Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Osteopenia in Siah1a Mutant Mice*

Siah1a has been implicated in numerous signaling pathways because of its ability to induce ubiquitin-mediated degradation of many protein substrates. Siah1a knockout mice are growth-retarded, exhibit early lethality, and display spermatogenic defects. In this study we identified a striking low bone volume phenotype in these mice (trabecular bone volume was halved compared with wild type mice), linking Siah1a to bone metabolism for the first time. Markers of bone formation, including osteoblast numbers and osteoid volume, were decreased by up to 40%, whereas the number of osteoclasts was more than doubled in Siah1a mutant mice. However, ex vivo osteoclast formation occurs normally and hematopoietic osteoclast progenitor cell types were present in normal numbers in Siah1a mutant mice. Moreover, adoptive transfer of Siah1a mutant bone marrow into wild type mice failed to reproduce the osteopenia or increased osteoclast numbers observed in mutant mice. Although ex vivo osteoblast colony formation was normal in Siah1a mutant mice, mineralization from these cells was elevated in cultures from Siah1a mutant mice, which may explain the reduction in osteoid volume seen in vivo. These findings suggest that although Siah1a is clearly essential for normal bone metabolism, the bone defect in Siah1a mutant mice is not due to cell-autonomous requirements for Siah1a in osteoblast or osteoclast formation. We propose that bone metabolism defects in Siah1a mutant mice are secondary to an alteration in an unidentified systemic, paracrine, or metabolic factor in these mice.
Potassium channel blockers differentially affect carbachol and (−)‐N6‐phenylisopropyladenosine on guinea‐pig atria

1 The effect of three different potassium channel blockers (tetraethylammonium, TEA; 4‐aminopyridine, 4‐AP; and apamin) and of variations in the concentration of K+ and Ca2+ in the medium, have been studied on the responses of guinea‐pig isolated atria to (−)‐N6‐phenylisopropyladenosine (R‐PIA), a stable adenosine A1‐receptor agonist, and to carbachol, a muscarinic agonist. R‐PIA and carbachol showed the same negative inotropic effects over a similar range of concentrations (3–300 μm), both in spontaneously beating and in electrically driven atria. 2 TEA (0.1 to 20 mm) and 4‐AP (0.3 to 3 mm), both antagonized the negative inotropic and chronotropic effects of carbachol in a concentration‐dependent manner. In contrast, these compounds failed to inhibit the effects induced by R‐PIA. Apamin, a specific blocker of a low conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ channel, was ineffective in accordance with the absence of these channels in atrial tissue. 3 TEA (0.1 to 20 mm) inhibited the negative inotropic effect of carbachol, but not that of R‐PIA, in atria paced and depolarized by a high K+ medium (22mm). In this preparation Na+ current is abolished and the contraction induced by noradrenaline and electrical stimulation is solely dependent on Ca2+ influx currents. 4 Stepwise addition of Ca2+ to a calcium‐depleted perfusing medium of electrically driven atria, induced a positive inotropic effect which was inhibited by R‐PIA. In contrast, carbachol had no effect. 5 In agreement with our previous study, the data suggest that R‐PIA acts on isolated atria by inhibiting Ca2+ influx through L‐channels.
Explaining Eastern Europe: Romania's Italian-Style Anticorruption Populism

Abstract:In Romania today, as in Italy twenty years ago, the gradual politicization of anticorruption has come to shape the political scene. When the EU asked Romania to establish an anticorruption agency as a condition of EU accession (2004), the country responded by creating the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA). Yet three unforeseen problems derailed what might have become a virtuous circle. First, the distinction between the corrupt and noncorrupt political camps gradually evaporated. Second, the growing effectiveness of DNA made it an irresistible political weapon for those in power to use against their opponents. Third, President Traian Băsescu had the country's National Defence Council declare corruption a security threat, which led to a massive increase in the number of wiretap warrants issued in corruption cases. The politicization of anticorruption has thus produced political instability and disillusioned voters.
Electromechanical delay during knee extensor contractions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the magnitude of electromechanical delay (EMD) and its possible dependence on muscle type, type of contraction, fatigue, level of force, initial muscle length, and muscle contraction velocity. This was achieved using an experiment that measured voluntary knee extensor torques and surface EMG activity for a variety of different contractile conditions in seven male subjects. EMD values were obtained using a cross-correlation technique in three experimental KIN-COM dynamometer conditions of vastus medialis, rectus femoris, and vastus lateralis. In the first condition, a series of 10 repetitive submaximal (50% and 70% MVC) isometric knee extensor contractions were performed at knee angles of 90 degrees and 130 degrees extension. In the second condition, 10 maximal isokinetic knee extensor contractions were performed during passive shortening and lengthening. As such, the dynamometer was used to passively move the knee joint at 30 degrees.s-1 and 60 degrees.s-1. Both during lengthening and shortening, the contractions occurred at an angular position of 110 degrees. In the last condition, a repetitive submaximal isometric knee extensor fatigue test was performed for 100 s (150 contractions). At 10, 40, and 90 s during the time course of this fatigue test, a series of 10 contractions were recorded. To avoid a phase lag, which is introduced with one-way filtering, the EMG was processed with a bidirectional low-pass filter application. A significant main effect in EMD for the factor level of force was found. The EMD values obtained at a force level of 50% MVC were longer than at 70% MVC (107 vs 98 ms). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Motivations of crowdsourcing contributors

Purpose This study aimed at analyzing the factors that induce the intention of contribution by participants in crowdsourcing initiatives. Design/methodology/approach This study is an explanatory investigation using a quantitative approach. In the second stage, an exploratory study was carried out. Data were obtained through online questionnaires available to the contributors of two platforms, and results were obtained from a regression analysis. Findings The results revealed a greater importance given by participants to intrinsic motivational factors (learning, fun and satisfaction) compared with the extrinsic motivational factor (acknowledgment). Monetary rewards proved irrelevant in this process, whereas attitude and self-efficacy proved good predictors of the intention of contribution in crowdsourcing initiatives. Originality/value No study, as far as the authors’ knowledge extends, has been undertaken to understand what motivations are more relevant in the context of crowdsourcing platforms using multiple theories.
Efficacy of a Fowlpox-Vectored Avian Influenza H5 Vaccine Against Asian H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Challenge

Abstract A recombinant fowlpox-avian influenza (AI) H5 vaccine (rFP-AIV-H5) expressing the hemagglutinin of the A/turkey/Ireland/1378/83 H5N8 AI isolate has been used in Central America since 1998 to control H5N2 low pathogenicity AI. Previously, this vaccine was shown to induce full protection against a panel of H5 highly pathogenic (HP) AI isolates, including HPAI H5N1. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of rFP-AIV-H5 against escalating doses of HPAI H5N1 A/chicken/SouthKorea/ES/03 isolate and against the HPAI H5N1 A/chicken/Vietnam/0008/2004 isolate. In both studies, 1-day-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were vaccinated by subcutaneous route with rFP-AIV-H5 and challenged 3 wk later by the oronasal route. In the first study, full protection was observed up to a challenge dose of 6.5 log10 embryo infectious dose (EID50), and the 50% chicken infectious dose was estimated to be 3.1 and 8.5 log10 EID50 in the control and the rFP-AIV-H5-vaccinated group, respectively. A 2–4 log10 and >4 log10 reduction of oral and cloacal shedding was observed in rFP-AIV-H5 vaccinated birds, respectively. The rFP-AIV-H5 vaccine induced hemagglutination inhibition antibodies (5.2 log2) detectable with homologous H5N8 antigen. In the second study, rFP-AIV-H5-vaccinated chicks were fully protected against morbidity and mortality after challenge with the 2004 Vietnam isolate, whereas unvaccinated chickens died within 2 days of challenge. Shedding in cloacal swabs was detected in all unvaccinated controls but in none of the rFP-AIV-H5-vaccinated chickens. Together, these results confirm the excellent level of protection induced by rFP-AIV-H5 in SPF chickens against two recent Asian HPAI H5N1 isolates.
[A meta-analysis of diammonium glycyrrhizinate enteric-coated capsules versus diammonium glycyrrihizinate in patients with chronic viral hepatitis].

OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of diammonium glycyrrhizinate enteric-coated capsules versus diammonium glycyrrihizinate in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. METHODS The Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM on CD-ROM) and the China Academic Journals Full-Text Database (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, CNKI) were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the efficacy and safety of diammonium glycyrrhizinate entetic-coated capsules versus diammonium glycyrrihizinate in treatment (less than 2 months) of chronic viral hepatitis published between 2005 and 2012. A meta-analysis was performed on the selected RCTs to determine the effects on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization, serum levels of ALT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil) and albumin, as well as rates of adverse reactions. RESULTS Nine RCTs, involving 687 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to the patients treated with diammonium glycyrrihizinate, the patient treated with diammonium glycyrrhizinate enteric-coated capsules had a significantly better recovery rate of ALT (relative risk (RR) =4.15, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.55 to 11.15, P less than 0.01) and significantly more robust decreases in ALT (weighted mean difference (WMD) = -32.75, 95% CI:-46.67 to-18.83, P less than 0.01) and AST (WMD = -12.70, 95% CI:-21.13 to-4.27, P less than 0.01). In contrast, the patients treated with diammonium glycyrrihizinate showed more robust improvements in the TBil level (WMD = -0.74, 95% CI:3.98 to 2.49, P =0.653) and albumin (WMD =1.03, 95% CI:-1.03 to 3.09, P =0.326), but the differences did not reach the threshold for statistical significance (P less than 0.05). Only four adverse reactions were reported, all of which were related to the lipid complex nature of the diammonium glycyrrhizin enteric-coated capsules and were mild, including dry mouth, dizziness and mild gastrointestinal discomfort and reactions. CONCLUSION Diammonium glycyrrhizinate enteric-coated capsules elicited superior anti-inflammatory and liver protection effects than diammonium glycyrrihizinate, and produced only mild side effects that are tolerable to the patients.
Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in a Rural Area of High Prevalence in South India: Implications for Disease Control and Prevention

ABSTRACT Molecular and conventional epidemiologic techniques were used to study the mechanisms and risk factors for tuberculosis transmission in a rural area with high prevalence in south India. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis with IS6110 and direct repeat probes was performed with 378 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from patients. Forty-one percent of M. tuberculosis isolates harbored a single copy of IS6110. Of 378 patients, 236 had distinct strains; 142 (38%) shared a strain with other patients, indicating recent infection. Older patients, those detected by a house-to-house community survey, and those hospitalized in a sanatorium were more likely to have had a recent infection. These findings suggest that the majority of the tuberculosis cases in south India were due to reactivation; therefore, efforts to control tuberculosis should be sustained.
On the Security of Certificateless Authenticated Key Agreement Protocol (CL-AK) for Grid Computing

Grid Security Infrastructure (GSI) provides an efficient mechanism to solve security problems using conventional public key infrastructure (PKI). The notion of certificateless public key cryptography gives another efficient cryptographic primitive to support Grid security services. In the recent work, Wang et al. proposed the first certificateless authentication and key agreement protocol (CL-AK) for Grid computing based on the Diffie-Hellman key agreement protocol and certificateless public key cryptography, which fits well with the GSI and provides a more lightweight key management approach for entity or data authentication and confidential protection. The authors declare that the protocol achieves many security goals. However, we found the scheme cannot withstand key compromise impersonation attack and key replicating attack, thus it doesn’t possess some desirable security attributes, such as key compromise impersonation resilience and key integrity. We analyze the key replicating attack against the protocol in the BR93 security model in more detail.
Equality and diversity discourse: A cross-sectoral comparison of organizations in Australia

It has been acknowledged that gender discourse in organizations has shifted from Affirmative Action (AA), to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), onto Diversity Management (Edelman, Fuller and Mara-Drita 2001; Kelly and Dobbin 1998; Liff 1999; Sinclair 2000; Smithson and Stockoe 2005; Strachan Burgess and Sullivan 2004). Edelman et al. (2001), conceptualise this shift as the ‘managerialisation of law’ whereby the rise of diversity rhetoric occurs in tandem with a decline in the popularity of the legally driven principles of AA and EEO, creating a ‘see-saw effect’ (Bacchi 2000). Although this was demonstrated to have occurred in the professional management literature, Edelman, et al., (2001) acknowledge they did not investigate the extent to which this ‘managerialisation’ occurs in organizations. This paper discusses the findings of an ongoing study into gender discourse across different sectors of the economy under Australia’s EEO regulatory framework. It will be argued that although diversity management may have risen in importance, particularly in the private sector, it does not necessarily dominate discourses of gender equity. This necessitates a contextual understanding of how organisations ‘managerialise’ law and the effect this may have on gender equity outcomes.
Combination of forecasts with an application to unemployment rate

Combining forecast values based on simple univariate models may produce more favourable results than complex models. In this study, the results of combining the forecast values of Naïve model, Single Exponential Smoothing Model, The Autoregressive Moving Average (ARIMA) model, and Holt Method are shown to be superior to that of the Error Correction Model (ECM). Malaysia’s unemployment rates data are used in this study. The independent variable used in the ECM formulation is the industrial production index. Both data sets were collected for the months of January 2004 to December 2010. The selection criteria used to determine the best model, is the Mean Square Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). Initial findings showed that both time series data sets were not influenced by the seasonality effect.
Contraceptive knowledge, beliefs and attitudes in rural Malawi: misinformation, misbeliefs and misperceptions.

INTRODUCTION The objective of the study was to find out factors that affect the intentions of men and women to use family planning methods. METHODS The study was conducted in Mangochi district, the southern region of Malawi in 2006. About 60 Focus group discussions were conducted to identify the attitudes and beliefs of 30 male and 30 female participants regarding family planning methods. The data was then transcribed and analyzed manually identifying central themes and relationships across the cases and narratives. RESULTS Most of the respondents knew the different types of family planning methods and reported that health facilities had adequate stock of family planning supplies. However, it was found that most of the women and men were not using any modern family planning methods. Reasons included: family planning methods were perceived side effects, such as prolonged menstruation, men's concerns about impotence and genital sores, weight gain or loss, and subsequent infertility. Traditional family planning methods were mostly used for infertility problems. CONCLUSION Despite knowing about the different types of family planning methods, and awareness of their ready availability in health facilities, use of these methods is low because considerable misinformation still prevails regarding contraceptive methods' side effects.
Wind Energy Analysis for Vadravadra Site in Fiji Islands: A Case Study

Rising fuel costs, increased energy consumption, and growing environmental concerns have led mankind to look for alternate sources of energy apart from conventional fuels. One of the promising renewable energy sources is wind energy. For harnessing wind energy from a wind turbine or wind farm, wind resource assessment (WRA) needs to be carried out. WRA will highlight which site is optimum (in terms of economics and wind characteristics) for wind turbine installation and how much would be the estimated energy output from that particular site. This paper presents the estimate for annual wind energy yield for the Vadravadra site in Gau Island in Fiji. It also presents a method for finding the optimum wind turbine that can be installed at a site and the kind of wind turbine that should be installed at a site, where cyclone may hit the area.
Feasibility of a Consultant-led, Trainee-delivered Urgent Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Service

Abstract Background : Urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard for the treatment of acute gallstone disease. Since 2005 we have implemented a consultant-delivered urgent surgical service for this condition. In an attempt to increase the capacity of this service, we have recently introduced a new policy of also allowing selected trainee surgeons to perform urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with consultant assistance available on request. The purpose of this study was to audit our initial experience of this new service. Methods : Patients with acute gallstone disease had their surgery performed by a consultant or a trainee operating independently with consultant assistance available only on request. Allocation was based purely on surgeon availability. The clinical outcomes of 50 consecutive trainee and 50 consecutive consultant cases were compared and an attempt made to identify pre-operative predictors of technically-demanding trainee cases requiring consultant intervention. Results : The mean operating time of trainees was significantly longer than consultants (80 ± 5 mins vs 55 ± 4 mins, p < 0.001) although the conversion rates for trainees (4%) and consultants (2%) were similar. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to postoperative morbidity. Of the 50 trainee cases, consultant intervention was required in 12 (24%) cases. There were no statistically significant pre-operative predictors of requirement for consultant assistance. Conclusions : Urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be performed independently by appropriately skilled trainees within a consultant-led service. Although consultant intervention is often not required, the requirement for consultant assistance cannot be easily predicted based on pre-operative data.
Extracellular Signal-Related Kinase and Bone Morphogenetic Protein Expression during Distraction Osteogenesis of the Mandible: In Vivo Evidence of a Mechanotransduction Mechanism for Differentiation and Osteogenesis by Mesenchymal Precursor Cells

Background: The goal in this study was to investigate the role of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) 1/2, a central regulator of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation, and its temporal relationship to bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2/4, a potent osteogenic growth factor, during live model distraction osteogenesis. Methods: The authors examined histomorphometric expression through the early temporal sequence for both ERK 1/2 and BMP 2/4 during gradual distraction to 5.1 mm (n = 12 net). Comparison groups (group sizes, n = 12) included an acute critical-size defect of 5.1 mm and a subcritical-size defect of 2.1 mm. Results: In the group gradually distracted to 5.1 mm, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated significant intranuclear expression of ERK 1/2 within mesenchymal precursor cells at the osteotomy edges early in distraction (postoperative days 6 and 9). ERK 1/2 became increasingly localized to hypertrophic chondrocytes within the distraction regenerate during the later stages of distraction (postoperative day 16). Adjacent sections examined for BMP 2/4 expression established a close temporal and spatial correlation with ERK 1/2. BMP 2/4 expression was initially present in the regions surrounding mesenchymal precursor cells expressing ERK 1/2, but then developed most prominently within the cytoplasm of hypertrophic chondrocytes expressing ERK 1/2 late in distraction. Comparison groups consistently demonstrated either fibrous nonunion or bony union typical in fracture healing, depending on defect size. However, even specimens with subcritical-size defects and complete bony union were consistently found to have minimal ERK 1/2 expression. Conclusions: These data provide evidence that ERK 1/2 expression is present within mesenchymal precursor cells during distraction osteogenesis and that ERK expression correlates closely with BMP 2/4 expression. The presence of ERK 1/2 expression only during gradual distraction strongly implicates the concept that mechanical strain appears to be the key upregulating factor for ERK 1/2 expression, based on comparison with fracture-healing and critical-size defect specimens.
Analysis and characterization of different metamaterial patterns embedded on a Quasi Yagi antenna for RFID application

The analysis and characterization of different types of metamaterials patterns, such as fractal cells, Jerusalem-Cross-Pair, SRR — split ring resonator and CSRR — complementary split ring resonator, associated with an UHF Quasi-Yagi antenna are performed. The basic metamaterial cells pattern employed are composed by periodical arrangement of cooper strips located at strategic positions of the structure. Owing to its unit cell symmetry, isotropic response is provided to any linearly polarized incident wave. The target of this study is to define the best combination of metamaterial patterns for RFID applications.
Evaluation of simulated VEP signals on basis of Higuchi and Katz's algorithm

This paper investigates the influences of noise power and signals length towards the fractal dimension (FD) of a short and non-complex visual evoked potential (VEP). Higuchi and Katz's algorithms have been used to estimate the fractal dimension of the simulated VEPs with the various parameter. To examine the performance of both algorithms, the parameter of colored noise and window length of the signal were varied. Weierstrass cosine function was generated with a known FD for validation. Katz's FD of the VEPs are linearly proportional to the noise power, as it measures the roughness of the signal. Higuchi's algorithm is highly affected by noise. The FD decreases as noise power increased until it reaches the plateau when the noise power equals to 0.05. It was found that Katz's FD has no significant effect of window length, meanwhile, Higuchi's FD increases as window length increases.