Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Family structure and depressive symptoms in men preceding and following the birth of a child. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood Study Team.

OBJECTIVE The prevalence and etiology of pre- and postpartum depressive symptoms in women in a variety of family forms have been well documented, but relatively little research has been conducted on the adjustment of their male partners. The authors' goals in this study were 1) to estimate rates of depression during the pregnancy and 8 weeks following the birth of a child in a large representative community sample of fathers in different family structures and 2) to explore the role of stressful life events, social and emotional support, the quality of the partner relationship, and socioeconomic circumstances. METHOD This study describes the relations of family setting and other correlates to men's depressive symptoms during the pregnancies (18 weeks gestation, on average) and 8 weeks after the births of children for 7,018 partners of female participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood. RESULTS Men living in stepfamilies had-significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms before and after the birth than did men in more traditional families. The effect of stepfamily status on depression was mediated by education, life events, social support, social network, and level of aggression in the partnership. CONCLUSIONS There are similarities in the patterns and correlates of depression after the birth of a child for men and women. These findings point to the importance of family and partnership ecology in the adjustment of men before and after the birth of a child.
Pricing and Performance of Mutual Funds: Lookback versus Interest Rate Guarantees

The aim of this paper is to compare pricing and performance of mutual funds with two types of guarantees: a look back guarantee and an interest rate guarantee. In a simulation analysis of different portfolios based on stock, bond, real estate, and money market indices, we first calibrate guarantee costs to be the same for both investment guarantee funds. Second, their performance is contrasted, measured with the Sharpe ratio, Omega, and Sortino ratio, and a test with respect to first, second, and third order stochastic dominance is provided. We further investigate the impact of the underlying fund’s strategy, first looking at a conventional fund having a constant average rate of return and standard deviation over the contract term, and then at a Constant Proportion Portfolio Insurance managed fund. This analysis is intended to provide insights for investors with different risk-return preferences regarding the interaction of guarantee costs and the performance of different mutual funds with embedded investment guarantees.
No Evidence for JAK2V617F Mutation in Monoclonal B Cells in 2 Patients with Polycythaemia Vera and Concurrent Monoclonal B Cell Disorder

Occurrence of Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (Ph– MPN) and lymphoproliferative disorders, like B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL), in the same patient is rare. JAK2V617F mutation was recently introduced as a powerful diagnostic tool for Ph– MPN. JAK2V617F mutation is not present in B-CLL. In 4 previously reported patients with JAK2V617F-positive Ph– MPN and B-CLL there was no definitive proof of JAK2V617F mutation in B-CLL cells, although this was suggested in 1 patient. We present 2 patients with JAK2V617F-positive polycythaemia vera who subsequently developed a monoclonal B cell disorder. The granulocytes were separated from the mononuclear cells by centrifugation on density gradient. Using an ARIA-SORP sorter, the CD20+/CD5+ B cells were separated from the CD20+/CD5– B cells, T cells, NK cells and monocytes. On each of the fractions JAK2V617F mutation was analysed by allele-specific competitive blocker-PCR. In both patients JAK2V617F mutation was present in granulocytes confirming the clinical diagnosis of polycythaemia vera. We did not detect the JAK2V617F mutation in the CD20+/CD5+ B cells but detected it in CD20+/CD5– B cells, T and NK cells, indicating a lymphoid subdifferentiation of the JAK2V617F MPN clonality. JAK2V617F MPN and monoclonal B cell disorder can coexist but there is no evidence that the proliferative behaviour of these B cells is mediated through the JAK2V617F mutation.
Better long-term functional adaptation to the child's size with pediatric compared to adult kidney donors.

BACKGROUND Pros and cons for pediatric kidney donors have been debated, especially with respect to survival rates. However, the effect of donor age on kidney function remains conflicting. The aim of this study was to compare short and long-term renal function according to the age of the donor, in grafts from adult living related (LRD), adult cadaveric and pediatric cadaveric donors (PedCD) following pediatric transplantation (Tx). METHODS One hundred and thirty-four children were repeatedly followed for four years, and 44 were followed for eight years. Absolute and relative glomerular filtration rate (GFR; inulin clearance, mL/min and mL/min/1.73 m(2), respectively) were determined within 6 months, and yearly thereafter. RESULTS Absolute GFR increased along with body growth in the PedCD group (P < 0.001) during the 4 years following Tx, leading to stable relative GFR, whereas absolute GFR of the LRD group did not change, with a progressive decrease of relative GFR (P < 0.001). Relative GFR did not differ between PedCD and LRD recipients by the sixth month but became higher in PedCD 4 years post-Tx (70 +/- 25 vs 52 +/- 19 mL/min/1.73 m(2), P < 0.001). Among those followed for 8 years, relative GFR showed a slow decrease in both recipient groups from 6 years post-Tx. At 8 years post-Tx, relative GFR was still significantly higher in PedCD than in LRD (57 +/- 19 vs. 45 +/- 19; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Adult-sized grafts may adapt to pediatric recipients during the first months post-Tx, but graft function cannot improve thereafter along with the increase in body size of the recipient. Interestingly, the absolute GFR of children receiving pediatric grafts increased along with body growth, leading to a stable relative GFR up to 6 years post-Tx.
Association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis

SUMMARY The oncogenic potential of human papillomaviruses (HPV) is well known in the context of cervical carcinoma; however, their role in the development of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is less clear. We aimed to determine the extent of the association between HPV infection and OSCC. A comprehensive literature search found 132 studies addressing HPV and OSCC in human cases, and a meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. There was evidence of an increased risk of OSCC in patients with HPV infection [odds ratio (OR) 2·69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·05–3·54]. The prevalence of HPV in OSCC was found to be 24·8%. There was an increased risk associated with HPV-16 infection (OR 2·35, 95% CI 1·73–3·19). Subgroup analyses showed geographical variance, with Asia (OR 2·94, 95% CI 2·16–4·00), and particularly China (OR 2·85, 95% CI 2·05–3·96) being high-risk areas. Our results confirm an increase in HPV infection in OSCC cases.
Prospective evaluation of a peripherally administered three-in-one parenteral nutrition product in dogs.

OBJECTIVES Peripheral parenteral nutrition is an option for short-term nutritional support in dogs which cannot be supported with enteral nutrition. The objective of this study was to examine the use of a three-in-one, 840 mOsmol/l peripheral parenteral nutrition product containing amino acids, lipids and glucose in separate compartments in dogs. METHODS Nine dogs were administered the three-in-one product, and two dogs were administered the amino acid part of the product, via a peripheral vein. Dogs were monitored for mechanical and metabolic complications. RESULTS Mechanical complications (apparent thrombus or thrombophlebitis) caused failure of infusion at a median of 36 hours. None of the dogs appeared to develop catheter-related sepsis. Using a 10-hour infusion period appeared to decrease the incidence of line failure. Mild and clinically non-significant hyperglycaemia was the only metabolic complication. In four of the dogs, serum folate, cobalamin and homocysteine concentrations were determined before and after peripheral parenteral nutrition administration. Oral and parenteral administration of methionine has been previously associated with lowered serum folate concentrations. Low serum folates and the subsequent hyperhomocysteinaemia have been associated with venous endothelial damage and venous thrombus in other species. Serum cobalamin also affects homocysteine metabolism. Median serum folate, cobalamin and homocysteine concentrations were not affected by the short-term administration of this three-in-one product. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Using the product for 24 hours/day may require catheter replacement due to line failure. Other than line failure, which may be improved by 10- to 12-hour infusion times, this product was found to be safe and practical for short-term peripheral parenteral nutrition in dogs.
Factors Related to Non-Referral of Patients with Presumptive Pulmonary TB to Designated Microscopy Centers (DMCs) by Registered Private Practitioners in Urban Areas of Punjab, India.

BACKGROUND Early diagnosis and proper treatment under RNTCP guidelines, forms the mainstay of management of a TB patient. A large proportion of patients with presumptive tuberculosis (TB) visit a Private Practitioner (PP) in the first place. Studies have shown that PPs rely more on X-rays and other diagnostic tools rather than referring the patient to the nearest Designated Microscopy Centre (DMC) for sputum microscopy. AIM The present study was planned to look in to factors responsible for non-referral of patients with presumptive pulmonary TB to the DMCs for diagnosis by PPs. MATERIALS AND METHODS Present study was a case-control study conducted over a period of one year among registered PPs in urban areas of Punjab. The study was carried out in five major cities which have approximately half of the urban population of Punjab. Forty three Private Practitioners per city for referral group and 43 matched PPs for non-referral group were selected. RESULTS Knowledge regarding RNTCP was low in both the referral (38.1%) as well as non-referral (25.6%) group of PPs. Allopathic doctors had significantly higher knowledge regarding TB as compared to ayurvedic and homeopathy doctors, and Registered Medical Practitioners (RMP). Both the knowledge of PPs regarding nearest DMC as well as perception about accessibility of the nearest DMC for the patients were found to be significantly higher in the referral group. Only 15.3% of practitioners in the non-referral group said that they had been contacted by RNTCP staff. CONCLUSION The main factors responsible for non-referral of pulmonary TB suspects to DMCs for diagnosis in the present study included low knowledge regarding RNTCP, lack of awareness regarding place and accessibility of nearest DMC, and inadequate sensitization of PPs by the RNTCP staff.
COMPREHENSION AND RECALL OF SENTENCES

Preliminary experiments showed that 5"s better recall a noun pair if they generate their own linking sentence for the pair than if they merely read an equivalent linking sentence. Initial attempts to explain this effect in terms of memory search activities or idiosyncratic ally high-associative mediators proved unproductive in later experiments reported here. The hypothesis was then offered that the generate vs. read conditions differ in comprehension of the sentences and that comprehension aids retention. Subsequent experiments on incidental learning showed that recall is excellent when S is set to process a sentence in different ways designed to promote comprehension of its meaning, whereas equivalent exposure to or mouthing of the words in control sentences without comprehension produces relatively little recall. The following experiments are concerned with the facilitation of paired-associate learning produced by embedding each word pair in a sentence. Rohwer (1966) found that an 5" who hears a linking sentence such as "The COW chased the BALL" will recall the COW-BALL pair better than a control 5" who simply studied the pair without a sentence context. In repeating some of Rohwer's paradigms, another phenomenon was uncovered which led into the present experimental series. The phenomenon is that 5"s better remembered noun pairs embedded in sentences they generated than they did pairs embedded in sentences E gave them. At the time of study or input, 5"s in the read condition read aloud a presented sentence (e.g., The COW chased the BALL), whereas those in the generation condition saw the pair COW-BALL and had to make up and say aloud a linking sentence. Although input times were controlled, later recall (of BALL when cued with COW) was about 25-30% higher in the generation condition. This result is quite reliable, having been replicated several times in the experiments reported subsequently. Why does generating a linking sentence
Equal Embedded Algorithm for Large Scale Economic Load Dispatch

This paper presents a new algorithm called equal embedded algorithm is used to solve large scale economic load dispatch problem with prohibited zones and losses. The algorithm involves the selection of lambda values, then the output power expressions of generating unit are obtained in terms of the lambda by interpolation and finally the lambda is evaluated from the power balance equation by Muller method. The proposed algorithm was tested on a power system having 3, 6 and 20 generating units and the results were compared in terms of their solution quality, convergence characteristics and computation efficiency with the genetic algorithm, the two phase neural networks, the lambda iterative method and the particle swarm optimization method. Also the proposed algorithm was tested for large-scale system with 20 and 40 generating units. The proposed method gives minimum fuel cost with less computational time.
A new native EcHsp31 structure suggests a key role of structural flexibility for chaperone function

Heat shock proteins and proteases play a crucial role in cell survival under conditions of environmental stress. The heat shock protein Hsp31, produced by gene hchA at elevated temperatures in Escherichia coli, is a homodimeric protein consisting of a large A domain and a smaller P domain connected by a linker. Two catalytic triads are present per dimer, with the Cys and His contributed by the A domain and an Asp by the P domain. A new crystal Form II confirms the dimer and catalytic triad arrangement seen in the earlier crystal Form I. In addition, several loops exhibit increased flexibility compared to the previous Hsp31 dimer structure. In particular, loops D2 and D3 are intriguing because their mobility leads to the exposure of a sizable hydrophobic patch made up by surface areas of both subunits near the dimer interface. The residues creating this hydrophobic surface are completely conserved in the Hsp31 family. At the same time, access to the catalytic triad is increased. These observations lead to the hypothesis for the functioning of Hsp31 wherein loops D2 and D3 play a key role: first, at elevated temperatures, by becoming mobile and uncovering a large hydrophobic area that helps in binding to client proteins, and second, by removing the client protein from the hydrophobic patch when the temperature decreases and the loops adopt their low‐temperature positions at the Hsp31 surface. The proposed mode of action of flexible loops in the functioning of Hsp31 may be a general principle employed by other chaperones.
Identification of intrinsic order and disorder in the DNA repair protein XPA

The DNA‐repair protein XPA is required to recognize a wide variety of bulky lesions during nucleotide excision repair. Independent NMR solution structures of a human XPA fragment comprising approximately 40% of the full‐length protein, the minimal DNA‐binding domain, revealed that one‐third of this molecule was disordered. To better characterize structural features of full‐length XPA, we performed time‐resolved trypsin proteolysis on active recombinant Xenopus XPA (xXPA). The resulting proteolytic fragments were analyzed by electrospray ionization interface coupled to a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and SDS‐PAGE. The molecular weight of the full‐length xXPA determined by mass spectrometry (30922.02 daltons) was consistent with that calculated from the sequence (30922.45 daltons). Moreover, the mass spectrometric data allowed the assignment of multiple xXPA fragments not resolvable by SDS‐PAGE. The neural network program Predictor of Natural Disordered Regions (PONDR) applied to xXPA predicted extended disordered N‐ and C‐terminal regions with an ordered internal core. This prediction agreed with our partial proteolysis results, thereby indicating that disorder in XPA shares sequence features with other well‐characterized intrinsically unstructured proteins. Trypsin cleavages at 30 of the possible 48 sites were detected and no cleavage was observed in an internal region (Q85‐I179) despite 14 possible cut sites. For the full‐length xXPA, there was strong agreement among PONDR, partial proteolysis data, and the NMR structure for the corresponding XPA fragment.
Competence of mentally ill patients: a comparative empirical study

Background. This study investigates the competence of patients with dementia, depression and schizophrenia to make treatment decisions. The outcome of an objective test instrument is presented and compared with clinical assessment of competence by the attending physician. Method. The MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool-Treatment (MacCAT-T), a test instrument to assess abilities in different standards of competence, was administered to patients with diagnoses of dementia (N=31), depression (N=35) and schizophrenia (N=43). Statistical significance of group differences in the MacCAT-T results were tested with the chi-square test. The concordance of the test and clinical assessment of competence by the attending physician were evaluated by Cohen's kappa coefficient. Results. Patients with dementia, as a group, showed significantly more often impaired performance than those with schizophrenia who were still more impaired than depressed patients. Patients were classified as impaired or not depending on the standards used. By combination of all standards substantially more patients were classified as impaired than by clinical assessment (67·7 v. 48·4% of patients with dementia, 20·0 v. 2·9% of patients with depression, 53·5 v. 18·4% of patients with schizophrenia). Conclusions. Using different standards of competence the study showed substantial differences among patients with dementia, depression and schizophrenia. The high proportion of patients identified as incompetent raises several ethical questions, in particular, those referring to the selection of standards or the definition of cut-offs for incompetence. The discrepancy between clinical and formal evaluations points out the influence of the used procedure on competence judgements.
Stable Packaging of Phage PRD1 DNA Requires Adsorption Protein P2, Which Binds to the IncP Plasmid-Encoded Conjugative Transfer Complex

ABSTRACT The double-stranded DNA bacteriophage PRD1 uses an IncP plasmid-encoded conjugal transfer complex as a receptor. Plasmid functions in the PRD1 life cycle are restricted to phage adsorption and DNA entry. A single phage structural protein, P2, located at the fivefold capsid vertices, is responsible for PRD1 attachment to its host. The purified recombinant adsorption protein was judged to be monomeric by gel filtration, rate zonal centrifugation, analytical ultracentrifugation, and chemical cross-linking. It binds to its receptor with an apparent Kd of 0.20 nM, and this binding prevents phage adsorption. P2-deficient particles are unstable and spontaneously release the DNA with concomitant formation of the tail-like structure originating from the phage membrane. We envisage the DNA to be packaged through one vertex, but the presence of P2 on the other vertices suggests a mechanism whereby the injection vertex is determined by P2 binding to the receptor.
Production of Major Extracellular Enzymes during Lignocellulose Degradation by Two Streptomycetes in Agitated Submerged Culture

Streptomyces viridosporus T7A and S. badius 252 were grown in 1 to 2% (wt/vol) slurry cultures with mineral salts solution containing 0.6% yeast extract and 100/200 mesh ground and extracted corn lignocellulose at 37�C. Enzyme activities rapidly increased in the first 3 to 4 days and then declined and remained at a relatively constant level. Concentrations of endoglucanase and xylanase produced by S. badius were lower than those produced by S. viridosporus. However, the lignin-peroxidase peak concentration was threefold higher than with S. viridosporus and was obtained at 9 to 10 days of incubation. By polyacrylamide gel analysis, it was determined that peroxidases from both species consisted of four enzymes, with only one, the lignin peroxidase, having high activity. A culture pH of 8.5 was preferable for lignocellulose degradation by S. badius.
Attachment security, mother-child interaction, and temperament as predictors of behavior-problem ratings at age three years.

The central goal of the study reported here was to identify antecedent characteristics of the child and family that best predicted behavioral/ emotional problems at 3 years of age. In prior work (Bates & Bayles, 1984; Bates, Olson, Pettit, & Bayles, 1982; Lee & Bates, 1984; Lounsbury & Bates, 1982; Olson, Bates, & Bayles, 1984; Pettit & Bates, 1984) we have written extensively about mother-infant interaction, temperament, and intellectual functioning and about their interrelationships across development. What we learned from these prior findings will form the basis for interpreting patterns of relationships among our predictor and outcome variables in the present study. As a first step toward answering our central question, we considered how the important index of attachment security related to several of the mother-child relationship measures that had been included in our previous studies. As a second step, we examined relationships of attachment security to other child characteristics, such as difficult temperament and sociability. Finally, we approached our central question more directly by considering how all these variables jointly predicted behavior problems at age 3 years.