Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subtype mutations in the envelope 2 region including phosphorylation homology domain of Hepatitis C virus do not predict effectiveness of antiviral therapy

Summary. The aim of this study was to determine whether specific sequences of the phosphorylation homology domain (PePHD) region could be correlated with differences in response to antiviral therapy in patients infected with hepatitis C virus subtypes 1b, 2c, 3a and 4c/d. We included 43 patients (22 sustained responders and 21 nonresponders or relapsers) in the study, who were classified according to early viral decline during the first weeks of antiviral treatment and response at end of follow up. Type of mutations, mutation frequency, genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships were compared at the PePHD and flanking regions. Phylogenetic trees showed that each sequence clustered together with those of the same subtype. Sequences from subtypes 1b and 4c/d resembled more closely the phosphorylation sites of protein kinase R and eIF2α than sequences from genotypes 2c and 3a, the latter with higher response rates to interferon‐α (IFNα) treatment. However, within specific subtypes, no separate clusters of responders and nonresponders were observed either at the beginning or at the end of follow up. We were not able to find any particular sequence or mutation in the PePHD region or in any other subregion of the fragment studied that allowed prediction of treatment response.
The Disemployment Effect of Minimum Wages in Canada Using Provincial Panel Data

The effect of minimum wages on the employment rate has been a topic of great concern in recent studies. The mainstream view is that the minimum wage has a negative effect on teenage employment and this conclusion is consistent for Canada in previous studies. To verify the disemployment effect of minimum wages in Canada, this paper uses updated data for the time period 1983-2014 for nine provinces to estimate the effects of the minimum wage on teenage employment, and test provincial effects of the minimum wage and control variables. My results support the mainstream view of the disemployment effect of minimum wages, and this conclusion is robust to the specification of the model. Also, allowing province-specific effects of control variables helps to improve the performance of the model, while including provincial effects of the minimum wage may weaken the disemployment effect of minimum wages. The results imply that the upcoming in minimum wages in Ontario will have only a small impact on the teenage employment rate.
Evaluation of a penalty and a constraint-based haptic rendering algorithm with different haptic interfaces and stiffness values

This work presents an evaluation study in which the effects of a penalty-based and a constraint-based haptic rendering algorithm on the user performance and perception are analyzed. A total of N = 24 participants performed in a within-design study three variations of peg-in-hole tasks in a virtual environment after trials in an identically replicated real scenario as a reference. In addition to the two mentioned haptic rendering paradigms, two haptic devices were used, the HUG and a Sigma.7, and the force stiffness was also varied with maximum and half values possible for each device. Both objective (time and trajectory, collision performance, and muscular effort) and subjective ratings (contact perception, ergonomy, and workload) were recorded and statistically analyzed. The results show that the constraint-based haptic rendering algorithm with a lower stiffness than the maximum possible yields the most realistic contact perception, while keeping the visual inter-penetration between the objects roughly at around 15% of that caused by penalty-based algorithm (i.e., non perceptible in many cases). This result is even more evident with the HUG, the haptic device with the highest force display capabilities, although user ratings point to the Sigma.7 as the device with highest usability and lowest workload indicators. Altogether, the paper provides qualitative and quantitative guidelines for mapping properties of haptic algorithms and devices to user performance and perception.
Optimal Emitter Cell Geometry in High Power 4H-SiC BJTs

Three 4H-SiC bipolar junction transistor designs with different emitter cell geometries (linear interdigitated fingers, square cell geometry, and hexagon cell geometry) are fabricated, analyzed, and compared with respect to current gain, ON-resistance (RON), current density (JC), and temperature performance for the first time. Emitter size effect and surface recombination are investigated. Due to a better utilization of the base area, optimal emitter cell geometry significantly increases the current density about 42% and reduces the ON-resistance about 21% at a given current gain, thus making the device more efficient for high-power and high-temperature applications.
Unilateral Masticatory Function Changes the Proteoglycan Content of Mandibular Condylar Cartilage in Rabbit

Unilateral masticatory function was induced in 10-day-old rabbits by grinding the right side molars out of occlusion under general anesthesia. The grinding procedure was repeated twice a week thereafter. They were killed at the ages of 25 and 35 days. Rabbits of the same age with uninterfered occlusions served as controls. The changes in articular cartilage of the mandibular condyle were studied biochemically and histochemically. There was a significant decrease in the proteoglycan content of the condylar cartilage in both groups of animals subjected to molar grinding compared to the animals with untouched occlusions. Especially the amount of aggregating proteoglycans was reduced. The condylar cartilage matrix synthesis is sensitive to loading produced by masticatory function during growth. The mechanical properties of the articular cartilage after a period of unilateral mastication will be impaired and it is possible that this makes the joint cartilage more susceptible to pathological events.
The effect of epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs on sexual, reproductive and gonadal health of adults with epilepsy

ABSTRACT Epilepsy is a common chronic medical illness. Hyposexuality is the most frequent abnormality in men and women with epilepsy. In men with epilepsy, hypoandrogenimia, hypogonadism and sperm abnormalities are common. Testicular atrophy was also infrequently reported. In women with epilepsy, hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries (PCOs) and PCO syndrome are frequent. Decreased serum free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone levels, free androgen index and free testosterone/leutinizing hormone (LH) ratio and increased sex hormone binding globulin, estradiol, prolactin, LH, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and LH/FSH ratio are common with epilepsy. Disturbance of central and/or peripheral control of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and alteration of central neurotrasmitters (GABA, glutamate and serotonin) by epileptic discharges or antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), direct gonadal toxicity by AEDs and pcyshicatric/psychosocial factors are all incriminated in sexual, reproductive and gonadal abnormalities associated with epilepsy. Patients may benefit from multidisplinary evaluation, tight seizure control, change the AED, androgen therapy, genital vasodilators, L-carnitine supplementation and psychotherapy.
Effective pancreatic cancer treatment using electrical pulses: An in vitro model study

The pitiful response rate of less than 25% to the pancreatic chemodrugs indicates that currently the cancer of pancreas is very difficult to treat. This is because early-stage pancreatic cancer rarely causes any significant symptoms. The condition is often not detected until the cancer is relatively advanced. In addition, the pancreatic cancers are chemoresistant and hence chemotherapy doesn't work many times. A previous research reported that 21 pancreatic cell lines studied showed major resistance to the chemo treatment using Gemcitabine and/or other drugs. There is a critical need for alternative therapies and electrical-pulse-mediated chemotherapy, known as electrochemotherapy has the potential to treat pancreatic cancer. Towards this, we studied the effect of Gemcitabine, along with 1200V/cm, 100μs (8 pulses at one second interval) and 500V/cm, 25ms (2 pulses at one second interval) pulses on Panc-1 pancreatic cells. Gemcitabine concentration used was 100μM. The viability results, 31%, using the 500V/cm pulses compared to the viability of 79% with drug only indicates that using appropriate electrical pulse parameters, it is possible to obtain the desired cell death due to the synergy of the drug and the electrical pulses. This budding novel therapy could be effectively transferred to clinics for treating pancreatic cancer.
“Sleeping Beauties” in English Classrooms: The English Divestment of Korean High School Students

Ahn, Sung-Ho G. and Lee, Mun Woo. 2017. “Sleeping beauties” in English classrooms: The English divestment of Korean high school students. Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics 17-3, 547-579. This study delves into English language “divestment” in Korean classrooms by focusing on why some students sleep in their English classes. Data were collected using interviews with 26 first and second year high school students who often fell asleep in English classes. The data were subjected to the conventional content analysis and interpreted using Darvin and Norton’s (2015) investment framework. The findings showed that the students divested from English classes for four reasons. First, they did not agree with the “English is a necessity” ideology and had no interest in participating in English classes. Second, although they wanted to study English, they believed that the school curriculum and the teachers were not helpful enough. Third, the students complained about not knowing how to study English, and fourth, they felt physically tired because they often spent much time the night before on activities unrelated to their studies, such as playing computer games and using social networking services. Most students had multiple reasons at once, which shows the intricate interrelationships among the English language ideology, the available capital for English learning, and the learners’ identities. The findings of this study emphasize the need to embrace these marginalized students based on a comprehensive understanding of the discursive nature of English divestment.
Primary cilia enhance kisspeptin receptor signaling on gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons

Significance Mammalian central neurons typically possess solitary appendages called primary cilia. These rod-shaped protrusions are enriched for signaling proteins, suggesting they respond to extracellular neuromodulators. Yet, neuronal ciliary signaling has never been observed and the roles of cilia in neuronal function are unclear. This study identifies Kiss1r, which plays a key role in reproductive function, as a novel ciliary receptor on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. GnRH neurons possess multiple Kiss1r-positive cilia and the proportion of multiple cilia increases in parallel with pubertal maturation. Ablation of Kiss1r-positive cilia on GnRH neurons does not affect neuron migration or sexual maturation. However, kisspeptin-mediated increases in GnRH neuron firing rate are reduced in the absence of cilia. Thus, cilia enhance Kiss1r signaling on GnRH neurons. Most central neurons in the mammalian brain possess an appendage called a primary cilium that projects from the soma into the extracellular space. The importance of these organelles is highlighted by the fact that primary cilia dysfunction is associated with numerous neuropathologies, including hyperphagia-induced obesity, hypogonadism, and learning and memory deficits. Neuronal cilia are enriched for signaling molecules, including certain G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), suggesting that neuronal cilia sense and respond to neuromodulators in the extracellular space. However, the impact of cilia on signaling to central neurons has never been demonstrated. Here, we show that the kisspeptin receptor (Kiss1r), a GPCR that is activated by kisspeptin to regulate the onset of puberty and adult reproductive function, is enriched in cilia projecting from mouse gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. Interestingly, GnRH neurons in adult animals are multiciliated and the percentage of GnRH neurons possessing multiple Kiss1r-positive cilia increases during postnatal development in a progression that correlates with sexual maturation. Remarkably, disruption of cilia selectively on GnRH neurons leads to a significant reduction in kisspeptin-mediated GnRH neuronal activity. To our knowledge, this result is the first demonstration of cilia disruption affecting central neuronal activity and highlights the importance of cilia for proper GPCR signaling.
Androgen Deprivation in Veterans with Prostate Cancer: Implications for Skeletal Health

Background: Common risk factors for osteoporosis in older men include smoking, heavy use of alcohol, propensity to falls, and use of bone-toxic medications such as prednisone. There is also increasing appreciation of the skeletal risk faced by men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer. Measures to prevent bone loss in such patients are available. Objective: To test the following hypotheses in a population of veterans receiving ADT for prostate cancer: (1) fracture risk factors in addition to androgen deprivation would be found in most patients, (2) bone mass measurements would be assessed in a minority of patients, and (3) a minority of the subjects would receive bisphosphonate therapy or have contraindications for such treatment. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of male veterans receiving ADT from 1993 through 2001, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Madison, WI. Results: One hundred and seventy-four subjects met study criteria, with a mean age of 76 years and median duration of 21 months of ADT. Eighty-one percent had risk factors in addition to ADT. Only 13% underwent bone density measurement by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and, of those measured, more than half had osteoporosis. Only 19% of the men received both calcium and vitamin D supplements. Antiresorptive therapy was provided to 11% of men, although more than two-thirds had no contraindications to therapy. A total of 24 men sustained a fracture after starting ADT. For men who did undergo bone density measurement, 77% received antiresorptive therapy. Of those who exhibited osteoporosis by DXA scan, 85% received antiresorptive therapy. Conclusions: Male veterans receiving ADT for prostate cancer received inadequate evaluation and treatment for osteoporosis. Based on our data, a simple and practical strategy to prompt further evaluation and improved care may be to undertake bone density measurements in men prior to or soon after commencing ADT.
Folate Deficiencies and Cardiovascular Pathologies

Abstract Although folates are widely distributed in foods, folate deficiencies may be more frequent than expected because their true availability may be impaired due to their lability under various food cooking and processing conditions. Folate deficiency is frequently observed in elderly people, smokers, alcoholics and oral contraceptive users. It is also associated with the mutation leading to the thermolabile variant of N5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase which is observed in about 10 % of the population. In addition to the essential role of the intracellular pool of polyglutamates in de novo biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleotides which allow cell growth and division, the reduced and methylated form of folate, N5-methyltetrahydrofolate, is required for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. By inhibiting this remethylation pathway, folate deficiency induces homocysteine efflux into the circulation. Many studies have shown a negative correlation between plasma folate, particularly N5-methyltetrahydrofolate, and circulating homocysteine levels. In addition, folate deficiency is a major cause of hyperhomocysteinemia which is fully recognised as an independent risk factor for atherothrombosis. Epidemiological and recent experimental studies have demonstrated that folate deficiency might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by increasing circulating homocysteine levels. Thus, the clinical efficiency of folate supplementation, especially N5-methyltetrahydrofolate, in reducing homocysteine-dependent cardiovascular risk should be evaluated.
Adherence to the immunosuppressive regimen in pediatric kidney transplant recipients: A systematic review

Dobbels F, Ruppar T, De Geest S, Decorte A, Van Damme‐Lombaerts R, Fine RN. Adherence to the immunosuppressive regimen in pediatric kidney transplant recipients: A systematic review. Pediatr Transplantation 2010: 14:603–613. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Exchange rate risk compensation in international ETFs

We study exchange rate risk compensation in international ETFs from the perspective of a U.S. investor by using the Dollar and Carry currency risk factors. We find that U.S. investors are compensated for taking currency risk. In particular, when we estimate risk factor loadings conditionally, using 60-month rolling windows, in the sample period between January 1997 and June 2015, taking an additional unit of Dollar risk is associated with 0.94 percentage points more excess return per annum, while an additional unit of Carry risk is associated with an increase in excess return of 4.74 percentage points per annum.
PI3Kγ regulates cartilage damage in chronic inflammatory arthritis

The γ isoform of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3Kγ) has been viewed as restricted to leukocytes mediating the regulation of chemokine‐induced migration and recruitment of neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages. In line with the observation that PI3Kγ‐deficient mice display defects in adaptive immunity, inhibition of PI3Kγ reduces synovial inflammation in the collagen‐induced arthritis mouse model of inflammatory arthritis [rheumatoid arthritis (RA)], which has been attributed to reduced influx of inflammatory cells. Challenging the concept of leukocyte‐restricted PI3Ky function, we report here a novel, nonredundant function of PI3Kγ as an important regulator of fibroblast‐ induced cartilage destruction during chronic destructive arthritis. We show that in human tumor necrosis factor transgenic mice, the loss of PI3Kγ leads to a milder inflammatory arthritis. Interestingly, PI3Kγ deficiency does not alter the recruitment of inflammatory cells, but significantly reduces cartilage damage through reduced expression of matrix metalloproteinases in fibroblasts and chondrocytes. In vitro analyses demonstrate that the decreased invasiveness of fibroblasts is mediated by reduced phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signalregulated kinase. Using a PI3Kγ specific inhibitor, these data are confirmed in human synovial fibroblasts from patients with RA who exhibit a disease‐specific up‐regulation of PI3Kγ. Our data indicate that in addition to mediating the recruitment of inflammatory cells, PI3Kγ is an important regulator of fibroblast‐mediated joint destruction in RA and suggest that specific inhibitors of PI3Kγ will interfere with the activation of RA synovial fibroblasts and reduce cartilage destruction in RA. — Hayer, S. , Pundt, N. , Peters, M. A. , Wunrau, C. , Kühnel, I. , Neugebauer, K. , Strietholt, S. , Zwerina, J., Korb, A. , Penninger'J.'Joosten' L. A. B. , Gay, S. , Rückle, T. , Schett, G. , Pap, T. Phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase‐γ regulates cartilage damage in chronic inflammatory arthritis. FASEBJ. 23, 4288‐4298 (2009). www.fasebj. org
Organizational Citizenship Behavior in the 21stCentury: How Might Going the Extra Mile Look Different at the Start of the New Millennium?

Abstract For decades organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) has been of interest to scholars and practitioners alike, generating a significant amount of research exploring the concept of what citizenship behavior is, and its antecedents, correlates, and consequences. While these behaviors have been and will continue to be valuable, there are changes in the workplace that have the potential to alter what types of OCBs will remain important for organizations in the future, as well as what types of opportunities for OCB exist for employees. In this chapter we consider the influence of 10 workplace trends related to human resource management that have the potential to influence both what types of citizenship behaviors employees engage in and how often they may engage in them. We build on these 10 trends that others have identified as having the potential to shape the workplace of the future, which include labor shortages, globalization, immigration, knowledge-based workers, increase use of technology, gig work, diversity, changing work values, the skills gap, and employer brands. Based on these 10 trends, we develop propositions about how each trend may impact OCB. We consider not only how these trends will influence the types of citizenship and opportunities for citizenship that employees can engage in, but also how they may shape the experiences of others related to OCB, including organizations and managers.
The Role of Exchange Rate in Supporting Trade Balance in Vietnam

In this paper, I apply a multivariate Structural Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) and Vector Error correction model (VECM) to analyse short-term and long-term effects of foreign exchange rate on trade balance of Vietnam, using monthly data from 2004-2015. Real effective exchange rate is used to reflect overall performance of Vietnam’s currency. The results suggest that in short-term, exchange rate has very limited impacts on trade flows; while in longer horizon, it does not affect imports in either nominal or real terms but has strong effect on nominal exports. To the extent of this research, there is a number of policy implications has been made to support policy makers in Vietnam.
The significance of serum uric acid, creatinine and urinary microprotein levels in predicting pre-eclampsia

The object of this study was to determine whether serum uric acid, serum creatinine and urinary microprotein levels could be used to identify women who might subsequently develop pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study performed on women attending the University antenatal clinic in Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka. Serum uric acid, creatinine and microproteinuria levels were determined in 256 women attending the antenatal clinic at 28 weeks of pregnancy. Subsequently they were followed-up at 2-weekly intervals until 36 weeks and weekly thereafter until delivery. At each visit blood presure was recorded and serum uric acid, creatinine and microprotein levels were determined. Fifty-nine women developed blood pressures of 140/90 mmHg or more during the study period. Serum uric acid and serum creatinine levels did not show any significant difference before the elevated blood pressures were recorded. Microprotenuria levels of more than 375 mg/l were recorded in 43 women before elevation of their blood pressure. Sixty-five woemn of 197 who remained normotensive had microproteinuria levels of more than 375 mg/l. The sensitivity and specificity of microproteinuria levels of more than 375 mg/l as a screening test for prediction of pre-eclampsia was 73% and 67%, respectively. Therefore, microproteinuria of more than 375 mg/l may be used as a cut-off value and as a screening test for the early detection of women at risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Serum uric acid and creatinine had no predictive value as a screening test for pre-eclampsia.