Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association between CDH1 haplotypes and gastric cancer risk in a Japanese population

Objective. A c. −285C > A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of the E-cadherin (CDH1) gene, which is a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer (GC), has been shown to decrease gene transcription, but GC case-control studies of this SNP have yielded controversial results. A haplotype study in an Italian population showed that haplotypes based on three SNPs, including the c. −285C > A, are associated with susceptibility to GC. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to carry out a more comprehensive genetic analysis of CDH1 using haplotype-tagging SNPs (htSNPs) in a Japanese case-control study to identify the CDH1 haplotype associated with susceptibility to GC in a Japanese population. Material and methods. First, 11 SNPs in the CDH1 gene were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis in 30 healthy individuals. Haplotype frequencies were estimated with the expectation-maximization algorithm, and 7 common haplotypes of the CDH1 gene whose frequency was at least 3.3% were identified. Next, 5 htSNPs (c.−285C > A, c.48+6T > C, c.164−3159T > C, c.2076C > T, and c.2296−616G > C) were genotyped in a hospital-based case-control study of 148 GC patients and 292 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, and haplotype frequencies based on the 5 htSNPs were estimated. Results. Although none of the 5 htSNPs was related to an overall risk of GC, frequencies of the ATCTG and CTTTG haplotypes were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in the GC cases than in the controls (p<0.05). Conclusions. These results suggest that the ATCTG and CTTTG CDH1 haplotypes may be associated with an increased risk and decreased risk, respectively, of GC in the Japanese population.
Spectroscopic studies of the molecular imprinting self‐assembly process

A method for the rapid estimation of the extent of complex formation in molecular imprinting pre‐polymerization mixtures is described. By the use of a UV spectroscopy titration procedure, apparent binding constants for such self‐assembly processes have been obtained. This method was used for comparison of the interactions between a dipeptide template (N‐acetyl‐L‐phenylalaninyl‐L‐tryptophanyl methyl ester) and the functional monomer methacrylic acid, and the monomer analogues acetic acid and trifluoroacetic acid. The importance of template–monomer association during the molecular imprinting pre‐polymerization phase is discussed with respect to the systems studied. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Framed by Sexuality: An Examination of Identity-Messages in “Purity Culture” Reflections

FRAMED BY SEXUALITY: AN EXAMINATION OF IDENTITY-MESSAGES IN “PURITY CULTURE” REFLECTIONS ASHLEY PIKEL 2018 Purity culture is a movement many young Evangelical Christians experienced in the 1990s and early 2000s. Purity culture espouses many values including practicing abstinence until marriage, observing strict dating and/or courtship rules, and remaining physically, emotionally, and spiritually pure. In 1997 Joshua Harris authored I Kissed Dating Goodbye (IKDG) which popularized purity culture principles. Over the past twenty years, Harris reflected on his writings as well as feedback from others to determine that some of what he wrote was incorrect. In 2016, Harris requested IKDG readers to submit their experiences with the book in the form of personal stories. Through Communication Theory of Identity (CTI), these stories are examined for identity messages. Through directed qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis, 56 stories were analyzed. Of the 56 stories, 53 included language that indicated identity gaps, or “. discrepancies between or among the four frames of identity” (Jung & Hecht, 2004, p. 268). The four frames of identity (personal, enacted, relational, communal) were present in all but seven stories. Implications of the study’s observations and future research directions are discussed in the final pages.
Socio-Economomic Characteristics and Profitability of the Contact and Non-Contact Farmers in Oyo Agricultural Zone in a Deregulated Economy

Abstract This paper assessed the differences in the socio-economic characteristics and profitability of contact and non-contact farmers in the Oyo zone of the Oyo State Agricultural development project (OYSADEP). Descriptive statistics which include frequency counts, tables and figures were used to analyse cross-sectional data for 80 randomly selected farmers. Gross margin analysis was employed to determine the overall financial returns accruing to both categories of farmers. Results show that (54%) of the contact farmers had more formal education while about 56% of the non-contact farmers did not have. About 60% of contact farmers had no subsidiary occupation. This is about twice the proportion for their non-contact counterparts. The gross margin analysis indicate that the contact farmers but made a profit which is about six times as high as that of the non-contact farmers. The study supports some of the earlier findings that a positive correlation exists between the development of infrastructure and rapid flow of agricultural inputs in the OYSADEP. Ultimately, the study supports earlier suggestion that retaining and further supporting the ADP system will remove the current credibility gap between Government and farmers engendered through frequent changes in government policy, programmes and projects. This suggestion holds a major stake in the drive for food security and poverty alleviation.
Occupational therapists’ perception of the concept of occupational balance

Abstract Introduction: Occupational balance is one of the concepts used by occupational therapists with no consensus on its definition. Literature demonstrates different perspectives when this concept is applied in practice and in its link to other concepts such as health and well-being. This study aims to explore how the concept of occupational balance is perceived and practised by occupational therapy practitioners. Method: A qualitative methodology was employed. Fourteen occupational therapists volunteered for the study. Nine occupational therapy practitioners were interviewed individually and five attended a focus group. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data. Results: Six themes were identified as follows: (1) occupational balance: what it is; (2) how occupational balance is formed; (3) occupational balance and well-being (4); subjective and objective representations of occupational balance (5); what disrupts/affects occupational balance; and (6) occupational balance/imbalance and occupational therapy practice. Conclusions: Both objective and subjective experiences of occupational balance need to be considered in order to make an informed decision in practice. The right occupational balance for each individual should be based on his/her values but with consideration of the principal of no harm to others.
Zinc Ions Inhibit the Qp Center of Bovine Heart Mitochondrial bc1 Complex by Blocking a Protonatable Group (*)

Bovine heart bc1 complex is reversibly inhibited by zinc ions with an inhibition constant KI of 10−7M at pH ≥ 7.0. Binding of zinc is at least a factor of 10 tighter than binding of any other metal ion tested. Essentially complete inhibition of ubihydroquinone:cytochrome c oxidoreductase activity is observed at concentrations of [Zn2+] > 5 μM. Zinc does not affect the Km for the substrates, ubihydroquinone or cytochrome c, but zinc inhibits reduction of the cytochromes by ubihydroquinone through the Qp center. A radioactive binding assay using 65Zn revealed one high affinity binding site per bc1 complex with Ka ≤ 10−7M at pH = 7.0 and 3-4 additional low affinity binding sites (Ka > 2 × 10−6M). Zinc binding does not depend on the redox state of the high potential chain (iron-sulfur protein and cytochrome c1). Zinc binds 3 times tighter to Fe-S-depleted bc1 complex indicating that the zinc binding site is not on the “Rieske” iron-sulfur protein in contrast to a recent report by Lorusso et al. (Lorusso, M., Cocco, T., Sardanella, A. M., Minuto, M., Bonomi, F., and Papa, S. (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 197, 555-561). Zinc binds to a site which has the same affinity for zinc as for protons. We conclude that the zinc binding site is close to a protonatable group of the bc1 complex with pKa = 7.2 which has not been identified previously. We propose that this group is part of the proton channel at the hydroquinone oxidation center of the bc1 complex.
Sophistication of Individual Investors and Disposition Effect Dynamics

This paper analyses the disposition effect at an individual level by studying the trading records of 20 379 investors over 1999-2006. As in previous studies, we confirm a huge heterogeneity among investors and we propose to explain these differences on the basis of financial sophistication and trading behavior proxies. In our new approach, we use direct sophistication variables: trading of foreign assets, derivative assets and bonds as well as trading on both tax-free and traditional accounts. We show that these variables significantly reduce the level of the disposition effect. Furthermore, based on a dynamic panel data analysis, we question investors’ ability to correct their bias over time. Results show that individual investors’ disposition effect decreases over time and that this decrease is partly caused by sophistication variables.
The Association between Organizational Culture and the Use of Management Initiatives in the Public Sector

This paper examines the association between five factors in O'Reilly et al. (1991) Organizational Culture Profile and the use of Activity Management (AM), Total Quality Management (TQM) and Employee Empowerment within public sector organizations. The results show that the use of AM and TQM is lower in public sector organizations than in their private sector counterparts, and is facilitated by an organizational culture of Outcome Orientation and Attention to Detail. The extent of use of Employee Empowerment is similar across the two sectors, and is facilitated when public sector organizations exhibit higher Respect for People and Innovation.
Benefits and Risk of Aspirin as Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

The use of aspirin for primary prevention has been a long-debated topic in healthcare. Up to 20% of the United States population takes aspirin daily or every other day with or without a recommendation from a physician. Aspirin has a well-established role in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, in the setting of primary prevention, clinicians should balance the potential cardiovascular events prevented with the risk of major bleeding and should be a decision that providers make on an individual basis. The goal of this review article is to summarize and analyze the results of recent studies testing the use of daily low-dose aspirin in the setting of primary prevention. Recently, new studies have tested the outcomes of aspirin as primary prevention and have added new information to the topic. The ASCEND trial, ARRIVE trial, and ASPREE trial each tested aspirin as primary prevention in a specific risk factor group. The groups studied were for cardiovascular disease including diabetes, high-risk, and elderly patients respectively. In the ARRIVE and ASPREE trials, patients taking daily low-dose aspirin did not differ significantly from placebo in the prevention of composite cardiovascular events but did have a significant increase in bleeding events. In the ASCEND trial a significant reduction in cardiovascular events among diabetes patients was offset by a significant increase in major bleeding. The role of aspirin in primary prevention should be reevaluated based on the results of these new trials. The 2019 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease recommends that low-dose aspirin may be considered for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults 40 to 70 years of age who are at higher ASCVD risk but not at increased bleeding. It is also now recommended that low-dose aspirin not be given on a routine basis for the primary prevention of ASCVD among adults >70 years of age. Further studies should evaluate the use of daily low dose aspirin in different high- risk groups and groups without access to primary care.
How Social Work Practitioners Evaluate their Practice

Evaluation of social work practice is a fundamental aspect of providing social care and delivering services to society members. As standards of social work practice and the increased recognition of the field of social work in the mental health profession continue to gain prominence, social work professionals are becoming more in touch with evidence-based practice. This online survey of 265 social work professionals are evaluating their practice in many ways. The survey found that participants used more direct interactions, i.e., client feedback tools, client practitioner feedback rather than more analytic methods. Most participants also found workload as a factor that hinders their ability to evaluate their practice. Implications and limitations are also articulated.
Estimating the Determinants of Smoking Behavior in Taiwan

This paper investigates the determinants of the smoking behavior of people in Taiwan based on data obtained from the 2004 Taiwan Panel Study of Family Dynamics. The sample size consists of 3,015 individuals whose ages range from 33 to 75. Probit models are estimated separately for the smoking behavior equations. The results indicate that gender, marital status, age, health, employment, and the presence of young children have a relatively important impact on an individual's smoking behavior. In addition, the results of the estimated predictors, such as having higher educational attainment, having smoking family members and smoking peers, and being aware of the harmful effects of smoking, also bring to light crucial policy implications. Study limitations are noted.
Efferent cortical connections of multimodal cortex of the superior temporal sulcus in the rhesus monkey

The cortex of the upper bank of the superior temporal sulcus (STS) in the rhesus monkey contains a region that receives overlapping input from post‐Rolandic sensory association areas and is considered multimodal in nature. We have used the fluorescence retrograde tracing technique in order to answer the question of whether multimodal areas of the STS project back to post‐Rolandic sensory association areas. Additionally, we have attempted to answer the question of whether the projections from the multimodal areas directed to the parasensory association areas originate from common neurons via axon collaterals or from individual neurons. The results show that multimodal area TPO of the STS projects back to specific unimodal parasensory association areas of the parietal lobe (somatosensory), superior temporal gyrus (auditory), and posterior parahippocampal gyrus (visual). In addition, a substantial number of projections from area TPO are directed to distal parasensory association areas, area PG‐Opt in the inferior parietal lobule, areas Ts1 and Ts2 in the rostral superior temporal gyrus, and areas TF and TL in the parahippocampal gyrus. These latter regions are themselves considered to be higher‐order association areas. It was also noted that the majority of the projections to these higher‐order association areas originate from the middle divisions of area TPO (TPO‐2 and TPO‐3). These neurons are organized in a significantly overlapping manner. Despite this overlap of the projection neurons, only an occasional double labeled neuron was observed in area TPO. Thus, our observations indicate that the multimodal region of the superior temporal sulcus has reciprocal connections with the unimodal parasensory association cortices subserving somatosensory, auditory and visual modalities, as well as with other post‐Rolandic higher‐order association areas. These connections from area TPO to post‐Rolandic association areas may have a modulating influence on the sensory association input leading to multimodal areas in the superior temporal sulcus.
Auditors and Client Investment Efficiency

ABSTRACT: This study examines the relation between auditors and their clients' investment efficiency. We hypothesize and find that auditor characteristics that proxy for an auditor's knowledge and resources are associated with higher client investment efficiency, after controlling for the auditor's effect on financial reporting quality. This result is consistent with auditors providing informational advantages to their clients in a generalized investment setting. We find that this auditor effect is more pronounced for clients who have a higher demand for information as measured by client size, industry competition, and client complexity. The effect is also more pronounced for clients of longer-tenured auditors. Overall, the results suggest that auditors may be one component to the management information environment and, as such, appear to influence capital investment behavior. JEL Classifications: M4; M42. Data Availability: All data are publicly available.
Complexity of Equivalence Problems for Concurrent Systems of Finite Agents

Abstract A concurrent system of synchronous communicating agents is assembled from simpler sequential agents by parallel composition and hiding. For example,hide a1, … alin (p1‖p2…‖ pn) describes the system of communicating agentsp1, … pnin which the communication eventsa1, … alare hidden. Consider descriptions of two systemspandqof synchronously communicating finite state agents. Assume that one wants to check whetherp∼qfor one of the commonly used equivalence ∼. We show that this question is PSPACE hard for all equivalences that lie between strong bisimulation and trace equivalences. For some equivalences exponential lower and upper bounds are proven. We also show that this problem is NP hard and co-NP hard even for a class of very simple finite agents.
Social Isolation and Domestic Violence Among Female Drug Users

The objective of this study was to examine the association between social isolation, domestic violence, and substance dependence among street-recruited female drug users. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to assess the independent contribution of social isolation and substance dependence to the likelihood that women will experience physical abuse. One hundred women (38.2%, N=262) reported at least one incident of physical violence perpetrated by her most-recent sexual partner. Controlling for substance dependence and relationship status (the only significantly associated demographic variable), women reporting indicators of social isolation were more likely to have been physically abused by their most-recent sexual partners than nonisolated women. Substance dependence was not related significantly to domestic violence. Providers who have contact with female drug users should be aware of the high domestic violence rates and work to counterbalance the isolation these women may experience.
Significance of Persistent Nondysplasia Over Multiple Endoscopic Surveillance in Risk Stratification of Patients With Barrett's Esophagus (Gastroenterology 2013;145:548-553, e1)

Gaddam et al1 has reported a study entitled "Persistence of nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) identifies patients at lower risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC): results from a large multicenter cohort. " in the September issue of Gastroenterology 2013. Using outcomes of a large multicenter cohort study of patients with BE, the authors evaluated how the persistence of BE without dysplasia over multiple consecutive surveillance using esophagogastroduodenoscopic examinations could have an effect in risk stratification of patients with BE. Based on the number of consecutive surveillance endoscopies presenting BE without dysplasia, they identified 5 groups of patients with BE without dysplasia. Group 1 was determined as the patients with BE without dysplasia at their first esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Group 2 was determined as the patients with BE without dysplasia at their first 2 consecutive EGDs. Similarly, groups 3, 4 and 5 were determined as the patients with BE without dysplasia at 3, 4, and 5 consecutive surveillance EGDs. A logistic regression model was used to determine whether the persistence of BE without dysplasia had independent effect for the development of esophageal high grade dysplasia (HGD) and/or EAC. In results, a total of 1,401 patients with BE were finally included (median follow-up period; 5.0 ± 3.9 years). The annual risk of HGD and/or EAC in group 1 (n = 1,401), group 2 (n = 826), group 3 (n = 484), group 4 (n = 280) and group 5 (n = 173) was 0.75%, 0.57%, 0.41%, 0.44% and 0.00%, respectively (P for trend = 0.021). The persistence of BE without dysplasia, based on multiple surveillance endoscopies, was associated with a gradually lower likelihood of progression to HGD and/or EAC (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.51-0.91; P < 0.01), after adjusting for age, sex and length of BE. Through these results, the authors suggested that the persistence of BE without dysplasia over several endoscopic examinations could identify patients who are at low risk for development of HGD and/or EAC, and after all, these findings support lengthening surveillance intervals or discontinuing surveillance in the patients with persistence of BE without dysplasia.
Inequalities in health

In July 1997, shortly after the election of the new Labour government in the UK, the Secretary of State for Health asked Sir Donald Acheson, the recently retired Chief Medical Officer, to head an inquiry into inequalities in health in England and identify priority areas for policies to reduce inequalities. Sir Donald Acheson's report adopts a broad socioeconomic model of health and inequalities.1 This model places individuals at the centre of many layers of conditions that determine their health, for example, their lifestyle, social and community networks, living conditions, and general socioeconomic conditions. As well as examining physical and mental health, the inquiry team sought evidence of the effects of unemployment, low income, housing, transport, and education. There are two overarching recommendations. First, that as part of health impact assessments, all policies likely to have a direct or indirect effect on health should be evaluated in terms of their impact on health inequalities. They should be formulated in such …
Barriers to Hospice Care in Alabama: Provider-Based Perceptions

Few studies have evaluated barriers to hospice from a hospice provider perspective. We assessed such views via a postal survey to all licensed hospices in Alabama (N = 193)—response = 55.4%. Most providers considered physicians and health care professionals to be somewhat knowledgeable of hospice, but also indicated a lack of knowledge constituted the barrier with the most impact in their communities. Respondents also cited physician difficulties with discussing end of life with patients and prognosticating death within 6 months as leading barriers. Providers also described Medicare reimbursement cap issues that have resulted in barriers to hospice. Our findings were similar to previous investigations assessing provider perceptions. Future studies should explore how reimbursement cap issues affect the receipt and delivery of hospice care.