Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Case-Control Study Supports Extension of Surveillance Interval After Colonoscopic Polypectomy to at Least 5 Yr

OBJECTIVE:Colonoscopy with removal of polyps may strongly reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality. Recommended time intervals to surveillance colonoscopy differ between countries and have recently been extended to 5 yr or longer for the majority of cases in the United States. Whereas previous evidence is mainly based on observations of adenoma recurrence, we aimed to assess risk of CRC occurrence according to time since polypectomy.METHODS:In a population-based case-control study conducted in Germany, detailed history and results of previous large bowel endoscopies were obtained by interview and from medical records. Risk of CRC among subjects with history of endoscopic polypectomy compared to subjects without previous large bowel endoscopy was assessed according to time since polypectomy among 454 cases with CRC and 391 matched controls.RESULTS:Odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of CRC up to 2 yr, 3–5 yr, and 6–10 yr after polypectomy (using subjects without previous endoscopy as reference group) were 0.16 (0.09–0.69), 0.27 (0.08–0.87), and 1.90 (0.67–5.43), respectively. Risk was significantly reduced (odds ratio 0.27, 95% confidence interval 0.10–0.77) within 5 yr even after detection and removal of high-risk polyps (3+ polyps, at least 1 polyp ≥1 cm, at least 1 polyp with villous components). Odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the entire 10-yr time interval following polypectomy were 0.50 (0.23–1.12) and 0.36 (0.18–0.76) for patients with recorded high-risk adenomas and other patients, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:Our study provides empirical support for extension of the surveillance interval after colonoscopic polypectomy to at least 5 yr.
Biofeedback bei chronischem Tinnitus – Behandlungsleitfaden und vorläufige Ergebnisse zu Wirksamkeit und Akzeptanz

Einleitung: Viele Tinnitusbetroffene suchen aufgrund ihres organischen Krankheitsverständnisses eher somatische als psychotherapeutische Behandlungen auf. Durch die Erweiterung verhaltenstherapeutischer Ansätze um Biofeedbackelemente kann der Einstieg in psychotherapeutische Verfahren möglicherweise erleichtert werden. Ziel der vorliegenden randomisierten kontrollierten Studie war es, ein psychophysiologisches Therapiemanual zu entwickeln und seine Akzeptanz bei chronischen Tinnituspatienten zu untersuchen. In der Behandlung werden zum einen kognitiv-behaviorale Techniken zum Einfluss von Stress und Kognitionen auf das Tinnituserleben eingesetzt. Zum anderen werden durch die Rückmeldung körperlicher Parameter psychophysiologische Zusammenhänge demonstriert. Da bei Tinnitusbetroffenen eine erhöhte Muskelanspannung im Kopf- und Schulterbereich angenommen wird, soll mittels Biofeedback die gezielte Entspannung dieser Muskeln trainiert werden. Patienten und Methode: Zur Evaluation des Therapieprogramms wurden 65 Tinnituspatienten randomisiert zur Interventions- oder Wartekontrollgruppe zugewiesen. Das Therapieergebnis wurde mit Skalen zur Zufriedenheit, dem Tinnitusfragebogen und einem Tinnitustagebuch erfasst. Ergebnisse: Die entwickelte Behandlung wurde sehr gut akzeptiert und hatte keine Nebenwirkungen. Zudem wurde eine deutliche Verringerung der Tinnitusbelastung nachgewiesen, was durch mittlere bis hohe Effektstärken unterstützt wird. Schlussfolgerung: Das entwickelte biofeedbackgestützte Behandlungsmanual stellt ein sehr gut akzeptiertes und wirksames Verfahren zur Verringerung der Tinnitusbelastung dar und erleichtert Patienten mit somatischem Krankheitsmodell durch seine Fokussierung auf physiologische Parameter den Übergang zu einer eher psychosomatischen Sichtweise.
Effect of the Method of Preparation on the Composition and Cytotoxic Activity of the Essential Oil of Pituranthos tortuosus

The aerial parts of Pituranthos tortuosus (Desf.) Benth and Hook (Apiaceae), growing wild in Egypt, yielded 0.8%, 0.6%, and 1.5% (v/w) of essential oil when prepared by hydrodistillation (HD), simultaneous hydrodistillation-solvent (n-pentane) extraction (Lickens- Nickerson, DE), and conventional volatile solvent extraction (preparation of the “absolute”, SE), respectively. GC-MS analysis showed that the major components in the HD sample were β-myrcene (18.81%), sabinene (18.49%), trans-iso-elemicin (12.90%), and terpinen- 4-ol (8.09%); those predominent in the DE sample were terpinen-4-ol (29.65%), sabinene (7.38%), γ-terpinene (7.27%), and β-myrcene (5.53%); while the prominent ones in the SE sample were terpinen-4-ol (15.40%), dill apiol (7.90%), and allo-ocimene (4E,6Z) (6.00%). The oil prepared in each case was tested for its cytotoxic activity on three human cancer cell lines, i.e. liver cancer cell line (HEPG2), colon cancer cell line (HCT116), and breast cancer cell line (MCF7). The DE sample showed the most potent activity against the three human cancer cell lines (with IC50 values of 1.67, 1.34, and 3.38 μg/ml against the liver, colon, and breast cancer cell lines, respectively). Terpinen-4-ol, sabinene, γ-terpinene, and β-myrcene were isolated from the DE sample and subjected to a similar evaluation of cytotoxic potency; signifi cant activity was observed
Measuring the Extent of Party Institutionalisation: The Case of a Populist Entrepreneur Party

The consensus among Finnish commentators is that the True Finn Party (PS), which grew dramatically to become the second largest electoral party in 2011, is an institutionalised party – that is, it is ‘here to stay’. Although led for virtually the whole of its 19-year existence by Timo Soini, the PS, unlike say Berlusconi’s Forza Italia and Popolo Della Libertà, is not viewed as a ‘personal party’ in which its expected lifespan is dependent on the political lifespan of its founder-leader. But how institutionalised really is it and when can a party be said to be institutionalised? Building on the syndrome of properties widely ascribed to the process in the literature, the theoretical contribution of this article is to provide a composite definition and the first systematic operationalisation of the notion of party institutionalisation. The empirical section measures the extent of party institutionalisation using the populist-entrepreneur True Finn Party as a test case whilst the concluding discussion considers the wider question of the conceptual utility of institutionalisation for the analysis of party change.
Uncertain Fiscal Consolidations

The paper explores the macroeconomic consequences of fiscal consolidations whose timing and composition are uncertain. Drawing on the evidence in Alesina and Ardagna (2010), we emphasize whether or not the fiscal consolidation is driven by tax rises or expenditure cuts. We find that the composition of the fiscal consolidation, its duration, the monetary policy stance, the level of government debt and expectations over the likelihood and composition of fiscal consolidations all matter in determining the extent to which a given consolidation is expansionary and/or successful in stabilizing government debt.
The Second Life of Institutions: Social Poetics in a Digital State

In the bureaucratic moments that Michael Herzfeld describes, functionaries of the nation-state deny the contingent points of possible connection with their hapless subjects yet draw on a common symbolic language to do so—thus is the institution reproduced. Such ethnographic moments implicitly rely on other moments, those informed by their expressed lack of total order: illicit activities, games, and competitive verbal performance; cultural intimacy is generated in such occasions of private fallibility. This article explores what happens when a different kind of institution, a virtual world maker, attempts to colonize such disorder to govern legitimately.
Pathophysiology of white-nose syndrome in bats: a mechanistic model linking wing damage to mortality

White-nose syndrome is devastating North American bat populations but we lack basic information on disease mechanisms. Altered blood physiology owing to epidermal invasion by the fungal pathogen Geomyces destructans (Gd) has been hypothesized as a cause of disrupted torpor patterns of affected hibernating bats, leading to mortality. Here, we present data on blood electrolyte concentration, haematology and acid–base balance of hibernating little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus, following experimental inoculation with Gd. Compared with controls, infected bats showed electrolyte depletion (i.e. lower plasma sodium), changes in haematology (i.e. increased haematocrit and decreased glucose) and disrupted acid–base balance (i.e. lower CO2 partial pressure and bicarbonate). These findings indicate hypotonic dehydration, hypovolaemia and metabolic acidosis. We propose a mechanistic model linking tissue damage to altered homeostasis and morbidity/mortality.
Bandit Convex Optimization: Towards Tight Bounds

Bandit Convex Optimization (BCO) is a fundamental framework for decision making under uncertainty, which generalizes many problems from the realm of online and statistical learning. While the special case of linear cost functions is well understood, a gap on the attainable regret for BCO with nonlinear losses remains an important open question. In this paper we take a step towards understanding the best attainable regret bounds for BCO: we give an efficient and near-optimal regret algorithm for BCO with strongly-convex and smooth loss functions. In contrast to previous works on BCO that use time invariant exploration schemes, our method employs an exploration scheme that shrinks with time.
An Unsupervised Parameter Estimation Algorithm for a Generative Dependency N-gram Language Model

We design a language model based on a generative dependency structure for sentences. The parameter of the model is the probability of a dependency N-gram, which is composed of lexical words with four kinds of extra tags used to model the dependency relation and valence. We further propose an unsupervised expectationmaximization algorithm for parameter estimation, in which all possible dependency structures of a sentence are considered. As the algorithm is language-independent, it can be used on a raw corpus from any language, without any part-of-speech annotation, tree-bank or trained parser. We conducted experiments using four languages: English, German, Spanish and Japanese. The results illustrate the applicability and the properties of the proposed approach.
Vestibular compensation in lampreys: impairment and recovery of equilibrium control during locomotion

Removal of a vestibular organ (unilateral labyrinthectomy, UL) in the lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) results in a loss of equilibrium, so that the animal rolls (rotates around its longitudinal axis) almost continuously when swimming. This paper describes (i) UL-evoked disturbances of the pattern of locomotory movements responsible for rolling, (ii) recovery of equilibrium control after UL (vestibular compensation), and (iii) the role of vision in the recovery of equilibrium control. It was found that rolling is caused by an asymmetry in the undulatory locomotory movements, with larger deviations of the head towards the side with an intact labyrinth. The rolling appeared to be synchronized with the undulatory locomotory rhythm: during one complete roll turn (360 °), two cycles of locomotion were performed. A characteristic feature of the UL-induced motor deficit in the lamprey is the alternation of episodes of impaired swimming (with a distortion of the body shape and of the locomotor pattern and with a loss of equilibrium) with episodes of normal swimming (without any marked distortion of the locomotor pattern or loss of equilibrium). In the course of recovery after UL, the duration and frequency of the appearance of episodes of normal swimming increased, whereas episodes of impaired swimming became less frequent and shorter. The recovery of equilibrium control and the role of vision in recovery were investigated in lampreys with different combinations of lesions to the vestibular and visual sensory organs. In group 1 (UL only) animals, the time required for 80 % recovery was, on average, 33 days. In group 2 (UL and removal of both eyes) and in group 3 (UL and removal of the contralateral eye) animals, vestibular compensation was considerably retarded, and normal functioning of the roll control system was not regained even 3 months after UL. In contrast, in group 4 (UL and removal of the ipsilateral eye) animals, no impairment of the equilibrium control was observed, and the animals swam without rolling immediately after surgery. These findings indicate (i) that the visual system is important for the process of vestibular compensation, and (ii) that the deficiency in equilibrium control caused by UL can be abolished by means of unilateral (contralateral to UL) visual input. The hypothesis is advanced that the main UL-evoked motor deficit in the lamprey (loss of equilibrium) is primarily caused not by a persistent static distortion of the body shape, but by a loss of function of the roll control system responsible for stabilization of the dorsal-side-up orientation during swimming. A conceptual model of the roll control system of the lamprey, formulated in our previous studies, is used here to present arguments in favour of this hypothesis.
Exercise capacity and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The relationship between paroxysmal AF and exercise capacity in this population is incompletely understood. Methods Patients with HCM underwent symptom-limited cardiopulmonary testing with expired gas analysis at Stanford Hospital between October 2006 and October 2012. Baseline demographics, medical histories and resting echocardiograms were obtained for all subjects. Diagnosis of AF was established by review of medical records and baseline ECG. Those with paroxysmal AF were in sinus rhythm at the time of cardiopulmonary testing with expired gas analysis. Exercise intolerance was defined as peak VO2<20 mL/kg/min. We used multivariate logistic regression to evaluate the association between exercise intolerance and paroxysmal AF. Results Among the 265 patients recruited, 55 had AF (28 paroxysmal and 27 permanent). Compared with those without AF, subjects with paroxysmal AF were older, more likely to use antiarrhythmic and anticoagulant medications, and had larger left atria. Patients with paroxysmal AF achieved lower peak VO2 (21.9±9.2 mL/kg/min vs 26.9±10.8 mL/kg/min, p=0.02) and were more likely to have exercise intolerance (61% vs 28%, p<0.001) compared with those without AF. After adjustment for age, sex and body mass index (BMI) exercise intolerance remained significantly associated with paroxysmal AF (OR 4.65, 95% CI 1.83 to 11.83, p=0.001). Conclusions Patients with HCM and paroxysmal AF demonstrate exercise intolerance despite being in sinus rhythm at the time of exercise testing.
Activation of Vav by the Gammaherpesvirus M2 Protein Contributes to the Establishment of Viral Latency in B Lymphocytes

ABSTRACT Gammaherpesviruses subvert eukaryotic signaling pathways to favor latent infections in their cellular reservoirs. To this end, they express proteins that regulate or replace functionally specific signaling proteins of eukaryotic cells. Here we describe a new type of such viral-host interaction that is established through M2, a protein encoded by murine gammaherpesvirus 68. M2 associates with Vav proteins, a family of phosphorylation-dependent Rho/Rac exchange factors that play critical roles in lymphocyte signaling. M2 expression leads to Vav1 hyperphosphorylation and to the subsequent stimulation of its exchange activity towards Rac1, a process mediated by the formation of a trimolecular complex with Src kinases. This heteromolecular complex is coordinated by proline-rich and Src family-dependent phosphorylated regions of M2. Infection of Vav-deficient mice with gammaherpesvirus 68 results in increased long-term levels of latency in germinal center B lymphocytes, corroborating the importance of the M2/Vav cross talk in the process of viral latency. These results reveal a novel strategy used by the murine gammaherpesvirus family to subvert the lymphocyte signaling machinery to its own benefit.
Stress, Emotion, and Coping Strategies as Predictors of Personality Disorder Pathology

The utility of coping strategies, stress, and emotion as predictors of personality disorder pathology was examined by exposing subjects to a set of stressful scenarios. It was predicted that personality disorder (PD) would be associated with less adaptive coping strategies, higher stress, low control, and low perception of coping efficacy. In general, the results indicated strong correlations between PD and the coping strategies of escape-avoidance and accepting responsibility and weak or negative associations with the problem-solving and positive reappraisal strategies. Personality disorder was associated with stress, negative emotions, and low control/efficacy. The coping/emotion profiles are useful in elaborating and discriminating similarities and differences between PDs.
AN INTEGRAL APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND WASTE REDUCTION

Abstract This article aims to demonstrate how the Integral approach can be utilized to understand and potentially resolve a particular human-ecological issue. It arises out of a research project that involved examining the factors inhibiting sustainable consumption and waste reduction in the community of Calgary. The Integral approach aims to ensure that no fundamental dimensions of the problem are neglected. It beckons us to consider body, mind, and spirit in the personal, cultural, and social realms of reality.
Probiotic Yogurt Consumption is Associated With an Increase of CD4 Count Among People Living With HIV/AIDS

Aim To evaluate the long term effect of yogurt supplemented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus Fiti on the immune function (CD4 count) of people living with HIV/AIDS. Background Gastrointestinal infections and the leakage of microbial products from the gut have a profound impact on the deterioration of the immune system among people living with HIV/AIDS. Among persons not infected with the virus, probiotics can prevent gastrointestinal infections and restore an effective gut barrier, suggesting they might have a beneficial effect on the immune function of people living with HIV/AIDS. Study We carried out an observational retrospective study over a period of 3 years, with longitudinal comparison of the CD4 count within participants (n=68) before and during probiotic yogurt consumption, and compared with a control group of participants not consuming the yogurt (n=82). Results Among the yogurt consumers before use and the nonconsumers, an average increase in CD4 count was seen of 0.13 cells/μL/day (95% CI; 0.07-0.20, P=<0.001). After commencing consumption, yogurt consumers experienced an additional increase of 0.28 cells/μL/day (95% CI; 0.10-0.46, P=0.003). When adjusting for length of time using antiretroviral medication, the additional increase explained by yogurt consumption remained 0.17 cells/μL/day (95% CI; 0.01-0.34, P=0.04). Treatment with antiretroviral medication was associated with an increase of 0.27 cells/μL/day (95% CI; 0.17-0.38, P=<0.001). Conclusion The introduction of probiotic yogurt, made by local women in a low-income community in Tanzania, was significantly associated with an increase in CD4 count among consumers living with HIV.
Social Support and Use of Mental Health Services By Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites

It has been hypothesized that lack of social resources is associated with use of professional mental health services. Social resources may also have different relationships to mental health service use in cultural groups whose attitudes about use differ. This study tested these hypotheses using survey data from 1,149 non-Hispanic Whites and 1,244 Mexican Americans. The unmarried were more likely than the married to seek help from informal sources. People with little social support from their spouse or relatives were more likely to consult professional providers. Associations of social resources with help seeking did not decrease substantially when psychiatric disorder was controlled, suggesting that these relationships are direct, rather than being mediated by effects of soda1 support on mental health status. Social resources had similar associations with help seeking among Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic Whites.
Effects of distributed practice on the acquisition of second language English syntax

ABSTRACT A longitudinal study compared the effects of distributed and massed practice schedules on the learning of second language English syntax. Participants were taught distinctions in the tense and aspect systems of English at short and long practice intervals. They were then tested at short and long intervals. The results showed that distributed practice led to superior test scores on the long-term tests, indicating that the learning of second language syntax can benefit from distributed practice in a manner very similar to that reported for other skills and information types in the experimental psychology literature. Implications for intensive language-leaning programs and syllabus design in general are discussed.
Quotients of Fully Nonlinear Control Systems

In this paper, we introduce and study quotients of fully nonlinear control systems. Our definition is inspired by categorical definitions of quotients as well as recent work on abstractions of affine control systems. We show that quotients exist under mild regularity assumptions and characterize the structure of the quotient state/input space. This allows one to understand how states and inputs of the quotient system are related to states and inputs of the original system. We also introduce a notion of projectability which turns out to be equivalent to controlled invariance. This allows one to regard previous work on symmetries, partial symmetries, and controlled invariance as leading to special types of quotients. We also show the existence of quotients that are not induced by symmetries or controlled invariance. Such decompositions have a potential use in a theory of hierarchical control based on quotients.
Home and beyond in Aotearoa: the affective dimensions of migration for South African migrants

The integration of immigrants into local labour markets is a key focus of contemporary migration scholarship in Aotearoa New Zealand. While acknowledging the importance of these economic aspects of migrant settlement, in this article we examine instead how new arrivals from South Africa actively reconstitute a feeling of home and belonging post-migration. Drawing on the concept of affect, we illustrate the ways in which the experience of migration and settlement is embodied, situated and relational. We do this by examining the affective dimensions of home-making, both within and beyond the physical boundaries of a chosen dwelling and its location. Memory bridges all these experiences of transition, suffusing migrants' lives as they understand, frame and negotiate their affective present within the context of their affective past. Our focus renders visible important aspects of the migrant experience, and contributes to a more holistic understanding of why migrants come, how they settle and what encourages them to remain.
Life-Role Salience and Values: A Review of Recent Research

In this article, recent research using the Work Importance Study (WIS) instruments in English-speaking countries is reviewed. Research results indicate several consistent trends. First, that life-role salience and values must be viewed within specific developmental and cultural contexts. Second, in diverse settings and with different groups, there are sex differences related to the relative importance of life roles and values. Third, career counselors need consider the client's values and life-role salience to facilitate personal development. Recommendations for future research are offered.