Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum angiotensin converting enzyme in sarcoidosis: sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis: correlations with disease activity, duration, extra-thoracic involvement, radiographic type and therapy.

Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SACE), despite certain limitations, has been found to be a useful adjunct to the diagnosis, assessment of disease activity, and management of sarcoidosis. The spectrofluorimetric assay was used to measure SACE in 50 normal controls, 76 patients with tuberculosis (42 pulmonary, 16 lymphatic and 18 military cases), 20 patients with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, 50 patients with silicosis, three patients with extrinsic allergic alveolitis, 10 patients with Crohn's disease, two patients with Gaucher's disease, and 128 patients with sarcoidosis on 303 occasions (144 during periods judged as clinically active and 189 inactive). Our results show a normal range (mean +/- 2SD) of 19-54 nmol/ml/min. The false positive rate is 2 per cent in normal controls, 9.2 per cent in tuberculosis (38.9 per cent in military but 0 per cent in the other forms), 48 per cent in silicosis, 100 per cent in Gaucher's disease, and 0 per cent in the other diseases. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 58.1, 83.8, 83.8 and 58.1 per cent respectively. The sensitivity rose to 85.9 per cent if only those samples taken from patients in whom sarcoidosis was suspected on initial presentation were included, and 92.1 per cent if only those with clinically active sarcoidosis were included. The sensitivity of SACE as a diagnostic test in sarcoidosis is thus influenced by the relative frequency of active and inactive sarcoidosis. The specificity is influenced by the prevalence of military tuberculosis and silicosis, but is uninfluenced by other common varieties of interstitial lung disease such as cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis and extrinsic allergic alveolitis, or by other non-pulmonary granulomatous disease. There was no correlation of the SACE level with age, sex, population group, associated other illness or duration of sarcoidosis. Statistically, SACE levels were significantly higher in patients with Types II and III chest radiographs as compared to Type I and 0, and also in those with additional clinically evident extra-thoracic disease e.g. in lymph node, eye and especially multiple systems. SACE also reflected clinical activity with levels being statistically significantly greater in those patients assessed as having active disease, although 7.9 per cent of these had normal levels. Our observations indicate that SACE levels correlate well with disease activity longitudinally, both in relation to spontaneous remission and steroid therapy, and are thus helpful in patient management.
A stochastic approximation scheme and convergence theorem for particle interactions with perfectly reflecting boundary conditions

We prove the existence of a solution to an equation governing the number density within a compact domain of a discrete particle system for a prescribed class of particle interactions taking into account the effects of the diffusion and drift of the set of particles. Each particle carries a number of internal coordinates which may evolve continuously in time, determined by what we will refer to as the internal drift, or discretely via the interaction kernels. Perfectly reflecting boundary conditions are imposed on the system and all the processes may be spatially and temporally inhomogeneous. We use a relative compactness argument to construct a sequence of measures that converge weakly to a solution of the governing equation. Since the proof of existence is a constructive one, it provides a stochastic approximation scheme that can be used for the numerical study of molecular dynamics.
Class Struggle American Style: Unions, Strikes and Wages

A major characteristic of class relations in the United States has been the absence of a self consciously defined and politically cohesive working class. The major form of working-class organization has been trade union organization. Unions were institutionalized during the immediate post-war period with the establishment of a post-war labor capital accord, a major function of which was the institutionalization and narrowing of class conflict along narrow economic dimensions. This paper shows that it is the institutionalized presence of the labor movement that empowers worker militancy and allows workers to strike successfully for higher compensation. Using multivariate time-series regression analysis this paper shows that in times (post-World War II) and industrial sectors in which unions are well established, strikes lead to an increased rate of compensation growth. In the post-war period, in the industrial sectors in which unions are not well institutionalized, strikes are an ineffective weapon in economic class struggles and unionization appears to be economically beneficial.
Traditional living and cultural ways as protective factors against suicide: perceptions of Alaska Native university students

Introduction Native peoples living in Alaska have one of the highest rates of suicide in the world. This represents a significant health disparity for indigenous populations living in Alaska. This research was part of a larger study that explored qualitatively the perceptions of Alaska Native university students from rural communities regarding suicide. This analysis explored the resilience that arose from participants’ experiences of traditional ways, including subsistence activities. Previous research has indicated the importance of traditional ways in preventing suicide and strengthening communities. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 university students who had migrated to Fairbanks, Alaska, from rural Alaskan communities. An interview protocol was developed in collaboration with cultural and community advisors. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Participants were asked specific questions concerning the strengthening of traditional practices towards the prevention of suicide. Transcripts were analysed using the techniques of grounded theory. Findings Participants identified several resilience factors against suicide, including traditional practices and subsistence activities, meaningful community involvement and an active lifestyle. Traditional practices and subsistence activities were perceived to create the context for important relationships, promote healthy living to prevent suicide, contrast with current challenges and transmit important cultural values. Participants considered the strengthening of these traditional ways as important in suicide prevention efforts. However, subsistence and traditional practices were viewed as a diminishing aspect of daily living in rural Alaska. Conclusions Many college students from rural Alaska have been affected by suicide but are strong enough to cope with such tragic events. Subsistence living and traditional practices were perceived as important social and cultural processes with meaningful lifelong benefits for participants. Future research should continue to explore the ways in which traditional practices can contribute towards suicide prevention, as well as the far-reaching benefits of subsistence living.
Fetal Regulatory T Cells and Peripheral Immune Tolerance In Utero: Implications for Development and Disease

The developing fetus must actively learn to tolerate benign antigens or suffer the consequences of broken tolerance. Tolerance of self‐antigens prevents development of autoimmune diseases and is achieved by both deletion of autoreactive T cell clones in the thymus (central tolerance) and by the suppressive influence of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the periphery. Fetal CD4+ T cells have a strong predisposition to differentiate into tolerogenic Tregs that actively promote self‐tolerance, as well as tolerance to non‐inherited antigens on chimeric maternal cells that reside in fetal tissues. As the fetus nears birth, a crucial transition must occur between the tolerogenic fetal immune system and a more defensive adult‐type immune system that is able to combat pathogens. This paper will review the unique tolerogenic nature of fetal T cells and will examine evidence for a novel model of fetal immune development: the layered immune system hypothesis.
Internet addiction: coping styles, expectancies, and treatment implications

Internet addiction (IA) has become a serious mental health condition in many countries. To better understand the clinical implications of IA, this study tested statistically a new theoretical model illustrating underlying cognitive mechanisms contributing to development and maintenance of the disorder. The model differentiates between a generalized Internet addiction (GIA) and specific forms. This study tested the model on GIA on a population of general Internet users. The findings from 1019 users show that the hypothesized structural equation model explained 63.5% of the variance of GIA symptoms, as measured by the short version of the Internet Addiction Test. Using psychological and personality testing, the results show that a person’s specific cognitions (poor coping and cognitive expectations) increased the risk for GIA. These two factors mediated the symptoms of GIA if other risk factors were present such as depression, social anxiety, low self-esteem, low self-efficacy, and high stress vulnerability to name a few areas that were measured in the study. The model shows that individuals with high coping skills and no expectancies that the Internet can be used to increase positive or reduce negative mood are less likely to engage in problematic Internet use, even when other personality or psychological vulnerabilities are present. The implications for treatment include a clear cognitive component to the development of GIA and the need to assess a patient’s coping style and cognitions and improve faulty thinking to reduce symptoms and engage in recovery.
Do tumor necrosis factor inhibitors cause uveitis? A registry-based study.

OBJECTIVE Population-based studies of patients with ankylosing spondylitis indicate that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors prevent uveitis. Paradoxically, anecdotal reports implicate etanercept as a cause of uveitis. Therefore, using the information from 2 drug events databases, the purpose of this study was to assess reported cases of uveitis associated with the use of TNF inhibitors. METHODS Uveitis cases occurring in the US associated with etanercept, infliximab, or adalimumab therapy that were reported to 2 spontaneous reporting databases prior to January 1, 2006 were reviewed. RESULTS Overall, there were 43 cases of uveitis associated with etanercept, 14 associated with infliximab, and 2 associated with adalimumab. After normalizing for the estimated number of patients treated with each medication, etanercept was associated with a greater number of uveitis cases than infliximab (P < 0.001) and adalimumab (P < 0.01), while no such association was found between adalimumab and infliximab (P > 0.5). Using a priori criteria to avoid including patients whose underlying disease was associated with uveitis, 20 cases associated with etanercept, 4 cases associated with infliximab, and 2 cases associated with adalimumab were identified. A repeat analysis again revealed a greater number of uveitis cases associated with etanercept (P < 0.001 versus infliximab). CONCLUSION Etanercept therapy is associated with a significantly greater number of reported uveitis cases in comparison with infliximab and adalimumab in 2 medication side effect registries. These results are consistent with previous studies and suggest that this relationship is drug specific and not related to TNF inhibitors as a whole. However, our findings do not support the use of infliximab over etanercept; rather, if a patient develops uveitis during etanercept therapy, then a change to infliximab may be warranted.
Quality of evidence for perceptual decision making is indexed by trial-to-trial variability of the EEG

A fundamental feature of how we make decisions is that our responses are variable in the choices we make and the time it takes to make them. This makes it impossible to determine, for a single trial of an experiment, the quality of the evidence on which a decision is based. Even for stimuli from a single experimental condition, it is likely that stimulus and encoding differences lead to differences in the quality of evidence. In the research reported here, with a simple “face”/“car” perceptual discrimination task, we obtained late (decision-related) and early (stimulus-related) single-trial EEG component amplitudes that discriminated between faces and cars within and across conditions. We used the values of these amplitudes to sort the response time and choice within each experimental condition into more-face-like and less-face-like groups and then fit the diffusion model for simple decision making (a well-established model in cognitive psychology) to the data in each group separately. The results show that dividing the data on a trial-by-trial basis by using the late-component amplitude produces differences in the estimates of evidence used in the decision process. However, dividing the data on the basis of the early EEG component amplitude or the times of the peak amplitudes of either component did not index the information used in the decision process. The results we present show that a single-trial EEG neurophysiological measure for nominally identical stimuli can be used to sort behavioral response times and choices into those that index the quality of decision-relevant evidence.
Efficient canonical form for Boolean matching of complex functions in large libraries

A new algorithm is developed which transforms the truth table or implicant table of a Boolean function into a canonical form under any permutation of inputs. The algorithm is used for Boolean matching for large libraries that contain cells with large numbers of inputs and implicants. The minimum cost canonical form is used as a unique identifier for searching for the cell in the library. The search time is nearly constant if a hash table is used for storing the cells' canonical representations in the library. Experimental results on more than 100,000 gates confirm the validity and feasible run-time of the algorithm.
High tidal volume and positive fluid balance are associated with worse outcome in acute lung injury.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Recent data have suggested that ventilatory strategy could influence outcomes from acute lung injury (ALI) and ARDS. We tested the hypothesis that infection/sepsis and use of higher tidal volumes than those applied in the ARDS Network (ARDSnet) study (> 7.4 mL/kg of predicted body weight) would worsen outcome in patients with ALI/ARDS. DESIGN International cohort, observational study. SETTING One hundred ninety-eight European ICUs participating in the Sepsis Occurrence in Acutely Ill Patients study. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS All 3,147 adult patients admitted to one of the participating ICUs between May 1, 2002, and May 15, 2002. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Patients were followed up until death, hospital discharge, or for 60 days. Of the 3,147 patients, 393 patients (12.5%) had ALI/ARDS. ICU and hospital mortality was higher in patients with ALI/ARDS than those without ALI/ARDS (38.9% vs 15.6% and 45.5% vs 21.0%, respectively; p < 0.001). A multivariable logistic regression analysis with ICU outcome as the dependent factor showed that the independent risks for mortality were as follows: presence of cancer, use of tidal volumes higher than those used by the ARDSnet study, degree of multiorgan dysfunction, and higher mean fluid balance. Sepsis, septic shock, and oxygenation at the onset of ALI/ARDS were not independently associated with higher mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS In addition to comorbidities and organ dysfunction, high tidal volumes and positive fluid balance are associated with a worse outcome from ALI/ARDS.
A Comparison of Movement Imagery Ability Self-Report and Imagery Use in a Motor Task: A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract The present study used the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-3) to determine the relationship between self-report movement imagery ability and performance on a motor task requiring use of visual and kinesthetic imagery. Young adults were asked to view a number sequence of 4- and 5 digits, maintain the information over a 6 s delay (blank screen) using visual imagery maintenance, and complete the sequence by finger-tapping complementary numbers using motor (kinesthetic) imagery and actually executing movements. We predicted higher movement imagery ability scores would be associated with faster movement times, and imagery ability would be significantly related to the motor tasks. Correlation results indicated no significant differences between self-report and finger-tapping scores, suggesting that in the context of the motor tasks used here, performance was independent of movement imagery ability. Discussion of this preliminary study focuses on the role of visual working memory in the motor task used here and its lack of assessment using the MIQ-3 and other current self-reports.
A Comparison between the Antimicrobial Effects of Triple Antibiotic Paste and Calcium Hydroxide Against Entrococcus Faecalis

Introduction The purpose of this study was to determine the in vitro antimicrobial ability against Entrococcus (E.) faecalis of triple antibiotic paste and its components compared with calcium hydroxide mixtures. Materials and Methods An agar well diffusion assay and MIC method were used to determine the efficacy of the experimental medicaments in removing E. faecalis. Medicaments were divided into 9 groups; triple antibiotic powder with saline or chlorhexidine, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, minocycline antibiotics were also separately tested (with normal saline), and Ca(OH)2 (plus normal saline or 2% chlorhexidine). These medicaments were evaluated at four concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 μgram per mL in an agar well diffusion test. The diameters of the growth inhibition zones for each group were recorded and compared. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of tested medicaments that are required to kill E. faecalis were also determined. The differences between groups were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results The largest inhibition zones were observed for the triple antibiotic mixture/saline, triple antibiotic mixture/2% chlorhexidine and minocycline/saline, and the smallest for Ca(OH)2/saline, Ca(OH)2/2% chlorhexidine. Concentration increases produced greater antibacterial effects in all groups. The MIC determination method showed similar results. Conclusion The results suggest that the triple antibiotic paste with either 2% chlorhexidine or normal saline would be the preferred medicament against E. faecalis and, among its three components, minocycline has the greatest antibacterial effect.
Addictive profile in juvenile delinquents admitted to correctional institutions in relation to personality characteristics

IntroductionA strong correlation and connection has been observed between drug use and delinquency, as most youths in juvenile commitment programs are involved with drugs compared with nondelinquent youths. Aim of the studyThe aim of this study was to determine the relationship between substance use among delinquent adolescents and personality characteristics and its impact on mental health. MethodsFifty juvenile delinquent adolescents from among juveniles admitted to two correctional institutes as well as 50 control juveniles were selected. Informed consent was taken. Psychometric analyses were conducted using the Addiction Severity Index, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and The Adolescent and Adult Psychological State Inventory. ResultsOf the juvenile delinquents, 28% were found to be using nicotine, 22% were using cannabis, and 24% were using polysubstances. They expressed more symptoms of adjustment disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficiency hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder, and the difference was statistically significant between cases and controls. There were statistically significant differences between cases and controls as regards all the personality dimensions, including extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism. In all, 25% of juvenile delinquents suffered from moderate to severe problems with regard to employment, legal, psychiatric, and social problems, as assessed by the Addiction Severity Index. There were statistically significant differences between male and female delinquents as regards employment, psychiatric, and social problems as assessed by the Addiction Severity Index. ConclusionCommunity and correctional systems must be established to provide psychiatric services to the youth, as juvenile delinquents with psychiatric disorders pose a challenge for the juvenile justice system and, after their release, for the larger mental health system.
Text mining: Generating hypotheses from MEDLINE

Hypothesis generation, a crucial initial step for making scientific discoveries, relies on prior knowledge, experience, and intuition. Chance connections made between seemingly distinct subareas sometimes turn out to be fruitful. The goal in text mining is to assist in this process by automatically discovering a small set of interesting hypotheses from a suitable text collection. In this report, we present open and closed text mining algorithms that are built within the discovery framework established by Swanson and Smalheiser. Our algorithms represent topics using metadata profiles. When applied to MEDLINE, these are MeSH based profiles. We present experiments that demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithms. Specifically, our algorithms successfully generate ranked term lists where the key terms representing novel relationships between topics are ranked high.
The Supreme Court's Pre-Emptive Strike Against Patients' Rights to Sue Their HMOs

Abstract Managed care's influence on health care is enormous. Social workers in medical and mental health settings spend increasing amounts of time dealing with client issues that result from managed care decisions. We first provide a brief overview on the impact of managed care decisions on access to quality and appropriate medical care. Next, we present the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Aetna Health Inc. vs. Davila (2004) and its impact on consumers' access to appropriate health care. Finally, we discuss the implications of this case for social work practice.
The effects of NOS1 gene on asthma and total IgE levels in Taiwanese children, and the interactions with environmental factors

Wang T‐N, Tseng H‐I, Kao C‐C, Chu Y‐T, Chen W‐Y, Wu P‐F, Lee C‐H, Ko Y‐C. The effects of NOS1 gene on asthma and total IgE levels in Taiwanese children, and the interactions with environmental factors. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010: 21: 1064–1071. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S