Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Race differences in emotional adaptation of family caregivers

Objectives: This study compares black and white caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) on two general measures of negative and positive emotion (depressive symptoms, positive mood) and two caregiving specific measures of negative and positive emotion (caregiver burden, caregiver satisfaction). We hypothesized that black caregivers would exhibit lower levels of negative emotion and higher levels of positive emotion over time than whites. Method: Three hundred ninety-six caregivers were recruited from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago, Illinois, as part of a longitudinal study of persons with AD. The analyses for this report are based on data from 307 caregivers who were interviewed quarterly over approximately 4 years from 1999 to 2002, an average of nine observations per person. Results: The results showed that black caregivers reported fewer depressive symptoms over time than whites ( = −0.14, p < 0.01) but this finding was only for those caregivers living with the care recipient with AD. No race differences were found for measures of positive emotion. Conclusion: Our data add to the growing body of evidence that blacks have better emotional outcomes when exposed to the stress of providing informal care to a disabled family member.
Land Fragmentation in Developing Countries: The Optimal Choice and Policy Implications

In this paper, a model is developed which interprets configuration of farmlands (fragmentation/consolidation) as an economic phenomenon. Many previous studies considered configuration of farmlands as a socio-cultural characteristic with individual farmers powerless to alter configurations. In fact, farmers frequently are able to make adjustments in their land holdings. In such cases, the persistence of fragmented lands represents a decision by farmers that the benefits to consolidating lands are less than the costs incurred by farming scattered plots. The model presented here considers possible production advantages as well as disadvantages with fragmented land but focuses on farms facing disadvantages. Consolidating lands thus raises short-run farm profits. The model breaks consolidation costs into capital and transaction cost components. Farmers maximising wealth over time will choose optimal quantities of land to consolidate in each period moving them to optimal levels of land fragmentation/consolidation. Optimal levels of fragmentation may differ across farms since individual economic conditions affect each farmer's costs. Fragmented farmlands are often considered an impediment to agricultural development. Thus several countries have initiated public consolidation programmes. This paper discusses the efficiency of such programmes in light of the optimisation model presented. Alternative policies which affect individual costs and benefits of consolidation are also examined. The first two sections of this paper provide some background to the fragmentation problem. Section 1 describes how it originates and why fragmentation is a problem. Section 2 identifies the relevant benefits and costs of consolidating fragmented parcels. The model which yields the farmer's decision on consolidation is presented in section 3. This section also summarises how economic factors influence optimal consolidation levels. Section 4 discusses the public role in influencing land consolidation.
From Analogy to Explanation : Relaxing the 1 : 1 Mapping Constraint ... Very Carefully

The ability to generate explanations plays a central role in human cognition. Generating explanations requires a deep conceptual understanding of the domain in question and tremendous flexibility in the way concepts are accessed and used. Together, these requirements constitute challenging design requirements for a model of explanation. We describe our progress toward providing a such a model, based on the LISA model of analogical inference (Hummel & Holyoak, 1997, 2003). We augment LISA with a novel representation of causal relations and with an ability to flexibly combine knowledge from multiple sources in LTM. Combining knowledge from multiple sources in LTM entails relaxing the 1:1 mapping constraint, as a given structure in the explanandum will necessarily correspond to different structures across different sources. We demonstrate how the resulting model serves as a starting point for an explicit process model of explanation.
Improving Health Services: Background, Method and Applications

This insightful book describes how Health Services Research (HSR) can be developed and used to evaluate, advance and improve all aspects of health services. It demonstrates the need for good HSR to avoid the continuation or development of ineffective or cost-inefficient services. Drawing on his extensive personal experience in the development of HSR, Walter Holland provides examples from the US and the UK to illustrate important lessons for the future improvement of health services. Taking a distinctive approach to describing the purposes and activities of HSR, the book focuses on the significance of close collaboration with those responsible for the delivery and decisions of health policy. The major message is the importance of heeding the findings of HSR so as to develop evidence-based health policy, and to understand and influence the actions of health professionals, managers and politicians. Holland strongly advocates greater use of HSR and emphasises its ability to provide vital evidence on how to improve health services. This highly informative and detailed book will strongly appeal to health service researchers, public health practitioners
Common neural mechanism for processing onset-to-onset intervals and silent gaps in sound sequences

Stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) and inter-stimulus interval (ISI) are important factors in the perceptual organization of sound sequences. The present study tested whether these two temporal parameters are independently processed in the auditory system. Independence was studied by testing the additivity of mismatch negativity (MMN). Four conditions differing in their temporal regularities were administered: (1) constant SOA and ISI, (2) constant SOA and variable ISI, (3) constant ISI and variable SOA, and (4) variable SOA and ISI. The MMN elicited by simultaneous deviance from the constant SOA and ISI (Condition 1) was compared with an additive model calculated from the MMNs elicited in the other conditions. The amplitude of the MMN in Condition 1 was significantly larger than that of the modeled MMN, suggesting that SOA and ISI are processed by interactive or common neural mechanisms.
Pituitary volume in psychosis: the first review of the evidence

The pituitary gland regulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity by secreting adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and HPA axis abnormalities have been described in psychosis. Moreover, the pituitary gland secretes prolactin, and some antipsychotics increase the secretion of this hormone. Therefore, it is possible that psychosis is associated with an abnormal volume of the pituitary, as a consequence of a dysfunction in either or both these hormonal systems. The present review of the studies conducted so far clearly indicates that the pituitary is a dynamic organ, which changes differently at different stages of the psychotic disorder, in response to both the disorder itself and the treatment with antipsychotics. Specifically, the pituitary is larger in the months immediately preceding or following the psychosis onset, independently from antipsychotic treatments. However, following this initial enlargement, the pituitary tends to become smaller, as suggested by studies in patients with psychosis of at least two years of duration. On top of these dynamic changes that are linked to the course of the disorder, antipsychotics, and especially antipsychotics inducing hyperprolactinaemia, exert additional enlarging effects on pituitary volume. We suggest that the increased pituitary volume associated with the development of psychosis is due to activation of the hormonal stress response and, specifically, to an increase in the size and number of corticotroph cells producing ACTH, while the increased pituitary volume induced by antipsychotics is linked to the stimulating effects of these drugs on lactotroph cells producing prolactin. Future studies should address these issues that are relevant in improving the care of patients with psychosis.
Roscovitine in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells: high apoptosis-inducing efficacy and synergism with alemtuzumab independent of the patients’ pretreatment status

Roscovitine induced apoptosis in isolated B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells of 25 patients of whom nine with relapsed and seven with fludarabine-refractory disease. It was synergistic with alemtuzumab and restored sensitivity to alemtuzumab in initially alemtuzumab-resistant samples. Observed roscovitine-induced up-regulation of CD52 surface expression may be one of the underlying mechanisms for this synergism.
Coding Region Mutation Screening in Optineurin in Chinese Normal-Tension Glaucoma Patients

Purpose To study the roles of sequence alterations in the optineurin (OPTN) gene-coding region in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) among Chinese patients. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from 190 NTG patients and 201 control subjects. The thirteen exons of OPTN were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by direct sequencing. Detected sequence changes were compared between NTG patients and control subjects. Results Seven sequence changes in OPTN were identified in both NTG patients and control subjects. Among them, c.464G>A (T34 T), c.509C>T (T49T), c.806G>A (V148V), and c.959T>C (P199P) were synonymous codon changes, whilst c.655T>A (M98K), c.1996G>A (R545Q), and c.1582T>C (I407T) were missense changes. Two previously reported heterozygous mutations, c.458G>A (E50K) in exon 4 and c. 691_692insAG in exon 6, were not found in this study. Out of these seven OPTN sequence variants, c.464G>A (T34T) was significantly associated with NTG in both the allelic and genotypic association analyses (allelic association: p = 0.0001, OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.46-3.31; genotypic association: p = 0.0001), whereas the association of other variants with NTG did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Variants c.1582 T>C (I407T) and c.806G>A (V148V) were identified in one and two NTG patients, respectively, but not in the control subjects. Conclusions This study confirmed the association of the OPTN T34T variant with NTG, suggesting that OPTN is a susceptibility gene for NTG in Chinese. Moreover, a variant with amino acid change (I407T) was identified in NTG but not in controls. Further studies are warranted to assess whether this variant is a causative mutation for NTG.
A Prospective Study of Quality of Life in Adults With Newly Diagnosed High-Grade Gliomas: Comparison of Patient and Caregiver Ratings of Quality of Life

Objective:To examine whether a caregiver can provide reliable proxy quality of life (QOL) ratings of their adult significant other with a newly diagnosed high-grade glioma. Methods:This prospective QOL study was a companion protocol for 3 phase II high-grade glioma protocols. At study entry, 2 months, and 4 months after enrollment, 5 self-administered forms were completed by 197 patients and their caregivers to assess QOL. Results:Caregiver ratings of QOL were available, respectively, for 92%, 93%, and 88% of baseline, 1st, and 2nd subsequent follow-up evaluations of patients who had completed their QOL assessments. There was a strong relationship between patient and caregiver QOL scores (Spearman and intraclass correlation coefficients greater than 0.5 for 87% and 80% of the measurements, respectively); however, for some measures (eg, the profiles of mood states short form) there was better agreement between patient and caregiver scores when the QOL scores were higher. There was good agreement between patient and proxy ratings independent of the cognitive function of the patient, except for the profiles of mood states short form with better correlation between patients and caregivers for those patients without cognitive impairment. Conclusions:In this multi-institutional prospective study there is a strong correlation between high-grade glioma patient and caregiver QOL scores, although for some measures this correlation is stronger for those patients without cognitive impairment. To improve the acquisition and the accuracy of assessing QOL status in high-grade glioma patients, proxy ratings from caregivers should also be obtained in conjunction with the patient, and consideration be given to substituting proxy ratings when a patient's self-report is absent.
Ability, Market Volatility, and Heterogeneity in Risk Aversion

This paper examines whether a market structure within which lower ability agents exit (decrease equity positions), while higher ability agents enter the market in anticipation of an increase in market volatility can generate regime switches in risk aversion coefficients. Using a theoretically motivated proxy for the representative agent's ability, and a switching regression model within which regime switches in market returns, market volatility, and an ability proxy are endogenously generated, I find I am able to generate regime switches in risk aversion coefficients. This results in evidence of two classes of investors that differ with respect to risk aversion coefficients; a negative correlation between the prices of the two sources of risk; and risk aversion coefficients that are low enough to rationalize equity premiums.
Sequence heterogeneity of the major antigenic protein 1 genes from Cowdria ruminantium isolates from different geographical areas

The genes for the immunodominant major antigenic protein 1 (MAP1) of Cowdria ruminantium from four African and two Caribbean isolates were cloned, restriction mapped, and sequenced to identify conserved epitopes for development of serodiagnostic tools for heartwater. Restriction length polymorphisms were observed among the respective MAP1 genes analyzed and were confirmed by sequencing. The sequence data generated for these isolates were compared with data for the previously reported Senegal isolate MAP1 gene. These sequences were found to differ from each other by 0.6 to 14.0%. These differences translate into a 0.8 to 10.0% variation in the predicted protein sequence. In the entire coding sequence, several amino acid substitutions were identified in addition to deletions or insertions at three regions of the gene. These variable regions are referred to as variable regions I, II, and III. From the sequence data, an evolutionary distance tree was constructed; this tree suggested that at least two genetically distinct C. ruminantium strains exist in the Caribbean: the isolate from Antigua is similar to that from Senegal, while the isolate from Guadeloupe is closely related to that from Sudan.
Impact of growth hormone therapy on quality of life in adults with turner syndrome.

CONTEXT GH and/or oxandrolone are used to promote growth in Turner syndrome (TS). OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare quality of life (QoL) in TS women with controls and determine the impact of growth promoting therapy on QoL in TS women. DESIGN This was a cross-sectional, case-control study. SETTING The study was conducted at an outpatient clinic at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. PATIENTS PATIENTS included 111 TS women (age range 18-59 yr) and 111 randomly selected, age-matched women (25-54 yr) from the World Health Organization Monitoring Trends and Determinants for Cardiovascular Disease project (Göteborg, Sweden) served as controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES QoL was estimated by the Psychological General Well-Being scale (anxiety, depressed mood, positive well-being, self-control, general health and vitality) and the Nottingham Health Profile (physical mobility, pain, sleep, energy, social isolation, and emotional reactions). RESULTS TS women reported more social isolation than controls (P < 0.001). After age adjustment, significantly less pain (<0.05) was reported attributable to GH treatment within TS. No significant difference in any other subscales used could be shown. In TS, QoL was negatively affected by higher current age and age at diagnosis and positively affected by better body balance, fine motor function, and higher bone mineral density. CONCLUSIONS Social isolation was more commonly reported in the whole TS cohort than in the population. Except for less pain, no significant impact on QoL attributable to GH treatment could be found, despite the mean +5.1 cm final height.
Hepatotoxicity Caused by Methotrexate Therapy in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background:Methotrexate (MTX) is an immunomodulator used in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) maintenance regimens. However, MTX use is associated with liver toxicity. We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the incidence of hepatotoxicity with MTX use among children with IBD. Methods:We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from 1946 to April 2013 for cohort studies and collected information about the study design, IBD treatment results, and hepatotoxicity. Pooled proportions of toxicity with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using a random-effects model. Results:Twelve high-quality studies were included in this review. Fifty-seven of 457 patients treated with MTX developed varied degrees of abnormal liver biochemistry. The pooled proportion of patients with abnormal liver biochemistry was 10.2% (95% CI 5.4%–18.5%) across all studies included in the meta-analysis. Due to hepatotoxicity, dose reductions were required in 6.4% (95% CI 4.3%–9.5%), whereas 4.5% (95% CI 2.8%–7.2%) of patients required discontinuation. Conclusions:Hepatotoxicity after the use of MTX among IBD patients was a relatively common event. Monitoring for hepatotoxicity is strongly recommended, as discontinuation of MTX may be necessary in a significant proportion of children.
The Impact of Variations in Institutional Grafting Modes on Economic Growth: A Three-Dimensional Approach

This article explains the peculiarities of institutional effects on growth rates in post-communist countries. By proposing a certain dependence of the institution-growth nexus on the mode of institutional grafting, the distinction between drift-phase and path-breaking institutional change is introduced. Theoretical juxtapositions show that transition countries’ institutions built through path-breaking institutional reforms differ from those that emerge evolutionarily in the drift phase in a twofold manner in their relationship to growth. Growth rates of their economies are less likely to depend on the quality of legal institutions and are more likely to be a function of the maturity of political institutions. In addition, legal institutional change in the post-communist world is a product of the quality of the political environment to a greater extent than their drift-phase alternatives. These propositions are tested empirically based on a sample of 87 countries derived from the POLITY IV Project's website.
Soyasaponins: The Relationship Between Chemical Structure and Colon Anticarcinogenic Activity

Soyasaponins are bioactive compounds found in many legumes. Although crude soyasaponins have been shown to have anti-colon carcinogenic activity, there have been no structure-activity studies. In this study, therefore, purified soyasaponins and soyasapogenins were tested for their ability to suppress the growth of HT-29 colon cancer cells, as determined by the WST-1 assay, over a concentration range of 0-50 ppm. Soyasaponin I and III, soyasapogenol B monoglucuronide, soyasapogenol B, soyasaponin A1, soyasaponin A2, and soyasapogenol A were evaluated. Also tested were mixtures comprising acetylated group A soyasaponins, deacetylated group A soyasaponins, and group B soyasaponins. The most potent compounds were the aglycones soyasapogenol A and B, which showed almost complete suppression of cell growth. The glycosidic soyasaponins by comparison were largely inactive. Soyasaponin A1, A2, and I, group B and deacetylated and acetylated group A fractions had no effect on cell growth. Soyasaponin III and soyasapogenol B monoglucuronide were marginally bioactive. These results suggested that the bioactivity of soyasaponins increased with increased lipophilicity. Results from in vitro fermentation suggested that colonic microflora readily hydrolyzed the soyasaponins to aglycones. These observations suggest that the soyasaponins may be an important dietary chemopreventive agent against colon cancer, after alteration by microflora.
Mechanical Impedance of the Ankle During the Terminal Stance Phase of Walking

Human joint impedance describes the dynamic relationship between perturbation induced change in position and the resulting response torque. Understanding the natural regulation of ankle impedance during locomotion is necessary to discern how humans interact with their environments, and provide a foundation for the design of biomimetic assistive devices and their control systems. This paper estimates ankle impedance during terminal stance phase of walking using a parametric model consisting of stiffness, damping, and inertia. The model accurately described ankle torque, accounting for 90% ± 7.7% of the variance. Stiffness was found to decrease from 3.7 to 2.1 Nm/rad/kg between 75% and 85% stance. Quasi-stiffness—the slope of the ankle’s torque-angle curve—showed a similar decreasing trend but was significantly larger at the onset of terminal stance phase. The damping component of impedance was constant during terminal stance phase, and was increased relative to values previously reported during early and mid-stance phases, indicating an increase in damping in preparation for toe-off. Inertia estimates were consistent with previously reported inertia values for the human ankle. This paper bridges a gap in our understanding of ankle impedance during walking, and provides new insight into how ankle impedance is regulated during regions when substantial mechanical energy is added.