Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AB0231 Elevation of Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 in A Group of Rheumatoid Arthritis Algerian Patients

Background Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is a protease induced by inflammatory cytokines in rheumatoid synovium and degrades a number of extracellular matrix components of cartilage and bone. Its central role in rheumatoid joint destruction was especially highlighted from both pathophysiological and clinical studies. In addition, serum MMP-3 level is a clinically useful maker for predicting joint destruction and for disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objectives The aim of our study is to evaluate the serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) levels in a group of algerian patients with early and advanced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to healthy subjects. Methods The study group consisted of 50 patients with RA, including 81.6% women, mean age 45,0±15,0 years, mean duration 4,3±4,2 years, Forty healthy subjects served as a control group (71.4% women, mean age 33,0±13,0 years). Analysis of serum concentrations of MMP-3 was based on a quantitative sandwich ELISA (Aeskulisa DF MMP-3, Aesku.Diagnostics, Wendelsheim, Germany). A cut-off point of 120 ng/ml (men) and 60 ng/ml (women) was used for MMP-3 positive/negative categorization. Results First of all, 61,3% of patients were rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive and 93,8% anti-CCP positive. MMP-3 is significantly higher in sera of RA patients (Mean value: 175,8±178,2 ng/ml) than in those of control group (Mean value: 23,0±17,8 ng/ml) (p<0,001). The mean value in female and male patients was 161,9±174,7 ng/ml and 237,6±203,8 ng/ml respectively. Further, MMP-3 is higher (188,1±183,7 ng/ml) in sera of patients with early (<2 years duration) than advanced disease (between 3 and 8 years duration) (Mean value: 154,0±153,1 ng/ml) (p<0,05). Interestingly, there is no statistically significant difference between RF-positive patients and RF-negative patients concerning MMP-3 concentration (180,2±196,6 ng/ml vs. 183,3±201,4 ng/ml respectively). Conclusions In conclusion, patients with RA are characterized by high serum concentrations of MMP-3, particularly in early stages for both female and male affected patients regardless for RF positiviy. Serum concentration of MMP-3 is a useful marker of inflammation in the early stage of RA. References Tchetverikov,I. et al. (2003) Matrix metalloproteinases-3, -8, -9 as markers of disease activity and joint damage progression in early rheumatoid arthritis. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 62, 1094-1099. Shinozaki,M. et al. (2007) Elevation of serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 as a predictive marker for the long-term disability of rheumatoid arthritis patients in a prospective observational cohort IORRA. Mod. Rheumatol. 17, 403-408. Fiedorczyk,M. et al. (2006) Serum matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. J. Rheumatol. 33, 1523-1529. Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.6019
A Comparative Effectiveness Study of Newborn Screening Methods for Four Lysosomal Storage Disorders

Newborn screening for one or more lysosomal disorders has been implemented in several US states, Japan and Taiwan by multiplexed enzyme assays using either tandem mass spectrometry or digital microfluidics. Another multiplex assay making use of immunocapture technology has also been proposed. To investigate the potential variability in performance of these analytical approaches, we implemented three high-throughput screening assays for the simultaneous screening for four lysosomal disorders: Fabry disease, Gaucher disease, mucopolysaccharidosis type I, and Pompe disease. These assays were tested in a prospective comparative effectiveness study using nearly 100,000 residual newborn dried blood spot specimens. In addition, 2nd tier enzyme assays and confirmatory molecular genetic testing were employed. Post-analytical interpretive tools were created using the software Collaborative Laboratory Integrated Reports (CLIR) to determine its ability to improve the performance of each assay vs. the traditional result interpretation based on analyte-specific reference ranges and cutoffs. This study showed that all three platforms have high sensitivity, and the application of CLIR tools markedly improves the performance of each platform while reducing the need for 2nd tier testing by 66% to 95%. Moreover, the addition of disease-specific biochemical 2nd tier tests ensures the lowest false positive rates and the highest positive predictive values for any platform.
Gymnastics for all in Hong Kong

This paper aims to introduce the development of Gymnastics for All (GFA) in Hong Kong and to discuss different level of promotion utilizing the Social Ecological Model. The Gymnastics Association of Hong Kong, China (GAHK) has introduced GFA programs in Hong Kong since 1994. Over the years, with the collaborations among GAHK, Hong Kong Government agencies, non-governmental social organizations, and the education and commercial sectors, GFA programs for individuals with different motor abilities and age groups have been organized to promote active lifestyle. Research studies focusing on evidence basis have been conducted to gather information to support the positive benefits of GFA. Program evaluation meetings and participants’ feedback have been utilized to gather comments from participants to improve the program design. Sport administrators would understand more about GFA and ways to develop physical activity by the Social Ecological Model.
Partitioning Oracle Attacks

In this paper we introduce partitioning oracles, a new class of decryption error oracles which, conceptually, take a ciphertext as input and output whether the decryption key belongs to some known subset of keys. We introduce the first partitioning oracles which arise when encryption schemes are not committing with respect to their keys. We detail novel adaptive chosen ciphertext attacks that exploit partitioning oracles to efficiently recover passwords and deanonymize anonymous communications. The attacks utilize efficient key multi-collision algorithms — a cryptanalytic goal that we define — against widely used authenticated encryption with associated data (AEAD) schemes, including AES-GCM, XSalsa20/Poly1305, and ChaCha20/Poly1305. We build a practical partitioning oracle attack that quickly recovers passwords from Shadowsocks proxy servers. We also survey early implementations of the OPAQUE protocol for password-based key exchange, and show how many could be vulnerable to partitioning oracle attacks due to incorrectly using non-committing AEAD. Our results suggest that the community should standardize and make widely available committing AEAD to avoid such vulnerabilities.
Stephanitis (Norba) syoitii sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae) from Taiwan, China

A new species of the subgenus Norba Horváth, 1912 of the lace bug genus Stephanitis Stål, 1873 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae), from Taiwan, China, is described under the name of S. (N.) syoitii sp. nov. This new species is different from other species of Stephanitis, mainly by the shape of its pronotum and hemelytron. Key words: lace bug, taxonomy, new species, eastern Asia
Heterogeneous Approach to Modeling Contractors' Decision-to-Bid Strategies

This research is based on the premise that there is heterogeneity in the population of contractors, i.e., that individual contractors exhibit different bidding behavior when confronted with a given set of bidding variables. Random-coefficients logistic model is used to explicitly measure the heterogeneity across contractors in terms of their (1) intrinsic bid/no-bid preferences and (2) responses to four bidding variables, i.e., number of bidders, market conditions, project type, and size. The binary bid/no-bid decisions were assumed to arise from a logistic model, but with the model parameters that varied between contractors. Data were gathered using a bidding experiment involving Hong Kong and Singapore contractors. The results show that there is significant heterogeneity across the contractors in which Hong Kong contractors can be clustered into four groups of identical (statistical) behavior in response to the four bidding variables, whereas in Singapore, there are only three groups as determined by th.
The Vaccine Chessboard: China’s International Interactions in Times of Pandemic, from Inter-Actor Agreements to Foreign Policy Approaches

COVID-19’s pandemic outbreak, and its modulations, swiftly reshaped systemic interaction patterns across the international arena. Thus, vaccines became essential goods, transforming health, from a peripheral field, into a vital tool, whose instrumentalization led to a suite of agreements and foreign policy approaches to emerge. This paper aims to analyse, through qualitative techniques, how PRC’s external behaviours, in times of pandemic, have overlapped with medical normative frameworks and vaccine-driven trade arrangements, as a form of smart-power dissipation. In this sense, we conducted a comparative analysis of China’s diplomatic and trade relations’ evolution, in the global range, sectioned into major continental boundaries (Africa, Latin America, Asia, Western), due to the communality of challenges between actors, within the pandemic’s timespan, aspects that were not present, in this manner, within the body of specialty literature. Through the study of secondary data, together with an in-depth observation of specificities, underlined when juxtaposing the normative, paradigmatic and operational realms of PRC’s cross-border actions, we were able to interpret and present an encapsulated (each section having its own methodology-results cycle applied) overview of vaccine diplomacy’s omnidirectional deployment. Our research revealed that PRC, through distribution networks and branding of medical elements as IPGs, initially focused its efforts in former strategic areas and power voids, as means to establish new bridges, pivotal points or amplify its presence. A strategy which, albeit initially fruitful results, regarding political power poles or economic centrifugal forces’ creation, brought mixed end-results, especially when it was later met by other actors’ pushes. With this our research paves the way for prospective explorations, especially more concentrated ones, enabling a better apprehension on how smart power usage can be employed by statal and non-statal actors, as a mean to promote their own foreign agendas, in various non-traditional and connex fields such as the case of vaccines.
Pseudo-participation, authentic nationalism: understanding Chinese fanquan girls’ personifications of the nation-state

ABSTRACT What are the dynamics of the participatory online discourse in an authoritarian context? More specifically, what patterns of Chinese state-society interactions can be drawn from the existing nexus of top-down control and bottom-up participation? To explore the questions, this study examines the Chinese nation-state personifications produced by ‘fanquan girls’, nationalistic fans of pop stars, during the 2019 Hong Kong protests. Three types of imageries and scenarios emerged, i.e., the nation as a charismatic idol in a discursive struggle, a protective brother on a battlefield, and a victimized mother in a trial. These visualizations construct a discursive kinship that justifies China’s governance over Hong Kong and refutes the intervention from foreign ‘hostile forces’ through visualized national strength, state-society unity, and colonial sufferings. During the process, the state provided the ideological mindset and delimited the political boundaries, the fandom participants turned the state-promoted ideas and sentiments into youth-appealing memes, and both sides appropriated and circulated each other’s creations in joint self-defense against outside reproval and opposition. Therefore, the paper argues that this communicative pattern consolidates the state’s discursive co-optation of the society rather than demolishes the authoritarian rule.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbon and hydrofluorocarbon emissions in East Asia determined by inverse modeling

Abstract. The emissions of three hydrochlorofluorocarbons, HCFC-22 (CHClF2), HCFC-141b (CH3CCl2F) and HCFC-142b (CH3CClF2) and three hydrofluorocarbons, HFC-23 (CHF3), HFC-134a (CH2FCF3) and HFC-152a (CH3CHF2) from four East Asian countries and the Taiwan region for the year 2008 are determined by inverse modeling. The inverse modeling is based on in-situ measurements of these halocarbons at the Japanese stations Cape Ochi-ishi and Hateruma, the Chinese station Shangdianzi and the South Korean station Gosan. For every station and every 3 h, 20-day backward calculations were made with the Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART. The model output, the measurement data, bottom-up emission information and corresponding uncertainties were fed into an inversion algorithm to determine the regional emission fluxes. The model captures the observed variation of halocarbon mixing ratios very well for the two Japanese stations but has difficulties explaining the large observed variability at Shangdianzi, which is partly caused by small-scale transport from Beijing that is not adequately captured by the model. Based on HFC-23 measurements, the inversion algorithm could successfully identify the locations of factories known to produce HCFC-22 and emit HFC-23 as an unintentional byproduct. This lends substantial credibility to the inversion method. We report national emissions for China, North Korea, South Korea and Japan, as well as emissions for the Taiwan region. Halocarbon emissions in China are much larger than the emissions in the other countries together and contribute a substantial fraction to the global emissions. Our estimates of Chinese emissions for the year 2008 are 65.3±6.6 kt/yr for HCFC-22 (17% of global emissions extrapolated from Montzka et al., 2009), 12.1±1.6 kt/yr for HCFC-141b (22%), 7.3±0.7 kt/yr for HCFC-142b (17%), 6.2±0.7 kt/yr for HFC-23 (>50%), 12.9±1.7 kt/yr for HFC-134a (9% of global emissions estimated from Velders et al., 2009) and 3.4±0.5 kt/yr for HFC-152a (7%).
心理需求在十三年間的轉變Change of Psychological Needs Over Thirteen Years

民國五十二年筆者曾以其所修訂之「艾德華斯個人興趣量表」研究我國大學生的心理需要，並曾爲文報告其結果。 現爲探討該批受試者在前次受測十三年後，心理需求轉變的情形，乃設法與彼等聯絡，請其就「艾氏量表」再填答一次，有160人（男女各半）按時填答寄囘。 將此次所得結果與十三年前所收集之資料相較，發現兩者之間有明顯差異。 這羣已於十―十二年前畢業的受試，在成就，秩序，愛戀，攻擊，自主，支配等方面之需求顯有增加；而在親和，省察，求援，謙遜等方面之需求則顯著减低。 據初步分析，此項轉變主要似爲個人發展及成就之結果，整個社會變遷之影響似屬次要；同時這些需要轉變情形也似乎是以「艾氏量表」的因素爲單位，支持筆者以往所作的艾氏量表因素分析。 Summary: One hundred and sixty subjects who took the EPPS in 1963 when they were in the university were given the same test again recently. The two sets of scores they obtained on the two occusions were compared with each other. Significant differences were found on many of the EPPS scales. The group showed greater needs on Ach. , Ord. , Ant. , Dom. , Het. , and Agg, than they did thirteen years ago while their needs on Aff. , Int., Suc. , and Aba. showed decreases. Men and women showed a similar trend of need change but they differed in the magnitude of the changes. It seemed that these need changes did not have much relation with the general social change of the community, but were rather a result of personal development of the subjects. It was also found that the need changes could be described in terms of the EPPS factors extracted in a previous study.
Validation of the chinese juvenile victimisation questionnaire

Objective: The primary objective of this research was to validate the Chinese Juvenile Victimisation Questionnaire (JVQ) in a Chinese population. Design: A validation study. Setting: This study is based on the pilot study of the Optimus Study on Child Sexual Abuse in China. Participants: A representative sample of students aged 15 to 17 who were in Grades 10 to 12 at schools in a district of Hong Kong was recruited for the survey (N=415). Results: The Chinese JVQ demonstrated a good internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha exceeding 0.70 for almost all subscales and 0.89 for the total scale. Also, it correlated significantly with all the hypothesized psychosocial variables, namely depression, physical health, and mental health. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence for the validity and reliability of the Chinese JVQ. Also, it finds that youth who suffer from victimisation are more likely to experience trauma symptoms. The authors suggest that such a scale is useful for measuring and identifying the victimisation patterns among youth within a Chinese population. Furthermore, the validation of the Chinese JVQ can lead to more multi-sites and cross-cultural studies.
The association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in TNFAIP3 and serological activity markers of rheumatoid arthritis in the Chinese Han population

Aim of the study: To identify TNFAIP3 SNP genotypes that confer a high risk of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through serological activity markers in the han population of Chinese RA patients. Material and methods: A hospital-based untreated case study of 344 RA patients was conducted. Three polymorphisms were determined by the TaqMan SNP genotyping method. Serological activity markers were tested by regular detection means. Results: 1. ANoVA indicated a near significant difference in Igg between rs2230926 and rs13207033/rs10499194 (p = 0.062). A significant difference was identified in C3 between rs13207033 and rs2230926/rs10499194 (p = 0.047). 2. According to pairwise comparisons, the Igg levels among the patients with TT or Tg genotypes at rs2230926 were significantly higher than among the patients with gg (p = 0.019 or 0.023, respectively). The C3 levels among the gg or gA patients at rs13207033 were significantly lower than among the patients with AA (p = 0.01 for both). 3. According to the Pearson χ 2 test and oRs, the RF-positive rate among the patients with gg+Tg at rs2230926 was lower than among the TT patients (oR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.14-0.96; p = 0.034). The RF-positive rate for the Tg patients was lower than for the TT patients (oR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.14-1.00; p = 0.051). The anti-CCP antibody-positive rate among the AA+gA patients at rs13207033 was lower than among the gg patients (oR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.13-1.04; p = 0.053). Conclusions: The TT or T g genotypes at rs2230926 and the AA or gg genotypes at rs13207033 may be high-risk genotypes for RA as indicated by serological activity indicators in the Chinese han population.
Stock Market and Macroeconomic Policies: New Evidence from Pacific Basin Countries

This article investigates whether the stock markets of the Pacific Basin countries of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan are informationally efficient with respect to macroeconomic policies. Granger causality tests are utilized in the context of a Vector Error Correction Model to test the relationship between aggregate stock prices and monetary and fiscal policies. The findings indicate that the stock markets of all four countries are not efficient with respect to both macroeconomic policies. These findings are different from those of other articles focusing on major industrialized countries. Rejection of market efficiency may be attributed to the unique structure of financial markets in these countries.
Effects of predisposing factors on the success and treatment period in vaginismus.

OBJECTIVE There are many predisposing factors associated with vaginismus, but there is lack of data in the literature regarding which and how of these factors influence the success rate of treatment. Our aim is to investigate the effects of factors that are considered as predisposing factors for vaginismus on treatment prognosis and success rate, with cognitive-behavioral therapy and desensitization exercises after sexual therapy. METHODS Patients with vaginismus were divided into three groups. Group 1: patients who successfully completed vaginal penetration exercises after sexual therapy and experienced vaginal sexual intercourse; Group 2: patients who started penetration exercises but could not reach success; Group 3: patients who discontinued treatment before starting exercises. Demographic and sexual parameters were compared between the groups. RESULTS There were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of history of vaginismus in relatives (4.3%, 23% and 35.7%, p=0.047, respectively), the unsuccessful therapy history (69%, 61% and 21.4%, p=0.014, respectively), and anal and/or oral sex ratios (47.8%, 7.7% and 57.1%, p=0.019, respectively). Mean number of sessions were significantly higher in patients saying, "It is my fault" than among those perceiving it as a common problem (10.6±2.9 ve 7.5±5.7, p=0.042, respectively), and in patients with sexual disorder in their male partners than those not having any problem (13.3±3.7 ve 8.2±3.7, p=0.013, respectively). CONCLUSION Patients are more resistant to treatment if they have a history of vaginismus among relatives or when one of the couple say, it is his or her fault.
Exploring the Mechanisms of the Spatiotemporal Invasion of Tuta absoluta in Asia

International crop exchange always brings the risk of introducing pests to countries where they are not yet present. The invasive pest Tuta absoluta (Meyrick 1917), after taking just a decade (2008–2017) to invade the entire Africa continent, is now continuing its expansion in Asia. From its first detection in Turkey (2009), the pest has extended its range of invasion at a very high speed of progression to the southeast part of Asia. This study adopted the cellular automata modelling method used to successfully predict the spatiotemporal invasion of T. absoluta in Africa to find out if the invasive pest is propagating with a similar pattern of spread in Asia. Using land cover vegetation, temperature, relative humidity and the natural flight ability of Tuta absoluta, we simulated the spread pattern considering Turkey as the initial point in Asia. The model revealed that it would take about 20 years for the pest to reach the southeast part of Asia, unlike real life where it took just about 10 years (2009–2018). This can be explained by international crop trade, especially in tomatoes, and movement of people, suggesting that recommendations and advice from the previous invasion in Europe and Africa were not implemented or not seriously taken into account. Moreover, some countries like Taiwan and the Philippines with suitable environmental condition for the establishment of T. absoluta are not at risk of natural invasion by flight, but quarantine measure must be put in place to avoid invasion by crop transportation or people movement. The results can assist policy makers to better understand the different mechanisms of invasion of T. absoluta in Asia, and therefore adjust or adapt control measures that fit well with the dynamic of the invasive pest observed.