Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of anthropometric parameters and bone size on bone mineral density using volumetric quantitative computed tomography and dual X-ray absorptiometry at the hip

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of anthropometric parameters (age, height, and weight) and bone size on bone mineral density (BMD) using volumetric quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a group of elderly women. Material and Methods: BMD values were obtained with DXA and QCT at the spine and hip in a cohort of 84 elderly women (mean age 73±6 years). QCT measures included trabecular, integral, and cortical BMD assessed at the hip and spine as well as cross-sectional areas of the mid-vertebrae and proximal femora. Spinal integral and femoral neck BMD measures were well matched to the regions of bone quantified on anteroposterior (AP) spine DXA and the femoral neck region of hip DXA. Results: When QCT parameters were linearly regressed against body height and weight, only the relationships with weight were found to be statistically significant. Except for cortical BMD at the femoral neck, all BMD and geometric parameters measured from both DXA and QCT showed statistically significant associations with body weight (r 2 = 0.4, 0.0001<P<0.02). The strongest associations with weight were found for DXA Neck (DXA_NECK) and DXA lumbar spine (DXA_LSP) (r 2 = 0.4, P<0.0001). Conclusion: The relationship of DXA BMD is stronger than QCT BMD with body weight and it encompasses the response of both bone size and density to increasing body mass.
Normal corneal endothelial cell density in Nigerians

Aim The aim of the study was to describe the corneal endothelial cell density of adults at the MeCure Eye Center and to determine the relationship between age, sex, and corneal endothelial cell density. Methods This study was a retrospective study looking at those records of individuals who had undergone specular microscopy or corneal endothelial cell count measurement at the MeCure Eye Center. Results The endothelial cell characteristics of 359 healthy eyes of 201 volunteers were studied. The mean corneal endothelial cell density (MCD) was 2,610.26±371.87 cells/mm2 (range, 1,484–3,571 cells/mm2). The MCD decreased from 2,860.70 cells/mm2 in the 20–30-year age group to 2,493.06 cells/mm2 in the >70-year age group, and there was a statistically significant relationship between age and MCD with a P-value of <0.001. There was no statistically significant correlation between sex and corneal endothelial cell density (P=0.45). Conclusion This study shows that endothelial cell density in Nigerian eyes is less than that reported in the Japanese, American, and Chinese eyes, and is comparable to that seen in Indian and Malaysian eyes.
Intonation and Evidentiality in Spanish Polar Interrogatives

Three different nuclear pitch accents can be found in Castilian Spanish polar interrogatives. In addition to the ‘canonical’ low-rise pattern, there are two marked interrogative contours featuring high-rise and rise–fall pitch accents. The aim of this paper is to explain how each contour contributes to the interpretation of the utterance in which they occur. I argue that this contribution is to be sought at the semantic, not at the pragmatic-illocutionary, attitudinal-level. My proposal is that the low-rise contour is the expression of unspecified sentence polarity (corresponding to the interrogative operator), whereas the two marked contours add indications about the information source—that is, they encode evidential distinctions. The high-rise pattern indicates that the Self is the source of the information; the rise–fall tone indicates that Other is the source. The whole range of pragmatic interpretations that have been described in the literature can be easily accommodated into the present proposal as inferential developments of the encoded meaning together with contextual information. This view has implications for a theory of interrogatives, for the phonology of intonation and for the articulation of the semantics/pragmatics interface.
Association of petrochemical exposure with spontaneous abortion.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between petrochemical exposure and spontaneous abortion, a retrospective epidemiological study in a large petrochemical complex in Beijing, China was conducted. METHODS: Plant employment records identified 3105 women who were married, were 20-44 years of age, and had never smoked. Of those, 3070 women (98.8%) reported at least one pregnancy. From this group, 2853 (93%) of the women participated in the study. According to their plant employment record, about 57% of these women workers reported occupational exposure to petrochemicals during the first trimester of their pregnancy. Trained interviewers administered a standardised questionnaire to this group of women and their husbands, collecting information on reproductive history, pregnancy outcomes, employment history, occupational exposure, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, indoor air pollution, and demographic variables. The results from the womens' first pregnancies were analysed. RESULTS: There was a significantly increased risk of spontaneous abortion for women working in all of the production plants with frequent exposure to petrochemicals (8.8%; range of 5.8%-9.8%) compared with those working in nonchemical plants (2.2%; range of 0.0%-7.1%). Also, when a comparison was made between exposed and non-exposed groups within each plant, exposure to petrochemicals was consistently associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. The overall odds ratio (OR) was 2.7 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.8 to 3.9) after adjusting for potential confounders. When the analysis was performed with the exposure information obtained from the women' interview responses for (self reported) exposures, the estimated OR for spontaneous abortions was 2.9 (95% CI 2.0 to 4.0). The analysis was repeated by excluding those 452 women who provided inconsistent reports between recalled exposure and work history, and a comparable risk of spontaneous abortion (OR 2.9; 95% CI 2.0 to 4.4) was found. In analyses for exposure to specific chemicals, an increased risk of spontaneous abortion was found with exposure to most chemicals, and the results for benzene (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.7 to 3.7), gasoline (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.9), and hydrogen sulphide (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.2 to 4.4) were significant. CONCLUSION: An increased risk of spontaneous abortion was found associated with the exposure to petrochemicals, including benzene, gasoline, and hydrogen sulphide.
Measuring voluntary social distancing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic

Staying home is an important part of the effort to contain COVID-19 and limit deaths. Every state in the United States has enacted policies to encourage distancing and staying home. An important question is how these policies interact with individuals voluntary responses to COVID-19 cases and deaths. We find evidence of a non-trivial voluntary response to local and nationally reported COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Borderline and Schizophrenic Patients: A Comparative Study of Defensive Structure

&NA; Historically unresolved diagnostic questions regarding the borderline diagnosis and its relationship to schizophrenia are explored. Is the borderline syndrome a subvariant of schizophrenia or does it constitute a distinct diagnostic entity in its own right with specific, common, and identifiable features which set this group of patients off from others? Based on recent developments in psychoanalytic object relations theory, a Rorschach scoring manual designed to assess the primitive defenses that are conceptualized to underlie as well as organize the borderline patient was applied to independently selected samples of hospitalized borderline (DSM‐III criteria) and schizophrenic (Research Diagnostic Criteria) adolescent and young adult patients. Consistent and significant differences were found between groups on the basis of defensive functioning. Borderline patients were found to use test measures of splitting, primitive devaluation, idealization, denial, and projective identification significantly more than schizophrenic patients. The levels of inter‐rater reliability and the direction of the results in discriminating borderline from schizophrenic patients on the basis of defensive functioning indicate that the Rorschach Scoring System is a reliable and valid instrument. The implications of the results in terms of the differential diagnostic issues, the nature of borderline defenses, and the utilization of the Rorschach as a research instrument are considered.
Regulation of Rat Liver Glucose-6-Phosphatase Gene Expression in Different Nutritional and Hormonal States: Gene Structure and 5′-Flanking Sequence

The mRNA level of the catalytic subunit of rat liver glucose-6-phosphatase (Glu-6-Pase) was regulated by hormones commensurate with activity changes in vivo. Insulin exerts a dominant negative effect on the mRNA levels of Glu-6-Pase. Both mRNA levels and activities of the enzyme are low in the fed and refed state where insulin levels are elevated. Insulin administration to diabetic rats also decreases levels of mRNA and Glu-6-Pase activity. Insulin at a concentration of 1 nmol/l completely overcomes the stimulatory effect of glucocorticoids on Glu-6-Pase message levels in FAO hepatoma cells. The stimulatory response to glucocorticoid in FAO cells is biphasic, with maxima seen at 3 and 18 h after hormone addition (respectively 1.6- and 3.3-fold). 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (CPT-cAMP) causes a fourfold increase in Glu-6-Pase mRNA at 3 h in FAO cells. The gene of rat liver Glu-6-Pase is 13 kilobases in length and comprised of 5 exons. The exon-intron structure is completely conserved when compared with the mouse and human genes. A 0.5-kb 3′-untranslated region, which is present in rat and mouse liver Glu-6-Pase cDNA, is absent in the Glu-6-Pase gene reported here, indicating the possible duplication of either the terminal fifth exon or the entire gene. The promoter region contains a consensus core CCAAT element at position –207 and a TATAAA at position –31. Several possible response elements have been identified in the 5′-flanking region (from a HindIII site at position –1641). A consensus glucocorticoid response element is located at base pair –1552, a 9/10 match of the insulin response sequence is located at position –1449, and a 7/8 match of the cAMP response element is located at position –164.
Reoperation Rate After Instrumented Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Report on 1680 Cases

Study Design. Retrospective study on the incidence of reoperation in patients previously treated by instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion. Objectives. To answer the following questions: Reoperation rate after PLIF? And is there any influence of the length of fusion on the reoperation rate? Summary of Background Data. The use of different techniques demonstrates that there is currently no ideal procedure for lumbar fusion. The instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) shows a comparable success rate to the so-called 360° fusion techniques (combined dorsoventral spondylodesis) without the need of an anterior approach. Methods. We reviewed 1680 patients who underwent a PLIF at our institution between January 1995 and December 2000. A total of 3053 levels were fused. The reoperation rate was analyzed. The mean follow-up was 5 years. Results. There were 221 (13.2%) reoperations in 206 patients (12.2%). Of 1680 PLIFs, 312 were multisegmental (>2 segments). Within this group, 45 (14.4%) revisions were done. We found that the most important difference between the multisegmental PLIFs and the mono- or bisegmental PLIFs is the rate of adjacent segment decompensation (5.1% vs. 2.3%), and this was statistically significant. The reoperation rate between those two groups was only slightly different with 12.9% for mono- or bisegmental and 14.4% for multisegmental PLIFs. Conclusions. The fusion length does not show a significant difference in the reoperation rate as such. Nevertheless, we registered a significantly higher incidence for decompensation of adjacent segments after multisegmental PLIFs.
Can this merger be saved?

In this fictional case study, a merger that looked like a marriage made in heaven to those at corporate headquarters is feeling like an infernal union to those on the ground. The merger is between Synergon Capital, a U.S. financial-services behemoth, and Beauchamp, Becker & Company, a venerable British financial-services company with strong profits and an extraordinarily loyal client base of wealthy individuals. Beauchamp also boasts a strong group of senior managers led by Julian Mansfield, a highly cultured and beloved patriarch who personifies all that's good about the company. Synergon isn't accustomed to acquiring such companies. It usually encircles a poorly managed turnaround candidate and then, once the deal is done, drops a neutron bomb on it, leaving file cabinets and contracts but no people. Before acquiring Beauchamp, Synergon's macho men offered loud assurances that they would leave the tradition-bound company alone-provided, of course, that Beauchamp met the ambitious target numbers and showed sufficient enthusiasm for cross-selling Synergon's products to its wealthy clients. In charge of making the acquisition work is Nick Cunningham, one of Synergon's more thoughtful executives. Nick, who was against the deal from the start, is the face and voice of Synergon for Julian Mansfield. And Mansfield, in his restrained way, is angry at the constant flow of bureaucratic forms, at the rude demands for instant information, at the peremptory changes. He's even dropping broad hints at retirement. Nick has already been warned: if Mansfield goes, you go. Six commentators advise Nick on how to save his job by bringing peace and prosperity to the feuding couple.
Patient-centredness from education to practice: The ‘lived’ impact of communication skills training

Background: Although communication skills training (CST) enhances patient-centred skills and attitudes, the literature indicates a problematic transfer of these from education into practice. Aim: We explored ‘lived’ experiences of medical students and doctors to gain a better understanding of the impact of CST on patient-centredness in the transition to real practice. Methods: From a phenomenological perspective, we conducted 15 interviews and 11 focus groups with 4–9 participants/group (n = 67) at two universities and carried out constant comparative analysis. Results: The gap between education and practice is the central phenomenon. Although CST raises students’ communication awareness and self-efficacy in an ‘ideal’ context, this paradoxically seems to jeopardize their ability to bridge the gulf. In addition, CST does not come to grips with students’ attitudes. However, CST appears to be successful in equipping students with long-lasting ‘handles’. Yet students need more support to mould the provided ‘ideal’ models into their own unique style of context-specific patient-centred behaviour. This implies: raising students’ awareness of own attitudes and communication styles, offering a more realistic training ground, integrating CST with clinical experience and translating the primary-care-rooted concept of patient-centredness into various specialization contexts. Conclusion: CST could raise its impact by supporting students’ recycling processes towards a personal style of context-sensitive patient-centredness.
Prognostic Factors and Survival in Late Adolescent and Adult Patients With Small Round Cell Tumors

The primary objective of this study is to review the clinical characteristics of 25 patients in the adult and late adolescent age group, diagnosed and treated with small round cell tumors involving soft tissues (extraosseous Ewing sarcoma, rhabdo-myosarcoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor, and undiffer-entiated small round cell tumors). Additionally, survival and prognostic factors influencing the outcome with multimodality treatment are evaluated. There were 19 males (76%) and 6 females (24%). The median age was 26 years (range: 15-56 years). In 9 patients (36%), the tumor was located at an extremity, whereas 16 patients (64%) had central localizations. Tumor size was larger than 10 cm in 7 patients (29.2%). Six patients (24%) had metastatic disease. Twelve patients (48%) received radiation and 16 patients (64%) underwent surgery. Among the resected tumors, 2 were resected with contaminated margins (12.5%), whereas 2 were radically resected and 12 (75%) were resected with wide margins. All patients were given a median of 4 cycles of multiagent chemotherapy (1–14 cycles). With preoperative chemotherapy, complete regression (CR) of the tumor was achieved in 6 patients (24%). In 4 patients (16%), a partial response was obtained. After the completion of multimodality treatment, 12 patients (48%) had a CR. Progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the entire group was 25.0 ± 10.8% at 1 year and 30.5 ± 15.5% at 3 years, respectively. Nonmetastatic disease, wide and radical resection, and presence of CR to multimodality treatment were associated with a significantly longer PFS and OS by univariate analysis. By multivariate analysis, CR to multimodality treat-ment was the only independent predictive factor for a longer OS (p: 0.0036, relative risk [RR]: 23.6, 95% CI: 2.8; 198.7) and metastatic presentation was the only independent factor predic-tive for a shorter PFS (p: 0.017, RR. 15, 95% CI: 1.6; 141.2). Large-scale, multicenter studies are required for a better eval-uation of the nonpediatric age group with small round cell tumors.
Estimation of internal and external exposures of terrestrial reference organisms to natural radionuclides in the environment

In this paper, an estimation of the doses absorbed by terrestrial reference organisms due to naturally occurring radionuclides is described. For terrestrial organisms under normal circumstances, external exposure is estimated to be of the order of 0.1–0.4 mGy a−1, depending on size and habitat, and the main contributor is 40K. Internal background exposures of terrestrial organisms are more variable. Again, 40K is an important contributor giving doses of the order of 0.3 mGy a−1. The exposures of muscles and plant tissues to uranium, thorium, radium, lead and polonium are lower, but liver, bone and kidney may be exposed at levels of 0.1–1 mGy a−1 absorbed dose. There can also be significant increases in the received dose under specific environmental conditions as is the case for burrowing mammals that receive relatively high lung doses due to the inhalation of radon and its progeny.
Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19 in Europe: a quasi-experimental study

The current epidemic of COVID-19 is unparalleled in recent history as are the social distancing interventions that have led to a significant halt on the economic and social life of so many countries. However, there is very little empirical evidence about which social distancing measures have the most impact. We report a quasi-experimental study of the impact of various interventions for control of the outbreak. Data on case numbers and deaths were taken from the daily published figures by the European Centre for Disease Control and dates of initiation of various control strategies from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation website and published sources. Our primary analyses were modelled in R using Bayesian generalised additive mixed models (GAMM). We found that closure of education facilities, prohibiting mass gatherings and closure of some non-essential businesses were associated with reduced incidence whereas stay at home orders, closure of all non-businesses and requiring the wearing of facemasks or coverings in public was not associated with any independent additional impact. Our results could help inform strategies for coming out of lockdown.
Prospective separation and transcriptome analyses of cortical projection neurons and interneurons based on lineage tracing by Tbr2 (Eomes)‐GFP/Dcx‐mRFP reporters

In the cerebral cortex, projection neurons and interneurons work coordinately to establish neural networks for normal cortical functions. While the specific mechanisms that control productions of projection neurons and interneurons are beginning to be revealed, a global characterization of the molecular differences between these two neuron types is crucial for a more comprehensive understanding of their developmental specifications and functions. In this study, using lineage tracing power of combining Tbr2(Eomes)‐GFP and Dcx‐mRFP reporter mice, we prospectively separated intermediate progenitor cell (IPC)‐derived neurons (IPNs) from non‐IPC‐derived neurons (non‐IPNs) of the embryonic cerebral cortex. Molecular characterizations revealed that IPNs and non‐IPNs were enriched with projection neurons and interneurons, respectively. Expression profiling documented cell‐specific genes including differentially expressed transcriptional regulators that might be involved in cellular specifications, for instance, our data found that SOX1 and SOX2, which were known for important functions in neural stem/progenitor cells, continued to be expressed by interneurons but not by projection neurons. Transcriptome analyses of cortical neurons isolated at different stages of neurogenesis revealed distinct temporal patterns of expression of genes involved in early‐born or late‐born neuron specification. These data present a resource useful for further investigation of the molecular regulations and functions of projection neurons and interneurons. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 587–599, 2016
Improved thymic index, density and output in HIV-infected patients following low-dose growth hormone therapy: a placebo controlled study

Objectives:To investigate the effect of low-dose, long-term recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy on immune reconstitution in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with focus on thymic index, density and output. Design:Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, single-centre trial. Methods:Forty-six HIV-infected Caucasian men on highly active antiretroviral therapy, 21–60 years of age, were included. Twenty-eight patients were randomized to 0.7mg/day rhGH and 18 patients to placebo, administrated as daily subcutaneous injections between 1300 and 1500 h for 40 weeks. Endpoints were changes from baseline in thymic size and thymic output measured as T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC) frequency and total TREC content, and total and naive CD4+ cells. Results:Thymic density and thymic index increased in the GH group, compared with the placebo group (28 versus 4 Hounsfield units, P = 0.006 and 1 versus 0, P = 0.004). TREC frequency and total TREC content increased in the GH group, compared with the placebo group (37 versus −8%, P = 0.049 and 51 versus –14%, P = 0.026). Total CD4+ cells and naive CD4+ cells increased insignificantly more in the GH than the placebo group [11.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI) −6.0 to 28.9; P = 0.19 and 18%, interquartile range (IQR) −4, 40 versus 13%, IQR −12, 39; P = 0.79]. Therapy was well tolerated. Conclusions:Daily treatment with a low dose rhGH of 0.7 mg for 40 weeks stimulated thymopoiesis expressed by thymic index, density and area, TREC frequency and total TREC content in CD4+ cells in HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy.