Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Race/Ethnic Differences in Father Involvement in Two-Parent Families

This article examines the contribution of economic circumstances, neighborhood context, and cultural factors to explaining race/ethnic differences in fathering in two-parent families. Data come from the 1997 Child Development Supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a nationally representative sample of children younger than age 13. Black children’s fathers exhibit less warmth but monitor their children more, Hispanic fathers monitor their children less, and both minority groups exhibit more responsibility for child rearing than White fathers. Economic circumstances contribute to differences in paternal engagement and control, and neighborhood factors contribute to differences in warmth and responsibility. Cultural factors, such as intergenerational fathering and gender-role attitudes, contribute to explaining differences from Whites in control and responsibility on the part of both Blacks and Hispanics.
Susceptibility and resistance of various strains of Mycoplasma hyorhinis to antisera, polymyxins and low pH values.

SUMMARY: The growth of some strains of Mycoplasma hyorhinis on solid medium was inhibited by rabbit antisera incorporated in filter-paper discs. Other strains were resistant to the same antisera. Rings of precipitate were observed in the agar around the discs. The largest number of precipitation rings and the most intense ones occurred with antiserum-sensitive strains. The antiserum-sensitive strains were also more sensitive than the resistant strains to colistin and polymyxin B when these antibiotics were incorporated in paper discs. Colonies of antiserum-resistant strains developed on solid medium containing low concentrations of horse serum, while colonies of sensitive strains developed only on solid medium containing higher concentrations of serum. The growth of antiserum-sensitive strains, but not resistant ones, was suppressed on solid medium at pH 6·5. All these differences between sensitive and resistant strains were only expressed on solid medium; the phenomena were not observed when the organisms were grown in liquid medium. It is suggested that the differences between sensitive and resistant strains are due to changes in the composition of the mycoplasma membranes.
A prospective study of faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin in the monitoring of acute radiation proctitis in prostate cancer treatment

Objective. Acute radiation proctitis is a relevant complication of pelvic radiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate two markers of gut inflammation as non-invasive diagnostic tools to evaluate acute radiation proctitis. Material and methods. Twenty patients who underwent radiotherapy for prostate cancer took part in this prospective study. Radiation-induced toxicity was evaluated weekly during radiotherapy in compliance with the CTC toxicity criteria. Stool samples from patients were examined before treatment, weekly during radiotherapy and 2 weeks after the end of radiotherapy using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for calprotectin and lactoferrin and correlated with the CTC toxicity. Results. Calprotectin and lactoferrin faecal values increased significantly during radiation treatment and decreased about 2 weeks after cessation of radiation. Faecal concentrations of calprotectin and lactoferrin correlated with the documented radiation proctitis symptoms (all grades together) in 15/20 patients (75%). With respect to changes in faecal concentrations and correspondence to proctitis symptoms, both markers showed parallel results in 90% of the patients. On comparing calprotectin and lactoferrin concentrations between the 4th week of radiation and the 1st week, it was found that patients with any grade of toxicity exhibited a significantly higher increase in calprotectin (p=0.044) and lactoferrin (p=0.05), respectively, compared with those without toxicity. Conclusions. Calprotectin and lactoferrin faecal values changed during radiation treatment and after cessation of radiation, with correlation to acute proctitis symptoms in most of the patients. Before markers are used to monitor acute radiation proctitis, further experience should be acquired. Patients will be followed to determine the predictive value of the two tested markers for chronic radiation proctitis.
Prenatal care and pregnancy outcome in an HMO and general population: a multivariate cohort analysis.

We studied the use of prenatal care and pregnancy outcome in 4,148 deliveries among members of a well-established health maintenance organization (HMO) and 19,116 births among the 1973-1974 White birth cohort in the Portland, Oregon area. Mothers in the HMO were almost one year older on the average, slightly better educated, and less frequently unmarried, but had virtually identical past pregnancy histories when compared with the general population cohort. HMO members began prenatal care one month later and had three fewer visits than the general population (p less than .01); 78 per cent of the general population and only 64 per cent of HMO members began prenatal care in the first trimester (p less than .01). With maternal risk held constant, low birthweight, neonatal mortality, and infant mortality were 1.5 to 5 times greater with late, less frequent prenatal care than with early, frequent care. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a positive relationship between prenatal care and birthweight. Although this relationship was independent of risk factors recorded on birth certificates, it is not necessarily a causal relationship. Unadjusted prematurity, neonatal and infant mortality rates did not differ between the HMO and general populations. Multivariate analyses indicated that, independent of all maternal risk factors, HMO membership was associated with an increase of 30 grams in the predicted birthweight (P less than .01), but had no effect on mortality. The data suggest that, in Portland, Oregon, pregnancy outcome for HMO members is comparable to that of the general population.
What are the true origins of the smooth muscle cells ( SMCs ) present in the intimal lesions of transplant arteriosclerosis ?

What are the true origins of the smooth muscle cells (SMCs) present in the intimal lesions of transplant arteriosclerosis? A new study in the JCI shows that Sca-1+ cells purified from the mouse aortic root can migrate through an irradiated vein graft to the neointima of the vessel and transdifferentiate to express the early SMC differentiation marker gene SM22 (see the related article beginning on page 1258). Do Sca-1+ cells transdifferentiate into SMClike cells, or is activation of SMC marker genes a consequence of fusion of these cells with preexisting SMCs, a possibility raised by results of studies of adult stem cells in animal models of liver regeneration (see the related article beginning on page 1266)? Or could this be bona fide transdifferentiation that recapitulates the pathologic processes in humans?
The role of aerobic metabolism and intragel oxygen in hypoxia tolerance of three ctenophores: Pleurobrachia bachei, Bolinopsis infundibulum and Mnemiopsis leidyi

Ctenophores are important members of planktonic communities that are often abundant in dysaerobic environments. Previous studies have shown that ctenophores are not adversely affected by extended periods of hypoxia. The three species used in this study, Pleurobrachia bachei, Bolinopsis infundibulum, and Mnemiopsis leidyi, were all able to oxyregulate to very low partial pressures of oxygen (PO2s). These species were found to have mean critical oxygen tensions of 7.7, 10.6, and 7.2 hPa respectively. In general, ctenophores are better oxyregulators than medusae and many species of shrimps, fish and squid. Intragel oxygen was measured using a fibre optic oxygen optode. All these ctenophores have intragel subsurface [O2]s of 5–10% below that of the surrounding seawater. Intragel oxygen measurements of P. bachei showed a gradient of decreasing PO2 from surface tissues to the gut. Specimens of P. bachei over 14 mm in diameter had anaerobic guts. Survival times in anoxia ranged from 0 h for M. leidyi to up to 6 h for P. bachei. Ctenophores rely on aerobic metabolism to tolerate hypoxia.
Zika Getting on Your Nerves? The Association with the Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Parra and colleagues1 report in the Journal the results of a prospective study of 68 Colombian patients who had a syndrome consistent with the Guillain–Barre syndrome, 66 of whom had previously had symptoms of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Major strengths of this study include the documentation of a temporal relationship between the Guillain–Barre syndrome and ZIKV infection (marked by a substantial increase in the incidence of the Guillain–Barre syndrome after the introduction of ZIKV, from 20 to 90 cases per month throughout Colombia), the criteria applied for the diagnosis of the Guillain–Barre syndrome, and the molecular and serologic flavivirus data .
Normal-incidence InAs self-assembled quantum-dot infrared photodetectors with a high detectivity

An InAs/AlGaAs quantum-dot infrared photodetector based on bound-to-bound intraband transitions in undoped InAs quantum dots is reported. AlGaAs blocking layers were employed to achieve low dark current. The photoresponse peaked at 6.2 /spl mu/m. At 77 K and -0.7 V bias, the responsivity was 14 mA/W and the detectivity, D*, was 10/sup 10/ cm/spl middot/Hz/sup 1/2//W.
Can the Behaviour Abnormalities Induced by Gestational Stress in Rats be Prevented or Reversed?

Gestational stress increases circulating maternal hormones that produce changes in behaviour and impair the feedback regulation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis of the offspring. Prenatally-stressed (PS) rats also release more corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the limbic system in response to stimulation than controls. This contributes to their exaggerated fear of intimidating situations and depressive-like behaviour. By using different treatments given to the pregnant mother, to neonatal or adult offspring, it has been possible to learn more about the mechanisms underlying the behavioural abnormalities induced by gestational stress. Many of these treatments were also able to prevent or reverse the abnormalities. They included maternal adrenalectomy and replacement of her basal hormone levels to avoid the prolonged elevation of plasma corticosterone, administration of anti-anxiety agents to reduce her reactions to the stress and continuous blockade of opioid receptors to prevent down-regulation of the foetal opioid system and subsequent alterations in behaviour. Hyperanxiety in the adult PS offspring could also be avoided if, as neonates, they were handled daily for 10 days, or given an antidepressant, amitriptyline for 4-5 weeks in the prepubertal period. Increased fear of novelty in adult PS rats could also be abolished by the intracerebro-ventricular administration of a CRH antagonist. This suggests that the new non-peptide CRH1 receptor antagonists that enter the brain might provide an effective treatment for the behaviour abnormalities in the offspring arising as a result of gestational stress.
FreDist : Construction automatique d’un thésaurus distributionnel pour le Français (FreDist : Automatic construction of distributional thesauri for French)

Dans cet article, nous présentons FreDist, un logiciel libre pour la construction automatique de thésaurus distributionnels à partir de corpus de texte, ainsi qu’une évaluation des différents ressources ainsi produites. Suivant les travaux de (Lin, 1998) et (Curran, 2004), nous utilisons un corpus journalistique de grande taille et implémentons différentes options pour : le type de relation contexte lexical, la fonction de poids, et la fonction de mesure de similarité. Prenant l’EuroWordNet français et le WOLF comme références, notre évaluation révèle, de manière originale, que c’est l’approche qui combine contextes linéaires (ici, de type bigrammes) et contextes syntaxiques qui semble fournir le meilleur thésaurus. Enfin, nous espérons que notre logiciel, distribué avec nos meilleurs thésaurus pour le français, seront utiles à la communauté TAL.
HIV Infection Is Associated With Reduced Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity

Introduction:Prior studies comparing abnormalities in pulmonary function between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected persons in the current era are limited. Objectives:To determine the pattern and severity of impairment in pulmonary function in HIV-infected compared with HIV-uninfected individuals. Methods:Cross-sectional analysis of 300 HIV-infected men and 289 HIV-uninfected men enrolled from 2009 to 2011 in 2 clinical centers of the Lung HIV Study. Participants completed pre- and postbronchodilator spirometry, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) measurement, and standardized questionnaires. Results:Most participants had normal airflow; 18% of HIV-infected and 16% of HIV-uninfected men had airflow obstruction. The mean percent predicted DLCO was 69% in HIV-infected vs. 76% in HIV-uninfected men (P < 0.001). A moderately to severely reduced DLCO of ⩽60% was observed in 30% of HIV-infected compared with 18% of HIV-uninfected men (P < 0.001), despite the fact that 89% of those with HIV were on antiretroviral therapy. A reduced DLCO was significantly associated with HIV and CD4 cell count in linear regression adjusting for smoking and other confounders. The DLCO was lowest in HIV-infected men with CD4 cell counts <200 cells per microliter compared with those with CD4 cell counts ≥200 cells per microliter and to HIV-uninfected men. Respiratory symptoms of cough, phlegm and dyspnea were more prevalent in HIV-infected patients particularly those with abnormal pulmonary function compared with HIV-uninfected patients. Conclusions:HIV infection is an independent risk factor for reduced DLCO, particularly in individuals with a CD4 cell count below 200 cells per microliter. Abnormalities in pulmonary function among HIV-infected patients manifest clinically with increased respiratory symptoms. Mechanisms accounting for the reduced DLCO require further evaluation.
Conflict Management Styles among Employees of Sino-American, Sino-French, and State-owned Enterprises in China

Building on Rahim and Bonoma’s conflict management model, this study examines conflict management styles in Sino-American, Sino-French, and state-owned enterprises in Mainland China. Through a probability survey of 374 subjects from Sino-American and Sino-French enterprises, and 150 employees from state-owned enterprises in Guangdong Province, China, this study found that Chinese in foreign-invested enterprises and state-owned enterprises do not differ from each other in conflict management styles such as avoiding, compromising, obliging, integrating, and dominating; the same is true for American and French employees. However, Chinese and Westerners did differ from each other in most conflict styles. The study confirms that Chinese tend to be more avoiding than Western employees in conflict management regardless of organiza-tional environment, and that both Westerners and Chinese have the same tendency of adopting compromising style.
Antecedent of HR Competencies and Job Performance: Required IT Competencies for HR Professional in Digital Era

This study assimilated IT and HR literatures to investigate the relationships between IT competencies, HR competencies, and job performance for HR professionals. Drawing on a sample of 122 HR professionals from 8 financial service companies in Taiwan, our results show that IT competencies and HR competencies are positively and significantly associated with job performance, and HR competencies partially mediate the relationship between IT competencies and job performance at the individual level. Further, the study also support for IT competencies as a determinant of HR competencies and job performance. The theoretical and managerial implications and contributions of these findings are discussed.
ARLTS1 Trp149Stop mutation and the risk of ovarian cancer.

To the Editor: In a recent report, Petrocca et al. ( [1][1]) provided data on involvement of the ARLTS1 ( ARL11 ) gene alterations in development of both ovarian and breast cancers. The authors clearly showed the tumor-suppressor function of ARLTS1 in ovarian cancer and the biological importance
Two single-tube tetra-primer assays to detect the CYP2C19*2 and *3 alleles of S-mephenytoin hydroxylase.

Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) metabolizes several therapeutic agents, such as S -mephenytoin, omeprazole, propranolol, and imipramine. Interindividual differences in CYP2C19 activity divide the population into extensive metabolizers and poor metabolizers (PMs). PMs may suffer adverse effects when treated with a routine clinical dose of a drug inactivated by CYP2C19 or may not gain therapeutic benefit from prodrugs activated by CYP2C19. For example, the antimalarial drug proguanil is administered as the prodrug and requires activation by CYP2C19. PMs were found to totally lack the active metabolite cycloguanil in their plasma and are at risk for failed protection from plasmodium infection by proguanil (1)(2). The PM phenotype occurs in 2–5% of Caucasians and Africans and 10–23% of Orientals (3). Seven alleles have been described in the CYP2C19 gene that produce an inactive CYP2C19 enzyme; however, two alleles account for the majority of the PM phenotypes. The CYP2C192 and the CYP2C193 alleles are found in ∼87% of PMs in Caucasians and ∼98% of PMs in Orientals (4). CYP2C192 is the most prevalent PM allele, with a G-to-A nucleotide substitution in exon 5, which produces an aberrant splice site (5). CYP2C193 is found mainly in Orientals, with a G-to-A nucleotide substitution at position 636 in exon 4, which produces a premature stop codon (6). Several methods based on PCR amplification of the CYP2C19 locus are used to genotype the PM alleles. The most widely used methods are restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis (7)(8) and allele-specific amplification (ASA) (9). However, ASA and RFLP include transfer steps that increase hands-on time and the chance of contamination or confusion of samples. To decrease hands-on time and to facilitate genotyping of the CYP2C19 alleles that predict the majority of …
Knowledge , attitude and perception of water pipe smoking ( Shisha ) among adolescents aged 14-19 years

Objective: To compare cost of treating hyperthyroidism with antithyroid medications (ATD) versus radioactive iodine (RAI). As secondary outcome we also analyzed data in terms of remission rates. Methods: This was a retrospective comparative analysis of hyperthyroid patients treated with ATD or RAI from January 2000 to December 2005. Cost of ATD, TSH. FT4, doctors visits; thyroid technetium scan and RAI treatment were calculated for the duration of treatment and for one year of follow-up after remission. Results: A total of 143 patients were included, with an average duration of follow-up of 32 months. Mean age was 41 ± 15.5 years and M: F' ratio was 1: 2. More expenses were incurred in treating patients with ATD (Rs. 28,900 ± 15 400 or US$ 481.67 ± 256.67) than with RAI (Rs.l8.800± 15800 or US$313.33± 263.33). The former cost Rs.l0,100 (US$ 168.33) more, (p< 0.001; 95%). Remission rate in the RAI group were significantly higher than the ATD group (81.3% vs 49.5%, p=0.006). Conclusion: Treatment of hyperthyroid patients with RAI is not only better in terms of remission of disease, but it is also a more cost effective modality, and should be considered as first line of treatment (JPMA 58:309;2008).
Intra‐individual variability and influence of urine collection period on dextromethorphan metabolic ratios in healthy subjects

Abstract— The aim of the study was to evaluate intra‐individual variability in metabolic ratios (MRs) of dextromethorphan (DM) in healthy volunteers and to compare the MRs in urine collected 0–4, 0–8 and 0–24 h post‐dose. Urinary molar ratios of DM to dextrorphan (MR1) and of DM to methoxymorphinan (MR2) were obtained after a single oral 27.5 mg dose of DM hydrobromide to ten healthy male and four female Caucasians (ten extensive metabolizers (EM) and four poor metabolizers (PM) of DM) to probe activities of CYP2D6 and CYP3A, respectively. Seven EM and one PM received DM on three additional occasions within 2 months. For the seven EM, the intra‐individual variability (CVW) in the MRs obtained in the three urine collections ranged from 11 to 93% (MR1) and from 8 to 77% (MR2). The mean CVW estimated separately for the 4, 8 and 24 h urines by two‐way analysis of variance reached 58, 57 and 44% for the MR1 and 50, 42 and 31% for the MR2, respectively. For all 14 subjects, the log‐transformed ratios (MR1) obtained in the 24 h urines were highly correlated with those in either the 8 h (rs = 0.967, P <0.0001) or 4 h urines (rs = 0.946, P <0.0001). Correlation between the log‐transformed MR2s were weaker (24 h vs. 8 h: rs = 0.829, P <0.0001, 24 h vs. 4 h: rs = 0.831, P <0.0001). The MRIs in 4 h and 8 h urines were only 2 and 9% less than those in 24 h urines (median differences) and varied from 48 and 47% below to 85 and 55% above (95% –CI for the differences). However, the MR2s in the 4 h and 8 h urines were shifted towards higher values by 49 and 23% and the corresponding 95% –CI limits were: 16–164% (4 h vs. 24 h) and 30–119% (8 h vs. 24 h). In conclusion, MR1 values in the 4 h urine collection agree well with those in longer collections and their use in epidemiological studies can be recommended. The intra‐individual variability of approximately 50% in the MR1 has to be taken into account in clinical studies with within‐subject design. Accurate determination of the MR2 requires at least a 24 h period of urine collection.
Care Coordination/Home-Telehealth for Veterans with Stroke and Their Caregivers: Addressing an Unmet Need

Abstract Background: Stroke is a life-disrupting, costly event for many stroke patients and their families. An estimated 4.8 million stroke survivors are living in the community with some level of disability, and the incidence of stroke is expected to rise with correspondingly higher costs, both in dollars and other forms of burden for families of patients with stroke. Approximately 80,000 veterans have experienced a stroke, leaving approximately 40% with moderate residual impairments and 15%–30% with severe residual disability. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify postdischarge needs of veterans with stroke and their caregivers and to identify how to design a care coordination/home-telehealth (CC/HT) program to address these needs. Method: Veterans and their caregivers (N = 22) were interviewed about their experiences with stroke, their postdischarge stroke recovery needs, and their experiences with the Veterans Administration’s existing Care Coordination/Home-Telehealth (CC/HT) program. Data were analyzed using the process of grounded dimensional analysis. Results: Core concepts identified were (a) assessing and managing the residual effects of stroke, and (b) shifting roles and responsibilities. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a comprehensive care coordination program that includes home telehealth could aid veterans and their caregivers in managing stroke recovery across the continuum of care at home and within the community. The results of the study can provide elements to be included in the CC/HT program.
Muscle carnitine palmityltransferase deficiency: A case with enzyme deficiency in cultured fibroblasts

A further case of carnitine palmityltransferase (CPT) deficiency in a young man is described, the defect being documented by direct enzyme assays of muscle biopsies. The finding of markedly reduced enzyme activity in the patient's cultured fibroblasts supports the concept that CPT deficiency is a systemic rather than an exclusively muscular condition.