Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Retrospective Analysis of Disability and Its Related Costs Among Employees With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the frequency and cost of disability among actively employed individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of disability and claims data. Employees 40 to 63 years old with a diagnosis of COPD between January 1, 2001, and March 31, 2004, were identified, and controls were matched 2:1 to these subjects. Likelihood and cost of disability were compared between cohorts. Results: A total of 2696 controls were matched to 1349 COPD subjects. Mean age was 52 years, and cohorts were approximately 50% male. A significantly (P < 0.0001) greater proportion of COPD subjects used short-term (21.8% vs 7.0%), long-term (2.4% vs 0.4%), or any disability (22.8% vs 7.3%). Associated costs were also higher among COPD subjects ($8559 vs $5443; P = 0.07). Conclusions: Within a population of actively employed individuals 40 to 63 years old, COPD was found to have a substantial impact on the frequency and cost of disability.
Functional morphology and development of veliger larvae of the European oyster, Ostrea edulis Linné

Waller, Thomas R. Functional Morphology and Development of Veliger Larvae of the European Oyster, Ostrea edulis Linne. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 328, 70 pages, 152 figures, 1 table, 1981. —Veliger larvae of the European oyster taken seven days and 15 days after release from parent were anesthetized, fixed, critical-point dried, and examined with scanning electron microscopes. Study of body and shell in a growth series revealed many structures and patterns of development previously poorly known or unknown: (1) the presence of four ciliary bands on the velum, not three; (2) the heel-first development of the foot, with medial ciliation of the toe preceding complete ciliation; (3) the order of appearance and structure of major duct openings on the foot and body wall; (4) the beginning of larval eyes as hemispherical tufts of elongate microvilli; (5) the early development of gill primordia; and (6) the early appearance of a prominent gill bridge, which originates by cross-contact of cilia on the mantle margins followed by migration of epithelial cells and tissue fusion. A striking posterodorsal notch and growth track on the left valve of prodissoconch II of many Ostreidae and Gryphaeidae is formed by postanal cilia, which deform the fragile calcifying edge of the left valve but are unable to deform the more massive margin of the right valve. The transition from shell gland to mantle occurs very early in the prodissoconch-I stage, and increasing specialization of the mantle edge produces a three-layered shell well before the prodissoconch-I/II boundary, which merely marks the moment when the valves first completely enclose the body and close against one another. Shell microstructure does not change until metamorphosis, at which time the aragonitic microstructures disappear and are succeeded by far coarser calcitic structures. The postmetamorphic myostracum is an exception. It remains aragonitic and is possibly a continuation of the inner layer of the larval shell. The prodissoconch ligament is formed by periostracum, the fibrous resilium appearing later near the time of metamorphosis. The larval shells of oviparous and larviparous oysters differ, those of the former having a prodissoconch I that is smaller compared to prodissoconch OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. SERIES COVER DESICN: The coral Montastrea cavemosa (Linnaeus). Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Waller, Thomas R. Functional morphology and development of veliger larvae of the European oyster, Ostrea edulis Linne (Smithsonian contributions to zoology ; no. 328) Bibliography: p. 1. European oyster—Development. 2. Mollusks—Larvae. 3. Mollusks—Development. I. Title. II. Title: Veliger larvae of the European oyster, Ostrea edulis Linne. III. Series: Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian contributions to zoology ; no 328 QL1.S54 no. 328 [QL430.7. 09] 591s [594M1] 80-23129
Mutational and phenotypical spectrum of phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency in Denmark

We describe the genotypes of the complete cohort, from 1967 to 2014, of phenylketonuria (PKU) patients in Denmark, in total 376 patients. A total of 752 independent alleles were investigated. Mutations were identified on 744 PKU alleles (98.9%). In total, 82 different mutations were present in the cohort. The most frequent mutation c.1315+1G>A (IVS12+1G>A) was found on 25.80% of the 744 alleles. Other very frequent mutations were c.1222C>T (p.R408W) (16.93%) and c.1241A>G (p.Y414C) (11.15%). Among the identified mutations, five mutations; c.532G>A (p.E178K), c.730C>T (p.P244S), c.925G>A (p.A309T), c.1228T>A (p.F410I), and c.1199+4A>G (IVS11+4A>G) have not been reported previously. The metabolic phenotypes of PKU are classified into four categories; ‘classical PKU’, ‘moderate PKU’, ‘mild PKU’ and ‘mild hyperphenylalaninemia’. In this study, we assigned the phenotypic outcome of three of the five novel mutations and furthermore six not previously classified mutations to one of the four PKU categories.
Use of Geriatric Assessment for Older Adults in the Oncology Setting: A Systematic Review

Background Geriatric assessment is a multidisciplinary diagnostic process that evaluates the older adult’s medical, psychological, social, and functional capacity. No systematic review of the use of geriatric assessment in oncology has been conducted. The goals of this systematic review were: 1) to provide an overview of all geriatric assessment instruments used in the oncology setting; 2) to examine the feasibility and psychometric properties of those instruments; and 3) to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of geriatric assessment in predicting or modifying outcomes (including the impact on treatment decision making, toxicity of treatment, and mortality). Methods We searched Medline, Embase, Psychinfo, Cinahl, and the Cochrane Library for articles published in English, French, Dutch, or German between January 1, 1996, and November 16, 2010, reporting on cross-sectional, longitudinal, interventional, or observational studies that assessed the feasibility or effectiveness of geriatric assessment instruments. The quality of articles was evaluated using relevant quality assessment frameworks. Results We identified 83 articles that reported on 73 studies. The quality of most studies was poor to moderate. Eleven studies examined psychometric properties or diagnostic accuracy of the geriatric assessment instruments used. The assessment generally took 10–45min. Geriatric assessment was most often completed to describe a patient’s health and functional status. Specific domains of geriatric assessment were associated with treatment toxicity in 6 of 9 studies and with mortality in 8 of 16 studies. Of the four studies that examined the impact of geriatric assessment on the cancer treatment decision, two found that geriatric assessment impacted 40%–50% of treatment decisions. Conclusion Geriatric assessment in the oncology setting is feasible, and some domains are associated with adverse outcomes. However, there is limited evidence that geriatric assessment impacted treatment decision making. Further research examining the effectiveness of geriatric assessment on treatment decisions and outcomes is needed.
Neuropsychological Impairment Among Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Patients

Abstract Seventy females consecutively admitted to a hospital for treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN, n = 40) or bulimia (BN, n = 30) were given a battery of psychological tests on admission to assess neuropsychological impairment. Comparisons were made to see whether there was a difference between the two diagnostic groups on neuropsychological impairment. The AN group had significantly more individuals impaired on neuropsychological testing than the BN group (62.5% vs. 30%). Neuropsychological testing indicated that some in the bulimic group were impaired.
A critical analysis of affirmative therapeutic engagements with consensual non-monogamy

In this article we explore predominant psychologisations of consensual non-monogamy in therapist’s accounts of their engagements with clients in open relationships. A total of 17 UK counsellors (14 men and 3 women) took part in individual semi-structured interviews in 2010, with participants identifying their clinical responses to open non-monogamy as being non-directive and non-pathologising and thus in a sense “affirmative”. In a Foucauldian-informed analysis we pay particular attention to the conceptual externalisation (and psychologisation) of non-monogamy as an outside and excessive domain that is both trivial yet threatening and that works to reproduce the privilege of monogamous coupledom. This is in specific relation to open (gay) dyadic relationships as the kind of sexually non-exclusive relationship that interviewees had more professional experience with and so gave greater account of. We make a case for a less dichotomising engagement with open non-monogamy and for an inclusive therapeutic practice that does not implicitly assume the transparency of monogamy discourse and thus risk negating its normalising effects in the name of psychological and relationship well-being.
Animal-Related Activities and Appreciation of Animals Among Children and Adolescents

ABSTRACT Five hundred and sixty-two children and adolescents, aged between nine and 15 years, from one urban and three rural areas in Southern Norway, completed a questionnaire in which they expressed their degree of preference for various animal species, participation in animal-related activities, and the presence of pets at home. The results showed that a majority of the respondents had an animal at home (71%), and participated in animal-related activities such as fishing (72%), feeding birds (74%), and reading about animals (66%). Participation in most animal-related activities decreased with increasing age. Pet owners liked farm and wild animals more than did respondents without pets. Positive associations were found between the liking of animal species and participation in animal-related activities. Gender differences were largest for horseback riding (girls most) and for fishing and hunting (boys most). Those who reported allergic reactions to animals, or had been injured by an animal, liked animals as much as, or more than, did the other respondents.
Election news in Sweden and the United States: A comparative study of sources and media frames

This study compares election news coverage in two different countries – Sweden and the United States, focusing on the use of the strategic game frame and the conflict frame and the association between these two frames and different types of news sources. The content analysis includes early evening newscasts from CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News and ABC World News in the USA and Rapport, Aktuellt and TV4 Nyheterna in Sweden. The findings show that the strategic game frame is used more frequently in the US coverage and is correlated with the use of media analysts and campaign operatives in both countries. Ordinary citizens as sources contribute to issue framing while domestic political actors tend to be associated with conflict framing. Differences in media framing between public and private media are also identified and discussed in the context of national political and media systems.
Dysfunctions in understanding other minds in borderline personality disorder: A study using cartoon picture stories

Abstract Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are thought to be impaired in their ability to reflect on others’ mental states. Only a few empirical studies have explored the idea that impaired mentalizing in BPD is associated with poor quality of parental care or parental separation during early childhood. Fifty patients diagnosed with BPD were examined using a cartoon task. Quality of parental care was assessed using a self-report measure for recalled parental child-rearing style. Patients with BPD did not differ from controls in their mentalizing abilities. In BPD, however, mentalizing correlated inversely with maternal overprotection, lack of emotional availability, and rejection. Moreover, maternal punishment and rejection and parental separation at an early developmental age were significant predictors of poor mentalizing skills in BPD. These findings suggest that the quality of parental care during early childhood plays a role in the development of mentalizing skills in BPD.
Ethnic nationalism, social structure, and political agency: explaining electoral support for the radical right in Bulgaria

Abstract Why do people vote for radical-right parties? Is radical-right voting determined by social structure and extremist political values, or is it induced by political entrepreneurship? This research tests for competing explanations of electoral support for the radical right on the example of the 2005 Bulgarian parliamentary elections. Methodologically, it performs demand-centred modelling of individual-level data with extensions to contextual variables and political agency. This approach yields two principal findings: first, that party-specific variables are the strongest predictors of the radical-right vote when tested against sociodemographic variables, general political attitudes, and economic interests. Second, the results suggest that political agency affects the distribution of electoral preferences whereby voters pertaining to certain sociological and attitudinal categories – blue-collar workers, older voters, and medium-education cohorts in the large cities, and voters sharing centrist ideology and lower levels of political trust – are more likely than other groups to vote for the radical right despite the lack of proximity with extreme-right ideologies.
Early Puberty, Peer Victimization, and Internalizing Symptoms in Ethnic Minority Adolescents

One thousand twenty-four African American and Latino sixth graders participated in a study examining the moderating role of pubertal development on the relation between peer victimization and adolescent self-worth, depressed mood, and physical symptoms using peer and self-reported victimization. It was hypothesized that early-maturing girls who were victimized would experience heightened internalized distress. Among boys, two competing hypotheses were tested: (a) the imbalance of power hypothesis predicted that late-maturing boys who were victimized would experience more psychological distress and (b) the social misfit hypothesis predicted that early-maturing victims would experience more distress. Results indicated that African American and Latino early-maturing boys and girls who were viewed as victims by their peers reported elevated depressed mood and physical symptoms and lower self-worth. The moderating role of early puberty was documented with reputational (peer report) measures of victimization rather than self-report measures, which highlights the social consequences of early maturation.
How benefits of expressive writing vary as a function of writing instructions, ethnicity and ambivalence over emotional expression

Written emotional disclosure has been reported to confer a variety of benefits on physical and psychological well-being. However, variable findings suggest that outcomes may vary systematically as a function of specific parameters of the experimental design. This study aims to investigate the unique and combined effects of disclosure instructions focusing on emotional expression and instructions facilitating cognitive reappraisal and to examine how ambivalence over emotional expression and ethnicity moderate the effects of these writing instructions. Seventy-one Asian and 59 Caucasian undergraduates (N = 130) with at least minimal physical or depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to one of the four writing conditions: emotional disclosure (ED), cognitive reappraisal (COG), the combination of ED and COG, or a control condition. Self-reported physical symptoms, positive affect (PA) and negative affect were assessed at baseline and three follow-ups spanning 4 months. Mixed linear models revealed that COG writing reduced physical symptoms, ED buffered a decrease in PA over time, and the combination of ED and COG (i.e. self-regulation; SR) was most effective. Asians and highly ambivalent participants benefited most from expressive writing. Findings contribute to the development of a SR moderator model and carry implications for designing expressive disclosure studies, particularly for ethnic minorities.
Mechanisms of tamoxifen resistance: increased estrogen receptor-HER2/neu cross-talk in ER/HER2-positive breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen whose tumors express high levels of both HER2/neu (HER2) and the estrogen receptor (ER) coactivator AIB1 often develop tamoxifen resistance. We used a breast cancer model system with high expression of AIB1 and HER2 to investigate the possible mechanisms underlying this resistance. METHODS MCF-7 breast cancer cells, which express high levels of AIB1, and a tamoxifen-resistant derivative cell line engineered to overexpress HER2 (MCF-7/HER2-18) were treated with estrogen, tamoxifen, epidermal growth factor (EGF), or heregulin in the absence or presence of the EGF receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib. We analyzed phosphorylation of signaling intermediates by immunoblotting, ER transcriptional activity with reporter gene constructs and immunoblot analysis of endogenous gene products, promoter assembly by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, and tumor cell growth in vitro by anchorage-independent colony formation and in vivo using xenografts in nude mice. RESULTS MCF-7/HER2-18 tumors were completely growth inhibited by estrogen deprivation but were growth stimulated by tamoxifen. Molecular cross-talk between the ER and HER2 pathways was increased in the MCF-7/HER-2 cells compared with MCF-7 cells, with cross-phosphorylation and activation of both the ER and the EGFR/HER2 receptors, the signaling molecules AKT and ERK 1,2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and AIB1 itself with both estrogen and tamoxifen treatment. Tamoxifen recruited coactivator complexes (ER, AIB1, CBP, p300) to the ER-regulated pS2 gene promoter in MCF-7/HER2-18 cells and corepressor complexes (NCoR, histone deacetylase 3) in MCF-7 cells. Gefitinib pretreatment blocked receptor cross-talk, reestablished corepressor complexes with tamoxifen-bound ER on target gene promoters, eliminated tamoxifen's agonist effects, and restored its antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo in MCF-7/HER2-18 cells. CONCLUSIONS Tamoxifen behaves as an estrogen agonist in breast cancer cells that express high levels of AIB1 and HER2, resulting in de novo resistance. Gefitinib's ability to eliminate this cross-talk and to restore tamoxifen's antitumor effects should be tested in the clinic.
A novel RNA polymerase II‐containing complex potentiates Tat‐enhanced HIV‐1 transcription

The HIV‐1‐encoded Tat protein controls transcription elongation by increasing processivity of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Here, we have identified a Tat stimulatory activity (Tat‐SF) as a novel RNA Pol II‐containing complex. Remarkably, Tat‐SF contains the previously identified Tat cofactors Tat‐SF1, P‐TEFb and hSPT5/Tat‐CT1, in addition to RNA Pol II and other unidentified polypeptides, but none of the SRB/MED proteins or other factors found associated with the previously described RNA Pol II holoenzyme complex. Tat‐SF supports basal, Sp1‐activated and Tat‐activated transcription in a reconstituted system, and a Tat‐SF‐derived fraction lacking RNA Pol II can complement non‐responsive RNA Pol II complexes for Tat‐enhanced HIV‐1 transcription, indicating that Tat‐SF contains factors that are critical for Tat function. Both Tat‐SF and RNA Pol II holoenzyme are present in HeLa nuclear extracts and each can be recruited to the HIV‐1 promoter. Our results indicate that Tat‐SF is a Tat cofactor‐containing RNA Pol II complex whose recruitment to the promoter provides elongation factors important for Tat‐enhanced HIV‐1 transcription following TAR RNA synthesis.
Neuropeptide Y receptors: how to get subtype selectivity

The neuropeptide Y (NPY) system is a multireceptor/multiligand system consisting of four receptors in humans (hY1, hY2, hY4, hY5) and three agonists (NPY, PYY, PP) that activate these receptors with different potency. The relevance of this system in diseases like obesity or cancer, and the different role that each receptor plays influencing different biological processes makes this system suitable for the design of subtype selectivity studies. In this review we focus on the latest findings within the NPY system, we summarize recent mutagenesis studies, structure activity relationship studies, receptor chimera, and selective ligands focusing also on the binding mode of the native agonists.
Students' Stress, Distress, and Achievement in an Urban Intermediate School

This study examined relationships between in-school stressor and support events, locus of control distress, and achievement for a sample of 90 eighth-grade students in an inner-city school Events classified as General School Disrupters were rated by students as occurring most frequently, but appraised as least upsetting, whereas assaults and academic troubles were experienced less frequently, but appraised as more upsetting. Frequency of stressor events was correlated with external locus of control self-reported distress, and lower grade point average. Stressor appraisal and locus of control, but not support, mediated the influence of stressor frequency on distress & Girls appraised stressor events as more upsetting than did boys and received higher grades than boys, despite having comparable reading scores and the same locus of control as boys. Further research is recommended particularly to explore gender differences further and to clarify the functions of student appraisal of stressor events in different school environments.
CD154 Blockade Abrogates Allospecific Responses and Enhances CD4+ Regulatory T‐Cells in Mouse Orthotopic Lung Transplant

Acute cellular rejection (ACR) is a common and important clinical complication following lung transplantation. While there is a clinical need for the development of novel therapies to prevent ACR, the regulation of allospecific effector T‐cells in this process remains incompletely understood. Using the MHC‐mismatched mouse orthotopic lung transplant model, we investigated the short‐term role of anti‐CD154 mAb therapy alone on allograft pathology and alloimmune T‐cell effector responses. Untreated C57BL/6 recipients of BALB/c left lung allografts had high‐grade rejection and diminished CD4+: CD8+ graft ratios, marked by predominantly CD8+>CD4+ IFN‐γ+ allospecific effector responses at day 10, compared to isograft controls. Anti‐CD154 mAb therapy strikingly abrogated both CD8+ and CD4+ alloeffector responses and significantly increased lung allograft CD4+: CD8+ ratios. Examination of graft CD4+ T‐cells revealed significantly increased frequencies of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T‐cells in the lung allografts of anti‐CD154‐treated mice and was associated with significant attenuation of ACR compared to untreated controls. Together, these data show that CD154/CD40 costimulation blockade alone is sufficient to abrogate allospecific effector T‐cell responses and significantly shifts the lung allograft toward an environment predominated by CD4+ T regulatory cells in association with an attenuation of ACR.