Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Teriparatide Compared with Risedronate on the Risk of Fractures in Subgroups of Postmenopausal Women with Severe Osteoporosis: The VERO Trial

The 2‐year, randomized, double‐blind, active‐controlled fracture endpoint VERO study included postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis, who had at least 2 moderate or 1 severe baseline vertebral fractures (VFx), and bone mineral density (BMD) T‐score ≤–1.5. Patients were treated with either s.c. daily teriparatide 20 μg or oral weekly risedronate 35 mg. As previously reported, the risk of new VFx and clinical fractures (a composite of clinical VFx and nonvertebral fragility fractures [NVFFx]) was statistically significantly reduced with teriparatide compared with risedronate. Here we present the prospectively planned subgroup analyses of fracture data across subgroups, which were predefined by the following baseline characteristics: age, number and severity of prevalent VFx, prevalent nonvertebral fractures (NVFx), glucocorticoid use, prior osteoporosis drugs, recent bisphosphonate use, clinical VFx in the year before study entry, and baseline BMD. Heterogeneity of the treatment effect on the primary endpoint (new VFx), and the four key secondary endpoints (including clinical fractures and NVFFx) were investigated by logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models. A total of 1360 women were randomized and treated (680 per group). Mean age was 72.1 years, mean (SD) number of prevalent VFx was 2.7 (2.1), 55.4% had a BMD T‐score <–2.5, 36.5% had a recent clinical VFx, 28.3% had a prior major NVFx, 43.2% were osteoporosis drug‐naïve, 39.3% were recent bisphosphonate users, and 9.3% were taking glucocorticoids at a prednisone‐equivalent dose of >5 mg/d. For most fracture endpoints, the risk reduction of teriparatide versus risedronate did not significantly differ in any of the subgroups analyzed (treatment‐by‐subgroup interaction p > 0.1), with most subgroups mirroring results from the total study population. In conclusion, in postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis, the antifracture efficacy of teriparatide compared with risedronate was consistent in a wide range of patient settings, including treatment‐naïve and previously treated patients. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research Published by Wiley Periodicals Inc.
Near optimal channel rate discovery for discrete memoryless binary output channels

This paper explores several algorithms that sequentially select input values to probe a discrete memoryless binary output channel (DMBOC) and establish a communication rate close to the capacity C. Adapting techniques from pure-exploration multi-arm bandit problems, each algorithm strives to sample an unknown channel as few times as possible to maximize a lower-bound rate RL that: (1) holds with at least a specified probability and (2) is within a specified fraction of C. To assess performance, we first determine the minimum number of input samples O(N) required to prove a known DMBOC supports rate RL with high probability and then show (through empirical evidence) that an algorithm can ‘learn’ the channel and achieve the same lower-bound rate using O (N log (N)) sequential channel probes. However, by changing the selection strategy to reduce the number of input selection decisions, empirical results show that sample complexity is further reduced to only O (N log (log (N))) sequential channel probes.
Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen and Polymerase Mutations in Liver Transplant Recipients Pre‐ and Post‐Transplant

We evaluated serum samples from 18 chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients who underwent liver transplantation for the presence of HBV polymerase and S gene mutations and HBV genotype using a new commercially available sequencing assay. All three patients with hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) treatment failure followed by nucleoside analogue treatment failure were infected with HBV genotype C; a pre‐existing HBV S antigen (HBsAg) mutation (sD144A) was identified in one patient pretransplant, while sG145R mutations emerged in the other two patients post‐transplant. These HBsAg mutations persisted for the duration of the study (5–6 years), despite the absence of HBIG administration for a 4–5‐year period. Significant viral polymerase mutations (rtL180M and rtM204I/V) also emerged in all of these patients following treatment with lamivudine and/or famciclovir. Four of six patients with HBIG breakthrough without nucleoside analogue treatment failure yielded potentially significant HBsAg mutations post transplant. These data do not support previous reports highlighting the disappearance of HBsAg mutants in liver transplant recipients after discontinuation of HBIG. Determination of HBV genotype, as well as identification of HBV polymerase and S gene mutations in liver transplant candidates may be warranted to optimize HBV management strategies post transplant.
CD4 cell counts in adults with newly diagnosed HIV infection: results of surveillance in England and Wales, 1990–1998

ObjectivesTo describe the distribution and changes in CD4 cell counts (both initial and subsequent) in HIV-infected persons over time and determine the factors influencing these counts. DesignReports were requested from laboratories measuring CD4 cell counts in England and Wales. Initial counts were analysed and median counts were followed over time. MethodsTime trends and the relationship between initial CD4 cell count and age, sex, and HIV risk category were studied using quantile regression methods or chi-square tests. ResultsBetween 1990 and 1998, 9553 adults were newly diagnosed with HIV infection and had a CD4 cell count within 6 months of HIV diagnosis. Over 50% of initial CD4 cell counts in each major risk category were below 350 cells/mm3. Older age (P < 0.001), male sex (P < 0.013) and heterosexual risk (P < 0.001) were independently associated with lower initial CD4 cell counts. For heterosexually infected adults, the median initial CD4 cell count was significantly negatively associated with the year of diagnosis (P = 0.03) and the median age increased through the time period examined (P < 0.001), whereas for men who have sex with men (MSM), there was no significant change in these values over time. For each year cohort of newly diagnosed individuals, the median CD4 cell count in subsequent years decreased until 1996 and then increased thereafter, consistent with a treatment effect. ConclusionAcross all major risk groups, a large proportion of HIV-infected adults are being diagnosed late in the course of HIV disease. For the heterosexually infected, the data suggest an ageing cohort effect, whereas for MSM the data are consistent with continuing transmission.
Cross-Sectional and Time-Series Tests of Return Predictability: What Is the Difference?

We compare the performance of time-series (TS) and cross-sectional (CS) strategies based on past returns. While CS strategies are zero-net investment long/short strategies, TS strategies take on a time-varying net long investment in risky assets. For individual stocks, the difference between the performances of TS and CS strategies is largely due to this time-varying net long investment. With multiple international asset classes with heterogeneous return distributions, scaled CS strategies significantly outperform similarly scaled TS strategies. Received December 7, 2016; editorial decision October 5, 2017 by Editor Andrew Karolyi. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Essays on temporary migration

My thesis dissertation focuses on the temporariness of migration, its diverse effects as well as on migration selection. The first paper, A Dynamic Model of Return Migration analyzes the decision process underlying return migration using a dynamic model. We explain how migrants decide whether to stay or to go back to their home country together with their savings and consumption decisions. We simulate our model with return intentions and perform policy simulations. The second paper, Remittances and Temporary Migration, studies the remittance behaviour of immigrants and how it relates to temporary versus permanent migration plans. We use a unique data source that provides unusual detail on the purpose of remittances, savings, and return plans, and follows the same household over time. Our results suggest that changes in return plans lead to large changes in remittance flows. The third paper, Savings, Asset Holdings, and Temporary, analyzes how return plans affect not only remittances but also savings and the accumulation of assets. We show that immigrants with temporary return plans place a higher proportion of savings in the home country and have accumulated a higher amount and share of assets and housing value in the home country (compared to the host country). Finally, the fourth paper, Migrant Selection to the U.S.: Evidence from the Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS), studies the selection in terms of skills of recent migrants to the United States using the MxFLS. We highlight the important age gradient of migration, the different education attainment between age cohorts in Mexico and show the implications when analyzing migrant selection. Our claim is that in order to properly study the self-selection of migrants, it is necessary to compare migrants to non-migrants of the same age cohort.
Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid and Neonatal Morbidity in Low-Risk Pregnancies at Term: The Effect of Gestational Age

Abstract Objective To assess the association of gestational age at delivery with perinatal outcome in low-risk term deliveries complicated by meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). Methods We retrospectively analyzed all singleton deliveries that underwent a trial of labor in a single hospital (2007–2013). Exclusion criteria included pregnancy-related complications (e.g., hypertensive disorders, diabetes, oligohydramnios, and fetal anomalies). First, only deliveries with MSAF were analyzed. Perinatal outcome of deliveries at 370/7 to 386/7 weeks (early term) and 410/7 to 416/7 weeks (late term) were compared with those at 390/7 to 406/7 weeks of gestation (full term). Additionally, a gestational age based comparison was made between the risk for neonatal respiratory morbidity in deliveries with clear amniotic fluid and MSAF. Results During the study period, 28,248 deliveries were considered as low risk. Of them, 3,399 (12.0%) were diagnosed with MSAF and were divided to full term (n = 2,413), early term (n = 405), and late term (n = 581). In multivariate analysis, MSAF at early term was associated with neonatal jaundice, need for phototherapy, and neonatal sepsis. In a gestational age based stratification, when comparing between deliveries with clear amniotic fluid and those with MSAF, late term had the highest odds (4.2 vs. 0.5%; p < 0.001) for neonatal respiratory morbidity. Conclusion Gestational age was associated with specific complications in deliveries complicated by MSAF and otherwise low-risk deliveries.
Electrocardiographic profile of guinea pig heart submitted to Ginkgo biloba extract and its terpenoids

Electrocardiographic effects produced by Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) and by ginkgolides A (GA) and B (GB), and bilobalide (BB) were investigated in guinea pig heart mounted in Langendorff apparatus (Tyrode, 34 ± 0.1 oC, 95% O2, 5% CO2). Electrocardiographic parameters were evaluated in the conditions: 1) control with Tyrode and DMSO, 2) EGb (n=4), GA (n=5), GB (n=5) or BB (n=6), and 3) washout. The results showed that 0.1 and 1.0 mg/ml of EGb do not change the electrocardiographic parameters. However, 10 mg/ml of EGb increased the PR interval (PRi) at 21% (p<0.001). This increase was also observed for 50 mM GA (20%, p<0.001) and 70 mM BB (13%, p<0.001), which indicates Ca2+ channel block. However, the 50 mM GB reduced the PRi at 11 % (p<0.001). The GA (23%, p<0.001), GB (16%, p<0.001), and BB (40%, p<0.001) reduced the QT interval (QTi), which suggests the activation of the potassium channel. However, EGb increased QTi (6%, p<0.001). The EGb (28%, p<0.05) and GB (13%, p<0.05) reduced the heart rate. Atrioventricular (AV) block was observed with EGb, GA, and BB. We can conclude that EGb and its terpenoids alter the ECG parameters inducing AV block, which indicates possible arrhythmogenic potential.
Tamoxifen and Raloxifene Differ in Their Functional Interactions with Aspartate 351 of Estrogen Receptor α

The bulky side chains of antiestrogens hinder folding of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of estrogen receptors (ERs) into a transcriptionally active conformation. The presence of a tertiary amine in the side chain of raloxifene, which interacts with a negatively charged residue in helix H3 of the ER LBD [Asp351 in human (h)ERα], is important for antiestrogenicity in animal and cellular models. To better understand the molecular basis of the differential activity of tamoxifen and raloxifene, we have examined the influence of tertiary amine substituents and of mutations at position 351 in hERα on the activity profiles of tamoxifen derivatives. Results obtained in several cellular model systems suggest that the degree of antagonist activity of tamoxifen derivatives does not strictly correlate with the basicity of the side chain but depends on an optimal spatial relationship between the tertiary amine of these antiestrogens and the negative charge at position 351. Although altering the position of the negative charge at residue 351 (mutation D351E) had little effect on transcriptional activity in the presence of tamoxifen, it drastically increased the partial agonist activity of a tamoxifen derivative with improved antagonist activity as well as that of raloxifene. Our results suggest that contrary to raloxifene, tamoxifen and most of its derivatives do not interact with Asp351 in an optimal manner, although this can be improved by modifying tertiary amine substituents.
TÜRKİYE’DE BÜTÇE AÇIKLARI VE DIŞ TİCARET AÇIKLARI GERÇEKTEN İKİZ Mİ? KOENTEGRASYON VE NEDENSELLİK BULGULARI

The primary purpose of this paper is to investigate the long-run causal relationship between budget and trade deficits empirically to see if they are really twins. The Ricardian equivalance hypothesis states that in theory there exists no causal relationship between the two. According to Keynesian view however there is a causal channel from budget deficits to trade deficits. In the empirical literature, the evidence is mixed. This work employs the cointegration analysis with error correction modeling to test both the existence of long-run relationship and causality issues. The evidence presented in this paper is mainly in favor of the Keynesian twin deficit hypothesis. It also suggests two way causality, not only running from budget deficits to trade deficits but also the other way round.
The Role of Thalamus Versus Cortex in Epilepsy: Evidence from Human Ictal Centromedian Recordings in Patients Assessed for Deep Brain Stimulation

BACKGROUND The onset of generalized seizures is a long debated subject in epilepsy. The relative roles of cortex and thalamus in initiating and maintaining the different seizure types are unclear. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study is to estimate whether the cortex or the centromedian thalamic nucleus is leading in initiating and maintaining seizures in humans. METHODS We report human ictal recordings with simultaneous thalamic and cortical electrodes from three patients without anesthesia being assessed for deep brain stimulation (DBS). Patients 1 and 2 had idiopathic generalized epilepsy whereas patient 3 had frontal lobe epilepsy. Visual inspection was combined with nonlinear correlation analysis. RESULTS In patient 1, seizure onset was bilateral cortical and the belated onset of leading thalamic discharges was associated with an increase in rhythmicity of discharges, both in thalamus and cortex. In patient 2, we observed bilateral independent interictal discharges restricted to the thalamus. However, ictal onset was diffuse, with discharges larger in the cortex even though they were led by the thalamus. In patient 3, seizure onset was largely restricted to frontal structures, with belated lagging thalamic involvement. CONCLUSION In human generalized seizures, the thalamus may become involved early or late in the seizure but, once it becomes involved, it leads the cortex. In contrast, in human frontal seizures the thalamus gets involved late in the seizure and, once it becomes involved, it lags behind the cortex. In addition, the centromedian nucleus of the thalamus is capable of autonomous epileptogenesis as suggested by the presence of independent focal unilateral epileptiform discharges restricted to thalamic structures. The thalamus may also be responsible for maintaining the rhythmicity of ictal discharges.
Effects of dietary Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum) supplementation on rumen fermentation, enzyme profile and microbial communities in goats

This study was conducted to examine in vivo long-term effects of dietary dried oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum) whole plant on rumen fermentation, enzyme profile and microbial communities. For this purpose, eight healthy, adult, non-lactating Alpine goats were kept in tie stalls equipped for individual feeding and randomly divided into two homogeneous groups: one fed 0.6 kg of a concentrate mixture and 0.6 kg of wheat straw without any supplementation and served as control group (CON) while the other group (OR) fed the same diet of CON but supplemented with 20 g of dried oregano plants (OPs) to provide daily dosage of 1 ml of essential oil (EO) per animal. The experimental period lasted 69 days and individual rumen fluid samples were obtained every 2 weeks at 0 and 4 hr after feeding. The results showed that dietary supplementation with OPs increased the protease activity (p < .001) and ammonia concentration (p < .05) in the rumen. Among the studied microbial populations, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius (p = .028) and Clostridium sticklandii (p < .001) were found to be the most sensitive to oregano at the current dosage. Furthermore, the total methanogen population significantly decreased (p < .05). It is concluded that a long-term dietary administration of OPs can suppress specific rumen micro-organisms and modify rumen fermentation favourably at least by means of suppressing methanogens.
Gender Differences in Wage Losses from Impairments: Estimates from the Survey of Income and Program Participation

This article develops a model of the relationships among functional impairments, work disability, employment participation, and wage offers. The model is estimated separately for males and females with data from the 1984 Survey of Income and Program Participation. Using estimates of disability and wage equations, we rank 25 functional impairments by severity of disability, and estimate the wage penalty associated with each impairment. The results show that limitations to mobility and strength are relatively more disabling for males than for females, while the opposite is true for limitations to sensory capacities and appearance.
Influence of shared epitope-negative HLA-DRB1 alleles on genetic susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Most patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) express the shared epitope (SE). It is not known whether SE-negative HLA-DRB1 alleles influence the development of RA. This study examined the influence of SE-negative HLA-DR alleles (DRB1*X) on the development of RA in 3 different French populations. METHODS HLA-DRB1 alleles were defined by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific oligonucleotide hybridization or sequence-specific primers. SE-negative alleles were classified according to the electric charge of their P4 pocket. HLA-DRB1 alleles *0103, *0402, *07, *08, *11 (except *1107), *12, and *13 have a neutral or negative P4 charge and are called DRB1*XP4n. HLA-DRB1*03, *0403, *0406, *0407, *0901, *1107, *14, *15, and *16 have a positive P4 charge and are called DRB1*XP4p. RESULTS Among the SE-negative subjects, DRB1 genotypes with 1 or 2 DRB1*XP4n alleles were significantly overrepresented in the control subjects compared with the RA patients, whereas DRB1*XP4p/XP4p genotypes were equally represented in the patients and controls. In single-dose SE-positive subjects, SE/XP4n genotypes were equally represented in the patients and controls. However, SE/XP4p genotypes were significantly overrepresented in the RA patients. CONCLUSION The DRB1*X allele polymorphism influences susceptibility to RA. Alleles that have a neutral or negative electric charge in their P4 pocket (DRB1*XP4n), such as DRB1*0103, *0402, *07, *08, *11 (except *1107), *12, and *13, protect against RA. Alleles that have a positive electric charge in their P4 pocket (DRB1*XP4p), such as DRB1*03, *0403, *0406, *0407, *0901, *1107, *14, *15, and *16, have no influence on the predisposition to RA.
Adventitial Sca1+ Cells Transduced With ETV2 Are Committed to the Endothelial Fate and Improve Vascular Remodeling After Injury

Objective— Vascular adventitial Sca1+ (stem cell antigen-1) progenitor cells preferentially differentiate into smooth muscle cells, which contribute to vascular remodeling and neointima formation in vessel grafts. Therefore, directing the differentiation of Sca1+ cells toward the endothelial lineage could represent a new therapeutic strategy against vascular disease. Approach and Results— We thus developed a fast, reproducible protocol based on the single-gene transfer of ETV2 (ETS variant 2) to differentiate Sca1+ cells toward the endothelial fate and studied the effect of cell conversion on vascular hyperplasia in a model of endothelial injury. After ETV2 transduction, Sca1+ adventitial cells presented a significant increase in the expression of early endothelial cell genes, including VE-cadherin, Flk-1, and Tie2 at the mRNA and protein levels. ETV2 overexpression also induced the downregulation of a panel of smooth muscle cell and mesenchymal genes through epigenetic regulations, by decreasing the expression of DNA-modifying enzymes ten-eleven translocation dioxygenases. Adventitial Sca1+ cells grafted on the adventitial side of wire-injured femoral arteries increased vascular wall hyperplasia compared with control arteries with no grafted cells. Arteries seeded with ETV2-transduced cells, on the contrary, showed reduced hyperplasia compared with control. Conclusions— These data give evidence that the genetic manipulation of vascular progenitors is a promising approach to improve vascular function after endothelial injury.
Retirement Behaviour in OECD Countries: Impact of Old-Age Pension Schemes and Other Social Transfer

Introduction . 8 Early retirement incentives embedded in old-age pension systems and other social transfer programmes . 11 Standard and early ages of entitlement to old-age pension benefits . 11 Replacement rates and pension wealth levels . 12 Implicit marginal taxes on continued work in old-age pension systems . 18 Implicit marginal taxes on continued work in other social transfer programmes . 22 Effects of implicit tax rates on labour market participation of older workers: preliminary cross-country evidence . 25 Effects of implicit tax rates on continued work . 25 Effects of “aggregate” labour tax rates . 29 Panel data econometric analysis of determinants of the labour force participation of older workers . 30 Previous studies . 30 The estimated equation . 31 Econometric results . 33 Policy simulations regarding the effect of pension reforms on labour force participation of older workers . 35 Policy discussion . 39 Conclusion . 41 Notes . 42 BIbliography . 49