Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Young and Older Workers in the Russian Labor Market: Are They Competitors?

This article explores possible competition between the young and older workers in Russia. For the last 15 years, the employment level of 60-64 year old people rose while the employment level of 20-24 year old people fell and their unemployment was near constant. In the article, we show that this trends were independent. First, because of the peculiar properties of supply and demand of young and older people's labor force, direct competition between two groups is limited. By the supply side young and older workers have significant differences in qualifications they have. By the demand side even though their wages are almost equal, workplaces they occupy are also different if we compare them with the jobs occupied by 30-49 year old workers. Second, we used regional characteristics of the labor market and showed that there is no effect of the one of the groups' employment on the employment and unemployment of the other group. Therefore, the young and the older workers are not competitors on Russian labor market. On the contrary specialization of each group on their own professions and sectors creates the possibility for interaction in Russia. That is why we can expect position of young people in labor market wouldn't change after rising of pension age in Russia.
Enhanced dissolution and systemic availability of albendazole formulated as solid dispersions

Solid dispersions (SDs) containing the anthelmintic compound albendazole (ABZ) and either Pluronic 188 (P 188) or polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) as hydrophilic carriers were formulated. Drug–polymers interactions in solid state were investigated using different techniques. Only a 4% of total ABZ was dissolved at 5 min post-incubation, reaching dissolution rates of 32.8% (PEG 6000) and 69.4% (P 188) in SDs. In this way, P 188 was substantially more efficient as ABZ dissolution promoter in comparison to PEG 6000, especially at the initial stages of the dissolution processes (<30 min). An increased systemic availability (p < 0.001) was obtained when ABZ was administered as ABZ-P 188 SDs, with a 50% enhancement in systemic exposure (AUC values) compared to treatment with an ABZ suspension. Consistently, the Cmax increased 130% (p < 0.001) following treatment with P 188 based SD ABZ formulation. For the ABZ-PEG 6000 SD formulation, the favorable effect on ABZ systemic availability did not reached statistical significance compared to the control group. The study reported here showed the utility of pharmacokinetic assays performed on mice as a model for preliminary drug formulation screening studies.
Evaluation of final height prediction and selected parameters in Polish patients with severe and partial growth hormone deficiency.

OBJECTIVES The main goal of growth hormone therapy is to reach the height in the population ranges. The aim of the study was the comparison of selected methods for predicting final height in Polish patients with severe (sGHD) and partial (pGHD) growth hormone deficiency. METHODS 149 children with growth hormone deficiency treated with rhGH in the Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolic Diseases and Cardiology Developmental Age, PUM, in Szczecin, in 2000-2010 have been evaluated. Patient were divided into two groups: sGHD and pGHD. Two methods of final height prediction have been used: Roche-Weiner-Thissen (RWT) and target height (TH), results were compared to the final height (FH). 117 children finished therapy in the analysed period and reached final height. RESULTS The mean FH was similar in both groups. There was no significant difference between the accuracy of prediction methods of TH and RWT between groups of pGHD v. sGHD. Further analysis revealed, that in the group of boys with sGHD the prediction error of RWT was significantly lower than of the TH method (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS It seems that in the group of boys with sGHD RWT is a more accurate method than TH.
Impact of Hepatitis B Virus on Clinicopathological Features and Outcomes After Resection for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

UNLABELLED Background/ Aim: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is sometimes considered a risk factor for pancreatic cancer (PDAC), but the prognostic value of its presence has only rarely been investigated. The present study aimed to explore the impact of HBV after resection for PDAC. MATERIALS AND METHODS According to HBV surface antigen seroreactivity, 343 patients were classified as having non-viral or HBV-related cases of PDAC. Clinicopathological data and outcomes were comparatively assessed between the groups. RESULTS Chronic HBV infection was observed in 16 patients (4.5%). No significant differences between the HBV and non-viral cases of PDAC were observed. Tumor diameters (3.4 vs. 3.0, p=0.092) and stages at diagnosis (31 vs. 14% T1-T2, p=0.082) tended to differ between the groups, albeit without reaching significance. Completion of adjuvant therapy (63 vs. 54%, p=0.612), as well as median overall survival (15 vs. 17 months, p=0.346) was similar in the HBV and non-viral PDAC groups. CONCLUSION HBV-positive and virus-free patients with PDAC generally shared the same demographic, clinical and pathological profiles. HBV did not appear to have a detrimental effect on either early or long-term outcomes after resection for PDAC. Future studies searching for occult infection might, however, shed a different light on the role of HBV in PDAC.
Does off-pump coronary artery revascularization improve the long-term survival in patients with ventricular dysfunction?

OBJECTIVES Coronary artery revascularization with cardiopulmonary bypass (ONCAB) has been reported to carry several risks for patients with poor left ventricular (LV) function (ejection fraction <30%). Off-pump CABG (OPCAB) has been proposed to result in a better outcome, but mid- and long-term survival rates have never been compared. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on this group of patients. METHODS In a 10-year period, a total of 934 patients with poor LV function undergoing isolated first-time coronary artery bypass graft were studied. They were divided into two groups, the ONCAB group, with 528 patients, and the OPCAB group with 406 patients. The EuroSCORE was significantly higher in the OPCAB group (P=0.049). After adjusting for the preoperative characteristics, postoperative complications, in-hospital mortality, mid-term survival rate (five years), and long-term survival rate (10 years) were compared. RESULTS The average number of grafts was 3.7 in the ONCAB group and 3.1 in the OPCAB group (P<0.001). Postoperative complications of ONCAB and OPCAB groups such as; atrial fibrillation (29.6% vs. 28.6%), renal failure (9.3% vs. 9.6%), stroke (2.3% vs. 0.7%), and perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) (3.8% vs. 2.0%), were comparable between groups. Length of intensive care unit stay, hospital stay and ventilation time were considerably shorter in the OPCAB group (P<0.05). The incidence of wound infection was also lower in the OPCAB patients (P<0.05). After adjusting for the preoperative characteristics the incidence of most postoperative complications remained the same between the two groups, except for MI, which was lower in the OPCABs (P<0.04). Despite a lower number of proximal anastomoses in the OPCAB patients, the rate of stroke remained the same between the OPCAB and ONCAB patients (0.09% vs. 1.6%). In-hospital mortality was higher in ONCAB compared to OPCAB (7.8% vs. 5.7%), but this difference did not reach statistical significance (P=0.21). Likewise, mid-term and long-term survival rates were similar even with matched preoperative characteristics. However, re-intervention rate was found to be higher in the OPCABs (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Despite the reported benefits of OPCAB, there was no significant influence on the in-hospital mortality, mid-term survival or long-term survival in patients with LV dysfunction. With adequate myocardial protection in ONCAB and complete revascularization in OPCAB, similar results are achievable.
White matter lesions and disequilibrium in older people. II. Clinicopathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE To identify the cause of subcortical white matter lesions seen on magnetic resonance imaging in older patients with progressive deterioration of gait and balance. DESIGN Postmortem examination of three patients with objective impairment of gait and balance thought to be due to subcortical white matter lesions identified on magnetic resonance imaging. Brain sections were stained with routine methods and for glial fibrillary acid protein using an immunoperoxidase technique. PATIENTS Part of a prospective study of gait and balance problems in older people. None had a history of hypertension or discrete strokelike episodes. RESULTS Other than a few small infarcts in the basal ganglia and internal capsule in the patient with the mildest gait disorder, there were no gross or microscopic features on routine examination post mortem to explain the white matter hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging or the progressive gait deterioration. By contrast, immunohistochemical staining with anti-glial fibrillary acid protein showed prominent astrocytosis T2-weighted high-intensity signal areas on magnetic resonance imaging. CONCLUSIONS The astrocytes presumably swell as they take up extravasated protein at the site of a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier, and the increased water content per unit volume increases the magnetic resonance imaging proton signal. We hypothesized that the astrocytes may have been initially activated by small infarcts or subclinical ischemia, but the process then became self-perpetuating, ultimately involving most of the white matter and producing the severe gait disorder.
Hypothalamic energy metabolism is impaired by doxorubicin independently of inflammation in non‐tumour‐bearing rats

We sought to explore the effects of doxorubicin on inflammatory profiles and energy metabolism in the hypothalamus of rats. To investigate these effects, we formed two groups: a control (C) group and a Doxorubicin (DOXO) group. Sixteen rats were randomly assigned to either the control (C) or DOXO groups. The hypothalamus was collected. The levels of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α and energy metabolism (malate dehydrogenase, complex I and III activities) were analysed in the hypothalamus. The DOXO group exhibited a decreased body weight (p < 0.01). Hypothalamic malate dehydrogenase activity was reduced when compared with control (p < 0.05). In addition, pro‐inflammatory cytokine levels were unchanged. Therefore, our results demonstrate that doxorubicin leads to an impairment of \hypothalamic energy metabolism, but do not affect the inflammatory pathway. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lipoprotein Lipase Reduces Secretion of Apolipoprotein E from Macrophages*

Macrophages are a significant source of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and apolipoprotein E (apo E) in the developing arterial wall lesion, and each of these proteins can importantly modulate lipid and lipoprotein metabolism by arterial wall cells. LPL and apo E share a number of cell surface binding sites, including proteoglycans, and we have previously shown that proteoglycans are important for modulating net secretion of apoprotein E from macrophages. We therefore evaluated a potential role for LPL in modulating net secretion of macrophage-derived apo E. In pulse-chase experiments, addition of LPL during the chase period produced a decrease in secretion of apoprotein E from human monocyte-derived macrophages, from the human monocytic THP1 cell line, and from J774 cells transfected to constitutively express a human apo E cDNA. LPL similarly reduced apo E secretion when it was prebound to the macrophage cell surface at 4 °C. A native LPL particle was required to modulate apo E secretion; addition of monomers and aggregates did not produce the same effect. Depletion of cell surface proteoglycans by a 72-h incubation in 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-xyloside did not attenuate the ability of LPL to reduce apo E secretion. However, addition of receptor-associated protein attenuated the effect of LPL on apo E secretion. Although LPL could mediate removal of exogenously added apo E from the culture medium, detailed pulse-chase analysis suggested that it primarily prevented release of newly synthesized apo E from the cell layer. Cholesterol loading of cells or antibodies to the low density lipoprotein receptor attenuated LPL effects on apo E secretion. We postulate that LPL sequesters endogenously synthesized apo E at the cell surface by a low density lipoprotein receptor-dependent mechanism. Such post-translational regulation of macrophage apo E secretion by LPL could significantly influence apo E accumulation in arterial vessel wall lesions.
Adolescent Substance Use With Friends: Moderating and Mediating Effects of Parental Monitoring and Peer Activity Contexts

The influence of using substances with friends on future individual use was examined in the context of parental monitoring rules and the ecology of peer activities. A 1-year longitudinal study design included a combined sample of North Italian and French Canadian adolescents (N = 285, 53% girls, M = 14.25 years). Data analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling and multiple regression analyses. As expected, the covariation between parental monitoring and adolescent substance use was mediated by co-use with friends. Moreover, the relation between substance use with friends and individual substance use was moderated by parental monitoring rules and the peer activity context. Specifically, the relation between substance co-use with friends and individual substance use was stronger when the level of parental monitoring rules was low and when friends spent their time together primarily in unstructured contexts such as on the street or in park settings. These findings underline the importance of adults’ use of rules to monitor adolescents prone to substance use, and the role of context in facilitating or reducing peer influence.
Progress in melanoma modelling in vitro

Melanoma is one of the most studied neoplasia, although laboratory techniques used for investigating this tumor are not fully reliable. Animal models may not predict the human response due to differences in skin physiology and immunity. In addition, international guidelines recommend to develop processes that contribute to the reduction, refinement and replacement of animals for experiments (3Rs). Adherent cell culture has been widely used for the study of melanoma to obtain important information regarding melanoma biology. Nonetheless, these cells grow in adhesion on the culture substrate which differs considerably from the situation in vivo. Melanoma grows in a 3D spatial conformation where cells are subjected to a heterogeneous exposure to oxygen and nutrient. In addition, cell‐cell and cell‐matrix interaction play a crucial role in the pathobiology of the tumor as well as in the response to therapeutic agents. To better study, melanoma new techniques, including spherical models, tumorospheres and melanoma skin equivalents, have been developed. These 3D models allow to study tumors in a microenvironment that is more close to the in vivo situation and are less expensive and time‐consuming than animal studies. This review will also describe the new technologies applied to skin reconstructs such as organ‐on‐a‐chip that allows skin perfusion through microfluidic platforms. 3D in vitro models, based on the new technologies, are becoming more sophisticated, representing at a great extent the in vivo situation, the “perfect” model that will allow less involvement of animals up to their complete replacement, is still far from being achieved.
Detection of tumor necrosis factor‐α in bone marrow plasma and peripheral blood plasma from patients with aplastic anemia

Plasma levels of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) were determined in healthy individuals and patients with aplastic anemia (ApAn). IFN‐γ was not detected in normal peripheral blood plasma (PBP) or bone marrow plasma (BMP) and was present in PBP from only 2 of 22 patients and in BMP from 1 of 14 patients and the levels were low (< 1.5 U/ml). Elevated levels of TNF‐α were present in BMP and PBP from patients but not in control (healthy donor) PBP and BMP. Eleven of twenty‐four patients had elevated levels of TNF‐α in their PBP and 6 of 13 patients had detectable levels of TNF‐α in their BMP. Only one of the 14 healthy control donors had detectable TNF‐α and the level was very low (7 pg/ml), while 13 of the 27 ApAn patients had detectable TNF‐α (P = .009, chi‐square test). Not surprisingly, the centers of the distributions of TNF‐α concentrations of the controls and ApAn patients differed significantly (P < .017 for control and patient PBP and P < .056 for control and patient BMP, Wilcoxon rank‐sum test). Spontaneous production of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α by cultured bone marrow mononuclear cells was observed in four of seven patients but not in the six healthy controls (P = 0.026). Spontaneous production of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α by cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients and controls was however similar. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)‐induced production of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α by cultured mononuclear cells did not differ significantly between ApAn patients and normal controls. The significance of overproduction of TNF‐α in the pathophysiology of ApAn is discussed. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Testing for Ricardian Equivalence in Indonesia

There are competing "views" on the economic effects of debt finance. One view argues that tax and debt finance have identical effects on various economic measures, a view sometimes termed "Ricardian Equivalence". However, this "Ricardian view" remains controversial, with other views (the "Keynesian view" and the "Neoclassical view") concluding that debt finance is likely to have significant impacts on consumption, interest rates, and the current account. Empirical tests of these competing views, conducted mainly for developed countries, have failed to generate much consensus, and there are few studies for developing countries, especially a developing country that is heavily dependent on natural resources (e.g., oil). This paper provides a battery of empirical tests on the effects of government debt finance in one developing country, Indonesia. We focus on three empirical tests: effects on consumption, on interest rates, and on the current account balance. We find, across virtually all of our time series tests, that Ricardian Equivalence does not hold; that is, the predictions of the Ricardian paradigm are consistently and strongly rejected by most of our estimation results. The only results that tend to give some support to Ricardian Equivalence are those that recognize the importance of oil in the Indonesian economy. Even so, our results generally indicate that debt finance will increase the interest rate, will increase current consumption at the expense of future consumption, and will retard exports and stimulate imports through currency appreciation.
Socio Economic Factors of Contract Farming: A Logistic Analysis

According to studies from Lajili et al. (1997), Rehber (2000), Sartwelle et al. (2000) and Key (2003), a farmer’s discrete choice to join contract farming scheme or not it is influenced by the household’s characteristics, operational features, socio-economic characteristics, market attributes of product and underlying agreement condition. Zhu found in a study of contract arrangement in China, that farmers’ decisions to enter into contract with their sponsors were influenced by Economic influence, distance from the target market, specialization and commercialization of the production. In a study of contract farming in transitional economies of Eastern Europe, Swinnen (2005), found that the most important factors which is more influenced farmers to enter into contracts or not, in order of importance were; guaranteed product sales, avoidance of price uncertainty, higher price offers, profitability, pre-payment offer input supply and technical assistance and some form of credit. In a detailed study of contract farming in poultry, chilly, Potato, banana, Wheat, Rice, maize, fruits and vegetables in Bali ,south Africa, India, America and Lombok province of Indonesia, it was revealed that factors that the important considerations and motivating factors for farmers were the increasing the productivity of crops, and getting better Income & Price and less uncertainty; past experience in working with Contracting firm and agribusiness; education levels credit constraints and strong borrowing histories. The contracts were more appealing to less well-capitalization smallholders who were well educated, were credit constrained but who had strong borrowing histories (Patrick, 2004) [1] . The main objective of this paper is to analyze the main socio-economic factors that motivate smallholder farmers to engage in contract farming mechanism or not. [1] Patrick I. (2003). Contract farming in Indonesia: Smallholders and agribusiness working together.
An Integrative Approach to Mortuary Analysis: Social and Symbolic Dimensions of Chumash Burial Practices

Although most archaeologists recognize that valuable information about the social lives of ancient people can be obtained through the study of burial practices, it is clear that the symbolic nature of burial rituals makes interpreting their social significance a hazardous enterprise. These analytical difficulties can be greatly reduced using a research strategy that draws upon the strengths of a broad range of conceptually and methodologically independent data sources. We illustrate this approach by using archaeological data from cemeteries at Malibu, California, to explore an issue over which researchers are sharply divided: when did the simple chiefdoms of the Chumash Indians first appear in the Santa Barbara Channel area? First we establish the social correlates of Chumash burial practices through the comparison of historic-period cemetery data, ethnohistoric records, and ethnographic accounts. The resulting understanding of mortuary symbolism is then used to generate hypotheses about the social significance of prehistoric-period Malibu burial patterns. Finally, bioarchaeological data on genetic relationships, health status, and activity are used to independently test artifact-based hypotheses about prehistoric Chumash social organization. Together, these independent data sources constitute strong evidence for the existence of a ranked society with a hereditary elite during the late Middle period in the Santa Barbara Channel area.