Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measurement bias detection through Bayesian factor analysis

Measurement bias has been defined as a violation of measurement invariance. Potential violators—variables that possibly violate measurement invariance—can be investigated through restricted factor analysis (RFA). The purpose of the present paper is to investigate a Bayesian approach to estimate RFA models with interaction effects, in order to detect uniform and nonuniform measurement bias. Because modeling nonuniform bias requires an interaction term, it is more complicated than modeling uniform bias. The Bayesian approach seems especially suited for such complex models. In a simulation study we vary the type of bias (uniform, nonuniform), the type of violator (observed continuous, observed dichotomous, latent continuous), and the correlation between the trait and the violator (0.0, 0.5). For each condition, 100 sets of data are generated and analyzed. We examine the accuracy of the parameter estimates and the performance of two bias detection procedures, based on the DIC fit statistic, in Bayesian RFA. Results show that the accuracy of the estimated parameters is satisfactory. Bias detection rates are high in all conditions with an observed violator, and still satisfactory in all other conditions.
Policies of global English tests: test-takers’ perspectives on the IELTS retake policy

Globalized English proficiency tests such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are increasingly playing the role of gatekeepers in a globalizing world. Although the use of the IELTS as a ‘policy tool’ for making decisions in the areas of study, work and migration impacts on test-takers' lives and life chances, not much is known about its own policy and policy logic. With the growing call for listening to test-takers' voices, specific policy aspects of the test have recently been scrutinized. This article seeks to contribute to this area by drawing on test-takers' perspectives on the IELTS retake policy and developing an understanding of how policies of global English tests are perceived, interpreted and given new meanings by its key stakeholders. Although the truth-value of the emic views of test-takers may be debated, their experiences and perceptions problematize the reliability claims of the testing agency by locating commercial motives at the center of their policy and thereby raising theoretical, professional and ethical questions.
Staying Out of Trouble: Intentions of Young Male Offenders

During the fall of 2005, we interviewed a sample of 103 young men aged 18 to 21 imprisoned at a young offender’s prison in England. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior, as well as the theory of cognitive transformation, our purpose was to investigate prisoners’ reports of their likelihood of reoffending following release from prison. Primary explanatory factors included measures of attitudes, behavioral control, and subjective norms. Attitudes measured inmates’ plans of what they would do following release. Behavioral control variables included indicators of life control and self-efficacy. Subjective norms measured the number of peers inmates reported ever being imprisoned. Prison activities and background characteristics were also modeled. The data were analyzed using regression techniques and structural equation modeling. Intentions to stay out of trouble were most strongly associated with self-efficacy and the number of imprisoned friends reported. Intentions were also associated with the specificity of postrelease plans and life control. Offenders’ feelings of life control were stronger among those who had more frequent contact with family members and friends while in prison. Employment prior to prison and family relationships were predictive of contacts with family and friends in prison. Specific policies consistent with our findings include encouragement of contact with family members and friends. In addition, interventions that help offenders make specific plans and increase feelings of control and self-efficacy have promise in helping released offenders successfully complete the transition from prison to the community.
Regulation of [Na+]i in Resting and Stimulated Submandibular Salivary Ducts (*)

In the preceding manuscript (Zhao, H., Xu, X., Diaz, J., and Muallem, S.(1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 19599-19605), we described a Kout+-dependent H+/HCO3− and Na+ influx pathway in the luminal membrane of salivary duct cells. In the present studies, we further characterized this pathway to show that the Kout+-dependent Na+ influx was not mediated by the luminal amiloride-sensitive Na+ channel, the Na+/H+ exchangers, or any electroneutral or conductive Cl−-dependent transport pathway. Thus, K+ efflux probably maintained electroneutrality during Na+ influx induced by removal of Kout+. Accordingly, Na+ influx was largely inhibited by 2.5 mM external Ba2+. The K+ site of the Kout+-dependent Na+ influx showed the selectivity sequence Cs+ > K+ > NH4+ > Li+ which is different from that of several known K+ channels. More importantly, Na+ influx is 50% inhibited at about 20 mM Kout+, and significant Na+ influx occurred even at 80 mM Kout+. This is a critical property for the pathway to play a role in Na+ reabsorption and K+ secretion by the duct. The large Na+ influx in resting duct cells is matched by high activity of the ductal Na+ pump which is about 8-fold faster than that of acinar cells. Stimulation of submandibular ducts with various agonists increased [Na+]i in an agonist-specific manner. The parasympathetic agonist epinephrine was more effective than isoproterenol and the sympathetic agonist carbachol. The use of various inhibitors of Na+ and K+ transporters suggests that different pathways mediate Na+ influx in stimulated acinar and duct cells of the gland. In duct cells, Na+ influx was inhibited only by extracellular Cs+ and Ba2+. The overall findings support a significant role for the Kout+-dependent pathway(s) in Na+ reabsorption and K+ and HCO3− secretion and explain several features of transepithelial electrolyte transport by salivary ducts.
Anti-glomerular basement membrane crescentic glomerulonephritis: A report from India and review of literature

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease is an autoimmune disease that most commonly presents as rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with or without pulmonary involvement. It is characterized by the presence of antibodies directed to antigenic targets within glomerular and alveolar basement membranes. This study was performed to evaluate the clinicopathological features and outcome in anti-GBM crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN) at a tertiary care center in North India over a period of 9 years (January 2004 to December 2012). A diagnosis of anti-GBM CrGN was made in the presence of >50% crescents, linear deposits of IgG along GBM, and raised serum anti-GBM antibody titer. Of 215 cases of CrGN diagnosed during this period, 11 had anti-GBM CrGN. Anti-GBM CrGN was found at all ages but was most common in the third to fifth decade with no gender predilection (mean age 48 +/- 15 years, 13–67 years). Patients presented with a mean serum creatinine of 10.2 +/- 5.3 mg/dl and sub-nephrotic proteinuria. Pulmonary involvement was present in two patients. Myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody was positive in two (2/11) elderly patients. Follow-up was available in four patients for a range of 30-270 (mean 99.5 ± 114.5) days, two remained dialysis dependent while two died due to uremia and sepsis. Our findings show that anti-GBM disease is a rare cause of CrGN in India, accounting for only 5% of patients. It usually presents as a renal-limited disease and is associated with a poor renal outcome.
Roles of the transcription factor p53 in keratinocyte carcinomas

The transcription factor p53 is mutated in most keratinocyte carcinomas (nonmelanoma skin cancers). In these tumours, the gene bears the trace of its mutagen, sunlight. Sunlight‐induced p53 mutations are also seen in skin precancers and even sun‐exposed skin, which harbours thousands of p53‐mutant keratinocyte clones. Normal p53 is upregulated by sunlight exposure, after which it acts as a tumour suppressor in several ways: increasing DNA repair, arresting the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis of badly damaged keratinocytes. This UV‐induced upregulation has been used as an assay for assessing the effectiveness of sunscreens. Once mutated, however, p53 renders cells apoptosis‐resistant and therefore less sensitive to sunlight overexposure than normal cells. This reversal of roles drives clonal expansion of precancerous keratinocytes.
Recent Developments in Derivative-Free Multiobjective Optimisation

In practical applications it is common to have several conflicting objective functions to optimize. Frequently, these functions are nondifferentiable or discontinuous, could be subject to numerical noise and/or be of black-box type, preventing the use of derivative-based techniques. In this paper we give an overview of some recent developments in Derivative-free Multiobjective Optimization. We introduce the basic concepts and ideas commonly considered for the algorithmic development in Multiobjective Optimization and review some recent classes of methods which do not make use of derivatives. In particular, we will focus on Direct Search Methods (DSM) of directional type and Evolutionary Multiobjective Optimization (EMO).
Intermediation, Standardization and Learning in Financial Markets: Some Evidence and Implications

This paper tracks a recent financial innovation, the commercial mortgage-backed security, through its early development in an attempt to better understand the dynamics of new product markets. Evidence of emerging product standards and learning effects are important outcomes of the analysis. I specifically conclude that rating agencies and investors caused security underwriters to modify their product designs, which led to standardization across certain product attributes, and that this dynamic facilitated market development. Rating agency effects are especially noteworthy, as they contrast sharply with the passive credit quality certification role typically portrayed in the literature. Implications are identified and discussed. * Gene Kilgore and Cate Polleys provided expert research assistance on this project. I wish to thank seminar participants at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, MIT, Northeastern University, University of British Columbia, University of North Carolina, and the University of South Carolina for their valuable input, and to Xavier Gabaix, Jie Gan, Denis Gromb, Paul Joskow, Whitney Newey, Greg Niehaus, Robert Van Order, Ko Wang and Bill Wheaton for valuable comments and suggestions.
New β-Cyclodextrin Entrapped in Polyethyleneimine Film-Modified Electrodes for Pharmaceutical Compounds Determination

The electrochemical behavior of ascorbic acid and uric acid on glassy carbon bare electrodes and ones modified with β-cyclodextrin entrapped in polyethyleneimine film has been investigated using square wave voltammetry. The electrode modification was achieved in order to separate the voltammetric peaks of ascorbic acid and uric acid when present in the same solution. On the modified electrodes the potential of the oxidation peak of the ascorbic acid was shifted to more negative values by over 0.3 V, while in the case of uric acid, the negative potential shift was about 0.15 V compared to the bare glassy carbon electrode. When the two compounds were found together in the solution, on the bare electrode only a single broad signal was observed, while on the modified electrode the peak potentials of these two compounds were separated by 0.4 V. When the uric acid concentration remained constant, the peak intensity of the ascorbic acid is increased linearly with the concentration (r2 = 0.996) and when the ascorbic acid concentration remains constant, the peak intensity of the uric acid increased linearly with the concentration (r2 = 0.992). FTIR measurements supported the formation of inclusion complexes. In order to characterize the modification of the electrodes microscopic studies were performed. The modified electrodes were successfully employed for the determination of ascorbic acid in pharmaceutical formulations with a detection limit of 0.22 μM.
Calcium efflux from squid axons under constant sodium electrochemical gradient

The effect of varying Nao and Nai on Ca efflux while maintaining the ratio Nao/Nai constant was explored in squid giant axons dialyzed with and without ATP. In the absence of ATP, the Ca efflux increased 3.4 +/- 0.2-fold when the Nao/Nai concentrations were reduced from 440/80 to 110/20 mM. In the presence of ATP a similar change did not have an appreciable effect. The inhibition of Ca efflux produced by Nai was studied in the presence and in the absence of ATP. In the absence of ATP, inhibition is very marked and is reminiscent of a unimolecular noncompetitive reaction (inactivation constant [KI] of 34 +/- 5 mM of Nai) whereas in the presence of ATP, the slight inhibition observed indicates that ATP probably increases the KI to 200mM. From the inhibition of the Ca efflux produced by Nai in the presence or absence of ATP a curve describing the dependence of Nai of the ATP-promoted fraction of Ca efflux was constructed. The effect of Nao on the Ca efflux was studied as a function of [Na]i: at low Nai, an activation constant (KA) of 41 mM for Nao was obtained either in the presence of in the absence of ATP. As the intracellular Na is increased in the presence of ATP, Nai seems to have no effect on the apparent half- activation constant. However, in the absence of ATP, the KA for activation increases along a sigmoid curve reaching a value of 112 mM at 100 mM Nai. It is concluded that the Ca efflux system uses the energy of the Na electrochemical gradient. The action of Nai appears to be such that the interaction of a single Na+ is sufficient to block Ca extrusion whereas several Naps externally are necessary to activate Ca extrusion.
Evaluation of radiotherapy response of cervical carcinoma with gray scale and color Doppler ultrasonography: resistive index correlation with magnetic resonance findings.

PURPOSE To investigate the role of the resistive index measured with transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography (TVCDUS) for assessing the radiotherapy response of cervical carcinoma and to compare it with magnetic resonance findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 13 patients with advanced stage cervical carcinoma (>IIA) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and TVCDUS exams 6 months prior to and 6 months after radiotherapy. Pre- and post-treatment resistive indices obtained from the central and peripheral zones of the tumor were compared. These values were also compared with MRI findings and resistive indices obtained from the control group. RESULTS Tumoral masses could be visualized in all patients with B-mode TVCDUS prior to the treatment. Resistive indices before and after treatment were 0.20-0.82 (mean: 0.52+/-0.15), and 0.70-0.99 (mean: 0.81+/-0.14), respectively. Eleven out of 13 patients responded to the treatment completely and no mass was detected in MRI and TVCDUS. Investigations were performed in areas with flow within the tumor-free cervix. A residual mass was noted in 2 patients with MRI and TVCDUS. There was a statistically significant difference between complete response to the treatment and increased resistive indices (P=0.001). In 2 patients with residual masses, no increase in resistive indices was detected. The mean resistive index of the control group was 0.65+/-13 and the difference was statistically significant compared to the resistive indices of the patients prior to the treatment. CONCLUSION Since there was a significant correlation between the MRI findings and resistive indices, the spectral parameters obtained with TVCDUS were a good alternative to such an expensive modality as MRI in the evaluation of the response of cervical cancer to the treatment.
Inhibition of nuclear factor-κB augments antitumor activity of adenovirus-mediated melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 against lung cancer cells via mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 activation

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation promotes cell survival and growth. Reports show that chemotherapeutic agents and cytokines that are used for cancer therapy activate NF-κB expression in tumor cells and its suppression enhanced the antitumor activity. We hypothesized that adenovirus-mediated overexpression of melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (Ad-mda7/IL-24) induces NF-κB expression and that inhibition of this expression results in enhanced tumor cell killing. Treatment of human lung tumor (H1299 and A549) cells with Ad-mda7 resulted in NF-κB activation in a dose- and time-dependent manner before activation of cell death pathways. To establish that inhibition of Ad-mda7–mediated NF-κB activation results in enhanced tumor cell killing, H1299 cells that overexpress the dominant-negative IκBα (dnIκBα) were treated with Ad-mda7 in vitro. An enhanced growth arrest and apoptosis was observed in Ad-mda7–treated H1299-dnIκBα compared with H1299-Neo cells. This Ad-mda7–mediated enhanced killing of H1299-dnIκBα cells involved cleavage of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1) and caspase-3 in a feedback loop mechanism. The inhibition of MEKK1 or caspase-3 cleavage in H1299-dnIκBα cells resulted in reduced Ad-mda7–mediated cell killing. In vivo, the treatment of H1299-dnIκBα s.c. tumors with Ad-mda7 resulted in increased drug sensitivity and delayed the tumor growth rate compared with Ad-mda7–treated H1299-Neo tumors. Molecular analysis of Ad-mda7–treated H1299-dnIκBα tumors showed increased MEKK1 cleavage and activation of caspase-3 compared with Ad-mda7–treated H1299-Neo tumors. Our findings thus showed that the NF-κB activation induced by Ad-mda7 treatment of lung cancer cells is an intrinsic survival mechanism and that the inhibition of this NF-κB expression results in enhanced tumor cell killing. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(4):1440–9]
On Numerical Solution of the Maximum Volume Ellipsoid Problem

In this paper we study practical solution methods for finding the maximum volume ellipsoid inscribing a given full-dimensional polytope in $\Re^n$ defined by a finite set of linear inequalities. Our goal is to design a general-purpose algorithmic framework that is reliable and efficient in practice. To evaluate the merit of a practical algorithm, we consider two key factors: the computational cost per iteration and the typical number of iterations required for convergence. In addition, numerical stability is an important factor. We investigate some new formulations upon which we build primal-dual type interior-point algorithms, and we provide theoretical justifications for the proposed formulations and algorithmic framework. Extensive numerical experiments have shown that one of the new algorithms is the method of choice among those tested.
Prophylactic use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy has been shown to improve survival in patients with various heart conditions who are at high risk for ventricular arrhythmias. Whether benefit occurs in patients early after myocardial infarction is unknown. METHODS We conducted the Defibrillator in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial, a randomized, open-label comparison of ICD therapy (in 332 patients) and no ICD therapy (in 342 patients) 6 to 40 days after a myocardial infarction. We enrolled patients who had reduced left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction, 0.35 or less) and impaired cardiac autonomic function (manifested as depressed heart-rate variability or an elevated average 24-hour heart rate on Holter monitoring). The primary outcome was mortality from any cause. Death from arrhythmia was a predefined secondary outcome. RESULTS During a mean (+/-SD) follow-up period of 30+/-13 months, there was no difference in overall mortality between the two treatment groups: of the 120 patients who died, 62 were in the ICD group and 58 in the control group (hazard ratio for death in the ICD group, 1.08; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.76 to 1.55; P=0.66). There were 12 deaths due to arrhythmia in the ICD group, as compared with 29 in the control group (hazard ratio in the ICD group, 0.42; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.22 to 0.83; P=0.009). In contrast, there were 50 deaths from nonarrhythmic causes in the ICD group and 29 in the control group (hazard ratio in the ICD group, 1.75; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.11 to 2.76; P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS Prophylactic ICD therapy does not reduce overall mortality in high-risk patients who have recently had a myocardial infarction. Although ICD therapy was associated with a reduction in the rate of death due to arrhythmia, that was offset by an increase in the rate of death from nonarrhythmic causes.
Examining the Foundations of Agile Usability with eXtreme Scenario-Based Design

The increasing use of agile methods to develop UI-intensive systems has led to a need to find ways of integrating usability into agile teams—reconciling the convergence and divergent points between the two areas. Agile usability researchers at Virginia Tech have partnered with Meridium, Inc. to develop and implement an integrated approach known as eXtreme Scenario-based Design (XSBD). Based on an analysis of core values and principles of both areas, and work from other agile usability researchers we identified four requirements that need to be met for an integrated approach to work effectively. We report on the results of using XSBD to develop a product at Meridium, summarizing how it addresses those requirements and draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the approach—making connections back to core principles of agile usability.
Skin cancer incidence in renal transplant recipients - a single center study.

AIMS To provide the first single-center study of a Czech renal transplant program that compares skin cancer risk estimates to the general population. METHODS We studied a total of 603 patients undergoing renal transplantation at the University Hospital Olomouc Transplant Center between January 1984 and December 2009. The mean time of follow-up was 5.5 years. Three patients were excluded for skin cancer diagnosis before transplant. The cohort was linked with the National Cancer Registry of the Czech Republic. For non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), the observed number of cancers were compared to the expected numbers of NMSC based on national cancer incidence rates stratified by age. The standartized incidence ratio (SIR) was calculated as observed-to-expected ratios. RESULTS We found a total of 127 cases of skin cancers in 55 patients. 52/55 (94.5%) were patients with non-melanoma skin cancers, 2/55 (3.6%) patients had malignant melanoma, and we uncovered one case of merkel cell carcinoma of the skin (1.8%). There were no cases of Kaposi's sarcoma, cutaneous lymphoma or malignant fibrous histiocytoma. For NMSC, the overall SIR was 7.39 (95% confidence interval 5.52-9.70). Thus, skin cancer was the most common malignant condition, representing 64.1% of all malignant tumours detected in study population. CONCLUSION We confirmed that skin cancer is a major complication in renal transplant recipients. Therefore it is important to increase the intensity of surveillence for these lesions in transplant patients.