Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum Amyloid A Protein Is a Useful Inflammatory Marker during Late-Onset Sepsis in Preterm Infants

Background: Few studies demonstrated that serum amyloid A (SAA), a non-specific acute-phase reactant, could be used as a reliable early marker for the diagnosis of late-onset sepsis (LOS). Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic value and the dynamics of SAA levels during the course of LOS and to compare it to those of other inflammatory markers. Methods: Levels of SAA, C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 together with clinical variables, biochemical parameters and cultures retrieved from all preterm infants suspected of LOS were checked at the first suspicion of sepsis and after 8, 24, 48 and 72 h. Results were compared to healthy, matched infants. Results: One hundred and sixteen infants were included in the study, 38 in the sepsis and 78 in the non-sepsis group. High levels of SAA were observed at sepsis onset, with a gradual decline thereafter, while CRP levels increased only at 24 h after sepsis onset. In the sepsis group, levels of SAA returned faster to baseline than CRP levels. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis values revealed that SAA at 10 µg/ml had the highest sensitivity at 0, 8 and 24 h after sepsis onset (95, 100 and 97%, respectively) and a negative predictive value (97, 100 and 98%, respectively). Conclusions: SAA is an accurate acute-phase protein during LOS in preterm infants. Quick and reliable SAA kits can make this marker a useful tool in LOS in preterm infants.
Adoption of Improved Agroforestry Technologies among Contact Farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

The study examined the adoption of improved agroforestry technologies among farmers in Imo State. To achieve the study objectives, structured questionnaire were designed and administered to ninety farmers who were selected using a multistage random sampling technique. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics regression analysis and Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC). Findings shows that the farmers were mainly small scale middle aged married men with secondary education and no access to credit. The average house hold size, farming experience and annual income of the farmers were 6 person, 15.5 years and N 148,255.6 respectively with two contacts with extension agents on monthly basis. The results indicated that the farmers were largely aware of Gnetum Africana and have adopted plantain/banana technology. The mean adoption rate of agroforestry technologies was 33.81%. The main determinants of the adoption were farmers’ age, educational level, farm size, income, access to credit and extension contact as this variables were all significant. Apart from age of the farmers which was negatively related to adoption of agroforestry technologies all other variables mentioned affected the adoption rate of agroforestry technologies positively. Based on the findings, it was strongly recommended that farmers be provided with loans at concessionary interest rates to solve their financial problem of adopting innovations.
Gene‐environment interactions in determining differences in genetic susceptibility to cancer in subsites of the head and neck

Genetic differences in susceptibility to cancer in subsites of the head and neck were investigated in a case–control study involving 750 cases of cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, or pharynx, and an equal number of healthy controls. The prevalence of variant genotypes of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1, 1B1, 2E1, or glutathione‐S‐transferase M1 (null) in cases suggests that polymorphisms in drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) modify cancer risk within subsites of the head and neck. Tobacco or alcohol use was found to increase the risk in cases of laryngeal, pharyngeal, or oral cavity cancers. Interaction between genetic variation in DMEs and tobacco smoke (or smoking) exposures conferred significant risk for laryngeal cancer. Likewise, strong associations of the polymorphic genotypes of DMEs with cases of pharyngeal and oral cavity cancer who were tobacco chewers or alcohol users demonstrate that gene‐environment interactions may explain differences in genetic susceptibility for cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 56:313–321, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A gradient search maximization algorithm for the asymmetric Laplace likelihood

The asymmetric Laplace likelihood naturally arises in the estimation of conditional quantiles of a response variable given covariates. The estimation of its parameters entails unconstrained maximization of a concave and non-differentiable function over the real space. In this note, we describe a maximization algorithm based on the gradient of the log-likelihood that generates a finite sequence of parameter values along which the likelihood increases. The algorithm can be applied to the estimation of mixed-effects quantile regression, Laplace regression with censored data, and other models based on Laplace likelihood. In a simulation study and in a number of real-data applications, the proposed algorithm has shown notable computational speed.
Separating conscious and unconscious influences of memory: measuring recollection

How can conscious and unconscious influences of memory be measured? In this article, a processdissociation procedure (L. L. Jacoby, 1991) was used to separate automatic (unconscious) and consciously controlled influences within a task. For recall cued with word stems, automatic influences of memory (a) remained invariant across manipulations of attention that substantially reduced conscious recollection and (b) were highly dependent on perceptual similarity from study to test. Comparisons with results obtained through an indirect test show the advantages of the process-dissociation procedure as a means of measuring unconscious influences. The measure of recollection derived from this procedure is superior to measures gained from classic test theory and signal-detection theory. The process-dissociation procedure combines assumptions from these 2 traditional approaches to measuring memory. Dissociations between performance on direct and indirect tests of memory supply examples of effects of the past in the absence of remembering (for reviews, see Hintzman, 1990; Richardson-Klavehn & Bjork, 1988). In an indirect test, subjects are not asked to report on memory for an event as they would be in a direct test, such as in a test of recognition or recall; rather, they engage in some task that can indirectly reflect memory for the occurrence of that event. Word stemand fragment-completion tasks are among the most popular indirect tests of memory (e.g., Graf & Mandler, 1984; Tulving, Schacter & Stark, 1982; Warrington & Weiskrantz, 1974). For a stem-completion task, subjects might read the word scalp and then be presented with the stem sea— with instructions to complete that stem with the first word that comes to mind. Evidence of automatic influences of memory that are dissociated from performance on a direct test is provided by the finding that prior presentation of a word increases the likelihood of that word being used to complete a stem, even though a direct test reveals no memory for the prior presentation of the word. Some of the most striking examples of dissociations come from the performance of patients suffering a neurological deficit. Korsakoff amnesics, for example, show near-normal effects of memory in their performance of a stem-completion task, even though
The Effect of Tax Havens on Host Country Welfare

Multinational corporations can shift income into low-tax countries through transfer pricing and debt financing. While most developed countries use thin capitalization rules to limit the extent to which a subsidiary can be financed with internal debt, a number of developing countries do not. In this paper, we analyze the effect on FDI and host country welfare of thin capitalization rules when multinationals can also shift income via transfer prices. We show that while permissive thin capitalization limits may be needed in developing countries to attract FDI, the amount of debt financing allowed by the permissive limits facilitates more aggressive transfer pricing and results in lower host country welfare.
Teaching cognitive skills improves learning in surgical skills courses: a blinded, prospective, randomized study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the teaching of cognitive skills within a technical skills course, we carried out a blinded, randomized prospective study. METHODS Twenty-one junior residents (postgraduate years 1-3) from a single program at a surgical-skills training centre were randomized to 2 surgical skills courses teaching total knee arthroplasty. One course taught only technical skill and had more repetitions of the task (5 or 6). The other focused more on developing cognitive skills and had fewer task repetitions (3 or 4). All were tested with the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS) both before and after the course, as well as a pre- and postcourse error-detection exam and a postcourse exam with multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to test their cognitive skills. RESULTS Both groups' technical skills as assessed by OSATS were equivalent, both pre- and postcourse. Taking their courses improved the technical skills of both groups (OSATS, p < 0.01) over their pre-course scores. Both groups demonstrated equivalent levels of knowledge on the MCQ exam, but the cognitive group scored better on the error-detection test (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Cognitive skills training enhances the ability to correctly execute a surgical skill. Furthermore, specific training and practice are required to develop procedural knowledge into appropriate cognitive skills. Surgeons need to be trained to judge the correctness of their actions.
The Role of Focal Nerve Ischemia and Wallerian Degeneration in Peripheral Nerve Injury Producing Hyperesthesia

Background:A new model of pain associated with an experimental peripheral mononeuropathy has stimulated interest in mechanisms of pain and their structural correlates in peripheral nerve, the site of the experimental lesion. Methods:The pathology of the neuropathy was studied and the results correlated with alterations in nerve blood flow and with the behavioral response to heat applied to the foot. The focal neuropathy was created by loosely tying several ligatures around rat sciatic nerve, which produces hyperesthesia in the ligated limb in 3–5 days. The neuropathology was striking with epineurial and endoneurial vascular stasis, edema, and extensive nerve fiber injury in the ligated segment noted at 1 week after ligation. Results:Nerve blood flow was reduced significantly in the ligated segment during the development of the hyperesthesia response, suggesting that changes in nerve blood flow caused by the ligature compression of the epineurial vessels contributes to the nerve fiber injury and pathophysiology of the model. To further test this hypothesis, the epineurial vasculature was removed from 1-cm lengths of rat sciatic nerve, which reduces nerve blood flow by 58%, and by ligation of the ipsilateral femoral artery, which focally reduces nerve blood flow by 70%, and the behavioral response to heating of the paw was evaluated at 1 week. Crush injury was used as a positive control creating Wallerian degeneration without a substantial reduction In nerve blood flow. Conclusions:The results suggest that ischemia is an important initial pathogenic mechanism in the hyperesthesia associated with the loose ligature pain model, in so far as it produces Wallerian degeneration and axonal injury. Modest degrees of ischemia producing only demyelination did not produce significant hyperesthesia.
Long-term (2-year) clinical events following transthoracic intramyocardial gene transfer of VEGF-2 in no-option patients.

BACKGROUND The short-term clinical impact of intramyocardial gene transfer (GT) of the angiogenic protein vascular endothelial growth factor-2 (VEGF-2) has been previously reported to significantly reduce Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina class and to prolong exercise treadmill test (ETT) time. We describe the safety and long-term events (>1 year) in consecutive, nonrandomized, patients who received intramyocardial VEGF-2. METHODS Thirty patients with intractable CCS class III or IV angina and no options for revascularization underwent direct intramyocardial GT of VEGF-2 naked DNA via limited thoracotomy at total doses of 0.2, 0.8, or 2.0 mg. Patients were followed for clinical events after 1 year by hospital records, follow-up visits or telephone contact. Due to one perioperative death, 29 patients were followed. RESULTS At a mean follow-up of 751 +/- 102.5 days (range 459-959) there were four deaths (13.8%), five myocardial infarctions (MIs) (17.2%), and seven revascularization procedures (24.1%). There were 15 hospitalizations in 12 patients. At the end of the follow-up period no patient (0%) had CCS class IV angina, 3 patients (11.5%) had class III angina, and 23 (88.5%) had class I to II angina. There were two new diagnoses of cancer. CONCLUSION Transthoracic intramyocardial injection of VEGF-2 is associated with an improvement of symptoms of angina in the majority of patients beyond the first year of treatment. Major clinical events such as death, MI, and repeat revascularization are uncommon during the first year but more frequent after 1 year at a rate consistent with the severity of underlying disease in this population with advanced atherosclerosis. The majority of events were the result of progression of disease in areas of the heart remote from the site of GT. A large randomized trial is planned to determine the efficacy of intramyocardial VEGF-2 injections in inoperable patients.
Heterogeneous Labor Supply Response to a Classic Transfer Program

The standard static model of the e¤ect of welfare program participation on labor supply is estimated allowing the e¤ect of participation to be heterogeneous in the population and allowing the program participation decision to be endogenous and to exhibit incomplete takeup. A reduced form model is estimated with nonparametric methods to determine the distribution of the marginal treatment e¤ect over the range of participation rates generated by the instruments, which are measures of the non- nancial costs of program participation. The results show that those with small negative labor supply e¤ects of program participation enter rst and, as participation expands, individuals with greater labor supply disincentives are drawn into the program. A structural model is speci ed and estimated which demonstrates that marginal wage and income elasticities changes with the participation probability. The author would like to thank Marc Chan, Kai Liu, Shaiza Qayyum, and Lu Xu for research assistance. Comments on an earlier versions of this paper at a number of university seminars and conferences and from Joe Altonji, Mike Keane, and Thierry Magnac are appreciated. Research support from the National Institutes of Health is gratefully acknowledged. PRELIMINARY AND INCOMPLETE
Telecommunication reforms in developing countries

Major innovations have pushed telecommunication costs down and demand up since the mid-1980s. The new segments of the mobile and the internet markets are hence suitable for oligopolistic competition. Reforms of the formerpublic monopoly have been necessary to accommodate the entry of new operators. It is important to disentangle the effect of market liberalization that occurred in response to technological change and demand growth from the effects of privatizations resulting from structural adjustment programs. In line with popular opinion, privatization per se did not benefit consumers much. The biggest improvements for consumers have been driven by competition from mobile telecommunication firms. Govemments should concentrate on liberalizing the mobile and internet segments. For the incumbent telecom operator, allocative inefficiency combined with the critical budgetary conditions found in most developing countries favour public ownership. This is an effective way of combining the regulation of the firm with a maximum level of taxation.
Pituitary tumour transforming gene in endocrine cancer

Thyroid and pituitary tumours are common monoclonal neoplasms, and cause considerable morbidity and mortality. Although many molecular events underlying endocrine tumourigenesis have been elucidated in recent years, no clear tumour marker has emerged which assists clinical decisions regarding appropriate therapy. Activating mutations and loss of inactivating mutations, together with locally produced and circulating hormones, growth factors and cytokines, co-operatively ensure the inexorable expansion of the initial mutated endocrine cell clone. The recently described pituitary tumour transforming gene, which is potently transforming in vitro and in vivo , regulates basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) secretion and inhibits chromatid separation, provides important insights into our understanding of the genetic events in endocrine tumourigenesis, and may provide novel approaches to endocrine tumour management. This review describes our current understanding of factors involved in endocrine tumourigenesis and describes several new developments in this regard.
Crosslinguistic Influence in Bilingual First Language Acquisition

This paper presents the main views regarding crosslinguistic influence in BFLA and discusses the ways in which the proposed study will explore this phenomenon more systematically. Recent studies have shown that crosslinguistic effects do not appear always and in all grammatical domains in bilingual first language acquisition, and thus, researchers need to determine the locus, the sources and the directionality of crosslinguistic influence. Some researchers have claimed that dominance determines crosslinguistic influence and thus, its direction is predicted to be from the dominant to the weaker language. However, ita has been shown that language dominance cannot always explain crosslinguistic effects, and therefore it has been claimed that there are internal factors that determine crosslinguistic influence. Specifically it has been proposed that crosslinguistic interference is likely to occur when: a) the relevant grammatical domain involves the syntax/pragmatics interface; b) there is an overlap between the two languages regarding this domain .
Molecular cloning and biological characterization of full-length HIV-1 subtype C from Botswana.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype C is now responsible for more than half of all HIV-1 infections in the global epidemic and for the high levels of HIV-1 prevalence in southern Africa. To facilitate studies of the biological nature and the underlying molecular determinants of this virus, we constructed eight full-length proviral clones from two asymptomatic and three AIDS patients infected with HIV-1 subtype C from Botswana. Analysis of viral lysates showed that Gag, Pol, and Env structural proteins were present in the virions. In four clones, the analysis suggested inefficient envelope glycoprotein processing. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the eight clones did not reveal frameshifts, deletions, premature truncations, or translational stop codons in any structural, regulatory, or accessory genes. None of the subtype C clones were replication competent in donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), macrophages, Jurkat(tat) cells, or U87. CD4.CCR5 cells. However, infection by two clones could be rescued by complementation with a functional subtype C envelope clone, resulting in a productive infection of PBMCs, macrophages, and U87. CD4.CCR5 cells.
Current rehabilitation processes do not prevent long-term impairments after treatment for breast cancer in Australia.

BACKGROUND Our aims were to determine if and how advice regarding physical rehabilitation (arm-specific and general exercise) was provided after treatment for breast cancer, as well as the prevalence of physical impairments following treatment for breast cancer in an Australian population. METHODS Members of the Review and Survey Group of the Breast Cancer Network Australia participated in a validated web-based survey. RESULTS Participants included 186 women who underwent axillary node dissection and 201 who underwent sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer. Of the respondents, 75% reported receiving arm-specific exercise advice following surgery and 44% were advised on the importance of general exercise at some point during treatment. Despite this, upper limb impairments were commonly reported during treatment and 1 year after surgery, particularly for women who had undergone axillary node dissection. DISCUSSION Although rehabilitation advice is commonly offered to women treated for breast cancer in Australia, pain and reduced arm function remain common in women more than 1 year after surgery.
Migration and phenotypic transformation of osteoclast precursors into mature osteoclasts: The effect of a bisphosphonate

Osteoclast‐devoid bone explants were cultured together with embryonic liver as a source of osteoclast precursors, but separated from each other by a filter. Cells migrated through the filter toward the calcified matrix and acquired the characteristics of mature, tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase‐positive (TRAP+) osteoclasts upon contact with the bone explant. Migration and attachment could be visualized separately. Progressive reduction of filter pore size resulted in progressive reduction of resorption because the use of smaller pores made it increasingly difficult for cells to pass. Indeed, the use of 0.22‐micron filters, through which no cells can pass, but which still allow full passage of medium, completely blocked the resorption. When migrating cells from fetal liver were arrested for 10 days by using a combination of filters with different pore sizes, the arrested cells showed a tendency to fuse just opposite the mineralized matrix. Furthermore, a great number of the arrested cells expressed the macrophage‐specific cell‐surface antigen F4/80 and showed acid phosphatase activity, but none of these cells were tartrate resistant. The acquisition of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase activity upon contact with the bone explant and subsequent resorption of this explant could be prevented by exposure of the system to the bisphosphonate dimethyl‐APD (Me2‐APD), whereas migration of cells through the filter was not affected. We suggest that the bisphosphonate interferes with a matrix factor that is essential for the attachment and subsequent transformation of the osteoclast precursor into the mature phenotype.