Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Food security policy in Lao PDR: an analysis of policy narratives in use

Food security has long been a component of the global development project. Over time, extensive definitions and conceptual frameworks for food security have emerged. This thesis explores food security policy discourse in middle income, non-crisis contexts in the Global South. Taking as its research site the Southeast Asian state of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), the thesis explores how food security is defined as a policy problem, and what solutions are proposed. Using an interpretive analytical approach, the research analyzes authored policy documents and constructed policy texts drawn from interviews conducted between 2011-2013 with 25 international experts to identify narratives emerging from the praxis of formal policy documents, institutional mandates and policy-in practice. The role of international expertise in shaping the national level discourse is explored in detail. Four policy narratives are identified: food security as modernization/economic growth, the smallholder narrative, the nutrition narrative, and food security as development. Particular attention is paid to the totemic status of rice in the discourse. For each narrative, a matrix of problem statements, proposed solutions, key indicators, and supporting institutions is presented. A metanarrative analysis of how these narratives intersect suggests that one of the characteristics of food security conceptually is its inclusiveness, giving it a remit across a range of sectors. This research presents food security as a valence issue, which, by virtue of its expansiveness, provides a platform on which multiple, divergent policy agenda coexist. Despite recognition among experts of serious shortcomings in both the conceptual framework and applied use in policy, this fluidity ensures that food security remains in consistent use, as both a component of national policy and as an artefact of global development discourse at the national level. Because of its continued focus on undernutrition in rural areas, the omission of issues such as overnutrition, urban food systems, and environmental degradation from the discourse, narratives in food security policy are presented as hewing to pre-existing problem statements and solutions. This renders food security an incomplete fit within the policy context of rapidly developing nations in 21st Century Southeast Asia.
Dynamic changes of B‐cell compartments in kidney transplantation: lack of transitional B cells is associated with allograft rejection

B cells play an important role in the immune responses which affect the outcomes of kidney allografts. Dynamic changes of B‐cell compartments in clinical kidney transplantation are still poorly understood. B‐cell subsets were prospectively monitored using flow cytometry for 1 year in 98 kidney transplant recipients. Data were correlated with immunosuppression and clinical outcomes. An increase in the total population of B lymphocytes was observed during the first week after transplantation. The level of IgMhighCD38highCD24high transitional B cells reduced significantly up until the third month, with partial repopulation in the first year. Lower numbers of transitional B cells in the third month were associated with higher risk of graft rejection. IgM+IgD+CD27− naive B cells did not change within follow‐up. IgM+CD27+ nonswitched memory B cells and IgM−CD27+ switched memory B cells increased on post‐operative day 7. IgM−CD38highCD27high plasmablasts showed similar kinetics during the first post‐transplant year, similar to transitional B cells. In conclusion, sensitized kidney transplant recipients as well as those with either acute or chronic rejection within the first post‐transplant year exhibited lower levels of transitional B cells. Therefore, these data further support the hypothesis that transitional B cells have a protective role in kidney transplantation.
Genetic polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, GSTM3 and the susceptibility to gallbladder cancer in North India

Abstract The glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) are polymorphic supergene family of detoxification enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of numerous potential carcinogens. Several allelic variants of polymorphic GSTs show impaired enzyme activity and are suspected to increase the susceptibility to various cancers. To find out the association of GST variants with risk of gallbladder cancer, the distribution of polymorphisms in the GST family of genes (GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTM3) were studied in 106 cancer patients and 201 healthy controls. Genotypes were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The frequencies of GSTM1 null and GSTM3*BB genotypes did not differ between patients and controls. The overall frequency of GSTT1 null was lower in cases as compared with controls (p=0.003, Odds ratio (OR) = 0.2, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.1–0.6). After sex stratification, the GSTT1 null frequency was reduced only in female patients (p=0.008, OR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.1–0.6). However, the GSTP1, ile/val genotype and the val allele were significantly higher in cases than controls (p=0.013, OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1–3.1; p=0.027, OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0–2.1), respectively. To study gene–gene interactions, a combined risk of gallbladder cancer due to ile/val or val/val were calculated in combination with null alleles of GSTM1 and GSTT1 or the *B allele of GSTM3, but there was no enhancement of risk. Gallstones were present in 57.5% of patients with gallbladder cancer, but there were no significant differences between allelic/genotype frequencies of the studied GST genes polymorphisms between patients with or without gallstones. To best of our knowledge, this is the first paper showing ile/val genotypes and val allele of GSTP1 to be associated with higher risk of gallbladder cancer.
Removal of nosocomial pathogens from the contaminated glove. Implications for glove reuse and handwashing.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of three different types of handcleansing agents in decontaminating gloved hands that were inoculated with a series of four nosocomial pathogens. DESIGN A controlled, experimental trial. SETTING Tertiary care referral center. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Five healthy volunteers participated in all portions of the study. INTERVENTIONS A standard concentration of one of four representative nosocomial pathogens was placed on the gloved hand, spread, and allowed to dry. One of three different handcleansing agents--a nonmedicated soap, a 60% isopropyl alcohol preparation, or 4% chlorhexidine gluconate--was used to cleanse the gloves, which were cultured using a broth-bag technique. The gloves were then removed and the hands were cultured in a similar manner. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The handwashing agents reduced the median log10 counts of organisms to 2.1 to 3.9 after an inoculation of 10(7) colony forming units. The proportion of positive glove cultures for Staphylococcus aureus, 8% to 100%; Serratia marcescens, 16% to 100%; and Candida albicans, 4% to 60% varied greatly after use of the different handcleansers (P less than 0.001), and varied considerably for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 20% to 48% (P = 0.085). After the gloves were removed, the differences among the observed proportions of hands contaminated with the test organisms varied from 5% to 50%, depending on the handcleansing agent used (P less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In the era of universal precautions these data suggest that it may not be prudent to wash and reuse gloves between patients. Further, handwashing is strongly encouraged after removal of gloves.
Men's experiences of infertility and infertility treatment 5 years after diagnosis of male factor infertility: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to describe the perceptions of infertile men regarding the impact of infertility on their intimate relationships, their experience of treatment and their sources of information and support. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of a consecutive cohort of men diagnosed 5 years earlier as infertile at Melbourne IVF and the Royal Women's Hospital Reproductive Services, Melbourne was conducted. Study-specific questions assessed the impact of male factor infertility on the intimate relationships, their perceived quality of infertility-related health care and their preferred sources of infertility-related information and personal support and the effectiveness of these. RESULTS The response rate was 41% (112/276). Male factor infertility was reported to have had a negative impact on the intimate partner relationship by 25% of men, and 32% reported a negative effect on their sexual satisfaction. Satisfaction with medical care and clinic information was high and not influenced by the outcome of the treatment. Clinic-provided information and discussion with clinic staff were the most strongly preferred sources of information, and the partner and clinic staff were the most valued sources of personal support. Very few men found support groups useful and less than half confided in friends. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that for a significant subgroup of men, male factor infertility affects their intimate relationship negatively. Wider sources of social support are not used by infertile men as they rely predominantly on clinic-provided information and support. This indicates that psychologically informed supportive clinical care is particularly important for men diagnosed as infertile.
Geographic variations in the cost of treating condition-specific episodes of care among Medicare patients.

OBJECTIVES To measure geographic variations in treatment costs for specific conditions, explore the consistency of these patterns across conditions, and examine how service mix and population health factors are associated with condition-specific and total area costs. DATA SOURCES Medicare claims for 1.5 million elderly beneficiaries from 60 community tracking study (CTS) sites who received services from 5,500 CTS Physician Survey respondents during 2004-2006. STUDY DESIGN Episodes of care for 10 costly and common conditions were formed using Episode Treatment Group grouper software. Episode and total annual costs were calculated, adjusted for price, patient demographics, and comorbidities. We correlated episode costs across sites and examined whether episode service mix and patient health were associated with condition-specific and total per-beneficiary costs. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Adjusted episode costs varied from 34 to 68 percent between the most and least expensive site quintiles. Area mean costs were only weakly correlated across conditions. Hospitalization rates, surgery rates, and specialist involvement were associated with site episode costs, but local population health indicators were most related to site total per-beneficiary costs. CONCLUSIONS Population health appears to drive local per-beneficiary Medicare costs, whereas local practice patterns likely influence condition-specific episode costs. Reforms should be flexible to address local conditions and practice patterns.
Docosahexaenoic Acid Is an Independent Predictor of All-Cause Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients

Background: Dietary n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid have been shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality. Patients on hemodialysis (HD) have a very high mortality from cardiovascular disease. Fish consumption reduces all-cause mortality in patients on HD. Moreover, n–3 PUFAs, especially DHA levels in red blood cells (RBCs), are associated with arteriosclerosis in patients on HD. The aim of this study was to determine whether DHA levels in RBCs predict the mortality of patients on HD in a prospective cohort study. Methods: A cohort of 176 patients (64.1 ± 12.0 (mean ± SD) years of age, 96 men and 80 women) under HD treatment was studied. The fatty acid composition of their RBCs was analyzed by gas chromatography. Results: During the study period of 5 years, 54 deaths occurred. After adjustment for 10 confounding factors, the Cox hazard ratio of all-cause mortality of the patients on HD in the highest DHA tertile (>8.1%, 15 deaths) was 0.43 (95% CI 0.21–0.88) compared with those patients in the lowest DHA tertile (<7.2%, 21 deaths). Conclusion: The findings suggest that the level of DHA in RBCs could be an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients on HD.
CD45 Signals outside of Lipid Rafts to Promote ERK Activation, Synaptic Raft Clustering, and IL-2 Production1

CD45 is dynamically repositioned within lipid rafts and the immune synapse during T cell activation, although the molecular consequences of CD45 repositioning remain unclear. In this study we examine the role of CD45 membrane compartmentalization in regulating murine T cell activation. We find that raft-localized CD45 antagonizes IL-2 production by opposing processive TCR signals, whereas raft-excluded CD45 promotes ERK-dependent polarized synaptic lipid raft clustering and IL-2 production. We propose that these dual CD45 activities ensure that only robust TCR signals proceed, whereas signals meeting threshold requirements are potentiated. Our findings highlight membrane compartmentalization as a key regulator of CD45 function and elucidate a novel signal transduction pathway by which raft-excluded CD45 positively regulates T cell activation.
Relations Between Physicians' Behaviors and Analogue Patients' Satisfaction, Recall, and Impressions

This paper investigates associations between physicians' task-oriented and socioemotional behaviors, on the one hand, and analogue patients' satisfaction, recall of information, and global impressions. The study is based on role-playing subjects' responses to interactions between physicians and simulated patients. Audiotapes of two standardized patient cases presented by trained patient simulators to 43 primary care physicians were rated by role-playing patients (N = 258), and electronically filtered excerpts from the encounters were rated for vocal affect by 37 independent judges. Content analysis was made of the visits' transcripts to assess interaction process and to identify all medical information communicated. Finally, speech error rate was calculated from a combination of audiotape and transcript. Findings revealed that role-playing patients clearly distinguished task from socioemotional behaviors of the physicians, and a consistent pattern of association emerged between physicians' task behaviors and role-playing patients' satisfaction, recall, and impressions. Within the task domain, patient-centered skills (i.e., giving information and counseling) were consistently related to patient effects in a positive direction, but physician-centered behaviors (i.e., giving directions and asking questions) demonstrated the opposite relationship. A negative pattern of association was also evident between physicians' socioemotional behaviors and patient effects.
Hemoglobin solutions—Not just red blood cell substitutes

ObjectiveTo review current knowledge about cell-free hemoglobin solutions. Data SourcesAll studies involving cell-free hemoglobin were retrieved from a computerized MEDLINE search from 1980 to 1998. We also reviewed the reference lists of all available review articles and primary studies to identify references not found in the computerized search. Study SelectionClinical and experimental studies in which cell-free hemoglobin solutions were studied. Data ExtractionFrom the selected studies, information was obtained regarding the experimental model or the study population in which cell-free hemoglobin solutions were investigated, the type of cell-free hemoglobin solution, their deleterious or beneficial effects, and their possible indications. Data SynthesisIn many studies, hemoglobin solutions were considered as efficient resuscitative agents and good alternatives to red blood cell transfusion, because of their marked vasopressor effect coupled with their capacity to improve the microcirculation and quickly restore metabolic parameters. Nevertheless, potential problems include an increased susceptibility to infection, immunosuppression, oxidative damage, excessive pulmonary and systemic vasoconstriction, and platelet activation. ConclusionsHemoglobin solutions are more than mere blood substitutes. Promising effects on oxygen transport and the microcirculation need to be confirmed, and the results of continuing research are eagerly awaited.
Comparative Study of Survival of Autologous Adipose Tissue Taken and Transplanted by Different Techniques

In recent years, adipocytes obtained by suction-assisted lipectomy have been used for implantation by injection methods. This study is designed to assess the appearance of suctioned and excised adipose tissue and its survival after being injected or implanted into different tissues (0.5 cc into the rectus muscle and 0.5 cc into the dorsal ear skin) of New Zealand White rabbits. The results showed that significant numbers of adipocytes were ruptured after suction procedures. The intact cells represented approximately 10 percent of the fat cell population. Fat cells in aspirated and excised samples remained intact and did not differ histologically. After being injected into tissue, adipocytes appeared to survive better for a short term in a more vascularized bed (rectus muscle) than in a low vascular area (ear dermis). Long-term studies at 6− to 9-month intervals revealed transplanted adipose tissue, taken by suction or excision, being replaced with fibrosis, although cystic spaces and only a small number of surviving adipocytes were still present. Insulin did not show any protective effects on survival of the adipocytes during their transplantation.
Determinants of Art Prices and Performance by Movements: Long-Run Evidence from an Emerging Market

Abstract Art has become an increasingly important asset in the portfolios of investors. However, the literature on the investment attributes of art from emerging markets is limited. We address this gap by analyzing 5961 artworks executed by 69 Venezuelan artists and sold at auctions worldwide between 1969 and 2014, the longest art returns period ever assembled for an emerging market, estimating a hedonic price regression. Geometric mean nominal annual returns were 4.3%, slightly above inflation. Ceteris-paribus, artist reputation explains art prices, the most expensive artworks are sold at Sotheby's and Christie's, are dated and executed in oil, and correspond to the following topics: Abstract, self-portraits, objects, still life, urban and landscape. Venezuelan art exhibits low correlation with Venezuelan and U.S. stocks and bonds. We find, contrary to most of the literature, a strong “masterpiece effect” for Venezuelan art, and also that abstract artworks outperformed portfolios of figurative and landscape paintings.
GLUCOCORTICOIDS INDUCE THE FORMATION AND RELEASE OF ANTI‐INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI‐PHOSPHOLIPASE PROTEINS INTO THE PERITONEAL CAVITY OF THE RAT

1 Dexamethasone and hydrocortisone induce the release of anti‐phospholipase proteins into the peritoneal cavities of rats. 2 Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) also releases these proteins in normal but not in adrenalectomized rats. 3 Peritoneal lavage proteins were separated by ion‐exchange and size exclusion chromatography. The anti‐phospholipase activity occurred in four separate fractions with the major component having an apparent mol. wt. of 40 k. 4 Column fractions containing these anti‐phospholipase proteins had anti‐inflammatory effects in the rat carrageenin pleurisy model whereas other fractions were inactive. 5 The proteins appear to be identical to macrocortin and lipomodulin, the ‘second messengers’ of glucocorticoid hormone action on the arachidonate system.
A D1 Receptor Antagonist, Ecopipam, for Treatment of Tics in Tourette Syndrome

ObjectivesDysregulation of dopaminergic signaling has been hypothesized to underlie the motor and phonic tics in Tourette syndrome (TS). The objective of this trial was to evaluate the safety and tic-reducing activity of the selective dopamine D1 receptor antagonist ecopipam in adults with TS. MethodsThis was a multicenter, nonrandomized, open-label study of 50-mg ecopipam daily (weeks 1–2) and then 100 mg daily (weeks 3–8), taken orally before bedtime. The primary efficacy end point was the change in the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) total tic score. Comorbid psychiatric symptoms and premonitory urges were rated; weight, serum metabolic studies, and adverse effects were monitored. ResultsEighteen adults (15 men; 15 white, 2 African American, 1 Asian), with a mean age of 36.2 years (range, 18–63 years), were enrolled, and 15 completed the study. Mean (SD) YGTSS Total Tic score was 30.6 (8.8) at baseline and 25.3 (9.2) at 8 weeks (2-tailed paired t17 = 4.4; P = 0.0004). Mean (SD) YGTSS impairment score was 29.7 (10.9) at baseline and 22.8 (13.7) at final visit (t17 = 2.2; P = 0.04). There was no significant change in premonitory urges or psychiatric symptoms. Mean change in weight was −0.7 kg (P = 0.07). The most commonly reported adverse events were sedation (39%), fatigue (33%), insomnia (33%), somnolence (28%), anxiety (22%), headache (22%), and muscle twitching (22%). ConclusionsIn this open-label study in adults with TS, tics were reduced after 8 weeks of treatment with ecopipam. To confirm safety and efficacy, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trials are warranted.
Know the risk, take the win: How executive functions and probability processing influence advantageous decision making under risk conditions

Recent models on decision making under risk conditions have suggested that numerical abilities are important ingredients of advantageous decision-making performance, but empirical evidence is still limited. The results of our first study show that logical reasoning and basic mental calculation capacities predict ratio processing and that ratio processing predicts decision making under risk. In the second study, logical reasoning together with executive functions predicted probability processing (numeracy and probability knowledge), and probability processing predicted decision making under risk. These findings suggest that increasing an individual’s understanding of ratios and probabilities should lead to more advantageous decisions under risk conditions.
Treatment of insufficient lactation is often not evidence-based.

INTRODUCTION Breast milk has many advantages over formula for infants in developed and developing countries alike. Despite intentions of breastfeeding, some women develop insufficient lactation. Treatment options traditionally include breastfeeding education and pharmacotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS An electronic questionnaire regarding treatment of insufficient lactation was sent to all obstetric departments (n = 21) and neonatal wards (n = 17) in Denmark. Three main questions were included which focused on: breastfeeding education for women, use of pharmacotherapy and availability of local guidelines. RESULTS In all, 30 out of a total of 38 departments participated; and among those, 93% offered some form of breastfeeding education. 50% used either metoclopramide or syntocinon to promote lactation. None used domperidone. 73% had a local clinical guideline. 77% offered sessions with a lactation consultant. CONCLUSION Despite lack of evidence, half of the Danish obstetric departments and neonatal wards use metoclopramide and syntocinon for insufficient lactation. Domperidone might provide an alternative, but no departments reported its use. Management of insufficient lactation should always be initiated by counselling and education. Only when these treatment options are exhausted should pharmacotherapy with a suitable medication be considered.