Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patterns of hypertension management in France (ENNS 2006–2007)

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe the hypertensive population and therapeutic management of hypertension in subjects between 18 and 74 years of age in continental France in 2006. Methods: ENNS was a cross-sectional survey conducted in continental France in 2006–2007. Blood pressure (BP) was measured in a national sample of non-institutionalized adults aged 18–74 years and pharmacological treatment was collected by a self-questionnaire. Hypertension was defined by systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg, or treatment with BP-lowering drugs. The therapeutic control of treated hypertensive patients was defined by SBP <140 mmHg and DBP <90 mmHg. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 31.0%. Half of hypertensive subjects reported taking an antihypertensive drug (50.3%) and nearly half of them were treated with a single antihypertensive pharmacological class (44.3%). Overall, among hypertensives, 25.6% had a satisfactory BP control. Conclusions: Our survey revealed a high prevalence of hypertension in continental France, with only half of the hypertensive subjects receiving pharmacological therapy and one treated out of two with BP at goal. More effective measures are needed to improve clinical management of hypertension.
Serum progranulin levels in relation to insulin resistance in childhood obesity

Abstract Background: Progranulin is an adipokine that is involved in the inflammatory response, glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and may therefore be involved in chronic subclinical inflammation associated with the pathogenesis of childhood obesity. We aimed to investigate the association of circulating progranulin levels with metabolic parameters in children and to assess the importance of progranulin as a biomarker for metabolic diseases. Methods: A total of 150 children were consecutively recruited from the Pediatric Nutrition Clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Children were classified into four groups based on quartile for serum progranulin. Anthropometric variables were measured in all study subjects. Fasting blood samples were collected for measurement of blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile. Results: Children within the upper quartile for serum progranulin concentration were heavier, more insulin resistant and had higher concentrations of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin and high sensitivity C reactive protein compared to those in the lower quartile. On correlation analysis, serum progranulin concentrations were significantly related to general and central adiposity, metabolic parameters, markers of inflammation and insulin resistance. Stepwise multiple regression showed that 26.6% of the variability in serum progranulin could be explained by measures of adiposity. Conclusions: The increased serum progranulin concentrations were closely related to measures of adiposity, metabolic parameters, inflammatory marker and insulin resistance indices, suggesting that progranulin may be an excellent biomarker for obesity in childhood.
Service willingness and senior tourists: knowledge about aging, attitudes toward the elderly, and work values

With the increase in the number of senior tourists, it is important to understand the attitude of tourism professionals and their skills in serving aged tourists. A total of 381 tourism professionals participated in this study. Structural equation modeling results show that attitudes toward the elderly play the major role in predicting service willingness. Gaining knowledge about aging will indirectly predict service willingness through a change in attitudes. Intrinsic and prestige aspects of work value (WV) better explain service willingness to senior tourists, while extrinsic WV is non-significant and social WV has an indirect effect on willingness. The results also suggest that real interaction experiences with the elderly can successfully change attitudes toward them.
Distortions at the Border; Integration Inland: Assessing the Effect of WTO Accession on China's Agriculture

The main goal of the paper is to address the impact of the WTO on China's agricultural sector. To accomplish this goal we address two sets of issues. First, we seek to provide measures of the distortions in China's agricultural sector at a time prior to the nation's accession to WTO. This is accomplished by estimating the nominal rates of protection (NPRs) of the agricultural sector's major commodities using a new methodology to account for grain quality differences within China and between China and the world market. Second, we seek to assess how well integrated China's markets are in order to understand which areas of the country and which segments of the farming population will likely be isolated from, or affected by, the changes that WTO will bring. We find that NPRs differ among commodities. Some of China's agricultural commodities are well above and others are well below world market prices. We also find that if increased imports or exports affect China's domestic price at the border, its own domestic markets are mostly integrated so that price shifts in one area will affect prices in most of the rest of China. Our analysis finds, however, that a number of policy and structural factors limit the overall size of the shock.
Uncovering methods for the prevention of protein aggregation and improvement of product quality in a transient expression system

Mammalian expression systems are used routinely for the production of recombinant proteins as therapeutic molecules as well as research tools. Transient expression has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its rapid timeline and improvements in expression level. While improvements to transient expression systems have focused mainly on the level of protein expression, the aspect of protein quality has received little attention. The removal of undesirable products, such as aggregation, depends primarily on purification, requiring additional cumbersome steps, which can lead to a lower product yield and longer timelines. In this study, we show that reducing the level of transcription by transfecting at a lower gene dose improves the quality of secreted molecules prone to aggregation. For gene dosing to have this effect, it is critical for the carrier DNA to be an empty vector containing the same elements as the gene containing plasmid. This approach can be used in combination with a temperature shift to hypothermic conditions during production to enhance the effect. The observed improvements not only minimized aggregation levels, but also generated products with overall superior quality, including more homogeneous signal peptide cleavage and N‐linked glycosylation profiles. These techniques have produced a similar improvement in product quality with a variety of other molecules, suggesting that this may be a general approach to enhance product quality from transient expression systems. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 31:258–267, 2015
Gastroenteropancreatic high‐grade neuroendocrine carcinoma

Gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine neoplasms are classified as low‐grade, intermediate‐grade, and high‐grade tumors based on morphologic criteria and the proliferation rate. Most studies have been conducted in patients with well differentiated (low‐grade to intermediate‐grade) neuroendocrine tumors. Data are substantially scarcer on poorly differentiated, high‐grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), which includes the entities of small cell carcinoma and large cell NEC. A literature search of GEP‐NEC was performed. Long‐term survival was poor even among patients who presented with localized disease. Several studies highlighted heterogeneity within the high‐grade NEC category and a need for the further identification of discreet prognostic and predictive groups. Tumors with a Ki‐67 proliferation index <55% were less responsive to platinum‐based chemotherapy, and patients with such tumors or with well differentiated morphology had better survival than patients who had tumors with poorly differentiated morphology or a higher Ki‐67 index. Treatment options beyond platinum‐based chemotherapy are emerging. A revision of the World Health Organization high‐grade NEC classification seems to be necessary based on recent data. Platinum‐based chemotherapy may not be the optimal treatment for patients who have GEP‐NEC with a moderately high proliferation rate. Adequate diagnostic and prognostic stratifications constitute the basis for future progress. Cancer 2014;120:2814–2823. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Quality of Governance and the Formation of Preferential Trade Agreements

This paper investigates economic and political factors which explain the presence or absence of preferential trade agreements (PTAs). A model of three countries with imperfect competition markets is employed for theoretical analysis of political economy. The validity of theoretical results is tested by econometric analysis with a logit model. It is shown that countries with similar incomes are more likely to form PTAs, and that governments with low quality of governance have little incentive to form PTAs.
A study of 15 cases of primary mediastinal lymphoma of B‐cell type

Fifteen cases of pure supradiapragmatic lymphoma with initial prominent antero‐superior mediastinal involvement displaying a B‐cell pattern of reactivity were studied. These cases occurred in six men and nine women with a median age of 33 years at diagnosis (range, 23 to 75 years). Supradiapragmatic peripheral lymphadenopathies were present in three cases, and intrathoracic extension to the lung, pericardium, or pleura was possible. In five cases a thymic origin was obvious. All cases exhibited a B‐cell pattern of differentiation, with a great variety of histopathologic aspects associated with a high frequency of fibrosis and/or necrosis. Hodgkin's disease was initially misdiagnosed in four cases. The evolution was purely local, with extrathoracic extension in five cases, at the ultimate phase of the disease. The prognosis appeared to be poor with only five patients still alive at a median survival time of 16 months. A complete chemoresistance and radio‐resistance was observed in seven cases; only two complete remissions were achieved with aggressive chemotherapy. Prolonged remission could be achieved after surgical reduction of the mass. Primary B‐cell mediastinal lymphoma appears to be a distinct clinical entity with local evolution and resistance to therapy. A new therapeutic regimen, which could include surgery in some cases, should be found for this disease.
New roles for DNA cytosine modification, eRNA, anchors, and superanchors in developing B cell progenitors

Significance B cells are destined to produce a wide spectrum of antibodies or immunoglobulins in response to the invading pathogens. Here, we found that the onset of B-cell development was accompanied by large-scale changes in DNA cytosine modifications associated with DNA elements that control gene expression and the folding patterns of genomes. We identify novel DNA elements that function as superanchors and/or superinsulators. A prominent super-anchor is located in the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus where it acts to facilitate the interactions among variable, diversity, and joining DNA segments. We propose that changes in DNA cytosine modifications at regulatory DNA elements orchestrate a B cell-specific transcription signature and genome structure to enable the production of a diverse antibody repertoire. B-cell fate is orchestrated by a series of well-characterized developmental regulators. Here, we found that the onset of B-cell development was accompanied by large-scale changes in DNA cytosine modifications associated with promoters, enhancers, and anchors. These changes were tightly linked to alterations in transcription factor occupancy and nascent RNA (eRNA) transcription. We found that the prepro-B to the pro–B-cell transition was associated with a global exchange of DNA cytosine modifications for polycomb-mediated repression at CpG islands. Hypomethylated regions were found exclusively in the active/permissive compartment of the nucleus and were predominantly associated with regulatory elements or anchors that orchestrate the folding patterns of the genome. We identified superanchors, characterized by clusters of hypomethylated CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF)-bound elements, which were predominantly located at boundaries that define topological associated domains. A particularly prominent hypomethylated superanchor was positioned down-stream of the Ig heavy chain (Igh) locus. Analysis of global formaldehyde–cross-linking studies indicated that the Igh locus superanchor interacts with the VH region repertoire across vast genomic distances. We propose that the Igh locus superanchor sequesters the VH and DHJH regions into a spatial confined geometric environment to promote rapid first-passage times. Collectively, these studies demonstrate how, in developing B cells, DNA cytosine modifications associated with regulatory and architectural elements affect patterns of gene expression, folding patterns of the genome, and antigen receptor assembly.
In search of sustained competitive advantage: the impact of organizational culture, competitive strategy and human resource management practices on firm performance

We develop and test a dynamic model of co-specialized resources for competitive advantage. Using matched data from senior executives and human resource managers, we test the direct and interactive effects of high-performance human resource (HPHR) practices and organizational culture on firm performance. Although the HPHR practices were not an important influence on performance, our findings indicate that organizational culture can be a valuable resource for companies.
Verotoxin producing Escherichia coli O 157 infections associated with the consumption of yoghurt

Summary Sixteen cases of verotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O 157:H7 Phage Type 49 infection were identified in the North West of England from 1 September to 1 November 1991, eight of whom lived in or around the same large town. Eleven of the cases were aged 10 years or less, and five of the affected children developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome. A case control study demonstrated a strong association between VTEC O 157: H7 PT 49 infection and the consumption of a locally produced live yoghurt. This is the first time that an outbreak of VTEC O 157 infection has been linked to the consumption of yoghurt and this vehicle of infection should be considered when investigating such outbreaks in future.
Application of Monoclonal Antibodies in Functional and Comparative Investigations of Heavy-Chain Immunoglobulins in New World Camelids

ABSTRACT Of the three immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotypes described to occur in camelids, IgG2 and IgG3 are distinct in that they do not incorporate light chains. These heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs) constitute approximately 50% of the IgG in llama serum and as much as 75% of the IgG in camel serum. We have produced isotype-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in order to investigate the roles of HCAbs in camelid immunity. Seventeen stable hybridomas were cloned, and three MAbs that were specific for epitopes on the γ chains of llama IgG1, IgG2, or IgG3 were characterized in detail. Affinity chromatography revealed that each MAb bound its isotype in solution in llama serum. The antibodies bound to the corresponding alpaca IgGs, to guanaco IgG1 and IgG2, and to camel IgG1. Interestingly, anti-IgG2 MAbs bound three heavy-chain species in llama serum, confirming the presence of three IgG2 subisotypes. Two IgG2 subisotypes were detected in alpaca and guanaco sera. The MAbs detected llama serum IgGs when they were bound to antigen in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and were used to discern among isotypes induced during infection with a parasitic nematode. Diseased animals, infected with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, did not produce antigen-specific HCAbs; rather, they produced the conventional isotype, IgG1, exclusively. Our data document the utility of these MAbs in functional and physiologic investigations of the immune systems of New World camelids.
Hétérogénéité des Effets de l'aide sur la Croissance Economique en Afrique Subsaharienne: Évidences Comparatives entre Pays Stables et Pays en Post Conflit

La presente etude fournit l’evidence de l’ef? cacite de l’aide en faisant usage d’un echantillon de 34 pays d’Afrique sub-saharienne sur la periode 1990–2010. Apres prise en compte de l’endogeneite de l’aide, les resultats de l’estimation revelent que l’aide a un effet positif sur la croissance uniquement lorsque l’estimation est controlee du niveau de la gouvernance. La dynamique comparative quant 'a elle montre que la gouvernance et l’education sont les principaux canaux de transmission de l’aide 'a la croissance en environnement stable. En revanche, en environnement de post con? it, l’aide affecte la croissance via l’investissement en capital public (infrastructure). En? n, l’approche de decomposition d’Oaxaca-Blinder montre que l’ecart en termes de montants d’aide recus n’explique pas les differences de croissance observees entre pays stables et pays en situation de post con? it. Sur la base de ces resultats, les implications de politiques economiques sont discutees en conclusion.
School Counselor Preparation To Meet the Guidance Needs of Exceptional Students: A National Study.

A representative sample of counselor educators at U.S. universities were surveyed to identify the kinds of curricula school counselor preparation programs use for preparing students to work with exceptional students (ES). Program courses in exceptional student education (ESE), competencies, field experiences, state certification requirements for ESE courses, the degree of importance accorded by counselor educators to prepare graduates to serve ES, and the educators' level of satisfaction with current program requirements were investigated. Sixty-two percent of the programs surveyed did not offer a specific ESE course; however, 53% of these programs (N = 146) reported that ESE competencies were incorporated in other program courses.
Does the Father Matter for the Time Children Spend in Child Care

This paper analyses whether the fathers matter for the number of hours that their children spend in subsidized child care. More explicitly, we estimate two non-nested models of child care demand in Sweden. The dual care taker model allows both parents' labour supplies to vary and includes several personal characteristics of the father as well as for the mother. The single care taker model follows earlier research and assumes that the father's labour supply is fixed and exogenous to the family's child care demand. The parameter estimates indicate that several of the father's characteristics are associated with the time his child spends in child care. J-tests and bootstrap J-tests are performed to compare the models. The tests show that the single care taker model can be rejected in favour of the dual care taker model while the dual care taker model cannot be rejected in favour of the single care taker model.
Effective websites for small and medium‐sized enterprises

In the UK, millions are now online and many are prepared to use the Internet to make and influence purchasing decisions. Businesses should, therefore, consider whether the Internet could provide them with a new marketing opportunity. Although increasing numbers of businesses now have a website, there seems to be a quality problem that is leading to missed opportunities, particularly for smaller enterprises. This belief is backed up by an automated survey of 3,802 predominantly small UK business sites, believed to be by far the largest of its kind to date. Analysis of the results reveals widespread problems in relation to search engines. Most Internet users find new sites through search engines, yet over half of the sites checked were not registered in the largest one, Yahoo! , and could therefore be missing a sizeable percentage of potential customers. The underlying problem with business sites is the lack of maturity of the medium as evidenced by the focus on technological issues amongst designers and the inevitable lack of Web‐business experience of managers. Designers need to take seriously the usability of the site, its design and its ability to meet the business goals of the client. These issues are perhaps being taken up less than in the related discipline of software engineering, probably owing to the relative ease of website creation. Managers need to dictate the objectives of their site, but also, in the current climate, cannot rely even on professional website design companies and must be capable of evaluating the quality of their site themselves. Finally, educators need to ensure that these issues are emphasised to the next generation of designers and managers in order that the full potential of the Internet for business can be realised.
End-to-End Network Delay Guarantees for Real-Time Systems Using SDN

Real-time systems (RTS) require end-to-end delay guarantees for the delivery of network packets. In this paper, we propose a framework to reduce the management and integration overheads for such real-time (RT) network flows by leveraging the capabilities of software-defined networking (SDN) – capabilities that include global visibility and management of the network. Given the specifications of flows that must meet hard real-time requirements, our framework synthesizes paths through the network. To guarantee that these flows meet both, their bandwidth and end-to-end timing requirements, our framework solves a multi-constraint optimization problem using a heuristic algorithm. We use exhaustive emulations and experiments on hardware switches to demonstrate our techniques and feasibility of our approach. As a result of this work, SDNs become “delay-aware” and thus can be adapted for use in safety-critical and other delay-sensitive applications.
Factors Shaping the Dynamics of Housing Affordability in Australia 2001–06

This paper investigates factors shaping the dynamics of housing affordability in Australia over the period 2001–06. Panel model findings indicate that those with children and the unwaged are more prone to persistent housing affordability stress. However, residential moves during spells of housing affordability stress alleviate housing cost burdens. Survival in affordable housing has become progressively more difficult over the 2001–06 timeframe, an unsurprising finding given a house price boom over the period of analysis. Residential moves are again influential, but those made by households during a spell in affordable housing are associated with the onset of housing affordability stress.