Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimates of population smoking prevalence: self-vs proxy reports of smoking status.

OBJECTIVES In the face of rising costs of surveillance systems, it is time to reexamine the feasibility of including proxy respondents in surveys designed to provide population estimates of smoking prevalence. METHODS Data are from the California. Tobacco Surveys, which are random-digit dialed telephone surveys. One adult provided demographic information and smoking status for all household residents. Additionally, some adults were selected for in-depth interviews that also included smoking status questions. We matched information from proxy respondents and self-respondents and evaluated smoking status discrepancies between them relative to demographic and other factors (n = 2930 matched pairs) in 1992. We address the potential bias these discrepancies might introduce into the population estimate of smoking prevalence. RESULTS Overall, the discrepancy between proxy report and self-report was 4.3%, and it increased particularly when the self-respondent reported nondaily smoking or recent quitting. Discrepancies acted in both directions, and the net bias was that the screener survey overestimated smoking prevalence by 0.1% in 1992 (0.3% in 1990). CONCLUSIONS Smoking status questions can be added to ongoing surveys such as the census or labor force surveys; one adult could provide smoking status for all household members.
On Hamiltonian and Action Principle Formulations of Plasma Dynamics

A general discussion of Hamiltonian and action principle formulations for fluid and plasma models is given. A procedure, based on Hamilton’s principle of mechanics but adapted for continua, for the construction of action principles for fluid and kinetic models is given. The transformation from action principles in terms of the Lagrangian variable description to the Eulerian variable description in terms of noncanonical Poisson brackets is described. Two examples are developed: ideal MHD and Braginskii’s fluid model with gyroviscosity.
Toward A Cultural Model of Indigenous Entrepreneurial Attitude

Noel Lindsay is Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Director, Centre for the Development of Entrepreneurs, School of Management, University of South Australia. All correspondence should be addressed to GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, AUSTRALIA. Email: noel.lindsay@unisa.edu. au Telephone: +61-(0)8-8302 9119 Fax: +61-(0)8-8302 0904. The author would like to thank Fredric Kropp and the anonymous reviewers of the original manuscript for their valuable comments and suggestions.
Outcome of Partial Medial Epicondylectomy for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Partial medial epicondylectomy aims to eliminate potential drawbacks of total epicondylectomy for treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. In this series, we retrospectively evaluated 80 patients (80 elbows) who had partial medial epicondylectomies for established cubital tunnel syndrome. Our main purpose was to compare clinical outcomes among partial, minimal, and total epicondylectomies. Specific attention was given to the functional outcome in severely impaired patients, and potential postoperative complications of total epicondylectomy, such as elbow instability, and medial elbow pain. Preoperatively, 16 patients were classified as having McGowan Grade I lesions, 40 had Grade II lesions, and 24 had Grade III lesions. The mean followup was 32 months (range, 26 months-4.2 years). There was improvement of at least one McGowan grade in 86.2% of the patients, with a 66.7% improvement in severely impaired patients (McGowan Grade III lesions). There was no ulnar nerve palsy, no ulnar nerve subluxation, or medial elbow instability. However, 45% of patients reported mild pain at the 6-month followup. Partial medial epicondylectomy seems to be safe and reliable for treatment of cubital compression neuropathy at the elbow.Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Environmental Efficiency and the Optimal Size of Chinese Cities

The spatial distribution of population and economic activities has important impacts on both economic growth and the environment. This paper uses a slack-based measure to estimate the total factor environmental efficiency (TFEE) of 286 Chinese prefectural-and-above cities for the period 2002–2013. In particular, the relationship between city size and TFEE is investigated. The findings also show an inverted U-shaped relationship between TFEE and city size, which implies an optimal city size of 16.68 million residents in China. According to this estimate, most Chinese cities may be undersized due to the migration restrictions of the hukou registration system and, hence, suffer from great environmental efficiency losses. The estimated low average TFEE value of Chinese cities also suggests the large potential for efficiency improvement. Thus, government policies should focus on relaxing migration restrictions and encouraging the development of large cities.
Physiological maturation of auditory function between 3 and 13 years of age.

A group of 70 unselected children aged between 3 and 13 with a normal hearing curve and a normal IQ have been submitted to the following hearing tests; (1) assessment of threshold hearing for pure tones; (2) speech intelligibility scores; (3) adaptation test; (4) fatigue test; (5) Luscher test; (6) masking pattern with narrow bands of noise; (7) masking of speech by continuous noise; (8) auditory threshold variability.The data obtained from this series of tests are discussed and compared to those previously presented by other investigators. It is confirmed that hearing abilities undergo a marked maturation in children starting at the age of 3 and reach a maximum at various ages (up to 13) according to the type of test employed.
The Role of Participant Responsiveness on a Socio-Emotional Learning Program

Abstract The present study set out to evaluate participant responsiveness, one of the main dimensions of implementation quality, in a Socio-Emotional Learning after-school program using Educational Dance activities, Experiencing Emotions, and also to understand its influence on program outcomes. The sample involved 98 middle-school Portuguese pupils, 53 of whom participated in the program and 45 in after-school control sessions. Outcome measures included pre-test and post-test questionnaires of pupils’ socio-emotional skills, well-being and school engagement. A self-report item measured pupils’ satisfaction at the end of the program, and a checklist measuring attendance and homework completion was filled in by the facilitator at each session of the program and control condition. Results revealed (1) high levels of pupils’ satisfaction and attendance, and a medium-high level of homework completion towards the program; (2) that pupils’ higher attendance rate in the program predicted higher results in the self-management (p = .04, d = .57; p = .003, d = .87) and social awareness (p = .04, d = .59) SEL domains, emotional (p = .02, d = .67) and psychological (p = .009, d = .76) well-being and school engagement (p = .04, d = .56); (3) that pupils’ higher rate of homework completion in the program predicted higher results in the relationship skills SEL area (p = .04, d = .59) and in school engagement (p = .005, d = 1.50); (4) that pupils’ from the control condition higher rates of homework completion also predicted better school engagement (p = .006, d = .88). Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Regeneration procedures in immediate transmucosal implants: an animal study.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate bone regeneration around nonsubmerged implants placed immediately in extraction sites in the canine mandible using a combination of synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) and collagen membranes. Ten beagle dogs were used in this study. After the second and third mandibular premolars were extracted, hollow-screw implants were placed in the distal extraction sockets. In each animal, one site received no treatment (control site), while other defects received randomly 1 of the following treatments: grafting with porous HA in the peri-implant region, collagen membrane adapted to the implant cervical collar covering the peri-implant defects, or a combination of the 2 treatments, i.e., HA grafting and membrane placement. After 4 months of healing, block biopsies were obtained and prepared for histologic analysis using the cutting-grinding technique. The histometric evaluation took into account the number of integrated screw threads, the extent of bone-to-implant contact, and the density of peri-implant bone. At sites covered by membrane alone or by membrane and HA, the number of integrated threads was statistically higher than sites treated only with HA. The extent of bone-to-implant contact was significantly different between treatments. However, the use of bioabsorbable materials did not significantly enhance peri-implant bone regeneration in immediate implantation.
Cutting Edge: Transplantation Tolerance through Enhanced CTLA-4 Expression 1

Knockout and blocking studies have shown a critical role for CTLA-4 in peripheral tolerance, however, it is unknown whether augmenting CTLA-4 expression actually promotes tolerance. Here we demonstrate a specific and requisite role for CTLA-4 and its up-regulation in tolerance through anti-CD45RB. First, long-term murine islet allograft survival induced by anti-CD45RB is prevented by CTLA4-Ig, which interferes with B7:CTLA-4 interactions. Second, anti-CD45RB is ineffective in recipients lacking CTLA-4, B7-1, and B7-2. In contrast, CTLA4-Ig, which targets B7 on allogeneic cells, promotes long-term engraftment in these mice. Moreover, anti-CD45RB was effective in B7-deficient controls expressing CTLA-4. Finally, in wild-type mice, CTLA-4 expression returned to baseline 17 days after receiving anti-CD45RB, and was refractory to further increase. Transplantation and anti-CD45RB therapy at this time could neither augment CTLA-4 nor prolong engraftment. These data demonstrate a specific role for CTLA-4 in anti-CD45RB-mediated tolerance and indicate that CTLA-4 up-regulation can directly promote allograft survival.
Group X Secretory Phospholipase A2 Enhances TLR4 Signaling in Macrophages

Secretory phospholipase A2s (sPLA2) hydrolyze glycerophospholipids to liberate lysophospholipids and free fatty acids. Although group X (GX) sPLA2 is recognized as the most potent mammalian sPLA2 in vitro, its precise physiological function(s) remains unclear. We recently reported that GX sPLA2 suppresses activation of the liver X receptor in macrophages, resulting in reduced expression of liver X receptor-responsive genes including ATP-binding cassette transporters A1 (ABCA1) and G1 (ABCG1), and a consequent decrease in cellular cholesterol efflux and increase in cellular cholesterol content (Shridas et al. 2010. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 30: 2014–2021). In this study, we provide evidence that GX sPLA2 modulates macrophage inflammatory responses by altering cellular cholesterol homeostasis. Transgenic expression or exogenous addition of GX sPLA2 resulted in a significantly higher induction of TNF-α, IL-6, and cyclooxygenase-2 in J774 macrophage-like cells in response to LPS. This effect required GX sPLA2 catalytic activity, and was abolished in macrophages that lack either TLR4 or MyD88. The hypersensitivity to LPS in cells overexpressing GX sPLA2 was reversed when cellular free cholesterol was normalized using cyclodextrin. Consistent with results from gain-of-function studies, peritoneal macrophages from GX sPLA2-deficient mice exhibited a significantly dampened response to LPS. Plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines were significantly lower in GX sPLA2-deficient mice compared with wild-type mice after LPS administration. Thus, GX sPLA2 amplifies signaling through TLR4 by a mechanism that is dependent on its catalytic activity. Our data indicate this effect is mediated through alterations in plasma membrane free cholesterol and lipid raft content.
Role of the pulmonary circulation in the distribution of human fetal cardiac output during the second half of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND By using Doppler echocardiography, we determined the normal distribution of human fetal combined cardiac output (CCO) from the left and right ventricles. We also established weight-indexed pulmonary and systemic vascular resistances (Rpi and Rsi, respectively) and changes during the second half of pregnancy. METHODS AND RESULTS Blood flows at the aortic and pulmonary valve annuli (LVCO and RVCO, respectively), right and left pulmonary arteries (QP), and ductus arteriosus (QDA) were calculated in 63 normal fetuses. Foramen ovale blood flow (QFO = LVCO-QP) was estimated. From 20 to 30 weeks of gestation, the proportion of QP of the CCO increased (from 13% to 25%, P < .001), while the proportion of QFO decreased (from 34% to 18%, P < .001). After 30 weeks, the proportions of QP and QFO were unchanged. At 38 weeks, the proportion of RVCO (60%) was higher (P < .05) than that of LVCO (40%). The proportion of QDA did not change significantly. The correlation between RVCO calculated from blood flow through the pulmonary valve and from QDA and QP was good (r = .97, P < .0001). RPi (P < .001) decreased from 20 to 30 weeks of gestation. From 30 to 38 weeks, RPi increased (P < .0001). Rsi increased (P < .001) from 20 to 38 weeks. The ratio of RPi to RSi decreased (P < .01) from 20 to 30 weeks and later remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS The human fetal pulmonary circulation has an important role in the distribution of cardiac output.
Brainstem proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in idopathic REM sleep behavior disorder.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is thought to result from a dysfunction of the brainstem structures that regulate physiologic REM sleep muscle atonia. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a noninvasive method that allows detection of in vivo neuronal dysfunction in localized brain areas. The aim of our study was to investigate whether 1H-MRS can detect brainstem abnormalities in patients with idiopathic RBD. DESIGN 1H-MRS centered on the midbrain and the pontine tegmentum was acquired in 15 patients with idiopathic RBD and 15 control subjects matched for age and sex. SETTING University hospital sleep laboratory center. PARTICIPANTS Fifteen untreated patients with chronic RBD diagnosed by history and video-polysomnography, normal neurologic examination, and normal cranial MRI. Fifteen healthy controls with no sleep complaints and normal polysomnography and brain MRI. INTERVENTIONS N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS The metabolic peaks detectable with 1H-MRS, N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine-phosphocreatine (Cr), choline-containing compounds (Cho) and myoinositol (mI), and the ratios of NAA, Cho and ml to Cr were evaluated both in the midbrain and pontine tegmentum. No significant differences in N-acetylaspartate/creatine, choline/creatine and myoinosito/creatine ratios were found between patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS The results do not suggest that marked mesopontine neuronal loss or 1H-MRS detectable metabolic disturbances occur in idiopathic RBD.
Early versus standard antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected adults in Haiti.

BACKGROUND For adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who have CD4+ T-cell counts that are greater than 200 and less than 350 per cubic millimeter and who live in areas with limited resources, the optimal time to initiate antiretroviral therapy remains uncertain. METHODS We conducted a randomized, open-label trial of early initiation of antiretroviral therapy, as compared with the standard timing for initiation of therapy, among HIV-infected adults in Haiti who had a confirmed CD4+ T-cell count that was greater than 200 and less than 350 per cubic millimeter at baseline and no history of an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) illness. The primary study end point was survival. The early-treatment group began taking zidovudine, lamivudine, and efavirenz therapy within 2 weeks after enrollment. The standard-treatment group started the same regimen of antiretroviral therapy when their CD4+ T-cell count fell to 200 per cubic millimeter or less or when clinical AIDS developed. Participants in both groups underwent monthly follow-up assessments and received isoniazid and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis with nutritional support. RESULTS Between 2005 and 2008, a total of 816 participants--408 per group--were enrolled and were followed for a median of 21 months. The CD4+ T-cell count at enrollment was approximately 280 per cubic millimeter in both groups. There were 23 deaths in the standard-treatment group, as compared with 6 in the early-treatment group (hazard ratio with standard treatment, 4.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6 to 9.8; P=0.001). There were 36 incident cases of tuberculosis in the standard-treatment group, as compared with 18 in the early-treatment group (hazard ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2 to 3.6; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy decreased the rates of death and incident tuberculosis. Access to antiretroviral therapy should be expanded to include all HIV-infected adults who have CD4+ T-cell counts of less than 350 per cubic millimeter, including those who live in areas with limited resources. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00120510.)
Targeted delivery of doxorubicin to the rat brain at therapeutic levels using MRI‐guided focused ultrasound

The clinical application of chemotherapy to brain tumors has been severely limited because antitumor agents are typically unable to penetrate an intact blood‐brain barrier (BBB). Although doxorubicin (DOX) has been named as a strong candidate for chemotherapy of the central nervous system (CNS), the BBB often prevents cytotoxic levels from being achieved. In this study, we demonstrate a noninvasive method for the targeted delivery of DOX through the BBB, such that drug levels shown to be therapeutic in human tumors are achieved in the normal rat brain. Using MRI‐guided focused ultrasound with preformed microbubbles (Optison) to locally disrupt the BBB and systemic administration of DOX, we achieved DOX concentrations of 886 ± 327 ng/g tissue in the brain with minimal tissue effects. Tissue DOX concentrations of up to 5,366 ± 659 ng/g tissue were achieved with higher Optison doses, but with more significant tissue damage. In contrast, DOX accumulation in nontargeted contralateral brain tissue remained significantly lower for all paired samples (p < 0.001). These results suggest that targeted delivery by focused ultrasound may render DOX chemotherapy a viable treatment option against CNS tumors, despite previous accessibility limitations. In addition, MRI signal enhancement in the sonicated region correlated strongly with tissue DOX concentration (r = 0.87), suggesting that contrast‐enhanced MRI could perhaps indicate drug penetration during image‐guided interventions. Our technique using MRI‐guided focused ultrasound to achieve therapeutic levels of DOX in the brain offers a large step forward in the use of chemotherapy to treat patients with CNS malignancies. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fiscal Rules: Towards a New Paradigm for Fiscal Sustainability in Small States

This study contends that Caribbean countries cannot adequately surmount their fiscal and debt challenges in the absence of binding rules that are geared toward entrenching fiscal discipline, curbing fiscal procyclicality, and improving budget transparency and credibility. Distilling global lessons and taking due cognizance of Caribbean countries' idiosyncrasies, the paper explores key technical, operational and institutional issues in the design, implementation, and monitoring of fiscal rules that might be relevant for Caribbean countries that currently do not have legislated rules. Results from simulations carried out to determine welfare effects and the extent of volatility of key macroeconomic variables under various fiscal rules scenarios suggest that of the different types of simulated fiscal rules, expenditure rules perform best in terms of reducing macroeconomic volatility, and in that regard, appear to be the most welfare-enhancing. This is believed to be the first study to carry out such a simulation exercise for Caribbean countries. The findings of the study evince useful insights for policymakers on how to improve the design and conduct of fiscal policy for better fiscal and, by extension, development outcomes.
Maternal ethnic origin and fetal nasal bones at 11–14 weeks of gestation

Objectives Failure to visualise the fetal nasal bones at 11–14 weeks of gestation is associated with a significant increase in the risk for trisomy 21. However, it is not known whether the ethnic origin of the mother has any effect on the fetal profile and the prevalence of this marker.
Geographical Variation in Dementia Mortality in Italy, New Zealand, and Chile: The Impact of Latitude, Vitamin D, and Air Pollution

Background: Dementia risk is reported as being higher in the north compared to the south, which may be related to vitamin D deficiency. If this were the case, an opposite gradient of risk would be observed in the southern hemisphere, but this has not been investigated previously. Methods: We calculated standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for deaths in 2012 where dementia (Alzheimer's disease, vascular or unspecified dementia) was recorded as the underlying cause for 20 regions in Italy, 20 District Health Board areas in New Zealand and 29 Health Service areas in Chile. Results: Dementia SMRs were higher in northern than central or southern Italy. The inverse pattern was seen in women in New Zealand, with rates higher on South Island than North Island. However, dementia risk was raised in eight regions in the north and centre of Chile in both men and women. Conclusions: Geographical variation plays a key role in dementia risk, but patterns vary in men and women. In the northern hemisphere, dementia mortality is higher in the north, but the pattern in the southern hemisphere is more complex.
Global ultrasound assessment of structural lesions in osteoarthritis: a reliability study by the OMERACT ultrasonography group on scoring cartilage and osteophytes in finger joints

Objective Ultrasonography is sensitive for the evaluation of cartilage pathology and degree of osteophytes in patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA). High consistency of assessments is essential, and the OMERACT (Outcome Measures in Rheumatology) ultrasonography group took the initiative to explore the reliability of a global ultrasonography score in patients with hand OA using semiquantitative ultrasonography score of cartilage and osteophytes in finger joints. Methods Ten patients with hand OA were examined by 10 experienced sonographers over the course of two days. Semiquantitative scoring (0–3) was performed on osteophytes (carpo-metacarpal 1, metacarpo-phalangeal (MCP) 1–5, proximal interphalangeal 1–5 and distal interphalangeal 2–5 joints bilaterally with an ultrasonography atlas as reference) and cartilage pathology (MCP 2–5 bilaterally). A web-based exercise on static cartilage images was performed a month later. Reliability was assessed by use of weighted κ analyses. Results Osteophyte scores were evenly distributed, and the intraobserver and interobserver reliabilities were substantial to excellent (κ range 0.68–0.89 and mean κ 0.65 (day 1) and 0.67 (day 2), respectively). Cartilage scores were unevenly distributed, and the intraobserver and interobserver reliability was fair to moderate (κ range 0.46–0.66 and mean κ 0.39 (day 1) and 0.33 (day 2), respectively). The web-based exercise showed acceptable agreement for cartilage being normal (κ 0.47) or with complete loss (κ 0.68), but poor for the intermediate scores (κ 0.22–0.30). Conclusions Use of the present semiquantitative ultrasonography scoring system for cartilage pathology in hand OA is not recommended (while normal or total loss of cartilage may be assessed). However, the OMERACT ultrasonography group will endorse the use of semiquantitative scoring of osteophytes with the ultrasonography atlas as reference.