Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Schizotypy, marijuana, and differential item functioning

At least five studies report elevated schizotypy scores in cannabis users. The current research confirms higher schizotypy scores in regular cannabis users. Nevertheless, further analyses reveal that select items on the brief version of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire do not function comparably in current and former users. Multiple statistical approaches confirmed this problem, including the Mantel‐Haenszel statistic, Rasch difficulty estimates, a logistic regression approach, the Breslow‐Day (BD) statistic, and a combined decision rule using Mantel‐Haenszel and BD together. Cannabis users appear to misinterpret at least one item, “I sometimes use words in unusual ways” making them more likely to endorse it even if they are no more schizotypal than the former users. Users might consider cannabis‐related slang as an unusual use of words. Removing problematic items does not decrease the internal consistency of the measure, but eliminates the significant difference between current and former users. These results suggest that links between cannabis use and schizotypy require cautious interpretation and may arise from measurement problems. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Industry and Information Asymmetry: The Case of the Employment of Non‐Family Managers in Small and Medium‐Sized Family Firms

As family firms begin to professionalize, they face an important crossroads in deciding whether to employ non‐family managers. To preserve socioemotional wealth and minimize agency costs, family owners may resist employing non‐family managers. However, industry sector may play a role that influences the employment of non‐family managers. We argue that the family's reluctance will be stronger in industries where information asymmetries make monitoring managers more difficult. For industries where monitoring is easier, the benefits of employing non‐family managers may offset the loss in socioemotional wealth and increase in agency costs. Results based on a sample of 965 small and medium‐sized retail and manufacturing firms confirm our predictions.
Ataxin-3 promotes genome integrity by stabilizing Chk1

Abstract The Chk1 protein is essential for genome integrity maintenance and cell survival in eukaryotic cells. After prolonged replication stress, Chk1 can be targeted for proteasomal degradation to terminate checkpoint signaling after DNA repair finishes. To ensure proper activation of DNA damage checkpoint and DNA repair signaling, a steady-state level of Chk1 needs to be retained under physiological conditions. Here, we report a dynamic signaling pathway that tightly regulates Chk1 stability. Under unperturbed conditions and upon DNA damage, ataxin-3 (ATX3) interacts with Chk1 and protects it from DDB1/CUL4A- and FBXO6/CUL1-mediated polyubiquitination and subsequent degradation, thereby promoting DNA repair and checkpoint signaling. Under prolonged replication stress, ATX3 dissociates from Chk1, concomitant with a stronger binding between Chk1 and its E3 ligase, which causes Chk1 proteasomal degradation. ATX3 deficiency results in pronounced reduction of Chk1 abundance, compromised DNA damage response, G2/M checkpoint defect and decreased cell survival after replication stress, which can all be rescued by ectopic expression of ATX3. Taken together, these findings reveal ATX3 to be a novel deubiquitinase of Chk1, providing a new mechanism of Chk1 stabilization in genome integrity maintenance.
A sociological exploration of the tensions related to interprofessional collaboration in acute-care discharge planning

ABSTRACT Patient discharge is a key concern in hospitals, particularly in acute care, given the multifaceted and challenging nature of patients’ healthcare needs. Policies on discharge have identified the importance of interprofessional collaboration, yet research has described its limitations in this clinical context. This study aimed to extend our understanding of interprofessional interactions related to discharge in a general internal medicine setting by using sociological theories to illuminate the existence of, and interplay between, structural factors and microlevel practices. An ethnographic approach was employed to obtain an in-depth insight into healthcare providers’ perspectives, behaviours, and interactions regarding discharge. Data collection involved observations, interviews, and document analysis. Approximately 65 hours of observations were undertaken, 23 interviews were conducted with healthcare providers, and government and hospital discharge documents were collected. Data were analysed using a directed content approach. The findings indicate the existence of a medically dominated division of healthcare labour in patient discharge with opportunities for some interprofessional negotiations; the role of organizational routines in facilitating and challenging interprofessional negotiations in patient discharge; and tensions in organizational priorities that impact an interprofessional approach to discharge. The findings provide insight into the various levels at which interventions can be targeted to improve interprofessional collaboration in discharge while recognizing the organizational tensions that challenge an interprofessional approach.
Renal effects of cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors

Recent in-vitro and animal data show that cyclooxygenase-2 has an integral role in the physiology and pathophysiology of the kidney. Cyclooxygenase-2 regulates renin-angiotensin secretion, and thereby glomerular filtration rate and sodium homeostasis. It is also important for protecting against hypertonic stress. As a consequence, it is not surprising that clinical data verify that selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 affect renal function to a degree similar to that which has previously been documented with nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Mitochondrial dysfunction by complex II inhibition delays overall cell cycle progression via reactive oxygen species production

Mitochondrial complex II defect has recently been implicated in cellular senescence and in the ageing process of which a critical phenotype is retardation and arrest of cellular growth. However, the underlying mechanisms of how complex II defect affects cellular growth, remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of complex II inhibition using a subcytotoxic dose (400 µM) of 2‐thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA), a conventional complex II inhibitor, on cell cycle progression. TTFA (400 µM) directly decreased KCN‐sensitive cellular respiration rate to 67% of control and disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential. In contrast to other respiratory inhibitors such as rotenone, antimycin A, and oligomycin, TTFA prolonged the duration of each phase of the cell cycle (G1, S, and G2/M) equally, thereby delaying overall cell cycle progression. This delay was accompanied by a biphasic increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and concurrent glutathione oxidation, in addition to a slight decrease in the cellular ATP level. Finally, the delay in cell cycle progression caused by TTFA was proved to be mainly due to ROS overproduction and subsequent oxidative stress, as evidenced by its reversal following pretreatment with antioxidants. Taken together, these results suggest that an overall delay in cell cycle progression due to complex II defects may contribute to ageing and degenerative diseases via inhibition of cellular growth and proliferation without arrest at any specific phase of the cell cycle. J. Cell. Biochem. 104: 1747–1759, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association between older age and adverse outcomes on antiretroviral therapy: a cohort analysis of programme data from nine countries

Context:Recent studies have highlighted the increased risk of adverse outcomes among older patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). We report on the associations between older age and adverse outcomes in HIV/AIDS antiretroviral programmes across 17 programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods:We included data from nine countries: Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We describe survival probability for progression to death and loss to follow-up for patients initiating ART aged less than 50 years and at least 50 years. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between age (15–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70–94 years) and adverse outcomes adjusting for confounders identified a priori. Results:Our analysis included 17 561 patients followed for a median of 12 months. The majority (65%) were female and 6672 (38%) were severely immunosuppressed at baseline. Median age at ART initiation was 36.0 years (interquartile range 30.1–42.8); 11.4% of patients were aged at least 50 years. Median gain in CD4 cell count at 6 and 12 months was significantly higher in patients less than 50 years old compared with those at least 50 years (134 vs. 112 cells/&mgr;l at 6 months; 170 vs. 139 cells/&mgr;l at 12 months; both P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, there was a significant increased risk of mortality beyond 3 months after ART initiation in all age groups of at least 40 years of age compared with less than 40 years [40–49 years adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) 1.59, P < 0.001; 50–59 years aHR 1.58, P = 0.002; 60–69 years aHR 2.63, P < 0.001; 70–94 years aHR 3.64, P = 0.004). Conclusion:Older age groups represent an important proportion of the overall treatment cohort in these sub-Saharan Africa programmes, and risk of mortality increased as age increased. Future research should be directed at further understanding the reasons for higher mortality, and defining simple interventions that are feasible in highly under-resourced settings to allow for adapted follow-up and care approaches for older age groups.
Distinct functions of Rac1 and Cdc42 during axon guidance and growth cone morphogenesis in Drosophila

Rho family small GTPases are thought to be key molecules in the regulation of cytoskeletal organization, especially for actin filaments. In order to examine the functions of Rac1 and Cdc42 in axon guidance at the midline of the central nervous system in Drosophila embryos, we either activated or inactivated Rac1 and Cdc42 in all postmitotic neurons. We found that the phenotypes of Cdc42 activation and Rac1 inactivation were similar to those of roundabout mutants, in that many extra axons crossed the midline. We also found that Rac1 inactivation is dominant over Roundabout receptor activation. Our observations indicate that Rac1 and Cdc42 have distinct functions in downstream signalling events triggered by Roundabout receptors. In order to further examine the functional difference between Rac1 and Cdc42 in the growth cone morphogenesis, we used primary embryonic cultures to closely observe neurite formation. We showed that activation of Rac1 and Cdc42 has distinct effects on neurite formation, particularly on growth cone morphology and the actin filaments within. Both Rac1 and Cdc42 activation induced large growth cones and long filopodia, but Cdc42 did so more efficiently than Rac1. Only Rac1 activation, however, induced thick actin bundles in the filopodia. We also found a clear difference between Rac1 and Cdc42 in terms of the response to an inhibitor of actin polymerization. Our results suggest that Cdc42 is specifically involved in the regulation of actin filaments in growth cones, whereas Rac1 is involved in additional functions.
Comprehension in risk elicitation experiments

ABSTRACT Economic experiments are increasingly conducted with field populations for whom comprehension of instructions may be more difficult to achieve. We investigate how framing experimental instructions in a familiar context and incentivizing the experimental task may affect comprehension. Based on an experiment with 146 German farmers, we compare four different versions of a Holt-and-Laury multiple price list. We find that incentives have a small positive effect on comprehension, as measured by the probability of making inconsistent choices and subjects’ self-assessment. In the absence of incentives, framing negatively affects comprehension. Comprehension is enhanced for farmers who score high on a numeracy test. We conclude that contextual framing might confuse subjects, whereas incentives can help to facilitate comprehension of experimental instructions.
Penicillin-binding proteins of penicillin-susceptible and intrinsically resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were investigated by using [3H]benzylpenicillin of high specific activity. This made it possible to label the PBPs both in cytoplasmic membranes and in the membranes of actively growing cells (in vivo labeling). A total of 20 strains isolated from different geographic locales showed the same pattern of three major PBPs, which had molecular weights of approximately 90,000, 63,000, and 48,000. Five clinical isolates of intrinsically penicillin-resistant gonococci each exhibited reduced penicillin binding of PBPs 1 and 2. The construction of an isogenic set of transformants with increasing levels of penicillin resistance indicated that the penA gene was associated with a decrease in penicillin binding fo PBP 2. Decreased binding to PBP 1 is likely to accompany the newly reported pem and tem genes, which govern to highest level of penicillin resistance.
What's new in wound treatment: a critical appraisal

With the growing demand for the specialized care of wounds, there is an ever expanding abundance of wound care modalities available. It is difficult to identify which products or devices enhance wound healing, and thus, a critical and continual look at new advances is necessary. The goal of any wound regimen should be to optimize wound healing by combining basic wound care modalities including debridement, off‐loading, and infection control with the addition of advanced therapies when necessary. This review takes a closer look at current uses of negative pressure wound therapy, bioengineered alternative tissues, and amniotic membrane products. While robust literature may be lacking, current wound care advances are showing great promise in wound healing. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing Self-Efficacy: Exploring Preservice Coursework, Student Teaching, and Professional Development Experiences.

To extend current understanding of school-based agriculture teacher development, this study explored the relationship between teacher development experiences and the self-efficacy of early career agriculture teachers. Three teacher development experiences were of interest: (a) preservice coursework, (b) student teaching, and (c) professional development. Teacher development experiences were analyzed in relation to classroom management self-efficacy, instructional strategies self-efficacy, leadership self-efficacy, science teaching self-efficacy, and math teaching self-efficacy. The relationships between development experiences and self-efficacy were analyzed through five linear regressions with teacher development experiences as independent variables and the five areas of self-efficacy as separate dependent variables. Only statistically insignificant relationships were identified for classroom management self-efficacy and instructional strategies self-efficacy. Student teaching and professional development were statistically significant, positive predictors of leadership self-efficacy. Professional development was also identified as a statistically significant, positive predictor of science teaching self-efficacy. Additionally, preservice coursework was a significant, positive predictor of math teaching selfefficacy. Findings are discussed in relation to the social cognitive theory, with emphasis on practical recommendations to enhance teacher development.
Projected cost-savings with herpes simplex virus screening in pregnancy: towards a new screening paradigm

Objectives Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in newborns are an uncommon but potentially devastating consequence of genital HSV infection in women. Current practice focuses on preventing perinatal transmission by women with prevalent HSV, but transmission risk is greatest when genital HSV is acquired for the first time late in pregnancy. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of identifying pregnant women at risk of de novo HSV acquisition as a means of preventing vertical HSV transmission. Methods A Bayesian decision tree model was parameterised using the best available health and economic data relating to HSV in pregnancy and was used to evaluate the cost effectiveness of screening to identify individuals susceptible to HSV infection in a hypothetical cohort of 100 000 pregnant women in their second trimester of pregnancy. Final outcomes were the projected incidence of maternal and neonatal HSV, quality-adjusted life expectancy and life-time costs associated with neonatal HSV. Results In the absence of testing, model projected incidence of neonatal HSV was 34 cases per 100 000 births, similar to available surveillance data. Screening pregnant women and their partners was projected to decrease the incidence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections in women and infants and to save costs. These findings were robust under alternative assumptions and in wide-ranging sensitivity analyses. Conclusions The use of accurate and relatively inexpensive serological tests for HSV to identify women vulnerable to incident HSV infection in pregnancy has the potential to reduce neonatal HSV incidence and reduce health-related costs.
Cell proliferation, apoptosis and apoptosis-related factors in odontogenic keratocysts and in dentigerous cysts.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to elucidate why odontogenic keratocysts (OKC) can form cystic lesions but not tumor masses, notwithstanding their prominent proliferative activity. METHODS We investigated cellular proliferation, cell death, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the lining cells of OKCs and of dentigerous cysts (DGCs). RESULTS TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells were observed in the surface layers of OKCs and of DGCs. However, no TUNEL-positive cells were seen in the basal or intermediate layers of both cysts. Ki67-positive ratio in the intermediate layer was the highest in OKCs. The p53-positive ratio of the intermediate layer was highest in OKCs. Bcl-2-positive cells were discernible exclusively in the basal layer of OKCs. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that cellular proliferation and death is regulated in association with apoptosis-related proteins in the lining epithelia of OKCs, and subsequently those cysts are seen as cystic lesions but not as tumor masses.
[Diagnostic value of multiple tumor marker detection for mature and immature teratoma of the ovary].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE It is difficult to differentially diagnose mature cystic teratoma (MCT) and immature teratoma (IT) of the ovary before operation. This study was to evaluate the value of multiple tumor marker detection in differential diagnosis of ovarian MCT and IT. METHODS Clinical data of 272 patients with ovarian teratoma, diagnosed pathologically and treated at Cancer Center of Sun Yat-Sen University from Jan. 1995 to Dec. 2005, were reviewed. Of the 272 patients, 254 had MCT and 18 had IT. The serum levels of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), CA153, CA199, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in MCT and IT were compared. RESULTS Of the 254 patients with MCT, the median age was 30, the mean serum levels of CA125, CA153, CA199, NSE, AFP and CEA were 25.5 x 103 u/L, 11.8 x 103 u/L, 106.6 x 103 u/L, 12.6 microg/L, 2.7 microg/L and 2.5 microg/L. Of the 18 patients with IT, the median age was 23, the mean serum levels of these tumor markers were 140.3 x 103 u/L, 16.8 x 103 u/L, 112.0 x 103 u/L, 18.0 microg/L, 369.5 microg/L and 3.2 microg/L. Both the serum levels and positive rates of CA125, CA153 and AFP were significantly higher in IT than in MCT (P<0.05). When detected alone to differentially diagnose MCT and IT, the specificity of CA125, CA153, AFP were high, and the sensitivity of CA125 was the best (50.0%). The sensitivity was elevated to 71.4% by combined detection of CA125, CA153 and AFP. CONCLUSION Combined detection of tumor markers, especially CA125, CA153 and AFP, may be helpful for differential diagnosis of ovarian MCT and IT.
Young people's sexual health in South Africa: HIV prevalence and sexual behaviors from a nationally representative household survey

Objectives:To determine the prevalence of HIV infection, HIV risk factors, and exposure to national HIV prevention programs, and to identify factors associated with HIV infection among South African youth, aged 15–24 years. Design:A cross-sectional, nationally representative, household survey. Methods:From March to August 2003 we conducted a national survey of HIV prevalence and sexual behavior among 11 904 15–24 year olds. Multivariable models for HIV infection were restricted to sexually experienced youth. Results:Young women were significantly more likely to be infected with HIV in comparison with young men (15.5 versus 4.8%). Among men, a history of genital ulcers in the past 12 months was associated with HIV infection [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 1.91; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04–3.49) whereas among women a history of unusual vaginal discharge in the past 12 months was associated with HIV infection (AOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.26–2.44). Young women with older partners were also at increased risk of HIV infection. Among both men and women, increasing partner numbers and inconsistent condom use were significantly associated with HIV infection. Males and females who reported participation in at least one loveLife program were less likely to be infected with HIV (AOR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.40–0.89; AOR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.43–0.85, respectively). Conclusion:This survey confirms the high HIV prevalence among young people in South Africa and, in particular, young women's disproportionate risk. Programs for youth must continue to promote partner reduction, consistent condom use and prompt treatment for sexually transmitted infections while also addressing contextual factors that make it difficult for them to implement behavior change.
An Agent Based Model for a Double Auction with Convex Incentives

We studied the influence of convex incentives, e.g. option-like compensations, on the behavior of financial markets. Such incentives, usually offered to portfolio managers, have been often considered a potential source of market instability. We built an agent-based model of a double-auction market where some of the agents are endowed with convex contracts. We show that these contracts encourage traders to buy more aggressively, increasing total demand and market prices. Our analysis suggests that financial markets with many managers with convex contracts are more likely to be more unstable and less efficient.
Changes in decibel scale wavelength properties of EEG with alertness levels while performing sustained attention tasks

Loss of alertness can have dire consequences for people controlling motorized equipment or for people in professions such as defense. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is known to be related to alertness of the person, but due to high level of noise and low signal strength, the use of EEG for such applications has been considered to be unreliable. This study reports the fractal analysis of EEG and identifies the use of maximum fractal length (MFL) as a feature that is inversely correlated with the alertness of the subject. The results show that MFL (of only single channel of EEG) indicates the loss of alertness of the individual with mean (inverse) correlation coefficient = 3D 0.82.