Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serving Citizens Better: Citizen's Perceptions of Structural and Behavioral Responsiveness through Turkish Public Administration System

This study basically investigates citizens’ perceptions on structural and behavioral responsiveness in Turkey. A survey instrument was used to derive relevant data for the study. In addition, the study utilized from Life Satisfaction Survey (LSS) conducted by Turkish Statistical Institution (TSI) and Turkish Social-Political Trends Survey-2015 conducted by Kadir Has University in Turkey. The study first develops a model to examine structural and behavioral efforts through serving citizens in Turkey. The study then discusses the structure of the public organizations and the roles and the responsibilities of the public administrators throughout the years. The study finally discusses how the Turkish citizens perceive government’s responsiveness from structural and behavioral perspectives. The study concludes that citizens’ perception on the level of responsiveness of public administration system is below the average but it is acceptable. The responsiveness of public administration increases trough the bottom while it decreases through upper levels.
Evaluation of systemic chemotherapy with magnetic liposomal doxorubicin and a dipole external electromagnet

The development of an active drug delivery system is an attractive approach to increase the targetability of anticancer agents. In the present study, we examined the efficiency of systemic chemotherapy with small magnetic liposomes containing doxorubicin (magnetic DOX liposomes) and an externally applied electromagnetic force in osteosarcoma‐bearing hamsters. Syrian male hamsters inoculated with osteosarcoma, OS515, in the limb were studied 7 days after inoculation. The efficiency of this system was evaluated by measuring the tissue distribution and tumor‐suppressing effects of DOX on primary tumor growth and lung metastases. A DC dipole electromagnet was used, and the hamster's tumor‐bearing limb was placed between 2 poles after the i.v. administration of liposomes. The dose of DOX and the magnetic field strength were fixed at 5 mg/kg and 0.4 T, respectively. Administration of magnetic DOX liposomes followed by 60 min application of magnetic field produced a 3‐ to 4‐fold higher maximum DOX concentration in the tumor. This newly designed systemic chemotherapy significantly suppressed primary tumor growth for at least 2 weeks, though other DOX treatments also suppressed compared to control. Histologic examination confirmed a greater antitumor effect of this systemic chemotherapy compared to standard methods. In addition, this approach significantly suppressed lung metastases measured at 3 weeks posttreatment. These results suggest that this systemic chemotherapy can effectively reduce primary tumor growth and suppress lung metastasis due to increased targeting of DOX. Such targeted drug delivery for anticancer agents would provide clinical advantages compared to current methods. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transient exposure of mammary tumors to PD184352 and UCN-01 causes tumor cell death in vivo and prolonged suppression of tumor re-growth

Previous studies from our group have demonstrated in vitro that UCN-01 (7-hydroxystaurosporine) and inhibitors of MEK1/2 interact to cause tumor cell death in a wide variety of malignant, but not in non-transformed, cell types. The present studies determined whether UCN-01 and MEK1/2 inhibitors interacted to cause tumor cell death in vivo. In vitro colony formation studies demonstrated that UCN-01 and the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD184352 interacted to synergistically kill human mammary carcinoma cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF7) with similar combination index values. Athymic mice were implanted in the rear flank with either MDA-MB-231 or MCF7 cells and tumors permitted to form to a volume of ~100 mm3 prior to a two day exposure of either Vehicle, PD184352 (25 mg/kg), UCN-01 (0.1-0.2 mg/kg) or the drug combination. Tumor volume was measured every other day and tumor growth determined over the following ~30 days. Transient exposure of MDA-MB-231 tumors or MCF7 tumors to either PD184352 or UCN-01 did not significantly alter tumor growth rate or the mean tumor volume in vivo ~15-30 days after drug administration. In contrast, combined treatment with PD184352 and UCN-01 significantly reduced MDA-MB-231, and largely abolished MCF7 tumor growth. Tumor control values for both cell lines were 0.36. Tumor cells isolated ~30 days after combined drug exposure exhibited a significantly greater reduction in plating efficiency using ex vivo colony formation assays than tumor cells that were exposed to either drug individually. Reduced tumor growth correlated with profound tumor cell death within 5 days of combined drug exposure, which was also evident ~30 days after exposure. In addition, tumor cell death correlated with a reduction in the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and the immuno-reactivity of Ki67 and of CD31. Collectively, these findings argue that UCN-01 and MEK1/2 inhibitors have the potential to suppress mammary tumor growth in vivo which is independent of p53 status, estrogen dependency, caspase 3 levels or oncogenic K-RAS expression.
Comparative effects of mibefradil and other calcium antagonists on resistance arteries of different end organs

Abstract— The biphasic contractile responses of rat isolated mesenteric, renal, coronary and basilar small arteries to potassium‐induced depolarization were investigated. The tonic phase is assumed to be exclusively the result of L‐type calcium channel (LCC) activation, whereas in the generation of the phasic phase T‐type calcium channels (TCC) may be involved. In order to evaluate whether TCC blockade has any influence on depolarization‐induced contractions the effects of the LCC antagonists nifedipine, diltiazem and verapamil were compared with those of the combined L‐ and TCC antagonist mibefradil. Small arteries (size 393.6 ± 4.8 μm, n = 104) were dissected from the respective organs of male Wistar rats (300–350 g) and studied in an isometric wire myograph. The effects of increasing concentrations of the calcium antagonists on repetitive potassium‐induced contractions were quantified by means of cumulative concentration‐response curves. A comparison was made with mesenteric vessels of SHR and WKY for nifedipine and mibefradil. Nifedipine was the most potent compound in blocking both the phasic phase (reduction 66–77%) and the tonic phase (IC50 = 1.1–5.4 nM). The effect of mibefradil on the phasic response was comparable to that of verapamil and diltiazem. With respect to the tonic response mibefradil was comparable to verapamil (IC50 = 19.6–178.9 nM). These findings indicate that the TCC blockade does not contribute to the vasodilator effect of mibefradil under the conditions investigated.
The Ocular Biometric Differences of Diabetic Patients

Purpose To investigate the differences in ocular biometric and keratometric characteristics in comparison with biometric measurements using the noncontact optical low coherence reflectometer (OLCR) (Lenstar LS 900, Haag-Streit) on diabetic patients. Methods The eyes of 170 patients were included in this study, including 81 diabetic and 89 nondiabetic subjects. Optical biometric measurements of diabetic and nondiabetic patients (between the ages of 25 and 85 years) who applied to the ophthalmology clinic were noted from March to June 2013. Detailed ophthalmologic examinations were done for every subject. Biometric measurements were done using the noncontact OLCR device. Results Patient age ranged from 29 to 83 years. Subgroup analyses were done in diabetic patients according to their Hba1C levels. The minimum Hba1C value was 5.3, maximum was 12.4, and mean was 7.56 ± 1.48. The median duration of diabetes was 5 years (25th-75th percentile 3.00-11.75). Diabetic patients were found to have thicker lens and shallower anterior chamber in both eyes compared to nondiabetic control subjects. There were no statistical differences between the groups according to central corneal thickness, axial length, or keratometric values in both eyes. However, lens thicknesses were found to be thicker and anterior chamber depth values were found to be shallower in the diabetic group in both eyes. Conclusions It may useful to determine eyeglasses prescription, refractive surgery calculation, lens selection, and previous cataract surgery according to biometric measurements after the regulation of blood glucose.
Study of ECG changes and its relation to mortality in cases of cerebrovascular accidents

BACKGROUND Its being long recognized about the highly debilitating and destructive nature of cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs). Around the world CVAs has posed as a major factor in medical morbidity and mortality. It has thrown up challenges with regards to their medical management and also towards posttreatment rehabilitation. It is well-known that neurologic disorder contributes variously towards varied electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and stroke is no exception. OBJECTIVE To study the ECG changes and its relation to mortality in cases of CVA. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 100 patients with acute stroke were enrolled in the study. All the 100 patients underwent ECG recording within first 24 h of admission. The patients were divided into ischemic and hemorrhagic group depending on the nature of lesion. RESULTS Out of 100 cases, 58 were ischemic and 42 were hemorrhagic. The ECG changes were noted in 78 patients. Among the ischemic group, the changes noted in the ECG were: T wave inversion (34.48%), ST segment depression (32.75%), QTc prolongation (29.31%), and presence of U waves (27.58%). In cases of hemorrhagic stroke, it was: T wave inversion (33.33%), arrhythmias (33.33%), U waves (30.95%), and ST segment depression (23.80%). Mortality was higher in patients with ST-T changes in ischemic group (66.66%) and in patients with positive U waves (60%) in hemorrhagic group. CONCLUSION In acute stroke patients, changes in ECG were commonly seen. The changes varied from T-wave inversion to ST segment depression in ischemic stroke. In hemorrhagic stroke it consisted of T wave inversion and arrhythmias. Overall mortality was high in cases of hemorrhagic compared to ischemic group.
Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and clinical profile of novel antiplatelet drugs targeting vascular diseases

Platelet inhibitors are the mainstay treatment for patients with vascular diseases. The current ‘gold standard’ antiplatelet agent clopidogrel has several pharmacological and clinical limitations that have prompted the search for more effective platelet antagonists. The candidates include various blockers of the purinergic P2Y12 receptor such as prasugrel, an oral irreversible thienopyridine; two adenosine triphosphate analogues that bind reversibly to the P2Y12 receptor: ticagrelor (oral) and cangrelor (intravenous); elinogrel, a direct‐acting reversible P2Y12 receptor inhibitor (the only antiplatelet compound that can be administered both intravenously and orally); BX 667, an orally active and reversible small‐molecule P2Y12 receptor antagonist; SCH 530348, SCH 205831, SCH 602539 and E5555, highly selective and orally active antagonists on the protease‐activated receptor 1. A number of drugs also hit new targets: terutroban, an oral, selective and specific inhibitor of the thromboxane receptor; ARC1779, a second‐generation, nuclease resistant aptamer which inhibits von Willebrand factor‐dependent platelet aggregation; ALX‐0081, a bivalent humanized nanobody targeting the GPIb binding site of von Willebrand factor and AJW200, an IgG4 monoclonal antibody of von Willebrand factor. The pharmacology and clinical profiles of new platelet antagonists indicate that they provide more consistent, more rapid and more potent platelet inhibition than agents currently used. Whether these potential advantages will translate into clinical advantages will require additional comparisons in properly powered, randomized, controlled trials.
iCloudAccess: Cost-Effective Streaming of Video Games From the Cloud With Low Latency

As a new paradigm, cloud gaming allows users to play high-end video games instantly without downloading or installing the original game software. In this paper, we first conduct a series of well-designed active and passive measurements on a large-scale cloud gaming platform and identify the significant diversity in the queueing delay and response delay among users. We note that the latency problem largely results from user-specified request routing and inelastic server provisioning. To address latency problem of the cloud gaming platform, we further propose an online control algorithm called iCloudAccess to perform intelligent request dispatching and server provisioning. Our main objective is to cut down the provisioning cost of cloud gaming service providers while still ensuring the user quality-of-experience requirements. We formulate the problem as a constrained stochastic optimization problem and apply the Lyapunov optimization theory to derive the online control algorithm with provable upper bounds. We also conduct extensive trace-driven simulations to evaluate the effectiveness of our algorithm, and our results show that our proposed algorithm achieves significant gain over other alternative approaches.
Lung edema caused by high peak inspiratory pressures in dogs. Role of increased microvascular filtration pressure and permeability.

Mechanical ventilation with high peak airway pressures (Paw) has been shown to induce pulmonary edema in animal experiments, but the relative contributions of transvascular filtration pressure and microvascular permeability are unclear. Therefore, we examined the effects of positive-pressure ventilation on two groups of open-chest dogs ventilated for 30 min with a peak Paw of 21.8 +/- 2.3 cm H2O (Low Paw) or 64.3 +/- 3.5 cm H2O (High Paw). No hemodynamic changes were observed in the Low Paw group during ventilation, but mean pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) increased by 9.9 cm H2O, peak inspiratory Ppa by 24.6 cm H2O, and estimated mean microvascular pressure by 12.5 cm H2O during High Paw ventilation. During the same period, lung lymph flow increased by 435% in the High Paw and 35% in the Low Paw groups, and the terminal extravascular lung water/blood-free dry weight ratios were 5.65 +/- 0.27 and 4.43 +/- 0.13 g/g, respectively, for the two groups. Lung lymph protein clearances and minimal lymph/plasma ratios of total protein were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) after 2 h of increased left atrial pressure (PLA) in the High Paw group versus the Low Paw group, which indicates a significant increase in microvascular permeability. Lymph prostacyclin concentration in pulmonary lymph, measured as the stable metabolite 6-0-PGF1 alpha, was increased significantly by 70 to 150% from baseline (p less than 0.05) in both groups during the periods of increased Paw and increased PLA, but it was not significantly different between the groups. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Differences in the use of everyday technology among persons with MCI, SCI and older adults without known cognitive impairment

ABSTRACT Background: To use valid subjective reports sensible to cognitive decline is vital to identify very early signs of dementia development. Use of everyday technology (ET) has been shown to be sensitive to differentiate adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from controls, but the group with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) has not yet been examined. This study aims to investigate and compare self-perceived ability in ET use and number of ETs reported as actually used in a sample of older adults with SCI, MCI, and older adults with no known cognitive impairment, i.e. controls. Methods: Older adults with MCI (n = 29), SCI ( n = 26), and controls (n = 30) were interviewed with the short version of the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire (S-ETUQ) to capture self-perceived ability in ET use and number of ETs used. To generate individual measures of ability to use ET, Rasch analysis was used. The measures were then compared group-wise using ANCOVA. The numbers of ETs used were compared group-wise with ANOVA. Results: Controls versus SCI and MCI differed significantly regarding ETs reported as used, but not SCI versus MCI. Similarly, in ability to use ET, controls versus SCI and MCI differed significantly but not SCI versus MCI. Conclusions: The significantly lower numbers of ETs reported as actually used and the lower ability in SCI and MCI groups compared to controls suggest that ET use is affected already in very minor cognitive decline. This indicates that self-reported ET use based on the S-ETUQ is sensitive to detect changes already in SCI.
Education and Dementia: A Meta-Analytic Study

Considerable controversy exists about the role of education in the risk of dementia. Individual studies have not been conclusive so far. To examine the hypothesis that lower education is associated with a higher risk of dementia, we carried out a meta-analysis. Observational studies published as of October 2005 that examined the association between education and risk of dementia were systematically reviewed. Relative risks (RRs) and odds ratios were extracted from cohort and case-control studies. We first compared the risk of dementia in subjects with high level of education with the risk of dementia in those with low educational level. In a subsequent analysis, we compared the risk of persons with high education with the risk of subjects with education level other than high (medium, low). We weighted log RRs for cohort studies or odds ratios by the inverse of their variances. Nineteen studies were included in our meta-analysis (13 cohort and 6 case-control studies). RRs for low versus high education level were: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) 1.80 (95% CI: 1.43–2.27); non-AD dementias, 1.32 (95% CI: 0.92–1.88), and all dementias 1.59 (95% CI: 1.26–2.01). For low and medium versus high education level, the RRs were: AD 1.44 (95% CI: 1.24–1.67); non-AD 1.23 (95% CI: 0.94–1.61), and all dementias 1.33 (95% CI: 1.15–1.54). These results confirm that low education may be a risk factor for dementia, especially for AD.
Soutien à l'auto-régulation des apprenants : conception d'environnements informatiques réflexifs et engageants

Nos travaux de recherche se situent principalement dans le domaine des Environnements Informatiques pour l’Apprentissage Humain (EIAH). Les apprenants ont aujourd’hui acces a des plateformes educatives sociales de plus en plus perfectionnees et complexes, et a un ensemble de ressources variees. Dans ce contexte, nos travaux visent a proposer des modeles et environnements informatiques pour favoriser l’auto-regulation des activites d’apprentissage des apprenants, c’est-a-dire leur capacite a se fixer des objectifs, etablir des strategies pour les atteindre, observer l’atteinte de ces objectifs et eventuellement reajuster leurs strategies d’apprentissage. Notre premier axe de recherche concerne la conception d’environnements d’apprentissage reflexifs, i.e. incitant les apprenants a reflechir a leurs activites et processus d’apprentissage pendant ou apres l’activite. Nous proposons de supporter la demarche reflexive par la saisie et la visualisation par l’apprenant de donnees sur ses apprentissages, emotions et comportements. Cote systeme, nos modeles et outils assurent la collecte, l’integration et l’analyse de donnees utilisateurs heterogenes, provenant de connaissances rapportees explicitement par l’apprenant, ainsi que de traces d’interaction collectees automatiquement par le systeme. Les connaissances creees par le systeme sont ensuite representees a l’apprenant de maniere a susciter une demarche reflexive. Le deuxieme axe de recherche est centre sur la conception d’environnements d’apprentissage engageants, i.e. integrant des mecanismes incitant les apprenants a s’engager dans l’activite d’apprentissage. Pour cela, nous avons concu des modeles de jeux serieux offrant un haut niveau de controle aux apprenants en permettant la modification meme du jeu, et incitant les interactions sociales entre joueurs. Nous appuyant sur l’approche de la ludification, nous avons egalement propose d’adapter les elements ludiques au profil de joueur de l’apprenant, en fonction des connaissances acquises par le systeme avant et en cours d’activite a partir des traces d’interaction. Enfin, nous avons developpe et experimente une methodologie d’analyse de l’engagement pouvant s’appliquer a tout type d’environnement numerique interactif. Nous concluons par une discussion sur nos contributions et les perspectives soulevees, en particulier la ludification des systemes d’auto-regulation et la visualisation interactive de donnees d’apprentissage et de donnees emotionnelles. Nous presentons plus largement une vision de l’« apprenant augmente » d’un ensemble d’outils l’aidant a s’auto-reguler, en lui donnant le controle sur ses donnees et son environnement d’apprentissage, de maniere ludique et engageante.
Genes or environment to determine alcoholic liver disease and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract: While the vast majority of heavy drinkers and individuals with obesity, insulin resistance, and the metabolic syndrome will have steatosis, only a minority will ever develop steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Genetic and environmental risk factors for advanced alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) seem likely to include factors that influence the severity of steatosis and oxidative stress, the cytokine milieu, the magnitude of the immune response, and/or the severity of fibrosis. For ALD, the dose and pattern of alcohol intake, along with obesity are the most important environmental factors determining disease risk. For NAFLD, dietary saturated fat and antioxidant intake and small bowel bacterial overgrowth may play a role. Family studies and interethnic variations in susceptibility suggest that genetic factors are important in determining disease risk. For ALD, functional polymorphisms in the alcohol dehydrogenases and aldehyde dehydrogenase alcohol metabolising genes play a role in determining susceptibility in Oriental populations. No genetic associations with advanced NAFLD have been replicated in large studies. Preliminary data suggest that polymorphisms in the genes encoding microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, superoxide dismutase 2, the CD14 endotoxin receptor, TNF‐α, transforming growth factor‐β, and angiotensinogen may be associated with steatohepatitis and/or fibrosis.
A statistical analysis of predictive factors of response to human lymphoblastoid interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVE To determine markers predictive of effective interferon treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we studied 80 Japanese patients treated for 6 months with natural interferon-alpha. METHODS Serum samples were tested for HCV RNA by two-stage polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HCV RNA were grouped into four genotypes by amplification of core-gene sequences by PCR with type-specific primers, and the level of HCV RNA was measured by competitive PCR. HCV RNA was detected in all patients before the interferon treatment. For the purposes of this study, a complete response was defined as the elimination of HCV RNA for at least 6 months after termination of the treatment. RESULTS HCV RNA was eliminated from the sera of 27 patients (33.8%) at the termination of the interferon treatment, and the elimination was sustained throughout a 6-month follow-up (complete response). Four of eleven variables proved to be associated with a complete response when assessed by univariate analysis. With multiple logistic regression analysis assessment, however, only two variables (HCV RNA level (p < 0.001) and genotype (p = 0.048)) were significant. CONCLUSION These results suggest that factors associated with the HCV infection are more important than patient characteristics for effective interferon treatment of patients with chronic HCV infection and that a low level of HCV RNA and HCV of genotype III are useful predictors of a complete response.