Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Institutionalization of corruption in post-Soviet public organizations

After the collapse of the USSR, post-Soviet countries experienced a corruption boom. The following two decades demonstrated that corruption did not decline in most post-Soviet countries. Instead, a transformation of the corruption system changed it from chaotic to institutionalized corruption, by which corruption becomes taken for granted way of thinking and doing in the public organization that constitutes more or less stable rules and routines. This study investigates and explains the emergence and institutionalization of corruption rules and routines in post-Soviet public organizations from the last decade of the USSR existence until the first decade of the new millennium. It provides us with lenses to see corruption in an entirely new light beyond mere acts of infringement of conventional norms of public integrity. The study infers that corruption in post-Soviet public organizations is not merely an act of abuse of power, but a living, transforming, evolving organizational phenomenon. It is facilitated by the political-economic system and reproduces organizational corruption. The process of decentralization of appropriation of power initiated after the death of Stalin lasted until the extreme decentralization in the first decade after the collapse of the USSR. Following the dissolution of the USSR, the ensuing corruption boom can be understood as the result of the disintegration of the Soviet states’ appropriation system. Although contextual factors of the process differed significantly across post-Soviet countries, overall, the appropriation system obtained a new shape typical to all the states on the territory of the former USSR. At the core of this newly shaped appropriation system lay the monopolization of money-generating opportunities through taking control over the state. Over time, the institutionalization of corruption brought about explicit rules and procedures that restricted officials’ corrupt behavior. In this respect, institutional instability was a pre-condition for the institutionalization of corruption that in the final instance created a centralized corruption system and expropriated officials from ownership of corruption income in the discussed cases.
Endothelial and Vascular Smooth Muscle Function After Chronic Treatment with Cyclosporin A

We wished to characterize the altered reactivity of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells in rat aorta during chronic treatment with cyclosporin. Male adult rats were treated orally for 6 weeks with either cyclosporin A (30 mg/kg/day in 1 ml olive oil, n = 9) or with vehicle alone (n = 10). Rings of isolated thoracic aorta were mounted in organ chambers to measure the change in isometric force in response to smooth muscle-contracting drugs and endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilators. Contractions to potassium chloride (20–80 mM) were markedly reduced in cyclosporin-treated rats. Contractions to phenylephrine (10-10-10-6 M) were reduced at high concentrations (≥10-7 M); those to endothelin-1 (10-10-10-7 M) were not significantly altered. In contrast, contractions to angiotensin II (All 10-9-10-6 M) were significantly augmented. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine (ACh 10-8-10-5 M) or ADP (10-7-10-5 M) were reduced in cyclosporin-treated rats; endothelium-independent relaxations to SIN-1 (10∼7-10∼5 M) and atrial natiuretic peptide (ANP 10-10-10-7 M) remained unaffected. Thus, chronic treatment with cyclosporin affects both endothelium-dependent vasodilation and vascular smooth muscle contraction in rat aorta depending on the stimulus applied. The enhanced response to AH and the reduced release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) may contribute to augmented vascular tone and further damage to the arterial wall.
Strength Training Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Background: Patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) experience considerable reductions in physical activity and deterioration of their health status. Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to test the effects of strength training compared with usual activity on physical activity, muscle strength, fatigue, health status perceptions, and quality of life following HSCT. Methods: Nineteen subjects were randomized to the exercise or control group. Moderate-intensity strength training began following discharge from the hospital. Dependent variables included physical activity, muscle strength, fatigue, health status perceptions, and quality of life. Variables were measured prior to admission to the hospital for HSCT, day 8 following HSCT, and 6 weeks following discharge from the hospital. Results: Significant time effects were noted for many variables with anticipated declines in physical activity, muscle strength, fatigue, and health status perceptions immediately after HSCT with subsequent improvements 6 weeks following hospital discharge. One group effect was noted with subjects in the exercise group reporting less fatigue than subjects in the control group. Although no significant interactions were detected, the trends suggest that the exercise group may be more physically active following the intervention compared with the usual-activity group. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the potential positive effects of strength training on physical activity, fatigue, and quality of life in people receiving high-dose chemotherapy and HSCT. Implications for Practice: Preliminary evidence is provided for using strength training to enhance early recovery following HSCT. Elastic resistance bands are easy to use and relatively inexpensive.
Evaluation of sputum smears concentrated by cytocentrifugation for detection of acid-fast bacilli

Early identification and isolation of tuberculosis patients is of utmost importance to minimize the risk of further epidemic spread of the disease. The traditional concentrated acid-fast smears are not very reliable tools for the presumptive diagnosis of tuberculosis. Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smears from 120 patients specimens and 80 simulated AFB samples were processed according to standard laboratory procedures and by cytocentrifugation (Cyto-Tek, Ames Division, Miles Laboratories, Inc., Elkhart, Ind.). Prior to dispensing of samples into the Cyto-Tek chambers, specimens were liquefied and decontaminated by mixture with an equal volume of 5% sodium hypochlorite (household bleach). Culture and smear results were correlated. Of 120 patient specimens, 43 were culture and smear negative by both methods. Ten specimens were overgrown with mold and bacteria, but 2 of them had positive AFB smears by cytocentrifugation only. There were 67 positive AFB cultures, with 67 positive cytocentrifuge smears and 34 positive smears by the conventional technique. Of the 80 simulated positive AFB samples, all grew mycobacteria on culture. Smears from the 10(5)- to 10(3)-CFU/ml specimens were positive by both methods. The simulated samples with 10(2) CFU/ml yielded smears positive only by cytocentrifugation. The Cyto-Tek AFB smears had a greater correlation with positive culture than did the smears from concentrated specimens. The sensitivity, efficiency, and rapidly of the Cyto-Tek AFB smear technique resulted in increased detection of mycobacteria in clinical specimens. The simplicity and safety of this method will enable qualified mycobacteriology technologists to rapidly and accurately perform sputum smears for AFB at clinics, emergency rooms, and field sites, as well as in the traditional laboratory setting.
Religious and Spiritual Beliefs in Stroke Rehabilitation

Faith could dampen Post-Stroke Depression (PSD), which may negatively influence recovery. The present pilot study is an initial examination of the role of religion and spirituality on the functional recovery after a recent stroke. Data were analyzed from 112 consecutive stroke inpatients, who underwent a 2-month standard rehabilitation program. All participants received the Royal Free Interview (RFI), a semi-structured interview for religious and spiritual beliefs, and were assessed on their mood with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Functional status was measured by means of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). The relationship between religious beliefs, mood improvements, and functional recovery was explored by means of a multiple linear regression. No association between faith and recovery of functional independence could be verified, neither religiousness as a “coping strategy” was associated with functional recovery in this study. An explorative study of a larger size, which also takes into consideration the cultural background and religious beliefs of all patients, is warranted in the longterm.
A longitudinal study of low-level lead exposure and impairment of renal function. The Normative Aging Study.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether low-level lead exposure is associated with impaired renal function. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Subjects were 459 men randomly selected from the participants of the Normative Aging Study who were originally recruited from healthy veterans in the greater Boston area in 1961 and were periodically examined at the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic every 3 to 5 years. We reconstructed blood lead concentrations for the period between 1979 and 1994 using samples of either archived red blood cells or fresh whole blood. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Serum creatinine concentration. RESULTS After adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, educational level, and hypertension, blood lead concentration was positively and significantly associated with concurrent concentration of serum creatinine (P=.005). A 10-fold increase in blood lead level predicted an increase of 7 micromol/L (0.08 micrograms/dL) in serum creatinine concentration, which is roughly equivalent to the increase predicted by 20 years of aging. The association was also significant among subjects whose blood lead concentrations had never exceeded 0.48 micromol/L (10 micrograms/L) throughout the study period. The age-related increase in serum creatinine level was earlier and faster in the group with the highest-quartile levels of long-term lead exposure than in the group with the lowest-quartile levels. CONCLUSIONS Low-level exposure to lead may impair renal function in middle-aged and older men. Longitudinal data suggest an acceleration of age-related impairment of renal function in association with long-term low-level lead exposure.
Antimicrobial activity of extracts from Tamarindus indica L. leaves

Tamarindus indica L. leaves are reported worldwide as antibacterial and antifungal agents; however, this observation is not completely accurate in the case of Cuba. In this article, decoctions from fresh and sun dried leaves, as well as fluid extracts prepared with 30 and 70% ethanol-water and the pure essential oil from tamarind leaves were microbiologically tested against Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomona aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Aqueous and fluid extracts were previously characterized by spectrophotometric determination of their total phenols and flavonoids, while the essential oil was chemically evaluated by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Experimental data suggest phenols as active compounds against B. subtilis cultures, but not against other microorganisms. On the other hand, the essential oil exhibited a good antimicrobial spectrum when pure, but its relative low concentrations in common folk preparations do not allow for any good activity in these extracts.
Biologic effects of stress and bonding in mother–infant pairs

Objective Maternal stress in humans influences behavior of children and can be assessed using biological markers. Mothers and their one-month-old infants were recruited from an existing study to examine baseline maternal serum oxytocin and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to infant blood heel stick stress as measured by salivary cortisol in the dyads. Objectives were to explore (1) relationships between mother and infant cortisol levels, (2) gender differences in infant biologic cortisol response, and (3) the association of cortisol levels in the dyads and maternal oxytocin levels Methods Forty-two mother–infant dyads provided biologic samples and self-report data. Maternal oxytocin samples were obtained. Initial salivary cortisol was assessed in both the mother and infant, followed by a heel stick blood draw. Twenty minutes later, salivary cortisol was collected again from dyads. Results Self-report measures were negative for depression and risk for childhood neglect. Although oxytocin and baseline cortisol in the infants was higher in mothers that did some breast-feeding, there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.2 and p = 0.1, respectively). Analyses showed (a) higher baseline cortisol in mothers was related to higher baseline cortisol in infants (p ≤ 0.0001), (b) following the stressor, female infants had a larger positive change in cortisol, after adjusting for baseline cortisol (p = 0.045), and (c) there was no relationship between dyad cortisol levels and maternal oxytocin. Conclusions Maternal and infant biologic stress measures are related. Female infants have a larger hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response to a blood draw stressor as measured by salivary cortisol than male infants.
Long-term developmental follow-up in children with nonsyndromic craniosynostosis.

OBJECT The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) by type of craniosynostosis and to verify the finding that at long-term follow-up, verbal IQ (VIQ) is significantly higher than performance IQ (PIQ) in patients with single-suture sagittal synostosis (SS) despite falling within the "average" range for intelligence. Whether this also occurs in other types of craniosynostosis and whether surgery and sex are relevant were also determined. The relationship between age at time of surgery and later IQ was ascertained. METHODS The data for 91 children with craniosynostosis (47 sagittal, 15 unicoronal, 13 metopic, 9 multisuture, and 7 bicoronal) were collected at their routine, 10 years of age IQ assessment (mean age 123.8 months). The patients included 61 males and 30 females; 62 patients had undergone surgery and 29 had not. RESULTS The mean FSIQ for all types of craniosynostosis combined (96.2) fell within the average range for the general population. Some variation was evident across the different types of craniosynostosis: the SS group showed the highest FSIQs and a "normal" distribution of bandings; the other types had a higher proportion of FSIQs in the lower bandings. The data confirmed the finding that VIQ is greater than PIQ despite falling within the average range for intelligence, with a difference of 5.0 for all types of craniosynostosis combined (p = 0.001), 7.6 for the SS group (p = 0.001), and 6.9 for the unicoronal group (p = 0.029). This VIQ > PIQ effect was not found with multisuture craniosynostosis. The VIQ > PIQ discrepancy occurred regardless of whether the patient had undergone surgery and occurred more often in males than females. In the SS group and the bicoronal group, FSIQ (p = 0.036 and p = 0.046, respectively) and PIQ (p = 0.012 and p = 0.017, respectively), though not VIQ, were higher when surgery had been performed early. CONCLUSIONS The study confirms that at long-term follow-up, although children with nonsyndromic craniosynostosis fall within the normal range for intelligence, there is a VIQ > PIQ discrepancy above what would be expected in the normal population, which may be indicative of more subtle difficulties in achievement. This discrepancy is affected by type of craniosynostosis, sex, and age at time of surgery.
An Index of Treasury Market Liquidity: 1991-2017

Order book and transactions data from the U.S. Treasury securities market are used to calculate daily measures of bid-ask spreads, depth, and price impact for a twenty-six-year sample period (1991-2017). From these measures, a daily index of Treasury market liquidity is constructed, reflecting the fact that the varying measures capture different aspects of market liquidity. The liquidity index is then correlated with various metrics of funding liquidity, volatility, and macroeconomic conditions. The liquidity index points to poor liquidity during the 2007-09 financial crisis and around the near failure of Long-Term Capital Management, but suggests that current liquidity is good by historical standards. Market liquidity tends to be strongly correlated with funding liquidity at times of market stress, but otherwise exhibits little correlation.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)-Associated HLA-DR Alleles Form Less Stable Complexes with Class II-Associated Invariant Chain Peptide Than Non-RA-Associated HLA-DR Alleles1

Certain HLA-DR alleles confer strong susceptibility to the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We compared RA-associated alleles, HLA-DR*0401, HLA-DR*0404, and HLA-DR*0405, with closely related, non-RA-associated alleles, HLA-DR*0402 and HLA-DR*0403, to determine whether they differ in their interactions with the class II chaperone, invariant chain (Ii). Ii binds to class II molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum, inhibits binding of other ligands, and directs class II-Ii complexes to endosomes, where Ii is degraded to class II-associated Ii peptide (CLIP). To evaluate the interaction of Ii and CLIP with these DR4 alleles, we introduced HLA-DR*0401, *0402, and *0404 alleles into a human B cell line that lacked endogenous HLA-DR or HLA-DM molecules. In a similar experiment, we introduced HLA-DR*0403 and *0405 into an HLA-DM-expressing B cell line, 8.1. 6, and its DM-negative derivative, 9.5. 3. Surface abundance of DR4-CLIP peptide complexes and their susceptibility to SDS-induced denaturation suggested that the different DR4-CLIP complexes had different stabilities. Pulse-chase experiments showed CLIP dissociated more rapidly from RA-associated DR molecules in B cell lines. In vitro assays using soluble rDR4 molecules showed that DR-CLIP complexes of DR*0401 and DR*0404 were less stable than complexes of DR*0402. Using CLIP peptide variants, we mapped the reduced CLIP interaction of RA-associated alleles to the shared epitope region. The reduced interaction of RA-associated HLA-DR4 molecules with CLIP may contribute to the pathophysiology of autoimmunity in RA.
Psychometric properties of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED): a replication study.

OBJECTIVE To replicate and extend work on the psychometric properties of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), a child and parent self-report instrument used to screen for children with anxiety disorders. METHOD The 41-item version of the SCARED was administered to a new sample of 190 outpatient children and adolescents and 166 parents. The internal consistency, discriminant, and convergent validity were assessed. In addition, using discriminant function analysis, a briefer version of the SCARED was developed. RESULTS Using item analyses and factor analyses on the 41-item version, 5 factors were obtained: panic/somatic, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, social phobia, and school phobia. In general, the total score and each of the 5 factors for both the child and parent SCARED demonstrated good internal consistency and discriminant validity (both between anxiety and depressive and disruptive disorders and within anxiety disorders). A reduced version of the SCARED yielded 5 items and showed similar psychometrics to the full SCARED. CONCLUSIONS In a new sample, the authors replicated their initial psychometric findings that the SCARED is a reliable and valid instrument to screen for childhood anxiety disorders in clinical settings. Furthermore, pending future research, the 5-item SCARED appears to be a promising brief screening inventory for anxiety disorders in epidemiological studies.
Gastrointestinal Candida colonisation promotes sensitisation against food antigens by affecting the mucosal barrier in mice

Backgrounds and aims: Controversy still exists as to whether gastrointestinal colonisation by Candida albicans contributes to aggravation of atopic dermatitis. We hypothesised that Candida colonisation promotes food allergy, which is known to contribute to a pathogenic response in atopic dermatitis. We tested this using a recently established murine Candida colonisation model. Methods:Candida colonisation in the gastrointestinal tract was established by intragastric inoculation with C albicans in mice fed a synthetic diet. To investigate sensitisation against food antigen, mice were intragastrically administered with ovalbumin every other day for nine weeks, and antiovalbumin antibody titres were measured weekly. To examine gastrointestinal permeation of food antigen, plasma concentrations of ovalbumin were measured following intragastric administration of ovalbumin. Results: Ovalbumin specific IgG and IgE titres were higher in BALB/c mice with Candida colonisation than in normal mice. Gastrointestinal permeation of ovalbumin was enhanced by colonisation in BALB/c mice. Histological examination showed that colonisation promoted infiltration and degranulation of mast cells. Candida colonisation did not enhance ovalbumin permeation in mast cell deficient W/Wv mice but did in congenic littermate control +/+ mice. Reconstitution of mast cells in W/Wv mice by transplantation of bone marrow derived mast cells restored the ability to increase ovalbumin permeation in response to Candida colonisation. Conclusions: These results suggest that gastrointestinal Candida colonisation promotes sensitisation against food antigens, at least partly due to mast cell mediated hyperpermeability in the gastrointestinal mucosa of mice.
The Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier-1 (SUMO-1) Consensus Sequence Mediates Ubc9 Binding and Is Essential for SUMO-1 Modification*

SUMO-1 is an ubiquitin-related protein that is covalently conjugated to a diverse assortment of proteins. The consequences of SUMO-1 modification include the regulation of protein-protein interactions, protein-DNA interactions, and protein subcellular localization. At present, very little is understood about the specific mechanisms that govern the recognition of proteins as substrates for SUMO-1 modification. However, many of the proteins that are modified by SUMO-1 interact directly with the SUMO-1 conjugating enzyme, Ubc9. These interactions suggest that Ubc9 binding may play an important role in substrate recognition as well as in substrate modification. The SUMO-1 consensus sequence (SUMO-1-CS) is a motif of conserved residues surrounding the modified lysine residue of most SUMO-1 substrates. This motif conforms to the sequence “ΨKXE,” where Ψ is a large hydrophobic residue, K is the lysine to which SUMO-1 is conjugated, X is any amino acid, and E is glutamic acid. In this study, we demonstrate that the SUMO-1-CS is a major determinant of Ubc9 binding and SUMO-1 modification. Mutating residues in the SUMO-1-CS abolishes both Ubc9 binding and substrate modification. These findings have important implications for how SUMO-1 substrates are recognized and for how SUMO-1 is ultimately transferred to specific lysine residues on these substrates.