Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health-Related Quality of Life in a Randomized Trial of Antiretroviral Therapy for Advanced HIV Disease

Objective:To assess and compare alternative approaches of measuring preference-based health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in treatment-experienced HIV patients and evaluate their association with health status and clinical variables. Design:Cross-sectional study. Setting:Twenty-eight Veterans Affairs hospitals in the United States, 13 hospitals in Canada, and 8 hospitals in the United Kingdom. Patients:Three hundred sixty-eight treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients enrolled in the Options in Management with Antiretrovirals randomized trial. Measurements:Baseline sociodemographic and clinical indicators and baseline HRQoL using the Medical Outcome Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV), the EQ-5D, the EQ-5D visual analog scale (EQ-5D VAS), the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3), and standard gamble (SG) and time trade-off (TTO) techniques. Results:The mean (SD) baseline HRQoL scores were as follows: MOS-HIV physical health summary score 41.70 (11.16), MOS-HIV mental health summary score 44.76 (11.38), EQ-5D 0.77 (0.19), HUI3 0.59 (0.32), EQ-5D VAS 65.94 (21.71), SG 0.75 (0.29), and TTO 0.80 (0.31). Correlations between MOS-HIV summary scores and EQ-5D, EQ-5D VAS, and HUI3 ranged from 0.60 to 0.70; the correlation between EQ-5D and HUI3 was 0.73; and the correlation between SG and TTO was 0.43. Preference-based HRQoL scores were related to physical, mental, social, and overall health as measured by MOS-HIV. Concomitant medication use, CD4+ cell count, and HIV viral load were related to some instruments' scores. Conclusions:On average, preference-based HRQoL for treatment-experienced HIV patients was decreased relative to national norms but also highly variable. Health status and clinical variables were related to HRQoL.
Investigating adoption factors of 3G services: An empirical study in Vietnam

This study aimed to examine the factors that affect the 3G mobile services adoption. The technology acceptance model was used, and structural equation modeling was applied to the data sample obtained from a survey in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The research found that perceived usefulness has the strongest effect on intention and attitude to adopt. Social influence does not affect 3G services adoption. The result also underlines the variable of attitude that it should not be eliminated from technology acceptance models. Based on the findings, this research proposes practical recommendations to 3G providers, such as enhancing the service usefulness and focusing on features developed via collaborations between telecommunication carriers and content developers. Furthermore, 3G providers are recommended to focus on understanding their customers' needs better rather than relying on peer and social advertising in promoting 3G services. Finally, future research is proposed to study the effect of different combinations of perceived enjoyment, usefulness, and ease of use, and the relationship between perceived cost, social influence, and intention on 3G services adoption.
The Impact of Growth Prospect, Size and Leverage on Dividend Behavior of Nepalese Commercial Banks

This study examines the impact of growth prospect, leverage and firm size on dividend behavior of Nepalese commercial banks.The dividend variables selected in the study are calculated in terms of dividend per share (DPS), dividend yield (DVY) and dividend payout ratio (DPY). The major independent variables taken are size, leverage and growth prospects while for robustness, other variables are also taken which are profitability, lagged dividends, bank risk and inflation. The data are collected from annual reports of selected commercial banks and bank supervision reports published by Nepal Rastra Bank while the data for inflation has been extracted from the World Bank reports.The study is based on 146 observations from 19 commercial banks in Nepal from 2006-2014. The regression models are estimated to test the significance and importance of dividend patterns in Nepalese commercial banks. The result shows that there is a positive relationship of dividend payouts with size, profitability and lagged dividends. It implies that higher the values of size, profitability and lagged dividends, higher would be the dividend payouts of Nepalese commercial banks. In contrast, growth prospect, leverage and P/E ratio have a negative impact on the dividend patterns. It reveals that an increase in the growth prospect, leverage and P/E ratio leads to lower dividend payments of the Nepalese commercial banks. The beta coefficient is positively significant for size, profitability and lagged dividends whereas the beta coefficient is negatively significant for growth prospect, leverage and P/E ratio. The study also concludes that the dividend behavior of Nepalese commercial banks follow the Lintner model of dividend payments.
Changing the retention properties of catchments and their influence on runoff under climate change

Many studies on drought consider precipitation and potential evapotranspiration (PET) impacts. However, catchment water retention is a factor affecting the interception of precipitation and slowing down runoff which also plays a critical role in determining the risks of hydrological drought. The Budyko framework links retention to the partitioning of precipitation into runoff or evapotranspiration. Applied worldwide, we demonstrate that retention changes are the dominant contribution to measured runoff changes in 21 of 33 major catchments. Similarly, assessing climate simulations for the historical period suggests that models substantially underestimate observed runoff changes due to unrepresented water management processes. Climate models show that water retention (without direct water management) generally decreases by the end of the 21st century, except in dry central Asia and northwestern China. Such decreases raise runoff, mainly driven by precipitation intensity increases (RCP4.5 scenario) and additionally by CO2-induced stomata closure (RCP8.5). This mitigates runoff deficits (generally from raised PET under warming) by increasing global mean runoff from −2.77 mm yr−1 to +3.81 mm yr−1 (RCP4.5), and −6.98 mm yr−1 to +5.11 mm yr−1 (RCP8.5).
Comparative effects of early postnatal ibuprofen and indomethacin on VEGF, IGF-I, and GH during rat ocular development.

PURPOSE Ibuprofen and indomethacin are nonselective prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors that have been shown to improve oxygen-induced retinopathy in mice. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, and growth hormone (GH) are potent growth factors involved in retinal development. This study was conducted to examine and compare the effects of early postnatal ibuprofen and indomethacin on ocular and systemic VEGF, IGF-I, and GH during rat ocular development. METHODS Newborn rats were treated with intraperitoneal injections of low and high doses of ibuprofen or indomethacin at birth (postnatal day [P]1) and on P2 and P3. A control group received equivalent volumes of saline. At P14, vitreous fluid, retinal homogenates, and serum were analyzed for VEGF, IGF-I, and GH protein levels. Retinal mRNA expression of VEGF splice variants (VEGF188, VEGF164, VEGF120), VEGF receptors (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, Npn-1, Npn-2), and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) were also examined. RESULTS Animals treated with high-dose ibuprofen had significantly lower somatic growth and higher serum and vitreous IGF-I levels. High-dose ibuprofen decreased retinal VEGF levels and retinal VEGF164, VEGF120, and VEGFR-2 transcripts, resulting in a significant increase in the cecal period in 87% of rats at P14. Both indomethacin doses suppressed retinal VEGF164 transcripts without affecting VEGF receptors. CONCLUSIONS Ibuprofen may be more effective than indomethacin for suppression of retinal VEGF signaling, suggesting a possible therapy for retinal neovascularization. However, deficits in somatic growth concurrent with higher systemic IGF-I levels suggests decreased IGF-I bioactivity. These adverse effects should be considered.
Morphological types of spinomesencephalic neurons in the marginal zone (Lamina I) of the rat spinal cord, as shown after retrograde labelling with cholera toxin subunit B

Retrogradely labelled lamina I neurons were studied after intramesencephalic injections of subunit B of cholera toxin. The tracer was visualized with a mixture of two monoclonal antibodies followed by the peroxidase‐antiperoxidase technique that produced Golgi‐like staining of the labelled cells. A morphological and morphometric analysis in the three anatomical viewing planes disclosed two structural neuronal types which were recognized as the fusiform and pyramidal cells of our Golgi‐based classification of rat marginal cells. Fusiform cells had a bipolar longitudinally elongated dendritic arbor, were located in the lateral third of lamina I, and appeared to project mainly to the contralateral parabrachial nuclei. It is asserted that these cells may convey the spinal input which elicits visceral responses generated in that area. Pyramidal cells were longitudinally oriented pyramids with the triangular base straddling the dorsal horn/white matter border and a dendritic arbor extending lateromedially and mainly rostrocaudally throughout superficial lamina I and the dorsal funiculus. These cells occurred along the entire mediolateral extent of lamina I and seemed to have a prevalent projection to the contralateral caudal ventrolateral periaqueductal gray. They may represent the ascending branch of the spinalmidbrain loop centered in that zone which controls nociceptive transmission postsynaptically in the dorsal horn.
The Italian Sidem Registry for Apheresis: An Overview of the 2005 Statistics

Data collection on apheresis activities in Italy throughout 2005 including techniques, types of blood cell separators, clinical indications and adverse effects was performed by means of a standardized questionnaire. These data provided by 83 Apheresis Units from 16 Italian regions, albeit rough, are sufficiently informative, mainly in comparison with previous surveys on these statistics (1997 and 2000). In 2005 a total number of 204,746 apheresis procedures were carried out, with a clear-cut prevalence of apheresis production (87.7%), performed by 66 out of 83 Apheresis Units (79.5). Lombardy, Veneto and Tuscany were the most active regions for therapeutic apheresis (51.1% of the total national procedures). An increasing number in extracorporeal photochemotherapy as compared to the 2000 national survey (3,386 vs. 704 procedures) is the most striking observation to emerge from the 2005 data collection on therapeutic apheresis in Italy. Adverse effects, predominantly mild ones (i.e., paresthesia due to citrate-induced hypocalcemia), occurred in 0.12% of apheresis production and 6.04 of therapeutic sessions, particularly in the course of peripheral blood stem cell collection (20.79%), as already reported in the 2000 national survey.
Virtual microscopy in the undergraduate teaching of pathology

Background: Little evidence is available concerning the impact of virtual microscopy (VM) in the undergraduate teaching of pathology. We aimed: (1) to determine the impact in student scores when moving from conventional microscopy (CM) to VM; (2) to assess the students′ impressions and changes in study habits regarding the impact of this tool. Methods: We evaluated two groups taking the discipline of pathology in the same course, one using CM and the other VM. The same set of slides used in the CM classes was digitized in a VENTANA iScan HT (Roche Diagnostics, Sant Cugat, Spain) at ×20 and observed by the students using the Virtuoso viewer (Roche Diagnostics). We evaluated the skill level reached by the students with an online test. A voluntary survey was undertaken by the VM group to assess the students′ impressions regarding the resource. The day and time of any accession to the viewer were registered. Results: There were no differences between the two groups in their marks in the online test (mean marks for the CM and the VM groups: 9.87 ± 0.34 and 9.86 ± 0.53, respectively; P = 0.880). 86.6% of the students found the software friendly, easy-to-use and effective. 71.6% of the students considered navigation easier with VM than with CM. The most appreciated feature of VM was the possibility to access the images anywhere and at any time (93.3%). 57.5% of the accesses were made on holidays and 41.9% later than 6:00 pm. Conclusions: Virtual microscopy can effectively replace the traditional methods of learning pathology, providing mobility and convenience to medical students.
Local stabilization for continuous-time Takagi-sugeno fuzzy model: A bounded control method

For stability analysis we only need estimate the bound of |∂w<sup>k</sup><sub>0</sub>/∂z<sub>k</sub> x<sub>q</sub>| such as [19], however, for stabilization, the new problem is to design the controller and determine the bound of |∂w<sup>k</sup><sub>0</sub>/∂z<sub>k</sub> u<sub>v</sub>| besides |∂w<sup>k</sup><sub>0</sub>/∂z<sub>k</sub> x<sub>q</sub>|. To solve this problem, we design the bounded non-parallel distributed compensation law, then, some linear matrices inequalities are obtained to ensure that the trajectories starting from a local region will be driven to the origin as time goes by. In the end, an example shows the effectiveness of our conclusions.
Association of Smoking and CFH and ARMS2 Risk Variants With Younger Age at Onset of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

IMPORTANCE The age at which the first signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) manifest is variable. Better insight into factors that influence disease onset has direct implications for preventive measures and patient counseling. OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for an earlier age at onset of neovascular AMD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective cohort study, including patient data from the European Genetic Database collected between April 2006 and July 2010. All patients had at least 1 documented visit to the outpatient AMD clinic of the Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, a tertiary referral center for retinal disorders. In total, 275 patients with a known age at onset of neovascular AMD and a genetic risk analysis were included. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Effects of several genetic, sociodemographic, behavioral, and ocular factors on the age at onset of neovascular AMD. The mean differences in the age at onset were determined using general linear models with the age at onset as the dependent variable. RESULTS Past smokers and current smokers developed neovascular AMD on average 4.9 (95% CI, 3.0-6.8) and 7.7 (95% CI, 5.3-10.0) years earlier, respectively, than never smokers (P < .001 for both). Compared with the reference group, the age at onset was 5.2 (95% CI, 2.8-7.7) years earlier for homozygous carriers of the A69S risk allele in the age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) gene (P < .001). Homozygous carriers of the Y402H risk variant in the complement factor H (CFH) gene developed neovascular AMD 2.8 (95% CI, 0.5-5.0) years earlier (P = .02). Patients carrying 4 risk alleles in CFH and ARMS2 developed neovascular AMD 12.2 (95% CI, 6.2-18.3) years earlier than patients with zero risk alleles (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Genetic and environmental risk factors influence the age at onset of neovascular AMD. Individuals at risk could be identified at an early age if and when preventive or therapeutic options become available. Insight into individual risk profiles might influence patients' consideration of interventions to increase their chance of avoiding vision loss from AMD.
Racial Differences in Receipt of Chlamydia Testing Among Medicaid-Insured Women in 2013

Objective To estimate the percentage of young, sexually active Medicaid-insured women who were tested for chlamydia by age, race/ethnicity, and history of sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnosis. Methods We used the medical diagnostic and procedural codes from Truven Health MarketScan Medicaid claims data from 10 states in 2012 and 2013 to estimate the rates of chlamydia testing in 2013 and previous STD diagnosis (diagnosed in 2012) among Medicaid-insured women aged 15–25 years who were sexually active in 2013. We also used a logit model to assess the association between chlamydia testing and women's age, race/ethnicity, and previous STD diagnosis. Results Overall, among approximately 261,000 Medicaid-insured women aged 15–25 years in 2013 who were classified as sexually active, 50.2% were tested for chlamydia in 2013. The chlamydia testing rate was 45.6% for white women and 57.5% for black women. The chlamydia testing rate was 63.5% for women diagnosed as having an STD in 2012 and 46.8% for women not diagnosed as having an STD in 2012. The chlamydia testing rate was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with previous STD diagnosis, age, and race/ethnicity in our logit model. Conclusions Higher chlamydia testing rates among black women can be explained in part by higher rates of previous STD diagnoses. Our finding that black women have the highest chlamydia testing rates is encouraging, as improved access to STD prevention services among racial/ethnic minorities can help to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in STDs. However, chlamydia screening remains an underused preventive health service for young women of all racial and ethnic groups.
Standardizing Management of Adults with Delirium Hospitalized on Medical-Surgical Units.

CONTEXT Delirium is common among inpatients aged 65 years and older and is associated with multiple adverse consequences, including increased length of stay (LOS). However, delirium is frequently unrecognized and poorly understood. At one hospital, baseline management of delirium on medical-surgical units varied greatly, and psychiatric consultations focused exclusively on crisis management. OBJECTIVE To implement a multidisciplinary program for rapid identification and proactive management of patients with delirium on medical-surgical units. DESIGN A pilot from September 2010 to July 2012 included 920 unique patients, of whom 470 were seen by the delirium management team. A delirium management team included a redesigned role for consulting psychiatrists and a new clinical nurse specialist role; the team provided assistance with diagnosis and recommendations for nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic management of delirium. Multidisciplinary education focused on delirium identification and management and nurses' use of appropriate assessment tools. Electronic health record functions supported accurate problem list coding, referrals to the team, and standardized documentation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Length of stay. RESULTS During the study period, average LOS in the target population decreased from 8.5 days to 6.5 days (p = 0.001); average LOS for the Medical Center remained stable. Compared with patients whose delirium was diagnosed during the baseline period, patients who received a delirium diagnosis during the pilot period had a higher illness burden and were likelier to have a history of delirium and diagnosed dementia. CONCLUSION Program implementation was associated with reduced LOS among older inpatients with delirium. The delirium team is an effective model that can be quickly implemented with few additional resources.
Poverty, inequality, and international migration: Insights from 10 years of migration and development conferences

This paper provides an overview of the main findings from the last decade of scholarship on the poverty-inequality-migration nexus. The compilation of new datasets at both the cross-country and micro levels has provided a better understanding of how poverty and inequality play important roles in determining both the level of migration and the selection of who migrates. Contrary to simple theories of income maximization and popular perception, migrants are not overwhelmingly drawn from the poorest households within a country, or poorest countries. The consequence is that income growth and development can lead to more, rather than less, migration from many developing countries. There is also no simple relationship between inequality in origin countries and migration, since inequality affects migration in several counteracting ways. Innovative studies have then used a variety of modern econometric methods to estimate the causal impacts of migration on poverty and inequality. All studies find enormous gains in income for those individuals who do voluntarily migrate from developing to developed countries, which typically lowers poverty and inequality at a global level. However, impacts on poverty and inequality within developing countries themselves depend on who gets to migrate: poverty falls more when networks are large or when migration policies provide more options for unskilled workers to migrate, while within-country inequality may rise at first if skill-selective policies and liquidity constraints prevent the poor from benefiting from migration.JEL Codes: F22, O15, I32.
Hypoglycaemic effects of fermented mycelium of Paecilomyces farinosus (G30801) on high-fat fed rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Paceilomyces farinosus is an entomogenous fungus with a powerful insecticidal activity against the larvae of Lipidoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. However, the hypoglycaemic activity of P. farinosus extract has not been studied. This study was undertaken to investigate the hypoglycaemic and anti-diabetic effects of P. farinosus (G30801) in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes given a high-fat and compared with normal rats. METHODS Rats fed with high fat diet for 2 months and injected with (30 or 50 mg STZ/kg bw) showed raised level of plasma triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, D-glucose concentration and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) %. The STZ-induced type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in rats was further confirmed using glucose tolerance test and insulin-glucose tolerance test. P. farinosus (G30801) was fermented in different media [soybean (S), black bean (B), and rice (R)] and their extracts were tested for hypoglycaemic effect using T1DM and T2DM rats. RESULTS STZ (30 and 50 mg/kg bw) could successfully induce T2DM and T1DM in rats, respectively. No change in blood glucose levels were noted in P. farinosus (R medium) treated normal rats (P < 0.05). In addition, STZ-high fat fed diabetic (T1DM and T2DM) rats when treated with P. farinosus (R medium) showed decreased blood glucose level as compared with P. farinosus extracted from B and S medium. CONCLUSIONS Our findings showed hypoglycaemic effect of fermented P. farinosus (G30801) in experimental diabetes rat model fed with high fat diet.