Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using decision pathway surveys to inform climate engineering policy choices

Significance A growing number of scientists now believe that climate engineering technologies could be required to control global temperatures and protect ecosystems. Decision makers often rely on surveys to inform them about citizens’ views, but when novel technologies are involved results can fail to reflect the assumptions, knowledge, and values that underlie people’s choices. To bridge this gap, we describe a new, behaviorally and cognitively responsive “decision pathway” survey (n = 800) that mimics the conversational depth of small-group deliberations by adopting a broader context that includes competing objectives, civic priorities, factual information, and risk–benefit tradeoffs. Results yield important insights into citizens’ reasoning strategies and the ethical and governance concerns influencing the conditional nature of climate engineering policy choices. Over the coming decades citizens living in North America and Europe will be asked about a variety of new technological and behavioral initiatives intended to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. A common approach to public input has been surveys whereby respondents’ attitudes about climate change are explained by individuals’ demographic background, values, and beliefs. In parallel, recent deliberative research seeks to more fully address the complex value tradeoffs linked to novel technologies and difficult ethical questions that characterize leading climate mitigation alternatives. New methods such as decision pathway surveys may offer important insights for policy makers by capturing much of the depth and reasoning of small-group deliberations while meeting standard survey goals including large-sample stakeholder engagement. Pathway surveys also can help participants to deepen their factual knowledge base and arrive at a more complete understanding of their own values as they apply to proposed policy alternatives. The pathway results indicate more fully the conditional and context-specific nature of support for several “upstream” climate interventions, including solar radiation management techniques and carbon dioxide removal technologies.
Implications of Molecular Genotyping of Helicobacter pylori Isolates from Different Human Populations by Genomic Fingerprinting of Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus Regions for Strain Identification and Geographic Evolution

ABSTRACT Biogeographic partitioning of the genome is typical of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Such population-specific evolution could serve as a model for understanding host-pathogen interaction and the impact of genetic drift and recombination on insular populations. With a total of 320 isolates from six geographic regions (Japan, India, England, Spain, Ireland, Africa, and Peru) analyzed by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-based genotyping, we examined genetic affinities among various H. pylori populations in the world. Several strain-specific and region-specific differences were observed by ERIC-based typing. Polymorphic ERIC patterns indicated that the ERIC sequences are in fact dispersed in the H. pylori chromosome at different locations separated by various distances. Phylogenetic analysis of 61 representative isolates revealed three distinct genetic clusters populated by isolates with shared ERIC types independent of the cag right-junction motif type and vacA allele status. Among the notable genetic relationships were the genotypic similarities between Irish and Japanese and between Peruvian and Japanese isolates. Insular genotypic characteristics of Irish isolates amid genetic similarity to East Asian, as well as North European, strains have been once again proved in this study. Peruvian genotypes were more similar to those of Japanese isolates than to those of Iberian or European isolates. Given the current debate on the origin and age of present-day H. pylori, this is a significant finding that supports the possibility of ancient colonization of Amerindians with East Asian strains. Genotypic data presented here will be additionally helpful in realizing the importance of H. pylori geographical genomics in the development of gastroduodenal pathology.
Review and Comparison of Advanced‐Generation Macrolides Clarithromycin and Dirithromycin

We reviewed English‐language clinical studies, abstracts, and review articles identified from MEDLINE searches from January 1966–August 1998, and bibliographies of identified articles to compare advanced‐generation macrolides dirithromycin and clarithromycin and their use for respiratory tract infections. Both agents have superior adverse effect profiles compared with erythromycin, the original macrolide. Both have broad antibacterial coverage, but clarithromycin usually has a lower MIC90 to susceptible organisms than dirithromycin; for most isolates this difference is not clinically significant. Clarithromycin has better in vitro coverage of Haemophilus influenzae, but this activity varies with formation of its bioactive metabolite, 14‐hydroxyclarithromycin. Neither agent is ideal for H. influenzae eradication. The agents differ markedly in terms of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, metabolism, and cost, and thus with respect to drug interaction profiles and dosages. Dirithromycin's drug interaction profile is markedly better than clarithromycin's. Clarithromycin is dosed twice/day; dirithromycin's pharmacokinetics allow once/day dosing. Dirithromycin is less expensive with regard to both cost/day and cost/treatment regimen. Clarithromycin has been studied and approved for administration to children. In adults with respiratory tract infections who are receiving drugs that would interact with clarithromycin, and in those with renal dysfunction with or without coexisting hepatic dysfunction, dirithromycin appears to be superior in terms of safety and equivalent to clarithromycin in terms of efficacy.
Dynamic Immune Cell Accumulation During Flow-Induced Atherogenesis in Mouse Carotid Artery: An Expanded Flow Cytometry Method

Objective—Inflammation plays a central role in atherosclerosis. However, the detailed changes in the composition and quantity of leukocytes in the arterial wall during atherogenesis are not fully understood in part because of the lack of suitable methods and animal models. Methods and Results—We developed a 10-fluorochrome, 13-parameter flow cytometry method to quantitate 7 major leukocyte subsets in a single digested arterial wall sample. Apolipoprotein E–deficient mice underwent left carotid artery (LCA) partial ligation and were fed a high-fat diet for 4 to 28 days. Monocyte/macrophages, dendritic cells, granulocytes, natural killer cells, and CD4 T cells significantly infiltrated the LCA as early as 4 days. Monocyte/macrophages and dendritic cells decreased between 7 and 14 days, whereas T-cell numbers remained steady. Leukocyte numbers peaked at 7 days, preceding atheroma formation at 14 days. B cells entered LCA by 14 days. Control right carotid and sham-ligated LCAs showed no significant infiltrates. Polymerase chain reaction and ELISA arrays showed that expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines peaked at 7 and 14 days postligation, respectively. Conclusion—This is the first quantitative description of leukocyte number and composition over the life span of murine atherosclerosis. These results show that disturbed flow induces rapid and dynamic leukocyte accumulation in the arterial wall during the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis.
Perioperative Methylprednisolone and Outcome in Neonates Undergoing Heart Surgery

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have called into question the benefit of perioperative corticosteroids in children undergoing heart surgery, but have been limited by the lack of placebo control, limited power, and grouping of various steroid regimens together in analysis. We evaluated outcomes across methylprednisolone regimens versus no steroids in a large cohort of neonates. METHODS: Clinical data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database were linked to medication data from the Pediatric Health Information Systems Database for neonates (≤30 days) undergoing heart surgery (2004–2008) at 25 participating centers. Multivariable analysis adjusting for patient and center characteristics, surgical risk category, and within-center clustering was used to evaluate the association of methylprednisolone regimen with outcome. RESULTS: A total of 3180 neonates were included: 22% received methylprednisolone on both the day before and day of surgery, 12% on the day before surgery only, and 28% on the day of surgery only; 38% did not receive any perioperative steroids. In multivariable analysis, there was no significant mortality or length-of-stay benefit associated with any methylprednisolone regimen versus no steroids, and no difference in postoperative infection. In subgroup analysis by surgical-risk group, there was a significant association of methylprednisolone with infection consistent across all regimens (overall odds ratio 2.6, 95% confidence interval 1.3–5.2) in the lower-surgical-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter observational analysis did not find any benefit associated with methylprednisolone in neonates undergoing heart surgery and suggested increased infection in certain subgroups. These data reinforce the need for a large randomized trial in this population.
Implications of Household Saving on Poverty

The commonly observed difference between household income and expenditure appears increasingly important in the poverty reduction debate. Previous studies that explored poverty reduction using household survey data have struggled with significant discrepancies between household income and expenditure but they have left them largely unreconciled. However, because this difference is more significant for the poorest households, ignoring it has places a significant strain on the credibility of the poverty results without fully understanding the differences between income and expenditure of the poorest households. To address the problem of the difference between household income and expenditure, this paper proposes explaining this difference as household saving determined within the household demand system. It justifies this inclusion of savings in households demand structures based on empirical and theoretical grounds. Following the work of Hertel et al. (2004), this paper performs a multilateral trade liberalization in an adjusted GTAP model to explore the implications of such a treatment of savings on the poverty results. The paper finds out that household saving greatly affects the very poorest households that rely on selling their own assets as a coping strategy. Even though their ability to dissave, in general, acts positively on the poorest households that are able to afford the basic consumption, a falling price of saving greatly reduces their wellbeing through placing more strain on their asset reduction. Also the paper finds out that the price of savings has opposing effects on the poor and the rich, thus potentially increasing the size of the poverty gap when falling, and decreasing it when falling. Hertel, T. W. , Ivanic, M. , Preckel, P. V. , and Cranfield, J. A. (2004). The earnings effects of multilateral trade liberalization: Implications for poverty. World Bank Economic Review.
Factors Associated With Inadequate Effectiveness of a Multidisciplinary Disease Management Program in Heart Failure Patients Stratified by Galectin 3 Level

Objective: This study investigated whether multidisciplinary disease management programs (MDPs) exert the same effects in heart failure (HF) patients across risk levels stratified by galectin-3 (Gal-3) level and what factors are associated with inadequate effectiveness of MDP. Methods: We used a longitudinal follow-up design based on a previous randomized trial. A total of 355 stabilized hospitalized HF patients were enrolled. The effects of MDP on death and HF-related rehospitalization were analyzed according to Gal-3 levels. Results: During the 4-year follow-up, Gal-3 levels predicted mortality and composite events (p < .001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated the event-lowering effect of MDP (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.49, p = .001 for death and HR = 0.50, p < .001 for composite events). However, the effect of MDP was inadequate for those with high Gal-3 levels (≥17.9 ng/ml), whose 4-year composite event rate was 43% in the MDP arm. Further analysis showed that, in patients with Gal-3 ≥ 17.9 ng/ml, the independent factors associated with a high composite event rate were no MDP, older age, worse New York Heart Association functional class, no angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker use, higher predischarge natriuretic peptide levels, and wider QRS complexes. Conclusions: The effectiveness of MDP for HF patients at high risk was inadequate. Our findings identified the characteristics of these MDP nonresponders. Better integration of advanced care plans based on strategies guided by Gal-3 level is needed to improve care quality.
Selective activation of specific PKC isoforms dictating the fate of CD14+ monocytes towards differentiation or apoptosis

In this study, phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate (PMA) at low concentrations (<10 nM; L‐PMA) induces the differentiation of CD14+ monocytes into monocyte‐derived macrophages (MDMs) while PMA at high concentrations (>100 nM; H‐PMA) causes the apoptosis of these cells. The pre‐treatment with Go6976 (a PKC‐α/β1 selective inhibitor), not anilinemonoindolylmaleimide [a PKC‐β inhibitor (PKC‐β inh.)], significantly (P < 0.05) reduces the L‐PMA‐induced generation of MDMs in the cultured CD14+ monocytes. On the other hand, either of the above two PKC inhibitors is capable of suppressing the H‐PMA‐induced apoptosis of CD14+ monocytes. However, only the inclusion of PKC‐β inh. , not Go6976, prevents the cells from serum deprivation‐induced cell apoptosis. Although the membrane translocation of conventional PKC‐α, β1, and β2 isoforms was observed in the H‐PMA‐treated CD14+ monocytes, only PKC‐β2 exhibits a mitochondrial translocation activity among those PKCs responsive to H‐PMA treatment. Moreover, the activation of DEVD‐dependent caspases (DEVDase) was also detected in the H‐PMA‐treated CD14+ monocytes, indicating the involvement of a caspase‐dependent signaling pathway in the H‐PMA‐induced cell apoptosis of CD14+ monocytes. Together with our previous findings that the selective activation of PKC‐α or PKC‐β1 induces the differentiation of CD14+ monocytes into MDMs or dendritic cells (MoDCs), respectively, the results in this study further demonstrate that PKC‐β2 activation is responsible for relaying the apoptotic signal to intrinsic mitochondria‐dependent caspase signaling cascades in the CD14+ monocytes. It is likely that the selective activation of specific PKC isoforms provides a new strategy to manipulate the differential cell fate commitment of multipotent CD14+ monocytes towards apoptosis or differentiation into MDMs, MoDCs, and other cell types. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 122–131, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
“We Don’t Equal Even Just One Man”: Gender and Social Control in Conservation Adoption

Abstract Women own or co-own approximately half of the farmland in Iowa, United States, yet researchers are only beginning to study these landowners’ social relationships in relation to their land. This study analyzes qualitative data collected in Iowa through a series of meetings hosted by the Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN). I find that social control through exclusion constrains women landowners’ access to information about and implementation of conservation. Specifically, I identify how women landowners experience the social processes of boundary maintenance and othering in land management. These processes create barriers to conservation adoption and maintain gendered agricultural landscapes. The women who participated in WFAN’s conservation programs express their experience of and resistance to dominant narratives as they attempt to create landscape change. These findings highlight the importance of further study of inequality processes and their relation to control of farmland if conservation goals are to be met.
Tumor targeting of the IL‐15 superagonist RLI by an anti‐GD2 antibody strongly enhances its antitumor potency

Immunocytokines (ICKs) targeting cytokines to the tumor environment using antibodies directed against a tumor‐associated antigen often have a higher therapeutic index than the corresponding unconjugated cytokines. Various ICKs displaying significant antitumoral effects in several murine tumor models have already been developed, and some of them, in particular interleukin (IL)‐2‐based ICKs, are in Phase II clinical trials. Although sharing common biological activities with IL‐2 in vitro, IL‐15 is now considered as having a better potential in antitumor immunotherapeutical strategies and has been shown to be less toxic than IL‐2 in preclinical studies. We previously developed the fusion protein RLI, linking a soluble form of human IL‐15Rα‐sushi+ domain to human IL‐15. RLI showed better biological activities than IL‐15 in vitro as well as higher antitumoral effects in vivo in murine and human cancer models. Here, we investigated, in the context of an ICK, the effect of associating RLI with an antibody targeting the GD2 ganglioside, a validated tumoral target expressed on many neurectodermal tumors. Anti‐GD2‐RLI fully retained the cytokine potential of RLI and the antibody effector functions (antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement‐dependent cytotoxicity). It displayed strong antitumor activities in two syngeneic cancer models in immunocompetent mice (subcutaneous EL4 and metastatic NXS2). Its therapeutic potency was higher than those of RLI and anti‐GD2 alone or in combination. We suggest that this is related to its bifunctional (cytokine and antibody) nature.
Eating and activity habits of overweight children on weekdays and weekends.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether eating, sedentary, and physical activity behaviors differ on weekdays and weekends in a sample of children who are overweight and obese. METHODS Eighty-one children aged 6-9 years old who were overweight or obese and enrolled in a weight management program completed three-day food diaries and three-day Previous Day Physical Activity Recalls (PDPARs) for two weekdays and one weekend day. All data were obtained at baseline prior to intervention delivery. RESULTS Children consumed a greater percentage of calories from fat (t = 2.15, p = 0.04) and fewer fruits (t = 6.83, p < 0.001), vegetables (t = 2.91, p = 0.002), non-nutrient dense (NND) snack foods (t = 5.58, p < 0.001), and sweetened drinks (t = 2.91, p = 0.005) on weekends. Children watched more television (t = 5.25, p < 0.001), expended more energy (t = 4.37, p < 0.001), and spent a greater percentage of time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p < 0.001) on weekends compared to weekdays. CONCLUSIONS Findings demonstrate a number of differences in children's eating and activity habits on weekends and weekdays. They also suggest that attending to differences in food intake and activity habits on weekdays and weekends separately may help to identify periods of high risk, which could be modified with effective intervention approaches. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS NCT00259324, NCT00200265.
Indian psychiatry: Research and international perspectives

Indian psychiatry has many contributions to the world psychiatry to its credit. These include active participation in the international scientific organizations, research, and also creation of the manpower resources in many other countries. India has been an active partner in the research initiatives of the World Health Organization and the World Psychiatric Association. Research by the Indian psychiatrists played an important role in recognition of the entity of acute and transient psychotic disorders, some culture bound syndromes like Dhat syndrome and understanding the role of families in care of schizophrenia and course and outcome of schizophrenia.
The relationship between face recognition ability and socioemotional functioning throughout adulthood

ABSTRACT The relationship between face recognition ability and socioemotional functioning has been widely explored. However, how aging modulates this association regarding both objective performance and subjective-perception is still neglected. Participants, aged between 18 and 81 years, performed a face memory test and completed subjective face recognition and socioemotional questionnaires. General and social anxiety, and neuroticism traits account for the individual variation in face recognition abilities during adulthood. Aging modulates these relationships because as they age, individuals that present a higher level of these traits also show low-level face recognition ability. Intriguingly, the association between depression and face recognition abilities is evident with increasing age. Overall, the present results emphasize the importance of embedding face metacognition measurement into the context of these studies and suggest that aging is an important factor to be considered, which seems to contribute to the relationship between socioemotional and face-cognitive functioning.
The Role of the EU Institutions in Establishing the European Stability Mechanism: Institutional Leadership Under a Veil of Intergovernmentalism

This article traces the role of the EU institutions in setting up the European stability mechanism (ESM). There have been many scholarly assessments but few empirical reconstructions of decision‐making on the intergovernmental ESM and its predecessor the European financial stability facility. The instruments clearly constituted a step away from supranational entrepreneurship and the Community method. However, we question the intergovernmentalist interpretation in terms of institutional competition and decline. Using a historical analogy of the Delors model(s), we identify two types of institutional leadership and show how the ESM was characterized, first by an uneasy combination and then a shift from political championship to the engineering type of leadership. Using two case studies, we trace the negotiations for increasing the size and scope of the ESM. The analyses show that this was a bottom‐up process in which the institutions laid out the tracks and provided the link between the control room (European Council) and ‘machine room’ (Eurogroup/Eurogroup Working Group/ Task Force on Coordinated Action) proceedings.