Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Large-Scale Discovery and Validation Studies Demonstrate Significant Reductions in Circulating Levels of IL8, IL-1Ra, MCP-1, and MIP-1β in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes.

CONTEXT Previous studies have attempted to elucidate the potential role of various cytokines and chemokines in human type 1 diabetes (T1D); however, the precise role of these serum proteins in T1D is still controversial and undetermined primarily due to the small sample sizes of the previous studies. We profiled a panel of serum cytokines and chemokines using a large-scale, two-stage study design for the discovery and validation of the serum proteins associated with T1D. PARTICIPANTS The participants were patients with T1D and islet autoantibody-negative control subjects from the Phenome and Genome of Diabetes Autoimmunity study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Thirteen cytokines and chemokines were measured in serum of 4424 subjects using multiplex immunoassays. RESULTS Using 1378 samples in Stage 1, we found that four of the 13 proteins are significantly lower in patients with T1D than controls (IL8: odds ratio [OR] = 0.40; P = 5.7 × 10(-19); IL-1Ra: OR = 0.42; P = 1.1 × 10(-13); MCP-1: OR = 0.60; P = 6.7 × 10(-9); and MIP-1β: OR = 0.63; P = 4.2 × 10(-7)). Our confirmation data with 3046 samples in Stage 2 further confirmed the significant negative associations of these four proteins with T1D (IL8: OR = 0.43; P = 8.9 × 10(-32); IL-1Ra: OR = 0.56, P = 3.7 × 10(-27); MCP-1: OR = 0.61, P = 4.3 × 10(-17); and MIP-1β: OR = 0.69, P = 2.4 × 10(-13)). Quartile analyses also suggested that significantly more T1D cases have protein levels in the bottom quartile than in the top quartile for all four proteins: IL8 (OR = 0.09), IL-1Ra (OR = 0.18), MCP-1 (OR = 0.38), and MIP-1β (OR = 0.44). Furthermore, the negative associations between T1D and serum levels of all four proteins are stronger in genetically high-risk groups compared with the moderate and low-risk groups. CONCLUSIONS IL8, IL-1Ra, MCP-1, and MIP-1β are significantly lower in patients with T1D than controls.
Impact of advanced age on management and prognosis in atrial fibrillation: insights from a population-based study in general practice.

OBJECTIVES to examine the use of antithrombotic therapy and predictors of stroke and death in very elderly (≥85 years) atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in a general practice cohort from the UK. DESIGN retrospective, observational cohort study; 12-month follow-up period. SETTING eleven general practices serving the town of Darlington, England representing a population of 105,000 patients. PATIENTS two thousand two hundred and fifty-nine patients with a history of AF, 561 (24.8%) aged ≥85 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES use of antithrombotic therapy by age group and predictors of stroke and death. RESULTS five hundred and sixty-one (24.8%) AF patients aged ≥85 years (mean (SD) age 89 (4) years; 66% female) identified with a mean CHA2DS2-VASc score of 4.6 (SD 1.4). Thirty-six per cent received oral anticoagulation (OAC) compared with 57% in the 75-84 years age group. Forty-nine per cent of the very elderly received antiplatelet (AP) monotherapy; recorded OAC contraindications and declines were greatest among those aged ≥85 years. Stroke risk was highest among the very elderly (5.2% per annum), despite anticoagulation (3.9%). Multivariate analyses demonstrated an increased risk of stroke with AP monotherapy (odds ratio (OR) 2.45, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.05-5.70) and a significant reduction in all-cause mortality with OAC therapy (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.36-0.99). CONCLUSION the majority of very elderly AF patients in general practice do not receive OAC despite their higher stroke risk; almost half received AP monotherapy. AP use independently increased the risk of stroke, signifying that effective stroke prevention requires OAC regardless of age, except where true contraindications exist.
Accuracy Assessment of Land Use/Land Cover Classification Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Remote sensing is one of the tool which is very important for the production of Land use and land cover maps through a process called image classification. For the image classification process to be successfully, several factors should be considered including availability of quality Landsat imagery and secondary data, a precise classification process and user’s experiences and expertise of the procedures. The objective of this research was to classify and map land-use/land-cover of the study area using remote sensing and Geospatial Information System (GIS) techniques. This research includes two sections (1) Landuse/Landcover (LULC) classification and (2) accuracy assessment. In this study supervised classification was performed using Non Parametric Rule. The major LULC classified were agriculture (65.0%), water body (4.0%), and built up areas (18.3%), mixed forest (5.2%), shrubs (7.0%), and Barren/bare land (0.5%). The study had an overall classification accuracy of 81.7% and kappa coefficient (K) of 0.722. The kappa coefficient is rated as substantial and hence the classified image found to be fit for further research. This study present essential source of information whereby planners and decision makers can use to sustainably plan the environment.
Long time range breakdown due to field distortion in polyethylene under temperature gradient

Space charge distribution in a low-density polyethylene film subjected to dc step voltages was measured by PEA method under a temperature gradient. The 100 /spl mu/m-thick film was inserted between a 333 K (60 /spl deg/C ) upper electrode and a 278 K (5 /spl deg/C) lower electrode. A number of space charge injected from the upper electrode was accumulated in the bulk of the film, so that the field distribution in the film was strongly distorted. The breakdown time lag distribution in the film showed that the time lag consisted of a formative time lag for the field distortion due to space charge accumulation and a statistical time lag for the initiation of electrical avalanche. The mean breakdown time lag in cathode-heating mode was much longer than that in anode-heating mode though the maximum field strength in cathode-heating mode was higher than that in anode-heating mode. These results indicated that there was remarkable polarity effect in the long time range breakdown under the temperature gradient.
Weight cycling in adolescent Taekwondo athletes.

BACKGROUND Weight reduction cycles are used by weight classed athletes in Taekwondo to make a weight category. Tension, dizziness, headaches, and confusion have been associated with rapid weight loss (RWL). There is a lack of research in weight cycling and its benefits among Taekwondo athletes. PURPOSE To investigate the rate of weight cycling in Junior Taekwondo athletes and its effect on performance. METHODS Athletes were weighed prior to competition, then again before their first match. Body mass difference in relation to winning was compared. RESULTS A significant increase from weigh-in to pre-match measurements was consistently found in both genders with no significant difference between them. Winners had a mean body mass gain (1.02 kg) which was non-significantly less than the non-winners (1.09 kg). CONCLUSIONS RWL practices do not define which athlete will perform better. Negative effects of weight cycling coupled with RWL has unclear performance benefits which indicates a need for further research.
User Acceptance of e-government Services: Examining an e-tax Filing and Payment System in Thailand

E-government systems effectively deliver public services to citizens as well as improve productivity and reduce costs for government departments. A pressing issue for many governments is how to expand citizen acceptance of e-government systems. Prior studies on e-tax filing and payment systems have identified various factors for successful adoption, but do not capture the basic psychological needs of users in developing countries. This study examines the determinants of citizens’ intention to adopt an e-tax filing and payment system in Thailand. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology is integrated with self-determination theory, perceived risk, and perceived credibility to develop a model to explain the users’ acceptance of e-government services. A large-scale survey of Thai taxpayers was conducted and the results show that performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, social influence, and perceived credibility are all significant factors. Perceived autonomy and perceived competence are significant antecedents for performance and effort expectancy (EE). Perceived risk and EE surprisingly did not influence users’ intentions. Several recommendations are proposed that have an immediate application for practitioners to aide in the successful adoption of e-government services.
Idiopathic Sclerosing Orbital Inflammation: A Review of Demographics, Clinical Presentation, Imaging, Pathology, Treatment, and Outcome

Purpose: To characterize clinical features, diagnostics studies, treatments, and outcomes of patients with histologically proven idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation (ISOI), to define optimal management for this recalcitrant disease, and to determine changes in characterization and management by comparing our results with the last significant literature review. Methods: A search of the U.S. National Library of Medicine: National Institutes of Health's electronic database for cases and case series in the English literature of biopsy-proven ISOI published between March 1994 and September 2010 was conducted. A cross-literature review was performed to tabulate demographics, clinical findings, studies, treatments, and outcomes, which were compared with the ISOI data published by Rootman et al. (1994). Results: Sixty-one cases, 71 eyes from 17 published reports, met inclusion criteria. No ethnic, sex, or comorbidity predilection was established. Patients typically presented in the fourth decade with proptosis (73%), pain (49%), and normal vision (44%). Orbital imaging and histopathology were sparsely reported. Most common treatments involved systemic corticosteroids either alone (34%) or combined with other modalities (51%). Conclusions: Characteristics of the disease remain unchanged, and best management was not determined due to inconsistent reporting methods across the literature. Collaboration with established groups (i.e., European Group On Graves Orbitopathy (EUGOGO), International Thyroid Eye Disease Society (ITEDS)) or the formation of a new group of physicians and scientists to help develop a systematic approach for future reporting and evaluation was proposed.
Viewpoint: Estimating the Causal Effects of Policies and Programs

Estimation, inference and interpretation of the causal effects of programs and policies have all advanced dramatically over the past 25 years. We highlight three particularly important intellectual trends: an improved appreciation of the substantive importance of heterogeneous responses and of their methodological implications, a stronger focus on internal validity brought about by the "credibility revolution," and the scientific value that follows from grounding estimation and interpretation in economic theory. We discuss a menu of commonly employed partial equilibrium approaches to the identification of causal effects, emphasizing that the researcher's central intellectual contribution always consists of making an explicit case for a specific causal interpretation given the relevant economic theory, the data, the institutional context and the economic question of interest. We also touch on the importance of general equilibrium effects and full cost-benefit analyses.
Reducing the Risk of Sexual HIV Transmission: Quantifying the Per-Act Risk for HIV on the Basis of Choice of Partner, Sex Act, and Condom Use

Background Sexual acquisition of HIV is influenced by choice of partner, sex act, and condom use. However, current risk-reduction strategies focus mainly on condom use. Goal To estimate the contribution of choice of partner, sex act, and condom use on the per-act relative and absolute risks for HIV infection. Study Design Per-act relative risk for HIV infection was calculated with use of estimates of HIV prevalence, risk of condom failure, HIV test accuracy, and per-act risk of HIV transmission for different sex acts. Absolute risks were calculated on the basis of these relative risk estimates. Results Choosing a partner who tested negative instead of an untested partner reduced the relative risk of HIV infection 47-fold; using condoms, 20-fold; and choosing insertive fellatio rather than insertive anal sex, 13-fold. Choosing one risk-reduction behavior substantially reduces absolute risk of HIV infection for heterosexuals but not for men who have sex with men. Conclusion Clarifying the magnitude of risk associated with different choices may help people make effective and sustainable changes in behavior.
Bone health and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

PURPOSE To systematically review the literature related to bone health in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS We conducted a systematic review of the literature from January 2005 until February 2010, using keywords related to T2DM and bone-health imaging technology in older adults (aged ≥60 years) to search PubMed, OVID MEDLINE, Ageline, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO. RESULTS We found a total of 13 studies that met the inclusion criteria for this review. The majority of the studies used dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and showed either higher or similar areal bone mineral density (aBMD) for older adults with T2DM relative to healthy controls. Studies using more advanced imaging suggested that there may be differences in bone geometry between older adults with and without T2DM. CONCLUSIONS Older adults with T2DM have similar or higher aBMD at the hip relative to older adults without T2DM, despite previous literature reporting an increased risk of low-trauma fractures. Recent studies with advanced imaging have suggested that there may be differences in bone geometry between older adults with T2DM and those without. Health professionals, especially physiotherapists, should be aware of the increased risk and include assessment of fall risk factors and exercise prescription for fall prevention for older adults with T2DM.
Outcomes of Multidisciplinary Low Vision Rehabilitation in Adults.

PURPOSE To evaluate the outcomes of multidisciplinary low vision rehabilitation (LVR) in adults with low vision (LV) in India using the Veterans Affairs Low Vision Visual Functioning Questionnaire (VA LV VFQ-48) and the Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) questionnaire. METHODS Consecutive adults with LV referred for the first time to the Centre for Sight Enhancement were administered the 28-item IVI and VA LV VFQ-48 before and after LVR (4 months). Rasch-scaled scores were generated for the IVI and the VA LV VFQ-48 along with each of their subscales at both the time points. Effect size (ES) was calculated using Cohen's d coefficient. RESULTS Two hundred fifty-five patients completed the LVR program. Following LVR, the linear measures revealed significant improvements in vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) using the IVI at follow-up (P < 0.0001), with large ES for reading and accessing information (ES = 1.0) and relatively moderate ES for overall IVI (ES = 0.63) and mobility subscale (ES = 0.53). No significant improvement was found on emotional well-being subscale (ES = 0.18; P = 0.06). Similarly, significant improvements in VRQoL (P < 0.0001) were found for the VA LV VFQ-48 at follow-up, albeit moderate ES for the overall visual ability (ES = -0.67) and its subscales (reading [ES = -0.72], mobility [ES = -0.45], visual information [ES = -0.47), visual motor [ES = -0.54]). CONCLUSIONS Regardless of the instrument used for assessment, our multidisciplinary LVR program resulted in statistically significant improvements in visual functioning and VRQoL of those adults with LV deemed appropriate for intervention (dropout rates were high); however, the improvements were modest, and the clinical relevance of these small improvements may be limited. Nonetheless, further studies should attempt to increase the completion rates in order to draw strong inferences.
The Sexual Orientation Wage Gap: The Role of Human Capital, Occupational Choice, and Discrimination

In this paper, we explore the determinants of the sexual orientation wage differentials and why these differentials differ by gender. We utilize data from the 2000 U.S. Census to estimate log wage equations by sexual orientation and gender, and compare three alternative explanations for the wage differentials: discrimination, human capital differences, and occupational sorting. We find lesbian women earn more than their heterosexual counterparts irrespective of marital status while gay men earn less than their heterosexual (married and cohabitating) and married counterparts but more than their cohabitating counterparts. Using the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition we find that differences in human capital (particularly education) accumulation is the main reason behind the observed wage advantages, while discrimination and occupational sorting play a minimal role at best. Wage penalties, on the other hand, are largely explained by unobservable characteristics (i.e., discrimination). Interestingly, while we do find there are some differences in the relative roles of our three alternative explanations across the wage distribution using the DiNardo, Fortin, Lemieux decomposition, the main conclusions from the OaxacaBlinder decomposition persist.
Knowledge and practice of eating disorders among a group of adolescent dental patients.

OBJECTIVES The objectives are to ascertain how much is known about the eating disorders of bulimia and anorexia nervosa in a group of female adolescents, to determine if they had practiced behaviors consistent with these eating disorders, and to determine if there was a disconnect with actual and perceived healthy weight status. STUDY DESIGN 126 research subjects completed a survey instrument. Embedded in the eighteen question survey were the five "SCOFF" questions, to determine if an eating disorder may exist. The BMI percentile was obtained for all participants. RESULTS 18.3% of the research sample may have an eating disorder as predicted by the SCOFF questions. Of those with a suspected eating disorder, only 38% could correctly identify the best description of bulimia nervosa and 50% for anorexia nervosa. The BMI percentiles were higher in the group suspected of having an eating disorder CONCLUSIONS Young adolescent females are at risk for eating disorders. Educational interventions should be directed at this young age group. If the at-risk individuals knew more about the consequences of these disorders, they may be less likely to practice the behaviors.
Measurement of psychoactive drugs in the human brain in vivo by MR spectroscopy.

The success of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has led to considerable interest in MR spectroscopy (MRS) as a noninvasive probe of in vivo brain biochemistry for neuropsychiatric applications (1-3). Most work has used [ P]MRS and [H]MRS to measure relative concentrations of endogenous metabolites. [ P]MRS can probe tissue pH, energy metabolites such as phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate, and the precursors and degradation products of phospholipid metabolism (4). CHJMRS can measure certain metabolites ·of low molecular weight and amino acids such as choline, creatine, glutamate, and N-acetylaspartate. The last compound occurs primarily in nel)rons and appears to be a marker for neuronal depsity (5). The article by Gonzalez et al (6) in this issue of the Amerjcan Journal of Neuroradjofogy describes measurements of brain lithil! m (Li) concentrations in vivo using MRS and highlights the ability of MRS to monitor exogenous agents, an important feature that has received less attention than the use of MRS to measure endogenous metabolites in vivo.
Imaging in Renal Transplantation

Renal transplantation is the best treatment option for chronic renal failure, with marked improvement in social activity, work, and family life. In addition to these obvious improvements, it is an extremely cost-effective procedure when successful. Ultrasonography plays a major role in the imaging of these patients, and ultrasound (including color Doppler) is helpful to the transplant physician in detecting graft dysfunction and peritransplant collections, some of which may be drained under ultrasound guidance. It is also helpful in the diagnosis of chronic vascular complications including transplant artery stenosis and arteriovenous fistula. It has no specific application in the diagnosis of chronic rejection.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF A PITCHING NACA 0012 AIRFOIL Dipl

This paper describes the application of the noncommercial CFD-code FLOWer to the problem of a sinusoidally pitching NACA 0012 airfoil with high amplitude and reduced frequency under incompressible flow conditions. As FLOWer allows the approximate solution of the nonlinear conservation laws governing viscous fluid flow, i. e. the Navier-Stokes equations, a numerical investigation of the unsteady boundary layer separation occurring during such a motion becomes feasible. Employing FLOWer under the incompressible conditions that correspond to the regarded experimental regime required an extensive preliminary analysis of the numerical parameters imbedded into the code. Having been primarily developed for transonic flow, it was possible to adjust FLOWer to the incompressible flow problem after studying the behavior of its various mechanisms for accelerating convergence and increasing stability. The necessary methodology to obtain optimal parameter settings was developed by critically examining steady state solutions at low angles of attack. The knowledge gained from these cases was then applied to simulate the sinusoidal movement of the NACA 0012 airfoil. FLOWer’s accuracy in predicting the phenomena of the unsteady boundary layer separation was then assessed.
Prevalence and Associations of Post Stroke Depression

Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of post-stroke depression in Malaysia, and to determine the associated factors. Methods: The study subjects consisted of consecutive stroke admissions to the University Malaya Medical Centre between April to August, 2000 who were aged 18 years above. The patients were assessed 4 to 8 weeks after stroke. Major depression was determined using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM IV) criteria, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and functional disability was determined using Modified Rankin Scale. Site of stroke was determined from CT brain scans and clinically. Results: The prevalence of major depression was 36% based on DSM IV criteria. Major depression was associated with left hemisphere brain lesion (p=0.03), significant physical disability with Modified Rankin Scale >2 (p=0.004) and previous history of depression (p=0.04). Conclusions: Major depression is common 4-8 weeks after stroke among Malaysian patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of post-stroke depression in University Malaya Medical Centre and to investigate the associated factors. METHODS