Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting efficacy in patients with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C treated by pegylated interferon alpha‐2b and ribavirin: reducing drug doses has no impact on rapid and sustained virological responses

Summary. Reducing the dose of drug affects treatment efficacy in pegylated interferon (Peg‐IFN) and ribavirin combination therapy for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of drug exposure, as well as the baseline factors and the virological response on the treatment efficacy for genotype 2 patients. Two‐hundred and fifty patients with genotype 2 HCV who were to undergo combination therapy for 24 weeks were included in the study, and 213 completed the treatment. Significantly more patients who achieved a rapid virological response (RVR), defined as HCV RNA negativity at week 4, achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) (92%, 122/133) compared with patients who failed to achieve RVR (48%, 38/80) (P < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic‐regression analysis showed that only platelet counts [odds ratio (OR), 1.68; confidence interval (CI), 1.002–1.139] and RVR (OR, 11.251; CI, 5.184–24.419) were independently associated with SVR, with no correlation being found for the mean dose of Peg‐IFN and ribavirin for RVR and SVR. Furthermore, in the stratification analysis of the timing of viral clearance, neither mean dose of Peg‐IFN (P = 0.795) nor ribavirin (P = 0.649) affected SVR in each group. Among the patients with RVR, the lowest dose group of Peg‐IFN (0.77 ± 0.10 μg/kg/week) and ribavirin (6.9 ± 0.90 mg/kg/day) showed 100% and 94% of SVR. Hence, RVR served as an important treatment predictor, and drug exposure had no impact on both SVR and RVR in combination therapy for genotype 2 patients.
Meeting the objectives of the curriculum at the first stage of basic school by the child having left the language immersion kindergarten

Year after year, the interest in early learning of the state language by non-Estonian children has increased. In Estonia, the course has been directed that non-Estonian learners have to reach functional bilingualism by the time they leave basic school and thus to become competitive in labour and education markets in Estonia. The objective of the present study is to explain – based on the teachers’ assessments – meeting the objectives of the curriculum at the end of the kindergarten period and at the first stage of basic school by the children having participated in the early language immersion programme. The method of this study was a questionnaire. The results of this study showed that the children having been taught by the language immersion methods were well prepared for school, and their knowledge, linguistic skills and the capacity of self-expression were appropriate for their age in both languages.
Uterine artery Doppler in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome

Purpose of review To review publications, published during the past year, that have examined uterine artery Doppler findings in women with adverse pregnancy outcome. Recent findings Almost two-thirds of stillbirths that occur in the early preterm period (up to 32 weeks) can be predicted by uterine artery Doppler at 23 weeks. First trimester screening studies have shown that an abnormal result increases the risk of subsequent fetal growth restriction, and such women are at particularly high risk when indices remain abnormal in the second trimester. Studies combining uterine artery Doppler with maternal serum markers have demonstrated that measurement of first-trimester maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and free β human chorionic gonadotrophin improve sensitivities of second-trimester Doppler. As these are frequently measured in Down syndrome screening and they lend themselves in screening for pre-eclampsia. Women with abnormal first and second-trimester serum markers constitute a high-risk group. Maternal serum placental protein 13 remains a promising method for early screening, although a recent study suggests lower sensitivities than initially reported. Summary Uterine artery Doppler screening identifies women at high risk for developing adverse pregnancy outcomes. Detection rates may be increased and false positive rates reduced by combination with maternal characteristics or serum markers.
Handbook of Aging and the Family

Foreword by Lillian Troll Preface by Rosemary Blieszner and Victoria Hilkevitch Bedford Background The Family Context of Aging: Trends and Challenges by Rosemary Blieszner and Victoria Hilkevitch Bedford Historical Perspectives on the Family and Aging by Tamara K. Hareven Aging and the Family: Present and Future Demographic Issues by Kevin Kinsella Theoretical Frameworks and Research Methods The Family of the Second Half of Life: Connecting Theories and Findings by Bertram Cohler and Karen Altergott Family Relations and Individual Development in Adulthood and Aging by Carol D. Ryff and Marsha Mailick Seltzer Feminist Perspectives on Social Gerontology by Helena Znaniecka Lopata Family Dynamics and the Leisure Experiences of Older Adults: Theoretical Viewpoints by Jay A. Mancini and Dan M. Sandifer Methods and Analysis of Family Data by David J. Mangen Family Relationships Marriage and Close Relationships of the Marital Kind by Margaret Hellie Huyck Sibling Relationships in Middle and Old Age by Victoria Hilkevitch Bedford Aged Parents and Aging Children: Determinants of Relationship Quality by J. Jill Suitor, Karl Pillemer, Shirley Keeton, and Julie Robison Grandparenting in an Era of Rapid Change by Joan F. Robertson The Context of Family Life U.S. Old Age Policy and the Family by Madonna Harrington Meyer and Marcia L. Bellas Legal Issues and Family Involvement in Later Life Families by Robbyn R. Wacker Cultural Diversity in the Late Life Family by Colleen L. Johnson Aging and Kinship in Rural Context by B. Jan McCulloch Convoys of Social Relations: Family and Friendships within a Lifespan Context by Toni C. Antonucci and Hiroko Akiyama Turning Points and Interventions Families and Retirement by Maximiliane Szinovacz and David J. Ekerdt The Effects of Illness on the Family by Jeffrey W. Dwyer Death and Bereavement by Miriam S. Moss and Sidney Z. Moss Widowhood by Shirley L. O'Bryant and Robert O. Hansson Families and Formal Networks by Shirley S. Travis Clinical Interventions with Later Life Families by Sara Honn Qualls Bibliography Index
Low-power data-driven dynamic logic (D/sup 3/L) [CMOS devices]

In this paper a new family of low-power dynamic logic called data-driven dynamic logic (D/sup 3/L) is introduced. In this logic family, the synchronization clock has been eliminated, and correct sequencing is maintained by appropriate use of data instances. Then, it is shown that replacement of the clock with input data implies less power dissipation without speed degradation compared to conventional dynamic logic.
ACVRL1 germinal mosaic with two mutant alleles in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Eyries M, Coulet F, Girerd B, Montani D, Humbert M, Lacombe P, Chinet T, Gouya L, Roume J, Axford MM, Pearson CE, Soubrier F. ACVRL1 germinal mosaic with two mutant alleles in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Fast failure recovery for reliable multicast-based content delivery

In this paper we introduce a new scheme to achieve fast failure recovery in IP multicast based content delivery, which is based on efficient extensions to the Not-via fast reroute (FRR) technique. The design of such an approach takes into account distinct characteristics of IP multicast routing, namely receiver-initiated and state-based, and it offers comprehensive protections against both simple and complex network failures. We also specify in the paper moderate extensions to the standard PIM-SM routing protocol in order to equip individual repairing routers with necessary knowledge for dynamically binding protected multicast trees with pre-established Not-via tunnels that are able to automatically bypass failed network components. Our simulation experiments based on both real and synthetically generated topologies indicate promising scalability performance in the proposed multicast FRR approach.
A Survey of State-of-the-Art Methodologies and a Framework for Identifying and Valuing Flexible Design Opportunities in Engineering Systems

Flexibility in design increases the expected value of an engineering system, as demonstrated by numerous case studies. By adapting flexibly to uncertain events, operators capture additional value when upside opportunities occur (e.g. demand or price is higher t han expected), and reduce losses in case of downturns. Very often engineers work to satisfy fixed design requirements based on analysts’ forecasts of uncertain variables affecting value. If reality is more favorable than projected, the system may not capture additional benefits from uncertainty. In reverse, it may suffer big losses during downsides. Flexibility is the main tool to deal with uncertainty; it captures upside opportunities, and protects from downside events, thus its importance for design. Explicit considerations of flexibility lead to more informed, and thus better investment decisions. This paper surveys existing state-of-the-art methodologies for identifying and valuing flexible design opportunities in complex systems. It emerges from the observation that several analytical methods exist to identify and value technical sources of flexibility. The current state of the field is however not clear on which methods are best suited depending on the design problem at hand, the system under study, and other contextual elements such as the economic sector, the uncertainty types, audience, etc. Different problems may require different methods to add value through flexibility, hence the need to organize the field in a coherent whole for real-world practitioners. The paper paves the way to the development of a framework to choose appropriate analytical tools to identify and value flexible design opportunities, depending on the engineering system under consideration. The proposed framework is to be developed through applications of existing methods to real-world case studies in various industries.
Intraoperative passive kinematics of osteoarthritic knees before and after total knee arthroplasty

Total knee arthroplasty is a successful procedure to treat pain and functional disability due to osteoarthritis. However, precisely how a total knee arthroplasty changes the kinematics of an osteoarthritic knee is unknown. We used a surgical navigation system to measure normal passive kinematics from 7 embalmed cadaver lower extremities and in vivo intraoperative passive kinematics on 17 patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty to address two questions: How do the kinematics of knees with advanced osteoarthritis differ from normal knees? ; and, Does posterior substituting total knee arthroplasty restore kinematics towards normal? Osteoarthritic knees displayed a decreased screw‐home motion and abnormal varus/valgus rotations between 10° and 90° of knee flexion when compared to normal knees. The anterior–posterior motion of the femur in osteoarthritic knees was not different than in normal knees. Following total knee arthroplasty, we found abnormal varus/valgus rotations in early flexion, a reduced screw‐home motion when compared to the osteoarthritic knees, and an abnormal anterior translation of the femur during the first 60° of flexion. Posterior substituting total knee arthroplasty does not appear to restore normal passive varus/valgus rotations or the screw motion and introduces an abnormal anterior translation of the femur during intraoperative evaluation. © 2006 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 24:1607–1614, 2006
Agrobacterium May Delay Plant Nonhomologous End-Joining DNA Repair via XRCC4 to Favor T-DNA Integration[W]

This work examines the role of a nonhomologous end-joining pathway gene, X-RAY CROSS COMPLEMENTATION GROUP4 (XRCC4), in T-DNA integration, finding that XRCC4 limits T-DNA integration and interacts directly with Agrobacterium VirE2 protein. These results suggest that Agrobacterium may modulate host DNA repair functions to increase T-DNA integration. Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a soilborne pathogen that causes crown gall disease in many dicotyledonous plants by transfer of a portion of its tumor-inducing plasmid (T-DNA) into the plant genome. Several plant factors that play a role in Agrobacterium attachment to plant cells and transport of T-DNA to the nucleus have been identified, but the T-DNA integration step during transformation is poorly understood and has been proposed to occur via nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ)–mediated double-strand DNA break (DSB) repair. Here, we report a negative role of X-RAY CROSS COMPLEMENTATION GROUP4 (XRCC4), one of the key proteins required for NHEJ, in Agrobacterium T-DNA integration. Downregulation of XRCC4 in Arabidopsis and Nicotiana benthamiana increased stable transformation due to increased T-DNA integration. Overexpression of XRCC4 in Arabidopsis decreased stable transformation due to decreased T-DNA integration. Interestingly, XRCC4 directly interacted with Agrobacterium protein VirE2 in a yeast two-hybrid system and in planta. VirE2-expressing Arabidopsis plants were more susceptible to the DNA damaging chemical bleomycin and showed increased stable transformation. We hypothesize that VirE2 titrates or excludes active XRCC4 protein available for DSB repair, thus delaying the closure of DSBs in the chromosome, providing greater opportunity for T-DNA to integrate.
Japanese University Leaders' Perceptions of Internationalization

To promote sustainable development within the global knowledge-based society, the Japanese government is urging the nation's higher education institutions to internationalize. Although a select number of Japanese universities are highly regarded in world university rankings, many observers argue that the majority of Japanese higher education institutions are not sufficiently internationalized compared with those of other industrialized countries. However, the dynamics and structure of internationalization is highly diverse, and well considered policy initiatives are required to guide and foster the process in respective institutions. Based on a comprehensive survey of reviews of internationalization in Japanese universities, this article examines the perceptions of Japanese university leaders in terms of the extent to which they reflect an “international” character. The present context and possible roles of government and institutions for internationalization in Japanese higher education are also explored.
Threshold concepts as a focus for metalearning activity: application of a research-developed mechanism in undergraduate engineering

This paper reports on the development of metalearning capacity in the learning of a threshold concept – capacity of transformative significance relative to metalearning in the general response context of a discipline or subject. The development of metalearning capacity is framed within a protocol that invites students to self-construct a ‘learning profile’ of themselves; reflect on it in light of theoretical considerations; and accordingly self-initiate changes to their learning behaviour. Findings are consistent with other studies in different disciplinary contexts that employed the same methodology – namely, that metalearning activity can be successfully focused on a particular threshold concept to benefit a substantial majority of students in a variety of ways ranging across a positive reinforcement of self, a change in conception of what ‘learning is’, to self-initiated change. Metalearning activity is advocated as a theoretically sound, and pedagogically driven, learning intervention – one that adds value to the student learning experience.
ERP Correlates of Verbal and Numerical Probabilities in Risky Choices: A Two-Stage Probability Processing View

Two kinds of probability expressions, verbal and numerical, have been used to characterize the uncertainty that people face. However, the question of whether verbal and numerical probabilities are cognitively processed in a similar manner remains unresolved. From a levels-of-processing perspective, verbal and numerical probabilities may be processed differently during early sensory processing but similarly in later semantic-associated operations. This event-related potential (ERP) study investigated the neural processing of verbal and numerical probabilities in risky choices. The results showed that verbal probability and numerical probability elicited different N1 amplitudes but that verbal and numerical probabilities elicited similar N2 and P3 waveforms in response to different levels of probability (high to low). These results were consistent with a levels-of-processing framework and suggest some internal consistency between the cognitive processing of verbal and numerical probabilities in risky choices. Our findings shed light on possible mechanism underlying probability expression and may provide the neural evidence to support the translation of verbal to numerical probabilities (or vice versa).
Performance Evaluation of Correlation Reduction Precoding with Repetition Code in Overloaded MIMO System

In this paper, the measurement results of field experiments for correlation reduction precoding with a repetition code in an overloaded MIMO systems are presented. Measurements are conducted in three propagation conditions that are line-of-sight (LOS), non-line-of- sight (NLOS), and a mobile environment. Numerical results obtained through the measurements show that amplitude shift and phase rotation precoding improves demodulation performance. It is also presented that the precoding scheme reduces bit error rate (BER) in the mobile environment.
ON HOMOGENEOUS PINNING MODELS AND PENALIZATIONS

In this note, we show how the penalization method, introduced in order to describe some non-trivial changes of the Wiener measure, can be applied to the study of some simple polymer models such as the pinning model. The bulk of the analysis is then focused on the study of a martingale which has to be computed as a Markovian limit.
Visible and non-visible endometriosis at laparoscopy in fertile and infertile women and in patients with chronic pelvic pain: a prospective study.

In 100 consecutive patients who were undergoing laparoscopy for infertility (group 1, n = 52), chronic pelvic pain (group 2, n = 18) or tubal sterilization (group 3, n = 30, asymptomatic fertile women), peritoneal biopsies were taken from areas of visually normal peritoneum of uterosacral ligaments. Twenty-six patients in group 1 (50%), eight patients in group 2 (44.4%) and 13 patients in group 3 (43.3%), were found to have laparoscopic evidence of endometriosis elsewhere in the pelvis. The majority of women (80.7% in group 1, 87.5% in group 2, and 100% in group 3) had stage I disease. The incidence of the distinctive appearances of the lesions was similar in the three groups of patients and 7% of all women or 15% (7/47) of those patients having endometriosis at laparoscopy had only subtle (non-¿typical') endometriotic peritoneal lesions. Uterosacral biopsies showed the presence of endometriotic tissue in three cases (5.7%), two cases (11%) and three cases (10%) in groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. One of the two patients in group 2 and two of the three patients in group 3 had no evidence of endometriosis at laparoscopy; thus histological study revealed the presence of endometriosis in normal peritoneum in 11% (5/47) of patients having macroscopic endometriosis and in 6% (3/53) of patients without endometriosis at laparoscopy. Previous oral contraceptive users were significantly higher among women having macroscopic and/or microscopic endometriosis than among women without the condition. In conclusion, our prospective study shows a high prevalence (45-50%) of endometriosis (including microscopic forms) in both patients with chronic pelvic pain and asymptomatic women (fertile and infertile), thus supporting the modern concept that in many women endometriosis may be a paraphysiological condition while probably only in some patients small amounts of endometriosis are an ¿annoyance' with implications to their reproductive health and may produce symptoms (e.g. pelvic pain) and therefore should be defined as a ¿dis-ease'. Previous use of oral contraceptives may increase the risk of developing endometriosis.
A Community-Based Study of Family-Friendly Workplaces

ABSTRACT This applied research study is part of a collaborative effort by local government representatives, business leaders, and social work researchers to investigate workplace support for family needs. It is one of the first to report findings about family-friendly workplace policies and practices across different size and sector work organizations in one community. The prevalence and distribution of these policies and practices are investigated because they can enhance the quality of life for individuals and families and thus should be accessible to all members of the workforce. Findings from a sample of 88 small, medium and large work organizations within the private and public sectors reveal that many employers offer flexible work arrangements while few provide child care services; large organizations as well as organizations in the public or nonprofit sectors provide more work-family stress management benefits than smaller organizations or those in the for-profit sector; large organizations also provide more leave time and more dependent care services. Comparability with other studies, future research needs, and implications for community practice are discussed.
A language of our own : the genesis of Michif, the mixed Cree-French language of the Canadian Métis

The Michif language - spoken by descendants of French Canadian fur traders and Cree Indians in western Canada - is considered an "impossible language" since it uses French for nouns and Cree for verbs, and comprises two different sets of grammatical rules. Bakker uses historical research and fieldwork data to present the first detailed analysis of this language and how it came into being.
All the lonely people: the struggle for private meaning and public purpose in education

This paper argues that the ‘new world order’ achieved at the end of the cold war is in crisis, not generated from the threat of ‘war’ between Christian and Islamic worlds but from within western societies, specifically from the growing commercialisation and ‘privatisation’ of social and community life which has uncoupled the systems and activities of society from the collective and individual purposes of people who comprise that society. Drawing on interview data (life and work histories) from three cohorts (1950s-1960s, 1970s-1980s, 1990s to present) of US and Canadian teachers, the paper identifies evidence of this crisis in the fields of culture, education and public service (e.g. in the turning away from public and towards private pursuits as the motivation for one's ‘life's work’ or ‘passion’). It also looks to these fields in the search for answers to what motivates people and sponsors their meaning-making, specifically whether privatisation should be our only route to human meaning. The paper concludes that the personal ‘missions’ that people bring to their employment may be accommodated in some parts of the business world where people are given freedom to pursue their own ‘projects’, but these are largely frustrated in the micro‐managed and re‐regulated regimes of the public sector. Indeed, without invoking some ‘golden age’, the sense of vocation, public duty and ‘caring professionalism’ that characterised the ‘top end’ and ‘backbone’ of the public sector is diminishing as large numbers begin to withdraw their ‘hearts and minds’ while implementing the mandates and missions of others.