH D3 concentrations of sows at farrowing (p<0.01), and in their progeny at birth (p<0.01) and weaning (p<0.05) were increased. These results demonstrated that fat-soluble vitamin administration to newborn pigs increased plasma 25-OH D3 concentration regardless of administration routes and α-tocopherol concentration by the injectable route, and that water supplementation of vitamin D3 and E to nursery pigs increased plasma 25-OH D3 and α-tocopherol concentrations. Additionally, injecting sows with vitamin D3 prepartum increased 25-OH D3 in sows and their offspring. If continued research demonstrates that the serum levels of 25-OH D3 are critical in weanling pigs, a variety of means to increase those levels are available to swine producers.
A Threesome Dance of Agency: Mangling the Sociomateriality of Technological Regimes in Digital Innovation

In this paper, we develop a sociomaterial perspecti ve for appreciating tensions between different technological regimes in digital innovation. Our ca se study research specifically looks at the tension between the deep-rooted component-based log ic of two automakers’ innovation practices and their attempt to introduce a new software archi tecture based on service orientation. Our evidence suggests that digital architectures need t o materialize and be shaped in a dialectical way in the mangle of both existing regimes. We argue th at the threesome dance of physical material agency, digital material agency and human agency ca n explain this finding and yield implications for our understanding of digital innovation in the traditional industries. Digital innovation is a result of a dialectical process, resolving various elements of resistance, subjection, and accommodation across the three types of agency.
Process measures for predicting software quality

Software reliability is essential for tactical military systems, such as the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS). It is an embedded, real-time military application, which performs real-time detection, location, classification and tracking of moving and fixed objects on the ground. A software quality model can make timely predictions of reliability indicators. These enable one to improve software development processes by targeting reliability improvement techniques more effectively and efficiently. This paper presents a case study of a large subsystem of JSTARS to improve integration and testing. The dependent variable of a logistic regression model was the class of a module: either fault-prone or not. Measures of the process history of each module were the independent variables. The case study supports our hypothesis that the likelihood of discovering additional faults during integration and testing can be usefully modeled as a function of the module history prior to integration. This history is readily available by combining data from the project's configuration management system and problem-reporting system.