Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Can CSA Cost-Offset Programs Improve Diet Quality for Limited Resource Families?

The current U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) strategic plan, which guides many of its grant programs, highlights the connection between financial sustainability of food producers, supply of fresh local food to consumers, and improved nutritional and health outcomes (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2014). Achieving these goals requires an integrated and transdisciplinary approach to tackle the interactions between components of the complex food system and human health (Nesheim, Oria, and Yih, 2015). There is limited empirical evidence to date about the relationship between producers’ financial sustainability and public health outcomes. In particular, there is little understanding of whether financial security and diet-related health outcomes can interact positively (Sitaker et al., 2014).
Asymmetric Effects of the Limit Order Book on Price Dynamics

We analyze whether the information in different parts of the limit order book affect prices differently. We distinguish between slopes of lower and higher levels of the bid and ask sides and include these four slope measures as well as midquote return and trade direction in a vector autoregressive model. Slope measures of the same side based on different levels affect both short- and long-run price dynamics quite differently, in line with the predictions based on recent theoretical models such as Foucault, Kadan, and Kandel (2005) and Rosu (2009). In a high frequency day trading exercise, we show that ignoring these asymmetries costs a trader approximately 25 basis points in daily profits, suggesting that the asymmetries are important not only statistically but also economically. Our statistical results are robust to using alternative definitions of slope measures and sample periods while our economic results are robust to trading under alternative assumptions such as trading slower speeds.
Phosphatidylinositol‐specific phospholipase C From Bacillus cereus: Improved purification, amino acid composition, and amino‐terminal sequence

Phosphatidylinositol‐specific phospholipase C was purified in a 27% yield from the culture medium of Bacillus cereus by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion‐exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The purified enzyme was free of other phospholipase C‐type activities and exhibited a high specific activity of approximately 1,300 units/mg. Amino acid composition analysis and sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated a molecular weight of about 35 kDa. The sequence of the first 29 N‐terminal amino acids was also determined.
Top-down platform for deciphering the human salivary proteome

Proteomic platforms can be classified in bottom-up strategies, which analyze the sample after proteolytic digestion, and top-down strategies, which analyze the intact naturally occurring proteome. Bottom-up platforms are high-throughput because they can investigate a large number of proteins, regardless of their dimension. Nonetheless, information on post-translational modifications (PTMs) can be lost, especially those regarding naturally occurring cleavages and alternative splicing. Top-down platforms cannot cover vast proteomes, however, they can disclose subtle structural variations occurring during protein maturation and allow label-free relative quantifications in an unlimited number of samples. A repertoire of 256 masses belonging to naturally occurring proteins and peptides consistently detected by RP-HPLC-ESI-MS analysis of the acidic soluble fraction of human whole saliva is presented in this study. Of them, 233 have been identified, while 23 are still pending for the definitive characterization. The present review reports average and mono-isotopic masses of the peptides and proteins detected, RP-HPLC elution times, PTMs, origin and quali-quantitative variations observed in several physiological and pathological conditions. The information reported can be a reference for users of top-down RP-HPLC-ESI-MS proteomic platforms applied to the study of the human salivary proteome as well as of other human bodily fluids.
Effect of environmental tobacco smoke on cough in children with a history of tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy.

We examined the possible impact of tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy (T/A) on the relationship between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and respiratory outcomes. This study was conducted in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, in 1993. The target population included all residents aged 6-17 yrs. Of the 1,019 eligible subjects, 892 participated (88%). Estimates of ETS exposure were based on the reported smoking habits of the children's household members. We defined current cough as a positive response to the question: "Does this child usually have a cough? ". Information also included morning cough, night cough and a history of T/A. For children with no history of T/A, the prevalence of current cough was 8.9%, 12.2% and 14.5% for those living in families with 0, 1, and 2+ smokers respectively. The corresponding prevalence was 7.0%, 30.2% and 36.8% for children with history of T/A. Similar effects of ETS exposure were observed on morning cough and night cough. The results did not change significantly when we used various ETS measures and controlled for confounding factors. Compared to children living in nonsmoking families and without history of T/A, the adjusted odds ratio for children with a history of T/A was 7.19 (p<0.001) if they were living in families smoking >20 cigarettes x day(-1) at home. The corresponding odds ratio was only 1.64 (p=0.11) for children without a history of T/A. We concluded that children living in smoking family were more likely to cough than those living in nonsmoking families and tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy increased the apparent influence of environmental tobacco exposure on cough.
Preoperative short‐course radiotherapy with delayed surgery in primary rectal cancer

Short‐course radiotherapy (SRT) with immediate surgery and long‐course chemoradiotherapy (CRT) are currently the standard preoperative treatment options for rectal cancer. SRT with surgery delayed for 4–8 weeks (SRT‐delay) is an option described for patients with locally advanced tumours who are not fit for CRT. This study examined early toxicity, response to radiotherapy (RT) and short‐term outcomes of SRT‐delay.
Portugal and Angola: similarities and differences in Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence and risk factors in pregnant women

SUMMARY In this study we determined the presence of IgM/IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in sera of 155 and 300 pregnant women from Lisbon (Portugal) and Luanda (Angola), respectively, and evaluated the potential risk factors associated with this infection. DNA detection was performed by PCR assays targeting T. gondii regions (RE/B1). Overall, 21·9% (10·9% IgG, 10·9% IgG/IgM) of the Lisbon women and 27·3% (23·7%, IgG, 2% IgM, 1·7% IgG/IgM) of the Luanda women had antibodies to T. gondii. Single variable and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. Based on the latter, contacts with cats (family/friends), and having more than two births were identified as risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in Lisbon women. In Luanda, the risk factors for T. gondii infection suggested by the single variable analysis (outdoor contact with cats and consumption of pasteurized milk/dairy products) were not confirmed by binary logistic regression. This study shows original data from Angola, and updated data from Portugal in the study of infection by T. gondii in pregnant women, indicating that the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies is high enough to alert the government health authorities and implement appropriate measures to control this infection.
Financial Flights, Stock Market Linkages and Jump Excitation

We propose a new nonparametric test to identify the mutually exciting jumps in high frequency data. We derive the asymptotic properties of the test statistics and show that the tests behave reasonably well in finite sample cases. Using our mutual excitation tests, we characterize global stock market linkages and study the dynamics of financial flights. The results suggest that flight-to-safety episodes (from stocks to gold) occur more frequently than do flight-to-quality cycles (from stocks to bonds). The excitation channel further appears to be asymmetric at high frequency: emerging market jumps excite U.S. equities, and the evidence supporting the reverse transmission is quite weak. The data exhibit a strong excitation effect from volatility jumps to price jumps.
How Do General Practitioners Conceptualise Advance Care Planning in Their Practice? A Qualitative Study

Objectives To explore how GPs conceptualise advance care planning (ACP), based on their experiences with ACP in their practice. Methods Five focus groups were held with 36 GPs. Discussions were analysed using a constant comparative method. Results Four overarching themes in the conceptualisations of ACP were discerned: (1) the organisation of professional care required to meet patients’ needs, (2) the process of preparing for death and discussing palliative care options, (3) the discussion of care goals and treatment decisions, (4) the completion of advance directives. Within these themes, ACP was both conceptualised in terms of content of ACP and/or in terms of tasks for the GP. A specific task that was mentioned throughout the discussion of the four different themes was (5) the task of actively initiating ACP by the GP versus passively waiting for patients’ initiation. Conclusions This study illustrates that GPs have varying conceptualisations of ACP, of which some are more limited to specific aspects of ACP. A shared conceptualisation and agreement on the purpose and goals of ACP is needed to ensure successful implementation, as well as a systematic integration of ACP in routine practice that could lead to a better uptake of all the important elements of ACP.
Determination of ochratoxin A in grapes of Greek origin by immunoaffinity and high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple analytical method for ochratoxin A (OTA) determination in grapes is described, using aqueous methanolic extraction, an immunoaffinity column clean-up step and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Mean recovery was 94% (RSD = 4.0%) with a detection limit of 0.4 ng g−1 and quantification limit of 1.20 ng g−1. Repeatability (r) and reproducibility (R) were 1.17 and 1.34, respectively. OTA determinations were applied to 50 grape samples (23 different varieties) originating from representative regions of Greece. Results showed the presence of OTA in 86% of samples tested (n = 50). Traces were found in 56% of samples but OTA was not detectable in 14% of samples. Traces were also found in 4% of red, organically grown samples. The most contaminated were three samples of red grapes, two from Central Greece (2.69 and 1.41 ng g−1), both table and wine-making grapes. The third sample (1.46 ng g−1), originating from the island of Samos, was used only in wine-making. Mean (1.06 ng g−1) and median (0.76 ng g−1) OTA concentrations in red grapes were slightly higher compared to the mean (0.82 ng g−1) and median (0.65 ng g−1) concentrations in white grape samples. The study shows that the potential risk for a person of 60 kg ranged from 0.9 to 9 ng kg−1 bw day−1 and is dependent on the quantity of grapes consumed daily.
Are Investors Concerned with Stock Market Upgrades? Evidence from Multivariate Framework Analysis

ABSTRACT This study aims to examine the return and volatility responses to the announcement of stock market upgrades. It measures the direct effects of the recent Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) upgrade of the Qatar, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi stock exchanges from frontier to emerging markets by applying a nontraditional dummy variable event study using multivariate BEKK and DCC GARCH models. The results show clear evidence that contradicts the free information hypothesis and supports the price pressure hypothesis. Initially, the MSCI upgrade led to positive feedback from active investors due to the belief that this announcement will attract foreign institutional investors who play a vital role in improving the market’s performance.
Characterization of the symptoms associated with dural ectasia in the Marfan patient

Dural ectasia, an expansion of the dural sac surrounding the spinal cord, is one of the most common orthopedic manifestations of Marfan syndrome. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the clinical symptoms associated with dural ectasia in patients with Marfan syndrome and to understand the effects of symptomatic dural ectasia on the overall health of affected patients. Twenty‐two volunteers aged 9–55 years with Marfan syndrome, and dural ectasia diagnosed by MRI or CT, filled out a “symptoms” questionnaire and completed an SF‐36 health survey. Overall, It appears that the symptoms associated with dural ectasia have a marked impact on the overall health of patients with Marfan syndrome. Based on our findings, a “classic” picture of dural ectasia in the Marfan patient may consist of low back pain, headache, proximal leg pain, weakness and numbness above and below the knee, and genital/rectal pain. Symptoms, when present, are typically moderate to severe, occur several times per week (often daily), are commonly exacerbated by upright posture, and are not always relieved by recumbency. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ultrastructure of ellipsoidal magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes depicts their complex assemblage and cellular polarity in the context of magnetotaxis

Summary Magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes (MMPs) consist of unique microorganisms formed by genetically identical Gram‐negative bacterial that live as a single individual capable of producing magnetic nano‐particles called magnetosomes. Two distinct morphotypes of MMPs are known: spherical MMPs (sMMPs) and ellipsoidal MMPs (eMMPs). sMMPs have been extensively characterized, but less information exists for eMMPs. Here, we report the ultrastructure and organization as well as gene clusters responsible for magnetosome and flagella biosynthesis in the magnetite magnetosome producer eMMP Candidatus Magnetananas rongchenensis. Transmission electron microscopy and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB‐SEM) 3D reconstruction reveal that cells with a conspicuous core‐periphery polarity were organized around a central space. Magnetosomes were organized in multiple chains aligned along the periphery of each cell. In the partially sequenced genome, magnetite‐related mamAB gene and mad gene clusters were identified. Two cell morphologies were detected: irregular elliptical conical ‘frustum‐like’ (IECF) cells and H‐shaped cells. IECF cells merge to form H‐shaped cells indicating a more complex structure and possibly a distinct evolutionary position of eMMPs when compared with sMMPs considering multicellularity.
Preventing osteoporotic fractures with antiresorptive therapy: implications of microarchitectural changes

Prospective studies have demonstrated that low bone mass correlates well with increased risk of osteoporotic fractures at various skeletal sites. Trials have likewise confirmed that enhancing bone mass with antiresorptive therapy reduces fracture incidence in individuals at risk. However, correlation of bone mineral density (BMD) increases with therapeutic risk reduction has proved less consistent than correlation of BMD decreases with greater fracture risk in the untreated. Indeed, various analyses have indicated that – even during treatment with potent bisphosphonates like alendronate and risedronate – BMD changes from baseline account for <30% of the reduction in vertebral fractures in treated women. It is clearly, therefore, that factors other than BMD are involved in the reduction of fracture risk achieved by antiresorptive therapies. According to recent micro‐computed tomography imaging and other studies, antiresorptive therapy can help rebuild the microarchitecture of bone as well as strengthen the materials that go into it. When treating individuals with osteoporosis, these microarchitectural changes contribute to the reduction of fracture risk achieved by antiresorptive therapies.
Criterion-Related Validity of the Three-Factor Model of Psychopathy

The Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R) has been conceptualized as indexing two distinct but correlated factors. Previous research has established that these factors demonstrate distinct patterns of relations with external criteria. However, more recent findings suggest that the PCL-R psychopathy construct may encompass three distinguishable factors, reflecting affective, interpersonal, and behavioral symptoms. Here, we evaluated the validity of this newer three-factor model of the PCL-R factors with reference to external criteria from the domains of personality, antisocial behavior, and adaptive functioning in a sample of 310 incarcerated offenders. The interpersonal factor was related to social dominance, low stress reactivity, and higher adaptive functioning; the affective factor was correlated with low social closeness and violent offending; and the behavioral factor was associated with negative emotionality, disinhibition, reactive aggression, and poor adaptive functioning. These findings provide support for the convergent and discriminant validity of these psychopathy facets.
Epstein-Barr virus promotes interferon-alpha production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

OBJECTIVE Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been linked to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as demonstrated by the presence of increased seroprevalence and elevated viral loads, but the mechanism of this linkage has not been elucidated. Increased interferon-alpha (IFNalpha) levels and signatures, which are associated with innate immune responses, have been found in patients with SLE. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are innate immune cells that mediate viral immunity by producing large quantities of IFNalpha, but the role they play during infection with EBV remains unclear. To address this issue, we investigated the ability of EBV to promote IFNalpha production by PDCs in healthy subjects. METHODS Human PDCs were sorted and cultured in the presence of EBV, EBV-encoded RNA, and EBV double-stranded DNA. IFNalpha production by PDCs was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with the activation of these cells measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS We found that EBV DNA and RNA promoted IFNalpha production by human PDCs through engagement of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9) and TLR-7, respectively, with the initial viral recognition by PDCs mediated by binding to class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. CONCLUSION These data demonstrate that class II MHC-specific engagement by virus, with subsequent viral nucleic acid recognition, mediates IFNalpha production by PDCs. Our results suggest that elevated levels of IFNalpha found in SLE patients may be a result of aberrantly controlled chronic viral infection.
Trends in hormone therapy use before and after publication of the Women's Health Initiative trial: 10 years of follow-up

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the scientific evidence reported by Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial on hormone therapy (HT) use in a 10-year follow-up retrospective cohort of women participating in a breast cancer screening program. Methods: Between 1998 and 2007, a retrospective cohort of participants in a population-based breast cancer screening program in the city of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) was assessed. The study population consisted of 50,918 women. Trends in current HT use and the annual rate of new users were analyzed by age group. Results: From 1998, successive annual increases were found in the prevalence levels of HT use in all age groups. In 2002, the prevalence peaked at 11% in 50- to 54-year-olds and at 10.1% in 55- to 59-year-olds, followed by a sudden reversal and a progressive decrease. In 2007, 5 years after the publication of the WHI trial, the HT use decreased by 89.1% in 50- to 54-year-olds, 87.5% in 55- to 59-year-olds, 84.6% in 60- to 64-year-olds, and 66.0% in 65- to 69-year-olds. The percentage of new users also fell substantially after 2002. Conclusions: HT use decreased during the 5 years after the publication of the WHI. This reduction was especially marked in the first 2 years, when the decrease in new treatments exceeded the number of continuations. In the following 3 years, the decrease was approximately equal in both groups.
Role of HLA compatibility in pediatric living-related liver transplantation1

Background. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching is, at present, not used for the allocation of cadaveric hepatic allografts because the liver is generally believed to be less susceptible to HLA-mediated rejection. However, the exact role of HLA compatibility in the long-term outcome of liver transplantation is not yet clearly defined. One of the advantages of living-related liver transplantation (LRLT) could be a better histocompatibility between donor and recipient. This study aimed at an assessment of the influence of HLA compatibility in a large series of LRLTs. Methods. A total of 321 pediatric patients who underwent ABO-identical or ABO-compatible primary LRLT from the parental donors in the period between June 1990 and August 2000 were involved in the study. Graft survival, rejection episodes, and immunosuppression were evaluated from the viewpoint of HLA compatibility. Results. The overall 1- and 5-year graft survivals were 85.7% and 84.1%, respectively. The cumulative 5-year graft survivals in HLA 0-, 1-, 2- and 3-mismatch groups (A, B, and DR) were 100% (n=10), 78.9% (n=19), 86.2% (n=87), and 82.9% (n=205), respectively (P =0.525). The overall incidence of rejection during the follow-up period (median 66 months, range 16–139 months) was 46.1%. No significant difference was found in the incidence of rejection and rejection-free survival among the four groups. However, steroid-resistant rejection that necessitated OKT3 treatment (n=6) and chronic rejection (n=2) were recognized only in the 3-mismatch group. The whole-blood trough level of tacrolimus and the duration of steroid administration were not significantly different among the groups. The rate of the patients who succeeded in withdrawal from immunosuppression was also similar among the groups. However, the trough level of tacrolimus needed for maintenance of an acceptable liver function test during the chronic phase tended to be lower in well-matched pairs, and a high percentage of immunosuppressant-free patients were found in the 0-mismatch group. Fatal graft-versus-host disease developed in one patient with a complete one-way HLA-matched transplant. Conclusion. We could not find any supportive evidence of beneficial effects of HLA-matching in pediat-ric LRLT. The potential benefit of HLA-matching for the reduction protocol for immunosuppressants may play a role in the withdrawal program. It appears unnecessary to pay attention to HLA compatibility in donor selection in LRLT, except for one-way HLA matching, or to adjust immunosuppression according to HLA compatibility.
Pterocarpus santalinus: an In Vitro study on its anti‐Helicobacter pylori effect

The anti‐H. pylori activity of Pterocarpus santalinus (PS), a traditional herb, has been assessed and compared with that of bismuth subcitrate, through in vitro studies employing rat gastric epithelial cell cultures and H. pylori isolates from gastric mucosal biopsy patients. The MIC of PS was found to be 20 µg/mL. H. pylori was co‐cultivated with rat gastric epithelial cells in the presence/absence of PS at its MIC. A reduction in the activity of urease, a normal appearance of the epithelial cells on electron microscopic examination, a decrease in lipid peroxidation and lactate dehydrogenase suggests the possible anti‐H. pylori activity of PS. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.