Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Categorical and continuous models of liability to externalizing disorders: a direct comparison in NESARC.

CONTEXT Patterns of genetic, environmental, and phenotypic relationships among antisocial behavior and substance use disorders indicate the presence of a common externalizing liability. However, whether this liability is relatively continuous and graded, or categorical and class-like, has not been well established. OBJECTIVES To compare the fit of categorical and continuous models of externalizing liability in a large, nationally representative sample. DESIGN Categorical and continuous models of externalizing liability were compared using interview data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). SETTING Face-to-face interviews conducted in the United States. PARTICIPANTS Random sample of 43 093 noninstitutionalized adult civilians living in the United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Lifetime and current (past 12 months) diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder, nicotine dependence, alcohol dependence, marijuana dependence, cocaine dependence, and other substance dependence. RESULTS In the entire sample, as well as for males and females separately, using either lifetime or current diagnoses, the best-fitting model of externalizing liability was a continuous normal model. Moreover, there was a general trend toward latent trait models fitting better than latent class models, indicating that externalizing liability was continuous and graded, rather than categorical and class-like. CONCLUSIONS Liability to externalizing spectrum disorders is graded and continuous normal in distribution. Research regarding etiology, assessment, and treatment of externalizing disorders should target externalizing liability over a range of severity. Current diagnoses represent extremes of this continuous liability distribution, indicating that conditions currently classified as subthreshold are likely to provide important information regarding liability to externalizing phenomena.
Finite-impulse-response (FIR) feedback in continuous-time delta-sigma converters

Finite-impulse-response (FIR) feedback was originally introduced as a way to address the problem of loopfilter nonlinearity and clock jitter in continuous-time delta-sigma modulators. It turns out that FIR feedback has other benefits — it reduces the effect of the quantizer's data-dependent jitter and enables the use of chopping “for free”. It is an architectural technique that combines the benefits of single-bit and multibit operation, and has proven itself to be robust and scalable, applicable to ΔΣ data converters targeting a variety of specifications, and across process nodes. This paper reviews the key challenges encountered in the design of high performance delta-sigma data converters, and describes the role of FIR feedback in addressing these challenges. The prospect of using FIR feedback to achieve wide bandwidths is examined, and promising directions are reviewed.
Increase in 8‐Hydroxyguanine and Its Repair Activity in the Esophagi of Rats Given Long‐term Ethanol and Nutrition‐deficient Diet

Epidemiological studies have shown that an increased risk of esophageal cancer is associated with the chronic consumption of alcoholic beverages, although alcohol itself is not a carcinogen in animal models. Reactive oxygen species produced by the metabolism of ethanol or by chronic inflammation may play an important role in the carcinogenic process. In this study, we analyzed one type of oxidative DNA damage, 8‐hydroxyguanine (8‐OH‐Gua), and its repair activity in the esophagus as indicators of cellular oxidative stress in rats given long‐term ethanol and an autoclaved diet (nutrition‐deficient diet). Three‐week‐old male Sprague‐Dawley rats were fed an ethanol beverage whose concentration was increased from 12 to 70% over 20 weeks. When the concentration reached 50%, the diet of one group was changed from the regular diet to an autoclaved diet. At the feeding periods of 20, 25, 30, and 35 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and the 8‐OH‐Gua levels and repair activities within the esophagi were measured. After 30 weeks of ethanol‐ and autoclaved diet‐feeding, significant increases of 8‐OH‐Gua and its repair activity were observed in the esophagi, but not in those of the ethanol‐ and normal diet‐fed rats. This result indicates that the combined effects of long‐term ethanol consumption and nutritional deficiency may be involved in inducing oxidative stress in the rat esophagus.
Polar Bears in a Warming Climate1

Abstract Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) live throughout the ice-covered waters of the circumpolar Arctic, particularly in near shore annual ice over the continental shelf where biological productivity is highest. However, to a large degree under scenarios predicted by climate change models, these preferred sea ice habitats will be substantially altered. Spatial and temporal sea ice changes will lead to shifts in trophic interactions involving polar bears through reduced availability and abundance of their main prey: seals. In the short term, climatic warming may improve bear and seal habitats in higher latitudes over continental shelves if currently thick multiyear ice is replaced by annual ice with more leads, making it more suitable for seals. A cascade of impacts beginning with reduced sea ice will be manifested in reduced adipose stores leading to lowered reproductive rates because females will have less fat to invest in cubs during the winter fast. Non-pregnant bears may have to fast on land or offshore on the remaining multiyear ice through progressively longer periods of open water while they await freeze-up and a return to hunting seals. As sea ice thins, and becomes more fractured and labile, it is likely to move more in response to winds and currents so that polar bears will need to walk or swim more and thus use greater amounts of energy to maintain contact with the remaining preferred habitats. The effects of climate change are likely to show large geographic, temporal and even individual differences and be highly variable, making it difficult to develop adequate monitoring and research programs. All ursids show behavioural plasticity but given the rapid pace of ecological change in the Arctic, the long generation time, and the highly specialised nature of polar bears, it is unlikely that polar bears will survive as a species if the sea ice disappears completely as has been predicted by some.
Combining Data-Driven and Model-Driven Methods for Robust Facial Landmark Detection

Facial landmark detection is an important yet challenging task for real-world computer vision applications. This paper proposes an effective and robust approach for facial landmark detection by combining data- and model-driven methods. First, a fully convolutional network (FCN) is trained to compute response maps of all facial landmark points. Such a data-driven method could make full use of holistic information in a facial image for global estimation of facial landmarks. After that, the maximum points in the response maps are fitted with a pre-trained point distribution model (PDM) to generate the initial facial shape. This model-driven method is able to correct the inaccurate locations of outliers by considering the shape prior information. Finally, a weighted version of regularized landmark mean-shift (RLMS) is employed to fine-tune the facial shape iteratively. This estimation-correction-tuning process perfectly combines the advantages of the global robustness of the data-driven method (FCN), outlier correction capability of the model-driven method (PDM), and non-parametric optimization of RLMS. Results of extensive experiments demonstrate that our approach achieves state-of-the-art performances on challenging data sets, including 300W, AFLW, AFW, and COFW. The proposed method is able to produce satisfying detection results on face images with exaggerated expressions, large head poses, and partial occlusions.
A randomized placebo-controlled comparative trial of gabapentin and propranolol in essential tremor.

BACKGROUND New medication is needed to treat essential tremor. Preliminary evidence suggests that gabapentin may be effective in the treatment of this disorder. OBJECTIVE To study the effects of gabapentin in a comparative, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial of patients who have essential tremor. PATIENTS AND METHODS 16 patients with essential tremor (6 with a new onset and 10 with a 2-week washout period of previous treatment with propranolol hydrochloride) received gabapentin (Neurontin), 400 mg 3 times daily; propranolol hydrochloride, 40 mg 3 times daily; and placebo for 15 days with a 1-week washout period between treatments. MAJOR OUTCOME MEASURES Major outcome evaluations consisted of a Tremor Clinical Rating Scale, accelerometric recordings, and a self-reported disability scale obtained before drug intake on study days 1 and 15 of each treatment period. In addition, the initial (day 1) and superimposed (day 15) drug effects were studied before and 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after drug intake. RESULTS At day 15, both gabapentin and propranolol demonstrated significant and comparable efficacy in reducing tremor from baseline in all tremor measures. The initial drug effects evaluated through accelerometry revealed no significant changes with the use of a placebo, but gabapentin and propranolol use significantly reduced tremor power. CONCLUSION Gabapentin may be useful for the treatment of essential tremor.
Comparison of side effects of chemotherapy between the elderly Uygur patients and the Han patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Purpose: This study is to detect whether the different side effects of the same amount chemotherapy drugs administered in elderly Uygur patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and aged Han NHL patients are related to the levels of cytogenetic damage in the two ethnics. Methods: Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) rate, hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene mutation rate, micronucleus (MN) rate, and white blood cell (WBC) count in 20 cases of two groups before and after chemotherapy were compared. Results: Before chemotherapy (at baseline level), the average SCE rate, HPRT gene mutation rate, MN rate were lower in elderly Uygur patients than that in aged Han patients, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). After each cycle of chemotherapy,the average SCE rate, HPRT gene mutation rate, MN rate in elderly Uygur patients were lower thanthat in Han patients, but this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). However, the three indicators described above in two ethnics were significantly higher after each cycle of chemotherapy than those before each cycle of chemotherapy (P<0.05). In addition, the decreased level of average WBC in aged Uygur NHL patients was lower than that in Han patients after each cycle of chemotherapy, but this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Spearman analysis showed that there is a negative correlation between the three indicators and the decrease of WBC counts. Conclusion: The difference of side effects of chemotherapy for NHL between Uygur and Han patients is related to the levels of cytogenetic damage.
Randomized control trial comparing calcium hydroxide and mineral trioxide aggregate for partial pulpotomies in cariously exposed pulps of permanent molars.

AIM To compare the treatment outcomes when calcium hydroxide and mineral trioxide aggregate are used for partial pulpotomy in cariously exposed young permanent molars in a randomized control trial. METHODOLOGY Eighty-four teeth in 80 volunteers (aged 7-10 years) with reversible pulpitis and carious pulp exposures were randomly divided into two groups. Exposed pulps were severed using high-speed round burs until fresh pulp was seen. Cavities were irrigated with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite, and the pulp exposures were photographed and measured. Dycal or ProRoot MTA was placed on the pulp. Vitremer was placed over the material until the remaining cavity was 2 mm deep; amalgam was then placed. Teeth were evaluated for clinical symptoms and radiographic periapical changes after 24 h, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. Mean survival times and incidence of extraction were calculated using exact binomial confidence intervals. RESULTS The median survival time for both ProRoot MTA and Dycal groups was 24 months. Three teeth had unfavourable outcomes with the incidence rate of 0.20/100 tooth-months with ProRoot MTA (95% CI: 0.02-0.71) and 0.11/100 tooth-months with Dycal (95% CI: 0.001-0.60). The incidence of unfavourable outcomes was 0.05/100 (95% CI: 0.001-0.30) and 2.38/100 (95% CI: 0.29-8.34) tooth-months in teeth with small (<5 mm(2) ) and large (>5 mm(2) ) pulp exposure areas, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Partial pulpotomy in teeth of young patients with reversible pulpitis, either using ProRoot MTA or Dycal, resulted in favourable treatment outcomes for up to 2 years. The incidence of unfavourable outcomes tended to be higher in teeth with pulp exposure areas larger than 5 mm(2) .
Improved peripheral nerve regeneration with sustained release nerve growth factor microspheres in small gap tubulization.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the long-term results of the use of nerve growth factor (NGF)-loaded poly-D, L-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) microspheres for improve nerve regeneration with small gap tubulization. METHODS NGF microspheres were prepared by a modified W/O/W emulsion solvent evaporation method. Forty-eight male SD rats were separated into 4 groups and received a chitin conduit to bridge a sciatic nerve injury left a 2 mm gap. Saline (Group A), 20 ng/ml NGF solution (Group B), blank PLGA microspheres (Group C), or 40 ng/ml NGF-loaded microspheres (Group D) was injected in the gap. Each group had two study endpoints, 3 months subgroup and 1 year subgroup. RESULTS The myelinated fiber count at 2 mm distal to the conduit at 1 year was slightly less than at 3 months in all groups (P>0.05). However, the maturity of the myelinated nerves at 1 year was obviously improved. The fiber count, myelin sheath thickness, axon area of NGF microsphere group were significantly higher than the saline groups at 3 months (P=0.05, P<0.05, and P<0.05, respectively). The SFI was significantly improved in NGF microspheres group compared to the saline group and NGF solution group at 1 year (P<0.05, and P<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrated that the release of NGF microspheres in small gap tubulization benefit on peripheral nerve injury facilitated nerve regeneration histologically, especially for the maturity of early regenerative nerve fibers and also had an effect on functional recovery in the long term.
Direct Detection of Epstein‐Barr Virus DNA from a Single Reed‐Sternberg Cell of Hodgkin's Disease by Polymerase Chain Reaction

Eleven cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD) were examined for the presence of the Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) genome, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect EBV DNA in whole paraffin‐embedded tissue specimens and in single cells picked out from the specimens with a micromanipulator. The EBV genome was detected in 5 of the 11 cases by conventional PCR. Single cell PCR demonstrated the EBV genome in Reed‐Sternberg cells from all the EBV‐positive cases, but not from any of the EBV‐negative cases. Background lymphocytes and lysozyme‐positive histiocytes from EBV‐positive cases did not contain the EBV genome. These results indicate an etiological association of EBV with some cases of HD.
Auditory Selective Attention: An fMRI Investigation

In the present experiment, 25 adult subjects discriminated speech tokens ([ba]/[da]) or made pitch judgments on tone stimuli (rising/falling) under both binaural and dichotic listening conditions. We observed that when listeners performed tasks under the dichotic conditions, during which greater demands are made on auditory selective attention, activation within the posterior (parietal) attention system and at primary processing sites in the superior temporal and inferior frontal regions was increased. The cingulate gyrus within the anterior attention system was not influenced by this manipulation. Hemispheric differences between speech and nonspeech tasks were also observed, both at Broca's Area within the inferior frontal gyrus and in the middle temporal gyrus.
Expression of Sexual Hormones Receptors in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Sexual hormones play an important role in expression of genes involved in a wide variety of biological and neoplastic processes. The information on Estrogen Receptors (ER) expression in non-target tissues is very few and, in particular, the studies in head and neck tumors are still controversial. Recent studies analyzed the role of Tamoxifen (TAM) on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) lines in relation to the presence/absence of ER. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the expression of sexual hormones receptors mRNAs, in particular Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα) and Androgen Receptor (AR) mRNA in OSCC tissues. The study group comprised 20 samples of OSCC, harvested from 20 otherwise healthy subjects (14 males and 6 females, mean age 58.2y, range 38–74). The control group was formed by 20 samples of normal mucosa harvested around the margins of the specimens (at least 1 cm from the lesion margins). Estrogens Receptor alpha (Era) and Androgen Receptor (AR) mRNA expressions were analyzed by RT-PCR carried out on total RNAs extracted from both cancerous and healthy tissues. Obtained data were evaluated by Shapiro-Walk normality test and compared by Student's t test. Results with p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. AR transcripts were less expressed in OSCC specimens than in healthy tissues, while levels of ERα transcripts significantly increased in tumor samples. These preliminary data show different expression patterns of AR and ERa mRNAs in malignant tissues of oral mucosa and could suggest an involvement of these sexual hormones in oral cancer.
Screening for Nicotine Dependence among Smoking‐related Cancer Patients

To identify lung and head‐and‐neck cancer patients who will have difficulty stopping smoking it is necessary to measure the severity of their nicotine dependence. In this study, we compiled a Japanese version of the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) and examined its reliability and validity. One hundred and fifty‐one cancer patients participated in this study and took our Japanese version of the FTND. Socio‐demographic and medical data and information about smoking habits were obtained from a semi‐structured interview, and the patients' nicotine dependence was evaluated according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd Ed., Rev. (DSM–III–R). The mean FTND scores±SD of the group with nicotine dependence and the group without nicotine dependence were 6.85±2.00 and 3.70±2.13 respectively, and the difference was significant (P < 0.001, Mann‐Whitney's U‐test). The test‐retest correlation was 0.75. Cronbach's a of the FTND was 0.66. The FTND score correlated significantly with the number of satisfied criteria of nicotine dependence (r=0.70; P <0.001, Pearson's correlation). By using a receiver‐operating‐characteristic curve, we determined a score of 5/6 as a suitable cut‐off point for nicotine dependence; this point gave high sensitivity and specificity (0.75 and 0.80, respectively). These results suggest that our Japanese version of FTND is a reliable and valid measure of nicotine dependence in patients with smoking‐related cancers.
Aggressive breast fibromatosis following augmentation mastoplasty: a series of case reports

Aggressive fibromatosis comprises connective tissue tumours that represent 0.03% of all bodily neoplasms, occurring more often in the abdominal wall, mesentery, and extremities; its location in the breast constitutes a very infrequent type of lesion. Its pathogenesis is diverse and its relationship with augmentation mastoplasty is still unclear. Four cases of aggressive breast fibromatosis following augmentation mastoplasty are reported in this article.
The Korean Version of Berg Balance Scale as an Index of Activity Related to Ambulation in Subjects with Stroke

Objective: To investigate the clinical usefulness of the Korean version of Berg balance scale (K-BBS) by obtaining the cutoff value for the activities related to ambulation in subjects with stroke. Method: We measured the K-BBS and checked the activities related to ambulation in 52 subjects with stroke every other week. The activities related to ambulation were composed of 4 stages, including independent sitting, independent sit to stand, independent gait with Q (quad) cane and independent gait without any assistance. Data were analyzed by ROC (Receiver operating characteristic) curve technique to obtain each cutoff value of the K-BBS representing for the individual activities. Results: The ROC analysis showed that each activity matched the following cutoff values: independent sitting, 5; independent sit to stand, 18; independent gait with Q cane, 25; and independent gait without any assistance, 34. Conclusion: The K-BBS would be a useful instrument to tell the degrees of the activities related to ambulation and the cutoff values could be helpful for judging the assistance level for ambulation in patients with stroke. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2007; 31: 400-403)
Adenosine and inosine release during hypoxia in the isolated spinal cord of neonatal rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Adenosine and inosine accumulate extracellularly during hypoxia/ischaemia in the brain and may act as neuroprotectants. In spinal cord, there is pharmacological evidence for increases in extracellular adenosine during hypoxia, but no direct measurements of purine release. Furthermore, the efflux pathways and origin of extracellular purines are not defined. To characterize hypoxia‐evoked purine accumulation, we examined the effect of acute hypoxia on the extracellular levels of adenosine and inosine in isolated spinal cords from rats.
Incidence of ankle sprains among active-duty members of the United States Armed Services from 1998 through 2006.

CONTEXT Ankle sprains have been reported as one of the most common injuries sustained by members of the US Armed Services. However, little is known about the incidence rate and injury patterns associated with ankle sprains in this population. OBJECTIVE To examine the incidence of ankle sprains among active-duty members of the US Armed Services from 1998 through 2006. A secondary objective was to describe the sex, age, and service-specific injury patterns in this young, physically active population. DESIGN Cohort study. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS All active-duty service members from the day they enter military service until the day they leave military service and US Army Reserve and National Guard service members during periods of active duty and mobilization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Injury data were extracted from the Defense Medical Epidemiological Database from 1998 through 2006. All data for ankle sprains, coded according to the International Classification of Diseases (9th revision), were included. Cases were limited to those injuries reported as first occurrences. Incidence rates (IRs) were calculated per 1000 person-years by sex, age, and service. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to assess the strength of association between the incidence of ankle sprain and the independent variables of sex, age, and service. RESULTS From 1998 through 2006, 423 581 service members sustained ankle sprains and 12 118 863 person-years at risk to injury were documented in this population. The incidence rate was 34.95 (95% CI = 34.85, 35.06) per 1000 person-years at risk. Females were 21% more likely (IRR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.21, 1.23) to sustain an ankle sprain than males. Sex-specific IR varied by age and service. Differences in the rate of ankle sprains were also noted by age and service. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of ankle sprains among US service members was 5 times greater than that previously reported in civilian population studies. Sex, age, and branch of military service are important factors related to the incidence of ankle sprains in this population.