Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Selective Approach to the Resection of Cystic Lesions of the Pancreas: Results From 539 Consecutive Patients

Objective:To define a group of patients with pancreatic cysts who do not require resection. Summary Background Data:The increased use of cross-sectional imaging has resulted in an increased identification of small, asymptomatic pancreatic cysts. Data have not been available to determine which lesions should be resected. Methods:All patients evaluated at our institution between January 1995 and January 2005 for the ICD-9 diagnosis of pancreatic cyst were reviewed. Analysis was performed to identify associations between patient and cyst characteristics, and selection of operative or nonoperative management. Results:Pancreatic cysts were evaluated in 539 patients. Initial management was operative in 170 patients (32%), and nonoperative (radiographic follow-up) in 369 patients (68%). Factors associated with initial operative management included presence of a solid component (45% vs. 6%, P < 0.001), larger size of the lesion (mean 4.8 cm vs. 2.4 cm, P = 0.001), and presence of symptoms (44% vs. 16%, P = 0.001). Malignancy was present in 18% (32 of 170) of patients initially resected. Mucinous tumors (n = 18) were the most common malignant histologic subtype. None of the invasive cancers arising from mucinous cysts was <3 cm. Median radiographic follow-up in patients initially managed nonoperatively was 24 months (range, 1–172 months). In 29 patients (8%), changes developed within the cyst that resulted in resection; malignancy was present in 11 of 39 (38%), representing 3% (11 of 369) of all patients being followed radiographically. Conclusions:Selected patients with cystic lesions <3 cm in diameter and without a solid component may be followed radiographically with a malignancy risk (3% this study) that approximates the risk of mortality from resection. Malignancy within mucinous tumors is associated with size, and small mucinous tumors are very unlikely to be malignant.
Effects of dopamine on response properties of ON-OFF RGCs in encoding stimulus durations

Single retinal ganglion cell's (RGCs) response properties, such as spike count and response latency, are known to encode some features of visual stimuli. On the other hand, neuronal response can be modulated by dopamine (DA), an important endogenous neuromodulator in the retina. In the present study, we investigated the effects of DA on the spike count and the response latency of bullfrog ON-OFF RGCs during exposure to different stimulus durations. We found that neuronal spike count and response latency were both changed with stimulus durations, and exogenous DA (10 μM) obviously attenuated the stimulus-duration-dependent response latency change. Information analysis showed that the information about light ON duration was mainly carried by the OFF response and vice versa, and the stimulation information was carried by both spike count and response latency. However, during DA application, the information carried by the response latency was greatly decreased, which suggests that dopaminergic pathway is involved in modulating the role of response latency in encoding the information about stimulus durations.
Psychotherapy as a discursive genre: A dialogic approach

This study seeks to display therapeutic dialogue as a discursive genre. By using dialogic discourse analysis, the psychotherapeutic dialogue present in a set of excerpts from a time-limited psychotherapy is analyzed. This micro analytical methodology makes it possible to account for both the dialogal and the dialogic level of therapeutic conversation. The results show the linguistics markers employed by the participants and the voices in their speech. This enables us to illustrate how it is possible to perform a discursive analysis of therapeutic interaction. The value of approaching psychotherapy as a discursive genre and its methodological implications for research are discussed.
Alternative Molecular Methods for Improved Detection of Meningococcal Carriage and Measurement of Bacterial Density

ABSTRACT Conventional methods for detecting pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis are complex. There is a need for simpler methods with improved performance. We have investigated two alternative approaches. Three pharyngeal swabs were collected from 999 pupils aged 10 to 18 years in The Gambia. Carriage of N. meningitidis was investigated by using three different methods: (i) plating on Thayer-Martin selective medium and testing by conventional microbiological methods followed by PCR testing; (ii) seeding in Todd-Hewitt broth (THB) and, after culture overnight, testing by PCR; and (iii) compression of the swab on filter paper and, after DNA concentration, testing by PCR. PCR after culture in THB was more than twice as sensitive as conventional methods in detecting N. meningitidis (13.2% versus 5.7%; P < 0.0001). PCR after DNA extraction from filter paper had a sensitivity similar to that of conventional methods (4.9% versus 5.7%; P = 0.33). Capsular genogroups detected by broth culture were genogroups W (21 isolates), B (12 isolates), Y (8 isolates), E (3 isolates), and X (2 isolates), and 68 meningococci had the capsule-null intergenic region. The distributions of genogroups and of capsule-null organisms were similar with each of the three methods. The carriage density in samples extracted from filter paper ranged from 1 to 25,000 DNA copies. PCR of broth cultures grown overnight doubled the yield of N. meningitidis carriage isolates compared with conventional methods. This approach could improve the efficiency of carriage studies. Collection on filter paper followed by quantitative PCR could be useful for density measurement and for carriage studies in areas with limited resources.
Investigation of Relationships between Urinary Biomarkers of Phytoestrogens, Phthalates, and Phenols and Pubertal Stages in Girls

Background Hormonally active environmental agents may alter the course of pubertal development in girls, which is controlled by steroids and gonadotropins. Objectives We investigated associations of concurrent exposures from three chemical classes (phenols, phthalates, and phytoestrogens) with pubertal stages in a multiethnic longitudinal study of 1,151 girls from New York City, New York, greater Cincinnati, Ohio, and northern California who were 6–8 years of age at enrollment (2004–2007). Methods We measured urinary exposure biomarkers at visit 1 and examined associations with breast and pubic hair development (present or absent, assessed 1 year later) using multivariate adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Modification of biomarker associations by age-specific body mass index percentile (BMI%) was investigated, because adipose tissue is a source of peripubertal hormones. Results Breast development was present in 30% of girls, and 22% had pubic hair. High-molecular-weight phthalate (high MWP) metabolites were weakly associated with pubic hair development [adjusted PR, 0.94 (95% CI, 0.88–1.00), fifth vs. first quintile]. Small inverse associations were seen for daidzein with breast stage and for triclosan and high MWP with pubic hair stage; a positive trend was observed for low-molecular-weight phthalate biomarkers with breast and pubic hair development. Enterolactone attenuated BMI associations with breast development. In the first enterolactone quintile, for the association of high BMI with any development, the PR was 1.34 (95% CI, 1.23–1.45 vs. low BMI). There was no BMI association in the fifth, highest quintile of enterolactone. Conclusions Weak hormonally active xenobiotic agents investigated in this study had small associations with pubertal development, mainly among those agents detected at highest concentrations.
Positive Schizotypy and Trauma-Related Intrusions

The current study extends previous investigation of schizotypy as a vulnerability factor for trauma-related intrusions through the use of a clinical sample. Fifty people seeking psychological interventions after experiencing a distressing or traumatic event completed measures of positive schizotypy, posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology, peritraumatic dissociation, and mood. Individuals scoring high in positive schizotypy were vulnerable to experiencing more frequent trauma-related intrusions along with wider posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology, including hypervigilance, avoidance, and low mood. Results are discussed within a theoretical context, suggesting that certain information processing styles associated with high schizotype individuals may account for a vulnerability to trauma-related intrusions.
Expression status of Tax protein in human T-cell leukemia virus type 1-transformed MT4 cells: recall of MT4 cells distributed by the NIH AIDS Research and Reference Reagent Program

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) encodes a 40-kDa protein, Tax, that is a transcriptional activator of the viral long terminal repeat (reviewed in references 1 and 15). Tax has also been implicated in HTLV-1-mediated transformation of cells (2, 3, 14, 16) and in the pleiotropic activation of many cellular genes (reviewed in references 1 and 15). The study of Tax biology has been greatly aided by a series of transformed human T cells generated by investigators in Japan (10, 11, 18). Some of these cells, including the MT2 and MT4 cell lines, have been very important tissue culture tools for syncytium-forming assays of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections (8). Recently, many reports in the literature describing MT4 cells
A cross-cultural comparison of Ecuadorian and United States face, facework, and conflict styles during interpersonal conflict: An application of face-negotiation theory

ABSTRACT This study applied and extended face-negotiation theory in a cross-cultural comparison of face, facework, and conflict management styles between Ecuador and the United States (US). Participants included students from the United States and Ecuador. Participants completed a questionnaire that measured face, facework, and conflict style preference in one of two recalled conflict situations that varied in relational closeness (i.e., intimate, nonintimate). Results reveal that Ecuadorian and U.S. students did not differ in their self-face, other-face, and mutual-face concerns. Ecuadorian and U.S. students differed significantly in their preference for facework and conflict style preferences across the two conflict situations, however.
Interracial friendship and the trajectory of prominority attitudes: Assessing intergroup contact theory

We analyze the trajectory of racial attitude change among White university students, over a 4-year time period, representing an advancement over previous studies’ use of longitudinal designs alone to test the causal ordering and nature of the relationship between contact and attitudes. Adding to the literature on intergroup friendships, we examined the impact of two types of intergroup contact (interracial friendships and neighborhood racial context) on two types of racial attitudes: attitudes supportive of affirmative action and feelings of commonality with minorities. Overall, we find that a greater number of interracial friendships is associated with more positive racial attitudes. Women and those with more interracial friendships experience a faster rate of increase in their endorsement of affirmative action policies. Individuals growing up in more racially homogeneous neighborhoods expressed less support for affirmative action and politically conservative students had lower support for both affirmative action and feelings of commonality.
Gemini/GMOS imaging of globular clusters in the Virgo galaxy NGC 4649 (M60)

We present Sloan g and i imaging from the Gemini Multi-object Spectrograph (GMOS) instrument on the Gemini North telescope for the globular cluster (GC) system around the Virgo galaxy NGC 4649 (M60). Our three pointings, taken in good seeing conditions, cover an area of about 90 square arcmin. We detect 2151 unresolved sources. Applying colour and magnitude selection criteria to this source list gives 995 candidate GCs. Our source list is greater than 90 per cent complete to a magnitude of i = 23.6, and has little contamination from background galaxies. We find fewer than half a dozen potential ultracompact dwarf galaxies around NGC 4649, Foreground extinction from the nearby spiral NGC 4647 is limited to be A V < 0.1. We confirm the bimodality in the GC colour distribution found by earlier work using Hubble Space Telescope/WFPC2 imaging. As is commonly seen in other galaxies, the red GCs are concentrated towards the centre of the galaxy, having a steeper number density profile than the blue GC subpopulation. The varying ratio of red-to-blue GCs with radius can largely explain the overall GC system colour gradient. The underlying galaxy starlight has a similar density profile slope and colour to the red GCs. This suggests a direct connection between the galaxy field stars and the red GC subpopulation. We estimate a total GC population of 3700 ± 900, with the uncertainty dominated by the extrapolation to larger radii than observed. This total number corresponds to a specific frequency S N = 4.1 ± 1.0. Future work will present properties derived from GMOS spectra of the NGC 4649 GCs.
Nonmelanoma skin cancer in survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer: a report from the childhood cancer survivor study.

PURPOSE Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has become the most common type of cancer in many populations throughout the world. Ultraviolet and ionizing radiation are known risk factors. Because NMSCs are rarely lethal and most cancer registries do not routinely report data regarding these cancers, they have received little attention in studies evaluating long-term effects of cancer therapy. This article reports on the occurrence of secondary NMSC as a long-term effect of cancer therapy in survivors of childhood cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) is a cohort study of 5-year survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer from 25 participating institutions in North America. NMSC patients were defined by a history of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin after primary malignancy treatment. Demographic and treatment data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS Among the 13,132 eligible CCSS participants, 213 have reported NMSC; 99 patients (46%) have had multiple occurrences. Median age of occurrence was 31 years (range, 7 to 46 years). Location of NMSC included head and neck (43%), back (24%), chest (22%), abdomen and pelvis (5%), extremity (3%), and unknown (4%). Ninety percent of patients had previously received radiation therapy (RT); 90% of tumors occurred within the RT field. RT was associated with a 6.3-fold increase in risk (95% CI, 3.5- to 11.3-fold). CONCLUSION Long-term survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer who were treated with RT are at highest risk for developing NMSC. Educational efforts need to be directed to this population to facilitate early diagnosis of NMSC and reduction in sun exposure.
Reforming Undergraduate Instruction in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine

Abstract The authors deal with the restructuring of undergraduate economics instruction at Moscow State University (MSU) since 1989. They examine how closely the reforms at MSU are mirrored by changes at Belarus State University in Minsk and at Kiev State University. They also consider, and often offer an “insider's” perspective on, several issues related to curriculum reform that go beyond what can be determined from published curriculum guides. Specifically, they consider such issues as the training and retraining of faculty members who teach courses in these departments, the use of translated Western textbooks versus locally developed textbooks, and problems that arise in departments where some faculty members teach Western economics but others continue to teach Soviet-style economics.
Completing the Ph.D. : Comparative performances of U.S. and foreign students

This article examines the comparative success of U.S. and foreign students in completing the Ph.D. at a select set of eleven institutions of higher education in the United States. The analysis examines differences between temporary and permanent U.S. residents controlling for demographic merit and financial-support factors. Foreign students outperform their U.S. counterparts. Slightly higher fractions complete the Ph.D. (54 versus 50 percent) and the average completion time is about one year less (6.1 versus 7.2 years). (EXCERPT)
Gravitational Bar and Spiral Arm Torques from Ks-band Observations and Implications for the Pattern Speeds

We have obtained deep near-infrared Ks-band William Herschel Telescope observations of a sample of 15 nearby spiral galaxies having a range of Hubble types and apparent bar strengths. The near-infrared light distributions are converted into gravitational potentials, and the maximum relative gravitational torques due to the bars and the spirals are estimated. We find that spiral strength, Qs, and bar strength, Qb, correlate well with other measures of spiral arm and bar amplitudes and that spiral and bar strengths also correlate well with each other. We also find a correlation between the position angle of the end of the bar and the position angle of the inner spiral. These correlations suggest that the bars and spirals grow together with the same rates and pattern speeds. We also show that the strongest bars tend to have the most open spiral patterns. Because open spirals imply high disk-to-halo mass ratios, bars and spirals most likely grow together as a combined disk instability. They stop growing for different reasons, however, giving the observed variation in bar-spiral morphologies. Bar growth stops because of saturation when most of the inner disk is in the bar, and spiral growth stops because of increased stability as the gas leaves and the outer disk heats up.
Effect of Combined Sympathetic and Vagal Stimulation on Heart Rate in the Dog

A set of equations is described which permit prediction of the time course of heart rate in a dog anesthetized with pentobarbital from the time course of frequency of stimuli applied to the distal cut ends of vagus and sympathetic efferent nerves to the heart. These equations, although based on assumptions as to the physiological mechanisms involved, were only tested for their ability to describe the kinetic relationship involved. The time course of heart rate resulting from combined vagus and sympathetic nerve stimulation (HRSV) is given by the equation: HRSV = HRV + (HRS − HR0) (HRV − HRmin)/(HR0 − HRmin), where the subscripted terms are heart rate values due to vagus stimulation (v), sympathetic stimulation (s), no stimulation (0) and the minimum (min) heart rate achievable by vagus stimulation alone. Clearly the vagus influence is capable of dominating the sympathetic in the control of heart rate.
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-activating Polypeptide Inhibit Tumor Necrosis Factor α Transcriptional Activation by Regulating Nuclear Factor-kB and cAMP Response Element-binding Protein/c-Jun*

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), an early cytokine produced by activated macrophages, plays an essential role in normal and pathological inflammatory reactions. The excessive production of TNFα is prevented by the so-called “macrophage-deactivating factors. ” This study examines the role of two structurally related neuropeptides, the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), as inhibitors of TNFα. Both VIP and PACAP inhibit TNFα production from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 246.7 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Although the activated cells express mRNA for all three VIP/PACAP receptors, agonist and antagonist studies indicate that the major receptor involved is VIP1R. VIP/PACAP inhibit TNFα gene expression by affecting both NF-kB binding and the composition of the cAMP responsive element binding complex (CREB/c-Jun). Two transduction pathways, a cAMP-dependent and a cAMP-independent pathway, are involved in the inhibition of TNFα gene expression and appear to differentially regulate the transcriptional factors involved. Because TNFα plays a central role in various inflammatory diseases such as endotoxic shock, multiple sclerosis, cerebral malaria, and various autoimmune conditions, the down-regulatory effect of VIP/PACAP may have a significant therapeutic potential.
Directiveness and Authoritarianism: Some Research Findings and a Critical Reappraisal

Resulting from a cogent critique of the F scale as a measure of personality, Ray (1976) has proposed his ‘directiveness’ scale as a behaviourally valid measure of authoritarian personality. Research using this scale has suggested that authoritarian personality and the endorsement of authoritarian attitudes or ideology may be quite unrelated. This was supported by the present study which found no relationship between directiveness and either intolerant and negative attitudes towards homosexuals or an F scale measure of authoritarian attitudes. The conceptualizations of authoritarianism of Ray and Adorno et al. (1950) were then briefly reviewed and it was suggested that they appear to be quite distinct. It was therefore concluded that research using Ray's directiveness scale does not invalidate the theory of the authoritarian personality and that the development of a behaviourally valid measure of authoritarian personality as conceptualized by Adorno et al. remains a major research priority.
Oscillations in the synthesis of cell wall components in synchronized cultures of Escherichia coli

The rate of cell wall synthesis with respect to both proteins and lipids was determined in synchronized cultures of Escherichia coli B/r. Whereas the rate of total protein synthesis showed an exponential increase with cell age, the rate of incorporation of proteins and lipids into cell wall had a maximum at a cell age of 30 to 35 min, 15 min before cell division. This oscillation was observed in both the cytoplasmic membrane and in the outer membrane of the cell envelope.
Modeling of the Climate for a Greenhouse in the North-East of México

Abstract Climate control is one of the principal reasons to use a greenhouse. The efficiency of the control depends of the precision of the model that better describes the dynamics variables inside the greenhouse. Is presented a modification of a climate model in an greenhouse in order to include the effects of: air density variations due to humidity changes, the humidity addition by nebulizers, the use of shade cloths and the use of forced ventilation. Such effects are required for greenhouses located in the north-east region of Mexico, because the warm extreme climate makes the use necessary of these elements like economic resources of cooling, being essential to include in the model the above mentioned effects. The introduced modifications are validated by comparisons between real measurements carried out in a greenhouse in this region of Mexico through of simulations. The results in section 5 show that the proposed model has a better behavior when effects mentioned are included on sections 3 and 4.