Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic Treatment in End-of-Life Cancer Patients—A Retrospective Observational Study at a Palliative Care Center in Sweden

Background: The aim of this study was to elucidate whether palliative cancer patients benefit from antibiotic treatment in the last two weeks of life when an infection is suspected. Method: We reviewed medical records from 160 deceased palliative cancer patients that had been included in previous studies on vitamin D and infections. Patients treated with antibiotics during the last two weeks of life were identified and net effects of treatment (symptom relief) and possible adverse events were extracted from medical records. Results: Seventy-nine patients (49%) had been treated with antibiotics during the last two weeks in life. In 37% (n = 29), the treatment resulted in evident symptom relief and among these 50% had a positive bacterial culture, 43% had a negative culture and in 7% no culture was taken. Among the patients with no or unknown effect of antibiotics, 50% had a positive culture. When the indication for antibiotic treatment was to avoid or treat sepsis, symptom relief was achieved in 50% of the patients (n = 19). Only 4% (n = 3) of the patients experienced adverse events of the treatment (diarrhea, nausea). Conclusions: Treating infections with antibiotics in the last weeks of life may improve the quality of life for palliative cancer patients, especially if sepsis is suspected or confirmed. According to our results, the beneficial effects outweigh the potentially negative outcomes.
Adopted Children " s Outcome as Young Adults in Regards to Educational Attainment and Income Research Honors Project

This study explains the differences between the outcomes for children adopted by the age of two in comparison to biologically raised children using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. It analyzes the educational attainment and income earned through a competing effects framework. The Family Background Effect measures the positive effects caused by higher than average socioeconomic status of the average family with adopted children. The Family Background Effect contrasted with the negative Adoption Effect caused by a number of different factors that could work against an adopted child. Using linear regression analysis, the study finds that the Family Background Effect prevails over the Adoption Effect. Then the Oaxaca Decomposition technique breaks down the effects of each family background variable on educational attainment for the adopted young adult. It is determined that the differences in the average level of education of the respondents' mother explains over 50% of the' difference in educational attainment between adopted and biologically raised young adults.
Debiasing by instruction: The case of belief bias

Abstract The study is concerned with the question of whether robust biases in reasoning can be reduced or eliminated by verbal instruction in principles of reasoning. Three experiments are reported in which the effect of instructions upon the belief bias effect in syllogistic reasoning is investigated. Belief bias is most clearly marked by a tendency for subjects to accept invalid conclusions which are a priori believable. Experiment 1 attempted to replicate and extend an experiment reported by Newstead, Pollard, Evans and Allen (1992). In contrast with their experiment, it was found that belief bias was maintained despite the use of augmented instructions which emphasised the principle of logical necessity. Experiment 2 provided an exact replication of the augmented instructions condition of Newstead et al., including the presence of problems with belief-neutral conclusions. Once again, significant effects of conclusion believability were found. A third experiment examined the use of elaborated instructi.
Infectious Agents as Causes of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Among exposures presently viewed as possible etiologic factors in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), infections are close to being regarded as established causes. Infectious agents causing NHL can be classified, according to mechanism, into three broad groups. First, some viruses can directly transform lymphocytes. Lymphocyte-transforming viruses include Epstein Barr virus (linked to Burkitt's lymphoma, NHLs in immunosuppressed individuals, and extranodal natural killer/T-cell NHL), human herpesvirus 8 (primary effusion lymphoma), and human T lymphotropic virus type I (adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma). Second, human immunodeficiency virus is unique in causing profound depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes, leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and an associated high risk for some NHL subtypes. Third, recent evidence suggests that some infections increase NHL risk through chronic immune stimulation. These infections include hepatitis C virus as well as certain bacteria that cause chronic site-specific inflammation and seem to increase risk for localized mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue NHLs. Establishing that an infectious agent causes NHL depends on showing that the agent is present in persons with NHL as well as laboratory experiments elucidating the mechanisms involved. Only epidemiologic studies can provide evidence that infection is actually a risk factor by showing that infection is more frequent in NHL cases than in controls. Given the range of mechanisms by which infections could plausibly cause NHL and our growing molecular understanding of this malignancy, this field of research deserves continued attention. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):401–4)
Testing the co‐invasion hypothesis: ectomycorrhizal fungal communities on Alnus glutinosa and Salix fragilis in New Zealand

It has been proposed that co‐invasion with ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi is a common mechanism by which non‐indigenous trees overcome symbiont limitation, yet virtually all prior evidence has come from a single plant family, the Pinaceae. We tested the co‐invasion hypothesis by examining the EM fungal communities associated with a specialized host, Alnus glutinosa (black alder), and a generalist host, Salix fragilis (crack willow), in New Zealand, where both trees are invasive. We aimed to find out if these two hosts, which often co‐occur on invaded riverbanks, (1) were forming novel EM fungal associations in New Zealand and (2) had potential to facilitate each other through shared EM fungi.
PD-L1 expression is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Virus-associated malignancies and sarcomatoid cancers correlate with high PD-L1 expression, however, underlying mechanisms remain controversial. We evaluated the correlation between PD-L1 expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Tumor tissues from 50 patients with HNSCC were evaluated for PD-L1 by immunohistochemistry, which showed 32 (64.0%) were PD-L1 positive (PD-L1+). Interestingly, PD-L1 expression was significantly associated with EMT (P = 0.010), as assessed by low E-cadherin and high vimentin expression. The overall survival of PD-L1+ patients with EMT features was significantly worse than those without EMT features (P = 0.007). In an independent validation cohort (N = 91), as well as in HNSCC cases of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, high PD-L1 expression was also associated with the high probability of an EMT signature, referred from the GEO dataset, GSE4824. Survival analysis confirmed PD-L1+/EMT+ patients had a poorer prognosis than PD-L1+/EMT- patients in the TCGA cohort. PD-L1 positivity can thus be divided into two categories according to the absence or presence of EMT. PD-L1 expression is also independently associated with EMT features in HNSCC.
Skin infections in male pupils of primary schools in Al Ahsa

Objectives: To determine the prevalence, the nature, and the possible socio-demographic risk factors involved in the development of common transmissible skin disorders (TSD) among the studied population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional consecutive survey was carried out from November 15, 2008 to May 14, 2009 in Al-Ahsa governorate. This study included 1337 male primary school children. Data were collected using the following tools: Socio-demographics and hygienic habits according to pre-established forms and a thorough dermatological examination of all the included children. Results: The prevalence of TSD was 27.15% with a statistically significant difference according to rural/urban locations (33.74% vs. 22.27%). Fungal infections were the leading diseases (9.1%) followed by bacterial infections (8.9%), parasitic infestations (4.3%), and viral infections (4.1%). TSD were significantly more frequent in students whose fathers have a primary or preparatory educational status and in the students having the habit to play barefooted. Conclusion: Our study found that TSD was relatively frequent among male primary school students in Al-Ahsa. Our study has several limitations. One major limitation is that female primary school students were excluded from the study. Despite this major limitation, we hope the findings may be useful in planning health care programs for Saudi children with the hope of reducing the prevalence of TSD in the future.
Relationship between detrusor wall thickness and lower urinary tract dysfunctions in patients with spinal cord injuries

The aim of this study was to measure the detrusor wall thickness (DWT) by ultrasound in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI)-based neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) in order to assess the potential role of DWT in the prediction of functional renal impairment risk. An 8-13 MHz linear array ultrasound probe was used to measure the DWT of the anterior bladder wall in 48 adult patients with SCI-NLUTD (the patient group) and 41 normal adult subjects (the control group). The critical DWT values of moderate-to-high-risk patients (detrusor leak-point pressure (DLPP ≥40 cmH2O) and low-risk patients (detrusor leak-point pressure <40 cmH2O) were also studied in the patient group. The patient group exhibited a significant decrease in DWT when bladder capacity (BC) was <250 mL (P<0.05). Under conditions of maximum BC, the patient group exhibited a significantly increased DWT (0.97±0.31) mm as compared to the control group (P<0.05). A correlation was detected between DWT and DLPP in the patient group (r = 0.77, P<0.01), such that a DWT ≥0.87 mm could be used as the critical value to predict the risk of functional renal impairment (sensitivity 89.5%, specificity 58.6%) at maximum BC. Patients with SCI exhibited significantly increased DWT, which was positively correlated with DLPP. Additionally, DWT could be used to predict the risk of functional renal impairment in patients with SCI-based NLUTD.
Disability History in Scandinavia: Part of an International Research Field

Abstract The growing academic interest in the history of disability, both in Scandinavia and internationally, is strongly linked to the political disability movement and its need to face present and future struggles for independence, equality and citizenship by constructing a new history of disability. Another origin of interest is more genuinely academic, with increasing awareness among scholars in various disciplines of how boundary work in relation to concepts of normalcy, deviance and disability may function as a powerful tool in historical analyses. A third point of departure for historical research on disability may be labelled “skeleton research” aroused by media revelations of past social practices, which are now seen as abusive and repressive. This paper argues that by adding an international historical context of comparison to the field of disability research, new theoretical perspectives on disability studies in general are offered, supporting the idea of applying disability as a theoretical to.
What Do Introductory Sociology Students Know and When Do They Know It? The Results of Pretesting Students.

Ways in which both instructors and students can benefit from the administration of a pretest in introductory sociology courses are described. Among other benefits, instructors are able to assess the amount of learning that occurs during the course and students are able to get a practical illustration of course content and testing format. Research results from three introductory sociology classes which used pretests at two different types of schools are presented. Students with higher g.p.a. 's, students with more years of college completed, and students from higher social class backgrounds score better on pretests. High school sociology coursework and prior college coursework in the social sciences do not improve pretest scores. Pretest scores, as well as college g.p.a. , predict overall grades for the course. Students who learn more in a course, judging firom their improvement on their pretest grade, do not report significantly greater satisfaction with the course.
Spatiotemporal patterns of cortical fiber density in developing infants, and their relationship with cortical thickness

The intrinsic relationship between the convoluted cortical folding and the underlying complex whiter matter fiber connections has received increasing attention in current neuroscience studies. Recently, the axonal pushing hypothesis of cortical folding has been proposed to explain the finding that the axonal fibers (derived from diffusion tensor images) connecting to gyri are significantly denser than those connecting to sulci in both adult human and non‐human primate brains. However, it is still unclear about the spatiotemporal patterns of the fiber density on the cortical surface of the developing infant brains from birth to 2 years of age, which is the most dynamic phase of postnatal brain development. In this paper, for the first time, we systemically characterized the spatial distributions and longitudinal developmental trajectories of the cortical fiber density in the first 2 postnatal years, via joint analysis of longitudinal structural and diffusion tensor imaging from 33 healthy infants. We found that the cortical fiber density increases dramatically in the first year and then keeps relatively stable in the second year. Moreover, we revealed that the cortical fiber density on gyral regions was significantly higher at 0, 1, and 2 years of age than that on sulcal regions in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. Meanwhile, the cortical fiber density was strongly positively correlated with cortical thickness at several three‐hinge junction regions of gyri. These results significantly advanced our understanding of the intrinsic relationship between the cortical folding, cortical thickness and axonal wiring during early postnatal stages. Hum Brain Mapp 36:5183–5195, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
GENDER ROLE, ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS, AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STYLES

This study examined the relationship among biological sex, gender role, organizational status, and conflict management behavior of males and females in three similar organizations. Individuals (N = 118) from upper and lower status organizational positions completed the Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory‐II, in the context of two recalled organizational conflicts (Rahim, 1983a), and the Bern Sex Role Inventory (Bern, 1974). After controlling for biological sex, when compared with other gender roles masculine individuals were highest on the dominating conflict style, whereas feminine individuals were highest on the avoiding style, and androgynous individuals on the integrating style. Further, upper organizational status individuals were higher on the integrating style, while lower status individuals reported greater use of avoiding and obliging styles.
Herbivory by Canada Geese: Diet Selection and Effect on Lawns.

Flocks of free-ranging Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) often are considered nuisances when they graze on lawns because they litter the sites with fecal material, and their grazing often is perceived to be detrimental to the turf. I tested whether goose grazing had changed the composition of grass species at 20 sites in Connecticut where geese were considered nuisances. At these sites Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) was less prevalent in areas grazed heavily by geese than in areas of the same lawn that received light grazing. At six sites where up to several hundred geese wait daily for food handouts, 46% of the ground was devoid of vegetation except for a moss. I examined the palatability of different grass species to Canada Geese by giving captive birds the opportunity to feed in plots of five cool-season turf-grass species. The birds spent more time feeding in plots of Kentucky bluegrass and less time feeding in plots of tall fescue (Festuca Araneidae cv. K-31) that would have been expected if the geese were grazing among plots at random. Time spent grazing in plots of colonial bent grass (Agrostis tenuis cv. Highland), perennial ryegrass (Lolium peatland), and red fescue (F. rubra) did not differ from the expected. Feeding preferences for grass species were negatively correlated with the ash content of the leaves and with the amount of force required to sever a specific leaf mass. Captive Canada Geese would not feed on common periwinkle (Inca minor), Japanese pachydermum (pachydermum terminals), or English ivy (headnotes helix). These results suggest that Canada Goose numbers can be reduced at sites where they are foraging on turf if lawns are replaced by an unpalatable ground cover, or, to a lesser extent, with a tough-leaf grass species such as tall fescue.
The Multiple Voices of Belonging: Migrant Identities and Community Practice in South Wales

The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) argues that inclusion begins on day one of arrival in the UK and that successful inclusion is closely related to the standard of reception procedures and people's experience (2006). However, this paper argues that inclusion for migrants within Wales is a complex mixture both of belonging and of exclusion and is at once national, local, and multiple in its formation. This paper moves beyond statistics on belonging and community by attaching a more nuanced and detailed understanding of the everyday situation of belonging and community for migrants living in Wales. By highlighting the way in which belonging is multiscalar, operating in and through the everyday, and is influenced and driven by individual circumstance and context I demonstrate the complexities of this term. This paper draws on in-depth qualitative research conducted in South Wales to outline how migrants in this context attest to and negotiate multiple senses of belonging. In telling their stories, this paper offers new directions in how we approach the nature of belonging for migrant groups by drawing on the practice and performance of everyday life.
Transobturator tape for female stress incontinence: follow-up after 24 months.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of transobturator vaginal tape (TOT) in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and to analyze functional results and quality of life after 24 months follow-up. METHODS The study included all women with SUI who underwent a TOT procedure in which the sling passes from the obturator foramen from the outside to the inside, under general or regional anesthesia from December 2004 to January 2006. All study patients must have had a minimal follow-up of 24 months. The patients were prospectively evaluated, and the following factors were assessed: number of pads used per day, physical examination including pelvic examination, urinalysis, urogenital distress inventory (UDI-6), analog global satisfaction scale (GSS), pad weight test, and urodynamic studies including filling cystometry and Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) test. RESULTS Fifty-two consecutive patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria underwent TOT procedure by 1 surgeon. The mean age was 50 +/-9 (range 37-72) and minimal follow-up was 24 months (range 24-30 months). Two patients were lost to follow-up after 12 months and 3 patients did not come for the 24-month evaluation. The mean operative time was 18 minutes +/-4 (range 15-31), with an average amount of bleeding 57 cc +/-22cc. Our results demonstrate a 92% cure or improvement rate after 12 months, and an 85% after 24 months. CONCLUSION The transobturator approach from outside to inside is a very effective treatment of SUI with low morbidity. However, longer follow-up in larger populations should assess the long-term reliability of this procedure.
Subclade of Flavin-Monooxygenases Involved in Aliphatic Glucosinolate Biosynthesis1[W]

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are amino acid-derived secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities dependent on chemical modifications of the side chain. We previously identified the flavin-monooxygenase FMOGS-OX1 as an enzyme in the biosynthesis of aliphatic GSLs in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) that catalyzes the S-oxygenation of methylthioalkyl to methylsulfinylalkyl GSLs. Here, we report the fine mapping of a quantitative trait locus for the S-oxygenating activity in Arabidopsis. In this region, there are three FMOs that, together with FMOGS-OX1 and a fifth FMO, form what appears to be a crucifer-specific subclade. We report the identification of these four uncharacterized FMOs, designated FMOGS-OX2 to FMOGS-OX5. Biochemical characterization of the recombinant protein combined with the analysis of GSL content in knockout mutants and overexpression lines show that FMOGS-OX2, FMOGS-OX3, and FMOGS-OX4 have broad substrate specificity and catalyze the conversion from methylthioalkyl GSL to the corresponding methylsulfinylalkyl GSL independent of chain length. In contrast, FMOGS-OX5 shows substrate specificity toward the long-chain 8-methylthiooctyl GSL. Identification of the FMOGS-OX subclade will generate better understanding of the evolution of biosynthetic activities and specificities in secondary metabolism and provides an important tool for breeding plants with improved cancer prevention characteristics as provided by the methylsulfinylalkyl GSL.
Infection-induced proin X ammatory cytokines are associated with decreases in positive a V ect , but not increases in negative a V ect

Infection commonly triggers nonspeciWc psychological and behavioral changes including fatigue and malaise, anhedonia, inability to concentrate, and disturbed sleep that collectively are termed “sickness behaviors”. Converging evidence from several lines of research implicate the activities of proinXammatory cytokines as a cause of sickness behaviors. Here we elaborate upon the Wndings of previous research by examining whether infection-associated elevations in local proinXammatory cytokines are associated with increased negative mood and decreased positive mood. One hundred and eighty-nine healthy adults were experimentally exposed to rhinovirus or inXuenza virus during a 6-day period of quarantine. Infection, objective signs of illness, nasal IL-1 , IL-6, and TNF, and self-reported aVect were assessed at baseline and on each of the Wve post-challenge quarantine days. In the 153 persons who became infected following exposure to the challenge virus, daily production of IL-6, but not IL-1 or TNF, was associated with reduced concurrent daily positive aVect. Oneday lagged analyses showed that daily production of all three cytokines was related to lower positive aVect on the next day. All lagged associations were independent of previous-day positive aVect and objective signs of illness (mucus production, mucociliary clearance function). There were no associations between cytokines and negative aVect. Findings support a causal association between pathogeninduced local cytokine production and changes in positive aVect over a 24-h timeline. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.