Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduction in Occupational and Patient Radiation Exposure from Myocardial Perfusion Imaging: Impact of Stress-Only Imaging and High-Efficiency SPECT Camera Technology

Recently introduced high-efficiency SPECT cameras have demonstrated the ability to reduce radiation exposure to patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging studies, especially when combined with stress-only imaging protocols. To date there have been no relevant studies examining the reduced occupational radiation exposure to medical staff. We sought to determine whether changes in stress myocardial perfusion imaging protocols and camera technology can reduce the occupational radiation exposure to the staff of a nuclear cardiology laboratory. Methods: Monthly radiation dosimeter readings from 4 nuclear technologists, 4 nurses, and 2 administrative employees were analyzed from two 12-mo periods: October 2007–September 2008 (period 1), before the use of high-efficiency SPECT, and October 2010–September 2011 (period 2), after high-efficiency SPECT was introduced. The average monthly dose equivalent in millirems (1 mrem = 0.01 mSv) was recorded from personal dosimeters worn on laboratory coats. The total activity of 99mTc used per month, mean 99mTc administered activity per patient, average number of patients per month, patient time spent in the laboratory, and proportion of stress-only studies were determined. Results: There were 3,539 patients in period 1 and 3,898 in period 2. An approximately 40% reduction in the dose equivalent across all staff members occurred during this time (−16.9 and −16.2 mrem for nuclear technologists and nurses, respectively; P < 0.0001). During period 2, the total activity of 99mTc used per month decreased (10,746 vs. 7,174 mCi [1 mCi = 37 MBq], P < 0.0001), as did the mean 99mTc administered activity per patient (36.5 vs. 23.8 mCi, P < 0.0001). The percentage of patients having stress-only imaging increased (35% vs. 56%, P < 0.0001), and the total patient time spent in the laboratory decreased. Radiation dose equivalent levels were reduced in period 2 to 1%–7% of the allowed annual occupational dose equivalent. The combination of the use of high-efficiency SPECT technology and stress-only protocols resulted in a 34.7% reduction in mean total 99mTc administered activity between time periods, with camera technology being responsible for 39.2% of the reduction and stress-only protocols for 60.8%. Conclusion: A combination of high-efficiency SPECT technology and selective use of stress-only protocols significantly reduces the occupational radiation dose equivalent to the staff of a nuclear cardiology laboratory.
Androgens regulate ovarian follicular development by increasing follicle stimulating hormone receptor and microRNA-125b expression

Significance Androgens are primarily considered detrimental to women’s health. However, androgen-receptor KO mouse models have been used to establish that androgens are actually necessary for normal ovarian function and female fertility. Despite these observations, how androgens regulate female fertility is not known. Here we show that androgens promote follicular development via two mechanisms: (i) prevention of follicular atresia by inducing the expression of an antiapoptotic microRNA (miR), miR-125b; and (ii) promotion of follicle growth by increasing follicle-stimulating hormone receptor levels in a transcription-independent fashion. These data considerably change our understanding of androgen effects in female reproduction, and help explain the ovarian physiology seen in patients with too little or too much androgen. Although androgen excess is considered detrimental to women’s health and fertility, global and ovarian granulosa cell-specific androgen-receptor (AR) knockout mouse models have been used to show that androgen actions through ARs are actually necessary for normal ovarian function and female fertility. Here we describe two AR-mediated pathways in granulosa cells that regulate ovarian follicular development and therefore female fertility. First, we show that androgens attenuate follicular atresia through nuclear and extranuclear signaling pathways by enhancing expression of the microRNA (miR) miR-125b, which in turn suppresses proapoptotic protein expression. Second, we demonstrate that, independent of transcription, androgens enhance follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor expression, which then augments FSH-mediated follicle growth and development. Interestingly, we find that the scaffold molecule paxillin regulates both processes, making it a critical regulator of AR actions in the ovary. Finally, we report that low doses of exogenous androgens enhance gonadotropin-induced ovulation in mice, further demonstrating the critical role that androgens play in follicular development and fertility. These data may explain reported positive effects of androgens on ovulation rates in women with diminished ovarian reserve. Furthermore, this study demonstrates mechanisms that might contribute to the unregulated follicle growth seen in diseases of excess androgens such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
Toward the Use of an Upper Ontology for U.S. Government and U.S. Military Domains: An Evaluation

Abstract : Momentum is gaining to develop a Semantic Web to allow people and machines to share the meaning (semantics) of data and ultimately of applications. Key to the vision of a Semantic Web is the ability to capture data and application semantics in ontologies and map these ontologies together via related concepts. One approach for mapping disparate ontologies is to use a standard upper ontology. In determining how Semantic Web technologies might be applied to United States (U.S.) Government domains, the authors consider whether the use of standard upper ontologies makes sense in these environments. This paper attempts to examine current candidate standard upper ontologies and assess their applicability for a U.S. Government or U.S. Military domain. They evaluate the state of the art and applicability of upper ontologies through the lens of potential application in these domains. The evaluation includes consideration of the ontology purpose, ontological content decisions, licensing restrictions, structural differences, and maturity. The report concludes with some recommendations and predictions.
Economic transition should come with a health warning: the case of Vietnam

Study objectives: To assess the affordability of health care to poor rural households in Vietnam under conditions of transition from a planned to a market economy and, in light of other transitional experience, inform policy on increasing access of the poor to affordable care of acceptable quality. Design: Observational study by cross sectional socioeconomic survey, longitudinal healthcare seeking survey, and qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions; qualitative follow up over six years. Setting: Four rural communes in north of Vietnam between 1992 and 1998. Survey participants: 656 households (2995 people) selected by systematic random sampling. Main results: Compared with non-poor households, poor households had significantly lower average per capita rates of healthcare consultation and expenditure (p<0.01 in both cases). Poor households delayed and minimised healthcare seeking, especially of expensive hospital services. Two thirds of average healthcare spending by poor households was on relatively inexpensive but frequent acts of local ambulatory care. The poor restrained their healthcare seeking but not in proportion to income: for households reporting illness, the average proportion of income devoted to health care was 21.9% for the poor compared with 8.2% for the non-poor (p<0.01). To meet healthcare costs, many poor households reduced essential consumption, sold assets and incurred debt, threatening their future livelihood. Conclusions: In the short-term the poor need exemption from public sector user fees in both primary and hospital care. In the longer run the government budget and prepayment schemes should replace direct user charges in healthcare finance. Transitional economies like Vietnam should preserve the public health services built up under the planned economy. Market reforms that stimulate growth in the economy appear inappropriate to reform of social sectors.
The contribution of alcohol to chronic liver disease in patients from South-west Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed at determining the level and type of alcohol consumed by patients diagnosed with chronic liver disease (CLD) and, hence, the extent to which alcohol may have contributed to the development of the condition. STUDY DESIGN Patients with diagnosis of CLD were consecutively recruited and a structured questionnaire was administered on each of them. Diagnosis of CLD was made based on liver histology and/or typical clinical and laboratory features. Alcohol consumption was considered significant if a patient took >50 g/day for > 10 years. RESULTS A total of 145 patients were studied consisting of 102 males and 43 females. Their ages ranged from 20- 80 years with a mean of 46.8 ± 15.7 years. Fifty-one (35.2%) patients, all males, drank significant alcohol while consumption was not significant in 43 (29.6%) patients. Alcohol was not consumed at all by 51 (35.2%) patients made up of 18 males (35.3%) and 33 females (64.7%). Beer was the commonest form of alcohol consumed (70.2%) followed by palm wine (50%) and locally-brewed gin (20.2%). The diagnoses made were liver cirrhosis [LC] (60, 41.38%), chronic hepatitis [CH] (54, 37.20%), hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] (23, 15.86%), alcoholic liver disease [ALD] (6, 4.14%) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] (2, 1.38%). The liver disease spectrum did not differ between the patients who drank significant alcohol and those who did not. However, the proportion of LC/HCC cases increased relative to CH with increasing age and consumption of alcohol. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of CLD directly attributable to alcohol (i.e. ALD) is low among the patients studied. However, the burden of LC and HCC is directly related to age and the amount of alcohol consumed and the determinants of alcohol abuse are gender and affluence.
Preschoolers Don't Practice What They Preach: Preschoolers' Planning Performances With Manual and Spoken Response Requirements

Three-, 4-, and 5-year-olds performed Tower of London problems under spoken, manual, and combined (requiring both spoken and manual) response conditions. Preschoolers' solutions were most goal-focused when required to give only a spoken response, intermediately goal-focused when required to give both response types, and least goal-focused when required to give only a manual response. Preschoolers' depth of search was longer in the spoken response condition. Three-year-olds performed poorly in all conditions. Surprisingly, only the condition requiring a spoken response resulted in significant age differences between 4- and 5-year-olds in solution efficiency. In general, the results support theories of increased inhibitory ability and increased conscious cognitive control as mechanisms critical to executive-functioning development.
State Body Dissatisfaction and Social Interactions

To date, there has been limited empirical scrutiny of the correlates and consequences of day-to-day state body dissatisfaction fluctuations within naturalistic contexts. We used ecological momentary assessment (a form of naturalistic observation) to evaluate whether state body dissatisfaction was concurrently and/or prospectively associated with occurrence and quality of social interactions. Women (N = 121), aged 18 to 40, completed a brief trait-based survey and then nominated a 7-day period within which to receive seven text messages daily, at random intervals, prompting them to complete measures of body dissatisfaction at that moment. If they were currently or had recently engaged in social interactions, they were also asked to fill out questions rating the quality of these interactions (operationalized in terms of enjoyment of, and control in, the interaction). Findings suggest that the relationship between state body dissatisfaction and aspects of social interactions is complex and may vary over time. Cross-sectionally, state body dissatisfaction and social interaction quality were negatively associated. Prospectively, however, body dissatisfaction predicted subsequent avoidance of social interactions. Interestingly, when women chose to avoid social interactions, their body dissatisfaction worsened, yet when they did engage in social interactions, they reported improved body satisfaction. Importantly, the links between state body dissatisfaction and social interactions may be moderated by body mass index and trait body satisfaction levels. Potential mechanisms underlying the association between state body dissatisfaction and quality and quantity of social interactions are discussed, and future research avenues are proposed to further understand their inter-relation.
Adaptation and validation of the teacher emotional labour strategy scale in China

The present study reports the adaptation and validation of the Teacher Emotional Labour Strategy Scale (TELSS) as tested on samples of 633 Beijing teachers and 648 Chongqing teachers in Chinese mainland. Results show that the 13-item TELSS adapted for this study had good internal consistency on three subscales which measure three types of teacher emotional labour strategy, namely, surface acting, deep acting and expression of naturally felt emotions. Confirmatory factor analysis using different data-sets provided support for the construct validity of this TELSS. In addition, the convergent, discriminant and concurrent validity of this newly-adapted TELSS were examined in the present study.
Self-Perceptions of under Achievement and Support for the Achievement Ideology among Early Adolescent African-Americans

A study was conducted to explore the perceptions that early adolescent African-American students hold regarding the American achievement ideology and the ramifications of such support on their academic achievement or underachievement. Also assessed were social, cultural, and psychological determinants of underachievement as perceived by 148 fifth and sixth graders in an urban school district. The perceived determinants of underachievement are discussed relative to a paradox of underachievement. Descriptive, comparative, and discriminant analyses were used to examine differences in students' perceptions. Responses were compared by gender and academic program. Results were not significantly statistically different by gender. Gifted students, however expressed the greatest support for the achievement ideology, and they perceived determinants of achievement and underachievement differently than did average students who, along with males, were more likely to personify a paradox of underachievement. Implications and recommendations are discussed for urban educators working with early adolescent African-American youth.
Insights into Hox Protein Function from a Large Scale Combinatorial Analysis of Protein Domains

Protein function is encoded within protein sequence and protein domains. However, how protein domains cooperate within a protein to modulate overall activity and how this impacts functional diversification at the molecular and organism levels remains largely unaddressed. Focusing on three domains of the central class Drosophila Hox transcription factor AbdominalA (AbdA), we used combinatorial domain mutations and most known AbdA developmental functions as biological readouts to investigate how protein domains collectively shape protein activity. The results uncover redundancy, interactivity, and multifunctionality of protein domains as salient features underlying overall AbdA protein activity, providing means to apprehend functional diversity and accounting for the robustness of Hox-controlled developmental programs. Importantly, the results highlight context-dependency in protein domain usage and interaction, allowing major modifications in domains to be tolerated without general functional loss. The non-pleoitropic effect of domain mutation suggests that protein modification may contribute more broadly to molecular changes underlying morphological diversification during evolution, so far thought to rely largely on modification in gene cis-regulatory sequences.
Sometimes more competent, but always less warm: Perceptions of biologically oriented mental-health clinicians

Background and aims: Biological conceptualizations of psychopathology are ascendant, including among mental-health clinicians. However, it is unknown how this might affect people’s perceptions of clinicians, which in turn could have considerable public-health implications. The present studies sought to address this issue. Methods: In the present research, participants imagined that they or their loved ones were suffering from a mental disorder and then rated their perceptions of one clinician espousing the view that ‘mental disorders are brain diseases’ and another describing them as ‘disorders of thoughts and emotions’. Results: Biologically oriented clinicians were perceived as more competent and effective only when the disorder in question was judged to be biologically caused. Otherwise, there was no significant difference in perceived competence, and biologically oriented clinicians were rated less effective. Regardless, all participants perceived the biologically oriented clinician as significantly less warm on average than the psychosocially oriented clinician. Conclusion: These findings may have important clinical implications for the crucial therapeutic alliance between therapists and patients.
The stochastic root-finding problem: Overview, solutions, and open questions

The stochastic root-finding problem (SRFP) is that of finding the zero(s) of a vector function, that is, solving a nonlinear system of equations when the function is expressed implicitly through a stochastic simulation. SRFPs are equivalently expressed as stochastic fixed-point problems, where the underlying function is expressed implicitly via a noisy simulation. After motivating SRFPs using a few examples, we review available methods to solve such problems on constrained Euclidean spaces. We present the current literature as three broad categories, and detail the basic theoretical results that are currently known in each of the categories. With a view towards helping the practitioner, we discuss specific variations in their implementable form, and provide references to computer code when easily available. Finally, we list a few questions that are worthwhile research pursuits from the standpoint of advancing our knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings and the implementation aspects of solutions to SRFPs.
Memory for acute stress disorder symptoms: a two-year prospective study.

The present study aimed to index the accuracy of memory for acute trauma symptoms by comparing the symptoms reported by motor vehicle accident (MVA) victims within 1 month posttrauma with the recall of these symptoms at 2 years posttrauma. Ninety-two consecutive MVA admissions were assessed for the presence of acute stress disorder (ASD) within 1 month posttrauma. At 2 years posttrauma, 61% (N = 56) of the sample were reassessed for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and for accuracy of recall of the symptoms reported during the first assessment. At least one of the four ASD diagnostic clusters was recalled inaccurately by 75% of patients. High levels of posttraumatic stress severity and high subjective ratings of injury severity at 2 years posttrauma were associated with errors of addition (i.e., recalling the presence of acute symptoms 2 years posttrauma that were not reported during the first assessment). Low levels of posttraumatic stress severity and low subjective ratings of injury severity at 2 years posttrauma were associated with errors of omission (i.e., omitting to recall acute symptoms 2 years posttrauma that were reported during the first assessment). These results suggest that retrospective reports of acute stress symptoms should be interpreted cautiously because of the influence of current symptoms on recall of acute symptoms.
Familiarity affects the assessment of female facial signals of fertility by free-ranging male rhesus macaques

Animals signal their reproductive status in a range of sensory modalities. Highly social animals, such as primates, have access not only to such signals, but also to prior experience of other group members. Whether this experience affects how animals interpret reproductive signals is unknown. Here, we explore whether familiarity with a specific female affects a male's ability to assess that female's reproductive signals. We used a preferential looking procedure to assess signal discrimination in free-ranging rhesus macaques, a species in which female facial luminance covaries with reproductive status. We collected images of female faces throughout the reproductive cycle, and using faecal hormone analysis to determine ovulation, categorized images as coming from a female's pre-fertile, ovulating, or post-fertile period. We printed colour-calibrated stimuli of these faces, reproducing stimuli perceptually the same in colour and luminance to the original appearance of females. These images were presented to males who were either unfamiliar or familiar with stimuli females. Overall, males distinguished ovulatory from pre-ovulatory faces. However, a significant proportion of males did so only among males familiar with stimuli females. These experiments demonstrate that familiarity may increase a receiver's ability to use a social partner's signals to discern their reproductive status.
Gender Differences in Sexual Abuse Outcomes and Recovery Experiences: A Survey of Therapist-Survivors

If gender differences in recovery from childhood sexual abuse (CSA) go unrecognized, treatment may be unsuccessful. Gender differences in abuse characteristics, outcomes, and recovery are described for 131 therapists with CSA histories. Female clinicians reported more problems with self-esteem, relationships, trust, sex, and work than males. Female clinicians identified several recovery experiences as more important: relinquishing guilt, talking about the abuse, renegotiating family-of-origin relationships, personal therapy, reading or writing about their CSA, hospitalization, and CSA workshops. Therapists working with male victims need to be aware of possible gender differences in symptom report and effects of healing strategies. Working with victims of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can be challenging and demanding. The challenges can be even greater when working with male survivors, because most interventions have been developed largely from helping female survivors. This situation exists because more women present as CSA victims or disclose such histories in treatment. Men are still often viewed as perpetrators, not victims, and it is only recently that the paucity of services tailored for male victims has been addressed (Mendel, 1995). Many clinicians are increasingly beginning to appreciate that male and female survivors tend to be different from one another in important ways (Becker-Lausen & Mallon-Kraft, 1995; Feiring, Taska, & Lewis, 1996; Hunter, 1991; Krugman, 1996; Orbuch, Harvey, Davis, & Merbach, 1994; Rew, Espararza, & Sands, 1991). A number of critical questions for the practicing therapist remain unanswered, however (Hunter, 1991; KendallTackett & Simon, 1992; Orbuch et al., 1994). These questions include the following: How are patterns of abuse different for men and women? Do men and women have different long-term outcomes? How do male and female survivors work on their healing? What ways do they find are most important for their healing? What are the treatment implications of any gender differences? The lack of answers to these basic questions leaves the practicing clinician with the dilemma of knowing that male and female survivors are often affected by CSA in different ways but having no guidance about how to address those differences in treatment. This article LIZA LITTLE is a clinical psychologist and an assistant professor of nursing