Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colchicine versus prednisone as treatment of usual interstitial pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE To assess the results with colchicine and prednisone as initial single-drug therapy in patients with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). MATERIAL AND METHODS We reviewed the serial pulmonary function test results in 22 patients with typical clinical and high-resolution computed tomographic features of UIP who were treated with colchicine as initial single-agent therapy and compared them with a group of 22 historical patients with UIP of similar severity diagnosed by open-lung biopsy who were given prednisone as initial single-drug therapy. RESULTS No significant difference was detected in the rate of decline of pulmonary function or in the time to "failure" between the two study groups. A trend was suggested for more rapid decline of pulmonary function in the prednisone-treated than in the colchicine-treated group. The design of this study does not allow distinction between a possible beneficial effect of colchicine and a possible adverse effect related to weaning from high-dose prednisone. Colchicine was well tolerated; few side effects other than mild diarrhea were noted in those patients able to take the drug long enough to return for pulmonary function testing at 3 months. In comparison, the side effects of prednisone were more serious and were not always reversible with cessation of therapy. CONCLUSION This study lends further support to the assumption that colchicine may be a satisfactory and less hazardous substitute for prednisone in the treatment of patients with UIP.
Primary caregiver perceptions of intake cessation in patients who are terminally Ill.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To explore the meaning of nutrition cessation in adult in-home hospice patients with cancer as described by women primary caregivers during the first year of bereavement. SETTING In-home hospice in the northeastern region of the United States. SAMPLE Twelve English-speaking adult women who had cared for patients who were terminally III with cancer who ceased oral intake. DESIGN Qualitative phenomenologic inquiry. METHOD Verbatim written transcripts of semistructured interviews were studied line by line to identify themes. Shared themes emerged through ongoing comparison across cases. FINDINGS Within the framework of transition, seven essential themes emerged: The Meaning of Food, Caregiver as Sustainer, Concurrent Losses, Personal Responses, Ceasing to Be--"Starved to Death," Being Bereaved--The Meaning Now, and Paradox. Patient changes in intake patterns and caregiver actions to encourage intake were described. Decreasing intake led to ongoing and spiraling losses. Caregiver intake patterns also changed. CONCLUSIONS Caregivers believed that patient-nutrition cessation was naturally occurring and not physically painful. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Sensitized nurses can look for the presence of the phenomenon in cancer caregiving families and open dialogue. Anticipatory guidance can serve to normalize the situation and ease the transition. Future research should focus on what nurses know and what they share with families regarding intake cessation. Research with caregivers could address values clarification, decision making, knowledge needed for caregiving, the perceptions of caregiving men, and caregivers of diverse cultures. More research conducted with patients ceasing intake is needed to determine whether and to what degree patients suffer.
Impact of season and discharge weight on complications and growth of Kangaroo Mother Care treated low birthweight infants in Mozambique

This study aimed to determine the impact of season and weight at discharge on growth rate and complications in low birthweight infants treated with Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in Maputo, Mozambique. The study population included 246 infants of birthweight < 2000 g. Follow‐up until 2400 g was obtained in 64%. There were no seasonal differences in weight gain and the risk of complications of infants treated with KMC in hospital. During the cold season after discharge, the risk of serious complications, including death, was higher (risk ratio 1.96; p= 0:02) and more readmissions occurred (risk ratio 2.77; p= 0:04). We postulate that after discharge mothers are unable to comply with the kangaroo position at all hours of the day and that exposure to low ambient temperatures may explain the more frequent occurrence of complications in the cold season. The weight at discharge did not affect complications or growth rate. We conclude that the current policy to discharge infants when having gained weight on 3 consecutive days, regardless of the actual weight, or whether the weight at birth has been regained, is adequate. In the cold season particularly, more efforts may be needed to ensure compliance with kangaroo position after discharge and to educate mothers on early signs of complications such as bronchopneumonia to encourage timely care seeking. With this method, low birthweight infants can grow adequately.
Dynamic Pricing on the Internet: Importance and Implications for Consumer Behavior

The pricing of products and services sold over the Internet channel is becoming more dynamic. In part this is due to the increasing use of auction models in business and consumer markets to sell commodities, excess inventories, used merchandise, rare items collectibles, and other items. Marketers are resorting to dynamic prices even for goods and services sold at posted prices, spurred partly by the lower menu cost of changing prices on the Internet and partly as a response to consumer use of price-comparison bots. This paper explains the relevance of dynamic pricing in the digital economy by comparing the physical value chain with the virtual-information-based value chain. It explores the implications of certain aspects of dynamic pricing in consumer markets (e.g., dynamic pricing of posted prices, reverse auction pricing of goods and services as used by Priceline) from the perspective of consumer price expectations, the role of information and consumer learning, and their impact on consumer responses to prices across different product categories. Several propositions are developed, and issues for research are identified.
Processing and Storage in Working Memory Span

Two experiments are reported that address theoretical assumptions as to the nature of working memory involved in working memory span tasks (Daneman & Carpenter, 1980). Experiment 1 used a version of the sentence span task, and Experiment 2 combined arithmetic verification with recall of presented words. In each experiment, working memory processing span was assessed independently of temporary storage span prior to their combination. Combined task performance under high demand for each component resulted in substantial residual performance for both task elements, particularly in Experiment 2. The results do not challenge the utility of the sentence span task as a measure of on-line cognition, but they raise concerns as to how resource might be allocated to processing and storage elements of the task within a single flexible resource pool, or between different resources of a multiple component working memory system. Although both models lack predictive power regarding resource allocation in these tasks, the multiple resource model appears to offer the better account.
Immunoprophylaxis in Guinea Pigs with Mycobacterium indicus pranii (Mw) in Combination with Standard Chemotherapy of M. tuberculosis Infection ImprovesLung Pathology

Tuberculosis continues to be a major global health problem. BCG (Bacillus Calmette–Guerin) has been used as a vaccine to control tuberculosis, however, the protective value of the vaccine has been reported be highly variable across different populations. During the last three decades, several workers have investigated the potential of protective efficacy of Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP or Mw) against mycobacterial infections (leprosy and tuberculosis) which has been used as an immunoprophylactic tool and also as an adjunct to chemotherapy. The present study, reports the beneficial effect of prior immunization with MIP in terms of improvement in histopathological findings and reduction of bacterial burden, as augmenter to the effects of chemotherapy in experimental tuberculosis.
Extrinsic base optimization for high-performance RF SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors

A comprehensive study on the effect of extrinsic base optimization on the RF performance of an advanced SiGe HBT is presented. An optimized extrinsic poly base with its interface to the epi-base passivated by boron ions is demonstrated to enhance the f/sub max/ and the current gain almost two times and to reduce the low-frequency 1/f noise ten times and noise figure (NF) 0.5 dB, achieving f/sub max/ of 45 GHz, 1/f noise corner frequency of 700 Hz at I/sub B/=1.0 /spl mu/A, NF/spl les/1.0 dB at 900 MHz. Early voltage V/sub A/ of /spl ges/200 V is achieved, while maintaining a BV/sub CEO/ of /spl ges/8.0 V.
Chronic sinusitis. Relationship of computed tomographic findings to allergy, asthma, and eosinophilia.

OBJECTIVE To develop a technique for evaluating the severity of chronic sinus disease and to examine the correlation with allergy, asthma, and eosinophilia. DESIGN A survey of 104 patients undergoing surgery for chronic sinusitis. SETTING A university hospital ear, nose, and throat clinic. PATIENTS A referral population of adult patients being scheduled for endoscopic sinus surgery was eligible; 104 completed questionnaires and agreed to participate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Computed tomographic scans were reviewed and scored for extent of disease. Serum samples were assayed for total IgE and specific IgE antibodies to common inhalant allergens. Peripheral blood samples were analyzed for total eosinophil count. Surgical biopsy specimens were examined for eosinophilia and cultured for bacteria and fungi. RESULTS Extensive disease was present in 39% of subjects and correlated well with asthma, specific IgE antibodies, and eosinophilia, but not with elevated total IgE. Among patients with peripheral eosinophilia, 87% had extensive disease. All cultures grew aerobic bacteria; anaerobes and fungi were uncommon. CONCLUSIONS We present a system for quantitation of disease extent using computed tomographic scans of patients with chronic sinusitis. The well-accepted associations of chronic sinusitis with asthma and allergy appear to be restricted to the group with extensive disease. The presence of peripheral eosinophilia in patients with sinusitis indicates a high likelihood of extensive disease.
The stellar kinematics and populations of boxy bulges: cylindrical rotation and vertical gradients★

Boxy and peanut-shaped bulges are seen in about half of edge-on disc galaxies. Comparisons of the photometry and major-axis gas and stellar kinematics of these bulges to simulations of bar formation and evolution indicate that they are bars viewed in projection. If the properties of boxy bulges can be entirely explained by assuming that they are bars, then this may imply that their hosts are pure disc galaxies with no classical bulge. A handful of these bulges, including that of the Milky Way, have been observed to rotate cylindrically, i.e. with a mean stellar velocity independent of height above the disc. In order to assess whether such behaviour is ubiquitous in boxy bulges, and whether a pure disc interpretation is consistent with their stellar populations, we have analysed the stellar kinematics and populations of the boxy or peanut-shaped bulges in a sample of five edge-on galaxies. We placed slits along the major axis of each galaxy and at three offset but parallel positions to build up spatial coverage. The boxy bulge of NGC 3390 rotates perfectly cylindrically within the spatial extent and uncertainties of the data. This is consistent with the metallicity and α-element enhancement of the bulge, which are the same as in the disc. This galaxy is thus a pure disc galaxy. The boxy bulge of ESO 311−G012 also rotates very close to cylindrically. The boxy bulge of NGC 1381 is neither clearly cylindrically nor non-cylindrically rotating, but it has a negative vertical metallicity gradient and is α-enhanced with respect to its disc, suggesting a composite bulge comprised of a classical bulge and bar (and possibly a discy pseudo-bulge). The rotation of the peanut-shaped bulge of NGC 5746 is difficult to classify, but the peanut-shaped bulge of IC 4767 does not rotate cylindrically. Thus, even this relatively small sample is sufficient to demonstrate that boxy bulges display a range of rotational and population properties, indicating that they do not form a homogeneous class of object.
The Role of the Dynamic Body Schema in Praxis: Evidence from Primary Progressive Apraxia

On an influential model of limb praxis, ideomotor apraxia results from damage to stored gesture representations or disconnection of representations from sensory input or motor output (Heilman & Gonzalez Rothi, 1993; Gonzalez Rothi et al., 1991). We report data from a patient with progressive ideomotor limb apraxia which cannot be readily accommodated by this model. The patient, BG, is profoundly impaired in gesturing to command, to sight of object, and to imitation, but gestures nearly normally with tool in hand and recognizes gestures relatively well. In addition, performance is profoundly impaired on imitation of meaningless gestures and on tasks requiring spatiomotor transformations of body-position information. We provide evidence that BG's apraxia is largely attributable to impairments external to the stored gesture system in procedures coding the dynamic positions of the body parts of self and others; that is, the body schema. We propose a model of a dynamic, interactive praxis system subserved by posterior parietal cortex in which stored representational elements, when present, provide "top-down" support to spatiomotor procedures computed on-line. In addition to accounting for BG's performance, this model accommodates a common pattern of ideomotor apraxia more readily than competing accounts.
Cymbopogon citratus Stapf ( DC ) extracts alleviate gasoline vapour-induced metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease risk in rats

Alternative therapies for the alleviation of chemical/xenobiotic-induced metabolic aberrations and risk factors for cardiovascular disease have been inadequately explored, despite their rich cardiovascular protective bioactive constituents. The aim of the present study was to accurately evaluate the effect of Cymbopogon citratus extract on gasoline-induced oxidative stress, hyperglycaemia, hyperuricemia, dyslipidaemia, and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in rats. Seventy-two female Wistar albino rats were segregated into six groups (n = 12 per group). The rats in group 1 served as controls, while animals in group 2 were exposed to gasoline vapour (GV) alone for 35 days. Rats in groups 3, 4, and 5 were exposed to GV and co-administered 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 1500 mg/kg C. citratus leaf extract, respectively, once daily for 14 days. Rats in group 6 were exposed to GV and co-administered 200 mg/kg vitamin C for the same time period. The results showed that group 2 had significantly higher glycaemic levels, lipid parameters (TG, Tchol, and LDL-C), uric acid (UA), MDA, and AIP and significantly lower (p < 0.05) HDL-C than group 1. Coadministration of C. citratus leaf extracts in groups 3, 4, and 5 and vitamin C to group 6 significantly lowered blood glucose levels, UA, lipid parameters MDA and AIP and simultaneously increased serum HDL-C in a dose-dependent manner. C. citratus leaf extract has an ameliorative effect against GV-induced oxidative stress, hyperglycaemia, hyperuricaemia, dyslipidaemia, and AIP, probably mediated through its varied bio – constituents and their activities.
A Method for the In Situ Measurement of Fine Aerosol Water Content of Ambient Aerosols: The Dry-Ambient Aerosol Size Spectrometer (DAASS) Special Issue of Aerosol Science and Technology on Findings from the Fine Particulate Matter Supersites Program

Hygroscopic growth of atmospheric particles affects a number of environmentally important aerosol properties. Due to the hysteresis exhibited by the aerosol hygroscopic growth, the physical state of particles and the amount of aerosol water are uncertain within a wide range of relative humidities (RHs) found in the troposphere, leading to uncertainties in optical and chemical properties of the aerosol. Here we report the design and tests of an automated system that was built to assess the amount of aerosol water at atmospheric conditions. The system consists of two scanning mobility particle sizers (SMPS) and an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) that measure the aerosol size distribution between 3 nm and 10 μm in diameter. The inlets of the instruments and their sheath air lines are equipped with computer-controlled valves that direct air through Nafion dryers or bypass them. The Nafion dryers dehydrate the air streams to below 30% RH at which point ambient particles are expected to lose most or all water. The switch between the dried and the ambient conditions occurs every 7 min and is synchronized with the scan times of the aerosol spectrometers. In this way the system measures alternatively dried (below 30% RH) and ambient aerosol size distributions. A comparison of the ambient RH and the dried RH size distributions and the corresponding integrated volume concentrations provides a measure of the physical state of particles and the amount of aerosol water. The aerosol water content can be treated as a growth factor or as an absolute quantity and can be calculated as a time series or as a function of RH (humidigram). When combined with aerosol composition measurements, the DAASS can be used to compare hygroscopic growth models and measurements.
Shattuck lecture--cardiovascular medicine at the turn of the millennium: triumphs, concerns, and opportunities.

Tthe end of every century it is customary to reflect on the events of the past hundred years and to look toward the future, and in this lecture I should like to do this for cardiovascular disease. This is also an especially opportune time to comment on progress in cardiovascular disease, because both the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the American Heart Association are celebrating their golden anniversaries within the next 18 months. These two organizations have had the most profound influence on the development of research on cardiovascular disease during the 20th century. A bewildering amount of .
Immunogenicity of a 26-Valent Group A Streptococcal Vaccine

ABSTRACT A multivalent vaccine containing amino-terminal M protein fragments from 26 different serotypes of group A streptococci was constructed by recombinant techniques. The vaccine consisted of four different recombinant proteins that were formulated with alum to contain 400 μg of protein per dose. Rabbits were immunized via the intramuscular route at 0, 4, and 16 weeks. Immune sera were assayed for the presence of type-specific antibodies against the individual recombinant M peptides by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for opsonic antibodies by in vitro opsonization tests and indirect bactericidal tests. The 26-valent vaccine was highly immunogenic and elicited fourfold or greater increases in antibody levels against 25 of the 26 serotypes represented in the vaccine. The immune sera were broadly opsonic and were bactericidal against the majority of the 26 different serotypes. Importantly, none of the immune sera cross-reacted with human tissues. Our results indicate that type-specific, protective M protein epitopes can be incorporated into complex, multivalent vaccines designed to elicit broadly protective opsonic antibodies in the absence of tissue-cross-reactive antibodies.
Exchangeable aluminum evaluation in acid soils

One of the main factors limiting agricultural production in tropical climate regions is mainly related to the presence of exchangeable aluminum (Al3+) in highly weathered acid soils. Four methods of Al3+ determination extracted with neutral 1 mol L1 KCl solution were evaluated: three colorimetric methods (aluminon plus ascorbic acid, and eriochrome cyanine R by FIA) and the usual titrimetric method with back-titration. Surface samples from 20 soils of different Brazilian regions, with active acidity (0.01 mol L1 CaCl2 pH) ranging from very high to medium (3.82 to 5.52), were used. The variance analysis revealed significant interaction among Al3+ determination methods and soil. Mean methods comparisons within each soil (Tukey, P 10 mmolc dm3. Among colorimetric methods, in operational terms, the eriochrome with FIA method presented analytical performance up to 50 samples per hour, easiness and sensibility for routine Al analysis in soil samples. However, due to the specificity, the titration/back-titration method should be used, despite the moroseness, when the Al3+ ions are the objective.
Measurement and Methodology in Social Cognition: A Historical

This chapter offers a historical perspective on the methodological trajectory of social cognition. It begins by considering a number of preliminary issues as they bear on the various definitions of social cognition, with special consideration of how methodological issues figure prominently in those definitions. The chapter next considers the various desiderata in methodology, highlighting cases in which these issues are particularly germane to social cognition. This is followed by discussion of the circumstances surrounding the rise and fall in popularity of some prominent methodological paradigms in the field, including a number of important methodological issues surrounding the emergence of dual-process models. The final section considers some recent critiques of the “social cognition approach,” placing them in a larger historical context and discussing how they overlap with a long-running debate about the value of experimental paradigms in social psychology.
Design and evaluation of a graphical iPad application for arranging adaptive furniture

We present the design and evaluation of an iPad application that will be used to operate the modular robots “Roombots”. Roombots are the building blocks for adaptive pieces of furniture. The application allows a user to arrange adaptive furniture within a room. We conducted a user study with 24 participants to evaluate our approach and to freely explore people's interaction. Data suggests that the ability to move with the tablet leads to a better precision of the furniture arrangement. No significant difference has been observed between using the application through a virtual representation of the room in contrast to an augmented reality environment, even if participants mentioned in a post-study questionnaire their preference for the augmented condition. Users described the interface as intuitive and easy to use.
A study of the genetic basis of C4A protein deficiency. Detection of C4A gene deletion by long-range PCR and its associated haplotypes

Objective: To study the frequency of a C4A gene deletions as the genetic basis of C4A protein deficiency (C4AQ0) and its associated haplotypes in Icelandic families with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Nine multiplex SLE families were genotyped for C4A gene deletions using a long-range polymerase chain reaction (LR-PCR) method, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes were defined. Results: Of the SLE patients, first-degree and second-degree relatives, 53.8%, 47.9%, and 28.6% had C4AQ0, respectively. A C4A gene deletion was found to be the genetic basis for C4AQ0 in 64.3% of SLE patients, 60.0% of first-degree and 50.0% of second-degree relatives. All individuals carrying haplotype B8-C4AQ0-C4B1-DR3 had a deletion, and the deletion was also found on haplotypes B8-C4AQ0-C4B1-DR7 and B7-C4AQ0-C4B1-DR3. Conclusion: The study shows that a C4A gene deletion is the most common genetic basis for C4AQ0. It accounts for two-thirds of C4AQ0 and is found on different MHC haplotypes. One-third of C4AQ0 is due to other as yet undefined genetic changes. The results demonstrate a heterogeneous genetic background for C4AQ0, giving further support for the hypothesis that C4AQ0 may be an independent risk factor for SLE.