Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Italian politics and the European Union: A tale of two research designs

Drawing on the conceptual framework of Europeanisation, we trace the influence of the European Union (EU) on Italian politics by combining top-down analysis (that is, how Italy has adapted to pressure coming from Brussels) with a bottom-up examination of how Italian policy makers have encountered the EU in their attempts to pursue domestic policy goals. We find that the foreign policy orientation and policy preferences of the governing coalition determine the posture, style and choice of institutional venues. Taken together, bottom-up and top-down assessments of Europeanisation suggest that, during the second Berlusconi government, the influence of the EU in Italian politics was limited – although not trivial. When the Berlusconi government (2001–06) faced high pressure, it tried to reduce it at source rather than adapting to EU policies. By contrast, the centre-left governments (1996–2001) used pressure as a lever for policy change, while the governments of the 1980s responded to pressure by delaying implementation.
Anterograde transport of leukemia inhibitory factor within transected sciatic nerves

Disappointing functional recovery following peripheral nerve repair can be improved by neurotrophic growth factors. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is unique in that it has independent neurotrophic and myotrophic actions. The aim of this study was to explain this finding by establishing the existence of anterograde axonal transport of LIF from the site of nerve division to denervated muscles. Using 125I LIF, administered topically via an entubulation repair of divided rat sciatic nerve, we monitored its subsequent distribution by measuring the radioactivity associated with nerve segments and denervated muscles. We established that LIF preferentially accumulated in denervated muscles, a process we could reduce by 70% after tightly ligating the intervening nerve, confirming the presence of anterograde axonal transport. This was most likely an active mode of transport that ceased approximately 24 h after nerve division, establishing a narrow clinical time frame within which the myotrophic action of LIF could be optimized following nerve repair. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 22: 78–87, 1999
Ceftriaxone choledocholithiasis.

Ceftriaxone is a broad-spectrum, third-generation cephalosporin. The formation of biliary sludge and cholelithiasis after ceftriaxone administration has been reported and is thought by many to be a benign process.1-3 Despite this, cholecystectomy has been performed in symptomatic patients who have received ceftriaxone.3,4 This complication of ceftriaxone therapy is not widely appreciated in the gastroenterology and surgical literature. We report the documented case of ceftriaxone choledocholithiasis. CASE REPORT A 9-year-old boy who 4 weeks before admission was treated for open head trauma was referred for evaluation of abdominal pain and cholelithiasis. The patient sustained a comminuted, depressed skull fracture of the left frontal area with underlying cerebral laceration from being kicked in the head by a horse.
DISCOVERY OF INTERSTELLAR ANIONS IN CEPHEUS AND AURIGA

We report the detection of microwave emission lines from the hydrocarbon anion C6H− and its parent neutral C6H in the star-forming region L1251A (in Cepheus), and the pre-stellar core L1512 (in Auriga). The carbon-chain-bearing species C4H, HC3N, HC5N, HC7N, and C3S are also detected in large abundances. The observations of L1251A constitute the first detections of anions and long-chain polyynes and cyanopolyynes (with more than five carbon atoms) in the Cepheus Flare star-forming region, and the first detection of anions in the vicinity of a protostar outside of the Taurus molecular cloud complex, indicating a possible wider importance for anions in the chemistry of star formation. Rotational excitation temperatures have been derived from the HC3N hyperfine structure lines and are found to be 6.2 K for L1251A and 8.7 K for L1512. The anion-to-neutral ratios are 3.6% and 4.1%, respectively, which are within the range of values previously observed in the interstellar medium, and suggest a relative uniformity in the processes governing anion abundances in different dense interstellar clouds. This research contributes toward the growing body of evidence that carbon chain anions are relatively abundant in interstellar clouds throughout the Galaxy, but especially in the regions of relatively high density and high depletion surrounding pre-stellar cores and young, embedded protostars.
Clinical and urodynamic evaluation after ureterocystoplasty and kidney transplantation.

PURPOSE We assessed clinical and surgical results in renal transplantation candidates with voiding dysfunction and end stage renal disease who underwent bladder augmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed 8 patients 3 to 30 years old with dilated ureters, voiding dysfunction and end stage renal disease who underwent renal transplantation following bladder augmentation from 1995 to 2003. The etiology of bladder dysfunction was neurogenic bladder in 3 patients, posterior urethral valves in 3 and vesicoureteral reflux in 2. All cases were assessed by ultrasonography, voiding cystourethrography and urodynamic studies. RESULTS Mean followup was 50 months (range 4 to 93). Previous urodynamic evaluation revealed a bladder capacity of 75 to 294 ml (mean +/- SD 167.38 +/- 77.32) and an intravesical pressure of 28 to 100 mm H2O (mean 51.25 +/- 22.17). Urodynamic study after augmentation and kidney transplantation showed a bladder capacity of 191 to 400 ml (mean 335.25 +/- 99.01) and an intravesical pressure of 15 to 35 mm H2O (mean 28 +/- 9.45). Mean serum creatinine was 1.65 mg/dl (range 0.8 to 2.5). All patients remained continent. Three patients with neurogenic bladder empty the bladder by clean intermittent catheterization and the others empty by the Valsalva maneuver. None of the grafts were lost and the most common complication was asymptomatic urinary tract infection. CONCLUSIONS Bladder augmentation is a well-known procedure for low capacity and poorly compliant bladders even in candidates for a renal transplant. Ureterocystoplasty combines the benefits common to all enterocystoplasties without adding to complications or risks.
Effectiveness of a Brief Home-Based Social Work Motivational Intervention for Male Methamphetamine Users in Tehran: A Randomized Clinical Trial

ABSTRACT Methamphetamine, a highly addictive psychostimulant drug, is widely used by substance users who are not motivated to undergo treatment throughout the world, including Iran. This research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief home-based social work motivational intervention (HSWMI) to encourage male methamphetamine users to participate in a treatment program. Method: Fifty-six unmotivated male methamphetamine users participated in a randomized controlled trial. The case group received the HSWMI in addition to the usual consulting services in the clinic; the control group just received the usual consulting services. Data were collected 7 and 90 days after the intervention to evaluate participation and retention in a treatment program. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: Drug users with a mean age of 32.55 years and mean duration of drug use of 7.73 years, participated in the case (n = 28) and control (n = 28) groups. The case group participated in treatment programs significantly more than the control group and the retention rate for the case group was significantly higher than for the control group. Conclusion: This brief HSWMI was effective to increase the motivation of methamphetamine users to participate and remain in treatment programs. This intervention can be implemented by social workers in substance use treatment centers.
Global Survey of Protein Expression during Gonadal Sex Determination in Mice*

The development of an embryo as male or female depends on differentiation of the gonads as either testes or ovaries. A number of genes are known to be important for gonadal differentiation, but our understanding of the regulatory networks underpinning sex determination remains fragmentary. To advance our understanding of sexual development beyond the transcriptome level, we performed the first global survey of the mouse gonad proteome at the time of sex determination by using two-dimensional nanoflow LC-MS/MS. The resulting data set contains a total of 1037 gene products (154 non-redundant and 883 redundant proteins) identified from 620 peptides. Functional classification and biological network construction suggested that the identified proteins primarily serve in RNA post-transcriptional modification and trafficking, protein synthesis and folding, and post-translational modification. The data set contains potential novel regulators of gonad development and sex determination not revealed previously by transcriptomics and proteomics studies and more than 60 proteins with potential links to human disorders of sexual development.
Homing of antigen-specific T cells in the Lewis rat. I. Accumulation of antigen-reactive cells in the perithymic lymph nodes.

A permanent ovalbumin-specific T cell line of "helper/inducer" cell phenotype (W 3/13+, W 3/25+, OX 8-) was used to study the homing pattern in normal untreated Lewis rats. After i.v. injection, the migration of these cells was followed directly by using 51Cr- or [14C]thymidine-labeled cells. In addition, I tried to retrieve the cells from different lymphatic tissues by antigen restimulation. I found that most of the radiolabeled cells migrate to the lung, liver, kidney, and spleen. Other lymphoid tissues such as the thymus and the cervical and mesenteric lymph nodes were almost devoid of such cells with one exception: the perithymic lymph nodes (pt-LN). Twenty-four hours after the cell transfer, viable antigen-specific cells could be recovered from these organs. Within 9 days the pt-LN enlarged, the percentage of W 3/13+ and W 3/25+ T lymphocytes was enhanced, and both relatively high spontaneous and antigen-driven responses were measurable in cell cultures of these lymph nodes. All the effects were observed if viable but not irradiated antigen-specific T blasts were transferred. Moreover, after active immunization, antigen-reactive cells appeared to accumulate not only in the draining but also in the pt-LN. In both experimental situations, the adoptive transfer and the in vivo activation of antigen-specific lymphocytes, the pt-LN appear to play an important role in the homing of such cells.
Server-Side Template Injection : RCE for the modern webapp

Template engines are widely used by web applications to present dynamic data via web pages and emails. Unsafely embedding user input in templates enables Server-Side Template Injection, a frequently critical vulnerability that is extremely easy to mistake for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), or miss entirely. Unlike XSS, Template Injection can be used to directly attack web servers' internals and often obtain Remote Code Execution (RCE), turning every vulnerable application into a potential pivot point. Template Injection can arise both through developer error, and through the intentional exposure of templates in an attempt to offer rich functionality, as commonly done by wikis, blogs, marketing applications and content management systems. Intentional template injection is such a common use-case that many template engines offer a 'sandboxed' mode for this express purpose. This paper defines a methodology for detecting and exploiting template injection, and shows it being applied to craft RCE zerodays for two widely deployed enterprise web applications. Generic exploits are demonstrated for five of the most popular template engines, including escapes from sandboxes whose entire purpose is to handle usersupplied templates in a safe way.
Detailed modeling of superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) system

This paper presents a detailed model for simulation of a Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) system. SMES technology has the potential to bring real power storage characteristic to the utility transmission and distribution systems. The principle of SMES system operation is reviewed in this paper. To understand transient and dynamic performance of a SMES system, a detailed SMES system benchmark model is given with extensive simulation results. This system is demonstrated using an electromagnetic transient program-PSCAD/EMTDC.
Warm start oriented discrete coordinate descent for dynamic CVR: A UK case study

Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) has been found to be an effective methodology for dealing with thermal and voltage challenges caused by increasing penetration of low carbon technologies in power system distribution networks. Using validated openDSS simulation models of a number of distribution networks in the greater Manchester area in the UK, this paper evaluates the effectiveness of dynamically optimized CVR for energy reduction on distribution networks equipped with tap-changing transformers and switchable capacitor banks. Optimization of these controllable devices is carried out every 30 minutes using an oriented discrete coordinate descent (ODCD) algorithm, with a warm start strategy adopted to address local minima issues. Results show that the performance of warm start ODCD is comparable to Particle Swarm Optimisation, a benchmark global optimization technique, at a substantially reduced computation cost. The resulting dynamically optimized CVR yields an average reduction in energy consumption of 8% relative to nominal operating conditions for the low voltage distribution networks considered in the study.
FISH-PADDY CROP ROTATION PRACTICE IN SOUTH-WEST COASTAL REGION OF BANGLADESH : A PROFITABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE POOR FARMERS

The study was conducted at the farmer’s pond at Sadar Upazilla of Bagerhat District, South-west coastal region of Bangladesh during the period from May 2006 to April 2007 to understand the present status of crop rotation practice and assess the production and cost benefit ratio of the existing culture practices. Two treatments viz., the crop rotation with paddy (T1) and the shrimp-prawn-fish culture (T2) were used in the studies. Shrimp (Penaeus monodon), prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), and catla (Catla catla) were stocked at 20000, 10000, and 250 individuals/ha, respectively, in both treatments. In T1, aquaculture phase was from May to December 2006, and the episode of paddy (BRRI dhan 28) cultivation was initiated after full harvest of aqua products and continued till April. Similar farm inputs were given for the common components in both the treatments. Shrimps were harvested four months following stocking in both T1 and T2 treatments. In T1, production of shrimp, prawn, and catla were 347.20, 355.35, and 140.4 kg/ha, respectively and in T2, productions were 354.38, 432.37, and 204.7 kg/ha, respectively. In T1, total paddy production was 6200 kg/ha. Net benefit in T1 and T2 was Tk. 300,477 and Tk. 262,561/ha, respectively.
Prevalence and Correlates of Symptomatic Peripheral Atherosclerosis in Individuals with Coronary Heart Disease and Cholesterol Levels Less Than 240 mg/dL: Baseline Results from the Cholesterol And Recurrent Events (CARE) Study

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and correlates of symptomatic peripheral athero sclerosis in individuals with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) and cholesterol levels lower than 240 mg/dL. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted at baseline of 4159 participants in the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events (CARE) Study. Symptomatic diffuse atherosclerosis was defined as a history of MI plus lower extremity or cerebrovascular atherosclerosis or claudication by Rose questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of symptomatic diffuse atherosclerosis was 12.9%; 353 partici pants (8.5%) had lower extremity disease and 219 (5.3%) had cerebrovascular disease. After controlling for other variables, diffuse atherosclerosis was associated with age (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.44 per ten-year increase), systolic blood pressure (OR=1.13 per 10 mm Hg increase), a history of multiple myocardial infarctions (OR= 1.76), diabetes (OR=1.76), hypertension (OR=1.38), reduced exercise performance (OR=1.55), current smoking status (OR=2.87), and lower alcohol intake (OR=0.97 per drink per week). There was no association with race, gender, or lipid levels. Conclusions: The presence of clinically evident diffuse atherosclerosis is common and is associated with several modifiable risk factors. Early identification of these individuals could affect treatment and clinical outcomes.
Regional controls on magma ascent and storage in volcanic arcs

Understanding the controls for magma ascent and storage depth is important for volcanic hazard assessment. Regional differences in the depths of magma storage between volcanic arcs suggest that the settings of subduction zones and of overriding plates influence how magma ascends through the crust. Here we use a compilation of data for 70 volcanoes in 15 volcanic regions to better understand the geodynamic controls on magma storage. We describe the subduction system, which consists of the subducting slab, the mantle wedge, and the upper plate with 12 parameters encompassing the kinematics of the subduction, the structure and geometry of the slab, the timing of the subduction, the thermal structure of the slab, the upper‐plate crustal structure, its stress regimes, and its thermal structure. We find that the magma reservoir depths correlate with the upper‐plate crustal structure and with the stress regimes. Shallow reservoirs (<5 km depths) are 52% more common in young Tertiary crust than in old Precambrian crust and 42% more common in thin crust (<25 km) than in thick crust (>45 km). Similarly, shallow magma reservoirs are 33–69% more common in extensional and strike‐slip stress regimes that in compressional regimes. This illustrates the effect of buoyancy for magma ascent as well as the importance of stress regime and preexisting structures.
Individuazione e valutazione dei fattori di rischio per la BRD nel bovino da carne da ristallo

La patologia respiratoria bovina (BRD) e la principale problematica sanitaria nell’allevamento da carne. Come sindromemultifattoriale, la sua ezio-patogenesi contempla numerosi fattori scatenanti e predisponenti. Nell’allevamento del bovinoda carne da ristallo la gestione dei numerosissimi fattori di rischio e essenziale per supportare i corretti approcci preventi-vi e terapeutici. A causa infatti dei numerosi fattori stressanti e dell’inevitabile esposizione ai patogeni, l’incidenza di BRDnon e evitabile ma solo limitabile. Viene proposto un sistema per la valutazione del potenziale rischio che puo avere unapartita di ristalli di incorrere in BRD, attribuendo un punteggio ai principali fattori del sistema produttivo in grado di con-dizionare la suscettibilita degli animali alla patologia respiratoria. L’analisi del rischio complessivo parte dalla valutazionedel rischio intrinseco al soggetto in relazione a peso, sesso, razza, durata del trasporto, calo peso da trasporto e modalita digestione nell’allevamento di origine, che puo essere aggravato o ridotto dalle modalita di gestione e dalle strutture presentinell’allevamento di destinazione. L’analisi del rischio consente di orientarsi verso una gestione mirata di ogni singola parti-ta di bovini di nuovo arrivo in relazione alla probabile incidenza e gravita di BRD, condizione basilare per una efficace pre-venzione e gestione della patologia respiratoria nell’allevamento del bovino da ingrasso. L’applicazione del sistema e l’ana-lisi delle informazioni da esso derivanti permette inoltre di quantificare l’impatto sul bilancio aziendale di ogni singolo fat-tore di rischio evidenziando pertanto la convenienza economica di variazioni sia nelle prassi gestionali che a livello di do-tazioni strutturali dell’allevamento.
Egg‐float ridge number in Anopheles stephensi: ecological variation and genetic analysis

Abstract. Eight Indian laboratory stocks of Anopheles stephensi Liston could be grouped into three categories with, respectively, 14–22, 12–17 and 9–15 ridges on the egg‐floats. The mode number of ridges among the eggs laid by individual females in these stocks was 16–19,13‐16 and 10–14, respectively. The category with the highest egg‐float ridge number corresponded with the type‐form and the lowest with var. mysorensis Sweet and Rao; the new egg‐float category with ridge number modes of thirteen to sixteen was designated as ‘intermediate’. All three forms, i.e. type‐form, intermediate and mysorensis were observed in semi‐urban areas while only intermediate and mysorensis were seen in rural areas. Breeding experiments indicated no post‐copulatory barriers between the populations. Likelihood analysis of the results of crosses and back crosses indicated that variation in ridge number is controlled by more than one genetic factor. The stocks with different ridge numbers are best considered as ‘ecological variants’.
Glucose intolerance and hypoadiponectinemia are already present in lean patients with chronic hepatitis C infected with genotype non-3 viruses

Objectives Steatosis and metabolic abnormalities seem to be frequent and deleterious in chronic hepatitis C. Changes in glucose homeostasis and in adiponectin levels, an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitive properties, were evaluated in patients with chronic hepatitis C according to steatosis, liver fibrosis and body mass index. Methods Seventy-three patients with chronic hepatitis C (40 men, 33 women) infected with genotypes non-3 and 22 healthy controls (11 men and 11 women) were included in the study and all had a biochemical evaluation, including metabolic parameters, adiponectin measurement, and a liver biopsy. Insulin sensitivity was assessed with the HOMA 1-IR insulin resistance model. Results Steatosis was found in 65.7% of the patients and significant fibrosis (METAVIR F2–F4) was present in 28.7%. The presence of steatosis could only be predicted by fibrosis, whereas significant fibrosis could be predicted by steatosis and age. Adiponectin levels were significantly decreased (−32%) with the severity of the steatosis. Although overweight chronic hepatitis C patients (body mass index≥25 kg/m2) had insulin resistance and hypoadiponectinemia, lean chronic hepatitis C patients (body mass index<25 kg/m2) had already significantly higher glycemia and lower adiponectin levels than in controls. Conclusions This study confirms the high incidence of steatosis in patients infected by hepatitis C virus genotypes non-3, well linked to the development of fibrosis and metabolic abnormalities. Importantly, the present findings put emphasis on the early development of these metabolic abnormalities as they were already found in lean patients with chronic hepatitis C. The direct implication of hepatitis C virus is thus further stressed in the development of steatosis and insulin resistance, with or without involvement of host factors.
A gradient‐directed Monte Carlo approach for protein design

We develop a new global optimization strategy, gradient‐directed Monte Carlo (GDMC) sampling, to optimize protein sequence for a target structure using RosettaDesign. GDMC significantly improves the sampling of sequence space, compared to the classical Monte Carlo search protocol, for a fixed backbone conformation as well as for the simultaneous optimization of sequence and structure. As such, GDMC sampling enhances the efficiency of protein design. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010