Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On perceptions of financial volatility in price sequences

ABSTRACT Stock prices in financial markets rise and fall, sometimes dramatically, thus asset returns exhibit volatility. In finance theory, volatility is synonymous with risk and as such represents the dispersion of asset returns about their central tendency (i.e. mean), measured by the standard deviation of returns. When individuals make investment decisions, influenced by perceptions of risk and volatility, they commonly do so by examining graphs of historic price sequences rather than returns. It is unclear, therefore, whether standard deviation of return is foremost in their mind when making such decisions. We conduct two experiments to examine the factors that may influence perceptions of financial volatility, including standard deviation along with a number of price-based factors. Also of interest is the influence of price sequence regularity on perceived volatility. While standard deviation may have a role to play in perception of volatility, we find evidence that other price-based factors play a far greater role. Furthermore, we report evidence to support the view that the extent to which prices appear irregular is a separate aspect of volatility, distinct from the extent to which prices deviate from central tendency. Also, while partially correlated, individuals do not perceive risk and volatility as synonymous, though they are more closely related in the presence of price sequence irregularity.
Effect of folate status and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotypes on the complications and outcome of high dose methotrexate chemotherapy in north Indian children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract Purpose: The genes of the folate metabolic pathway have been associated with toxicities during high dose methotrexate therapy for childhood ALL, however, the importance of intrinsic folate status in this regard is unclear. Methods: In the present study the effect of precourse folate levels and MTHFR genotypes on the complications during high dose methotrexate chemotherapy in children with ALL were examined. Results: Twenty-one children were studied. Folate deficiency was associated with higher incidence of neutropenia (P = 0.03) and longer duration of chemotherapy interruption (P = 0.009). Children with MTHFR1298 mutations needed more red cell transfusion (P = 0.03). All 3 deaths encountered were seen in folate deficient children. Conclusions: Folate deficiency was associated with higher complications during high dose methotrexate therapy, the implications of which are important especially in resource poor settings with high prevalence of folate deficiency.
The Acoustic Properties of Water Submerged Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) and Spruce (Picea spp.) Wood and Their Suitability for Use as Musical Instruments

Wood is a common material used for the manufacture of many products, and submerged wood, in particular, has been used in niche markets and musical instruments. In order to examine if submerged wood in British Columbia, Canada, would be appropriate for use as musical instruments, a study was performed in 2007 on submerged wood from Ootsa Lake, British Columbia, Canada. The results of that study showed the wood was not suitable for musical instruments. In this paper, the wood samples were allowed to age untouched in a laboratory setting and were then retested under the hypothesis that physical acoustic characteristics would improve. It was shown, however, that acoustic properties became less adequate after being left to dry over time. This article describes the density, speed of sound, acoustic constant and characteristic impedance properties for submerged wood and a comparison is made for different applications for musical instruments.
Risk assessment of slow or no‐reflow phenomenon in aortocoronary vein graft percutaneous intervention

Slow or no‐reflow phenomenon (SNR) complicates 10%–15% of cases of percutaneous intervention (PCI) in aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts (SVG). At present, there are no uniform, effective strategies to predict or prevent this common and potentially serious complication. The purpose of our study was to characterize variables correlated with the risk of SNR in SVG PCI in the era of stenting and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors. We identified 2,898 consecutive patients who had PCI, of whom 163 underwent PCI of at least one SVG. The clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients who developed SNR (SNR group) were compared with those who did not (no‐SNR group). A total of 23 patients experienced SNR and 140 did not. Using a stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis, four independent predictors for SNR were detected: probable thrombus (OR 6.9; 95% CI, 2.1–23.9; P = 0.001), acute coronary syndromes (OR 6.4; 95% CI, 2.0–25.3; P = 0.003), degenerated vein graft (OR 5.2; 95% CI, 1.7–16.6; P = 0.003), and ulcer (OR 3.4; 95% CI, 0.99–11.6; P = 0.04). The risk of developing SNR could be estimated according to the number of predictors found: low‐grade risk (1%–10%) if ≤ one variable was present, moderate risk (20%–40%) if two variables were present, and high risk (60%–90%) if three or more variables were present. We identified and quantified current risk factors for SNR and concluded that the risk of developing SNR during PCI in SVG can be predicted by simple clinical and angiographic variables obtained before PCI. This information may be useful when the risk of PCI has to be balanced against alternative strategies such as medical therapy or redo‐bypass surgery or in the selection of those patients that will most benefit from the use of protection devices during PCI. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;54:318–324. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunopathogenesis in Myasthenia Gravis and Neuromyelitis Optica

Myasthenia gravis (MG) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are autoimmune channelopathies of the peripheral neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and central nervous system (CNS) that are mainly mediated by humoral immunity against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4), respectively. The diseases share some common features, including genetic predispositions, environmental factors, the breakdown of tolerance, the collaboration of T cells and B cells, imbalances in T helper 1 (Th1)/Th2/Th17/regulatory T cells, aberrant cytokine and antibody secretion, and complement system activation. However, some aspects of the immune mechanisms are unique. Both targets (AChR and AQP4) are expressed in the periphery and CNS, but MG mainly affects the NMJ in the periphery outside of CNS, whereas NMO preferentially involves the CNS. Inflammatory cells, including B cells and macrophages, often infiltrate the thymus but not the target—muscle in MG, whereas the infiltration of inflammatory cells, mainly polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages, in NMO, is always observed in the target organ—the spinal cord. A review of the common and discrepant characteristics of these two autoimmune channelopathies may expand our understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of both disorders and assist in the development of proper treatments in the future.
Mentor Relationships And The Career Development Of Pregnant And Parenting African-American Teenagers

The influence of natural mentor relationships on the career outlook of African-American pregnant and parenting teenagers was examined. More than half of the participants nominated adults they considered to be mentors. A path model indicated that mentor support was associated with increased life optimism, beyond its indirect effects on career activities and beliefs about the opportunity structure. These findings suggest that natural mentors are an important resource in the career development of pregnant and parenting African-American adolescents.
Diagnostic Patterns of Social Phobia: Comparison in Tokyo and Hawaii

A comparison was made of the diagnosis of social phobia by Japanese psychiatrists in Tokyo and American psychiatrists in Hawaii. A brief segment of videotaped interviews and written case histories of four Japanese patients from Tokyo and two Japanese-American patients from Hawaii, who were clinically diagnosed with social phobia, were presented to the clinicians for their diagnosis. Japanese psychiatrists tended to diagnose social phobia congruently for the Japanese cases but not for the Japanese-American cases. American psychiatrists tended to diagnose various categories including anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder, in addition to social phobia, disregarding the ethnic background of the patients. This illustrates that the diagnostic pattern for social phobia varied considerably between psychiatrists of these two countries. The reasons considered are the patient's cardinal symptom manifestation, style of problems presentation, as well as the clinician's professional orientation and familiarity to this particular disorder.
Recycling of Shiga Toxin 2 Genes in Sorbitol-Fermenting Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:NM

ABSTRACT Using colony blot hybridization with stx2 and eae probes and agglutination in anti-O157 lipopolysaccharide serum, we isolated stx2-positive and eae-positive sorbitol-fermenting (SF) enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:NM (nonmotile) strains from initial stool specimens and stx-negative and eae-positive SF E. coli O157:NM strains from follow-up specimens (collected 3 to 8 days later) from three children. The stx-negative isolates from each patient shared with the corresponding stx2-positive isolates fliCH7, non-stx virulence traits, and multilocus sequence types, which indicates that they arose from the stx2-positive strains by loss of stx2 during infection. Analysis of the integrity of the yecE gene, a possible stx phage integration site in EHEC O157, in the consecutive stx2-positive and stx-negative isolates demonstrated that yecE was occupied in stx2-positive but intact in stx-negative strains. It was possible to infect and lysogenize the stx-negative E. coli O157 strains in vitro using an stx2-harboring bacteriophage from one of the SF EHEC O157:NM isolates. The acquisition of the stx2-containing phage resulted in the occupation of yecE and production of biologically active Shiga toxin 2. We conclude that the yecE gene in SF E. coli O157:NM is a hot spot for excision and integration of Shiga toxin 2-encoding bacteriophages. SF EHEC O157:NM strains and their stx-negative derivatives thus represent a highly dynamic system that can convert in both directions by the loss and gain of stx2-harboring phages. The ability to recycle stx2, a critical virulence trait, makes SF E. coli O157:NM strains ephemeral EHEC that can exist as stx-negative variants during certain phases of their life cycle.
Tuberculosis Risk in Ankylosing Spondylitis, Other Spondyloarthritis, and Psoriatic Arthritis in Sweden: A Population‐Based Cohort Study

Rheumatoid arthritis is a risk factor for tuberculosis (TB), particularly following treatment with biologic agents. Since these therapies are increasingly used in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), other types of spondyloarthritis (SpA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), we investigated the corresponding TB risks in these patients.
Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Established by Seasonal Human Influenza Cross-React against 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus

ABSTRACT While few children and young adults have cross-protective antibodies to the pandemic H1N1 2009 (pdmH1N1) virus, the illness remains mild. The biological reasons for these epidemiological observations are unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that the bulk memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) established by seasonal influenza viruses from healthy individuals who have not been exposed to pdmH1N1 can directly lyse pdmH1N1-infected target cells and produce gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Using influenza A virus matrix protein 1 (M158-66) epitope-specific CTLs isolated from healthy HLA-A2+ individuals, we further found that M158-66 epitope-specific CTLs efficiently killed both M158-66 peptide-pulsed and pdmH1N1-infected target cells ex vivo. These M158-66-specific CTLs showed an effector memory phenotype and expressed CXCR3 and CCR5 chemokine receptors. Of 94 influenza A virus CD8 T-cell epitopes obtained from the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), 17 epitopes are conserved in pdmH1N1, and more than half of these conserved epitopes are derived from M1 protein. In addition, 65% (11/17) of these epitopes were 100% conserved in seasonal influenza vaccine H1N1 strains during the last 20 years. Importantly, seasonal influenza vaccination could expand the functional M158-66 epitope-specific CTLs in 20% (4/20) of HLA-A2+ individuals. Our results indicated that memory CTLs established by seasonal influenza A viruses or vaccines had cross-reactivity against pdmH1N1. These might explain, at least in part, the unexpected mild pdmH1N1 illness in the community and also might provide some valuable insights for the future design of broadly protective vaccines to prevent influenza, especially pandemic influenza.
Histone H3K9 Acetyltransferase PCAF Is Essential for Osteogenic Differentiation Through Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling and May Be Involved in Osteoporosis

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells that can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. The importance of epigenetic regulation for osteogenic differentiation of MSCs is widely accepted. However, the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we show that histone H3K9 acetyltransferase PCAF plays a critical role in osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Knockdown of PCAF significantly reduced the bone formation both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, PCAF controls BMP signaling genes expression by increasing H3K9 acetylation. Most importantly, PCAF expression is significantly decreased in bone sections of ovariectomized or aged mice. Histone modification enzyme is chemically modifiable; therefore, PCAF may represent a novel therapeutic target for stem cell‐mediated regenerative medicine and the treatment of osteoporosis. Stem Cells 2016;34:2332–2341
Statin intolerance in heterozygous familial hypercolesterolemia with cardiovascular disease: After PCSK-9 antibodies what else?

Background Familial hypercholesterolemia is the elective clinical condition that deserves the maximal personalisation in lipid-lowering therapy, especially in the presence of statin intolerance. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors represent a promising approach to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Methods We enrolled 18 patients (mean age 62 ± 8 years, 72% men) affected by heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease, with a history of statin intolerance assigned to PCSK9 inhibitors. Six patients were also on LDL apheresis. Associated Lp(a)-hyperlipoproteinemia (defined as >60 mg/dl) was observed in two out of 18 subjects. PCSK9 inhibitor injectable monoclonal antibodies were administered, every 2 weeks, on top of patient therapy for 12 ± 4 weeks (evolocumab in 15 subjects, alirocumab in three subjects). Results After 3 months (12 ± 4 weeks) of therapy, a decrease in total cholesterol (–35%), LDL cholesterol (–51%) and Lp(a) levels (–20%) was observed. Five out of 18 patients reached LDL cholesterol levels of <70 mg/dl, seven showed LDL cholesterol values between 71 and 100 mg/dl, and six out of 18 still had LDL cholesterol levels above 100 mg/dl. Among the six patients with LDL cholesterol levels >100 mg/dl, three were already on LDL apheresis before the PCSK9 inhibitor treatment, while three were referred to LDL apheresis treatment. Adverse events were reported in two out of 18 patients on evolocumab: one presented with flu-like syndrome and the other reported episodes of mild difficulty in maintaining concentration. Conclusions PCSK9 inhibitors represent a novel therapeutic tool for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia who are intolerant to statins. However, more data are needed before cleaning up the old therapeutic armamentarium, such as LDL apheresis, which is likely to preserve its valuable role also in the new lipid-lowering era.
Watch Out for the Beast: Fear Information and Attentional Bias in Children

Although valenced information about novel animals changes the implicit and explicit fear beliefs of children (Field & Lawson, 2003), how it might lead to anxiety is unknown. One possibility, based on cognitive models of anxiety, is that fear information creates attentional biases similar to those seen in anxiety disorders. Children between 7 and 9 years old were given positive information about 1 novel animal, negative information about another, and no information about the 3rd. A pictorial dot-probe task was used, immediately or with a 24-hr delay, to test for attentional biases to the different animals. The results replicated the finding that fear information changes children's fear beliefs. Regardless of whether there was a delay, children acquired an attentional bias in the left visual field toward the animal about which they held negative beliefs compared to the control animal. These results imply a possible way in which fear information might contribute to acquired fear.
Continuous Insulin Infusion in Hyperglycemic, Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Continuous insulin infusion (CII) was used to increase intravenous glucose tolerance in 10 extremely premature (26.2 +/- 0.04 weeks, means +/- SEM) very low birth weight (819 +/- 53 g) hyperglycemic infants. CII was continued for 3-36 days. Over the first 72 h of insulin administration the mean amount of glucose tolerated rose from 0.35 +/- 0.06 to 0.67 +/- 0.06 g/kg/h and caloric intake derived from intravenous glucose increased from 29 to 56 kcal/kg/day. Insulin doses required to maintain normoglycemia ranged from 0.005-0.052 U/kg/h initially to 0.002-0.086 U/kg/h after 72 h of CII. Plasma insulin levels were significantly higher during insulin infusion. The low insulin doses required to maintain normoglycemia were consistent with a state of relative insulin deficiency, rather than insulin resistance. Mean plasma insulin/glucose ratios were significantly higher in normoglycemic versus hyperglycemic infants (0.40 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.14 +/- 0.05). Less than 1% of all blood glucose estimations were less than 25 mg/dl. Seventy-eight percent were within the normal range (greater than 45, less than 130 mg/dl). The rate of weight gain increased during CII in 8 of the 10 infants. CII may be useful in extremely premature, very-low-birth-weight infants in whom glucose intolerance persists despite conservative treatment, and either severely limits caloric intake, or results in life-threatening hyperglycemia.
Using the UNDP Indices to Examine Gender Equality and Well-being

As we have explained in Chapter 2, the Human Development Index (HDI), as developed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), compares countries’ average scores on what the UNDP has identified as three main dimensions of well-being; education, income, and health. Of course, considering only the national average scores is limited, and our application of the HDI methodology to Aboriginal populations in Canada has been premised on the understanding that national-level measures hide important differences in the social conditions experienced by different groups in Canadian society. One dimension which the UNDP does specifically examine in its annual Human Development Report (1990; 1995; 2004) is gender. Gender inequality is important in the context of international development, but it also remains a key dimension of income, employment, and health inequality in Canada, despite dramatic changes in recent decades. This chapter uses the HDI indicators as a means to examine the changes in gendered inequality between 1981 and 2001, and to measure the gender differences in the Registered Indian population and among other Canadians. We also introduce adaptations of two UNDP measures of gender inequality, the Gender-Related Development Index (GDI) and the Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM), and evaluate their use in examining changing patterns of gender equality in the Registered Indian population and among other Canadians.
Evidence for the rapid onset of apoptosis in medial smooth muscle cells after balloon injury.

BACKGROUND Vascular myocyte apoptotic cell death has been reported in human atherectomy and endarterectomy specimens and for neointimal smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries between 7 and 30 days after injury. However, the immediate effect of balloon injury on medial SMC viability has not been examined. METHODS AND RESULTS Rat carotid arteries were harvested at the time of balloon injury (T = 0) and at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours after injury. Uninjured vessels or vessels harvested at the time of injury (T = 0) did not display evidence of apoptosis. However, as early as 30 minutes after injury, 70% of medial SMCs appeared apoptotic by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis and by the appearance of condensed chromatin. High frequencies of TUNEL-positive cells were also observed at 1 and 2 hours after injury but not at 4 hours. Transmission electron microscopy revealed many cells with morphological characteristics of apoptosis in the injured sections. A marked decrease in bcl-X expression was detected in the most luminal layers of the media. To corroborate these findings in a second animal model, rabbit external iliac arteries were analyzed after balloon angioplasty. Apoptotic cell death was evident in rabbit arteries at 30 minutes and at 4 hours after injury. CONCLUSIONS As early as 30 minutes after balloon injury, myocytes appear to undergo apoptotic cell death at a high frequency as shown by TUNEL staining, chromatin condensation, and the appearance of morphological features in electron micrographs. The induction of apoptosis coincides with a marked downregulation of bcl-X expression.
Immediate postpartum glycemic control and risk of surgical site infection

Abstract Objective: Nearly one-third of all births in the United States in 2013 were by cesarean delivery, with 6% complicated by diabetes. The purpose of this study was to correlate immediate postoperative hyperglycemia with wound morbidity in diabetic women who underwent cesarean delivery. Methods: This retrospective case–control study was performed at UC Irvine Health and Miller Women’s & Children’s Hospital Long Beach between 2009 and 2015. Subjects included women with at least Class B diabetes mellitus who underwent cesarean birth. Fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels (BGL) were recorded daily during postoperative days one through four. Outcomes included abscess formation, cellulitis, wound separation, fascial dehiscence, hospital readmission, secondary wound closure, antibiotic treatment, and a composite of the above. Results: Outcomes were evaluated for 176 subjects. Twenty-nine experienced wound complications. Women readmitted for wound complications and those with composite morbidity experienced significantly higher mean fasting BGL, however, BGL during the immediate postoperative setting were not predictive of wound morbidity. Conclusion: In our cohort of diabetic women who underwent cesarean delivery, immediate postoperative hyperglycemia was not associated with wound morbidity.
Reproducing Social Conditions of Poverty: A Critical Feminist Analysis of Social Assistance Participation in Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT This study uses repeated Cox Proportional Hazards models to explore the characteristics significant in predicting social assistance (SA) exit rates in Ontario, Canada. The results indicate that gender, age, immigration status, family structure, and presence of children significantly affect the likelihood of SA exit. Interpreting these findings through a critical feminist lens, I highlight the structural barriers that potentially influence people’s trajectories. Social policies that might better address the lives of women and other groups are explored, and a human rights framework is discussed as one avenue to advance poverty reduction efforts.