Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Suicide in the psychiatric hospital.

The authors note that although the psychiatric hospitals is often used as a means of preventing the suicide of disturbed patients, some hospitalized patients succeed in committing suicide; such as an event is distressing for hospital staffs as well as for patients and families. However, the authors believe that the occasional occurrence of in-hospital suicide is inevitable. They present data on the frequency and characteristics of suicides among hospitalized psychiatric patients in Los Angeles County during the period from 1967 to 1972. 23AUTHOR
From energy store to energy flux: a study in creatine kinase deficient fast skeletal muscle

Fast‐twitch skeletal muscle of mice deficient in cytosolic and mitochondrial creatine kinase isoforms (CK−/−) lack burst activity but can sustain prolonged contractile activity, suggesting that adaptive mechanisms can regulate local adenine nucleotide turnover. We investigated whether direct energy and signal channeling between mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) or myofilaments may exist that compensate for the lack of CK isoenzymes. Oxidative capacity of fast‐twitch muscle was increased twofold in CK−/− mice. Energy cross talk between organelles was studied in muscle fibers with permeabilized sarcolemma. Energy supply to SR was estimated by analyzing the tension transient induced by caffeine and energy supply to myofilaments was estimated by the relaxation of rigor tension, both under different conditions of energy supply. In normal mice, ATP directly produced by mitochondria was not able to sustain calcium uptake and to relax rigor tension as efficiently as ATP produced by bound CK. However, in CK−/− mice, mitochondria ability to provide ATP for calcium uptake and relaxation of rigor tension was dramatically enhanced, suggesting a direct ATP/ADP channeling between sites of energy production (mitochondria) and energy utilization in CK−/− mice. These results demonstrate two possible patterns of energy transport in muscle cells: energy store with phosphocreatine and energy flux through mitochondria.
The Impact of Selected Initiatives on the Reading Criterion Referenced Competency Test Scores of African-American and Disadvantaged Students in Grades 3, 5, and 8

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to examine the impact of selected researchbased whole-school reading reform programs, Success for All (SFA), Core Knowledge, and Direct Instruction (DI) on the Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) reading scores of African-American students and students from disadvantaged subgroups in Grades 3, 5, and 8 in a large urban school system. The target sample consisted of 61 elementary schools and 16 middle schools. Student data consisted of 3,533 data points for African-American students and 7,550 data points for disadvantaged students attending reform and non reform schools respectively. A causal-comparative research design was the methodology employed. Chi-square and MannWhitney statistical techniques were used to test 13 hypotheses to determine if there were any significant differences between the reading proficiency of schools and students with reforms compared to those without reforms using race (African American) and socioeconomic status (Disadvantaged) as control variables. The results did not provide any evidence of differences in reading proficiency between reform and non-reform at the school level. However, reading proficiency differed significantly at the student level where Disadvantaged students attending schools with reading reforms showed significant improvements. Reading proficiency rates differed significantly between reform models. Significant proficiency rates were found in schools implementing Direct Instruction or Core Knowledge when compared with the Success for All model.
America, China and India: A 3-D competition model for economic & strategic interests in South East Asia

Abstract This paper provides a new and different perspective on the competition-collaboration dynamic in business and international relations, using a hypothetical model involving three nations—the United States, China and India. While the United States has been preoccupied with internal squabbles and external wars, India and China have been quietly emerging as powerful Asian states, building relationships both economic and military. The two countries have had a competitive relationship for several decades, not the least of which has been competing for a more muscular economic, political, and military alliance with the United States. This paper seeks to identify the relationships between the two nations and the United States in an effort to quantify the conditions under which a stable three-way balance of power may exist, using classic competition modeling. Simulations demonstrate stable coexistence when each market consumes most of the resource for which the other two are better competitors, oscillations in market dominance when each consumes most of the resource for which one is a better competitor and one is a worse competitor, and unstable coexistence or extinction when each market consumes most of the resource for which it is the better competitor. The population competition model employed for analysis is a novel way to look at collaboration and competition within multination treaties. This quantitative paper is a first step to a later qualitative analysis of the values presented.
Nonoperative Management of Herniated Cervical Intervertebral Disc With Radiculopathy

Study Design A longitudinal cohort study design was used. All patients underwent a systematically and uniformly applied treatment program with increasing intervention as further pain control was needed. All patients were followed up by questionnaire evaluating function and symptoms. Objectives The role of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment of patients with cervical disc herniation has not been adequately studied. The majority of published data reflects surgical outcomes, with little available data regarding the outcome of nonoperatively treated patients. Frequently, these patients are treated surgically if they have neurologic loss or radiculopathy that persists after rest or minimal intervention. In the authors' clinic, patients with cervical herniated nucleus pulposus and radiculopathy are treated with an aggressive physical rehabilitation program. Summary of Background Data All patients treated by the authors during a specified time period with a clearly defined diagnosis of cervical herniated nucleus pulposus were evaluated for outcome. Methods Twenty‐six consecutive patients with cervical herniated nucleus pulposus and radiculopathy were evaluated by an investigator other than the treating physician. The follow‐up time was more than 1 year in all patients. Data analyzed included symptom level, activity and function level, medication and ongoing medical care, job status, and satisfaction. Inclusion criteria included a focal cervical disc protrusion of less than 4 mm identified on magnetic resonance imaging and a major complaint of extremity pain compatible with cervical radiculopathy. Exclusion criteria included severe central canal stenosis, symptomatic cervical myelopathy, or condition that precluded participation in the rehabilitation program. Management consisted of traction, specific physical therapeutic exercise, oral anti‐inflammatory medication, and patient education. The majority of patients presented with neurologic loss. Results Twenty‐four patients were successfully treated without surgery. Twenty patients achieved a good or excellent outcome, of these 19 had disc extrusions. Two patients underwent cervical spine surgery. Twenty‐one patients returned to the same job. One patient retired. Conclusion Many cervical disc herniations can be successfully managed with aggressive nonsurgical treatment (24 of 26 in the present study). Progressive neurologic loss did not occur in any patient, and most patients were able to continue with their preinjury activities with little limitation. High patient satisfaction with nonoperative care was achieved on outcome analysis.
Brain natriuretic peptide: a biomarker for all cardiac disease?

Purpose of review To evaluate new development in the utility of brain natriuretic peptide and N-Terminal brain natriuretic peptide (BNP/NT-Pro-BNP) in the management of various cardiovascular diseases. The determination of plasma BNP levels has an established role in the discrimination of pulmonary oedema from other causes of acute dyspnoea, and there is increasing evidence of the utility of BNP/NT-Pro-BNP assay both as a prognostic tool in chronic heart failure and as a means of guiding therapy in heart failure patients aged below 70 years. Recent findings Findings have substantially extended the clinical utility of BNP/NT-Pro-BNP assay. In heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, BNP elevation may also facilitate diagnosis, although its precise utility is uncertain. In the acute catecholamine-induced myocardial inflammatory condition of Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC), BNP/NT-Pro-BNP elevations are marked and persist for at least 3 months, despite the absence of pulmonary oedema. In TTC, BNP/NT-Pro-BNP therefore serves as an ancillary diagnostic measure as well as a marker of recovery. Among other conditions in which BNP assay may provide prognostic information are atrial fibrillation (in which the extent of elevation predicts thromboembolic risk) and pulmonary hypertension. Summary BNP/NT-Pro-BNP assay has widespread utility as an adjunct to cardiovascular disease diagnosis and management.
Carboxanilide derivative non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase interact with different mechanistic forms of the enzyme.

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute first recognized the anti-HIV potential of the carboxanilide compound oxathiin carboxanilide (UC84) [Bader, J. P., et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 6740-6744]. We have compared the inhibitory effect of UC84 and a second-generation thiocarboxanilide derivative, UC38, on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity. UC38 was a much better inhibitor (IC50 = 0.8 microM) than UC84 (IC50 = 4.3 microM). Inhibition by UC84 was competitive with respect to primer/template (P/T), whereas that by UC38 was uncompetitive. Both compounds were mixed noncompetitive inhibitors with respect to deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP). Both compounds protected RT from irreversible photoinactivation by an azido derivative of nevirapine, implying that UC84 and UC38 bind to the same region of RT as nevirapine. UC84 photoprotected both free RT and the RT-P/T binary complex, but did not protect the RT-P/T-dNTP ternary complex. In contrast, UC38 completely photoprotected the RT-P/T-dNTP ternary complex, but not free RT or the RT-P/T binary complex. UC84 and UC38 thus appear to bind to different mechanistic forms of RT in the polymerase reaction sequence.
What Is the Value of Extrinsic Olive Oil Cues in Emerging Markets? Empirical Evidence from the U.S. E‐Commerce Retail Market

ABSTRACT Olive oil consumption in the United States has more than tripled over the past two decades and imports have grown considerably, in particular from Mediterranean countries. This is due to the spread of the Mediterranean diet and increasing consumer awareness about the health benefits of olive oil. We investigated the role of the main extrinsic quality cues (size of container, product category, organic certification, geographical indications, country of origin, and brand) in affecting the price of olive oil sold in the U.S. e‐commerce retail market. Using data from amazon.com, the leading e‐retailer in the United States, a hedonic price model was estimated. Results show that all the considered extrinsic quality cues have a significant impact on the price of olive oil, with interesting implications for both practitioners and policy makers. [EconLit citations: Q110; Q130; Q170].
Do female mayors make a difference? Evidence from Bavaria

We provide empirical evidence that female mayors do not affect the expenditure allocation or size of local governments. This result is robust across a variety of regression discontinuity and standard multivariate estimations. We also examine whether elected female candidates have an increased likelihood of being reelected in a subsequent election, which is a phenomenon that has previously been interpreted as a sign that female candidates who are elected are particularly able politicians because they won an initial election in spite of the fact that electorates are typically gender-biased against female novice candidates. We confirm this correlation in our sample, but we show that it results from women incumbents being more likely to run for reelection. Moreover, we show that among incumbents who run for reelection, women have a significant electoral disadvantage.
Innate Preference for Host-Odor Blends Modulates Degree of Anthropophagy of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract In field studies, Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto obtains most blood meals from humans, whereas Anopheles quadriannulatus Theobald bites predominantly bovids. We investigated whether host odors modulate the host preference of these mosquito species. In a dual-choice olfactometer, mosquitoes were given a choice between clean air and putative host-specific odor blends. An. gambiae chose ‘human odor’ over clean air and clean air over ‘cow odor. ’ Although Anopheles quadriannulatus did not choose cow odor over clean air, it chose clean air over human odor. Cheese odor, which attracted An. gambiae, did not result in higher trap catch of An. quadriannulatus. We conclude that the degree of anthropophagy of An. gambiae s.l. has an innate olfactory basis.
Compairing quantitative trait analysis to qualitative trait analysis for complex traits disease: A genome wide association study for hyperlipidemia

Current standard genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have relied on the simple analysis by focusing on the association between single genetic factor and one single common complex trait. However, since most common complex traits are associated with multiple genetic factors and their epistasis, this simple analysis is not powerful enough to detect multiple genetic factors. Furthermore, in many GWAS, one binary trait is commonly used and it is usually a summary trait derived from several quantitative traits. For example, a binary trait representing hyperlipidemia status is defined by combining four quantitative traits: Total cholesterol (Tchl), High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, Low density lipoprotein (LDL), and cholesterol and Triglycerides (TG). More information can be extracted from these quantitative traits than from one summary binary trait. However, not many methods have been proposed to account for the multiple traits simultaneously. In this study, we propose the following simple stepwise strategy to increase the power of detecting multiple genetic factors jointly for the multiple traits: (1) prescreening, (2) joint identification of putative SNPs based on elastic-net (EN) variable selection, and (3) collapsing. Joint identification of multiple genetic factors would be more powerful and provide better prediction on complex traits. We illustrated our approach with a large scale genome-wide dataset from a Korean population and identified the genetic factors associated with lipid-related traits.
An Analysis of Determinants of Agriculture Trade Intensities of South Asia

South Asian agricultural trade depends on few sectors in the economy and it exports primary products for limited number of countries. It shows regional outward orientation and thus there is still gaining in agricultural trade in South Asian region. Reinforcement of trade relationships within South Asia will be a solution for that and the study is focused on analyzing agriculture trade intensities in South Asia. Trade intensity measures the level of trade relationships between two nations. The objectives of this study are to calculate the agriculture trade intensities for South Asian countries and to estimate the determinants of trade intensity. Gravity model is used to analyze the determinants in trade intensity and conventional gravity variables, trade agreements and export diversification index are used as the independent variables. Agriculture trade intensities are high in Nepal-Bhutan, Butan-Bangladesh, Pakistan-Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka-Maldives. India shows relatively low agriculture trade intensities with regional members. Though Maldives-Bhutan, Maldives-Bangladesh and Bhutan-Afghanistan are better natural trading partners in the region, their trade is nonexistent as they record zero trade between them. Thus there is still scope for trade negotiations within South Asian region. Export market diversification and trade agreements are the key determinants in trade intensities in South Asia and exporter GDP, population and common colony are the other significant determinants in agriculture trade intensities. As South Asia shows monopolistic nature in agricultural trade, export market diversification is also a possible solutions to strength the agricultural trade relationships within regional members.
Concurrent outbreaks with co-infection of norovirus and Clostridium difficile in a long-term-care facility

SUMMARY We describe an outbreak of simultaneous Clostridium difficile and norovirus infections in a long-term-care facility. Thirty patients experienced acute gastroenteritis, and four had co-infection with identical C. difficile 027 and genotype II.4 New Orleans norovirus strains. Co-occurring infection requires improved understanding of risk factors, clinical impact, and testing strategies.
The T<-->R structural transition of insulin; pathways suggested by targeted energy minimization.

The transition of insulin between its crystallographically defined states T and R is connected with considerable change even of backbone structure: the N-terminal B chain (residues B1-B8) refolds from extended conformation in T into helical in R, and vice versa. Although hitherto observed only in hexamers the transition of the monomer was adequate for developing and testing the method of 'targeted energy minimization' (TEM), capable of coping with conformational changes of such extent at moderate computational expenditure. The simulation is performed in a predetermined number of steps consisting of two atomic displacements each, one by force in the direction of the target structure, the second by energy minimization releasing the constraint caused in the first. The transition pathway is represented by the string of energy minimized transient structures. Due to the directedness of the algorithm the simulated pathway for R-->T is not the reversal of that for T-->R. It is, therefore, not pretended that the minimum energy pathway was identified. In the T-->R direction the N-terminal B chain first swivels while remaining largely stretched and then winds up extending the pre-existing helix B9-B19. The A chain advances into the space abandoned and withdraws from it in the R-->T simulation. In the latter the extended helix first kinks at B8/B9, and then the B1-B8 segment is unwound and stretched. The helical H-bonds of that segment are formed late in T-->R and are maintained during almost half of R-->T. The AN helix is less stable and more involved in the transitions than helix AC. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Immunogenicity of polymeric implants: long-term antibody response against polyester (Dacron) following the implantation of vascular prostheses into LEW.1A rats.

Implanted biomaterials trigger acute and chronic inflammatory responses directly correlated to the central role of phagocytic cells at the host-implant interface. This study was designed to evaluate specific humoral immune responses following repeated intraperitoneal implantations of collagen-impregnated polyester (Dacron) prosthetic segments into LEWIS rats. Serum antibody detection was performed by enzyme immunoassay with the prosthetic segments as a target. Cutoff values for antibody positivity were greater than or equal to the 99th percentile for control rats. Polymer immunoglobiulin G (IgG) antibodies were significantly increased (p < 0.05) by repeated implantation and were subsequently followed until experimental day 293. Antibody formation was significantly enhanced through the application of complete Freund's adjuvant in combination with the first implantation. All rats within this group were antibody-positive on day 53, but only 6 of 10 animals that received the prosthesis without the adjuvant were. After preincubation of sera with bovine collagen type I (solid phase adsorbed or in solution), polymer antibody binding was discovered not to be diminished, indicating that the IgG antibodies detected were not directed against the prosthesis impregnation. Furthermore, a significant correlation was obtained between polymer antibody binding to collagen-impregnated and nonimpregnated prostheses (r(s) = 0.797, p < 0.001). There was no substantiated correlation between antibody binding to polyester and to an irrelevant polymer (Tecoflex EG 80). We conclude that specific polymer antibodies may indeed provide an additional parameter for biocompatibility testing as well as a possible serological marker of an inflammatory response to implants.
Testing host‐associated differentiation in a quasi‐endophage and a parthenogen on native trees

Host‐associated differentiation (HAD) is the formation of genetically divergent host‐associated sub‐populations. Evidence of HAD has been reported for multiple insect herbivores to date, but published studies testing more than one herbivore for any given host‐plant species pair is limited to herbivores on goldenrods. This limits the number of pair‐wise comparisons that can be made about insect life‐history traits that might facilitate or inhibit host‐race development in general. Two traits previously proposed to facilitate HAD include endophagy and parthenogenesis. We tested for HAD in two herbivores, a quasi‐endophagous caterpillar and a parthenogenetic aphid, feeding on two closely related species of hickories. We found that the quasi‐endophage is panmictic, whereas the parthenogen exhibits HAD on their sympatric host plants, pecan and water hickory, at a geographic mesoscale. This is an important first step in the characterization of HAD in multiple insect herbivores using North American hickories, a host‐plant system with many shared parthenogens.
The Effects of Oil and Mineral Taxation on Non-commodity Fiscal Revenues

This paper shows, first, that non-commodity revenues are more volatile in oil- and mineral-rich countries and that quality of institutions is associated with lower volatility. We investigate the channels through which oil and mineral revenue volatility lead to non-commodity revenues volatility, and find that when oil and fiscal revenues increase (decrease), non-commodity revenues are reduced (increased) discretionally, and that this substitution effect is larger and faster than an indirect positive income effect through increased public expenditures and GDP. Latin American oil- and mineral-rich countries appear, though, to behave differently. In particular, most of them show increased non-commodity revenues pari passu with increased oil and mineral revenues during the last decade. These findings have consequences for the overall volatility of public expenditures and the effectiveness of automatic tax stabilizers in oil- and mineral-rich countries.