Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Greater cross education following training with muscle lengthening than shortening.

The hypothesis was tested that the magnitude of cross education is greater following training with muscle lengthening than shortening. Changes in contralateral concentric, eccentric, and isometric strength and vastus lateralis and biceps femoris surface electromyographic (EMG) activity were analyzed in groups of young men who exercised the ipsilateral quadriceps with either eccentric (N = 7) or concentric (N = 8) contractions for 36 sessions over 12 wk. Control subjects (N = 6) did not train. Concentric training increased concentric strength 30% and isometric strength 22%, and eccentric training increased eccentric strength 77% and isometric strength 39% (all P < 0.05). Eccentric training improved eccentric strength three times more than the concentric training improved concentric strength (P < 0.05), and eccentric compared with concentric training improved isometric strength about 2 times more (P < 0.05). The eccentric group improved significantly from pre- to mid-training in eccentric and isometric strength (P < 0.05). The control group showed no significant changes (P < 0.05). Surface EMG activity of the vastus lateralis increased 2.2 times (pre- to mid-training), 2.8 (mid- to post-training) and 2.6 more (pre- to post-training) (P < 0.05) in the eccentric than concentric group. No significant changes in EMG activity occurred in the control group (P > 0.05). It was concluded that the greater cross education following training with muscle lengthening is most likely being mediated by both afferent and efferent mechanisms that allow previously sedentary subjects to achieve a greater activation of the untrained limb musculature.
Auditor Industry Specialization and Audit Pricing and Effort

Using audit hours as well as fees, we find that auditor industry expertise is both a firm-level and partner-level phenomenon, which suggests that industry expertise captured by accounting firms is dispersed among engagement partners through knowledge sharing and transfers within audit firms. We also find that the higher audit fees by expert auditors are due to more hours and not higher rates. While spending more hours allows expert auditors to extract higher fees in total, the finding that expert firms/partners exert greater effort does not support the suggestion that expert auditors are in general more efficient in audit production. However, we find weak evidence that audit hours for expert auditors are lower in industries and companies with homogenous operations and comparable accounting than in other industries and companies. This finding suggests that knowledge transfers more likely take place in homogeneous and comparable industries, leading to production efficiency that moderates the increase in aud.
ALPHALISA FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MEDIAN LEVELS OF THE FREE β SUBUNIT OF HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN IN THE SERUM OF PREGNANT WOMEN

Measurement of the free β subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (free β-hCG) in serum is useful for prenatal screening. Concentrations of free β-hCG vary in different races. Conventional assays used for such measurements have limitations. We applied the AlphaLISA to measure levels of free β-hCG in maternal serum during 8–20 weeks of gestation in women from southern China. Two anti-free β-hCG antibodies were used: one was coated on AlphaLISA acceptor beads and the one was biotinylated. The assay also contained donor beads coated with streptavidin. The AlphaLISA assay detection limit was 0.11 ng/mL, and the analytical range was 0.11–200 ng/mL. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 1.32%–2.50% and 3.44%–5.45%, respectively. The correlation with commercial Eu3+-labeled free β-HCG-TRFIA assay was good (y = 1.045x + 1.580, r2 = 0.978). Median levels of free β-hCG in maternal serum at 8–20 weeks gestation were higher in women from southern China compared with those reported in women from other countries. The AlphaLISA for free β-HCG could become the assay of choice for applications in clinical diagnostics. The established median value of free β-HCG is helpful in clinical diagnosis specific for southern Chinese women.
Dolutegravir and elvitegravir plasma concentrations following cessation of drug intake.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate dolutegravir and elvitegravir/cobicistat pharmacokinetics in HIV-negative volunteers up to 10 days after drug cessation. METHODS Healthy volunteers received 50 mg of dolutegravir once-daily for 10 days, then underwent a 9 day wash-out period, and then received elvitegravir/cobicistat as part of Stribild(®) (245 mg of tenofovir, 200 mg of emtricitabine, 150 mg of elvitegravir and 150 mg of cobicistat) for 10 days. Serial pharmacokinetic (PK) sampling occurred prior to the final dose of each course and at regular intervals for up to 216 h (10 days) after drug cessation. Concentrations were determined by LC-MS/MS, and PK parameters were illustrated as geometric mean and 90% CI. RESULTS Seventeen volunteers completed the study. For dolutegravir, plasma terminal elimination t1/2 to the last measurable concentration (within 216 h) was longer than its t1/2 within the dosing interval (0-24 h): 14.3 h (12.9-15.7 h) versus 23.1 h (19.7-26.6 h); conversely, the terminal elimination t1/2 for elvitegravir was lower than its t1/2 within the dosing interval (0-24 h): 10.8 h (9.7-13.0 h) versus 5.2 h (4.7-6.1 h). Dolutegravir concentrations were above the protein-adjusted (PA) IC90 (64 ng/mL) in 100% of subjects after 36 and 48 h and in 94% after 60 and 72 h. All subjects had detectable dolutegravir concentrations at 96 h, a mean of 23.5% above the IC90. Elvitegravir concentrations were above the PA IC95 (45 ng/mL) in 100% of subjects at 24 h, 65% at 36 h but 0% after 48 h. CONCLUSIONS Our data show marked differences in the elimination rates of dolutegravir and elvitegravir following treatment interruption, which is likely to impact the extent to which drug doses can be delayed or missed. They suggest that clinical differences may emerge in patients who have suboptimal adherence.
Fitness components of Drosophila melanogaster developed on a standard laboratory diet or a typical natural food source

Drosophila melanogaster is often used as a model organism in evolutionary biology and ecophysiology to study evolutionary processes and their physiological mechanisms. Diets used to feed Drosophila cultures differ between laboratories and are often nutritious and distinct from food sources in the natural habitat. Here we rear D. melanogaster on a standard diet used in our laboratory and a field diet composed of decomposing apples collected in the field. Flies developed on these two diet compositions are tested for heat, cold, desiccation, and starvation resistance as well as developmental time, dry body mass and fat percentage. The nutritional compositions of the standard and field diets were analyzed, and discussed in relation to the phenotypic observations. Results showed marked differences in phenotype of flies from the two types of diets. Flies reared on the field diet are more starvation resistant and they are smaller, leaner, and have lower heat resistance compared to flies reared on the standard diet. Sex specific effects of diet type are observed for several of the investigated traits and the strong sexual dimorphism usually observed in desiccation resistance in D. melanogaster disappeared when rearing the flies on the field diet. Based on our results we conclude that care should be taken in extrapolating results from one type of diet to another and especially from laboratory to field diets.
Brain-specific expression of cellular prion protein in memory impairment induced by sleep-deprivation in rats

Objective: We designed this study to investigate the mechanism of cellular prion protein (PrPC) in memory impairment induced by sleep-deprivation. Methods: Rats were deprived of sleep for 72 h using the modified multiple platform method. The Morris water maze task was used to assess hippocampal-dependent spatial memory. After sleep-deprivation, the rats were sacrificed and their brain tissue was analyzed for PrPC and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) expression by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results: After 72 h sleep-deprivation, it was observed hippocampal-dependent spatial memory impairment, down-regulations of PrPC and p-CREB (selectively in the hippocampus) in rats. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the reduced PrPC level in the hippocampus contributes to sleep-deprivation induced hippocampal-dependent memory impairment; and CREB signaling pathway involves in this process. In view of PrPC-CREB system involves in sleep-deprivation induced memory impairment, it may be a potential target for future treatment.
Thick-film MIM BST varactors for GaN power amplifiers with discrete dynamic load modulation

Due to their extremely low static current consumption, varactors based on BST are perfect devices for realization of tunable and re-configurable components. This work presents fully screen-printed MIM thick-film BST varactors that are used to tune the load impedance for GaN HEMTs. The varactor tuning voltage is supplied in discrete steps using a high-speed GaN-based modulator. Modulated measurements with LTE and WCDMA signals show, for the first time, the functionality of a BST-based load modulation system and the power consumption of the load-modulation in dynamic operation. Using discrete dynamic load modulation, an average PAE of 27.3% was measured for the LTE signal with an ACLR below −45 dB.
Today's Thermal Therapy: Not Your Father's Hyperthermia: Challenges and Opportunities in Application of Hyperthermia for the 21st Century Cancer Patient

The realization that hyperthermia was an ideal complementary treatment to radiation and certain chemotherapeutic agents from a biologic perspective led to great enthusiasm for this modality over a quarter of a century ago. Unfortunately, this well-deserved enthusiasm quickly become tempered because of the inability to effectively heat tumors, particularly deep-seated ones with cumbersome first generation technology coupled with still-emerging understandings of thermal biology. Today as before, both challenges and opportunities remain in the application of hyperthermia for cancer patients. The lessons learned from the introduction of hyperthermia, a generation ago, are providing focus for application of this still-promising modality in today's clinic. These areas of challenge and opportunity include: thermal biology; treatment planning, delivery, and monitoring; successful high-quality clinical trials; and integration of thermal therapy with emerging technologies and therapeutic strategies both established and evolving. The progress made in understanding of thermal biology, physics, and bioengineering, coupled with advances in complementary clinical treatment modalities have all contributed to the next generation of clinical thermal therapy.
A mitotically stable marker chromosome negative for whole chromosome libraries, centromere probes and chromosome specific telomere regions: a novel class of supernumerary marker chromosome?

A two year-old child presented with mild developmental delay. On karyotype analysis, a supernumerary small marker chromosome (SMC) was found in all cells examined. This SMC was approximately the size of an isochromosome 18p, being symmetrical with a central constriction. C-banding and silver staining were negative and FISH with all chromosome-specific paints, centromere probes and telomere probes showed no hybridization to the SMC; telomere repeat sequences were however present on both arms. Comparative genomic hybridization showed no amplification of any chromosome region. Flow sorting of the SMC and reverse painting onto normal metaphase spreads showed no hybridization to any chromosome, whereas reverse painting onto the patient’s own metaphases showed hybridization to the SMC only. This SMC may thus represent either a complex amplicon of different genomic regions, or a multifold amplification of a very small region, with a neocentromere comprising an active kinetochore but no alphoid DNA. Prognostic implications for the proband were difficult to assess due to the absence of reports of similar marker chromosomes in the literature.
The Causal Effect of Education on Chronic Health Conditions

Studies using education policy reforms to isolate causal effects of education on health produce mixed evidence. We analyse an unusually large sample and study chronic health conditions. For identification, we use two major education reforms, one that raised the minimum school leaving age and one that affected the broader educational attainment distribution. This method generated precise estimates of the impact of education on a comprehensive range of health conditions. Our results indicate that extra education, at the lowest end or higher up the attainment distribution, has little impact on the prevalence of chronic illness. The one interesting exception is diabetes.
The development of the therapeutic working alliance, patients’ awareness and their compliance during the process of brain injury rehabilitation

Purpose: To examine the development and interaction of the therapeutic alliance, patients’ compliance and awareness during the process of brain injury rehabilitation and the role of demographic and injury related variables in this process. Subjects were 86 patients who underwent a holistic neuropsychological outpatient rehabilitation programme. Patients had suffered a traumatic brain injury (n = 27), a cerebrovascular accident (n = 49) or another neurological insult (n = 10). Measures: The therapeutic alliance between clients and their primary therapists, clients’ awareness and their compliance were rated four times during the 14-week rehabilitation programme. The therapeutic alliance was rated by both clients and therapist using the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI), awareness and compliance were rated by the therapists. Results: The development of the process measures over time is described in the article. Clients’ and therapists’ perspectives on their alliance tended to converge over time. Clients’ experience of their emotional bond with their therapist added as much to the prediction of clients’ awareness as the localization of their brain injury. Clients’ awareness was related to their compliance and mediated the impact of the therapeutic alliance on their compliance. Discussion: A good working alliance is the basis of successful rehabilitative work. The article discusses therapeutic implications of the results.
Mismatch repair, p53 and beta-catenin proteins in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND Mismatch repair (MMR) proteins (MSH2 and MLH1) deficiency is responsible for microsatellite instability (MSI) status. We evaluated p53 and beta-catenin expressions in colorectal cancer specimens with known microsatellite status, previously assessed by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We also analyzed the MMR proteins immunostaining and compared the results with those ascertained by PCR. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-five colorectal cancer patients were analyzed for immunohistochemical expression of p53, beta-catenin, MSH2 and MLH1 proteins. RESULTS The microsatellite status was only significantly correlated with p53 expression and MRR proteins pattern. CONCLUSION We demonstrated a significantly higher p53 expression in MSI colorectal specimens. The concordance rate between immunohistochemistry and PCR was so high (80%) that the immunohistochemical technique can be proposed as a method to select MSI patients for improved outcome and response to chemotherapy.
Impaired Mobilization of Intracellular Calcium in Neonatal Platelets

Abnormalities in platelet functions including aggregation and the release reaction have long been recognized to be present in neonatal platelets. Because calcium is an important mediator of many platelet functions, we have investigated the mobilization of calcium in neonatal platelets. All umbilical cord blood samples were obtained from healthy, full term gestations. Changes in cytoplasmic calcium levels were monitored using Fura-2 as a fluorescent probe. Fura-2-loaded washed platelets were stimulated with the agonists collagen (2 μg/mL) or thrombin (1.0 U/mL). When compared with adult controls, intracellular calcium release in the platelets of the neonate was significantly impaired in response to these agonists. Mean levels for calcium release in adults versus neonates in response to collagen were 168± 120 nM (±SD, n = 10), and 61 ± 69 nM(n = 7, p < 0.05). A decrease in response to thrombin was also observed [1296 ± 503 nM (n = 8) in adultsversus 603 ± 482 nM (n = 7) in neonates,p < 0.025]. Results similar to those observed with unpaired neonatal and adult platelets were also obtained when neonatal platelets(n = 5) were compared with their paired maternal controls. In further studies, we have documented that the calcium content of the dense tubular system was normal in the neonatal platelet, indicating that the observed impairment in calcium mobilization in the neonate was not due to a decrease in calcium stores. The previously documented abnormalities in neonatal platelet function appear to be due to the impaired mobilization of this important intracellular mediator.
The Spillover Effect of SEC Comment Letters on Qualitative Corporate Disclosure: Evidence from the Risk Factor Disclosure

In this study we use the recently mandated risk factor disclosure to examine the spillover effect of SEC reviews of qualitative corporate disclosure. We find firms not receiving any comment letter (“No-letter Firms”) modify their subsequent year’s disclosure to a larger extent if the SEC has commented on the risk disclosure of (1) the industry leader, (2) a close rival, or (3) numerous industry peers. We refer to this effect as “spillover. ” Further, we find that after the SEC comments on the industry leader’s disclosure, No-letter Firms also provide more firm-specific disclosure in the subsequent year. The increased disclosure specificity reduces these firms’ likelihood of receiving SEC risk disclosure comments on the new filings. Our evidence suggests that the SEC review of qualitative disclosure and release of comment letters have a learning benefit to companies and a deterrence benefit to regulators.
The rise of private higher education in Australia: maintaining quality outcomes and future challenges

The Rise of Private Higher Education in Australia: Maintaining Quality Outcomes and Future Challenges Mahsood Shah ' Dr George Brown b "Director, Quality & Improvement, Think: Education Group, Australia b Group Academic Director, Think: Education Group, Australia The last decade has heralded a boom in private higher education. In 2000, only 0.3% (2450) of total higher education enrolments in Australia was in private higher education across six institutions. By 2007, enrolments had increased to 5% (53060) of total higher education enrolments in Australia. The number of private higher education providers has also increased exponentially: from six in 2000 to approximately 150 in 2007 (DEEWR, 2008). Based on this trend it is predicted that by 2020 private higher education in Australia will contribute approximately thirty percent of total higher education enrolments in Australia. The catalyst for this growth is arguably the opportunity for individuals to enrol in a diverse array of specialist programs offered by niche providers, coupled with access to the higher education loan scheme (FEE-HELP). This increased choice and the promotion of a level playing field by Commonwealth policy will undoubtedly create significant competition between private providers, universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) colleges. The paper commences by exploring, in detail, the factors contributing to the burgeoning rise of private higher education in Australia. It will outline the distinguishing features of private higher education providers, highlighting the diverse student choice on offer. The quality experience provided by one private provider will be profiled, reporting on the student experience via the use of key performance indicators using a case study methodology. In conclusion the paper critiques some of the key challenges facing private higher education institutions in Australia and the implications for maintaining quality outcomes and academic standards.
Tolvaptan in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND The course of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is often associated with pain, hypertension, and kidney failure. Preclinical studies indicated that vasopressin V(2)-receptor antagonists inhibit cyst growth and slow the decline of kidney function. METHODS In this phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 3-year trial, we randomly assigned 1445 patients, 18 to 50 years of age, who had ADPKD with a total kidney volume of 750 ml or more and an estimated creatinine clearance of 60 ml per minute or more, in a 2:1 ratio to receive tolvaptan, a V(2)-receptor antagonist, at the highest of three twice-daily dose regimens that the patient found tolerable, or placebo. The primary outcome was the annual rate of change in the total kidney volume. Sequential secondary end points included a composite of time to clinical progression (defined as worsening kidney function, kidney pain, hypertension, and albuminuria) and rate of kidney-function decline. RESULTS Over a 3-year period, the increase in total kidney volume in the tolvaptan group was 2.8% per year (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5 to 3.1), versus 5.5% per year in the placebo group (95% CI, 5.1 to 6.0; P<0.001). The composite end point favored tolvaptan over placebo (44 vs. 50 events per 100 follow-up-years, P=0.01), with lower rates of worsening kidney function (2 vs. 5 events per 100 person-years of follow-up, P<0.001) and kidney pain (5 vs. 7 events per 100 person-years of follow-up, P=0.007). Tolvaptan was associated with a slower decline in kidney function (reciprocal of the serum creatinine level, -2.61 [mg per milliliter](-1) per year vs. -3.81 [mg per milliliter](-1) per year; P<0.001). There were fewer ADPKD-related adverse events in the tolvaptan group but more events related to aquaresis (excretion of electrolyte-free water) and hepatic adverse events unrelated to ADPKD, contributing to a higher discontinuation rate (23%, vs. 14% in the placebo group). CONCLUSIONS Tolvaptan, as compared with placebo, slowed the increase in total kidney volume and the decline in kidney function over a 3-year period in patients with ADPKD but was associated with a higher discontinuation rate, owing to adverse events. (Funded by Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization; TEMPO 3:4 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00428948.).
Pathophysiologic basis of contrast enhancement in breast tumors

While the diagnostic benefits of gadolinium (Gd)‐chelate contrast agents are firmly established in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of tumors, the pathophysiologic basis of the enhancement observed and its histopathologic correlate remained vague. Tumor angiogenesis is fundamental for growth and metastasis and also of interest in new therapeutic concepts. By correlative analysis of a) histology; b) vascular density (CD31); and c) vascular permeability (vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor [VPF/VEGF]), we found a) significantly (P < 0.001) faster exchange rates in malignant compared with benign breast lesions; b) distinct differences in enhancement characteristics between the histologic types (invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, and ductal carcinoma in situ); and c) dependence of enhancement kinetics on the VPF/VEGF expression. The pathophysiologic basis for the differences in contrast enhancement patterns of tumors detectable by MRI is mainly due to vascular permeability, which leads to more characteristic differences than vascular density. MRI is able to subclassify malignant breast tumors due to their different angiogenetic properties. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;10:260–266. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.