Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mutation D30N Is Not Preferentially Selected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Subtype C in the Development of Resistance to Nelfinavir

ABSTRACT Differences in baseline polymorphisms between subtypes may result in development of diverse mutational pathways during antiretroviral treatment. We compared drug resistance in patients with human immunodeficiency virus subtype C (referred to herein as “subtype-C-infected patients”) versus subtype-B-infected patients following protease inhibitor (PI) therapy. Genotype, phenotype, and replication capacity (Phenosense; Virologic) were determined. We evaluated 159 subtype-C- and 65 subtype-B-infected patients failing first PI treatment. Following nelfinavir treatment, the unique nelfinavir mutation D30N was substantially less frequent in C (7%) than in B (23%; P = 0.03) while L90M was similar (P < 0.5). Significant differences were found in the rates of M36I (98 and 36%), L63P (35 and 59%), A71V (3 and 32%), V77I (0 and 36%), and I93L (91 and 32%) (0.0001 < P < 0.05) in C and B, respectively. Other mutations were L10I/V, K20R, M46I, V82A/I, I84V, N88D, and N88S. Subtype C samples with mutation D30N showed a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) change in susceptibility to nelfinavir only. Other mutations increased IC50 correlates to all PIs. Following accumulation of mutations, replication capacity of the C virus was reduced from 43% ± 22% to 22% ± 15% (P = 0.04). We confirmed the selective nature of the D30N mutation in C, and the broader cross-resistance of other common protease inhibitor mutations. The rates at which these mutational pathways develop differ in C and subtype-B-infected patients failing therapy, possibly due to the differential impact of baseline polymorphisms. Because mutation D30N is not preferentially selected in nelfinavir-treated subtype-C-infected patients, as it is in those infected with subtype B, the consideration of using this drug initially to preserve future protease inhibitor options is less relevant for subtype-C-infected patients.
Assessing Myometrial Invasion by Endometrial Carcinoma with Dynamic MRI

Objective Dynamic MRI was used to analyze patterns of contrast enhancement in muscle layers in the normal uterine body and to evaluate the depth of myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma. Materials and Methods Dynamic MRI was performed in 18 normal volunteers and 22 patients with endometrial carcinoma. Eight of the 18 normal volunteers were of reproductive age, and 10 were postmenopausal. The dynamic study was performed immediately after the bolus administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Twelve consecutive images, including the early phase images, were obtained during the first 2 min. The delayed phase image was obtained subsequently. Results An early enhancement zone of the inner muscle layer was demonstrated in 15 normal volunteers. In all patients in whom this early enhancement zone was preserved, the tumor was confined to <50% of the muscle layer. In the evaluation of myometrial invasion, the accuracy of dynamic MRI was 91% compared with 77% on T2-weighted images. This improvement may be attributed to greater contrast and clearer demonstration of the border between tumor and myometrium in the early phase. Conclusion We consider the disruption of the early enhancement zone of the inner muscle layer to be an important indicator of myometrial invasion.
PPARalpha inhibits TGF-beta-induced beta5 integrin transcription in vascular smooth muscle cells by interacting with Smad4.

Integrins play an important role in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration, a crucial event in the development of restenosis and atherosclerosis. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is highly expressed in restenotic and atherosclerotic lesions, and known to induce integrin expression. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, regulates gene expression in a variety of vascular cells. We investigated the effects of PPARalpha ligands on TGF-beta-induced beta3 and beta5 integrin expression and potential interaction between PPARalpha and TGF-beta signaling. PPARalpha ligands WY-14643 (100 micromol/L) and 5,8,11,14-eicosatetranoic acid (ETYA, 50 micromol/L) inhibited TGF-beta-induced beta5 integrin protein expression by 72+/-6.8% and 73+/-7.1%, respectively (both P<0.05). TGF-beta-stimulated beta3 integrin expression was not affected by PPARalpha ligands. Both PPARalpha ligands also suppressed TGF-beta-induced beta5 integrin mRNA levels. PPARalpha ligands inhibited TGF-beta-inducible transcription of beta5 integrin by an interaction with a TGF-beta response element between nucleotides -63 and -44, which contains a Sp1/Sp3 transcription factor binding site. Nuclear complexes binding to the TGF-beta response region contained Sp1/Sp3 and TGF-beta-regulated Smad 2, 3, and 4 transcription factors. TGF-beta-stimulated Sp1/Smad4 nuclear complex formation was inhibited by WY-14643 and ETYA with a parallel induction of PPARalpha/Smad4 interactions. However, in vitro pull-down experiments failed to demonstrate direct binding between PPARalpha/Smad4. Both PPARalpha ligands blocked PDGF-directed migration of TGF-beta-pretreated VSMCs, a process mediated, in part, by beta5 integrins. The present study demonstrates that PPARalpha activators inhibit TGF-beta-induced beta5 integrin transcription in VSMCs through a novel indirect interaction between ligand-activated PPARalpha and the TGF-beta-regulated Smad4 transcription factors. The full text of this article is available at http://www.circresaha. org.
Public education expenditure and economic growth: the educational quality threshold effect

Using the threshold model (Hansen, 1996 and 2000), this paper analyses whether the growth effect of public education spending differs regarding the level of educational quality in each country. The results prove the existence of a threshold effect on the rela-tionship between education expenditure and economic performance. Specifically, spending on education present a positive effect on growth if the quality of education is better otherwise the effect is negative. This result is robust to the use of different measures of education quality of the PISA scores and also of their average as a measure of the performance of the whole labor force.
The Prevalence and Correlates of Depressive Symptomatology Among a Community Sample of Crack-Cocaine Smokers

Abstract Depression has been identified as a disorder of clinical significance among cocaine users. Even so, its prevalence in cocaine-abusing populations is uncertain. This research employed a crosssectional design to determine the prevalence of current depressive symptomatology among a sample of 430 not-in-treatment crack-cocaine users. Depression was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The mean BDI score was 19.1. Overall, 80% of the sample had BDI scores that suggested more than minimal depression, and 55% had symptoms of moderate to severe depression. The results of a cumulative logistic regression analysis showed that men, African-Americans, and individuals with some college education were less likely to be depressed. Individuals with higher Addiction Severity Index composite scores for family/social, medical, legal, and alcohol problems had a greater likelihood of reporting symptoms of depression. Frequency of cocaine use and perceived need for treatment were also positively associated with higher BDI scores. The results suggest that the prevalence of depression among crack users is higher than has been previously reported. Treatment programs should routinely screen crack-cocaine users for depression. The BDI may be a suitable tool for such efforts since it has an acceptable level of internal consistency when employed with crack users (a = 0.89).
Good to Great: Quality-Improvement Initiative Increases and Sustains Pediatric Health Care Worker Hand Hygiene Compliance.

OBJECTIVE The Joint Commission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization challenge hospitals to achieve and sustain compliance with effective hand hygiene (HH) practice; however, many inpatient units fail to achieve a high level of reliability. The aim of the project was to increase and sustain health care worker (HCW) compliance with HH protocols from 87% (level of reliability [LOR] 1) to ≥95% (LOR 2) within 9 months on 2 pediatric inpatient units in an academic children's hospital. METHODS This study was a time-series, quality-improvement project. Interventions were tested through multiple plan-do-study-act cycles on 2 pediatric inpatient units. HH compliance audits of HCWs on these units were performed randomly each week by the hospital infection prevention program. Control charts of percentages of HCW HH compliance were constructed with 3-σ (data within 3 SDs from a mean) control limits. These control limits were adjusted after achieving significant improvements in performance over time. Charts were annotated with interventions including (1) increasing awareness, (2) providing timely feedback, (3) empowering patients and families to participate in mitigation, (4) providing focused education, and (5) developing interdisciplinary HH champions. RESULTS HH compliance rates improved from an average of 87% (LOR 1) to ≥95% (LOR 2) within 9 months, and this improvement has been sustained for >2 years on both pediatric inpatient units. CONCLUSIONS Significant and sustained gains in HH compliance rates of ≥95% (LOR 2) can be achieved by applying high-reliability human-factor interventions.
Effects of solvent/detergent‐treated plasma and fresh‐frozen plasma on haemostasis and fibrinolysis in complex coagulopathy following open‐heart surgery

Background and Objectives Solvent/detergent‐treated plasma (SDP) contains markedly lower protein S (PS) and plasmin inhibitor (PI) activity than standard fresh‐frozen plasma (FFP). It has also been reported that SDP contains no α1‐antitrypsin. Despite the lack of clinical data, it is suspected that SDP may be less effective than FFP in the treatment of complex coagulopathies. We therefore conducted a prospective trial to study the impact of SDP and FFP on haemostasis and fibrinolysis in complex coagulopathy after open‐heart surgery.
Placement of long-term central venous catheters in outpatients: study of 134 patients over 24,596 catheter days.

OBJECTIVE Our goal was to investigate the feasibility of inserting long-term central venous access devices in outpatients using a simple technique that minimizes the risks of complications linked to venipuncture and errors in management. MATERIALS AND METHODS We placed 147 central venous catheters (CVCs) in 134 patients under local anesthesia. No sedation was used, and all procedures were done in our radiology department. Of the 134 patients, 101 patients were included in the follow-up. Overall follow-up of patients was 24,596 catheter days (mean, 243.52 days). Percutaneous access, mostly by the subclavian vein, was done by micropuncture technique under fluoroscopic guidance. Six CVCs were untunneled, 36 were connected to totally subcutaneous ports, and 105 were tunneled. RESULTS The only immediate complication was pneumothorax (3%). Late complications, expressed per 1000 catheter days, included CVC breakage (0.12), vascular thrombosis (0.08), catheter occlusion (0.04), dislodgment (0.24), and local or systemic infections (0.40). CONCLUSION Outpatient CVC placement is feasible because the procedure is not adversely affected when the patient is not hospitalized. The drawbacks are identical to those faced by inpatients. Improved materials and more extensive information on the management of patients with long-term CVCs would help reduce complications further.
Diversity order for amplify-and-forward dual-hop systems with fixed-gain relay under Nakagami fading channels

Dual-hop transmission systems employing fixed-gain amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying have been studied recently over Nakagami fading channels. These analyses, however, either have imposed certain constraints on the fading parameters or have not been totally accurate when evaluating the diversity order of the systems. In this letter, we will develop a methodology for evaluating the diversity order of such systems. The methodology can be easily extended to analyze fixed-gain AF relaying with multiple relays.
Acculturation style, transnational behaviour, and return-migration intentions of the Turkish second generation : Exploring linkages

BACKGROUND In public discourse, acculturation, transnational behaviour, and migration are highly debated and viewed as related. In the academic literature, this relationship has hardly received attention. This article explores linkages between these processes and how they are determined by indicators of cultural distance (i.e., perceived discrimination and religiosity) and personality (i.e., self-efficacy). METHOD We derive a general theoretical model for these processes and determinants and test it by using structural equation modelling on the TIES survey data of the Turkish second generation in six European countries. RESULTS Model-fit statistics indicate that our theoretical model is supported by the survey data of the six countries and by pooled-country data. We found that the type of acculturation style preferred by the Turkish second generation influences how transnationally active they are and what their migration intentions are. We also found that being more transnationally active correlates with a stronger intention to migrate to Turkey. Cultural distance (religiosity and perceived discrimination) and, less so, personality traits (self-efficacy) impinge on these relationships. CONTRIBUTION Our theoretical model helps to explain how acculturation, transnational behaviour, and migration intentions are related to and determined by cultural distance and personality traits. Country-specific configurations of the model exist and underscore the importance of taking characteristics of the country context into account when studying the behaviour of immigrant groups. Furthermore, the TIES project collected unique, rich, and comparable data that is available to the research community for studying the lives of the Turkish second generation from an international comparative perspective.
Gender and Monetary Policymaking: Trends, Drivers and Effects 1

This paper analyses the gender representation in monetary policy committees, offering three contributions. We propose the first index to evaluate the gender representation in monetary policymaking - i.e. the GMP Index – for a sample of 112 countries as of 2015. Second, we investigate the drivers of gender diversity in monetary policy committees. Our results show that, besides legal (Common Law), religious (Orthodox), historical (French colony) and socioeconomic (female labour force) drivers, the gender representation is more likely to be relevant in countries characterized by a well-defined central bank governance, i.e. more independent central banks and less involved in supervision. Finally, we test whether gender diversity in central bank boards affects the conduct of monetary policy and hence macroeconomic outcomes. We find that gender diversity is inversely associated with inflation rates and money growth. The presence of women in central bank boards seems to be associated with a more hawkish approach to monetary policy making.
Clonal differences in antioxidant activity and bioactive constituents of hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) and its year-to-year variability.

BACKGROUND Hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) is a new species, commercially grown in recent years. Total phenolics (TPC), vitamin C (TAA) content, antioxidant activity (AA) and their year-to-year variability in seven hardy kiwifruit clones were evaluated. TPC was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent assay. TAA was estimated by determination of l-ascorbic acid and l-dehydroascorbic acid levels using high-performance liquid chromatography. AA was measured using diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and OH radicals. RESULTS The highest content of vitamin C, in all seasons, was found in D11 (1447-2181 mg kg(-1) fresh weight) and phenolics for D11 and M1 clones (2583-3312 and 2228-3414 mg gallic acid equivalents kg(-1) fresh weight, respectively). TPC and TAA content showed significant differences between hardy kiwifruit clones and showed significant year-to-year variability. Each year, the level of AA was significantly higher for D11 (DPPH, ABTS). AA was strongly correlated with TPC and TAA content in Actinidia fruit. CONCLUSION Hardy kiwifruit are an important source of vitamin C and phenolics, which resulted in their good antioxidant potential. A significantly higher content of these compounds was found in fruit of hybrid origin, which suggests that A. purpurea × A. arguta clones may be useful genetic resources for further interspecific hybridization.
Reaffirming the importance of managerial discretion in corporate governance: a comment on Andersen (2017)

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to refute the work of Andersen (2017) by suggesting a different theoretical view and to argue that the concept of managerial discretion is one of the core dimensions that cannot be discarded when studying corporate governance.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses theoretical frameworks from recent literature, definitions and empirical studies on the concept of managerial discretion and corporate governance.FindingsSeveral studies have empirically tested and measured the concept of managerial discretion, some have provided validity and reliability of the concept and others have showed the direct impact of discretion on firm performance.Practical implicationsResearch on managerial discretion provides owners and board of directors a clear advice on how much discretion can be granted to top executives by taking into consideration the different dimensions of the external and internal environment.Originality/valueThis paper concludes that corporate governance research will not improve if it abandons the concept of managerial discretion.
Construction and selection of the natural immune Fab antibody phage display library from patients with colorectal cancer.

AIM To construct the natural immune Fab antibody phage display libraries of colorectal cancer and to select antibodies related with colorectal cancer. METHODS Extract total RNA from tissue of local cancer metastasis lymph nodes of patients with colorectal cancer. RT-PCR was used to amplify the heavy chain Fd and light chain kappa and the amplification products were inserted successively into the vector pComb3 to construct the human libraries of Fab antibodies. They were then panned by phage display technology. By means of Dot immunoblotting and ELISA, the libraries were identified and the Fab phage antibodies binding with antigens of colorectal cancer were selected. RESULTS The amplified fragments of Fd and kappa gained by RT-PCR were about 650 bp. Fd and kappa PCR products were subsequently inserted into the vector pComb3, resulting in a recombination rate of 40% and the volume of Fab phage display library reached 1.48 x 10(6). The libraries were enriched about 120-fold by 3 cycles of adsorption-elution-multiplication (panning). Dot immunoblotting showed Fab expressions on the phage libraries and ELISA showed 5 clones of Fab phage antibodies which had binding activities with antigens of colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION The natural immune Fab antibody phage display libraries of colorectal cancer were constructed. They could be used to select the relative antibodies of colorectal cancer.
Why context matters: the role of campaign context in the relationship between digital media use and political participation

ABSTRACT Many questions remain about the effects of digital media use on citizens’ political engagement. This article argues that this is because such effects depend on the context in which digital media are used. Its findings are based on two cross-sectional sets from the 2010 and 2013 Australian Election Study and show that (1) political resources played different moderating roles in the association between digital media and offline participation, and (2) such a moderating role depended on different campaign contexts in the two elections, with context affecting political efficacy. The findings confirm that campaign context can function as leverage in motivating online news consumption and political participation, thereby emphasising the importance of political contexts in media use and political behaviour.
The application of a multi-dimensional assessment approach to talent identification in Australian football

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether a multi-dimensional assessment could assist with talent identification in junior Australian football (AF). Participants were recruited from an elite under 18 (U18) AF competition and classified into two groups; talent identified (State U18 Academy representatives; n = 42; 17.6 ± 0.4 y) and non-talent identified (non-State U18 Academy representatives; n = 42; 17.4 ± 0.5 y). Both groups completed a multi-dimensional assessment, which consisted of physical (standing height, dynamic vertical jump height and 20 m multistage fitness test), technical (kicking and handballing tests) and perceptual-cognitive (video decision-making task) performance outcome tests. A multivariate analysis of variance tested the main effect of status on the test criterions, whilst a receiver operating characteristic curve assessed the discrimination provided from the full assessment. The talent identified players outperformed their non-talent identified peers in each test (P < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve reflected near perfect discrimination (AUC = 95.4%), correctly classifying 95% and 86% of the talent identified and non-talent identified participants, respectively. When compared to single assessment approaches, this multi-dimensional assessment reflects a more comprehensive means of talent identification in AF. This study further highlights the importance of assessing multi-dimensional performance qualities when identifying talented team sports.
Reversible axial-strain effect in Y–Ba–Cu–O coated conductors

The recently discovered reversible strain effect in Y–Ba–Cu–O (YBCO) coated conductors contrasts with the general understanding that the effect of strain on the critical-current density Jc in practical high-temperature superconductors is determined only by crack formation in the ceramic component. Instead of having a constant Jc as a function of strain before an irreversible drop when cracks form in the superconductor, Jc in YBCO coated conductors can decrease or increase reversibly with strain over a significant strain range up to an irreversible strain limit. This reversible effect is present in samples fabricated either with rolling-assisted biaxially textured Ni–W substrates or with ion-beam-assisted deposition on Hastalloy substrates. The reversibility of Jc with strain is observed for thin as well as thick YBCO films, and at two very different temperatures (76 and 4 K). The reversible effect is dependent on temperature and magnetic field, thus indicating its intrinsic nature. We also report an enhancement of the irreversible strain limit εirr where the reversible strain effect ends and YBCO cracking starts. The value of εirr increases from about 0.4% to more than 0.5% when YBCO coated conductors are fabricated with an additional Cu protection layer.