Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The most prevalent hepatitis C virus genotypes in England and Wales are 3a and 1a

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes were assigned to 567 individuals by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 5′ noncoding region of the HCV genome following reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The groups of individuals in this study included hemophilia patients, injecting drug users (IDUs), blood donors, antenatal patients, those attending genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, and patients with chronic liver disease, all from England and Wales. The majority of HCV infections were types 1a (32%), 1b (15%), or 3a (37%). The genotype distribution in individual groups was similar to the overall genotype distribution except for hemophilia patients, in whom the frequencies were 1a (39%), 1b (23%), and 3a (21%). With the exception of hemophilia patients, subpopulations in England and Wales appear to share common modes of HCV transmission. There is a need for continued surveillance to monitor the spread of possibly more virulent or drug‐resistant HCV genotypes. J. Med. Virol. 58:127–131, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Voltage‐gated sodium channel Nav1.5 contributes to astrogliosis in an in vitro model of glial injury via reverse Na+/Ca2+ exchange

Astrogliosis is a prominent feature of many, if not all, pathologies of the brain and spinal cord, yet a detailed understanding of the underlying molecular pathways involved in the transformation from quiescent to reactive astrocyte remains elusive. We investigated the contribution of voltage‐gated sodium channels to astrogliosis in an in vitro model of mechanical injury to astrocytes. Previous studies have shown that a scratch injury to astrocytes invokes dual mechanisms of migration and proliferation in these cells. Our results demonstrate that wound closure after mechanical injury, involving both migration and proliferation, is attenuated by pharmacological treatment with tetrodotoxin (TTX) and KB‐R7943, at a dose that blocks reverse mode of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX), and by knockdown of Nav1.5 mRNA. We also show that astrocytes display a robust [Ca2+]i transient after mechanical injury and demonstrate that this [Ca2+]i response is also attenuated by TTX, KB‐R7943, and Nav1.5 mRNA knockdown. Our results suggest that Nav1.5 and NCX are potential targets for modulation of astrogliosis after injury via their effect on [Ca2+]i. GLIA 2014;62:1162–1175
Job quality between institutional differences and convergence

The alignment of workplace situation and work values is an important indicator of job quality. From an international comparative perspective, it can be assumed that countries differ regarding the respective mismatch levels owing to institutional differences. However, these differences may be dynamic, and globalization approaches posit a general trend towards convergence. This paper tests these assumptions by asking how countries differ in their mismatch levels and how these differences develop over time. The empirical analysis is based on employee data from 1989 and 2005 for the USA, Great Britain, West Germany, Norway, and Hungary. Findings show that in 1989, West Germany exhibited lower mismatch levels than the USA and Great Britain. In contrast, findings for Norway are mixed, while Hungary displays mostly higher mismatch levels. A partial convergence of job security and income mismatch levels has taken place between the USA, Great Britain, and West Germany. Moreover, our findings underline the persistence of institutional differences in job quality.
Should I Pay for You or for Myself? The Optimal Level and Composition of Retirement Benefit Systems

Feldstein [1985] posed the questions of what would be the optimal level of retirement benefit, and what would be the optimal mix between the pay-as-you-go system and the funded pension system under the assumption of an exogenous interest rate. We reconsider the problem with the addition of a flexible production function and, consequently, an endogenous interest rate. Moreover, we allow the contributions rate e to be negative as well. In the case of a negative e , the retired subsidize the workers out of their saved capital. This case turns out to be the optimal one in situations of low population growth.
Sloped-wall thin-film photonic crystal waveguides

The effect of the slope of the groove walls in the behavior of thin-film one-dimensional photonic crystal waveguides is extensively studied. In this respect, we point out its influence on the modal dispersion relations and then on the bandgap structure in general. Likewise, we also prove the lack of accuracy in the evaluation of the bandgap edges when material dispersion is ignored. The extreme importance of both facts, the wall slope and the material dispersion, in the analysis and design of realistic photonic crystal devices is emphasized. In particular, we exploit the wall slope as a new design parameter. By suitably choosing the value of the above parameter, sloped-wall photonic crystal waveguides with high quality factor or high group velocity dispersion can be achieved.
Do-not-resuscitate decisions in six European countries*

Objective:To study and compare the incidence and main background characteristics of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) decision making in six European countries. Design:Retrospective. Setting:We studied DNR decisions simultaneously in Belgium (Flanders), Denmark, Italy (four regions), the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland (German-speaking part). In each country, random samples of death certificates were drawn from death registries to which all deaths are reported. The deaths occurred between June 2001 and February 2002. Participants:Reporting physicians received a mailed questionnaire about the medical decision making that had preceded death. The response percentage was 75% for the Netherlands, 67% for Switzerland, 62% for Denmark, 61% for Sweden, 59% for Belgium, and 44% for Italy. The total number of deaths studied was 20,480. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Measurements were fre-quency of DNR decisions, both individual and institutional, and patient involvement. Before death, an individual DNR decision was made in about 50–60% of all nonsudden deaths (Switzerland 73%, Italy 16%). The frequency of institutional decisions was highest in Sweden (22%) and Italy (17%) and lowest in Belgium (5%). DNR decisions are discussed with competent patients in 10–84% of cases. In the Netherlands patient involvement rose from 53% in 1990 to 84% in 2001. In case of incompetent patients, physicians bypassed relatives in 5–37% of cases. Conclusions:Except in Italy, DNR decisions are a common phenomenon in these six countries. Most of these decisions are individual, but institutional decisions occur frequently as well. In most countries, the involvement of patients in DNR decision making can be improved.
Research in International Business and Finance Order imbalance, market returns and macroeconomic news Evidence from the Australian interest rate futures market

The relationship between order imbalance, market returns and macroeconomic news is examined in the context of the Australian interest rate futures market. Contemporaneous order imbalance exerts a signiﬁcant impact on market returns in the expected direction i.e. excess buy (sell) orders drive up (down) prices. Order imbalances are related to past market returns with market participants acting in a contrarian manner across all products following market rallies. Nine major macroeconomic announcements are identiﬁed with order imbalance, and returns, reacting to such announcements in a manner that correctly reﬂects the news component. Following a scheduled macroeconomic announcement there is an increase in the level of information asymmetry within the interest rate futures market, demonstrated by an increased sensitivity to order ﬂow. Finally, the pattern of order imbalance immediately prior to scheduled announcements suggests that there is no information leakage.
Uroplakin gene expression in normal human tissues and locally advanced bladder cancer

The uroplakins are widely regarded as urothelium‐specific markers of terminal urothelial cytodifferentiation. This study investigated the expression of the four uroplakin genes, UPIa, UPIb, UPII and UPIII, in a wide range of normal human tissues to determine tissue specificity and in advanced transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) to examine gene expression in primary and metastatic disease. In the urinary tract, all four uroplakins were expressed by urothelium and UPIII was also expressed by prostatic glandular epithelium. UPIa and UPII appeared to be urothelium‐specific, but UPIb was detected in several non‐urothelial tissues, including the respiratory tract, where it was associated with squamous metaplasia of tracheal and bronchial epithelia. The ten cases of primary TCC and corresponding lymph node metastases demonstrated that each uroplakin gene could be expressed at the mRNA level. No single uroplakin gene was expressed in all primary tumours or metastases, but 80% of the primary tumours and 70% of the lymph node metastases expressed at least one uroplakin gene. UPIII mRNA was often expressed in the absence of UPIII protein. These results confirm that in human tissues the expression of UPIa and UPII genes is highly specific to urothelium and suggest that the tight differentiation‐restricted expression of uroplakin genes in normal urothelium is lost following malignant transformation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors that influence the decision to undergo cosmetic breast augmentation surgery.

BACKGROUND This study examined the factors that motivate women to seek cosmetic breast augmentation surgery. METHODS Twenty-five breast augmentation surgery candidates completed measures of body image dissatisfaction, sociocultural influences on physical appearance, marital and sexual satisfaction, and self-report questionnaires that assessed other motivations for surgery. Thirty physically similar women who were not interested in breast augmentation also completed the measures. RESULTS Replicating previous studies, breast augmentation candidates, compared with controls, reported greater dissatisfaction with their breasts. The two groups, however, did not differ on overall body image dissatisfaction or greater awareness or internalization of sociocultural influences on physical appearance. Breast augmentation patients reported more positive sexual functioning compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS Overall, breast augmentation patients appeared to be motivated by their feelings about their breasts rather than direct or indirect influence from external sources, such as romantic partners or sociocultural representations of beauty. These findings provide new information on the motivations behind breast augmentation and dispute several stereotypes about the factors that influence the pursuit of this surgery.
Impaired epicardial activation–repolarization coupling contributes to the proarrhythmic effects of hypokalaemia and dofetilide in guinea pig ventricles

Activation–repolarization coupling refers to the inverse relationship between action potential duration and activation time in myocardial regions along the path of ventricular excitation. This study examined whether the activation–repolarization coupling plays a role in coordinating repolarization times between the right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) chambers, and if impaired coordination contributes to electrical instability produced by hypokalaemia or dofetilide, a blocker of the delayed rectifier K+ current.
Further results on passivity analysis of neural networks with time-varying delay

This paper deals with the problem of passivity analysis for neural networks with both time-varying delay and norm-bounded parameter uncertainties. By further utilizing the information of activation function and employing a reciprocally convex approach to consider the relationship between the time-varying delay and its time-varying interval, some improved delay-dependent passivity conditions are obtained, which are formulated in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) and can be readily solved by existing convex optimization algorithms. Finally, a numerical example is provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.
Social Capital and the Municipal Bond Market

We examine the influence of social capital in the municipal bond market. Defined as the norms and networks that encourage cooperation, social capital is a social construct which captures a region’s level of altruism, trustworthiness, and propensity to honor obligations. We expect that municipalities with high social capital are more trustworthy and likely to honor their debt obligations, which will result in lower bond yields. Our findings confirm that the bonds issued by municipalities located in high social capital counties exhibit lower yields compared to the municipalities located in low social capital counties. Our findings are also supported by bond prices in the secondary market, which shows that bonds from the municipalities located in high social capital regions have higher prices. Additional tests reveal that the influence of social capital is stronger for general obligation bonds, suggesting that social capital matters more for bonds where the willingness of municipalities to pay taxes is an important factor. Lastly, we document that the bonds of municipalities in high social capital areas are less likely to have insurance, suggesting that social capital may act as a substitute for bond insurance.
The Outbreak of Mass Allegations of Satanist Child Abuse in the Parish of Rättvik, Sweden, 1670–71: Two Texts by Gustav J. Elvius

During recent decades, interpretation of mass allegations of Satanist child abductions have challenged psychiatrists and mental health professionals in the Western world. It has been argued that a useful perspective on this phenomenon may be gained from a study of historical parallels from countries such as Spain, Germany and Sweden. The texts translated below are an eyewitness account of the witch panic in Rättvik 1670–71 and a letter of 1671, both written by the Reverend Gustav Elvius.
Is there a core neuropsychiatric phenotype in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim is to discuss the clinical features of psychiatric illness in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), and to review current evidence that a core neuropsychiatric phenotype could underlie the full spectrum of different presentations. RECENT FINDINGS Individuals carrying the 22q11.2 microdeletion are at risk for diverse psychiatric diagnoses across the lifespan, including schizophrenia in a significant minority, and anxiety or mood disorder in the majority. Symptoms and cognitive disruptions can be grouped into domains: attention-executive deficits, social-cognitive deficits, anxiety-affective dysregulation, and psychotic phenomena. These domains do not respect the boundaries of traditional diagnostic categories, and can be consistently recognized in children, adolescents and adults. There is early evidence that some symptom-domain disruptions may predict adult psychiatric morbidity. SUMMARY If a core neuropsychiatric phenotype does exist in 22q11DS, its detection is likely to require dimensional assessment of subtle aspects of cognitive and emotional processing, not encompassed by current diagnostic systems. A core phenotype would account for disruptions across multiple symptom domains, directly reflecting genetic and neurobiological mechanisms. Relative severity of a core phenotype would predict risk for multiple psychiatric disorders, and could, therefore, be an important target for therapeutic and preventive interventions. A core phenotype meeting these criteria has not yet been defined for 22q11DS.
Early Pathological Changes in the Cerebellum of Patients with Pure Cerebellar Syndrome Demonstrated by Diffusion-Tensor Imaging

We evaluated the early pathological changes in patients with sporadic cerebellar ataxia by measuring fractional anisotropy (FA) values in diffusion tensor MRIs (DTI). FA and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were compared in the brain stem and cerebellum of 5 patients with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia-C and 7 age-matched controls. Patients with sporadic cerebellar ataxia had decreased FA values in the bilateral cerebellar peduncle and cerebellar hemisphere, but normal FA values in the basis pontes. Assuming that the loss in FA parallels neuronal changes, our results suggest that the derangement and altered fiber integrity of the cerebellum are present regardless of the presence of morphological alterations on conventional MRI. Therefore, DTI may be superior to conventional MRI in the evaluation of early pathological changes in patients with sporadic cerebellar ataxia.
Whole body protein synthesis: studies with different amino acids in the rat.

These studies were undertaken to determine to what extent constant infusion measurements and plasma sampling could provide sensible answers for rates of whole body protein turnover and also which amino acid would be the most representative probe of whole body protein turnover. Whole body protein synthesis rates were estimated in 70-g rats with L-[U-14C]threonine, L-[U-14C]lysine, L-[U-14C]tyrosine, L-[U-14C]phenylalanine, and L-[1-14C]leucine by either simultaneous tracer infusion of four amino acids or by injections of large quantities of 14C-labeled amino acids. In the infusion experiment, indirect estimates of whole body protein turnover based on free amino acid specific radioactivity and stochastic modeling were compared with direct measurement of the incorporation of the tracer into proteins. These two methods of analysis provided similar results for each amino acid, although in each case fractional synthesis rates were lower (by between 26 and 63%) when calculations were based on plasma rather than tissue specific radioactivity. With the flooding-dose method, whole body fractional protein synthesis rates were 41.4, 25.6, 31.1, and 31.4% with threonine, lysine, phenylalanine, and leucine, respectively. These values were similar to those obtained by the continuous infusion method using tissue specific radioactivity for threonine and lysine. For leucine, however, the flooding-dose method provided an intermediate value between the two estimates derived either from the plasma or the tissue specific radioactivity in the infusion method. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Multifrequency REG: Fundamental Background, Informational Meaning and Ways of Data Analysis and Automation

A long historical experience of monofrequency rheoencephalography (REG) showed its limited capabilities. The new approach ispresented - multifrequency REG that is REG record ing simultaneously at three frequencies - 16, 100 and 200 kHz. The d ifferent brain impedances received were analysed on the base of equivalent electrical circuits of brain tissue. First, this enables to calculate intra-extracellu lar electrical co mponent for evaluation of brain tissue hydration state by means of an original co mputational method. Second, dynamic cooperative analysis of mu lti -REG and transcranial Doppler pulsations provides the indices of intracranial CSF mobility (CSFm) and cranial co mpliance (CCe). Th ird, spectral analysis of processes recorded provides valuable information of regulatory processes involved. The application of this new approach to investigation of intracranial circu lation in healthy persons of different aging groupos and in neurosurgical patients showed its promising effectiv ity.
Changing Patterns of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Use in 9074 Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) commonly switch between tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors after failing to control disease activity. Much of the clinical data that support switching to a second TNF agent when one agent fails to work has come from small, short-term studies. We utilized a US insurance claims database to determine patterns of use such as dose escalation, time to discontinuation, and switching between TNF inhibitors in patients with RA. Methods. A retrospective analysis was performed using an insurance claims database in the US from 2000 to 2005. TNF inhibitor use, time to switch, dose escalation, and continuation times were analyzed in patients with RA. Results. Nine thousand seventy-four patients with RA started TNF inhibitors during the period 2000 to 2005. Etanercept was the most commonly used TNF inhibitor; infliximab had the highest duration of continuation, about 50% at 2 years. In addition, infliximab showed higher rates of dose escalation compared to etanercept and adalimumab. For all TNF inhibitors, time to switching decreased from 2000 to 2005. Conclusion. TNF inhibitor use patterns changed from 2000 to 2005, with more frequent changes among the different TNF inhibitors and a shorter duration of treatment before the change. Only about 50% of TNF inhibitors are still continued at 2 years, reflecting the difference between randomized clinical trials and real-world experience.
Gender comparison of physiologic and perceptual responses in recreational marathon runners.

PURPOSE The aim of this investigation was to compare gender differences in physiologic and perceptual responses during a 1-h run at recent marathon pace and running economy at three speeds in recreational marathon runners. METHODS In a counterbalanced design, 10 men and 10 women completed a 1-h treadmill run and a running economy test. Treadmill speed for the 1-h run ranged from 141 to 241 mmin(-1) and 134, 168, and 188 m x min(-1) for running economy. Physiologic parameters (oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, pulmonary ventilation, and heart rate) and perceived exertion were measured. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare any gender differences (P < .05) during the 1-h run and a two-way ANOVA was used to compare running economy. With this sample, estimated marathon energy expenditure, body composition, and maximal physiologic function was reported. RESULTS With the exception of an allometric expression of VO2 (mL x min(-1) kg BW(-0.75)), similar gender physiologic and perceptual responses were found during the 1-h run. Although not significant, the females exercised at a higher percent VO2(max) (8% to 9%) during the run. Similar gender differences were also noted during the running economy tests. CONCLUSIONS Although the male runners completed a recent marathon significantly faster than the females, similar gender physiologic and perceptual responses were generally found during the 1-h treadmill run and the running economy tests.