Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Relationship between Violent Conflict and Wages in Colombia

Abstract We analyse how forced displacements caused by violent conflict are related to the wages of workers in Colombia. Using data from the Quality of Life Survey (2011–2014), we analyse the differences in wages between those forced by violence to move to other regions, and those who moved for other reasons. We apply Propensity Score Matching techniques to compare workers from the two groups, finding that forced displacement is related to decreases of between 10 and 29 per cent in the wages of males, and between 18 and 37 per cent in the wages of females, relative to their counterparts. Thus, forced displacements are related to poorer labour market outcomes in terms of wages.
A Nation‐wide Cross‐sectional Study of Urinary Albumin Excretion Rate, Arterial Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose Control in Danish Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Nation‐wide screening for microalbuminuria in Denmark was performed in 22 paediatric departments treating children with Type 1 diabetes. Over a period of 6 months 1020 children ( 12 years) and adolescents (> 12 to 19 years) were screened (81% of total). Of these, 957 (94%) performed at least two timed overnight urine collections. In 209 non‐diabetic subjects the upper 95% limit for normal albumin excretion rate (AER) was 20 μg min−1. Mean overnight AER was significantly (p < 0.001) elevated in diabetic (3.0 x/divide; 2.3 (SD tolerance factor) μg min−1) and in non‐diabetic (2.5 x/ divide; 2.2 μg min−1) adolescents compared with diabetic (1.7 x/ divide; 2.1 μg min−1) and non‐diabetic (1.3 x/ divide; 2.2 μg min−1) children. In the diabetic patients AER was positively correlated with the body surface area and age. Among the patients with Type 1 diabetes, 4.3% (18 males and 23 females) had AER > 20 to 150 μg min−1 (persistent microalbuminuria). A further 7 adolescents (0.7%) had overt proteinuria (> 150 μg min−1). Clinical data for the 41 diabetic patients with AER > 20 to 150 μg min−1 were compared with those for 569 diabetic adolescents with AER 20 μg min−1 and duration of diabetes more than 2 years. The group with AER > 20 to 150 μg min−1 had significantly higher mean age (16.5 years) than the group with AER 20 μg min−1 (15.0 years; p < 0.001). Females with AER > 20 to 150 μg min−1 had significantly higher mean HbA1c level (10.8 ± 1.9%) than those with AER 20 μg min−1 (9.8 ± 1.9%, p < 0.03); they also had impaired linear growth (standard deviation score −0.25 vs + 0.16; p = 0.003). These associations were not found in males. Mean body mass index (BMI) was significantly increased in both females (22.2 ± 2.9 kg m−2) and males (20.8 ± 2.7 kg m−2) with AER > 20 to 150 μg min−1, compared with diabetic patients with AER 20 μg min−1 (females 20.8 ± 3.0 kg m−2, p = 0.02; males 19.7 ± 2.4 kg m−2, p < 0.006). Mean blood pressure was significantly higher (94 ± 9 mmHg) in the group of diabetic patients with AER > 20 to 150 μg min−1 than in the group with AER 20 μg min−1 (87 ± 9 mmHg; p < 0.0001). No statistically significant differences in mean blood pressure or BMI were found between the diabetic patients and a control group of 663 non‐diabetic healthy children. The findings suggest that hormonal changes in puberty, poor blood glucose control (particularly in females), and elevated arterial blood pressure may be risk factors related to the increased prevalence of microalbuminuria in diabetic children.
Molecular Phylogeny and Host Specificity of the Larval Eustrongylides (Nematoda: Dioctophmidae) From Freshwater Fish in China

Abstract: The nematodes Eustrongylides spp. collected from different fish species in China were examined for their intra- and interspecific evolutionary variations using the molecular markers mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (COI) gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA regions. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that Eustrongylides species are divided into 3 well-supported clades. The ITS divergence between the clades suggested that clades 2 and 3 might represent the same species, whereas clade 1 represent another cryptic species. The host specificity of these nematodes was analyzed according to prevalence data, host range, and phylogenetic information. Clade 1 was found in 4 fish species, i.e., Odontobutis obscurus, Silurus asotus, Culter mongolicus, and Acanthogobius flavimanus, but was predominant in the 2 perciform species, O. obscurus and A. flavimanus. Clade 2 was found in 3 fish species, Monopterus albus, Channa argus, and Channa asiatica, but was predominant in M. albus, reported to feed primarily on oligochaetes, the first intermediate host of Eustrongylides sp. Clade 3 was found in 9 species, but its low prevalence suggests accidental infection in all species. Although the larval nematode presented low host specificity, it exhibited some host preference.
Apolipoprotein C-I Expression in the Brain in Alzheimer's Disease

The H2 allele of apolipoprotein (apo) C-I is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, this association is potentially confounded by the linkage disequilibrium of H2 with the epsilon2 and epsilon4 alleles of apoE and of H1 with the epsilon3 allele. To establish plausibility for a direct role for apoC-I in AD, we compared apoC-I and apoE protein and mRNA levels in postmortem specimens of frontal cortex and hippocampus from AD patients with levels in nondemented controls. In H2-allelic individuals (usually also epsilon4 carriers), apoC-I mRNA levels were strikingly lower with AD (by 65%, P < 0.05), but apoC-I protein levels in AD were significantly higher (by 34%, P < 0.05). The opposite direction of the apoC-I mRNA and apoC-I protein level changes in AD in the epsilon4/H2 genotype may reflect decreased clearance of CNS lipoproteins associated with apoE4. In H1/H1 (usually epsilon3/epsilon3) individuals, both apoC-I protein and mRNA were lower in AD. ApoC-I protein levels in hippocampus were nearly twice those in frontal cortex. Immunohistochemistry of hippocampus revealed colocalization of apoC-I protein with the astrocytic marker GFAP. In addition, cultured human astrocytes expressed the mRNA for apoC-I. This study confirms apoC-I expression in the CNS and identifies astrocytes as the source of apoC-I. In addition, it has revealed differences in apoC-I expression based on site, genotype, and disease status that may reflect a role for apoC-I in the pathogenesis of AD.
Biodegradation and biotransformation of groundwater pollutant mixtures by Mycobacterium vaccae

Mycobacterium vaccae can catabolize a number of major groundwater pollutants. When added singly, acetone, cyclohexane, styrene, benzene, ethylbenzene, propylbenzene, dioxane, and 1,2-dichloroethylene can be catabolized by M. vaccae. Catabolism of a number of these chemicals was monitored by gas-chromatographic analysis. Gas-chromatographic analysis indicated that the products of benzene degradation are phenol and hydroquinone. The products of chlorobenzene and ethylbenzene degradation are 4-chlorophenol and 4-ethylphenol. The extent that some compounds were catabolized when present as mixtures was also investigated. When toluene and benzene were present concomitantly, toluene was catabolized and benzene oxidation was delayed. Although toluene promoted the degradation of styrene, a lower rate of toluene degradation occurred when styrene was present. Both 4-chlorophenol and 4-ethylphenol had an antagonistic effect on the ability of M. vaccae to degrade other aromatic compounds. Studies with [14C]benzene indicated that M. vaccae can mineralize small amounts of this compound. These results suggest that components in mixtures may have a positive or a negative effect on the rates of biodegradation of other pollutants.
Glioblastoma (GBM) in elderly patients: A randomized phase III trial comparing survival in patients treated with 6-week radiotherapy (RT) versus hypofractionated RT over 2 weeks versus temozolomide single-agent chemotherapy (TMZ).

LBA2002 Background: Despite treatment advances, survival of elderly GBM patients (pts) is usually < 12 months. Hypofractionated RT is advocated in order to shorten treatment time, and chemotherapy has been proposed as an alternative to RT. In a randomized trial we compared two different RT schedules with single-agent TMZ chemotherapy. METHODS Newly diagnosed GBM pts age ≥ 60 years with PS 0-2, were randomized to either standard RT (60 Gy in 2 Gy fractions over 6 weeks) or hypofractionated RT (34 Gy in 3,4 Gy fractions over 2 weeks) or 6 cycles of chemotherapy with TMZ (200 mg/m2 day 1-5 every 28 days). Follow-up including quality of life, symptom checklist, and steroid dosing was completed at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after start of treatment. The primary study end point was overall survival (OS). RESULTS A total of 342 pts were included. 291 pts were randomized between the 3 treatment options, 51 pts between hypofractionated RT and TMZ. Median age was 70 years (range 60-88), 59% were male and 72% had undergone tumor resection, the remaining 28% had a diagnostic biopsy only. Performance status was 0-1 for 75% of pts. Survival data are available for 334 pts (98%), with 11 pts (3%) being alive. There was no significant difference in OS between the three treatment arms, with median survival being 8 months for TMZ, 7.5 months for hypofractionated RT and 6 months for 6 weeks RT (p=0.14). CONCLUSIONS Elderly patients with GBM have a short survival. Time-consuming therapy that does not offer longer survival should therefore be avoided. Our study showed no advantage of standard 6 weeks RT compared to hypofractionated RT over 2 weeks or 6 cycles of TMZ chemotherapy. These results indicate that standard RT should no longer be offered to the elderly pt population with GBM. Exclusive TMZ chemotherapy may be an alternative to RT. Subgroup analyses and determination of molecular markers is ongoing. Whether outcome could be improved by concomitant chemoradiotherapy is subject of ongoing clinical trials. [Table: see text].
Functional properties of spontaneous excitatory currents and encoding of light/dark transitions in horizontal cells of the mouse retina

As all visual information is represented in the spatio‐temporal dynamics of transmitter release from photoreceptors and the combined postsynaptic responses of second‐order neurons, appropriate synaptic transfer functions are fundamental for a meaningful perception of the visual world. The functional contribution of horizontal cells to gain control and organization of bipolar and ganglion cell receptive fields can only be evaluated with an in‐depth understanding of signal processing in horizontal cells. Therefore, a horizontal slice preparation of the mouse retina was established to record from horizontal cell bodies with their dendritic fields intact and receiving functional synaptic input from cone photoreceptors. Horizontal cell bodies showed spontaneous excitatory currents (spEPSCs) of monophasic and more complex multi‐peak waveforms. spEPSCs were induced by quantal release of glutamate from presynaptic cones with a unitary amplitude of 3 pA. Non‐stationary noise analysis revealed that spEPSCs with a monoexponential decay were mediated by 7–8 glutamate receptors with a single‐channel amplitude of 1.55 pA. Responses to photopic full‐field illumination were characterized by reduction of a tonic inward current or hyperpolarization, inhibition of spEPSCs, followed by a fast and transient inward current at light offset. The response to periodic dark/light transitions of different frequencies was dependent on the adaptational status of the cell with a limiting frequency of 10 Hz. Both on and off components of the light response were mediated by AMPA and kainate receptors. Detailed analysis of horizontal cell synaptic physiology is a prerequisite for understanding signal coding and processing at the photoreceptor ribbon synapse.
Behavioral modeling and characterization of silicon photonic Mach-Zehnder modulator

Compact behavioral models for silicon photonic Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZM) are developed for SPICE compatible electro-optical co-simulation. The model captures electro-optical interactions and dynamics, optical insertion loss and thermo-optical effect. Behavioral model simulation results and measurement results are shown to be a highly match. The model will be an indispensable part of the optical process design kit (PDK) which can be provided to the integrated circuit designers for hybrid simulation.
How Do Physicians Weigh Benefits and Risks Associated with Treatments in Patients with Osteoarthritis in the United Kingdom?

Objective. To quantify the relative importance that UK physicians attach to the benefits and risks of current drugs when making treatment decisions for patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. Physicians treating at least 10 patients with OA per month completed an online discrete-choice experiment survey and answered 12 treatment-choice questions comparing medication profiles. Medication profiles were defined by 4 benefits (reduction in ambulatory pain, resting pain, stiffness, and difficulty doing daily activities) and 3 treatment-related risks [bleeding ulcer, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI)]. Each physician made medication choices for 3 of 9 hypothetical patients (varied by age, history of MI, hypertension, and history of gastrointestinal bleeding). Importance weights were estimated using a random-parameters logit model. Treatment-related risks physicians were willing to accept in exchange for various reductions in ambulatory and resting pain also were calculated. Results. The final sample was 475. A reduction in ambulatory pain from 75 mm to 25 mm (1.6 units) was 1.1 times as important as an increase in MI risk from 0% to 1.5% (1.5 units). The greatest importance was for eliminating a 3% treatment-related risk of MI or stroke. On average, physicians were willing to accept an increase in bleeding ulcer risk of 0.7% (95% CI 0.4%–1.7%) for a reduction in ambulatory pain of 75 mm to 50 mm. Conclusion. When presented with well-known benefits and risks of OA treatments, physicians placed greater importance on the risks than on the analgesic properties of the drug. This has implications for the reporting of the results of clinical research to physicians.
Alternative pathways for production of β-amyloid peptides of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract This highlight article describes three Alzheimer's disease (AD) studies presented at the 5th General Meeting of the International Proteolysis Society that address enzymatic mechanisms for producing neurotoxic β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides. One group described the poor kinetics of BACE 1 for cleaving the wild-type (WT) β-secretase site of APP found in most AD patients. They showed that cathepsin D displays BACE 1-like specificity and cathepsin D is 280-fold more abundant in human brain than BACE 1. Nevertheless, as BACE 1 and cathepsin D show poor activity towards the WT β-secretase site, they suggested continuing the search for additional β-secretase(s). The second group reported cathepsin B as an alternative β-secretase possessing excellent kinetic efficiency and specificity for the WT β-secretase site. Significantly, inhibitors of cathepsin B improved memory, with reduced amyloid plaques and decreased Aβ(40/42) in brains of AD animal models expressing amyloid precursor protein containing the WT β-secretase site. The third group addressed isoaspartate and pyroglutamate (pGlu) posttranslational modifications of Aβ. Results showed that cathepsin B, but not BACE 1, efficiently cleaves the WT β-secretase isoaspartate site. Furthermore, cyclization of N-terminal Glu by glutaminyl cyclase generates highly amyloidogenic pGluAβ(3–40/42). These presentations suggest cathepsin B and glutaminyl cyclase as potential new AD therapeutic targets.
Indigenous adult women, learning and social justice: Challenging deficit discourses in the current policy environment

Abstract Indigenous education engages directly with an overtly politicised process of knowledge construction, recognising and building on existing skills and informal learning practices within communities. Given the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda’s emphasis on social justice and gender equality, this paper sets out to explore what indigenous movements can offer in terms of developing an alternative approach to adult learning based on a rights perspective. The article compares the documentary analysis of policy on indigenous women and adult education internationally with a case study of indigenous movements and government policy in Nepal. The analysis reveals that international policy recognises indigenous women as a particularly marginalised group, but is not informed by a transformative notion of empowerment nor consideration of the implications of indigenous knowledge for mainstream education. In Nepal, indigenous federations and the government non formal education programmes similarly aim to impart skills for a modernised economy. However, women’s indigenous movements are committed to developing capabilities and creating new spaces for indigenous women to engage in political debate and representation. This politicised informal learning offers insights for developing the cross-sectoral rights-based adult education envisaged in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Effects of music therapy on labour pain and anxiety in Taiwanese first-time mothers.

AIMS The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of music on pain reaction and anxiety during labour. BACKGROUND Music therapy has been used on clinical medicine. Only few scientific studies validate the value on labour women. DESIGN Randomised controlled trial. METHODS Sixty primiparas expected to have a normal spontaneous delivery were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 30) or the control group (n = 30). The experimental group received routine care and music therapy, whereas the control group received routine care only. A self-report visual analogue scale for pain and a nurse-rated present behavioural intensity were used to measure labour pain. Anxiety was measured with a visual analogue scale for anxiety and finger temperature. Pain and anxiety between groups were compared during the latent phase (2-4 cm cervical dilation) and active phase (5-7 cm) separately. RESULTS Our results revealed that compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly lower pain, anxiety and a higher finger temperature during the latent phase of labour. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups on all outcome measures during the active phase. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence for the use of music as an empirically based intervention of women for labour pain and anxiety during the latent phase of labour. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The findings support that music listening is an acceptable and non-medical coping strategy for labouring women. Especially, apply in reducing the pain and anxiety for women who are at the early phase of labour.
Users� Perspectives on Community Engagement in Local Health Governance Structures in Itilima and Bariadi District Councils in Simiyu Region, Tanzania

The aim of this study is to investigate users’ perspectives on community engagement in the health governance structures at the sub-district levels in two rural districts in Tanzania. The specific objectives of the study are: i) to examine health service users’ awareness about the existence of local health governance structures, ii) to examine the level of community engagement and functionality of the structures, and iii) to identify the contextual factors affecting the functionality of local health governance structures. The study draws on empirical data collected from 281 service users, health service boards and committees’ members and key informants through questionnaire survey, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. The study found limited health service users’ awareness about the existence of health governance structures partly because some health facilities lacked the boards and committees and in some cases community members were not involved in the selection of community representatives through their village assemblies. Further, most of the community health governance structures were not functional as had infrequent meetings and varied composition contrary to the guidelines for their establishment. Consequently, community engagement in these structures was very limited. The factors affecting functionality of these structures included lack of clarity among stakeholders on the procedures for establishing the structures, limited capacity of community members on their roles and responsibilities in the structures and delays in establishing and replacing expired service boards and committees. It is concluded that, the purpose of improving healthcare service delivery through improved community participation and governance in the local health governance structures is still far from being realised. Thus, the district councils should strengthen the functionality of the health governance structures by creating awareness among stakeholders at the ward, village and health facility levels about the guidelines for establishing and functioning of the health governance structures.
Asymmetric Female Preferences for Courtship Pheromones in Two Closely-Related Newt Species, the Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) and the Carpathian Newt (L. montandoni) (Salamandridae)

The smooth (Lissotriton vulgaris) and Carpathian (L. montandoni) newts are sister species. These are separated by a moderate genetic distance, but exhibit striking morphological differences, especially in male epigamic traits. In the areas where they co-occur, they readily mate with each other and produce viable hybrids. However, a high level of pre-zygotic isolation with an unknown behavioral basis has been reported. The complex courtship of newts consists of at least three types of modality: chemical, visual, and tactile. The relative significance of these in mate choice is unclear, but it is commonly accepted that pheromones are an important communication channel. The goal of this study was to determine whether the females of L. vulgaris and L. montandoni exhibit preferences for conspecific extracts from the pheromone-producing abdominal (dorsal) glands. Females of both species spent more time in proximity to the source of the abdominal gland extracts of their own species when a liver extract was presented as an alternative. In a second trial, females were simultaneously confronted with conspecific and heterospecific abdominal gland extracts. Asymmetric preferences were found. Lissotriton vulgaris females were not selective, whereas L. montandoni females preferred the conspecific abdominal gland extract. This finding is consistent with the results of earlier experiments on mate choice in these species. The results strongly indicate that pheromones play a crucial role in courtship and species recognition in this pair of closely related, hybridizing species.