Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decision-Making Capacity of Inpatients With Schizophrenia in Hong Kong

This is a prospective study examining decision-making abilities in Chinese schizophrenia patients in Hong Kong. We interviewed patients before their discharge from hospital after a psychotic relapse, examining their decision regarding whether or not they would take maintenance neuroleptic treatment. Decision-making abilities were assessed by the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool-Treatment, a semistructured questionnaire. We examined their relationships with demographic, clinical, and cognitive variables, measured by standardized instruments. Eighty-one participants were seen. Weaknesses were noted in a range of relevant decision-making abilities. Positive and negative schizophrenic symptoms, specifically lack of judgment and insight, difficulty in abstract thinking, unusual thought content, and conceptual disorganization, were found to be correlated with performance in decision-making abilities, as were cognitive deficits. Verbal working memory was a moderate predictor of the ability to understand treatment information. Decision-making impairments and negative treatment attitude were related to the decision not to adhere to medication.
Designing Enzymes for Use in Organic Solvents

Enzymes are routinely used in organic solvents where numerous reactions of interest to synthetic and polymer chemists can be performed with high selectivity. Recently, it has become apparent that the catalytic properties of an enzyme can be tailored to a specific catalytic requirement by the use of solvent and protein engineering. The former involves altering the polarity, hydrophobicity, water content, etc., of the organic milieu, while the later applies site‐directed mutagenesis to alter the physicochemical properties of the biocatalyst. The dominant effects of organic solvents on enzyme structure and function, and the potential of solvent and protein engineering to design enzymes to function optimally in organic media, are the major foci of this review.
Predictive Factors of Outcome in Patients Transplanted for Hepatitis B

Background. This study aimed to (1) identify the variables that affect graft and patient survival in recipients transplanted for hepatitis B virus (HBV) disease; and (2) assess factors associated with an increased risk of graft cirrhosis at 5 years after liver transplantation (LT). Methods and Results. A total of 104 chronically infected HBV patients were considered for this study and all received tacrolimus- or cyclosporine A (CSA)-based immunosuppressive regimens. The overall 5-year patient and graft survival rates were 80% and 73%, respectively. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that older recipient age and higher body mass index (BMI) at LT, LT more than or equal to 1998, arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and CSA-based immunosuppression correlated with decreased patient survival. In the multivariate model, advanced recipient age, higher BMI, CSA-based immunosuppressive therapy, and increasing cold ischemia time were associated with worse patient survival. Recipient age and BMI at time of LT and posttransplant hypertriglyceridemia also affected graft survival. Log-rank analysis showed that a viral load of more than 103 copies/mL and antiviral therapy at LT, post-LT biliary complications, HBV recurrence, nucleos(t)ide analogue monoprophylaxis (without hepatitis B immunoglobulin), and short-term (≤1 year) mycophenolate mofetil therapy were significant risk factors for graft cirrhosis within 5 years of LT. Conclusion. Various recipient factors at the time of LT and post-LT virological status, antiviral prophylaxis, cholestasis, cardiovascular risk profile, and immunosuppressive regimen affect the outcome of HBV patients after LT. Prospective studies are warranted to define optimal immunosuppression for recipients transplanted for hepatitis B.
Comparing Child Poverty Risk by Family Structure During the 2008 Recession

Children in nonmarried families are at greater risk for poverty and especially so during a time of macroeconomic recession. Using carefully harmonized data, the authors analyze child poverty among nonmarried families before and during the 2008 recession in five liberal welfare states: Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Although having similar demographic compositions, the authors document wide cross-national variation in poverty risk based on marital status and gender of the household head. Through the recession, child poverty in Canada and the United Kingdom declined while it increased in Australia and Ireland and was largely unchanged in the United States. Decomposing changes within countries over time, family benefits in the form of income transfers play a major role in reducing poverty for nonmarried families. In all countries, children in cohabitating families were less protected from market instability.
Effect of a short course of prednisone in the prevention of early relapse after the emergency room treatment of acute asthma.

BACKGROUND Relapse after the treatment of acute asthma in the emergency room is common (occurring in 25 to 30 percent of cases) and is not accurately predicted by any available measurements. We studied the usefulness of prednisone in reducing this high rate of relapse. METHODS One hundred twenty-two patients treated in the emergency room for acute exacerbations of asthma were assigned in a randomized, double-blind fashion to receive at discharge either prednisone for eight days (the dose being tapered from 40 to 0 mg per day) or matching placebo. Ninety-three were subsequently discharged from the emergency room and participated in the trial. On days 1, 7, and 14 after discharge, the patients were assessed during home visits with spirometry and diary-card review; they were contacted by telephone on day 21. Relapse was defined as an unscheduled medical visit occasioned by the patient's perceived need for further asthma treatment. RESULTS The overall risk of relapse was significantly lower in the prednisone group (P less than 0.05), with a significantly reduced rate of relapse during the first 10 days of follow-up (3 of 48, as compared with 11 of 45 in the placebo group; P less than 0.05). Thereafter (days 11 through 21), there was no further significant difference in relapse rates between treatment groups (five in the prednisone group and six in the placebo group). During the first week after discharge, patients receiving prednisone reported significantly lower mean (+/- SD) daily symptom scores for shortness of breath (1.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.5 +/- 0.4, P less than 0.01) and less frequent use of an inhaled bronchodilator (5.2 +/- 0.5 vs. 6.9 +/- 0.2 puffs per day, P less than 0.05) than patients receiving placebo. Subsequently, symptom scores and bronchodilator use were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS A short course of prednisone reduced early relapse rates after the treatment of acute asthma in the emergency room, an effect limited to the period of steroid administration.
Oral heparin administration with a novel drug delivery agent (SNAC) in healthy volunteers and patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty

Summary. Background: Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is safe and effective for thromboprophylaxis, but its use is limited to parenteral administration. A novel drug delivery agent (SNAC) has been developed to accomplish the oral delivery of heparin. Objective: This report describes the foundation for dose selection and use of oral heparin/SNAC in patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty (THA). Patients and methods: To develop a treatment regimen for clinical study, a multiple dose Phase I pharmacokinetic (PK) study in healthy volunteers compared oral heparin/SNAC (90 000 U heparin) with subcutaneous UFH (5000 U). On this basis, we carried out a double‐blind, randomized, multicenter study comparing subcutaneous UFH (5000 U) with oral heparin/SNAC at either 60 000 or 90 000 U heparin in 123 patients undergoing elective THA. Patients received, postoperatively, one of the three treatments every 8 h for a total of 12 doses and were followed for 35 days post surgery. Results: In the Phase I study, anti‐factor Xa activity peaked at 45–60 min following oral heparin/SNAC, returning to baseline at 4 h. Results of the randomized trial in THA patients showed that venous thromboembolic events (n = 6), major bleeding events (n = 5) and need for transfusion (n = 23) were distributed evenly among the three treatment groups, UFH and both doses of oral heparin/SNAC. Conclusion: This is the first demonstration that oral heparin/SNAC can be safely delivered to the postoperative THA patient, and provides the basis for a larger clinical trial to assess the prophylactic efficacy of heparin/SNAC.
Gains for women from farmland redistribution in South Africa and sustainable pathways out of poverty – insights from recent evidence

abstract Equitable access to land and other natural resources aimed at significant rural poverty reduction are at the forefront of ambitious goals entrenched in post-1994 land and agrarian policies. Among other targets, redistributive land policies promise that women should make up at least one-third of all land reform beneficiaries. After two decades of farmland redistribution, disputes persist as to whether these outcomes have been achieved. This focus piece systematically reviews evidence from a micro-level study based on blended information-gathering strategies in three provinces that vary in terms of their agrarian structures and agro-ecology. The study uniquely overlays farmland transfer data with provisioning of agricultural development support information. The analysis embeds the gender equity-land reform puzzle in the traditional poverty-land reform nexus. Its main question explores the extent to which land and agrarian reform interventions have produced an altered livelihood dynamic for land reform beneficiaries and more importantly to measure how this has translated into gendered sustainable livelihood impacts at household level. The study draws on the sustainable livelihoods framework as the lens for making sense of gender inequalities in the countryside and the extent to which there has been equitable redress in the interests of rural women. The findings summarise trends in respect of access, ownership and control of land assets and the related livelihood outcomes by gender. Evidence suggests that shrinking numbers of black farmers gain ownership of land and enjoy access to Government-financed support for on-farm production and participation in agricultural value chains beyond the farm gate. This finding is more pronounced for women farmers. More importantly, it points to important design features of such interventions which can and do impact on promoting sustainable livelihoods, particularly for female headed households.
Sox9b/sox9a2‐EGFP transgenic medaka reveals the morphological reorganization of the gonads and a common precursor of both the female and male supporting cells

We have established an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transgenic medaka line that mimics the expression of sox9b/sox9a2 to analyze the morphological reorganization of the gonads and characterize the sox9b‐expressing cells during gonadal formation in this fish. After the germ cells have migrated into the gonadal areas, a cluster of EGFP‐expressing cells in the single gonadal primordium was found to be separated by the somatic cells along the rostrocaudal axis and form the bilateral lobes. We observed in these transgenic fish that EGFP expression persists only in the somatic cells directly surrounding the germ cells. As sex differentiation proceeds, dmrt1 and foxl2 begin to be expressed in the EGFP‐expressing cells in the XY and the XX gonads, respectively. This indicates that the sox9b‐expressing cells reorganize into two lobes of the gonad and then differentiate into Sertoli or granulosa cells, as common precursors of the supporting cells. Hence, our sox9b‐EGFP medaka system will be useful in future studies of gonadal development. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 472–476, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Percutaneous transcholecystic cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND Controversy still exists regarding the role of routine cholangiography in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Although the need to identify common bile duct stones is perhaps less critical than it was in the past, confirmation of anatomy by peroperative cholangiography is important for both clinical and medico-legal purposes. Conventionally, contrast has been introduced into the biliary tree via the cystic duct after dissection of Calot's triangle. METHODS A simple technique of cholangiography by direct gall-bladder puncture is described, which can be done quickly and easily at the beginning of the operation. RESULTS The retrospective analysis of 250 consecutive cases shows the technique to be safe, accurate and to provide useful cholangiograms in 85% of cases. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous transcholecystic cholangiography can be performed readily without special equipment. It provides valuable anatomical information in 85% of cases before commencing dissection of the cystic duct.
Dioxin-dependent activation of murine Cyp1a-1 gene transcription requires protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation

Transcriptional activation of the murine Cyp1a-1 (cytochrome P(1)450) gene by inducers such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) (dioxin) requires the aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor and the interaction of an inducer-receptor complex with one or more of the Ah-responsive elements (AhREs) located about 1 kb upstream from the transcriptional initiation site. We find that treatment of mouse hepatoma Hepa-1 cells with 2-aminopurine, an inhibitor of protein kinase activity, inhibits CYP1A1 mRNA induction by TCDD as well as the concomitant increase in CYP1A1 enzyme activity. Formation of DNA-protein complexes between the Ah receptor and its AhRE target is also inhibited by 2-aminopurine, as determined by gel mobility shift assays. Phosphorylation is required for the formation of Ah receptor-specific complexes, since in vitro dephosphorylation of nuclear extracts from TCDD-treated Hepa-1 cells abolishes the capacity of the Ah receptor to form specific complexes with its cognate AhRE sequences. To determine whether any one of several known protein kinases was involved in the transcriptional regulation of the Cyp1a-1 gene, we treated Hepa-1 cells with nine other protein kinase inhibitors prior to induction with TCDD; nuclear extracts from these cells were analyzed for their capacity to form specific DNA-protein complexes. Only extracts from cells treated with staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, were unable to form these complexes. In addition, staurosporine completely inhibited CYP1A1 mRNA induction by TCDD. Depletion of protein kinase C by prolonged treatment with phorbol ester led to the complete suppression of CYP1A1 mRNA induction by TCDD. We conclude that (i) phosphorylation is necessary for the formation of a transcriptional complex and for transcriptional activation of the Cyp1a-1 gene; (ii) the phosphorylation site(s) exists on at least one of the proteins constituting the transcriptional complex, possibly the Ah receptor itself; and (iii) the enzyme responsible for the phosphorylation is likely to be protein kinase C.
Potentiation of the anti-tumour effect of hyperthermia by combining with the vascular targeting agent 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid

The potential of the vascular targeting agent 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) to enhance the effect of hyperthermia was investigated in a C3H mouse mammary carcinoma grown in the feet of female CDF1 mice and in normal foot skin. DMXAA, when injected intraperitoneally in restrained non-anaesthetized animals, reduced tumour perfusion, as measured using the RbCl extraction procedure, and increased necrosis in histological section, but these effects were dependent on the drug dose and time interval. At a dose of 20mg/kg, it significantly enhanced the thermal damage of this tumour, when given 1h or more before the start of heating, as assessed by a tumour growth assay. This enhancement became larger with increasing interval between the two treatments. No thermo-potentiation was seen at doses of 10mg/kg or lower. These combined effects seem to be associated with the tumour vascular shut-down by DMXAA. Thermal potentiation by DMXAA was also dependent on the heating temperature, with a greater enhancement relative to hyperthermia alone obtained at the lower temperatures at 40.5 and 41.5°C than at the higher temperature of 42.5°C. DMXAA (20mg/kg) also enhanced the heat damage of normal skin, and this could not be explained by any DMXAA-induced TNF- f production. The heat enhancement-ratio by DMXAA was larger in tumours (1.9) than in normal skin (1.3 1.5), thus giving rise to a therapeutic gain.
A New Perspective in Understanding The Role of Information Technology Features in Technology Use Pattern

One of the current themes dominating the agenda of IS research is to focus on the specifics of technology without losing view on the role of human agency. Addressing this issue calls for developing an integrated theoretical perspective that would incorporate both the role of technology and human agency in explaining the technology use pattern. This paper provides a new theoretical perspective by incorporating the two views—technology and human agency. Technological determinism attributes technology use patterns to the features of the artifact, whereas the human agency perspective attributes it to the ongoing interaction of the human actors with the technology. The current call in the field of IS seeks an integration of these two opposite perspectives in future IS research. This would have strong implications for both academicians and practitioners. For example, it might help us to understand how the differences in the features of the technology being operationalized in a particular social context influence the social outcomes of technology use. It may help practising managers and technology policy makers in organizations to understand in advance the effect technology features may have on organizational life. This is more of predictive value in the sense that managers and technology policy makers may have an a priori understanding about how the technology might be used in their organization based on the sets of features that they intend to operationalize. An understanding of this may enable the organizational decision-makers to make informed decision about which category of features to operationalize so that the technology may prove compatible and invaluable in the achievement of corporate objectives. This in turn, may affect an organization's technology selection decision or their modes of implementation. This conceptual paper discusses the two opposing perspectives of attributing technology use pattern in the field of IS: Technological determinism Human agency with a focus on structuration theory and actor-network theory. It then provides a new theoretical perspective for the field of IS research. In the new perspective, the author argues that technology use is neither exclusively situated nor emergent. The usage pattern is a function of both the artifact and the human actors who appropriate the technology in their day-to-day lives. The author postulates that differences in technology features may be associated with differences in technology use pattern and the resultant social outcome if a dual focus is maintained on the artifact and the human agents. The paper also provides a discussion on the dominant research traditions in the field of IS and case study research design as a means to operationalize future research with this new perspective along with an insight as to how certain key concepts can be practically applied.
Discrimination of hybrid classes using cross‐species amplification of microsatellite loci: methodological challenges and solutions in Daphnia

Microsatellite markers are important tools in population, conservation and forensic studies and are frequently used for species delineation, the detection of hybridization and introgression. Therefore, marker sets that amplify variable DNA regions in two species are required; however, cross‐species amplification is often difficult, as genotyping errors such as null alleles may occur. To estimate the level of potential misidentifications based on genotyping errors, we compared the occurrence of parental alleles in laboratory and natural Daphnia hybrids (Daphnia longispina group). We tested a set of 12 microsatellite loci with regard to their suitability for unambiguous species and hybrid class identification using F1 hybrids bred in the laboratory. Further, a large set of 44 natural populations of D. cucullata, D. galeata and D. longispina (1715 individuals) as well as their interspecific hybrids were genotyped to validate the discriminatory power of different marker combinations. Species delineation using microsatellite multilocus genotypes produced reliable results for all three studied species using assignment tests. Daphnia galeata × cucullata hybrid detection was limited due to three loci exhibiting D. cucullata‐specific null alleles, which most likely are caused by differences in primer‐binding sites of parental species. Overall, discriminatory power in hybrid detection was improved when a subset of markers was identified that amplifies equally well in both species.
Renal monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease: a report of 64 patients from a single institution.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To better define the clinical-pathologic spectrum and prognosis of monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (MIDD), this study reports the largest series. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Characteristics of 64 MIDD patients who were seen at Mayo Clinic are provided. RESULTS Of 64 patients with MIDD, 51 had light chain deposition disease, 7 had heavy chain deposition disease, and 6 had light and heavy chain deposition disease. The mean age at diagnosis was 56 years, and 23 patients (36%) were ≤50 years of age. Clinical evidence of dysproteinemia was present in 62 patients (97%), including multiple myeloma in 38 (59%). M-spike was detected on serum protein electrophoresis in 47 (73%). Serum free light chain ratio was abnormal in all 51 patients tested. Presentation included renal insufficiency, proteinuria, hematuria, and hypertension. Nodular mesangial sclerosis was seen in 39 patients (61%). During a median of 25 months of follow-up (range, 1-140) in 56 patients, 32 (57%) had stable/improved renal function, 2 (4%) had worsening renal function, and 22 (39%) progressed to ESRD. The mean renal and patient survivals were 64 and 90 months, respectively. The disease recurred in three of four patients who received a kidney transplant. CONCLUSIONS Patients with MIDD generally present at a younger age than those with light chain amyloidosis or light chain cast nephropathy. Serum free light chain ratio is abnormal in all MIDD patients, whereas only three-quarters have abnormal serum protein electrophoresis. The prognosis for MIDD is improving compared with historical controls, likely reflecting earlier detection and improved therapies.