Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous CT-guided aspiration and core biopsy of pulmonary nodules smaller than 1 cm: analysis of outcomes of 305 procedures from a tertiary referral center.

OBJECTIVE We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate the diagnostic outcomes of CT-guided aspiration and core biopsy of 305 pulmonary nodules measuring less than 1 cm. MATERIALS AND METHODS We determined the diagnostic yield of using CT-guided aspiration and core biopsy to analyze 305 lesions in 290 patients. Diagnostic performance was evaluated according to the biopsy method, including aspiration alone, core biopsy alone, and combination use, and the consistency of the nodule, including solid, partly solid ground-glass opacity (GGO), and pure GGO. Final diagnoses were established in 268 of the 305 lesions (87.9%). Nondiagnostic biopsy results were obtained for 27 of the 268 lesions (10.1%). RESULTS The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the diagnosis of malignancy were 93.1% (148 of 159 lesions), 98.8% (81/82), 99.3% (148/149), and 88.0% (81/92), respectively; diagnostic accuracy was 95.0% (229/241). Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that aspiration alone was a significant independent risk factor associated with diagnostic failure (odds ratio, 3.199; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION The use of CT-guided aspiration and core biopsy resulted in a high diagnostic yield for pulmonary nodules smaller than 1 cm. The use of the aspiration method alone was an independent risk factor associated with diagnostic failure.
Towards Radical Geographies of Complicit Queer Futures

Michael Brown and Larry Knopp (2003) assert, “We’re Here! We’re Queer! We’re Over There, Too! ” as they chart the spread of queer geographies from relegation to a disciplinary urban ghetto of sorts to engagement with an array of topics such as citizenship, rural geographies, and globalization. Beyond mere survey, they highlight many more areas sexuality and space studies might usefully take on and argue for a deeper queering of our discipline. They thus envision a future for queer geographies that contributes to the radicalization of the academy by challenging its heteronormative underpinnings. But within queer studies beyond geography, scholars have been grappling with a trend that poses a challenge to this challenge for some time. That is, they have been trying to come to grips with the gradual normalization of homosexuality, particularly in the context of the United States (see Alexander, 1998; Duggan, 2002; Hennessy, 1994; Warner, 1999).
A study on the playing of computer games, class success and attitudes of parents to primary school students

This study is a descriptive study based on the screening model, and was conducted in order to inquire the effect of games and the relation between gender and class success variables and game preferences in primary school students. The universe of the study was the primary schools in city center in Province of Burdur and the sample group of the study was composed of students attending the 6, 7 and 8th grades of primary schools. In the study, data were obtained through written materials and a questionnaire which was specifically developed for the study. After intelligibility, validity and reliability of the questionnaire was ensured, the questionnaire was applied to the sample group by a random sampling method. Questionnaires of 605 students (318 males and 287 females) who fully completed the questionnaire were taken into evaluation. Data obtained were analyzed with proper statistical software on computer environment. As the statistical process, frequency (f), percentage (%) and cross-tables (Croostab) were used, whereas X2(square X) process was carried out to determine the differences among variables. The statistical data revealed that there were significant differences in the computer games played by participating students, their class success and parents’ attitudes vis-a-vis the games played (P<0.05). As a conclusion, we can suggest that there were differences in the types of the games played by the participating students; concerning the gender differences, males mostly played action and fighting games whereas females preferred mind games; they played these games at home, at internet cafes and at the computer lab in school; females often played these games at home or at school while males played computer games at home or at a internet cafe; males spent 1 to 2 h a day whereas females spent 1 to 2 h a week in playing games; concerning the age differences, those at age of 12 to 13 preferred playing mind games more than 14 to 15 year old students who mostly play sports, action or fighting games. There was a parallelism between game-playing frequency and having access to the Internet at home, those who have access to the Internet in their homes played 1 to 2 h a day while those without the Internet at home played computer games only for 1 to 2 h a week; those who spent less time on playing games on the Internet had a higher class success than those who spent more time on the Internet by playing games. Concerning the parents’ attitude vis-a-vis children’s playing games on the Internet – parents’ mostly keep indifferent; and concerning the gender difference, we can say that parents of males are against the Internet games more than parents of females are. Key words: Primary school, student, computer games, class success, parents, attitude.
Joint-Attentional States and Lexical Acquisition at 18 Months.

Two groups of 18-month-old infants were observed during a relatively natural play session with an adult experimenter and several toys. A novel object associated with one of the toys was labeled a dodo by the experimenter using either an attention-following strategy (i.e., introducing the label when the infant was focused on the dodo object) or an attention-switching strategy (i.e., introducing the label when the infant was focused on an alternative object). With factors such as frequency of exposure to the object label and infant compliance equivalent across the groups, infants in the attention-following procedure were more likely to correctly identify the dodo object in a subsequent comprehension task
Towards a Unified View of Information System (is) Capability

Since the introduction of the concept of IS capability to IS research, it has been extensively used to explain various IS related studies for instance: competitive advantage, firm performance, and agility among several others. This extensive use of the concept has resulted in several interpretations and diverse classifications. These discrepancies in combination with the extensive use of the concept put its fundamental logic at the danger of losing its meaning. Using a systematic literature review, this paper highlights the similarities, differences and fragmented knowledge groups and consequently provides a possibility to move towards a unified view of IS capability. To consolidate the fragmented classifications, the paper advances a four ellipse model from prior classification to vividly conceptualize the IS capability construct and hence provide an integrated platform for future research.
Glutamine and glutamate as vital metabolites.

Glucose is widely accepted as the primary nutrient for the maintenance and promotion of cell function. This metabolite leads to production of ATP, NADPH and precursors for the synthesis of macromolecules such as nucleic acids and phospholipids. We propose that, in addition to glucose, the 5-carbon amino acids glutamine and glutamate should be considered to be equally important for maintenance and promotion of cell function. The functions of glutamine/glutamate are many, i.e., they are substrates for protein synthesis, anabolic precursors for muscle growth, they regulate acid-base balance in the kidney, they are substrates for ureagenesis in the liver and for hepatic and renal gluconeogenesis, they act as an oxidative fuel for the intestine and cells of the immune system, provide inter-organ nitrogen transport, and act as precursors of neurotransmitter synthesis, of nucleotide and nucleic acid synthesis and of glutathione production. Many of these functions are interrelated with glucose metabolism. The specialized aspects of glutamine/glutamate metabolism of different glutamine-utilizing cells are discussed in the context of glucose requirements and cell function.
Prevalence of impaired coronary flow reserve and its association with left ventricular diastolic function in asymptomatic individuals with major cardiovascular risk factors

Aim: The aims of this study were to evaluate: i) the prevalence of impaired coronary flow reserve (CFR), ii) the association of impaired CFR with indices of left ventricular function, and iii) the independent predictors of impaired CFR in a cohort of high-risk asymptomatic individuals. Methods: Ninety-nine consecutive individuals (age, 52.5 ± 13.2 years; 68% male; left ventricular ejection fraction, 62 ± 6%) with at least one major cardiovascular risk factor (49% hypertension, 23% diabetes mellitus, 42% hypercholesterolemia, 32% smoking) were evaluated. Based on CFR values, patients were divided into normal (CFR ≥2.5), borderline (2.5>CFR ≥2.0), and abnormal (CFR < 2.0). Left ventricular function was assessed with comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography. Results: Impaired CFR was identified in 39 individuals (borderline, n = 25; abnormal, n = 14). Isovolumic relaxation time was significantly increased for abnormal compared with normal CFR (94 ± 12 vs. 85 ± 11 msec, p < 0.05), as was the left atrial volume index (LAVI) (24 ± 7 cm3/m2 vs. 19.1 ± 5.2, p < 0.01). A stepwise linear regression analysis identified the LAVI and the deceleration time of E wave of transmitral flow as the only independent predictors of CFR value. An ordinal regression analysis model revealed two predictors of CFR categorization: diabetes mellitus (proportional odds ratio (POR) for CFR group deterioration, 4.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13–18.28; p = 0.033) and LAVI (POR, 1.11 per 1 cm3/m2 increment; 95% CI, 1.01–1.23; p = 0.034). Conclusions: CFR is often impaired among asymptomatic individuals with major cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with changes in left ventricular diastolic function and left atrial size. The prognostic importance of these early derangements should be assessed in prospective studies.
Active involvement of alarmins S100A8 and S100A9 in the regulation of synovial activation and joint destruction during mouse and human osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether alarmins S100A8 and S100A9 are involved in mediating cartilage destruction during murine and human osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS Two different murine models of OA that differed in terms of synovial activation were compared. Cartilage destruction was measured histologically. Synovial biopsy and serum samples from OA patients were derived from the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee (CHECK) patients with symptomatic early OA. Expression of mediators in the synovium was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis and immunolocalization. RESULTS In collagenase-induced OA, which showed marked synovial activation, interleukin-1β was expressed at significant levels only during the early stages of disease, whereas S100A8 and S100A9 expression remained high for a prolonged period of time (up to day 21 after induction). In S100A9-knockout mice, we found a major impact of S100A8 and S100A9 on synovial activation (62% inhibition) and OA cartilage destruction (45-73% inhibition) as compared to wild-type controls. In contrast, in the surgically induced destabilized medial meniscus model, in which synovial involvement is scant, we found no role of S100A8 and S100A9 in the focal OA cartilage destruction. Examination of arthroscopic synovial biopsy samples from patients in the early symptomatic OA CHECK cohort revealed substantial levels of S100A8 and S100A9 messenger RNA and protein, which correlated significantly with synovial lining thickness, cellularity in the subintima, and joint destruction. Levels of S100A8/A9 serum protein were significantly enhanced (19%) at baseline in patients who had pronounced progression of joint destruction after 2 years. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that the S100A8 and S100A9 proteins are crucially involved in synovial activation and cartilage destruction during OA and that high levels may predict joint destruction in humans with OA.
Effect of Extrusion on the Hydrophilic Antioxidant Capacity of Four Whole Grains

Cereal grains are generally subjected to thermal treatment before consumption. However, few data are available on total phenolic content (TPC), degree of starch gelatinization, phenolic acids, and antioxidant capacity of extruded whole grains based on trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), DPPH radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP). Four whole grains, brown rice, wheat, maize, and barley were examined in this study. The free and bound TPCchanged significantly (p < 0.05) after extrusion. Morever, heat and degree of starch gelatinization could affect the bound TPC. In bound fraction, the antioxidant capacity was directly influenced by TPC. Extrusion (110-140°C) can retain or improve the antioxidant capacity in its free and bound fractions. Phenolic acids are stable in their bound form. Results showed that the bound TPC and total phenolic acids have a strong relationship against antioxidant capacity, indicating that TPC is the major antioxidant in the bound fraction.
Volunteers in an Oncology Support Organization

Abstract Peer-led oncology support services are increasingly important as accessible and affordable adjuncts to medical care. Volunteers involved in these programs frequently have experienced cancer, either their own diagnosis or a family member's. This descriptive study explores the motivations, stress, and satisfaction of volunteers working in such a service. Using a framework developed by Omoto and Snyder, which identified three stages of the volunteer dynamic-the antecedents, experiences, and consequences-this study identified details about volunteers' motivations, their satisfactions, their relationship with the organization, and the effects of the work on them. Differences in motivations and stress were found between volunteers who had had a cancer diagnosis and those who had not. There was a high level of satisfaction and volunteer continuity, although the more veteran volunteers tended to be less satisfied. Key implications include the importance of a supportive work environment that satisfies motivations and attends to needs of the volunteer as well as the clientele. The authors offer suggestions for organizational structures that can promote volunteer continuity and thus effective provision of service.
Mortality risk associated with disability: a population-based record linkage study.

OBJECTIVES We assessed the association between mortality and disability and quantified the effect of disability-associated risk factors. METHODS We linked data from cross-sectional health surveys in the Netherlands to the population registry to create a large data set comprising baseline covariates and an indicator of death. We used Cox regression models to estimate the hazard ratio of disability on mortality. RESULTS Among men, the unadjusted hazard ratio for activities of daily living, mobility, or mild disability defined by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development at age 55 years was 7.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.36, 14.13), 5.21 (95% CI = 3.19, 8.51), and 1.87 (95% CI = 1.58, 2.22), respectively. People with disability in activities of daily living and mobility had a 10-year shorter life expectancy than nondisabled people had, of which 6 years could be explained by differences in lifestyle, sociodemographics, and major chronic diseases. CONCLUSIONS Disabled people face a higher mortality risk than nondisabled people do. Although the difference can be explained by diseases and other risk factors for those with mild disability, we cannot rule out that more severe disabilities have an independent effect on mortality.
Shy but Getting By? An Examination of the Complex Links Among Shyness, Coping, and Socioemotional Functioning in Childhood

The purpose of the current study was to test a conceptual model of the mediated and moderated associations among shyness, coping strategies, and socioemotional functioning in middle childhood. Participants were 358 children (177 boys) aged 9–13 years (M = 10.16 years, SD =.95). Children completed self-report assessments of shyness, coping style in response to a social stressor, internalizing problems, and peer difficulties. Among the results, shyness was positively associated with internalizing symptoms and negatively related to perceptions of peer difficulties. However, both of these associations were partially mediated by internalizing coping styles. Moreover, problem-solving coping moderated these mediated pathways: among children who reported higher levels of problem-solving coping, the associations between internalizing coping and outcomes were attenuated. Several gender differences also emerged, suggesting that problem-solving coping may be particularly useful for shy boys. Results are discussed in terms of the complex but potentially critical role of coping in shy children's socioemotional functioning.
Center of Attention: How Facebook Users Allocate Attention across Friends

An individual's personal network — their set of social contacts — is a basic object of study in sociology. Studies of personal networks have focused on their size (the number of contacts) and their composition (in terms of categories such as kin and co-workers). Here we propose a new measure for the analysis of personal networks, based on the way in which an individual divides his or her attention across contacts. This allows us to contrast people who focus a large fraction of their interactions on a small set of close friends with people who disperse their attention more widely. Using data from Facebook, we find that this balance of attention is a relatively stable property of an individual over time, and that it displays interesting variation across both different groups of people and different modes of interaction. In particular, activities based on communication involve a much higher focus of attention than activities based simply on observation, and these two types of modalities also exhibit different forms of variation in interaction patterns both within and across groups. Finally, we contrast the amount of attention paid by individuals to their most frequent contacts with the rate of change in the identities of these contacts, providing a measure of churn for this set.
Ensuring formative assessment in e-course with online tests

This paper presents the results of a research on implementation of online tests in e-course and the effort of their improvement in order to design the basis for formative and summative students' assessment. The research was conducted on Information Systems course at the Department of Informatics, University of Rijeka, and it included 335 students. After the first phase of transition from traditional paper-based tests to online tests, in the second phase an important improvement of question bank and online tests structure was performed. Special attention was paid to formative self-assessment by using online tests. The results of a survey that collected students' attitudes regarding self-assessment online tests are also presented.
Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving: An Advanced Understanding

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is highly prevalent among incarcerated offenders in the United States, with estimates ranging from 27% of men to 55% of women. Those with BPD also present significant behavioral and managerial problems in the correctional setting, and are more likely to be convicted of serious and violent crimes. Experts agree that treatment, which reduce symptoms of severe personality disorders are likely to lessen an individual’s offending behavior. Currently, there are few effective, easily implemented, evidence-based treatment programs for BPD within the correctional setting. Since 2005, the Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) has integrated the Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) program into the routine care of incarcerated offenders with BPD. The STEPPS program has also been extended into community corrections and has been well accepted by both group leaders facilitating the program and offenders who have completed the STEPPS program. Keywords: borderline personality disorder, corrections, group therapy, offenders, systems training for emotional predictability and problem solving, prison
Transformative Women, Problem-Solving Men? Not Quite: Gender and Mediators' Perceptions of Mediation

A large field study examined female and male mediators' perceptions of their jobs, looking in particular at their attitudes toward mediation styles lying on the continuum between instrumental and transformative. Based on scholarship on gender and negotiation literature that has portrayed women as more interpersonal and somewhat less task oriented than men, we expected female mediators to be more transformative and less instrumental in their practice than their male peers. Our study was both qualitative and quantitative: we formulated the content of twenty in-depth interviews into an extensive questionnaire, answered by a representative sample of 189 Israeli mediators. Compared with their male counterparts, we found female mediators to be more transformative, but no less instrumental, in their view of mediation's goals and orientation. They were also somewhat more facilitative in preferred style, while male mediators were somewhat more directive. We also found additional intriguing gender differences, including that women mediators reported higher job satisfaction than did male mediators, but they also displayed a greater readiness to perceive failure in mediation.
COMPARISON OF TWO CHEMOTHERAPY REGIMEN: DOXYCYCLINE-RIFAMPICIN AND DOXYCYCLINE COTRIMOXAZOL IN THE BRUCELLOSIS PATIENTS AHVAZ, IRAN, 2004-2006

Objective: To compare two drugs regimen, doxycycline-rifampicin and doxycycline-cotrimoxazol in the treatment of brucellosis patients Methodology: It is a comparative clinical study conducted in Ahwaz a city southwest Iran, from April 2004 to January 2006. This study was conducted on 102 nomads’ patients with brucellosis. The diagnostic criteria were the finding of >1/80 (Wright) with a 2 mercaptoethanol (2 ME) >1/40, in association with compatible clinical findings (back pain, sweating and fever). Patients were enrolled into the two antimicrobial therapy groups, doxycycline plus rifampicin (DR group) and doxycycline plus co-trimoxazole (DC group). The data in the two groups were statistically compared with SPSS by chi square test. Results: Failure of treatment was seen in one (1.94%) and 5 (9.81%) cases treated in the DC group and DR group, respectively. Relapse was seen in three cases (5.88%) treated in the DC group and in six cases (11.76%) treated in the DR group. Failure of treatment plus relapse was seen in four (7.84%) and 11 (21.56%) cases treated in the DC group and DR group, respectively (p <0.05). Risk for relapse and failure of treatment in DR group was 2.75 times higher than DC group. Conclusion: This study showed that co-trimoxazole plus doxycycline regimen has a better therapeutic effect than doxycycline plus rifampicin regimen.