Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Veterans' and Nonveterans' Use of Health Services: A Comparative Analysis

This study compares the use of health services by veterans with that by nonveterans; compares the use of health services by veterans from different service cohorts with each other; and examines the correlates of veterans' use of the VA health care delivery system. After adjusting for differences in the predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics, there were virtually no meaningful differences in the use of health services between veterans and nonveterans. This suggests that health care planning within the VA can proceed similarly to health care planning for the civilian population, albeit taking into consideration the significant difference in the sex distribution between the two populations. Virtually no meaningful or consistent veteran cohort effects on the use of health services were found. This suggests that health care planning within the VA may proceed without regard to changes in the nature of the veteran cohort structure. Finally, although there was a strong and obvious effect of service-connected disabilities (high-priority eligibility due to health status) on the use of the VA health care delivery system for veterans, there was no effect of being 65 years of age and older (high-priority eligibility due to age) on the use of the VA. Aside from service-connected disabilities, limited access to other health care delivery systems was the major factor behind the demand for VA care.
Deciphering Complement Interference in Anti–Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibody Detection With Flow Beads Assays

Background Anti–human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody detection in solid-phase flow beads assays can be quenched by complement activation, but the precise mechanism of this interference is not fully elucidated yet. Methods Using the Luminex flow beads screening assay for detection of anti-HLA antibodies, we analyzed the binding of high concentrations of the pan class I anti-HLA monoclonal antibody W6/32 in neat normal, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid–treated normal and complement factors C1q, C4/C3, C2, C3, factor B or C5-depleted human sera, using anti-mouse immunoglobulin G as the detection antibody. Complement activation and binding to beads were revealed using anti-human C1q, C4d, and C3d antibodies. To translate our findings to the human setting, we used the class I and class II HLA single-antigen flow beads assays and sera from four patients with high titers of antibodies. Results Detection of W6/32 did not suffer any interference with C1q and C4/C3–depleted sera. A partial quenching was observed with C2, C3, and factor B-depleted sera, but was more pronounced with the factor B-depleted serum. W6/32 was undetectable in presence of C5-depleted serum. The binding of activation products derived from C3 principally, and also from C4, impaired immunoglobulin G and C1q detection. Accordingly, C4d detection was hindered by deposition of activated C3. Similar findings were obtained with patients’ sera. Conclusion Binding of C4 and C3 activation products is the main responsible for complement interference in flow beads assays. A complete quenching requires complement activation through C3 cleavage and its amplification by the alternative pathway.
Self-Engagement, Stressors, and Health: A Longitudinal Study

The authors examined whether engagement in a performance domain could buffer or exacerbate the consequences of different stressors. Soldiers completed measures of engagement in work, work demands (days training, work hours, and subjective work overload), and symptoms at two time periods. Engagement in work interacted with days training and work hours at Time 1 to predict health symptoms at Time 2 (after controlling Time 1 outcomes). Soldiers highly engaged in their jobs were less likely to report negative consequences under high levels of training/work hours in comparison to soldiers disengaged from their jobs. However, engagement in work interacted with work overload in the opposite manner, with high levels of engagement potentiating the relationship between overload and reports of health symptoms. Engagement in a domain appears to buffer individuals from stressors that do not undermine performance but may exacerbate the impact of stressors that compromise performing well in the domain.
Comparing Two Modes of Teaching a Question-Answering Strategy for Enhancing Reading Comprehension

This study investigated the comparative efficacy of two instructional approaches—didactic teaching and self-instructional training—in teaching average and poor readers a comprehension question-answering strategy. Forty-five average students and 45 poor readers from Grades 5 and 6 participated. These 38 girls and 52 boys were equally and randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: didactic teaching of the strategy, self-instruction, or control (no training). Students in the first two treatment conditions learned a mnemonic strategy (“Here,” “Hidden,” and “in my Head”) to indicate question-answer relationships that are text explicit, text implicit, or script implicit, respectively. Essentially, the 3H mnemonic cued students to use appropriate text and/or knowledge-base information in answering comprehension test questions. In addition, students in the self-instruction group learned three self-questions to guide their use of the 3H strategy. Specifically, the self-questions focused students' attention on the task, provided a basis for decision making concerning the categorization of comprehension test questions, and reminded students to check their answers. The results indicated that both didactic teaching and self-instructional training of the strategy effected significant improvements in students' reading comprehension performance. However, self-instructional training was more effective in enhancing and maintaining students' reading comprehension performance than didactic teaching. Moreover, results from the oral questionnaire indicated that the 3H strategy training increased students' general metacognitive knowledge. Lastly, of the 60 trained students, 52 wrote that they would encourage other children to leant the 3H strategy. Thus, the response to strategy learning was clearly positive.
Flow cytometric analysis of functional anterior pituitary cells from female rats.

Laser-light scatter signals generated from living cells provide useful information with regard to both cell size (forward-angle light scatter) and granularity (ninety-degree or perpendicular light scatter). By measuring angles of light scatter and fluorescence, a fluorescence-activated cell sorter is capable of analysing and sorting cells on the basis of their size, granularity and cell-surface fluorescence. Using an electronically programmable individual cell sorter we were able to analyse single, viable, dispersed anterior pituitary cells of the female rat on the basis of their laser light scatter characteristics. Two distinct populations of differing granularity were defined: 26 +/- 2.2% (mean +/- S.E.M.) were more granular and 74 +/- 3.5% less granular. Acutely dispersed anterior pituitary cells were labelled with antibodies against four of the anterior pituitary hormones, and cell size and granularity were compared amongst the different hormonal cell types. Somatotrophs were the most granular cell type, gonadotrophs were the largest and corticotrophs the smallest, whilst lactotrophs were of intermediate size. Labelling was demonstrated to be dependent upon the secretory state of the cell. Hypothalamic stimulating factors increased cell-surface labelling, whilst dopamine and somatostatin decreased labelling. These changes compare favourably with published data obtained by immunocytochemistry. Using dual-colour fluorescence cell surface labelling we were unable to define a population of cells secreting both prolactin and growth hormone (mammosomatotrophs).
Somatization symptoms in young adult Finnish population—Associations with sex, educational level and mental health

We assessed somatization symptoms and their associations among a 31-year-old Finnish population sample (n=1598). Data on somatization symptoms were gathered from a review of all medical public outpatient records. Subjects with four or more somatization symptoms according to the DSM-III-R criteria were classified as somatizers. Ninety-seven (83 females) DSM-III-R somatizers (6.1%) were found. Somatization associated with female sex, lower educational level and increased psychiatric morbidity. Roughly half of the somatizers had a comorbid psychiatric disorder. Mood disorders did not associate specifically with somatization—in fact, after adjusting for sex and educational level only anxiety disorders and personality disorders associated with somatization. It may be concluded that it is important to recognize psychiatric disorders in subjects with somatization symptoms, especially as these symptoms have been shown to be treatable with both psychotherapy and psychiatric medication.
Cognitive dysfunction during migraine attacks: A study on migraine without aura

Background Cognitive difficulties contribute to patients’ disability during migraine attacks and have been overlooked in migraine research. Neuropsychological studies performed during attacks have produced inconsistent findings due to design differences and limitations. Objective Our objective is to document changes in cognitive performance of migraine patients during migraine attacks with a comprehensive battery of cognitive/behavioral tests, while controlling for potential confounders. Method A prospective two-period, randomized, cross-over study compared within-subject neuropsychological evaluation in two conditions—during a naturally occurring untreated migraine attack and a headache-free period. Results Thirty-nine patients with episodic migraine (37 females, average 38 years old) were included and 24 completed the study. Participants performed worse during the attack in the majority of cognitive tests, compared to the headache-free status, and significantly so in word reading speed (p = 0.013), verbal learning (p = 0.01), short-term verbal recall with (p = 0.01) and without (p = 0.013) semantic cueing and delayed recall with (p = 0.003) and without (p = 0.05) semantic cues. Differences found were unrelated to age, gender, literacy, condition order, interval between evaluations, anxiety, pain intensity or duration of the attack. Discussion Cognitive performance decreases during migraine attacks, especially in reading and processing speed, verbal memory and learning, supporting patients’ subjective complaints. These findings suggest the existence of a reversible brain dysfunction during attacks of migraine without aura, which can relate specifically to migraine or be a consequence of acute pain processing by the brain.
An induced energy analysis to determine the mechanism for performance enhancement as a result of arm swing during jumping

Arm swing during a jump can enhance performance. This study examined the mechanisms via which arm swing contributes to maximum vertical jump height. Two mechanisms have been proposed to explain how jump height can be increased by arm swing: production of additional energy or slow leg extension which may permit muscles to work on a more favorable region of the force-velocity curve. A simulation model of the vertical jump and an induced energy analysis were used to determine the contribution of each of these mechanisms. The results from the model suggest that both mechanisms for the role of arm swing in enhancing jump performance are at play. Arm swing did slow the hip extensors allowing for more force production from these muscles. The work done and the energy induced in the vertical direction by these muscles were greater in the jump simulated with arm swing. However, these increases were not sufficient to explain the entire improvement in jumping performance. The shoulder musculature generated a considerable amount of work and energy induced and is directly responsible for approximately one-third of the performance enhancement associated with arm swing.
Analysis of renal hilum extraparenchymal structures in Brazilian adult human cadavers

Anatomical knowledge of the exact topography of the renal hilar structures is of great importance when performing urological surgical procedures. Classically, the topographic distribution of hilar structures has been described in the antero-posterior direction as the renal vein-artery-pelvis complex. However, morphological studies have reported different dispositions. One hundred and thirteen renal hila from adult Brazilian human cadavers were dissected. The topographic analysis of hilar structures disposition was made at a distance of approximately 0.5 cm from the anterior border of the renal hilum, conserving the antero-posterior distribution. Only the renal artery, renal vein and renal pelvis were considered. The following antero-posterior distributions were observed: 94 (83%) presented the classic topographic organization: renal vein - renal artery - renal pelvis; 3 left kidneys (3%) presented the renal «vein-pelvis-artery» disposition; 3 kidneys (3%) presented the renal «artery-vein-pelvis» disposition; 1 left kidney (1%) presented the renal «artery-pelvis-vein» disposition; 12 kidneys (10%) presented an undefined organization of hilar structures. An atypical distribution of segmentary arteries related to renal hilar structures was found. We believe this study may contribute to a better knowledge of the topographical organization of the renal hilum, which is a region frequently involved in surgical dissection during urological surgical procedures of the kidney.
Quantitative Assessment of Oxygen Availability: Perceived Aerobiosis and Its Effect on Flux Distribution in the Respiratory Chain of Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Despite a large number of studies on the role of oxygen in cellular processes, there is no consensus as to how oxygen availability to the cell should be defined, let alone how it should be quantified. Here, a quantitative definition for oxygen availability (perceived aerobiosis) is presented; the definition is based on a calibration with reference to the minimal oxygen supply rate needed for fully oxidative catabolism (i.e., complete conversion of the energy source to CO2 and water for glucose-limited conditions). This quantitative method is used to show how steady-state electron fluxes through the alternative cytochrome oxidases of Escherichia coli are distributed as a function of the extent of aerobiosis of glucose-limited chemostat cultures. At low oxygen availability the electron flux is mainly via the high-affinity cytochrome bd oxidase, and, at higher oxygen availability, a similar phenomenon occurs but now via the low-affinity cytochrome bo oxidase. The main finding is that the catabolic activities of E. coli (and specifically its respiratory activity) are affected by the actual oxygen availability per unit of biomass rather than by the residual dissolved oxygen concentration of the culture.
Effect Of Endogenous Female Sex Hormone Fluctuations During Menstrual Cycle On Heart Rate Variability

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of menstrual cycle on the cardiac autonomic function in young healthy women by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) and to determine the correlation between estrogen, progesterone, gonadotropins and HRV in different phases of menstrual cycle. The study included 27 premenopausal women and they were assessed in both proliferative and secretory phases of menstrual cycle. Results were analyzed by using SPSS, differences between two phases compared by student’s paired t test and correlation was determined by Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The results showed a nonsignificant increase in high frequency (HF) normalized unit (nu) in follicular phase and low frequency (LF) nu in secretory phase. No significant correlation was found between HRV and sex hormones and gonadotropins suggesting that relationship between menstrual cycle and autonomic activity is still a matter of debate.
The effects of local and global processing orientation on eyewitness identification performance

Recent work has demonstrated that performance on a simultaneous target-present photographic line-up can be enhanced by prior global processing orientation, and hindered by prior local processing orientation induced by processing Navon letter stimuli. A series of studies explore the generality of this processing bias effect using either videotaped scenarios or live interactions. Five experiments demonstrate that these effects are seen across a range of test stimuli, test formats, and test instructions. These data inform the processes engaged in by witnesses when making line-up identifications and indicate that it may be possible to improve the accuracy of witnesses making such judgements.
Regulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor–Binding Protein-1 in Rat Serum

Previous studies support a role for insulin-like growth factor–binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) in modulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF) availability for glucose homeostasis. We have developed a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for rat IGFBP-1 (rIGFBP-1) and have examined the regulation of circulating levels by nutritional and hormonal status. Rabbit antisera were raised against pure rIGFBP-1, and an assay was established with a sensitivity of 50 pg. In the rat, serum IGFBP-1 concentrations decrease with increasing developmental age. They were highest in fetal rat serum, exceeding 4 mg/L, and decreased to <0.1 mg/L in adult animals. Serum rIGFBP-1 levels increased during fasting, 6-fold after 24 h and 18-fold after 48 h, and were suppressed to levels identical to ad libitum–fed control rats within 2 h of refeeding. Fasting levels were >2-fold higher in female than male animals. IGFBP-1 concentrations were suppressed by >50% in two rat models of insulin resistance. Levels increased in STZ-induced (streptozotocin) diabetes and were suppressed to normal with insulin treatment. Exercise stimulated rIGFBP-1 concentrations in fasting animals. On immunoblotting after SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), rIGFBP-1 in serum appeared as a doublet with molecular masses at 31 and 33 kD. The components of this doublet did not vary across the range of experimental conditions. These observations indicate that the pattern of regulation of rIGFBP-1 is similar to that seen in previous studies of human IGFBP-1, with age, sex, and nutritional status being important regulators. The availability of appropriate rat models and a sensitive ria will allow additional study of the regulatory mechanisms and the physiologucal role of IGFBP-1.
Growth and form of gold nanorods prepared by seed-mediated, surfactant-directed synthesis

Gold nanorods were prepared via a seed-mediated sequential growth process involving the use of citrate-stabilised seed crystals and their subsequent growth in a series of reaction solutions containing [AuCl4]−, ascorbic acid and the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonuim bromide (CTAB). Electron diffraction analysis and HRTEM images of mature nanorods showed superpositions of two specific pairs of crystallographic zones, either and or and , which were consistent with a cyclic penta-twinned crystal with five {111} twin boundaries arranged radially to the [110] direction of elongation. The nanorods have an idealised 3-D prismatic morphology with ten {111} end faces and five {100} or {110} side faces, or both. TEM studies of crystals at various stages of growth indicated that the seed crystals are initially transformed by growth and aggregation into decahedral penta-twinned crystals, 4% of which become elongated when a fresh reaction solution is added, whilst the remaining twins grow isometrically. Reiteration of this procedure increases the length of the existing nanorods, induces further transformation of isometric particles to produce a second (and third) population of shorter, wider nanorods, and increases the size of the isometric crystals. The data indicate that symmetry breaking in fcc metallic structures to produce anisotropic nanoparticles is based on an intrinsic structural mechanism (twinning) that is subsequently modulated extrinsically during growth in solution by specific adsorption of AuI–surfactant complexes on the side faces/edges of the isometric penta-twinned crystals and which is responsible for the preferential growth along the common [110] axis. We propose that the coupling of multiple twinning and habit modification is a general mechanism that applies to other experimental procedures (electrochemical, inverse micellar media) currently used to prepare metallic nanoparticles with a high aspect ratio.
A new terminal converging PD control for parallel robotic manipulators with bounded torque

In this study, a new terminal converging PD control is developed for parallel robotic manipulators with bounded torque. By using decimal fraction power of tracking error, the proposed approach can achieve asymptotic stability with faster converging speed than conventional saturating PD control. In terms of LaSalle's invariance principle, the corresponding theoretical analysis is presented. Finally, an illustrative example is bench tested to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Diabetes and atherosclerosis: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management.

CONTEXT Complications of atherosclerosis cause most morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. Despite the frequency and severity of disease, proven medical therapy remains incompletely understood and underused. OBJECTIVE To review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and medical and invasive treatment of atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes mellitus. DATA SOURCES Using the index terms diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular diseases, cerebrovascular accident, endothelium, vascular smooth muscle, platelets, thrombosis, cholesterol, hypertension, hyperglycemia, insulin, angioplasty, and coronary artery bypass, we searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from 1976 to 2001. Additional data sources included bibliographies of identified articles and preliminary data presented at recent cardiology conferences. STUDY SELECTION We selected original investigations and reviews of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and therapy of atherosclerosis in diabetes. We selected randomized, double-blind, controlled studies, when available, to support therapeutic recommendations. Criteria for data inclusion (168 of 396) included publication in a peer-reviewed journal or presentation at a national cardiovascular society-sponsored meeting. DATA EXTRACTION Data quality was determined by publication in peer-reviewed literature. Data extraction was performed by one of the authors. DATA SYNTHESIS Diabetes mellitus markedly increases the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, amputation, and death. The metabolic abnormalities caused by diabetes induce vascular dysfunction that predisposes this patient population to atherosclerosis. Blood pressure control, lipid-lowering therapy, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, and antiplatelet drugs significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Although diabetic patients undergo revascularization procedures because of acute coronary syndromes or critical limb ischemia, the outcomes are less favorable than in nondiabetic cohorts. CONCLUSIONS Since most patients with diabetes die from complications of atherosclerosis, they should receive intensive preventive interventions proven to reduce their cardiovascular risk.