Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial pneumonia: evaluation of pulmonary function over a five-year period.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate alterations in pulmonary function in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial pneumonia over a five-year period. METHODS This was a longitudinal study involving 35 nonsmoking patients with systemic sclerosis and without a history of lung disease. At the first evaluation, performed at the time of the diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia, the patients were submitted to HRCT, spirometry, and measurement of DLCO. The patients were subdivided into two groups by the presence or absence of honeycombing on the HRCT scans. Approximately five years after the first evaluation, the patients were submitted to spirometry and measurement of DLCO only. RESULTS Of the 35 patients, 34 were women. The mean age was 47.6 years. The mean time between the two evaluations was 60.9 months. Honeycombing was detected on the HRCT scans in 17 patients. In the sample as a whole, five years after the diagnosis, FVC, FEV₁ and DLCO significantly decreased (81.3 ± 18.2% vs. 72.1 ± 22.2%; 79.9 ± 17.8% vs. 72.5 ± 20.6%; and 74.0 ± 20.5% vs. 60.7 ± 26.8%, respectively; p = 0.0001 for all), and the FEV₁/FVC ratio significantly increased (98.5 ± 7.2% vs. 101.9 ± 7.8%; p = 0.008). In the same period, FVC, FEV₁, and DLCO values were significantly lower in the patients with honeycombing on the HRCT scans than in those without (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS In systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease, the detection of honeycombing on HRCT is crucial to predicting accelerated worsening of pulmonary function.
Workplace violence against physicians in Turkey’s emergency departments: a cross-sectional survey

Objective We aimed to determine the prevalence of violence directed at emergency department (ED) physicians in Turkey and confirm the factors influencing such violence. Design Cross-sectional survey study. Setting Country of Turkey. Participants Physicians currently practising in EDs in Turkey. Main outcome measures The prevalence of violence directed at physicians and factors that may influence it, such as physicians’ personal characteristics, ED characteristics and physicians’ opinions regarding the causes of and suggested methods of preventing violence. Results A total of 713 physicians participated. Of these, 78.1% reported being subjected to violence in the past year and 65.9% reported more than one such incident. Being subjected to violence was related to age (p=0.008), working in an ED with a high patient admission rate (p=0.018), current position (p<0.001), working outside regular work hours (p<0.001), working in a state hospital (p<0.001) and level of experience (p<0.001). Gender, type of patient typically seen, region and patient waiting period did not influence subjection to violence. The present safety precautions against violence do not appear to influence the prevalence of violence. Conclusions Our results indicated that ED physicians’ experience of violence is related to personal characteristics such as age and level of expertise, and hospital and ED characteristics such as high patient admission rates. Presently, no measures taken to reduce this violence have been proven effective.
In Vitro Growth, Maturation, Fertilization, and Embryonic Development of Oocytes from Porcine Preantral Follicles

Abstract This study was conducted to identify an in vitro culture system that would support intact porcine follicle growth from preantral follicle to antral stages, oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryonic development; and to evaluate factors that influence porcine preantral follicle growth in vitro. Preantral follicles isolated from prepubertal porcine ovaries were cultured for 4 days in the presence of different concentrations of porcine serum and FSH, and with different numbers of follicles per well. A series of experiments showed that porcine antral follicles can be grown at a high frequency in vitro from healthy preantral follicles with intact theca when cultured in North Carolina State University 23 medium supplemented with 1.5 ng/ml FSH, 7.5% serum, and when cultured with three follicles per well. After 4 days of culture, 68% healthy cumulus-enclosed oocytes from these follicles were obtained, and 51% of the oocytes completed meiotic maturation to the metaphase II stage. Fifty-three percent of the mature oocytes underwent fertilization, 43% of the fertilized oocytes cleaved, and 13% developed to the blastocyst stage. The results show 1) that porcine preantral follicles can grow efficiently to the antral stage using these culture conditions, and 2) that oocytes from in vitro-matured porcine preantral follicles can acquire meiotic competence and undergo fertilization and embryonic development.
Nutritional Influences in Selected Gastrointestinal Diseases

Nutritional factors, as sources of luminal antigens, have been thought to be important factors in the immunopathogenesis of numerous gastrointestinal diseases. In some diseases, the role of the nutritional component is causal in the susceptible host. Such diseases include celiac disease, a common heritable chronic inflammatory condition of the small intestine induced by dietary wheat, rye and barley, in susceptible individuals. Specific HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 risk alleles are necessary, but not sufficient, for disease development. The well-defined role of HLA-DQ heterodimers encoded by these alleles is to present cereal peptides to CD4+ T cells, activating an inflammatory immune response in the intestine. Genome-wide association studies have been performed which identified the IL2-IL21 risk locus and other genes with immune functions and key roles in thymic T-cell selection. Another example for this group is Wilson’s disease, an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism caused by mutation of the ATP7B gene, resulting in a defect of biliary copper excretion and toxic accumulation in the body, especially in the liver, brain and cornea, resulting in hepatic and/or neurological symptoms. In other diseases, however, the association is less well established. In such endeavor, epidemiological observations may become a valuable part of the overall investigations aimed at identifying dietary factors, which are involved in the initiation and perpetuation of the specific disease. As an example, relationships between nutrition and colorectal cancer have been hypothesized early on (e.g. folate, calcium, vitamin D, red meat). Similarly, intake of certain diet constituents like fat, refined sugar, fruits, vegetables and fiber was reported to be associated with the expression of inflammatory bowel diseases. In addition, in children with active Crohn’s disease, enteral nutrition was found to be equally effective as corticosteroids in induction of remission, with mucosal healing induced by downregulation of mucosal pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles in both the ileum and the colon after enteral nutrition. However, the particular effect of the consumption of each type of food remains questionable in most cases, at least in part because of insufficient data and serious methodological limitations (e.g. recall bias, heterogeneity between collected data, lack of correction for covariates, difficulties in double blinding).
Becoming an Adult in France, Estonia and Russia

The aim of this study is to compare the sociodemographic events marking the transition to adulthood in France, Estonia and Russia: first leaving parents, completion of education, first partnership, first marriage and first childbirth. We used the first waves of the Generations and Gender Survey for these three countries and an advanced method – Sequence Analysis. According to the Second Demographic Transition Theory, we expected a convergence in the sequencing, timing and tempo of the occurrence of target events. The results showed the slow convergence of sequences, but not of timing and tempo. Estonia and Russia are still close in the timing of the occurrence of events, but in tempo Estonia and France are more alike. The ages at which people start families in Estonia and Russia have decreased in younger generations in comparison with older ones, despite our expectation that they would increase. For the youngest generation (1970s), the time between leaving parents and becoming a parent is 5-7 years in France, 4-6 years in Estonia and 2-3 years in Russia. The sociodemographic behaviour of Estonians clearly positions them between Europe and Russia. Thus, the comparison of France, Estonia and Russia only partially confirms the Second Demographic Transition Theory
Accelerated Course of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Gay Men Who Conceal Their Homosexual Identity

Research linking psychological inhibition to physical illness led us to examine whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection might progress more rapidly among gay men who conceal their homosexual identity than among those who do not.We also sought to determine whether any accelerated course of HIV infection among "closeted" gay men might be attributable to differences in health-relevant behavior (e.g., health practices, sexual behavior) or psychosocial characteristics (e.g., depression, anxiety, social support, repressive comping style). Data came from a longitudinal psychosocial study associated with the Los Angeles site of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Eighty gay men, HIV-seropositive but otherwise healthy at study entry (CD4 T lymphocytes = 30-60% of total lymphocytes), were examined at 6-month intervals for 9 years. Indicators of HIV progression included time to a critically low CD4 T lymphocyte level (15% of total peripheral blood lymphocytes), time to AIDS diagnosis, and time to AIDS mortality. On all measures, HIV infection advanced more rapidly in a dose-response relationship to the degree participants concealed their homosexual identity. Sample characteristics and statistical controls ruled out explanations based on demographic characteristics, health practices, sexual behavior, and antiretroviral therapy. Mediational analyses indicated that observed effects were not attributable to differences in depression, anxiety, social support, or repressive coping style. HIV infection appears to progress more rapidly in gay men who conceal their homosexual identity. These results are consistent with hypotheses about the health effects of psychological inhibition, but further research is required to definitively identify the psychosocial, behavioral, and physiological mechanisms underlying these findings.
Corporate governance effects on corporate social responsibility disclosure: empirical evidence from heavy-pollution industries in Iran

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the relationship between corporate governance (CG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in a sample of 64 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange.Design/methodology/approachThis study opts for a descriptive-correlational method. To measure the extent of CSR disclosure and CG variables, companies’ annual reports and websites during 2014-2015 are content analyzed by applying a 64-item checklist. Boards’ size, age, tenure and independence, CEO duality, audit committee (AC) composition and ownership concentration are considered as CG variables. To ascertain the CG–CSR disclosure relationship, multivariate linear regression analysis is incorporated.FindingsBased on the results, audit committee composition, board tenure and ownership concentration positively influence CSR disclosure level with ownership concentration as the most influential variable, that is, in companies with majority shareholders ownership, managers tend to disclose more CSR information.Research limitations/implicationsOnly annual reports and company websites are analyzed. Researchers are encouraged to apply other methods such as interview and to consider other variables, such as board diversity, proportion of female members and the extent of shareholders activities, to measure CG.Practical implicationsThis paper provides implications at the policy level to identify governance mechanisms to increase CSR awareness of heavy-pollution industries in developing countries.Originality/valueStudies rarely examined CSR reporting in Iran, particularly among heavy-pollution companies. Besides, the paper highlights the role of majority shareholders and non-executive AC members in CSR disclosure.
Employee Voice: an Employee Satisfaction Level by Selected Healthcare Service Providers in the Czech Republic

The employee satisfaction level is closely related to the performance and quality of work performed by an employee and, consequently, it translates into the competitiveness and success of a corporation, because a motivated and satisfied employee builds and participates in the success of any corporation (organization, firm, hospital, etc.). The aim of the article was to discover more about the current situation employee satisfaction level by selected healthcare service providers in the context of the gender of employees and the length of current employment of the employees by selected healthcare service providers in the Czech Republic. The overall employee satisfaction level was monitored through seven selected research areas. The research was carried out in 2017 from the sample of 608 respondents. Two research hypotheses and one research question have been formulated. The verification or rejection of null research hypotheses was done through the statistical method of the Pearson’s Chi‑square test. The results came along with the discovery that there is a statistically significant relation between the overall employee satisfaction level by selected healthcare service providers and the gender of employees and there is no statistically significant relation between the overall employee satisfaction level by selected healthcare service providers and the length of current employment of the employees by selected healthcare service providers.
Clinical Aspects of Round Window Membrane Permeability Under Normal and Pathological Conditions

Current research and an overall review of 25 years of round window membrane studies are presented. The approach, rationale and concepts that have evolved from these studies are described. Ultrastructural studies of the round window membrane of humans, monkeys, felines and rodents have disclosed three basic layers: an outer epithelium, a middle core of connective tissue and an inner epithelium. Interspecies variations are mainly in terms of thickness, being thinnest in rodents and thickest in humans. Morphologic evidence suggests that the layers of the round window participate in resorption and secretion of substances to and from the inner ear, and that the membrane could play a role in the defense system of the ear. Different substances, including antibiotics and tracers, when placed in the middle ear side traverse the membrane. Tracers placed in perilymph become incorporated into the membrane by the inner epithelial cells. Permeability is selective and factors affecting permeability include size, concentration, electrical charge, thickness of the membrane and facilitating agents. Passage of substances through the membrane is by different pathways, the nature of which is seemingly decided at the outer epithelium of the membrane. Round window membrane studies have provided increased knowledge of the anatomy and function of this structure, as well as new insights into pathology and pathogenesis. The concepts that have evolved from these studies are potentially useful for understanding middle and inner ear interactions, and for eventual drug delivery (based on permeability) to the inner ear.
The C‐Terminal Domain of Chondroadherin: A New Regulator of Osteoclast Motility Counteracting Bone Loss

Chondroadherin (CHAD) is a leucine‐rich protein promoting cell attachment through binding to integrin α2β1 and syndecans. We observed that CHAD mRNA and protein were lower in bone biopsies of 50‐year‐old to 65‐year‐old osteoporotic women and in bone samples of ovariectomized mice versus gender/age–matched controls, suggesting a role in bone metabolism. By the means of an internal cyclic peptide (cyclicCHAD), we observed that its integrin binding sequence impaired preosteoclast migration through a nitric oxide synthase 2–dependent mechanism, decreasing osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in a concentration‐dependent fashion, whereas it had no effect on osteoblasts. Consistently, cyclicCHAD reduced transcription of two nitric oxide downstream genes, migfilin and vasp, involved in cell motility. Furthermore, the nitric oxide donor, S‐nitroso‐N‐acetyl‐D,L‐penicillamine, stimulated preosteoclast migration and prevented the inhibitory effect of cyclicCHAD. Conversely, the nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) inhibitor, N5‐(1‐iminoethyl)‐l‐ornithine, decreased both preosteoclast migration and differentiation, confirming a role of the nitric oxide pathway in the mechanism of action triggered by cyclicCHAD. In vivo, administration of cyclicCHAD was well tolerated and increased bone volume in healthy mice, with no adverse effect. In ovariectomized mice cyclicCHAD improved bone mass by both a preventive and a curative treatment protocol, with an effect in line with that of the bisphosphonate alendronate, that was mimicked by the NOS2 inhibitor [L‐N6‐(1‐Iminoethyl)‐lysine.2 dihydrochloride]. In both mouse models, cyclicCHAD reduced osteoclast and bone resorption without affecting osteoblast parameters and bone formation. In conclusion, CHAD is a novel regulator of bone metabolism that, through its integrin binding domain, inhibits preosteoclast motility and bone resorption, with a potential translational impact for the treatment of osteoporosis. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Resource Reallocation and Heterogeneous Productivity Growth in the Tourism Industry

ABSTRACT This paper studies the relationship between resource reallocation and changes in sectoral productivity, with an emphasis on the differences and similarities between the three pillar sectors of tourism: accommodations, travel agencies, and tourist attractions. Based on cross-sector, cross-regional panel data collected from mainland China from 2001 to 2014, a sequential data envelope analysis (DEA) model is built up to measure the heterogeneous productivity changes among tourism sectors. The study illustrates the importance of the factor allocative efficiency to productivity growth and finds a deterioration of the allocative efficiency in present-day China. Policies are recommended for the Chinese tourism industry to realize the goal of raising quality and improving efficiency.
Non-Linear Effects of Continuous Predictors on Malnutrition Status of Children in Bangladesh

Background: To explore non-linear effects of continuous covariates on response variable, generalized additive model (GAM) has now been extensively used. The main aim of this study is to explore the non-linear effect of some selected continuous covariates on malnutrition status of children in Bangladesh using logistic additive model. Methods: To determine the factors of malnutrition status of children in Bangladesh, data are excluded from Bangladesh Demographic and Health survey 2014 (BDHS 2014). The anthropometric index of nutrition status, stunting is used as binary response variable and several demographic, socio-economic and health related variables are used as covariates. Bivariate analysis and additive logistic regression model is used to uncover the non-linear effect of included continuous variables as well as effect of categorical covariates on stunting in the study. Results: The analysis exposes that mother’s current age, mother’s BMI and child’s age have significant non-linear impact on stunting of children. Conclusion: The analysis suggests that to improve nutrition status of children in Bangladesh, the government should take necessary steps targeting women in higher and lower age groups and women with higher and lower BMI. Moreover, the children after 20 months should be properly taken care of for achieving better nutritional health. Keyword: Child’s age, Generalized additive regression model, Malnutrition, Mother’s age, Mother’s BMI, Non-linear effect, Stunting.
Cortical control of double‐step saccades: Implications for spatial orientation

To accurately localize a visual target in space despite eye movement‐induced shifts of its retinal image, the brain must take into account both its retinal location and information about current eye position or at least the preceding eye displacement. We examined this ability with respect to saccadic eye movements by applying “double‐step” stimuli, where the locations of two sequentially flashed target lights have to be fixated by two successive saccades performed after their disappearance. As the 2nd saccade will not start at the spatial location from which the 2nd target was seen, a dissonance arises between its retinal coordinates and the motor coordinates of the required 2nd saccade. Nevertheless, these saccades were performed quite accurately by 32 healthy human adults. To investigate the contribution of the cerebral cortex, we recorded horizontal double‐step saccades in 35 patients with focal unilateral hemispheric lesions. Whereas frontal lesions impaired temporal properties, posterior parietal lesions caused spatial dysmetria or failure of even ipsiversive 2nd saccades following contraversive 1st saccades. This reflects an inability to compensate for retino‐spatial dissonance by using nonretinal information (corollary discharge) about eye displacement associated with a previous saccade into the contralesional hemifield. In conclusion, the parietal cortex is crucial for spatial constancy across saccades.
Impact of BDNF Val66Met and 5‐HTTLPR polymorphism variants on neural substrates related to sadness and executive function

The brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met allelic variation is linked to both the occurrence of mood disorders and antidepressant response. These findings are not universally observed, and the mechanism by which this variation results in increased risk for mood disorders is unclear. One possible explanation is an epistatic relationship with other neurotransmitter genes associated with depression risk, such as the serotonin‐transporter‐linked promotor region (5‐HTTLPR). Further, it is unclear how the coexistence of the BDNF Met and 5‐HTTLPR S variants affects the function of the affective and cognitive control systems. To address this question, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study in 38 older adults (20 healthy and 18 remitted from major depressive disorder). Subjects performed an emotional oddball task during the fMRI scan and provided blood samples for genotyping. Our analyses examined the relationship between genotypes and brain activation to sad distractors and attentional targets. We found that 5‐HTTLPR S allele carriers exhibited stronger activation in the amygdala in response to sad distractors, whereas BDNF Met carriers exhibited increased activation to sad stimuli but decreased activation to attentional targets in the dorsolateral prefrontal and dorsomedial prefrontal cortices. In addition, subjects with both the S allele and Met allele genes exhibited increased activation to sad stimuli in the subgenual cingulate and posterior cingulate. Our results indicate that the Met allele alone or in combination with 5‐HTTLPR S allele may increase reactivity to sad stimuli, which might represent a neural mechanism underlying increased depression vulnerability.
The Effects of Union Mergers and Internal Restructuring: A Bottom‐Up Perspective by Danish Shop Stewards

This article explores how recent union mergers and restructuring affect union's service provision, interest representation and perceived union influence. We find that Danish shop stewards are just as satisfied with their union's service provision and interest representation but report of greater influence on federal and local branch union politics in 2010 compared to 1998.