Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safety and Efficacy of Anidulafungin for Fungal Infection in Patients With Liver Dysfunction or Multiorgan Failure

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to review our clinical experience on the safety and efficacy of anidulafungin, an echinocandin antifungal, in the treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in patients with moderate to severe abnormal liver function tests or multiorgan failure and IFI, in a large United Kingdom Liver Centre. Methods The clinical records of the first 50 consecutive patients treated for IFI with anidulafungin between January 7, 2009 and March 2, 2011 were analyzed. Data were collected on demographics, underlying disease, disease characteristics, hematological and biochemical parameters, IFI, concomitant bacterial and viral infections, response to anidulafungin, and anidulafungin-related adverse events. Results The patients’ median age was 54.3 years (range, 19.6–75.9); 60% were male. Twenty-two (44%) patients were liver transplant recipients. Others had hepatopancreaticobiliary disease (n = 15, 30%) or chronic liver disease (n = 11, 22%). Invasive fungal infection (predominantly Candida spp) was proven in 36 (72%) patients, probable in 14 (28%). Of 46 evaluable patients, 35 (76%) had a favorable anidulafungin treatment outcome. Forty-nine (98%) had abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) pretreatment; 31 (62%) had ≥1 LFT raised to ≥2× baseline during anidulafungin treatment. Conclusions In this highly specialized group of patients, anidulafungin treatment was efficacious and well tolerated by those with decompensated liver disease, multiorgan failure, and high-risk liver transplant with proven or probable IFI.
A high sensitivity long period grating Mach-Zehnder refractometer

A refractive index sensing system has been demonstrated, which is based upon an in-line fibre long period grating Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a heterodyne interrogation technique. This sensing system has comparable accuracy to laboratory-based techniques used in industry such as high performance liquid chromatography and UV spectroscopy. The advantage of this system is that measurements can be made in-situ for applications in continuous process control. Compared to other refractive index sensing schemes using LPGs, this approach has two main advantages. Firstly, the system relies on a simple optical interrogation system and therefore has the real potential for being low cost, and secondly, so far as we are aware it provides the highest refractive index resolution reported for any fibre LPG device.
Identification of multiple HIV‐1 cytotoxic T‐cell epitopes presented by human leukocyte antigen B35 molecules

Objectives: To identify HIV‐1 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes presented by human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐B35 molecules that are associated with the accelerated progression of AIDS using a reverse immunogenetic approach. Methods: 8‐mer to 11‐mer sequences carrying two anchor residues at position 2 and the carboxy‐terminus were selected from HIV‐1SF2 strain. Sixty‐four peptides matched to these sequences were synthesized and tested by a peptide binding assay using RMA‐S‐B*3501 cells. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from two HIV‐1‐infected donors carrying HLA‐B35 were stimulated once‐weekly with each HLA‐B*3501 binding peptide. The CTL activity of the cultured cells for the HLA‐B35‐positive target cells loaded with the corresponding peptides was examined after the second and fourth stimulation. Furthermore, the CTL activity of the cultured cells possessing HLA‐B*3501‐restricted HIV‐1 peptide‐specific CTL activity were examined for the HLA‐B*3501‐positive target cells infected with the recombinant vaccinia virus containing corresponding HIV‐1 gene. Results: HIV‐1 peptide‐specific HLA‐B*3501‐restricted CTL was induced in PBL of HIV‐1 infected donors by in vitro stimulation with 11 out of 27 HLA‐B*3501‐binding HIV‐1 peptides. The specific CTL induced with 10 peptides killed the cells infected with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the corresponding HIV‐1 proteins. Out of these HIV‐1 peptide epitopes, two epitopes were also presented by HLA‐B51 molecules. Conclusion: In addition to the four HLA‐B35‐restricted HIV‐1 CTL epitopes that have been previously reported, nine HLA‐B35‐restricted HIV‐1 CTL epitopes were identified in the present study. These multiple epitopes will be useful in studies for immunopathogenesis of AIDS.
The effect of pulse methylprednisolone plus theophylline treatment on clinical, pulmonary and inflammatory markers in relapses of multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there was a relationship between severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbation and pulmonary function test (PFT) and to determine the effect of theophylline, which was added to intravenous methylprednisolone, on serum Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha levels and clinical scores in MS relapses. STUDY DESIGN Double blind randomized controlled trial. MATERIAL AND METHODS The baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was determined, PFT was performed and blood was taken for analysis of TNF- alpha in patients with MS exacerbation. Patients were randomly divided into two groups; group 1 received intravenous methylprednisolone+IV theophylline and group 2 intravenous methylprednisolone+placebo for 5 days. PFT and EDSS score were repeated and blood was taken for TNF-alpha on the 5(th) and 30(th) days of the treatment. RESULTS Twenty-four patients (14 female, 10 male) were included in the study. Mean age was 32.6±9, duration of disease was 5.4±4.2 years, number of exacerbations was 5±2. There was a significant correlation between the number of exacerbations and EDSS score (p=0.000, r=1). Restrictive PFT findings were detected in 8 and decrease in carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) in 3 cases. In within-group analysis, EDSS score was found to be decreased on day 5 and still low on day 30 in the theophylline group (baseline 3±1.3; 5(th) day 2.4±1.6; 30(th) day 2±1.7). There was no statistically significant difference in the EDSS score of the placebo group (3±1.6; 2.8±1.7; 2.4±1.9 respectively). While serum TNF-alpha level was not changed in the placebo group, there was a non-significant decrease on day 5 and increase on day 30 in the theophylline group. There was no correlation between the clinical parameters, PFT and TNF-alpha level. CONCLUSION There was no correlation between severity of MS and PFT findings. It is suggested that theophylline might be effective in MS exacerbations since it caused decreases in clinical scores; studies with longer treatment duration are needed to clarify its possible anti-inflammatory effect.
Influence of in vivo Hemoglobin Carbamylation on HbA1c Measurements by Various Methods

Abstract Increased carbamylated hemoglobin formed in erythrocytes during uremia may interfere with Hba1c assays, but few studies compared directly both parameters. We measured carbamylated hemoglobin by HPLC in 45 non-diabetic uremic patients (16 with acute and two with chronic renal failure, 27 with transplant recipients) as 57.8 ± 22.3 μg carbamylvaline/g Hb (mean ± standard deviation) vs. 31.6 ± 5.1 in 15 controls (+83%, p < 0.001). In these samples, HbA1c was evaluated by three ion-exchange HPLC methods, 1: Diamat (BioRad), 2: A1c2.2 (Tosoh) and 3: HA8140 (Menarini), and one immunoassay method (Tinaquant II Roche). Whichever the method, mean HbA1c values obtained increased in patients with high (> 60 μg carbamylvaline/g Hb) vs. low (< 45) carbamylated hemoglobin values (+0.08 to 0.25% of total Hb), but differences were not significant. Minor peaks on the chromatograms were however increased in parallel to carbamylated hemoglobin. HbA1c values over 6% were found in 4, 1, 2 and 0 samples, with HPLC 1, 2, 3 and immunoassay, respectively. Fructosamine values were not significantly altered. Our results show that Hb adducts, whether due to carbamylation or to other chemical reactions, interfere to a variable extent with different HbA1c assay methods, and confirm that HbA1c values should be interpreted with caution in uremic patients.
Opinion Divergence Among Professional Investment Managers

We find that opinion divergence among professional investment managers is commonplace, using a large sample of transaction-level institutional trading data. When managers trade together, future returns are similar regardless if they are all buying or selling, inconsistent with the notion that professional investment managers possess stock picking ability or private information that is of investment value. However, when managers trade against each other, subsequent returns are low, especially for stocks that are difficult to short. This U-shaped disagreement-return relationship is consistent with Miller's (1977) hypothesis that, in the presence of short-sale constraints, opinion divergence can cause an upward bias in prices. Copyright (c) 2008 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Disclosure, accommodations and self-care at work among adolescents with disabilities

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore whether adolescents with disabilities disclose their condition and what types of accommodations are requested at work. Method: In-depth, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 adolescents with a physical and/or mobility-related disability. We also reviewed their self- and staff assessments completed throughout an employment training program in which they took part. Results: The findings show that most youth were able to disclose their conditions and recognize some of their limitations in performing tasks at work. Youth requested physical accommodations, more time to complete tasks and cognitive accommodations. Youth also performed several self-care tasks to manage their disability at work including personal care, pain management and fatigue. Conclusions: Within the context of this employment training program, youth were able to disclose their condition to their employer, ask for accommodations and manage their disability in the workplace. Implications for Rehabilitation Educators and clinicians should: Assist youth in understanding whether, when and how to disclose their disability to their potential employer. Help youth to understand what accommodations are available to them in the workplace and how to access them, to help them to perform their job effectively. Coach youth on how to manage their disability in a work context, especially with regard to personal care, pain management and fatigue. Encourage and facilitate participation in experience-based opportunities to practice disclosure, requesting accommodations and self-management.
Translational Research in Acute Lung Injury and Pulmonary Fibrosis Linking progression of fibrotic lung remodeling and ultrastructural alterations of alveolar epithelial type II cells in the amiodarone mouse model

Bastian Birkelbach, Dennis Lutz, Clemens Ruppert, Ingrid Henneke, Elena Lopez-Rodriguez, Andreas Günther, Matthias Ochs, Poornima Mahavadi,* and Lars Knudsen* Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Hannover, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Giessen, Germany; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Germany; European IPF Network, Giessen, Germany; Excellence Cluster “Cardiopulmonary System ECCPS,” Giessen, Germany; Lung Clinic Waldhof-Elgershausen, Greifenstein, Germany; and REBIRTH Cluster of Excellence, Hannover, Germany
Optimal Downlink/Uplink Throughput Allocation for IEEE 802.11 DCF Networks

In this letter, we study how to adaptively tune system parameters to optimize the downlink and uplink throughput performance of IEEE 802.11 networks. In contrast to previous studies which only focus on achieving a target downlink/uplink throughput ratio, we show that by properly choosing the initial backoff window sizes of the access point and mobile stations, the total network throughput (i.e., the sum of downlink throughput and uplink throughput) can be maximized while maintaining the downlink/uplink throughput ratio at the target level simultaneously. Explicit expressions of the optimal initial backoff window sizes are obtained, and verified by simulation results.
Social security generosity, budgetary deficits and reforms in North Cyprus

This paper estimates the fiscal burden of the historical pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) Social Insurance Pension System in North Cyprus and analyzes the appropriateness of the 2008 reforms that introduced the new Social Security Pension System. Estimates are made of the system deficit. To bring the magnitude of the unfunded cost of the pension system down to a sustainable level, major parametric reforms will need to be made to the system. These include increasing the age of retirement, increasing the rate of contributions, changing the method of indexing of pension benefits and decreasing the theoretical replacement rate of the pension benefits.
Learning regions in Europe: theory, policy and practice through the RIS experience

This chapter is part of a collection that seeks to provide insight into the 'new economy' in which value is based on knowledge and human capital. The theme is that knowledge networks and learning are crucial to the global economy. The chapter examines regional economic development, learning networks, and systems of innovation in Europe. Insights from government-directed regional policies aimed at fostering innovation and economic development through collective learning and institutional innovation rather than basic infrastructure provision are discussed. An initiative of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the regional innovation strategy (RIS), is explained as a tool to 'translate knowledge into regional GDP [gross domestic product]' and a means of helping regions to help themselves. The impact of RIS projects is highlighted and a case study illustrates how the theoretical concepts of social capital, the learning region, and external economies of scale have been used and enriched by the development and implementation of a RIS in the West Midlands of England.
Family Business Succession: Suggestions for Future Research

Management succession is a significant moment in a family business's life and an issue that requires analysis from the perspectives of family, management, and ownership systems in order to understand adequately the perspectives of the different stakeholders. In an effort to help improve the quality of the research methodology on this subject, past family business research methodology will be reviewed and critiqued, and some specific recommendations will be presented that can enhance the quality and value of family business research.
On the Stabilization for Laminated Beam with Infinite Memory and Different Speeds of Wave Propagation

In this work, we consider a one-dimensional laminated beam in the case of non-equal wave speeds with only one infinite memory on the effective rotation angle. In this case, we establish the general decay result for the energy of solution without any kind of internal or boundary control. The main result is obtained by applying the method used in Guesmia et al. (Electron. J. Differential Equations 193: 1-45, 2012) and the second-order energy.
Intrinsic to extrinsic phonon lifetime transition in a GaAs–AlAs superlattice

We have measured the lifetimes of two zone-center longitudinal acoustic phonon modes, at 320 and 640 GHz, in a 14 nm GaAs/2 nm AlAs superlattice structure. By comparing measurements at 296 and 79 K we separate the intrinsic contribution to phonon lifetime determined by phonon–phonon scattering from the extrinsic contribution due to defects and interface roughness. At 296 K, the 320 GHz phonon lifetime has approximately equal contributions from intrinsic and extrinsic scattering, whilst at 640 GHz it is dominated by extrinsic effects. These measurements are compared with intrinsic and extrinsic scattering rates in the superlattice obtained from first-principles lattice dynamics calculations. The calculated room-temperature intrinsic lifetime of longitudinal phonons at 320 GHz is in agreement with the experimentally measured value of 0.9 ns. The model correctly predicts the transition from predominantly intrinsic to predominantly extrinsic scattering; however the predicted transition occurs at higher frequencies. Our analysis indicates that the ‘interfacial atomic disorder’ model is not entirely adequate and that the observed frequency dependence of the extrinsic scattering rate is likely to be determined by a finite correlation length of interface roughness.
Are travellers satisfied with Malaysian hotels

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the factors that measure different satisfaction levels between the Asian and Western travellers during their stay in hotels in Malaysia. The paper also seeks to analyse the importance of the tangible and intangible factors in the hotel industry.Design/methodology/approach – The research questions are utilised to measure the differences between Asian and Western perception of hotel attributes. A questionnaire with five‐point Likert scale is applied to measure customer satisfaction. Data is analysed using SPSS software by employing factor analysis, multiple regression, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Findings – Results indicate that there are significant differences between Asian and Western evaluations of hotel quality, with clear indication that satisfaction levels Malaysian hotels were higher among Western travellers than the Asian travellers. Both Asian and Western travellers perceive hospitality as an influential factor in determining the overall satisfaction le.
Peptide antagonists of the plasmodesmal macromolecular trafficking pathway

In plants, cell‐to‐cell transport of endogenous and viral proteins and ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPCs) occurs via plasmodesmata. Specificity of this transport pathway appears to involve interaction between such proteins/RNPCs and plasmodesmal chaperones/receptors. Here, KN1 and the cucumber mosaic virus movement protein (CMV‐MP) were used, in a modified phage‐display screening system, to identify peptides capable of interacting with proteins present in a plasmodesmal‐enriched cell wall fraction. Binding/competition assays and microinjection experiments revealed that these phage‐displayed peptides and homologous synthetic oligopeptides function as ligand‐specific antagonists of macromolecular trafficking through plasmodesmata. A KN1 peptide antagonist had the capacity to interact with a motif involved in the dilation of plasmodesmal microchannels. Although KN1 could still achieve limited movement through plasmodesmata when this SEL motif was blocked, KN1‐mediated transport of KN1–sense RNA was fully inhibited. These findings provide direct support for the hypothesis that KN1 requires, minimally, two physically separated signal motifs involved in the dilation of, and protein translocation through, plasmodesmal microchannels, and provide direct proof that plasmodesmal dilation is a prerequisite for the cell‐to‐cell transport of an RNPC.
A Software Chasm: Software Engineering and Scientific Computing

Some time ago, a chasm opened between the scientific-computing community and the software engineering community. Originally, computing meant scientific computing. Today, science and engineering applications are at the heart of software systems such as environmental monitoring systems, rocket guidance systems, safety studies for nuclear stations, and fuel injection systems. Failures of such health-, mission-, or safety-related systems have served as examples to promote the use of software engineering best practices. Yet, the bulk of the software engineering community's research is on anything but scientific-application software. This chasm has many possible causes. In this article, we look at the impact of one particular contributor in industry.
The Effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit and Recent Reforms

In this paper, I first summarize how the U.S. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) operates and describe the characteristics of recipients. I then discuss empirical work on the effects of the EITC on poverty and the income distribution and its effects on labor supply. Next, I discuss a few policy concerns about the EITC: possible negative effects on hours of work and marriage and problems of compliance with the tax system. I then simulate the effects of the recent expansion of the credit for families with three or more children that were part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. I also reexamine the key assumptions of past work on the labor supply effects of the EITC. Finally, I briefly discuss the likely effects of further expanding the credit to noncustodial parents, as has been recently done in two jurisdictions.
Does Social Insurance Help Secure Property Rights?

This paper develops a simple model to show how social insurance affects the desire to revolt against property rights. It then tests for the effect of social insurance on revolt by introducing a panel data set derived from surveys across 200,000 randomly sampled individuals from the 1970s to the 1990s. After controlling for the personal characteristics of respondents, country fixed effects, year dummies, as well as country-specific time trends, fewer people are found to support revolt when the generosity of either the elderly person's social security or unemployment benefits increases. A one standard deviation change in either variable explains approximately one standard deviation of the proportion of people supporting revolt, measured across the countries and years in the sample. The personal characteristic with the largest effect on reducing revolutionary support is being religious.
Associations Among Lung Function, Arterial Elasticity, and Circulating Endothelial and Inflammation Markers: The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

A parallel physiological pathway for elastic changes is hypothesized for declines in arterial elasticity and lung function. Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation could potentially decrease elasticity of both vasculature and lung tissue. We examined biomarkers, large arterial elasticity and small arterial elasticity (SAE), and forced vital capacity (FVC) in a period cross-sectional design in the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis, which recruited 1823 women and 1803 men, age range 45 to 84 years, black, white, Hispanic, and Chinese, free of clinically recognized cardiovascular disease. Radial artery tonometric pulse waveform registration was performed and large arterial elasticity and SAE were derived from diastole. Spirometric data and markers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation (soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1, fibrinogen, hs-C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6) were obtained. Mean large arterial elasticity was 13.7±5.5 mL/mm Hg×10 and SAE was 4.6±2.6 mL/mm Hg×100. Mean FVC was 3 192±956.0 mL and forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 2 386±734.5 mL. FVC was about 40±5 mL higher per SD of SAE, stronger in men than women. The association was slightly weaker with large arterial elasticity, with no sex interaction. After regression adjustment for demographic, anthropometric, and cardiovascular risk factors, the biomarkers tended to be related to reduced SAE and FVC, particularly in men. These biomarker associations suggest important cardiovascular disease risk alterations that occur concurrently with lower arterial elasticity and lung function. The observed positive association of SAE with FVC and with forced expiratory volume in 1 second in middle-aged to older free-living people is consistent with the hypothesis of parallel physiological pathways for elastic changes in the vasculature and in lung parenchymal tissue.