Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of a Rights-Based Counselling Intervention to Reduce Stigma in People Affected by Leprosy in Indonesia

Background This paper assesses the impact of a counselling intervention on reducing leprosy-related stigma in Cirebon District, Indonesia. The unique features of this intervention are its rights-based approach, the underlying Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model, the three types of counselling and the lay and peer counsellors who were involved. Methodology/principal findings Mixed methods (e.g. three scales, interviews, focus group discussions and reflection notes) were used to assess the impact of the intervention, which ran over a two-year period. There was a control area with no interventions. The study participants were people affected by leprosy and other key persons (e.g. family members). The sample size differs per method, for example, data regarding 67 counselling clients and 57 controls from a cohort, and notes from 207 counselling clients were examined. The notes showed that most clients faced stigma on a daily basis, whether internalized, anticipated and/or enacted. A significant reduction was found between the before and after total scores of the SARI Stigma Scale (p-value < 0.001), Participation Scale Short (p-value < 0.001) and WHO Quality of Life score (p-value < 0.001) among the counselling clients. While there is also an effect in the control group, it is much larger in the intervention group. Qualitative data indicates that knowledge and rights trigger change. Clients took steps to improve their life such as re-connecting with neighbours, helping in household activities and applying for jobs. Challenges include the wish to conceal their condition. Conclusion/significance The findings show that the counselling intervention was effective in reducing stigma, promoting the rights of people with leprosy and facilitating their social participation. More research is needed on how to create a more sustainable intervention, preferably structurally embedded in the health or social services.
Charles A. Dice Center for Research in Financial Economics Procyclical Finance: The Money View

Banks are important because agents hold their debts (“inside money”) as liquidity buffer. Banking crises are costly because the contraction of inside money supply compromises firms’ liquidity management and hurts investment. By highlighting the interaction between banks and firms in the money market, this paper offers a theory of procyclical inside money creation and the resulting instability. It sheds light on the cyclicality of bank leverage, and how it affects the frequency and duration of banking crises. Introducing outside money (government debt) to alleviate liquidity shortage can be counterproductive, because its competition with inside money destabilizes the banking sector. ∗I am indebted to my advisors at Columbia University, Patrick Bolton, Tano Santos, and José A. Scheinkman, for their invaluable guidance. I also thank Tobias Adrian, Geert Bekaert, Nina Boyarchenko, Markus Brunnermeier, Charles Calomiris, Murillo Campello, Guojun Chen, Gilles Chemla, Dong Beom Choi, Nicolas Crouzet, Olivier M. Darmouni, Ian Dew-Becker, Douglas Diamond, William Diamond, John Donaldson, Lars Peter Hansen, Zhiguo He, Harrison Hong, Yunzhi Hu, Yi Huang, Gur Huberman, Christian Julliard, Peter Kondor, Arvind Krishnamurthy, Siyuan Liu, Marco Di Maggio, Harry Mamaysky, Konstantin Milbradt, Emi Nakamura, Martin Oehmke, Mitchell Petersen, Tomasz Piskorski, Vincenzo Quadrini, Adriano A. Rampini, Raghuram Rajan, Jean-Charles Rochet, Jon Steinsson, Amir Sufi, Huijun Sun, Suresh Sundaresan, Harald Uhlig, Dimitri Vayanos, S. Viswanathan, Chen Wang, Neng Wang, Kathy Yuan, and Jing Zeng for helpful comments. I am grateful to seminar/conference participants at Becker Friedman Institute (University of Chicago), Chicago Booth, CEPR Credit Cycle Conference, Columbia Finance Seminar, Columbia Economics Colloquium, New York Fed, Finance Theory Group, Georgetown McDonough, Gradudate Institute (Geneva), Imperial College, Johns Hopkins Carey, London School of Economics, Nanyang Technological University, Northwestern Kellogg, NYU Stern PhD Seminar, OSU Fisher, Oxford Financial Intermediation Theory Conference, University of Melbourne, USC Marshall, and Wharton. I acknowledge the generous dissertation support from Macro Financial Modeling Group of Becker Friedman Institute. All errors are mine. †The Ohio State University. E-mail: li.8935@osu.edu Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3057997
Outcomes after extrahepatic portosystemic shunt ligation in 49 dogs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcomes after attenuation of extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in dogs using surgical silk. DESIGN Retrospective study. PROCEDURE Case records were reviewed for degree of surgical attenuation, experience of the primary surgeon, perioperative mortality and problems related to persistent portosystemic shunting or shunt ligation. Presence of portosystemic shunting after surgery was evaluated by ammonia tolerance testing, measurement of postprandial serum bile acid, plasma urea and cholesterol concentrations and liver enzyme activity. The influence of age, postocclusion portal pressure, primary surgeon, degree of attenuation and postoperative biochemical findings on the occurrence of postoperative problems was assessed. RESULTS The mortality rate was 2.1%. Shunt attenuation was complete in 34% and partial in 66% of dogs. Portal hypertension necessitating ligature removal was encountered in only one dog. Five dogs experienced neurological abnormalities (seizures or ataxia), possibly as a manifestation of 'postligation seizure syndrome'. Postoperative liver function was normal in 78% of dogs, including 70% with partial shunt attenuation. Experience of the surgeon was related positively to outcome after partial attenuation (P = 0.002). Postoperative biochemical evidence of abnormal liver function was the most sensitive predictor of recurrence of clinical signs referable to persistent portosystemic shunting. CONCLUSIONS In the hands of an experienced surgeon, surgical attenuation of single extrahepatic shunts was safe and effective, even in animals with partial attenuation. Most dogs with biochemical evidence of persistent shunting suffer relapse of clinical signs within 18 months of surgery. Postligation neurological syndromes of variable intensity may be more common than previously thought.
Electroencephalographic biofeedback for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood and adolescence

Considerable scientific effort has been directed at developing effective treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Among alternative treatment approaches, electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback has gained promising empirical support in recent years. Short-term effects were shown to be comparable to those of stimulant medication at the behavioral and neuropsychological level, leading to significant decreases of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. In addition, EEG biofeedback results in concomitant improvement of neurophysiological patterns. EEG biofeedback may already be used within a multimodal setting, providing affected children and adolescents with a means of learning to counterbalance their ADHD symptoms without side effects. However, there is still a strong need for more empirically and methodologically sound evaluation studies.
Bacterial Activity in the Rhizosphere Analyzed at the Single-Cell Level by Monitoring Ribosome Contents and Synthesis Rates

ABSTRACT The growth activity of Pseudomonas putida cells colonizing the rhizosphere of barley seedlings was estimated at the single-cell level by monitoring ribosomal contents and synthesis rates. Ribosomal synthesis was monitored by using a system comprising a fusion of the ribosomal Escherichia coli rrnBP1 promoter to a gene encoding an unstable variant of the green fluorescent protein (Gfp). Gfp expression in a P. putida strain carrying this system inserted into the chromosome was strongly dependent on the growth phase and growth rate of the strain, and cells growing exponentially at rates of ≥0.17 h−1 emitted growth rate-dependent green fluorescence detectable at the single-cell level. The single-cell ribosomal contents were very heterogeneous, as determined by quantitative hybridization with fluorescently labeled rRNA probes in P. putida cells extracted from the rhizosphere of 1-day-old barley seedlings grown under sterile conditions. After this, cells extracted from the root system had ribosomal contents similar to those found in starved cells. There was a significant decrease in the ribosomal content of P. putida cells when bacteria were introduced into nonsterile bulk or rhizosphere soil, and the Gfp monitoring system was not induced in cells extracted from either of the two soil systems. The monitoring system used permitted nondestructive in situ detection of fast-growing bacterial microcolonies on the sloughing root sheath cells of 1- and 2-day-old barley seedlings grown under sterile conditions, which demonstrated that it may be possible to use the unstable Gfp marker for studies of transient gene expression in plant-microbe systems.
Trajectories of Anxiety Among Women with Breast Cancer: A Proxy for Adjustment from Acute to Transitional Survivorship

Anxiety is one of the main components of distress among women with breast cancer (BC), particularly in the early stages of the disease. Changes in anxiety over time may reflect the process of adjustment or lack thereof. The process of adjustment in the traverse of acute to transitional stages of survivorship warrants further examination. To examine the trajectory of anxiety and the specific patterns that may indicate a lack of adjustment within 2 years following BC surgery, survey data from a 2-year prospective cohort study of 725 women with BC were analyzed by Mixture Growth Modelling and logistic regression and Analysis of Variance. A piece-wise growth curve displayed the best fit to the data, indicating a significant decrease in anxiety in the first year, followed by a slower rate of change during the second year. Four classes of trajectories were identified: High Stable, High Decrease, Mild Decrease, and Low Decrease. Of these, High Stable anxiety showed the most substantive indications of lack of adjustment. This subgroup was predominantly characterized by sociodemographic variables such as financial difficulties. Our results support an emphasis on the transitional nature of the stage that follows the end of primary active treatment and imply a need for supportive follow up care for those who display lack of adjustment at this stage.
Use of Placebos and Nonspecific and Complementary Treatments by German Physicians - Rationale and Development of a Questionnaire for a Nationwide Survey

Background: We are performing a nationwide survey in a random sample of German general practitioners (GPs), orthopedists, and internists on the use of placebos and nonspecific as well as complementary treatments and their association with basic professional attitudes. In this article we explain the theoretical considerations behind the study approach and the development of the questionnaire. Methods: Based on a systematic review of published surveys, own surveys on the topic, and on theoretical considerations we developed a preliminary version of a 4-page questionnaire that was tested for feasibility in a convenience sample of 80 participants of a general medical education event. We also performed cognitive interviews with 8 physicians to investigate whether the questions were understood adequately. Results: The questions on typical placebos and complementary treatments were well understood and easy to answer for participants. Discussions about the phrasing of questions on nonspecific treatments during interview reflected the vagueness of this concept; but this did not seem to create major problems when answering the related questions. The original questions regarding basic professional attitudes partly were not understood in the manner intended. The relevant questions were modified but the interviews suggest that these issues are difficult to grasp in a quantitative survey. Conclusion: Our testing procedures suggest that our questionnaire is well-suited to investigate our questions with some limitations regarding the issue of basic professional attitudes.
The mosaic genome structure of the Wolbachia wRi strain infecting Drosophila simulans

The obligate intracellular bacterium Wolbachia pipientis infects around 20% of all insect species. It is maternally inherited and induces reproductive alterations of insect populations by male killing, feminization, parthenogenesis, or cytoplasmic incompatibility. Here, we present the 1,445,873-bp genome of W. pipientis strain wRi that induces very strong cytoplasmic incompatibility in its natural host Drosophila simulans. A comparison with the previously sequenced genome of W. pipientis strain wMel from Drosophila melanogaster identified 35 breakpoints associated with mobile elements and repeated sequences that are stable in Drosophila lines transinfected with wRi. Additionally, 450 genes with orthologs in wRi and wMel were sequenced from the W. pipientis strain wUni, responsible for the induction of parthenogenesis in the parasitoid wasp Muscidifurax uniraptor. The comparison of these A-group Wolbachia strains uncovered the most highly recombining intracellular bacterial genomes known to date. This was manifested in a 500-fold variation in sequence divergences at synonymous sites, with different genes and gene segments supporting different strain relationships. The substitution-frequency profile resembled that of Neisseria meningitidis, which is characterized by rampant intraspecies recombination, rather than that of Rickettsia, where genes mostly diverge by nucleotide substitutions. The data further revealed diversification of ankyrin repeat genes by short tandem duplications and provided examples of horizontal gene transfer across A- and B-group strains that infect D. simulans. These results suggest that the transmission dynamics of Wolbachia and the opportunity for coinfections have created a freely recombining intracellular bacterial community with mosaic genomes.
A novel SCN1A mutation associated with generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus--and prevalence of variants in patients with epilepsy.

We recently described mutations of the neuronal sodium-channel alpha-subunit gene, SCN1A, on chromosome 2q24 in two families with generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) type 2. To assess the contribution that SCN1A makes to other types of epilepsy, 226 patients with either juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, absence epilepsy, or febrile convulsions were screened by conformation-sensitive gel electrophoresis and manual sequencing of variants; the sample included 165 probands from multiplex families and 61 sporadic cases. The novel mutation W1204R was identified in a family with GEFS+. Seven other coding changes were observed; three of these are potential disease-causing mutations. Two common haplotypes, with frequencies of . 67 and . 33, were defined by five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning a 14-kb region of linkage disequilibrium. An SNP located 18 bp upstream of the splice-acceptor site for exon 3 was observed in 7 of the 226 patients but was not present in 185 controls, suggesting possible association with a disease mutation. This work has confirmed the role of SCN1A in GEFS+, by identification of a novel mutation in a previously undescribed family. Although a few candidate disease alleles were identified, the patient survey suggests that SCN1A is not a major contributor to idiopathic generalized epilepsy. The SCN1A haplotypes and SNPs identified here will be useful in future association and linkage studies.
Audit Opinion Accuracy, Corporate Governance and Downward Auditor Switching: A Study of Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economics Community

Objective of this research is to examine moderating effect of audit opinion accuracy on relationship between corporate governance and downward auditor switching in five countries of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Sample of this research is manufacture companies listed in stock exchange of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Philippine. Based on country fixed effect logistic regression, results show that audit committee, independent commissioner and financial deepening have negative effect on downward auditor switching, if opinion accuracy is high. It indicates that monitoring role of audit committee, independent commissioner and public will increases audit quality by prevent high quality auditor, especially when opinion accuracy is high. In the other hand, opinion accuracy does not moderate effect of ownership on downward auditor switching, indicates that there is entrenchment effect of controlling shareholder in auditor switching decision.
Filter penetration and breathing resistance evaluation of respirators and dust masks

ABSTRACT The primary objective of this study was to compare the filter performance of a representative selection of uncertified dust masks relative to the filter performance of a set of NIOSH-approved N95 filtering face-piece respirators (FFRs). Five different models of commercially available dust masks were selected for this study. Filter penetration of new dust masks was evaluated against a sodium chloride aerosol. Breathing resistance (BR) of new dust masks and FFRs was then measured for 120 min while challenging the dust masks and FFRs with Arizona road dust (ARD) at 25°C and 30% relative humidity. Results demonstrated that a wide range of maximum filter penetration was observed among the dust masks tested in this study (3–75% at the most penetrating particle size (p < 0.001). The breathing resistances of the unused FFRs and dust masks did not vary greatly (8–13 mm H2O) but were significantly different (p < 0.001). After dust loading there was a significant difference between the BR caused by the ARD dust layer on each FFR and dust mask. Microscopic analysis of the external layer of each dust mask and FFR suggests that different collection media in the external layer influences the development of the dust layer and therefore affects the increase in BR differently between the tested models. Two of the dust masks had penetration values < 5% and quality factors (0.26 and 0.33) comparable to those obtained for the two FFRs (0.23 and 0.31). However, the remaining three dust masks, those with penetration > 15%, had quality factors ranging between 0.04–0.15 primarily because their initial BR remained relatively high. These results indicate that some dust masks analysed during this research did not have an expected very low BR to compensate for their high penetration.
Microbiology and Visual Outcome of Bleb-associated Endophthalmitis

Purpose: To identify the microbiological spectrum and visual outcome of bleb-associated endophthalmitis. Methods: The medical records of patients treated for bleb-associated endophthalmitis were reviewed. Results: Seventy-five patients were identified. Vitreous cultures were positive in 48 (64%) patients. The most common isolates were Streptococcus species in 24 (50%) eyes, gram-negative bacteria in 10 (20.8%) eyes, and Staphylococcus epidermidis in 7 (14.6%) eyes. Good visual outcome was achieved in 33 (44%) patients. On univariate analysis, shorter interval from onset of symptoms and treatment (p = .005), better initial visual acuity (p = .004), clear cornea at presentation (p = .048), isolation of less virulent organisms (p < .001), and absence of diabetes mellitus (p = .048) were significant positive predictors for good visual outcome. Conclusions: Bleb-associated endophthalmitis is associated with severe visual impairment. Clinical features associated with better visual outcome include early presentation, better presenting visual acuity, clear cornea at presentation, culture of a less virulent organism, and absence of diabetes mellitus.
Characterization of the hypothalamus of Xenopus laevis during development. I. The alar regions

The patterns of expression of a set of conserved developmental regulatory transcription factors and neuronal markers were analyzed in the alar hypothalamus of Xenopus laevis throughout development. Combined immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques were used for the identification of subdivisions and their boundaries. The alar hypothalamus was located rostral to the diencephalon in the secondary prosencephalon and represents the rostral continuation of the alar territories of the diencephalon and brainstem, according to the prosomeric model. It is composed of the supraoptoparaventricular (dorsal) and the suprachiasmatic (ventral) regions, and limits dorsally with the preoptic region, caudally with the prethalamic eminence and the prethalamus, and ventrally with the basal hypothalamus. The supraoptoparaventricular area is defined by the orthopedia (Otp) expression and is subdivided into rostral and caudal portions, on the basis of the Nkx2.2 expression only in the rostral portion. This region is the source of many neuroendocrine cells, primarily located in the rostral subdivision. The suprachiasmatic region is characterized by Dll4/Isl1 expression, and was also subdivided into rostral and caudal portions, based on the expression of Nkx2.1/Nkx2.2 and Lhx1/7 exclusively in the rostral portion. Both alar regions are mainly connected with subpallial areas strongly implicated in the limbic system and show robust intrahypothalamic connections. Caudally, both regions project to brainstem centers and spinal cord. All these data support that in terms of topology, molecular specification, and connectivity the subdivisions of the anuran alar hypothalamus possess many features shared with their counterparts in amniotes, likely controlling similar reflexes, responses, and behaviors. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:725–759, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Markers of tumor invasion are major predictive factors for the long-term outcome of corticotroph microadenomas treated by transsphenoidal adenomectomy.

OBJECTIVE To assess the postsurgical outcome of patients with corticotroph microadenomas and to define predictors of the long-term outcome, with special emphasis on markers of tumor extension. DESIGN Prospective study of 53 corticotroph microadenomas treated by enlarged adenomectomy. Patients followed for at least 2 years were classified into two groups: those in long-term remission and uncured patients (immediate failures and recurrences). Pre-, per- and postoperative parameters were analyzed as predictors of the long-term outcome. METHODS Baseline hormone assessments were performed preoperatively, 8 days after surgery and every 6-12 months thereafter. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allowed analysis of possible tumor extension to adjacent structures. Apparent completeness of the surgical removal was determined, and fragments labeled either 'tumor' or 'surrounding pituitary tissue' were submitted to serial sectioning. RESULTS Immediate control of hypercortisolism was achieved in 43/53 patients (81%). However, later recurrences were observed in five patients (9%). Preoperative MRI showed tumor extension into adjacent structures with good specificity (91%) for prediction of surgical failure. Evidence of local invasion at surgery was also significantly predictive of the long-term outcome. A corticotroph adenoma was found at histological examination in 96% of the patients, and 26% had irregular limits, a feature significantly correlated with a poor outcome. Immediate postoperative plasma cortisol did not allow discrimination between long-term remissions and recurrences. CONCLUSION Surgical failure was best predicted by signs of tumor 'invasiveness' at MRI, confirmed by peroperative examination and histology.