Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of poor mental and physical health status among patients with chronic hepatitis C infection: The Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study (CHeCS)

Our objective was to assess the extent and risk factors for depression and poor physical health among patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We surveyed HCV‐infected patients seen at four large healthcare systems participating in the Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study (CHeCS). Survey data included demographics, depression and physical health measures, substance use history, current social support, recent stressor exposures, and, from the electronic medical record, treatment history, and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores. There were 4,781 respondents, who were a mean of 56.7 years old, 71% White, and 57% male. Altogether, 51.4% reported past injection drug use, 33.9% were current smokers, and 17.7% had abused alcohol in the previous year. Additionally, 47.4% had been previously treated for HCV and 14.8% had a 12‐week sustained viral response (SVR) following HCV therapy. Overall, 29.7% of patients met criteria for current depression and 24.6% were in poor physical health. In multivariate analyses, significant predictors of depression and poor health included: male gender (versus female, odds ratios [ORs], 0.70 and 0.81), Black race (versus white, ORs, 0.60 and 0.61), having education less than high school (versus college, ORs, 1.81 and 1.54), being employed (versus not, ORs, 0.36 and 0.25), having high life stressors (versus low, ORs, 2.44 and 1.64), having low social support (versus high, ORs = 2.78 and 1.40), and having high Charlson scores (versus none, ORs = 1.58 and 2.12). Achieving a 12‐week SVR was found to be protective for depression. Conclusion: This large survey of U.S. HCV patients indicates the extent of adverse health behaviors and mental and physical comorbidities among these patients. (Hepatology 2015;61:802–811)
Promotion prospects and career paths of local party-government leaders in China

Abstract Drawing on biographical data of 202 county and municipal party-government leaders from Zhejiang as well as in-depth interviews, this article finds a bifurcation of career paths among local party-government leaders. It shows that a significant proportion of local leaders has little prospect of promotion. Age restrictions alone make over half of incumbents ineligible for advancement, thus practically placing them in the category of ‘ceilinged cadres’. In addition, more than three quarters of local party-government leaders can be considered ‘native cadres’, i.e. local officials who serving in the same municipality in which they were born or developed their career. Put together, nearly half (43%) of local leaders are both ceilinged and native, who might have to overcome double barriers in order to climb up to a higher rank. Further analysis shows that ‘native-ceilinged cadres’ may not single-mindedly strive for promotion and may instead pursue a local-oriented career path. The article concludes that, instead of implicitly assuming that all local leaders are motivated by promotion, more attention should be paid to specific career incentives among local leaders, which shape their behavior patterns and thus affect the political interactions between the central leadership and local authorities.
Ureaplasma urealyticum biovar specificity and diversity are encoded in multiple-banded antigen gene

Ureaplasma urealyticum is a commensal organism of the lower genital tract of females, but in a subpopulation of individuals, it can invade the upper genital tract. It is a significant cause of chorioamnionitis and neonatal morbidity and mortality. There are 14 recognized serovars of U. urealyticum; these can be divided into two distinct clusters or biovars. Biovar 1 is composed of serovars 1, 3, 6, and 14, Biovar 2 is composed of serovars 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. We previously identified a surface antigen, the multiple-banded (MB) antigen, which contains both serovar-specific and cross-reactive epitopes. Genotypic characterization of the C-terminal region of the MB antigen of serovar 3 indicates that serovar specificity and MB antigen size variation reside in that domain. In the present study, we used PCR analysis with primers derived from the serovar 3 MB antigen gene DNA sequence to determine if the MB antigen gene was present in the remaining 13 reference serovars as well as in invasive clinical isolates. The results indicated that not only was the MB antigen gene present in all serovars but that the genes' 5' regions were markers of biovar specificity and diversity. Further analysis of this region should reveal the phylogenetic relationship among serovars of U. urealyticum and, possibly, their invasive potential.
Prediction of Relative In Vivo Metabolite Exposure from In Vitro Data Using Two Model Drugs: Dextromethorphan and Omeprazole

Metabolites can have pharmacological or toxicological effects, inhibit metabolic enzymes, and be used as probes of drug-drug interactions or specific cytochrome P450 (P450) phenotypes. Thus, better understanding and prediction methods are needed to characterize metabolite exposures in vivo. This study aimed to test whether in vitro data could be used to predict and rationalize in vivo metabolite exposures using two model drugs and P450 probes: dextromethorphan and omeprazole with their primary metabolites dextrorphan, 5-hydroxyomeprazole (5OH-omeprazole), and omeprazole sulfone. Relative metabolite exposures were predicted using metabolite formation and elimination clearances. For dextrorphan, the formation clearances of dextrorphan glucuronide and 3-hydroxymorphinan from dextrorphan in human liver microsomes were used to predict metabolite (dextrorphan) clearance. For 5OH-omeprazole and omeprazole sulfone, the depletion rates of the metabolites in human hepatocytes were used to predict metabolite clearance. Dextrorphan/dextromethorphan in vivo metabolite/parent area under the plasma concentration versus time curve ratio (AUCm/AUCp) was overpredicted by 2.1-fold, whereas 5OH-omeprazole/omeprazole and omeprazole sulfone/omeprazole were predicted within 0.75- and 1.1-fold, respectively. The effect of inhibition or induction of the metabolite's formation and elimination on the AUCm/AUCp ratio was simulated. The simulations showed that unless metabolite clearance pathways are characterized, interpretation of the metabolic ratios is exceedingly difficult. This study shows that relative in vivo metabolite exposure can be predicted from in vitro data and characterization of secondary metabolism of probe metabolites is critical for interpretation of phenotypic data.
A Cumulative Sum-Based Fault Detector for Power System Relaying Application

In this paper, a cumulative-sum-based fault detection algorithm is proposed for the power system relaying application. Literature suggests the successful application of this method to process control systems where the deviation of parameters is tracked to indicate any abnormal conditions. The effectiveness of the algorithm is found to be better than the traditional methods in the presence of noise, system frequency deviation, and other uncertainties. It is also not affected by load change in a system. Above all, it provides relatively higher index values without compromising detection speed.
Prospective Evaluation of TLE1 as a Diagnostic Immunohistochemical Marker in Synovial Sarcoma

Synovial sarcoma is a high-grade soft tissue sarcoma that can be challenging to diagnose on the basis of histology alone. It is defined by a characteristic translocation t(X;18) that produces the fusion oncogene SYT-SSX. The current diagnostic gold standard for synovial sarcoma is the demonstration of the translocation by fluorescence in situ hybridization, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, or cytogenetics, in an appropriate histologic context. TLE1 encodes a transcriptional corepressor that is overexpressed in synovial sarcomas. Gene and tissue microarray studies have identified TLE1 as an excellent bio-marker for distinguishing the synovial sarcoma from other soft tissue malignancies. We prospectively evaluated incoming soft tissue tumor cases where the histology and clinical setting made synovial sarcoma a real consideration in the differential diagnosis. TLE1, Bcl2, epithelial membrane antigen, and cytokeratin expression were assessed using commercially available antibodies. TLE1 gave intense, diffuse nuclear staining in 35 of 35 molecularly confirmed synovial sarcoma cases, and was rare to absent in the 73 other soft tissue tumors examined (positive staining was found only in 1 of 43 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, the 1 tested fibrosarcoma, and 1 pleomorphic sarcoma). TLE1 was more sensitive and specific for synovial sarcoma than other currently available immunohistochemical markers including Bcl2, epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratins, and had a positive predictive value of 92% and a negative predictive value of 100% in this clinical setting. Our findings confirm, in a prospective diagnostic context, that TLE1 is more sensitive and specific for synovial sarcoma than any other currently available immunohistochemical stains, and in some cases may preclude the need for molecular testing.
Compliance Costs and the Tax Avoidance-Tax Evasion Decision

The analysis of the individual's choice of illegal tax evasion has typically ignored an alternative, legal method by which taxes can be reduced: tax avoidance. This article analyzes the joint individual choice of evasion and avoidance; it also examines optimal government policy in such a world. Its principal conclusion is that the existence of another channel for tax reduction alters many of the conclusions of the simpler evasion literature. Specifically, government policies that reduce evasion may not increase the tax base because avoidance may increase instead, and tax rate reductions may be a powerful tool for generating tax base increases because reductions make both evasion and avoidance less attractive. In addition, optimal government choices depend critically upon its objectives. The government selects larger values for its instruments when its goal is net revenue maximization or when those individuals who evade are not valued highly in its welfare function. It also appears that greater tax complexity generates more tax revenues.
The Return Performance of Cubic Market Model: An Application to Emerging Markets

ABSTRACT This article studies the performance of the high-order moment capital asset pricing model (CAPM) market models in emerging markets. We apply the cubic market model (4-moment CAPM) to 16 emerging market stock indices ranging from January 2010 to September 2015. Performance of the model is evaluated through the Fama and MacBeth’s two-step regression and through different corrections proposed in the literature, as well as generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation. According to Fama–MacBeth’s procedure, CAPM, the quadratic and cubic market models seem to be insignificant for the analyzed sample; however, the GMM estimation shows that quadratic model is valid for Indian, Polish, and Thai country indices, whereas cubic market model is accurate for Indian country index.
The Results of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Supraventricular Tachycardia in Children

Backgrounds: Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation represents a major advance in the management of children with cardiac arrhythmias and has rapidly become the standard of care for the first‐ling therapy of supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the results of the RF catheter ablation of SVTs in pediatric patients.
Endothelin-1 within the Corpus Luteum during Spontaneous Luteolysis in the Cow: Local Interaction with Prostaglandin F2α and Angiotensin II

It is generally accepted that endothelin-1 (ET-1) is involved in the regression of the corpus luteum (CL) in cows, but there are few in vivo data available on the local release of vasoconstrictors, including ET-1. Thus, we aimed to determine in detail the local secretion of ET-1, angiotensin II (Ang II) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) within the CL during spontaneous luteolysis in the cow. To observe real-time dynamics of the releasing profile of CL-derived factors, a microdialysis system was surgically implanted in the CL on day 15 of the estrous cycle and continuously perfused with Ringer's solution. Local secretion of ET-1, Ang II and PGF2α increased immediately after the onset of luteolysis (the time point when progesterone release started to decrease within the CL) and was maintained at high levels. A positive relationship was observed in intra-luteal changes among ET-1, Ang II and PGF2α release. This is the first real-time and in vivo evidence that the secretion of ET-1 together with Ang II and PGF2α immediately increases within the CL after the onset of spontaneous luteolysis. Consequently, we suggest that the activation of a local positive feedback mechanism among ET-1, Ang II and PGF2α might play a functional role in the paracrine modulation of luteolytic cascade and, simultaneously, the elevated ET-1 with Ang II and PGF2α should induce a strong vasoconstriction, thereby reducing the blood supplying the CL during spontaneous luteolysis.
A simplistic model of the emergence of money

We present a simplistic model of the competition between dierent currencies. Each individual is free to choose the currency that minimizes his transaction costs, which arise whenever his exchanging relations have chosen a dierent currency. We show that competition between currencies does not necessarily converge to the emergence of a single currency. For large systems, we prove that two distinct communities using dier-ent currencies in the initial state will remain forever in this fractionalized state.
Tonsillectomy

Objective. To compare the estimated cost-effectiveness of childhood (adeno)tonsillectomy vs medical therapy for recurrent sore throats from the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with that modeled on the recorded timing of surgical interventions as observed in all participants irrespective of their original group allocation. Study Design. A pragmatic RCT (trial) with a parallel nonrandomized patient preference group (cohort) of (adeno)tonsillectomy vs medical therapy. Setting. Five secondary care UK otolaryngology departments. Subjects and Methods. Eligible children, aged 4 to 15 years, were enrolled to the trial (268) or cohort (461) groups. Outcomes included sore throat diaries, quality of life, and general practice consultations. The RCT protocol ITT analysis was compared with an as-treated analysis incorporating the cohort group, modeled to reflect the timing of tonsillectomy and the differential switch rates among the original groups. Results. >In the RCT ITT analysis, tonsillectomy saved 3.5 sore throats, whereas the as-treated model suggested an average reduction of more than 8 sore throats in 2 years for surgery within 10 weeks of consultation, falling to only 3.5 twelve months later due to the spontaneous improvement in the medical therapy group. Conclusion. In eligible UK school-age children, tonsillectomy can save up to 8 sore throats at a reasonable cost, if performed promptly. Further prospective data collection, accounting for baseline and per-trial preferences and choice, is urgently needed.
Sorafenib induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in human synovial sarcoma cells via inhibiting the RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway

Synovial sarcoma is a soft tissue sarcoma with poor prognosis and lack of response to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. The regulatory mechanisms for the rapid proliferation of synovial sarcoma cells and the particular aggressiveness of this sarcoma remain poorly understood. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades have been shown to play important roles in synovial sarcoma survival. Sorafenib (Nexavar, BAY 43-9006), a potent recombinant activated factor (RAF) inhibitor, inhibits the MAPK signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined the inhibitory proliferation effects of sorafenib in synovial sarcoma growth and evaluated whether sorafenib modulates MAPK and tumor apoptosis cascades in human synovial sarcoma cell lines SW982 and HS-SY-Ⅱ. Our results indicated that sorafenib effectively inhibited cellular proliferation and induces apoptosis of these two cells. Sorafenib inhibited the phosphorylation of MEK and ERK, down-regulated cyclin D1 and Rb levels, caused G1 arrest and S phase decrease, and induced apoptosis as confirmed by flow cytometry and the TUNEL assay. Furthermore, Bcl-xl and Mcl-1 levels significantly decreased, whereas expression levels of the proteins bcl-2 and bax were unchanged in response to sorafenib treatment in SW982 and HS-SY-II cells. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that sorafenib is effective for growth inhibition of synovial sarcoma cell lines in vitro and suggest that sorafenib may be a new therapeutic option for patients with synovial sarcoma.
Customers’ perceived website service quality and its effects on e-loyalty

Purpose This study aims to examine determinants of perceived website quality and associations among consequences of perceived website quality. Adopting the framework of loyalty development, causal links are investigated among the website quality, customers’ perceived service quality, their satisfaction, return intention and loyalty in the context of the lodging industry. Design/methodology/approach An online field survey is conducted with internet bookers. A confirmatory factor analysis and a parameter estimate analysis using structural equation modeling are adopted to analyze the data. Findings The progression of the phases of loyalty proceeds in a linear fashion on a lodging website. Mediation effects of customer satisfaction and return intention are detected. Moderation effects of gender were also detected in the relationships among website service quality and consequences of website service quality. Research limitations/implications Caution is advised in generalizing findings of this study due to convenience sampling, although findings of the study do confirm results of previously conducted studies. Practical implications This study provides practical tips for website development for hospitality management to understand the e-loyalty formation process so that appropriate marketing strategies can be established to accommodate the type and degree of individual customer’s loyalty as well as gender-specific expectations from prospective customers. Originality/value This study demonstrates that customer loyalty formation in both physical and online environments has identical processes in the context of the lodging industry. The male group, compared to the female group, appears to be more sensitive in perceiving the effects of functionality of a lodging website, tends to develop customer satisfaction when perceiving website service quality and inclines to develop customer loyalty when having return intention.
Importance of Nuclear Localization of Apoptin for Tumor-specific Induction of Apoptosis*

The chicken anemia virus-derived protein Apoptin induces apoptosis specifically in human tumor and transformed cells and not in normal, untransformed cells. The cell killing activity correlates with a predominantly nuclear localization of Apoptin in tumor cells, whereas in normal cells, it is detected mainly in cytoplasmic structures. To explore the role of nuclear localization for Apoptin-induced cell death in tumor cells, we employed a mutagenesis strategy. First, we demonstrated that the C terminus of Apoptin contains a bipartite-type nuclear localization signal. Strikingly, further investigation showed that Apoptin contains two different domains that induce apoptosis independently, and for both domains, we found a strong correlation between localization and killing activity. Using inhibitors, we ruled out the involvement of de novo gene transcription and translation and further showed that Apoptin itself does not have any significant transcriptional repression activity, suggesting that Apoptin exerts its effects in the nucleus by some other method. To determine whether nuclear localization is sufficient to enable Apoptin to kill normal, untransformed cells, we expressed full-length Apoptin fused to a heterologous nuclear localization signal in these cells. However, despite its nuclear localization, no apoptosis was induced, which suggests that nuclear localization per se is not sufficient for Apoptin to become active. These studies increase our understanding of the molecular pathway of Apoptin and may also shed light on the mechanism of cellular transformation.
Pathogenetic significance of reactive oxygen species in diffuse fibrosing alveolitis.

Excessive release of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) from lung inflammatory cells has been claimed to be of major pathogenetic significance in diffuse fibrosing alveolitis. In the present study, the content of oxidized methionine residues [Met(O)] as a percentage of total methionine (Met) in BAL-derived proteins was used to assess the biologic effect of ROM. In addition, procollagen-III-peptide was measured in BAL fluid as a marker of fibroblast activation. We investigated bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from seven control patients without evidence of interstitial lung disease and from 42 patients with fibrosing alveolitis caused by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), n = 20, or by collagen vascular disease (CVD), n = 22. Met(O) was elevated in the patients with IPF or CVD compared with that in the control subjects (8.86 +/- 1.26 and 8.13 +/- 1.44% versus 3.36 +/- 0.49%, p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05, respectively; mean +/- SEM). A positive correlation was found between percentage of neutrophils in BAL and Met(O) in both groups separately and combined (IPF, r = 0.84; p less than 0.001; CVD, r = 0.44; p less than 0.05; IPF and CVD, r = 0.60; p less than 0.001), whereas an inverse relationship existed between Met(O) and the percentage of alveolar macrophages in BAL (IPF, r = -0.59; p less than 0.01; CVD, r = -0.24; NS; IPF and CVD, r = -0.41; p less than 0.05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Transmission of the human polyomavirus JC virus occurs both within the family and outside the family

JC polyomavirus (JCV) is a ubiquitous symbiote in the human population, infecting children asymptomatically and then persisting in renal tissue. We reevaluated the urinary excretion of JCV in subjects in various age groups using PCR. The detection rate for urinary JCV DNA was 9 to 17% until the age of 20 years; this rate increased dramatically to about 46% at the ages of 20 to 29 years and then increased gradually with age. Therefore, it appears that in most people excretion of JCV begins at the age of 20 to 29 years, which is earlier than suggested previously. Next, we studied the way in which JCV is spread in the human population. We selected eight Japanese families in which both parents and children excreted JCV in their urine. Their JCV subtypes were determined by PCR amplification of a JCV DNA fragment; this was followed by restriction enzyme analysis. JCV species in all JCV-positive family members were classified into either of the two subtypes, subtypes CY and MY, which are prevalent in the Japanese population. The following features of JCV subtype distribution were seen in the families: (i) both subtypes were detected in children of five of the eight families, and (ii) of 21 children who excreted JCV, 14 children excreted the same subtypes excreted by their mothers or fathers, while the remainder (7 children) excreted subtypes different from those excreted by their parents. These features suggest that JCV is transmitted both within the family and outside the family. The data also indicate that vertical transmission is not common in the spread of JCV.