Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of interstitial lung involvement in patients with connective tissue diseases assessed with high‐resolution computed tomography

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with different forms of connective tissue disease (CTD) using non‐invasive procedures including high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and to evaluate the relationship between the imaging and functional status of the patients. Methods: Eighty‐one subjects with CTD (47 inpatients and 34 outpatients) were evaluated with pulmonary function tests (PFT) and radiological investigations. The extent and severity of lung disease was quantified with an HRCT scoring system previously used in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Interstitial lung involvement was defined as predominantly fibrotic or inflammatory based on HRCT abnormalities. Results: HRCT abnormalities suggestive of ILD were observed in 69 patients (85.1%), whereas PFT and plain radiograph alterations occurred less frequently (40.7%). The most frequent HRCT abnormalities were septal/subpleural lines and ground‐glass appearance whereas lesions consistent with advanced fibrosis were observed in a minority of patients. The HRCT score was higher in patients with abnormal PFT (p<0.001). Thirty‐five patients had predominant fibrosis and 34 patients predominantly inflammatory abnormalities. A score of 10 points represented the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity in predicting functional impairment. Conclusions: A high prevalence of ILD was found based on HRCT abnormalities. However, HRCT scans characterized by minor abnormalities have poor specificity for clinically significant disease and functional findings should also be considered. The large number of patients with predominantly inflammatory HRCT abnormalities suggests that many cases of ILD may be diagnosed in a relatively early stage of the disease.
Oyster Aquaculture Site Selection Using Landsat 8-Derived Sea Surface Temperature, Turbidity, and Chlorophyll a

Remote sensing data is useful for selection of aquaculture sites because it can provide water-quality products mapped over large regions at low cost to users. However, the spatial resolution of most ocean color satellites is too coarse to provide usable data within many estuaries. The Landsat 8 satellite, launched February 11, 2013, has both the spatial resolution and the necessary signal to noise ratio to provide temperature, as well as ocean color derived products along complex coastlines. The state of Maine (USA) has an abundance of estuarine indentations (~3,500 miles of tidal shoreline within 220 miles of coast), and an expanding aquaculture industry, which makes it a prime case-study for using Landsat 8 data to provide products suitable for aquaculture site selection. We collected the Landsat 8 scenes over coastal Maine, flagged clouds, atmospherically corrected the top-of-the-atmosphere radiances, and derived time varying fields (repeat time of Landsat 8 is 16 days) of temperature (100 m resolution), turbidity (30 m resolution), and chlorophyll a (30 m resolution). We validated the remote-sensing-based products at several in situ locations along the Maine coast where monitoring buoys and programs are in place. Initial analysis of the validated fields revealed promising new areas for oyster aquaculture. The approach used is applicable to other coastal regions and the data collected to date show potential for other applications in marine coastal environments, including water quality monitoring and ecosystem management.
Testing for a unit root against ESTAR stationarity

Abstract In this paper we examine the local power of unit root tests against globally stationary exponential smooth transition autoregressive [ESTAR] alternatives under two sources of uncertainty: the degree of nonlinearity in the ESTAR model, and the presence of a linear deterministic trend. First, we show that the KSS test (Kapetanios, G., Y. Shin, and A. Snell. 2003. “Testing for a Unit Root in the Nonlinear STAR Framework.” Journal of Econometrics 112: 359–379) for nonlinear stationarity has local asymptotic power gains over standard Dickey-Fuller [DF] tests for certain degrees of nonlinearity in the ESTAR model, but that for other degrees of nonlinearity, the linear DF test has superior power. Second, we derive limiting distributions of demeaned, and demeaned and detrended KSS and DF tests under a local ESTAR alternative when a local trend is present in the DGP. We show that the power of the demeaned tests outperforms that of the detrended tests when no trend is present in the DGP, but deteriorates as the magnitude of the trend increases. We propose a union of rejections testing procedure that combines all four individual tests and show that this captures most of the power available from the individual tests across different degrees of nonlinearity and trend magnitudes. We also show that incorporating a trend detection procedure into this union testing strategy can result in higher power when a large trend is present in the DGP.
Pain-Related Attitudes and Functioning in Elderly Primary Care Patients

Abstract This study examined the associations between specific pain-related beliefs and both mental health and pain interference in elderly patients with chronic pain. A total of 139 patients completed validated questionnaires assessing pain domains (i.e., intensity, duration and location), psychological functioning, pain interference and demographic variables. Pain-related beliefs were related with poorer mental health (Disability = –.27; Harm = –.23; Solicitude = –.24; Control = .18; Emotion = –.29) and greater interference in daily activities (Disability =.41; Harm =.13; Solicitude =.29; Control = –.31). Our findings are consistent with a biopsychosocial model of chronic pain which goes beyond physical variables in an attempt to understand and promote patients’ adjustment to chronic pain problems.
[Vitrectomy without scleral buckle versus ab-externo approach for pseudophakic retinal detachment: comparative retrospective study].

PURPOSE Retinal detachment (RD) is a major complication of cataract surgery, which can be treated by either primary vitrectomy without indentation or the scleral buckling procedure. The aim of this study is to compare the results of these two techniques for the treatment of pseudophakic RD. PATIENTS AND METHODS The charts of 40 patients (40 eyes) treated with scleral buckling for a primary pseudophakic RD were retrospectively studied and compared to the charts of 32 patients (32 eyes) treated with primary vitrectomy without scleral buckle during the same period by the same surgeons. To obtain comparable samples, patients with giant retinal tears, vitreous hemorrhage, and severe preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) were not included. Minimal follow-up was 6 months. RESULTS The primary success rate was 84% in the vitrectomy group and 82.5% in the ab-externo group. Final anatomical success was observed in 100% of cases in the vitrectomy group and in 95% of cases in the ab-externo group. Final visual acuity was 0.5 or better in 44% of cases in the vitrectomy group and 37.5% in the ab-externo group. The duration of the surgery was significantly lower in the ab-externo group, whereas the hospital stay tended to be lower in the vitrectomy group. In the vitrectomy group, postoperative PVR developed in 3 eyes and new or undetected breaks were responsible for failure of the initial procedure in 2 eyes. CONCLUSION Primary vitrectomy appears to be as effective as scleral buckling procedures for the treatment of pseudophakic RD.
THE RED SUPERGIANT CONTENT OF M31

We investigate the red supergiant (RSG) population of M31, obtaining the radial velocities of 255 stars. These data substantiate membership of our photometrically selected sample, demonstrating that Galactic foreground stars and extragalactic RSGs can be distinguished on the basis of B − V, V − R two-color diagrams. In addition, we use these spectra to measure effective temperatures and assign spectral types, deriving physical properties for 192 RSGs. Comparison with the solar metallicity Geneva evolutionary tracks indicates astonishingly good agreement. The most luminous RSGs in M31 are likely evolved from 25–30 M⊙ stars, while the vast majority evolved from stars with initial masses of 20 M⊙ or less. There is an interesting bifurcation in the distribution of RSGs with effective temperatures that increases with higher luminosities, with one sequence consisting of early K-type supergiants, and with the other consisting of M-type supergiants that become later (cooler) with increasing luminosities. This separation is only partially reflected in the evolutionary tracks, although that might be due to the mis-match in metallicities between the solar Geneva models and the higher-than-solar metallicity of M31. As the luminosities increase the median spectral type also increases; i.e., the higher mass RSGs spend more time at cooler temperatures than do those of lower luminosities, a result which is new to this study. Finally we discuss what would be needed observationally to successfully build a luminosity function that could be used to constrain the mass-loss rates of RSGs as our Geneva colleagues have suggested.
Native Speakers' Perception of Non-Native English Speech.

This study is aimed at investigating the rating and intelligibility of different non-native varieties of English, namely French English, Japanese English and Jordanian English by native English speakers and their attitudes towards these foreign accents. To achieve the goals of this study, the researchers used a web-based questionnaire which targeted native speakers of English. The materials for this study were a questionnaire for respondents to fill out and tape recordings of six different short stories, each of which was recorded by a non native speaker of English. The first short story was tape- recorded by a male French speaker and the second by a female French speaker. Similarly, the other four short stories were tape-recorded by male and female Japanese and Jordanian speakers respectively. The respondents or raters consisted of 110 native speakers of English (78 females and 32 females); the majority of them from the USA, but there were others from Britain, Canada, and Australia. They were requested to surf the webpage www. englishforeignaccent . com, especially designed by the researchers, fill out the questionnaire and rate the non-native varieties under investigation, and four months later the number of respondents reached one hundred and ten which constituted the sample of the study. Data obtained indicated that the Jordanian accent was considered as the most intelligible, followed by the French then the Japanese English accent. The native speakers also showed significantly more positive attitudes towards Jordanian English than French and Japanese English. Finally, the positive attitude towards Jordanian English was affirmed by the respondents who assigned the Jordanian English speakers to the most prestigious professions such as medicine and teaching.
Nursing and Euthanasia: a Review of Argument-Based Ethics Literature

This article gives an overview of the nursing ethics arguments on euthanasia in general, and on nurses' involvement in euthanasia in particular, through an argument-based literature review. An in-depth study of these arguments in this literature will enable nurses to engage in the euthanasia debate. We critically appraised 41 publications published between January 1987 and June 2007. Nursing ethics arguments on (nurses' involvement in) euthanasia are guided primarily by the principles of respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence and justice. Ethical arguments related to the nursing profession are described. From a care perspective, we discuss arguments that evaluate to what degree euthanasia can be considered positively or negatively as a form of good nursing care. Most arguments in the principle-, profession- and care-orientated approaches to nursing ethics are used both pro and contra euthanasia in general, and nurses' involvement in euthanasia in particular.
Autoimmune statin-induced myopathy: a case report

Background Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a public health emergency of international concern. There is limited laboratory and clinical data available on patients with EVD. This is a meta-analysis to assess the utility of clinical signs, symptoms, and laboratory data in predicting mortality in EVD. Aim To assess the utility of clinical signs, symptoms, and laboratory data in predicting mortality in EVD. Method Study selection criterion: EVD articles with more than 35 EVD cases that described the clinical features were included. Data collection and extraction: Articles were searched in Medline, PubMed, Ovid journals, and CDC and WHO official websites. Statistical methods: Pooled proportions were calculated using DerSimonian Laird method (random effects model). Results Initial search identified 634 reference articles, of which 67 were selected and reviewed. Data were extracted from 10 articles (N=5,792) of EVD which met the inclusion criteria. Bleeding events (64.5% vs. 25.1%), abdominal pain (58.3% vs. 37.5%), vomiting (60.8% vs. 31.7%), diarrhea (69.9% vs. 37.8%), cough (31.6% vs. 22.3%), sore throat (47.7% vs. 19.8%), and conjunctivitis (39.3% vs. 20.3%) were more often present in pooled proportion of fatal cases as compared to EVD survivors. Conclusions Clinical features of EVD that may be associated with higher mortality include bleeding events, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cough, sore throat, and conjunctivitis. These patients should be identified promptly, and appropriate management should be instituted immediately.
Double insertions of extraocular rectus muscles in humans and the pulley theory

Recent studies have promoted the concept that rectus muscles pass through connective tissue pulleys located near the equator of the eye and act, in effect, as the muscle origins. Orbital muscle fibres (facing bone) terminate in pulleys, permitting adjustment of their position independent of the global fibres responsible for rotating the eye. The structure of pulleys (or muscle sleeves) and the passage taken by their muscle fibre insertions are unclear, and a detailed description is presented here together with a review of the active pulley hypothesis. Segments including the full width of single muscles were removed from the full orbital contents of dissection room cadavers and fresh perfusion‐fixed rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys and prepared for light microscopy. Thin longitudinal sections were cut as facets from resin‐embedded tissue blocks and montages assembled. Interrupted serial sections of selected regions of both species and ultrathin sections of monkey material were prepared for light and electron microscopy, respectively. Slender tendons leave the orbital surface of rectus muscles at intervals, aggregating and entering sleeves in humans and monkey; less frequently, tendons pass from the global surface to sleeves or insert directly in the posterior fascia bulbi. The orbital sides of sleeve rings are continuous with the fascial canopy of the globe and are 5–6 times as thick as the global sides; sleeve structure differs in the four recti. Medial rectus sleeves are the thickest, and contain smooth muscle, whereas little or none is present in the other rectus sleeves. Superior rectus sleeves are variable in structure and relatively insubstantial. A narrow interval separates muscles from the surrounding connective tissue equatorially in some preparations, consistent with a capacity to slide, but the tissues are contiguous in others, especially in monkey material. The structural organization of sleeves and their tendons, together with other presented factors, is inconsistent with a facility for the separate adjustment of sleeve position. The results favour the theory that sleeve tendons have just one role, to counter the viscoelastic resistance of global fascia – ocular and sleeve muscle fibres acting in unison. Whether the fragile sleeve structure can meet the physical demands of pulleys is questionable; but otherwise the veracity of the pulley hypothesis cannot be assessed from the structural relations of muscles and fascia bulbi reported.
cDNA cloning of two different serine protease inhibitor precursors in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria

Recently, a novel serine protease‐inhibiting peptide family, designated as the ‘pacifastin family’, has been described in locusts and crayfish. All members of this family possess a characteristic cysteine‐rich domain. The present study describes the cDNA cloning, sequencing and transcript distribution of two novel pacifastin‐related peptide precursors in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria. Only one of the encoded peptides (HI) was identified previously, whereas six others represent new members of the pacifastin family. Northern blot analysis showed that both precursor transcripts are present in adult locust fat body. These could not be detected in the midgut. Interestingly, an in silico data mining approach of the expressed sequence tags (EST) database revealed the existence of Manduca sexta and Bombyx mori cDNAs that display pronounced sequence similarities with these locust pacifastin‐related transcripts.
Reorganization of the Human Somatosensory Cortex in Hand Dystonia

Background and Purpose: Abnormalities of finger representations in the somatosensory cortex have been identified in patients with focal hand dystonia. Measuring blood flow with positron emission tomography (PET) can be use to demonstrate functional localization of receptive fields. Methods: A vibratory stimulus was applied to the right thumb and little finger of six healthy volunteers and six patients with focal hand dystonia to map their receptive fields using H215O PET. Results: The cortical finger representations in the primary somatosensory cortex were closer to each other in patients than in normal subjects. No abnormalities were found in secondary somatosensory cortex, but the somatotopy there is less well distinguished. Conclusions: These data confirm prior electrophysiological and functional neuroimaging observations showing abnormalities of finger representations in somatosensory cortex of patients with focal hand dystonia.
Predictors of seasonal influenza vaccination among healthcare workers in hospitals: a descriptive meta-analysis

Objective Vaccinating healthcare workers (HCWs) against influenza is one of the most important methods of decreasing influenza transmission among at-risk patients in healthcare facilities. However, despite recommendations, the rate of uptake of influenza vaccine among HCWs remains low. The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the most important predictors of seasonal influenza vaccine acceptance among HCWs in hospitals. Method A literature search of PubMed and Embase resulted in 4586 hits. Screening of the titles, abstracts and full text identified 13 studies eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Based on the crude data, pooled risk ratios (Mantel-Haenszel risk ratios, mhRR) and their 95% CIs were calculated using Mantel-Haenszel analysis to estimate the associations of predictors with influenza vaccination status. Results and conclusion Knowing that the vaccine is effective (mhRR 2.22; 95% CI 1.93 to 2.54), being willing to prevent influenza transmission (mhRR 2.31; 95% CI 1.97 to 2.70), believing that influenza is highly contagious (RR 2.25; 95% CI 1.66 to 3.05), believing that influenza prevention is important (mhRR 3.63; 95% CI 2.87 to 4.59) and having a family that is usually vaccinated (RR 2.32; 95% CI 1.64 to 3.28) were statistically significantly associated with a twofold higher vaccine uptake. We therefore recommend targeting these predictors when developing new influenza vaccination implementation strategies for hospital HCWs.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Heart failure (HF) remains an important heath care problem in the United States. With the aging of the US population, this trend is expected to continue. However, patients have also benefited from advances in pharmacologic and device-based therapies such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, β-blockers, aldosterone blockers, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. More recently, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become another important therapeutic option for treating heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. In this article, we review the physiologic basis for CRT, the clinical trials that support its efficacy, and the current indications for its use. We also examine key clinical questions regarding CRT still under research, including predictors of response. Finally, we look at the future of CRT and how its indications can be expanded to benefit more patients in the future.
Self-image of adolescents with diabetes mellitus type-I and rheumatoid arthritis

The purpose of this research was to determine possible differences in the self-concept of chronically ill and healthy adolescents. A group of adolescents with diabetes mellitus type-I (DM) and a group with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were chosen for the study, together with a control group without any chronic illness. The groups were matched for gender, age (DM 17.8, RA 17.9, control group 17.6 years) and social class. The Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ) was used to estimate differences between the groups of 23 DM adolescents, 25 RA adolescents and 26 control group adolescents. The scores are reversed; thus the higher the score, the better the self-image. The results indicate that Body Image, and Vocational and Educational Goals were lower in the groups of chronically ill adolescents than in the control group; however, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups on the OSIQ scales. The self-image of adolescents with DM with good metabolic control and moderate and long-lasting RA is relatively well developed.
FERTILIDADE DE GEMAS EM VIDEIRAS: FISIOLOGIA E FATORES ENVOLVIDOS

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo descrever a fisiologia da formacao das gemas ferteis em videiras, assim como discutir os fatores envolvidos neste processo. A formacao das inflorescencias em videiras se inicia no ciclo anterior a sua antese, durante o desenvolvimento das gemas latentes, sendo concluida na brotacao destas gemas no ciclo seguinte. Didaticamente, este processo pode ser dividido em tres principais etapas: 1) Formacao do primordio indiferenciado; 2) Diferenciacao em primordio de inflorescencia; e 3) Diferenciacao e formacao das flores. Os primordios indiferenciados, protuberâncias do tecido meristematico formados no interior da gema, podem dar origem a inflorescencias, gavinhas ou brotacoes, dependendo de diversos fatores, tais como: balanco hormonal, caracteristica varietal, vigor dos ramos, temperatura, intensidade luminosa, disponibilidade de agua, nutricao mineral e praticas culturais. Do ponto de vista agronomico, conclui-se que o manejo de um vinhedo nao deve visar estritamente a producao do ciclo corrente, mas tambem a formacao das gemas para o ciclo seguinte, pois esta e a primeira condicao para a obtencao de alta produtividade em videiras.