Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A weighted-goal-score approach to measure match importance in the malaysian super league

This work is a continuation of our previous work which aims to define the level of importance of each fixture in the Malaysian Super League. Malaysian football is witnessing a decrease in stadium attendance and scheduling fixtures into timeslots so as to maximise the number of supporters is critical to the league administrators. In our previous work (Abdul-Hamid et. al, (2010), we have applied AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) in order to calculate the priorities of each fixture. The aim of this study is to investigate a different method to measure match importance. We propose to measure match importance using a statistical model.
A comparative study of CSF neurofilament light and heavy chain protein in MS

Background: There is a lack of reliable biomarkers of axonal degeneration. Neurofilaments are promising candidates to fulfil this task. We compared two highly sensitive assays to measure two subunits of the neurofilament protein (neurofilament light (NfL) and neurofilament heavy chain (NfH)). Methods: We evaluated the analytical and clinical performance of the UmanDiagnostics NF-light® enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a group of 148 patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or multiple sclerosis (MS), and 72 controls. We compared our results with referring levels of our previously-developed CSF NfHSMI35 assay. Results: Exposure to room temperature (up to 8 days) or repetitive thawing (up to 4 thaws) did not influence measurement of NfL concentrations. Values of NfL were higher in all disease stages of CIS/MS, in comparison to controls (p ≤ 0.001). NfL levels correlated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score in patients with relapsing disease (rs = 0.31; p = 0.002), spinal cord relapses and with CSF markers of acute inflammation. The ability of NfL to distinguish patients from controls was greater than that of NfHSMI35 in both CIS patients (p = 0.001) and all MS stages grouped together (p = 0.035). Conclusions: NfL proved to be a stable protein, an important prerequisite for a reliable biomarker, and the NF-light® ELISA performed better in discriminating patients from controls, compared with the ECL-NfHSMI35 immunoassay. We confirmed and expanded upon previous findings regarding neurofilaments as quantitative markers of neurodegeneration. Our results further support the role of neurofilaments as a potential surrogate measure for neuroprotective treatment in MS studies.
Phosphatidyl choline and the growth in serum‐free medium of vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and corneal endothelial cells

Liposomes made by sonication of egg yolk phosphatidyl choline support the proliferation of low‐density bovine vascular and corneal endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells maintained on basement laminacoated dishes and exposed to a defined medium supplemented with transferrin. The optimal growth‐promoting effect of phosphatidyl choline was observed at concentrations of 25 μg/ml for low‐density cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells, and 100 μg/ml for vascular and corneal endothelial cells. The growth rate and final cell density of vascular endothelial cells exposed to a synthetic medium supplemented with transferrin and either high‐density lipoproteins or phosphatidyl choline has been compared. Although cultures exposed to phosphatidyl choline reached a final cell density similar to that of cultures exposed to high‐density lipoproteins, they had a longer average doubling time (17 h vs. 12 h) during their logarithmic growth phase and a shorter lifespan (17 generations vs. 30 generations). Similar observations were made in the case of vascular smooth muscle cells or bovine corneal endothelial cells maintained in medium supplemented with transferrin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) or epidermal growth factor (EGF), and insulin and exposed to either high‐density lipoproteins or phosphatidyl choline. Since phosphatidyl choline can, for the most part, replace highdensity lipoproteins in supporting the proliferation of various cell types, it is likely that the growth stimulating signal conveyed by high‐density lipoproteins is associated with its polar lipid fraction, which is composed mostly of phosphatidyl cholines.
An electro-hydrodynamics-based model for the ionic conductivity of solid-state nanopores during DNA translocation

A solid-state nanopore can be used to sense DNA (or other macromolecules) by monitoring ion-current changes that result from translocation of the molecule through the pore. When transiting a nanopore, the highly negatively charged DNA interacts with a nanopore both electrically and hydrodynamically, causing a current blockage or a current enhancement at different ion concentrations. This effect was previously characterized using a phenomenological model that can be considered as the limit of the electro-hydrodynamics model presented here. We show theoretically that the effect of surface charge of a nanopore (or electro-osmotic effect) can be equivalently treated as modifications of electrophoretic mobilities of ions in the pore, providing an improved physical understanding of the current blockage (or enhancement).
Voter Choice, Decision and Party Marketing Orientation: An Inquiry into Choice Theory in Political Marketing.

This article is a response to numerous calls by political marketing scholars and practitioners to integrate interdisciplinary concepts and ideology in the studying or interpreting certain phenomena in democratic or political and social settings. It examines voter choice and decision making within the confines of consumer-oriented marketing paradigm. The main objective of this research is to conceptually explore how choice theory can be adapted in explaining voter choice and decision in political marketing, thereby establish the interface between marketing-oriented and exchange paradigm, and normative political science interpretation of voter behaviour and electoral decisions. The rational choice theory is adopted as the theoretical framework for examining the subject matter. A mixed research design: exploratory and qualitative methods were used to examine the subject matter, and also inferences were drawn from other inter-disciplinary domains as a way to provide balanced argument. Emphasis is laid on party marketing orientation and how political parties in Nigeria can utilize rational choice theory as enabler of informed voter choice and decision making.
Direct Measurement of Coupling Between Dendritic Spines and Shafts

Characterization of the diffusional and electrotonic coupling of spines to the dendritic shaft is crucial to understanding neuronal integration and synaptic plasticity. Two-photon photobleaching and photorelease of fluorescein dextran were used to generate concentration gradients between spines and shafts in rat CA1 pyramidal neurons. Diffusional reequilibration was monitored with two-photon fluorescence imaging. The time course of reequilibration was exponential, with time constants in the range of 20 to 100 milliseconds, demonstrating chemical compartmentalization on such time scales. These values imply that electrical spine neck resistances are unlikely to exceed 150 megohms and more likely range from 4 to 50 megohms.
Refolding of Target Proteins from a “Rigid” Mutant Chaperonin Demonstrates a Minimal Mechanism of Chaperonin Binding and Release*

One of the most interesting facets of GroEL-facilitated protein folding lies in the fact that the requirement for a successful folding reaction of a given protein target depends upon the refolding conditions used. In this report, we utilize a mutant of GroEL (GroEL T89W) whose domain movements have been drastically restricted, producing a chaperonin that is incapable of utilizing the conventional cyclic mechanism of chaperonin action. This mutant was, however, still capable of improving the refolding yield of lactate dehydrogenase in the absence of both GroES and ATP hydrolysis. A very rapid interconversion of conformations was detected in the mutant immediately after ATP binding, and this interconversion was inferred to form part of the target release mechanism in this mutant. The possibility exists that some target proteins, although dependent on GroEL for improved refolding yields, are capable of refolding successfully by utilizing only portions of the entire mechanism provided by the chaperonins.
An Exploration of Performance-Based Funding at Four-Year Public Colleges in the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Performance-based funding has been used to help alleviate state and public calls for higher education accountability and more states have adopted this type of funding model (Tandberg & Hillman, 2014; Dougherty, Natow, & Vega, 2012). The purpose of this study was to explore performance-based funding and examine the relationship between types of funding and performance indicators in the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The state funding trends were examined for all of the states in the NCA. The correlations for state funding and four performance outcomes for all four-year higher education institutions were compared for three states with performance-based funding and three states with incremental funding. The study also created regression equations within each type of funding to predict fulltime retention rate and four-year graduation rate. This study found statistically significant correlations between state appropriations and all four performance outcomes examined regardless of funding model utilized.
Health Care Behaviors and Decision-Making Processes among Enrollees in a State High-Risk Insurance Pool: Focus Group Findings

Purpose. To better understand the relationship between health insurance coverage and health care behaviors of persons with potentially disabling conditions enrolled in a state high-risk insurance pool. Design. Six focus groups with risk pool enrollees at two sites. Setting. Suburban areas in the state of Kansas. Participants. Forty-two individuals 29 to 62 years, all with potentially disabling physical or mental health conditions. Method. Qualitative analysis of focus group transcripts using pile sorting and theme identification. Results. High premiums and deductibles limit participants' ability to afford basic health services and access to prescription medications despite their middle-class socioeconomic status. Participants report delaying or forgoing needed medical care because of lack of coverage and/or out-of-pocket costs. They employ numerous and potentially dangerous strategies to minimize costs, especially for prescription medications. Some report “saving up” needed procedures until their total costs will exceed that year's deductible. Conclusion. Individuals in the risk pool were making medical decisions on the basis of cost rather than need. Many shared stories of medical complications as a result of delayed care, and most expressed stress related to the difficulty of making decisions about their care and use of prescribed medications. The individual, nongroup insurance market, with its higher out-of-pocket costs, may not meet the needs of people with chronic health conditions.
Tear secretion induced by selective stimulation of corneal and conjunctival sensory nerve fibers.

PURPOSE To measure the increase in tear secretion evoked by selective stimulation of the different populations of sensory receptors of the cornea and conjunctiva by using moderate and intense mechanical, chemical, and cold stimuli. METHODS Six healthy subjects participated in the study. Tear secretion was measured in both eyes by the Schirmer's test conducted under control conditions and after stimulation of the center of the cornea and the temporal conjunctiva with a gas esthesiometer. Mechanical stimulation consisted in three pulses of 3 seconds' duration of warmed air (at 34 degrees C on the eye surface) applied at moderate (170 mL/min) and high (260 mL/min) flow rates. Cold thermal stimulation was made with cooled air that produced a corneal temperature drop of -1 degrees C or -4.5 degrees C. Chemical (acidic) stimulation was performed with a jet of gas containing a mixture of 80% CO(2) in air. RESULTS The basal volume of tear secretion increased significantly (P < 0.05, paired t-test) after stimulation of the cornea with high-flow mechanical stimuli (260 mL/min), intense cooling pulses (-4.5 degrees C), and chemical stimulation (80% CO(2)). The same stimuli were ineffective when applied to the conjunctiva. Moderate mechanical (170 mL/min) and cold (-1 degrees C) stimulation of the cornea or the conjunctiva did not change significantly the volume of tear secretion. CONCLUSIONS Reflex tear secretion caused by corneal stimulation seems to be chiefly due to activation of corneal polymodal nociceptors, whereas selective excitation of corneal mechanonociceptors or cold receptors appears to be less effective in evoking an augmented lacrimal secretion. Conjunctival receptors stimulated at equivalent levels do not evoke an increased tear secretion.
A rhythmic motor pattern activated by circumferential stretch in guinea‐pig distal colon

Simultaneous intracellular recordings were made from pairs of circular muscle (CM) cells, at the oral and anal ends of a segment of guinea‐pig distal colon, to investigate the neuronal mechanisms underlying faecal pellet propulsion. When a minimum degree of circumferential stretch was applied to sheet preparations of colon, recordings from CM cells revealed either no ongoing junction potentials, or alternatively, small potentials usually < 5 mV in amplitude. Maintained circumferential stretch applied to these preparations evoked an ongoing discharge of excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) at the oral recording site (range: 1‐25 mV), which lasted for up to 6 h. The onset of each large oral EJP was time‐locked with the onset of an inhibitory junction potential (IJP) at an anal recording electrode, located 2 cm from the oral recording. Similar results were obtained in isolated intact tube preparations of colon, when recordings were made immediately oral and anal of an artificial faecal pellet. The amplitudes of many large (> 5 mV) oral EJPs were linearly related to the amplitudes of anal IJPs occurring 20 mm apart. In the absence of an L‐type Ca2+ channel blocker, action potentials occurred on each large oral EJP. Synchronized discharges of stretch‐activated EJPs and IJPs were preserved following pretreatment with capsaicin (10 μm), were unaffected by nifedipine (1 μm) and did not require the mucosa or submucous plexus. EJPs and IJPs were abolished by hexamethonium (300 μm) or tetrodotoxin (1 μm), but persisted in the presence of pyridoxal phosphate‐6‐azophenyl‐2′,4′‐disulphonic acid (PPADS; 10 μm) or an NK3 tachykinin receptor antagonist (Neurokinin A 4‐10; 100 nm to 5 μm). In summary, maintained circumferential stretch of the distal colon activates a population of intrinsic mechanosensory neurons that generate repetitive firing of ascending excitatory and descending inhibitory pathways to CM. These mechanosensory neurons, which may be interneurons, are stretch sensitive, rather than muscle tension sensitive, since they are resistant to muscular paralysis. We suggest the synchrony in onset of oral EJPs and anal IJPs over large regions of colon is due to synchronous synaptic activation of ascending and descending interneurons.
Heterozygous loss-of-function variants in CYP1B1 predispose to primary open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE Although primary congenital glaucoma (PCG)-associated CYP1B1 mutations in the heterozygous state have been evaluated for association with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in several small studies, their contribution to the occurrence of POAG is still controversial. The present study was conducted to determine whether heterozygous functionally characterized CYP1B1 mutations are associated with the disease in a large cohort of German patients with POAG. METHODS The frequency of CYP1B1 variants on direct sequencing of the entire coding region was compared in 399 unrelated German patients with POAG (270, POAG; 47, JOAG; and 82, NTG) and 376 control subjects without any signs of glaucoma on ophthalmic examination. In vitro functional assays were performed and relative enzymatic activity of the CYP1B1 variants embedded in their respective background haplotypes and not previously unambiguously classified were determined, to assess their possible causative role. RESULTS Apart from known polymorphic variants, 11 amino acid substitutions in CYP1B1 reported before, both in PCG and POAG cases, were identified. After in vitro functional assay, variants P52L and R368H showed marked reduction of activity, confirming their role as loss-of-function mutations similar to previously determined variants G61E, N203S, and G329V. In contrast, variants G168D, A443G, and A465V showed no relevant effects and were thus classified as polymorphisms. Overall, seven functionally impaired variants were present in 13 (3.6%) patients and in 1 (0.2%) control subject (P = 0.002, OR = 5.4). Reanalysis of previous studies reporting CYP1B1 mutations in patients with POAG based on updated functional validation showed a significant excess of carriers among patients compared to controls (OR = 3.85; P = 2.3 x 10(-7)). CONCLUSIONS Heterozygous CYP1B1 mutations with absent or reduced relative enzymatic activity can be considered a risk factor for POAG.
Kelvin–Helmholtz instability in an ultrathin air film causes drop splashing on smooth surfaces

Significance Liquid drops always splash when they impact smooth surfaces with high enough speeds. This common phenomenon is crucial in many important fields such as agriculture, printing, surface coating, and spray cooling. However, despite extensive studies over one century, the origin of splashing remains a big mystery. Combining experiment with model, we show that the air trapped under the liquid drop forms a special flow within a nanoscale gap. This airflow produces a stress 10 times stronger than the common airflow and generates small Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities that trigger splash. Our model agrees quantitatively with the experimental verifications and brings a fundamental understanding to the general phenomenon of drop splashing on smooth surfaces. When a fast-moving drop impacts onto a smooth substrate, splashing will be produced at the edge of the expanding liquid sheet. This ubiquitous phenomenon lacks a fundamental understanding. Combining experiment with model, we illustrate that the ultrathin air film trapped under the expanding liquid front triggers splashing. Because this film is thinner than the mean free path of air molecules, the interior airflow transfers momentum with an unusually high velocity comparable to the speed of sound and generates a stress 10 times stronger than the airflow in common situations. Such a large stress initiates Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities at small length scales and effectively produces splashing. Our model agrees quantitatively with experimental verifications and brings a fundamental understanding to the ubiquitous phenomenon of drop splashing on smooth surfaces.
Alcohol and endometrial cancer risk: findings from an Italian case-control study.

Using data from a case-control study conducted in Northern Italy, we analyzed the relation between alcohol drinking and risk of endometrial cancer. Cases were 726 patients, < 75 years of age, admitted to the Ospedale Maggiore (including the 4 largest teaching and general hospitals in the Greater Milan area), the University Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics, and the National Cancer Institute of Milan with histologically confirmed endometrial cancer. Controls were 2,123 nonhysterectomized patients, < 75 years of age, admitted for acute nongynecological non-hormone-related nonneoplastic conditions to the same network of hospitals where cases had been identified. When total consumption of all alcoholic beverages was considered, 68.2% of cases and 63.9% of controls were drinkers and 12% of cases and 9.3% of controls reported > or = 2 drinks/day. Considering total alcohol drinking, the relative risk for alcohol drinkers vs. nondrinkers was 1.3 (95% confidence interval 1.1-1.5), and the RR estimates for subsequent levels of intake were 1.1, 1.4, and 1.6 for women drinking > 0 < or = 1, > 1 < or = 2 drinks/day (chi 2(1) trend 11.33, p < 0.001). The estimates were similar when wine only (which represents the large majority of all alcohol intake in Italy) was considered, whereas data were less informative for beer and spirits intake only. No relation emerged between duration of alcohol consumption and risk of endometrial cancer. These findings suggest a potential link between alcohol drinking and endometrial cancer risk and are, in any case, inconsistent with a protective role of alcohol in endometrial carcinogenesis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of Nicotine Infusion on Striatal Glutamate and Cortical Non-Protein-Bound Iron in Hypoxic Newborn Piglets

Background: Perinatal asphyxia triggers a large cascade of mechanisms leading to brain damage. Release of glutamate and increased oxidative stress play substantial roles. Non-protein-bound iron (NPBI), which contributes to the production of free radical species through the Fenton reaction, increases in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. Results from in vitro and adult animal studies show that nicotine can decrease extracellular levels of NPBI and glutamate. Nicotine’s effects have further been shown to be dose-dependent, with lower doses showing neuroprotective, and higher doses showing neurotoxic effects. Objectives: We wished to assess nicotine’s effect on levels of NPBI and glutamate in an animal model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. Methods: 47 anesthetized newborn piglets were randomized to one of four infusions after hypoxia (nicotine 130 µg/kg/h, 260 µg/kg/h, adrenaline 0.05 µg/kg/min, saline 2.6 ml/kg/h). Glutamate in striatum and NPBI in cortex were analyzed in microdialysate. Results: Striatal glutamate presented a significant rise for all the animals from baseline to the end of hypoxia (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference for nicotine 130 µg/kg/h versus saline (p = 0.002) 2 h after hypoxia. Cortical NPBI presented a significant rise from baseline to the end of hypoxia for all the animals (p < 0.001), and a significant difference between nicotine 130 µg/kg/h versus saline 2 h after hypoxia (p = 0.013). Conclusion: Our findings support the hypothesis that nicotine can decrease extracellular levels of glutamate and NPBI in a neonatal model of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. This suggests possible neuroprotective effects of a low dose of nicotine in neonates, as it has already been shown in adult models.