Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Refractive Errors in a Brazilian Population: The Botucatu Eye Study

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and demographic associations of refractive error in Botucatu, Brazil.Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted, which involved random, household cluster sampling of an urban Brazilian population in Botucatu. There were 3000 individuals aged 1 to 91 years (mean 38.3) who were eligible to participate in the study. Refractive error measurements were obtained by objective refraction.Results: Objective refractive error examinations were performed on 2454 residents within this sample (81.8% of eligible participants). The mean age was 38 years (standard deviation (SD) 20.8 years, Range 1 to 91) and females comprised 57.5% of the study population. Myopia (spherical equivalent (SE) < − 0.5 dropters (D)) was most prevalent among those aged 30–39 years (29.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 24.8–35.1) and least prevalent among children under 10 years (3.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–7.3). Conversely hypermetropia (SE > 0.5D) was most prevalent among participants under 10 years (86.9%; 95% CI 81.6–91.1) and least prevalent in the fourth decade (32.5%; 95% CI 28.2–37.0). Participants aged 70 years or older bore the largest burden of astigmatism (cylinder at least −0.5D) and anisometropia (difference in SE of > 0.5D) with a prevalence of 71.7% (95% CI 64.8–78.0) 55.0% (95% CI 47.6–62.2) respectively. Myopia and hypermetropia were significantly associated with age in a bimodal manner (P < 0.001), whereas anisometropia and astigmatism increased in line with age (P < 0.001). Multivariate modeling confirmed age-related risk factors for refractive error and revealed several gender, occupation and ethnic-related risk factors. Conclusions: These results represent previously unreported data on refractive error within this Brazilian population. They signal a need to continue to screen for refractive error within this population and to ensure that people have adequate access to optical correction.
Findings From a Pilot Study: Bringing Evidence‐Based Practice to the Bedside

BACKGROUND To translate research supporting inpatient care outcomes and provide evidence-based care, registered nurses (RNs) need continuing education and mentoring support to adopt evidence-based practice (EBP). AIMS The aim of this study was to assess a demonstration project intended to pilot and evaluate a structured EBP education with mentoring innovation for nurses in a multihospital system. METHODS Nurses from five units in five hospitals were included in an education with mentoring innovation to implement the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model and the Advancing Research and Clinical practice through close Collaboration (ARCC) Model. To determine outcomes, the EBP beliefs scale (EBPB) and implementation scale (EBPI) were administered before and after the education with mentoring innovation. Eighty-three RNs completed both preintervention surveys. A total of 57 RNs completed the postintervention surveys. In addition, qualitative data were obtained from focus groups involving 24 participants. FINDINGS Statistical analysis indicated positive movement toward EBP in project participants. Qualitative analysis revealed perceived successes and challenges involved with implementing an evidence-based program, provided logistical lessons learned, and indicated that nurses at all levels of practice require mentoring and coaching to foster EBP sustainment. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION The engagement of nurses in this project supported professional development and clinical application of evidence at the point of care. The pilot project's outcome informed a decision by health system administrators to fund more nurse driven EBP projects in the five hospitals. This innovative program provides a replicable structure for deployment and appraisal of EBP nursing model implementation.
The evaluation of the JEWEL project: An innovative economic enhancement and HIV prevention intervention study targeting drug using women involved in prostitution

Abstract The JEWEL (Jewellery Education for Women Empowering Their Lives) pilot study examined the efficacy of an economic empowerment and HIV prevention intervention targeting illicit drug-using women (n=50) who were involved in prostitution in Baltimore, Maryland. The intervention was comprised of six 2-hour sessions that taught HIV prevention risk reduction and the making, marketing and selling of jewellery. Bivariate comparisons examined behaviour change pre- and 3-months post-intervention. The intervention's effect on the change in the number of sex trade partners from baseline to follow-up was explored with multiple linear regression. Participants were 62.0% African American, 5.0% were currently employed, and the median age was 39 years old (Inter Quartile Range [IQR]: 34–45). Women attended an average of six (IQR: 4.5–6.0) sessions. The women sold over $7,000 worth of jewellery in eleven sales. In comparing self-reported risk behaviours pre and 3-month post intervention participation, we found significant reductions in: receiving drugs or money for sex (100% versus 71.0%, p<0.0005); the median number of sex trade partners per month (9 versus 3, p=0.02); daily drug use (76.0% vs. 55.0%, p=0.003); the amount of money spent on drugs daily (US$52.57 versus US$46.71, p = 0.01); and daily crack use (27.3% versus 13.1.0%, p = 0.014). In the presence of other variables in a multivariate linear model, income from the jewelry sale was associated with a reduction in the number of sex trade partners at follow-up. The pilot indicated effectiveness of a novel, HIV prevention, economic enhancement intervention upon HIV sexual risk behaviours and drug utilization patterns.
MiR-138 / miR-222 over-expression characterizes the miRNome of amniotic mesenchymal stem cells in obesity . Running Title MiR-138 / miR-222 over-expression in obese hA-MSCs

c LabGTP (Laboratory of Genomics, Transcriptomics and Proteomics), Institute for High Performance Computing and Networking (ICAR), National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy; d Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy; e Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano-Buzzati Traverso”, CNR, Naples, Italy.
Mutational Analysis of Narrow Pores at the Fivefold Symmetry Axes of Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 Capsids Reveals a Dual Role in Genome Packaging and Activation of Phospholipase A2 Activity

ABSTRACT Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) capsids show 12 pores at the fivefold axes of symmetry. We mutated amino acids which constitute these pores to investigate possible functions of these structures within the AAV2 life cycle. Mutants with alterations in conserved residues were impaired mainly in genome packaging or infectivity, whereas few mutants were affected in capsid assembly. The packaging phenotype was characterized by increased capsid-per-genome ratios. Analysis of capsid-associated DNA versus encapsidated DNA revealed that this observation was due to reduced and not partial DNA encapsidation. Most mutants with impaired infectivity showed a decreased capability to expose their VP1 N termini. As a consequence, the activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, which is essential for efficient infection, was affected on intact capsids. In a few mutants, the exposure of VP1 N termini and the development of PLA2 activity were associated with enhanced capsid instability, which is obviously also deleterious for virus infection. Therefore, PLA2 activity seems to be required on intact capsids for efficient infection. In conclusion, these results suggest that the pores at the fivefold axes function not only as portals for AAV2 single-stranded DNA packaging but also as channels for presentation of the PLA2 domain on AAV2 virions during infection.
Coagulation factor Xa cleaves protease‐activated receptor‐1 and mediates signaling dependent on binding to the endothelial protein C receptor

Summary. Background and objective: Coagulation is intrinsically tied to inflammation, and both proinflammatory and anti‐inflammatory responses are modulated by coagulation protease signaling through protease‐activated receptor‐1 (PAR1). Activated factor X (FXa) can elicit cellular signaling through PAR1, but little is known about the role of cofactors in this pathway. Endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) supports PAR1 signaling by the protein C pathway, and in the present study we tested whether EPCR mediates surface recruitment and signaling of FXa. Methods and results: Here, we show that FXa binds to overexpressed as well as native endothelial EPCR. PAR1 cleavage by FXa as analyzed with conformation‐sensitive antibodies and a tagged PAR1 reporter construct was strongly enhanced if EPCR was available. Anti‐EPCR failed to affect the tissue factor‐dependent activation of FX, but high concentrations of FXa decreased EPCR‐dependent protein C activation. Most importantly, the FXa‐mediated induction of Erk1/2 activation, expression of the transcript for connective tissue growth factor and barrier protection in endothelial cells required binding to EPCR. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that EPCR plays an unexpected role in supporting cell surface recruitment, PAR1 activation, and signaling by FXa.
Optimal Power Allocation for Space Shift Keying Modulation in a Distributed Antenna System

In a distributed antenna system (DAS), remote antenna units (RAU) cooperate to form a distributed SSK transmitter (DAS-SSK), where each RAU is equipped with multiple antennas but a single radio-frequency (RF) chain. The fading channel of each RAU distributes with a different variance due to the different propagation distance and shadowing fading. In this letter, a tight upper bound on the symbol error rate (SER) of the DAS-SSK system is derived based on the union bound analysis. A convex-optimization-based optimal power allocation scheme among RAUs is proposed, which shows a significant performance improvement.
Alcohol intake aggravates adipose browning and muscle atrophy in cancer-associated cachexia

Cancer is commonly associated with cachexia, a paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by body weight loss, muscle wasting, adipose tissue atrophy and inflammation. Chronic alcohol consumption increases the risk of multiple types of cancer, and enhances cancer-associated cachexia (CAC), but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. To test, C57BL/6 mice were fed with 0% or 20% (w/v) alcohol for 3 months, then inoculated with B16BL6 melanoma cells subcutaneously in the right side of the hip and continued to feed with/without alcohol for 3 or 4 weeks. Alcohol intake upregulated ALDH1A1 expression and elevated retinoic acid (RA) content in inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT), which led to enhanced iWAT browning and brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation, accelerating fat loss. Moreover, alcohol increased muscle loss through augmenting muscle protein degradation, cell apoptosis and inflammation. In addition, alcohol reduced satellite cell density and impaired myogenesis in skeletal muscle. Taken together, alcohol aggravates cancer-associated cachexia at least partially through elevating adipose browning and muscle atrophy.
Quality Kilowatts: A Normative-Empirical Framework for Assessing TNC Performance on Sustainable Electricity Provision in Developing Countries

The article develops a conceptual approach employing ‘modes’ of home-country business culture to evaluate how transnational corporations (TNCs) active in electricity provision in developing countries interpret and incorporate internationally recognised normative standards for ‘sustainable electricity provision’ (SEP) into their own corporate responsibility (CR) policies. Based on a survey of existing SEP norms, qualitative interviews with corporate managers, and analysis of CR materials, the article evaluates how ‘quality kilowatts’ are conceived and applied in three TNC case studies. The initial findings indicate that variations in how TNCs approach SEP reflect differences in regulatory framework and business culture of their countries of origin.
What's in a Name in a War

We propose a novel empirical strategy for identifying and studying nationalism using name choices. We first show that having been given a first name that is synonymous with the leader(s) of the fascist Croatian state during World War II predicts volunteering for army service in the 1991-1995 Croatian war of independence and dying during the conflict. Next, we use the universe of Croatian birth certificates and the information about nationalism conveyed by first names to contrast the evolution of nationalism and its intergenerational transmission across locations affected by extreme war-related experiences. Our evidence suggests that in ex-Yugoslav Croatia, nationalism was on a continuous rise starting in the 1970s, that its rise was curbed in areas where con- centration camps were located during WWII, and that nationalist fathers consider the nationalism-transmission trade-off between within-family and society-wide transmission channels suggested by Bisin and Verdier (2001).
The inverse hockey stick effect: an empirical investigation of the fiscal calendar’s impact on firm inventories

We empirically investigate how manufacturers’ inventory decisions relate to the fiscal calendar. Although optimal firm inventories should depend on demand and supply, we find that the artificial accounting construct of the fiscal year frequently drives inventory dynamics. In an effort to manage earnings and cash flows (CFs) towards the fiscal year-end (FYE), firms significantly reduce their inventories in the fourth fiscal quarter only to increase their inventories in the next fiscal year. Using a sample of 4877 US manufacturing firms for the period 1990–2010, we find that inventories are 3.9–6.0% lower on average in the fourth fiscal quarter. In the analysis, we control for inventory theory-related factors that have been identified in prior literature. Because this pattern is the inverse of that observed for sales, we refer to this phenomenon as the inverse hockey stick effect. The effect holds for all three individual inventory types: raw materials, work in progress and finished goods. We find that inventory reductions in the fourth fiscal quarter are particularly substantial if firms have an incentive to beat CF targets. In contrast to our expectations, we do not find evidence that financial distress links to inventory reductions at the FYE.
Proenkephalin and Opioid μ-Receptor mRNA Expression in Ovine Hypothalamus across the Estrous Cycle

The neural mechanism underlying the preovulatory surge of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) is thought to include reduced opioid inhibition of GnRH secretion (disinhibition). Possible mechanisms for disinhibition include reduced endogenous opioid peptide or receptor mRNA expression. Proenkephalin and opioid µ-receptor mRNA expression were measured by in situ hybridization using 35S-labeled cRNA probes and computer-assisted grain counting in hypothalamic nuclei of ovary-intact ewes (n = 4) killed on day 10 of the luteal phase or 24 or 48 h into the follicular phase. In a second experiment, proenkephalin and µ-receptor mRNA expression were compared in ewes killed on day 10 of the luteal phase or during the preovulatory LH surge. Cells expressing proenkephalin mRNA were more widely distributed in ovine hypothalamus than previously described. In the periventricular nucleus, there was a significant reduction in the grain count per cell and the number of labeled cells during the follicular phase and during the LH surge, as compared to the luteal phase. In the ventromedial hypothalamus, there was a significant reduction in the grain count per cell during the follicular phase and LH surge as compared to the luteal phase, but no change in the number of labeled cells. No differences in proenkephalin mRNA expression were detected in the medial septum, diagonal band of Broca, preoptic area, anterior hypothalamic area or paraventricular nucleus across the estrous cycle. Cells expressing opioid µ-receptor mRNA were also widely distributed. No difference in µ-receptor mRNA expression was detected in the medial septum, diagonal band, medial preoptic area, anterior hypothalamus or bed nucleus of the stria terminalis across the cycle. We conclude that in sheep, proenkephalin gene expression in the periventricular nucleus and ventromedial hypothalamus is reduced during the follicular phase and at the time of the LH surge. This may be part of the neural mechanism underlying the GnRH/LH surge in this species.
The Impact of Infusing Social Presence in the Web Interface: An Investigation Across Product Types

Many on-line stores have little emotional or social appeal and lack human warmth. For some products, such as apparel, increasing a firm's social presence through socially rich descriptions and pictures will have a positive impact on attitudinal antecedents to purchase. The appropriateness and need for human warmth and sociability differ across types of products or services, however. An empirical investigation compared apparel (a product for which consumers seek fun and entertaining shopping experiences) and headphones (a product for which consumers primarily seek detailed product information). Unlike apparel, higher levels of social presence on Web sites selling headphones did not have a positive effect on attitudinal antecedents. The implications of these findings are discussed, and subjects for future research are outlined.
A preliminary study of lamotrigine in the treatment of affective instability in borderline personality disorder

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lamotrigine in reducing affective instability in borderline personality disorder (BPD). We conducted a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 28 patients who met Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria for BPD. Patients could not meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria for bipolar disorder. Patients could be taking one antidepressant during the study. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with flexible-dose lamotrigine or placebo in a 1 : 1 manner. The primary outcome measures were: (i) the Affective Lability Scale total score; and (ii) the Affective Instability Item of the Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN-BPD). The study randomized 15 patients to receive lamotrigine and 13 patients to receive placebo. Patients in the lamotrigine group had significantly greater reductions in the total Affective Lability Scale scores (P<0.05) and significantly greater reductions in scores on the affective instability item of the ZAN-BPD (P<0.05). A secondary finding was that patients in the lamotrigine group had significantly greater reductions in scores on the ZAN-BPD impulsivity item (P = 0.001). Results from the study suggest that lamotrigine is an effective treatment for affective instability and for the general impulsivity characteristic of BPD.
How to Reconcile Financial Incentives and Prosocial Motivation of Loan Officers in Microfinance

It has been widely recognized that the microfinance sector should pursue both social and financial objectives (double bottom line objective). However, with the growing success of microfinance, numerous microfinance institutions (MFIs) experience mission drift when they focus only on their financial mission at the expense of their social one. The mainstream incentive schemes set up by MFIs for their loan officers are one of the factors contributing to mission drift for several reasons. First, monetary rewards based on financial criteria may lead unscrupulous loan officers to push clients into overindebtedness. Second, financial incentives may have a negative effect on the prosocial motivation animating numerous microfinance loan officers. In this paper, we attempt to suggest, with a mathematical model, an optimal incentive scheme double bottom line on which MFIs could rely in order to preserve loan officers’ prosocial motivation while paying attention to their financial profit.
Immunity in Athletes

There is a general perception among athletes, coaches and sports physicians that athletes are susceptible to infectious illness, such as upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), during intensive training and major competition; recent epidemiological evidence is consistent with this perception. Recent studies have focused on the effects of exercise on immune parameters in order to better understand mechanisms by which exercise training may influence resistance to infection. Intensive exercise has been shown to transiently alter a number of immune parameters including circulating leukocyte and subset numbers, plasma cytokine concentrations, natural killer cell activity, secretory immunoglobulin A secretion rate, and neutrophil and macrophage phagocytic activity. Many of these changes persist for several hours or even days after intensive exercise. Some athletes have been shown to exhibit low resting or postexercise values on some nonspecific immune parameters compared with clinical norms, such as complement, acute phase proteins, and neutrophil activation. In addition, extended periods of intensive exercise training have been associated with progressive decreases in some immune parameters such as neutrophil function and certain subclasses of serum and secretory immunoglobulin. These data suggest the possibility of clinically relevant immune suppression in well-trained athletes. Psychological stress associated with training and competition at the elite level may be an additive factor to the effects of intensive exercise on immune function.
Clinical utility of endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration in retroperitoneal neoplasms

OBJECTIVE:Nonpancreatic, retroperitoneal tumors are a relatively uncommon clinical problem. With the advent of endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration, gastroenterologists may be called upon to assist in the diagnosis and management of these lesions. This paper reviews the spectrum of upper retroperitoneal lesions encountered at a single institution using endoscopic ultrasound.METHODS:We reviewed all cases of nonpancreaticobiliary or nonadrenal retroperitoneal lesions prospectively gathered from our endoscopic ultrasound database from April 1995 to September 1999.RESULTS:Of 1120 upper endoscopic ultrasound examinations, 18 (1.6%) involved a retroperitoneal lesion; 16/18 lesions were neoplasms, nine were primary retroperitoneal tumors (four lymphomas, two leiomyosarcomas, two extraadrenal paraganglionomas, one leiomyoma), and seven were metastatic cancers. There was one fibrous mass and one mass-like abscess. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was used in 15/18 cases. The management of 16 patients was significantly affected by the results of endoscopic ultrasound and biopsy.CONCLUSIONS:Although it is not a frequent indication, assessing upper retroperitoneal tumors with endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration can significantly affect the subsequent management of patients with these lesions.