Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recent developments in targeting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a threonine kinase involved in intracellular pro-survival signaling. Its activation leads to progression from the G1 to S phase of the cell cycle. Constitutive activation of the mTOR-related messengers, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Akt kinase, ribosomal p70S6 kinase and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein kinase, was found in numerous malignancies. Recent data indicate that the mTOR kinase pathway can be an attractive target for anti-cancer drug development. A well-known mTOR inhibitor is rapamycin (RAPA), previously applied as an immunosuppressive agent in transplant studies. Recently, analogs of RAPA, such as CCI-779, RAD001 and AP23573, have been developed. All of those agents are currently being tested in patients with solid or hematological tumors in several clinical trials. This review presents recent developments in targeting the mTOR kinase pathway.
Why do bilioduodenal plastic stents become occluded? A clinical and pathological investigation on 100 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS The main complication associated with biliary stenting is stent occlusion. This study tested the hypothesis that bilioduodenal reflux may play a crucial role in stent clogging. PATIENTS AND METHODS Plastic stents in 100 consecutive patients with various biliary disorders were investigated macroscopically and cytologically. RESULTS In 37 patients with elective stent extraction, the only risk factor for stent occlusion was the duration of stenting. Plant material was found as a consequence of duodenobiliary reflux in 38 of the 89 stents with any stent content. In patients who had two stents, the stent content was identical in eight of 14 cases. CONCLUSIONS In addition to other mechanisms of biliary stent occlusion, duodenobiliary reflux appears to play an important role. A stent design capable of at least partly preventing this type of reflux might be of clinical benefit.
Knowledge, Skills, or Attitudes/Beliefs: The Contexts of Agricultural Literacy in Upper-Elementary Science Curricula.

Agricultural literacy connects knowledge, skills, and attitudes/beliefs (KSABs) about agriculture to KSABs in environmental education, education for sustainable development, and science education identified in recent reform initiatives. This study conducted a content analysis of 12 current upper-elementary U.S. science textbooks and curriculum programs to examine the representations and contexts of agricultural concepts. The findings revealed the reviewed materials did not include thorough representations of agricultural concepts or a wide distribution of KSABs and lacked systematic development of agricultural concepts. Implications for integrating agriculture into the elementary science curriculum to promote environmental, agricultural, and scientific literacy are discussed, as well as recommendations to guide developers to redesign science curriculum and promote agricultural literacy.
The Influence of Organizational Commitment and Islamic Work Ethic Toward Job Performance of Teaching Staff at Universities in Surakarta with Institutional Base as a Moderator Variable

The purposes of this study are: (1) examine the impact of organizational commitment to job performance of faculty member in Surakarta; (2) examine the impact of Islamic work ethic to job performance; and (3) examine the mediating role of institutional-base on the impact of Islamic work ethic to job performance. The results show that organizational commitment and Islamic work ethic had significance effect to job performance, but institutional-based had no moderating role in the effect of Islamic work ethic to job performance.Keywords: organizational commitment, Islamic work ethic, job performance, institusional-based.
Quality of Life, Mental Health and Educational Stress of High School Students in the Northeast of Thailand.

INTRODUCTION Majority of high school students in Thailand aim to study at universities. Therefore, they spend a lot of time studying in both classrooms and tutorial classes, that could cause stress, health problems and deteriorate their Quality Of Life (QOL). However, there has been no study on these issues in Thai context. AIM To describe the status of QOL, mental health, educational stress, well-being and determine factors associated with QOL among high school students in the Northeast of Thailand. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Northeast of Thailand among 1,112 students of grade 10th, 11th and 12th. Multistage random sampling was used to select high schools in 5 provinces. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess QOL, educational stress, anxiety, depression and well-being. The association between the covariates was observed by using Generalized Linear Mixed (logistic regression) Model (GLMM). RESULTS The prevalence of high level of QOL was 36% (95%CI: 32.30 to 41.69); whereas, 26.18% (95% CI: 16.72 to 35.63) had high level of educational stress and 16.41% (95% CI: 2.20 to 30.71) had severe anxiety. Prevalence of depression was 18.55% (95%CI: 9.86 to 27.23) and low level of well-being was 13.41% (95% CI: 0.18 to 27.14). The factors significantly associated with high QOL were; not having depression (Adj. OR= 3.07; 95%CI: (2.23 to 4.22); p<0.001), had high level of general well-being (Adj. OR=3.19; 95% CI:1.99 to 5.09; p<0.001) and had low to moderate level of anxiety (OR=1.60; 95%CI:1.01 to 2.67). CONCLUSION Most of the high school students had low to moderate levels of QOL, educational stress and anxiety. Depression, anxiety and general well-being had influences on QOL of high school students.
Asymptomatic Borrelia‐seropositive individuals display the same incidence of Borrelia‐specific interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ)‐secreting cells in blood as patients with clinical Borrelia infection

Lyme disease is a complex disorder that sometimes becomes chronic. There are contradictory reports of experimental Borrelia infections regarding which type of T cell cytokine responses, i.e. Th1 or Th2, are needed to eradicate the Borrelia spirochaetes. In human borreliosis a predominance of Borrelia‐specific Th1‐like responses has been shown. In this study, spontaneous, as well as Borrelia‐specific, secretion of IFN‐γ (Th1) and IL‐4 (Th2) in Borrelia‐seropositive healthy asymptomatic individuals (n = 17) was investigated in peripheral blood by a sensitive ELISPOT assay, and compared with previously reported responses in patients with clinical Borrelia infection (n = 25). The seropositive asymptomatic individuals displayed the same predominance of Borrelia‐specific IFN‐γ‐secreting cells as the patients with clinical Borrelia infection. Interestingly, the proportion of spontaneously IL‐4‐secreting cells, reflecting the unstimulated in vivo secretion, was lower in the seropositive asymptomatic individuals compared with patients with chronic Borrelia infections (n = 13, P = 0.02), whereas no such difference was found compared with subacute Borrelia infections (n = 12). These findings indicate that IFN‐γ secretion alone is not sufficient to eliminate Borrelia spirochaetes in humans, although IFN‐γ may still have a beneficial role in borreliosis acting in concert with other mechanisms.
Clinical outcomes and molecular profile of differentiated thyroid cancers with radioiodine-avid distant metastases.

BACKGROUND Radioiodine (RAI) remains the mainstay of therapy for RAI-avid (RAIA) distant metastatic thyroid carcinoma. We previously demonstrated that RAI-refractory distant metastatic thyroid cancers commonly harbor BRAF mutations. However, the molecular profile of RAIA metastatic thyroid cancer is unknown. Here we describe the mutational profile of thyroid tumors from follicular cell-derived cancer (FCDTC) patients presenting with RAIA distant metastases. In addition, we aimed to correlate clinical outcomes of RAI therapy with clinicopathological factors and tumor mutational status. METHODS We retrospectively identified 43 patients with FCDTC who had RAI uptake in the lungs and/or bones on their initial ¹³¹I postablation scan. Primary tumors were genotyped for known mutations in thyroid cancer genes. Structural response to RAI was assessed 6-18 months after each administered RAI activity and at the end of follow-up. RESULTS RAS, BRAF, RET/PTC, and PIK3CA mutations were found in 42, 23, 10, and 2% of tumors, respectively, and the remaining 23% were wild type. None of these patients achieved cure after repeat RAI therapies, and most patients (54%) experienced disease progression despite repeated RAI administration. There was an increased prevalence of RAS mutations in these RAIA tumors. RAS-mutant cancers were more likely to concentrate iodine on diagnostic whole body scans. Despite this, structural response to RAI was not influenced by tumor genotype. CONCLUSIONS RAIA metastatic FCDTC are overrepresented with RAS mutations, whereas RAI refractory metastatic thyroid cancers are enriched with BRAF mutations. Despite a seemingly preserved ability to concentrate iodine, RAI therapy is ineffective in achieving cure in most patients with RAIA metastatic FCDTC, even in RAS-mutant disease. These poor outcomes may be improved based on recent evidence that pretreatment with MAPK kinase 1/2 inhibitors enhances responses to RAI, particularly in patients with RAS-mutant tumors.
Acceptability of a Clinician-Assisted Computerized Psychological Intervention for Comorbid Mental Health and Substance Use Problems: Treatment Adherence Data from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Computer-delivered psychological treatments have great potential, particularly for individuals who cannot access traditional approaches. Little is known about the acceptability of computer-delivered treatment, especially among those with comorbid mental health and substance use problems. Objective The objective of our study was to assess the acceptability of a clinician-assisted computer-based (CAC) psychological treatment (delivered on DVD in a clinic-setting) for comorbid depression and alcohol or cannabis use problems relative to a therapist-delivered equivalent and a brief intervention control. Methods We compared treatment acceptability, in terms of treatment dropout/participation and therapeutic alliance, of therapist-delivered versus CAC psychological treatment. We randomly assigned 97 participants with current depression and problematic alcohol/cannabis use to three conditions: brief intervention (BI, one individual session delivered face to face), therapist-delivered (one initial face-to-face session plus 9 individual sessions delivered by a therapist), and CAC interventions (one initial face-to-face session plus 9 individual CAC sessions). Randomization occurred following baseline and provision of the initial session, and therapeutic alliance ratings were obtained from participants following completion of the initial session, and at sessions 5 and 10 among the therapist-delivered and CAC conditions. Results Treatment retention and attendance rates were equal between therapist-delivered and CAC conditions, with 51% (34/67) completing all 10 treatment sessions. No significant differences existed between participants in therapist-delivered and CAC conditions at any point in therapy on the majority of therapeutic alliance subscales. However, relative to therapist-delivered treatment, the subscale of Client Initiative was rated significantly higher among participants allocated to the BI (F2,54 = 4.86, P = .01) and CAC participants after session 5 (F1,29 = 9.24, P = .005), and this domain was related to better alcohol outcomes. Linear regression modeled therapeutic alliance over all sessions, with treatment allocation, retention, other demographic factors, and baseline symptoms exhibiting no predictive value. Conclusions Participants in a trial of CAC versus therapist-delivered treatment were equally able to engage, bond, and commit to treatment, despite comorbidity typically being associated with increased treatment dropout, problematic engagement, and complexities in treatment planning. The extent to which a client feels that they are directing therapy (Client initiative) may be an important component of change in BI and CAC intervention, especially for hazardous alcohol use. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12607000437460; http://www.anzctr. org.au/trial_view. aspx? ID=82228 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5ubuRsULu)
Nutrition transition and double burden of undernutrition and excess of weight in Brazil.

BACKGROUND Brazil, a unique Latin American country recognized as 1 of the 8 major economies of the world, is experiencing a significant deterioration in health equality in the past decade, despite its universal and free-of-charge health service that is governed by its national constitution. OBJECTIVE The objective was to describe the double burden at the national, household, and individual levels as well as its major trends across all demographic strata in the past 40 y. DESIGN The data were collected from 6 Brazilian national surveys conducted in 1974-1975, 1989, 1996, 2002-2003, 2006, and 2008-2009. Anthropometric indicators were estimated for all age groups and anemia indicators for children aged <5 y and women aged >15 y according to WHO recommendations. The annual increment rate was calculated for all indicators to assess the different time points among surveys. RESULTS In 2008-2009, 1 of every 7 citizens was obese. From 1974-1975 to 2008-2009, the annual obesity increment rate for men was 4.7% each year and was 2.5% each year for women. A large decrease in undernutrition in adults was observed from 1974-1975 to 1989. In children <5 y of age, no increase in the prevalence of overweight across the analyzed periods was observed, whereas a major decrease in the prevalence of undernutrition was detected from 1996 to 2006-2007. The prevalence of the obese mother-underweight child pair was low. No association between anemia and any other child anthropometric indicator was detected. Prevalence trends of adult obesity stratified by quintiles of per capita household income showed different trajectories for men and women across the surveys. In the last period, the poorest and richest adults showed positive incremental rates of obesity. CONCLUSIONS In Brazil, the current prevalence of excess weight is at least 3-fold higher than that of undernutrition. The lowest prevalence rate in the last period analyzed was observed in children <5 y of age. Inclusive social policies have succeeded in reducing poverty and in identifying new challenges related to obesity control or reduction.
Correlation between maternal anxiety, reactivity of fetal cerebral circulation to auditory stimulation, and birth outcome in normotensive and gestational hypertensive women

This study investigated the correlation between maternal anxiety and blood flow changes through the fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) after defined acoustic stimulation in 43 normotensive (C) and 40 gestational hypertensive (GH) subjects. Neonatal outcomes (gestational age at birth, Apgar score, birth weight) in the C and GH groups were analyzed. State (STAI-S) and trait (STAI-T) anxiety was assessed using Spielberger's questionnaire. The MCA blood flow was assessed once between 28 and 41 weeks of gestation using color Doppler ultrasound before and after application of defined acoustic stimulus. Relative size of the Pulsatility index (Pi) change (RePi) was calculated. The general hypotheses were: (1) women in GH group would have higher anxiety; (2) higher anxiety correlates with higher RePi change and poorer neonatal outcome; (3) fetuses from the GH group would have poorer neonatal outcome. Subjects from the GH group had higher STAI-T and RePi compared to the C group. A positive correlation between RePi and STAI-S, STAI-T, and systolic/diastolic blood pressure was found in both groups. There were more preterm deliveries in the GH group compared to the C group. A significant effect of STAI-T on body weight was observed in the C and GH group. There was a predictive effect of STAI-T and RePi on the C group, and STAI-S, STAI-T, diastolic blood pressure, and RePi on the GH group in terms of neonatal body weight. This study demonstrates an association between antenatal anxiety in GH women and increased fetal cerebral circulation in response to defined auditory stimulation.
Housing policy approaches in Canada: locating Québec, Alberta, and Manitoba

i Acknowledgements . ii Chapter One: Introduction . 1 Literature Review . 5 Importance of Housing . 6 Historical Development of Housing Policy in Canada . 7 Theoretical Framework Comparative Policy Theories . 13 ‘Middle Range’ Theory Esping-Andersen’s Welfare Regime Typology . 15 Social Policy Measures in the Housing Domain . 17 (1) Income Support Programs . 18 (2) Social Services . 19 (3) Social Legislation . 19 Provincial Divergences in Social Policy . 20 Chapter Two: Housing Allowances . 23 Program Characteristics: Rent supplements & other programs . 23 Overview & Analysis . 24 Housing Allowances . 26 Benefits & Access . 26 Eligibility Criteria . 27 Maximum Household Income Limits . 28 Level of Benefit . 32 Chapter Summary . 33 Chapter Three: Social Assistance & Other Income Supports . 35 Characteristics of Social Assistance & Related Income Supports . 35 Social Assistance Programs . 35 ‘Other’ Income Support Programs . 37 Overview & Analysis . 37 Social Assistance – Income Supports . 38 Benefit Types & Access. 38 Eligibility Criteria . 39 Liquid Assets, General & Vehicle Exemptions . 39 Level of Benefit . 42 Other Income Support Programs . 46 Eligibility Criteria . 47 Level of Benefit . 49 Chapter Summary . 52 Chapter Four: Social Housing and Rent Regulations . 55 Program Characteristics: Social Housing and Rent Regulations . 55 Overview & Analysis . 56 Social Housing Programs . 56 Maximum Household Income Limits . 57 Other Eligibility Criteria . 59 Level of Benefit . 60 Rent Regulations . 60 Rent Setting & Increases . 60 Chapter Summary . 62 Chapter Five: Conclusion. 67 Locating Québec, Alberta & Manitoba: Key Findings . 70 Québec . 71 Alberta . 73 Manitoba . 74 Contribution . 76 Limitations of this Study . 77 Future Research . 80 Bibliography . 82 List of Tables . 91 Summary Table 2.0 Income Supports: Rent Supplement Programs . 91 Summary Table 2.1 Income Supports: ‘Other’ Housing Allowance Programs . 93 Table 2.2 Rent Supplement Programs: Maximum Household Income Limits. 97 Table 2.3 Rent Supplement Programs: Maximum Household Income Limits Compared . 97 Summary Table 3.0 – Income Supports: Social Assistance Programs . 99 Summary Table 3.1 – Income Supports (‘Other’ Income Support Programs) . 106 Table 3.2 – Social Assistance Programs for Persons Without Disabilities: Liquid Asset Restrictions . 111 Table 3.3 – Social Assistance Programs for Persons With Disabilities: Liquid Asset Restrictions . 115 Table 3.4 – Social Assistance Programs: Vehicle and General Asset Exemptions . 117 Table 3.5 – Social Assistance Programs for Persons Without Disabilities: Level of Benefit . 119 Table 3.6 – Social Assistance Programs for Persons With Disabilities: Level of Benefit . 120 Summary Table 4.0 – Social Housing Rental Programs . 123 Table 4.1 – Social Housing Rental Programs: Maximum Household Income Limits. 125 Table 4.2 Social Housing Rental Programs: Maximum Household Income Limits Compared . 126
Comparison of Patient-Controlled Analgesia and Nurse-Controlled Infusion Analgesia after Cardiac Surgery

A randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 72 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery to compare patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) to nurse-titrated infusion of morphine. Pain and nausea scores were assessed at 5, 20, 32 and 44 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass. Serum cortisol estimations were performed at 24 and 48 hours, and morphine consumption was measured at 0-24 and 24-48 hours. There was no difference between pain scores (P=0.72), nausea scores (P=0.52), serum cortisol at 24 and 48 hours (P=0.32 and P=0.34), and morphine consumption at 0-24 and 24-48 hours (P=0.16 and P=0.12). There was also no difference in the time to tracheal extubation (P=0.79) and discharge from ICU (P=0.64). There was a significant association between pain and serum cortisol at 48 hours (P=0.023). This study also found a tenfold difference in the amount of morphine used (range = 11 to 108 mg), with no significant association with patient age or sex. We could find no significant benefit from the routine use of PCA in cardiac surgical patients.
Structural basis for the inactivation of retinoblastoma tumor suppressor by SV40 large T antigen

Inactivation of the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor by Simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen is one of the central features of tumorigenesis induced by SV40. Both the N‐terminal J domain and the LxCxE motif of large T antigen are required for inactivation of Rb. The crystal structure of the N‐terminal region (residues 7–117) of SV40 large T antigen bound to the pocket domain of Rb reveals that large T antigen contains a four‐helix bundle, and residues from helices α2 and α4 and from a loop containing the LxCxE motif participate in the interactions with Rb. The two central helices and a connecting loop in large T antigen have structural similarities with the J domains of the molecular chaperones DnaJ and HDJ‐1, suggesting that large T antigen may use a chaperone mechanism for its biological function. However, there are significant differences between large T antigen and the molecular chaperones in other regions and these differences are likely to provide the specificity needed for large T antigen to inactivate Rb.
Interest Rate Exposure of Volatility Portfolios

The authors assess the exposure of stock portfolios sorted by total volatility to interest rate risk and determine whether this nonequity risk can explain differences in risk and risk-adjusted returns between low- and high-volatility portfolios over a 25-year period for U.S. equities. They find that the addition of an interest rate risk factor to the four-factor model reveals a small but positive duration for low-volatility portfolios. However, this new factor fails to improve the explanatory power of the model for both low- and high-volatility portfolios and has no significant impact on the portfolios’ risk-adjusted return. The authors find that interest rate factor loadings are fairly robust across different specifications of the multifactor model for low-volatility portfolios but are unstable for high-volatility portfolios. For all volatility portfolios under study, the significance of the results is highly dependent on the choice of time period.