Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do CIO IT Budgets Explain Bigger or Smaller Governments? Theory and Evidence from U.S. State Governments

Given the recent concern on “big governments” and rising budget deficits in the United States and European nations, there has been a fundamental economic debate on the proper boundary and role of governments in a society. Inspired by this debate, we study the relationship between information technology (IT) and government size. Drawing on a broad range of the literature from multiple disciplines such as information systems, industrial organization, and political sciences, we present several theoretical mechanisms that explain the impact of IT on government expenditures. Using a variety of data on IT spending and state government expenditures, we find that greater IT investments made by a state chief information officer (CIO) are associated with lower state government spending. It is estimated that on average, a $1 increase in state CIO budgets is associated with a reduction of as much as $3.49 in state overall expenditures. This study contributes to the literature by identifying a key technological factor that affects government spending and showing that IT investments can be a means to restrain government growth. This paper was accepted by Anandhi Bharadwaj, information systems.
Season of Birth Variations in the Temperament and Character Inventory of Personality in a General Population

Background: Since several studies show season of birth variations in morbidity, suicidal behavior and CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) monoamine metabolites, we investigated season of birth variations in personality in the population. Methods: We analyzed by multiple logistic regressions the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) for 2,130 individuals taking part in the Betula prospective random cohort study of Umeå, Sweden. Results: The personality dimensions were correlated significantly with age and gender. We stratified the data according to age, gender and the season of TCI measurement. By the median split in each stratum, a high-value group and a low-value group were obtained for each of the personality dimensions. Those born during February to April were significantly more likely than those born during October to January to have high NS (novelty seeking) among women, particularly the subscale NS2 (impulsiveness vs. reflection), and to have high PS (persistence) among men. Temperament profiles also showed season of birth variations. Conclusions: We discuss the associations in the literature between personality and the monoamines serotonin and dopamine, and suggest that our results are compatible with a hypothesis of season of birth variation in the monoamine turnover. The personality traits are likely to be influenced by several genetic and environmental factors, one of them being the season of birth.
Prevention of vaginal simian immunodeficiency virus transmission in macaques by postexposure prophylaxis with zidovudine, lamivudine and indinavir

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of postexposure prophylaxis with a combination of zidovudine (ZDV), lamivudine (3TC) and indinavir (IDV), after vaginal exposure to HIV. Design:Experimental intravaginal exposure of female cynomolgus macaques to SIVmac251. Methods:ZDV/3TC/IDV treatment was initiated 4 h after exposure and continued for 28 days. Groups of six animals received a placebo or a combination of oral ZDV (4.5 mg/kg), 3TC (2.5 mg/kg) and IDV (20 mg/kg) twice daily or subcutaneous ZDV (4.5 mg/kg) and 3TC (2.5 mg/kg) twice daily, and a higher dose of IDV (60 mg/kg) administered orally twice daily. Results:In the placebo group, all animals were infected. Antiretroviral association protected one of the six animals if all drugs were administered orally and four of the six animals if ZDV and 3TC were administered subcutaneously and IDV was given orally at triple dose. In infected animals, viremia was significantly delayed and lowered in treated animals than in animals given placebo, and high CD4 cell counts were maintained in the treated animals, at least in the medium term. Antiretroviral dosages made in macaques receiving the same treatments showed that protection efficacy could be linked to antiretroviral plasmatic concentration. Conclusion:This study shows, for the first time in macaques, that the postexposure prophylaxis recommended for humans may be effective after vaginal exposure. Improvements in pharmacokinetic parameters significantly increased treatment efficiency.
Influence of Nocturnal Asthma on Chronotype

Individual differences in circadian rhythm have been studied since the past century. Chronotypes are a chronobiology classification based on the preferential times for beginning and ending activities throughout the day. Chronotypes can be classified as definitely morning, moderately morning, indifferent, moderately evening, and definitely evening. We aim to assess the distribution of chronotypes in asthmatics and the relationship of chronotype to the presence of nocturnal symptoms. Two hundred subjects were evaluated, 100 asthmatics and 100 non-asthmatics. The Morningness/Eveningness questionnaire was applied for chronotype determination. The asthmatics were subdivided according to the presence or absence of nocturnal symptoms. The chronotype distribution did not differ significantly between asthmatics and non-asthmatics. Thirty-five percent of the asthma group reported nocturnal symptoms. There was a significant difference in chronotype distribution between asthmatics with and without nocturnal worsening. The asthmatics with nocturnal symptoms had a lower prevalence of morning types and had a greater predominance of indifferent chronotype compared to asthmatics without nocturnal symptoms (p = 0.011). In conclusion, asthmatics with nocturnal symptoms present deviation from the chronotype distribution curve when compared to asthmatics without nocturnal symptoms. This is the first study to show the effect of a disease on chronotypes.
T Cell Responses against Mycobacterial Lipids and Proteins Are Poorly Correlated in South African Adolescents

Human T cells are activated by both peptide and nonpeptide Ags produced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. T cells recognize cell wall lipids bound to CD1 molecules, but effector functions of CD1-reactive T cells have not been systematically assessed in M. tuberculosis–infected humans. It is also not known how these features correlate with T cell responses to secreted protein Ags. We developed a flow cytometric assay to profile CD1-restricted T cells ex vivo and assessed T cell responses to five cell wall lipid Ags in a cross-sectional study of 19 M. tuberculosis–infected and 22 M. tuberculosis–uninfected South African adolescents. We analyzed six T cell functions using a recently developed computational approach for flow cytometry data in high dimensions. We compared these data with T cell responses to five protein Ags in the same cohort. We show that CD1b-restricted T cells producing antimycobacterial cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α are detectable ex vivo in CD4+, CD8+, and CD4−CD8− T cell subsets. Glucose monomycolate was immunodominant among lipid Ags tested, and polyfunctional CD4 T cells specific for this lipid simultaneously expressed CD40L, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α. Lipid-reactive CD4+ T cells were detectable at frequencies of 0.001–0.01%, and this did not differ by M. tuberculosis infection status. Finally, CD4 T cell responses to lipids were poorly correlated with CD4 T cell responses to proteins (Spearman rank correlation −0.01; p = 0.95). These results highlight the functional diversity of CD1-restricted T cells circulating in peripheral blood as well as the complementary nature of T cell responses to mycobacterial lipids and proteins. Our approach enables further population-based studies of lipid-specific T cell responses during natural infection and vaccination.
α‐Adrenergic responsiveness in rat isolated perfused heart after abdominal aortic coarctation

Chronic isoproterenol pre‐treatment, a well‐known model of compensatory hypertrophy associated with cardiac β‐adrenoceptor desensitization, enhances the inotropic response to phenylephrine in rat isolated perfused hearts, supporting the hypothesis that myocardial α‐adrenoceptor stimulation contributes to the maintenance of myocardial performance in situations in which cardiac β‐adrenoceptor function is compromised. To further corroborate this hypothesis, the effects of abdominal aortic coarctation on cardiac α‐adrenergic responsiveness were investigated in Langendorff heart preparations. Abdominal aortic coarctation causes cardiac hypertrophy (21 %) as shown by a significant increase in the ratio of ventricular dry weight to bodyweight. In preparations from hypertrophied rats, both maximum increases in left ventricular systolic pressure and heart rate elicited by isoproterenol (10−12 to 10−4 M) were significantly reduced (the isoproterenol concentration producing 50% of the maximum positive inotropic and chronotropic responses was enhanced almost 21‐ and 2‐fold, respectively). However, the positive inotropic response to phenylephrine (10−12 to 10−4 M) remained unaffected following abdominal aortic coarctation, when compared with sham‐operated rats. In preparations from both groups, phenylephrine infusion did not induce significant changes in heart rate. These results show that although abdominal aortic stenosis induced desensitization of cardiac β‐adrenoceptors, it did not enhancecardiac α‐adrenoceptor responsiveness. This suggests that such an enhancement depends on the experimental model used to induce cardiac hypertrophy associated with desensitization of cardiac β‐adrenoceptors.
Potentially Increased Sensitivity of Pregnant and Lactating Female Rats to Immunotoxic Agents

Characteristic susceptibility to environmental and pharmaceutical exposure may occur during periods in life of marked histophysiological changes of the immune system. Perinatal development is such a period; pregnancy followed by lactation is potentially another one. Here, we explored the influence of pregnancy and lactation on the model immunotoxic compound di-n-octyltin dichloride (DOTC) in rats using clinical and histopathological parameters. Female rats were exposed to 0, 3, 10, or 30 mg DOTC/kg feed during pregnancy and up to 20 (at weaning) or 56 days after delivery. Age-matched nonmated females were exposed during the same time periods. DOTC at the level of 10 and 30 mg/kg decreased thymus weight and affected thymus morphology in the lactating rats. In addition, DOTC decreased the numbers of neutrophils in the lactating rats. These effects were no longer apparent at day 56 despite continuous exposure to DOTC. This explorative study indicates that the innate and adaptive immune system may be especially sensitive to immunotoxicants during pregnancy and lactation.
Assessment of volatile and non-volatile compounds in durian wines fermented with four commercial non-Saccharomyces yeasts.

BACKGROUND Chemical compositions of durian wines fermented with Metschnikowia pulcherrima Flavia, Torulaspora delbrueckii Biodiva, Pichia kluyveri FrootZen and Kluyveromyces thermotolerans Concerto were investigated. RESULTS Sucrose was not utilized by M. pulcherrima and P. kluyveri, resulting in little formation of ethanol (0.3-0.5%, v/v), while about 7% ethanol was produced by the other two yeasts. Volatiles such as esters and sulfur-containing compounds were synthesized or catabolized and distinctive differences existed among yeasts. Larger amounts of higher alcohols and ethyl esters were detected in wines fermented by T. delbrueckii and K. thermotolerans, whereas M. pulcherrima and P. kluyveri produced more acetate esters such as ethyl acetate (1034.43 and 131.05 mg L(-1) respectively) and isoamyl acetate (0.56 and 27.68 mg L(-1) respectively). Most endogenous sulfur volatiles such as disulfides declined to trace levels, but new ones such as thioesters were formed. Sulfur volatiles in wines fermented by T. delbrueckii accounted for 0.20% relative peak area (RPA), followed by K. thermotolerans (0.23% RPA), P. kluyveri (1.43% RPA) and M. pulcherrima (4.16% RPA). CONCLUSION The findings showed that a more complex flavor could result from fermentation with different non-Saccharomyces yeasts and the typical durian odor would still remain.
Cytokine Production by Lymphocytes in Pregnancy

PROBLEM: In the presence of progesterone lymphocytes of pregnant women release a 34‐ kDa protein named the progesterone‐induced blocking factor (PIBF). PIBF mediates the immunomodulatory and anti‐abortive effects of progesterone and its presence is related to the outcome of pregnancy. PIBF induces production of Th2 type cytokines by activated lymphocytes. The in vivo relationship between PIBF‐ and cytokine production of pregnancy lymphocytes and the outcome of pregnancy was investigated.
A physiological framework to explain genetic and environmental regulation of tillering in sorghum.

Tillering determines the plant size of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and an understanding of its regulation is important to match genotypes to prevalent growing conditions in target production environments. The aim of this study was to determine the physiological and environmental regulation of variability in tillering among sorghum genotypes, and to develop a framework for this regulation. Diverse sorghum genotypes were grown in three experiments with contrasting temperature, radiation and plant density to create variation in tillering. Data on phenology, tillering, and leaf and plant size were collected. A carbohydrate supply/demand (S/D) index that incorporated environmental and genotypic parameters was developed to represent the effects of assimilate availability on tillering. Genotypic differences in tillering not explained by this index were defined as propensity to tiller (PTT) and probably represented hormonal effects. Genotypic variation in tillering was associated with differences in leaf width, stem diameter and PTT. The S/D index captured most of the environmental effects on tillering and PTT most of the genotypic effects. A framework that captures genetic and environmental regulation of tillering through assimilate availability and PTT was developed, and provides a basis for the development of a model that connects genetic control of tillering to its phenotypic consequences.
Why neurology? Factors which influence career choice in neurology

Objective: To evaluate the factors which influence the decision to pursue a career in neurology. Methods: An anonymous survey was developed using a Likert scale to rate responses. The survey was sent to adult and child neurology faculty, residents and fellows, as well as medical students applying for neurology. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the factors of influence. Respondents were subsequently categorized into pre-neurology trainees, neurology trainees, child neurologists and adult neurologists, and differences between the groups were analysed using Pearson’s chi-square test. Results: One hundred and thirty-three anonymous responses were received. The respondents were neurologists across all levels of training and practice. Across all respondents, the most common factor of high importance was intellectual content of specialty, challenging diagnostic problems, type of patient encountered and interest in helping people. Responses were similar across the groups; however, the earliest trainees cited interest in helping people as most important, while those in neurology training and beyond cite intellectual content of the specialty as most important. Discussion: As trainees transition from their earliest levels of clinical experience into working as residents and faculty, there is a shift in the cited important factors. Lifestyle and financial factors seem to be the least motivating across all groups. Encouragement from peers, mentors, faculty and practicing physicians is considered high influences in a smaller number of neurologists. This may present an opportunity for practicing neurologists to make connections with medical students early in their education in an effort to encourage and mentor candidates.
Microglial Cell Activation in Aging and Alzheimer Disease: Partial Linkage with Neurofibrillary Tangle Burden in the Hippocampus

Microglial cells are the main component of the brain's resident immune system and are activated in Alzheimer disease (AD). We quantified the density of activated microglial cells (AMG) in 8 sectors of human hippocampus to determine if their density is correlated with senile plaque (SP) and neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation. Ferritin-stained microglia, Bielschowsky-stained neuritic plaques, and perikarya containing NFTs were counted in 8 young adults, 9 nondemented elderly adults, and 9 demented patients with AD. Microglial cell activation was moderately higher in elderly nondemented subjects. In AD there was a more striking activation in all sectors of the hippocampus. Most AMGs were distributed diffusely in neuropil and were not delimited to SPs or NFTs. Senile plaque counts were not linked with AMG counts within any sector. Neurofibrillary tangle counts were correlated significantly with AMG counts within one sector, the subiculum. When variations within and between sectors were factored out statistically, the burden of AMGs was correlated significantly with the burden of NFTs (r = 0.34; p < 0.005), but not SPs. Neuropathologic changes at the origin of the perforant pathway were correlated significantly with orthograde microglial cell activation in the termination field. These observations show that correlations between microglial cell activation and pathologic features of AD are only rarely significant. When significant linkage was present, it involved NFTs and not SPs, and depended on which sector of hippocampus was examined.
Analysis of mutations in the SCH gene in schwannomas

Schwannomas are benign tumors of cranial, spinal, and other nerve sheaths that develop sporadically or are inherited as part of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). The NF2 gene (SCH) on chromosome 22 has recently been identified and shown to be inactivated by mutation and allele loss in some schwannomas. However, only limited regions in the SCH coding region were examined for mutations. We have extended these studies by screening virtually all coding sequences of the SCH gene (95% coverage) and adjacent splice site sequences for the presence of mutations in 48 schwannomas. All tumors (34 vestibular schwannomas and 14 schwannomas of other locations) were additionally characterized for allele loss on chromosome 22. By PCR‐DGGE screening of the 16 known exons of the SCH gene, 22 mutations were found. Most of these give rise to a premature stop codon and are expected to result in the synthesis of a truncated gene product (schwannomin). Although there was no apparent hotspot for mutations, 16 of the 22 mutations occurred in the first eight exons or adjacent splice site sequences of the SCH gene. In several vestibular as well as other schwannomas loss of one SCH allele and mutational inactivation of the second allele were identified in the same tumor. Our data indicate that the SCH gene is implicated in the development of schwannomas of all locations in the nervous system.
HRT mechanisms of action: carbohydrates.

Elevated insulin concentrations are frequently found in both men and women with coronary heart disease (CHD), and are likely to be due to insulin resistance. Hyperinsulinaemia may increase CHD risk by directly promoting atherogenesis, and insulin propeptides may also be important in this respect. However, increased insulin concentrations may adversely affect several other CHD risk factors, and it has been postulated that insulin resistance is a pivotal metabolic disturbance in a constellation of CHD risk factors. There is an association between hyperinsulinaemia and hypertension, although it is not known if this association is direct. Increased insulin concentrations are also associated with high triglycerides, low HDL or HDL2 concentrations, and increased small dense LDL. Obesity is also associated with insulin resistance, and it is the central or android body fat distribution which correlates with these metabolic disturbances. All these associated factors constitute a distinct syndrome--the insulin resistance syndrome--which is a frequent finding in patients with CHD, including microvascular angina. It is possible that the adverse associations of insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia are mediated through increased nonesterified fatty acid flux. Increased insulin levels are also associated with increases in the anti-fibrinolytic factor, plasminogen activator inhibitor-I (PAI-I). Whilst increased insulin levels are typically associated with insulin resistance, reduced hepatic insulin uptake may also be important. We now have techniques which can quantitate insulin secretion, hepatic uptake and release, elimination, and resistance. The menopause has appreciable effect on insulin and glucose metabolism. Estrogen and progesterone augment pancreatic insulin secretion, but the former reduces insulin resistance whilst the latter increases it. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Clonidine in vivo mimics the acute suppressive but not the phase‐shifting effects of light on circadian rhythm of serotonin N‐acetyltransferase activity in chick pineal gland

Zawilska JB. Clonidine in vivo mimics the acute suppressive but not the phase‐shifting effects of light on circadian rhythm of serotonin N‐acetyltransferase activity in chick pineal gland. J. Pineal Res. 1994; 17: 63–68. ©Munksgaard, 1994
Microstructure, microbial profile and quality characteristics of high-pressure-treated chicken nuggets

High-pressure processing (300 MPa for 5 min) as a non-thermal post-processing intervention was employed to improve the shelf life and qualities of cooked refrigerated chicken nuggets. Pomegranate peel extract (1%) was also used as a source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial in chicken nuggets. Microstructure, microbial profile, instrumental colour, texture profile and lipid oxidation were evaluated. High-pressure treatment and pomegranate peel extract did not influence significantly the colour and textural properties of cooked chicken nuggets. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values significantly (p < 0.05) increased in pressure-treated nuggets. Microstructural studies revealed shrinkage in the structure and loosening of the dense network of meat emulsion due to high-pressure treatment. Pressure treatment resulted in a reduction of 2–3.0 log10 cfu/g in total plate count and Enterobacteriaceae count. Molecular characterization studies revealed that Enterobacter amnigenus and Enterobacter sp. in control and Bacillus licheniformis, Enterococcus gallinarum and Acinetobacter baumannii in high-pressure-treated chicken nuggets were the major spoilage bacteria.