Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cyclosporine-associated thrombotic microangiopathy in renal allografts.

BACKGROUND The association between cyclosporine (CsA) and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in renal allografts is well documented. However, predisposing factors and therapy guidelines are not adequately characterized. METHODS We reviewed 188 patients with kidney or kidney-pancreas transplants who were treated between January 1994 and December 1996 with prednisone, CsA, or tacrolimus, and azathioprine or mycophenolate. We analyzed 50 patients who had graft biopsies: 26 with TMA and 24 with no TMA, as well as 19 patients with well-functioning grafts who never required biopsy. RESULTS TMA was observed in 26 of 188 renal graft recipients (14%). TMA was confined to the allograft kidney without any systemic evidence in 24 of the 26 patients. At the time of the diagnosis of TMA, 24 of the patients were on CsA, with 19 on the microemulsion form. Conversely, 5 of 18 control patients with no graft dysfunction were on the microemulsion form of CsA (P = 0.0026). Graft loss was seen in 8 of 26 patients with TMA. Conversion from CsA to tacrolimus resulted in a one-year salvage of graft function in 13 of 16 (81%) patients. CONCLUSIONS TMA was the cause of renal graft dysfunction in 14% of renal graft recipients and was associated with the use of the microemulsion form of CsA. Systemic signs of TMA were rare, underscoring the importance of the graft biopsy in making the diagnosis. The most successful strategy was switching from CsA to tacrolimus, with good graft function in 81% of the recipients one year after the TMA episode.
ARMS TRADE, MILITARY SPENDING, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

There is a large literature on the relationship between economic growth and defense spending, but its findings are often contradictory and inconclusive. These results may be partly due to non‐linear growth effects of military expenditure and incorrect model specifications. The literature also appears lacking an empirical analysis of interaction between military spending and the arms trade and the impact of these two on growth. This paper investigates this non‐linear interaction in the context of the Solow and Barro growth models recommended by Dunne et al. 1 (2005). Using fixed effects, random effects, and Arellano–Bond GMM estimators, I examine the growth effects of military expenditure, arms trade, and their interaction in a balanced panel of 28 countries during 1965–2000. The augmented Solow growth model specified in Dunne et al. (2005) yields more robust estimates than the reformulated Barro model. I find that higher military spending and net arms exports separately lead to lower economic growth, but higher military spending is less detrimental to growth when a country is a net arms exporter. 1 I would like to thank Paul Dunne, Ron Smith, and Dirk Willenbockel (2004) for sharing their data.
Use of Whole Blood Specimens for Routine Clinical Quantitation of Hepatitis C Virus RNA Does Not Increase Assay Sensitivity

ABSTRACT The measurement of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels in the blood has, in the last few years, become a critical component in the therapy of patients with HCV infections. Initially, extraction methods for serum and plasma were used, but a newer method that uses Catrimox-14 as the extraction agent for whole blood has been reported. Because the whole blood extraction method may yield higher virus levels if significant levels of virus are present in the white blood cells (WBC), the method was evaluated for use in our clinical diagnostic laboratory despite its higher reagent costs and more time-consuming methodology. RNA was simultaneously extracted from 39 clinical samples by four different methods: Catrimox-14–Trizol extraction from whole blood, Trizol extraction from whole blood, Trizol extraction from serum, and a commercial serum extraction method, the EZNA total RNA kit. In addition, in an effort to quantitate the amount of HCV RNA virus in the WBC, Trizol extraction from isolated WBC was also performed. Quantitative results for samples from which RNA was extracted by all four methods were essentially the same; the Catrimox-14–Trizol method did not yield increased virus levels. Insignificant levels of virus were found in the WBC. The results did not demonstrate a clinical usefulness for the Catrimox-14–Trizol method.
Molecular identification of Ancylostoma species from dogs and an assessment of zoonotic risk in low-income households, São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract Hookworm infection stands out for its worldwide distribution and for its veterinary and public health relevance. Based on copromicroscopic examinations and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 region, we assessed, respectively, the prevalence of intestinal parasites and the identification of canine hookworm species in faeces recovered from 278 dogs living in households of an inland municipality of São Paulo State, Brazil. Intestinal parasites were found in 67.3% of dogs and hookworm infection was found at the highest prevalence rate (56.6%), followed by Toxocara canis (11.9%), Isospora spp. (11.9%), Giardia spp. (5.8%), Sarcocystis spp. (4.0%), ‘Hammondia-like’ (1.4%), Dipylidium caninum (1.1%) and Trichuris vulpis (0.7%). Of 158 samples positive for hookworm eggs, 106 (67.1%) were amplified by PCR and, of those, 88 (55.7%) were successfully sequenced for species identification. Single infections with Ancylostoma caninum and Ancylostoma braziliense were recorded in 61.4% and 12.5%, respectively, and mixed infections were found in 26.1%. The nucleotide sequences of both species showed high identity rates (98–100%) when compared with reference sequences. Although A. caninum was the most prevalent hookworm in the dogs assessed, the occurrence of both A. caninum and A. braziliense in single and/or mixed infections poses a potential risk for the local population in a low-income area, especially children, to acquire cutaneous larva migrans (CLM).
Identity and tourism mobility: an exploration of the attitude–behaviour gap

This paper explores the attitude–behaviour gap from an identity perspective in order to better understand why tourists act sustainably at “home” but not when “away”. The majority of tourism-related CO2 emissions stems from transport. Behavioural change is a possible way to reduce those emissions. However, research indicates that instigating behavioural change within tourism is problematic, because of the attitude–behaviour gap. Studies suggest that understanding the role of identity and tourism mobility could explain this gap; this paper researches that idea, using a narrative approach to explore the travel life histories of 24 participants, with a second interview to examine how interviewees viewed their tourism activity in the light of environmental debates and concerns. Data were analysed using thematic and narrative-based dialogic/performance approaches. The paper reveals how a need for personal identity can influence travel behaviour and that identity plays a significant role in travel decisions, sometimes overriding cost and environmental issues. The power of social identity is explored, noting increasingly powerful global VFR networks, along with the search for future selves, the need for personal differentiation and issues of multiple identities. Suggestions are made for ways to use identity research into policies seeking to achieve behavioural change.
Moving Beyond Subjective Well-Being

Tourism research on topics such as happiness, quality of life of tour-ists, and tourist well-being has flourished in recent years. This literature clarifies the subjective value of tourist experiences, provides new direc-tions for tourism branding and promotion, and opens doors to fresh re-search on the potential benefits of tourist experiences to mental health. Subjective well-being theory has been typically used by tourism re-searchers to help conceptualize and measure tourist happiness. In lay terms, this theory suggests that happiness is life satisfaction and pleas-ure; the theory is popular and useful but cannot explain tourist happi-ness. To craft a more complete picture of tourist happiness, a deeper qualitative appreciation of meaningful tourist experiences and special and engaging tourist moments is required. This brief critique highlights the problems of conceptualizing tourist happiness and suggests an al-ternative approach to the subjective well-being theory.
Evolution of host resistance and trade‐offs between virulence and transmission potential in an obligately killing parasite

Standard epidemiological theory predicts that parasites, which continuously release propagules during infection, face a trade‐off between virulence and transmission. However, little is known how host resistance and parasite virulence change during coevolution with obligate killers. To address this question we have set up a coevolution experiment evolving Nosema whitei on eight distinct lines of Tribolium castaneum. After 11 generations we conducted a time‐shift experiment infecting both the coevolved and the replicate control host lines with the original parasite source, and coevolved parasites from generation 8 and 11. We found higher survival in the coevolved host lines than in the matching control lines. In the parasite populations, virulence measured as host mortality decreased during coevolution, while sporeload stayed constant. Both patterns are compatible with adaptive evolution by selection for resistance in the host and by trade‐offs between virulence and transmission potential in the parasite.
Plug-and-Play Unplugged: Optimization Free Reconstruction using Consensus Equilibrium

Regularized inversion methods for image reconstruction are used widely due to their tractability and ability to combine complex physical sensor models with useful regularity criteria. Such methods motivated the recently developed Plug-and-Play prior method, which provides a framework to use advanced denoising algorithms as regularizers in inversion. However, the need to formulate regularized inversion as the solution to an optimization problem limits the possible regularity conditions and physical sensor models. In this paper, we introduce Consensus Equilibrium (CE), which generalizes regularized inversion to include a much wider variety of both forward components and prior components without the need for either to be expressed with a cost function. CE is based on the solution of a set of equilibrium equations that balance data fit and regularity. In this framework, the problem of MAP estimation in regularized inversion is replaced by the problem of solving these equilibrium equations, which can be approached in multiple ways. The key contribution of CE is to provide a novel framework for fusing multiple heterogeneous models of physical sensors or models learned from data. We describe the derivation of the CE equations and prove that the solution of the CE equations generalizes the standard MAP estimate under appropriate circumstances. We also discuss algorithms for solving the CE equations, including ADMM with a novel form of preconditioning and Newton's method. We give examples to illustrate consensus equilibrium and the convergence properties of these algorithms and demonstrate this method on some toy problems and on a denoising example in which we use an array of convolutional neural network denoisers, none of which is tuned to match the noise level in a noisy image but which in consensus can achieve a better result than any of them individually.
A dynamic approach to nominal trajectory synthesis for redundant manipulators

The solution to the inverse manipulation problem for redundant manipulators has mostly been considered from a geometric-kinematic standpoint. A procedure for the inverse problem solution using the dynamic model of the manipulator and its actuators is developed. Nominal trajectories in the space of joint coordinates are generated so as to be optimal with respect to total energy consumption of the actuators (hydraulic or electric). The treatment of constraints on joint coordinates and rates is also involved in the procedure. The algorithm is illustrated by two industrial robots.
“Currying favour with the locals”: Balti owners and business enclaves

The often‐dynamic presence of South Asians in particular economic activities has prompted ambivalent responses from policymakers. For some, there is encouragement to “break out” from ethnic niche businesses like lower‐order retailing and catering. Another ploy is to promote a strategy of “‘ethnic advantage” by exploiting “cultural” features of a particular community. Examples include the marketing of what can be termed “ethnic enclaves” like “Chinatown” in Manchester and “Little Italy” in Boston (USA). This paper reports on an initiative to exploit the tourist potential of South Asian cuisine by developing a “Balti Quarter” in Birmingham. The results highlight a number of key issues involved in operationalising this increasingly popular strategy. First, the unitarist conceptualisation of the notion of an ethnic enclave obscures the harshly competitive environment that small ethnic minority firms like those in the “Balti Quarter” have to operate in. Second, the often ad hoc way in which such inner city areas are regulated (through planning guidelines) can intensify the competitive pressures facing many firms in the area. Finally, the “external” focus of the initiative runs the risk of masking chronic issues within the firm (e.g. poor working environments) which policymakers should be equally concerned with.
How Identity Interacts with Economic and Societal Rationality to Drive Public Opinion on the European Union. The Role of Crime, Unemployment and Immigration

Abstract This paper examines the relative power of identity and utilitarian explanations of the variation in public support for the European Union (EU) as well as the relationship these have with one another. Using Eurobarometer data from 1990 to 2007, the results in this paper demonstrate that contrary to previous research, national economic and societal utility calculations about the EU have greater explanatory power than identity issues. It is also found that unemployment, crime and exclusive national identity mediate the relationship between immigration and EU support. In the light of these findings, the article draws implications for politics at EU and national level.
Understanding Consumer Interest in Organics: Production Values vs. Purchasing Behavior

Extensive research exists on who does or might purchase organic food products, however little research has addressed either who values organic production methods when deciding what to eat, and correspondingly, who does not purchase organics regularly. This paper reports that values about organic farming often do not translate into corresponding stated preferences about organic food consumption behavior. The paradox is examined within the context of the consumers socio-demographic characteristics as well as through opinions and preferences related to food in their lives.Results show that consumer claims of buying organics and placing importance on organic production systems when deciding what to eat are highly correlated (.472 at 1% significance level; p<. 001). Organic consumers, however, comprise only slightly more than one quarter (27%) of the highly enthusiastic proponents of organic production methods. Our results corroborate existing research that well-educated persons and those who are primary household shoppers purchase organics most frequently. Additionally, women and those who are older, have higher incomes, and are more liberal, as well as respondents who claim food production knowledge also tend to buy organic food regularly.Regression and factor analysis show that those who value organic production systems when deciding what to eat may be ranked in the following order: the religiously observant, older and female respondents, persons of color, and those who claim food production knowledge. Results show that many of these organic system proponents are under-represented as buyers, in particular: the religiously observant, those for whom food plays an integral role in their lives, the less educated, and lower income and older respondents.More attention should be directed to people who value organic production systems yet do not purchase organics. This will enhance understanding of the transaction barriers that impede consumer participation in the organic market. How this population values organic production systems also has implications for the development of public policy related to sustainable and organic agriculture.
A Human Development Index for U.S. Cities: Methodological Issues and Preliminary Findings

This paper builds upon the work of the United Nations Development Program in expanding the use of the Human Development Index (HDI). This index, originally created to compare human development among countries, has been modified to allow comparisons among cities in the United States. This paper discusses the methodology used to develop the cross-city HDI, as well as the results for the twenty-five cities chosen for this study. The results offer an intriguing "snapshot" of human development in each city, as well as an encouraging, although limited, benchmark for policy making in cities. Copyright American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association.
Performance Analysis of Two-Way Relaying Networks With the  $N$th Worst Relay Selection Over Various Fading Channels

In this paper, we consider a two-way relaying system where two users communicate with each other with the help of multiple relays and in which every node is equipped with a single antenna. We assume that the relay employs the amplify-and-forward protocol and propose the Nth worst relay selection scheme. We intend to analyze the system performance of our considered system under two different fading models: lognormal shadowing channels and generalized-K fading channels. More specifically, the outage probability and bit-error-rate expressions of the proposed scheme are derived. Finally, numerical results are provided to verify and illustrate our mathematical analysis.
The dilemma of judging unpaid workers

Purpose – This paper seeks to provide an insight into the recruitment and selection of volunteers in the heritage sector, drawing comparisons between paid and unpaid workers to assess the implications of the findings for volunteer management.Design/methodology/approach – A multi‐method research design was adopted involving qualitative interviews with managers and volunteers, in conjunction with a postal survey of volunteers across 12 study sites, which were all visitor attractions in the heritage sector.Findings – The findings show that the effectiveness of the recruitment and selection process can be undermined by a lack of formality and supporting resources. This raises questions about the effectiveness of human resource management for volunteers, both specifically in the heritage sector and in the wider context of volunteer management.Research limitations/implications – The research was of an exploratory nature and so further investigation is needed to consider the impact of these findings on the effec.
Pulmonary inflammation monitored noninvasively by MRI in freely breathing rats.

A detailed analysis has been carried out of the correlation between the signals detected by MRI in the rat lung after allergen or endotoxin challenge and parameters of inflammation determined in the broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. MRI signals after allergen correlated highly significantly with the BAL fluid eosinophil number, eosinophil peroxidase activity and protein concentration. Similar highly significant correlations were seen when the anti-inflammatory glucocorticosteroid, budesonide, manifested against allergen. In contrast, following endotoxin challenge, mucus was the sole BAL fluid parameter that correlated significantly with the long lasting signal detected by MRI. Since edema is an integral component of pulmonary inflammation, MRI provides a noninvasive means of monitoring the course of the inflammatory response and should prove invaluable in profiling anti-inflammatory drugs in vivo. Further, the prospect of noninvasively detecting a sustained mucus hypersecretory phenotype in the lung brings an important new perspective to models of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
International Capital Flows, Boom‐Bust Cycles, and Business Cycle Synchronization in the Asia Pacific Region

This article documents evidence of business cycle synchronization in selected Asia Pacific countries since the 1990s. We explain business cycle synchronization by the channel of international capital flows and boom‐bust cycles. Using the vector auto‐regression method, we find that most Asian countries experience boom‐bust cycles following capital inflows, where the boom in output is mostly driven by consumption and investment. Empirical evidence also shows that capital flow shocks are positively correlated in the region, which supports the conclusion that capital market liberalization has contributed to business cycle synchronization.
A Human Rotavirus with Rearranged Genes 7 and 11 Encodes a Modified NSP3 Protein and Suggests an Additional Mechanism for Gene Rearrangement

ABSTRACT A human rotavirus (isolate M) with an atypical electropherotype with 14 apparent bands of double-stranded RNA was isolated from a chronically infected immunodeficient child. MA-104 cell culture adaptation showed that the M isolate was a mixture of viruses containing standard genes (M0) or rearranged genes: M1 (containing a rearranged gene 7) and M2 (containing rearranged genes 7 and 11). The rearranged gene 7 of virus M1 (gene 7R) was very unusual because it contained two complete open reading frames (ORF). Moreover, serial propagation of virus M1 in cell culture indicated that gene 7R rapidly evolved, leading to a virus with a deleted gene 7R (gene 7RΔ). Gene 7RΔ coded for a modified NSP3 protein (NSP3m) of 599 amino acids (aa) containing a repetition of aa 8 to 296. The virus M3 (containing gene 7RΔ) was not defective in cell culture and actually produced NSP3m. The rearranged gene 11 (gene 11R) had a more usual pattern, with a partial duplication leading to a normal ORF followed by a long 3′ untranslated region. The rearrangement in gene 11R was almost identical to some of those previously described, suggesting that there is a hot spot for gene rearrangements at a specific location on the sequence. It has been suggested that in some cases the existence of short direct repeats could favor the occurrence of rearrangement at a specific site. The computer modeling of gene 7 and 11 mRNAs led us to propose a new mechanism for gene rearrangements in which secondary structures, besides short direct repeats, might facilitate and direct the transfer of the RNA polymerase from the 5′ to the 3′ end of the plus-strand RNA template during the replication step.
“A Teacher's Job Doesn't Only Happen in the Classroom”: Preservice Teachers, the Classroom, and the School

Abstract Teacher education introduces preservice teachers (PSTs) to their roles and responsibilities in classroom and school communities. As part of this process, PSTs identify themselves as potential agents of change during their practicum experiences. However, when PSTs participate in school communities outside the classroom, their actions suggest that they are uncomfortable in the role of responsible adult. This may be due to a lack of clarity of their simultaneous identity as student and adult role model. In addition, some negative aspects of the school experience may be rendered invisible to the PSTs. Teacher education must actively integrate tools to help PSTs recognize, articulate, and take action in their adult roles outside the classroom.