Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bayesian approach to average power calculations for binary regression models with misclassified outcomes

We develop a simulation‐based procedure for determining the required sample size in binomial regression risk assessment studies when response data are subject to misclassification. A Bayesian average power criterion is used to determine a sample size that provides high probability, averaged over the distribution of potential future data sets, of correctly establishing the direction of association between predictor variables and the probability of event occurrence. The method is broadly applicable to any parametric binomial regression model including, but not limited to, the popular logistic, probit, and complementary log–log models. We detail a common medical scenario wherein ascertainment of true disease status is impractical or otherwise impeded, and in its place the outcome of a single binary diagnostic test is used as a surrogate. These methods are then extended to the two diagnostic test setting. We illustrate the method with categorical covariates using one example that involves screening for human papillomavirus. This example coupled with results from simulated data highlights the utility of our Bayesian sample size procedure with error prone measurements. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Skill Structure of Export Wage Premium: Evidence from Chinese Matched Employer–Employee Data

We study how the wage gap between exporting and non-exporting firms (export wage premium) differs across skill groups, using unique matched employer–employee data from China. We find robust evidence that exporters pay relatively higher wages than non-exporters to more educated workers. The differences in export wage premium across education groups are sizable. Further investigations show that the positive correlation between export wage premium and education is more pronounced in sectors with higher scope for quality differentiation. This is consistent with the theory that exporters produce relatively higher quality goods which require relatively higher quality skilled workers.
Heat-Shock Protein and C-fos Expression in Focal Microvascular Brain Damage

Cortical brain damage was produced in rats by a focal pulse from a Nd-YAG laser, and evolution of the lesion was evaluated at 30 min, and 2, 8, and 24 h with respect to microvascular perfusion, blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and expression of both the heat-shock/stress protein, hsp72, and the c-fos proto-oncogene transcription factor. A double-labeling fluorescence technique employing intravenously injected Evans blue albumin (EBA) and fluorescein-labeled dextran was used to map and measure BBB damage and microvascular perfusion in fresh frozen brain sections. Hsp72 and c-fos mRNAs were localized by in situ hybridization, and the respective proteins were identified by immunocytochemistry. Parallel sections were stained for glial fibrillary acidic protein and for routine histologic examination. Striking hsp72 mRNA expression was evident by 2 h in an ∼300 μm wide rim surrounding an area of expanding BBB damage. Increased hsp72 mRNA was observed only in regions of preserved microcirculation, where the hsp72 protein was subsequently localized exclusively in the vasculature at 24 h after the insult. Hsp72-positive endothelial cells spanned the narrow margin between the lesion and histologically normal, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cortical tissue. There was no hsp72 expression in the area of subcortically migrating edema fluid. Inductions of c-fos mRNA and Fos protein were not strikingly evident around the focal brain lesion, but were observed transiently throughout the injured hemisphere at 30 min and 2.5 h, respectively, indicating that spreading depression was triggered by the focal injury. These results are in striking contrast to those previously obtained from studies of models of focal ischemic or traumatic brain injury, which are characterized by a complex pattern of glial and neuronal hsp72 expression in the periphery of an infarct, and which suggest that the tightly demarcated lesion produced by the Nd-YAG laser lacks these components of graded injury that are evident following other types of focal brain damage.
Pharmaceutical Expenditure And Policies: Past Trends And Future Challenges

Across OECD countries, pharmaceutical spending reached around USD 800 billion in 2013, accounting for about 20% of total health spending on average when pharmaceutical consumption in hospital is added to the purchase of pharmaceutical drugs in the retail sector. This paper looks at recent trends in pharmaceutical spending across OECD countries. It examines the drivers of recent spending trends, highlighting differences across therapeutic classes. While the consumption of medicines continues to increase and to push pharmaceutical spending up, cost-containment policies and patent expiries of a number of top-selling products have exerted downward pressure on pharmaceutical expenditures in recent years. This resulted in a slower pace of growth over the past decade. The paper then looks at emerging challenges for policy makers in the management of pharmaceutical spending. The proliferation of high-cost specialty medicines will be a major driver of health spending growth in the coming years. While some of these medicines bring great benefits to patients, others provide only marginal improvements. This challenges the efficiency of pharmaceutical spending. Les depenses pharmaceutiques ont atteint environ 800 milliards USD en 2013 dans les pays de l’OCDE, soit environ 20 % en moyenne des depenses de sante totales lorsque l’on ajoute la consommation hospitaliere de produits pharmaceutiques a l’achat de medicaments au detail. Ce document examine les tendances recentes en matiere de depenses pharmaceutiques dans les pays de l’OCDE. Il examine les determinants de l’evolution recente des depenses, en soulignant les differences entre les classes de medicaments. Alors que la consommation de medicaments continue d’augmenter et de pousser a la hausse les depenses pharmaceutiques, les politiques de maitrise des couts et l'expiration des brevets d'un certain nombre de produits les plus vendus ont exerce une pression a la baisse sur ces depenses au cours des dernieres annees. Cela a entraine un ralentissement de la croissance au cours de la derniere decennie. Le document se penche ensuite sur les defis emergents pour les decideurs politiques en ce qui concerne la gestion des depenses pharmaceutiques. La proliferation de medicaments de specialite a cout eleve sera un moteur important de la croissance des depenses de sante dans les annees a venir. Alors que certains de ces medicaments apportent de grands avantages aux patients, d'autres ne fournissent que des ameliorations marginales. Cela remet en question l'efficacite des depenses pharmaceutiques.
Gastric Shake Test and Pharyngeal Lecithin/Sphingomyelin Ratios in Newborn Infants

Gastric shake test and pharyngeal lecithin/sphingomyelin ratios were measured in newborn infants with respiratory difficulties, and in low birth weight infants in the immediate neonatal period. Both tests were useful in distinguishing infants with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome from those with respiratory difficulty due to other causes. However, in six infants with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome, the pharyngeal lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio indicated mature lungs, and in three of these, the gastric shake test showed the presence of surfactant. Five of these six infants had been delivered by emergency lower segment caesarean section because of maternal complications, which might account for the discrepancy between the laboratory results and the clinical condition of the patient.
Adrenal development is initiated by Cited2 and Wt1 through modulation of Sf-1 dosage

It has been proposed that the mammalian adrenal cortex and gonad are derived from the same primordium present during early urogenital development. Molecular pathways involved in the differentiation of the adrenal cortex from the adrenogonadal primordium (AGP) have yet to be determined. Here we show in mice that the transcription co-factor Cited2 is required for the specification of the adrenal cortex from the AGP. We present genetic and molecular evidence demonstrating that Cited2 interacts with the transcription factor Wt1 to stimulate expression of the nuclear hormone receptor Sf-1 (Nr5a1) in the AGP prior to the separation between gonad and adrenal cortex. We show a direct correlation between the expression levels of Sf-1 in the AGP and the defects in adrenal development found in mice with different Cited2 and Wt1 mutant backgrounds. Analysis of embryos heterozygous for mutations in both Sf-1 and Cited2 confirmed that these genes act in the same pathway during adrenal development. Our studies reveal a regulatory mechanism in which Cited2 acts as a Wt1 co-factor to increase, at a critical time in embryogenesis, the levels of the essential transcription factor Sf-1 in the AGP above the threshold required to determine adrenal development. These results highlight the importance of transcription factor dosage in organogenesis and the role of transcription co-factors such as Cited2 in determining the levels of these factors.
Lamprey GnRH-III releases luteinizing hormone but not follicle stimulating hormone in pigs.

The effect of exogenous administration of lamprey GnRH-III (IGnRH-III) on gonadotropin secretion was evaluated in pigs. Six crossbred barrows (82.4 ± 3.5 kg body weight) were assigned randomly to a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design to evaluate the effect of 0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 μg/kg body weight of exogenous IGnRH-III on LH and FSH secretion. To facilitate blood collection and infusion of IGnRH-III, barrows were catheterized in the jugular vein 1 day before initiation of experiments. Blood samples were taken at 10-min intervals for 6 h, starting 2 h before treatments were applied. Relative concentrations of LH and FSH were calculated by obtaining the ratio of the average concentration of each hormone 2 h after infusion divided by the average concentration during the 2 h before infusion. Relative concentrations of FSH after IGnRH-III infusion did not influence mean concentration of FSH at any of the doses; yet 10.0 μg/kg body weight had a significant effect on LH secretion (p < 0.01). Relative concentrations of LH averaged 1.2, 1.0 and 3.0 ng/ml (for doses of 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 μg/kg body weight of IGnRH-III respectively). Only a dose of 10 μg/kg body weight elicited a significant LH increase that was associated with exogenous IGnRH-III infusion. We conclude that IGnRH-III is a weak GnRH agonist and at high doses, IGnRH-III has the ability to release LH but not FSH in barrows.
Premenarcheal gymnasts possess higher bone mineral density than controls.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine bone mineral density (BMD), body composition, dietary intake, physical activity, and energy expenditure (EE) in premenarcheal gymnasts (N = 16; age = 10.5 +/- 1.5 yr) in comparison to age- (+/- 0.35 yr), height- (+/- 2.6 cm), and weight- (+/- 1.5 kg) matched controls (N = 16; age = 10.5 +/- 1.3 yr). It was hypothesized that premenarcheal gymnasts would have higher BMD, fat-free soft tissue (FFST) mass, physical activity, and EE, but lower fat mass, percent body fat, and dietary intake than controls. METHODS Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure whole body, femur, and lumbar spine (L1-4) BMD, FFST, and fat mass. Three-day diet records were used to estimate mean daily dietary energy, macronutrient, and calcium intakes. Physical activity and EE were estimated by the Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall. RESULTS The BMD means of the gymnasts were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than controls at all sites, except whole body, as were lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral apparent densities, despite lower protein intake expressed per kg FFST mass. Fat mass was significantly lower in gymnasts versus controls (P < 0.01) as was percent body fat (P < 0.001). Very hard physical activity during weekdays (P < 0.0001) and estimated EE (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in gymnasts compared with controls. CONCLUSION Premenarcheal gymnasts have higher BMD than age-, height-, and weight-matched controls.
Convenience, Satisfaction, and Post-Purchase Behavior in India's Health Insurance Market

ABSTRACT Understanding the antecedents and implications of “service convenience” has acquired added importance with consumers' growing desire for ease during product or service exchange. Although the effects of service convenience, as a first-order construct, on post-purchase behavior have been studied in different business contexts, not much has been done in the case of a second-order construct which has been attempted here. The present study seeks to examine the mediating role of consumers' satisfaction as well as the moderating role of organizational and consumer personal factors that have not been sufficiently explored in the marketing literature. Structural equation analysis is adopted to test the hypothesized relationships using responses from 424 consumers who have purchased health insurance from six leading insurers in India. The findings validated that the service convenience affects consumer satisfaction, which, in turn, plays both a direct and mediating role in influencing consumers' repurchase intention. However, the role of organizational and consumer personal factors as moderators between service convenience and consumers' satisfaction could only be established indirectly through post-hoc analysis, which calls for further research. The results have important implications for planning, designing, and managing the health insurance business.
Comment on "Time modulation of the K-shell electron capture decay rates of H-like heavy ions at GSI experiments".

A Comment on the Letter by A.N. Ivanov and P. Kienle, Physical Review Letters volume 103, Issue 6, 062502 (2009). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply to experimental data at GSI, the rates of the number of daughter ions, produced by the nuclear K shell electron capture decays of the H-like heavy ions with one electron in the K shell, such as {sup 140}Pr{sup 58+}, {sup 142}Pm{sup 60+}, and {sup 122}I{sup 52+}, are modulated in time with periods T{sub EC} of the order of a few seconds, obeying an A scaling T{sub EX}=A/20 s, where A is the mass number of the mother nuclei, and with amplitudes a{sub d {sup EC}}{approx}0.21. We show that these data can be explained in terms of the interference of two massive neutrino mass eigenstates. The appearance of the interference term is due to overlap of massive neutrino mass eigenstate energies and of the wave functions of the daughter ions in two-body decay channels, caused by the energy and momentum uncertainties introduced by time differential detection of the daughter ions in GSI experiments.
Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 inhibition and the metabolic syndrome: considerations for future drug discovery

Purpose of review The metabolic syndrome has become a leading health concern in developed countries. In the search for strategies to combat this growing problem, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) inhibition has been proposed as an attractive therapeutic strategy. However, recent studies warn of potentially harmful consequences of SCD1 inhibition. The purpose of this review is to discuss recent insights into the potential for SCD1 inhibitors as viable metabolic syndrome therapeutics. Recent findings SCD1 converts saturated fatty acids (SFAs) to monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Although SCD1 inhibition protects against diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance, recent studies have demonstrated that the accumulation of SCD1 substrates (SFA) can promote inflammation, atherosclerosis, steatohepatitis, and pancreatic beta cell dysfunction in preclinical rodent models. This suggests SCD1 may play a critical role in suppressing inflammatory diseases by shuttling proinflammatory SFAs into less biologically active MUFA-enriched neutral lipids. Given this, SCD1 inhibitors given in conjunction with anti-inflammatory agents may provide a useful strategy to prevent the metabolic syndrome without deleterious side-effects seen with SCD1 inhibition alone. Summary SCD1 inhibitors continue to hold promise as metabolic syndrome therapeutics; yet consideration must be taken to avoid the proinflammatory side-effects secondary to accumulation SCD1 substrates (SFAs).
Design and evaluation of a workplace intervention to promote organ donation.

BACKGROUND A number of efforts have been made to improve rates of deceased organ donation. However, few have been specifically designed for implementation in the workplace. OBJECTIVES To design and evaluate a workplace intervention to increase documentation of intention to be posthumous organ donors, communication of donation intention to families, and family members' documentation of their donation intentions. METHODS The study was a randomized controlled trial of corporate employees. Within each corporation, worksites were randomized to a control condition or 1 of 2 educational interventions. Measures included baseline and 1-month postintervention measures of stage of organ donation intention, stage of family notification, and family members' organ donation intention. RESULTS Across 12 corporations, 40 worksites with a total of 754 participants were randomized. At 1-month follow-up, 495 participants (66%) completed a posttreatment questionnaire. The percentage of participants who signed organ donor cards increased in the 2 intervention groups (29%, P < .001, and 31%, P < .002) but not in the control group (17%, P = .454). The percentage who discussed their donation intentions with family members increased significantly across all 3 arms (39%-47%, P < .001). The mean percentage of participants' family members who signed organ donor cards increased by 14% in the control group (P = .016) and by 17% in the 2 intervention groups (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Educational interventions in the corporate workplace setting can be effective in increasing organ donation intention, family notification, and recruitment of family members as potential organ donors.
Red cell distribution width is an independent predictor of mortality in hip fracture.

BACKGROUND the red cell distribution width (RDW), an automated measure of variability in the red blood cell size on full blood count (FBC) is an independent predictor of mortality in several disease states and in healthy older people. OBJECTIVE we wanted to determine the prognostic value of RDW in patients following a hip fracture-a condition associated with high mortality. DESIGN we examined the relationship between admission RDW and mortality in 698 consecutive patients admitted with hip fracture. METHOD regression analysis was used to examine admission RDW and subsequent mortality, adjusting for admission haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, age, gender, pre-morbid residence and independence level, Charlson co-morbidity index and post-operative complications. RESULTS the mean age was 78 ± 13 years. Unadjusted 1-year mortality was 12, 15, 29 and 36% across quartiles of increasing RDW. Along with age and post-operative complications, RDW remained significantly associated with in-hospital, 120-day and 1-year mortality [adjusted hazard ratios: HR: 1.119, 95% CI: (1.000-1.253), P = 0.05, 1.134 (1.047-1.227), P = 0.004 and 1.131 (1.067-1.199), P < 0.001, respectively]. These relationships remained significant at all three time points on repeat analysis in non-anaemic patients (n = 548). CONCLUSION RDW, a widely available parameter on FBC, is independently associated with an increased risk of short- and long-term mortality following hip fracture.
Patterns of Wnt signaling in the life cycle of Podocoryna carnea and its implications for medusae evolution in Hydrozoa (Cnidaria)

Hydrozoans are known for their complex life cycles, alternating between benthic, asexually reproducing polyps and pelagic, sexually reproducing medusae. Although patterning in hydrozoan polyps has been well studied, little is known about the signaling mechanisms governing medusa development. In order to investigate the role of Wnt signaling in medusa development, we use RNA‐Seq data collected from three discrete life cycle stages of Podocoryna carnea to assemble, annotate, and assess enrichment and differential expression (DE) of Wnt pathway elements in P. carnea's transcriptome. Enrichment analyses revealed a statistically significant enrichment of DE Wnt signaling transcripts in the transcriptome of P. carnea, of which, the vast majority of these were significantly up‐regulated in developing and adult medusae stages. Whole mount in situ hybridization (ISH) reveals co‐expression of the Wnt ligand, Wnt3, and a membrane bound Wnt receptor, frizzled3, at the distal and oral ends of the developmental axes of medusae and polyps in P. carnea. DE and ISH results presented here reveal expression of Wnt signaling components consistent with it playing a role in medusa development. Specifically, Wnt ligand expression in the oral region suggests that the Wnt pathway may play a role in medusa patterning, similar to that of polyps. Previous Wnt expression studies in hydrozoan taxa with reduced medusa have failed to detect co‐expression of Wnt3 and a frizzled receptor at their truncated developmental axes, suggesting that down regulation of Wnt pathway elements may play a key role in the loss of the medusa life cycle stage in hydrozoan evolution.
Intra‐strain variation in expression of lipopolysaccharide by Helicobacter pylori

Intra‐strain variation in the expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by two clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori was examined. Lipopolysaccharide was prepared from successive cultures of individual colonies from each strain, separated by SDS‐PAGE, and detected by silver staining and by immunoblotting. The genetic ‘relatedness’ of the colonies was investigated using PCR‐RFLP analysis of the urease and vacuolating cytotoxin genes. Although individual colonies of each of the two strains examined appeared to have the same genetic origins, variation in the expression of their long‐chain LPS was observed. The same LPS profiles were maintained by individual colonies over four subcultures on solid media containing 10% (v/v) defibrinated horse blood.
Follow-up study of musculoskeletal disorders 20 months after the introduction of a mouse-based computer system.

OBJECTIVES This study attempted to determine whether musculoskeletal health is influenced by mouse-intensive computer work. METHODS The neck-upper limbs of 148 air-traffic controllers (71 women, 77 men) with demanding computer work were examined before (baseline) and a median of 20 months after (follow-up) a change from varied computer work to a mouse-based system, causing a significant change in the physical exposure of the workers (eg, lower variation of work postures and less rest in the forearm extensor muscles, as assessed by technical measurements). Complaints (according to a Nordic questionnaire), diagnoses (standardized physical examination), and psychosocial work environment (Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire) were recorded. RESULTS The air traffic controllers had consistently higher prevalences of disorders in the elbows-hands in the follow-up than at the baseline (complaints 30% versus 18%, P=0.03; diagnoses 10% versus 3.4%, P=0.02). The predominance of right-arm disorders was more pronounced in the follow-up than at the baseline. For the neck-shoulders-upper back, there was no consistent difference between the baseline and follow-up values; disorders increased significantly among the "young" controllers (< or =37 years), but not among the "older" ones. Perceived decision latitude decreased, while social support increased, but these changes did not explain the disorders that appeared in the elbows-hands. CONCLUSIONS Intensive mouse-based computer work, with constrained posture and little rest in the forearm muscles, was associated with an increased risk of disorders in the elbows-hands. This finding should be considered for similar technological developments in other settings.