Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health-related quality of life (HRQL) and continuous antipsychotic treatment: 3-year results from the Schizophrenia Health Outcomes (SOHO) study.

OBJECTIVES We investigated the association between continuous antipsychotic use and health-related quality of life (HRQL) 3-year change in the European Schizophrenia Outpatients Health Outcomes (EU-SOHO) study. METHODS EU-SOHO is an observational study of outcomes associated with antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia in an outpatient setting. HRQL was assessed at study entry and at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months using the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). UK population time trade-off (TTO) tariffs were applied to the self-rated EQ-5D health states to calculate HRQL ratings (0 = death, 1 = best). An epoch analysis approach was used as a conceptual framework to analyze the longitudinal data. Follow-up was divided into epochs or periods of continuous treatment. When a patient changed antipsychotic treatment, he or she was considered to have a new observation. Multilevel models were employed to evaluate the association of HRQL with medication and other clinical and sociodemographic variables for each epoch. A total of 9340 patients were analyzed (42.1% women; mean age 40 years). RESULTS Mean EQ-5D scores increased over time; the largest improvement occurred in the first 6 months (mean increase of 0.19). Longer duration of illness and older age at first treatment were associated with worse baseline EQ-5D scores. Improvements in EQ-5D scores were greater for more socially active patients or those in paid employment. Few significant differences were found between antipsychotic medications. Olanzapine and clozapine were associated with higher HRQL increases. CONCLUSIONS Continuous antipsychotic treatment is associated with important HRQL benefits at 3 years, most of which occurs during the first 6 months. Although some medications are associated with better HRQL outcomes, differences are small.
An engineered selenocysteine defines a unique class of antibody derivatives

Selenocysteine is cotranslationally inserted into proteins by recoding the stop codon UGA from termination to selenocysteine insertion. The nucleophilic selenol group of selenocysteine endows this rare amino acid with unique chemical reactivity that allows regiospecific covalent conjugation in the presence of the other natural amino acids. Using a mammalian expression system, we generated an IgG1-derived Fc fragment with a C-terminal selenocysteine in yields comparable to conventional monoclonal antibodies and conjugated it to an electrophilic derivative of a peptidomimetic that binds with high affinity and specificity to integrin α4β1. Through this conjugation, both the biological and chemical components are endowed with pharmacological advantages. We demonstrate that whereas the Fc protein increases the circulatory half-life from minutes to days and mediates transcytosis through binding to the neonatal Fc receptor, the peptidomimetic introduces cross-species binding to cell surface integrin α4β1 and blocks its interaction with vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. Compared with conventional monoclonal antibodies, our technology benefits economically from combining a generic biological component with a variable chemical component.
Leader Narcissism and Outcomes in Organizations: A Review at Multiple Levels of Analysis and Implications for Future Research

Narcissists often pursue leadership and are selected for leadership positions by others. At the same time, they act in their own best interest, putting the needs and interests of others at risk. While theoretical arguments clearly link narcissism and leadership, the question whether leader narcissism is good or bad for organizations and their members remains unanswered. Narcissism seems to have two sides, a bright and a dark one. This systematic literature review seeks to contribute to the ongoing academic discussion about the positive or negative impact of leader narcissism in organizations. Forty-five original research articles were categorized according to outcomes at three levels of analysis: the dyadic level (focusing on leader-follower relationships), the team level (focusing on work teams and small groups), and the organizational level. On this basis, we first summarized the current state of knowledge about the impact that leader narcissism has on outcomes at different levels of analysis. Next, we revealed similarities and contradictions between research findings within and across levels of analysis, highlighting persistent inconsistencies concerning the question whether leader narcissism has positive or negative consequences. Finally, we outlined theoretical and methodological implications for future studies of leader narcissism. This multi-level perspective ascertains a new, systematic view of leader narcissism and its consequences for organizations and their stakeholders. The article demonstrates the need for future research in the field of leader narcissism and opens up new avenues for inquiry.
The In Vivo Expression of Radiation-Induced Chromosomal Instability Has an Inflammatory Mechanism

Ionizing radiation is unequivocally leukemogenic and carcinogenic, and this is generally attributed to DNA damage arising as a consequence of deposition of energy in the cell nucleus at the time of exposure. However, nontargeted effects, in which DNA damage is produced in nonirradiated cells as a consequence of cell signaling processes, indicate additional mechanisms. Radiation-induced chromosomal instability, a nontargeted effect with the potential to produce pathological consequences, is characterized by an increased rate of chromosome aberrations many generations after the initial insult. In this study, using a mouse model that has been well characterized with respect to its susceptibility to both radiation-induced chromosomal instability and acute myeloid leukemia, we investigated whether the underlying signaling mechanism was an inflammatory process by studying the effects of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Treated mice showed significant reduction in expression of the chromosomal instability phenotype 100 days postirradiation associated with reduced expression of inflammatory markers. The data support the hypothesis that the radiation-induced chromosomal instability phenotype is not an intrinsic property of the cells but a consequence of inflammatory processes having the potential to contribute secondary damage expressed as nontargeted and delayed radiation effects.
Rosiglitazone Therapy of Posttransplant Diabetes Mellitus

Background. The new onset of posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a common problem after solid organ transplantation. Because insulin resistance plays a significant role in the development of PTDM, we treated 40 consecutive patients with PTDM after liver and kidney transplantation with the insulin sensitizer rosiglitazone (ROSI). Methods. Thirty-three of 40 patients with PTDM were initially stabilized with twice-daily NPH and regular insulin. All patients subsequently began ROSI 4 mg per day. Patients were followed for a mean of 26 weeks and insulin was adjusted using home blood glucose data and hemoglobin A1C (HBA1C). Results. During 12 months of study, 32/107 liver transplant patients (30%) and 8/205 kidney transplant patients (4%) patients developed PTDM. After 3–4 months of insulin and ROSI therapy, insulin was able to be discontinued in 30/33 (91%) patients with PTDM. In all, 12/40 (30%) patients maintained normal HBA1C levels (5.6±0.8%) with ROSI monotherapy, whereas 25/40 (63%) required ROSI and a sulfonylurea to meet this goal. Three of 40 (7.5%) had persistent insulin dependence. 25/40 (63%) continued on 4 mg/day of ROSI, and 15/40 (37%) required an increase to 8 mg/day. Mild edema developed in 13% of patients; significant weight gain did not occur. Conclusions. Rosiglitazone is the first highly effective oral agent for PTDM. The majority of patients with PTDM may be safely treated with ROSI ± a sulfonylurea. After the expected 3-6 week delay in the onset of ROSI action, most patients with PTDM will no longer require long-term insulin therapy.
Nationalistic attitudes and voting for the radical right in Europe

Voting for radical right-wing parties has been associated most strongly with national identity threats. In Europe, this has been framed by the radical right in terms of mass-migration and European integration, or other politicians bargaining away national interests. Perhaps surprisingly given the radical right’s nationalist ideology, nationalistic attitudes are hardly included in empirical research on the voting behaviour. In this contribution, we test to what extent various dimensions of nationalistic attitudes affect radical right voting, next to the earlier and new assessed effects of perceived ethnic threat, social distance to Muslims, Euroscepticism and political distrust. The findings show that national identification, national pride and an ethnic conception of nationhood are additional explanations of radical right voting. National identification’s effect on radical right voting is found to be stronger when populations on average perceive stronger ethnic threat.
Religious and spiritual resources, CAM, and conventional treatment in the lives of cancer patients.

CONTEXT In addition to seeking conventional treatment from physicians, cancer patients will often use religious and spiritual resources (RSR) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Patients' beliefs about the relationships among RSR, CAM, and conventional treatments may reflect belief systems not readily apparent to physicians. OBJECTIVE 1) Identify the RSR used and explore themes in beliefs regarding RSR, CAM, and conventional treatment. 2) Investigate the nature of the relationships among RSR, CAM, and conventional treatment in the lives of cancer patients. DESIGN Cancer patients in Hawaii were recruited from a group who had previously completed a questionnaire on CAM use. In-depth interviews were conducted with a selected subset of survey participants. PARTICIPANTS 143 cancer patients were interviewed 2 to 3 years following diagnosis. RESULTS Participants reported using a variety of RSR, including personal faith, individual (self) prayer, relationship/dialog with God, prayers from fellow church members and others, counseling from pastor/priest or leader of faith, reading the bible, attending religious services, meditation, finding and spending time at locations of spiritual energy (i.e., churches, specific geographical locations, or certain natural settings), and help or counseling by ancestor(s). They also expressed beliefs that RSR, CAM, and conventional treatment have both shared and distinct purposes. RSR themes included providing treatment or cure, supporting treatment or cure, and being part of life. CAM themes included providing treatment or cure, supporting treatment or cure, preventing cancer and recurrence, substitution for conventional treatment, and as a last resort. Participants believed the purposes of conventional treatment were to fight/cure cancer and to improve quality of life. CONCLUSIONS RSR, CAM, and conventional treatment served both spiritual and physical purposes. When participants perceived a relationship between RSR, CAM, and conventional treatment, it reflected shared spiritual and physical purposes. Such associations were especially strong when RSR, CAM, and conventional treatment shared the common goals of providing treatment or cure and/or supporting treatment or cure. Perceptions of shared purpose were individual to each participant, with religious congruence and life history playing a role in beliefs about the relationship between RSR and CAM. Such beliefs can affect issues of control, spiritual well-being, coping, depression, decision-making, and possibly health outcomes in cancer patients. Therefore, they should be addressed by clinicians in discussions with their patients.
Finerenone, a Novel Selective Nonsteroidal Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Protects From Rat Cardiorenal Injury

Abstract: Pharmacological blockade of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) ameliorates end-organ damage in chronic heart failure. However, the clinical use of available steroidal MR antagonists is restricted because of concomitant hyperkalemia especially in patients with diminished kidney function. We have recently identified a novel nonsteroidal MR antagonist, finerenone, which uniquely combines potency and selectivity toward MR. Here, we investigated the tissue distribution and chronic cardiorenal end-organ protection of finerenone in comparison to the steroidal MR antagonist, eplerenone, in 2 different preclinical rat disease models. Quantitative whole-body autoradiography revealed that [14C]-labeled finerenone equally distributes into rat cardiac and renal tissues. Finerenone treatment prevented deoxycorticosterone acetate-/salt-challenged rats from functional as well as structural heart and kidney damage at dosages not reducing systemic blood pressure. Finerenone reduced cardiac hypertrophy, plasma prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, and proteinuria more efficiently than eplerenone when comparing equinatriuretic doses. In rats that developed chronic heart failure after coronary artery ligation, finerenone (1 mg·kg−1·d−1), but not eplerenone (100 mg·kg−1·d−1) improved systolic and diastolic left ventricular function and reduced plasma prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide levels. We conclude that finerenone may offer end-organ protection with a reduced risk of electrolyte disturbances.
Tamoxifen: is it useful in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma?

PURPOSE We have attempted to review the data regarding the activity of tamoxifen (TAM) to clarify the role of this agent in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. METHODS Using the Melvyl Medline system, we identified recent reports describing the results of clinical trials that used TAM either as a single agent or in combination with other cytotoxic agents. Additionally, we reviewed the abstracts from the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in May 1993. RESULTS Numerous articles have reported an overall response rate of 47% (95% confidence limit, 39.25 to 54.75) when patients with metastatic melanoma are treated with the combination of dacarbazine (DTIC), carmustine (BCNU), cisplatin (DDP), and TAM (DBDT). Additionally, recent laboratory studies have reported that synergism between TAM and DDP is at least partially responsible for the success of this regimen. CONCLUSION While TAM as a single agent is minimally active in treating patients with metastatic melanoma, when it is combined with DTIC, BCNU, and DDP, a marked improvement in the overall response rate is observed. Although a prospective randomized trial has yet to be completed, it appears that this four-drug combination has a higher overall and complete response (CR) rate when compared with single-agent DTIC. In light of the relatively modest toxicity observed with this regimen, the combination of DBDT represents a reasonable alternative to single-agent DTIC as first-line therapy for patients with metastatic melanoma.
Chemopreventive and anti‐angiogenic effects of dietary phenethyl isothiocyanate in an N‐methyl nitrosourea‐induced breast cancer animal model

The effect of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a component of cruciferous vegetables, on the initiation and progression of cancer was investigated in a chemically induced estrogen‐dependent breast cancer model. Breast cancer was induced in female Sprague Dawley rats (8 weeks old) by the administration of N‐methyl nitrosourea (NMU). Animals were administered 50 or 150 µmol/kg oral PEITC and monitored for tumor appearance for 18 weeks. The PEITC treatment prolonged the tumor‐free survival time and decreased the tumor incidence and multiplicity. The time to the first palpable tumor was prolonged from 69 days in the control, to 84 and 88 days in the 50 and 150 µmol/kg PEITC‐treated groups. The tumor incidence in the control, 50 µmol/kg, and 150 µmol/kg PEITC‐treated groups was 56.6%, 25.0% and 17.2%, while the tumor multiplicity was 1.03, 0.25 and 0.21, respectively. Differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05) from the control, but there were no significant differences between the two dose levels. The intratumoral capillary density decreased from 4.21 ± 0.30 vessels per field in the controls to 2.46 ± 0.25 in the 50 µmol/kg and 2.36 ± 0.23 in the 150 µmol/kg PEITC‐treated animals. These studies indicate that supplementation with PEITC prolongs the tumor‐free survival, reduces tumor incidence and burden, and is chemoprotective in NMU‐induced estrogen‐dependent breast cancer in rats. For the first time, it is reported that PEITC has anti‐angiogenic effects in a chemically induced breast cancer animal model, representing a potentially significant mechanism contributing to its chemopreventive activity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling and simulation of IEF in 2‐D microgeometries

A 2‐D finite‐volume model is developed to simulate nonlinear IEF in complex microgeometries. This mathematical model is formulated based on the mass conservation and ionic dissociation relations of amphoteric macromolecules, charge conservation, and the electroneutrality condition. Based on the 2‐D model, three different separation cases are studied: an IPG in a planar channel, an ampholyte‐based pH gradient in a planar channel, and an ampholyte‐based pH gradient in a contraction–expansion channel. In the IPG case, cacodylic acid (pK1 = 6.21) and Tris (pK1 = 8.3) are used as the acid and base, respectively, to validate the 2‐D IEF model. In the ampholyte‐based pH gradient cases, IEF is performed in the pH range, 6.21–8.3 using 10 ampholytes in the planar channel and 20 ampholytes in the contraction–expansion channel. The numerical results reveal different focusing efficiencies and resolution in the narrow and wide sections of the contraction–expansion channel. To explain this, the expressions for separation resolution and peak concentrations of separands in the contraction–expansion channel are presented in terms of the channel shape factor. In a 2‐D planar channel, a focused band remains straight all the time. However, in a contraction–expansion channel, initially straight bands take on a crescent profile as they pass through the trapezoidal sections joining the contraction and expansion sections.
Assessing the impact of environmental amenities on residential location choice

ii DEDICATION . iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . v VITA . vi FIELDS OF STUDY. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS . vii LIST OF TABLES . xi LIST OF FIGURES . xiii Chapter 1: Maintaining Public Goods: The Capitalized Value of Local Park Renovations . 1 1.
Service quality and its impact on customers’ behavioural intentions and satisfaction: an empirical study of the Indian life insurance sector

The purpose of this paper is to investigate customer-perceived service quality dimensions, satisfaction, and behavioural intentions in the context of the Indian life insurance sector. The study explores the relationship between service quality, satisfaction, and behavioural intentions by linking both constructs at their dimensional level. A modified SERVQUAL instrument was used to capture customers’ perceived service quality, followed by exploratory factor analysis to study the dimensionality of service quality, satisfaction, and behavioural intentions in the Indian life insurance industry. Structural equation modelling was used to probe the influence of the dimensions of service quality, satisfaction, and resultant behavioural intentions. The results of this study validate previous research findings that identify reliability and responsiveness as key dimensions of service quality. Reliable and responsive customer support had significant impacts on customer satisfaction and behavioural intentions in the Indian life insurance industry. The results will assist Indian life insurance companies in improving their operations.
Design of Macro-Prudential Stress Tests

We study the design of macro-prudential stress tests and capital requirements. The tests provide information about correlation in banks portfolios. The regulator chooses contingent capital requirements that create a liquidity buffer in case of a fire sale. The optimal stress test discloses information partially: when systemic risk is low, capital requirements reflect full information; when systemic risk is high, the regulator pools information and requires all banks to hold precautionary liquidity. With heterogeneous banks, weak banks determine the level of transparency and strong banks are often required to hold excess capital when systemic risk is high. Moreover, dynamic disclosure and capital adjustments can improve welfare.
Exploratory Factor Analysis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus in Uruguay

In the period 1996–2004, a hospital-based, case-control study on diet and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus was conducted in Montevideo, Uruguay. The study included 234 cases and 468 controls, frequency matched on age, sex, and residence. Factor analysis (principal components) was used to identify the major food patterns associated with esophageal cancer. The analysis of food groups led to the identification of four patterns, arbitrarily labeled as traditional, healthy, high-fat, and drinker. The traditional pattern was not associated with risk of esophageal carcinoma, whereas the healthy pattern displayed a strong inverse association with this malignancy [odds ratio (OR) 0.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17–0.48, P value for trend < 0.0001]. Unexpectedly, the high-fat foods diet was also marginally protective (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.36–1.01, P value for trend = 0.07). On the other hand, the drinker pattern displayed a twofold increase in risk of esophageal carcinoma (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.17–3.51, P value for trend = 0.01). The present study suggests that factor analysis might contribute to the elucidation of the contribution of diet on human cancer. Because diet represents a complex set of highly correlated exposures, dietary patterns could be more explicative of the etiology of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus than the traditional reductionist approach.
Physician Perspectives on Incentives to Participate in Practice-based Research: A Greater Rochester Practice-Based Research Network (GR-PBRN) Study

Objectives: To understand factors associated with primary care physician research participation in a practice-based research network (PBRN) and to compare perspectives by specialty. Methods: We surveyed primary care internists, family physicians, and pediatricians in Monroe County, New York, regarding their past experience with research and incentives to participate in practice-based research. We performed descriptive and tabular analyses to assess perceptions and used χ2 and analysis of variance to compare perceptions across the 3 specialties. Results: The response rate was 33%. The most frequently endorsed aspects of collaboration were the opportunity to enact quality improvement (78%), contribution to clinical knowledge (75%), and intellectual stimulation (65%). Significant differences among the primary care specialties were found in 2 aspects: (1) internists were more likely to endorse additional source of income as “important,” and family medicine physicians were more likely to cite the opportunity to shape research questions, projects, and journal articles as “important. ” Conclusion: Physicians across all 3 specialties cited the opportunity to enact quality improvement and contribution to clinical knowledge as important incentives to participating in practice-based research. This supports the importance of strengthening the interface between research and quality improvement in PBRN projects. Further study is needed to assess reasons for differences among specialties if PBRNs are to become successful in research involving adult patients.