Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term prognosis in patients continuing taking antithrombotics after peptic ulcer bleeding

AIM To investigate the long-term prognosis in peptic ulcer patients continuing taking antithrombotics after ulcer bleeding, and to determine the risk factors that influence the prognosis. METHODS All clinical data of peptic ulcer patients treated from January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2014 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Patients were divided into either a continuing group to continue taking antithrombotic drugs after ulcer bleeding or a discontinuing group to discontinue antithrombotic drugs. The primary outcome of follow-up in peptic ulcer bleeding patients was recurrent bleeding, and secondary outcome was death or acute cardiovascular disease occurrence. The final date of follow-up was December 31, 2014. Basic demographic data, complications, and disease classifications were analyzed and compared by t- or χ2-test. The number of patients that achieved various outcomes was counted and analyzed statistically. A survival curve was drawn using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the difference was compared using the log-rank test. COX regression multivariate analysis was applied to analyze risk factors for the prognosis of peptic ulcer patients. RESULTS A total of 167 patients were enrolled into this study. As for the baseline information, differences in age, smoking, alcohol abuse, and acute cardiovascular diseases were statistically significant between the continuing and discontinuing groups (70.8 ± 11.4 vs 62.4 ± 12.0, P < 0.001; 8 (8.2%) vs 15 (21.7%), P < 0.05; 65 (66.3%) vs 13 (18.8%), P < 0.001). At the end of the study, 18 patients had recurrent bleeding and three patients died or had acute cardiovascular disease in the continuing group, while four patients had recurrent bleeding and 15 patients died or had acute cardiovascular disease in the discontinuing group. The differences in these results were statistically significant (P = 0.022, P = 0.000). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve indicated that the incidence of recurrent bleeding was higher in patients in the continuing group, and the risk of death and developing acute cardiovascular disease was higher in patients in the discontinuing group (log-rank test, P = 0.000 for both). Furthermore, COX regression multivariate analysis revealed that the hazard ratio (HR) for recurrent bleeding was 2.986 (95%CI: 067-8.356, P = 0.015) in the continuing group, while HR for death or acute cardiovascular disease was 5.216 (95%CI: 1.035-26.278, P = 0.028). CONCLUSION After the occurrence of peptic ulcer bleeding, continuing antithrombotics increases the risk of recurrent bleeding events, while discontinuing antithrombotics would increase the risk of death and developing cardiovascular disease. This suggests that clinicians should comprehensively consider the use of antithrombotics after peptic ulcer bleeding.
Autonomic contributions in postural control: a review of the evidence

Abstract The ability to maintain balance is critical for daily activities such as walking and fall avoidance. The contemporary models of postural control emphasize the central and somatic interactions engaged in maintaining balance; however, there is emerging evidence that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) – the sympathetic division, in particular – routinely participates in postural control. The purpose of this paper is to review the evidence demonstrating the autonomic interactions in postural control. These interactions are presented in two broad categories: those that conceptualize the maintenance of postural equilibrium as a component of bodily homeostasis and those that illustrate how changes in affective states link cognitive perceptions and physiological responses (in this case, balance). The shared commonalities between postural and autonomic pathways are presented, pointing to the areas of overlap and the potential sources of the interaction. Although the specific function of autonomic engagement in postural control remains unknown, the potential roles are explored and highlight the directions for continued study.
Stress, social supports, and schizophrenic disorders: toward an interactional model.

The present article proposes an interactional model of schizophrenic disorders in which three parameters of stressors (e.g. stressor category, stressor content, stressor descriptors) interact with four parameters of social networks/supports (e.g. structure, interactional properties, qualitative properties, functional indices) to produce a stress state characterized by positions along three orthogonal dimensions: overload-underload, positive-negative affect, high arousal-low arousal. The stress state, it is speculated, is reciprocally related to various clinical dimensions, functional system impairments, quantitative response parameters, and qualitative response parameters which constitute the "schizophrenic" disorder. The basic point of the model is that the formative, precipitative, expressive, and maintaining forces of schizophrenic-type disorders are influenced by the simultaneous interaction of stressors, supports, and stress states.
The Way of the Warrior: Indigenous youth navigating the challenges of schooling

This study examines the educational experiences of 39 First Nations youth, ages 16-20 years, from two, First Nations, on-reserve, communities in northern Ontario, who share their reflections and experiences of reserve and public schooling. We drew on the Indigenous metaphor of the “new warrior” to analyze how these youth experienced and responded to educational challenges. Their conversations describe how racism framed their schooling experiences and how they made use of their Indigenous sources of strength, which included family and community structures, to address the inequalities in their schooling.
COMUNICACIÓN FAMILIAR Y COMPORTAMIENTOS DELICTIVOS EN ADOLESCENTES ESPAÑOLES: EL DOBLE ROL MEDIADOR DE LA AUTOESTIMA

This research analyses the relationship among family communication (open communication versus communication problems), multidimensional self-esteem (family, academic, social and physical self-esteem) and behavioural problems in adolescence. Two independent samples were used in the study: Sample 1 was composed of 414 adolescents ranging in age from 12 to 17 years old, and Sample 2 was composed of 625 adolescents aged from 11 to 20 years old. Results showed an indirect effect of family communication on delinquent behavior through the mediation of self-esteem. We found a protection effect of family and academic self-esteem and a risk effect of social and physical self-esteem on delinquent behavior.
Expression of chromogranins A, B, and C (secretogranin II) in human adrenal medulla and in benign and malignant pheochromocytomas An immunohistochemical study with region‐specific antibodies

In a recent immunohistochemical study of pheochromocytomas, a difference was observed between benign and malignant pheochromocytomas in their expression in different parts of the chromogranin (Cg) A molecule. The purpose of the present study was to extend the investigations by including two other members of this Cg family, CgB and C. Twenty‐five patients operated on for clinicopathologically benign pheochromocytomas, and four for metastasizing pheochromocytomas, were studied. Expression of the different Cg regions was studied immunohistochemically by means of region‐specific antibodies: four raised against CgA epitopes, five against CgB, and two against CgC. Adrenal medulla parenchyma from three surgical adrenalectomy specimens was used as non‐neoplastic control. All cells of normal adrenal medulla were immunoreactive to all 11 region‐specific Cg antibodies. In the pheochromocytomas, variations in the expression pattern occurred, but no significant quantitative differences were noted between benign and malignant tumours. Nevertheless, in all four malignant pheochromocytomas, the antibodies raised against the C‐terminal regions of both CgB and CgC visualised a noticeable population of large spindle‐shaped tumour cells, characterised by elongated processes. This cell type occurred in all four malignant pheochromocytomas but only in one benign tumour. Their structure and immunoreactivity differed from those of the sustentacular cells in the pheochromocytoma parenchyma. The use of region‐specific antibodies raised against epitopes in the C‐terminal region of CgB and CgC can facilitate the diagnosis of malignant pheochromocytoma.
Identification of Novel Metabolic Pathways of Pioglitazone in Hepatocytes: N-Glucuronidation of Thiazolidinedione Ring and Sequential Ring-Opening Pathway

The metabolism of [14C]pioglitazone was studied in vitro in incubations with freshly isolated human, rat, and monkey hepatocytes. Radioactivity detection high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of incubation extracts showed the detection of 13 metabolites (M1–M13) formed in incubations with human hepatocytes. An identical set of metabolites (M1–M13) was also detected in monkey hepatocytes. However, in rat hepatocytes, M1 through M3, M5 through M7, M9 through M11, and M13 were also detected, but M4, M8, and M12 were not detected. The structures of the metabolites were elucidated by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization. Novel metabolites of pioglitazone detected using these methods included thiazolidinedione ring-opened methyl sulfoxide amide (M1), thiazolidinedione ring-opened N-glucuronide (M2), thiazolidinedione ring-opened methyl sulfone amide (M3), thiazolidinedione ring N-glucuronide (M7), thiazolidinedione ring-opened methylmercapto amide (M8), and thiazolidinedione ring-opened methylmercapto carboxylic acid (M11). In summary, based on the results from these studies, two novel metabolic pathways for pioglitazone in hepatocytes are proposed to be as follows: 1) N-glucuronidation of the thiazolidinedione ring of pioglitazone to form M7 followed by hydrolysis to M2, and methylation of the mercapto group of the thiazolidinedione ring-opened mercapto carboxylic acid to form M11; and 2) methylation of the mercapto group of the thiazolidinedione ring-opened mercapto amide to form M8, oxidation of M8 to form M1, and oxidation of M1 to form M3.
Sigmoid colon torsion: mortality and relevant risk factors.

INTRODUCTION Sigmoid volvulus is an important acute intestinal obstruction, leading to high mortality and requiring urgent operation. The purpose of this study is to analyze risk factors for mortality in patients that were operated on due to sigmoid volvulus at our Department. MATERIALS AND METHODS The retrospective study included 158 patients, who were operated on due to sigmoid volvulus between January 1994-December 2010, in terms of age, gender, complaints at admission, physical signs, period of symptoms before admission, associated diseases, laboratory and radiological parameters, hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS The study consisted of 135 men (85.4%) and 23 women (14.6%), with a mean age of 62.54 years. Cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease were present in 34 (21.5%) and 42 (26.6%) patients, respectively. Urgent operation was undertaken in 125, while 33 received elective surgery. Abdominal distension and pain was evident in all the patients. Generalized tenderness was detected in 58.2%, while 70.9% had hyperactive bowel sound with tympanism. Plain radiograph revealed an impression of "omega ans" in all patients, while free air was detected in 11.4% of them. Risk factors for mortality included age (p = 0.008), delayed admission (p = 0.001), cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (p = 0.001), fluid-electrolyte imbalance (p =0.001), presence of necrosis (p = 0.001), and major contamination (p = 0.001). Wound infection and intraabdominal abscess were more common in patients that developed mortality (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Complications like wound infection and intraabdominal abscess are more frequent in the patients with the risk of mortality. Delayed admission results in higher risk of mortality. Mortality rates can be reduced by early admission, preoperative intensive resuscitation, suitable antibiotics, and emergent and viable surgery.
Creativity and Psychoticism: An Overinclusive Model

Eysenck's theory of creativity is an attempt to provide a synthesis of ideas about creativity that he has been developing over a major part of his life. It is ambitious, courageous, and verging on the grandiose. It is clear that Eysenck is primarily interested in demonstrating that there is a genetic base for creativity. Personality as such is of little interest to him. The stated goal of Eysenck's project is to throw light on the nature of creativity and its relation to intelligence, personality, and genius. He tries to prove the existence of a causal chain from DNA to creativity through the concept of psychoticism-a chain implicating the intermediary action of hippocampal formation, neurotransmitters, and enzyme influences, which are presumed to explain the complex interaction among cognition, psychoticism, and creativity. Eysenck admits that his theory includes a lot of guesswork, but he states that, at this stage of investigation, all that can be demanded of a theoretical model is that it be testable. His reliance on the hypothetico-deductive methodology is offered as a guarantee to that effect. Eysenck begins by rejecting the adequacy of the most important current theories-namely, Campbell's (1960) blind-search and Simonton's (1988) chance theories of creativity. He believes that the search for neogenetic solutions to problems (Spearman's, 1931, terminology) is not blind but is guided by ideas of relevance. It is facilited by a particular cognitive style that lies at the basis of creativity and that is determined by personality. In short, the cornerstone of Eysenck's theory of creativity is the concept of psychoticism (P) as measured by the P scale. He considers it to be a major dimension of personality (like E and N). It is both a dispositional and a cognitive trait, genetically determined. The genes for psychoticism include a dysgenic potential; that is, they also carry traits that make for inclusive fitness (creativity, dominance). Psychoticism identifies a particular personality structure in which thinking is overinclusive; that is, thinking characterized by a broad associative horizon. Creative persons with such a structure have been shown to have affinities with schizophrenics, but they are not themselves psychotic. They are characterized by high levels of psychoticism as measured by Eysenck's Psychoticism Scale (P). Oddly enough, Eysenck himself has not administered this test to eminent creative artists and scientists. He mentions only one study (K. 0. G6tz & K. G6tz, 1979) of creative artists, some of whom were eminent, to whom P scores were administered. The current P scale
EFA: Escala Fatorial de Autoconceito

O self somatico, o self pessoal (seguranca e autocontrole), o self social (receptividade social e atitude social) e o sei! etico-moral foram considerados como dimensoes de autoconceito e incluidos na hipotese de construcao do EFA. Os itens foram construidos a partir de um levantamento feito com uma amostra de 322 sujeitos. Para a analise dos itens foi utilizada uma amostra de 540 sujeitos. Os itens foram intercorrelacionados pelo coeficiente de correlacao do produto-momento de Pearson. A estrutura da matriz de intercorrelacoes 111 x 111 indicou a existencia de fatores. Esta matriz foi analisada fatorialmente a fim de eliminar os itens que nao apresentassem cargas fatoriais significativas em nenhum dos fatores. Os 79 itens restantes foram administrados a uma amostra de 893 sujeitos. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a analise fatorial. Os seis fatores extraidos representam as dimensoes do autoconceito postuladas na construcao do EFA. O coeficiente de precisao foi calculado para cada um dos fatores e para o total. Eles sao todos altamente significativos.
Sex Differences in Perceived Competence:: An Across Organizations Study

The self-perceived competence of 817 employees of federally-funded social service organizations was examined. Contrary to the speculations of many previous writers, occupancy of a supervisory position, not sex, was demonstrated to be a predictor of an individual's work-related sense of competence. The results of the study are discussed in terms of the potential negative consequences which may ensue when administrators assume, based on previous literature, that women will manifest chronically lower estimates of their competence than will men.
Value-Expressive versus Utilitarian Advertising Appeals: When and Why to Use Which Appeal

Abstract Value-expressive advertising appeals are effective when the product is value-expressive, while utilitarian appeals are effective when the product is utilitarian. When the product is value-expressive, audience persuasion is influenced through self-congruity. Conversely, when the product is utilitarian, audience persuasion is influenced through functional congruity. The effectiveness of the value-expressive as opposed to utilitarian appeals is argued also to be a function of such product-related factors as differentiation, life cycle, scarcity, and conspicuousness, and consumer-related factors such as involvement, prior knowledge, and self-monitoring. Future research and managerial implications are discussed.
Characteristics of Australian adolescent females in residential treatment who report using methamphetamines

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS To investigate factors associated with methamphetamine use in adolescent females referred to an Australian residential treatment service. DESIGN AND METHODS A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design was undertaken. Cross-sectional analysis of existing pre-treatment data for adolescent females aged 13-18 years (median 16.48 years) attending a treatment program between 2009 and 2015 (n = 267) was undertaken, followed by a focus group and in-depth interviews of key staff. RESULTS Female methamphetamine-users (n = 127, 47.6%) were significantly more likely than non-methamphetamine-users at pre-treatment to be in unstable living arrangements, where they moved frequently (P = 0.025), lived in more unstable (not rented or privately owned) accommodation (P = 0.012) and had problematic family situations (P = 0.004). They were more likely than non-methamphetamine-users to be to be poly-drug users (P < 0.001) and to have ever attempted suicide (P = 0.029). Cumulative trauma by someone known to the adolescent was the main predictor for female methamphetamine use (odds ratio 3.077). Qualitative data provided context and depth to quantitative findings, with an emphasis on trauma as a precursor to methamphetamine use. The qualitative interviews also highlighted changes made in service provision, given the increasing rates of methamphetamine use. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS High levels of trauma and mental health problems in this population support the notion that traumatic childhood experiences are strongly associated with problematic alcohol and other drug use, particularly, methamphetamine use, at a young age. Increased attention to decreasing family violence, abuse and neglect is required and in clinical practice, a trauma-informed model of care is recommended.
Graphs over time: densification laws, shrinking diameters and possible explanations

How do real graphs evolve over time? What are "normal" growth patterns in social, technological, and information networks? Many studies have discovered patterns in static graphs, identifying properties in a single snapshot of a large network, or in a very small number of snapshots; these include heavy tails for in- and out-degree distributions, communities, small-world phenomena, and others. However, given the lack of information about network evolution over long periods, it has been hard to convert these findings into statements about trends over time.Here we study a wide range of real graphs, and we observe some surprising phenomena. First, most of these graphs densify over time, with the number of edges growing super-linearly in the number of nodes. Second, the average distance between nodes often shrinks over time, in contrast to the conventional wisdom that such distance parameters should increase slowly as a function of the number of nodes (like O(log n) or O(log(log n)). Existing graph generation models do not exhibit these types of behavior, even at a qualitative level. We provide a new graph generator, based on a "forest fire" spreading process, that has a simple, intuitive justification, requires very few parameters (like the "flammability" of nodes), and produces graphs exhibiting the full range of properties observed both in prior work and in the present study.
The Preoperative Use of Gabapentin, Dexamethasone, and Their Combination in Varicocele Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND:We investigated the effects of gabapentin and dexamethasone given together or separately 1 h before the start of surgery on laryngoscopy, tracheal intubation, intraoperative hemodynamics, opioid consumption, and postoperative pain in patients undergoing varicocele operations. METHODS:Patients were randomly divided into four double-blind groups: group C (control, n = 20) received placebo, group G (gabapentin, n = 20) received 800 mg gabapentin, group D (dexamethasone, n = 20) received 8 mg dexamethasone, group GD (gabapentin plus dexamethasone) received both 800 mg gabapentin and 8 mg dexamethasone IV 1 h before the start of surgery. Standard induction and maintenance of anesthesia were accomplished and continued by propofol and remifentanil infusion. Heart rate and arterial blood pressure were recorded before induction and after intubation. Intraoperative total remifentanil consumption was recorded. Hemodynamic variables and visual analog scale were recorded for 24 h. Side effects were noted. RESULTS:Hemodynamics at 1, 3, 5, and 10 min after tracheal intubation, total remifentanil consumption during surgery, postoperative visual analog scale scores at 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 h, and postoperative nausea and vomiting were found to be significantly lower in group GD than in group G and group D (P < 0.05 for both), and substantially lower when compared with group C (P < 0.001). All values in group C were also higher than in groups G and D (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:Gabapentin and dexamethasone administered together an hour before varicocele surgery results in less laryngeal and tracheal intubation response, improves postoperative analgesia, and prevents postoperative nausea and vomiting better than individual administration of each drug.
Experimental evidence supports mantle partial melting in the asthenosphere

Based on sound velocity measurements, upper mantle seismic anomalies could be explained by a melt fraction as low as 0.2%. The low-velocity zone (LVZ) is a persistent seismic feature in a broad range of geological contexts. It coincides in depth with the asthenosphere, a mantle region of lowered viscosity that may be essential to enabling plate motions. The LVZ has been proposed to originate from either partial melting or a change in the rheological properties of solid mantle minerals. The two scenarios imply drastically distinct physical and geochemical states, leading to fundamentally different conclusions on the dynamics of plate tectonics. We report in situ ultrasonic velocity measurements on a series of partially molten samples, composed of mixtures of olivine plus 0.1 to 4.0 volume % of basalt, under conditions relevant to the LVZ. Our measurements provide direct compressional (VP) and shear (VS) wave velocities and constrain attenuation as a function of melt fraction. Mantle partial melting appears to be a viable origin for the LVZ, for melt fractions as low as ~0.2%. In contrast, the presence of volatile elements appears necessary to explaining the extremely high VP/VS values observed in some local areas. The presence of melt in LVZ could play a major role in the dynamics of plate tectonics, favoring the decoupling of the plate relative to the asthenosphere.