Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution of Consumption Expenditure in East Asia

Using a new database of household surveys, this paper examines inequality among all individuals living in developing East Asia regardless of their country of residence. The East Asian Gini index increased from 39.0 in 1988 to 43.3 in 2012. Inequality increased during the initial decade, regardless of the choice of inequality measure. The trend appears to have reversed in the mid-2000s. Regional inequality is now almost entirely explained by within-country differences, while gaps in average income across countries have become unimportant. This reversal has been driven by rising national inequality especially in populous countries, counteracted by catch-up growth in average incomes, particularly in China. Interpersonal differences in income at the regional level have thus become internalized within national boundaries.
An Evaluation of a Policy Intervention to Increase Academic Achievement in a Technical High School: Does Model Matter?

University of Washington Abstract An Evaluation of a Policy Intervention to Increase Academic Achievement in a Technical High School: Does Model Matter? Kim Infinger Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Associate Professor Joe Lott College of Education, Education Leadership and Policy Studies Lake Washington Technical Academy (LWTA) is a dual enrollment high school located on the campus of a technical college with a focus on serving at-risk youth who have either dropped out or left their previous high school for a number of reasons. Students endeavor to earn a high school diploma and significant college credits that can lead to an associate degree or a certificate. This study describes the demographic and academic characteristics of students who first enrolled at LWTA from Fall 2006 through April 2011 in order to evaluate the potential impact of a policy change which occurred in the Fall of 2009. Beginning Fall 2009, LWTA established a policy that students who entered the program with a high school GPA below 2.0 were at greater risk for academic failure and would need additional support to be successful. LWTA implemented the Gateway to College program as an intervention for this group of students and retained its original model for students determined to be at lower academic risk upon entry. This dissertation utilizes Tinto and Pusser’s (2006) model of institutional action as a theoretical framework to articulate the theory of change that is proposed to increase academic achievement of the at-risk students post Fall 2009. This study examined differences in three measures of academic achievement (cumulative first year GPA, attainment of a high school diploma, and attainment of a college credential) between groups of students, referred to as policy cohorts. The study also examined variables that could be useful in predicting these differences. Regression analysis indicated the most important variables in predicting first year GPA were being in an at-risk policy cohort and age at entry. Variables that contributed to the prediction of attainment of a high school diploma were race, COMPASS math score, number of credits earned at entry, and first year cumulative GPA. The strongest predictors of attainment of a college credential were being in the at-risk policy cohort, age at entry, and first year cumulative GPA. This study has important implications for dual enrollment programs and interventions designed for at-risk and dropout youth.
Frequency and correlates of intimate partner violence by type: physical, sexual, and psychological battering.

OBJECTIVES This study estimated the frequency and correlates of intimate partner violence by type (physical, sexual, battering, or emotional abuse) among women seeking primary health care. METHODS Women aged 18 to 65 years who attended family practice clinics in 1997 and 1998 took part. Participation included a brief in-clinic survey assessing intimate partner violence. Multiple polytomous logistic regression was used to assess correlates of partner violence by type. RESULTS Of 1401 eligible women surveyed, 772 (55.1%) had experienced some type of intimate partner violence in a current, most recent, or past intimate relationship with a male partner; 20.2% were currently experiencing intimate partner violence. Among those who had experienced partner violence in any relationship, 77.3% experienced physical or sexual violence, and 22.7% experienced nonphysical abuse. Alcohol and/or drug abuse by the male partner was the strongest correlate of violence. CONCLUSIONS Partner substance abuse and intimate partner violence in the woman's family of origin were strong risk factors for experiencing violence. Efforts to universally screen for partner violence and to effectively intervene to reduce the impact of such violence on women's lives must be a public health priority.
Female stress, urge, and mixed urinary incontinence are associated with a chronic and progressive pelvic floor/vaginal neuromuscular disorder: An investigation of 317 healthy and incontinent women using vaginal surface electromyography

Reduction of the maximum vaginal surface electromyography (EMG) activity has previously been demonstrated in women with stress, urge, and mixed incontinence in comparison with healthy volunteers [Gunnarsson and Mattiasson, Scand J Urol Nephol 157:89–95, 1994]. The present study was performed to investigate if these EMG changes are age dependent and whether healthy parous women in general might show an age‐related decrease of vaginal and pelvic neuromuscular activity. A total of 317 women, 144 with urinary incontinence and 173 healthy volunteers, 20 to 76 years of age, were investigated. The maximum EMG activity during repeated short contractions (2 s) was measured.
Unilateral retinitis pigmentosa: 30 years follow-up

This case report depicts the clinical course of a female patient with unilateral retinitis pigmentosa (RP), who presented first in 1984 at the age of 43 years. At the beginning, there were cells in the vitreous leading to the diagnosis of uveitis with vasculitis. Within 30 years, the complete clinical manifestation of RP developed with bone spicule-shaped pigment deposits, pale optic disc, narrowed arterioles, cystoid macular oedema, posterior subcapsular cataract, concentric narrowing of the visual field and undetectable electroretinogram signal. At the age of 72 years, there are still no signs of retinal dystrophy in the other eye.
Preclinical Evaluation of Intravesical Cisplatin Nanoparticles for Non–Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Purpose: Prior clinical trials evaluating cisplatin for non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) were stopped due to local and systemic toxicity. Currently, there is still a need for improved intravesical therapies, and nanoparticle-based CDDP may be efficacious without the toxicity of free cisplatin observed in the past. Experimental Design: Cisplatin nanoparticles (CDDP NPs) were developed using biocompatible poly(l-aspartic acid sodium salt; PAA), both with and without low and high grafting density of methoxy-polyethylene glycol (PEG). In vitro cytotoxicity studies confirmed activity of CDDP NPs and CDDP solution against a papillary bladder cancer cell line. Local toxicity was assessed by three weekly intravesical administrations of CDDP formulations. CDDP NPs and CDDP solution were evaluated for bladder absorption in murine models 1 and 4 hours after intravesical administration. In vivo efficacy was evaluated in an immunocompetent carcinogen model of NMIBC. Results: CDDP NPs showed decreased local toxicity, as assessed by bladder weight, compared with CDDP solution. Furthermore, >2 μg/mL of platinum was observed in mouse serum after intravesical administration of CDDP solution, whereas serum platinum was below the limit of quantification after intravesical administration of CDDP NPs. CDDP NPs provided significantly increased (P < 0.05) drug levels in murine bladders compared with CDDP solution for at least 4 hours after intravesical administration. In vivo, CDDP NPs reduced cancer cell proliferation compared with untreated controls, and was the only treatment group without evidence of invasive carcinoma. Conclusions: Cisplatin-loaded PAA NPs have the potential to improve intravesical treatment of NMIBC while reducing local and systemic side effects. Clin Cancer Res; 23(21); 6592–601. ©2017 AACR.
Safety and Efficacy of Fixed Dose Combination of Voglibose, Glimepiride and Metformin in Indian Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Worldwide diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent and economically devastating illness. This study was a post marketing surveillance (PMS), non-randomized, open, non-comparative, mono-centric study. The drug administered was a fixed dose combination of voglibose 0.2 mg; glimepiride ½ mg and metformin 500 mg sustained release (SR). Fifty type 2 diabetic patients were given fixed dose combination twice daily with major meals for 3 months. Baseline value was recorded for glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and post prandial blood glucose/hyperglycemia (PPHG) level. There was significant decrease from baseline in HBA1c value 10.6 ± 1.3 vs. 6.6 ± 0.4 (P< 0.0001), FPG levels 208.33 mg/dl vs. 118.06 (P< 0.0001), and PPHG levels 360.14 mg/dl vs. 168.36, (P< 0.0001) after 3 months of treatment. The combination was found to be effective in controlling both fasting and post prandial glucose level and was well tolerated. Investigator commented that the use of triple drug combination is a good option in the management of type 2 diabetes which controls both fasting as well as post prandial blood glucose and ultimately HbA1c values.
Split Renal Function Testing Using Tc–99m DTPA: A Rapid Technique for Determining Differential Glomerular Filtration

The fractional renal uptake of intravenously administered Tc–99m DTPA, within 2 to 3 minutes following radiotracer arrival in the kidneys, is proportional to the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Thus it is possible to determine total, as well as individual kidney, GFR by a radionuclide technique which needs only six minutes of patient time and requires neither blood nor urine samples. The radionuclide computed GFR correlates extremely well with 24–hour creatinine clearance determinations, and is highly reproducible. This method has been used in nearly 500 split renal function determinations and has provided valuable, accurate information.
An Adverse Drug Event and Medication Error Reporting System for Ambulatory Care (MEADERS)

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has identified the mitigation of Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) and Medication Errors (MEs) as top national priorities. Currently available reporting tools are fraught with inefficiencies that prevent widespread adoption into busy primary care practices. Using expert panel input we designed and built a new reporting tool that could be used in these settings with a variety of information technology capabilities. We pilot tested the system in four Practice Based Research Networks (PBRNs) comprising 24 practices. Over 10 weeks we recorded 507 reports, of which 200 were MEs, 116 ADEs and 68 were of other types. Clinicians found the system easy to use, with the average time to generating a report under 2 minutes. By using streamlined interface design techniques we were successfully able to improve reporting rates of ADEs and MEs in these practices.
Object localisation in fetal ultrasound images using invariant features

We address the task of object localisation in 2D fetal ultrasound images, where invariance to factors such as image contrast and object orientation is desirable. We build on recent methods for rotation-invariant detection and combine them with oriented measures of image structure derived from the monogenic signal. We test our approach on images containing the fetal heart. Our results suggest that although raw intensity features can achieve robust approximate detection, the structural measures can achieve better localisation.
Comparison of medial and lateral septal neuron activity during performance of spatial tasks in rats

The septal complex, having close and reciprocal connections with the hippocampus, is known to play an important role in learning and memory. Anatomically, the septal complex is divided into the medial and lateral areas (MS and LS). In the present study, in order to elucidate functional differences between the MS and LS, we recorded single unit activity in the MS or LS and electroencephalogram (EEG) in the hippocampus simultaneously while the rats performed the following 2 spatial tasks in an open‐field chamber. In task 1, the rat received rewarding intracranial electrical stimulation (ICES) when it entered in a reward place that was set randomly in the open field in each trial. In task 2, the rat received rewarding ICES when it alternately visited two fixed reward places in the open field. Unit activity was analyzed in relation to the pattern of hippocampal EEG, and rat's location, locomotion direction and locomotion speed in the spatial tasks. A total of 47 neurons were recorded in the septal complex (MS, 19; LS, 28). The majority of neurons with activity correlated with hippocampal EEG were found in the MS (14/19). All of the neurons with place‐related activity (an increase in unit activity when the rat was in a specific location in the open field) were found in the LS (n = 15). The majority of neurons with direction‐related activity were found in the LS (18/23). Twenty‐one neurons displayed speed‐related activity (MS, 9; LS, 12). The present results indicate that (1) the MS is directly involved in the formation and control of hippocampal EEG patterns, and (2) the LS is important for the processing and integration of spatial information in the environment. Hippocampus 1999; 9:220–234. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Multidimensional Structure of Physical Self-Concept

The present study aims to analyze the dimensionality of physical self-concept through confirmatory factor analysis of the AFI questionnaire (Esnaola, 2005; Esnaola & Goñi, 2006) and to compare two models: a) a quadri-dimensional model in which physical self-concept is made up of the sub-domains ability, condition, attractiveness and strength, and, b) a three-factor model in which the items corresponding to ability and condition are grouped together as one factor. The sample consists of 1,259 participants ranging in age from 12 to 84 years old (700 women and 556 men) who were divided into four groups as a function of age: 627 adolescents (12-18 years old), 272 young people (19-30 years old), 248 middle-aged adults (31-49 years old) and 112 people over 55, all living in the Basque Autonomous Region of Spain. The results indicate that the quadri-dimensional model of physical self-concept fits the data better than the three-dimensional model (which showed poor goodness of fit) for the study's total sample, as well as within the male and female sub-samples. Furthermore, the four-factor model was found to be stable throughout adolescence, youth and middle-age, but not for the group of adults over 55. Este estudio trata de analizar la dimensionalidad del autoconcepto físico mediante el análisis factorial confirmatorio del cuestionario AFI (Esnaola, 2005; Esnaola y Goñi, 2006) comparando dos modelos: a) un modelo cuatridimensional en el que el autoconcepto físico se compone de los subdominios de habilidad, condición, atractivo y fuerza; y, b) un modelo de tres factores en el que los ítems de habilidad y condición se agrupan en un factor. La muestra está compuesta por 1259 participantes entre los 12 y 84 años (700 mujeres y 556 varones) divididos en cuatro grupos en función de su edad: 627 adolescentes (12-18 años), 272 jóvenes (19-30 años), 248 adultos (31-49 años) y 112 personas mayores de 55 años de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco. Los resultados indican que el modelo cuatridimensional del autoconcepto físico se ajusta mejor que el modelo de tres factores (que no se ajusta bien) a los datos de la muestra total del estudio, así como en las submuestras masculina y femenina. Por otro lado, el modelo de cuatro factores se muestra estable en la adolescencia, juventud y edad adulta, pero no así en el grupo de personas mayores de 55 años.
Practice patterns in haemophilia A therapy – global progress towards optimal care

Summary. This paper reports the findings of a global survey of practice patterns for the management of patients with haemophilia A. A total of 147 haemophilia treatment centres worldwide responded to the questionnaire, supplying data for 16 115 patients with haemophilia A. From these responses, 38% (range: 25–48%) of patients were under 18 years old. Almost half (47%) of patients were reported to have mild or moderate haemophilia A, 48% had severe haemophilia A (no inhibitor) and 5% were inhibitor patients. Less than half of patients with severe haemophilia A received prophylactic therapy (37%, excluding inhibitor patients) and 54% received on‐demand treatment; the remaining 9% were inhibitor patients. Primary prophylaxis rates for severe haemophilia ranged from 73% in Sweden to 17% in the USA. Most respondents (80%) ranked infrequent bleeds as one of the top five reasons for not administering prophylactic treatment, followed by venous access (60%) and cost (45%). Of patients with severe haemophilia (non‐inhibitor), 32% on primary prophylaxis and 27% on secondary prophylaxis had indwelling catheters. Risk of infection and the patient's inability to maintain the line were the key concerns cited by nurses relating to venous access. The mean ratio of nurses to patients with haemophilia A was 1:69 and nurses felt that they were either fully (26%) or mostly (45%) autonomous in assessment and treatment decisions. Results from this current survey suggest that worldwide research should be continued so as to improve outcomes through the identification of optimal treatment protocols for the management of haemophilia A.
A Prospective Study of the Clinical Profile, Outcome and Evaluation of D-dimer in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.

INTRODUCTION Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (CVT) is a well known disease with diverse clinical presentation and causes. With advances in neuroimaging and changing lifestyles, the clinical profile and causes of CVT are changing. D-dimer has been studied in early diagnosis of CVT with variable results. This prospective study was carried out to assess the clinical profile of CVT and role of D-dimer in diagnosis of CVT. AIM To study various aspects of CVT and role of D-dimer. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study period was September 2012 to July 2014 and included 80 imaging proven patients of CVT. We also included 39 controls for assessing D-dimer. Data was collected according to a preformed format. D-dimer was assessed by a rapid semi-quantitative latex agglutination assay. Discharged patients were followed up to six months. RESULTS Of the total 44 were women and 36 were men (F: M=1.2:1). The mean age of the patients was 29.5±9.68 years. Most common clinical features were headache 77 (96.25%), papilloedema (67.5%) and seizures 51 (63.75%). Pregnancy was the most common cause of CVT. Superior sagittal and transverse sinuses were the most common sinuses to be affected. The sensitivity and specificity of D-dimer for diagnosing CVT was 84.62% and 80% respectively. The risk factors for poor prognosis were altered sensorium, presence of sepsis, increased sinus involvement and deep sinus thrombosis. CONCLUSION CVT affects both sexes equally. Puerperium still contributes to majority of the cases. Iron deficiency anaemia needs to be evaluated as a contributing factor for incidence of CVT. D-dimer is not useful in puerperal female with CVT. Positive D-dimer will strengthen the suspicion of CVT in patients with acute headache followed by a neurological deficit.
Influence of the definition of “metabolically healthy obesity” on the progression of coronary artery calcification

Objectives Debates whether metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) increases the cardiovascular risk might be due to the metabolic instability of MHO or the absence of a perfect definition of MHO. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the influence of the MHO phenotype on the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) progression according to definition of MHO. Methods We analyzed a retrospective cohort with a CACS of 0 at baseline and available serial CACS measurements taken ≥ 12 months apart (n = 1,218). Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, and MHO was defined as obesity accompanied by ≤ 1 (MHO class I) or 0 (MHO class II) components of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Results During a median follow-up of 45 months, 32.2% of MHO class I and 10.2% of MHO class II subjects developed MetS. Compared to non-obese/metabolically healthy subjects (reference group), hazard ratios (HR) for development of MetS were 2.174 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.513–3.124) and 1.166 (95% CI: 0.434–3.129) for MHO class I and II subjects, respectively. The MHO class I subjects showed a significantly increased risk of CACS progression as compared to the reference group (HR: 1.653; 95% CI: 1.144–2.390), whereas MHO class II subjects did not (HR: 1.195; 95% CI: 0.514–2.778). Among subjects with MHO class I, no significant CACS progression was observed in the subjects who maintained metabolic health during follow-up (HR: 1.448; 95% CI: 0.921–2.278). Conclusions The risks of metabolic deterioration and CACS progression were significant in subjects with MHO class I, but not in those with MHO class II.
SLC22A16 upregulation is an independent unfavorable prognostic indicator in gastric cancer.

AIM To study the expression profile of SLC22A16 in gastric cancer (GC), its prognostic value and the potential mechanisms of its upregulation. PATIENTS & METHODS A retrospective study was performed by using data in the Human Protein Atlas and The Cancer Genome Atlas-Stomach Cancer (STAD). Results: SLC22A16 was significantly upregulated in GC tissues compared with normal stomach tissues. SLC22A16 upregulation independently predicted poor overall survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.424, 95% CI: 1.169-1.735; p < 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (HR: 1.658, 95% CI: 1.292-2.128; p < 0.001) in early GC and poor overall survival (HR: 1.411, 95% CI: 1.137-1.752; p = 0.002) in advanced GC. SLC22A16 DNA hypomethylation might be a compensation for DNA loss to maintain SLC22A16 elevation in GC. CONCLUSION SLC22A16 might be a valuable prognostic marker in GC.