Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phase II dose–response study of abatacept in Japanese patients with active rheumatoid arthritis with an inadequate response to methotrexate

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the response to abatacept at doses of 2 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg compared to placebo in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with an inadequate clinical response to methotrexate (MTX). MethodsIn this multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, dose–response study, 195 Japanese patients with active RA with an inadequate response to MTX were randomized 1:1:1 to receive 10 mg/kg or 2 mg/kg abatacept plus MTX, or placebo plus MTX, for 24 weeks.ResultsAbatacept demonstrated a dose–response relationship when given at 2 and 10 mg/kg. Based on the American College of Rheumatology criteria (20, 50, and 70 %), the responses to 10 mg/kg abatacept were significantly greater than those to placebo at week 24 (p < 0.001). Smaller yet statistically significant responses were also seen in the 2 mg/kg abatacept group. Overall rates of adverse events, serious adverse events, and treatment discontinuations because of adverse events were comparable in all three groups.ConclusionsAbatacept (2 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) showed a dose–response relationship in Japanese patients with active RA with an inadequate clinical response to MTX. Administration of abatacept in combination with MTX for 24 weeks was well tolerated.
Cytokine regulation in SARS coronavirus infection compared to other respiratory virus infections†

The pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is poorly understood and cytokine dysregulation has been suggested as one relevant mechanism to be explored. We compared the cytokine profile in Caco2 cells after infection of SARS coronavirus (SARS‐CoV) with other respiratory viruses including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A virus (FluAV), and human parainfluenza virus type 2 (hPIV2). Interferon (IFN) system (production and response) was not suppressed by SARS‐CoV infection. Therefore, SARS‐CoV replication was suppressed by pretreatment with IFN. SARS‐CoV and RSV induced high levels of IL‐6 and RANTES compared with FluAV and hPIV2. Induction level of suppressor of cytokine signaling‐3 (SOCS3) by SARS‐CoV was significantly lower than that by RSV in spite of the significant production of IL‐6. Toll‐like receptors 4 and 9, which correlate with the induction of inflammatory response, were upregulated by SARS‐CoV infection. Collectively, overinduction of inflammatory cytokine and dysregulation of cytokine signaling may contribute to the immunopathology associated with “severe” inflammation in SARS. J. Med. Virol. 78:417–424, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Small Area and Individual Level Predictors of Physical Activity in Urban Communities: A Multi-Level Study in Stoke on Trent, England

Reducing population physical inactivity has been declared a global public health priority. We report a detailed multi-level analysis of small area indices and individual factors as correlates of physical activity in deprived urban areas. Multi-level regression analysis was used to investigate environmental and individual correlates of physical activity. Nine individual factors were retained in the overall model, two related to individual intentions or beliefs, three to access to shops, work or fast food outlets and two to weather; age and gender being the other two. Four area level indices related to: traffic, road casualties, criminal damage and access to green space were important in explaining variation in physical activity.
Decentralized and concentrated investments in China and the performance of Taiwanese listed electronic companies

ABSTRACT Ever since China surpassed Taiwan to become the largest exporter of electronic products, dependence between the two sides has deepened, which prompts Taiwanese companies to go public in China. This study conducted the data envelopment analysis (DEA) and regression analysis to analyse the impacts of the depth and breadth of investments in China on the performance of Taiwanese listed electronic companies. The empirical results show that, the breath of the investments in China has a positive correlation with the performance of Taiwanese companies; while the depth of investments in China has a negative and significant effect on the performances due to the companies’ lack of know-how, which leads to a high-learning cost. In summary, companies should strategize their decentralized and concentrated investments in China.
Influence of Band Structure Parameters on the Thermoelectric Properties of Semiconductor Thermoelectric Materials

Many semiconductors have complex structure of conduction or valence band. The thermoelectric parameters of such semiconductors depend on the energy positions of bands and their effective masses. In the present work the thermoelectric parameters of materials with complex band structure have been theoretically investigated. Their dependencies on band structure parameters have been studied in order to find the optimal combination of parameters maximizing the thermoelectric efficiency. The results obtained have been illustrated applying to Mg 2Si-Mg2Sn solid solutions and other materials for which the high thermoelectric figure of merit is connected with the presence of two conduction bands
International human resource management in the Arab Gulf States – an institutional perspective

Abstract This paper seeks to explore the increasingly dominant role of International Human Resource Management (IHRM) policies and practices of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) operating in the emerging economies of the Arab Gulf States and, more specifically, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The existing literature on institutions suggest that MNEs are under influence and pressure to adopt HR practices that are viewed as being appropriate for the context and situation. However, distinctive institutions in the Arab Gulf States such as the UAE, and their impacts on MNEs’ people management have been largely overlooked in prior work. Hence, with a particular focus on institutional theory, this work explores the effects of home-country institutional factors on IHRM in foreign subsidiaries. Furthermore, the paper aims to examine how regulative, cognitive and normative institutional dimensions affect the IHRM choices of MNEs. In-depth interviews with 26 Human Resource (HR) managers located in the head offices of the participating MNEs were conducted, revealing that IHRM practices in this institutional setting are built upon fragile, dependent and uncertain conditions, and they are not grounded in the sort of deep and stable institutional foundations prevalent in most developed economies. As a result, we propose a more nuanced institutional framework that captures the peculiar aspects of the Arab Gulf States.
Fostering Child Development by Improving Care Quality: A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Structural Interventions and Caregiver Trainings in Institutional Care

Quality of child care has been shown to have a crucial impact on children’s development and psychological adjustment, particularly for orphans with a history of maltreatment and trauma. However, adequate care for orphans is often impacted by unfavorable caregiver–child ratios and poorly trained, overburdened personnel, especially in institutional care in countries with limited resources and large numbers of orphans. This systematic review investigated the effects of structural interventions and caregiver trainings on child development in institutional environments. The 24 intervention studies included in this systematic review reported beneficial effects on the children’s emotional, social, and cognitive development. Yet, few studies focused on effects of interventions on the child–caregiver relationship or the general institutional environment. Moreover, our review revealed that interventions aimed at improving institutional care settings have largely neglected violence and abuse prevention. Unfortunately, our findings are partially limited by constraints of study design and methodology. In sum, this systematic review sheds light on obstacles and possibilities for the improvement in institutional care. There must be greater efforts at preventing violence, abuse, and neglect of children living in institutional care. Therefore, we advocate for combining attachment theory-based models with maltreatment prevention approaches and then testing them using rigorous scientific standards. By using approaches grounded in the evidence, it could be possible to enable more children to grow up in supportive and nonviolent environments.
The impact of alexithymia on somatization after traumatic brain injury

Introduction: High rates of alexithymia have been reported following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Difficulty modulating emotional states has been shown to increase the risk of affective distress and the tendency to express this distress in the form of physical symptoms. The current study therefore examined relationships between alexithymia, affective distress and somatization in a TBI sample. Method: Eighty-three patients with TBI completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R). Results: Alexithymic individuals reported higher ratings of anxiety, low mood and somatic symptoms. Alexithymia accounted for a significant amount of variance in anxiety, depression and somatization ratings. Scores on sub-scale 1 of the TAS-20 (difficulty identifying feelings) made a significant unique contribution to explaining somatization ratings after controlling for the influence of anxiety and depression ratings. Conclusion: Alexithymia after TBI increases the risk of affective disturbance and somatization. It needs to be identified at an early stage to direct rehabilitation interventions and improve prospects for psychosocial outcome.
The duration of TCR/pMHC interactions regulates CTL effector function and tumor‐killing capacity

Effector CTL contribute to tumoral immunity by killing tumor cells through secretion of cytotoxic granules and cytokines. Activation of CTL requires specific recognition of cognate peptide‐MHC‐I (pMHC) complexes on the tumor cell surface by the CTL TCR. It has been suggested that the half‐life (t1/2) of the TCR/pMHC interaction modulates the activation of naïve CD8+ T cells; however, it remains unknown whether CTL effector function can also be regulated by the TCR/pMHC t1/2. Here, we have studied CTL activity in response to tumor cells loaded with pMHC that bind the TCR with different t1/2. We observed that the TCR/pMHC t1/2 can differentially regulate CTL effector function during the interaction with tumor cells and defines the nature of anti‐tumoral CTL responses in vivo. Although prolonged TCR/pMHC t1/2 promoted only partial expression of cytotoxic molecules, short t1/2 induced partial polarization of lytic machinery toward target cells. In contrast, intermediate TCR/pMHC t1/2 induced strong expression of cytotoxic molecules, efficient polarization of lytic machinery and subsequent release of toxic granules by CTL that killed tumor cells. Consistently, efficient in vivo CTL‐mediated tumor clearance was only observed for tumors expressing intermediate t1/2 pMHC ligands. These data suggest that there is an optimal TCR/pMHC t1/2 for efficient CTL activity.
A phase I/II study of telomerase peptide vaccination in combination with chemotherapy in patients with stage IV malignant melanoma.

8031 Background: A phase I/II feasibility study was conducted to investigate the safety, tolerability and immunological response to vaccination with the telomerase peptide GV1001 (hTERT: 611-626) in combination with temozolomide (T). METHODS Twenty-five patients with malignant melanoma (15 stage M1c,10 stage M1b) received T day 1-5 every four weeks for 1-9 cycles. During the first cycle (4 weeks) they received i.d. injections of 560 μg GV1001 with local GM-CSF in week 2,3 and 4, followed by injections in week 6 and 7 in the second cycle and week 11 in the third cycle. The treatment period was 12 weeks (3 cycles). Booster vaccinations with 560 μg GV1001 were offered every third month. Monitoring of blood samples, clinical examination were performed regularly with radiological staging every 12th week. Immune responses were measured as DTH and in vitro T-cell proliferation. RESULTS The treatment was generally well tolerated with only grade 1-2 toxicity in most patients. Of 14 patients, 4 developed grade 3 toxicity and one grade 4 toxicity (neutropenia). Immune responses against GV1001 were detected in 17/21 patients (81%) at 12 weeks. Patients receiving up to 9 cycles of T exhibited stable proliferative responses to GV1001 throughout the treatment period. None of the patients had DTH response at trial entry and no DTH responses were observed in patients receiving T. This was not due to a shift in the cytokine profile since cloned GV1001-specific CD4+ T cells displayed a Th1 cytokine profile. Upon evaluation in week 12, 6 patients had SD, 10 PD. One patient had a PR with shrinkage or disappearance of multiple lung metastases. A patient continuing on vaccine alone developed significant DTH response when T therapy was stopped. CONCLUSIONS Telomerase vaccination of patients receiving concomitant T treatment is feasible. The unexpected high proportion of patients showing an immune response indicates that regulatory T-cells may have been removed by T treatment. The chemotherapy may also have influenced effector cells required for development of skin reactions. In spite of lacking DTH response however, the majority of the patients demonstrated significant immune response indicating different regulation of DTH and T-cell response. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
N-terminal Truncation of the Dopamine Transporter Abolishes Phorbol Ester- and Substance P Receptor-stimulated Phosphorylation without Impairing Transporter Internalization*

The structural basis of phosphorylation and its putative role in internalization were investigated in the human dopamine transporter (hDAT). Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) was achieved either directly by treatment with 4-α-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or by activating the Gαq-coupled human substance P receptor (hNK-1) co-expressed with hDAT in HEK293 cells and in N2A neuroblastoma cells. In both cell lines, activation of the hNK-1 receptor by substance P reduced the V max for [3H]dopamine uptake to the same degree as did PMA (∼50 and ∼20% in HEK293 and N2A cells, respectively). In HEK293 cells, the reduction in transport capacity could be accounted for by internalization of the transporter, as assessed by cell surface biotinylation experiments, and by fluorescence microscopy using enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged hDAT. In HEK293 cells, hNK-1 receptor activation, as well as direct PKC activation by PMA, was accompanied by a marked increase in transporter phosphorylation. However, truncation of the first 22 N-terminal residues almost abolished detectable phosphorylation without affecting the SP- or PMA-induced reduction in transport capacity and internalization. In this background truncation construct, systematic mutation of all the phosphorylation consensus serines and threonines in hDAT, alone and in various combinations, did also not alter the effect of hNK-1 receptor activation or PMA treatment in either HEK293 or N2A cells. Mutation of a dileucine and of two tyrosine-based motifs in hDAT was similarly without effect. We conclude that the major phosphorylation sites in hDAT are within the distal N terminus, which contains several serines. Moreover, the present data strongly suggest that neither this phosphorylation, nor the phosphorylation of any other sites within hDAT, is required for either receptor-mediated or direct PKC-mediated internalization of the hDAT.
Variation in concentration of prion protein in the peripheral blood of patients with variant and sporadic Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease detected by dissociation enhanced lanthanide fluoroimmunoassay and flow cytometry

BACKGROUND: A highly sensitive dissociation‐enhanced lanthanide fluoroimmunoassay (DELFIA) and flow cytometry techniques have previously been developed and employed to characterize soluble cellular prion protein (PrPc) expression in whole blood and separated components from healthy adult blood donors. No previous studies with these techniques have evaluated the concentration and expression of PrP in the blood of patients with variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (vCJD).
Investigation on Beamforming Control Methods in Base Station Cooperative Multiuser MIMO Using Block-Diagonalized Beamforming Matrix

This paper investigates a beamforming control method in base station (BS) cooperative multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission assuming a block-diagonalized unitary beamforming matrix. More specifically, we comprehensively compare open-loop type random (opportunistic) beamforming control to codebook-based closed-loop type beamforming control. The proportional fair (PF)-based scheduling is assumed, and the number of users, codebook size, and delay time of the feedback signal from the user terminals are taken into account in the comparison. Based on numerical results, codebook-based beamforming control with a large codebook size achieves higher system throughput than random beamforming when the number of users is small and the feedback delay time is short. However, we show that when the number of users is large and the feedback delay time is long, random beamforming achieves higher system-level throughput than codebook-based beamforming. This implies that the transmission-rate control with random beamforming is more robust against channel variation than that with codebook-based beamforming. These results suggest that random beamforming, which requires a lower feedback overhead than the codebook-based beamforming, is a promising beamforming strategy in future radio access.
A touchy topic: tactile assessment among pediatric therapists

Abstract Purpose: Tactile impairments affect over 77% of children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to examine the current practices of pediatric therapists in relation to tactile assessment and the barriers to carrying out tactile assessment in children with CP. Method: The study was in two parts. In part one, pediatric therapists (n = 35) completed a questionnaire detailing their current knowledge and the use of tactile assessments in children. In part two, therapists (n = 12) completed a questionnaire based on the Theoretical Domains Framework examining the barriers and facilitators to completing tactile assessments in clinical practice. Results: Most therapists (over 90%) carry out tactile assessments in the minority (less than 25%) of children with CP that they treat. Therapists reported the need for improved knowledge/skills (n = 24) and confidence (n = 19) in carrying out tactile assessments, alongside the provision of necessary equipment (n = 17). Qualitative reports also suggested that organizational assessment guidelines and templates may facilitate the implementation of tactile assessment. Conclusions: A multi-faceted knowledge translation strategy to address the barriers to tactile assessment among pediatric therapists needs to be developed. Implications for rehabilitation Pediatric occupational therapists and physiotherapists may not be completing tactile assessments according to current evidence-based recommendations. Therapists identified five main barriers, including a lack of knowledge, skills, belief in their capabilities (confidence), behavioral regulation (organizational procedures), and environmental context (e.g., equipment). Therapists recommended several potential facilitators, including access to necessary equipment, procedures, record sheets, training in tactile assessments, and research supporting related interventions. Service providers are encouraged to develop multi-faceted knowledge translation strategies that address these barriers and maximize facilitators.
Characterization of the precipitants of hospitalization for heart failure decompensation.

BACKGROUND The model for management of patients with heart failure may be a key determinant of morbidity and quality of life. Development of a better management strategy for these patients requires determination of the reasons for decompensation that leads to hospitalization. OBJECTIVES To ascertain and rank the principal reasons for hospitalization of patients who have heart failure. METHODS Retrospective audit of all 1992 admissions (N = 1031; 691 patients) coded for heart failure at a Veterans Affairs medical center and a tertiary care university medical center. RESULTS The diagnosis of heart failure was verified by preset criteria in 72% of the patients. Of the 496 patients with documented heart failure, worsening heart failure was a main reason for admission in 390 (79%). Despite different socioeconomic backgrounds, excessive sodium retention was the leading factor (55%) associated with decompensation in patients at both institutions. Other factors precipitated admission much less often. CONCLUSIONS Many hospitalizations for heart failure might be avoided by case management directed at lessening sodium overload. Increased use of medications known to be effective in persons with heart failure (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, digoxin, and adequate diuretic therapy) might reduce the likelihood of decompensation. Implementation of behavioral interventions to assist patients with self-monitoring signs of sodium retention and to improve compliance with medications and dietary sodium restrictions are strategies for further reducing the risk of decompensation.
Performance-Related Payments in Local Governments: Do They Improve Performance or Only Increase Salary?

ABSTRACT Personnel policies in public sector organizations are fundamental to improving public services, since they have an impact on both individual and organizational performance. Within the broad area of Human Resources Management (HRM), Performance-Related Pay Systems (PRPSs) are widely considered one of the cornerstones of public sector managerial reforms. Monetary incentives should be paid for performance achievements of single employees and/or teams, according to a defined set of objectives. While the role and appropriateness of PRPSs in the public sector have been widely discussed in the literature, in some countries monetary incentives have been used as a tool to increase individual salaries, without considering them as a motivating instrument in a wider HRM system. A small number of studies have been conducted to understand the limitations of this form of incentives and to investigate whether it can be replaced by different and more effective incentives in order to avoid the de-motivating effect caused by money, as recognized in the literature. This study tries to fill this gap investigating, through twenty-five interviews to informed respondents the effectiveness of existing PRPSs at Local government level in Italy both in terms of performance and motivation and the possibility to substitute monetary with non-monetary incentives. The findings suggest that the limitations of monetary incentives have been widely recognized, but it is still difficult to replace them with different and more effective alternatives.
Adaptive Mesh Refinement Techniques for 3-D Skin Electrode Modeling

In this paper, we develop a 3-D adaptive mesh refinement technique. The algorithm is constructed with an electric impedance tomography forward problem and the finite-element method in mind, but is applicable to a much wider class of problems. We use the method to evaluate the distribution of currents injected into a model of a human body through skin contact electrodes. We demonstrate that the technique leads to a significantly improved solution, particularly near the electrodes. We discuss error estimation, efficiency, and quality of the refinement algorithm and methods that allow for preserving mesh attributes in the refinement process.