Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ageing and development: Putting gender back on the agenda

We live in a world where women over fifty account for almost one quarter of the total population. This article highlights the potential of global population ageing as a vehicle for socio-economic development and demonstrates the value of taking a gendered approach to ageing and development. With the use of country level data on gender equality, education, health and life expectancy in later life, the analysis shows that older women in low-income countries face disproportionate disadvantages relative to both their male counterparts in low-income countries and female counterparts in high-income countries. For instance, an older woman in a low-income country is over 24 times less likely to have completed secondary education than an older woman in a high-income country. Despite the widely documented female survival advantage, an older woman in a low-income country spend a smaller percentage of her remaining life expectancy at age sixty in good health than her male counterparts. Our analysis show there are strong correlations between gender inequality and diminished life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at age 60 amongst both genders, indicating that both older women and older men fare better when they live in societies which realise the contributions of women to the development process. The correlation is particularly strong in low-income countries,suggesting countries with the lowest levels of economic development have the most to gain from promoting gender equality. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) had given an exclusive place to women in the standalone goal on maternal mortality and a goal on gender equality and female empowerment with explicit indicators on school enrollment amongst girls and literacy amongst young women. These goals are linked to the achievements such as the near doubling of the number of women in parliament and a near halving of the maternal mortality ratio over the last twenty years. However the development discourse has given minimal attention to women beyond reproductive age. The new, broader post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals provide unparalleled opportunities to place gender back on the emerging ageing and development agenda, support both older men and women to realise their potential and in the process maximize opportunities for prosperity and wellbeing for all.
Effect of Ferric Sorbitol Citrate (FSC) Administration on NF‐κB in Macrophages and Spleen Cells of Rats

Interaction of iron metabolism and the immune system is complex and pathological changes in one system affect the other. Ferric sorbitol citrate (FSC), non‐toxic compound of ferric ions with sorbitol and citrate, has immunomodulatory effect in treated mice. We investigated an effect of FSC on NF‐κB expression/activation in peritoneal macrophages and spleen cells of rats. TNF‐α concentrations in sera of control and FSC intraperitoneal (i.p.) treated Wistar rats were measured by ELISA. Furthermore, peritoneal macrophages (PM) were counted and splenocytes were isolated. PM and splenocytes were lysed and their cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions were separated by centrifugation. The influence of FSC on NF‐κB expression and/or activity as well as expression of its inhibitor IκB‐α was measured by Western blot. 1.5 and three hours after FSC treatment TNF‐α level in sera was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased. Activation of transcription factor NF‐κB in PM was detected three hours after treatment, followed by significant increment in PM number. In splenocytes NF‐κB was activated six and 48 hours after FSC application. The results indicate that, after i.p. application, FSC acts as a modulator of the immune system activating NF‐κB in PM. PM consequently secrete TNF‐α that activates NF‐κB in splenocytes.
E4ORF3 Requirement for Achieving Long-Term Transgene Expression from the Cytomegalovirus Promoter in Adenovirus Vectors

ABSTRACT Analysis of transgene expression under the control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter from adenovirus vectors in which the E4 region was modified indicated that E4ORF3 is required for long-term expression in the murine lung. CMV promoter truncation led to the persistence of expression in the absence of E4, thus eliminating the ORF3 requirement.
Response of Elevated Methylmalonic Acid to Three Dose Levels of Oral Cobalamin in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: Because the effects of lower‐dose oral cobalamin (Cbl) supplements on older people with cobalamin deficiency are not known, we determined whether oral Cbl supplements at three different dose levels would normalize elevated serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) and total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations.
Pengaruh Tingkat Literasi Keuangan, Experienced Regret, dan Risk Tolerance pada Pemilihan Jenis Investasi

Nowadays, the economy has been growing so rapidly that it makes people think of get-ting their income beyond the salary they get from their work. One way to get it is by investing. However, when investing, they find a few things to note such as financial literacy, investment experience, and risk tolerance. This is to minimize the risks as we accept, for example scams. This purpose of study is to examine the effect of financial lite-racy, experienced regret, and risk tolerance on investment decision making among socie-ty in Surabaya and Madura. This study used purposive, convenience and snow-ball sampling method. There were 185 respondents taken by questionnaire and survey me-thod. To test the hypotheses, this study employed descriptive analysis and multiple re-gression analysis. Moreover, by performing multiple regression analysis, this study found that only the experienced regret have significant effect on investment decision making, but risk tolerance and overconfidence did not affect the investment decision.
Prevention of human granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor protein aggregation in recombinant Pichia pastoris fed‐batch fermentation using additives

rhG‐CSF (recombinant human granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor) was expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris under the control of the AOX1 (alcohol oxidase 1) promoter. The production of rhG‐CSF was induced by switching from growth on glycerol to growth on methanol. In the induction phase, the methanol feed rate had a significant effect on the specific expression rate of rhG‐CSF. A constant feed rate of 16 ml·h−1·l−1 was found to be optimal for a high specific expression rate of rhG‐CSF (0.058 mg−1·h−1·g DCW−1; DCW is dry cell weight). Under this condition, a maximum concentration of 300 mg/l of rhG‐CSF and the expression yield of 0.6 mg of rhG‐CSF/g of methanol were attained. However, the secreted rhG‐CSF was shown to exist as aggregates in the culture broth, owing to hydrophobic interactions. To prevent undesirable protein aggregation, the presence of additional additives in the P. pastoris culture medium was investigated. Among seven additives tested, Tween 20, Tween 80 and betaine exhibited the best results in respect of preventing the formation of rhG‐CSF protein aggregates.
B‐cell activation by T‐cell‐independent type 2 antigens as an integral part of the humoral immune response to pathogenic microorganisms

Antigens that are expressed on the surface of pathogens in an organized, highly repetitive form can activate specific B cells by cross-linking of antigen receptors in a multivalent fashion. B cells respond to these multivalent antigens in the absence of MHC class II-restricted T-cell help by a mechanism that depends on the expression of a functional Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Accordingly, this class of immunogens has been designated T-cell-independent type 2 (TI-2) antigens. The unique properties of the B-cell response to TI-2 antigens are critically dependent on the formation of a small number of antigen receptor clusters, each of which contains approximately 10 to 20 antigen-bound membrane Ig (mIg) molecules. These clusters induce local membrane association of multiple activated Btk molecules, which results in long-term mobilization of intracellular ionized calcium. Such persistent calcium fluxes efficiently recruit transcription factors and thereby induce T-cell-independent B-cell activation and proliferation. While this first signal of multivalent mIg cross-linking can induce B-cell proliferation, we propose that a second signal is required for a TI-2 Ig secretory response. We have found that engagement of members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family could provide second signals that selectively induce Ig secretion in B cells that were activated by multivalent, but not by bivalent, antigen receptor engagement. This finding demonstrates a general mechanism by which TLRs recognize molecular motifs on the surface of pathogens and provide the TI-2-activated B cell with a second signal. In addition, TLR-dependent recognition of these non-self motifs by cells of the innate immune system can induce these cells to provide alternative and/or additional second signals in the TI-2 response. The complement system provides another link between the B cell and the innate immune system, and facilitates the mIg signal transduction by recruitment of CD21 in the immune response. Thus, the TI-2 response provides the host with a combination of "the best of both worlds": the recruitment of the fine specificity of the adaptive immune response and the utilization of both the speed of the innate immune system and the wealth of cytokines produced by its member cells upon stimulation by pathogenic organisms or their products. By combining these two pathways, the TI-2 response enables the host to rapidly produce antigen-specific Ig effector molecules that can be secreted at a sufficient rate to keep up with the rapid multiplication of invading infectious microorganisms, and will also prevent the intracellular spreading of a significant part of this population.
Falciparum malaria parasitemia index for predicting severe malaria

Introduction: While hyperparasitemia is considered an important indicator for the development of severe malaria, there is currently no consensus on the quantitative definition of hyperparasitemia. This study was conducted to establish a cutoff point for peripheral parasitemia among patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria, to define severe malaria.
Analysis of lap times in international swimming competitions

Abstract Swimming performances were analysed for the top 16 finishers (semi-finalists, finalists) in nine international competitions over a 7-year period (1530 males, 1527 female). Total race time and intermediate lap times were log-transformed and analysed for effects of sex (male, female), stroke (freestyle, form strokes, individual medley), event (100, 200, and 400 m), and place (1–16). Between-athlete correlations characterized the relationship of each lap to final time, and within-athlete estimates quantified the effect of lap time on improvements in final time. Finalists exhibited very large correlations (r = 0.7–0.9) with final time in the second 50-m lap of 100-m events and the middle two 50-m and 100-m laps of 200-m and 400-m events respectively. For an individual swimmer, an achievable change in lap time was associated with an approximate 0.4–0.8% improvement in final time for finalists and an approximate 0.5–1.1% improvement in final time for semi-finalists, depending on sex, stroke, and event. The pattern of lap times was similar for the top 16 swimmers and between the best and worst swims for finalists. These findings indicate that substantial improvements can be made via the final lap in sprints and the middle two laps of 200- to 400-m events, but the overall pattern of lap times should not be changed.
Conjoint analysis. The cost variable: an Achilles' heel?

This paper seeks to enlighten the readers on the potential complexities involved in including cost variables in conjoint analysis, with the aim of emphasising that interpretation of implicit WTP values should be tackled with caution. To illustrate the potential pitfalls, a large data set from a recent Danish study is applied. The data consists of 1991 interviews in which participants are required to perform three discrete choice tasks regarding choice of hospitals, and three choice tasks involving health-care systems in general. Model comparisons are performed which test the effect of (1) the cost range applied and (2) the effect of including a dummy variable to represent the utility associated with payment per se. A wider cost range including higher payments is associated with lower parameter weights associated with the payment variable, and thus increased WTP values. Including a dummy variable to explain utility associated with payment per se has significant effects on the model incurring some of the other variables to become insignificant, and others to change sign. Results suggest that inclusion of a two-dimensional structure to explain the relationship between cost and utility may avoid erroneous conclusions and give rise to significant changes in implicit WTP estimates.
The Tenure-Based Customer Retention Model: A Cross-Cultural Validation

International businesses and their marketing managers face complexity in the targeting of different customer groups in multiple countries, with different purchase histories and brand relationship tenures. Thus far, no customer retention model has been suggested to sufficiently reduce such complexity. To fill the gap, this study distinguishes three global customer groups—brand stayers, brand switchers, and category novices—which are differently prevalent in countries of various economic development. In particular, category novices have been a largely neglected segment for emerging markets. The study introduces the tenure-based customer retention model, which proposes the idiosyncratic effects of each group on the basis of tenure-based and attitudinal repurchase drivers. A large-scale consumer study (N = 53,744; 30 countries) cross-culturally validates the suggested model and reflects country-specific factors based on cultural dimensions instead of economic development. The findings broadly support the standardization of international marketing over different countries but not across different buyer segments. Consequently, the study offers insights into the communicative measures that can be used to globally address repurchase intent for each segment.
Current Trends and Controversies in Breast Augmentation

Background: A survey was conducted to study current attitudes and common practices in breast augmentation. Methods: A 35-item electronic questionnaire was sent to the entire active American Society of Plastic Surgeons membership. It was divided into current controversies, new technologies, common practices, secondary procedures, and member demographics. Results: There were 1067 respondents. Fifty percent of surgeons never use anatomically shaped implants and another 42 percent do so less than half the time. Autologous fat is used infrequently as a primary technique but more often as a supplemental technique. Approximately 7 percent report a case of anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Eighty-five percent do not use preoperative three-dimensional imaging. More than half of surgeons use acellular dermal matrix in secondary procedures. Approximately half do not use insertion funnels. Preoperative sizing with silicone implants, inframammary incisions, partial submuscular pockets, and smooth silicone implants larger than 300 cc are dominant practice preferences. Postoperative massage is still popular with over half of respondents. Just over half do not use pharmacologic agents for capsular contracture. Capsular contracture and size change were the most frequent reasons for reoperation. Capsular contracture is typically treated with anterior capsulectomy the first time, and either total capsulectomy or anterior capsulectomy with acellular dermal matrix use when recurrent. Almost half of respondents perform fewer than 50 breast augmentations yearly. Conclusions: There is an established most common approach to breast augmentation among respondents. Most surgeons are slow to embrace controversial practices and to adopt new technologies, although acellular dermal matrix use is becoming more popular. The 7 percent incidence of anaplastic large cell lymphoma was noteworthy.
18F-FDG PET/CT for Very Early Response Evaluation Predicts CT Response in Erlotinib-Treated Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: A Comparison of Assessment Methods

The purpose of this study was to determine which method for early response evaluation with 18F-FDG PET/CT performed most optimally for the prediction of response on a later CT scan in erlotinib-treated non–small cell lung cancer patients. Methods: 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were obtained before and after 7–10 d of erlotinib treatment in 50 non–small cell lung cancer patients. The scans were evaluated using a qualitative approach and various semiquantitative methods including percentage change in SUVs, lean body mass–corrected (SUL) SULpeak, SULmax, and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). The PET parameters and their corresponding response categories were compared with the percentage change in the sum of the longest diameter in target lesions and the resulting response categories from a CT scan obtained after 9–11 wk of erlotinib treatment using receiver-operating-characteristic analysis, linear regression, and quadratic-weighted κ. Results: TLG delineation according to the PERCIST showed the strongest correlation to sum of the longest diameter (R = 0.564, P < 0.001), compared with SULmax (R = 0.298, P = 0.039) and SULpeak (R = 0.402, P = 0.005). For predicting progression on CT, receiver-operating-characteristic analysis showed area under the curves between 0.79 and 0.92, with the highest area under the curve of 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84–1.00) found for TLG (PERCIST). Furthermore, the use of a cutoff of 25% change in TLG (PERCIST) for both partial metabolic response and progressive metabolic disease, which is the best predictor of the CT response categories, showed a κ-value of 0.53 (95% CI, 0.31–0.75). This method identifies 41% of the later progressive diseases on CT, with no false-positives. Visual evaluation correctly categorized 50%, with a κ-value of 0.47 (95% CI, 0.24–0.70). Conclusion: TLG (PERCIST) was the optimal predictor of response on later CT scans, outperforming both SULpeak and SULmax. The use of TLG (PERCIST) with a 25% cutoff after 1–2 wk of treatment allows us to safely identify 41% of the patients who will not benefit from erlotinib and stop the treatment at this time.
Characterization of uniaxially aligned chitin film by 2D FT-IR spectroscopy.

Two-dimensional FT-IR spectroscopy (2D FT-IR) was applied to the investigations of crystalline chitin structure. From this study, new information about spectral bands which are not observed in conventional 1D FT-IR was obtained. In 2D spectra, three specific bands were differentiated at 3482, 3421, and 3380 cm(-1) in the OH region. They could be assigned as C(6)OH groups which are hydrogen-bonded to the next C(6)OH; C(3)OH groups hydrogen-bonded to O(5); and C(6)OH groups bifurcated hydrogen-bonded to C(6)OH as well as C=O, respectively. Two pairs of bands appeared in the amide region, indicating the two types of hydrogen-bonded states of C=O groups. This is in good agreement with the results in the OH region; half of the C(6)OH groups are hydrogen-bonded to C=O as well as the next C(6)OH. The results accurately confirmed the Blackwell model which was established by an X-ray diffraction study. The temperature-dependency of hydrogen-bonds was also revealed by 2D FT-IR. Interchain hydrogen-bonds [C(6)OH.O(6)] first respond to a temperature followed by intrachain [C(6)OH.O=C] and [C(3)OH.O(5)] with increasing temperature. Interchain hydrogen-bonds [NH.O=C] are relatively stable in the temperature range of 40-180 degrees C.
Trophic Interactions and the Relationship between Species Diversity and Ecosystem Stability

Several theoretical studies propose that biodiversity buffers ecosystem functioning against environmental fluctuations, but virtually all of these studies concern a single trophic level, the primary producers. Changes in biodiversity also affect ecosystem processes through trophic interactions. Therefore, it is important to understand how trophic interactions affect the relationship between biodiversity and the stability of ecosystem processes. Here we present two models to investigate this issue in ecosystems with two trophic levels. The first is an analytically tractable symmetrical plant‐herbivore model under random environmental fluctuations, while the second is a mechanistic ecosystem model under periodic environmental fluctuations. Our analysis shows that when diversity affects net species interaction strength, species interactions—both competition among plants and plant‐herbivore interactions—have a strong impact on the relationships between diversity and the temporal variability of total biomass of the various trophic levels. More intense plant competition leads to a stronger decrease or a lower increase in variability of total plant biomass, but plant‐herbivore interactions always have a destabilizing effect on total plant biomass. Despite the complexity generated by trophic interactions, biodiversity should still act as biological insurance for ecosystem processes, except when mean trophic interaction strength increases strongly with diversity.
The Efficiency Potential in Social Programs: Accounting for Heterogeneity in Benefit-Cost Analysis 1

Traditionally, benefit-cost analyses focus on average benefits and average costs. However, heterogeneous treatment effects and/or costs are most often present, which means that there is an efficiency potential hidden in the implementation of public programs, if policies can be targeted at those who, net of costs, benefit the most. We introduce efficiency potential defined as the ratio between the net benefit achieved under perfect selection of the individuals with significant positive net benefit of program participation, and the actually realized benefits net of costs. Using data from a randomized control-trial experiment of a Danish return-to-work program combined with rich administrative records and survey data, we find that there is indeed a potential for increased efficiency. Results from the treatment literature indicate that, generally, it may be difficult to harvest the full potential. Our application corroborates this finding.
Brain expression and song regulation of the cholecystokinin gene in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

The gene encoding cholecystokinin (Cck) is abundantly expressed in the mammalian brain and has been associated with such functions as feeding termination and satiety, locomotion and self‐stimulation, the modulation of anxiety‐like behaviors, and learning and memory. Here we describe the brain expression and song regulation of Cck in the brain of the adult male zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), a songbird species. Using in situ hybridization we demonstrate that Cck is highly expressed in several discrete brain regions, most prominently the caudalmost portion of the hippocampal formation, the caudodorsal nidopallial shelf and the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM), the core or shell regions of dorsal thalamic nuclei, dopaminergic cell groups in the mesencephalon and pons, the principal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve, and the dorsal raphe. Cck was largely absent in song control system, a group of nuclei required for vocal learning and song production in songbirds, although sparse labeling was detected throughout the striatum, including song nucleus area X. We also show that levels of Cck mRNA and the number of labeled cells increase in the NCM of males and females following auditory stimulation with conspecific song. Double labeling further reveals that the majority of Cck cells, excluding those in the reticular nucleus of the thalamus, are non‐GABAergic. Together, these data provide the first comprehensive characterization of Cck expression in a songbird, and suggest a possible involvement of Cck regulation in important aspects of birdsong biology, such as perceptual processing, auditory memorization, and/or vocal‐motor control of song production. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:211‐237, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.