Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Testing for Interaction in Two‐Way Random and Mixed Effects Models: The Fully Nonparametric Approach

Summary In a recent paper, Gaugler and Akritas (unpublished manuscript) considered testing for no main effect in a two‐factor mixed effects design when the traditional assumptions do not hold. Here we extend the nonparametric modeling to the random effects design and consider the problem of testing for no interaction effect. The new models for these designs allow for dependence among the random effects, heteroscedasticity in the error and interaction terms, and do not require normality. At a more systemic level, these models differ from the classical ones in that they do not consider the random interaction term as an additional, extraneous source of variability. The proposed test procedure applies to settings where the random factor in the case of the mixed model or at least one of the random factors in the case of the random effects model has many levels. The number of replications can be small and possibly unbalanced. Moreover, the model and test procedure are general enough to accommodate data missing at random (MAR), provided the missingness mechanism is the same for each level of the random effect. The limiting distribution of the test statistic is normal. Extensive simulations indicate that our test procedure, with or without missing data, maintains the nominal Type I error rate in all simulation settings. On the contrary, the standard procedures (the F‐test of PROC GLM in SAS, and the ML and REML methods of PROC MIXED in SAS), as well as the exact F‐test of Khuri, Mathew, and Sinha (1998 in Statistical Tests for Mixed Linear Models), are extremely liberal in heteroscedastic settings, while under homoscedasticity and normality, the proposed test procedure is comparable to them. An analysis of a dataset from the Mussel Watch Project is presented.
Increasing trend of acute hepatitis A in north India: Need for identification of high‐risk population for vaccination

Background and Aims: Hepatitis A (HAV) is endemic in India and most of the population is infected asymptomatically in early childhood with lifelong immunity. Because of altered epidemiology and decreasing endemicity, the pattern of acute HAV infection is changing from asymptomatic childhood infection to an increased incidence of symptomatic disease in the 18–40 age group. The aims of the present study were to assess whether the proportion of adults with acute HAV infection has been increasing over the years and to analyze the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti‐HAV antibodies in young adults above the age of 15 years as well as in cases of chronic liver disease.
Analysis of sitting forces on stationary chairs for daily activities

Abstract No literature related to the study of sitting forces on chairs sat on by people who weighed over 136 kg was found. The Business Institutional Furniture Manufactures Association needs force data for development of performance test standards to test chairs for users who weigh up to 181 kg. 20 participants who weighed from 136 to 186 kg completed 6 tasks on an instrumented chair in the sequence of sitting down, remaining seated and rising. Effects of sitting motion, armrest use and seat cushion thickness on vertical sitting forces and centre-of-force were investigated. Results indicated hard sitting down yielded the highest sitting force of 213% in terms of participants’ body weights. Armrest use affected sitting forces of normal sitting down, but not of rising and hard sitting down. Cushion thickness affected sitting forces of normal and hard sitting down and shifting, but not of rising, static seating or stretching backward situations. Practitioner Summary: Results of the sitting force and centre-of-force data obtained for this research can help furniture manufacturers develop new product performance test standards for creating reliable engineering design and manufacturing quality and durable products to meet a niche market need.
Tumorigenicity of adenovirus-transformed rodent cells is influenced by at least two regions of adenovirus type 12 early region 1A

Chimeric adenovirus type 5 (Ad5)/Ad12 early region 1A (E1A) genes were used to transform primary baby rat kidney cells in cooperation with Ad12 E1B, and the resulting cell lines were assayed for tumorigenicity in syngeneic rats. It was found that lines were nontumorigenic when transformed by hybrid E1A genes consisting of the amino-terminal 80 amino acids from Ad12 including conserved region 1 (CR1), with the remaining portion from Ad5. In contrast, cell lines transformed by hybrids containing Ad12 E1A sequences from the amino terminus to the leftmost border of CR3 or beyond were tumorigenic. To extend these results, sequences spanning CR2 and CR3 of Ad5 E1A were replaced with the homologous regions of Ad12 E1A and additional transformed cell lines were established. These lines were weakly-to-moderately tumorigenic, suggesting that Ad12 E1A sequences between CR2 and CR3 may be involved in tumorigenicity but are not the sole factors influencing it. Interestingly, examination of an E1A sequence alignment indicated that the region between CR2 and CR3 of Ad12 E1A is also conserved in the corresponding sequence of simian adenovirus type 7, which, like Ad12, is highly oncogenic. This region is characterized by the presence of a stretch of several alanine residues and is similar to a motif present in a number of proteins with transcriptional repression activity. The possibility that this region may influence tumorigenicity by means of a transcriptional regulatory mechanism is discussed.
Closing the loop on platinum from catalytic converters: Contributions from material flow analysis and circularity indicators

In this study, material flow analysis (MFA) is applied to quantify and reduce the obstacles for advancing a circular economy (CE) of platinum (Pt) from catalytic converters (CC) in Europe. First, the value chain and related stakeholders are mapped out in an MFA‐like model to both facilitate the assessment of stocks and flows, and get a comprehensive view of potential action levers and resources to close‐the‐loop. Then, through the cross analysis of numerous data sources, two MFA are completed: (i) one general MFA, and (ii) one sector‐specific MFA, drawing a distinction between the fate of Pt from (a) light‐duty vehicles, under the European Union's End of Life Vehicle Directive 2000/EC/53, and (b) heavy‐duty and off‐road vehicles. Key findings reveal a leakage of around 15 tons of Pt outside the European market in 2017. Although approximately one quarter of the losses are due to in‐use dissipation, 65% are attributed to insufficient collection and unregulated exports. Comparing the environmental impact between primary and secondary production, it has been estimated that halving the leakage of Pt during usage and collection could prevent the energetic consumption of 1.3 × 103 TJ and the greenhouse gases emission of 2.5 × 102 kt CO2 eq. Through the lens of circularity indicators, activating appropriate action levers to enhance the CE performance of Pt in Europe is of utmost importance in order to secure future production of new generations of CC and fuel cells. Moreover, the growing stockpile of Pt from CC in use indicates the need for better collection mechanisms. Also, the CC attrition during use and associated Pt emissions in the environment appears non‐negligible. Based on the scarce and dated publications in this regard, we encourage further research for a sound understanding of this phenomenon that can negatively impact human health.
Entrepreneurial orientation and SME international performance: The mediating role of networking capability and experiential learning

This article extends knowledge of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) by examining EO in the context of international performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We enhance understanding of foreign market entry of SMEs by taking into account the mediating mechanisms (i.e. networking capability and experiential learning) through which firm EO leads to superior performance across borders. A sample of 164 internationalising SMEs in New Zealand supported the direct impact of EO on international performance as well as the mediating role of experiential learning and networking capability in this focal relationship. These findings reveal the importance of EO in internationalisation of SMEs.
Three R2R3-MYB Transcription Factors Regulate Distinct Floral Pigmentation Patterning in Phalaenopsis spp.1[OPEN]

Three R2R3-MYB transcription factors regulate floral pigmentation in Phalaenopsis spp. for diverse floral color patterns. Orchidaceae are well known for their fascinating floral morphologic features, specialized pollination, and distinctive ecological strategies. With their long-lasting flowers of various colors and pigmentation patterning, Phalaenopsis spp. have become important ornamental plants worldwide. In this study, we identified three R2R3-MYB transcription factors PeMYB2, PeMYB11, and PeMYB12. Their expression profiles were concomitant with red color formation in Phalaenopsis spp. flowers. Transient assay of overexpression of three PeMYBs verified that PeMYB2 resulted in anthocyanin accumulation, and these PeMYBs could activate the expression of three downstream structural genes Phalaenopsis spp. Flavanone 3-hydroxylase5, Phalaenopsis spp. Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase1, and Phalaenopsis spp. Anthocyanidin synthase3. In addition, these three PeMYBs participated in the distinct pigmentation patterning in a single flower, which was revealed by virus-induced gene silencing. In the sepals/petals, silencing of PeMYB2, PeMYB11, and PeMYB12 resulted in the loss of the full-red pigmentation, red spots, and venation patterns, respectively. Moreover, different pigmentation patterning was regulated by PeMYBs in the sepals/petals and lip. PeMYB11 was responsive to the red spots in the callus of the lip, and PeMYB12 participated in the full pigmentation in the central lobe of the lip. The differential pigmentation patterning was validated by RNA in situ hybridization. Additional assessment was performed in six Phalaenopsis spp. cultivars with different color patterns. The combined expression of these three PeMYBs in different ratios leads to a wealth of complicated floral pigmentation patterning in Phalaenopsis spp.
A high level of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor selectivity is associated with a reduced interference of platelet cyclooxygenase-1 inactivation by aspirin

Both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, and the prototypical selective cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2 inhibitors DuP-697 and NS-398 block the inhibition of Cox-1 by aspirin in vitro. However, clinical studies have shown that the Cox-2 selective drugs (or coxibs) rofecoxib and etoricoxib, at therapeutic doses, do not interfere with the antiplatelet effect of aspirin, in contrast to ibuprofen. Here, we have evaluated the relative potential of ibuprofen and various coxibs to interfere with the inactivation of Cox-1 by aspirin by using purified enzyme and calcium ionophore-activated human platelets. The irreversible inactivation of Cox-1 by aspirin can be antagonized by ibuprofen and coxibs, albeit with widely different potencies. The rank order of potencies for this process (ibuprofen > celecoxib > valdecoxib > rofecoxib > etoricoxib) parallels that obtained for the inhibition of Cox-1-mediated thromboxane B2 production by calcium ionophore-stimulated platelets. The antagonism of aspirin therefore likely involves a competition at the enzyme active site. The EC50 value for the antagonism against 10 μM aspirin for each drug is ≈10- to 40-fold lower than the corresponding IC50 value for inhibition of platelet Cox-1 activity, consistent with the much weaker initial binding of aspirin to Cox-1 as compared with arachidonic acid. These results show that a low affinity for Cox-1 and a high degree of Cox-2 selectivity confers a low potential to block aspirin inhibition of platelet Cox-1, consistent with the results of clinical studies.
Assessment of Repayment Performance of Agriculture Credit by Farm Households across Rural Urban Interface of North of Bengaluru

The study was undertaken in North of Bengaluru to Assess the Repayment performance and factors affecting repayment capacity of agriculture credit by farm households across rural urban interface. The required primary data was collected from randomly selected 50 farmers each under rural, peri-urban and urban transacts. The results revealed that the farmers availed more credit from formal sources compared to informal sources across all transacts. Repayment was more in urban areas (50.36 %) compared to periurban (43.05 %) and rural (34.52 %) areas. The farmers were categorized based on the extent of repayment across rural urban interface and the results indicated that, 42 per cent of rural farmers, 40 per cent of peri urban and 34 per cent of urban farmers fall under the category of 75 to 100 per cent repayment. Low price, crop loss and higher household expenditure occupied the major reasons for indebtedness of farm households in all the three transacts. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to know the factors affecting repayment capacity and regression results showed that Amount borrowed and interest rate were the factors which significantly affected the repayment capacity of farm households.
Expectations-Based Loss Aversion in Common-Value Auctions: Extensive vs. Intensive Risk

We analyze the behavior of expectations-based loss-averse bidders in frist-price and second-price common-value auctions. Highlighting the distinction between the uncertainty bidders face over whether they win the auction (extensive risk) and that over the value of the prize conditional on winning (intensive risk), we show that loss-averse bidders react differently to these different kinds of risk. In particular, the intensive risk pushes bidders to behave less aggressively in a common-value environment compared to one with private values. Yet, despite this "precautionary biddinging" effect, in equilibrium bidders can be exposed to the "winner's curse". We consider two alternative specifcations for how bidders assess outcomes as either gains or losses. Under narrow bracketing, bidders experience gains and losses separately over whether they receive the prize and how much they pay. Under broad bracketing, instead, bidders assess gains and losses over their net surplus. With narrow bracketing, first-price auctions expose bidders to less intensive risk and yield a higher expected revenue than second-price auctions, while the opposite result might hold with broad bracketing.
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa quinolone signal molecule overcomes the cell density‐dependency of the quorum sensing hierarchy, regulates rhl‐dependent genes at the onset of stationary phase and can be produced in the absence of LasR

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, diverse exoproduct virulence determinants are regulated via N‐acylhomoserine lactone‐dependent quorum sensing. Here we show that 2‐heptyl‐3‐hydroxy‐4(1H)‐quinolone (PQS) is also an integral component of the quorum sensing circuitry and is required for the production of rhl‐dependent exoproducts at the onset of stationary phase. Analysis of spent P. aeruginosa culture supernatants revealed that PQS is produced at the end of exponential phase in the parent strain and in the late stationary phase of a lasR mutant. Mutants defective in both PQS production (pqsR‐) and response (pqsE‐) produced substantially reduced levels of exoproducts but retained wild‐type N‐butanoyl homoserine lactone (C4‐HSL) levels. In the wild type, provision of exogenous PQS at the time of inoculation significantly increased PA‐IL lectin, pyocyanin and elastase production during early stationary phase and promoted biofilm formation. Exogenous PQS but not PQS derivatives lacking the 3‐hydroxy group overcame the cell density but not growth phase‐dependent production of exoproducts. PQS also overcame the transcriptional and post‐transcriptional repression of lecA (which codes for the PA‐IL lectin) mediated via the negative regulators MvaT and RsmA respectively. Increased expression of lecA in the presence of exogenous PQS can be explained partially by increases in RhlR, RpoS and C4‐HSL levels. A refined model for quorum sensing in P. aeruginosa is presented.
Maternal serum HCG is higher in the presence of a female fetus as early as week 3 post-fertilization.

BACKGROUND Maternal serum HCG (MSHCG) is higher when the fetus is a female than when it is male. This has been demonstrated in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, and recently at 10-14 weeks gestation. In this study we assessed whether this gender-related difference can be detected as early as week 3 post-fertilization. METHODS The IVF setting was chosen because it provides precise dating of gestational age and early sonography for the number of gestational sacs. The study included 347 IVF cycles from 335 patients. Only pregnancies with a single implanted embryo that resulted in a single live birth of known gender were included. MSHCG was measured on days 14-20 post-fertilization, and levels were expressed as gestational age-corrected multiples of the median (MoMs). The log10 MSHCG MoMs were compared according to fetal gender. RESULTS MSHCG levels were significantly higher (18.5%) in week 3 post-fertilization in the presence of a female fetus (P < 0.0002). CONCLUSION Because a fetal gender-related difference in MSHCG can be demonstrated as early as week 3 post-fertilization, the difference may be attributed to placental factors and not to the effects of the fetal hypothalamic-hypophyseal-gonadal axis.
Prevalence of abnormal cervical smears among patients with HIV in Lagos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND There are over four million people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Cervical cancer is the most common genital cancer in Nigeria. There are many reports on the association of HIV with increased risk of cervical dysplasia. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of abormal cervical smears in Nigerian women who are HIV positive in Lagos. METHODS Cervical smears were taken from 233 HIV positive women and 235 HIV negative women who attended the HIV clinic and the family planning clinic respectively of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital during the period January-April 2004. Proportions were compared with the X2 test. RESULTS Data were complete for analysis in 227 of HIV positive and 228 of HIV negative women. Mean (SD) ages of HIV positive and HIV negative patients were respectively 35.2 (9.81) and 34.5 (7.37) years. Prevalence of squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) was higher in those who were HIV positive than in those who were HIV negative, 10.9% vs 4.3% (X2, 7.04; p=0.00798). Prevalence of high grade SIL was higher in HIV positive than HIV negative subjects, 7.9% vs 2.6% (X2, 6.38; p=0.0115). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of inflammatory smears, 15.7% in HIV positive vs 16.2% in HIV negative. CONCLUSION Prevalence of cervical dysplasia is high in women who harbour HIV.
Gender Differences in the Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Status: Systematic Review of 51 Publications

Background/Aims: Sex hormones may influence the activity of enzymes which are involved in the synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The objective of this review was to assess the role of gender in determining the fatty acid composition of human samples, like plasma and erythrocyte membrane lipids, and adipose tissue. Methods: The method included a structured search strategy on MEDLINE, Scopus and the Cochrane databases, with formal inclusion/exclusion criteria, data extraction procedure and meta-analysis. Results: We evaluated 51 publications, dated from 1975 to 2011. Meta-analysis showed significantly lower values of both arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in total plasma lipids (32 and 33 studies) and in plasma phospholipids (PL; 21 and 23 studies) in men than in women. Primary analysis of the phospholipid fraction showed the mean difference in AA to be 0.42% weight/weight (95% CI: 0.18–0.65, n = 7,769) and in DHA 0.37% weight/weight (95% CI: 0.24–0.51, n = 8,541), while there was no gender difference in the values of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid. Conclusions: This systematic review based on 51 publications showed significantly lower contribution of AA and DHA to plasma total lipids and plasma PL in men than in women. Gender distribution should be regarded as a significant potential confounding factor in every study assessing data on fatty acid composition.
Developmental expression patterns of the zebrafish small heat shock proteins

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs), or α‐crystallins, are low‐molecular weight proteins found in every kingdom and nearly every species examined to date. Many, if not all, sHSPs act as molecular chaperones. Several also have functions independent of their chaperone activity, and at least a few are expressed in specific spatiotemporal patterns during embryonic and/or juvenile stages, suggesting specific roles during development. To date, however, no one has systematically characterized the expression patterns of all of the sHSPs during development in any organism. We have characterized the normal heat shock‐induced expression patterns of all 13 zebrafish sHSPs during development. Seven of the sHSPs are expressed in a tissue‐specific manner during development, and five are upregulated by heat shock. The results of these studies provide a foundation for analysis of sHSP function during normal development and their roles in protecting cells from the effects environmental stressors. Developmental Dynamics 237:454–463, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relationship between prognosis and neutrophil: lymphocyte and platelet:lymphocyte ratios in patients with malignant pleural mesotheliomas.

BACKGROUND It has been demonstrated that neutrophil:lymphocyte (NLR) and platelet:lymphocyte (PLR) ratios are associated with prognosis in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pretreatment white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, platelet, basophil and eosinophil counts, LDH level, NLR and PLR are associated with prognosis in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed files of 50 patients who were managed with a diagnosis of MPM between 2005 and 2010. Demographic and clinical characteristics, treatments, response to treatment and prognostic factors were evaluated, along with relationships between pretreatment blood parameters and prognosis. RESULTS Overall, 38 men and 12 women were included to the study. Mean age was 61.5±9.4 years (range: 39-83 years). There was advanced disease in 86% (n=43) and the histological type was epithelial mesothelioma in the majority (82%). Of the cases, 17 (34%) received radiotherapy, while 42 cases underwent first- and second-line chemotherapy, with cisplatin plus pemetrexed as the most commonly used regimen. In the assessment after therapy, it was found that there was complete response in 4 cases (8%), partial response in 10 cases (20%), stable disease in 17 cases (34%) and progression in 19 cases (38%). Median follow-up was 10 months (range: 10 day-30 months). Median overall survival was found to be 20.7 months while median progression-free survival as 10 months. In univariate and multivariate analyses, it was found that factors significantly affecting overall survival included stage (p=0.030), response to treatment (p=0.026) and monocyte count (p=0.004), while factors affecting disease-free survival included NLR (p=0.018), response to treatment (p=0.001), and PLR score (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS Overall and disease-free survival was found to be better in cases with a WBC count<8.000, platelet count<300,000, and low NLR and PLR scores in malignant pleural mesothelioma.