Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Escitalopram in obsessive–compulsive disorder: a randomized, placebo-controlled, paroxetine-referenced, fixed-dose, 24-week study

ABSTRACT Objective: A randomized, placebo-controlled fixed-dose trial was undertaken to determine the efficacy and tolerability of escitalopram in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), using paroxetine as the active reference. Research design and methods: A total of 466 adults with OCD from specialized clinical centres, psychiatric hospital departments, psychiatric practices, or general practice were randomized to one of four treatment groups: escitalopram 10 mg/day (n = 116), escitalopram 20 mg/day (n = 116), paroxetine 40 mg/day (n = 119), or placebo (n = 115) for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean change in the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y‑BOCS) total score from baseline to week 12. Secondary efficacy endpoints included remission (defined as Y‑BOCS total score ≤10), NIMH‑OCS, and CGI‑S and CGI‑I scores at weeks 12 and 24. Tolerability was based on the incidence of adverse events, and on changes in vital signs (blood pressure and pulse). Main outcome measures; Results: Escitalopram 20 mg/day was superior to placebo on the primary and all secondary outcome endpoints, including remission. Escitalopram 10 mg/day and paroxetine 40 mg/day were also effective on the primary scale as well as some other outcome measures. In the escitalopram 20 mg/day group, the improvement in Y‑BOCS total score was significantly better than in the placebo group as early as week 6. The most common AEs in the active treatment groups were nausea (19–27%), headache (17–22%), and fatigue (12–19%). More paroxetine-treated patients withdrew due to adverse events than escitalopram- or placebo-treated patients. Conclusion: Given that escitalopram 20 mg/day was associated with an earlier onset, higher response and remission rates, improved functioning, and better tolerability than the reference drug, escitalopram deserves to be considered as one of the first-line agents in the pharmacotherapy of OCD for longer-term treatment periods.
Functional Assessment of Population and Tumor-Associated APE1 Protein Variants

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) is the predominant AP site repair enzyme in mammals. APE1 also maintains 3′–5′ exonuclease and 3′-repair activities, and regulates transcription factor DNA binding through its REF-1 function. Since complete or severe APE1 deficiency leads to embryonic lethality and cell death, it has been hypothesized that APE1 protein variants with slightly impaired function will contribute to disease etiology. Our data indicate that except for the endometrial cancer-associated APE1 variant R237C, the polymorphic variants Q51H, I64V and D148E, the rare population variants G241R, P311S and A317V, and the tumor-associated variant P112L exhibit normal thermodynamic stability of protein folding; abasic endonuclease, 3′–5′ exonuclease and REF-1 activities; coordination during the early steps of base excision repair; and intracellular distribution when expressed exogenously in HeLa cells. The R237C mutant displayed reduced AP-DNA complex stability, 3′–5′ exonuclease activity and 3′-damage processing. Re-sequencing of the exonic regions of APE1 uncovered no novel amino acid substitutions in the 60 cancer cell lines of the NCI-60 panel, or in HeLa or T98G cancer cell lines; only the common D148E and Q51H variants were observed. Our results indicate that APE1 missense mutations are seemingly rare and that the cancer-associated R237C variant may represent a reduced-function susceptibility allele.
Secondary attack rate of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 in Western Australian households, 29 May-7 August 2009.

Understanding household transmission of the pandemic influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus, including risk factors for transmission, is important for refining public health strategies to reduce the burden of the disease. During the influenza season of 2009 we investigated transmission of the emerging virus in 595 households in which the index case was the first symptomatic case of influenza A(H1N1)2009. Secondary cases were defined as household contacts with influenza-like illness (ILI) or laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1)2009, occurring at least one day after but within seven days following symptom onset in the index case. ILI developed in 231 of the 1,589 household contacts, a secondary attack rate of 14.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 12.9–16.4). At least one secondary case occurred in 166 of the 595 households (a household transmission rate of 27.9%; 95% CI: 24.5–31.6). Of these, 127 (76.5%) households reported one secondary case and 39 (23.5%) households reported two or more secondary cases. Secondary attack rates were highest in children younger than five years (p=0.001), and young children were also more efficient transmitters (p=0.01). Individual risk was not associated with household size. Prophylactic antiviral therapy was associated with reduced transmission (p=0.03). The secondary attack rate of ILI in households with a confirmed pandemic influenza A(H1N1)2009 index case was comparable to that described previously for seasonal influenza.
The Process of Understanding: Reading for Literary and Informative Purposes.

This study was primarily concerned with the literary meaning-making experience. In all, 216 protocols were collected from 36 students (18 7th graders and 18 1 lth graders). Over several weeks, each student engaged in a series of think-aloud sessions during which each read two short stories, two poems, one science selection, and one social studies selection. All think-alouds were tape recorded and transcribed to permit qualitative analyses of students' language and thought as evidence of the process of interpretation. Findings identify four recursive stances readers take in relation to the text, with each adding a somewhat different dimension to the understanding of the entire piece. They are: being out and stepping into an envisionment, being in and moving through an envisionment, stepping back and rethinking what one knows, and stepping out and objectifying the experience. In addition to using these stances, students' overall orientation toward literary meaning-building involved exploring a horizon of possibilities, while the reading of other material involved maintaining a point of reference. It was this distinction which seemed to underlie the different approaches to understanding the students called upon when reading for literary and informative purposes. The decade of the 1980s has been marked by calls for increased attention to students' thinking and reasoning about what they are reading in all of their subjects, across the curriculum (Applebee, Langer, & Mullis, 1987, 1989, 1990; Boyer, 1983; Commission on Excellence in Education, 1983; National Governors' Conference, 1990). For English teachers, this has meant a focus on the reading of literature calling it back to the center of concern after several decades of benign neglect. Yet there is considerable disagreement about the role that literature should play in the K-12 curriculum. For many, the teaching of literature is often treated only as a way to introduce students to the cultural knowledge, the great thoughts, and the high culture of our society (Bloom, This study was funded from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, Grant No. G008720278-88, for the Center for the Learning and Teaching of Literature. The colleagueship, good ideas, and hard work of the following research assistants added immeasurably to every aspect of the study: Noreen Benton, John Sandman, Mary Sawyer, Francine Stayter, Dee Warner, and Beth Weatherby. I would also like to thank the students, their teachers, and district personnel without whose cooperation this work would not be. Research in the Teaching of English, Vol. 24, No. 3, October 1990
Anisotropic Conduction Properties in Canine Atria Analyzed by High-Resolution Optical Mapping: Preferential Direction of Conduction Block Changes From Longitudinal to Transverse With Increasing Age

Background—Anisotropic conduction properties may provide a substrate for reentrant arrhythmias. We investigated the age-dependent changes of structural and functional anisotropy in isolated right atria from infant (1 to 2 months), young (6 to 12 months), and old (6 to 10 years) dogs. Methods and Results—The histology of the mapped atrial tissues (a small subepicardial area, 2.8×4.2 mm) was characterized by an age-dependent increase of myofiber width and fat cell infiltration between myofibers. Cx43 was distributed homogeneously over the entire cell surface in infant dogs, whereas it progressively polarized to the cell termini with increasing age. The activation sequences were analyzed by high-resolution optical mapping using a voltage-sensitive dye. Activation fronts from the pacing site proceeded more rapidly along fiber orientation (longitudinal) than across it (transverse). Infant dogs showed “elliptical” isochrones with a smooth transition between longitudinal and transverse propagation, whereas old dogs had a “square” pattern with a sharp transition. Conduction block occurred predominantly during longitudinal propagation in infant dogs but during transverse propagation in old dogs. The shape of the wave front and the degree of lateral uncoupling seemed to decide the preferential direction of block. A zigzag activation causing an extremely slow transverse conduction was observed only in old dogs. Conclusions—Along with the age-dependent structural anisotropy, the preferential direction of block changed from longitudinal to transverse in association with a change in the wave front configuration. A zigzag propagation based on lateral uncoupling would predispose the elderly to multiple reentry and a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation.
Adjuvant Properties of Thermal Component of Hyperthermia Enhanced Transdermal Immunization: Effect on Dendritic Cells

Hyperthermia enhanced transdermal (HET) immunization is a novel needle free immunization strategy employing application of antigen along with mild local hyperthermia (42°C) to intact skin resulting in detectable antigen specific Ig in serum. In the present study, we investigated the adjuvant effect of thermal component of HET immunization in terms of maturation of dendritic cells and its implication on the quality of the immune outcome in terms of antibody production upon HET immunization with tetanus toxoid (TT). We have shown that in vitro hyperthermia exposure at 42°C for 30 minutes up regulates the surface expression of maturation markers on bone marrow derived DCs. This observation correlated in vivo with an increased and accelerated expression of maturation markers on DCs in the draining lymph node upon HET immunization in mice. This effect was found to be independent of the antigen delivered and depends only on the thermal component of HET immunization. In vitro hyperthermia also led to enhanced capacity to stimulate CD4+ T cells in allo MLR and promotes the secretion of IL-10 by BMDCs, suggesting a potential for Th2 skewing of T cell response. HET immunization also induced a systemic T cell response to TT, as suggested by proliferation of splenocytes from immunized animal upon in vitro stimulation by TT. Exposure to heat during primary immunization led to generation of mainly IgG class of antibodies upon boosting, similar to the use of conventional alum adjuvant, thus highlighting the adjuvant potential of heat during HET immunization. Lastly, we have shown that mice immunized by tetanus toxoid using HET route exhibited protection against challenge with a lethal dose of tetanus toxin. Thus, in addition to being a painless, needle free delivery system it also has an immune modulatory potential.
Adrenomedullin Induces Endothelium-Dependent Vasorelaxation via the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt-Dependent Pathway in Rat Aorta

Abstract— To study the mechanisms by which adrenomedullin (AM) induces endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation, we examined whether AM-induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation was mediated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt-dependent pathway in rat aorta, because it was recently reported that PI3K/Akt was implicated in the activation of endothelial NO synthase. AM-induced vasorelaxation in thoracic aorta with intact endothelium was inhibited by pretreatment with PI3K inhibitors to the same level as that in endothelium-denuded aorta. AM elicited Akt phosphorylation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. AM-induced Akt phosphorylation was inhibited by pretreatment with a calmodulin-dependent protein kinase inhibitor as well as with PI3K inhibitors. When an adenovirus construct expressing a dominant-negative Akt mutant (Ad/dnAkt) was injected into abdominal aortas so that the mutant was expressed predominantly in the endothelium layer, AM-induced vasodilation was diminished to the same level as that in endothelium-denuded aortas. Finally, AM-induced cGMP production, which was used as an indicator for NO production, was suppressed by PI3K inhibition or by Ad/dnAkt infection into the endothelium. These results suggested that AM induced Akt activation in the endothelium via the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent pathway and that this was implicated in the production of NO, which in turn induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation in rat aorta.
Optimistic Personality, Work Performance, and Interpersonal Relationships at Work: A Field Study

I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Fung Ming Chan entitled, “Optimistic Personality, Work Performance, and Interpersonal Relationships at Work: A Field Study. ” I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, with a major in Psychology. Eric Sundstrom, Major Professor
Factors associated with late ANC initiation among pregnant women in select public health centers of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: unmatched case–control study design

Background Although Ethiopia has shown remarkable achievements in reducing maternal mortality in the last 10 years, the prevalence of late antenatal care (ANC) initiation is still high in the country. Objective The primary purpose of this study was to identify the factors related to late ANC initiation among pregnant women in selected public health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Subjects and methods A total of 402 pregnant women (cases=134, controls=268) were recruited using multistage sampling. The design selected for the study was unmatched case–control. EpiData version 3.02 and SPSS version 20.0 were used for data entry and statistical analysis, respectively. Binary logistic regression model was used to model the odds of late ANC initiation. Results The odds of attending ANC late were significantly higher for mothers with a monthly household income of <US$45.5 (AOR=6.67; 95% CI: 2.40, 18.60), who were educated up to eighth grade or below (AOR=2.17; 95% CI: 1.03, 4.60), who had unplanned pregnancy (AOR=2.73; 95% CI: 1.03, 7.23), who did not receive advice from health extension workers or TV/radio (AOR=5.21; 95% CI: 2.49, 10.88), who stayed for <5 years in Addis Ababa (AOR=3.93; 95% CI: 1.89, 8.12), and who was charged >$8.50 to start the ANC service (AOR=3.04; 95% CI: 1.98, 4.67). Conclusion Low educational level, low income of the household, unplanned pregnancy, stay for <5 years in Addis Ababa, not getting advice from health extension workers or local TV/radio and higher cost associated with initiation of the first ANC service were the main predictors of late ANC initiation. Therefore, any intervention which would need to improve early ANC initiation should focus on economic empowerment of women, and tailored health education for migrant women should be strengthened.
A measurement of the transverse velocity of Q2237+0305

Determination of microlensing parameters in the gravitationally lensed quasar Q2237+0305 from the statistics of high-magnification events will require monitoring for more than 100 years (Wambsganss, Paczynski & Schneider). However, we show that the effective transverse velocity of the lensing galaxy can be determined on a more realistic time-scale through consideration of the distribution of light-curve derivatives. The 10 years of existing monitoring data for Q2237+0305 are analysed. These data display strong evidence for microlensing that is not associated with a high-magnification event. An upper limit of vt<500 km s−1 is obtained for the galactic transverse velocity, which is smaller than previously assumed values. The analysis suggests that the observed microlensing variation may be predominantly due to stellar proper motions. The statistical significance of the results obtained from our method will be increased by the addition of data points from current and future monitoring campaigns. However, reduced photometric errors will be more valuable than an increased sampling rate.
Living in the shadow of fear: an interactionist examination of agoraphobia

6 Introduction . 7 Chapter One Literature Review . 9 Historical Perspective of Agoraphobia . 9 Modern Perspective on Agoraphobia . 11 Panic Attack Symptoms . 11 Phobic Symptoms. 13 Public Places and Situations. 13 Degrees of Agoraphobia. 14 Functional and Homebound Agoraphobia . 17 Prevalence of Agoraphobia . 19 Age of Onset. 19 Social Factors in Agoraphobia . 22 Family Upbringing . 22 Pre-agoraphobic Children. 26 School Years. 27 School Phobia. 28 Traumatic Events. 29 The Female Experience of Agoraphobia. 32 The Male Experience of Agoraphobia . 37 Marriage and Agoraphobia. 38 Companions. 42 Alcoholism . 43 Depression . 44 Anxiety Management . 45 Social Implications of Treatment . 47 Technology and Agoraphobia . 50 Social Class and Environment. 51 Urbanisation . 52 Ethnicity . 52 Religion . 52 Chapter Two Theoretical Framework. 53 Thesis Rationale for using Interactionist Approach . 53 Historical Origins of Interactionism. 54 Blumer Symbolic Interactionism . 56 Goffman Stigma. 61 Schur Labelling Approach . 78
Experimental Coinfection of Chicken Anemia Virus and Mycoplasma gallisepticum Vaccine Strains in Broiler Chicks

This study aimed at determining the clinical and pathological effects of the coinfection of young SPF chickens with chicken anemia virus (CAV) and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) vaccine strains. The clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions were determined after the experimental coinfection broilers with a CAV genotype 1 vaccine strain given intraperitoneally on the first day of age and a MG F-strain vaccine given intranasally on the 8th day of age. The experimental groups included the negative control (group 1), a group infected with the MG F-strain vaccine (group 2), and a group coinfected with CAV and MG vaccines (group 3). Chicks were examined clinically and post mortem at 23 days of age, and gross and microscopic lesions of the trachea, thymus, and air sacs were compared among treatments (Kruskal-Wallis test). Infections were confirmed by PCR for specific genetic fragments of each agent in the target tissues. Mortality was only observed in chicks on group 3, with two deaths and more severe lesions in the trachea, thymus and air sacs compared with groups 1 and 2 (p< 0.01). Dead chicks presented reduced thymus and spleen size, hemorrhagic trachea with catarrhal exudate and partial obstruction, pericarditis, catarrhal airsacculitis, lungs with liquid and ascites. The surviving chicks in group 3 showed more severe respiratory changes than those in group 2, in addition to thymus and spleen size reduction. Results indicate the adverse effects of the coinfection of young chickens with MG F-strain and CAV genotype 1 vaccines.
Computation and Continuation of Homoclinic and Heteroclinic Orbits with Arclength Parameterization

In this paper, we study a numerical method for the computation and continuation of homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits based upon the arclength parameterization of the orbits. Unlike most other methods, this method utilizes the geometric structure of the homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits and does not require solving a boundary value problem (BVP) on an infinite interval. However, the BVP formulated by this method can have a singularity at the end of the domain, and thus we introduce a special collocation method to handle such a singularity. We discuss the convergence properties of our collocation method and the implementation of the method which uses the software AUTO. For several examples we show that the arclength parameterization compares very favorably with the other numerical methods, although there are some limitations in the Sil'nikov case.
Doxapram treatment for apnea in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND Recurrent apnea is common in preterm infants, particularly at very early gestational ages. These episodes of loss of effective breathing can lead to hypoxemia and bradycardia which may be severe enough to require resuscitation including use of positive pressure ventilation. Doxapram has been used to stimulate breathing and so prevent apnea and its consequences. OBJECTIVES In preterm infants with recurrent apnea, does treatment with Doxapram lead to a clinically important reduction in apnea and use of intermittent positive airways pressure (IPPV), without clinically important side effects? SEARCH STRATEGY Searches were made of the Oxford Database of Perinatal trials, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2004), MEDLINE from 1966 - June 2004, EMBASE from 1980 - June 2001, CINAHL from 1982- June 2004. Text words 'doxapram', 'apnea or apnoea' and the MeSH term 'infant, premature' were used. Previous reviews including cross references, abstracts from conferences and symposia proceedings were also examined. Abstracts of the Society for Pediatric Research were searched from 1996 - 2004 inclusive. SELECTION CRITERIA All trials utilising random or quasi-random patient allocation, in which doxapram was used for the treatment of apnea in preterm infants were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Each author evaluated the papers for quality and inclusion criteria. Independent data extraction was carried out. MAIN RESULTS Only one trial, which randomized 11 infants to intravenous doxapram and 10 infants to placebo, was found. There were fewer treatment failures after 48 hours in the group of preterm infants treated with doxapram (4/11) compared with the group treated with placebo (8/10). The wide confidence intervals made this result non-significant [RR 0.45 (0.20, 1.05)]. Only one infant, who was from the placebo group, was given IPPV. Of the seven responders by 48 hours in the group of 11 who received doxapram, five failed to respond between 48 hours and seven days after commencement of therapy. This gives a late failure rate of 9/11, similar to the short term failure rate in the placebo group of 8/10. It is not possible to evaluate the late responses of all those in the placebo group since they crossed over to a treatment arm. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS Although intravenous Doxapram might reduce apnea within the first 48 hours of treatment, there are insufficient data to evaluate the precision of this result or to assess potential adverse effects. No long term outcomes have been measured. Further studies are needed to determine the role of this treatment in clinical practice.