Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early changes in serum type II collagen biomarkers predict radiographic progression at one year in inflammatory arthritis patients after biologic therapy.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether short-term changes in serum biomarkers of type II collagen degradation (C2C) and types I and II collagen degradation (C1,2C), as well as the biomarker for the synthesis of type II procollagen (CPII) can predict radiographic progression at 1 year following initiation of biologic therapy in patients with inflammatory arthritis. METHODS Serum levels of biomarkers were measured at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after initiation of biologic therapy. A composite score reflecting changes from baseline in all 3 biomarkers (DeltaCOL) was calculated. Associations with clinical responses according to the 28-joint count Disease Activity Score and with radiographic progression according to the modified Sharp/van der Heijde score (SHS) were assessed. RESULTS The 1-year increase in the SHS correlated with the 1-month change in C2C results (r = 0.311, P = 0.028) and the DeltaCOL score (r = 0.342, P = 0.015). Radiographic progression was predicted by increases in serum C2C at 1 month (P = 0.031). The DeltaCOL score was significantly associated with 1-year radiographic progression after 1 (P = 0.022), 3 (P = 0.015), 6 (P = 0.048), and 9 (P = 0.019) months of therapy. Clinical remission was predicted by 1-month decreases in serum levels of C2C (P = 0.008) and C1,2C (P = 0.036). By regression analysis, 1-month changes in C2C, C1,2C, and CPII levels were independently associated with, and correctly predicted radiographic outcome in, 88% of the patients. CONCLUSION Short-term changes in serum levels of collagen biomarkers following initiation of biologic therapy may better predict long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes. These collagen biomarkers may therefore be valuable new early indicators of short-term biologic treatment efficacy in clinical trials and in individual patients with inflammatory erosive arthritis.
CNS arousal and neurobehavioral performance in a short‐term sleep restriction paradigm

Few studies have investigated waking electrophysiological measures of arousal during sleep restriction. This study examined electroencephalogram (EEG) activity and performance during a 96‐hour laboratory protocol where participants slept a baseline night (8 h), were randomly assigned to 3‐, 5‐, or 8‐hour sleep groups for the next two nights sleep restriction (SR1, SR2), and then slept a recovery night (8 h). There were dose‐dependent deficits on measures of mood, sleepiness, and reaction time that were apparent during this short‐term bout of sleep restriction. The ratio of alpha to theta EEG recorded at rest indicated dose‐dependent changes in CNS arousal. At 9:00 hours, both the 3‐ and 5‐hour groups showed EEG slowing (sleepiness) during restriction, with the 3‐hour group exhibiting greater deficits. Later in the day at 13:00 hours, the 5‐hour group no longer exhibited EEG slowing, but the extent of slowing was more widespread across the scalp for the 3‐hour group. High‐frequency EEG, a measure of effort, was greater on the mornings following sleep restriction. The 5‐hour group had increased beta EEG at central‐parietal sites following both nights of restriction, whereas the 3‐hour group had increased beta and gamma EEG at occipital regions following the first night only. Short‐term sleep restriction leads to deficits in performance as well as EEG slowing that correspond to the amount and duration of sleep loss. High‐frequency EEG may be a marker of effort or compensation.
Origin of thymic and peritoneal Ly‐1 B cells

Murine Ly‐1 B cells were first found in the peritoneal cavity (Per C). It has been thought that Ly‐1 B cells are responsible for the development of autoimmune diseases, since they spontaneously produce autoantibodies. However, we have found that such Ly‐1 B cells are present in the thymus of normal mice, and that they play a crucial role in negative selection in the Mls system. In addition, thymic Ly‐1 B cells and Per C Ly‐1 B cells have been found to differ in function, ontogeny and location. In this communication, we report on the different origins of these cells. C57BL/6 mice are lethally irradiated and reconstituted with fetal (day 14) liver cells or bone marrow cells from 4‐, 6‐ or 12‐week‐old mice. Fetal liver cells are shown to have the capacity to reconstitute both thymic and Per C Ly‐1 B cells, whereas bone marrow cells from 6‐ or 12‐week‐old mice have the capacity to reconstitute thymic Ly‐1 B cells, but not Per C Ly‐1 B cells, indicating that fetal hemopoietic stem cells (HSC) differ from HSC in the bone marrow of adult mice, and that thymic and Per C Ly‐1 B cells have different origins.
Recent advances in clinical trials of the direct and indirect selective Factor Xa inhibitors

Over the years, pharmacological intervention to prevent undesired intravascular coagulation and the associated detrimental effects has been a clinical challenge. The first generation of anticoagulant agents, warfarin and unfractionated heparin (UFH), involve indirect mechanisms of inhibiting the coagulation cascade. Fractionated, or low-molecular weight, heparins (LMWHs) are more selective for coagulation Factor Xa (FXa) over thrombin (FIIa). LMWHs also utilise an indirect mechanism of inhibition and have improved pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and therapeutic profiles over UFH. The success of LMWHs, along with the pivotal location of FXa in the coagulation cascade, has prompted interest in the discovery and development of selective FXa inhibitors. There are two general classes of FXa inhibitors in development, of which SR90107A/ORG31540, an antithrombin-III-dependent pentasaccharide and DX-9065a, a small molecule direct FXa inhibitor, have published clinical data. SR90107A/ORG31540 and DX-9065a offer safe, predictable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles when administered subcutaneously and intravenously, respectively, to healthy volunteers and appear to be progressing through clinical development. The purpose of this review is to compile and summarise the published Phase I and II clinical data for SR90107A/ORG31540 and DX-9065a.
Effects of OM‐85 BV in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

This study aimed to identify the effects of OM‐85 BV in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The major end point was exacerbation rate, and the minor end points included duration of hospitalization, severity of acute exacerbation, incidence rate of patients using antibiotics, and adverse events. All data were derived with relative risks (RRs) and weighted mean differences. Five RCTs with 1190 patients were enrolled in the meta‐analysis. OM‐85 BV was associated with 20% and 39% reductions in exacerbation rate (RR, 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CIs], 0.65–0.97; P = .03) and incidence rate of patients using antibiotics (RR, 0.61; 95%CI, 0.48–0.77; P < .0001) compared with the placebo. However, OM‐85 BV was not significantly associated with duration of hospitalization, severity of acute exacerbation, and total adverse events. Current evidence supporting the benefits of OM‐85 BV to COPD patients is inadequate. Further larger‐scale trials must be conducted to validate our findings and the efficacy of OM‐85 BV in COPD patients.
The Effects of Monetary Policy Announcements at the Zero Lower Bound

This paper investigates the effects of monetary policy announcements at the zero lower bound using Japanese data from 1998 to 2013. I find that the effect of expansionary monetary policy shocks is directly passed on to corporate bond yields, notably for high-grade corporate bond yields. However, the magnitude of estimated pass-through to stock prices and the exchange rate is substantially smaller than in the U.S., and not statistically significant in most cases.
An Investigation into the Demand for Service Contracts

Loss Set A Set A Set A Set A Investment Set B Set B Set B Set B Insurance Set B Set B Set B Set B Furthermore, the subjects face four different types of information in both decision frames and treatments. The ‘risk’ information frame has exact probabilities stated for the outcomes and the payments. Each of the ambiguity frames involves ‘weak’ ambiguity. Weak ambiguity, as described by Schubert et al (2000), implies that the distributions, for probabilities and for payments, are known and the second order distributions for these distributions are also known. In this experiment all second order distributions are uniform. In the ‘ambiguity in probability’ frames, the probability is stated as a range and the payment is fixed. Conversely, in the ‘ambiguity in payment’ frames, the probability is fixed and the payment is stated as a range. Finally, in the ‘ambiguity in probability and payment’ frames, ranges are stated for both the probabilities and payments.
Genome Type Analysis of Adenovirus Types 3 and 7 Isolated during Successive Outbreaks of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

ABSTRACT Adenovirus is an important cause of respiratory infections in infants and children. Fifty-one serotypes have been identified, and adenovirus type 3 (Ad3) and Ad7 have often been associated with outbreaks of severe respiratory tract infections. Each serotype can be further divided into genome types based on the patterns of digestion of their DNAs with restriction enzymes. DNA restriction analysis was performed with 56 strains of Ad3 and 98 strains of Ad7 by using 12 restriction enzymes recognizing 6 bp (BamHI, BclI, BglI, BglII, BstEII, EcoRI, HindIII, HpaI, SalI, SmaI, XbaI, and XhoI). The virus strains were isolated during outbreaks of lower respiratory tract infections in children during an 11-year period from 1990 to 2000 in Seoul, Korea. Among the Ad3 strains, seven genome types were identified; Ad3a and six novel types (Ad3a13, Ad3a14, Ad3a15, Ad3a16, Ad3a17, and Ad3a18). Multiple genome types cocirculated during outbreaks, and some of these were isolated during the 11-year observation period, while others were restricted to particular outbreaks. For Ad7, two genome types, Ad7d and Ad7l, the latter of which is a novel genome type, were identified. A shift in genome types occurred from Ad7d to Ad7l during successive outbreaks. Mortality was 3.6% among children with Ad3 infections and 18% among children infected with either of the Ad7 genome types. In conclusion, the data confirm that Ad3 genome types are more diverse than those of Ad7 and suggest that shifts of genome types may occur during successive outbreaks of Ad3 and Ad7.
The Impact Analysis of Raw Material Price on Firm Survival

This research examines the effect of input price changes on firm survival. The increasing on import activities in the last decades indicates that manufacturing industry depends on imported raw material. It leads the industry extremely vulnerable to the global economic shocks. Some of the industries that depend on imported raw material is unlikely to survive in the crisis. Using firm level data from the Annual Survey of Manufacturers for the period 2008-2012 and probit estimation with price data of input as main variables, we find that change of input price significantly decreasing the probability of firm survival. Firm size and age as the main determinant of survival consistent with previous studies . DOI: 10.15408/sjie.v5i2. 3236
The Effects of Risk Modelling: Assessing Value-at-Risk Accuracy

This study examines Value-at-Risk (VaR) models that are integrated with several volatility representations to estimate the market risk for seven nonfinancial sectors traded on the first board of the Malaysian stock exchange. In a sample that spanned 19 years from1993 until 2012 for construction, consumer product, industrial product, plantation, property, trade and services and mining sectors, the expected maximum losses are quantified at 95% confidence level. For accuracy determination, assessments using Kupiec test and Christoffersen test have provided evidence that almost every model are found to be accurate for all sets of occurrence. However, using the Lopez test which takes into consideration the magnitude of the impact of exceptions, the most accurate model is the VaR which is integrated with GARCHt. This study found that fat tails and asymmetries are important issues that need to be considered when estimating VaR in managing financial risks.
Activity profile and physiological response to football training for untrained males and females, elderly and youngsters: influence of the number of players

The present study examined the activity profile, heart rate and metabolic response of small‐sided football games for untrained males (UM, n=26) and females (UF, n=21) and investigated the influence of the number of players (UM: 1v1, 3v3, 7v7; UF: 2v2, 4v4 and 7v7). Moreover, heart rate response to small‐sided games was studied for children aged 9 and 12 years (C9+C12, n=75), as well as homeless (HM, n=15), middle‐aged (MM, n=9) and elderly (EM, n=11) men. During 7v7, muscle glycogen decreased more for UM than UF (28 ± 6 vs 11 ± 5%; P<0.05) and lactate increased more (18.4 ± 3.6 vs 10.8 ± 2.1 mmol kg−1 d.w.; P<0.05). For UM, glycogen decreased in all fiber types and blood lactate, glucose and plasma FFA was elevated (P<0.05). The mean heart rate (HRmean) and time >90% of HRmax ranged from 147 ± 4 (EM) to 162 ± 2 (UM) b.p.m. and 10.8 ± 1.5 (UF) to 47.8 ± 5.8% (EM). Time >90% of HRmax (UM: 16–17%; UF: 8–13%) and time spent with high speed running (4.1–5.1%) was similar for training with 2–14 players, but more high‐intensity runs were performed with few players (UM 1v1: 140 ± 17; UM 7v7: 97 ± 5; P<0.05): Small‐sided games were shown to elucidate high heart rates for all player groups, independently of age, sex, social background and number of players, and a high number of intense actions both for men and women. Thus, small‐sided football games appear to have the potential to create physiological adaptations and improve performance with regular training for a variety of study groups.
Variability of gestational age distributions by sex and ethnicity: An analysis using mixture models

As an antecedent of birthweight and in its own right, gestational age is an important proximate determinant of infant mortality. Recent analyses using mixture models of birthweight distributions suggest that substantial heterogeneity occurs within a birth cohort even when controlling for sex and ethnicity. This article extends the mixture model analysis to gestational age. The results indicate that, like birthweight, human gestational age distributions are heterogeneous, consisting of two, or perhaps more, subpopulations with separate means and variances. The possibility that birthweight and gestational age both identify the same underlying subpopulations cannot be rejected. Statistical analyses of the sex and ethnic differences indicate that, like birthweight, gestational age distributions vary significantly between the sexes and among ethnic groups. However, the pattern, and even the direction, of the variation often differs between the two indicators of birth outcome. The results suggest that a multivariate mixture model that combines birthweight and gestational age might be a useful extension of the univariate mixture models. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 12:181–191, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Isolation and characterization of nitrogenase-derepressed mutant strains of cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis

A positive selection method for isolation of nitrogenase-derepressed mutant strains of a filamentous cyanobacterium, Anabaena variabilis, is described. Mutant strains that are resistant to a glutamate analog, L-methionine-D,L-sulfoximine, were screened for their ability to produce and excrete NH4+ into medium. Mutant strains capable of producing nitrogenase in the presence of NH4+ were selected from a population of NH4+-excreting mutants. One of the mutant strains (SA-1) studied in detail was found to be a conditional glutamine auxotroph requiring glutamine for growth in media containing N2, NO3-, or low concentrations of NH4+ (less than 0.5 mM). This glutamine requirement is a consequence of a block in the assimilation of NH4+ produced by an enzyme system like nitrogenase. Glutamate and aspartate failed to substitute for glutamine because of a defect in the transport and utilization of these amino acids. Strain SA-1 assimilated NH4+ when the concentration in the medium reached about 0.5 mM, and under these conditions the growth rate was similar to that of the parent. Mutant strain SA-1 produced L-methionine-D,L-sulfoximine-resistant glutamine synthetase activity. Kinetic properties of the enzyme from the parent and mutant were similar. Mutant strain SA-1 can potentially serve as a source of fertilizer nitrogen to support growth of crop plants, since the NH4+ produced by nitrogenase, utilizing sunlight and water as sources of energy and reductant, respectively, is excreted into the environment.
Lung cancer in North-West Italy: demographic and clinical trends in a hospital-based population of 1277 patients

This study intends to assess which demographic and/or clinical characteristics of lung cancer – if any – have changed during the last two decades in an Alpine area of North-West Italy. The study was carried out on 1277 consecutive lung cancer patients seen from January 1989 to October 2002 in a single institution. A set of 33 anthropometric, clinical, physical, laboratory, radiological and pathological variables was prospectively recorded for all patients. The date of diagnosis was used to divide the study population in quartiles of diagnostic age (period I: January 1989 to May 1992, 319 patients; period II: June 1992 to September 1995, 319 patients; period III: October 1995 to May 1999, 320 patients; period IV: June 1999 to October 2002, 319 patients). Patients were carefully followed up, and their subsequent clinical course recorded. The following variables showed a significant increasing trend over the years: patients' age, female sex, rate of ex-smokers, level of education, co-morbidity (both the number and the severity of previous pulmonary and extrapulmonary diseases), weight loss, liver enzymes and blood creatinine, carcinoembryonic antigen levels and the rate of adenocarcinomas. On the other hand, performance status, stage of disease, metastatic pattern, treatment modalities and survival expectancy did not change. Therefore, no diagnostic or therapeutic improvements occurring during the last 14 years had a visible impact on patients. It may be that the ‘changing face’ of lung cancer masked their effects.
Dampak Ekonomi Pengembangan Kawasan Ekowisata Kepulauan Seribu

Kepulauan Seribu memiliki kekayaan bahari yang berlimpah ruah sehingga menjadi salah satu atraksi wisata bagi para wisatawan. Kegiatan ekowisata tentu menghasilkan dampak bagi daerah lokalnya. Hal ini yang menjadi tujuan dalam penelitian ini, yaitu mengidentifikasi dampak ekowisata yang terjadi di wilayah tujuan wisata Kepulauan Seribu, terutama dampak ekonomi. Data primer diperoleh melalui observasi dan wawancara langsung ke masyarakat, instansi pemerintah, wisatawan, dan tokoh masyarakat. Dari penelitian ini diketahui bahwa secara umum ekowisata yang terjadi di Kepulauan Seribu menyebabkan dampak ekonomi yang positif bagi pengembangannya. Pernyataan masyarakat mengindikasikan terjadinya peningkatan dari segi pendapatan dan/atau usaha yang berkaitan dengan kegiatan ekowisata di Kepulauan Seribu. Selain itu, kegiatan ekowisata menyediakan lapangan pekerjaan yang cukup besar bagi masyarakat lokal maupun masyarakat di luar wilayah Kepulauan Seribu. Peningkatan pendapatan juga terjadi pada penerimaan daerah, terutama dari sektor perdagangan, hotel dan restoran. Perlu adanya pembenahan terhadap objek ekowisata dan pelatihan terhadap masyarakat lokal mengenai ekowisata yang berlangsung di daerahnya untuk meningkatkan minat dan daya tarik wisatawan untuk meningkatkan ekonomi lokal wilayah Kepulauan Seribu. Kata kunci: ekowisata, dampak ekonomi, peningkatan pendapatan, ketenagakerjaan, pendapatan pemerintah Kepulauan Seribu has abundant marine wealth to become one of the tourism attractions for tourists. Ecotourism activities would result in impacts to the local area. It is the goal in this study, namely to identify the impact of eco-tourism in the Kepulauan Seribu tourism destination region, especially the economic impact. Primary data obtained through observations and interviews directly to the public, government agencies, tourists, and community leaders. From this research is generally known that ecotourism is happening in the Thousand Islands led to a positive economic impact for its development. Public statements indicate an increase in terms of income and / or businesses associated with tourism activities in the Kepulauan Seribu. In addition, ecotourism activities provide significant employment for local people and communities outside of the Kepulauan Seribu region. Increased revenues also occur in the reception area, especially from trade, hotels and restaurants. It needs a revamping of the ecotourism attraction and training of local people about the ongoing eco-tourism in the region to increase interest and tourist attraction to boost the local economy of Kepulauan Seribu region. Keywords: ecotourism, economic impacts, increased income, employment, government revenues
Biocompatibility of low molecular weight polymers for two‐phase partitioning bioreactors

Two phase partitioning bioreactors (TPPBs) improve the efficiency of fermentative processes by limiting the exposure of microorganisms to toxic solutes by sequestering them into a non‐aqueous phase (NAP). A potential limitation of this technology, when using immiscible organic solvents as the NAP, is the cytoxicity that these materials may exert on the microbes. An improved TPPB configuration is one in which polymeric NAPs are used to replace organic solvents in order to take advantage of their low cost, improved handling qualities, and biocompatibility. A recent study has shown that low molecular weight polymers may confer improved solute uptake relative to high molecular weight polymers (i.e., have higher partition coefficients), but it is unknown whether sufficiently low molecular weight polymers may inhibit cell growth. This study has investigated the biocompatibility of a range of low molecular weight polymers, and compared trends in biocompatibility to the well‐established “critical log P” concept. This was achieved by determining the biocompatibility of polypropylene glycol polymers over a molecular weight (MW) range of 425–4,000 to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pseudomonas putida, two organisms which have been previously used in TPPB systems. The lower MW polymers were shown to have lower average log P values, and showed more cytotoxicity than polymers of the same structure but with higher molecular weight. Since polymers are generally polydisperse (i.e., polymer samples contain a distribution of MWs), removal of the lower MW fractions via water washing was found to result in improved polymer biocompatibility. These results suggest that the critical log P concept remains useful for describing the toxicity of polymeric substances of different MWs, although it is complicated by the presence of the low MW fractions in the polymers arising from polydispersity. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 2450–2458. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.