Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deletion variant near ZNF389 is associated with control of ovine lentivirus in multiple sheep flocks

Ovine lentivirus (OvLV) is a macrophage-tropic lentivirus found in many countries that causes interstitial pneumonia, mastitis, arthritis and cachexia in sheep. There is no preventive vaccine and no cure, but breed differences suggest marker-assisted selective breeding might improve odds of infection and control of OvLV post-infection. Although variants in TMEM154 have consistent association with odds of infection, no variant in any gene has been associated with host control of OvLV post-infection in multiple animal sets. Proviral concentration is a live-animal diagnostic measure of OvLV control post-infection related to severity of OvLV-induced lesions. A recent genome-wide association study identified a region including four zinc finger genes associated with proviral concentration in one Rambouillet flock. To refine this region, we tested additional variants and identified a small insertion/deletion variant near ZNF389 that showed consistent association with proviral concentration in three animal sets (P < 0.05). These animal sets contained Rambouillet, Polypay and crossbred sheep from multiple locations and management conditions. Strikingly, one flock had exceptionally high prevalence (>87%, including yearlings) and mean proviral concentration (>950 copies/μg), possibly due to needle sharing. The best estimate of proviral concentration by genotype, obtained from all 1310 OvLV-positive animals tested, showed insertion homozygotes had less than half the proviral concentration of other genotypes (P < 0.0001). Future work will test additional breeds, management conditions and viral subtypes, and identify functional properties of the haplotype this deletion variant tracks. To our knowledge, this is the first genetic variant consistently associated with host control of OvLV post-infection in multiple sheep flocks.
Identification and characterization of unique to human regulatory sequences in embryonic stem cells reveal associations with transposable elements, distal enhancers, non-coding RNA, and DNA methylation-driven mechanisms of genome editing

Despite significant progress in structural and functional characterization of human genome, understanding of mechanisms underlying the genetic basis of human phenotypic uniqueness remains limited. We report that non-randomly distributed transposable element-derived sequences, most notably HERV-H/LTR7 and L1HS, are associated with creation of 99.8% unique to human transcription factor binding sites in genome of embryonic stem cells (ESC). 4,094 unique to human regulatory loci display selective and site-specific binding of critical regulators (NANOG, POU5F1, CTCF, Lamin B1) and are preferentially placed within the matrix of transcriptionally active DNA segments hyper-methylated in ESC. Unique to human NANOG-binding sites are enriched near the rapidly evolving in primates protein-coding genes regulating brain size, pluripotency lncRNAs, hESC enhancers, and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine-harboring regions immediately adjacent to binding sites. We propose a proximity placement model explaining how 33-47% excess of NANOG and POU5F1 proteins immobilized on a DNA scaffold may play a functional role at distal regulatory elements.
Apoptosis, Proliferation, and Expression of p53 and bcl-2 in Endocervical Glandular Intraepithelial Lesions and Invasive Endocervical Adenocarcinoma

We evaluated apoptosis, proliferation, and p53 and bcl-2 expression in a spectrum of intraepithelial and invasive endocervical glandular lesions currently recognized by the World Health Organization as adenocarcinoma in situ, lesions with atypia “less than adenocarcinoma in situ ” (endocervical glandular dysplasia and endocervical glandular atypia), and invasive adenocarcinoma. Aside from nuclear atypia, increased mitotic activity and apoptosis are consistent and closely correlated morphologic features of endocervical adenocarcinoma in situ. Apoptotic bodies and mitotic figures were counted in 32 examples of normal endocervical glands, 35 of endocervical glandular atypia, 30 of endocervical glandular dysplasia, 34 of adenocarcinoma in situ, and 30 of invasive adenocarcinoma. These results were correlated with immunohistochemical staining for MIB1, bcl-2, and p53 performed on 20 examples of each. Mitotic counts, p53 expression, and bcl-2 expression all increased significantly and in proportion to the degree of atypia in the spectrum of endocervical lesions. Apoptotic body counts and MIB1 expression also increased significantly with increasing atypia, but showed higher levels in adenocarcinoma in situ than in invasive adenocarcinoma. Apoptosis correlates with proliferation as measured by mitotic counts and MIB1, and also with p53 and bcl-2 expression. Apoptosis appears to be an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of endocervical glandular lesions and may be useful as an aid in their evaluation and diagnosis.
Discretion versus Policy Rules in Futures Markets: A Case of the Osaka-Dojima Rice Exchange, 1914-1939

We investigate the relationship between market efficiency of rice futures transaction in Osaka and the Japanese government intervention in rice distributions by directly buying and selling rice during the interwar period, from the middle 1910s to 1939, considering the context of "discretion versus rules. " We use a time-varying VAR model to compare market efficiency and the government's actions over time. We found the two facts by featuring the time-varying nature of the market efficiency. First, the intervention with discretionary power disrupted the rice market and reduced market efficiency in the exchange. Second, the market efficiency improved in accordance with reduction in the government's discretionary power to operate the rice policy. When the government obtained the discretionary power to operate the policy regarding commodity market, the market efficiency often reduced. Conversely, even if the government implemented a large-scale intervention, the market efficiency improved when the government chose a systematic rule-like behavior following the law.
Dive into Dividends: How Does the Dividend Yield and Change of Capital Income Tax Affects Dividend Anomaly: Evidence from the Finnish Market

In this study, I study the impact of divided taxation and dividend yield on stock returns around ex-dividend date. I studied how the anomaly has changed over time and over different tax-regimes before and after ex-dividend date in the Finnish market during 1993-2016. Before the tax-reformation in 2004, the abnormal returns were positive and statistically significant before the ex-dividend date. After that time, the significance drops and the taxation has not changed that much but the changes are still visible in the results. The low yielding stocks surprisingly outperformed other yielders during the sample window −20 < t < 20 ie. its performance around ex-dividend date was better than high-yielders’ cum-dividend performance. * I wish to thank all who have helped me during my thesis project: Elias Rantapuska, Ph.D., my supervisor, for his valuable comments and feedback, Tomi Viitala, Ph.D., who helped me through the capital income taxation. I would like to thank also Mikko Niemenmaa for his humble and fun support. In addition, I would like to thank Joakim Koene, Juho Kiiski and Riku Lehtoniemi, my fellow students, who commented and gave advices and Sari, my fiancé, who supported me through the whole project. 2
Optimal Grants and Subsidies for Development Supply Chains: Case of Solar Lanterns in Haiti

Problem definition: In supply chains for subsidised products sold to low income families, there is a question about who should be subsidised in the supply chain and to what extent, and whether retail competition or having substitutable products matters. Academic/practical relevance: By introducing and analyzing “development supply chains” in which transactions are commercial but grants and subsidies are needed for affordability, we show that donors such as USAID or World Bank need to understand and exploit supply chain structure, including retail competition and product subsitutability. Methodology: We develop stylised models to analyse optimal grants and subsidies for a three-echelon supply chain of manufacturers, retailers and consumers. Successive models focus on manufacturers and grants, and on retailers and consumers, adding substitutable products and competition in retail. Results: A “lump-sum” grant enables the donor to generate an indirect incentive for the manufacturer to make R&D investment to reduce its own unit cost and a direct incentive to reduce its wholesale price for retailers. The donor can subsidize either the retailer or the customer, and the total subsidy per unit has an optimal level. Having choice between a more preferred and a less preferred substitutable product can increase the number of beneficiaries. Subsidizing competing retailers can increase the number of beneficiaries although at the expense of reduced margins (but higher units sold). In all cases, margins for the retailer echelon remain positive, supporting the “development” goal. Managerial implications: Donors must coordinate within different programmes along the entire supply chain. They must encourage substitutable products with support for higher quality, higher cost products as well as retail competition. Unit subsidies to the retailer, micro-entrepreneur, or customer are economically equivalent, so transaction costs should drive the decision for where to subsidise the supply chain.
Proximal Migration Can Be Measured Accurately on Standardized Anteroposterior Shoulder Radiographs

During the last decade, investigators of several studies have stressed the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of rotator cuff tears to improve outcome of surgical repair. Proximal migration of the humeral head is thought to be indicative for rotator cuff disorders. We wanted to assess the accuracy of proximal migration measurement on anteroposterior radiographs. Computed tomography scans and anteroposterior radiographs of 43 shoulders in 26 patients were taken using the same protocol. Proximal migration was measured as the acromiohumeral interval and the upward migration index. The mean absolute difference for the upward migration index was only 0.06 (standard deviation, 0.07), this was less then 5% of the mean upward migration index measured on computed tomography reformations. The correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plot showed a strong correlation between computed tomography and radiographic measurements, especially for the upward migration index (correlation coefficient, 0.82). Our results indicate that measurement of subacromial space on anteroposterior radiographs, controlled for positioning, scaling, and individual differences by using the upward migration index, presents an accurate measurement for proximal migration. Level of Evidence:Diagnostic study, Level I (testing of previously developed diagnostic criteria on consecutive patients-with universally applied reference “gold” standard). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Calcium chloride and sodium phosphate in neonatal parenteral nutrition containing TrophAmine: precipitation studies and aluminum content.

OBJECTIVES The objectives were to determine concentrations of calcium chloride (CaCl) and sodium phosphate (NaPhos) that can be safely added to TrophAmine-based parenteral nutrition (PN) and to measure aluminum (Al) concentrations in PN solutions containing CaCl and NaPhos vs those containing calcium gluconate (CaGlu) and potassium phosphate (KPhos). METHODS In study A, PN solutions containing varying amounts of TrophAmine, CaCl, and NaPhos were compounded and then evaluated visually for precipitation. In study B, Al concentrations were measured in PN solutions containing CaCl and NaPhos (S1), CaGlu and NaPhos (S2), or CaGlu and KPhos (S3). RESULTS Study A showed that a maximum phosphorus concentration of 15 mmol/L could be added to a solution containing 12.5 mmol/L of calcium without evidence of precipitation when the amino acid (AA) concentration reached ≥3 g/dL (3%). In study B, the mean (range) Al concentrations were S1 = 2.2 (1.9-2.4), S2 = 8.5 (7.8-9.3), and S3 = 11.7 (10.8-12.2) µmol/L (means of 6.0, 22.9, and 31.5 micrograms/dL, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The data can provide a guide for compounding neonatal PN solutions containing TrophAmine, CaCl, and NaPhos. More studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of substituting CaCl for CaGlu in PN solutions for neonates. Substituting CaCl and NaPhos for CaGlu and KPhos significantly decreases Al concentrations in PN and potential Al exposure of neonatal patients.
The first six month growth and illness of exclusively and non-exclusively breast-fed infants in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE To compare the growth and illness pattern of infants who were exclusively breast fed for six months with those of infants commenced on complementary feeding before the age of six months and ascertain reasons for the early introduction of complementary feeding. DESIGN A comparative prospective study. SETTING Urban Comprehensive Health Centre (UCHC), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife. SUBJECTS Three hundred and fifty-two mothers and their normal birth weight babies, weighing 2.500kg or more, and aged less than 14 days were serially recruited into the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mean/median monthly weights in the first six months of life, history/outpatient presentation for illnesses. RESULTS Of the 352 mother-infant pairs recruited into the study, 345 (98%) were successfully followed up for the first six months of life. At six months, 264 (76.5%) were exclusively breast-fed, 45 (13.1%) were started on complementary feeding, between the ages of four and six months while 36 (10.4%) commenced complementary feeding before the age of four months. Infants who were exclusively breast-fed for six months had median weights above the 50th percentiles of the WHO/NCHS reference that is currently used in the national "road to health" (growth monitoring) cards. Furthermore, the mean weight of these babies at age six months was above those of babies who started complementary foods before six months. They also reported fewer symptoms and had fewer illness episodes (0.1 episodes per child) compared to those who started complementary feeding before six months. Infants who commenced complementary feeding before four months reported more symptoms and had more illness episodes (1.4 episodes per child) compared to those that commenced complementary feeding between four and six months (1.2 episodes per child). Common symptoms/illnesses seen or reported during the study among the groups were fever, diarrhoea and cough. Reasons given for early introduction of complementary foods include insufficient breast milk, thirst and convenience. CONCLUSION It is concluded that exclusive breast-feeding supported adequate growth during the first six months of life for most of the infants studied. Early introduction of complementary foods did not provide any advantages in terms of weight gain in our environment, it was frequently associated with illness episodes and growth faltering. Many mothers however require support, encouragement and access to health care providers to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of life.
Feedback Mechanisms Including Real-Time Electronic Alerts to Achieve Near 100% Timely Prophylactic Antibiotic Administration in Surgical Cases

BACKGROUND: Administration of prophylactic antibiotics during surgery is generally performed by the anesthesia providers. Timely antibiotic administration within the optimal time window before incision is critical for prevention of surgical site infections. However, this often becomes a difficult task for the anesthesia team during the busy part of a case when the patient is being anesthetized. METHODS: Starting with the implementation of an anesthesia information management system (AIMS), we designed and implemented several feedback mechanisms to improve compliance of proper antibiotic delivery and documentation. This included generating e-mail feedback of missed documentation, distributing monthly summary reports, and generating real-time electronic alerts with a decision support system. RESULTS: In 20,974 surgical cases for the period, June 2008 to January 2010, the interventions of AIMS install, e-mail feedback, summary reports, and real-time alerts changed antibiotic compliance by −1.5%, 2.3%, 4.9%, and 9.3%, respectively, when compared with the baseline value of 90.0% ± 2.9% when paper anesthesia records were used. Highest antibiotic compliance was achieved when using real-time alerts. With real-time alerts, monthly compliance was >99% for every month between June 2009 and January 2010. CONCLUSIONS: Installation of AIMS itself did not improve antibiotic compliance over that achieved with paper anesthesia records. However, real-time guidance and reminders through electronic messages generated by a computerized decision support system (Smart Anesthesia Messenger, or SAM) significantly improved compliance. With such a system a consistent compliance of >99% was achieved.
Mosquito Vector Biology and Control in Latin America—A 20th Symposium

Abstract The 20th Annual Latin American Symposium presented by the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) was held as part of the 76th Annual Meeting in Lexington, KY, in March 2010. The principal objective, as for the previous 19 symposia, was to promote participation in the AMCA by vector control specialists, public health workers, and academicians from Latin America. This publication includes summaries of 40 presentations that were given orally in Spanish or presented as posters by participants from 5 countries in Latin America, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Topics addressed in the symposium included: surveillance, chemical and biological control, and insecticide resistance associated with Aedes aegypti; distribution, behavior, and control of Culex; bionomics, ecology, and chemical and biological control of Anopheles vectors of malaria; insecticide resistance; and studies of dengue, West Nile virus, and Triatoma.
When Time Binds: Substitutes for Household Production, Returns to Working Long Hours, and the Skilled Gender Wage Gap

We provide evidence that constraints that prevent highly skilled women from working long hours hinder gender pay equality. We show that relaxing one such constraint by increasing the supply of substitutes for household production—proxied by intercity variation in predicted low-skilled immigration—increases the relative earnings of women in occupations that disproportionately reward overwork. Low-skilled immigration inflows induce young women to enter occupations with higher returns to overwork and shift women toward higher quantiles of the male wage distribution. The share of women in the top decile remains unaffected, suggesting that other barriers prevent women from reaching the very top.
Foreign-language immerision as preferred bilingual/biliterate program model for elementary English education in Taiwan

The primary aim of this project is to clarify the contexts of English as a foreign-language instructional program in Taiwan. Based on the discussion of cross-linguistic influence between the first language (Ll) and the second language (L2), the model of foreign-language immersion serves as the preferred program for teaching English as a foreign Language in Taiwan, if students are to achieve bilingualism and biliteracy in Mandarin and English. ' This project consists of five chapters. Chapter One presents the background of this project. Chapter Two reviews the related literature. Chapter Three provides a theoretical framework that integrates five key concepts presented in Chapter Two. Chapter Four offers a curriculum unit that includes five lessons. Chapter Five outlines the forms and methods of assessment featured in the lessons. The instructional unit is presented in the Appendix.
Public Service Motivation and Psychological Ownership in Taiwan’s Government-Owned Enterprises

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive power of each dimension of public service motivation on psychological ownership in a Taiwan sample. The sample consisted of 1087 employees from four government-owned enterprises. The research found that for all government-owned enterprises compassion was significantly negatively correlated with psychological ownership, while commitment to the public interest and self-sacrifice were significantly positively correlated with psychological ownership. Moreover, theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
Medical student assessment of videotape for teaching in diagnostic radiology

A series of six videotape recordings, prepared jointly by the Department of Radiodiagnosis and the Television Service, University of Leeds, described some aspects of the radiology of the chest, using only radiographs. A small group of final year medical students viewed these videotapes over the space of a few days. Their scores for factual questions immediately afterwards were compared with their attitudes to the learning experience, expressed anonymously without knowledge of these scores. Students who scored the highest marks were most consistently critical of the videotapes; those with lower marks tended to record favourable attitudes when they performed best and unfavourable attitudes at other times. Scales set up by the students themselves to evaluate the experience produced a wide range of detailed and constructive suggestions. In general, students commented very favourably on the capacity of videotape to present fine radiographic details and we conclude that it is an appropriate medium for this purpose.
Frequently asked questions

This chapter comprises answers to a number of questions that are often asked about the Grondona system by people wishing to understand how it differs from other policy proposals. The questions covered include whether it is a commodity standard, whether it uses buffer-stocks, how it is possible for a single country to have a significant influence, how it can be better than an international system, whether the system could use a crypto-currency, why such government intervention in markets could be beneficial, and other questions. Although some of the content unavoidably repeats what is explained in other chapters, it is hoped that it will be helpful to readers to be able to focus on specific issues in this way.
International Development NGOs and Bureaucratic Capacity: Facilitator or Destroyer?

Do development international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) facilitate or destroy the bureaucratic capacity of the states in which they operate? The literature is split on this question. Some scholars argue that development INGOs weaken state capacity by delivering social services that the government is supposed to provide. Others argue that by increasing a country’s domestic demand for improved human rights, development INGOs improve a government’s capacity to fulfill them. In this paper, we show that the effect of development INGOs on state capacity depends on whether a state is democratic or nondemocratic. In our cross-sectional time-series analysis, we find that development INGO presence has a significant positive relationship with state capacity in democracies but no relationship with state capacity in nondemocratic states. These findings help explain the inconsistent claims in the existing INGO literature and are also relevant for development INGOs and the policymakers that support them.