Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Somatoform Disorders With St. John's Wort: A Randomized, Double-Blind and Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objective: To investigate efficacy and safety of St. John's wort (SJW) LI 160 in somatoform disorders. Methods: In a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind parallel group study, 184 outpatients with somatization disorder (ICD-10 F45.0), undifferentiated somatoform disorder (F45.1), and somatoform autonomic dysfunction (F45.3), but not major depression, received either 300 mg of SJW extract LI 160 twice daily or matching placebo for 6 weeks. Six outcome measures were evaluated as a combined measure by means of the Wei Lachin test: Somatoform Disorders Screening Instrument – 7 days (SOMS-7), somatic subscore of the HAMA, somatic subscore of the SCL-90-R, subscores “improvement” and “efficacy” of the CGI, and the global judgment of efficacy by the patient. Results: In the intention to treat population (N =173), for each of the six primary efficacy measures as well as for the combined test, statistically significant medium to large-sized superiority of SJW treatment over placebo was demonstrated (p <.0001). Of the SJW patients, 45.4% were classified as responders compared with 20.9% with placebo (p = .0006). Tolerability of SJW treatment was equivalent to placebo. Conclusions: Administration of 600 mg of SJW extract LI 160 daily is effective and safe in the treatment of somatoform disorders, thereby confirming results from a previous study.
Sequential Structural Changes upon Zinc and Calcium Binding to Metal-free Concanavalin A*

The lectin concanavalin A (ConA) sequentially binds a transition metal ion in the metal-binding site S1 and a calcium ion in the metal-binding site S2 to form its saccharide-binding site. Metal-free ConA crystals soaked with either Zn2+ (apoZn-ConA) or Co2+ (apoCo-ConA) display partial binding of these ions in the proto-transition metal-binding site, but no further conformational changes are observed. These structures can represent the very first step in going from metal-free ConA toward the holoprotein. In the co-crystals of metal-free ConA with Zn2+ (Zn-ConA), the zinc ion can fully occupy the S1 site. The positions of the carboxylate ligands Asp10 and Asp19 that bridge the S1 and S2 sites are affected. The ligation to Zn2+ orients Asp10 optimally for calcium ligation and stabilizes Asp19 by a hydrogen bond to one of its water ligands. The neutralizing and stabilizing effect of the binding of Zn2+ in S1 is necessary to allow for subsequent Ca2+ binding in the S2 site. However, the S2 site of monometallized ConA is still disrupted. The co-crystals of metal-free ConA with both Zn2+ and Ca2+ contain the active holoprotein (ConA ZnCa). Ca2+ has induced large conformational changes to stabilize its hepta-coordination in the S2 site, which comprise the trans to cis isomerization of the Ala207-Asp208 peptide bond accompanied by the formation of the saccharide-binding site. The Zn2+ ligation in ConA ZnCa is similar to Mn2+, Cd2+, Co2+, or Ni2+ ligation in the S1 site, in disagreement with earlier extended x-ray absorption fine structure results that suggested a lower coordination number for Zn2+.
A composite indicator to measure universal health care coverage in India: way forward for post-2015 health system performance monitoring framework

Background There is limited work done on developing methods for measurement of universal health coverage. We undertook a study to develop a methodology and demonstrate the practical application of empirically measuring the extent of universal health coverage at district level. Additionally, we also develop a composite indicator to measure UHC. Methods A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among 51 656 households across 21 districts of Haryana state in India. Using the WHO framework for UHC, we identified indicators of service coverage, financial risk protection, equity and quality based on the Government of India and the Haryana Government’s proposed UHC benefit package. Geometric mean approach was used to compute a composite UHC index (CUHCI). Various statistical approaches to aggregate input indicators with or without weighting, along with various incremental combinations of input indicators were tested in a comprehensive sensitivity analysis. Findings The population coverage for preventive and curative services is presented. Adjusting for inequality, the coverage for all the indicators were less than the unadjusted coverage by 0.1–6.7% in absolute term and 0.1–27% in relative term. There was low unmet need for curative care. However, about 11% outpatient consultations were from unqualified providers. About 30% households incurred catastrophic health expenditures, which rose to 38% among the poorest 20% population. Summary index (CUHCI) for UHC varied from 12% in Mewat district to 71% in Kurukshetra district. The inequality unadjusted coverage for UHC correlates highly with adjusted coverage. Conclusion Our paper is an attempt to develop a methodology to measure UHC. However, careful inclusion of others indicators of service coverage is recommended for a comprehensive measurement which captures the spirit of universality. Further, more work needs to be done to incorporate quality in the measurement framework.
Medical students' attitudes toward the autopsy

BACKGROUND: The autopsy is an educational experience that helps students correlate clinical findings with basic science issues. Because of the sensitive nature of the autopsy, students' attitudes should be considered prior to its design and implementation. METHOD: In 1992-1993, all 147 second-year students at the Medical College of Ohio completed a 26-item Likert questionnaire about their attitudes toward the autopsy. After participating in an elective autopsy experience, 26 students completed the same questionnaire plus 18 additional questions about the environment and behavior of the pathologist. Pre- and post-autopsy responses were factor analyzed using principal-components analysis with a varimax rotation. Student's t-tests were used to compare (1) the pre-autopsy factor scores of the elective participants and the rest of the class and (2) the pre- and post-autopsy scores of the participants. RESULTS: Factor analysis of the attitude questions identified seven factors. Comparison of the pre- and post-autopsy scores of the elective participants revealed statistically significant positive increases on four factors; three factors remained positive or neutral. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the autopsy elective had a positive influence on the student's attitudes. In addition, the pathologist's behavior and the environment in which the autopsy occurred influenced the students. Twenty-two (85%) of the students indicated the autopsy should be mandatory for all students.
The effect of offcut angle on electrical conductivity of wafer-bonded n-GaAs/n-GaAs structures for wafer-bonded tandem solar cells

The effect of offcut angle on the electrical conductivity of III-V multijunction solar devices is investigated using n-GaAs/n-GaAs direct-bonded structures. In the solar industry, misoriented substrates are commonly used in the growth of III-V epitaxial layers. In addition, wafer bonding has been proposed as a potential method of integrating lattice-mismatched materials to avoid the formation of threading dislocations. Our previously published papers showed that sulfur passivation reduces the density of surface charge states and improves the interface conductivity. However, the impact of the offcut angle on the electrical properties has not been explored. n-GaAs wafers miscut towards <;111>; A are chosen and compared to nominal on-axis (001) substrates. The surfaces are treated with either an oxide etch or additional soak in aqueous (NH4)2S. Off-axis wafers are bonded face-to-face in various orientations and then annealed at 400 °C for two hours. It is observed that the electrical conductivity improves considerably with a short rapid thermal processing at 600 °C. However, the out-of-plane relative surface misorientations between the tilted (001) planes greater than 4° exhibit increasingly non-ohmic behavior. A theoretical model that describes the electron tunneling across a grain boundary between semiconductor bicrystals is used to represent the bonded interface and estimate the barrier conduction height. Fitting the zero-bias conductance over a range of temperatures reveals a 0.4 eV increase in barrier height for 12° misoriented sulfur-passivated bonded pairs. Accordingly, the interface resistance at room temperature rises from 0.01 Ω·cm2 to 3.4 Ω·cm2. These results demonstrate that the out-of-plane relative surface misorientation is the critical parameter to be monitored in order to achieve superior electrical conductivity in direct-bonded multijunction solar applications.
Evaluation of stapler hepatectomy during a laparoscopic liver resection.

METHODS An international database of 1499 laparoscopic liver resections was analysed using multivariate and Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS In total, 764 stapler hepatectomies (SH) were compared with 735 electrosurgical resections (ER). SH was employed in larger tumours (4.5 versus 3.8 cm; P < 0.003) with decreased operative times (2.6 versus 3.1 h; P < 0.001), blood loss (100 versus 200 cc; P < 0.001) and length of stay (3.0 versus 7.0 days; P < 0.001). SH incurred a trend towards higher complications (16% versus 13%; P = 0.057) including bile leaks (26/764, 3.4% versus 16/735, 2.2%: P = 0.091). To address group homogeneity, a subset analysis of lobar resections confirmed the benefits of SH. Kaplan-Meier analysis in non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic patients confirmed equivalent patient (P = 0.290 and 0.118) and disease-free survival (P = 0.120 and 0.268). Multivariate analysis confirmed the parenchymal transection technique did not increase the risk of cancer recurrence, whereas tumour size, the presence of cirrhosis and concomitant operations did. CONCLUSIONS A SH provides several advantages including: diminished blood loss, transfusion requirements and shorter operative times. In spite of the smaller surgical margins in the SH group, equivalent recurrence and survival rates were observed when matched for parenchyma and extent of resection.
Prevalence of inherited thrombophilia in patients with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of markers of inherited thrombophilia in patients with severe form of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood samples were analysed for markers of thrombophilia (mutation of factor V - Leiden, mutation of methylentetrahydrofolat reductase (MTHFR) C677T and mutation of prothrombin G20210A). The study group consisted of women who had undergone controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF complicated by severe OHSS (group A, n = 50). Results were compared with two controls groups - women who underwent ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF without developing OHSS (group B, n = 93) and healthy pregnant women with no history of infertility (group C, n = 196). RESULTS We have found 7 out of 50 patients from group A positive for Leiden mutation (heterozygous) 11 out of 93 from group B (heterozygous), p = 0.71 OR 1.21 (0.39 3.70) and 10 out of 196 from group C (heterozygous), p = 0.03 OR 3.03 (0.97 9.28). Polymorphism of MTHFR 677T gene was detected in 17 out of 50 patients (heterozygous) from group A, in 36 out of 93 patients from group B (35 heterozygous, 1 homozygous) and in 93 out of 196 patients from the group C (86 heterozygous, 7 homozygous) with no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS We found an increased prevalence of factor V Leiden mutation in Czech infertile women. However carriers of Leiden mutation had no enhanced risk of development severe form of OHSS during stimulation.
Defect assisted coupling of a MoS2/TiO2 interface and tuning of its electronic structure

Although MoS2 based heterostructures have drawn increased attention, the van der Waals forces within MoS2 layers make it difficult for the layers to form strong chemical coupled interfaces with other materials. In this paper, we demonstrate the successful strong chemical attachment of MoS2 on TiO2 nanobelts after appropriate surface modifications. The etch-created dangling bonds on TiO2 surfaces facilitate the formation of a steady chemically bonded MoS2/TiO2 interface. With the aid of high resolution transmission electron microscope measurements, the in-plane structure registry of MoS2/TiO2 is unveiled at the atomic scale, which shows that MoS2[1-10] grows along the direction of TiO2[001] and MoS2[110] parallel to TiO2[100] with every six units of MoS2 superimposed on five units of TiO2. Electronically, type II band alignments are realized for all surface treatments. Moreover, the band offsets are delicately correlated to the surface states, which plays a significant role in their photocatalytic performance.
Examining Relationships Between Legislative and Presidential Influences and Organizational Probity: Evidence from South Korean Central Government Agencies

ABSTRACT In public management, few empirical studies have been conducted on the effects of the most influential political authorities—the legislature and the president—on government organizations, despite the theoretical and practical significance of these effects. This study tests the relationships between legislative and presidential influences and organizational probity in South Korean central government agencies, on the basis of political transaction-cost and principal–agent theories. We use three measures of legislative influence—inspectional influence (total annual days of legislative inspection), statutory influence (rules-to-laws ratio), and budgetary influence (ratio of reprogramming budget to total budget), and one measure of presidential influence (annual number of substantive meetings with the president). Then, these independent variables are linked to the organizational probity measure from audited archival data. The two-time-point panel data analysis reveals a positive link between legislative inspectional influence and probity but a negative relationship between the presidential influence measure and probity; the results support theoretical arguments for control over administrative agencies. Thus, the evidence suggests that governments should be cautious of implementing reforms that increase organizational or managerial autonomy.
Activation of Clostridium perfringens spores under conditions that disrupt hydrophobic interactions of biological macromolecules

The effect of hydrophobic interactions on the activation of C. perfringens NCTC 8679 spores was examined by heating spores under conditions that modify the hydrophobic properties of biological macromolecules. After the activation treatment and a washing procedure, germination was determined by measuring the decrease in optical density of spores suspended in an enriched germination medium. Activation was inhibited for spores that were treated under conditions that strengthen hydrophobic interactions, i.e., a decrease in pH or the presence of structure-stabilizing neutral salts. Activation was enhanced by treatment under conditions that disrupt hydrophobic interactions, i.e., an increase in pH or the presence of urea, dibucaine, or denaturing neutral salts. A deactivation treatment with the antichaotropic salt (NH4)2SO4 reversed activation by the chaotropic salt CaCl2 and to a lesser extent reversed activation by sublethal heat (75 degrees C) or urea. Most treatments that enhanced activation increased spore injury at higher temperatures, which resulted in decreased germination. However, (NH4)2SO4 and a decrease in pH from 5.6 to 3.8, which inhibited activation, also favored injury. The results suggest that activation involves a conformational change of a spore protein(s) through weakening of hydrophobic molecular forces and that activation and injury occur at different spore sites.
The effects on consumer welfare of a corporate tax cut

This paper analyses in two ways the effects of an Australian Government proposal to reduce the corporate tax rate from 30 to 25 per cent. Murphy (2016a) modelled the proposal for the Australian Treasury using CGETAX (Murphy, 2016b), a large-scale, long-run CGE model designed for tax policy analysis. The gain in the real wage is estimated at 1.0 per cent. Depending on how the company tax cut is funded, the net gain in annual consumer welfare is between $4.1 billion and $5.2 billion in 2015/16 terms and the associated gain in real GDP is from 0.7 to 0.9 per cent. This paper also uses a highly stylised version of CGETAX to provide a theoretical analysis of the proposed tax cut, applicable to advanced, open economies in general. Echoing CGETAX including by allowing for imperfect competition, the Stylised model shows an increase in the capital-labour ratio from the reduction in the cost of capital, an increase in the labour supply induced by a higher real wage when the tax cut is passed on from internationally mobile capital to labour, and a reduction in the incentive to shift profits to lower-taxed jurisdictions (de Mooij and Devereux (2009)). This paper also discusses the likely timing on the introduction of the tax cut and the economic responses to it.
Cerebral Concussion in Athletes: Evaluation and Neuropsychological Testing

OBJECTIVETo conduct a topic review of studies related to cerebral concussion in athletes, as an aid to improving decision-making and outcomes. METHODSWe review the literature to provide an historical perspective on the incidence and definition of and the management guidelines for mild traumatic brain injury in sports. In addition, metabolic changes resulting from cerebral concussion and the second-impact syndrome are reviewed, to provide additional principles for decision-making. Neuropsychological testing, as it applies to athletes, is discussed in detail, to delineate baseline assessments, the characteristics of the neuropsychological evaluation, the neuropsychological tests used, and the methods for in-season identification of cerebral concussion. Future directions in the management of concussions are presented. RESULTSThe incidence of cerebral concussions has been reduced from approximately 19 per 100 participants in football per season to approximately 4 per 100, i.e., 40,000 to 50,000 concussions per year in football alone. The most commonly used definitions of concussion are those proposed by Cantu and the American Academy of Neurology. Each has associated management guidelines. Concussion or loss of consciousness occurs when the extracellular potassium concentration increases beyond the upper normal limit of approximately 4 to 5 mmol/L, to levels of 20 to 50 mmol/L, inhibiting the action potential and leading to loss of consciousness. This phenomenon helps to explain the delayed effects of symptoms after trauma. CONCLUSIONNeuropsychological testing seems to be an effective way to obtain useful data on the short-term and long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury. Moreover, knowledge of the various definitions and management strategies, as well as the utility of neuropsychological testing, is essential for those involved in decision-making with athletes with mild traumatic brain injuries.
Mth1 receives the signal given by the glucose sensors Snf3 and Rgt2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae ‡

We have determined that the mutant genes DGT1‐1 and BPC1‐1, which impair glucose transport and catabolite repression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are allelic forms of MTH1. Deletion of MTH1 had only slight effects on the expression of HXT1 or SNF3, but increased expression of HXT2 in the absence of glucose. A two‐hybrid screen revealed that the Mth1 protein interacts with the cytoplasmic tails of the glucose sensors Snf3 and Rgt2. This interaction was affected by mutations in Mth1 and by the concentration of glucose in the medium. A double mutant, snf3 rgt2, recovered sensitivity to glucose when MTH1 was deleted, thus showing that glucose signalling may occur independently of Snf3 and Rgt2. A model for the possible mode of action of Snf3 and Rgt2 is presented.
Hagwons, Future Careers in TESL? A Qualitative Study about the Career Choices of the Multiple Year Private School English Teachers in South Korea

Few research studies have been published in the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) research literature concerning the work environment and career paths for Native English Speaking Teachers (NESTs) in private schools or academies in South Korea. Termed in Korean as “hagwons” these schools, unlike the publicly funded program English Program in Korea (EPIK), operate with profit as their primary goal. Hagwons involve several work place risks, such as contract violations, conflicts with Korean employers and staff, and exhaustingly long teaching hours. Although at times a difficult work environment, some have spent several years teaching English in a hagwon, and a few have pursued more certified TESL careers. The current research primarily documents the personal and professional experiences of hagwon NESTs who have taught in that system for two years or more, and asks what type(s) of experiences support a continued or discontinued career in TESL. Qualitative results from 15 demographic surveys and open question interviews indicated that the majority of these teachers discontinued their TESL career after their experiences. Instead, participants either entered other careers within the field of education, or discovered different career goals as a result of their individual experiences. All 15 participants viewed living and working in South Korea as valuable for financial gain, cultural immersion, establishment of close interpersonal relationships, or as a time of self-reflection after graduating from university and before pursuing a career path.
Profile of GenMark’s ePlex® blood culture identification fungal pathogen panel

ABSTRACT Introduction: Fungemia presents high morbi-mortality and thus rapid microbiological diagnosis may contribute to appropriate patient management. In the last decade, kits based on molecular technologies have become available and health care institutes are increasingly facing critical investment choices. Although all these tools aim to achieve rapid fungal detection and species identification, they display different inherent characteristics. Areas covered: Considering technologies allowing detection and identification of fungal species in a sepsis context, the market proposes either tests on positive blood culture or tests on patient’s whole blood. In this review, the authors describe and compare the ePlex® Blood Culture Identification Fungal Pathogen (BCID-FP) test, a fully automated one-step single-use cartridge assay that has been designed to detect identify frequent or rare but emerging, fungal species, from positive blood culture. A comparison with the competing kits is provided. Expert commentaries: The ePlex BCID-FP test provides a diversified and rather relevant panel. Its easy-to-use cartridges allow flexible use around the clock. Nevertheless, prospective clinical studies assessing the time-to-result benefit on antifungal stewardship and on hospital length of stay are not available yet. New tools aim to benefit clinicians and patients, but they should be accompanied by supervision of result interpretation and adaptation of antifungal stewardship.