Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Durability and outcome of initial antiretroviral treatments received during 2000--2005 by patients in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Little is known about time trends, predictors, and consequences of changes made to antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens early after patients initially start treatment. METHODS We compared the incidence of, reasons for, and predictors of treatment change within 1 year after starting combination ART (cART), as well as virological and immunological outcomes at 1 year, among 1866 patients from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study who initiated cART during 2000--2001, 2002--2003, or 2004--2005. RESULTS The durability of initial regimens did not improve over time (P = .15): 48.8% of 625 patients during 2000--2001, 43.8% of 607 during 2002--2003, and 44.3% of 634 during 2004--2005 changed cART within 1 year; reasons for change included intolerance (51.1% of all patients), patient wish (15.4%), physician decision (14.8%), and virological failure (7.1%). An increased probability of treatment change was associated with larger CD4+ cell counts, larger human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA loads, and receipt of regimens that contained stavudine or indinavir/ritonavir, but a decreased probability was associated with receipt of regimens that contained tenofovir. Treatment discontinuation was associated with larger CD4+ cell counts, current use of injection drugs, and receipt of regimens that contained nevirapine. One-year outcomes improved between 2000--2001 and 2004--2005: 84.5% and 92.7% of patients, respectively, reached HIV-1 RNA loads of <50 copies/mL and achieved median increases in CD4+ cell counts of 157.5 and 197.5 cells/microL, respectively (P < .001 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS Virological and immunological outcomes of initial treatments improved between 2000--2001 and 2004--2005, irrespective of uniformly high rates of early changes in treatment across the 3 study intervals.
Relationship of interferon-inducing particle phenotype to encephalomyocarditis virus-induced diabetes mellitus

The B (nondiabetogenic) and D (diabetogenic) variants of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus were studied to further define the role of the interferon (IFN) system in murine virus-induced diabetes mellitus. The relationship between the initial multiplicity of infection with EMC-B and the IFN yield showed that cells infected with one IFN-inducing particle produce a maximum amount of IFN, whereas IFN production is suppressed in cells infected with two or more particles. The IFN yield induced by EMC-D was less than 5% of that induced by EMC-B, allowing the designation of the B and D variants as Ifp+ and Ifp-, respectively. The Ifp+ property of the virion was shown to be responsible for the greater sensitivity of EMC-B to exogenous IFN as a result of primed local IFN induction. The data indicate that different Ifp phenotypes occur in nature and are associated with the development of diabetes in mice.
The Overrepresentation of African American Males in Special Education Classroom: Advantages of Single Sex Education

African American males are more likely to be placed in a special education classroom setting than any other racial and gender combination. Current research suggests that African American males are less likely to be placed in a special education classroom if they attend a single sex school. With this information, I wanted to find out if the current literature review research could be applied to the Rochester City School District. I analyzed public data provided by the New York State Department of Education. I looked at three particular schools in the Rochester City School District, Leadership Academy for Young men, an all male public school, East High School, a multi-gender school with a similar population, and James Monroe High School, a multigender school with a larger population. Through my data analysis, I was able to conclude that the current literature review research can be applied to the Rochester City School District. At the Leadership Academy for Young Men, African American males only made up 17% of the total population labeled as having a disability, whereas at East High School, African American males made up 26% of the total population labeled as having a disability. This data supports the theory that African American males are less likely to be placed in a special education classroom if they attend a single sex school. Document Type Thesis Degree Name MS in Special Education Department Education First Supervisor Susan Schultz Subject Categories Education This thesis is available at Fisher Digital Publications: http://fisherpub.sjfc. edu/education_ETD_masters/333 Overrepresentation of African American Males in Special Education Classrooms: Advantages of Single Sex Education By Emily J. Cloonan Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree M.S. Special Education Supervised by Dr. Susan M. Schultz School of Education St. John Fisher College April 25, 2016 OVERREPRESENTATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES 2
Hox proteins have different affinities for a consensus DNA site that correlate with the positions of their genes on the hox cluster

The hox genes, members of a family of essential developmental regulators, have the intriguing property that their expression in the developing murine embryo is colinear with their chromosomal organization. Members of the hox gene family share a conserved DNA binding domain, termed the homeodomain, which mediates interactions of Hox proteins with DNA regulatory elements in the transcriptional control regions of target genes. In this study, we characterized the DNA binding properties of five representative members of the Hox family: HoxA5, HoxB4, HoxA7, HoxC8, and HoxB1. To facilitate a comparative analysis of their DNA binding properties, we produced the homeodomain regions of these Hox proteins in Escherichia coli and obtained highly purified polypeptides. We showed that these Hox proteins interact in vitro with a common consensus DNA site that contains the motif (C/G)TAATTG. We further showed that the Hox proteins recognize the consensus DNA site in vivo, as determined by their ability to activate transcription through this site in transient transfection assays. Although they interact optimally with the consensus DNA site, the Hox proteins exhibit subtle, but distinct, preferences for DNA sites that contain variations of the nucleotides within the consensus motif. In addition to their modest differences in DNA binding specificities, the Hox proteins also vary in their relative affinities for DNA. Intriguingly, their relative affinities correlate with the positions of their respective genes on the hox cluster. These findings suggest that subtle differences in DNA binding specificity combined with differences in DNA binding affinity constitute features of the "Hox code" that contribute to the selective functions of Hox proteins during murine embryogenesis.
Examining the Impact of Fit on the Job Satisfaction of Midlevel Managers in Student Affairs.

LOMBARDI, RYAN TIMOTHY. Examining the Impact of Fit on the Job Satisfaction of Midlevel Mangers in Student Affairs. (Under the direction of Audrey J. Jaeger, Ph.D.) The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship of personal characteristics, job characteristics, and fit on the job satisfaction of mid-level managers in student affairs. The study was quantitative in nature and used the Job Satisfaction Survey (Spector, 1997) and several additional instruments to assess the impact of these variables on job satisfaction. Participants included 845 midlevel managers who are members of NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. This study demonstrated significance in the relationship of gender, race, years in job, level of monetary professional development support, number of student contact hours, person-organization fit, and person-job fit on job satisfaction for this sample. The findings provide current levels of job satisfaction for midlevel managers and contribute to the literature on the multiple variables that impact satisfaction for this population. © Copyright 2013 by Ryan Timothy Lombardi
The Rising Incidence of Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks in the United States and the Association with Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objective To determine the national rates of spontaneous CSF leaks and to determine the association with risk factors. Study Design Retrospective review from 2002 to 2012. Setting University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) database of 127 of the leading academic medical centers in the United States (81 centers participated all years of the study). Patients Those who underwent craniotomy for CSF leak repair in the UHC database and those who have undergone repair of spontaneous CSF leaks at one UHC center. Intervention Assessment of procedure code rates and patient demographics from 2002 to 2012. Main Outcome Measure National rates of craniotomy for spontaneous CSF leak repair each year, the relation to U.S. regional obesity rates, and the proportion of patients with coincident obstructive sleep apnea. Spontaneous CSF leak patient characteristics (age, sex, BMI, hypertension, and OSA) were calculated. Results The rate of craniotomy for spontaneous CSF leak repair has risen 2 fold from 2002 (218 cases per year) to 2012 (488 cases per year). There was no change in the rate of nonspontaneous CSF leaks over the same period. The rate of spontaneous CSF leak repair is twice as high (2.54 versus 1.07 per million people per year) in regions of the United States with the highest obesity rate (Midwest) compared with the lowest obesity rate (West). All patients with spontaneous CSF leaks were overweight (BMI, >25 kg/m2) with an average BMI of 37.8 kg/m2. The average age was 57.03 years, and 72% were female. Patients with spontaneous CSF leaks presented with high rate of OSA (14.8% nationally and 37.1% at the University of Iowa) and hypertension (85.7%). Conclusion The national rate of craniotomy for spontaneous CSF leak repair is rising. This condition is yet another public health problem related to the rising obesity epidemic. All patients with spontaneous CSF leaks should be evaluated for OSA.
Cell Surface-bound Collagenase-1 and Focal Substrate Degradation Stimulate the Rear Release of Motile Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells* 210

To migrate in the vessel wall, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) must contend with abundant type I collagen. We investigated the mechanisms used by human SMCs to efficiently migrate on type I collagen, following stimulation with fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). FGF-2-stimulated migration was inhibited by a hydroxamic acid inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases and by a neutralizing anti-collagenase-1 antibody. Moreover, migration speed of SMCs plated on mutant collagenase-resistant type I collagen was not increased by FGF-2. Time-lapse video analysis of unstimulated SMCs migrating on collagen revealed discrete phases of leading edge membrane extension and rear retraction, the latter often after rupture of an elongated tail. FGF-2 stimulation yielded a more synchronous, gliding motion with a collagenase-1-mediated decrease in tail ripping. Surface labeling of SMCs with biotin followed by immunoprecipitation revealed that a proportion of active collagenase-1, expressed in response to FGF-2, was bound to the plasma membrane. Pericellular collagen substrate cleavage was verified by immunostaining for neoepitopes generated by collagenase-1 action and was localized to discrete zones beneath the cell tail and the leading edge. These results identify a novel mechanism by which SMC migration on collagen is enhanced, whereby rear release from the substrate is orchestrated by the localized actions of membrane-bound collagenase-1.
The Impact of Campus Scandals on College Applications

In recent years, there have been a number of high profile scandals on college campuses, ranging from cheating to hazing to rape. With so much information regarding a college's academic and non-academic attributes available to students, how do these scandals affect their applications? To investigate, we construct a dataset of scandals at the top 100 U.S. universities between 2001 and 2013. Scandals with a high level of media coverage significantly reduce applications. For example, a scandal covered in a long-form news article leads to a ten percent drop in applications the following year. This is roughly the same as the impact on applications of dropping ten spots in the U.S. News and World Report college rankings. This impact on applications persists for two years following the high-profile scandal. We find little evidence to suggest that this drop in applications is associated with longer-term negative effects for the school such as a less competitive applicant pool or a more dangerous campus environment.
Mini-Mental State Examination performance in frail, pre-frail, and non-frail community dwelling older adults in Ermelino Matarazzo, São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT Background: Frailty in older adults is a multifactorial syndrome defined by low metabolic reserve, less resistance to stressors, and difficulty in maintaining organic homeostasis due to cumulative decline of multiple physiological systems. The relationship between frailty and cognition remains unclear and studies about Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) performance and frailty are scarce. The objective was to examine the association between frailty and cognitive functioning as assessed by the MMSE and its subdomains. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study (FIBRA) was carried out in Ermelino Matarazzo, a poor subdistrict of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Participants were 384 community dwelling older adults, 65 years and older who completed the MMSE and a protocol to assess frailty criteria as described in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). Results: Frail older adults had significantly worse performance on the MMSE (p < 0.001 for total score). Linear regression analyses showed that the MMSE total score was influenced by age (p < 0.001), education (p < 0.001), family income (p < 0.001), and frailty status (p < 0.036). Being frail was associated more significantly with worse scores in Time Orientation (p < 0.004) and Immediate Memory (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our data suggest that being frail is associated with worse cognitive performance, as assessed by the MMSE. It is recommended that the assessment of frail older adults should include the investigation of their cognitive status.
Interaction between antihypertensives and NSAIDs in primary care: a controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may increase blood pressure (BP) and blunt the effects of many antihypertensives. It seems that NSAIDs and the antihypertensive drugs differ in their propensity to such an interaction. OBJECTIVES To determine the extent of the interaction between two antihypertensives and three NSAIDs. METHODS A prospective clinical trial in a family practice included 88 treated hypertensives aged over 55 years; 39 controls and 49, also taking NSAIDs for osteoarthritis. During this 3-month study, two antihypertensives, lisinopril/hydrochlorothiazide and amlodipine, were compared with three NSAIDs: ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and piroxicam. BP was measured with standard mercury sphygmomanometer and with an automatic device, in standing, sitting, and supine position. RESULTS The average starting blood pressure in the study group was 149.3A+/-9.8/88.6A+/-6.8 mm Hg. In the lisinopril/hydrochlorothiazide subgroup, both ibuprofen and piroxicam elevated systolic BP by 7.7-9.9% (p<0.001), which, during the acetaminophen period, decreased by 6.9-9.4% to 0.3-0.9% above baseline (p<0.001), increasing again by 7.0-7.7% (p<0.001) during the second exposition to these drugs. In the amlodipine subgroup, ibuprofen or piroxicam increased BP by 1.1-1.6% (p>0.290) only, and there were no significant shifts in the follow-up periods. Analogous deviations were observed with both measurement devices, in all the examinee's positions. In the control group, BP did not change appreciably. CONCLUSIONS Piroxicam and ibuprofen markedly blunt the effects of antihypertensive drugs while acetaminophen is almost inert. Lisinopril/hydrochlorothiazide combination is much more affected by this interaction than amlodipine (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00631514).
Association of latent membrane protein 1 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 with metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly metastatic carcinoma whose consistent association with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) has been established. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), an EBV membrane protein expressed in latent infection, is considered to be the EBV oncoprotein. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), one of the MMP families, degrades Type IV collagen, a major component of extracellular matrix and is believed to be crucial for cancer invasion and metastasis. Although MMP9 is reported to be expressed in a variety of cancers, no reports concerning NPC have been published to date to the authors' knowledge. Recently, the authors have shown that LMP1 induces MMP9 in vitro cell line, which suggests the possibility of a mechanism in which LMP1 of EBV contributes to the metastasis and tumorigenesis of NPC by the induction of MMP9.
Intergenerational Mobility in Norway: Transition Probabilities and Directional Rank Mobility

Intergenerational Mobility in Norway: Transition Probabilities and Directional Rank Mobility by Kenneth Schnelle, Master in Economics University of Bergen, 2015 Supervisors: Espen Bratberg, Kjell Vaage This thesis applies newly developed measurers of intergenerational income mobility on register data for Norwegian cohorts born 1950, 1955 and 1960. It looks at two groups: difference between genders and difference between intact and disrupted families. Significant gaps between sons and daughters in both upwards and in downwards mobility are found. It is found that daughters are more downward mobile and less upward mobile than sons, and the gender-gap seems to somewhat decrease over the time period of the study. The main contribution to this decrease is an increase in upward mobility and a decrease in downward mobility for daughters. Using the the same methods to study the difference between intact and disrupted families in the 1960 cohort, there seem to be tendency that children of intact families are slightly more upward mobile and slightly less downwards mobile compared to disrupted families. Data used in this thesis is are provided by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services (NSD). Statistics and data analysis is are done in STATA 13 and the thesis is written in LTEX.
Factors influencing retirement savings intentions in Botswana

This study identified and tested some factors that affect retirement savings decisions in Botswana. Subjective norms, financial literacy and attitude were found to have positive effects on intentions to make additional voluntary contributions (AVC) to retirement savings. With these results, targeted intervention efforts will aid policy formulation designed to induce additional voluntary retirement savings.
Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA by PCR related to HCV antibodies in serum and liver histology in swedish blood donors

Serum samples from 103 blood donors or patients with slightly increased serum levels of liver enzymes were tested for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) using second generation tests and for HCV RNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR was in a nested configuration, using primer pairs from the 5'-nontranslated region. The anti-HCV antibody was found by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 93 patients. The anti-HCV confirmatory second generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) was positive in 44, indeterminate in 34 and negative in 25 subjects. Histopathological examination of the liver was carried out in 51 subjects. HCV RNA was detected in serum of 39/41 (95%) RIBA positive patients, and in 7/34 (21%) RIBA indeterminate subjects, but in none of the RIBA negative subjects. All but one of the PCR positive patients with a RIBA indeterminate pattern exhibited the C22 band. HCV RNA was found in the serum of all but one patients with chronic active or persistent hepatitis, but also in one RIBA positive subject with normal liver tissue. These results imply that most patients with antibodies to two or more HCV antigens by RIBA will have a chronic replicative HCV infection associated with viraemia. HCV viraemia can also be present in some patients, who have antibodies to only one HCV antigen particularly the C22 epitope.
The Intercostal Flap: an Anatomical and Hemodynamic Approach

The intercostal island flap is a new omnipotential flap that is extremely valuable for torso reconstruction, provided one understands the intricacies of intercostal anatomy. Human cadaver dissections were done to determine the precise course and branching pattern of the lower (T7-T11) intercostal neurovascular bundles. On the basis of these dissections, the intercostal structures can be divided into four anatomical segments: vertebral, costal groove, inter-muscular, and rectus. The anatomical segments can be safely combined in many ways to create versatile skin flaps. Three different clinical applications with requisite modifications in surgical technique are described in detail to exemplify important anatomical observations. The potential value of the intercostal island flap in reconstructive surgery is discussed.
Service Failures of Rural Water Supply Systems in Ethiopia and Their Policy Implications

As the world is striving to improve water supply coverage, a significant number of rural communities are forced to turn back to unprotected sources due to service breakdowns of their water supply systems. Yet, these communities do not seem to receive the same attention as those building new systems. The purpose of this article is to reveal and diagnose the determinant factors of service failures and to propose mitigation measures to the rural water supply in Ethiopia. The study is conducted through a literature review and field discussions with experts (n = 48) and artisans (n = 35), who have been involved in the implementation, operation, and maintenance of the systems. Moreover, failed schemes (n = 20) were visited, and discussions were held with village elders of each water point. The findings indicate that lack of uniformity of implementation approaches, and institutional and organizational incapability of the local government aggravate the service failures. The further capacity building, institutionalization, and improving remuneration of employees are likely to reduce the problems substantially.