Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of malnutrition in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients and its relationship with echocardiographic findings

Background: Malnutrition is common in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who on peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD). This study aimed to compare the frequency distribution of malnutrition in HD and PD patients and its relationship with echocardiographic findings. Materials and Methods: This is a case–control study. Using the simple random sampling, 109 patients were selected among HD and PD patients based on the inclusion criteria. HD and PD groups included 55 and 54 patients, respectively. The malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS) index was used to assess malnutrition. Echocardiography was performed by a cardiologist. All the data were analyzed by SPSS version 18. Results: In this study, 79.6% (43 patients) were in the PD group with MIS <9 (no malnutrition to mild malnutrition) and 20.4% (11 patients) with 9 ≤ MIS ≤ 18 suffered from moderate malnutrition. In the HD group, 72.7% (forty patients) had MIS < 9, 25.5% (14) had 9 ≤ MIS ≤ 18, and 1.8% (one patient) with MIS > 18 suffered from severe malnutrition (P = 0.74). There was no significant relationship between MIS and echocardiographic findings in PD patients (P > 0.05). In the HD group, there was no significant relationship between MIS and echocardiographic findings (P > 0.05), except for aortic and mitral valve insufficiencies (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study show 27.3% of HD patients had moderate to severe malnutrition. There was a statistically significant relationship between MIS index and aortic and mitral valve insufficiencies in HD patients.
Selecting Methodologies for Entrepreneurial Research: Trade-offs and Guidelines

Entrepreneurial (including small-business) research is characterized by a large number of different research methodologies, each of which possesses advantages and disadvantages. Hence an entrepreneurial researcher must consider the trade-offs associated with each type of methodology. This paper describes these trade-offs and develops a set of guidelines that a researcher can use for selecting a specific type of methodology.
Deviation from predictions in corporate environmental performance: antecedents and financial consequences

This dissertation examines two main research questions: Why do firms deviate from their predicted level of toxic emissions, and how do these differences relate to financial performance? The objective is threefold: (1) to understand deviation in corporate environmental performance by looking at both industry and firm level variables, (2) to see how this deviation relates to both profitability and fluctuations in financial performance, and (3) to see if, and how, corporate environmental legitimacy affects the relationship between corporate environmental deviation and corporate financial performance. To achieve this objective the construct ―corporate environmental performance deviation‖ is developed. It is defined as the extent to which a firm‘s environmental performance deviates from its predicted performance, and is used to capture within-firm strategic choices in environmental management. Predicted environmental performance is calculated based on certain firm characteristics such as size and industry. Actual environmental performance is calculated using a weighted score of air emissions obtained from the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) database. The difference between these two values represents a corporation‘s environmental performance deviation. Corporate environmental performance deviation focuses on strategic choices related to environmental management, while recognizing that environmental management is the result of both institutional pressures and within-firm strategic decisions. Aligned with this focus, variables
Differential Effects of Cytohesins 2 and 3 on β1 Integrin Recycling*

ADP-ribosylation actor 6 (ARF6) regulates the endocytosis and recycling of a variety of proteins and also promotes peripheral actin rearrangements and cell motility. ARF6 is activated by a large number of guanine nucleotide exchange factors, which likely regulate ARF6 at different locations and during different processes. In this study we investigate the roles of the cytohesin ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)-guanine nucleotide exchange factors during the recycling of integrin β1. Intriguingly, we find that knockdown and overexpression of ARNO/cytohesin 2 and GRP1/cytohesin 3 have opposing effects on cell adhesion and spreading on fibronectin and on cell migration. We find that ARNO/cytohesin 2 is required for integrin β1 recycling, whereas GRP1/cytohesin 3 is dispensable for this process. This is the first demonstration of unique roles for these proteins.
Time-Varying Associations of Parent–Adolescent Cultural Conflict and Youth Adjustment Among Chinese American Families

The purpose of this study was to examine time-varying associations of parent–adolescent cultural conflict with depressive symptoms and grade point average (GPA) among Chinese Americans from ages 11–22. We pooled two independently collected longitudinal data sets (N = 760 at Wave 1) and used time-varying effect modeling (TVEM) to show that the frequency of parent–adolescent conflict increased during early adolescence (12 years), peaked at mid adolescence (16 years), and gradually decreased throughout late adolescence and young adulthood. In general, parent–adolescent conflict was associated with negative adjustment (more depressive symptoms and lower GPA) more strongly during mid- to late-adolescence (15 to 17 years) compared with other developmental periods. These time-varying associations differed slightly by gender, at least for GPA. Our findings provide important developmental knowledge of parent–adolescent conflict for Chinese American youth and suggest that attention to conflict and links to adjustment is especially relevant during mid to late adolescence. Our study also illustrates the usefulness of integrative data analysis and TVEM to investigate how the strength of conflict-adjustment associations might change throughout development.
Exploring Driving Forces of Innovation in the MSEs: The Case of the Sustainable B&B Tourism Industry

The purpose of this study is to explore the driving forces of innovation in micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the tourism industry and to understand how these drivers help allocate and utilize resources, thereby increasing innovations’ success and sustainable development. This study focused on Taiwan’s bed and breakfast (B&B) industry. In-depth interviews were conducted with the owners of 20 B&Bs that displayed innovation activities and were selected following a strict evaluation procedure. A content analysis was then performed to obtain the seven driving forces of innovation: B&B owners’ lifestyles, customers, market information, external knowledge, business expansion needs, policy, and familiar partners. The results show that the B&B owners’ lifestyles and customers are key drivers of innovation. On the other hand, employees, family and friends are less frequently mentioned. Our results can serve as a reference for innovation in both the B&B industry and MSEs.
An integrated high-precision probe system for near-field magnetic measurements on cryptographic LSIs

This paper presents a fully integrated RF magnetic probe with a multi-stage low-noise amplifier (LNA) in a 0.18-μm CMOS process to measure and analyze magnetic near-field map on cryptography LSI chips. A 3-stage controllable-gain differential LNA is integrated with a 100μm×100μm pickup coil whose underneath Si-substrate area is sputtered away by a Focused-Ion-Beam (FIB) technique to enhance the coil's performance. A high and controllable-gain LNA with self-bias cascode structure is also proposed for the last-stage amplifier. Post-layout simulated total gain of the LNA is achieved up to 63-dB at 17.37 MHz by HSPICE. High-precision mechanical scanning and monitoring system for the probe is implemented in this work. The first evaluation of the probe performance is performed by measuring the emission of a 200-μm-width micro-strip-line through the probe output and the high-precision scanning system. Then, the probe and the system are applied to measure and built 7mm×9mm 2D-distributed magnetic-field maps of a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) operating with a 24-MHz clock on an Advanced-Encryption-Standard (AES) encryption core.
Cloning of genes from mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa which control spontaneous conversion to the alginate production phenotype

Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa causing chronic pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis are known to convert to a mucoid form in vivo characterized by the production of the exopolysaccharide alginate. The alginate production trait is not stable, and mucoid strains frequently convert back to the nonmucoid form in vitro. The DNA involved in these spontaneous alginate conversions, referred to as algS, was shown here to map near hisI and pru markers on the chromosome of strain FRD, an isolate from a cystic fibrosis patient. Although cloning algS+ by trans-complementation was not possible, a clone (pJF5) was isolated that caused algS mutants to convert to the Alg+ phenotype at detectable frequencies (approximately 0.1%) in vitro. Gene replacement with transposon-marked pJF5 followed by mapping studies showed that pJF5 contained DNA transducibly close to algS in the chromosome. Another clone was identified called pJF15 which did contain algS+ from mucoid P. aeruginosa. The plasmid-borne algS+ locus could not complement spontaneous algS mutations in trans, but its cis-acting activity was readily observed after gene replacement with the algS mutant chromosome by using an adjacent transposon as the selectable marker. pJF15 also contained a trans-active gene called algT+ in addition to the cis-active gene algS+. The algT gene was localized on pJF15 by using deletion mapping and transposon mutagenesis. By using gene replacement, algT::Tn501 mutants of P. aeruginosa were constructed which were shown to be complemented in trans by pJF15. Both algS and algT were located on a DNA fragment approximately 3 kilobases in size. The algS gene may be a genetic switch which regulates the process of alginate conversion.
Executive functions in extremely low birth weight and late-preterm preschoolers: Effects on working memory and response inhibition

Executive function (EF) refers to fundamental capacities that underlie more complex cognition and have ecological relevance across the individual's lifespan. However, emerging executive functions have rarely been studied in young preterm children (age 3) whose critical final stages of fetal development are interrupted by their early birth. We administered four novel touch-screen computerized measures of working memory and inhibition to 369 participants born between 2004 and 2006 (52 Extremely Low Birth Weight [ELBW]; 196 late preterm; 121 term-born). ELBW performed worse than term-born on simple and complex working memory and inhibition tasks and had the highest percentage of incomplete performance on a continuous performance test. The latter finding indicates developmental immaturity and the ELBW group's most at-risk preterm status. Additionally, late-preterm participants performed worse compared with term-born on measures of complex working memory but did not differ from those term-born on response inhibition measures. These results are consistent with a recent literature that identifies often subtle but detectable neurocognitive deficits in late-preterm children. Our results support the development and standardization of computerized touch-screen measures to assess EF subcomponent abilities during the formative preschool period. Such measures may be useful to monitor the developmental trajectory of critical executive function abilities in preterm children, and their use is necessary for timely recognition of deficit and application of appropriate interventional strategies.
Thrombophilia testing in pregnancy: should we agree to disagree?

Abstract The value of testing for inherited thrombophilia in pregnancy has been debated in literature with regard to its utility in preventing adverse obstetrical outcomes or identifying women at risk for it. In this commentary, an evidence based approach is used to investigate the strength of association between thrombophilias and recurrent pregnancy loss and stillbirth. Several studies and meta-analyses have shown that there is only a weak association with recurrent pregnancy loss. However, many of these studies were underpowered, and there was significant heterogeneity-issues that are addressed in this paper. The evidence for association with stillbirth is lacking, but the few studies that are available seem to suggest a stronger correlation than for recurrent pregnancy loss. Further, the benefit of treating thrombophilias with anticoagulation in order to prevent these outcomes is discussed. While there is a lack of evidence looking at whether anticoagulation prevents stillbirth, there is strong evidence to show that anticoagulation does not prevent recurrent pregnancy loss. Finally, guidelines put out by various obstetrical and hematological societies regarding this topic are summarized.
Inhibition of growth of HT-29 human colon cancer xenografts in nude mice by treatment with bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide antagonist (RC-3095).

Nude mice bearing xenografts of HT-29 human colon cancer cell line were treated for 4 weeks with a [D-Trp6] agonist of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH), somatostatin analogue (RC-160), and bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide antagonist (RC-3095). Some inhibitory effect of [D-Trp6] LH-RH microcapsules releasing 25 micrograms/day on tumor growth was observed that could be due to sex steroid deprivation, but the inhibition was not statistically significant. Microcapsules of RC-160, releasing 50 micrograms/day, significantly reduced tumor volume after 21 and 24 days of treatment, but at the end of the experiment the inhibition in tumor volume and weight was not significant. Bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide antagonist RC-3095, at a dose of 20 micrograms/day administered by daily s.c. injections or by continuous infusion using Alzet osmotic minipumps, had the greatest inhibitory effect on tumor growth. Tumor volume, percentage change in tumor volume, and tumor weights were significantly decreased in both groups treated with RC-3095. This is the first report on inhibition of human colon cancer growth in vivo by bombesin antagonists.
Quantitation of Insulin-stimulated Glucose Disposal in Patients with Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Glucose disposal rates (Rd) during an insulin clamp study reflect both basal and insulin-stimulated Rd. To quantify the amount of glucose taken up in response to a known increase ininsulin concentration, two consecutive studies were performed on 10 patients with mild to moderate NIDDM (mean fasting glucose = 146 mg/ dl) and 10 normal subjects. Endogenous insulin secretion was inhibited by somatostatin and plasma glucose level maintained at 180 mg/dl for 5 h. Rd (mg/m2/min) was determined isotopically for 2.5 h at insulin concentrations ∼6 μU/ml and during 2.5 h of physiologic hyperinsulinemia at ∼60 μU/ml (total glucose disposal), with the increase in Rd resulting from the approximate 10-fold elevation of plasma insulin concentration defined as insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. Results showed that the increment in Rd resulting from the elevation of plasma insulin concentration was relatively minor in NIDDM (38 ± 6), increasing from a mean (±SEM) value of 83 ± 8 to 121 ±12. Similar values in normal subjects were 90 ± 7 and 274 ± 26 with an increment of 183 ± 21. Thus, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in patients with NIDDM was only one-fifth of that in normals, and accounted for only 31% (38 ÷ 121) of total glucose disposal during the clamp study. These data indicate that the majority of previous insulin clamp studies of in vivo insulin action in patients with NIDDM, in which total glucose disposal and insulinstimulated glucose disposal have been equated, have underestimated the magnitude of insulin resistance present in NIDDM. This conclusion is highlighted by the fact that the current study was carried out in patients with relatively mild NIDDM, and the possibility exists that physiologic increments of plasma insulin have essentially no effect on peripheral glucose disposal in patients with moresevere NIDDM.
Decreased cervicovaginal production of both IgA1 and IgA2 subclasses in women with AIDS

Paired sera and cervicovaginal secretions from 35 HIV‐1‐infected women representing different CDC stages of HIV infection were evaluated for total IgA, IgA1 and IgA2, for IgA, IgA1 and IgA2 to gp160, and for albumin. Age‐matched healthy women (n= 45) served as controls. The secretion rates of total IgA, IgA1 and IgA2 were evaluated by calculating their relative coefficients of excretion by reference to albumin. In HIV‐infected women, total IgA1 and IgA2 in sera and in cervicovaginal secretions increased proportionately as early as stages II + III and more markedly at stage IV. By contrast, the secretion rates of total IgA, IgA1 and IgA2 were markedly reduced in AIDS women, the IgA2 secretion rate decreasing significantly as early as stages II +III. This apparent discrepancy was probably the result of increased transudation of serum‐borne immunoglobulins into the vaginal cavity, since albumin levels in cervicovaginal secretions increased significantly according to the stages of disease. HIV‐reactive IgA antibodies in serum, as in cervicovaginal secretions, were principally found within the IgA 1 subclass. In women at stage IV, a high local production of IgA1 to gp160 occurred in spite of the impairment of cervicovaginal IgA synthesis, probably because of marked genital HIV replication at advanced stages.
Strategies for the management of microbial keratitis.

Microbial keratitis results from a complex interaction between a protean array of pathogens and a diversity of host responses. The variability of these factors has hampered the development of simple management guidelines that will ensure an optimal outcome for most cases; a consequence of this has been the use of an extensive range of culture media in initial investigation, toxic levels of antibiotic treatment, and constant clinical review, all of which may be unnecessary. The simplified initial management strategies described here are designed to provide effective treatment for the majority of cases, and to identify the point of failure when referral for specialist management may be indicated. A systematic approach to the further management of cases in which initial therapy has failed is also given. These recommendations have been developed to be both practical and safe.
The ferredoxin‐NADP+ reductase/ferredoxin electron transfer system of Plasmodium falciparum

In the apicoplast of apicomplexan parasites, plastidic‐type ferredoxin and ferredoxin‐NADP+ reductase (FNR) form a short electron transport chain that provides reducing power for the synthesis of isoprenoid precursors. These proteins are attractive targets for the development of novel drugs against diseases such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, and coccidiosis. We have obtained ferredoxin and FNR of both Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum in recombinant form, and recently we solved the crystal structure of the P. falciparum reductase. Here we report on the functional properties of the latter enzyme, which differ markedly from those of homologous FNRs. In the physiological reaction, P. falciparum FNR displays a kcat five‐fold lower than those usually determined for plastidic‐type FNRs. By rapid kinetics, we found that hydride transfer between NADPH and protein‐bound FAD is slower in the P. falciparum enzyme. The redox properties of the enzyme were determined, and showed that the FAD semiquinone species is highly destabilized. We propose that these two features, i.e. slow hydride transfer and unstable FAD semiquinone, are responsible for the poor catalytic efficiency of the P. falciparum enzyme. Another unprecedented feature of the malarial parasite FNR is its ability to yield, under oxidizing conditions, an inactive dimeric form stabilized by an intermolecular disulfide bond. Here we show that the monomer–dimer interconversion can be controlled by oxidizing and reducing agents that are possibly present within the apicoplast, such as H2O2, glutathione, and lipoate. This finding suggests that modulation of the quaternary structure of P. falciparum FNR might represent a regulatory mechanism, although this needs to be verified in vivo.
The Effect of Number of Mutations and of Drug-Class Sparing on Virological Response to Salvage Genotype-Guided Antiretroviral Therapy

Objective To assess on longitudinal data the impact of number of drug-associated mutations at genotype resistance testing (GRT) and history of previous exposure to antiretrovirals on the virological response to genotype-guided antiretroviral therapy. Methods Subjects that failed HAART who underwent GRT between June 1999 and March 2002 were enrolled. GRT was performed by Viroseq-2 with expert advice offered to physicians. Main outcome was reaching undetectable (<80 copies/ml) HIV-1 RNA level after GRT and maintaining undetectable viraemia for at least 6 months. The number of mutations conferring resistance to each class of antiretrovirals was categorized and their effect on virological outcome investigated. Mutations considered in the analysis were those reported by the IAS-USA in 2002. Multivariate analysis was performed by Cox proportional hazard model. Results Four-hundred-and-seventy consecutive subjects were enrolled and followed-up for a median of 14 (IQR 9–19) months after GRT. Sustained undetectable viraemia was reached by 80 of 449 subjects (18%). Using as end-point reaching and maintaining for at least 6 months <400 copies/ml after GRT, 103 out of 447 subjects (23%) reached the outcome. For each single protease inhibitor (PI)-, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-associated mutation, there was a reduction of, respectively, 11% (P=0.008), 12% (P=0.001) and 39% (P=0.005) in the likelihood of reaching virological outcome. Subjects carrying ≥6 mutations to NRTIs, ≥7 mutations to PIs and ≥2 mutations to NNRTIs were less likely to reach the virological success compared with those carrying 0–1 (NRTI and PI) or 0 (NNRTI) mutations [HR=0.25 (95% CI: 0.10–0.65); HR=0.33 (95% CI: 0.16–0.67); HR=0.33 (95% CI: 0.14–0.77)], respectively. However, at multivariate analysis the probability of reaching a favourable virological outcome in patients with ≥7 mutations to PIs, if naive for NNRTIs [HR=1.74 (0.69–4.36)], and in subjects with ≥2 mutations for NNRTIs if naive for PIs [HR=1.23 (0.22–6.80)], was comparable to those observed in patients with none or one mutation. Conclusions Our data showed a non-linear association between resistance-conferring mutations and virological outcome. GRT-guided therapy still provided remarkable chances of durable virological success even in subjects with ≥7 mutations to PIs and in subjects with ≥2 mutations to NNRTIs, when the subjects did not have a three-class exposure or if GRT showed no evidence of mutations for a drug class. GRT and as-long-as-possible sparing of a drug class could be a convenient strategy for long-term management of drug-failing patients.