Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trends in national and state-level obesity in the USA after correction for self-report bias: analysis of health surveys.

OBJECTIVES To quantify population-level bias in self-reported weight and height as a function of age, sex, and the mode of self-report, and to estimate unbiased trends in national and state level obesity in the USA. DESIGN Statistical analysis of repeated cross-sectional health examination surveys (the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [NHANES]) and health surveys (the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System [BRFSS]) in the USA. SETTING The 50 states of the USA and the District of Columbia. RESULTS In the USA, on average, women underreported their weight, but men did not. Young and middle-aged (<65 years) adult men over-reported their height more than women of the same age. In older age groups, over-reporting of height was similar in men and women. Population-level bias in self-reported weight was larger in telephone interviews (BRFSS) than in-person interviews (NHANES). Except in older adults, height was over-reported more often in telephone interviews than in-person interviews. Using corrected weight and height in the year 2000, Mississippi (30%) and Texas (31%) [corrected] had the highest prevalence of obesity for men; Texas (37%), Louisiana (37%), Mississippi (37%), District of Columbia (37%), Alabama (37%), and South Carolina (36%) for women. CONCLUSIONS Population-level bias in self-reported weight and height is larger in telephone interviews than in-person interviews. Telephone interviews are a low-cost method for regular, nationally- and sub-nationally representative monitoring of obesity. It is possible to obtain corrected estimates of trends and geographical distributions of obesity from telephone interviews by using systematic analysis which measure weight and height from an independent sample of the same population.
Problem alcohol use in veterans with mild traumatic brain injury: Associations with cognitive performance and psychiatric symptoms

ABSTRACT Introduction: Given that little is known about the associations between alcohol use, cognition, and psychiatric symptoms among veterans with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), we aimed to (a) characterize how they differ from veteran controls on a measure of problem drinking; (b) investigate whether problem drinking is associated with demographic or mTBI characteristics; and (c) examine the associations between alcohol use, mTBI history, psychiatric functioning, and cognition. Method: We assessed 59 veterans (n = 32 with mTBI history; n = 27 military controls) for problem alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: AUDIT), psychiatric symptoms, and neuropsychological functioning. Results: Compared to controls, veterans with mTBI history were more likely to score above the AUDIT cutoff score of 8 (p = .016), suggesting a higher rate of problem drinking. Participants with mTBI history also showed elevated psychiatric symptoms (ps < .001) and lower cognitive scores (ps < .05 to < .001). Veterans with higher AUDIT scores were younger (p = .05) and had less education (p < .01) and more psychiatric symptoms (ps < .01), but mTBI characteristics did not differ. After controlling for combat and mTBI history (R2 = .04, ns) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (ΔR2 = .08, p = .05), we found that higher AUDIT scores were associated with poorer attention/processing speed, F(9, 37) = 2.55, p = . 022; ΔR2 = . 26, p = . 03. Conclusions: This preliminary study suggested that veterans with mTBI history may be at increased risk for problem drinking. Problem alcohol use was primarily associated with more severe PTSD symptoms and poorer attention/processing speed, though not with combat or mTBI characteristics per se. Importantly, findings emphasize the importance of assessing for and treating problematic alcohol use and comorbid psychiatric symptoms among veterans, including those with a history of neurotrauma.
The impact of political constraints and formal incentive systems on the performance of Chinese State‐owned enterprises

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of liberalization forces, political constraints (on labor decisions) and formal control mechanisms (i.e. delegation of decision authority, objective performance measurement and merit‐based rewards) on the performance of Chinese State‐owned enterprises (SOEs). Design/methodology/approach – A survey instrument was used to collect data from functional managers representing over 500 SOEs. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.Findings – The findings revealed significant and positive path relationships between liberalization forces and each of the formal control mechanisms, leading to firm performance. The findings also reveal that political constraints have a significant and negative path relationship with objective performance measures and firm performance.Originality/value – The evidence provided in this study adds to our understanding of the role the institutional environment plays in the structuring and management of th.
Improvement of influenza vaccine strain A/Vietnam/1194/2004 (H5N1) growth with the neuraminidase packaging sequence from A/Puerto Rico/8/34

H5N1 influenza candidate vaccine viruses were developed using the “6+2” approach. The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes were derived from the popular H5N1 virus and the remaining six internal segments were derived from the A/Puerto Rico/8/34 strain (H1N1, PR8). However, some of these candidate strains have been reported to produce relatively low yields in vaccine manufacture. In this study, we found that the NA vRNA of the A/Vietnam/1194/2004 strain (H5N1, VN1194) was poorly packaged into recombinant viruses with a backbone of PR8 genes, which resulted in the formation of defective virions that did not include the NA vRNA in the genome. Using recombinant DNA techniques, we constructed a chimeric NA gene with the coding region of VN1194 NA flanked by the packaging signal sequence of the PR8 NA gene (41 bp form the 3′ end of the vRNA and 67 bp from the 5′ end). The packaging of the NA vRNA was restored to normal levels in the recombinant viruses containing the chimeric NA gene. Recombinant viruses containing the chimeric NA replicated much better in chicken embryonated eggs than viruses with the wild-type NA from VN1194. These findings suggest a novel strategy to improve in ovo growth of vaccine strains and to increase the number of vaccine doses available to save people if a pandemic were to occur.
Structural analysis of the recombinant therapeutic product rFVIII and its PEGylated variants using 2‐D DIGE

2‐D DIGE is a method that circumvents the gel‐to‐gel variability inherent in conventional 2‐DE and is particularly useful for studying proteome changes in diverse applications such as developmental biology and tissue proteomics. We developed a 2‐D DIGE protocol for recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII), a therapeutic protein used for the treatment of hemophilia A. The factor VIII heterodimer is composed of heterogeneous, heavily glycosylated heavy and light chains that are held together by a divalent cation. 2‐DE of rFVIII led to a separation of the various fragments whose identity could be determined by Western blot. A comparison of two rFVIII batches by 2‐D DIGE revealed their identical composition, whereas an rFVIII variant lacking its central B domain was congruent with the smallest heavy and light chain fragments of rFVIII only. A simpler pattern was obtained upon removal of the terminal sialic acids of rFVIII's glycans, due to a better focusing in the first dimension. 2‐D DIGE was also well suited to structurally evaluate various PEGylated rFVIII conjugates. 2‐D DIGE thus proved an excellent and straightforward method for structural analysis of rFVIII. Our data suggest that the method could serve as a tool for quality control of very complex pharmaceutically active ingredients.
Comparing the Ethnic Identity and Well-Being of Adopted Korean Americans With Immigrant/U.S.-Born Korean Americans and Korean International Students

This study compared the ethnic identity and well-being of Korean Americans who were adopted internationally with immigrant/U.S.-born Korean Americans and Korean international students, as well as the relationship between ethnic identity and well-being for each group. One-hundred seven college students completed measures of ethnic identity and subjective well-being. Immigrant/U.S.-born Korean Americans had higher ethnic identity scores than the other two groups. Immigrant/U.S.-born Korean Americans also had higher positive affect scores than international students. Ethnic identity was positively correlated with positive affect for all three groups (r = .27 to .34) but was negatively correlated with negative affect for international students (r = –.44). Overall, the results suggest that ethnic identity, although slightly lower than in non-adopted peers, is relevant to the well-being of adopted Korean American college students.
A new method for robust H∞ filtering of uncertain discrete-time systems

This paper deals with the robust H∞ filtering problem for discrete-time linear systems with polytopic uncertainties. Differently from existing results, we assume that not only the Lyapunov functions are parameter-dependent in the whole polytope domain, but also the filter is dependent of the parameters which belong to a polytope. Our results contain no constant matrix variable for the entire polytope domain, which guarantees to provide extra free dimensions in the solution space for the H∞ filtering problem and establish less conservative filter design method. In addition, the robust H∞ filter can be established by linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) which can be solved numerically by efficient convex optimization techniques. The effectiveness of the proposed design methods is finally verified by a numerical example at the end of the paper.
Measurement of neural signals from inexpensive, wireless and dry EEG systems

Electroencephalography (EEG) is challenged by high cost, immobility of equipment and the use of inconvenient conductive gels. We compared EEG recordings obtained from three systems that are inexpensive, wireless, and/or dry (no gel), against recordings made with a traditional, research-grade EEG system, in order to investigate the ability of these ‘non-traditional’ systems to produce recordings of comparable quality to a research-grade system. The systems compared were: Emotiv EPOC (inexpensive and wireless), B-Alert (wireless), g.Sahara (dry) and g.HIamp (research-grade). We compared the ability of the systems to demonstrate five well-studied neural phenomena: (1) enhanced alpha activity with eyes closed versus open; (2) visual steady-state response (VSSR); (3) mismatch negativity; (4) P300; and (5) event-related desynchronization/synchronization. All systems measured significant alpha augmentation with eye closure, and were able to measure VSSRs (although these were smaller with g.Sahara). The B-Alert and g.Sahara were able to measure the three time-locked phenomena equivalently to the g.HIamp. The Emotiv EPOC did not have suitably located electrodes for two of the tasks and synchronization considerations meant that data from the time-locked tasks were not assessed. The results show that inexpensive, wireless, or dry systems may be suitable for experimental studies using EEG, depending on the research paradigm, and within the constraints imposed by their limited electrode placement and number.
Creating public value : strategic management in government

Acknowledgments Introduction Purposes Sources and Methods Tests 1. Managerial Imagination The Town Librarian and the Latchkey Children Public Managers and Public Management An Alternative Approach to Public Administration PART I ENVISIONING PUBLIC VALUE 2. Defining Public Value The Aim of Managerial Work Different Standards for Reckoning Public Value Municipal Sanitation: An Example Toward a Managerial View of Public Value 3. Organizational Strategy in the Public Sector William Ruckeishaus and the Environmental Protection Agency Jerome Miller and the Department of Youth Services Managerial Discretion and Leadership in the Public Sector Defining Mission and Goals in the Private Sector Defining Mission and Goals in the Public Sector The Mission of the EPA: Pollution Abatement The Mission of DYS: Humanizing the Treatment of Children The Managerial Utility of Mission Statements Evaluative Criteria for Organizational Strategies PART II BUILDING SUPPORT AND LEGITIMACY 4. Mobilizing Support, Legitimacy, and Coproduction: The Functions of Political Management Miles Mahoney and Park Plaza David Sencer and the Threat of Swine flu Political Management: A Key Managerial Function Who Is Important in Political Management Combining Diverse Interests and Values The Dynamics of the Authorizing Environment The Challenge of Political Management 5. Advocacy, Negotiation, and Leadership: The Techniques of Political Management Mahoney's Initiatives Sencer's Initiatives Evaluation The Ethics and Techniques of Political Management Entrepreneurial Advocacy Managing Policy Development Negotiation Public Deliberation, Social Learning, and Leadership Public Sector Marketing and Strategic Communication Helping to Define and Produce Public Value PART III DELIVERING PUBLIC VALUE 6. Reengineering Public Sector Production: The Function of Operational Management Harry Spence and the Boston Housing Authority Lee Brown and the Houston Police Department The Function of Operational Management Defining Organizational Mission and Product Redesigning Production Processes Using Administrative Systems to Influence Operations Innovating and Capitalizing From Diagnosis to Intervention 7. Implementing Strategy: The Techniques of Operational Management Spence: Rehabilitating Public Housing in Boston Brown: Exploring the Frontiers of Policing Reengineering Organizations: What Strategic Managers Think and Do Acting in a Stream Conclusion: Acting for a Divided, Uncertain Society Ethical Challenges of Public Leadership Psychological Challenges of Public Leadership Notes Index
DNA Microarray Analysis of Nitrogen Fixation and Fe(III) Reduction in Geobacter sulfurreducens

ABSTRACT A DNA microarray representing the genome of Geobacter sulfurreducens was constructed for use in global gene expression profiling of cells under steady-state conditions with acetate as the electron donor and Fe(III) or fumarate as the electron acceptor. Reproducible differences in transcript levels were also observed in comparisons between cells grown with ammonia and those fixing atmospheric nitrogen. There was a high correlation between changes in transcript levels determined with microarray analyses and an evaluation of a subset of the genome with quantitative PCR. As expected, cells required to fix nitrogen had higher levels of transcripts of genes associated with nitrogen fixation, further demonstrating that the microarray approach could reliably detect important physiological changes. Cells grown with Fe(III) as the electron acceptor had higher levels of transcripts for omcB, a gene coding for an outer membrane c-type cytochrome that is essential for Fe(III) reduction. Several other c-type cytochrome genes also appeared to be up-regulated. An unexpected result was significantly higher levels of transcripts for genes which have a role in metal efflux, potentially suggesting the importance of maintaining metal homeostasis during release of soluble metals when reducing Fe(III). A substantial proportion (30%) of significantly expressed genes during Fe(III) reduction were genes of unknown function or hypothetical proteins, suggesting differences in Fe(III) reduction physiology among microorganisms which perform this metabolic process.
Welfare Comparison under Exact Aggregation

new econometric model of aggregate consumer behavior in the United States and to apply this model to the analysis of impacts of alternative economic policies on the welfare of individual consuming units. The model incorporates time-series data on quantities consumed, prices, the level and distribution of income, and demographic characteristics of the population. It also incorporates cross-section data on the allocation of consumer expenditures for households with different demographic characteristics. Our econometric model is based on the theory of exact aggregation developed by Lau (1977a, c). This theory makes it possible to dispense with the notion of a representative consumer in constructing models of aggregate consumer behavior. One of the most remarkable implications of Lau's theory of exact aggregation is that systems of demand functions for individuals with common demographic characteristics can be recovered uniquely from the system of aggregate demand functions. Using the individual demand functions we can analyze the impact of economic policy on consumer welfare.
Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD®): 2003 update

The Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD) constitutes a comprehensive core collection of data on germ‐line mutations in nuclear genes underlying or associated with human inherited disease (www.hgmd.org). Data catalogued includes: single base‐pair substitutions in coding, regulatory and splicing‐relevant regions; micro‐deletions and micro‐insertions; indels; triplet repeat expansions as well as gross deletions; insertions; duplications; and complex rearrangements. Each mutation is entered into HGMD only once in order to avoid confusion between recurrent and identical‐by‐descent lesions. By March 2003, the database contained in excess of 39,415 different lesions detected in 1,516 different nuclear genes, with new entries currently accumulating at a rate exceeding 5,000 per annum. Since its inception, HGMD has been expanded to include cDNA reference sequences for more than 87% of listed genes, splice junction sequences, disease‐associated and functional polymorphisms, as well as links to data present in publicly available online locus‐specific mutation databases. Although HGMD has recently entered into a licensing agreement with Celera Genomics (Rockville, MD), mutation data will continue to be made freely available via the Internet. Hum Mutat 21:577–581, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Looking Through the Fraud Triangle: A Review and Call for New Directions

Purpose - – This article aims to review popular frameworks used to examine fraud and earmarks three areas where there is considerable scope for academic research to guide and inform important debates within organisations and regulatory bodies. Design/methodology/approach - – The article reviews published fraud research in the fields of auditing and forensic accounting, focusing on the development of the dominant framework in accounting and fraud examination, the fraud triangle. From this review, specific avenues for future research are identified. Findings - – Three under-researched issues are identified: rationalisation of fraudulent behaviours by offenders; the nature of collusion in fraud; and regulatory attempts to promote whistle-blowing. These topics highlight the perspective of those directly involved in fraud and draw together issues that have interested researchers in other disciplines for decades with matters that are at the heart of contemporary financial management across the globe. Originality/value - – In spite of the profound economic and reputational impact of fraud, the research in accounting remains fragmented and emergent. This review identifies avenues offering scope to bridge the divide between academia and practice.
A comparative study of the efficacy of long-term treatment with escitalopram and paroxetine in severely depressed patients

ABSTRACT Objective: This randomised, double-blind, fixed-dose study evaluated the efficacy of escitalopram and paroxetine in the long-term treatment of severely depressed patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Research design and methods: Patients with a primary diagnosis of MDD and baseline Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) ≥ 30 were randomised to 24 weeks of double-blind treatment with fixed doses of either escitalopram (20 mg) (n = 232) or paroxetine (40 mg) (n = 227). The primary analysis of efficacy was an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) of change from baseline to endpoint (Week 24) in MADRS total score (last observation carried forward, LOCF). Main outcome measures; results: At endpoint (24 weeks), the mean change from baseline in MADRS total score was –25.2 for patients treated with escitalopram (n = 228) and –23.1 for patients with paroxetine (n = 223), resulting in a difference of 2.1 points ( p < 0.05). The difference in the change in the MADRS total score (LOCF) was significantly in favour of escitalopram from Week 8 onwards. The proportion of remitters (MADRS ≤ 12) after 24 weeks was 75% for escitalopram and 67% for paroxetine ( p < 0.05). The results on the primary efficacy scale were supported by significantly greater differences in favour of escitalopram on the Hamilton Anxiety, Hamilton Depression and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement and -Severity scales. For very severely depressed patients (baseline MADRS ≥ 35), there was a difference of 3.4 points at endpoint in the MADRS total score in favour of escitalopram ( p < 0.05). The overall withdrawal rate for patients treated with escitalopram (19%) was significantly lower than with paroxetine (32%) ( p < 0.01). The withdrawal rate due to adverse events was significantly lower for escitalopram (8%) compared to paroxetine (16%) ( p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of individual adverse events during treatment. Conclusion: Escitalopram is significantly more effective than paroxetine in the long-term treatment of severely depressed patients.
Exhaled breath condensate for lung cancer protein analysis: a review of methods and biomarkers

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and is considered one of the most aggressive human cancers, with a 5 year overall survival of 10–15%. Early diagnosis of lung cancer is ideal; however, it is still uncertain as to what technique will prove successful in the systematic screening of high-risk populations, with the strongest evidence currently supporting low dose computed tomography (LDCT). Analysis of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has recently been proposed as an alternative low risk and non-invasive screening method to investigate early-stage neoplastic processes in the airways. However, there still remains a relative paucity of lung cancer research involving EBC, particularly in the measurement of lung proteins that are centrally linked to pathogenesis. Considering the ease and safety associated with EBC collection, and advances in the area of mass spectrometry based profiling, this technology has potential for use in screening for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. This review will examine proteomics as a method of detecting markers of neoplasia in patient EBC with a particular emphasis on LC, as well as discussing methodological challenges involving in proteomic analysis of EBC specimens.