Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of ramelteon in subjects with chronic insomnia.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate efficacy and safety of ramelteon (MT1/MT2-receptor [corrected] agonist) in subjects with chronic primary insomnia. METHODS Randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of nightly ramelteon treatment (8 mg or 16 mg) in adults (N=405) with primary chronic insomnia (DSM-IV-TR). Latency to persistent sleep (LPS), TST, sleep efficiency, wake time after sleep onset, and number of awakenings were measured by polysomnography. Subject-reported measures were also assessed. RESULTS LPS at Week 1 (primary measure) was significantly shorter with ramelteon 8 mg (32.2 min) or 16 mg (28.9 min) vs placebo (47.9 min; p <0.001). Significant improvements in LPS were maintained at Weeks 3 and 5. TST was significantly longer with both doses of ramelteon at Week 1 (p <0.001) vs placebo. Subject-reported sleep latency was significantly shorter with ramelteon 8 mg at Weeks 1, 3, and 5 (p <0.001) and ramelteon 16 mg at Weeks 1 and 3 (p < or =0.050) vs placebo. Wake time after sleep onset and number of awakenings were not significantly different with ramelteon 8 mg or 16 mg treatment vs placebo. Subjective TST was significantly longer with ramelteon 8 mg at Weeks 1, 3, and 5 (p < or =0.050) and ramelteon 16 mg at Week 1 (p = 0.003) vs placebo. Ramelteon had no clinically meaningful effect on sleep architecture, next-morning psychomotor tasks, alertness, or ability to concentrate. No withdrawal or rebound effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS Ramelteon reduced LPS over 5 weeks of treatment in subjects with chronic insomnia, with no clinically meaningful sleep architecture alterations, next-morning residual pharmacologic effects, and no evidence of rebound insomnia or withdrawal. No numerical differences were observed between the 2 doses of ramelteon.
Earnings Manipulation, Pension Assumptions and Managerial Investment Decisions

Managers appear to manipulate firm earnings through their characterizations of pension assets to capital markets and alter investment decisions to justify, and capitalize on, these manipulations. Managers are more aggressive with assumed long-term rates of return when their assumptions have a greater impact on reported earnings. Firms use higher assumed rates of return when they prepare to acquire other firms, when they are near critical earnings thresholds, and when their managers exercise stock options. Changes in assumed returns, in turn, influence pension plan asset allocations. Instrumental variables analysis indicates that 25 basis point increases in assumed rates are associated with 5 percent increases in equity allocations.
Dynamic Work Packages in Parallel Rendering

Interactive visualizations of large-scale datasets can greatly benefit from parallel rendering on a cluster with hardware accelerated graphics by assigning all rendering client nodes a fair amount of work each. However, interactivity regularly causes unpredictable distribution of workload, especially on large tiled displays. This requires a dynamic approach to adapt scheduling of rendering tasks to clients, while also considering data locality to avoid expensive I/O operations. This article discusses a dynamic parallel rendering load balancing method based on work packages which define rendering tasks. In the presented system, the nodes pull work packages from a centralized queue that employs a locality-aware dynamic affinity model for work package assignment. Our method allows for fully adaptive implicit workload distribution for both sort-first and sort-last parallel rendering.
Understanding the integrative approach to conflict management

Purpose – Integration is an active search for information about facts and interests – motivated by a willingness to find mutually satisfactory agreements – and is usually necessary for creating high quality settlements in conflicts. The purpose of this paper is to examine the integrative approach to conflicts.Design/methodology/approach – Surveys, scenario studies, and experiments were used to explore factors relating to an integrative approach. First, how integration affected various outcome qualities (Study 1 and Study 2) was examined. Then Studies 3, 4 and 5, respectively, examined how integration was influenced by demographic (gender and education), individual (achievement motivation, creativity, and cognitive style), and relational (quality of the relationship) factors.Findings – Results demonstrated that an integrative approach is beneficial for various outcome‐dimensions (quality, satisfaction, fairness, and trust). Regarding predictors of an integrative approach, being male business students are n.
Roles of gyrA Mutations in Resistance of Clinical Isolates and In Vitro Mutants of Bacteroides fragilis to the New Fluoroquinolone Trovafloxacin

ABSTRACT We determined whether gyrA mutations were present in fluoroquinolone-resistant laboratory mutants derived from theBacteroides fragilis reference strain ATCC 25285 and in clinical isolates of B. fragilis. The two first-step mutants selected on ciprofloxacin (CIP) were devoid of gyrAmutations, whereas two of the three CIP-selected second-step mutants studied presented the same gyrA mutation leading to a Ser82Phe change. Unusual GyrA alterations, Asp81Asn or Ala118Val, were detected in two of the three first-step mutants selected on trovafloxacin (TRO), Mt3 and Mt1, respectively. The Ala118Val change had no effect on the susceptibility of Mt1 to CIP. No second-step mutant could be obtained with TRO as a selector. For the 12 clinical isolates studied, a Ser82Phe change in GyrA was found only in the 3 strains which showed the highest levels of TRO resistance (MIC, 4 μg/ml). Thus, the resistance phenotypes and genotypes observed in fluoroquinolone-resistant clinical isolates of B. fragiliswere similar to those found in CIP-selected laboratory mutants, whereas peculiar mutational events could be selected in vitro with TRO.
Triangulated categories of Gorenstein cyclic quotient singularities

We prove there is an equivalence of derived categories between Orlov's triangulated category of singularities for a Gorenstein cyclic quotient singularity and the derived category of representations of a quiver with relations, which is obtained from a McKay quiver by removing one vertex and half of the arrows. This result produces examples of distinct quivers with relations which have equivalent derived categories of representations.
Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (IRF4) Interacts with NFATc2 to Modulate Interleukin 4 Gene Expression

Proteins of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family of transcription factors are critical for lymphocyte activation in the immune system. In particular, NFATs are important regulators of inducible IL-4 gene expression. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is an immune system–restricted interferon regulatory factor that is required for lymphocyte activation, but its molecular functions in the T lineage remain to be elucidated. We demonstrate that IRF4 potently synergizes with NFATc2 to specifically enhance NFATc2-driven transcriptional activation of the IL-4 promoter. This function is dependent on the physical interaction of IRF4 with NFATc2. IRF4 synergizes with NFATc2 and the IL-4–inducing transcription factor, c-maf, to augment IL-4 promoter activity as well as to elicit significant levels of endogenous IL-4 production. Furthermore, naïve T helper cells from mice lacking IRF4 are compromised severely for the production of IL-4 and other Th2 cytokines. The identification of IRF4 as a partner for NFATc2 in IL-4 gene regulation provides an important molecular function for IRF4 in T helper cell differentiation.
Print adverts: not remembered but memorable

Attempts to measure advertising effectiveness have relied on explicit memory measures based on recall or recognition. However, recent cognitive research has shown that not only is it possible to measure unconscious effects of prior experience through implicit tests of memory, but that such performance is independent of explicit recollection. The present study sought to determine whether it is possible to demonstrate the same pattern of findings using print advertising in an ecologically valid situation. Eighty subjects saw 25 full-page colour magazine adverts in either a deliberate or incidental study condition and subsequently rated (on four salient dimensions) a set of 50 adverts, which included the target adverts. Following the ratings subjects were asked to indicate which of the adverts they recognized as having been in the original set. While the deliberate study group recognized around 60 per cent of the adverts, the incidental study group recognized only 11 per cent. However, both groups showed the same positive bias in attitudes towards the adverts they had been exposed to compared to the ones they had not seen before. Thus, in line with by the cognitive literature, it is possible to show shifts in attitudes that are independent of conscious recollection. This data questions advertisers' reliance one explicit memory tests as measures of advertising effectiveness. Language: en
Regional development policies and the constructions of gender equality: The Swedish case

This article uses a discursive approach to analyze how gender equality has and is being constructed and given meaning in the context of Swedish regional policy. Drawing on Carole Bacchi's ‘What's the Problem? Approach’, we explore how arguments concerning the new forms of regional policy are assigning different categories of people different subject positions and, in particular, we focus on the kind of subject positions that are being given to women as a group in this context. The discourse being shaped in national policy is, however, interpreted in specific contexts. Accordingly, we compare the way this new discourse is being (re)interpreted and (re)constructed and the subject positions being ascribed to women in the regional development partnerships and growth strategies in two Swedish regions: Vasterbotten and Jonkoping. Finally, we draw attention to how both the form and the content of Swedish regional development policies create great difficulties for politicizing gender as a power dimension in society. We suggest that regional politics has become de-politicized and argue for the need for it to be re-politicized with gender included as a conflict dimension.
When is There Strength in Numbers?: A Study of Undergraduate Task Groups

Undergraduate college students in an advanced math class were videotaped as they worked on three mathematical proofs. Findings indicated that both ability and self-efficacy were needed for group success. Members with high levels of self-efficacy served the group by encouraging others to continue working. Groups tended to use a trial-and-error methodology that was not always effective or efficient. Many group members did not have an accurate perception of their own abilities or the group's performance. Implications for using groups in the classroom are discussed.
Targeted gene addition to a predetermined site in the human genome using a ZFN-based nicking enzyme

Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) drive highly efficient genome editing by generating a site-specific DNA double-strand break (DSB) at a predetermined site in the genome. Subsequent repair of this break via the nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) or homology-directed repair (HDR) pathways results in targeted gene disruption or gene addition, respectively. Here, we report that ZFNs can be engineered to induce a site-specific DNA single-strand break (SSB) or nick. Using the CCR5-specific ZFNs as a model system, we show that introduction of a nick at this target site stimulates gene addition using a homologous donor template but fails to induce significant levels of the small insertions and deletions (indels) characteristic of repair via NHEJ. Gene addition by these CCR5-targeted zinc finger nickases (ZFNickases) occurs in both transformed and primary human cells at efficiencies of up to ∼1%–8%. Interestingly, ZFNickases targeting the AAVS1 “safe harbor” locus revealed similar in vitro nicking activity, a marked reduction of indels characteristic of NHEJ, but stimulated far lower levels of gene addition—suggesting that other, yet to be identified mediators of nick-induced gene targeting exist. Introduction of site-specific nicks at distinct endogenous loci provide an important tool for the study of DNA repair. Moreover, the potential for a SSB to direct repair pathway choice (i.e., HDR but not NHEJ) may prove advantageous for certain therapeutic applications such as the targeted correction of human disease-causing mutations.
Self-appraisal: a step towards meeting individual's professional development needs for Botswana secondary school teachers

Abstract This project focuses on appraisal and how it enhances individual teacher professional development. It attempts to find out the role and experiences (i.e. identify the problems and successes of the current appraisal scheme) of the teachers during the course of appraisal, i.e. taking into account their expectations, feelings/attitudes. Data were gathered from questionnaires and interviews. In this project, most respondents thought that the current appraisal scheme is a quality control mechanism that weeds out poor performers. The report concludes that self-appraisal can enhance/ contribute towards meeting individual's professional development needs.
Vascular gap junctions in hypertension.

The proteins that form the gap junctions (connexins) are widely expressed in organs that are central to the development of hypertension: endocrine organs, kidney, brain, heart, and vasculature (Figure 1). Surprisingly, there is little information on the modification of connexins in hypertension in any of these organs except the vasculature, the subject of our review, but it would be hoped that this lack of information might spur research on these organs. Figure 1. Possible roles for the connexins in the control of blood pressure. A, Electron micrograph of a longitudinal view of an arteriole. Vascular connexins can play multiple roles in regulating function and vasomotor tone. Cell–cell communication, both radial and longitudinal, links the cells of the arteriolar wall. B, Most every organ involved in the control of blood pressure abundantly expresses ≥1 of the connexins. Essentially no experimental evidence exists regarding a possible link between connexins and hypertension in nonvascular tissues. Augmented vasomotor tone typically plays a key role in the development of hypertension, and tone depends on cell–cell communication established by paracrine molecules and, in addition, gap junctions. Paracrine-based linkages between cells of the vasculature are well known, and the possible roles of such linkages in the genesis of hypertension have been extensively explored. Much less is known of the roles of gap junctional communication in establishing vasomotor tone and of the effects of modification of gap junctions on hypertension. The gap junctions are formed by joining 2 hexameric assemblies of connexin protein monomers, that is, hemichannels (1 in Figure 2A). In the vasculature, assays of message and protein show that the hemichannels can be assembled from combinations of 4 connexins, named according to their apparent molecular weight: Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45. Two hemichannels are linked to form a gap junction, which can provide both homocellular …
Effect of Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol (250/50) on COPD Exacerbations and Impact on Patient Outcomes

Prevention and treatment of COPD exacerbations are recognized as key goals in disease management. This randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter study evaluated the effect of fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 250 mcg/50 mcg (FSC 250/50) and salmeterol 50 mcg (SAL) twice-daily on moderate/severe exacerbations. Subjects received treatment with FSC 250/50 during a one month run-in, followed by randomization to FSC 250/50 or SAL for 52 weeks. Moderate/severe exacerbations were defined as worsening symptoms of COPD requiring antibiotics, oral corticosteroids and/or hospitalization. In 797 subjects with COPD (mean FEV1 = 0.98L, 34% predicted normal), treatment with FSC 250/50 significantly reduced the annual rate of moderate/severe exacerbations by 30.4% compared with SAL (1.10 and 1.59 per subject per year, respectively, p < 0.001), the annual rate of exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids by 34% (p < 0.001) and the annual rate of moderate/severe exacerbations requiring hospitalization by 36% (p = 0.043). Clinical improvements observed during run-in treatment with FSC 250/50 were better maintained over 52 weeks with FSC 250/50 compared to SAL. Statistically significant reductions in albuterol use, dyspnea scores, and nighttime awakenings and numerical benefits on quality of life were seen with FSC 250/50 compared with SAL. The incidence of adverse events was similar across groups. Pneumonia was reported more frequently with FSC 250/50 compared with SAL (7% vs. 2%). FSC 250/50 is more effective than SAL at reducing the rate of moderate/severe exacerbations. These data confirm the beneficial effect of FSC on the management of COPD exacerbations and support the use of FSC in patients with COPD.
Laxity-based opportunistic scheduling with flow-level dynamics and deadlines

Many data applications in the next generation cellular networks, such as content precaching and video progressive downloading, require flow-level quality of service (QoS) guarantees. One such requirement is deadline, where the transmission task needs to be completed before the application-specific time. To minimize the number of uncompleted transmission tasks, we study laxity-based scheduling policies in this paper. We propose a Less-Laxity-Higher-Possible-Rate (L2HPR) policy and prove its asymptotic optimality in underloaded identical-deadline systems. The asymptotic optimality of L2HPR can be applied to estimate the schedulability of a system and provide insights on the design of scheduling policies for general systems. Based on it, we propose a framework and three heuristic policies for practical systems. Simulation results demonstrate the asymptotic optimality of L2HPR and performance improvement of proposed policies over greedy policies.
Research Note: The LIVITY study: research challenges and strategies for engaging with the black caribbean community in a study of HIV infection

There is an increasing incidence of new HIV‐1 diagnoses among black Caribbeans in the UK, but there has been limited research in this area. The LIVITY study is the first in‐depth epidemiological and behavioural study to examine the impact of HIV among black Caribbeans in the UK. The UK black Caribbean community has traditionally been regarded as less likely to participate in clinical research and surveys. We identified three major challenges to recruitment to the LIVITY study: general distrust of the research process; the considerable stigma surrounding HIV in the black Caribbean community and the sensitivity of obtaining detailed sexual histories. The strategies devised to help overcome these barriers to optimise recruitment included: the establishment of a black Caribbean Community Advisory Group to facilitate communication between the community and the researchers and assist in questionnaire design to improve acceptability to the participants; use of healthcare practitioners as gatekeepers; extensive piloting and modification of the questionnaire among black Caribbean patients; reassurances of confidentiality during recruitment; and ethnic matching between interviewer and study participants. Another challenge was the high rate of loss to follow‐up among eligible patients, potentially compromising the study’s generalisability. Nevertheless, use of the above strategies resulted in a satisfactory enrolment rate of 57%, who were representative of all eligible patients.
fMRI Supports the Sensorimotor Theory of Motor Resonance

The neural mechanisms mediating the activation of the motor system during action observation, also known as motor resonance, are of major interest to the field of motor control. It has been proposed that motor resonance develops in infants through Hebbian plasticity of pathways connecting sensory and motor regions that fire simultaneously during imitation or self movement observation. A fundamental problem when testing this theory in adults is that most experimental paradigms involve actions that have been overpracticed throughout life. Here, we directly tested the sensorimotor theory of motor resonance by creating new visuomotor representations using abstract stimuli (motor symbols) and identifying the neural networks recruited through fMRI. We predicted that the network recruited during action observation and execution would overlap with that recruited during observation of new motor symbols. Our results indicate that a network consisting of premotor and posterior parietal cortex, the supplementary motor area, the inferior frontal gyrus and cerebellum was activated both by new motor symbols and by direct observation of the corresponding action. This tight spatial overlap underscores the importance of sensorimotor learning for motor resonance and further indicates that the physical characteristics of the perceived stimulus are irrelevant to the evoked response in the observer.
Prefrontal, Parietal, and Temporal Cortex Networks Underlie Decision-Making in the Presence of Uncertainty

Decision-making in the presence of uncertainty, i.e., selecting a sequence of responses in an uncertain environment according to a self-generated plan of action, is a complex activity that involves both cognitive and noncognitive processes. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the neural substrates of decision-making in the presence of uncertainty are examined. Normal control subjects show a significant activation of a frontoparietal and limbic neural system during a two-choice prediction task relative to a two-choice response task. The most prevalent response strategy during the two-choice prediction task was "win-stay/lose-shift," where subjects will repeat the previous response if it successfully predicted the stimulus and switch to the alternative response otherwise. Increased frequency of responses that are consistent with this strategy is associated with activation in the superior temporal gyrus. In comparison, increased frequency of response inconsistent with win-stay/lose-shift is associated with parietal cortex activation. These results support the hypothesis that subjects use a frontoparietal neural system to establish a contingency based decision-making strategy even in the presence of random reinforcement.