Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Conference on International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development Household Food Security in Malawi: Measurements, Determinants, and Policy Review

At the World Food Summit in 1996, Malawi was one of several developing countries that committed to halving its number of chronically undernourished people by 2015. To achieve this goal, the Malawian Government enacted a number of policies, such as free distribution of agricultural inputs and fertilizer subsidy programs. However, progresses toward reducing food insecurity have been rather mixed. Food scarcity and hunger remain a challenge in the country due to a combination of factors, including high population growth, small land size, substituting tobacco for maize production, recurring floods and drought, as well as poor targeting of development policies (Dorward et al., 2004; Harington, 2003; Quinn et al., 1990). Recent estimates suggest that 50 percent of the Malawian population runs out of food four to six months before harvest and 40 percent are unable to satisfy their basic calorific needs (UNDP, 2001). Therefore, this study assesses the determinants of food security and the local perceptions of targeted food policies in Malawi. The research seeks to achieve the following objectives: i) identify the determinants of household food security, ii) assess the performances of Starter Pack for fighting food insecurity, and iii) review household perceptions on targeted food policies.
Prediction of titration properties of structures of a protein derived from molecular dynamics trajectories

This paper explores the dependence of the molecular dynamics (MD) trajectory of a protein molecule on the titration state assigned to the molecule. Four 100‐ps MD trajectories of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) were generated, starting from two different structures, each of which was held in two different charge states. The two starting structures were the X‐ray crystal structure and one of the solution structures determined by NMR, and the charge states differed only in the ionization state of N terminus.
Damage-control resuscitation and emergency laparotomy: Findings from the PROPPR study

BACKGROUND The Pragmatic Randomized Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios (PROPPR) trial has demonstrated that damage-control resuscitation, a massive transfusion strategy targeting a balanced delivery of plasma–platelet–red blood cell in a ratio of 1:1:1, results in improved survival at 3 hours and a reduction in deaths caused by exsanguination in the first 24 hours compared with a 1:1:2 ratio. In light of these findings, we hypothesized that patients receiving 1:1:1 ratio would have improved survival after emergency laparotomy. METHODS Severely injured patients predicted to receive a massive transfusion admitted to 12 Level I North American trauma centers were randomized to 1:1:1 versus 1:1:2 as described in the PROPPR trial. From these patients, the subset that underwent an emergency laparotomy, defined previously in the literature as laparotomy within 90 minutes of arrival, were identified. We compared rates and timing of emergency laparotomy as well as postsurgical survival at 24 hours and 30 days. RESULTS Of the 680 enrolled patients, 613 underwent a surgical procedure, 397 underwent a laparotomy, and 346 underwent an emergency laparotomy. The percentages of patients undergoing emergency laparotomy were 51.5% (174 of 338) and 50.3% (172 of 342) for 1:1:1 and 1:1:2, respectively (p = 0.20). Median time to laparotomy was 28 minutes in both treatment groups. Among patients undergoing an emergency laparotomy, the proportions of patients surviving to 24 hours and 30 days were similar between treatment arms; 24-hour survival was 86.8% (151 of 174) for 1:1:1 and 83.1% (143 of 172) for 1:1:2 (p = 0.29), and 30-day survival was 79.3% (138 of 174) for 1:1:1 and 75.0% (129 of 172) for 1:1:2 (p = 0.30). CONCLUSION We found no evidence that resuscitation strategy affects whether a patient requires an emergency laparotomy, time to laparotomy, or subsequent survival. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level IV.
An Assessment of the Opportunity Component of Entrepreneurship Policy in the Youth, Women, and Uwezo Funds in Kenya

Following the recognition of self-employment in small enterprises as a partial solution to unemployment in Kenya, a number of government funds aimed at generating sustainable employment creating growth firms (otherwise called gazelles in economic jargon) have been established. They include Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF), Women Enterprise Fund, and Uwezo Fund. However, the unemployment levels still remain high, and this could be a clear indication that these institutions have had very little or no effect on the unemployment situation in Kenya. The major concern then is whether the funds are founded on an entrepreneurship policy. This study sought to assess the opportunity component of entrepreneurship policy in the funds and adopted an exploratory case study research design. Out of the eight items on opportunity component under consideration, the funds scored 58.375% which is slightly above average. The study concluded that there are policy objectives and measures in the funds that are geared towards addressing the opportunity component of entrepreneurship policy. As a result, there may be higher chances of survival given the right support but the motivation and skills components need to be addressed too.
Nilotinib for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia

The introduction of targeted therapy has revolutionized the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The pivotal role of the Philadelphia chromosome, resulting from the breakpoint cluster region–Abelson (BCR-ABL) translocation, led to the development of imatinib mesylate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with significant activity against the BCR-ABL oncoprotein. Unprecedented clinical activity in CML led to rapid approval and established first-line therapy with imatinib mesylate as the standard of care in most patients. However, the occurrence of imatinib resistance or intolerance has sparked the development of newer drugs with increased activity or specificity. Nilotinib is a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has been rationally designed on the basis of imatinib. An overview is given on clinical results in imatinib-resistant or -intolerant patients that led to its current approval as second-line therapy for the chronic and accelerated phases of CML. Future studies will address the role of nilotinib as first-line therapy, in combination strategies and in the context of specific BCR-ABL mutations.
Effects of electromagnetic radiation of mobile phones on the central nervous system

With the increasing use of mobile communication, concerns have been expressed about the possible interactions of electromagnetic radiation with the human organism and, in particular, the brain. The effects on neuronal electrical activity, energy metabolism, genomic responses, neurotransmitter balance, blood–brain barrier permeability, cognitive function, sleep, and various brain diseases including brain tumors are reviewed. Most of the reported effects are small as long as the radiation intensity remains in the nonthermal range, and none of the research reviewed gives an indication of the mechanisms involved at this range. However, health risks may evolve from indirect consequences of mobile telephony, such as the sharply increased incidence rate of traffic accidents caused by telephony during driving, and possibly also by stress reactions which annoyed bystanders may experience when cellular phones are used in public places. These indirect health effects presumably outweigh the direct biological perturbations and should be investigated in more detail in the future. Bioelectromagnetics 24:49–62, 2003. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exposure to brand-specific cigarette advertising in magazines and its impact on youth smoking.

BACKGROUND Despite the potential influence of cigarette advertising on youth smoking, few studies have characterized brand-specific magazine advertising exposure among youths or examined its impact on youth smoking behavior. METHODS A longitudinal youth survey was conducted to assess baseline exposure to brand-specific cigarette advertising in magazines and to measure subsequent smoking behavior. The sample comprised 1,069 Massachusetts youths, ages 12-15 years at baseline in 1993, and 627 of these youths who were interviewed after 4 years. RESULTS Five brands accounted for 81.8% of the gross impressions for magazine advertising among Massachusetts youths. These same brands accounted for 88.4% of the brand market share among 12- to 15-year-old smokers nationally in 1993. The levels of brand-specific advertising exposure in the sample were highly correlated with these national brand market shares (r = 0.96, P = 0. 0002). Among the cohort, baseline brand-specific exposure to cigarette advertising in magazines was highly correlated with brand of initiation among new smokers (r = 0.93, P = 0.0001), brand smoked by current smokers (r = 0.86, P = 0.0004), and brand whose advertisements attracted attention the most (r = 0.87, P = 0.0002). CONCLUSION By documenting a relationship between brand-specific magazine advertising exposure and brand of smoking initiation among new smokers, this study provides strong new evidence that cigarette advertising influences youth smoking.
New public housing: a selective model disguised as universal? Implications of the market adaptation of Swedish public housing

Building upon the universal characteristics of the social democratic welfare regime, public housing in Sweden has traditionally been a central instrument in contributing to socially inclusive cities; however, changes in policy have gradually changed the landscape. This paper presents concerns for public housing's endeavour for social inclusion and suggests that the universal approach, of which Swedish public housing is a standing role model, is diminishing in favour of an ambiguous model of universal discourse and selective output. A ‘New Public Housing’ is emerging with higher thresholds, making it harder for economically disadvantaged groups to gain access to housing; at the same time, this is compensated by the increase of ‘social contracts’, which provides the financially vulnerable with an entrance to the housing market, however on very uncertain conditions. Increasingly catering for the most well off and the most vulnerable in society, this New Public Housing appears to exist in a contradictory state between its claims of universalism and the practice of excluding certain groups.
Molecular adaptations of Herbaspirillum seropedicae during colonization of the maize rhizosphere.

Molecular mechanisms of plant recognition and colonization by diazotrophic bacteria are barely understood. Herbaspirillum seropedicae is a Betaproteobacterium capable of colonizing epiphytically and endophytically commercial grasses, to promote plant growth. In this study, we utilized RNA-seq to compare the transcriptional profiles of planktonic and maize root-attached H. seropedicae SmR1 recovered 1 and 3 days after inoculation. The results indicated that nitrogen metabolism was strongly activated in the rhizosphere and polyhydroxybutyrate storage was mobilized in order to assist the survival of H. seropedicae during the early stages of colonization. Epiphytic cells showed altered transcription levels of several genes associated with polysaccharide biosynthesis, peptidoglycan turnover and outer membrane protein biosynthesis, suggesting reorganization of cell wall envelope components. Specific methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins and two-component systems were differentially expressed between populations over time, suggesting deployment of an extensive bacterial sensory system for adaptation to the plant environment. An insertion mutation inactivating a methyl-accepting chemosensor induced in planktonic bacteria, decreased chemotaxis towards the plant and attachment to roots. In summary, analysis of mutant strains combined with transcript profiling revealed several molecular adaptations that enable H. seropedicae to sense the plant environment, attach to the root surface and survive during the early stages of maize colonization.
Reducing health inequalities in Finland: progressing or regressing?

The health of the population in Finland improved dramatically during the 20th century, but differences between socioeconomic groups prevail and have even widened during the past decades. Reducing health inequalities has been the goal for health policy since the 1970s. One instrument for addressing the problem has been public health programmes. However, they have not proven to be very powerful in reducing inequalities. This is connected with the nature of socio-economic health differences, which are generated in a wider societal context and are linked to social and economic inequalities. By the turn of the 1990s, Finland was one of the most egalitarian countries but after the economic depression of the 1990s the basis of the welfare state was weakened. Improving the conditions and health-related habits of the more disadvantaged groups has been articulated in the programmes of the present government and a major healthcare reform is underway, but it seems that the root causes of inequalities do not receive the attention needed to reduce health inequalities.
The use of recombinant factor VIIa in children with inherited platelet function disorders

Summary. Inherited deficiencies of platelet surface glycoproteins such as Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) or Bernard–Soulier syndrome (BSS) can lead to a severe bleeding diathesis. In the past, bleeding episodes in these patients have often required platelet transfusion to secure haemostasis but recently a number of patient reports have suggested that recombinant factor VIIa (rVIIa) may also be effective. We have used rVIIa on 33 occasions in seven children with inherited platelet function disorders over a 2‐year period: five had GT, one had BSS and one had storage pool disease with a severe phenotype. Bleeding ceased with rVIIa alone in 10 of 28 acute bleeding episodes, but recurred in two of these. The two features that predicted response to rVIIa were the severity of the bleeding and the delay from the onset of bleeding to treatment. Five episodes of planned surgical intervention were treated successfully with rVIIa. Eighteen out of the 28 acute episodes and none of the planned surgical episodes required blood product support. We have found variable efficacy of rVIIa for acute bleeding episodes in this small series of children with inherited platelet function defects but larger studies are warranted, particularly as rVIIa is a relatively low‐risk treatment approach for these disorders.
Selective Deficiency of the “Bone-related” Runx2-II Unexpectedly Preserves Osteoblast-mediated Skeletogenesis*

Runx2 (runt-related transcription factor 2) is a master regulator of skeletogenesis. Distinct promoters in the Runx2 gene transcribe the “bone-related” Runx2-II and non-osseous Runx2-I isoforms that differ only in their respective N termini. Existing mutant mouse models with both isoforms deleted exhibit an arrest of osteoblast and chondrocyte maturation and the complete absence of mineralized bone, but they do not distinguish the separate functions of the two N-terminal isoforms. To elucidate the function of the bone-related isoform, we generated selective Runx2-II-deficient mice by the targeted deletion of the distal promoter and exon 1. Homozygous Runx2-II-deficient (Runx2-II-/-) mice unexpectedly formed axial, appendicular, and craniofacial bones derived from either intramembranous ossification or mesenchymal cells of the bone collar, but they failed to form the posterior cranium and other bones derived from endochondral ossification. Heterozygous Runx2-II-deficient mice had grossly normal skeletons, but were osteopenic. The commitment of mesenchymal cells ex vivo to the osteoblast lineage occurred in Runx2-II-/- mice, but osteoblastic gene expression was impaired. Chondrocyte maturation appeared normal, but the zone of hypertrophic chondrocytes was not transformed into metaphyseal bone, leading to widened growth plates in Runx2-II-/- mice. Compensatory increments in Runx2-I expression occurred in Runx2-II-/- mice but were not sufficient to normalize osteoblastic maturation or transcriptional activity. Our findings support distinct functions of Runx2-II and -I in the control of skeletogenesis. Runx2-I is sufficient for early osteoblastogenesis and intramembranous bone formation, whereas Runx2-II is necessary for complete osteoblastic maturation and endochondral bone formation.
The Effect of Competition on Executive Compensation and Incentives

This paper studies the effect of increased product market competition on executive compensation and incentives. We use a reform that simplified firm entry regulation in Portugal as a quasi-natural experiment and exploit its staggered implementation across municipalities for identification. Using employer–employee data, we find that increased competition following the reform raised total pay but reduced the sensitivity of pay to firm performance. This is consistent with theoretical results showing that a fall in entry costs weakens managerial incentive provision. Entry deregulation also increased performance-induced CEO turnover and firms’ probability of exit, suggesting that competition provides direct incentives for managerial effort.
Interactions between androgens, FSH, anti-Müllerian hormone and estradiol during folliculogenesis in the human normal and polycystic ovary.

BACKGROUND Androgens, FSH, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and estradiol (E2) are essential in human ovarian folliculogenesis. However, the interactions between these four players is not fully understood. OBJECTIVES AND RATIONALE The purpose of this review is to highlight the chronological sequence of the appearance and function of androgens, FSH, AMH and E2 and to discuss controversies in the relationship between FSH and AMH. A better understanding of this interaction could supplement our current knowledge about the pathophysiology of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). SEARCH METHODS A literature review was performed using the following search terms: androgens, FSH, FSH receptor, anti-Mullerian hormone, AMHRII, estradiol, follicle, ovary, PCOS, aromatase, granulosa cell, oocyte. The time period searched was 1980-2015 and the databases interrogated were PubMed and Web of Science. OUTCOMES During the pre-antral ('gonadotropin-independent') follicle growth, FSH is already active and promotes follicle growth in synergy with theca cell-derived androgens. Conversely, AMH is inhibitory by counteracting FSH. We challenge the hypothesis that AMH is regulated by androgens and propose rather an indirect effect through an androgen-dependent amplification of FSH action on granulosa cells (GCs) from small growing follicles. This hypothesis implies that FSH stimulates AMH expression. During the antral ('gonadotropin-dependent') follicle growth, E2 production results from FSH-dependent activation of aromatase. Conversely, AMH is inhibitory but the decline of its expression, amplified by E2, allows full expression of aromatase, characteristic of the large antral follicles. We propose a theoretical scheme made up of two triangles that follow each other chronologically. In PCOS, pre-antral follicle growth is excessive (triangle 1) because of intrinsic androgen excess that renders GCs hypersensitive to FSH, with consequently excessive AMH expression. Antral follicle growth and differentiation are disturbed (triangle 2) because of the abnormally persisting inhibition of FSH effects by AMH that blocks aromatase. Beside anovulation, this scenario may also serve to explain the higher receptiveness to gonadotropin therapy and the increased risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in patients with PCOS. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Within GCs, the balance between FSH and AMH effects is pivotal in the shift from androgen- to oestrogen-driven follicles. Our two triangles hypothesis, based on updated data from the literature, offers a pedagogic template for the understanding of folliculogenesis in the normal and polycystic ovary. It opens new avenues for the treatment of anovulation due to PCOS.
Special Ethical Considerations for Planners in Private Practice

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Planners must constantly consider the ethics of their professional behavior, yet few studies have specifically investigated the ethical landscape for those planners working in private practice, assuming that all members of the profession are subject to similar ethical considerations. We investigate the particular ethical considerations faced by planners in private practice by interviewing owners of 10 planning consulting firms. Our sample size is very small and limited to three states, which limits the generalizability of the study. We find that private practice planners routinely experience ethical conflicts related to disclosure of information, balancing uneven benefits among stakeholders, interests of the client, and ethics of firm competition. Alhough planners mostly navigate everyday ethical concerns with confidence, they face ethical challenges in managing client relationships when values conflict, and in competing with other firms. Takeaway for practice: We find that challenging ethical situations arise for private sector planners on a routine basis. The planners we interview feel that they are able to identify ethical pitfalls and choose the correct course of action, but more research is needed to understand the scope and nature of private practice ethical challenges, and to determine whether more education or enforcement would be effective solutions to between-firm conflicts.
Vector Priming Reduces the Immunogenicity of Salmonella-Based Vaccines in Nramp1+/+ Mice

ABSTRACT The present studies in Nramp1−/− BALB/c and Nramp1+/+ CBA mice question the significance of this genotype as a determinant of the level of gut colonization following oral administration of naturally attenuated or highly virulent Salmonella strains. In line with previous results in BALB/c hosts, vector priming of CBA mice with Salmonella enterica serovar Stanley was found to significantly compromise the immunogenicity of a recombinant construct expressing a foreign pilus protein.
Physical activity behavior of dog owners: development and reliability of the Dogs and Physical Activity (DAPA) tool.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to develop a reliable instrument, the Dogs and Physical Activity (DAPA) tool, for measuring important attributes and scales relating to the dog-walking behavior of dog owners. METHODS Items measuring dog-specific individual, social environmental, physical environmental, and policy-related factors that affect dog owners' walking with their dogs were assessed for test-retest reliability. Factor analysis was undertaken to demonstrate that the collection of test items had underlying constructs consistent with the theoretical framework. RESULTS DAPA-tool items had test-retest reliability scores >. 7, indicating a high level of stability. Distinct general and dog-specific constructs of subscales measuring dog-supportive features of parks, barriers to dog walking, and behavioral beliefs about the outcomes of regular dog walking were demonstrated through factor analysis. CONCLUSIONS The DAPA tool is the first comprehensive, reliable tool for measuring important attributes and scales relating to dog owners' physical activity and the context-specific factors that affect owners' walking with their dogs.