Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Causal attributions in King-Kopetzky syndrome

Abstract At least 10% of people who present for help with hearing difficulties will be found to have normal hearing thresholds. These cases are clinically categorized as King-Kopetzky syndrome (KKS), obscure auditory dysfunction (OAD), or auditory processing disorder (APD). While recent research has focussed on the possible mechanistic basis for these difficulties, the perceptions of the hearing difficulties that lead people to seek help have not hitherto been identified. This study presents findings from an observational survey of causal attributions of hearing difficulties from 100 people with KKS. The findings suggest that participants regard immunity and risk related causes of hearing difficulties as pre-dominant. Psychological factors were not considered to be causal for hearing difficulties. These factors were not affected by diagnostic classification. These findings inform audiologists about their patient beliefs for the first time. The authors suggest that clinicians take care to ensure that their counselling is responsive to these beliefs. Sumario Al menos el 10% de quienes piden ayuda por problemas auditivos tienen umbrales auditivos normales. Estos casos se caracterizan clínicamente como síndrome de King Kopetzky (KKS), Disfunción Auditiva Obscura (OAD) o Problema de Procesamiento Auditivo (APD). Mientras que la investigación reciente se ha enfocado a las posibles bases mecanicistas de estas dificultades, las percepciones sobre los problemas auditivos que impulsan a que la gente busque ayuda, no han sido identificadas hasta ahora. Este estudio presenta hallazgos de una encuesta observacional sobre la atribución de causas de problemas auditivos en 100 personas con KKS. Los hallazgos sugieren que ellos consideran como causas, la inmunidad y los riesgos de problemas auditivos, como predominantes. Los factores psicológicos no fueron tomados en cuenta como causa de problemas auditivos. Estos factores no se afectaron por la clasificación diagnóstica. Los hallazgos informan por primera vez, a los audiólogos, sobre las percepciones de sus pacientes. Los autores sugieren que los clínicos tengan cuidado en asegurar que su orientación sea sensible a esas percepciones.
Effect of absorptive capacity on the cooperative performance of I-U-R— Based on evolutionary game analysis

Abstract By constructing an evolutionary game model of I-U-R cooperation, this study showed that absorptive capacity was the key factor affecting the I-U-R cooperation, and it put forward the following assumption: absorptive capacity was enterprises’ capacity to absorb and utilize external knowledge, the stronger the absorptive capacity, the higher the cooperative performance of I-U-R cooperation.
Therapeutic Effect of Exogenous Truncated IK Protein in Inflammatory Arthritis

Inhibitor K562 (IK) protein was first isolated from the culture medium of K562, a leukemia cell line. It is known to be an inhibitory regulator of interferon-γ-induced major histocompatibility complex class (MHC) II expression. Previously, we found that transgenic (Tg) mice constitutively expressing truncated IK (tIK) showed reduced numbers of pathogenic Th1 and Th17 cells, which are known to be involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we investigated whether exogenous tIK protein has a therapeutic effect in arthritis in disease models and analyzed its mechanism. Exogenous tIK protein was produced in an insect expression system and applied to the collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) mouse disease model. Injection of tIK protein alleviated the symptoms of arthritis in the CAIA model and reduced Th1 and Th17 cell populations. In addition, treatment of cultured T cells with tIK protein induced expression of A20, a negative regulator of nuclear factor-κB (NFκB)-induced inflammation, and reduced expression of several transcription factors related to T cell activation. We conclude that exogenous tIK protein has the potential to act as a new therapeutic agent for RA patients, because it has a different mode of action to biopharmaceutical agents, such as tumor necrosis factor antagonists, that are currently used to treat RA.
Foreign direct investment and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: The role of institutions

In this paper, we examine the impact of FDI on economic growth condition on the role of quality of institutions. To address our objective, we use the fixed effect and GMM models for analysis. A sample of 36 countries from Sub Saharan Africa was used for period from 2001 to 2015. The empirical results show that FDI has a significant negative effect on economic growth. Institutional quality on the other hand has a positive influence on economic growth. Considering the interaction term between FDI and institutional quality, the empirical evidence show that institutional quality enhances the spillover effect from FDI and therefore do matter for economic growth. Using the GMM model the results confirm that good institutions are necessary for mediating the effects of FDI for economic growth.
A 100 amino acid region in the GABA ρ1 subunit confers robust homo‐oligomeric expression

RETINAL γ-aminobutyric acid type C (GABAC) receptors are believed to be composed of ρ subunits. Although ρ1 and ρr2 are over 80% similar, the whole-cell currents generated by ρ1 receptors in Xenopus oocytes are significantly greater than those generated by ρ2 receptors. In this study, chimeric subunits containing different portions of human ρ1 and human ρ2 were created to localize sequences facilitating robust ρ1 expression. Our results indicate that these sequences reside in a 100 amino acid domain in the N-terminus of ρ1, and may involve N-linked glycosylation. Since the N-terminus also contains subunit assembly signals, ρ1 receptors may be formed more efficiently than ρ2 receptors. Therefore, this study furthers our understanding of the molecular basis of GABA-mediated inhibition in the retina.
Age Does Not Affect Exercise Intensity Progression among Women

Ciolac, EG, Brech, GC, and Greve, JMD. Age does not affect exercise intensity progression among women. J Strength Cond Res 24(11): 3023-3031, 2010-It has been recommended that the intensity of exercise training (ET) should progress slowly with lower increments in older than in young people. However, scientific evidence supporting this recommendation is lacking. Our aim was to examine possible influences of age on exercise intensity progression in healthy women. Seventeen young (29.1 ± 5.7 years) and 16 older women (64.5 ± 4.5 years) underwent 13 weeks of ET consisting of cycle ergometry (CE, 65-75% of reserve heart rate), whole-body resistance exercise (RE, 60% of 1 repetition maximum [1RM]), and stretching. Muscle strength was assessed before and after ET by the 1RM. Cycle ergometry and RE workloads were recorded for each exercise session, and increases of 5-10% were made whenever adaptation occurred. Absolute muscle strength after ET improved (p < 0.001) in both groups, and there were no significant differences between groups. Relative exercise intensity progression was not significantly different between groups for RE (Pearson's correlation = 0.98 ± 0.01), but it was greater in older women for CE (p = 0.047). The ET was safe because no injuries or major muscle pain was observed in either group. These results suggest that healthy older women are capable of exercising and increasing exercise intensity in the same way as young women.
Gender, Race, and Risk: Intersectional Risk Management in the Sale of Sex Online

Sex worker experience of risk (e.g., physical violence or rape) is shaped by race, gender, and context. For web-based sex workers, experience of risk is comparatively minimal; what is unclear is how web-based sex workers manage risk and if online advertising plays a role in risk management. Building on intersectionality theory and research exploring risk management in sex work, we content-analyzed 600 escort advertisements from Backpage.com (http://www.backpage.com) to explore risk management in web-based sex work. To guide our research we asked: Do advertisements contain risk management messages? Does the use of risk management messaging differ by sex worker race or gender? Which groups have the highest overall use of risk management messages? Through a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) we found that advertisements contained risk management messages and that uses of these phrases varied by race and gender. Blacks, women, and transgender women drove the use of risk management messages. Black and White transgender women had the highest overall use of these phrases. We conclude that risk management is an intersectional practice and that the use of risk management messages is a venue-specific manifestation of broader risk management priorities found in all venues where sex is sold.
A Computational Analysis on the Specificity of Interactions Between Histidine Kinases and Response Regulators

Abstract Bacteria process and transmit signals simultaneously through several two-component/phos-phorelay networks using closely related proteins. Therefore discrimination against mismatches and discrete recognition between protein partners is an absolute requirement for producing the correct responses. We tried to address this issue by comparing and analyzing sequences from the helix-bundle regions of histidine kinases of Bacillus subtilis. Our analysis shows how conservation and variability in the sequences give rise to selective association and unique recognition. The observed pattern suggests that the chances for cross talk between non-partner proteins are extremely low, but cross talk could take place in special cases.
Age-, sex-, and race-based differences among patients enrolled versus not enrolled in acute lung injury clinical trials*

Objective:Little is known about the participation of racial/ethnic minorities, women, and the elderly into critical care clinical trials. We sought to characterize the representation of racial and ethnic minorities, women, and older patients in clinical trials of patients with acute lung injury and to determine the reasons for nonenrollment. Design, Setting, and Patients:We performed a cross-sectional analysis of pooled screening logs from 44 academic hospitals participating in three multicentered, randomized, controlled trials conducted by the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Network from 1996 to 2005. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:We calculated odds ratios of enrollment for age, sex, racial groups, and the odds ratio for the presence of each exclusion criterion by age, sex, and race adjusted for demographics, acute lung injury risk factor, study, and study center. A total of 10.4% of 17,459 screened patients with acute lung injury were enrolled. The median (range) enrollment by center was 15% (2% to 88%). Older patients of both sexes were less likely to be enrolled, but older women were more likely to be enrolled than older men. The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for enrollment among men ≥75 yrs of age was 0.59 (0.45 to 0.77) and for women ≥75 yrs of age was 0.45 (0.32 to 0.62) compared with men <35 yrs of age. There were no differences in the likelihood of enrollment among all racial/ethnic groups. Older patients and men were less likely to be enrolled because of medical comorbidity. Among all patients who were not enrolled, black patients and their families refused participation more often than white patients. Conclusions:Older patients are less likely to be enrolled in acute lung injury clinical trials. There is no evidence that women or racial/ethnic minorities are underrepresented in acute lung injury clinical trials.
Intestinal Expression of Fas and Fas Ligand Is Upregulated by Bacterial Signaling through TLR4 and TLR5, with Activation of Fas Modulating Intestinal TLR-Mediated Inflammation

TLRs play an important role in mediating intestinal inflammation and homeostasis. Fas is best studied in terms of its function in apoptosis, but recent studies demonstrate that Fas signaling may mediate additional functions such as inflammation. The role of Fas, and the Fas ligand (FasL), in the intestine is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential cross-talk between TLRs and Fas/FasL system in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). IECs were stimulated with TLR ligands, and expression of Fas and FasL was investigated. Treatment with TLR4 and TLR5 ligands, but not TLR2 and 9 ligands, increased expression of Fas and FasL in IECs in vitro. Consistent with this finding, expression of intestinal Fas and FasL was reduced in vivo in the epithelium of TLR4 knockout (KO), 5KO, and germ-free mice, but not in TLR2KO mice. Modulating Fas signaling using agonistic anti-Fas augmented TLR4- and TLR5-mediated TNF-α and IL-8 production by IECs. In addition, suppression of Fas in IECs reduced the ability of TLR4 and TLR5 ligands and the intestinal pathogens Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes to induce the expression of IL-8. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that extensive cross-talk in IECs occurs between the Fas and TLR signaling pathways, with the FasL/Fas system playing a role in TLR-mediated inflammatory responses in the intestine.
Exploring How Uncertainty in Longevity Estimates Predicts SSA Claiming Decisions

As the population ages, more adults will be faced with the complex decision about when to claim Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits. Previous research on SSA claiming decisions found that self-reported subjective longevity is an important input in the decision to claim benefits early. While people might form beliefs about their life expectancies, the uncertainty around these expectations may vary greatly, a question unexamined by previous research. For example, two people might share the same expectation for longevity (e.g., 86 years), but one might see little chance of exceeding age 90 while the other sees a 40% chance of exceeding age 90. In the present paper, we first explore how heterogeneity in uncertainty around expectations predict differences in SSA claiming decisions. Secondly, we assess whether focusing on the “right” versus the “left” tails of uncertainty while holding constant the expectation differentially affects claiming decisions. Our results indicate that, first, while individuals are highly sensitive to longevity likelihood, they are not differentially sensitive to subjective probabilities of living to 65, 80, or 95. That is, they are sensitive to the center of the distribution, but not its tails. Second, calling attention to the link between claiming age and leftand right-tail risks causes individuals to adjust their claiming age intentions to minimize the salient risks.
Validity and Reliability of the SF-36 Questionnaire in Patients on the Waiting List for a Kidney Transplant and Transplant Patients

Background/Aims: The aim of this study is to explore the validity and reliability of the health-related quality of life SF-36 questionnaire in patients undergoing renal replacement therapy. Methods: A multicenter descriptive transversal study was carried out in Galicia, Spain, with patients undergoing renal replacement therapy. The tool used to measure the health-related quality of life was the authorized Spanish version of the ‘SF-36’ generic health questionnaire. The internal consistency of this survey was determined by means of interscale correlations and Cronbach’s α statistic. Validity was examined with a principal component exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation. Results: A total of 213 patients waiting for a kidney transplant and 72 recipients with a functioning renal transplant were studied. All the interscale correlations were positive and significant. The overall statistical value for Cronbach’s α was equal to 0.91 (95% CI: 0.91–0.94) and in all domains this value ranged from 0.7 to 0.92. The factor analysis identified 8 factors that explain 66.6% of the variance, 5 of which consisted of the same structure as 5 factors (domains) of the theoretical model. Conclusion: The SF-36 questionnaire is also a reliable and valid tool when used to measure the quality of life of patients undergoing renal replacement therapy.
Peginterferon alone or with ribavirin enhances HCV-specific CD4 T-helper 1 responses in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Pegylated interferons (IFNs) with or without ribavirin were shown in several studies to improve sustained virologic response compared with standard IFN alpha-2 therapy. This study investigated if the greater efficacy of pegylated IFNs might be related to modulation of immunologic responses. METHODS Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD4+ T-cell responses and cytokine production to various HCV proteins (Elispot assay) in peripheral blood were prospectively assessed in 42 patients receiving IFN alpha-2a monotherapy, peginterferon (PEG IFN) alpha-2a monotherapy, or PEG IFN alpha-2a plus ribavirin and correlated to the outcome of therapy. RESULTS The sustained virologic response rate was significantly higher in the PEG IFN groups (42% in PEG IFN alpha-2a monotherapy and 57% in PEG IFN alpha-2a/ribavirin combination) than in the standard IFN alpha-2a group (14%). The sustained response was 48% in HCV genotype 1 patients treated with PEG IFN alpha-2a/ribavirin therapy. Pretreatment HCV-specific CD4+ responses were either weak or absent. PEG IFN alone or combined with ribavirin induced significant increase in the frequency, strength, and breadth of HCV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses with type 1 predominance; whereas interferon alpha-2a monotherapy was associated with lower, fluctuating, short-lived responses. Sustained responders maintained multispecific HCV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses with enhanced IFN-gamma production. Relapsers and partial responders initially displayed significant HCV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses that waned or were lost. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy of PEG IFN alpha-2a alone or in combination with ribavirin in inducing high rates of sustained virologic response may be owing to the higher efficacy of PEG IFN in induction and maintenance of significant multispecific HCV-specific CD4+ T-helper 1 responses.
Interconnectedness and Contagion Effects in International Financial Instruments Markets

The aim of the research is to define possible contagion level of capital market resulting from shocks in main international stocks and bonds markets on basis of the assessment of market interconnectedness. Global Vector Autoregressive model was built up for securities markets in China, Euro area, Japan and the U.S. Using generalised impulse response functions scenarios of influence of shocks in market and estimate of contagion level in selected time horizon are simulated.
Association of executive function and performance of dual-task physical tests among older adults: analyses from the InChianti study.

BACKGROUND previous studies have reported an association between cognitive function and physical performance, particularly among older adults. OBJECTIVE to examine the association between executive function and performance difference on complex versus usual walking tasks in a sample of non-demented older adults. DESIGN population-based epidemiological study of older people residing in the Chianti area (Tuscany, Italy). PARTICIPANTS 737 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and older. METHODS gait speed (m/s) was measured during the performance of complex walking tasks (walking/talking, walking/picking-up an object, walking/carrying a large package, walking over obstacles, walking with a weighted vest) and reference walking tasks (7 m usual pace, 7 m fast pace and 60 m fast pace). Executive function was assessed using the Trail Making Test (TMT). Other measures included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), sociodemographic characteristics and selected physiological impairments. RESULTS gait speed for the selected reference and complex walk tasks was consistently lower among participants with poor executive function. Per cent decline in gait speed compared with the reference task differed by executive function for certain tasks (e.g. walking/obstacles: 30 versus 24% decline in low versus high executive function respectively, P = 0.0006) but not for others. CONCLUSIONS poor executive function is associated with measures of gait, including specific challenges. Overall, the results showed that the cost associated with the addition of a challenge to the basic walking task differs by executive function and the nature of the task. Further research is needed to determine whether improvement in executive function abilities translates to better performance on selected complex walking tasks.
Chemokine RANTES Promoter Polymorphisms in Allergic Rhinitis

Objectives/Hypothesis RANTES is one of the most widely studied of the chemokines linked to allergic diseases. Two polymorphisms of the RANTES promoter region (–403 G/A and –28 C/G) have been found. The authors investigated whether these RANTES promoter polymorphisms were associated with allergic rhinitis.
Serological diagnosis of parainfluenza virus infections by enzyme immunoassay with special emphasis on purity of viral antigens

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for parainfluenza virus type 1,2, and 3 antibodies was compared with the complement fixation test (CF) as a diagnostic method in 180 patients with respiratory symptoms. The CF test detected rises in parainfluenza virus antibodies in 30 cases, whereas EIA detected 47 rises. Patients with antibody rises in parainfluenza or mumps virus antibodies were studied for cross‐reactions by CF, hemagglutination inhibition (HAI), and EIA using purified viral envelope glycoprotein and nucleocapsid preparations. All methods showed marked cross‐reactivity between parainfluenza virus type 1 and 3 antibodies. Mumps virus infection often raised heterologous antibodies even against purified viral antigens. Rabbit antisera produced against viral envelope glycoproteins showed heterologous antibody responses between parainfluenza 1 and 3 antibodies and between parainfluenza 1 and mumps antibodies by HAI, EIA, and immunoprecipitation. The cross‐reactive antibodies were usually directed against both of the envelope glycoproteins, HN and F proteins, of the viruses.
Phylotranscriptomic analysis uncovers a wealth of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases variants in echinoderms

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) help regulate the extracellular matrix (ECM) in animals, mostly by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). They are important activators of mutable collagenous tissue (MCT), which have been extensively studied in echinoderms, and the four TIMP copies in humans have been studied for their role in cancer. To understand the evolution of TIMPs, we combined 405 TIMPs from an echinoderm transcriptome dataset built from 41 specimens representing all five classes of echinoderms with variants from protostomes and chordates. We used multiple sequence alignment with various stringencies of alignment quality to cull highly divergent sequences and then conducted phylogenetic analyses using both nucleotide and amino acid sequences. Phylogenetic hypotheses consistently recovered TIMPs as diversifying in the ancestral deuterostome and these early lineages continuing to diversify in echinoderms. The four vertebrate TIMPs diversified from a single copy in the ancestral chordate, all other copies being lost. Consistent with greater MCT needs owing to body wall liquefaction, evisceration, autotomy and reproduction by fission, holothuroids had significantly more TIMPs and higher read depths per contig. Ten cysteine residues, an HPQ binding site and several other residues were conserved in at least 70% of all TIMPs. The conservation of binding sites and the placement of echinoderm TIMPs involved in MCT modification suggest that ECM regulation remains the primary function of TIMP genes, although within this role there are a large number of specialized copies.