Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Finger joint modelling from hand X-ray images for assessing rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune, systemic, inflammatory disorder that mainly affects bone joints. While there is no cure for this disease, continuous advances on palliative treatments require frequent verification of patient’s illness evolution. Such evolution is measured through several available semi-quantitative methods that require evaluation of hand and foot X-ray images. Accurate assessment is a time consuming task that requires highly trained personnel. This hinders a generalized use in clinical practice for early diagnose and disease follow-up. In the context of the automatization of such evaluation methods we present a method for detection and characterization of finger joints in hand radiography images. Several measures for assessing the reduction of joint space width are proposed. We compare for the first time such measures to the Van der Heijde score, the gold standard method for rheumatoid arthritis assessment. The proposed method outperforms existing strategies with a detection rate above 95%. Our comparison to Van der Heijde index shows a promising correlation that encourages further research.
Individual, Climate, and Group Interaction Processes as Predictors of Work Team Innovation

The contribution of individual innovativeness and team climate factors to the rated innova-tiveness of work groups is examined in a study of 59 members of 13 teams in an oil company. A specific model of work team innovation was tested that proposes that four team climate factors-team vision, participative safety, task orientation, and support for innovationdetermine level of team innovation. Scores on measures of group interaction processes and team climate were related to external ratings of group innovativeness. The results showed that supportfor innovation was the most consistent predictor, with negotiated vision and an aim for excellence (a subscale of the task orientation scale) also predicting externally rated group innovativeness. Allfour major theoretical variables correlated significantly with the interaction process category of innovating, offeringfurther supportfor theoretical predictions.
Video Listening Tests: What Are They Measuring?

This article examines how eight advanced ESL learners attend to and utilize the nonverbal information found in a video text. Using verbal report methodology in which test-takers verbalized aloud their thought processes while taking a video listening test, the results suggested that the test-takers varied in how they attended to and utilized the nonverbal information provided by the video texts. In addition, the data provided evidence that individual test-takers varied in their ability to utilize the nonverbal information both to make meaning of the spoken text and to answer the comprehension items associated with the text. The implications for a construct definition of listening ability that includes the ability to utilize the nonverbal information found in most spoken texts is discussed.
Normalization of esophageal pH with high-dose proton pump inhibitor therapy does not result in regression of Barrett's esophagus.

OBJECTIVE The importance of esophageal acid control in the management of Barrett's esophagus is controversial. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of esophageal acid control on the symptoms of reflux disease, healing of erosive esophagitis, change in length of Barrett's epithelium, and the appearance of squamous islands. METHODS Thirteen of 27 patients on 60 mg lansoprazole underwent ambulatory 24 h esophageal pH monitoring while on therapy. Symptoms were recorded, and the length of Barrett's epithelium was measured, photographed, and biopsied every 6 months over an average of 5.7 yr. RESULTS Eight of 13 patients had a normal 24 h pH (group I, mean pH < 4, 0.8%), five patients had abnormal results (group II, mean pH < 4, 10.6%). Symptoms improved in all patients, and there was complete healing of erosive esophagitis in all patients. An increase in the number of squamous islands was noted in 62.5% of patients in group I and in 80% of patients in group II. The mean length of Barrett's epithelium at baseline and study completion in group I was 5.6 and 5.0 cm, respectively (mean decrease, 0.6 cm), and for group II was 4.2 and 4.2 cm, respectively (mean decrease, 0 cm). There was no significant difference in the change in length between the two groups (p = 0.494). CONCLUSIONS Although symptoms improved, erosive esophagitis healed, and squamous islands increased, there was no significant decrease in the length of Barrett's esophagus. Control of esophageal pH alone is not sufficient for the reversal of Barrett's esophagus.
Plasma potassium concentration and content changes after banana ingestion in exercised men.

CONTEXT Individuals prone to exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMCs) are instructed to eat bananas because of their high potassium (K(+)) concentration and carbohydrate content and the perception that K(+) imbalances and fatigue contribute to the genesis of EAMCs. No data exist about the effect of bananas on plasma K(+) concentration ([K(+)](p)) or plasma glucose concentration ([glucose](p)) after exercise in the heat. OBJECTIVE To determine whether ingesting 0, 1, or 2 servings of bananas after 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise in the heat alters [K(+)](p) or [glucose](p) and whether changes in [K(+)](p) result from hypotonic fluid effluxes or K(+) ion changes. DESIGN Crossover study. SETTING Laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Nine euhydrated men (age = 27 ± 4 years, height = 180.3 ± 8.4 cm, mass = 84.9 ± 26.1 kg, urine specific gravity ≤ 1.006) without EAMCs volunteered. INTERVENTION(S) On 3 separate days, participants completed 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous cycling (temperature = 36.4°C ± 1.1°C, relative humidity = 19.4% ± 2.5%) and then ate 0 g (0 servings), 150 g (1 serving), or 300 g (2 servings) of bananas. Blood samples were collected at 3, 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes postingestion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The [K(+)](p), changes in plasma K(+) content, plasma volume changes, and [glucose](p). RESULTS The [K(+)](p) differed between conditions at 60 minutes; 2 servings (4.6 ± 0.3 mmol/L [conventional unit = 4.6 ± 0.3 mEq/L]) was greater than 1 serving (4.5 ± 0.2 mmol/L [conventional unit = 4.5 ± 0.2 mEq/L]) and 0 servings (4.4 ± 0.3 mmol/L [conventional unit = 4.4 ± 0.3 mEq/L]) (P < .05). The [K(+)](p) was greater at 60 minutes than at 3 and 5 minutes in the 1-serving condition and was greater at 30 and 60 minutes than at 3 and 5 minutes in the 2-servings condition (P < .05). Percentage change in K(+) content was greater only at 30 and 60 minutes postingestion than at baseline in the 2-servings condition (4.4% ± 3.7% and 5.8% ± 2.3% increase, respectively) (P < .05). The plasma volume changes among conditions were unremarkable. The [glucose](p) was greater in the 2-servings condition than in all other conditions at 15, 30, and 60 minutes (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS The effect of banana ingestion on EAMCs is unknown; however, these data suggested bananas are unlikely to relieve EAMCs by increasing extracellular [K(+)] or [glucose](p). The increases in [K(+)](p) were marginal and within normal clinical values. The changes in [K(+)](p), plasma K(+) content, and [glucose](p) do not occur quickly enough to treat acute EAMCs, especially if they develop near the end of competition.
Predictive Validity of IAT Aggressiveness in the Context of Provocation

This study examines the extent to which implicit measures of aggressiveness predict actual aggressive behavior in response to provocation. Participants (n = 77) completed implicit measures of aggressiveness, were or were not exposed to insult from an exper- imenter, evaluated the performance of the experimenter (i.e., opportunity for aggressive behavior), and completed explicit measures of aggressiveness. Results showed that the implicit measure of aggressiveness significantly predicted aggressive behavior in response to provocation, whereas it was not predictive when there was no provocation. The discussion deals with the validity of implicit measures as predictors of aggressive behavior and their moderators.
Living with a Chronic Disabling Illness and Then Some: Data from the 1998 Ice Storm*

ABSTRACT This study examined the impact of the 1998 Canadian ice storm on the physical and psychological health of older adults (age > 55 years) living with a chronic physical illness, namely osteoarthritis and/or osteoporosis. Although disasters are relatively rare, they are a useful means of examining the impact of a single stressor on a group of individuals. Specifically, we took advantage of a natural experiment to compare the responses of a group of 59 ice storm victims to those of 55 matched controls living outside the ice storm area. Data on disability, pain, self-reported health, helplessness, depression, and independence were assessed prior to the ice storm and approximately 17 months later. Older adults who reported greater helplessness and lost independence prior to the storm reported significantly greater ice storm stress and rumination and were more likely to report that the storm affected their condition. In addition, participants exposed to the ice storm reported significant changes in disability and pain nearly a year and a half later, compared to matched controls. These results suggest that older adults with chronic physical illness may be particularly vulnerable when faced with additional stressful events. RÉSUMÉ L'étude examine l'impact de la tempête canadienne de verglas de 1998 sur la santé physique et psychologique des personnes âgées (soit de 55 ans et plus) et vivant avec une maladie physique chronique tel l'arthrite par usure et/ou l'ostéoporose. Bien que les catastrophes soient rares, elles servent de moyen efficace pour examiner l'impact d'une seule tension sur un groupe de personnes. Plus précisément, nous avons tiré profit d'une expérience naturelle afin de comparer les réponses d'un groupe de 59 victimes de la tempête de verglas contre celles de 55 personnes faisant partie d'un groupe contrôle se retrouvant à l'extérieur de la zone de la tempête de verglas. Nous avons analysé des données portant sur l'incapacité, la douleur, les auto-reportages de santé, l'impuissance, la dépression et l'indépendance. Ces données ont été évaluées avant la tempête de verglas et plus ou moins 17 mois après cette dernière. Les personnes âgées qui témoignaient une impuissance accrue et une perte d'indépendance avant la tempête, faisaient preuve d'une augmentation de stress et de méditation suivant la tempête ; de plus elles étaient plus susceptibles de témoigner que la tempête avant eu un effet négatif sur leur condition. En comparaison au groupe contrôle, les participants exposés à la tempête de verglas ont fait preuve de changements importants en incapacité et en douleur et ce presque 18 mois suivant la tempête. Ces résultats suggèrent que les personnes âgées qui souffrent d'une maladie physique chronique peuvent être spécialement vulnérables lorsque confrontées à des évènements stressants.
A universalistic perspective for explaining the relationship between HRM practices and firm performance at different points in time

Purpose – According to the universalistic perspective, organizations from different sectors, across industries, and through different time periods should use a series of select human resource management practices (HRMP). The main purpose of this paper is to investigates whether there is any difference in the relationship between HRMPs and organizational performance across time (stable or not). Design/methodology/approach – The data for this study are taken from two cross‐sectional surveys. The firms included in this research were selected from a sample of organizations from the public and private sectors based on firms that were included in Dun's Guide, Israel 1995/6 and 1999/2000, the Israeli Business Directory. In 1996, questionnaires were completed by 102 of the 230 designated companies. In 2000, using an identical sampling methodology and a similar questionnaire, the result was 104 useable responses of the 275 firms.Findings – In general, results for both periods of time indicated that several HRMP con.
Zen Buddhism and the intrinsic value of nature

Part IIt is a perennial theme in the literature on environmental ethics that the exploitation of the environment is the result of a blindness to (or perhaps a refusal to recognize) the intrinsic value of natural beings. The general story here is that Western traditions of thought have tended to accord natural beings value only to the extent that they prove useful to humans, that they have tended to see nature as only instrumentally valuable. By contrast, it is said that a new, environmentally friendly understanding of the world would value nature ‘for its own sake’, would conceive natural beings as having intrinsic value. In the light of such an understanding, the oak tree, for instance, would be seen not merely as a source of timber or shade or as a decoration for the front lawn, but as valuable ‘in itself’, as having an intrinsic value that ought to be respected (see further, O'Neill 1993, chapter 2).
USE OF DISSOCIATION STRATEGIES WHEN RUNNING BECOMES DIFFICULT: LEVELS OF ABILITY AND GENDER DIFFERENCES

The use of dissociative and associative strategies was investigated in 40 junior athletes competing regularly in distance running events. The sample, 20 males and 20 females, representing athletes of different abilities (international, national, state, and club level competitors) was surveyed concerning cognitive strategies they used “when it was difficult to continue in a race or hard training session”. There was a significant relationship between level of ability and the runner's tendency to use dissociation to cope when running became difficult. The use of totally dissociative strategies was significantly higher for athletes of lesser ability: 8 of the 10 club level runners versus 1 of the 10 international level runners used only dissociation. Although there was no overall effect for gender, an analysis of the responses from subjects below the age of 16 showed that compared to females, males were more likely to be totally dissociative.
Methamphetamine Consumption Inhibits Pair Bonding and Hypothalamic Oxytocin in Prairie Voles

Methamphetamine (MA) abuse has been linked to violence, risk-taking behaviors, decreased sexual inhibition, and criminal activity. It is important to understand mechanisms underlying these drug effects for prevention and treatment of MA-associated social problems. Previous studies have demonstrated that experimenter-administered amphetamine inhibits pair bonding and increases aggression in monogamous prairie voles. It is not currently known whether similar effects on social behaviors would be obtained under conditions during which the drug is voluntarily (actively) administered. The current study investigated whether MA drinking affects pair bonding and what neurocircuits are engaged. In Experiment 1, we exposed male and female voles to 4 days each of 20 and 40 mg/L MA under a continuous 2-bottle choice (2BC) procedure. Animals were housed either singly or in mesh-divided cages with a social partner. Voles consumed MA in a drinking solution, but MA drinking was not affected by either sex or housing condition. In Experiment 2, we investigated whether MA drinking disrupts social bonding by measuring aggression and partner preference formation following three consecutive days of 18-hour/day access to 100 mg/L MA in a 2BC procedure. Although aggression toward a novel opposite-sex animal was not affected by MA exposure, partner preference was inhibited in MA drinking animals. Experiment 3 examined whether alterations in hypothalamic neuropeptides provide a potential explanation for the inhibition of partner preference observed in Experiment 2. MA drinking led to significant decreases in oxytocin, but not vasopressin, in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. These experiments are the first investigation into how voluntary pre-exposure to MA affects the development of social attachment in a socially monogamous species and identify potential neural circuits involved in these effects.
The Premorbid Personality in Military Students With Adjustment Disorder

The aim of this study was to examine the personality traits and mental health among Taiwanese military students with adjustment disorder. Among 641 students (M age = 17 years) from two military high schools, 43 had a diagnosis of adjustment disorder. Differences between students with adjustment disorder and those without adjustment disorder were statistically significant in terms of their premorbid personality and mental health. Based on structural equation modeling, different kinds of school discipline appear to be a precipitating factor for adjustment disorder; however, neurotic, introvert, and psychotic traits appear to be predisposing factors for adjustment disorder. This study provides evidence that the Chinese Health Questionnaire will help to screen for mental illness among military school students.
Calibrating Distributed Camera Networks

Recent developments in wireless sensor networks have made feasible distributed camera networks, in which cameras and processing nodes may be spread over a wide geographical area, with no centralized processor and limited ability to communicate a large amount of information over long distances. This paper overviews distributed algorithms for the calibration of such camera networks- that is, the automatic estimation of each camera's position, orientation, and focal length. In particular, we discuss a decentralized method for obtaining the vision graph for a distributed camera network, in which each edge of the graph represents two cameras that image a sufficiently large part of the same environment. We next describe a distributed algorithm in which each camera performs a local, robust nonlinear optimization over the camera parameters and scene points of its vision graph neighbors in order to obtain an initial calibration estimate. We then show how a distributed inference algorithm based on belief propagation can refine the initial estimate to be both accurate and globally consistent.
On-treatment and off-treatment efficacy of entecavir in a real-life cohort of chronic hepatitis B patients

Background and aims Entecavir (ETV) is a potent nucleoside analogue with high genetic barrier to resistance. In this study, real-life clinical experiences in the long-term use of ETV and the durability of its off-treatment effectiveness were analyzed. Materials and methods This study was based on a large real-life cohort of 2240 chronic hepatitis B patients treated with ETV between January 2006 and December 2012 using a centralized electronic data repository. Results Among 2240 patients, 804 patients were treatment naive and underwent ETV monotherapy. Their mean treatment duration was 712±493 days, with a cumulative proportion of patients achieving HBV DNA less than 300 copies/ml in 85.8, 95.7, and 97.6% at years 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Predictors for earlier virologic response were female sex, lower HBV DNA, higher alanine transaminase, lower platelet count, and HBeAg negativity at baseline. In patients who achieved virologic response and HBeAg loss, the cumulative relapse rate was 91.3% in 2 years after the cessation of treatment. During the treatment, 34 patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma, among whom 30 patients had cirrhosis before treatment initiation. ETV treatment showed efficient virologic response as the treatment duration was extended, but off-treatment efficacy was not durable, and the antiviral treatment showed some limitation in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma among liver cirrhosis patients, implying that treatment cessation should be taken into consideration more carefully. Conclusion This study from a real-life cohort may provide data on treating chronic hepatitis B patients more close to everyday clinical practice.
[Validation of predictive equations of basal metabolic rate of women living in Southern Brazil].

OBJECTIVE To measure the basal metabolic rate of women (aged 20 to 40 years) living in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and to compare it with estimated values bored on published predictive equations. METHODS Basal metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetry under standard conditions in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle of 60 volunteers. RESULTS Mean measured basal metabolic rate (+/- standard deviation) was 1,185.3+/- 148.6 kcal/24 hours. Estimated basal metabolic rates were significantly greater (7% to 17%) than measured basal metabolic rate (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS These results show that predictive equations are not suitable to estimate basal metabolic rate in these groups of women and that the use of estimated basal metabolic rate will lead to an overestimation of energy requirements in women with similar characteristics.
Combined Effect of Bilateral Ovariectomy and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Transection With Medial Meniscectomy on the Development of Osteoarthritis Model

Objective To investigate the combined effect of bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) and anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) with medial meniscectomy (MM) on the development of osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Twenty female 15-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Five rats in each group underwent bilateral OVX (OVX group), bilateral ACLT with MM (ACLT with MM group), bilateral OVX plus ACLT with MM (OVX plus ACLT with MM group), and sham surgery (SHAM group). All the rats were subjected to treadmill running for 4 weeks. The behavioral evaluation for induction of OA used the number of rears method, and this was conducted at 1, 2, and 4 weeks post-surgery. Bone mineral density (BMD) was calculated with micro-computerized tomography images and the modified Mankin's scoring was used for the histological changes. Results The number of rears in the OVX plus ACLT with MM group decreased gradually and more rapidly in the ACLT with MM group. Histologically, the OVX plus ACLT with MM group had a significantly higher modified Mankin's score than the OVX group (p=0.008) and the SHAM group (p=0.008). BMDs of the OVX plus ACLT with MM group were significantly lower than the SHAM group (p=0.002), and the ACLT with MM group (p=0.003). Conclusion We found that bilateral OVX plus ACLT with MM induced definite OA change in terms of histology and BMD compared to bilateral OVX and ACLT with MM alone. Therefore, OVX and ACLT with MM was an appropriate degenerative OA rat model.
Impairments in Self Structures in Depression and Suicide in Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral Approaches: Implications for Clinical Practice and Research

This paper discusses the growing convergence among cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic approaches to psychopathology, and to depression and suicide in particular, with a special focus on theoretical models emphasizing (a) the role of cognitive affective schemas or representations of self and others and (b) impairments in mentalizing or meta-cognition. We discuss similarities and differences between these approaches in the conceptualization and the treatment of depression. This review shows that despite continuing convergence, some important differences remain which may provide a particularly fruitful area for clinical practice and future research directed towards uncovering the mutative factors in the treatment of depression.
Can New Urbanism Create Diverse Communities?

This article examines the differences in diversity between a new urbanist subdivision and a standard suburban subdivision. We examine diversity at the macro level in terms of demographic characteristics such as age, sex, and income. We then examine diversity at the micro level, using a network sample to analyze diversity at the level of the social interaction. We find at the macro level that the new urbanist community is more diverse in a number of factors including education, income, and especially age. However, we find this increased diversity does not translate to diverse social interactions at the micro level.