Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender bias in female physician assessments. Women considered better suited for qualitative research

Objective - To analyse whether physician assessment of scientific quality is biased by gender. Design - Two fictive research abstracts on back pain treatment were constructed, one with a quantitative and one with a qualitative design. Authorship was assigned to either a woman or a man. Subjects - 1637 randomly selected Swedish physicians were asked to judge the scientific quality of the two designs in a structured assessment form. Main outcome measures - The assessments of 1364 abstracts (286 female and 394 male assessors) were analysed by chi-square test and logistic regression. Results - The quantitative design was judged the same, regardless of the gender of the author or assessor. The qualitative design, however, was ranked as more accurate, trustworthy, relevant and interesting with a female author. Women assessors upgraded female authors more than male authors, while male assessors reflected no gender differences. Assessor speciality interacted with judgement; physicians in primary care appreciated the qualitative abstract more than hospital physicians did (OR 2.78; 95% CI 1.97-3.92). Conclusion - Gender seems to affect scientific evaluations. The results are worth considering in situations where research is judged and interpreted, in medical tutoring, research guidance, peer reviewing and certainly in forming evaluation committees for research funding.
Giving people living with dementia a strong voice: reflecting on the role of design to create enabling activities

This opinion piece questions, reflects on, and highlights some of the challenges that prevent the potential of design being realised in the context of people with dementia to create products and services that do not further stigmatise individuals but that celebrate and tap into the innate resilience individuals possess. We begin by reflecting on the current state of the art in the context of design and dementia and then highlight some of the dangers that an over-reliance on the medical model presents. We conclude with considering some of the ways that designers of the future may wish to learn and draw inspiration from people with dementia and the positioning of dementia as a disability (social model of disability) than purely a disease process.
Microbiology of the middle meatus: a comparison between normal adults and children

Middle meatal samples were obtained from 52 carefully selected healthy adults. In 75 per cent of the test subjects bacterial organisms were cultured. However, growth was often poor and the predominant species suggest a commensal flora: coagulase-negative staphylococci were retrieved from 35 per cent, Corynebacterium sp. from 23 per cent and Staphyloccus aureus from eight per cent of the adults. These data are very different from those previously obtained among children where – even in the absence of obvious ENT pathology – the most frequently cultured organisms were typical sinusitis pathogens: Haemophilus influenzae present in 40 per cent, Moraxella catarrhalis in 34 per cent and Streptococcus pneumoniae in 50 per cent of children. Furthermore, Streptococcus viridans and Neisseria sp. , both organisms that might be able to inhibit colonization by some of the pathogens and found commonly among children, are virtually absent in healthy adults.
PAPEL DO CAPITAL SOCIAL E DAS INSTITUIÇÕES NO DESENVOLVIMENTO ECONÔMICO

Esse trabalho tem por objeto conceitos e teorias concernentes ao desenvolvimento economico e social e os mecanismos para sua construcao. Sao destacadas algumas categorias consideradas pela literatura como importantes para o desenvolvimento, como instituicoes, capital social, bem como a confianca, apontada como seu mecanismo de transmissao para politicas economicas. O objetivo do presente trabalho e uma apresentacao de alguns autores responsaveis pelas categorias acima mencionadas. No que tange a tematica das instituicoes destaco a teoria institucionalista de Douglass North. Sobre capital social exponho a perspectiva de Robert Putnam. No que concerne a possibilidade da construcao da confianca apresento o esquema analitico sugerido por Richard Locke.
Spatial trajectories segmentation: trends and challenges

Given a sequence S of temporally ordered observations, non necessarily of spatial nature, the segmentation task partitions S in a set of disjoint sub-sequences si, . , sn - the segments - such that ∪i∈[1, n] si = S. Typically, segments represents sub-sequences that are somehow homogeneous with respect to some criteria. Depending on the context and the nature of observations, segments can be given an approximated representation, for example segments can be assigned a descriptive label or one of the data points is chosen as representative of the whole sub-sequence. The final result is a summarized representation of the sequence. This simple and intuitive mechanism has been extensively studied in literature, for example, for the summarization of time series. Interestingly, the notion of segment is also at the basis of the most recent trajectory data models. For example, segments are the informative units in the semantic trajectories, where they are called episodes. Episodes are spatial sub-trajectories that can be semantically annotated using application-dependent descriptions, e.g. place names [1]. Similarly the recent symbolic trajectory data model [2] describes the individual movement as a sequence of temporally annotated labeled states s1, . sn, where each state si is associated with a time interval. Beyond data modeling, segmentation can be employed for the indexing of trajectories in moving object databases while another major role is to support data analysis, especially for the extraction of individual mobility patterns. The concept of trajectory segment is thus emerging as shared and perhaps unifying concept across data modeling, indexing and analysis.
Strategic talent management: A macro and micro analysis of current issues in hospitality and tourism

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an academic viewpoint on contemporary factors associated with talent management (TM) in the hospitality and tourism sector. Design/methodology/approach A critical discussion of macro- and micro-level factors is provided, while highlighting opportunities and challenges for TM policies and practices. The influence of senior managers in developing TM, with emphasis on small and medium enterprises, is examined and examples of ‘best practice’ in TM are outlined. Findings Given the scale and importance of the sector to economic growth, it is imperative that governments assume a greater leadership role in shaping the training and education agenda. TM practices need to reflect the uniqueness and complexity of the sector and effective implementation of TM requires CEO/Owner–Manager commitment and cascading down of a talent mind-set/culture within organizations. Examples of best practice in TM provide a significant opportunity for the sector to improve both its employer branding and competitiveness. Examples include: aligning TM with strategic business goals; provisions of robust data generated across HR functions; and demonstrating the impact of TM on employees’ enhanced emotional labour through higher levels of engagement and motivation and on organizational outcomes. Practical implications The paper argues that organizations need to take each dimension of TM more seriously than many organizations have done so in the past. Coherent TM practices, in particular, competitive reward and training and development opportunities, will improve employer branding and will directly have an impact upon the quality of applications received by organizations. Originality/value The paper provides important insight and practical recommendations on how the sector can improve its productivity and future sustained competitiveness in the challenging times ahead.
Structure-activity studies of verapamil analogs that modulate transport of leukotriene C(4) and reduced glutathione by multidrug resistance protein MRP1.

The 190-kDa multidrug resistance protein MRP1 is an ATP-binding cassette protein that confers resistance to multiple antineoplastic agents and actively transports conjugated organic anions. We have previously shown that MRP1-mediated GSH transport is stimulated by verapamil but transport of verapamil in the presence or absence of GSH is not observed. We have now examined 20 sulfur-containing verapamil analogs for their ability to inhibit MRP1-mediated leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) transport and stimulate GSH uptake into inside-out membrane vesicles. All of the derivatives were poor inhibitors of LTC(4) uptake. However, the inhibitory potency of the more lipophilic dithiane compounds could be enhanced by coincubation with GSH whereas this was not the case for the more hydrophilic dithiane tetraoxides. The dithiane derivatives stimulated GSH transport whereas, with one exception, the dithiane tetraoxides did not. One pair of dithiane stereoisomers differed significantly in their ability to stimulate GSH transport although their ability to inhibit LTC(4) uptake in the presence of GSH was comparable. Our findings indicate that the GSH transport activity of MRP1 can be dissociated from its conjugated organic anion transport activity.
Contribution of vascular nitric oxide to basal blood pressure in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats.

1. The aim of this study was to clarify the extent to which vascular nitric oxide contributes to basal blood pressure in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats. 2. The contribution of vascular nitric oxide to maintenance of blood pressure was estimated by measuring the pressor response to an intravenous injection of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N omega-L-arginine methyl ester, given after serial injections of captopril, vasopressin V1-receptor antagonist (V1-antagonist) and ganglion blocker (pentolinium) in conscious spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar Kyoto rats aged 20-28 weeks. To estimate the 'amplifier property' of hypertrophied vasculature in spontaneously hypertensive rats, which is known to modulate pressor responses, the lower blood pressure plateau after serial injections of captopril, V1-antagonist and pentolinium and the maximum blood pressure elicited by subsequent injection of increasing doses of phenylephrine were also measured. 3. The serial injections of captopril, V1-antagonist and pentolinium decreased mean arterial pressure from 164 +/- 9 mmHg to 67 +/- 2 mmHg and from 117 +/- 2 mmHg to 49 +/- 1 mmHg in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar Kyoto rats respectively. The subsequent injection of N omega-L-arginine methyl ester restored mean arterial pressure almost to its control levels in both spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar Kyoto rats. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Polylysine domain of K-ras 4B protein is crucial for malignant transformation.

Previous studies have shown that posttranslational modifications are required for both oncogenic K-ras 4B protein membrane binding and transforming activity. In addition, Hancock et al. [Hancock, J. F. , Patterson, H. & Marshall, C. J. (1990) Cell 63, 133-139] found that a polylysine domain contained at the C terminus of K-ras 4B was also absolutely essential for K-ras 4B membrane binding but, surprisingly, neither the polylysine domain nor membrane binding was required for transforming activity. We have performed similar studies, but our results are distinctly different. Our studies indicate that the polylysine domain is crucial for K-ras 4B transforming activity. Moreover, we demonstrate that although the polylysine domain increases K-ras 4B membrane binding, significant amounts of membrane binding can occur in the absence of this domain. Finally, while our studies are consistent with the notion that membrane binding is required for K-ras 4B transforming activity, we show that membrane binding, in and of itself, is not sufficient for efficient K-ras 4B transforming activity.
The social impact of advice during disability welfare reform: from social return on investment to evidencing public value through realism and complexity

ABSTRACT This article illustrates how advice services create diverse public values within welfare reform. It develops a social impact framework using public value, realism, and complexity literature. Starting from a social return on investment study of advice, qualitative interviews are analysed with twenty-two clients, who sought advice for welfare benefits, and had disabilities, or physical or mental health conditions. Integrating these clients’ experiences with wider evidence illustrates how advice services advocated for people’s needs within a complicated (and controversial) welfare system. However, advice services face funding cuts, benefit assessment costs have risen, and welfare reforms have yet to meet their aims.
Model Comparison with Sharpe Ratios

We show how to conduct asymptotically valid tests of model comparison when the extent of model mispricing is gauged by the squared Sharpe ratio improvement measure. This is equivalent to ranking models on their maximum Sharpe ratios, effectively extending the Gibbons, Ross, and Shanken (1989) test to accommodate the comparison of nonnested models. Mimicking portfolios can be substituted for any nontraded model factors, and estimation error in the portfolio weights is taken into account in the statistical inference. A variant of the Fama and French (2018) 6-factor model, with a monthly updated version of the usual value spread, emerges as the dominant model.
Adoption of Technology for Reading Purposes: A Study of E-Books Acceptance

This study aims to verify the acceptance of e-books by identifying the effects of the variables Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating Conditions, Habit, Price Value, and Hedonic Motivation, moderated by Age, Gender and Experience on the intention of use and actual use of this technology. To verify the effects of the relations between these variables, we applied the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 model (VENKATESH; THONG; XU, 2012). Out of a universe of 118,456 Brazilian citizens directly involved with education, 1,013 completed an online survey. We analyzed the data via structural equations modeling; we obtained generalized least squares and standard errors via resampling (Jackknife). The study concludes that Habit, Effort Expectancy and Facilitating Conditions are important for the adoption of e-books, and that Age, Gender and Experience are crucial moderators of these relations.
Has exercise an antifracture efficacy in women?

Exercise in girls during growth seems to confer a high peak bone mineral density (BMD). Exercise in adulthood, in the peri‐ and postmenopausal period, and in old age prevents bone loss or increases BMD with a magnitude of minor biological significance. However, these changes must be regarded as beneficial compared to the age‐related bone loss, which inevitably will occur if no interventions are implemented. Prospective intervention studies also suggest that exercise improves muscle strength, coordination and balance, even in elderly women, all of which are improvements with a potential of reducing the number of falls. A randomised, controlled, prospective, blinded study (the only study design that tests a hypothesis) of exercise with fracture as end point is extremely difficult to conduct, due to the large sample sizes needed. At present, no such studies exist. Retrospective and prospective observational and case–control studies suggest that physical activity in women is associated with reduced fracture risk. This may be correct, but we must never forget that a consistently replicated sampling bias may produce the same outcome.
Effect of Interaction between Hepatitis C Virus NS5A and NS5B on Hepatitis C Virus RNA Replication with the Hepatitis C Virus Replicon

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A has been reported to be important for the establishment of replication by adaptive mutations or localization, although its role in viral replication remains unclear. It was previously reported that NS5A interacts with NS5B via two regions of NS5A in the isolate JK-1 and modulates the activity of NS5B RdRp (Y. Shirota et al., J. Biol. Chem., 277:11149-11155, 2002), but the biological significance of this interaction has not been determined. In this study, we addressed the effect of this interaction on HCV RNA replication with an HCV replicon system derived from the isolate M1LE (H. Kishine et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 293:993-999, 2002). We constructed three internal deletion mutants, M1LE/5Adel-1 and M1LE/5Adel-2, each encoding NS5A which cannot bind NS5B, and M1LE/5Adel-3, encoding NS5A that can bind NS5B. After transfection into Huh-7 cells, M1LE/5Adel-3 was replication competent, but both M1LE/5Adel-1 and M1LE/5Adel-2 were not. Next we prepared 20 alanine-substituted clustered mutants within both NS5B-binding regions and examined the effect of these mutants on HCV RNA replication. Only 5 of the 20 mutants were replication competent. Subsequently, we introduced a point mutation, S225P, a deletion of S229, or S232I into NS5A and prepared cured Huh-7 cells that were cured of RNA replication by alpha interferon. Finally, with these point mutations and cured cells, we established a highly improved replicon system. In this system, only the same five mutants were replication competent. These results strongly suggest that the interaction between NS5A and NS5B is critical for HCV RNA replication in the HCV replicon system.
Interleukin 3 opposes the action of negative regulatory protein (NRP) and of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in their inhibition of DNA synthesis of the erythroid stem cell BFU-E.

DNA synthesis of the early erythropoietic progenitor cell (erythroid burst-forming unit, BFU-E) is inhibited by a growth factor that we have called negative regulatory protein (NRP). This protein appears to act during the S-phase of the cell cycle and to be specific to the BFU-E. It is nontoxic and its action is readily reversible by washing the cells. Erythropoietic burst formation by BFU-E in culture is promoted by interleukin 3 (IL-3). In the present work, using the hydroxyurea suicide assay method, we investigated the effects on DNA synthesis of exposing BFU-E of mouse bone marrow in vitro to NRP, IL-3, and combinations of NRP and IL-3. We found that the action of NRP on BFU-E DNA synthesis was opposed by IL-3 within the 45 min that it took to carry out the cell suicide assay. We also studied transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and found that its action on DNA synthesis of BFU-E was identical to that of NRP in time scale, reversibility, and opposition by IL-3, although the two have different molecular properties. According to the competence-progression model, regulation of cell proliferation occurs at two sites: 1) the G0 to G1 transition, where competence factors (e.g., platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF] and interleukin 1 [IL-1]) act, and 2) during G1-phase, where progression factors (e.g., interleukin 2 [IL-2] and IL-3) act. Our data indicate that cell proliferation may also be regulated at a third site, during S-phase. Here, the decision as to whether or not DNA synthesis will proceed appears to depend on a balance between positive and negative regulatory signals.
Inter-rater reliability of the Play Assessment for Group Settings

Abstract Play Assessment for Group Settings (PAGS) was originally designed to measure the play ability of 2- to 8-year-old children in their natural day-care context and for the use of different professionals. The main purpose of this study was to examine the inter-rater reliability of the PAGS. Twelve raters from different professional backgrounds scored a total of 78 children, both videotaped co-scored cases and individual live cases. The many-faceted Rasch model (MFR) was used to examine the goodness-of-fit of the rater severity estimates. Of the 12 raters, 91.7% were demonstrated to fit the MFR model expectations. Overall the results of this study indicated that the raters scored the PAGS in a reliable way, and that they behaved like independent experts. The separation index (2.09) of the raters indicated that the inter-rater scorings were comparable with each other for practical purposes. Further research on the different response processes of children in different diagnostic groups is needed.
Characterization of dopamine receptors associated with steroid secretion in frog adrenocortical cells.

We investigated the type of receptors involved in the mechanism of action of dopamine on corticosteroid secretion from the frog interrenal (adrenal) gland, using the in-vitro perifusion technique. Exposure of dispersed interrenal cells to 50 microM dopamine for 20 min had a biphasic effect on corticosterone and aldosterone secretion, i.e. a transient stimulation followed by an inhibitory phase. Repeated administration of equimolar pulses of dopamine, given at 150-min intervals, resulted in an enhancement of corticosteroid secretion followed by a subsequent blockade of the stimulatory phase of the response. In contrast, the dopamine-evoked inhibition of corticosteroid release did not show any sensitization or desensitization phenomena. Infusion of repeated pulses of the D1 receptor agonist SKF38393 (32 microM) stimulated corticosteroid release and mimicked the sensitization-desensitization phenomenon induced by dopamine. Repeated administration of the D2 receptor agonist LY171555 (50 microM) resulted in a reproducible inhibition of corticosterone and aldosterone secretion. These results suggested the presence of two different receptors for dopamine, i.e. D1 and D2, on frog adrenocortical cells, responsible respectively for the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of dopamine on steroid secretion. However, bromocriptine (50 microM) and CV205-502 (50 microM), two other D2 receptor agonists, had no effect on corticosteroid release. In addition, several classical D2 receptor antagonists failed to block the effect of dopamine on steroidogenesis. It was also observed that (-)sulpiride, a specific D2 antagonist, did not alter dopamine-induced inhibition of inositol phosphate formation. On the other hand, dopamine and the selective D1 and D2 antagonists SKF38393 and LY171555 did not affect the formation of cyclic AMP by interrenal tissue. Taken together, these data indicate that dopamine directly regulates corticosteroid secretion from frog adrenocortical cells. The effect of dopamine is not coupled to adenylate cyclase activity but is probably mediated through the phosphoinositide-turnover pathway. The pharmacological characteristics of the receptors involved in the mechanism of action of dopamine clearly differ from those of the D1 and D2 subtypes previously described in mammals.
Startle modulation in children at risk for anxiety disorders and/or alcoholism.

OBJECTIVE To examine the startle reflex as a possible vulnerability marker among offspring of parents with anxiety disorders and/or alcoholism. METHOD The subjects were 66 male and female offspring (aged 10 to 17 years) of proband who participated in a family study of comorbidity of alcoholism and anxiety disorders. Testing consisted of examining the startle reflex and its modulation by prepulse stimuli (prepulse facilitation and prepulse inhibition). RESULTS Different components of the startle discriminated among children of parents with anxiety disorders, children of alcoholics, and children of normal controls. Specifically startle magnitude was elevated in children with a parental history of an anxiety disorder, whereas startle habituation and prepulse inhibition were impaired in children with a parental history of alcoholism. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that individual differences in the startle reflex may serve as a vulnerability marker for the development of anxiety disorders and alcohol problems.