Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to contamination of an air conditioner.

In four of 27 office workers, symptoms of intermittent chills, fever and dyspnea, or progressive dyspnea alone developed. Pulmonary-function studies indicated restrictive and diffusion defects, and x-ray examination demonstrated diffuse nodular infiltrates in all four patients. Examination of their environment revealed contamination of the air-conditioning system with a thermophilic actinomycete known to cause a hypersensitivity pneumonitis such as farmer's lung. Serum specimens of all patients contained high titers of rheumatoid factor and precipitating antibodies against the offending organism. Inhalation of the antigen by one of the ill workers during an asymptomatic period reproduced all clinical features of the disorder. Treatment with steroids and subsequent avoidance of exposure resulted in complete recovery. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis should be suspected in cases of interstitial pneumonitis, even in the absence of clear-cut contact with organic dusts.
Importance of the Amino Terminus in Secretin Family G Protein-coupled Receptors

The calcitonin receptor is a member of the class B family of G protein-coupled receptors, closely related to secretin and parathyroid hormone receptors. Although mechanisms of ligand binding have been directly explored for those receptors, current knowledge of the molecular basis of calcitonin binding to its receptor is based only on receptor mutagenesis. In this work we have utilized the more direct approach of photoaffinity labeling to explore spatial approximations between distinct residues within calcitonin and its receptor. For this we have developed two human calcitonin analogues incorporating a photolabile p-benzoyl-l-phenylalanine residue in the mid-region and carboxyl-terminal half of the peptide in positions 16 and 26, respectively. Both probes specifically bound to the human calcitonin receptor with high affinity and were potent stimulants of cAMP accumulation in calcitonin receptor-bearing human embryonic kidney 293 cells. They covalently labeled the calcitonin receptor in a saturable and specific manner. Further purification, deglycosylation, specific chemical and enzymatic cleavage, and sequencing of labeled wild type and mutant calcitonin receptors identified the sites of labeling for the position 16 and 26 probes as receptor residues Phe137 and Thr30, respectively. Both were within the extracellular amino terminus of the calcitonin receptor, with the former adjacent to the first transmembrane segment and the latter within the distal amino-terminal tail of the receptor. These data are consistent with affinity labeling of other members of the class B G protein-coupled receptors using analogous probes and may suggest a common ligand binding mechanism for this family.
Mentoring undergraduate medical students: experience from Bahria University Karachi.

OBJECTIVE To explore the perceptions and the effects on mentors regarding mentoring medical students at Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS An anonymous data collection tool was distributed to 22 faculty members trained as mentors at Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan. RESULT Close-ended questions reflected that majority of the mentors rate themselves as "good" or "satisfactory" mentors (55% and 45%). The mentors give enough time to their mentees and are comfortable with any gender or culture, and help their mentees settle down and improve them academically as well as personally (86.36%). Half the mentors sacrifice their personal time for the development of their mentees. All expressed personal satisfaction and fulfillment in observing their mentees' success. Of all respondents, 86% ask mentees for regular feedback. Fifty nine percent mentors felt that their mentees showed good improvement academically due to these sessions, while 41% said that they were satisfied with the academic results of their mentees. CONCLUSION The perception of mentors about the structured mentoring programme subjectively appears to be a promising strategy for young medical students. Objective assessment of these mentors is needed.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Brief Acculturation Scale for Hispanics

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Brief Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (BASH), a four-item, language-based measure of acculturation. Participants in the study were 435 Hispanic Americans from a large metropolitan area with English or Spanish language preference. Internal consistency reliability was strong in both language-preference groups. Multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the structural validity of the measure. A unidimensional factor structure was found for both English and Spanish language-preference groups and items loaded equivalently across groups, demonstrating measurement invariance. The BASH had good convergent validity and incremental validity. Overall, this study provides further evidence that the BASH offers a brief, reliable, and valid measure of acculturation to be used among Hispanic Americans.
Long-term follow-up of patients with necrotizing pancreatitis treated by percutaneous necrosectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The objective of this follow-up study was to assess the long-term outcome of patients with infected necrotizing pancreatitis treated with percutaneous catheter drainage and necrosectomy. METHODOLOGY Nine patients (median age 44 years, range 19-69) with infected pancreatic necrosis and catheter drainage for initial treatment were evaluated after a median follow-up of 30 months (range 15-52) with respect to quality of life (pain, diarrhea, fat intolerance), morphology and endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function. RESULTS At follow-up all 9 patients (100%) were in good general condition with respect to quality of life. Only 2/9 (22%) patients had moderate to marked changes in computed tomography. There was mild to moderate exocrine dysfunction in 5/8 (63%) patients, 2/8 (25%) patients had a severe restriction of the exocrine pancreatic function; in one patient the serum pancreoaryl test was normal. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed in 6/9 patients, with a normal result in 3/6 (50%) patients. 2/6 (33%) patients had an impaired oral glucose tolerance test with metabolic pathogenesis. One patient with diabetes in the oral glucose tolerance test had a preexisting type II diabetes requiring insulin therapy since the onset of acute pancreatitis. In 3/9 (33%) patients an oral glucose tolerance test was not performed due to known preexisting diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous drainage of infected necrotizing pancreatitis has given good long-term results with regard to quality of life, endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function and may be an alternative to surgical treatment.
Diacetylspermine Is a Novel Prediagnostic Serum Biomarker for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Has Additive Performance With Pro-Surfactant Protein B.

PURPOSE We have investigated the potential of metabolomics to discover blood-based biomarkers relevant to lung cancer screening and early detection. An untargeted metabolomics approach was applied to identify biomarker candidates using prediagnostic sera from the Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) study. PATIENTS AND METHODS A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry hydrophilic interaction method designed to profile a wide range of metabolites was applied to prediagnostic serum samples from CARET participants (current or former heavy smokers), consisting of 100 patients who subsequently developed non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 199 matched controls. A separate aliquot was used to quantify levels of pro-surfactant protein B (pro-SFTPB), a previously established protein biomarker for NSCLC. On the basis of the results from the discovery set, blinded validation of a metabolite, identified as N(1),N(12)-diacetylspermine (DAS), and pro-SFTPB was performed using an independent set of CARET prediagnostic sera from 108 patients with NSCLC and 216 matched controls. RESULTS Serum DAS was elevated by 1.9-fold, demonstrating significant specificity and sensitivity in the discovery set for samples collected up to 6 months before diagnosis of NSCLC. In addition, DAS significantly complemented performance of pro-SFTPB in both the discovery and validations sets, with a combined area under the curve in the validation set of 0.808 (P < .001 v pro-SFTPB). CONCLUSION DAS is a novel serum metabolite with significant performance in prediagnostic NSCLC and has additive performance with pro-SFTPB.
Millimeter wave-induced changes in membrane properties of leech Retzius neurons

This study evaluated a novel method for modulation of neuronal excitability using non-invasive delivery of millimeter waves. Millimeter waves at 60 GHz and incident power density of 100-600 μW/cm2 were applied to three intact segmental ganglia of the adult leach, and intracellular neuronal activity was recorded from the Retzius neurons using intracellular glass electrode. Transient dosedependent increase in the plasma membrane permeability was observed. In addition, in one of the examined neurons, a decrease in the neuronal firing rate was also evident. The results provide strong evidence for the feasibility of modulating neuronal excitability using non-invasive delivery of millimeter waves, and will be explored further for applications in basic neuroscience and treatment of neurological disorders.
Characterization of the multisynaptic neuronal control of the rat pineal gland using viral transneuronal tracing

Knowledge of the polysynaptic pathway conveying photic information to the pineal gland is based upon studies employing lesions, knife cuts and classical tracers. In the present investigation we used viral transneuronal tracing to re‐examine the organization of this circuitry. This was accomplished by injecting a neurotropic alpha herpesvirus (pseudorabies virus) into the gland and localizing viral antigen in infected neurones at various postinoculation intervals. This approach is based upon the demonstrated ability of this virus to invade axon terminals, replicate in neurones and pass retrogradely through a multisynaptic circuit. Immunohistochemical localization of viral antigen revealed the progressive appearance of infected neurones in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG), intermediolateral nucleus of the upper thoracic spinal cord (IML), parvicellular subdivisions of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Other infected cell groups known to project to the IML also became infected. Infection of the PVN reproducibly involved neurones in the dorsal, medial and lateral parvicellular subdivisions and preceded the appearance of infected neurones in the SCN and other regions of hypothalamus. Topographic analysis of virus infected neurones within the SCN revealed differential infection of SCN subdivisions that suggested topography in the projection of the SCN to the PVN. Removal of the SCG eliminated infection within the aforementioned circuitry and revealed a parasympathetic innervation from the sphenopalatine ganglion. The data provide further detail on the cellular identity and synaptology of neural circuitry controlling the rhythmic secretion of melatonin by the rat pineal gland.
Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Definition and Etiology

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a frequent cause of perinatal morbidity as well as of impaired growth during childhood. Therefore, a clearcut definition of IUGR to identify those babies at risk is essential: The label IUGR generally should be assigned only to those infants with birth weight and/or birth length below the 10th percentile for GA with a pathologic restriction of fetal growth. According to the recent literature, clinical classification of the retarded babies seems to be less significant. Among the etiologic factors responsible for IUGR, one-third of the variations in birth weight are determined by genetic variables, two-thirds by environmental factors. In spite of the fact that a long list of established, different etiologic factors is known, in at least 40% of children no underlying pathology can be identified. Among the preventable, environmental causes of IUGR, smoking of the mother during pregnancy is by far the most important one, which is responsible for more than one third of all IUGR newborns.
Analyzing Online Customer Reviews - An Interdisciplinary Literature Review And Research Agenda

Online customer reviews increasingly exert influence on customers’ purchase decisions when shopping online and give new importance to the concept of word-of-mouth. This is reflected in a growing body of academic literature across varying disciplines that draws on online customer reviews as source of information. However, these studies apply varying methods and obtain contradicting results. We conduct a systematic and interdisciplinary literature review to examine how online customer review data is used in academic research and which insights these studies provide. Analyzing 49 journal articles we find that the most studies investigate online customer reviews’ effect on sales, review helpfulness or review manipulation. Furthermore, the variety of product categories and review websites these studies receive their information from is rather limited. The results reveal that previous research can only provide an imperfect understanding of the impact of electronic wordof-mouth on business. We therefore develop a twofold research agenda with regards to (a) studies investigating customer reviews and its effects and (b) issues with respect to the use of customer reviews as a data source in academic research.
A CUT-FREE SIMPLE SEQUENT CALCULUS FOR MODAL LOGIC S5

In this paper, we present a simple sequent calculus for the modal propositional logic S5. We prove that this sequent calculus is theoremwise equivalent to the Hilbert-style system S5, that it is contraction-free and cut-free, and finally that it is decidable. All results are proved in a purely syntactic way.
Preventing neuronal damage and inflammation in vivo during cortical microelectrode implantation through the use of Poloxamer P-188

Objective. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of Poloxamer P188 to reduce cell death and immune response associated with mechanical trauma to cells during implantation of a chronic recording electrode. Approach. Ceramic multi-site recording electrodes were implanted bilaterally into 15 adult male Long-Evans rats. One of each pair was randomly assigned to receive a coating of Poloxamer while the other was treated with saline. The extent of neuron loss, and glial cell recruitment were characterized at 2, 4 and 6 weeks post-implantation by stereologic analysis. Main results. At 2 and 4 weeks post-implantation, Poloxamer-coated implants showed significantly fewer glial cells and more neurons in the peri-electrode space than controls; however, this significance was lost by 6 weeks. Significance. These findings are the first to suggest that Poloxamer has neuroprotective effects in vivo; however, at a fixed loading dose, these effects are limited to approximately 1 month post-implantation.
The expressive function of folk psychology

The aim of this paper is to present a challenge to the received view in folk psychology. According to this challenge, the semantic assumption behind the received view, which considers that propositional attitude ascriptions are descriptions of the internal causally efficacious states underlying behavior, cannot account for the main function of reasons in terms of mental states. Keywords: folk psychology, propositional attitudes ascriptions, reasons, expressivism, descriptivism.
Volumetric Changes of Iliac Crest Autografts Used to Reconstruct the Anterior Column in Thoracolumbar Fractures: A Follow-up Using CT Scans

Study Design. Patients with a thoracolumbar injury had a reconstruction of the anterior column using an tricortical iliac crest autograft. The volume and the length of the autograft were measured after 9 and 21 months using computed tomography. Objective. To assess the volumetric change of an iliac crest autograft used to perform a reconstruction of the anterior column. Summary of Background Data. Iliac crest autografts are commonly used to reconstruct the anterior column following spinal fractures. However, very few reports have actually looked into the changes within the autograft following surgery. To our knowledge, no study has actually measured the loss of volume and length taking place within the graft using a CT scan. Methods. From January 1995 through May 2000, 27 patients of the 155 operated patients treated with a posterior-anterior stabilization of a fracture within the thoracic and lumbar spine were included in this study. Selection criteria were a postoperative CT and the reconstruction of the anterior column using an iliac crest autograft. A CT scan was performed before instrumentation removal and 1 year after instrumentation removal. These scans were used to evaluate the volume and length of the graft. Results. There is a significant loss of graft volume (about 40%), half of which was not seen until after instrumentation removal. There is a correlation between the volumetric loss and the initial volume of the graft. The loss in length (24%) results in a correctional loss of the superior-inferior endplate angle totalling 12°. All grafts showed good contact to the adjoining vertebrae with no case of a pseudarthrosis. Conclusion. The results show that more than a third of the initial graft volume is absorbed during the consolidation process. The loss was greater, the larger the volume of the initial graft was. The efficiency, however, was not dependent on the initial graft size.
A study of objects

Preface I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Andy Gordon for his patience and many helpful suggestions during the last few years. Secondly, I thank my parents for supporting me, both emotionally and nancially during my time as a student. Finally, I thank Silvano Dal-Zilio and SSren Lassen for providing helpful comments on earlier drafts of this thesis. Except where otherwise stated in the text, this dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing which is the outcome of work done in collaboration. The length of this thesis does not exceed 60 000 words.
Quantitative Assessment of the Arm/Hand Movements in Parkinson’s Disease Using a Wireless Armband Device

We present an approach for quantitative assessment of the arm/hand movements in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), from sensor data acquired with a wearable, wireless armband device (Myo sensor). We propose new Movement Performance Indicators that can be adopted by practitioners for the quantitative evaluation of motor performance and support their clinical evaluations. In addition, specific Movement Performance Indicators can indicate the presence of the bradykinesia symptom. The study includes seventeen PD patients and sixteen age-matched controls. A set of representative arm/hand movements is defined under the supervision of movement disorder specialist. In order to assist the evaluations, and for progress monitoring purposes, as well as for assessing the amount of bradykinesia in PD, a total set of 84 Movement Performance Indicators are computed from the sensor readings. Subsequently, we investigate whether wireless armband device, with the use of the proposed Movement Performance Indicators can be utilized: (1) for objective and precise quantitative evaluation of the arm/hand movements of Parkinson’s patients, (2) for assessment of the bradykinesia motor symptom, and (3) as an adequate low-cost alternative for the sensor glove. We conducted extensive analysis of proposed Movement Performance Indicators and results are indicating following clinically relevant characteristics: (i) adequate reliability as measured by ICC; (ii) high accuracy in discrimination between the patients and controls, and between the disease stages (support to disease diagnosis and progress monitoring, respectively); (iii) substantial difference in comparison between the left-hand and the right-hand movements across controls and patients, as well as between disease stage groups; (iv) statistically significant correlation with clinical scales (tapping test and UPDRS-III Motor Score); and (v) quantitative evaluation of bradykinesia symptom. Results suggest that the proposed approach has a potential to be adopted by physicians, to afford them with quantitative, objective and precise methods and data during clinical evaluations and support the assessment of bradykinesia.
Ethical Issues in Rehabilitation: A Qualitative Analysis of Dilemmas Identified by Occupational Therapists

Abstract Little available research exists to address the range of ethical issues encountered by occupational therapists (OTs) in their daily clinical work. The few articles in the literature have tended to be case-based or anecdotal or have focused on professional issues rather than clinical issues. To characterize the array of clinical ethical issues in occupational therapy, we asked OTs in a free-standing academic rehabilitation hospital to describe in some detail up to three scenarios or situations from their clinical practice that raised morally troubling questions. A coding system was developed to preserve the richness of the detail but to allow for some categorization of the topics. A second section of the survey asked the therapists to rate whether various traditional ethics topics were of high, medium, or low interest to them. A third section asked that they identify the formats that would be most appealing to them for future educational interventions. Of the 56 therapists surveyed, 38 (or 68%) responded. The three self-generated topics mentioned most frequently by the therapists were (in decreasing order of frequency): reimbursement pressures, conflicts around goal setting, and patient/family refusal of team recommendations. The respondents were particularly interested in knowing more about patient-centered ethics topics, such as conflict resolution between teams and patients and the patient’s role in decision making. Furthermore, they indicated a strong preference for interdisciplinary and interactive educational formats.
Malignant transformation of cells derived from mouse prostate by epoxides and other derivatives of polycyclic hydrocarbons.

Summary K-region epoxides of benz[a]anthracene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and 3-methylcholanthrene have been found to be toxic and more active in producing malignant transformation of cells derived from mouse prostate than their respective parent hydrocarbons and K-region dihydrodiols and phenols. The data support the view that metabolism of these polycyclic hydrocarbons is a prerequisite for their biological activity. 7-Bromomethylbenz[a]anthracene, the K-region epoxide of 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene, and 7-bromomethyl-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene were either inactive or less active in producing malignant transformation than the parent compounds, 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. The 8,9-epoxide (non-K-region) of benz[a]anthracene was much less active than the K-region epoxide of this hydrocarbon; and the K-region epoxides of the noncarcinogenic hydrocarbons, phenanthrene and chrysene did not transform the cells.