Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE INCOME PENALTY OF VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL EDUCATION-JOB MISMATCHES IN THE KOREAN YOUTH LABOR MARKET: A QUANTILE REGRESSION APPROACH

In this paper we estimate the income effects of over-education and horizontal education-job mismatch jointly by quantile regressions using a data set of Korean college graduates. We find that over-education and horizontal mismatch are positively correlated. Thus, the income loss by over-education (horizontal mismatch) is overestimated if it is estimated ignoring horizontal mismatch (over-education). This overestimation problem is particularly prevalent for workers at low and near-median deciles of the conditional income distribution. We also find that the income penalty on over-education is prevalent for most all quantiles, whereas the income penalty on horizontal mismatch is significant for lower quantiles.
Polymorphisms at +49A/G and CT60 sites in the 3′ UTR of the CTLA‐4 gene and APECED‐related AIRE gene mutations analysis in sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism

Autoimmune diseases such as Graves’ disease and type 1 diabetes have been linked with +49A/G and CT60 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 3′ UTR of the cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4) gene. Both these SNPs are functionally relevant and linked with T‐lymphocyte activation. Hypoparathyroidism is seen in 70% of patients with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy syndrome (APECED). Although calcium sensing receptor autoantibodies (CaSRAb) and generalized activation of T lymphocytes are reported among patients with sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (SIH), CTLA‐4 gene SNPs and APECED‐related autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene mutations have not been assessed in them. We studied lead CTLA‐4 gene SNPs and APECED‐related AIRE gene mutations in 73 patients with SIH and 114 healthy subjects. The CTLA‐4 gene SNPs +49A/G in exon 1, CT60A/G in 3′ UTR and −318C/T in the promoter region were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment‐length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) using BstEII, NcoI and MseI endonucleases, respectively. The APECED‐related AIRE gene mutations, which is R257X (Finn‐major) in exon 6, 4‐bp insertion and 13‐bp deletion in exon 8, and Iranian Jews population ‘Y85C’ mutation in exon 2, were studied by PCR‐RFLP (Taq‐I), PCR and nucleotide sequencing, respectively. CaSRAb were studied by immunoblotting. The frequencies of CTLA‐4 A/A49, A/G49 and G/G49 genotypes in the patients (47.9%, 38.4% and 13.7%) and controls (45.6%, 39.5% and 14.9%, respectively) and the frequencies of CT60 A/A, A/G, and G/G genotypes in the patient (42.4%, 37.0% and 20.6%) and the control (38.6%, 40.4% and 21.0%, respectively) groups were not significantly different. The frequencies of various haplotypes including genetic loci +49A/G and CT60 and frequencies of G alleles at these positions were comparable between patient and the control groups and its presence did not correlate with clinical and biochemical indices of the disease. None of the patients had APECED‐related AIRE gene mutations. Lack of significant difference in the pattern of CTLA‐4 A/G49 and/or CT60A/G genotypes and absence of common APECED syndrome‐related AIRE gene mutations among patients and controls suggest that these sites do not play a role in the development of the SIH.
BRIDGING THE GAPS: SCIENCE FICTION IN NANOTECHNOLOGY

This paper argues that narrative elements from the science fiction (SF) literary genre are used in the discourse of Nanoscience and Technology (NST) to bridge the gap between what is technically possible today and its inflated promises for the future. The argument is illustrated through a detailed discussion of two NST texts. The paper concludes by arguing that the use of SF narrative techniques poses serious problems to the development of a critical analysis of the ethical and social implications of NST.
Clinical Diagnosis of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Validated by Polysomnography

The decision to perform tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is often made on a clinical basis without formal polysomnography. To examine the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, we prospectively evaluated 30 children with obstructive symptoms by a standardized history, physical examination, and review of a tape recording of breathing during sleep. On the basis of this clinical evaluation, patients were divided into three predictive groups: (1) definite obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, (2) possible obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and (3) unlikely to have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Nocturnal polysomnography was used to determine the presence or absence of true sleep apnea. Ten of 18 (55.6%) patients predicted clinically to have definite obstructive sleep apnea syndrome had positive nocturnal polysomnographies. Two of six (33.3%) patients predicted to have possible obstructive sleep apnea syndrome had positive nocturnal polysomnographies. One of six (16.7%) patients predicted to be unlikely to have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome had a positive nocturnal polysomnography. Six nocturnal polysomnographies negative by conventional criteria were suspicious for apnea, but considering these positive for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome did not improve the specificity of the clinical prediction. Our results show that clinical assessment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children is sensitive (92.3%) but not specific (29.4%) for making the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome as compared with nocturnal polysomnography and may contribute to the decision to obtain nocturnal polysomnography in specific circumstances.
Intracellular K+ Suppresses the Activation of Apoptosis in Lymphocytes*

Little is known about the mechanisms of suppression of apoptosis. We have addressed the novel possibility that the level of intracellular K+ regulates the apoptotic process by controlling the activity of death enzymes. We show that K+, at normal intracellular levels, inhibits both apoptotic DNA fragmentation and caspase-3(CPP32)-like protease activation, suggesting that intracellular K+ loss must occur early during apoptosis. Direct measurement of K+ by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry and flow cytometry indicates a major decrease in intracellular K+ concentration in the apoptotic cell. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that caspase and nuclease activity were restricted to the subpopulation of cells with reduced K+. Disruption of the natural K+electrochemical gradient suppressed the activity of both caspase and nuclease independent of the mode of activation of the apoptotic inducing agent, demonstrating that a decrease in intracellular K+ concentration is a necessary, early event in programmed cell death.
Establishment, characterization, and evolution of cultures enriched in type‐2 astrocytes

The aim of the present study was to prepare cultures enriched in type‐2 astrocytes (AS) and to analyze some of the properties of these cells over relatively long culture periods. Cultures enriched in type‐2 AS were obtained by subculturing, at low cell density and in the presence of fetal calf serum, a cell population containing numerous bipotential glial precursors. This cell population was detached mechanically from 2‐ to 3‐week primary mixed glial cultures prepared from 1‐day postnatal rat cerebral cortex. The cellular composition of the subcultures was analyzed immunocytochemically over a period of 3 weeks using various combinations of antibodies, recognizing a set of differentiated and a set of undifferentiated glial antigens (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], galactocerebroside, sulfatide, gangliosides binding the monoclonal antibodies A2B5 and LB1, fibronectin). Most LB1+, A2B5+ glial precursors differentiated into type‐2 AS within a week. At this stage, type‐2 AS accounted for more than 70% of cells in the cultures and exhibited the characteristic features previously described for these cells (stellate shape, GFAP, LB1 and A2B5 positivity, ability to accumulate [3H]GABA and to synthesize chondroitin sulfate, low proliferative activity). About one third of the type‐2 AS also were recognized by O4 (antisulfatide) antibodies. The major contaminants were macrophages (10–15%) and fibroblastic cells (5–10%). In longer term cultures, type‐2 AS tended to lose several of these features. Many acquired a flat, polygonal shape and lost LB1 positivity. The ability to accumulate [3H]GABA progressively decreased, as did the expression of chondroitin sulfate, although to a lesser degree. Although losing several of their properties, type‐2 AS did not appear to acquire the properties of type‐1 AS: their proliferative activity remained very low, and they did not express class II antigens of the major histocompatibility complex upon stimulation with γ‐interferon. Some became positive for fibronectin.
Map learning and working memory: Multimodal learning strategies

The current research investigated whether learning spatial information from a map involves different modalities, which are managed by discrete components in working memory. In four experiments, participants studied a map either while performing a simultaneous interference task (high cognitive load) or without interference (low cognitive load). The modality of interference varied between experiments. Experiment 1 used a tapping task (visuospatial), Experiment 2 a backward counting task (verbal), Experiment 3 an articulatory suppression task (verbal) and Experiment 4 an n-back task (central executive). Spatial recall was assessed in two tests: directional judgements and map drawing. Cognitive load was found to affect spatial recall detrimentally regardless of interference modality. The findings suggest that when learning maps, people use a multimodal learning strategy, utilising resources from all components of working memory.
Depth of Mesorectal Extension Has Prognostic Significance in Patients With T3 Rectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: More than half of all rectal cancers are T3 lesions, but they are classified as a single-stage category. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to validate prognostic significance of mesorectal extension depth in T3 rectal cancer. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective analysis of oncologic outcomes of patients with T3 rectal cancer grouped by mesorectal extension depth (T3a, <1 mm; T3b, 1–5 mm; T3c, 5–15 mm; T3d, >15 mm). SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a tertiary referral cancer hospital. PATIENTS: From 2003 to 2009, 291 patients who underwent a curative surgery were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Oncologic outcomes in terms of disease-free survival were analyzed. RESULTS: The 5-year disease-free survival rate according to T3 subclassification was 86.5% for T3a, 74.2% for T3b, 58.3% for T3c, and 29.0% for T3d. It was significantly higher in T3a,b tumors than that in T3c,d tumors (77.6% vs 55.2%, p < 0.001). On univariate and multivariate analysis, prognostic factors affecting recurrence were preoperative CEA level ≥5ng/mL (HR 2.617, 95% CI 1.620–4.226), lymph node metastasis (HR 3.347, 95% CI 1.834–6.566), and mesorectal extension depth >5 mm (HR 1.661, 95% CI 1.013–2.725). In subgroup analysis, independent prognostic factors were preoperative CEA level and mesorectal extension depth >5 mm for 200 patients with ypT3 rectal cancer and preoperative CEA level and lymph node metastasis for 91 patients with pT3 rectal cancer. LIMITATIONS: This study lacks quality of surgery plane evaluation because of its retrospective nature. Moreover, pathologic examination was not done with a whole-mount section. CONCLUSIONS: Depth of mesorectal extension >5 mm is a significant prognostic factor in patients with T3 rectal cancer. Depth of mesorectal extension especially may be more important than the nodal status in predicting the oncologic outcome for patients who had received preoperative chemoradiotherapy.
Increased Smooth Muscle Cell Activation and Neointima Formation in Response to Injury in AIF-1 Transgenic Mice

Objective—Allograft Inflammatory Factor-1 (AIF-1) is a calcium binding scaffold protein which is rapidly induced in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in response to injury and inflammation. A transgenic mouse in which AIF-1 expression was driven by a VSMC-specific SM22&agr; promoter was generated to establish a direct relationship between AIF-1 expression and intimal hyperplasia. Methods and Results—Morphological analysis of partially ligated carotid artery demonstrate a significant increase in neointimal area of AIF-1 Tg versus wild-type mice (569±64 um versus 256±49um, P=0.004). Immunohistochemistry using antibody to the proliferation marker Ki-67 show a significantly greater number of proliferating cells in the AIF-1 Tg lesion compared with wild-type arteries (10.6%±1.0 versus 3.6%±.9, P=0.0007). AIF-1 Tg arteries also had a greater number of cells with activated signal transduction kinase p38 (55.4%±7.0 versus 22.6%±5.4, P=0.002) and PAK1 (67.5%±6.7 versus 35.3%±10.2, P=0.02) compared with wild-type. Cultured VSMCs explanted from AIF-1 Tg proliferate (55.5±3.6×103 versus 37.2±2.0×103 cells/mL, P=0.0001) and migrate more rapidly (39.2±3.2 versus 17.1±1.5 VSMCs per HPF, P=0.0003) than wild-type, and have significantly greater levels of activated p38 and PAK1 than did VSMCs from wild-type littermates (P<0.05). Conclusions—These data indicate that AIF-1 expression results in increased signal transduction, neointimal formation, and VSMC proliferation in injured mouse carotid arteries.
Optimal Ordering Policies For A Perishable And Substitutable Product: A Markov Decision Model

AbstractIn this paper we consider a generalized version of the newsboy problem and assume that the product (e,g., donuts, vegetables, fashionwear) perishes in two periods, and one-period-old items and fresh (new) items may be substituted if one of them is out of stock. We show that the one-period expected profit expression is a concave function of the order quantity of new items. We model this problem in the stochastic control theory framework and find optimal stationary policies after transforming the control problem to a Markov decision problem. We provide several numerical examples and discuss the sensitivity of the optimal policy to changes in the problem parameters.
The expression of anger and its relationship to symptoms and cognitions in obsessive–compulsive disorder

We compared the association between obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and the expression of anger in a sample of 71 patients and 71 college students. Some authors [Rubenstein et al., J Anxiety Disord 1995;9:1–9] have proposed that anger and hostility underlie the symptoms of OCD; however, there has been little empirical study of this relationship. One recent study [Whiteside and Abramowitz, Cog Therapy Res 2004;28:259–268] with college undergraduates found that the association between OCD symptoms and anger was attributable to depressive symptoms. In the present study, we compared the expression of anger in a sample of patients diagnosed with OCD and nonclinical volunteers. Consistent with the previous study, we found increased levels of anger in patients with OCD as compared to control participants; however, these differences could be attributed to between‐group differences in general distress. These results were discussed within the framework of the cognitive theory of OCD. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring in 80 Patients with Chiari I Malformation: Role of Duraplasty

Neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring of the brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) is a widely used method to assess the functional integrity of the central auditory system during surgery involving the brainstem or the cranial nerves. The purpose of this study is to describe our experience with neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring of BAEPs during posterior fossa decompression (PFD) surgery for the management of Chiari I malformation. Although suboccipital craniectomy is the standard surgical technique applied in all cases undergoing PFD, the role of dural patch grafting (duraplasty) remains controversial. In most cases, the PFD was supplemented by duraplasty only when the Chiari I malformation was complicated by the presence of syringomyelia. Our study reviewed the intraoperative BAEP changes during the different surgical stages of Chiari repair and correlated these with clinical and radiological findings present. Our data revealed that for both groups of patients, with or without associated syringomyelia, the predominant improvement in central conduction in most cases occurred during the period of bony decompression without significant additional improvement after the duraplasty procedure.
A study of nurses' knowledge of a palliative approach in residential aged care facilities.

Aim. To identify residential aged care nurses' current knowledge of palliative care for older residents in need of end-of-life care. Background. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the delivery of palliative care in residential aged care facilities. While it is recognized that aged care nurses do possess palliative care knowledge the actual level of their knowledge has not been well documented. Design/method. An analytical study using a validated questionnaire tool - Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing, developed by Ross et al. [Journal of Advanced Nursing23 (1996) 126-137], combined with a demographic survey of Registered Nurses and assistants in nursing working in five high care residential aged care facilities in inner city region of Sydney, Australia. Results. The total Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing score possible was 20. The mean score for Registered Nurses was 11.7 (SD 3.1) and for AINs 5.8 (SD 3.3), the difference between scores being significant (t = 8.7, df 95, P = 0.000). Misconceptions in palliative care were identified for both the groups of carers. Conclusion. This research has highlighted the need for ongoing palliative care education for both the groups of primary carers. Relevance to clinical practice. The findings of this research highlight the existing palliative care knowledge of residential aged care nurses and provides evidence for education programmes.
ADVIRC is caused by distinct mutations in BEST1 that alter pre-mRNA splicing

Autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy (ADVIRC), a retinal dystrophy often associated with glaucoma and cataract, forms part of a phenotypic spectrum of ‘bestrophinopathies’. It has been shown previously that ADVIRC results from BEST1 mutations that cause exon skipping and lead to the production of shortened and internally deleted isoforms. This study describes a novel ADVIRC mutation and show that it disrupts an exonic splice enhancer (ESE) site, altering the binding of a splicing-associated SR protein. As with previous ADVIRC mutations, the novel c.704T→C mutation in exon 6 altered normal splicing in an ex vivo splicing assay. Both this and another exon 6 ADVIRC-causing mutation (c.707G→A) either weakened or abolished splicing in an ESE-dependent splice assay compared with a nearby exon 6 mutation associated with Best disease (c.703G→C). Gel shift assays were undertaken with RNA oligonucleotides encompassing the ADVIRC and Best disease mutations with four of the most commonly investigated SR proteins. Although SC35, SRp40 and SRp55 proteins all bound to the wild-type and mutated sequences with similar intensities, there was increased binding of ASF/SF2 to the two ADVIRC-mutated sequences compared with the wild-type or Best disease-mutated sequences. The exon skipping seen for these two exon 6 ADVIRC mutations and their affinity for ASF/SF2 suggests that the region encompassing these mutations may form part of a CERES (composite exonic regulatory elements of splicing) site.
The distance angle to target in surgery for intermittent exotropia.

BACKGROUND Patients with intermittent exotropia may have an increase in their angle of strabismus in the distance when the angle is measured either after 1 hour of monocular occlusion or while the patients fixate on a distant target outdoors. The hypothesis that surgery should be performed for this larger deviation has been suggested but not tested. OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that surgery should be performed for the increased angle of strabismus in the distance in patients with intermittent exotropia and to investigate the factors that influence the angle of misalignment. METHODS A prospective, clinical trial was conducted of patients with intermittent exotropia in whom the angle of misalignment in the distance increased after 1 hour of monocular occlusion or while the patients fixated on an outdoor target. The study group underwent surgery for the largest deviation measured; the control group underwent surgery for the initial angle measured at 6 m. All patients in whom the angle of misalignment increased while the patients were looking at an outdoor target were additionally measured in indoor illumination at 24 m and also at 6 m under floodlights that simulated outdoor illumination. Ninety patients undergoing surgery were randomized. RESULTS Forty-three (86.0%) of the 50 patients undergoing surgery for the largest angle measured had a satisfactory outcome vs 25 (62.5%) of the 40 patients in the control group (P<.001). The mechanism for the increase in exotropia while fixating on an outdoor target was studied in 76 patients, and the results were variable. CONCLUSIONS The angle of strabismus in patients with intermittent exotropia undergoing surgery should be measured while the patients fixate on an outdoor target and after 1 hour of monocular occlusion. Surgery should be performed for the largest angle measured.
Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering Analysis of the Bifunctional Antibiotic Resistance Enzyme Aminoglycoside (6′) Acetyltransferase-Ie/Aminoglycoside (2″) Phosphotransferase-Ia Reveals a Rigid Solution Structure

ABSTRACT Aminoglycoside (6′) acetyltransferase-Ie/aminoglycoside (2″) phosphotransferase-Ia [AAC(6′)-Ie/APH(2″)-Ia] is one of the most problematic aminoglycoside resistance factors in clinical pathogens, conferring resistance to almost every aminoglycoside antibiotic available to modern medicine. Despite 3 decades of research, our understanding of the structure of this bifunctional enzyme remains limited. We used small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to model the structure of this bifunctional enzyme in solution and to study the impact of substrate binding on the enzyme. It was observed that the enzyme adopts a rigid conformation in solution, where the N-terminal AAC domain is fixed to the C-terminal APH domain and not loosely tethered. The addition of acetyl-coenzyme A, coenzyme A, GDP, guanosine 5′-[β,γ-imido]triphosphate (GMPPNP), and combinations thereof to the protein resulted in only modest changes to the radius of gyration (RG) of the enzyme, which were not consistent with any large changes in enzyme structure upon binding. These results imply some selective advantage to the bifunctional enzyme beyond coexpression as a single polypeptide, likely linked to an improvement in enzymatic properties. We propose that the rigid structure contributes to improved electrostatic steering of aminoglycoside substrates toward the two active sites, which may provide such an advantage.