Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating glomerular filtration rate: Cockcroft-Gault and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulas compared to renal inulin clearance.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Evaluation of renal function by estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is very important for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulas are the most commonly used estimations. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Estimated GFR values by each formula were compared with measured GFR (mGFR) by renal inulin clearance in 2208 European adults (46% women, 1.4% Caribbean blacks), with and without CKD, and mean mGFR 72.4 +/- 39.0 (range 2.2 to 177.2) ml/min/1.73 m(2). RESULTS Overall, the CG and MDRD formulas showed bias (mean difference) -3.5 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (5.3%), P < 0.001, and -9.8 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (-6.4%), P < 0.001; precision (SD of bias) 21.5 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (43.1%) and 20.0 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (33.0%); limits of agreement (2 SD by Bland-Altman method) 39.5 to -46.5 (range 86.0) ml/min/1.73 m(2) and 30.2 to -49.8 (range 80.0) ml/min/1.73 m(2); and accuracy within +/-30% of mGFR 70.8 and 69.0%, respectively. Both formulas showed a trend for decreasing accuracy with lower mGFR levels. According to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI)-CKD classification's five GFR groups, the CG and MDRD formulas properly assigned 61.6 and 57.1% of the entire population and had a range of positive predictive values 42.6 to 81.8% and 39.6 to 85.2% and of negative predictive values 81.7 to 96.6% and 76.4 to 97.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The CG and MDRD formulas had some limitations for proper GFR estimation and K/DOQI-CKD classification by GFR levels alone.
Workers' Reciprocity and the (Ir)relevance of Wage Cyclicality for the Volatility of Job Creation

In the last two decades advances in the theory of labour market fluctuations have emphasised the role of new hires' wage rigidity - rather than wage rigidity of existing workers - to explain the large volatility of unemployment observed in the data. However, recent evidence suggests that wages paid to newly hired workers are substantially pro-cyclical. By considering the effect that wage changes can have on workers' effort, and therefore on output, this paper provides two novel theoretical results. First, it is shown that the anticipation by firms of the effort response of new hires to wage changes can amplify the magnitude of shocks to the extent that, in contrast with the existing literature, the cyclicality of the hiring wage becomes irrelevant for their decision to hire new workers, and hence for the volatility of job creation. Second, it is shown that firms' expectation of existing workers' downward wage rigidity - and the anticipation of their negative reciprocity response to future wage cuts - does matter for the expected value of posting a new vacancy, and under certain conditions it may even reduce firms' incentive to hire.
A 3D Shape Descriptor Based on Depth Complexity and Thickness Histograms

Geometric models play a vital role in several fields, from the entertainment industry to scientific applications. To reduce the high cost of model creation, reusing existing models is the solution of choice. Model reuse is supported by content-based shape retrieval (CBR) techniques that help finding the desired models in massive repositories, many publicly available on the Internet. Key to efficient and effective CBR techniques are shape descriptors that accurately capture the characteristics of a shape and can discriminate between different shapes. We present a descriptor based on the distribution of two global features measured in a 3D shape, depth complexity and thickness, which respectively capture aspects of the geometry and topology of 3D shapes. The final descriptor, called DCTH (depth complexity and thickness histogram), is a 2D histogram that is invariant to the translation, rotation and scale of geometric shapes. We efficiently implement the DCTH on the GPU, allowing its use in real-time queries of large model databases. We validate the DCTH with the Princeton and Toyohashi Shape Benchmarks, containing 1815 and 10000 models respectively. Results show that DCTH can discriminate meaningful classes of these benchmarks and is fast to compute and robust against shape transformations and different levels of subdivision and smoothness.
Antioxidant status in rats after long-term intake of anthocyanins and ellagitannins from blackberries.

BACKGROUND This study reported the effects of the daily intake of anthocyanins and ellagitannins (ET) extracted from blackberries on the markers for oxidative status in healthy rats. RESULTS The phenolic compounds were administered from three different extracts: an aqueous extract of blackberry (BJ) and its two derived fractions: anthocyanin-enriched (AF) and ET-enriched (EF) fractions. After 35 days’ administration, the AF and EF extracts signiﬁcantly reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels and increased glutathione levels in the liver,kidney and brain. Plasma antioxidant capacity increased only in the group that received AF. Antioxidant enzyme activity and expression did not follow a pattern of response varying according to the tissues and extracts. A signiﬁcant increase in the catalase activity was observed only in the plasma of the groups administered anthocyanin-containing extracts,which were the BJ and AF groups. Glutathione peroxidase activity was signiﬁcantly increased in the liver and brain after EF treatment, and the highest increase in its expression was observed in the livers and brains of rats that received AF and EF, respectively. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate that long-term intake of anthocyanin and ET through diet affects antioxidant enzymeactivity and expression, and enhances oxidative markers in healthy rats.
Intrathecal B-Cell Clonal Expansion, an Early Sign of Humoral Immunity, in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Clinically Isolated Syndrome Suggestive of Multiple Sclerosis

The development of somatically mutated memory and plasma B cells is a consequence of T cell-dependent antigen-challenged humoral immunity. To investigate the role of B cell-mediated humoral immunity in the initiation and evolution of multiple sclerosis (MS), we analyzed Ig variable heavy chain genes of intrathecal B cells derived from patients with a first clinical manifestation suggestive of MS. Sequences of Ig variable regions showed that B cells in the cerebrospinal fluid from most of these patients were clonally expanded and carried somatic hypermutated variable heavy chain genes. The mutations showed a high replacement-to-silent ratio and were distributed in a way suggesting that these clonally expanded B cells had been positively selected through their antigen receptor. In comparison, intrathecal B-cell clonal expansion often precedes both oligoclonal IgG bands and multiple magnetic resonance imaging lesions. Clinical follow-up study showed that patients with clonally expanded intrathecal B cells had a high rate of conversion to clinically definite MS. The findings provide direct evidence of recruitment of germinal center differentiated B lymphocytes into the central nervous system during the initiation of MS. These results indicate B cell-mediated immune response in the cerebrospinal fluid is an early event of inflammatory reaction in the central nervous system of MS. This procedure also provides a more sensitive method to evaluate the association of humoral immunity in the evolution of MS.
Predicting Happiness among Centenarians

Background: Happiness is believed to evolve from the comparison of current circumstances relative to past achievement. However, gerontological literature on happiness in extreme old age has been limited. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine how perceptions of health, social provisions, and economics link past satisfaction with life to current feelings of happiness among persons living to 100 years of age and beyond. Methods: A total of 158 centenarians from the Georgia Centenarian Study were included to conduct the investigation. Items reflecting congruence and happiness from the Life Satisfaction Index were used to evaluate a model of happiness. Pathways between congruence, perceived economic security, subjective health, perceived social provisions, and happiness were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: Congruence emerged as a key predictor of happiness. Furthermore, congruence predicted perceived economic security and subjective health, whereas perceived economic security had a strong influence on subjective health status. Conclusion: It appears that past satisfaction with life influences how centenarians frame subjective evaluations of health status and economic security. Furthermore, past satisfaction with life is directly associated with present happiness. This presents implications relative to understanding how perception of resources may enhance quality of life among persons who live exceptionally long lives.
An Assessment of the Potential Value of Elevated Homocysteine in Predicting Alcohol‐withdrawal Seizures

Summary: Purpose: Higher homocysteine levels were found in actively drinking patients with alcohol dependence. Recent studies have shown that high homocysteine levels are associated with alcohol‐withdrawal seizures. The aim of the present study was to calculate the best predictive cutoff value of plasma homocysteine levels in actively drinking alcoholics (n = 88) with first‐onset alcohol‐withdrawal seizures.
Anger and bulimic psychopathology among nonclinical women.

OBJECTIVE Although there are well-established links between bulimic psychopathology and some affective states, the role of anger is not clearly understood. This is likely to be a product of the diverse nature of anger. The present study examines the association of different components of anger with bulimic attitudes and behaviors among a nonclinical group of women. METHODS Eighty-three nonclinical women completed standardized measures of anger and bulimic attitudes/behaviors. RESULTS Bulimic attitudes and behaviors were correlated specifically with state anger and anger suppression, rather than with trait anger. The pattern of results suggests that binging and vomiting behaviors may serve different functions with regard to anger. CONCLUSIONS Bulimic attitudes and behaviors appear to reduce immediate anger states, particularly when the individual has a strong tendency to avoid expressing that emotion. Potential therapeutic implications are considered.
Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Bone Mineral Density in Youth With Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Objective: Fractures and pain, secondary to low bone mineral density (BMD), have been reported in pediatric patients with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). The purpose of this study was to assess the BMD of a clinical sample of 10- to 18-year olds with ASD, and the nutrition and physical activity correlates of skeletal health in this population. Methods: Twenty-six patients with ASD were recruited from an outpatient multidisciplinary child-development clinic. Lumbar bone density was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Data collection included anthropometries, serum nutrient levels, parent interview, and 72-hour diet, screen-time, and physical activity records. Results: Four patients (15%) met criteria for pediatric low BMD with z scores less than or equal to -2.0; another 4 were at risk with z scores less than or equal to -1.0. Approximately 54% of participants had insufficient serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Mean electronic media use was 251 minutes/day; mean physical activity 69 minutes/day. Fewer than 50% of participants met daily reference intake of vitamins A, B3, D, E, K, zinc, calcium, folate, potassium, and fiber. Bone density correlated positively with body mass (r = .47), calcium intake (r = .46), and calorie intake (r = .58). Conclusions: Children aged 10 to 18 years old with ASD are at risk for occult low bone density. In this study, those with low body mass index and insufficient calcium and calorie intake were at greater risk. Other unhealthy behaviors in this population included a high screen-time to physical activity ratio and multiple nutrient deficiencies.
Fractional Ca2+ Currents through Capsaicin‐ and Proton‐Activated Ion Channels in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurones

1 Capsaicin and protons cause excitation and sensitization of primary nociceptive afferents. In a subset of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones, which probably represent nociceptive neurones, both capsaicin and protons induce slowly inactivating non‐selective cation currents. Whole‐cell as well as single channel currents activated by these two stimuli share many biophysical and physiological properties in these neurones. This has lead to the suggestion that protons and capsaicin might activate the same ion channels. 2 In this study we simultaneously measured fluorescence signals and whole‐cell currents activated by capsaicin or protons in acutely isolated DRG neurones filled with a high concentration (1 mM) of the Ca2+ indicator dye fura‐2. From these measurements the fractional contribution of Ca2+ (Pf; the portion of the whole‐cell current carried by Ca2+) to capsaicin‐ and two types of proton‐induced (fast and slowly inactivating) membrane currents was determined. 3 Capsaicin‐ and slowly inactivating proton‐induced currents were accompanied by a change in fluorescence that was dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca2+. With 1.6 mM extracellular Ca2+ and at a holding potential of −80 mV Pf of capsaicin‐induced currents (at pH 7.3) was 4.30 ± 0.17% (mean ±s.e.m.; no. of experiments, n= 16) and of slowly inactivating proton‐induced currents (at pH 5.1) was 1.65 ± 0.11% (n= 17). Pf of fast inactivating proton‐induced currents was negligible. 4 P f of capsaicin‐ and slowly inactivating proton‐induced currents increased with increasing extracellular Ca2+ concentration (0.5–4.8 mM). 5 P f of both current types decreased linearly with decreasing extracellular pH by about 0.7% per pH unit over the pH range investigated. When determined at the same extracellular pH Pf values were significantly different for the two current types at all pH values tested. 6 In summary, our results provide evidence that capsaicin and protons activate ion channels which are markedly permeable to Ca2+. The fractional contribution of Ca2+, however, was significantly different for capsaicin‐ and slowly inactivating proton‐induced currents. This strongly suggests that the two stimuli activate different populations of ion channels and supports the possibility that Ca2+ influx through these channels may be important for Ca2+‐dependent sensitization of primary nociceptive neurones.
Patient Knowledge About Hormone Replacement Therapy: Implications for Treatment

Objective: To determine whether women's global self‐assessment of their knowledge about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) corresponds to their performance on an explicit knowledge test about HRT and to measure associations among knowledge, personal characteristics, decision conflict, and intention to use HRT. Design: Preintervention telephone survey of 156 women enrolled in a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of HRT decision aids. Results: The mean rating of menopause knowledge, on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 indicating being “extremely knowledgeable,” was 5.6 (range = 0‐10) and of HRT was 4.2 (range = 0‐9). The mean summary score for the explicit HRT knowledge test, on a 16‐point scale, was 7.8 (range = 0‐15). After adjustment for demographic characteristics and exposure to a provider conversation, higher income, white race, and the provider discussion were significant correlates of knowledge. Explicit knowledge was positively correlated with self‐assessed menopause knowledge and HRT knowledge (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.39 and 0.52, respectively; p < 0.0001). Greater knowledge was not associated with intention to use HRT 1 year later. Women who had greater knowledge reported less conflict about the HRT decision (Spearman's correlation coefficient = −0.32; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: A global question about level of knowledge is an effective clinical tool for identifying patients who are in need of additional education about HRT and menopause in this managed care population. Increased knowledge may decrease women's conflict about the HRT decision. Having had a previous conversation about menopause with a primary care provider is associated with greater knowledge about HRT. (Menopause 2000;7:266‐272. © 2000, The North American Menopause Society.)
Are all contraceptive failures unintended pregnancies? Evidence from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth.

CONTEXT The incidence of unintended pregnancy has long been used as a primary indicator of the state of reproductive health. However, the definition--and therefore the measurement--of this indicator has been elusive. METHODS Data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) were used to compare levels of unintended pregnancy among contraceptive users based on two definitions--the standard definition based on women's reports of contraceptive failure, and the NSFG definition based on pregnancy timing (wanted then, wanted later, or not wanted then or in the future). An attitudinal scale was used to examine women's feelings about their unintended pregnancy. RESULTS Of pregnancies classified as contraceptive failures under the standard definition, only 68% were unintended pregnancies--94% of those ending in abortion and 60% of those ending in birth. Just 59% of women with a contraceptive failure classified as an unintended pregnancy reported feeling unhappy or very unhappy about their pregnancy, while 90% of those with a failure classified as an intended pregnancy reported being happy or very happy. CONCLUSIONS Measures of wantedness based on women's feelings about their pregnancy may correlate more closely with important pregnancy outcomes than do traditional measures of intendedness.
External fixation versus "pi" plate for distal radius fractures.

BACKGROUND Fractures of the distal radius are among the most common fractures in orthopedic practice. The purpose of our study was to explore the advantages and disadvantages of two methods of treatment for this type of fracture. METHODS One hundred thirteen fractures of the distal radius have been operated; 49 fractures were treated with an external fixator and 64 fractures by internal fixation using a "pi" plate. The mean follow-up was 12 months. Clinical evaluation was performed using the modified Gartland and Werley's Functional Scoring System. Radiographic evaluation was performed using the modified Lidstrom Radiographic Scoring System. RESULTS Clinical results were similar between the two groups of patients (p = 0.46). Radiographic parameters were superior in the group of patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation (p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS Final functional results are comparable between external fixation and dorsal "pi" plating.
Time series forecasting using artificial bee colony based neural networks

Artificial neural networks (ANN) are among the nonlinear prediction techniques popular in the last two decades. Recent studies show that ANN can be modeled with different training techniques. ANN is usually trained by the backpropagation method (BP). In this study, ANN structures were trained by using artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC) and, weight and bias values were tried to be determined. ABC training (ANN-ABC) was tested over three different datasets and compared with the BP training (ANN-BP) results. In addition to use ABC in modeling, different error types such as mean square error (MSE), mean absolute percent error (MAPE) and adjusted coefficient of determination (R) have been used in the training. The results on popular time series datasets have shown that ABC based ANN training yields successful results in forecasting.
Information credibility and responses to corruption: a replication and extension in Argentina

Abstract Existing research shows that survey respondents are sensitive to the source of information about political corruption and respond more strongly to information from more credible sources. This behavior occurs more frequently among the politically sophisticated. In a nation-wide survey in Argentina, we successfully replicate results originally found in a study in Brazil. In addition, we examine whether citizens process information about corruption differently depending on their partisan identities. At odds with our initial expectations, we find that copartisans, opposition partisans, and other/non-partisans distinguish between information sources in very similar ways. These results suggest that even though partisanship affects baseline assessments of political candidates, citizens of all types are sensitive to the credibility of information they receive about political corruption.
Facial clefts and congenital heart defects in children of parents with epilepsy: genetic and environmental etiologic factors

ABSTRACT— Increased prevalence of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL(P)), isolated cleft palate (CP), and congenital heart defects (CHD) in children of epileptic mothers have been ascribed to early fetal exposure to antiepileptic drugs (AED). However, common genetic factors responsible for both the malformations in question and the epileptic disorder might be of relevance for the increased rate of CL(P), CP, and CHD, rather than the influence of AED. The present review analyzes the literature on genetic and environmental etiologic factors (i.e. AED and epileptic seizures) that have been reported to increase the rate of CL(P), CP, and CHD in children of parents with epilepsy. Our data suggest that genetic factors are of minor importance for the etiology of facial clefts in offspring of epileptic patients. The rate of facial clefts was increased by a factor of 4.7 in children of AED treated mothers with epilepsy compared with the background population values. Children of fathers with epilepsy and sibs of epileptic patients had no more facial clefts than expected. The rate of CHD in children of mothers and fathers with epilepsy was comparable to population figures. The role of epileptic seizures as a causative factor for CL(P), CP, and CHD is not settled, but seems to be of limited importance. Areas of future research are outlined concerning the teratogenic role of AED and their metabolites, especially on the postnatal intellectual development of the exposed children. Finally, the need for studies on prophylactic measures as well as the necessity of international surveillance systems on new AED teratogenicity are emphasized.