Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TWO OR MORE DEXAMETHASONE INTRAVITREAL IMPLANT INJECTIONS FOR TREATMENT OF MACULAR EDEMA RELATED TO RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION (SHASTA STUDY)

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and reinjection interval of dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX implant) in branch retinal vein occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion patients receiving ≥2 DEX implant treatments. Methods: Multicenter (26-site), retrospective chart review study. Data were collected from baseline (at first DEX implant) through 3 months to 6 months after last DEX implant. Results: Patients (n = 289) received 2 to 9 (mean, 3.2) DEX implants as monotherapy (29.1% of patients) or with adjunctive treatments/procedures. Mean duration of macular edema before first DEX implant was 18.4 months. Mean reinjection interval was 5.6 months. Mean peak change in best-corrected visual acuity from baseline through 4 weeks to 20 weeks after final DEX implant was +1.0 line (P < 0.001). Best-corrected visual acuity and central retinal thickness improved significantly from baseline after each of the first 6 DEX implant injections (P ⩽ 0.037); 59.7% of branch retinal vein occlusion and 66.7% of central retinal vein occlusion patients achieved ≥2-line best-corrected visual acuity improvement. Intraocular pressure increase (≥10 mmHg) occurred in 32.6% of patients; 29.1% used intraocular pressure-lowering medication to treat increases associated with DEX implant. Only 1.7% of patients required incisional glaucoma surgery. Conclusion: Retinal vein occlusion patients treated with multiple DEX implant injections, either alone or combined with other therapies, had improved central retinal thickness and visual acuity with each subsequent injection. No new safety concerns developed with multiple implants.
The eggshell in the C. elegans oocyte‐to‐embryo transition

In egg‐laying animals, embryonic development takes place within the highly specialized environment provided by the eggshell and its underlying extracellular matrix. Far from being simply a passive physical support, the eggshell is a key player in many early developmental events. Herein, we review current understanding of eggshell structure, biosynthesis, and function in zygotic development of the nematode, C. elegans. Beginning at sperm contact or entry, eggshell layers are produced sequentially. The earlier outer layers are required for secretion or organization of inner layers, and layers differ in composition and function. Developmental events that depend on the eggshell include polyspermy barrier generation, high fidelity meiotic chromosome segregation, osmotic barrier synthesis, polar body extrusion, anterior–posterior polarization, and organization of membrane and cortical proteins. The C. elegans eggshell is proving to be an excellent, tractable system to study the molecular cues of the extracellular matrix that instruct cell polarity and early development. genesis 50:333–349, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Crying Tapir: The Functionality of Errors and Accuracy in Predator Recognition in Two Neotropical High-Canopy Primates

Predation is often considered to be a prime driver in primate evolution, but, as predation is rarely observed in nature, little is known of primate antipredator responses. Time-limited primates should be highly discerning when responding to predators, since time spent in vigilance and avoidance behaviour may supplant other activities. We present data from two independent studies describing and quantifying the frequency, nature and duration of predator-linked behaviours in 2 high-canopy primates, Ateles belzebuth and Cacajao ouakary. We introduce the concept of ‘pseudopredators' (harmless species whose appearance is sufficiently similar to that of predators to elicit antipredator responses) and predict that changes in behaviour should increase with risk posed by a perceived predator. We studied primate group encounters with non-primate vertebrates across 14 (Ateles) and 19 (Cacajao) months in 2 undisturbed Amazonian forests. Although preliminary, data on both primates revealed that they distinguished the potential predation capacities of other species, as predicted. They appeared to differentiate predators from non-predators and distinguished when potential predators were not an immediate threat, although they reacted erroneously to pseudopredators, on average in about 20% of the responses given toward other vertebrates. Reacting to pseudopredators would be interesting since, in predation, one error can be fatal to the prey.
Labour market forecasting : is disaggregation useful?

"Using the example of short-term forecasts for German employment figures, the article at hand examines the question whether the use of disaggregated information increases the forecast accuracy of the aggregate. For this purpose, the out-of-sample forecasts for the aggregated employment forecast are compared to and contrasted with forecasts based on a vector-autoregressive model, which includes not only the aggregate but also the numbers of gainfully employed people at the industry level. The Clark/West test is used in the model comparison. It becomes evident that disaggregation significantly improves the employment forecast. Moreover, fluctuation- window tests help identify the phases during which disaggregation increases forecast accuracy to the strongest extent. " (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Macroeconomic News Announcements, Systemic Risk, Financial Market Volatility and Jumps

This paper studies financial market volatility and jump responses to macroeconomic news announcements. Based on two decades of high-frequency data, we finds that there are significantly more jumps on news days than on no-news days, with the bond market being more responsive than the equity market, and nonfarm payroll employment being the most influential news. Both the first moment of news surprises and the second moments of disagreement and uncertainty affect financial market responses, with their impact significance changing over different market and response types. Market responses to news vary with economic situations, financial systemic risk and the zero-lower-bound policy.
Firm Risk and Disclosures About Dispersion of Asset Values: Evidence from Oil and Gas Reserves

The question we address is whether mandated disclosure about dispersion of nonfinancial asset values can provide information relevant to assessing firm risk. Using a sample of Canadian oil and gas (O&G) firms between 2004 and 2011, we find that the difference between the disclosed 10th and 50th percentiles from the O&G reserves distribution, which measures dispersion of the distribution, is positively associated with future total and idiosyncratic equity return volatility, systematic risk, and credit risk. We also find that disclosure of increased reserves dispersion is associated with weaker stock price reactions to increases in reserves and with increases in bid-ask spreads, both of which indicate the disclosures convey information about risk associated with reserves. Additional tests reveal little evidence of managerial opportunism in the reserves disclosures. Taken together, our evidence suggests that quantitative disclosures about the dispersion of nonfinancial asset values can provide information relevant to assessing firm risk.
Hepcidin: A useful marker in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the levels of hepcidin in the serum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: In the study, 74 male patients (ages 45-75) in a stable period for COPD were grouped as Group I: Mild COPD (n:25), Group II: Moderate COPD (n:24), and Group III: Severe COPD (n:25). Healthy non-smoker males were included in Group IV (n:35) as a control group. The differences of hepcidin level among all the groups were examined. Also, in the patient groups with COPD, hepcidin level was compared with age, body mass index, cigarette (package/year), blood parameters (iron, total iron binding capacity, ferritin, hemoglobin, hematocrit [hct]), respiratory function tests, and arterial blood gas results. RESULTS: Although there was no difference between the healthy control group and the mild COPD patient group (P=0.781) in terms of hepcidin level, there was a difference between the moderate (P=0.004) and the severe COPD patient groups (P=0.002). The hepcidin level of the control group was found to be higher than the moderate and severe COPD patient groups. In the severe COPD patients, hepcidin level increased with the increase in serum iron (P=0.000), hct (P=0.009), ferritin levels (P=0.012), and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: The serum hepcidin level that is decreased in severe COPD brings into mind that it may play a role in the mechanism to prevent hypoxemia. The results suggest that serum hepcidin level may be a useful marker in COPD. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings between hepcidin and COPD.
Orthostatic hypotension and long‐term incidence of atrial fibrillation: the malmö preventive project

Abstract. Fedorowski A, Hedblad B, Engström G, Gustav Smith J, Melander O (Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö; and Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden). Orthostatic hypotension and long‐term incidence of atrial fibrillation: the Malmö Preventive Project. J Intern Med 2010; 268: 383–389.
Secretion of methanol-insoluble heat-stable enterotoxin (STB): energy- and secA-dependent conversion of pre-STB to an intermediate indistinguishable from the extracellular toxin

The methanol-insoluble, heat-stable enterotoxin of Escherichia coli synthesized by clinical strains or strains that harbor the cloned gene was shown to be an extracellular polypeptide. The toxin (STB) was first detected as an 8,100-Mr precursor (pre-STB) that was converted to a transiently cell-associated 5,200-Mr form. Proteolytic conversion of pre-STB to STB was shown to be inhibited by the proton motive force uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and did not occur in a secA background. After STB was detected as a cell-associated molecule, an extracellular form with identical electrophoretic mobility became apparent. The results suggest that there is no proteolytic processing during the mobilization of STB from the periplasm to the culture supernatant. The determined amino acid sequence of STB coincides fully with the 48 carboxy-terminal amino acids inferred from the DNA sequence. The 23 amino-terminal residues inferred from the DNA sequence were absent in the mature toxin.
Gender Norms and Access to Extension Services and Training among Potato Farmers in Dedza and Ntcheu in Malawi

Abstract Purpose: This paper explores the interaction between extension services and gender relations in order to suggest ways and strategies that can be useful in ensuring that extension services are gender-equitable and empowering for women. Design/Methodology/Approach:In total, 35 sex-disaggregated focus group discussions with farmers, and 4 interviews with extension officers were conducted in Dedza and Ntcheu districts. Data on the type of training offered, training participants recruitment methods, as well as data on barriers to and opportunities for training were collected. A social relations approach, focusing on gender relations, was used to analyse the data. Findings:Underlying gender norms and cultural norms mediate access to information. For instance, some men regard themselves as representatives of their households during training and, to some extent, extension officers reinforce these views by using biased training recruitment methods. Gender norms related to household decision-making impact on the ability of women to access training opportunities. Practical implications: Agricultural extension should not be a purely technical programme focusing only on good agricultural practices. It should also embed modules aimed at addressing social practices that disadvantage some people, particularly women, as well as adopt gender sensitive recruitment methods that do not rely on male-biased recruitment channels. Originality/Value:The social relations approach used, focusing on gender relations, is aimed at trying to come up with the conditions necessary for agricultural training to be empowering for women. This paper is therefore of interest to extension agents and other development practitioners interested in women’s empowerment and the transformation of gender relations.
Cash for childcare schemes in the Nordic welfare states: diverse paths, diverse outcomes

ABSTRACT Recent family policy developments may blur conventional family policy typologies. While policies in some European welfare states are shifting away from strong male breadwinner regimes towards work–family reconciliation, the adding of cash for childcare (CFC) benefits in Nordic earner-carer welfare states points in the opposite direction. How can we understand growing family policy hybridisation? Comparison of CFC schemes in the five Nordic countries is the empirical basis of the discussion here – what does the insertion of such a familistic policy measure actually mean? The analysis displays diverse national policy processes and policy outputs and wide variation in parents’ responses to this policy incentive. Reforms have been subject to conflicts and amendments to different degrees, and impact has been shaped by their institution at different times distinguished by mothers’ varying access to childcare services and labour markets. We conclude that conceptualisation of CFC schemes needs to be contextualised in relation to political dynamisms and opportunity structures.
Low back pain (chronic).

INTRODUCTION Over 70% of people in resource-rich countries develop low back pain (LBP) at some time. But recovery is not always favourable: 82% of non-recent-onset patients still experience pain one year later. Many chronic patients who were initially told that their natural history was good spend months or years seeking relief. METHODS AND OUTCOMES We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of oral drug treatments? What are the effects of injection therapy? What are the effects of non-drug treatments? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to May 2007 (BMJ Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). RESULTS We found 74 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions. CONCLUSIONS In this systematic review, we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: acupuncture, analgesics, antidepressants, back schools, behavioural therapy, electromyographic biofeedback, exercise, injections (epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, local injections), intensive multidisciplinary treatment programmes, lumbar supports, massage, muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), spinal manipulative therapy, traction, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
HIV Sexual Risk Behavior Over 36 Months of Follow-Up in the World's First HIV Vaccine Efficacy Trial

Increased risk behavior among participants in HIV vaccine efficacy trials has been a concern. This study evaluated HIV sexual risk behavior among 5095 HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) and 308 women enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy trial of a bivalent rgp120 vaccine at 61 sites, primarily in North America. Sexual risk behavior data were collected at baseline and semiannually for 36 months. Overall, sexual risk behavior did not exceed baseline levels during the trial. Among MSM, younger age (≤30 years), perceived assignment to vaccine, and nonblack race were associated with an increased probability of unprotected anal sex. Among women, unprotected vaginal sex initially decreased but was statistically equivalent to baseline by 24 months, whereas unprotected vaginal sex with HIV-infected partners decreased from baseline, where it remained throughout the trial. HIV sexual risk behavior did not increase among trial participants; however, it was substantial throughout the trial. Consistently high levels of risk behavior and the association of these behaviors to perceived assignment and demographic variables underscore the need for vigilant HIV risk reduction counseling, informed consent, and educational processes in the context of HIV vaccine efficacy trials.
Isolation of Wolinella recta and Actinomyces viscosus from an actinomycotic chest wall mass

In this Note we describe a patient with an actinomycotic chest wall mass from which large numbers of Wolinella recta and Actinomyces viscosus organisms were isolated. This is the first reported association of W. recta with extraoral infection and the tenth report of lung infection by A. viscosus.
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors: Electrophysiological Properties and Role in Plasticity

The metabolic glutamate receptor (mGlui receptor) is a phosphoinositide linked receptor. The present review shows that activation of the receptor by agonists, especially ί-ACPD, has a very diverse range of electrophysiological effects. These include depolarization and consequent increased frequency of spiking, inhibition of the potassium currents Ικ(Μ) and Ικ (ΑΗΡ) and consequent suppression of accommodation of spike firing, inhibition of a K + leak conductance, inhibition of a high-voltage activated Ca + current, activation of lK,Ca (C), activation of a non-specific cation current, enhancement of NMDA responses, activation of membrane potential oscillations, activations of a slow excitatory postsynaptic potential and inhibition of both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic potentials via presynaptic receptors. In the great majority of these studies, AP3 and AP4 were not antagonists of the receptor mediated actions. The review also describes the evidence for the involvement of the mGlu receptor in plastic processes of the brain. mGlu receptor activation appears to be essential for the induction of two types of long-term potentiation occurring in CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus, and also for induction of long-term depression in the cerebellum. The mGlu receptors may also be critically involved in visual plasticity during development. Four subtypes of the metabotropic receptor family are recognized, mGluRi^t (TINS Receptor Nomenclature Supplement, 1992). The best known member of the family is mGluRi, which was first identified in a study /96/ in which it was demonstrated that glutamate and quisqualate potently stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in cultured striatal neurons. Such a linking of a glutamate receptor subtype to phosphoinositide hydrolysis was rapidly confirmed in brain slices /81, 82/, and later in a variety of neurons and glial cells, extensively reviewed in /93/. The mGluRi, which has now been cloned by two groups /44, 72/ is characterized as a G-protein linked receptor coupled to the phosphoinositide second messenger system which upon hydrolysis leads to the formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (EP3) and diacylglycerol. IP3 binds to IP3 receptors located on intracellular Ca storage systems leading to the release of Ca from such stores. The pharmacology of the mGlu receptor has been reviewed in detail /93/. Quisqualate, ibotenate and transl-amino-cyclopentyl-l,3-dicarboxylic acid (tACPD) are the most common agonists known to activate the mGlui receptor. 1S,3R-ACPD is the most selective agonist identified at the mGlu receptor, with ECso values of 9.7-100 μΜ, and only binding to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), a amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid (AMPA) and kainate receptors at high concentrations (see Table 1, /93/). Quisqualate is the most potent agonist in stimulating phosphoinositide hydrolysis (EC50 values 0.033-50 μΜ), but is also a potent agonist at the AMPA receptor. Ibotenate is less potent at the mGlu receptor (EC50 = 4-200μΜ), and is also non-selective.
Molecular characterization of a 6.6-kilodalton Borrelia burgdorferi outer membrane-associated lipoprotein (lp6.6) which appears to be downregulated during mammalian infection

Isolated outer membranes of Borrelia burgdorferi 297 were utilized to obtain partial amino acid sequence information for a low-molecular-weight, outer membrane-associated polypeptide. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers based upon this information were used to amplify a 100-bp probe for detection of the corresponding full-length gene within a B. burgdorferi total genomic library. The relevant open reading frame (ORF) encoded a polypeptide comprised of a 17-amino-acid putative signal peptide terminated by LFVAC, a probable consensus sequence for lipoprotein modification, and a mature protein of 51 amino acids (predicted molecular mass of 5.8 kDa). The DNA sequences of the corresponding ORFs in B. burgdorferi 297 and B31 were identical; the corresponding ORF in strain N40 differed by only one nucleotide. Assuming conventional processing and acylation, the molecular weight of the lipoprotein, designated lp6.6, is about 6,600. The lp6.6 gene, which was localized to the 49-kb linear plasmid of B. burgdorferi, subsequently was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase. Immunoblot analysis with monoclonal antibody 240.7 revealed that lp6.6 was identical to a low-molecular-weight, highly conserved B. burgdorferi lipoprotein reported previously (L. I. Katona, G. Beck, and G. S. Habicht, Infect. Immun. 60:4995-5003, 1992). Results of indirect immunofluorescence assays, growth inhibition assays, passive immunizations, and active immunizations indicated that this outer membrane-associated antigen is not surface exposed in B. burgdorferi. Particularly interesting was the finding that mice and rhesus monkeys chronically infected with B. burgdorferi failed to develop antibodies against this antigen. We propose that high-level expression of lp6.6 is associated with the arthropod phase of the spirochetal life cycle and that expression of the gene is downregulated during mammalian infection.
Performance evaluation of the Extended Kalman Filter and Unscented Kalman Filter

The Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) are methods usually applied in the sensor fusion for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles due to its nonlinear navigation equations. This paper presents a comparison between the two filters considering the position, velocity and attitude of the vehicle and the IMU bias. The simulation experiments are designed according to performance evaluation techniques for two trajectories and different state vectors. The results show that the EKF has a lower computational cost than UKF, but the latter provides smaller errors for most of the states. It also show that the bias estimation influences positively the solution granted by the EKF.