Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic criteria for essential tremor: a population perspective.

BACKGROUND Prevalence estimates vary 2750-fold among the 20 studies of essential tremor (ET). It is not clear how the choice of diagnostic criteria affects research results. OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of alternative sets of diagnostic criteria on the diagnosis of ET. METHODS As part of the Washington Heights-Inwood Genetic Study of ET (WHIGET), a population-based study of ET, 285 subjects who include 36 case subjects with probable or definite ET, 34 case subjects with possible ET, and 215 normal subjects were interviewed and examined. All diagnoses in WHIGET were assigned by 2 neurologists. Ten of the 20 published prevalence studies of ET provided diagnostic criteria for ET. Criteria differed in terms of requirements for the distribution, duration, and severity of tremor. These 10 sets of criteria were then each separately applied to the subjects in the WHIGET cohort to determine their impact on the diagnosis of ET. RESULTS Depending on which diagnostic criteria were applied to the WHIGET cohort, the proportion of WHIGET case subjects with definite or probable ET who would have been diagnosed as having ET was as low as 14% and the proportion of WHIGET normal subjects who would have been diagnosed as having ET was as high as 51%. Diagnostic criteria that included a positive family history of ET or a lengthy duration of tremor would have classified many WHIGET case subjects with ET as normal, whereas criteria that did not specify a minimal tremor severity would have classified many WHIGET normal subjects as having ET. CONCLUSIONS Alternative sets of diagnostic criteria for ET greatly impact on the diagnosis of ET. For population-based studies, information on tremor type and severity rather than family history should be included in diagnostic criteria.
Relationship between smoking, HPV infection, and risk of Cervical cancer.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION To document the relationship between smoking and HPV infection, and the risk of developing preinvasive lesions and cervical carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Prospective, cross-sectional descriptive study. A total of 1,007 patients were recruited among women seen at the cervical pathology clinic of Sant Joan de Déu University Hospital in Barcelona (Spain) between January 2003 and March 2011. Patients were asked specifically about their smoking habits. Statistical analyses were done with SPSS v.19 software. Differences between groups were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS In patients studied, 48.7% were smokers. The average number of cigarettes per day among smoking patients was 7.07 (1-40). In the of patients with HPV infection, 53% were smokers versus 37% of patients without HPV infection (p < 0.05). The average number of cigarettes per day among patients with HPV infection was 7.64 cigarettes/day versus 5.55 cigarettes/day among patients without HPV infection (p < 0.05). In the patients with high-risk HPV genotypes infection, 54.5% were smokers versus 43.2% of patients without high-risk HPV infection (p < 0.05). Risk of HPV infection increases 1.905 times among smoking patients versus no smoking patients (OR = 1.905, CI 95% (1.426-2.545), p < 0.05). Among patients with changes associated to HPV and atypical cells, there were 29.2% and 14.4% of smokers, respectively, versus 45.5%, 55.6%, and 48.6% of smokers among patients with grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 1), CIN 2-3, and carcinoma, respectively (p < 0.05). Risk of CIN 2-3 or cervical carcinoma cervical increases 1.642 times among smoking patients versus no smoking ones (OR = 1.642, CI 95% (1.325-1.884), p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Smoking interferes in the increase of HPV infection prevalence and in an increased risk of CIN and cervical carcinoma. Risk also increases with more cigars smoked per day.
Investigating the impact of gender and existential anxiety on the willingness to participate in point-of-care testing for cardiovascular disease

Two studies (N = 136) investigated whether or not gender or mortality reminders would impact middle-aged and older adults’ appraisal of a novel point-of-care testing device for cardiovascular disease risk. Middle-aged females were significantly more likely to positively appraise and commit to using the device compared to middle-aged males, but there were no such gender differences among older adults. Both studies also failed to support hypotheses that existential concerns would lead to avoidance of the device. When taken together, the findings suggest that similar devices may beneficially affect screening behaviours and underscore a need to target middle-aged males for cardiovascular screening interventions.
Role of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in children with chronic kidney disease

Hypertension is common in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is a major determinant of CKD progression. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has been proposed to be better in detecting hypertension as compared to casual blood pressure (CBP). This study aims to study the usefulness of ABPM in detecting masked hypertension, evaluating the adequacy of blood pressure (BP) control and predicting left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) amongst children with CKD. A prospective cross-sectional study of 46 children with stage 3–5 CKD was conducted at the Pediatric Nephrology department of a tertiary hospital in South India. All children underwent CBP, ABPM and an echocardiography. Results were categorized as normal BP; confirmed hypertension; masked hypertension and white coat hypertension. Out of 46 children studied, 11 were undergoing dialysis. While 39.1% children had stage 3 and 4 CKD each, 21.7% had stage 5 CKD. Masked hypertension was detected in 19.6% and 21.7% had confirmed hypertension. Thirty-four (73.9%) children were already receiving antihypertensive medication. In these, CBP was elevated in 23.5% and ABP in 47%. Among children with hypertension as defined by ABPM, LVH was detected in 32.2%. We found that higher the number of abnormal ABPM indices (assessed by BP Index, nocturnal dipping and BP Load) higher the likelihood of LVH (P = 0.046). ABPM is better in detecting hypertension and monitoring adequacy of treatment in children with CKD. The high prevalence of masked hypertension and its association with LVH supports early echocardiography and ambulatory BP monitoring to evaluate cardiovascular risks in this population.
Activation of the Lectin Complement Pathway by H-Ficolin (Hakata Antigen)1

Ficolins are a group of proteins which consist of a collagen-like domain and a fibrinogen-like domain. In human serum, there are two types of ficolins named L-ficolin/P35 and H-ficolin (Hakata Ag), both of which have lectin activity. We recently demonstrated that L-ficolin/P35 is associated with mannose-binding lectin (MBL)-associated serine proteases (MASP) 1 and 2 and small MBL-associated protein (sMAP), and that the complex activates the lectin pathway. In this study, we report the characterization of H-ficolin in terms of its ability to activate complement. Western blotting analysis showed the presence of MASP-1, MASP-2, MASP-3, and sMAP in H-ficolin preparations isolated from Cohn Fraction III. The MASPs in the preparations had proteolytic activities against C4, C2, and C3 in the fluid phase. When H-ficolin preparations were bound to anti-H-ficolin Ab which had been coated on ELISA plates, they activated C4, although no C4 activation was noted when anti-MBL and anti-L-ficolin/P35 were used. H-ficolin binds to PSA, a polysaccharide produced by Aerococcus viridans. C4 was activated by H-ficolin preparations bound to PSA which had been coated on ELISA plates. These results indicate that H-ficolin is a second ficolin which is associated with MASPs and sMAP, and which activates the lectin pathway.
mTOR regulates phagosome and entotic vacuole fission

Phagosomes and entotic vacuoles harboring engulfed cells undergo an mTOR-regulated process of vacuolar fission that distributes engulfed contents throughout lysosome networks. Amino acid recovery from engulfed cells activates mTORC1 and rescues engulfing cells from the effects of amino acid starvation.
Annotation: The 'effects' of parenting reconsidered: findings, challenges, and applications.

BACKGROUND Questions remain concerning the 'effects' of parenting on behavioural/emotional problems in children. This annotation discusses recent findings concerning the parenting 'effects' literature and identifies areas in need of further research. METHOD The review begins by examining theories and definitions of parenting, and then considers research findings on the predictors of parent-child relationships and their effects on behavioural/emotional adjustment in children. Evidence for causal processes are then examined in light of findings emphasizing the need to consider the impact of larger systems on child's well-being, bi-directional processes in parent-child interactions, and alternative hypotheses suggested by behavioural genetics. RESULTS Different kinds of evidence suggest strong links between parent-child relationship quality and children's well-being, but difficulties remain for drawing causal connections. The need for greater integration among research traditions and the need for theory development are highlighted. In addition, although a substantial and robust research base exists on parent-child relationships, the applicability of these findings to clinical settings is uncertain. CONCLUSIONS Substantial progress has been made in our understanding of the nature of parent-child relationships and their developmental effects, but a number of basic conceptual and methodological and clinical questions continue to need rigorous study.
CASE-MATCHED COMPARISON OF VITRECTOMY, PERIPHERAL RETINAL ENDOLASER, AND ENDOCYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION VERSUS STANDARD CARE IN NEOVASCULAR GLAUCOMA

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of combination pars plana vitrectomy, endoscopic peripheral panretinal photocoagulation, and endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP) as compared with standard care in patients with neovascular glaucoma. Methods: This age-matched case-controlled retrospective series of 54 eyes compared the clinical outcomes between a consecutive series of combination pars plana vitrectomy/panretinal photocoagulation/ECP (n = 27) versus the current standard of care (n = 27) for patients with neovascular glaucoma. “Standard” treatments for patients with neovascular glaucoma include panretinal photocoagulation, intravitreal bevacizumab, filtration surgery, pars plana vitrectomy, and Ahmed valve placement. Results: After 1 year, mean intraocular pressure reduced from 40.7 ± 12.40 mmHg preoperatively to 12.3 ± 4.84 mmHg (P < 0.001) in the ECP group and from 34.7 ± 12.38 mmHg to 23.2 ± 12.34 mmHg in the control group (P = 0.002). Compared with controls, the mean drop in intraocular pressure in the ECP group was significantly greater at all postoperative visits. Logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution visual acuity outcomes were similar in both groups. There were 2 cases (7.4%) of postoperative phthisis bulbi in each group. Conclusion: Endoscopic pars plana vitrectomy, panretinal photocoagulation, and ECP seem to control intraocular pressure to a greater extent than standard glaucoma treatments in patients with neovascular glaucoma. In this aged-matched comparative case series, there was no significant difference between the two treatments' effects on visual acuity.
Children Do Not Behave Like Adults: Gender Gaps in Performance and Risk Taking in a Random Social Context in the High�?Stakes Game Shows Jeopardy and Junior Jeopardy

Using unique panel data, we compare cognitive performance and wagering behavior of children (10-11 years) with adults playing in the Swedish version of the TV-shows Jeopardy and Junior Jeopardy. Although facing the same well-known high-stakes game, and controlling for performance differences, there is no gender gap in risk-taking among girls and boys in contrast with adults, and, while girls take more risk than women, boys take less risk than men. We also find that female behavior is differently sensitive to social context. While women wager more, girls perform worse and employ inferior wagering strategies when randomly assigned male opponents.
MicroRNA‐216a/217‐induced epithelial‐mesenchymal transition targets PTEN and SMAD7 to promote drug resistance and recurrence of liver cancer

Tumor recurrence and metastases are the major obstacles to improving the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To identify novel risk factors associated with HCC recurrence and metastases, we have established a panel of recurrence‐associated microRNAs (miRNAs) by comparing miRNA expression in recurrent and nonrecurrent human HCC tissue samples using microarrays (recurrence is defined as recurrent disease occurring within a 2‐year time point of the original treatment). Among the panel, expression of the miR‐216a/217 cluster was consistently and significantly up‐regulated in HCC tissue samples and cell lines associated with early tumor recurrence, poor disease‐free survival, and an epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype. Stable overexpression of miR‐216a/217‐induced EMT increased the stem‐like cell population, migration, and metastatic ability of epithelial HCC cells. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (SMAD7) were subsequently identified as two functional targets of miR‐216a/217, and both PTEN and SMAD7 were down‐regulated in HCC. Ectopic expression of PTEN or SMAD7 partially rescued miR‐216a/217‐mediated EMT, cell migration, and stem‐like properties of HCC cells. Previously, SMAD7 was shown to be a transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) type 1 receptor antagonist. Here, we further demonstrated that overexpression of miR‐216a/217 acted as a positive feedback regulator for the TGF‐β pathway and the canonical pathway involved in the activation of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/protein kinase K (PI3K/Akt) signaling in HCC cells. Additionally, activation of the TGF‐β‐ and PI3K/Akt‐signaling pathways in HCC cells resulted in an acquired resistance to sorafenib, whereas blocking activation of the TGF‐β pathway overcame miR‐216a/217‐induced sorafenib resistance and prevented tumor metastases in HCC. Conclusion: Overexpression of miR‐216a/217 activates the PI3K/Akt and TGF‐β pathways by targeting PTEN and SMAD7, contributing to hepatocarcinogenesis and tumor recurrence in HCC. (Hepatology 2013;58:629–641)
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Payment choice , image motivation and contributions to charity : evidence from a field experiment

This study uses a door-to-door fundraising field experiment to examine the impact of payment choice on charitable giving. The three treatments are distinguished by whether respondents can donate cash, use their debit card or have both options. Cash donations are anonymous whereas debit card donations are observed by the solicitor. Due to dwindling participation, revenues are significantly lower in the debit-only treatment. In the combined treatment, participation decreases relative to the cash-only treatment. Small donors drop out in particular, which indicates that offering the possibility to donate non-anonymously reduces the reputational payoff of anonymous donations. JEL classification: C93; D64; H41; E42
Astrophysics Sulphur Abundance in Galactic Stars

We investigate sulphur abundance in 74 Galactic stars by using high resolution spectra obtained at ESO VLT and NTT telescopes. For the first time the abundances are derived, where possible, from three optical multiplets: Mult. 1, 6, and 8. By combining our own measurements with data in the literature we assemble a sample of 253 stars in the metallicity range −3.2 < ∼ [Fe/H] < ∼ +0.5. Two important features, which could hardly be detected in smaller samples, are obvious from this large sample: 1) a sizeable scatter in [S/Fe] ratios around [Fe/H]∼ −1 ; 2) at low metallicities we observe stars with [S/Fe]∼ 0.4, as well as stars with higher [S/Fe] ratios. The latter do not seem to be kinematically different from the former ones. Whether the latter finding stems from a distinct population of metal-poor stars or simply from an increased scatter in sulphur abundances remains an open question.
Strain Echocardiography in Early Detection of Doxorubicin-Induced Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Objective. To investigate the ability of two-dimensional longitudinal strain echocardiography (2DST), to detect the early doxorubicin cardiotoxicity. Patients and Methods. The study included 25 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) aged 5–15 years and 30 healthy control children. They had echocardiographic examination with conventional 2-dimensional (2D), pulsed tissue Doppler (PTD), and 2DST echocardiography before and within 1 week after doxorubicin treatment. Results. There was no significant difference in left ventricle (LV) systolic and diastolic functions measured by conventional 2-D and PTD echocardiography between patients and controls. However, there was significant decrease in LV global and peak systolic strain detected by 2-DST echocardiography in study group than control. After doxorubicin treatment, there was no significant difference in LV systolic and diastolic functions measured by conventional 2-D and PTD echocardiography than before treatment except for prolonged IVCT and IVRT, but LV global and peak systolic strain was significantly lower after treatment. Conclusion. 2-D longitudinal strain echocardiography was more sensitive than conventional 2-D and PTD in detecting the early LV doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in children with ALL.
Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy

Pluralistic counselling and psychotherapy was developed at the beginning of the 21st century, and reflects some of the key cultural developments in this era. Pluralistic therapy reflects a postmodern suspicion of ‘grand narratives’ such as all-encompassing psychological theories, and a preference instead for ‘local’ solutions. It builds on the increasing tendency for people to be informed consumers of healthcare, whose use of the internet and other media enables them to develop their own ideas about what ails them and how they might be helped. Also relevant is a high level of global or multicultural sensitivity, that takes the form of acknowledgement of the potential value of healing practices from other cultures.
Association of maternal nutrition knowledge and child feeding practices with nutritional status of children in Calabar South Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria

Maternal nutrition knowledge and child feeding practices are essential in child’s growth and development. Without adequate nutrition knowledge and optimal feeding practices, poor nutritional status among children can arise even in households with adequate income and food, good sanitation and health services. The consequences of Undernutrition can have long-term limiting impact on child’s growth. This paper presents the level of maternal nutrition knowledge and their child feeding practices, and the influence they have on child’s nutritional status in an urban area in Nigeria. A validated interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from mothers of children 6-23 months of age. The level of maternal knowledge on child health and nutrition was examined; overall knowledge was classified as good, fair and poor. Also, the child feeding practices among mothers using the World Health Organization indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding was assessed. The weights and heights of the children were measured using standard procedures and converted to indices that were used to measure stunting, underweight and wasting. The findings showed that most of the mothers had insufficient nutrition knowledge as they fell into the category of fair and poor knowledge and most of the children were sub-optimally fed. Thus, it was not surprising when their nutritional status revealed high prevalence of malnutrition. Consequently, poor maternal nutritional knowledge and feeding practices is found to be a predisposition to malnutrition in children in their first two years of life.
Making technological innovation work for sustainable development

This paper presents insights and action proposals to better harness technological innovation for sustainable development. We begin with three key insights from scholarship and practice. First, technological innovation processes do not follow a set sequence but rather emerge from complex adaptive systems involving many actors and institutions operating simultaneously from local to global scales. Barriers arise at all stages of innovation, from the invention of a technology through its selection, production, adaptation, adoption, and retirement. Second, learning from past efforts to mobilize innovation for sustainable development can be greatly improved through structured cross-sectoral comparisons that recognize the socio-technical nature of innovation systems. Third, current institutions (rules, norms, and incentives) shaping technological innovation are often not aligned toward the goals of sustainable development because impoverished, marginalized, and unborn populations too often lack the economic and political power to shape innovation systems to meet their needs. However, these institutions can be reformed, and many actors have the power to do so through research, advocacy, training, convening, policymaking, and financing. We conclude with three practice-oriented recommendations to further realize the potential of innovation for sustainable development: (i) channels for regularized learning across domains of practice should be established; (ii) measures that systematically take into account the interests of underserved populations throughout the innovation process should be developed; and (iii) institutions should be reformed to reorient innovation systems toward sustainable development and ensure that all innovation stages and scales are considered at the outset.
Investigations on Line-Edge Roughness (LER) and Line-Width Roughness (LWR) in Nanoscale CMOS Technology: Part II–Experimental Results and Impacts on Device Variability

In the part I of this paper, the correlation between line-edge roughness (LER) and line-width roughness (LWR) is investigated by theoretical modeling and simulation. In this paper, process-dependence of the correlation between LER and LWR is studied. The experimental results indicate that both Si Fin and nanowire have strongly correlated LER/LWR, and the cross-correlation of two edges depends on the fabrication process. Based on the improved simulation method proposed in the Part I of this paper, the impacts of correlated LER/LWR in the channel of double-gate devices are investigated. The results show that Vth distribution strongly relies on cross-correlation, and can exhibit non-Gaussian distribution and/or multipeak distribution, which enlarges the Vth variation.