Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increasing right hand dominance with age on a motor skill task

Synopsis A standardized pegboard task was used to investigate changes in manipulative skill as a function of age in 119 right-handed subjects. The typical pattern of cognitive impairment in old age indicates a relative preservation of functions which depend on the integrity of the left hemisphere. In accord with these observations, we predicted that, with increasing age, right hand motor skills would be better preserved than left hand skills. We found this on initial exposure to the task (P < 0·01); however, the phenomenon was masked by practice, because older subjects (over 60 years of age) derived more improvement to their left hand motor skill, as a result of practice, than they did to their right hand skill (P > 0·05).
Safety of task-shifting for male medical circumcision: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction:Task-shifting for male medical circumcision is proposed as a strategy to overcome the lack of surgeons and doctors in high HIV prevalence settings. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to review the safety of task-shifting for circumcision in Africa. Methods:We searched online databases and conference websites up to July 2011 without language restriction for studies reporting outcomes of task-shifting for circumcision in Africa. Information was extracted independently and in duplicate on study characteristics, quality, and outcome data. Case reports and case series were excluded. Results:Ten studies met our inclusion criteria, providing outcome data on 25 119 circumcisions. The proportion of adverse events ranged from 0.70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44–1.02%] to 37.36% (95% CI 27.54–47.72%), with an overall pooled proportion of 2.31% (95% CI 1.46–3.16%; &tgr;2 = 1.21; P < 0.001). Two studies reported outcomes separately for both doctors and non-physicians; there was no difference in the risk of adverse events by provider (pooled relative risk 1.18; 95% CI 0.78–1.78). The frequency of excessive bleeding ranged from 0.30 (0.09–0.65%) to 24.71% (16.27–34.26%) with an overall pooled prevalence of 0.55% (95% CI 0.13–0.97%). Infection occurred in 0.30 (0.14–1.47%) to 1.85% (0.07–5.96%) of cases, with an overall pooled proportion of 0.88% (95% CI 0.29–1.47%). All adverse events were reported to be non-severe. Conclusion:Task-shifting of male medical circumcision to non-physician clinicians can be done safely, with reported rates of adverse events similar to doctors and specialists.
Specific targeting of a mutant, activated egf receptor found in glioblastoma using a monoclonal antibody

A truncated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressed from a rearranged and amplified EGFR gene is present at high frequency in gliomas. In this work we show that when this receptor is expressed in NIH3T3 fibroblasts it is partially activated and confers tumorigenicity to this cell line in vivo but no growth advantage in vitro anchorage‐independent growth assays. Because the mutation occurs in the extracellular domain of the receptor, it can be considered to represent a glioma‐specific tumour marker. Here we demonstrate that 2 monoclonal antibodies, DH 1.1 and DH8.3, raised to a synthetic peptide spanning the unique junctional sequence, can recognise the mutant receptor but not the normal receptor in both denatured and native states. Furthermore, radiolabelled antibody DH8.3 successfully targets tumours expressing this antigen in nude mice.
The Acute Effects of Heavy Back Squats on Mechanical Variables During a Series of Bilateral Hops

Moir, GL, Dale, JR, and Dietrich, WW. The acute effects of heavy back squats on mechanical variables during a series of bilateral hops. J Strength Cond Res 23(4): 1118-1124, 2009-The purpose of the present study was to investigate the acute effects of performing a heavy resistance exercise (HRE) protocol on the mechanical variables during a series of bilateral hops. In a block-randomized design, 10 strength trained men performed an HRE or a control treatment before performing 5 series of bilateral hops separated by 2 minutes of passive recovery. Each series of bilateral hops was performed for 15 seconds on a force platform with the subject hopping at a frequency of 2.0 Hz. From the vertical force trace, the vertical force during the countermovement phase of each hop, the negative displacement during the countermovement phase, and the vertical stiffness were calculated. The HRE treatment consisted of performing parallel back squats with 40, 50, 60, and 80% of each subject's 1-repetition maximum after a series of dynamic stretches. The control treatment consisted of the dynamic stretches only. No significant differences in any of the mechanical variables were reported after the 2 treatments (p > 0.05). There were no significant correlations between the absolute maximal strength values and the percent change in any of the mechanical variables after the 2 treatments. Despite the lack of significant changes reported for the group, there were some notable individual responses. It is possible that increases in vertical stiffness during bilateral hops can be achieved after an HRE protocol in certain individuals. However, practitioners should be aware of the specificity issues and the individual nature of the responses to such protocols.
Board independence, gender diversity and CEO compensation

This paper aims to investigate the joint effect of board independence and gender diversity on the effectiveness of boards in monitoring CEO compensation in a continental European context, i.e. France. ,Fixed-effect regressions are used to study the impact of board independence, gender diversity and their interaction, i.e. the proportion of female independent directors on the different components of CEO compensation (total, fixed and variable). ,The authors observe that both the proportions of independent directors and women sitting on the boards positively influence the various components of CEO compensation. However, the interaction of these factors, i.e. the proportion of female independent directors, is negatively associated with CEO compensation. These results suggest that independent women directors improve board effectiveness in monitoring CEO compensation, especially its fixed component. ,The results of this research help to elucidate the importance of women being appointed to boards as independent directors to properly monitor managerial pay. These results provide support to the approach of the French Cope-Zimmerman law of January 2011, which promotes female representation on boards as independent directors to enhance board decision-making. Thus, evidence presented and discussed in this paper should provide useful insights for academics, corporate managers and regulators.
Using book-to-market ratio, accounting strength, and momentum to construct a value investing strategy: the case of Spain

ABSTRACT The weak value-growth premium of the Spanish stock market highlights the importance of enhancing the accounting-based fundamental strength of the value-growth strategy. This accounting strength is needed to detect potential errors in market expectations that result in mispriced stocks. When we select value-growth stocks whose accounting strength is incongruent with the market expectation reflected by their book-to-market ratio, the value-growth strategy becomes highly profitable. Our results are consistent with the evidence in the US market and demonstrate that stock markets with a weak value-growth premium are not necessarily free of errors in market expectations. We also demonstrate that the momentum effect allows better timing of this strategy, indicating the best time to buy and sell mispriced stocks. This effect increases profits and reduces the time needed to hold stocks to achieve these profits.
Pathway Analysis of Genome-wide Association Study in Childhood Leukemia among Hispanics

Background: The incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is nearly 20% higher among Hispanics than non-Hispanic Whites. Previous studies have shown evidence for association between risk of ALL and variation within IKZF1, ARID5B, CEBPE, CDKN2A, GATA3, and BM1-PIP4K2A genes. However, variants identified only account for <10% of the genetic risk of ALL. Methods: We applied pathway-based analyses to genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from the California Childhood Leukemia Study to determine whether different biologic pathways were overrepresented in childhood ALL and major ALL subtypes. Furthermore, we applied causal inference and data reduction methods to prioritize candidate genes within each identified overrepresented pathway, while accounting for correlation among SNPs. Results: Pathway analysis results indicate that different ALL subtypes may involve distinct biologic mechanisms. Focal adhesion is a shared mechanism across the different disease subtypes. For ALL, the top five overrepresented Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways include axon guidance, protein digestion and absorption, melanogenesis, leukocyte transendothelial migration, and focal adhesion (PFDR < 0.05). Notably, these pathways are connected to downstream MAPK or Wnt signaling pathways which have been linked to B-cell malignancies. Several candidate genes for ALL, such as COL6A6 and COL5A1, were identified through targeted maximum likelihood estimation. Conclusions: This is the first study to show distinct biologic pathways are overrepresented in different ALL subtypes using pathway-based approaches, and identified potential gene candidates using causal inference methods. Impact: The findings demonstrate that newly developed bioinformatics tools and causal inference methods can provide insights to furthering our understanding of the pathogenesis of leukemia. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(5); 815–22. ©2016 AACR.
+331G/A variant in the progesterone receptor gene, postmenopausal hormone use and risk of breast cancer

A functional promoter polymorphism in the progesterone receptor (PR) gene previously has been associated with an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Whether the relationship between genetic variation in PR and risk of breast cancer is modified by postmenopausal hormone (PMH) use is unknown. Thus, we conducted a case–control study nested within the prospective Nurses' Health Study to evaluate if the risk of breast cancer associated with having the +331 A risk allele was modified by PMH use. Genotyping of this SNP was available for 1,664 postmenopausal breast cancer cases and 2,391 controls. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for breast cancer. Women who were carriers of 1 or both variant A alleles had a 31% increased risk of developing breast cancer (95% CI 1.04–1.65). PMH use significantly modified the association between the +331G/A polymorphism and risk (p‐interaction <0.05). Among never users of PMH, women who were variant carriers had a significantly increased risk of breast cancer compared to those with the wild‐type genotype (OR = 2.57; 95% CI 1.64–4.02). The +331G/A polymorphism was not associated with breast cancer risk among past (OR = 1.23; 95% CI 0.77–1.97) or current (OR = 1.14; 95% CI 0.84–1.56) PMH users. The data from this large prospective study provide evidence for a 2‐fold increased risk of developing postmenopausal breast cancer among never users of PMH with the +331G/A SNP. This finding adds to the evidence that the PR has an important etiologic role in breast cancer and should be evaluated in future studies. © 2009 UICC
Is pain fatiguing? A structured evidence-based review.

STUDY DESIGN This is a structured, evidence-based review of all available studies on the coexistence of fatigue and pain. OBJECTIVES To determine what evidence, if any, exists for or against the existence of an association between fatigue and pain and a potential etiological relationship between pain and fatigue. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Pain physicians have noted fatigue as a frequent complaint in chronic pain patients (CPPs), and previous studies have reported the association of fatigue and pain. METHODS Computer and manual literature searches for studies relating to fatigue and pain produced 23 reports. These references were reviewed in detail, and information relating to the above problems was abstracted and placed into tabular form. Each report was also categorized for the type of study it represented according to the guidelines developed by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). In addition, a list of 15 quality criteria was utilized in order to measure the quality of each study. Each study was categorized for each criterion as positive, (criterion filled), negative (criterion not filled), or not applicable independently by two of the authors. A percent quality score was obtained for each study by counting the total number of positives obtained, dividing by 15 minus the total number of not applicable, and multiplying by 100. Only studies having a quality score of 75% or greater were utilized to formulate the conclusions of this review. The strength and consistency of the evidence represented by the remaining studies was then categorized according to the AHCPR guidelines. Conclusions of this review were based on those results. RESULTS OF DATA SYNTHESIS Of the 23 reports, 17 had quality scores of 75% or greater. Of these 17 reports, 94.1% indicated that there was an association between fatigue and pain. In addition, 100% of a subgroup of 13 reports (all with quality scores of 75% or greater) indicated that there may be an etiological relationship between pain and fatigue. The overall strength and consistency of this evidence according to AHCPR guidelines was therefore categorized as A (highly consistent findings from multiple studies). CONCLUSIONS Based on the above results, it was concluded that there is an association between fatigue and pain and that there may be an etiological relationship between pain and fatigue. Pain physicians and other pain treatment professionals should be aware of the high prevalence of fatigue in pain patients. In addition, future research might investigate possible mechanisms for the relationship between pain and fatigue.
Cause of death in HIV-infected patients in South Carolina (2005–2013)

Summary The life span of persons with HIV has been greatly extended over the past 30 years due to novel therapies. In the developed world and urban settings, this results in a lifespan rivaling the lifespan of a person without HIV. A retrospective study was conducted on 459 patients of an urban, academic medical center who died between 2005 and 2013 in a medium-sized US city. Using the established Cause of Death Project (CoDe) protocol, we measured multiple factors including comorbidities, risk behaviours, contributing and underlying causes of death. This study is one of the few US-based studies using this validated protocol. Among the deaths, 25.9% were sudden and 15.2% were unexpected. Almost one-fifth were related to AIDS-related infections; 47.5% related to non-AIDS causes; with the remainder unknown. Statistically significant increases in CD4 counts and decreasing viral loads were observed over the study period. There were no statistically significant differences observed by HIV risk behaviour, race, gender, age at death, or on antiretrovirals at death. In support of the existing literature, improved HIV management appears to reduce the AIDS-related attributable death among patients observed in this study.
Characterization of the Envelope Glycoprotein of a Novel Filovirus, Lloviu Virus

ABSTRACT Lloviu virus (LLOV), a novel filovirus detected in bats, is phylogenetically distinct from viruses in the genera Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus in the family Filoviridae. While filoviruses are known to cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and/or nonhuman primates, LLOV is biologically uncharacterized, since infectious LLOV has never been isolated. To examine the properties of LLOV, we characterized its envelope glycoprotein (GP), which likely plays a key role in viral tropism and pathogenicity. We first found that LLOV GP principally has the same primary structure as the other filovirus GPs. Similar to the other filoviruses, virus-like particles (VLPs) produced by transient expression of LLOV GP, matrix protein, and nucleoprotein in 293T cells had densely arrayed GP spikes on a filamentous particle. Mouse antiserum to LLOV VLP was barely cross-reactive to viruses of the other genera, indicating that LLOV is serologically distinct from the other known filoviruses. For functional study of LLOV GP, we utilized a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotype system and found that LLOV GP requires low endosomal pH and cathepsin L, and that human C-type lectins act as attachment factors for LLOV entry into cells. Interestingly, LLOV GP-pseudotyped VSV infected particular bat cell lines more efficiently than viruses bearing other filovirus GPs. These results suggest that LLOV GP mediates cellular entry in a manner similar to that of the other filoviruses while showing preferential tropism for some bat cells.
Awareness and beliefs towards organ donation in chronic kidney disease patients in western India

Introduction: There is a wide discrepancy between demand for and availability of donor organs for organ transplantation. There is no study on awareness about organ donation in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in India. Objectives: To study the awareness and beliefs towards organ donation in CKD patients on hemodialysis in western India. Patients and Methods: Authors conducted a cross sectional study among 85 CKD patients to evaluate knowledge about and attitude towards organ donation at a tertiary hospital. Results: Age of respondents ranged from 15 to 75 years. All were aware of term organ donation and cadaver donation. About 47% of people heard about organ donation through hospital or from doctor. Strikingly, radio was not the source of information to any of the respondents, despite radio being one of the most common medium of mass communication. Almost one third of patients were unaware about any legislation regarding organ donation. All respondents felt that organs should go to the needy irrespective of their religion. About 70% feel that medical colleges should make decisions about organ donation in case of unclaimed dead bodies. About 31.76% believe that there is a danger that donated organs could be misused, abused or misappropriated. Conclusion: Our study shows about 31.76% of our participants believe that there is a danger that donated organs could be misused, abused or misappropriated. There seems to be paucity of information and awareness regarding organ donation among CKD patients. Mass media, religious and political leaders may be involved to maximize awareness about organ donation.
Effect of specific wavelengths on light-induced quality changes in Havarti cheese

The effects of exposure of slices of Havarti cheeses to monochromatic light of wavelengths 366 nm, 405 nm, and 436 nm, respectively, were studied by tristimulus colorimetry, solid-phase microextraction gas chromatographic analysis of volatiles, and open-end fluorescence spectroscopy. Having determined the photon fluxes of the three wavelengths by ferrioxalate actinometry, it was possible to quantify the effects of light exposure in an absolute manner. For all analyses, the most severe effects were caused by visible light, leading to colour bleaching, change in hue, riboflavin degradation, and formation of the secondary oxidation products hexanal, 1-pentanol, and 1-hexanol. Apparent quantum yields for formation of hexanal and 1-pentanol were found to be insignificantly different for 405 nm and 436 nm exposures, having values of (3–5). 10−5 mol.einstein−1 and (9–13). 10−5 mol.einstein−1, respectively. These compounds were not formed when exposed to 366 nm light. In contrast, 1-hexanol was formed when exposing cheese to all three wavelengths, resulting in apparent quantum yields of (2–6). 10−5 mol.einstein−1. The results obtained are discussed in relation to the interplay between inherent product colorants, light sources, and transmission characteristics of the packaging materials.
Towards Integrating Antecedents of Voluntary Tax Compliance

This thesis explores the integrative effect of social psychological factors among themselves as well as with economic deterrent factors in stimulating voluntary tax compliance, contributing to the tax compliance literature a theoretically relevant integrative approach that bridges between social psychological and economic deterrence approaches. It also contributes to the ecological validity of research on tax compliance behavior by comparing samples of two tax environments that are extremely unlike—one from a developing country (i.e. Ethiopia) and another from a developed country (i.e. the US). Chapter 1 is an introductory chapter that seeks to introduce the thesis and summarize research on voluntary tax compliance, highlighting the need to integrate antecedents of voluntary tax compliance. Each of the three empirical chapters contributes to theoretical and empirical developments of the tax compliance literature. Chapter 2 explores the moderating roles of two (i.e. coercive and legitimate) types of power wielded by the tax authority in the relationship between procedural justice and voluntary tax compliance as mediated by (cognition-based) trust in the authority. This study finds support for the prediction that high (but not low) coercive and low (but not high) legitimate power of the tax authority moderate the positive relationship between procedural justice and voluntary tax compliance. Only procedural justice by legitimate power interaction has been mediated by (cognition-based) trust. Chapter 3 examines identification with the nation as a boundary condition to the interactive effect of procedural justice of and trust in the tax authority on voluntary tax compliance and finds support in two distinct samples for the prediction that the interactive effect (of procedural justice and trust) is significant among citizens who weakly (rather than strongly) identify with the nation. Chapter 4 explores legitimacy of the tax authority as a boundary condition to the interactive effect of procedural and distributive justice in stimulating voluntary tax compliance and finds support in two studies for the prediction that high (but not low) legitimate power moderates the interactive effect of procedural and distributive justice on voluntary tax compliance. Chapter 5 discusses in detail the empirical findings presented in this dissertation with emphasis on their theoretical as well as practical contributions and limitations.
Synergism between melatonin and atorvastatin against endothelial cell damage induced by lipopolysaccharide

Abstract: The beneficial effects of atorvastatin are based on both cholesterol‐dependent and independent mechanisms. The latter probably include the ability of the estatin to enhance the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and to cause a vasodilatation. In turn, the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory actions of melatonin are related to its vascular protection. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of the combination of melatonin plus atorvastatin against endothelial cell damage induced by inflammation and oxidative stress injury. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence or absence of melatonin and/or atorvastatin. LPS inhibited eNOS mRNA and protein expression, which was reversed by atorvastatin and, to a lesser extent, by melatonin. Together, melatonin + atorvastatin induced higher eNOS protein expression than either compound alone. Melatonin, but not atorvastatin, reduced free radical generation, lipid peroxidation, and interleukin‐6 levels induced by LPS. In the presence of atorvastatin, the effects of melatonin were maintained or even improved. These data suggest that melatonin improves the beneficial effects of atorvastatin and reduces its side effects in endothelial cells during inflammation and under conditions of oxidative stress.