Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnoses and Treatment in Homeopathic Medical Practice

Background: Despite increasing interest in complementary medicine worldwide, there has been no systematic large-scale documentation of medical homeopathic care. Objective: We therefore conducted a prospective cohort study aimed at characterizing patients seeking homeopathic care and their treatment. Patients and Methods: From September 1997 to June 1999, patients of all age groups who were visiting a homeopathic care center for the first time were included consecutively in the study and followed up for 24 months. Diagnostic procedures and prescriptions were documented using specific case report forms. Main Outcome Measures: Diagnoses (ICD-9), medical history, consultations, and prescriptions. Results: A total of 3,981 patients were included in the study, 2,851 adults (29% men, mean age 42.5 ± 13.1 years; 71% women, 39.9 ± 12.4 years) and 1,130 children (52% boys, 6.5 ± 3.9 years; 48% girls, 7.0 ± 4.3 years). Almost all patients suffered from chronic conditions for 10.3 ± 9.8 (adults) and 4.3 ± 3.7 years (children). The most frequent diagnoses were allergic rhinitis in adult males, headache in adult females, and atopic dermatitis in children (both genders). The typical homeopathic initial consultations took 117 ± 43 minutes for adults and 86 ± 36 minutes for children, not varying much between primary diagnoses. In the observed 2 years the patients had on average 8.6 ± 9.3 (adults) and 8.9 ± 9.6 (children) consultations, approximately 50% each by telephone and face-to-face. Physicians most often prescribed the classical ‘great’ remedies (like sepia, sulfur, natrium mur., lycopodium), but in total, nearly 600 different homeopathic remedies were used. Conclusions: Our study provides a wealth of data on the medical practice of classical homeopathy. In terms of treatment, polychrests are used frequently, although it should be noted that a large proportion of patients received ‘small remedies’ instead. Most patients are treated for chronic diseases. The present results will, in concert with follow-up outcome analysis, aid in determining the effectiveness of medical homeopathic practice.
Involvement of Rho and p38 MAPK in Endothelin‐1‐Induced Expression of PGHS‐2 mRNA in Osteoblast‐Like Cells

Prostaglandins (PGs) play an important role in bone remodeling because eicosanoids are local mediators of bone metabolism, which can induce physiological and pathological responses of bone tissue. Biosynthesis of PGs is catalyzed by constitutively expressed PG endoperoxide G/H synthase (PGHS) 1 and by the inducible isoform PGHS‐2. In MC3T3‐E1 osteoblast‐like cells, expression of PGHS‐2 was shown by mechanical forces, cytokines, growth factors, and hormones. Recently, endothelin (ET) 1‐stimulated PGHS‐2 mRNA expression was described, leading to a burst in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. In this study, we investigated ET‐1‐induced signal transduction pathway(s) involved in the PGHS‐2 mRNA production. Time course of PGHS‐2 mRNA expression reaching the maximum within 45 minutes is in good agreement with the concept of an immediate early gene product. Inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC), phospholipase D (PLD), phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI‐3‐kinase), and protein kinase C (PKC) had no influence on PGHS‐2 synthesis. Using specific blockers of tyrosine kinases indicated involvement of p38 MAPK but not p42/44 MAPK. By preloading cells with exoenzyme C3, we were able to show requirement of the Rho family of G proteins for p38 MAPK phosphorylation and PGHS‐2 mRNA synthesis, whereas pertussis toxin (PTX) and cholera toxin (CTX) had no remarkable effect.
Potassium Sorbate Crops

___________________________________ April 4, 2002 National Organic Standards Board Technical Advisory Panel Review Page 1 of 1 Compiled by OMRI for the USDA National Organic Program Executive Summary Potassium sorbate was petitioned for use as a preservative for an unspecified seed film coating. The reviewers were unable to fully evaluate the petition since the specific polymer was not identified, the target pests and mode of action were not specified, and the petition justification for use of the product in organic production was incomplete.
Cardiovascular Disease and Arterial Calcification in Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus : Interrelations and Risk Factor Profiles

Cardiovascular disease is a frequent complication of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), but the prevalence, interrelations, and risk factors of its principal components (coronary, cerebrovascular, and lower-extremity arterial disease) and of medial arterial wall calcification are not well understood. To address these issues, data from the Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study (n=657) baseline examination were examined. The term coronary heart disease (CHD) was applied to those with myocardial infarction or angina, whereas lower-extremity arterial disease (LEAD) was applied to those who had undergone amputation of a lower limb or who had an ankle to arm blood pressure ratio less than 0.8 at rest or after exercise. Calcification of the lower-extremity arteries was considered to be present if ankle pressure was more than 100 mm Hg higher than brachial pressure. Although the prevalence of CHD was low, LEAD was significantly more common in women than in men (/7<0.01), whereas calcification was more frequent in men than in women (p<0.01). Ten percent of those with LEAD also had CHD, and 8% with LEAD had calcification. Modeling of potential risk factors (e.g., diabetes duration and glycosylated hemoglobin) revealed that duration, female gender, fibrinogen, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol to apolipoprotein A-I ratio were independent predictors of LEAD, whereas for CHD only, diabetes duration and hypertension contributed to CHD. Calcification revealed a mixed pattern, with duration, hypertension, and triglyceride to apolipoprotein A-I ratio being the statistically significant associated factors. The results suggest that although LEAD, CHD, and calcification often coexist, their risk factor profiles differ. (Arteriosclerosis and Thrombosis 1991;ll:958-965)
Functions of sketching in design idea generation meetings

This study consists of four experimental meetings, which explore whether functions of sketching in design activity are also valid for idea generation meetings in design. The relevant functions of sketching found in theory are: 1) supporting a re-interpretive cycle in the individual thinking process, 2) supporting re-interpretation of each other's ideas in group activity, and 3) enhancing the access to earlier ideas. The results provide some support for the first and the third function. No support was found for the second function.
Accent structures in music performance.

Perceptual studies suggest that the segmentation of a musical sequence is influenced by three accent structures: rhythmic grouping, melodic, and metric accent structures. We investigate whether performers emphasize these types of accents with systematic performance variations (intensity, interonset timing, and articulation). In three experiments, skilled pianists performed sequences of various musical complexities: simple sequences containing only one accent structure (Experiment 1), more complex sequences containing coinciding or conflicting accent structures (Experiment 2), and a concert pianist's performance of a sonata containing coinciding and conflicting accent structures (Experiment 3). In all three musical contexts, similar systematic performance variations were observed in relation to each type of accent. Variations corresponding to rhythmic grouping accents were most consistent across musical contexts and dominated when the accent structures conflicted. These findings suggest perceptual correlates for the accent structures in music performance that may facilitate listeners' segmentation of musical sequences.
Gender Differences in Usability and Enjoyment of VR Educational Games: A Study of SMILE™

This paper reports the results of a pilot study that investigated gender effects on usability and enjoyment of a virtual reality learning game played on three different interfaces. Two of the three interfaces are immersive (FLEX display system with PINCH glove interaction and FLEX display system with 6DOF wand interaction), and one is non-immersive (desktop computer with mouse+keyboard interaction). Findings indicate that girls and boys were equally adept at traveling through the virtual environment using all three interfaces. Girls took longer to complete object manipulation tasks than boys in all three conditions. Ratings of enjoyment, ease of use, and desire to play the game again differed by gender. With respect to fun, girls rated all three conditions highly, whereas boys rated the immersive conditions highly, and rated the non-immersive condition as less fun. With respect to ease of use, the boys and girls had opposite opinions about the FLEX+Wand and the Desktop. For the boys, the Wand was hardest to use and the Desktop easiest. In contrast, for the girls the Desktop was hardest and the Wand was easiest.
Comparison between measured tracer fluxes and footprint model predictions over a homogeneous canopy of intermediate roughness

Fast response tracer flux measurements are compared against flux footprint predictions from both a Lagrangian stochastic simulation and an analytical solution to the equation of diffusion over a canopy of intermediate roughness. A turbulent tracer flux experiment was conducted over a peach orchard for a range of mildly unstable to very unstable conditions. For this purpose, a line source was used to release sulfur hexafluoride at treetop and fast response tracer flux instrumentation placed in the roughness sub-layer was mounted on four towers perpendicular to the line source to measure the vertical tracer flux. There was excellent agreement between Lagrangian simulated fluxes and their experimental counterparts. The analytical solution to the advection–diffusion equation used also shows a good agreement with the tracer fluxes particularly far from the tracer source. These results suggest that for canopies of intermediate roughness, the flux footprint predictions from both models presented work very well, despite their simplifying assumptions. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The Role of Young Adult Social Bonds, Substance Problems, and Sexual Risk in Pathways Between Adolescent Substance Use and Midlife Risky Sexual Behavior Among Urban African Americans

African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections relative to other racial groups. Although substance use has been linked to risky sexual behavior, the understanding of how these associations develop over the life course remains limited, particularly the role of social bonds. This study uses structural equation modeling to examine pathways from adolescent substance use to young adult sexual risk, substance problems, and social bonds and then to midlife risky sexual behavior among African American men and women, controlling for childhood confounders. Data come from 4 assessments, 1 per developmental period, of a community-based urban African American cohort (N = 1,242) followed prospectively from ages 6 to 42 years. We found that greater adolescent substance use predicts greater young adult substance problems and increased risky sexual behavior, both of which in turn predict greater midlife sexual risk. Although greater adolescent substance use predicts fewer young adult social bonds for both genders, less young adult social bonding is unexpectedly associated with decreased midlife risky sexual behavior among women and not related for men. Substance use interventions among urban African American adolescents may have both immediate and long-term effects on decreasing sexual risk behaviors. Given the association between young adult social bonding and midlife risky sex among females, number of social bonds should not be used as a criterion for determining whom to screen for sexual risk among African American women. Future studies should explore other aspects of social bonding in linking substance use and risky sexual behavior over time.
Top management team composition and views of viable strategies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to form propositions about the relationship between the cognitive composition of the top management team and its view of the viable strategy for a firm.Design/methodology/approach – The cognitive style of 58 members of ten top management teams were analyzed using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the strategy types based on Miles and Snow typology were defined using the paragraph approach. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis.Findings – Based on data from the ten top management teams in the spa industry, this study proposes that the cognitive composition of the top management team affects the strategies they prefer. Further, it is proposed that intuitive‐thinking top management teams prefer either a prospector or an analyzer strategy. A defender or an analyzer strategy is preferred by sensing‐thinking top management teams. Defining the composition of the top management team using the cognitive style is proposed to be a more promising way to expla.
Understanding the role of childhood abuse and neglect as a cause and consequence of substance abuse: the German CANSAS network

ABSTRACT Background: Substance use disorders (SUD) belong to the most frequent behavioural consequences of childhood abuse and neglect (CAN). If parents are concerned, SUD are also an important risk factor for CAN. The relationship between CAN and SUD remains poorly understood. There is a need of adequate treatments for SUD patients suffering from the consequences of CAN, as well as for approaches to prevent CAN by parents with SUD. Objective: To describe the aims and the structure of a German research network on relationships between CAN and SUD (CANSAS network). Method: Descriptive overview of the aims, and the different project clusters of the network. Results: The aims of the CANSAS network are: (1) to examine relationships between SUD and CAN; (2) to examine the effects of an evidence-based treatment for SUD patients with posttraumatic disorders; and (3) to provide SUD services with tools to diagnose CAN, and to assess the risk of maltreatment among parents with SUD. The aims of the network are addressed by six projects in three different project clusters (mediators and risk factors, evidence-based treatment, and improvement of services). Conclusions: It is expected that the CANSAS network will advance the understanding of relationships between early adversity and substance use disorders. It will bring forward the discussion about promising treatments for SUD patients with experiences of CAN. Finally it will provide services with measures to identify patients with CAN, and with tools to break the trans-generational cycle of adversity.
The relationships between physical fitness, emotional intelligence and academic achievement in a junior high school in Taiwan

Although much work has been done to clarify the relationship between academic achievements and physical fitness, more local and empirical studies need to be conducted to ascertain further details of this relationship, especially in highly competitive Chinese societies such as Taiwan. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to examine the relationships between physical fitness tests, emotional intelligence and academic achievement. Methodologically, documentary analysis and school academic system were conducted for the survey. A total of 432 pupils aged 13–14 participated in this study. Description, Pearson correlation and hierarchical regression analysis were utilized for data analysis. The results of this study reveal a significant link between students' academic achievement, emotional intelligence and physical fitness test scores. This study has established the importance of estimating the relationship between academic achievement, emotional intelligence and fitness tests, as well as providing powerful evidence that parents, teachers and school administrators should rethink the significance of physical activities for physical fitness-related policies and blueprints in the future.
Constrained Policy Optimization

For many applications of reinforcement learning it can be more convenient to specify both a reward function and constraints, rather than trying to design behavior through the reward function. For example, systems that physically interact with or around humans should satisfy safety constraints. Recent advances in policy search algorithms (Mnih et al., 2016, Schulman et al., 2015, Lillicrap et al., 2016, Levine et al., 2016) have enabled new capabilities in high-dimensional control, but do not consider the constrained setting. We propose Constrained Policy Optimization (CPO), the first general-purpose policy search algorithm for constrained reinforcement learning with guarantees for near-constraint satisfaction at each iteration. Our method allows us to train neural network policies for high-dimensional control while making guarantees about policy behavior all throughout training. Our guarantees are based on a new theoretical result, which is of independent interest: we prove a bound relating the expected returns of two policies to an average divergence between them. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on simulated robot locomotion tasks where the agent must satisfy constraints motivated by safety.
Clinical and differential utility of VEGF inhibitors in wet age-related macular degeneration: focus on aflibercept

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has become a major public health problem and a leading cause of blindness in industrialized nations. AMD results from the ageing eye’s inability to metabolize and dispose completely of photoreceptor outer segments and other waste products. As a result, lipids, particularly apolipoproteins, accumulate within Bruch’s membrane, leading to chronic ischemia and inflammation. The subsequent upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), induces the growth of neovascular membranes from the choriocapillaris into the subretinal or subretinal pigment epithelium spaces. To counter this, intravitreally administered drugs (pegaptanib, bevacizumab, ranibizumab) that specifically target VEGF have become the standard treatment for exudative AMD. Aflibercept, a recently approved fusion protein, binds to all isoforms of both VEGF-A and placental growth factor with high affinity. Phase III trials showed that monthly or every other month injections of aflibercept prevent vision loss (fewer than 15 letters) in 95% of patients. Additionally, aflibercept injections every 4 or 8 weeks produce average vision gains of 6.9 letters to 10.9 letters, comparable with those achieved with monthly ranibizumab. After one year of regularly administered aflibercept injections, patients required an average of only 4.2 injections during the second year. Aflibercept promises to decrease the injection frequency required for many patients and appears to serve as an effective “salvage” therapy for patients who respond poorly to other anti-VEGF drugs.
Langerhans Cells Maintain Local Tissue Tolerance in a Model of Systemic Autoimmune Disease

Systemic autoimmune diseases such as lupus affect multiple organs, usually in a diverse fashion where only certain organs are affected in individual patients. It is unclear whether the “local” immune cells play a role in regulating tissue specificity in relation to disease heterogeneity in systemic autoimmune diseases. In this study, we used skin as a model to determine the role of tissue-resident dendritic cells (DCs) in local and systemic involvement within a systemic lupus disease model. Skin-resident DCs, namely, Langerhans cells (LCs), have been implicated in regulating tolerance or autoimmunity using elegant transgenic models, however, their role in local versus systemic immune regulation is unknown. We demonstrate that although lymphocytes from skin-draining lymph nodes of autoimmune-prone MRL/MpJ-Faslpr/lpr (MRL-lpr) mice react spontaneously to a physiological skin self-Ag desmoglein-3, epicutaneous applications of desmoglein-3 induced tolerance that is dependent on LCs. Inducible ablation of LCs in adult preclinical MRL-lpr and MRL/MpJ-Fas+/+ mice resulted in increased autoantibodies against skin Ags and markedly accelerated lupus dermatitis with increased local macrophage infiltration, but had no effect on systemic autoantibodies such as anti-dsDNA Abs or disease in other organs such as kidneys, lung, and liver. Furthermore, skin-draining lymph nodes of LC-ablated MRL-lpr mice had significantly fewer CD4+ T cells producing anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 than LC-intact controls. These results indicate that a skin-resident DC population regulates local tolerance in systemic lupus and emphasize the importance of the local immune milieu in preventing tissue-specific autoimmunity, yet have no effect on systemic autoimmunity.
SFPQ, a multifunctional nuclear protein, regulates the transcription of PDE3A

Phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A), a member of the cGMP-inhibited cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) family, plays important roles in oocyte maturation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate PDE3A gene expression remain largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the transcriptional regulation of PDE3A, and found that the splicing factor proline- and glutamine-rich (SFPQ) protein modulated PDE3A mRNA levels. Multiple transcription start sites (TSS1, 2, and 3) were identified within the first exon of PDE3A using 5′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Variable expression levels of three PDE3A variants were also observed in human tissues and HeLa cells. Several putative SFPQ-binding sites were identified upstream of the regulatory region of PDE3A-TSSs using ChIP sequencing (ChIP-seq). Serum-induced PDE3A expression was affected by increasing the amount of SFPQ binding to the upstream regulatory region of PDE3A. In addition, transcription of PDE3A was lower in human cervical adenocarcinoma cells compared with normal cervical tissue. Furthermore, overexpression of PDE3A induced sensitivity to anticancer therapeutic agent, 6-(4-(diethylamino)-3-nitrophenyl)-5-methyl-4,5-dihydropyridazin-3(2H)-one (DNMDP), in HeLa cells. Taken together, these results suggest that SFPQ functions as a transcriptional activator of PDE3A, which is involved in the regulation of DNMDP sensitivity, offering a novel molecular target for the development of anticancer therapies.
Raising the Achievement of Caribbean Pupils in British Schools: unacknowledged problems and challenges for policy makers

Over the last decade the underperforming groups issues that have shaped thinking practice in schools have changed significantly. Today, a high level of education is no longer a luxury for some groups or social classes, but a necessity for every one in British society. Yet Black Caribbean heritage pupils’ achievements lag far behind the average achievement of the majority of their peers and the gap is growing at the end of primary and secondary education. Despite much academic debate and policy makers’ concern about underachievement in schools, the needs of Black Caribbean pupils have not been addressed in the education system and have been largely neglected. This research paper examines critically the national policy agenda, the extent of and reasons for underachievement of pupils of Black Caribbean heritage throughout each key stage in an inner city LEA. Statistical trends and patterns of performance are analysed by ethnic factors to illustrate differences in attainment. The paper questions the current national policy agenda for improving achievement for all pupils, and argues critically that the issues surrounding Black Caribbean pupils’ underachievement are real and should not be underestimated in national policy formulation. Policy implications for government and for all concerned with school improvement are highlighted, as well as many practical suggestions.