Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rare, Serious, and Comprehensively Described Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions Reported by Surveyed Healthcare Professionals in Uganda

Background Lack of adequate detail compromises analysis of reported suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs). We investigated how comprehensively Ugandan healthcare professionals (HCPs) described their most recent previous-month suspected ADR, and determined the characteristics of HCPs who provided comprehensive ADR descriptions. We also identified rare, serious, and unanticipated suspected ADR descriptions with medication safety-alerting potential. Methods During 2012/13, this survey was conducted in purposively selected Ugandan health facilities (public/private) including the national referral and six regional referral hospitals representative of all regions. District hospitals, health centres II to IV, and private health facilities in the catchment areas of the regional referral hospitals were conveniently selected. Healthcare professionals involved in prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, and administration of medications were approached and invited to self-complete a questionnaire on ADR reporting. Two-thirds of issued questionnaires (1,345/2,000) were returned. Results Ninety per cent (241/268) of HCPs who suspected ADRs in the previous month provided information on five higher-level descriptors as follows: body site (206), drug class (203), route of administration (127), patient age (133), and ADR severity (128). Comprehensiveness (explicit provision of at least four higher-level descriptors) was achieved by at least two-fifths (46%, 124/268) of HCPs. Received descriptions were more likely to be comprehensive from HCPs in private health facilities, regions other than central, and those not involved in teaching medical students. Overall, 106 serious and 51 rare previous-month suspected ADRs were described. The commonest serious and rare ADR was Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS); mostly associated with oral nevirapine or cotrimoxazole, but haemoptysis after diclofenac analgesia and paralysis after quinine injection were also described. Conclusion Surveyed Ugandan HCPs who had suspected at least one ADR in the previous month competently provided comprehensive ADR descriptions: more, indeed, than are received per annum nationally. Properly analyzed, and with local feed-back, voluntary ADR reports by HCPs could be an essential alerting tool for identifying rare and serious suspected ADRs in Uganda.
CD24 on thymic APCs regulates negative selection of myelin antigen‐specific T lymphocytes

Negative selection plays a key role in the clonal deletion of autoreactive T cells in the thymus. However, negative selection is incomplete; as high numbers of autoreactive T cells can be detected in normal individuals, mechanisms that regulate negative selection must exist. In this regard, we previously reported that CD24, a GPI‐anchored glycoprotein, is required for thymic generation of autoreactive T lymphocytes. The CD24‐deficient 2D2 TCR transgenic mice (2D2+CD24−/−), whose TCR recognizes myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), fail to generate functional 2D2 T cells. However, it was unclear if CD24 regulated negative selection, and if so, what cellular mechanisms were involved. Here, we show that elimination of MOG or Aire gene expression in 2D2+CD24−/− mice — through the creation of 2D2+CD24−/−MOG−/− or 2D2+CD24/∼Aire−/−mice — completely restores thymic cellularity and function of 2D2 T cells. Restoration of CD24 expression on DCs, but not on thymocytes also partially restores 2D2 T‐cell generation in 2D2+CD24−/− mice. Taken together, we propose that CD24 expression on thymic antigen‐presenting cells (mTECs, DCs) down‐regulates autoantigen‐mediated clonal deletion of autoreactive thymocytes.
Guidelines for the noise optimization of 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS tuned LNAs

Based on four noise parameters and two-port noise theory, considerations for noise optimization of fully integrated tuned low-noise amplifier (LNA) designs are presented. This paper demonstrates explicit design guidelines for a 0.18 micron CMOS tuned LNA. These guidelines give a useful indication of the design tradeoffs between noise figure, power dissipation and gate overdrive voltage for the LNA designed using this technology.
A1166C polymorphism of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene and risk of adverse events after coronary catheter interventions.

BACKGROUND Contradictory reports exist concerning the role of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor A1166C polymorphism as a coronary risk factor. Moreover, it is unknown whether the A1166C polymorphism is associated with thrombotic complications after coronary catheter interventions. METHODS We investigated the role of the A1166C polymorphism as a risk factor in 1000 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and in 1000 age- and sex-matched controls. A total of 649 patients receiving interventions (270 coronary angioplasty, 102 atherectomy, and 277 stenting) were investigated for a 30-day composite end point including target vessel revascularization, myocardial infarction, or death. RESULTS The composite end point was reached by 42 patients (6.5%) without evidence that the C allele was associated with excess procedural risk (odds ratio 0.93; 95% confidence interval 0.79-1.75; P =.82). Further analyses by device failed to show linkage with adverse events complicating coronary angioplasty, atherectomy, and stenting. Moreover, in the entire CAD group (n = 1000), the polymorphism even showed a trend to underrepresentation (odds ratio 0.83; 95% confidence interval 0.69-1. 004, P =.054). CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the A1166C polymorphism neither represents a risk factor for adverse events complicating coronary interventions nor seems to have significant impact on further long-term processes such as development and severity of CAD.
IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE FOR A MODULATION OF GALECTIN 3 (Mac‐2), A CARBOHYDRATE BINDING PROTEIN, IN PULMONARY FIBROSIS

Galectin 3 is an endogenous mammalian carbohydrate‐binding protein with affinity for terminal β‐galactose residues, polylactosamine glycans, and ABH‐blood group carbohydrate epitopes. To determine the distribution and regulation of galectin 3 during pulmonary injury, which is known to be accompanied by profound changes in the carbohydrate moieties of cell surface glycoproteins of alveolar cells, a rat model of irradiation‐induced lung inflammation and repair was used. Immunocytochemistry showed that in normal rat lungs, galectin 3 was localized to alveolar macrophages, with weaker staining of bronchial epithelial cells. Shortly after irradiation‐induced lung injury, when there is active proliferation of type II alveolar epithelial cells and re‐epithelialization of alveolar basement membranes by type I cells, the total galectin concentration in the lung increased dramatically. This increase was due in part to an increased population of galectin 3‐positive interstitial and alveolar macrophages. In addition, galectin 3 was expressed prominently at the surface of the newly formed type I alveolar epithelium and to lesser extent at the apical surface of type II cells. These findings suggest that the increased synthesis and secretion of galectin 3 during irradiation‐induced lung injury, together with ligation of secreted lectin at the surface of alveolar epithelial cells, may play roles in pulmonary alveolar epithelial expansion and differentiation during injury and repair.
Characterization of Pollen by Vibrational Spectroscopy

Classification, discrimination, and biochemical assignment of vibrational spectra of pollen samples belonging to 43 different species of the order Pinales has been made using three different vibrational techniques. The comparative study of transmission (KBr pellet) and attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and FT-Raman spectroscopies was based on substantial variability of pollen grain size, shape, and relative biochemical composition. Depending on the penetration depth of the probe light, vibrational techniques acquire predominant information either on pollen grain walls (FT-Raman and ATR-FT-IR) or intracellular material (transmission FT-IR). Compared with the other two methods, transmission FT-IR obtains more comprehensive information and as a result achieves superior spectral identification and discrimination of pollen. The results strongly indicate that biochemical similarities of pollen grains belonging to the same plant genus or family lead to similar features in corresponding vibrational spectra. The exploitation of that property in aerobiological monitoring was demonstrated by simple and rapid pollen identification based on relatively small spectral libraries, with the same (or better) taxonomic resolution as that provided by optical microscopy. Therefore, the clear correlation between vibrational spectra and pollen grain morphology, biochemistry, and taxonomy is obtained, while successful pollen identification illustrates the practicability of such an approach in environmental studies.
The impact of volatility on the implementation of the relative strength index: evidence from the Shanghai stock exchange

This paper examines the impact of volatility (measured as an exponentially-weighted moving average) on the implementation of a trading rule, based on the relative strength index (RSI) in the Chinese stock markets. In particular, using tick-by-tick data from the Shanghai stock exchange, the aouthors investigate how sensitive is the choice of RSI boundaries to different volatility regimes. The study reports empirical evidence that the return and the risk of our portfolios, in regimes of high and low volatility, are not significantly affected by the boundaries imposed to this technical indicator. However, we show that within each volatility regime some techniques provide a more desirable return-risk package than others.
Coherent corticomuscular oscillations originate from primary motor cortex: Evidence from patients with early brain lesions

Coherent oscillations of neurons in the primary motor cortex (M1) have been shown to be involved in the corticospinal control of muscle activity. This interaction between M1 and muscle can be measured by the analysis of corticomuscular coherence in the β‐frequency range (β‐CMCoh; 14–30 Hz). Largely based on magnetoencephalographic (MEG) source‐modeling data, it is widely assumed that β‐CMCoh reflects direct coupling between M1 and muscle. Deafferentation is capable of modulating β‐CMCoh, however, and therefore the influence of reafferent somatosensory signaling and corresponding neuronal activity in the somatosensory cortex (S1) has been unclear. We present transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and MEG data from three adult patients suffering from congenital hemiparesis due to pre‐ and perinatally acquired lesions of the pyramidal tract. In these patients, interhemispheric reorganization had resulted in relocation of M1 to the contralesional hemisphere, ipsilateral to the paretic hand, whereas S1 had remained in the lesioned hemisphere. This topographic dichotomy allowed for an unequivocal topographic differentiation of M1 and S1 with MEG (which is not possible if M1 and S1 are directly adjacent within one hemisphere). In all patients, β‐CMCoh originated from the contralesional M1, in accordance with the TMS‐evoked motor responses, and in contrast to the somatosensory evoked fields (SEFs) for which the sources (N20m) were localized in S1 of the lesioned hemisphere. These data provide direct evidence for the concept that β‐CMCoh reflects the motorcortical efferent drive from M1 to the spinal motoneuron pool and muscle. No evidence was found for a relevant contribution of neuronal activity in S1 to β‐CMCoh. Hum Brain Mapp, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase inhibitors reproduce the selective antiproliferative effects of imatinib on chronic myeloid leukaemia progenitor cells

We investigated the role of the phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI‐3K) pathway in regulating the proliferation of primary chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) progenitor cells by using imatinib to inhibit the activity of p210Bcr‐Abl. The effect of imatinib on the expression of PI‐3K pathway proteins was investigated by kinase assays and Western blotting; PI‐3K was inhibited by wortmannin or LY294002, Jak2 by AG490 and farnesylation by FTI II; progenitor cell proliferation (self‐renewal) was measured by growing myeloid colonies in vitro, then replating them to observe secondary colony formation. Suppression of p210Bcr‐Abl with imatinib indirectly suppressed the activity of PI‐3K and its downstream targets (Erk, Akt and p70S6 kinase), thereby implicating the PI‐3K pathway in p210Bcr‐Abl‐mediated signalling in primary CML progenitor cells. The PI‐3K inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002 reproduced the differential effects of imatinib on normal and CML progenitor cell proliferation in vitro by increasing normal cell (P = 0·001) and reducing CML cell proliferation (P = 0·0003). This differential effect was attributable to dysregulated signalling by granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor in CML. The responses of individual patient's cells to wortmannin correlated with their responses to imatinib (P = 0·004) but not their responses to AG490 (Jak2 kinase inhibitor) or FTI II (farnesyltransferase inhibitor). Individual responses to wortmannin also correlated with responses to interferon α (IFNα) (P = 0·016). Imatinib‐resistant K562 cells were sensitive to LY294002. Inhibition of the PI‐3K pathway may be common to imatinib and IFNα and reflect dysregulated cytokine signalling. As imatinib‐resistant cells remained sensitive to wortmannin and LY294002, targeting the PI‐3K pathway may provide an alternative therapy for imatinib‐resistant patients.
THE EFFECT OF SINGLE VERSUS MULTIPLE SETS ON STRENGTH

Research has previously been divided on whether performing resistance training with a single set per training session is as effective for increasing strength as training with multiple sets. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of single sets versus multiple sets on strength. Forty subjects were randomly assigned into 1 of 3 groups: control (C; n = 8), single set (SS; n = 14), or multiple sets (MS; n = 18) to perform 8 maximal knee extensions at 60°·s−1 on a Biodex System 3 iso- kinetic dynamometer twice a week for 8 weeks. The SS group performed 1 set while the MS group performed 3 sets. All groups were pre-, mid- (4 weeks), and posttested at 60°·s−1. Strength was expressed as peak torque (PT). A 3 × 3 × 2 (time × group × sex) mixed factor repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no interaction involving sex, but there was an interaction of group by time. The MS group exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) increase in PT (pre = 171.39 ± 61.98 Nm; mid = 193.08 ± 66.23 Nm) between the pretest and the midtest while the SS (pre = 163.45 ± 56.37 Nm; mid = 172.60 ± 61.78 Nm) and C groups (pre = 135.997 ± 54.31 Nm; mid = 127.66 ± 53.12 Nm) did not change. Strength did not change between the midtest and the posttest for any group. It was concluded that performing 3 sets of isokinetic knee extensions was more effective than performing a single set for increasing peak torque. These results seem to indicate that for increasing strength of the quadriceps, performing multiple sets is superior to performing a single set of resistance exercise.
Pathogenesis of nosocomial infections with Enterococcus faecalis

In this thesis, we analyzed the role of the different virulence factors of E. faecalis known in literature in the pathogenesis of infections. We investigated the prevalence of virulence factors in E. faecalis isolates from different hosts as well as their role in biomaterial related infections. The results showed that the virulence factors cytolysin (hemolysin) and the Asa1 form of the surface protein Agg are involved in infection and the surface protein Esp is associated with colonization. In addition, the surface proteins Agg and Esp play a role in the adhesion to biomaterials. However, another important conclusion from this thesis is that also other factors are involved in the pathogenesis of infection; E. faecalis without any of the virulence factors which are known thus far also caused infections and strains without any of the studied surface proteins adhered to biomaterials.
Improving the Assessment of Implicit Motives Using IRT: Cultural Differences and Differential Item Functioning

ABSTRACT Researchers have long been interested in studying differences in implicit motive between different groups. Implicit motives are typically measured by scoring text that respondents have written in response to picture cues. Recently, research on the measurement of implicit motives has made progress through the application of a dynamic Thurstonian item-response theory model (DTM; Lang, 2014) that captures 2 basic motivational processes in motivational research: motive competition and dynamic reduction of motive strength after a motive has been acted out. In this article, the authors use the DTM to investigate differential item functioning (DIF) in implicit motive measures. The article first discusses DIF in the context of the DTM. The authors then conduct a DIF analysis of data from a study that used a picture set of the Operant Motive Test (OMT; Kuhl & Scheffer, 2002) with participants from Cameroon, Germany, and Costa Rica. Results showed no evidence of DIF in 9 pictures and some evidence for DIF in 3 pictures. The authors show a partial invariance model can be specified and use this partial invariance model to study latent mean differences between Cameroon, Germany, and Costa Rica. The discussion focuses on the use of IRT DIF methods in future research on implicit motives.
Does Citizen Participation Matter to Performance-Based Budgeting?

ABSTRACT According to the meta-analysis on performance budgeting theory and practice, the relationship between citizens’ role and performance-based budgeting is an important but under-researched topic. Missing in our understanding of the determinants of performance budgeting is an examination of how citizen participation fosters the usage of performance information in the local budgetary process. This research is intended to understand the role of citizens to use performance budgeting, particularly for strategic planning and performance evaluation. To examine the research question, this study hypothesizes that local governments with a commitment to citizen participation tend to use performance budgeting. The results allow confirming that the hypothesis is supported, and to clarify our knowledge of the role of citizen input in government fiscal decisions.
Bank Loan Loss Provisions, Investor Protection and the Macroeconomy

Purpose We investigate the non-discretionary determinants of bank loan loss provisions in Africa after controlling for macroeconomic fluctuation, financial development and investor protection. Design/methodology/approach We use static and dynamic regression estimation to test for the determinants of bank loan loss provisions Findings We find that non-performing loans, loan-to-asset ratio and loan growth are significant non-discretionary drivers of bank provisions in the African region. We observe that bank provision is a positive function of non-performing loans up to a threshold beyond which bank provisions will no longer increase as non-performing loans increases. Also, bank loan-to-asset ratio is a significant driver of bank provisions when African banks have higher loan-to-asset ratios. We find that larger banks in financially developed African countries have fewer loan loss provisions while increase in bank lending leads to fewer bank provisions in countries with strong investor protection. Finally, .
Parent–child value similarity in families with young children: The predictive power of prosocial educational goals

Value transmission from one generation to the next is a key issue in every society, but it is not clear which parents are the most successful in transmitting their values to their children. We propose parents' prosocial educational goals as key predictors of parent-child value similarity. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the more parents wanted their children to endorse values of self-transcendence (helping, supporting, and caring for others) and the less parents wanted their children to endorse the opposing values of self-enhancement (striving for power and achievement), the higher would be parent-child overall value similarity. Findings from two studies of families - Study 1: 261 Swiss families, children aged 7-9 years; Study 2: 157 German families, children aged 6-11 years - confirmed this hypothesis. The effect was even stronger after controlling for values that prevail in the Swiss and German society, respectively. We integrate evidence from this study of values in families with young children with existing findings from studies with adolescent and adult children, and we discuss potential pathways from parents' educational goals to parent-child value similarity.
Motor cortex disinhibition of the unaffected hemisphere after acute stroke

We studied motor cortex excitability in the nonlesioned hemisphere of patients with a large cortical infarction. Patients with a severe hemiparesis due to a stroke were compared with age‐matched, healthy controls. Paired transcranial magnetic stimuli were applied over the unaffected hemisphere to investigate intracortical inhibition and facilitation. In the patient group, intracortical inhibition was reduced. We suggest that this disinhibition is due to an impairment of transcallosal fibers and may affect recovery. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 23: 1761–1763, 2000.
Evaluation of cell line 293 for virus isolation in routine viral diagnosis

Cell line 293, a continuous line of transformed human embryonic kidney cells, has been recognized for its sensitivity in the isolation of adenoviruses, particularly the fastidious species 40 and 41, from stool specimens. To explore the possibility of using this cell line for the isolation of other viruses from clinical specimens, 293 cells were tested for their susceptibility to a variety of viruses including herpes simplex virus, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, and the enteroviruses ECHO 11, coxsackie B5, and coxsackie B6. All of the viruses induced a cytopathic effect in 293 cells. Consequently, 293 cells were introduced into the diagnostic laboratory and used along with primary African green monkey kidney (AGMK) cell cultures for the inoculation of all respiratory and stool specimens. The study represents a retrospective analysis of the performance of 293 cells over a 22-month period. It was confirmed that 293 cells were more sensitive than AGMK cells for the isolation of adenoviruses from both respiratory and stool specimens. The 293 cells were also sensitive for the isolation of enteroviruses (untyped) but more so from stool specimens than from respiratory specimens. Parainfluenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus were only rarely isolated in 293 cells. Herpesvirus isolates were obtained with equal frequency in both 293 and AGMK cells. This retrospective analysis confirms the value of 293 cells for the isolation of adenoviruses and demonstrates that 293 cells are also useful for the isolation of certain enteroviruses from both respiratory and stool specimens.