Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cooperatives, contract farming, and farm size: The case of tomato producers in Nepal

This study investigates the impact of contract farming (CF) through cooperatives in tomatoes on employment and economic performance of smallholders in a low‐income developing country. Using farm‐level data from Nepal and a nonparametric matching estimator, the study finds a negative and significant effect of CF on employment. However, CF through cooperatives has a positive and significant impact on profits, and yield. We find that small farms (≤0.51 ha) with contracts tend to gain in profits and yield per hectare. However, large farms (>0.85 ha) with contracts employ significantly less hired labor per hectare. Finally, our estimates reveal that, compared to independent producers, smallholder households in Nepal that engaged in CF with both input and output conditions received, on average, higher profits and yield. Findings underscore the importance of cooperatives and CF. [EconLit citations: C31, D23, Q12, Q13]
Predicting maximal exercise ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Shortness of breath is a chief complaint of many individuals with cardiopulmonary diseases. Exercise testing is often used to help differentiate cardiac from pulmonary involvement. In assessing pulmonary dysfunction during exercise it is essential to know the point at which ventilatory limitation will occur. Numerous authors have presented regression equations based on the FEV1 for predicting either MVV or VEmax. Resting pulmonary function studies were obtained from 53 patients with COPD. Symptom-limited maximal exercise testing was completed on a cycle ergometer using increments of 10 watts/min. Each regression equation for predicting MVV or VEmax was then applied to the data set. Results showed that the FEV1 correlated with the measured VEmax (r = .81) as did PEF (r = .81), MVV (r = .78), IC (r = .78), DCO (r = .68), VA (r = .67), VE (r = .65) and FVC (r = .64). Single post-bronchodilator FEV1 measurements ranged from 0.56 to 1.64 L (mean 1.0 L) while VEmax ranged from 16 to 78 L/min (mean 37.69 L/min). The equation VEmax = 37.5 X FEV1 was the most robust equation found in the literature for predicting VEmax in this sample. This equation was not statistically different from the line of identity when predicted VEmax was plotted against the measured VEmax. The intercept was 0.91 with a slope of 0.98. In addition, this equation had a smaller mean square error in predicting VEmax than those of the other equations investigated.
Frequent mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene in human leukemia T-cell lines

Human T-cell leukemia and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines were studied for alterations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Southern blot analysis of 10 leukemic T-cell lines revealed no gross genomic deletions or rearrangements. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of p53 mRNA indicated that all 10 lines produced p53 mRNA of normal size. By direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified cDNA, we detected 11 missense and nonsense point mutations in 5 of the 10 leukemic T-cell lines studied. The mutations are primarily located in the evolutionarily highly conserved regions of the p53 gene. One of the five cell lines in which a mutation was detected possesses a homozygous point mutation in both p53 alleles, while the other four cell lines harbor from two to four different point mutations. An allelic study of two of the lines (CEM, A3/Kawa) shows that the two missense mutations found in each line are located on separate alleles, thus both alleles of the p53 gene may have been functionally inactivated by two different point mutations. Since cultured leukemic T-cell lines represent a late, fully tumorigenic stage of leukemic T cells, mutation of both (or more) alleles of the p53 gene may reflect the selection of cells possessing an increasingly tumorigenic phenotype, whether the selection took place in vivo or in vitro. Previously, we have shown that the HSB-2 T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line had lost both alleles of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene. Taken together, our data show that at least 6 of 10 leukemic T-cell lines examined may have lost the normal function of a known tumor suppressor gene, suggesting that this class of genes serves a critical role in the generation of fully tumorigenic leukemic T cells.
Inverse relationship between the contents of neuromelanin pigment and the vesicular monoamine transporter‐2: Human midbrain dopamine neurons

The dopaminergic neurons in the ventral substantia nigra (SN) are significantly more vulnerable to degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) than the dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The ventral SN neurons also contain significantly more neuromelanin pigment than the dopaminergic neurons in the VTA. In vitro data indicate that neuromelanin pigment is formed from the excess cytosolic catecholamine that is not accumulated into synaptic vesicles by the vesicular monoamine transporter‐2 (VMAT2). By using quantitative immunohistochemical methods in human postmortem brain, we sought to examine the relative contents of VMAT2 within neurons that contain different amounts of neuromelanin pigment. The immunostaining intensity (ISI) was measured for VMAT2 and also for the rate‐limiting enzyme for the synthesis of dopamine, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). ISI measures were taken from the ventral SN region where neurons are most vulnerable to degeneration in PD, nigrosome‐1 (N1); from the ventral SN region where cells are moderately vulnerable to degeneration in PD, the matrix (M); and from VTA neurons near the exit of the third nerve (subregion III). The data indicate that 1) subregion III neurons have significantly higher levels of VMAT2 ISI compared with N1 neurons (more than twofold) and M neurons (45%); 2) there is an inverse relationship between VMAT2 ISI and neuromelanin pigment in the N1 and III neurons; 3) there is an inverse relationship between VMAT2 ISI and the vulnerability to degeneration in PD in the N1, M, and III subregions; and 4) neurons with high VMAT2 ISI also have high TH ISI. These data support the hypothesis that midbrain dopaminergic neurons that synthesize greater amounts of dopamine have more vesicular storage capacity for action potential‐induced release of transmitter and that the ventral SN neurons accumulate the most neuromelanin pigment, in part because they have the least VMAT2 protein. J. Comp. Neurol. 473:97–106, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
First-in-man study of dedicated bifurcation sirolimus-eluting stent: 12-month results of BiOSS LIM® Registry.

OBJECTIVES The aim was to assess the effectiveness and safety profile of a new dedicated bifurcation stent - sirolimus-eluting BiOSS LIM® (Balton, Poland) in 12-month Registry. BACKGROUND The optimal approach to coronary bifurcations treatment by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been still a subject of debate. Dedicated bifurcation stents are one of the proposed solutions. METHODS This was the international, 3-center registry, which enrolled patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and stable angina. Provisional T-stenting was the obligatory strategy of the treatment. Angiographic control was planned at 12 months. The primary endpoint was cumulative rate of death, myocardial infarction (MI) and target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 12 months. RESULTS A total of 60 patients with coronary bifurcations were enrolled (mean age 66.4 ± 11 years, 28.3% of female). There were 21.7% of patients with NSTE-ACS, 78.3% with hypertension, 38.3% with diabetes, 28.3% had previous MI, and 46.7% and 10% underwent prior revascularization, respectively, PCI and coronary artery bypass graft. The device success rate was 100%. Side branch was treated with an additional classical drug-eluting stent implantation in 23.3% of cases. At 12 months, the cumulative major adverse cardiovascular events rate was 11.7%. During follow-up (11 ± 1 months) there was 1 non-cardiac death (1.7%), 1 non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction (1.7%) due to restenosis and no case of stroke or in-stent thrombosis. Overall TLR was 8.3% (clinically driven TLR - 1.7%, angiographically driven - 6.6%). Mean late lumen loss was as follows: In main vessel - 0.35 ± 0.33 mm, in main branch - 0.34 ± 0.27 mm and in side branch - 0.18 ± 0.38 mm. CONCLUSION Dedicated bifurcation stent BiOSS® LIM proved to be feasible device, with promising safety and long-term clinical effectiveness in the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions, including distal left main stem stenosis.
Environmental Determinants of the Occurrence and Distribution of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the Rias of Galicia, Spain

ABSTRACT Infections associated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus on the coast of Galicia (in northwestern Spain) were reported to be linked to large outbreaks of illness during 1999 and 2000. Little information is available about the ecological factors that influence the emergence of V. parahaemolyticus infections in this temperate region. We carried out a 3-year study to investigate the occurrence and distribution of V. parahaemolyticus at 26 sites located in the four main rias of Galicia in association with environmental and oceanographic variables. V. parahaemolyticus was detected in all the areas investigated and throughout the complete period of study with an overall incidence of 12.5%. Salinity was the primary factor governing the temporal and spatial distribution of V. parahaemolyticus, whereas seawater temperature had a secondary effect and only modulated the abundance in periods and areas of reduced salinities. Higher occurrence of V. parahaemolyticus was observed during periods of lower salinity in autumn, with a total of 61 positive samples (18%) and a mean density of 1,234 most probable number/100 g. V. parahaemolyticus was primarily detected in areas of reduced salinity close to freshwater discharge points, where it was found in up to 45% of the samples. Characterization of the isolates obtained from the study resulted in the first identification of two pathogenic tdh-positive strains of V. parahaemolyticus recovered from the marine environment in Galicia. These isolates showed serotypes identical to and DNA profiles indistinguishable from those of the clinical clone of V. parahaemolyticus dominant in infections in Spain in the last 10 years.
Reasons why patients with primary health care problems access a secondary hospital emergency centre.

BACKGROUND Many patients present to an emergency centre (EC) with problems that could be managed at primary healthcare (PHC) level. This has been noted at George Provincial Hospital in the Western Cape province of South Africa. AIM In order to improve service delivery, we aimed to determine the patient-specific reasons for accessing the hospital EC with PHC problems. METHODS A descriptive study using a validated questionnaire to determine reasons for accessing the EC was conducted among 277 patients who were triaged as green (routine care), using the South African Triage Score. The duration of the complaint, referral source and appropriateness of referral were recorded. RESULTS Of the cases 88.2% were self-referred and 30.2% had complaints persisting for more than a month. Only 4.7% of self-referred green cases were appropriate for the EC. The three most common reasons for attending the EC were that the clinic medicine was not helping (27.5%), a perception that the treatment at the hospital is superior (23.7%), and that there was no PHC service after-hours (22%). CONCLUSIONS Increased acceptability of the PHC services is needed. The current triage system must be adapted to allow channelling of PHC patients to the appropriate level of care. Strict referral guidelines are needed.
The effect of intravenous dexmedetomidine premedication on the dose requirement of propofol to induce loss of consciousness in patients receiving alfentanil

Dexmedetomidine reduces the dose requirements for opioids and anaesthetic agents. We conducted a single‐centre, open‐label, noncomparative phase II study of the effect of intravenous dexmedetomidine on the dose requirement of propofol to induce loss of consciousness in 49 ASA I and II patients. The initial dexmedetomidine infusion scheme was reduced twice because of adverse events. Forty patients who received the final infusion scheme were randomly allocated to receive one of five stepped propofol infusions; loss of consciousness was assessed after 21 min. The ED50 for the final infusion rate of propofol to suppress consciousness was 3.45 mg.kg−1.h−1 (95% CL 2.7–4.2): ED95 was 6.68 mg.kg−1.h−1 (95% CL 5.1–19.1), EC50 was 1.69 µg. ml−1 (95% CL 0.95–2.5) and EC95 was 5.7 µg. ml−1 (95% CL 3.2 to > 10). Our final dose of dexmedetomidine of 0.63 µg. kg−1 caused a reduction in the overall concentration and dose of propofol required to produce loss of consciousness, but no significant shift in the dose–response curve compared with other studies.
Diagnostic accuracy of glycated hemoglobin for gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to establish the overall accuracy of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS and ClinicalTrials.gov up to October 2018, using keywords related to GDM, HbA1c and diagnosis. Studies were included that were carried out with pregnant women without previous diabetes that assessed the performance of HbA1c (index test) compared to the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (reference test) for the diagnosis of GDM, that measured HbA1c by standardized methods and presented data necessary for drawing 2 × 2 tables. Results This meta-analysis included eight studies, totaling 6406 pregnant women, of those 1044 had GDM. The diagnostic accuracy of HbA1c was reported at different thresholds ranging from 5.4% (36 mmol/mol) to 6.0% (42 mmol/mol), and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.825 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.751–0.899), indicating a good level of overall accuracy. The pooled sensitivities and specificities were 50.3% (95% CI 24.8%–75.7%) and 83.7% (67.5%–92.7%); 24.7% (10.3%–48.5%) and 95.5% (85.7%–98.7%); 10.8% (5.7%–19.41%) and 98.7% (96.2%–99.5%); 12.9% (5.5%–27.5%) and 98.7% (97.6%–99.3%), for the cut-offs of 5.4% (36 mmol/mol), 5.7% (39 mmol/mol), 5.8% (40 mmol/mol) and 6.0% (42 mmol/mol), respectively. Conclusions We observed a high heterogeneity among the studies. The effect of ethnicities, different criteria for OGTT interpretation and the individual performance of HbA1c methods may have contributed to this heterogeneity. The HbA1c test presents high specificity but low sensitivity regardless of the threshold used to diagnose GDM. These findings point to the usefulness of HbA1c as a rule-in test. HbA1c should be used in association with other standard diagnostic tests for GDM diagnosis.
Hazardous drinking is associated with an elevated aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index in an urban HIV‐infected clinical cohort

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between alcohol consumption and liver fibrosis as assessed by aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) in HIV‐infected adults and to explore the relative contributions of alcohol and hepatitis C virus (HCV) to APRI among HIV/HCV‐coinfected adults.
Decreases in T-cell tumor necrosis factor alpha binding with interferon beta treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of interferon beta treatment on T-cell tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) binding (which is a possible marker for T-cell-dependent immune function) in patients with multiple sclerosis. DESIGN The TNF-alpha binding on T lymphocytes from patients with stable relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis was assayed before and 3 and 6 months after the start of treatment with interferon beta. SETTING The study was performed on ambulatory patients in a tertiary care center. PATIENTS Eighteen patients with clinically definite stable relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (13 women and 5 men; mean [+/-SD] age, 32.6+/-7.1 years) were selected consecutively. Clinical status was defined according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale. All patients were treated with 8 x 10(6) U of interferon beta-1b subcutaneously every other day. Eighteen age- and sex-matched healthy subjects, with no family history of neuropsychiatric disorders, served as controls. RESULTS T lymphocytes from untreated patients with multiple sclerosis had significantly more TNF-alpha receptors than those from controls (mean+/-SE, 837+/-33 vs 135+/-5 receptors per cell). After 3 months of treatment with interferon beta-1b, they showed a significant decrease (P<.001) in TNF-alpha binding (452+/-29 receptors per cell). After 6 months, T-cell TNF-alpha maximal receptor numbers were even lower (345+/-35 receptors per cell). CONCLUSION Given that increased TNF-alpha binding might be linked to lymphocyte activation, our data demonstrate that a major effect of interferon beta-lb treatment is to decrease T-cell activation.
Advanced dementia: opinions of physicians and nurses about antibiotic therapy, artificial hydration and nutrition in patients with different life expectancies

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the proportion of physicians and nurses who agree with the administration of antibiotic therapy (AT), artificial hydration (AH), and artificial nutrition (AN) in patients with advanced dementia and different life expectancies. Furthermore, we aimed at analyzing the correlates of the opinion according to which medical treatments should no longer be given to advanced dementia patients once their life expectancy falls.
Lymphomatoid papulosis in children: a retrospective cohort study of 35 cases.

BACKGROUND Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a rare entity, considered to be part of the spectrum of the CD30(+) cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders. About 10% to 20% of the adult LyP patients will develop an associated lymphoid malignancy. Only a few cases of LyP have been described in children, and the risk of associated lymphoid malignancies in these patients is not known. OBJECTIVES To study the association between childhood onset of LyP and other malignancies and to determine the clinical characteristics in this subgroup of patients. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Referral center at a university hospital. Retrospective registry for patients with LyP of childhood onset (< or =18 years). Patients Thirty-five patients with childhood-onset LyP (19 boys and 16 girls) were interviewed by telephone using a standardized questionnaire. The median duration of follow-up was 9.0 years. All included patients were confirmed by histologic examination. RESULTS The age distribution was significantly different, with boys having an earlier onset of LyP (P =.03). Of the 35 LyP patients, 3 (9%) developed a malignant lymphoma; all were diagnosed as having non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Compared with the general population, patients with childhood-onset LyP have a significantly increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (relative risk, 226.2; 95% confidence interval, 73.4-697.0). More than two thirds of the patients reported being atopic, which is significantly more than the expected prevalence of atopy (relative risk, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-4.3). CONCLUSIONS Lymphomatoid papulosis presents similarly in children and adults, including the risk of lymphoid malignancies. Therefore, all LyP patients should be closely monitored throughout their lives.
Determinants of Parental Acceptance of the H1N1 Vaccine

Although designated as a high-risk group during the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic, only about 40% of U.S. children received the vaccine, a relatively low percentage compared with high-risk groups in seasonal influenza, such as the elderly, whose vaccine rates typically top 70%. To better understand parental decision making and predictors of acceptance of the H1N1 vaccine, we examined data from a representative national sample of parents (n = 684), using the health belief model as a framework. The most important predictors of vaccine acceptance were “cues to action” at multiple levels, from intrapersonal to mass communication, including the influence of friends, family, the media, and modeling by the Obama family; costs and benefits and self-efficacy were also significant predictors of vaccine acceptance. Higher perceived levels of H1N1 risk were not associated with vaccine uptake. Results suggest that traditional measures of perceived risk may not account for the cost–benefit analysis inherent in vaccine decision making, and that messages designed to emphasize disease risk may be ineffective. The authors recommend emphasizing cues to action that support norming and modeling of vaccine acceptance.
Subthalamic nucleus stimulation in patients with a prior pallidotomy.

OBJECT A substantial number of patients with Parkinson disease (PD) who have undergone unilateral stereotactic pallidotomy ultimately develop symptom progression, becoming potential candidates for further surgical treatment. Bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of a subset of patients with refractory PD. Microelectrode recording is performed to help localize the STN and guide final placement of the electrode. Potential alterations in physiological features of the STN after pallidotomy may complicate localization of this structure in this group of patients. METHODS Bilateral STN DBS surgery guided by microelectrode recording was performed in six patients who had undergone previous unilateral pallidotomies. Physiologically obtained parameters of the STN, including trajectory length, mean firing rate, cell number, and cell density were calculated. These data were compared with those from the side without prior pallidotomy within each patient, as well as with those from our series of 49 subthalamic nuclei explored in 26 patients who had not undergone prior pallidotomy but who underwent bilateral STN stimulator placement. In all patients, analysis of STN cellular activity on the side ipsilateral to the pallidotomy demonstrated a lower mean firing frequency than on the contralateral, intact side. The physiological features on the intact side were not significantly different from those found in our series of patients who had not undergone prior pallidotomy. CONCLUSIONS Physicians who perform STN surgery in patients with prior pallidotomy should be aware of the electrophysiological differences between the STN that had undergone pallidotomy and the one that had not, to avoid prolonging recording time to search for the typical STN. The implications of these findings for the current models of information processing in the basal ganglia are discussed.