Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Joining up or Pulling Apart? The Use of Appraisal to Coordinate Policy Making for Sustainable Development

Coordinated (or ‘joined-up’) approaches to policy making are said to be an immensely important ingredient in the effective governance of sustainable development. There are, however, few detailed empirical studies of how well different policy coordination instruments perform in relation to this task. This paper identifies the United Kingdom as a critical test of how to achieve better policy coordination because it has been regularly identified as an exemplar of best practice in international benchmarking exercises. Specifically, it examines the integration of the environment into mainstream policy making through the application of policy appraisal in the strategically important areas of energy, defence, and public spending. Overall, it finds that the UK's much vaunted approach to coordinating the governance of sustainable development has struggled to tame the forces of departmentalism. While deploying carefully packaged combinations of coordinating instruments may address some causes of non-joined-up behaviour, perfectly coherent policy making is always likely to remain tantalisingly out of reach.
A Note on the Impact on Sales from Introducing Healthy Labeled Meals on the Lunch Menu

Menu labeling of prepared meals away from home is a policy designed to help consumers make healthier food choices. In this paper, we use a field experiment to analyze if a restaurant benefits from introducing a healthy labeled meal on its menu by experiencing an overall increase in sales. We cannot reject the hypothesis that sales are the same before and after the introduction of a healthy labeled meal on the menu, i.e., our data does not support the idea that restaurants increase their sales from supplying a healthy labeled meal.
Secondary Prevention of Non-fatal Deliberate Self-harm

In an attempt to address the low compliance with offers of treatment shown by patients after episodes of non-fatal deliberate self-harm (DSH), patients who had harmed themselves for the first time were offered rapid, easy access to on-call trainee psychiatrists in the event of further difficulties, and they were encouraged to seek help at an early stage should such problems arise. The follow-up data obtained after one year showed a significant reduction of actual or seriously threatened DSH in the experimental group, who also made considerably less demands on medical and psychiatric services, when compared with controls. British Journal of Psychiatry (1993), 163, 111–112
Continentalism and Economic Nationalism in the Manufacturing Sector: Seeking Middle Ground

What changes in government policy towards industry are needed to improve the performance of Canada's manufacturing sector? This question has received increasing attention over the past decade as productivity growth in Canadian manufacturing industries has slowed and the Canadian dollar plummeted. Is the problem the small size of the domestic market? Does it lie in the behavior of foreign-owned enterprises? Is government policy towards research and development responsible? Are we destined to be 'hewers of wood and drawers of water'? The call for an answer to these questions and for an 'industrial strategy' continues to be heard. Those who respond appear to fall into two distinct camps. On the one hand are the 'economic nationalists,' who argue that the high degree of foreign ownership is mainly responsible for the plight of our manufacturing industries. This group favors not only increased limitations on foreign investment, but also the maintenance of protective trade barriers and increased protection of Canadian manufacturing firms by means of government procurement policy (i.e., favoring domestic sources of supply, especially for 'high technology' goods). On the other hand are the 'continentalists'. They argue that free trade between Canada and the United States would, in the long run, promote a rationalization of Canadian industries that would result in a more productive and dynamic manufacturing sector. This group also typically holds that foreign ownership has not been a problem at all (or that it provides a net benefit, even at the margin) so that calls for limitations on foreign investment are misguided.1 This paper argues that both the 'nationalist' and 'continentalist' views are incorrect. There is need to seek out middle ground, namely, a policy plan that recognizes the dangers of foreign ownership, but accepts the need to move quickly towards freer trade provided there are appropriate safeguards regarding activity levels in Canada of the multinational firms. Section II examines the development of the economic nationalist view and provides a critical assessment of it. Section III does the same for the continentalist view. The 'middle ground' approach is presented in section IV, followed by some concluding remarks.
Glycoantigens Induce Human Peripheral Tr1 Cell Differentiation with Gut-homing Specialization*

The carbohydrate antigen (glycoantigen) PSA from an intestinal commensal bacteria is able to down-regulate inflammatory bowel disease in model mice, suggesting that stimulation with PSA results in regulatory T cell (Treg) generation. However, mechanisms of how peripheral human T cells respond and home in response to commensal antigens are still not understood. Here, we demonstrate that a single exposure to PSA induces differentiation of human peripheral CD4+ T cells into type-Tr1 Tregs. This is in contrast to mouse models where PSA induced the production of Foxp3+ iTregs. The human PSA-induced Tr1 cells are profoundly anergic and exhibit nonspecific bystander suppression mediated by IL-10 secretion. Most surprisingly, glycoantigen exposure provoked expression of gut homing receptors on their surface. These findings reveal a mechanism for immune homeostasis in the gut whereby exposure to commensal glycoantigens provides the requisite information to responding T cells for proper tissue localization (gut) and function (anti-inflammatory/regulatory).
Sales Taxes and the Decision to Purchase Online

Current tax treatment of online business-to-consumer transactions may be one of the factors behind rapidly growing e-commerce. In this article, the authors examine the impact of state sales taxes on the consumer decision to conduct shopping online, using comprehensive data representative of the U.S. population. The estimation results demonstrate that there exists a direct relationship between the state sales tax rate and consumer participation in e-commerce. However, although statistically significant, this effect is relatively small. The estimates indicate that a 1 percent increase in the tax price leads to only a 0.5 percent decline in the probability of participation in online commerce.
HPV16 E6 variants and HLA class II polymorphism among Chinese women with cervical cancer

Infection with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) confers a high risk for the development of cervical cancer. Variants of this virus may interact differentially with host genetic factors, possibly affecting the disease pathogenesis. This study was designed to investigate the association between HPV16 E6 variants and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism within a Chinese population. Peripheral blood from HPV16 positive Chinese women with cervical carcinoma, who had previously been tested for HPV16 E6 variants, was used for HLA class II typing. It was found that there was a significant positive association between DQB1*060101 allele and HPV16 As variant‐positive cervical cancers (OR, 4.47; Pc = 0.0018). A negative relationship was found between DRB1*150101‐DQB1*0602 haplotype and decreased risk for HPV16 As variant‐positive cervical cancers (OR = 0.31; P = 0.037). Similar tendency was observed for the haplotype DRB1*070101‐DQB1*0201 with HPV16 As variant‐positive cervical cancers (OR = 0.16, P = 0.024). Additionally, as for the HPV16 E6 prototype‐positive cervical cancers, a significant positive association was found in DQB1*060101 allele (OR = 5.95; P = 0.002; Pc = 0.036), and similar trends were observed for DQB1*030201 (OR = 10.87, P < 0.0001; Pc = 0.0018), and DPB1*1301(OR = 7.40, P = 0.002; Pc = 0.04). It was found that there was no significant association between DRB1‐DQB1 haplotype and HPV16 prototype‐positive cervical cancers. These data indicate that host genetic factors, such as HLA polymorphism, may determine the potential oncogenicity of the HPV16 E6 variant. The results suggest that a specific match between E6 variant proteins and HLA class II alleles may contribute to HPV16‐related cervical carcinogenesis in a certain Chinese population. J. Med. Virol. 79:439–446, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reinventing Career Education And Recruitment In Agricultural Education For The 21st Century

Supplying a well-trained workforce for agriculture should be a primary goal of the education community. This is an issue of particular importance to rural areas struggling with declining tax bases, outmigration of their most capable young persons, and decaying infrastructures. This study examined career aspirations among middle schoolyouth in one rural New York State community to determine the level of interest in agriculture careers as well as interest in other occupations that would be available in a broadly defined agriculture industry. Results indicate that while few students expressed an interest in traditional agriculture occupations, over one-half identified areas of interest that are representative of a broadly defined agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resources industry. These results have implications for not only local program design and recruitment, but curriculum innovations, as well.
Acute sleep deprivation reduces energy expenditure in healthy men.

BACKGROUND Epidemiologic evidence indicates that chronic sleep curtailment increases risk of developing obesity, but the mechanisms behind this relation are largely unknown. OBJECTIVE We examined the influence of a single night of total sleep deprivation on morning energy expenditures and food intakes in healthy humans. DESIGN According to a balanced crossover design, we examined 14 normal-weight male subjects on 2 occasions during a regular 24-h sleep-wake cycle (including 8 h of nocturnal sleep) and a 24-h period of continuous wakefulness. On the morning after regular sleep and total sleep deprivation, resting and postprandial energy expenditures were assessed by indirect calorimetry, and the free-choice food intake from an opulent buffet was tested in the late afternoon at the end of the experiment. Circulating concentrations of ghrelin, leptin, norepinephrine, cortisol, thyreotropin, glucose, and insulin were repeatedly measured over the entire 24-h session. RESULTS In comparison with normal sleep, resting and postprandial energy expenditures assessed on the subsequent morning were significantly reduced after sleep deprivation by ≈5% and 20%, respectively (P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001). Nocturnal wakefulness increased morning plasma ghrelin concentrations (P < 0.02) and nocturnal and daytime circulating concentrations of thyreotropin, cortisol, and norepinephrine (P < 0.05) as well as morning postprandial plasma glucose concentrations (P < 0.05). Changes in food intakes were variable, and no differences between wake and sleep conditions were detected. CONCLUSION Our findings show that one night of sleep deprivation acutely reduces energy expenditure in healthy men, which suggests that sleep contributes to the acute regulation of daytime energy expenditure in humans.
Doula care, early breastfeeding outcomes, and breastfeeding status at 6 weeks postpartum among low-income primiparae.

OBJECTIVE To examine associations between doula care, early breastfeeding outcomes, and breastfeeding duration. DESIGN Prospective cohort. SETTING Regional hospital in northern California. PARTICIPANTS Low-income, full gestation primiparae receiving doula care (n=44) or standard care (n=97). MEASURES Birth outcomes and newborn feeding data obtained from the hospital record. Follow-up interviews conducted at day 3 to record the timing of onset of lactogenesis and breastfeeding behavior and at 6 weeks to obtain current breastfeeding status. RESULTS Adjusting for baseline differences, women receiving doula care were significantly more likely to have a short stage II labor, a noninstrumental vaginal delivery, and to experience onset of lactogenesis within 72 hours postpartum (timely onset of lactogenesis). Overall, 68% of women receiving doula care and 54% of women receiving standard care were breastfeeding at 6 weeks. In the subset with a prenatal stressor (n=63), the doula care group was more than twice as likely to be breastfeeding at 6 weeks (89% vs. standard care, 40%). Breastfeeding at 6 weeks was also significantly associated with timely onset of lactogenesis and maternal report that the infant "sucked well" at day 3. CONCLUSIONS Doula care was associated with improved childbirth outcomes and timely onset of lactogenesis. Both directly and as mediated by timely onset of lactogenesis, doula care was also associated with higher breastfeeding prevalence at 6 weeks.
Gender-inclusive Language Reform in Educational Writing in Singapore and the Philippines: A Corpus-based Study

Abstract In this paper we examine the adoption of some gender-inclusive features (generic nouns and pronouns) in two varieties of “outer-circle” Englishes. The focus is on educational texts given the importance of the educational domain in the adoption and spread of language planning. The texts are from the Singapore and Philippine sections of the International Corpus of English [ICE]. Overall results point to minimal adoption of gender-inclusive alternatives for generic he and masculine generic nouns although differences emerge in relation to variety and type of text/genre.
Understanding the Role of Individual Innovativeness in the Acceptance of IT-Based Innovations: Comparative Analyses of Models and Measures

As new technological innovations are rapidly introduced and changed, identifying an individual characteristic that has a persistent effect on the acceptance decisions across multiple technologies is of substantial value for the successful implementation of information systems. Augmenting prior work on individual innovativeness within the context of information technology, we developed a new measure of adopter category innovativeness (ACI) and compared its effectiveness with the existing measure of personal innovativeness in IT (PIIT). Further, we examined two alternative models in which the role of individual innovativeness was theorized differently—either as a moderator of the effects the perceived innovation characteristics of usefulness, ease of use, and compatibility have on future use intention (moderator model) or as a direct determinant of the innovation characteristics (direct determinant model). To ensure the generalizability of the study findings, two field studies (N= 634) were conducted, each of which examined the two models (moderator and direct determinant) and measured individual innovativeness using the two measures (ACI and PIIT). Study 1 surveyed the online buying practices of 412 individuals, and Study 2 surveyed personal digital assistant adoption of 222 healthcare professionals. Across the markedly different adoption contexts, the study results consistently show that individual innovativeness is a direct determinant of the innovation characteristics, and the two measures share many commonalities. The new measure offers some additional utilities not found in the PIIT measure by allowing individuals to be directly classified and mapped into adopter categories. Implications are drawn for future research and practice.
Impact of Disseminated Neuroblastoma Cells on the Identification of the Relapse-Seeding Clone

Purpose: Tumor relapse is the most frequent cause of death in stage 4 neuroblastomas. Since genomic information on the relapse precursor cells could guide targeted therapy, our aim was to find the most appropriate tissue for identifying relapse-seeding clones. Experimental design: We analyzed 10 geographically and temporally separated samples of a single patient by SNP array and validated the data in 154 stage 4 patients. Results: In the case study, aberrations unique to certain tissues and time points were evident besides concordant aberrations shared by all samples. Diagnostic bone marrow–derived disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) as well as the metastatic tumor and DTCs at relapse displayed a 1q deletion, not detected in any of the seven primary tumor samples. In the validation cohort, the frequency of 1q deletion was 17.8%, 10%, and 27.5% in the diagnostic DTCs, diagnostic tumors, and DTCs at relapse, respectively. This aberration was significantly associated with 19q and ATRX deletions. We observed a significant increased likelihood of an adverse event in the presence of 19q deletion in the diagnostic DTCs. Conclusions: Different frequencies of 1q and 19q deletions in the primary tumors as compared with DTCs, their relatively high frequency at relapse, and their effect on event-free survival (19q deletion) indicate the relevance of analyzing diagnostic DTCs. Our data support the hypothesis of a branched clonal evolution and a parallel progression of primary and metastatic tumor cells. Therefore, searching for biomarkers to identify the relapse-seeding clone should involve diagnostic DTCs alongside the tumor tissue. Clin Cancer Res; 23(15); 4224–32. ©2017 AACR.
The Geographic Distribution of Nurse Practitioners in the United States

This study analyzed the geographic distribution of nurse practitioners in the United States. Primary data on nurse practitioners were obtained from State Boards of Nursing and the District of Columbia in the spring of 1994. At the state level, nurse practitioners were more concentrated in urban areas than their physician counterparts. Of the 33,094 certified nurse practitioners, 85% were in metropolitan areas. Results from the dissimilarity indices between nurse practitioners and general populations showed that a greater supply of nurse practitioners in a state may not necessarily lead to an equitable distribution across counties. At both the state and county levels, the supply of nurse practitioners was positively associated with the supply of primary care physicians. Results from multivariate analyses show that nurse practitioners were more likely to locate in a county where state laws allowed independent practice. States that allow independent practice and direct third-party reimbursement will likely have greater availability and a larger supply of nurse practitioners in rural counties. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Evaluation of intrastromal voriconazole injection in recalcitrant deep fungal keratitis: case series

Aim To evaluate the efficacy of intrastromal voriconazole, as a modality of treatment for management of recalcitrant fungal keratitis. Methods Twelve patients of smear and/or culture positive fungal keratitis not responding to topical and systemic antifungal therapy were treated with additional intrastromal voriconazole therapy. Patients were given one or more intrastromal injection of voriconazole (50 μg in 0.1 ml) at the junction of clear cornea and infiltrates, using a 30-gauge needle in five quadrants to form a barrage around the ulcer. All patients continued to receive topical and systemic antifungal therapy. Results The mean age of the patients was 47.58±15.13 years, and the mean time to presentation at the centre was 37.58±10.54 days. Organisms isolated were Aspergillus species (n=8), Fusarium species (n=3) and Curvularia (n=1). Of 12 eyes, 10 eyes healed with scar formation, and the mean resolution time was 39.75±7.62 days. Two corneas perforated and required therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. The best-corrected visual acuity was less than 20/1200 in all patients at the time of presentation, which improved to better than 20/400 in 10 eyes and 20/40 in eyes that underwent penetrating keratoplasty at the end of 24.75±2.14 weeks' follow-up. Conclusion Intrastromal injection of voriconazole may be used as a modality of treatment for managing cases of recalcitrant fungal keratitis.
Determinants of User Intention toward IT Instruction: an Examination of Internal and External Factors

This paper discusses the internal and external factors that affect user intention to apply IT instruction. The internal factors were examined from the standpoint of user attitudes toward IT instruction, which included computer knowledge, perceived usefulness, and interest in applying IT instruction, while external factors included climate, school policy, facility, and training in IT instruction. The effects of participant demographics were also investigated. As an empirical study, 141 valid science and technology university teachers in Taiwan were surveyed for their experiences with teaching websites. The results indicate that all of the internal factors significantly affect teacher intention to apply IT instruction, but none of the external factors do, except for the climate variable. The results may help school administrators in promoting IT instruction. https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel. 2009.01. 015
IMPORTANCE OF APOPTOSIS MARKERS (MDM2, BCL-2 AND Bax) IN BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA AND PROSTATE CANCER.

AIM OF THE STUDY MDM2, Bcl-2 and Bax are well recognized markers of apoptosis. The goal of the current study was evaluation of the activity of these markers in different cells of BPH, PCa and hormonally treated prostate cancer (CRPCa) tissues. Activity of the markers has been evaluated in: 39 BPH, 28 prostate cancer (PCa) and 10 castration resistant PCa (CRPCa) tissues. Possible association of intensity of the expression with the disease clinical parameters has been assessed. Activity of MDM2 was higher in PCa and CRPCa as compared with BPH. This difference has been detected in epithelial and vascular prostatic cells. Epithelial activity of Bcl-2 was significantly lower in BPH as compared with PCa and CRPCa. Conversely, intensity of pro-apoptotic protein Bax was significantly higher in PBH than in PCa and CRPCa. The Bax activity in acinar and ductal cells of BPH was positively correlated with age. Intensity of Bcl-2 was significantly increasing, while activity of Bax was decreasing with increasing prostate volume. Significant correlation has been detected with the markers' activity and residual urine. In particular, MDM2 activity was increasing while epithelial activity of Bax was decreasing with increasing residual urine. Serum PSA level was positively correlated with MDM2 and negatively correlated with Bax activity. p27(Kip1) cell cycle inhibitor was positively correlated with Bax but negatively correlated with Bcl-2 activities. Proliferation marker Ki67 was positively correlated with MDM2 and Bcl-2. With increasing Ki67, Bax activity was significantly decreasing. Cyclin D3 was positively correlated with Bax. This pilot study has shown importance of apoptosis markers in BPH and PCa. It is the first study showing complex interrelation between apoptosis and cell cycle regulating proteins in BPH and PCa.