Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of focal psychodynamic therapy and enhanced cognitive–behavioural therapy in out-patients with anorexia nervosa

Background Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious illness leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. The treatment of AN very often is protracted; repeated hospitalizations and lost productivity generate substantial economic costs in the health care system. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the differential cost-effectiveness of out-patient focal psychodynamic psychotherapy (FPT), enhanced cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT-E), and optimized treatment as usual (TAU-O) in the treatment of adult women with AN. Method The analysis was conducted alongside the randomized controlled Anorexia Nervosa Treatment of OutPatients (ANTOP) study. Cost-effectiveness was determined using direct costs per recovery at 22 months post-randomization (n = 156). Unadjusted incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated. To derive cost-effectiveness acceptability curves (CEACs) adjusted net-benefit regressions were applied assuming different values for the maximum willingness to pay (WTP) per additional recovery. Cost–utility and assumptions underlying the base case were investigated in exploratory analyses. Results Costs of in-patient treatment and the percentage of patients who required in-patient treatment were considerably lower in both intervention groups. The unadjusted ICERs indicated FPT and CBT-E to be dominant compared with TAU-O. Moreover, FPT was dominant compared with CBT-E. CEACs showed that the probability for cost-effectiveness of FTP compared with TAU-O and CBT-E was ⩾95% if the WTP per recovery was ⩾€9825 and ⩾€24 550, respectively. Comparing CBT-E with TAU-O, the probability of being cost-effective remained <90% for all WTPs. The exploratory analyses showed similar but less pronounced trends. Conclusions Depending on the WTP, FPT proved cost-effective in the treatment of adult AN.
Induction of Cyclooxygenase-2 Signaling by Stomatococcus mucilaginosus Highlights the Pathogenic Potential of an Oral Commensal

Stomatococcus mucilaginosus is an oral commensal that has been occasionally reported to cause severe infections in immunocompromised patients. There is no information about the pathogenic role of S. mucilaginosus in airway infections. In a cohort of 182 subjects with bronchiectasis, we found that 9% were colonized with S. mucilaginosus in their lower airways by culture growth from bronchoalveolar lavage. To address the pathogenic potential of S.mucilaginosus, we developed a murine model of S. mucilaginosus lung infection. Intratracheal injection of S. mucilaginosus in C57BL/6 mice resulted in a neutrophilic influx with production of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and lipid mediators, mainly PGE2 with induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the lungs. Presence of TLR2 was necessary for induction of COX-2 and production of PGE2 by S. mucilaginosus. TLR2-deficient mice showed an enhanced clearance of S. mucilaginosus compared with wild-type mice. Administration of PGE2 to TLR2−/− mice resulted in impaired clearance of S. mucilaginosus, suggesting a key role for COX-2–induced PGE2 production in immune response to S. mucilaginosus. Mechanistically, induction of COX-2 in macrophages was dependent on the p38-ERK/MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, mice treated with S. mucilaginosus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed an increased mortality compared with mice treated with PA103 or S. mucilaginosus alone. Inhibition of COX-2 significantly improved survival in mice infected with PA103 and S. mucilaginosus. These data provide novel insights into the bacteriology and personalized microbiome in patients with bronchiectasis and suggest a pathogenic role for S. mucilaginosus in patients with bronchiectasis.
Combined Functional Genomic Maps of the C. elegans DNA Damage Response

Many human cancers originate from defects in the DNA damage response (DDR). Although much is known about this process, it is likely that additional DDR genes remain to be discovered. To identify such genes, we used a strategy that combines protein-protein interaction mapping and large-scale phenotypic analysis inCaenorhabditis elegans. Together, these approaches identified 12 worm DDR orthologs and 11 novel DDR genes. One of these is the putative ortholog of hBCL3, a gene frequently altered in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Thus, the combination of functional genomic mapping approaches in model organisms may facilitate the identification and characterization of genes involved in cancer and, perhaps, other human diseases.
Hyperthermia Cancer Therapy Utilizing Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles

This paper presents an investigation of hyperthermia cancer therapy utilizing high-frequency magnetic field to induce a temperature increase on tumor cells by using a commercially-available radiography solution containing superparamagnetic nanoparticles. The biocompatible and biodegradable materials allow us to explore hyperthermia cancer therapy in vivo or in vitro. Experimental data showed that a temperature as high as 72.4 degC can be successfully generated for in vitro experiments. In-vitro testing showed that survival rate of the tumor cells can be greatly reduced. In-vivo experiments showed that the hyperthermia therapy can significantly repress the growth of liver tumors by utilizing concentrated commercial nanoparticles and temperature-sensitive hydrogel. Hydrogel used in drug delivery system was liquid at low temperature (< 20 degC) and became gel above 30 degC. The gel can be used to secure the nanoparticles in the target tumor tissue. Furthermore, a temperature control system was designed to keep the nanoparticles at a constant temperature such that a reliable cancer therapy can be feasible.
Verifying Return-Based Style Analysis Using Composition-Based Factor Returns

Abstract There are strong arguments for both the composition-based and returns-based approach to style analysis. Several studies have used these techniques for the purpose of identifying unit trusts that are misclassified in terms of their category. By expanding on a well-established technique, this study investigates whether substituting composition-based style factor returns in a returns-based style analysis framework is able to support the findings of the returns-based style analysis. While both techniques of style analysis are capable of identifying misclassified funds they only give partially consistent results. The technique prevents a fund from being reclassified in terms of a returns-based style analysis if such a reclassification is not supported by a composition-based style analysis.
Lucas’ Equilibrium Account of the Business Cycle: Optimizing Behavior, General Equilibrium, and Modeling Rational Expectations

Robert E. Lucas Jr. is considered the “architect” of modern macroeconomics. His equilibrium approach to the business cycles has provoked a major change in the understanding of macroeconomic phenomena since the late 1960s. In this article we attempt to describe historically how he put together the main elements that formed the body of his theoretical framework, namely, the optimizing representative agent, the contingent-claim approach to general equilibrium analysis and the modeling of the rational expectation hypothesis. Lucas’ Expectations and the Neutrality of Money, published in 1972, is the first article containing all elements aforementioned. To reach such a result, he collaborated with Leonard Rapping in 1969 (their first article) and later developed a joint work with Edward Prescott in 1971. Furthermore, we also argue that the way Robert Lucas saw business cycles can be considered an inevitable progress in macroeconomics.
Chapter 5 A metabolic basis for hyperoxia tolerance in HeLa cells

The association of oxidative stress with numerous common and rare diseases has stimulated intensive research on potential defense mechanisms. Elevated levels of ambient oxygen (hyperoxia) have received relatively little attention as an experimental model for the study of oxidative stress. Previously, we described a hyperoxia-tolerant Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell strain generated by an in vitro selection and adaptation procedure utilizing stepwise increased oxygen levels over a protracted period of time. This adaptation appeared to be associated with a relative resistance to inactivation by hyperoxia of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes, succinate and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. HeLa cells that had been similarly adapted to hyperoxic growth conditions such biochemical changes were not observed, suggesting that different mechanisms may afford hyperoxic tolerance. The activity of key enzymes of the TCA cycle and mitochondrial respiratory system such as succinate and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, as well as metabolites involved in glycolysis and the TCA cycle were compared in normal and hyperoxia-adapted HeLa cells. No differences in the relevant enzyme activities were observed. However, a shift was noted in the ratio of the glucose consumption to lactate excretion rate, which was reduced from 1:2 in the parental cells to 1:1 in the tolerant cells. Moreover, the glutamine/glutamate conversion rate appeared also to be reduced in the tolerant cells in combination with the ammonia secretion. In contrast to CHO cells, tolerance in HeLa cells is associated with specific alterations in energy metabolism resulting in a decreased in acid excretion upon exposure to hyperoxia.
Comparison Study of On-line Rotor Resistance Estimators based on Alternate QD Model and Classical QD Model for Induction Motor Drives

Most of rotor resistance estimators utilizes Classical qd Model (CQDM) and Alternate qd Model (AQDM). The rotor resistance estimators based on both models were shown to provide an accurate rotor resistance estimate under conditions where flux is constant such as a field-oriented control (FOC) based induction motor drives. Under the conditions where flux is varying such as a Maximum torque per amp (MTPA) control, AQDM based rotor resistance estimator estimates actual rotor resistance accurately even in different operating points. However, CQDM based rotor resistance estimator has not been investigated and its performance is questionable under condition where flux level is varying. Thus, in this work, the performance of CQDM based rotor resistance estimator was investigated and made comparisons with AQDM based estimator under conditions where flux level is significantly varying such as in MTPA control based induction motor drives. Unlike AQDM based estimator, the laboratory results show that the CQDM based estimator underestimates actual rotor resistance and exhibits an undesirable dip in the estimates in different operating points. 요 약 대부분의 회전자 저항 추정기는 표준모델(CQDM)과 대안모델(AQDM)을 활용한다. 두가지 모델에 기반한 회전자 저항 추정기들은 자속이 일정한 FOC와 같은 제어 환경에서는 정확한 회전자 저항 추정치를 제공하는 것으로 확인되었다. 반면, 단위전류당최대토크 (MTPA) 제어기와같이자속이변화하는동작환경에서는, AQDM에기반한회전자저항추정기가 다른 동작 운전점에서도 실제 회전자 저항을 정확하게 추정함을 보여주었다. 하지만, 자속이 변화하는 동작환경에서의 CQDM애기반회전자저항추정기의성능은검토된적이없으며그의성능은의문이다. 따라서, 본연구에서는자속이많이 변화하는 MTPA 제어기 기반 유도전동기 드라이브에서 CQDM에 기반한 회전자 저항 추정기의 성능을 검토하였으며 AQDM에기반한추정기와비교하였다. AQDM에기반한추정기와는달리, CQDM에기반한추정기는실제저항치보다낮게 추정할 뿐만 아니라 여러 운전조건변화시마다 추정한 값에서 실제 존재할 수 없는 급격한 굴곡이 존재함을 실험 결과에서
A dosing study of bone marrow mononuclear cells for transendocardial injection in a pig model of chronic ischemic heart disease.

We studied the effect of the dose of bone marrow mononuclear cells, delivered via transendocardial injection, upon capillary density and fibrosis in pigs with chronic ischemic heart disease.Pigs (n = 16) that had undergone ameroid constrictor placement (left circumflex coronary artery) to induce chronic ischemia were divided equally into 4 groups on the basis of bone marrow mononuclear cell dose: control (saline injection) and 50, 100, or 200 × 10(6) bone marrow mononuclear cells. Thirty days after ameroid placement, each pig received 13 transendocardial NOGA-guided injections. An implantable loop recorder monitored possible arrhythmias caused by cell transplantation. Thirty days later, the pigs were killed, and their hearts were evaluated histopathologically for fibrosis and capillary density; the number of cells per segment was correlated with fibrosis and capillary density. No adverse events, arrhythmias, or cardiac inflammatory reactions were associated with cell therapy. Less fibrosis was seen in pigs that received 100 × 10(6) cells than in control pigs. A trend toward higher capillary density was seen with higher cell concentrations. Segments injected with more than 20 × 10(6) million cells had the highest capillary density and the least amount of fibrosis (P < 0.05 vs controls). In conclusion, transendocardial injections (up to 200 × 10(6) bone marrow mononuclear cells) were safe. Analyses of individual injected segments suggest potential benefit from higher cell concentrations per segment.
Changes in alertness are a principal component of variance in the EEG spectrum

Minute-scale fluctuations in the normalized EEG log spectrum, when correlated with concurrent changes in level of performance on a sustained auditory detection task, showed that a single principal component of EEG spectral variance is linearly related to minute-scale changes in detection performance. The particular EEG frequencies at which this coupling is expressed are similar for most subjects under a range of task conditions, and match those recently reported from analysis of verbal self-reports during drowsiness. The one-dimensional relationship between detection performance and the EEG spectrum confirms quantitatively the intuitive assumption that minute-scale changes in behavioral alertness during drowsiness are predominantly linked to changes in global brain dynamics along a single dimension of psychophysiological arousal.
The effects of exchange rate volatility on tourist flows: evidence from the UK and Sweden.

Exchange rate volatility (ERV) affects international tourist flows either by affecting the choices of the potential traveller or the actions of the tourism intermediaries. In this study, we examine the relationship between tourist arrivals and ERV for the UK and Sweden. Our results show that there is a negative relationship between ERV and tourist flows into the two countries suggesting that potential travellers and tour operators react to changes of the exchange rate. Direct policy implications are: policy makers should consider the effects of ERV when designing tourism policy, i.e. countries with substantial tourist inflows from a diversified range of international markets should avoid the opening up of markets that may be exposed to disturbances that could result to ERV. Further, a country relying heavily on its tourism industry, should avoid using exchange rate policies in order to correct its international competiveness, as these policies may end up to an ERV that could reduce substantially its tourism inflows.
Measures of variation at DNA repeat loci under a general stepwise mutation model.

Polymorphisms at tandem repeat loci are caused by mutations with allele sizes occasionally altered by more than one repeat unit in both forward and backward directions. Such mutational changes may occur with asymmetric probabilities. Therefore, a one-step symmetric stepwise mutation model may not be appropriate for studying the population dynamics at all repeat loci. In this work, we evaluated the expectation and variance of the within-population variance of the allele size distribution in a finite population, and the expected homozygosity at a locus by the coalescence approach under a general stepwise mutation model, where mutational transitions of allele sizes can be arbitrary, including being asymmetric. Under the special cases of symmetric one-step, two-step, and multi-step geometric distributions of mutations, our general results reduce to the corresponding results obtained by earlier investigators. The general results indicate that in a finite population, which has reached a steady state under the (general stepwise) mutation and drift balance, the within-population variance of allele sizes has a simple expectation (i.e., proportional to Nnu, the product of the mutation rate, nu, and effective population size, N). However, its stochastic variance is a quadratic function of this composite parameter, Nnu. Furthermore, this second-order variance does not decay with the number of alleles sampled from a population. Application of this theory to data on allele size distributions in unrelated Caucasians from the CEPH pedigree (obtained from the Genome Data Base) shows that the relationship of the variance and mean of within-population variance of allele sizes at tandem repeat loci, grouped by their chromosomal assignment, has a trend compatible with the theory. However, there is an indication that the second-order variance is generally underestimated. One reason for this departure might be that the CEPH sample may not represent a single homogeneous population that reached equilibrium at all tandem repeat loci.
Computational modeling of three-dimensional ECM-rigidity sensing to guide directed cell migration

Significance We have investigated how the directed cell migration toward stiffer extracellular matrix (ECM) is guided by filopodial mechanosensing of the surrounding ECM stiffness. As filopodia bind to the surrounding 3D ECM fibers, local force and displacement are created near the filopodium tip in response to the contraction of filopodia. We have looked into the time rate of changes to the force and the relative displacement between each binding site of ECM fiber (or fluorescent microbeads) and that of the filopodium tip. To quantify the local ECM stiffness sensed by the cell, we have aggregated these effects using two approaches of continuum and discrete mechanics and formulated two different equations for the effective rigidities of local ECM perceived by the cell. Filopodia have a key role in sensing both chemical and mechanical cues in surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). However, quantitative understanding is still missing in the filopodial mechanosensing of local ECM stiffness, resulting from dynamic interactions between filopodia and the surrounding 3D ECM fibers. Here we present a method for characterizing the stiffness of ECM that is sensed by filopodia based on the theory of elasticity and discrete ECM fiber. We have applied this method to a filopodial mechanosensing model for predicting directed cell migration toward stiffer ECM. This model provides us with a distribution of force and displacement as well as their time rate of changes near the tip of a filopodium when it is bound to the surrounding ECM fibers. Aggregating these effects in each local region of 3D ECM, we express the local ECM stiffness sensed by the cell and explain polarity in the cellular durotaxis mechanism.
Evaluation of Boronic Acid Disk Tests for Differentiating KPC-Possessing Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates in the Clinical Laboratory

ABSTRACT The worldwide increase in the occurrence and dissemination of KPC β-lactamases among gram-negative pathogens makes critical the early detection of these enzymes. Boronic acid disk tests using different antibiotic substrates were evaluated for detection of KPC-possessing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. A total of 57 genotypically confirmed KPC-possessing K. pneumoniae isolates with varying carbapenem MICs were examined. To measure the specificity of the tests, 106 non-KPC-possessing isolates (89 K. pneumoniae and 17 Escherichia coli isolates) were randomly selected among those exhibiting reduced susceptibility to cefoxitin, expanded-spectrum cephalosporins, or carbapenems. As many as 56, 53, and 40 of the non-KPC-possessing isolates harbored extended-spectrum β-lactamases, metallo-β-lactamases, and plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases, respectively. By use of CLSI methodology and disks containing imipenem, meropenem, or cefepime, either alone or in combination with 400 μg of boronic acid, all 57 KPC producers gave positive results (sensitivity, 100%) whereas all 106 non-KPC producers were negative (specificity, 100%). The meropenem duplicate disk with or without boronic acid demonstrated the largest differences in inhibition zone diameters between KPC producers and non-KPC producers. By use of disks containing ertapenem, all isolates were correctly differentiated except for five AmpC producers that gave false-positive results (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 95.3%). These practical and simple boronic acid disk tests promise to be very helpful for the accurate differentiation of KPC-possessing K. pneumoniae isolates, even in regions where different broad-spectrum β-lactamases are widespread.
Library preparation methodology can influence genomic and functional predictions in human microbiome research

Significance The field of microbiome research is moving from 16S rDNA gene sequencing to metagenomic sequencing of complete communities, which clearly gives a more comprehensive genomic and functional representation of the organisms present. Here we describe, quantify, and compare biases associated with four currently available next-generation sequencing library preparation methods using a synthetic DNA mock community and an extraction spike-in control of microbial cells. Our study highlights a critical need for consistency in protocols and data analysis procedures, especially when attempting to interpret human microbiome data for human health. Observations from human microbiome studies are often conflicting or inconclusive. Many factors likely contribute to these issues including small cohort sizes, sample collection, and handling and processing differences. The field of microbiome research is moving from 16S rDNA gene sequencing to a more comprehensive genomic and functional representation through whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of complete communities. Here we performed quantitative and qualitative analyses comparing WGS metagenomic data from human stool specimens using the Illumina Nextera XT and Illumina TruSeq DNA PCR-free kits, and the KAPA Biosystems Hyper Prep PCR and PCR-free systems. Significant differences in taxonomy are observed among the four different next-generation sequencing library preparations using a DNA mock community and a cell control of known concentration. We also revealed biases in error profiles, duplication rates, and loss of reads representing organisms that have a high %G+C content that can significantly impact results. As with all methods, the use of benchmarking controls has revealed critical differences among methods that impact sequencing results and later would impact study interpretation. We recommend that the community adopt PCR-free–based approaches to reduce PCR bias that affects calculations of abundance and to improve assemblies for accurate taxonomic assignment. Furthermore, the inclusion of a known-input cell spike-in control provides accurate quantitation of organisms in clinical samples.
The 21‐year follow‐up of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study: risk factor levels, secular trends and east–west difference

Objectives. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study is an on‐going multicentre study of atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and young adults. We have collected risk factor data in the 21‐year follow‐up performed in 2001. The aims of this analysis were to examine the levels, secular trends and east–west difference in risk factors amongst young adults.
Size Does Matter: Empirical Evidence from ISE-listed Banks

Banks are strong economic agents that play an important role in economies through the provision of credit and financial services, more broadly. Their main role is financial intermediation, with commercial banks being the key providers of this activity. In delivering financial intermediation services, the role of commercial banks (henceforth referred to as banks) is to collect deposits and grant loans. Once the inflows (revenues) accruing from loans granted exceed the outflows (expenses) incurred from deposits, a bank realises some net inflow (income) and records it as profit to its books. Should the opposite occur, the bank would bear some loss. Such profits or losses are gross profits or losses incurred as banks conduct their main activity financial intermediation.