Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Accuracy of Smartphone Medical Calculation Apps

Background Mobile phones with operating systems and capable of running applications (smartphones) are increasingly being used in clinical settings. Medical calculating applications are popular mhealth apps for smartphones. These include, for example, apps that calculate the severity or likelihood of disease-based clinical scoring systems, such as determining the severity of liver disease, the likelihood of having a pulmonary embolism, and risk stratification in acute coronary syndrome. However, the accuracy of these apps has not been assessed. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of smartphone-based medical calculation apps. Methods A broad search on Google Play, BlackBerry World, and the iTunes App Store was conducted to find medical calculation apps for smartphones. The list of apps was narrowed down based on inclusion and exclusion criteria focusing on functions thought to be relevant by a panel of general internists (number of functions =13). Ten case values were inputted for each function and were compared to manual calculations. For each case, the correct answer was assigned a score of 1. A score for the 10 cases was calculated based on the accuracy of the results for each function on each app. Results We tested 14 apps and 13 functions for each app if that function was available. We conducted 10 cases for each function for a total of 1240 tests. Most functions tested on the apps were accurate in their results with an overall accuracy of 98.6% (17 errors in 1240 tests). In all, 6 of 14 (43%) apps had 100% accuracy. Although 11 of 13 (85%) functions had perfect accuracy, there were issues with 2 functions: the Child-Pugh scores and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores on 8 apps. Approximately half of the errors were clinically significant resulting in a significant change in prognosis (8/17, 47%). Conclusions The results suggest that most medical calculating apps provide accurate and reliable results. The free apps that were 100% accurate and contained the most functions desired by internists were CliniCalc, Calculate by QxMD, and Medscape. When using medical calculating apps, the answers will likely be accurate; however, it is important to be careful when calculating MELD scores or Child-Pugh scores on some apps. Despite the few errors found, greater scrutiny is warranted to ensure full accuracy of smartphone medical calculator apps.
Income mobility and income inequality in Scottish agriculture

The paper proposes the use of a range of alternative measures to provide a rounded evaluation of the distributional consequences of farm income mobility, where this multifaceted approach is designed to shed light both on the extent to which farm income inequality is a short-run phenomenon due to transitory shocks rather than a chronic or persistent problem due to structural factors, and on the nature of the dynamic processes driving changes in farm income inequality over time. An illustrative empirical study of Scottish agriculture using Farm Accounts Survey data reveals that the majority of farm income inequality was structural in nature despite a substantial degree of income risk due to the volatility of agricultural incomes. Results on the micro-dynamics of inequality change have to be interpreted with caution due to the particular rules governing the assignment of farm identifiers in the survey.
A scalp-EEG network-based analysis of Alzheimer's disease patients at rest

Most brain disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD) are related to alterations in the normal brain network organization and function. Exploring these network alterations using non-invasive and easy to use technique is a topic of great interest. In this paper, we collected EEG resting-state data from AD patients and healthy control subjects. Functional connectivity between scalp EEG signals was quantified using the phase locking value (PLV) for 6 frequency bands, θ (4–8 Hz), α1(8–10 Hz), α2(10–13 Hz), ß(13–30 Hz), γ(30–45 Hz), and broad band (0.2–45 Hz). To assess the differences in network properties, graph-theoretical analysis was performed. AD patients showed decrease of mean connectivity, average clustering and global efficiency in the lower alpha band. Positive correlation between the cognitive score and the extracted graph measures was obtained, suggesting that EEG could be a promising technique to derive new biomarkers of AD diagnosis.
Insulin resistance in offspring of hypertensive subjects

Objective To assess whether apparently healthy subjects with a family history of systemic hypertension have a higher risk of presenting the insulin resistance syndrome. Subjects Three hundred and eighty-six subjects aged 20-65 years. Setting A middle socio-economic class urban community from Mexico City. Method All subjects and, when necessary, their first-degree relatives, answered a questionnaire and underwent a physical examination with measurement of height, weight and blood pressure. Serum insulin, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides were measured during fasting and 2 h after an oral load of 75 g glucose. Results A family history of systemic hypertension was present for 167 (43%) of the subjects, of whom 123 (31%) were obese. Subjects with a family history of hypertension had higher systolic blood pressures than did those without such a history (120 ± 15 versus 115±10mmHg). In the logistic regression model, the body mass index and age showed statistically significant effects on the fasting glucose: insulin ratio and on serum insulin levels after an oral load of glucose. When men and women were analysed separately, only in men were higher systolic and mean blood pressures and lower glucose: insulin ratios observed. In the logistic regression analysis the body mass index was a significant predictor of the glucose: insulin ratio and serum insulin levels after an oral load of glucose, especially in men. Conclusion Apparently healthy male offspring of hypertensive parents have higher blood pressure levels and lower insulin sensitivities than do offspring of normotensive parents. Insulin resistance was related to obesity, but not to a family history of hypertension, as had previously been reported by other research groups.
Role of specific cytochrome P450 enzymes in the N-oxidation of the antiarrhythmic agent mexiletine

1. Mexiletine is extensively metabolized in man by C- and N-oxidation and the aim of the present study was to characterize major cytochrome P450 enzyme(s) involved in the formation of N -hydroxymexiletine. 2. Incubations with genetically engineered microsomes indicated that the formation rate of N -hydroxymexiletine was highest in the presence of microsomes expressing high levels of either CYP1A2 or CYP2E1 and the formation of N -hydroxymexiletine by human liver microsomes was inhibited about 40% by antibodies directed against CYP1A1/1A2 or CYP2E1. Additional incubations demonstrated that formation of N -hydroxymexiletine was decreased 47 and 51% by furafylline, 40 µm and 120 µm, respectively, and decreased 55 and 67% by α -naphthoflavone, 1 µm and 3 µm, respectively (all p < 0.05 versus control). 3. The formation rate of N -hydroxymexiletine in human liver microsomes was highly correlated with CYP2B6 (RS -mexiletine, r = 0.7827; R - (−) -enantiomer, r = 0.7034; S -(+)-enantiomer, r = 0.7495), CYP2E1 (S -(+)-enantiomer, r = 0.7057) and CYP1A2 (RS -mexiletine, r = 0.5334; S -(+)-enantiomer, r = 0.6035). 4. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that CYP1A2 is a major human cytochrome P450 enzyme involved in the formation of N -hydroxymexiletine. However, other cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP2E1 and CYP2B6) also appear to play a role in the N-oxidation of this drug.
The Regulation of Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone Receptor by Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone in Human Fetal Adrenal Definitive/Transitional Zone Cells

As gestation progresses, human fetal adrenals (HFA) initiate the production of cortisol, which increases placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) biosynthesis. While adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) is important for the onset of cortisol production, the late gestational surge in cortisol production occurs despite falling ACTH levels in the fetal circulation. The authors determine if CRH directly regulates the expression of the ACTH receptor (ACTHR) in HFA definitive/transitional zone (DZ/TZ) cells. DZ/TZ cells isolated from midgestation HFA were cultured before treatment with 0.01 nM to 100 nM CRH or ACTH. Cortisol was measured by radioimmunoassay. Real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to measure ACTHR mRNA. Whole-cell ACTH binding studies were performed using I125 (Tyr-23) ACTH. CRH produced a dose-dependent rise in cortisol production and caused a time-dependent increase in ACTHR mRNA levels between 12 and 24 hours. As little as 0.1 nM CRH induced ACTHR transcript by 12-fold at 24 hours. Together with ACTH 0.01 nM, 0.03 or 0.1 nM CRH increased ACTHR expression more than ACTH alone. Binding assays demonstrated a 3.5-fold increase in ACTHR protein at 48 hours with combined CRH and ACTH treatment. Physiologic levels of CRH seen in the late-gestation fetus stimulate DZ/TZ ACTHR expression. Since placental CRH production increases strikingly near the end of gestation, the authors suggest that CRH-induced ACTH receptor expression may increase TZ responsiveness to circulating ACTH and contribute to the late gestational rise in cortisol secretion by the HFA, participating in an endocrine cascade that is involved in fetal organ maturation and potentially in the timing of human parturition.
Protease-activated receptor-1 down-regulates the murine inflammatory and humoral response to Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Helicobacter pylori infection results in a diversity of pathologies, from asymptomatic gastritis to adenocarcinoma. The reason for these diverse outcomes is multifactorial and includes host factors that regulate severity of Helicobacter-induced gastritis. Protease-activated receptors (PAR) are environmental sensors that can detect tissue damage and pathogens. Whereas PAR-2 has proinflammatory activity and PAR-1 can protect the gastric mucosa against chemical damage, neither has previously been examined for their potential roles in regulating Helicobacter pathogenesis. METHODS PAR-1(-/-), PAR-2(-/-), and wild-type mice were infected with H pylori for up to 2 months then colonization levels determined by colony-forming assay, gastritis by histology, and serum antibody levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Responsiveness of primary epithelial cells to PAR-1 activation was assessed by calcium mobilization assay. Primary epithelial cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells were cocultured with H pylori and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, and cytokine secretion was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Two months postinfection, H pylori levels were significantly reduced in PAR-1(-/-) and increased in PAR-2(-/-) mice. This effect on colonization was inversely correlated with inflammation severity. Infection of PAR-1(-/-) mice induced an increased serum antibody response. Primary epithelial cells were activated by a PAR-1-activating peptide. H pylori stimulation of primary epithelial cells, but not macrophages or dendritic cells, from PAR-1(-/-) mice induced increased levels of NF-kappaB and the proinflammatory cytokine macrophage-inflammatory protein (MIP)-2. PAR-1 also down-regulated MIP-2 secretion in response to cag pathogenicity island activity. CONCLUSIONS PAR-1 protects the host against severe Helicobacter-induced gastritis. This may be mediated by suppressing the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as MIP-2.
Riluzole is a Promising Pharmacological Inhibitor of Bilirubin‐Induced Excitotoxicity in the Ventral Cochlear Nucleus

Bilirubin encephalopathy as a result of hyperbilirubinemia is a devastating neurological disorder that occurs mostly in the neonatal period. To date, no effective drug treatment is available. Glutamate‐mediated excitotoxicity is likely an important factor causing bilirubin encephalopathy. Thus, drugs suppressing the overrelease of glutamate may protect the brain against bilirubin excitotoxicity. Riluzole is a prescription drug known for its antiglutamatergic function. This study was conducted in the rat's ventral cochlear nucleus, a structure highly sensitive to bilirubin toxicity, to find whether riluzole can be used to inhibit bilirubin toxicity.
Prediction of bubble growth and size distribution in polymer foaming based on a new heterogeneous nucleation model

The cell size distribution in a thermoplastic foam to a large extent determines its mechanical and thermal properties. It is difficult to predict because of the many physical processes involved, each affected in turn by an array of factors and parameters. The two most important processes are bubble nucleation and diffusion-driven bubble growth. Neither has been thoroughly understood despite intensive and long-standing research efforts. In this work, we consider foaming by a physical blowing agent dissolved in a polymer melt that contains particulate nucleating agents. We propose a nucleation model based on the concept that heterogeneous nucleation originates from pre-existing microvoids on the solid particles. The nucleation rate is determined by a bubble detachment time. Once nucleated, the bubbles grow as the dissolved gas diffuses through the polymer melt into the bubbles, a process that couples mass and momentum transport. By using the Oldroyd-B constitutive equation, we explore the role of melt viscoelasticity in this process. Finally, we integrate the nucleation and growth models to predict the evolution of the bubble size distribution. A cell model is employed to simulate the effects of neighboring bubbles and the depletion of blowing agents. The latter also causes the nucleation rate to decline once growth of older bubbles is underway. Using the physical and operating parameters of a recent foam extrusion experiment, we are able to predict a cell size distribution in reasonable agreement with measurements.
Compactness versus Sprawl

In 1997, the Journal of the American Planning Association published a pair of point–counterpoint articles now listed by the American Planning Association as “classics” in the urban planning literature. In the first article, “Are Compact Cities Desirable? ” Gordon and Richardson argued in favor of urban sprawl as a benign response to consumer preferences. In the counterpoint article, “Is Los Angeles-Style Sprawl Desirable? ” Ewing argued for compact cities as an alternative to sprawl. It is time to reprise the debate. This article summarizes the literature on urban sprawl characteristics and measurements, causes, impacts, and remedies since the original debate.
Cell cycle progression score and treatment decisions in prostate cancer: results from an ongoing registry

Abstract Objective: The cell cycle progression (CCP) test (Prolaris) is a novel prognostic assay that provides accurate risk of prostate cancer-specific disease progression and disease specific mortality when combined with standard clinicopathologic parameters. This prospective study evaluated the impact of the CCP report on physician treatment recommendations for prostate cancer. Methods: Physicians ordering the CCP test in clinical practice completed surveys regarding treatment recommendations before and after they received and discussed the test results with patients. Clinicians also rated the influence of the test result on treatment decisions. Treatment selections were confirmed via third-party audit of patient charts following final survey responses. Results: Overall, 65% of cases showed a change between intended treatment pre- and post-CCP test reporting. Pre-CCP testing, 164 of 305 cases received a recommendation for interventional treatment. Post-CCP test, interventional therapy was recommended for 103 of these cases, a reduction of 37.2%. Conversely, 141 of 305 cases were recommended pre-CCP testing for non-interventional treatment; 108 of these remained with non-interventional treatment while 33 shifted to interventional options, a 23.4% increase. There was a 49.5% reduction in surgical interventions and a 29.6% reduction in radiation treatment. A third-party audit identified 80.2% concordance between the post-CCP testing treatment recommendation and actual treatment. Re-assignment to intervention or non-intervention generally correlated with the result of the CCP report. Study limitations included physician selection of patients for testing, no evaluation of patient input in therapeutic choice, and other potential treatment decision factors not queried by the survey. Conclusion: Based on responses of ordering physicians, the CCP report adds meaningful new information to risk assessment for localized prostate cancer patients. Test results led to changes in treatment with reductions and increases in interventional treatment that were directionally aligned with prostate cancer risk specified by the test.
Use of the AO veterinary mini ‘T’-plate for stabilisation of distal radius and ulna fractures in toy breed dogs

Summary The use of the AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen) veterinary mini ‘T’-plate for stabilisation of distal radius and ulna fractures in toy breed dogs was evaluated in a retrospective study. All of the 14 dogs in the study weighed 3.5 kg or less. The AO mini ‘T’-platea was used as the final means of fixation in all cases. It was used as the primary form of stabilisation in ten dogs, and in four dogs it was used at revision surgery. In all cases the fractures healed. Return to function was graded as excellent in six cases, good in four and fair in two. Two dogs were lost to long-term follow up. It was concluded that the AO veterinary mini ‘T’-plate is a suitable choice of implant for stabilisation of distal radius and ulna fractures in toy breed dogs, especially when the distal fragment is very small.
The clonogenic assay with human tumor xenografts: evaluation, predictive value and application for drug screening.

The feasibility, evaluation and predictive value of the colony-forming assay with human tumor xenografts for screening anticancer drugs have been studied. Using human tumors grown in serial passage in nude mice, adequate colony formation was observed in 215 of 251 (86%) different solid human tumors of various histologies. Based on in vitro growth characteristics, a quality-controlled assay protocol was developed. With the proposed criteria for standardized evaluation of individual experiments a substantial increase in assay reliability was achieved. The five clinically established agents, cisplatin, doxorubicin, etoposide, mitomycin-C and vindesine, were studied for anticancer activity in the clonogenic assay. Drugs were applied over a wide dose range by continuous exposure, yielding clear dose-response effects with coefficients of correlation between r = 0.946 and 0.995. Relevant dose levels predicting correctly for the clinical efficacy of the agents were determined by comparison of in vitro anticancer activity to in vitro toxicity on human bone marrow as follows: cisplatin 0.1 micrograms/ml, doxorubicin 0.01 micrograms/ml, etoposide 0.1 micrograms/ml, mitomycin-C 0.005 micrograms/ml, vindesine 0.01 micrograms/ml. At these concentrations, clinically sensitive tumor types showed inhibition of colony formation in 99 of 240 cases (41%), whereas 11% (19/176) of clinically resistant tumors were responsive. The relevant dose levels used equal between 0.3% and 4.0% of the achievable peak plasma concentrations in man. The predictive value of the clonogenic assay was determined by treatment of the same tumors in vitro and in vivo in tumor-bearing nude mice. In 174/220 comparisons (79%), in vitro data predicted correctly for the in vivo sensitivity of the xenografted malignancies. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Antecedents and Consequences of Consumer Commitment in Traditional and Low-Cost Airlines

ABSTRACT The present work aims to gain further knowledge regarding the influence of consumer commitment on loyalty in traditional and low-cost airlines. A survey of 592 consumers of traditional and low-cost carriers demonstrates that commitment is built on the basis of trust and identification, which are in turn driven by corporate reputation in both types of airline. With regard to post-purchase behavior, in low-cost companies, customer repurchase intention and word-of-mouth (WOM) recommendation are mainly triggered by satisfaction. With traditional airlines, commitment plays a more important role, having a significant effect on repurchase intention and acting as the principal predictor of WOM recommendation.
Mercury enhances susceptibility to murine leishmaniasis

The genetic background of mice infected with Leishmania major determines the response to infection, resulting in a resistant or susceptible phenotype. Susceptible mice develop a T‐helper type 2 (Th2)‐type immune response following infection distinguished by the development of interleukin (IL)‐4 secreting T cells in the lymph node and spleen. In SJL mice, which normally heal L. major lesions, subtoxic doses of mercury induce an autoimmune syndrome characterized by an expansion of Th2 cells. In this study, we examined the effect of mercury administration on the outcome of L. major infection in SJL mice. We show that subtoxic doses of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) exacerbate disease outcome in SJL mice resulting in increased footpad swelling and increased parasite burdens. Furthermore, the effects of HgCl2 treatment on resistance to L. major are time‐dependent. The nonhealing phenotype was observed only if mice had been treated with HgCl2 prior to L. major infection for at least 1 week, a timepoint at which mice treated with HgCl2 alone had increased splenocyte IL‐4 production. HgCl2 treatment also increased production of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG1, two IL‐4 dependent isotypes. These results show that HgCl2 treatment enhances the susceptibility to L. major in SJL mice, consistent with the induction of host Th2 parameters. These findings have implications for the role of mercury contamination in areas of endemic leishmaniasis.
Cytogenetic damage in human lymphocytes following GMSK phase modulated microwave exposure

The present study investigated, using in vitro experiments on human lymphocytes, whether exposure to a microwave frequency used for mobile communication, either unmodulated or in presence of phase only modulation, can cause modification of cell proliferation kinetics and/or genotoxic effects, by evaluating the cytokinesis block proliferation index and the micronucleus frequency. In the GSM 1800 mobile communication systems the field is both phase (Gaussian minimum shift keying, GMSK) and amplitude (time domain multiple access, TDMA) modulated. The present study investigated only the effects of phase modulation, and no amplitude modulation was applied. Human peripheral blood cultures were exposed to 1.748 GHz, either continuous wave (CW) or phase only modulated wave (GMSK), for 15 min. The maximum specific absorption rate (∼5 W/kg) was higher than that occurring in the head of mobile phone users; however, no changes were found in cell proliferation kinetics after exposure to either CW or GMSK fields. As far as genotoxicity is concerned, the micronucleus frequency result was not affected by CW exposure; however, a statistically significant micronucleus effect was found following exposure to phase modulated field. These results would suggest a genotoxic power of the phase modulation per se. Bioelectromagnetics 23:7–13, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.