Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scientific Realism: Between Platonism and Nominalism

In this paper, I discuss the prospects of nominalistic scientific realism (NSR) and show that it fails on many counts. In section 2, I discuss what is required for NSR to get off the ground. In section 3, I question the idea that theories have well-defined nominalistic content and the idea that causal activity is a necessary condition for commitment to the reality of an entity. In section 4, I challenge the notion of nominalistic adequacy of theories.
Hepatitis B Sero-prevalence and Risk Factors Among School-age Children in a Low Socioeconomic Community, Bangkok

A cross-sectional study of 165 school-age children who had no history of HBV vaccination was carried out in a low socioeconomic community of Din-Daeng, Bangkok. Blood specimens were collected for determination of HBV seromarkers (HBsAg, Anti-HBs and Anti-HBc) by EIA commercial kits. The results showed that the prevalence of HBV seromarkers was 24.85%, the HBsAg carrier rate was 3.64%, the anti-HBs positive rate was 15.15%, and the prevalence of only anti-HBc was 6.06%. To investigate factors associated with the positivity of HBV seromarkers, children were divided into two groups-the first group consisted of 41 children with HBV seromarkers and the second consisted of 124 children without HBV seromarkers. The study variables between the two groups were compared and analysed. The results revealed that factors associated with HBV positivity were (a) child factors: child's age, child's sex, ear piercing in female, sharing blade during haircutting, contact wound from other persons, using wares with other persons, searching things in garbage, and (b) family factors: older parent, low education in parent, low family income per month, low parent's knowledge and attitude about HBV infection and vaccination, (P < 0.05). After using stepwise regression analysis, the factor of ear piercing in female was only one significant variable (P = 0.007).
Implementation of NHS Health Checks in general practice: variation in delivery between practices and practitioners

Aim To evaluate NHS Health Check implementation in terms of frequency of data recording, advice provided, referrals to community-based lifestyle support services, statin prescribing and new diagnoses, and to assess variation in these aspects between practices and health professionals involved in delivery. Background Most NHS Health Checks are delivered by general practices, but little detail is known about the extent of variation in how they are delivered in different practices and by different health professionals. Methods This was an observational study conducted in a purposively selected sample of 13 practices in Sefton, North West England. Practices used previously recorded information from their clinical management systems to identify patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk ⩾20%, a potentially cost-effective approach. The evaluation was conducted during the first year of delivery in Sefton. Data were extracted from medical records of all patients identified, regardless of Health Check attendance. Findings Of the 2892 patients identified by the 13 practices, 1070 had received an NHS Health Check at the time of the study. Of these, only 936 (87.5%) had a recorded CVD risk score, with risk ⩾20% confirmed in 92.0%. Estimated risk category was correct in 456/677 (67.4%) of patients with estimated and actual risk scores. Significant variation was found between practices and health professionals in parameters recorded, tests requested, advice given and referrals for lifestyle support. Only 45.3% of patients had body mass index, smoking, alcohol, exercise, blood pressure and cholesterol all recorded. Lifestyle advice and referral into lifestyle services were documented in 80.6% and 6.4% of attenders, respectively, again with significant variation between practices and professionals. Statin prescribing rose in attenders from 19.6% to 34.6%. A similar proportion of attenders and non-attenders received new diagnoses. Conclusion Effort is required to reduce variation in how practices deliver and follow-up NHS Health Checks, to ensure the consistency of the programme.
Cartographie vasculaire et fonctionnelle du cerveau par échographie Doppler ultrarapide chez le petit animal et le nouveau-né

Ces travaux de these portent sur l'application du Doppler Ultrarapide a l'imagerie du reseau vasculaire cerebral. Tout d'abord nous avons augmente sensibilite et robustesse face aux artefacts grâce a une nouvelle technique de traitement du signal basee sur la decomposition en valeurs singulieres pour supprimer le signal de tissu. Ensuite, ce gain en sensibilite a ete mis a profit dans le developpement d'une methode de reconstruction 3D des reseaux vasculaires baptisee UFD-T (pour tomographie par Doppler Ultrarapide). Cette technique ete appliquee a l'imagerie du reseau vasculaire des tumeurs chez un modele murin et du cerveau chez le rat. Le Doppler ultrarapide permet aussi une quantification precise des vitesses en tout point du champ de vue. Cela a ete mis a profit pour construire une cartographie parametrique de la resistivite vasculaire par Doppler Ultrarapide et reveler les anormalites hemodynamiques cerebrales dans un modele de reanimation apres arret cardiaque chez le lapin, avec ou sans hypothermie therapeutique ultrarapide apres cette reanimation. Chez le nouveau-ne, le Doppler Ultrarapide permet d'une part une description anatomique des vaisseaux cerebraux de bien meilleure qualite que le Doppler couleur conventionnel, et d'autre part la cartographie de la resistivite cerebrale. Enfin, nous avons pu obtenir de premiers resultats en imagerie fonctionnelle sur le nouveau-ne, notamment au cours de crise epileptiques. Ces travaux montrent qu'en changeant legerement la pratique radiologique de l'imagerie ultrasonore, celle-ci pourrait devenir une modalite de suivi et d'exploration fonctionnelle en reanimation neonatale et en pediatrie au meme titre que l'EEG.
Memory Formation: The Sequence of Biochemical Events in the Hippocampus and Its Connection to Activity in Other Brain Structures

Recent data have demonstrated a biochemical sequence of events in the rat hippocampus that is necessary for memory formation of inhibitory avoidance behavior. The sequence initially involves the activation of three different types of glutamate receptors followed by changes in second messengers and biochemical cascades led by enhanced activity of protein kinases A, C, and G and calcium-calmodulin protein kinase II, followed by changes in glutamate receptor subunits and binding properties and increased expression of constitutive and inducible transcription factors. The biochemical events are regulated early after training by hormonal and neurohumoral mechanisms related to alertness, anxiety, and stress, and 3-6 h after training by pathways related to mood and affect. The early modulation is mediated locally by GABAergic, cholinergic, and noradrenergic synapses and by putative retrograde synaptic messengers, and extrinsically by the amygdala and possibly the medial septum, which handle emotional components of memories and are direct or indirect sites of action for several hormones and neurotransmitters. The late modulation relies on dopamine D1, beta-noradrenergic, and 5HT1A receptors in the hippocampus and dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and serotoninergic pathways. Evidence indicates that hippocampal activity mediated by glutamate AMPA receptors must persist during at least 3 h after training in order for memories to be consolidated. Probably, this activity is transmitted to other areas, including the source of the dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and serotoninergic pathways, and the entorhinal and posterior parietal cortex. The entorhinal and posterior parietal cortex participate in memory consolidation minutes after the hippocampal chain of events starts, in both cases through glutamate NMDA receptor-mediated processes, and their intervention is necessary in order to complete memory consolidation. The hippocampus, amygdala, entorhinal cortex, and parietal cortex are involved in retrieval in the first few days after training; at 30 days from training only the entorhinal and parietal cortex are involved, and at 60 days only the parietal cortex is necessary for retrieval. Based on observations on other forms of hippocampal plasticity and on memory formation in the chick brain, it is suggested that the hippocampal chain of events that underlies memory formation is linked to long-term storage elsewhere through activity-dependent changes in cell connectivity.
Investigation of Circadian Rhythms in Peak Power and Mean Power of Female Physical Education Students

The aim of this investigation was to establish if there were characteristic circadian rhythms in peak power and mean power. Thirteen female physical education undergraduate students, aged from 18-21 years, were measured for peak power and mean power (Wingate Anaerobic Test) at four time points: 0300, 0900, 1500, and 2100 hours. Peak power was defined as the highest mechanical power that is elicited during a 5-sec period and mean power was defined as the average power that is sustained throughout a 30-s period. A significant circadian rhythm was found for the peak power (F = 3.22, p = 0.030). The mean peak power at 1500 h was about 7% higher (p < .05) than at 0300 h. Also a tendency to circadian rhythm was observed in mean power (F = 3.99, p = 0.01) being about 16% and 15% higher respectively (p < 0.05) at 1500 h and 2100 h than at 0300 h. Based upon the particular protocol used, it was concluded that there are characteristic circadian rhythms in peak power and mean power.
Factors affecting the voluntary intake of food by cows

Earlier experiments in this series (Campling, Freer & Balch, 1961, 1962) provided direct evidence that the voluntary intake by cows of hay, oat straw or oat straw with urea was related to the relative rates of disappearance from the reticulo-rumen of digesta derived from these foods. We suggested that this relationship was regulated in such a way that there was a critical amount of digesta in the reticulo-rumen at some time in relation to the time of feeding. We observed in our experiments that when the cows ceased eating different roughages, there were different amounts of digesta in the reticulo-rumen but that these amounts were such that they were reduced to about the same level immediately before the next meal. In this respect our results differed from the general concept of Blaxter, Wainman & Wilson (1961) of the regulation of the intake of roughages, which was based on estimates showing that the amount of digesta in the digestive tract after feeding was the same with different roughages offered ad lib. However, it is possible that the voluntary intake of some roughages might be regulated more by the limited capacity of the reticulo-rumen during a meal than by their rate of disappearance from this organ. The situation might bc expected to occur with roughages having a faster mean rate of disappearance from the reticulo-rumen than those used in our earlier experiments. Measurements of fill with such foods might, therefore, be more in agreement with the suggestions of Blaxter et al. (1961). In the work described here we have examined this possibility by comparing hay and artificially dried grass with respect to the relationship between the voluntary intake of food, the amount of digesta in the reticulo-rumen and the rate of disappearance of the digesta. We have studied this relationship also with a diet of concentrates alone to provide comparative measurements with a food which, although disappearing rapidly from the alimentary tract, is probably not limited in its intake by the physical capacity of the reticulo-rumen.
Relational stressors as predictors for repeat aggressive and self-harming incidents in child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient settings

Abstract This study examined whether relational stressors such as psychosocial stressors, the therapist’s absence and a change of therapist are associated with repeat aggressive or self-harming incidents in child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient care. The study data were derived from critical incident reports and chart reviews of 107 inpatients. In multinomial regression analysis, patients with repeat aggressive or self-harming incidents were compared with patients with single incidents. Results suggested that a higher number of psychosocial stressors and a change of therapist, but not the therapist’s absence are predictors for repeat aggressive and self-harming incidents. There was a high prevalence of therapist’s absence during both, single and repeat, incidents. Repeat aggressive incidents were common in male children and adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders. Repeat self-harming incidents were common in adolescent females with trauma-related disorders. Patients with repeat aggressive or self-harming incidents had a higher number of abnormal intrafamilial relationships and acute life events than patients with single incidents. Interventions to reduce a change of therapist should in particular target children and adolescents with a higher number of psychosocial stressors and/or a known history of traumatic relational experiences. After a first incident, patients should have a psychosocial assessment to evaluate whether additional relational support is needed.
Discriminative sensory dysfunction after unilateral stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Although sensory deficits caused by stroke have been reported occasionally, dysfunction of discriminative sensation has seldom been studied in patients with unilateral stroke. The frequency and modality of bilaterally impaired discriminative sensation also remain to be clarified. METHODS With the use of specifically designed methods, we tested discriminative sensations including texture discrimination, two-point discrimination, stereognosis, point localization, and position sense in 67 patients with acute unilateral stroke. The locations of the lesions were identified with the use of CT and/or MRI. Thirty-two age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were used as a control. RESULTS Impaired discriminative sensation was common in patients with unilateral stroke (detected in 57 of the 67 patients) regardless of lesion location except for patients with lateral medullary infarction. Discriminative sensation remained intact in only 3 of 25 patients who were initially diagnosed as having pure motor stroke on the basis of conventional sensory tests. Point localization and stereognosis were bilaterally impaired in 17 of 39 patients and 7 of 38 patients, respectively, regardless of the laterality of the lesion. Dysfunction of other sensory modalities was observed exclusively on the side contralateral to the lesion. CONCLUSIONS Discriminative sensory disturbances, which often occur bilaterally in some modalities, are common in patients with unilateral stroke even in those with intact sensory function on routine examination. The subtle disturbances of this sensation may explain, at least in part, the clumsiness of the patients that is not readily explained by conventional neurological tests.
"Stack Them High, Let 'em Fly": Lot-Sizing Policies When Inventories Stimulate Demand

In some retail contexts, stocking large quantities of inventory may not only improve service levels, but can also stimulate demand. For products having demand rates that increase with inventory levels, we analyze the effect of stocking decisions on firm profitability to develop managerial insights regarding the structure of the optimal inventory policy, and to understand how this policy differs from traditional approaches. When inventories stimulate demand, iteratively applying the standard economic order quantity (EOQ) model--by setting the demand rate parameter equal to the observed average demand rate in prior cycles--yields an equilibrium order quantity that is robust to demand parameter misestimation, but is suboptimal. The profit-maximizing policy orders larger quantities, and can replenish inventory even before on-hand stock fully depletes. Using an extension of a standard inventory-dependent demand model from the literature, we first provide a convenient characterization of products that require early replenishment. We demonstrate that the optimal cycle time is largely governed by the conventional trade-off between ordering and holding costs, whereas the reorder point relates to a promotions-oriented cost-benefit perspective. We show that the optimal policy yields significantly higher profits than cost-based inventory policies, underscoring the importance of profit-driven inventory management.
Pathologic expression of MHC class II is driven by mitogen‐activated protein kinases

The class II transactivator (CIITA) is the master regulator of MHC class II molecules (MHC II). In melanoma, the MHC II are constitutively expressed due to an abnormal transcription of CIITA from its promoter III (pIII), and requires the presence of a 1‐kb enhancer located upstream from this latter. Since mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) have been shown to be activated in most melanomas, we sought to analyze their possible involvement in CIITA expression. Using chemical inhibitors and dominant‐negative constructs of MAPK‐ERK kinase (Mek1) and MAPK‐JNK, we evidenced the inhibition of MHC II and CIITA expression in melanoma cell lines displaying activated MAPK. Transcriptional regulation by MAPK is known to involve the AP‐1 transcription factor family. Sequence analysis revealed an AP‐1‐responsive motif in the enhancer of CIITA pIII at –5954/–5947 from the site of transcription initiation. Its mutagenesis reduced CIITA expression four‐ to fivefold in melanoma cell lines and alleviated the effect of dominant‐negative constructs of the MAPK pathway. Together, our findings demonstrate that MAPK‐ERK and MAPK‐JNK are regulators of CIITA transcription in melanoma, and pinpoint an AP‐1‐responsive site in the CIITA gene pIII. This should have considerable impact on our understanding of the physio‐pathologic expression of MHC II.
Pediatric Environmental Health: Perceptions from a Survey Questionnaire

Abstract To expand the base of knowledge regarding perceptions about potential environmental threats to children's health, a survey was conducted in the Northwest United States. Samples of Head Start parents, PTA presidents, public health officials, school nurses, naturopathic physicians, family practitioners, and pediatricians were mailed a questionnaire inquiring into the nature and degree of concerns about pediatric environmental health. The response rate was 24%. Trends in the data showed disparities in perceptions regarding levels of concern and exposure concerns between respondent categories. Disparities also existed regarding information resources used for children's environmental health. Recognizing differences in perceptions of children's environmental health, as demonstrated in these results, may be useful for risk communication and resource allocation, especially in the context of the wide variety of health belief models. Such knowledge may help clarify situations with environmental health risk concerns, including clinical, public health, and educational circumstances.
Effectors of Demyelination and Remyelination in the CNS: Implications for Multiple Sclerosis

Most of the research on multiple sclerosis (MS) has focused on the early events that trigger demyelination and subsequent remyelination. Less attention has been given to the factors that directly mediate the demyelination that is the hallmark of the disease. Effector cells or molecules are those factors directly responsible for mediating the damage in the disease. Similarly, there are effector molecules that are critical for remyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). By understanding those effector molecules in demyelination and remyelination that directly influence the pathologic process, we should be able to generate specific therapies with the greatest potential for benefiting MS patients. This review focuses on effector cells and molecules that are critical for demyelination and remyelination in MS but also in experimental models of the disease including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), virus‐induced models of demyelination (Theiler’s virus, murine hepatitis virus), and toxic models of demyelination (lysolecithin, ethidium bromide, and cuprizone). These are models in which the effector molecules for demyelination and remyelination have been most precisely evaluated.
Early inflammation and dementia: A 25‐year follow‐up of the Honolulu‐Asia aging study

Inflammatory responses are associated with cardiovascular disease and may be associated with dementing disease. We evaluated the long‐term prospective association between dementia and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, a nonspecific marker of inflammation. Data are from the cohort of Japanese American men who were seen in the second examination of the Honolulu Heart Program (1968–1970) and subsequently were reexamined 25 years later for dementia in the Honolulu‐Asia Aging Study (1991–1996). In a random subsample of 1,050 Honolulu‐Asia Aging Study cases and noncases, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein concentrations were measured from serum taken at the second examination; dementia was assessed in a clinical examination that included neuroimaging and neuropsychological testing and was evaluated using international criteria. Compared with men in the lowest quartile (<0.34mg/L) of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, men in the upper three quartiles had a 3‐fold significantly increased risk for all dementias combined, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia. For vascular dementia, the risk increased with increasing quartile. These relations were independent of cardiovascular risk factors and disease. These data support the view that inflammatory markers may reflect not only peripheral disease, but also cerebral disease mechanisms related to dementia, and that these processes are measurable long before clinical symptoms appear.
Differential Expression Of Cell Surface Proteins In Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cultured With Or Without Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Containing Medium

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells, which have the capability to differentiate into various mesenchymal tissues such as bone, cartilage, fat, tendon, muscle, and marrow stroma. However, they lose the capability of multi‐lineage differentiation after several passages. It is known that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) increases growth rate, differentiation potential, and morphological changes of MSCs in vitro. In this report, we have used 2‐DE coupled to MS to identify differentially expressed proteins at the cell membrane level in MSCs growing in bFGF containing medium. The cell surface proteins isolated by the biotin–avidin affinity column were separated by 2‐DE in triplicate experiments. A total of 15 differentially expressed proteins were identified by quadrupole‐time of flight tandem MS. Nine of the proteins were upregulated and six proteins were downregulated in the MSCs cultured with bFGF containing medium. The expression level of three actin‐related proteins, F‐actin‐capping protein subunit alpha‐1, actin‐related protein 2/3 complex subunit 2, and myosin regulatory light chain 2, was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The results indicate that the expression levels of F‐actin‐capping protein subunit alpha‐1, actin‐related protein 2/3 complex subunit 2, and myosin regulatory light chain 2 are important in bFGF‐induced morphological change of MSCs.