Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of emergency medical services utilization by elders.

OBJECTIVE Elders (age > or = 65 years) frequently use emergency medical services (EMS) for care. Understanding reasons for EMS use by elders may allow better management of EMS demand. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no studies have identified patient characteristics associated with EMS use by elders. This study aimed to identify patient attributes associated with elder EMS users. METHODS This was a prospective cohort study of non-institutionalized elders presenting to an urban university hospital emergency department. Nine hundred thirty elder patients completed the survey. The authors asked patients about access to care, health beliefs, and reasons for requesting EMS assistance. Univariate and logistic regression were used to identify predictors of EMS use. RESULTS The sample had a mean age of 76 years; 37% were male; 79% were African American. Thirty percent arrived via EMS. Sixty-five percent of those transported and 46% of those not transported by EMS were admitted to the hospital (p < 0.001). Reported reasons for using EMS transport included immobility (33%), illness (22%), request by others (21%), instruction from health care providers (10%), and lack of transportation (10%). Logistic regression identified symptom onset within four hours of seeking care (OR = 3.1), age > or = 85 years (OR = 1.63), increased deficiencies in activities of daily living (OR = 1.40 per deficiency), worse physical functioning (OR = 1.14/10 points), and worse social functioning (OR = 1.06/10 points) as factors associated with EMS use. CONCLUSIONS Elders report using EMS because of immobility, perceived medical needs, or requests by others. Similarly, the presence of acute illness symptoms, older age, and poor social and physical function, rather than health beliefs, predict EMS use among elders. These factors must be considered when managing the demand for EMS services.
Effects of religious vs. standard cognitive behavioral therapy on therapeutic alliance: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract Background: Treatments that integrate religious clients' beliefs into therapy may enhance the therapeutic alliance (TA) in religious clients. Objective: Compare the effects of religiously integrated cognitive behavioral therapy (RCBT) and standard CBT (SCBT) on TA in adults with major depression and chronic medical illness. Method: Multi-site randomized controlled trial in 132 participants, of whom 108 (SCBT = 53, RCBT = 55) completed the Revised Helping Alliance Questionnaire (HAQ-II) at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Trajectory of change in scores over time was compared between groups. Results: HAQ-II score at 4 weeks predicted a decline in depressive symptoms over time independent of treatment group (B = −0.06, SE = 0.02, p = 0.002, n = 108). There was a marginally significant difference in HAQ-II scores at 4 weeks that favored RCBT (p = 0.076); however, the mixed effects model indicated a significant group by time interaction that favored the SCBT group (B = 1.84, SE = 0.90, degrees of freedom = 181, t = 2.04, p = 0.043, d = 0.30). Conclusions: While RCBT produces a marginally greater improvement in TA initially compared with SCBT, SCBT soon catches up.
Self‐reported confidence in prescribing skills correlates poorly with assessed competence in fourth‐year medical students

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between students' self‐reported confidence and their objectively assessed competence in prescribing. We assessed the competence in several prescribing skills of 403 fourth‐year medical students at the VU University Medical Center, the Netherlands, in a formative simulated examination on a 10‐point scale (1 = very low; 10 = very high). Afterwards, the students were asked to rate their confidence in performing each of the prescribing skills on a 5‐point Likert scale (1 = very unsure; 5 = very confident). Their assessments were then compared with their self‐confidence ratings. Students' overall prescribing performance was adequate (7.0 ± 0.8), but they lacked confidence in 2 essential prescribing skills. Overall, there was a weak positive correlation (r = 0.2, P < .01, 95%CI 0.1–0.3) between reported confidence and actual competence. Therefore, this study suggests that self‐reported confidence is not an accurate measure of prescribing competence, and that students lack insight into their own strengths and weaknesses in prescribing. Future studies should focus on developing validated and reliable instruments so that students can assess their prescribing skills.
Slower evolution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 quasispecies during progression to AIDS

The evolution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) quasispecies at the envelope gene was studied from the time of infection in 11 men who experienced different rates of CD4+ cell count decline and 6 men with unknown dates of infection by using DNA heteroduplex mobility assays. Quasispecies were genetically homogeneous near the time of seroconversion. Subsequently, slower proviral genetic diversification and higher plasma viremia correlated with rapid CD4+ cell count decline. Except for the fastest progressors to AIDS, highly diverse quasispecies developed in all subjects within 3 to 4 years. High quasispecies diversity was then maintained for years until again becoming more homogeneous in a subset of late-stage AIDS patients. Individuals who maintained high CD4+ cell counts showed continuous genetic turnover of their complex proviral quasispecies, while more closely related sets of variants were found in longitudinal samples of severely immunocompromised patients. The limited number of variants that grew out in short-term PBMC cocultures were rare in the uncultured proviral quasispecies of healthy, long-term infected individuals but more common in vivo in patients with low CD4+ cell counts. The slower evolution of HIV-1 observed during rapid progression to AIDS and in advanced patients may reflect ineffective host-mediated selection pressures on replicating quasispecies.
Overnight Block Trades in the Korean Stock Market

We examine the characteristics of overnight block trades in the Korean stock market from 2004 to 2015. We find that the discount on the offering price is negatively related to the number and return volatility of shares, the offering price is higher for firm‐commitment contracts than for best‐effort contracts, the discount level is lower for larger deal values under best‐effort contracts, commission fee rates and fees are more pronounced under firm‐commitment contracts, and a deal's uncertainty is related to the firm's contract choice. The incentives of sellers and investment banks are aligned unless sellers face an informational disadvantage.
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Placebo Rates in Induction and Maintenance Trials of Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Minimisation of the placebo responses in randomised controlled trials [RCTs] is essential for efficient evaluation of new interventions. Placebo rates have been high in ulcerative colitis [UC] clinical trials, and factors influencing this are poorly understood. We quantify placebo response and remission rates in UC RCTs and identify trial design factors influencing them. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception through April 2014 for placebo-controlled trials in adult patients with UC of a biological agent, corticosteroid, immunosuppressant, or aminosalicylate. Data were independently doubly extracted. Quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. RESULTS In all, 51 trials [48 induction and 10 maintenance phases] were identified. Placebo response and remission rates were pooled according to random-effects models, and mixed-effects meta-regression models were used to evaluate effects of study-level characteristics on these rates. Pooled estimates of placebo remission and response rates for induction trials were 10% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7-13%) and 33% [95% CI 29-37%], respectively. Corresponding values for maintenance trials were 19% [95% CI 11-30%] and 22% [95% CI 17-28%]. Trials enrolling patients with more active disease confirmed by endoscopy [endoscopy subscore ≥ 2] were associated with lower placebo rates. Conversely, placebo rates increased with increasing trial duration and number of study visits. CONCLUSIONS Objective assessment of greater disease activity at trial entry by endoscopy lowered placebo rates, whereas increasing trial duration and more interactions with healthcare providers increased placebo rates. These findings have important implications for design and conduct of clinical trials.
The role of partial parotidectomy for benign parotid tumors: A case-control study

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the results and complications after partial parotidectomy vs superficial parotidectomy, as primary treatment of benign parotid tumors. Study design: Case-control study. Setting: University hospital. Subjects and methods: A case-control study is presented on parotidectomy, comparing a group of 25 patients treated by partial parotidectomy vs a similar group of 25 patients treated by superficial parotidectomy. All patients had primary benign parotid tumors, were matched by sex and age, and had a minimum follow-up of 4 years. Independent variables included sex, age, medical history, intra-operative variables (surgical time, estimated blood loss, type of drainage, use of collagen), fine-needle aspiration cytology, computed tomography findings, and final histopathological diagnosis. Outcome measures were early and late complications, such as facial nerve paralysis, seroma, sialocele, Frey syndrome, and recurrence. Results: Partial parotidectomy resulted in less early and late complications than superficial parotidectomy, with similar recurrence rates. Temporal facial paresis was found in 4% of partial surgeries, vs 12% of superficial parotidectomies, a significant difference. Three months after surgery, only one patient has a persistent marginal nerve paresis. In contrast, sialocele was more common after partial parotidectomy (28% vs 16%), a significant difference. Conclusions: Partial parotidectomy achieves less early and late complications than superficial parotidectomy, with similar recurrence rates.
Optical properties of rabbit brain in the red and near-infrared: changes observed under in vivo, postmortem, frozen, and formalin-fixated conditions

Abstract. The outcome of light-based therapeutic approaches depends on light propagation in biological tissues, which is governed by their optical properties. The objective of this study was to quantify optical properties of brain tissue in vivo and postmortem and assess changes due to tissue handling postmortem. The study was carried out on eight female New Zealand white rabbits. The local fluence rate was measured in the VIS/NIR range in the brain in vivo, just postmortem, and after six weeks’ storage of the head at −20°C or in 10% formaldehyde solution. Only minimal changes in the effective attenuation coefficient μeff were observed for two methods of sacrifice, exsanguination or injection of KCl. Under all tissue conditions, μeff decreased with increasing wavelengths. After long-term storage for six weeks at −20°C, μeff decreased, on average, by 15 to 25% at all wavelengths, while it increased by 5 to 15% at all wavelengths after storage in formaldehyde. We demonstrated that μeff was not very sensitive to the method of animal sacrifice, that tissue freezing significantly altered tissue optical properties, and that formalin fixation might affect the tissue’s optical properties.
Relationship between poliovirus neutralization and aggregation

The interaction of mono- and polyclonal neutralizing antibodies with poliovirus was studied. In all cases, neutralization was due to antibody-mediated virus aggregation, and the unpolymerized virions accounted for the residual infectivity. The effect of papain on previously neutralized virus was to deaggregate the virus to fully infective single virions. With some antibodies, the amount of aggregated virus regressed in the region of greatest antibody excess, even though the virus remained fully neutralized. Under these conditions, noninfective, unaggregated immune complexes were formed. A mutant resistant to one of the monoclonal antibodies was selected. The mutant virions were still bound but no longer aggregated or neutralized by the selecting antibodies.
The Impact of Physical and Human Capital on the Economic Growth of Agricultural Sector in South Sumatera

South Sumatra province is one of the provinces with major potential in the agricultural sector which is accounted for 16.60% in the gross domestic product (GDP) formation, it is necessary efforts so that the production of the agricultural sector can be maintained and improved. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of the agricultural sector capital expenditure (physical capital) and education, health, and labor (human capital) to economic growth in South Sumatra. The data used in this study are the panel data which are time series and cross section in 14 districts/cities in South Sumatra. The research using linear regression analysis method with fixed effect model. The analysis showed education, health, labor and agriculture sector capital spending has significant positive effect on economic growth as measured by the agricultural sector GDP.
Equity Book Values Greater Than Market Values: Accounting, Risk, or Mispricing

Despite accounting conservatism and indicating the firm’s required return exceeds its return on equity, equity book values greater than market values (BTM > 1) are not rare. The question we address is why. We find BTM > 1 is pervasive and persistent. More importantly, BTM > 1 is not attributable to overstated book values, which calls into question BTM as measuring conservative accounting for such firms. We find BTM > 1 is attributable to low equity market values, which partially stem from macroeconomic risk and other risk that differs for firms with BTM > 1. These findings call into question the use of Fama and French’s HML factor to reflect risk for firms with BTM > 1. Mispricing associated with investors over-extrapolating weakening in otherwise strong fundamentals contributes to the low equity market values. Together, our findings reveal the BTM threshold of one has meaningful implications for accounting and finance.
Molecular architecture and biorecognition processes of the cystine knot protein superfamily: part I. The glycoprotein hormones

In this review article, the reader is introduced to recent advances in our knowledge on a subset of the cystine knot superfamily of homo‐ and hetero‐dimeric proteins, from the perspective of the endocrine glycoprotein hormone family of proteins: follitropin (FSH), Iutropin (LH), thyrotropin. (TSH) and chorionic gonadotropin (CG). Subsequent papers will address the structure–function behaviour of other members of this increasingly significant family of proteins, including various members of the transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β) family of proteins, the activins, inhibins, bone morphogenic growth factor, platelet derived growth factor‐beta, nerve growth factor and more than 35 other proteins with similar topological features. In the present review article, specific emphasis has been placed on advances with the glycoprotein hormones (GPHs) that have facilitated greater insight into their physiological functions, molecular structures and most importantly the basis of the molecular recognition events that lead to the formation of hetero‐dimeric structures as well as their specific and selective recognition by their corresponding receptors and antibodies. Thus, this review article focuses on the structural motifs involved in receptor recognition and the current techniques available to identify these regions, including the role of immunological methodology, peptide fragment design and synthesis and mutagenesis to delineate their structure–function relationships and molecular recognition behaviour. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Considering an Appreciative Approach to International Extension Evaluation

Programmatic evaluation has become a common practice in international extension education. Evaluation has primarily been used to report the outputs, outcomes and impacts of extension efforts. Sometimes an evaluation is done for formative reasons, to make programmatic improvements, and most often for summative reasons, as a justification for further funding. Depending upon the evaluator (or evaluative approach) the evaluation will include stakeholder input and focus on collecting data the stakeholder will ultimately use. Some have even gone so far as engaging in developmental evaluation which allows for ambiguity and changes in direction throughout the duration of an extension program. Despite the many ways the discipline evaluates, almost every evaluation takes a problem-solving approach where areas for improvement are identified. The purpose of this manuscript was to reflect upon past evaluation practice within the international extension literature and discuss the role appreciative evaluation can play as evaluation continues to inform international extension efforts.
Bacteroides species in the normal neonatal faecal flora

Summary Bacteroides spp. were isolated from the faeces of neonates and identified by rapid modifications of established conventional methods. Gram-negative anaerobic bacilli were recovered from 12 out of 16 neonates and a heavy growth of Bacteroides spp. was obtained from all 12 specimens. Twelve representative isolates from each subject were selected for identification; 141 of the 144 Bacteroides isolates belonged to the B. fragilis group and three to the B. melaninogenicus/oralis group. Eight species were represented within the B. fragilis group. B. vulgatus (c. 46%) and B. thetaiotaomicron (c. 30 %) were the predominant species. B. fragilis, the type-species of the group, formed only a small proportion of neonatal faecal flora. The proportional representation of individual species were similar to that found in adults but B. asaccharolyticus was not represented.
The anatomy and functional morphology of the large hermaphroditic duct of three species of Aplysia, with special reference to the atrial gland

The anatomy and functional morphology of the large hermaphroditic duct of three species of gastropod mollusc (Aplysia californica, A. dactylomela, and A. brasiliana) were examined. Each duct is composed of two parallel compartments, the red hemiduct (RHD) and the white hemiduct (WHD), which are distinguishable from the outside of the duct. Four secretory regions, all exocrine in morphology, are recognizable: the RHD secretory epithelium, the atrial gland (or atrial gland‐like epithelium), the WHD secretory epithelium, and the accessory gland of the copulatory duct (AGCD). Of these regions, only the atrial gland (or atrial gland‐like epithelium) contains egg‐laying activity and only the atrial gland (or atrial gland‐like epithelium) is immunocytochemically labeled by serum antibodies generated against low molecular weight. A. californica atrial gland peptides. The RHD is the functional oviduct: the egg cordon passes through a channel lined by the RHD secretory epithelium and bordered by the atrial gland (or atrial gland‐like epithelium); the eggs are separated from both the WHD secretory epithelium and the AGCD by internal folds of the duct. The WHD is the functional copulatory duct: the penis, exogenous sperm, and endogeneous sperm pass directly by the AGCD and in close proximity to the WHD secretory epithelium; they are separated from both the RHD secretory epithelium and the atrial gland (or atrial gland‐like epithelium) by internal folds. The atrial gland (or atrial gland‐like epithelium) is thus not likely to have a prostatic function or to be directly stimulated by the penis during copulation; it may play a role in oviductal function.
Validation of a pediatric caregiver diary to measure symptoms of postacute respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis

Acute respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)‐induced bronchiolitis is often associated with continuing respiratory symptoms following hospitalization. To date, there is no validated objective measure to evaluate symptoms of RSV‐induced bronchiolitis. We report on the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the bronchiolitis caregiver diary (BCD) of symptoms and healthcare utilization associated with postacute RSV. The BCD measures four symptoms (daytime cough, wheeze, trouble breathing, and nighttime cough), healthcare utilization, and rescue medication for worsening of lung symptoms. Data from the 4‐week treatment period of the reported prospective, placebo‐controlled trial of montelukast for treatment of postacute RSV were used to assess reliability (internal consistency and test‐retest), construct validity (cross‐sectional and longitudinal correlations), discriminant validity (known‐groups analyses), and responsiveness. The primary outcome of this study was the percentage of symptom‐free days (SFD). The secondary outcome was a composite symptom score (CSS; average of daytime cough, wheezing, and trouble breathing). Cronbach's alpha of 0.85 indicated that the four symptoms were internally consistent, supporting a unidimensional scale structure. Test‐retest reliabilities for the percentage of SFD and CSS were above the recommended cut point of 0.70. Cross‐sectional and longitudinal correlations were sizeable and statistically significant, demonstrating construct validity. Hypothesized known‐group differences were statistically significant in the appropriate direction. Responsiveness analyses indicated moderate effect sizes for percentage of SFD. In conclusion, the BCD provides a valid, reliable, and responsive tool for the assessment of symptoms of postacute RSV‐induced bronchiolitis, capable of measuring moderate effect sizes, and demonstrating responsiveness to therapy. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serum Levels of Cytokines, Glucose, and Hemoglobin as Possible Predictors of Poststroke Depression, and Association With Poststroke Fatigue

ABSTRACT Depression is a frequent and potentially disabling sequela of stroke. In the present study, we investigated the ability of stroke type, infarct volume, and laterality, and the levels of various cytokines and other blood components in the acute phase of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in 45 patients, to predict the level of depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] score) at 6, 12, and 18 months after its onset. The BDI score at 12 months poststroke was positively correlated with the acute serum level of glucose (r = 0.32, p = .038). When excluding the patients using antidepressants, the correlation between glucose level and later depression became significant at all three time points. A general association was found between depression and fatigue. Novel findings are that high acute serum levels of glucose may predict depression after AIS, a glucose level of approximately 126 mg/dL at admission might be a critical limit. Furthermore, depression and fatigue are two generally related—although independent—sequelae of stroke. Our findings did not support a causal immunological etiology for poststroke depression (PSD), as has been suggested previously for poststroke fatigue (PSF) in the same study sample.