Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patient Adherence to Biologic Agents in Psoriasis

Background: Low adherence to therapies in psoriasis decreases treatment outcomes and increases the total health care costs. In spite of the wide use of biologic agents, patients' adherence to these drugs has not been extensively investigated. Objective: The aim of this study is to measure adherence to the biologic drugs in a population of patients treated for psoriasis vulgaris using the medication possession ratio (MPR) index and to survey patients' attitudes to the treatment. Methods: This is a single-center study on 247 patients with psoriasis vulgaris treated with adalimumab (n = 113), etanercept (n = 39), and ustekinumab (n = 95). MPR calculation was calculated monthly based on the hospital records documenting the dispensing of biologics to the patients. Clinical data [Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), presence of psoriatic arthritis, concomitant treatment, and cause for treatment discontinuation] were obtained from the national database DERMBIO. Patients' attitudes and beliefs were measured using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS). Results: A total of 93.5% of all patients had an MPR ≥0.8, indicating very good adherence. MPR was independent of patients' age, gender, median PASI or DLQI score, concomitant diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis, or treatment with methotrexate. MPR for etanercept was slightly lower than that for ustekinumab and adalimumab. The MARS questionnaire documented satisfactory understanding of the treatment and its adverse effects, and positive attitudes to the treatment. Conclusion: Adherence to biologic therapies is very high in patients with psoriasis, which is consistent with a positive attitude to the treatment.
Diabetes mellitus decreases the expression of calcitonin-gene related peptide, gamma-amino butyric acid and glutamic acid decarboxylase in human pancreatic islet cells.

OBJECTIVES The pattern of distribution of calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter and GABA-converting enzyme, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in the pancreas of diabetic patients was investigated to determine whether diabetes mellitus influences the expression of these biological transmitters. METHODS Pancreatic tissue samples retrieved, during pancreatectomy, from cancer patients with and without Type 2 diabetes were paraffin embedded. The expression of CGRP, GABA and GAD was examined in pancreatic tissue using immunofluorescence techniques. RESULTS CGRP, GABA and GAD were observed in many cells located in the central as well as the peripheral regions of pancreatic islet. The expression of CGRP, GABA and GAD decreased dramatically in pancreatic islet cells of diabetic patients compared to control. CGRP and GABA co-localized with glucagon in some pancreatic islet cells of both normal and diabetic patients. The pattern of distribution of CGRP, GABA and GAD in normal and Type 2 diabetic patients was similar to that of insulin. CONCLUSION The number of human pancreatic islet cells expressing CGRP, GABA and GAD decreased significantly after the onset of Type 2 diabetes. These neuropeptides and neurotransmitters may play a role in the regulation of pancreatic beta cell function.
Energy-delay tradeoffs in negative capacitance FinFET based CMOS circuits

Negative capacitance based transistors are being considered as competent candidates in the low power regime due to their excellent switching characteristics. In this work we use a physics based compact model for negative capacitance (NC) FinFETs to study device-circuit interactions focusing on the delay and energy dissipation aspects of NC-FinFET based CMOS circuits. Our modeling approach involves coupling of the Landau-Devonshire model of ferroelectric materials with the standard BSIM-CMG model of FinFET. State of the art 22 nm technology node n- and p-FinFETs are chosen as the internal MOSFETs. We investigate the impact of scaling the ferroelectric thickness and variation of ferroelectric properties, namely the remnant polarization and coercive electric field on the energy-delay tradeoffs in a 17-stage ring oscillator circuit.
Women’s Views on Breast Cancer Risk and Screening Mammography

Background. To promote informed decision making about mammography, clinicians are urged to present women with complete, relevant information about breast cancer and screening. Understanding women’s current beliefs may help guide such efforts by uncovering misunderstandings, conceptual gaps, and areas of concern. Objective. The authors sought to learn how women view breast cancer, their personal risk of breast cancer, and how screening mammography affects that risk. Methods. Forty-one open-ended semistructured telephone interviews with women selected from a national database by quota sampling to ensure a wide range in demographics of the participants. Results. Almost all respondents viewed breast cancer as a uniformly progressive disease that begins in a silent curable form (typically found by mammograms) and, unless treated early, invariably grows, spreads, and kills. Some women felt that any abnormality found must be treated, even if it was not malignant. None had heard of potentially nonprogressive cancers, and when informed, most felt that the uncertain prognosis of such lesions reinforced the need to find and treat disease as soon as possible. Women expressed a wide range of views about their personal risk of breast cancer. Although some saw breast cancer as a central threat to their health, many others cited heart disease, other cancers, violence, and trauma as greater concerns. Most recognized the importance of “uncontrollable” factors for breast cancer such as age, sex, family history, and genetics. However, other “controllable” factors with little or no demonstrated link to breast cancer (e.g., smoking, diet, toxic exposures, “bad attitudes”) were given equal or greater prominence, suggesting that many women feel considerable personal responsibility for their level of breast cancer risk. Similarly, although women recognized that mammography was not perfect, almost all believed that failure to have mammograms put one at risk for premature and preventable death. When asked how mammography worked, almost all repeated the message that “early detection saves lives,” suggesting that advanced cancer (and perhaps most cancer deaths) reflected a failure of early detection. The belief in the benefit of early detection was so strong that some women advocated scaring other women into getting mammograms because it is “better to be safe than sorry. ” Conclusions. Women view breast cancer as a uniformly progressive disease rarely curable unless caught early. The exaggerated importance many attribute to a variety of controllable factors in modifying personal risk and the “danger” seen in failing to have mammograms may lead women diagnosed with breast cancer to blame themselves.
Characteristics of participants visiting the Canada on the move website.

BACKGROUND The Internet is a potential medium to attain large groups of Canadians for physical activity monitoring and interventions, however, little is known about the characteristics of participants who could be recruited on a national level. Our objectives were to determine: 1) the extent to which our sample was representative of the Canadian population; 2) the demographic, social-cognitive and physical activity behaviour, and environmental characteristics of one-time and multi-time users of the Canada on the Move website; and 3) whether certain recruitment strategies were more likely to reach specific demographic subgroups. METHODS Web-based self-report measures were collected on demographic, social-cognitive, physical activity behaviour, and environmental factors. Descriptive statistics were employed to address the study's research objectives. RESULTS Significant differences (p<0.001) were found between our total sample and 2001 Canadian census/Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data on all demographic and physical activity behaviour measures. One-time and multi-time users significantly differed on age (p<0.005) and being responsible for children under age 13 (p=0.01). No differences existed between the groups on any of the social-cognitive, behavioural or environmental variables. Source of knowledge about the Canada on the Move website between one-time and multi-time users was not significantly different. CONCLUSION The Canada on the Move website presents a viable approach to reaching diverse demographic groups. Further work needs to be undertaken to: 1) develop engaging websites; 2) detail the monitoring of the web-based access information; 3) integrate the website with other organizations promoting physical activity; and 4) expand the number of recruitment sources.
Branch and Price and Cut for the Split-Delivery Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows and Linear Weight-Related Cost

This paper addresses a new vehicle routing problem that simultaneously involves time windows, split delivery, and linear weight-related cost. This problem is a generalization of the split delivery vehicle routing problem with time windows (SDVRPTW), which consists of determining a set of least-cost vehicle routes to serve all customers while respecting the restrictions of vehicle capacity and time windows. The travel cost per unit distance is a linear function of the vehicle weight and the customer demand can be fulfilled by multiple vehicles. To solve this problem, we propose an exact branch-and-price-and-cut algorithm, where the pricing subproblem is a variant of the resource-constrained elementary shortest path problem. We first prove that at least one optimal solution to the pricing subproblem is associated with an extreme delivery pattern, and then we design a tailored and novel label-setting algorithm to solve the pricing subproblem. Computational results show that our proposed algorithm can handle .
Sociodemographic and Psychopathological Risk Factors for Repetition of Attempted Suicide: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study

The present study examines the association between repetition of suicide attempts and sociodemographic and psychopathological characteristics of patients during a 5-year follow-up period. Participants were 874 suicide attempters referred to the University Hospital of Ghent, among whom 361 (41.3%) patients were available for follow-up analysis. Within 5 years, 29.2% of those admitted for an index suicide attempt repeated non-fatal suicidal behavior. Repetition of suicidal behavior was associated with high scores on measures of psychopathology. In addition, the risk of repetition was increased if the patient was female, aged between 20 and 49, and had a lower education. Multivariate analysis showed significant results for age, the Buglass & Horton Risk of Repetition Scale and for anxiety. Repetition of suicidal behavior is associated with high anxiety, severe depression, more psychiatric symptoms and is increased in young patients.
Binding Studies of a Novel Antitumor Palladium(II) Complex to Calf Thymus DNA

The interaction of new 1, 10-phenanthrolineoctyldithiocarbamatopalladium (II) nitrate with DNA from calf thymus was investigated at 300 and 310 K in a Tris-HCl buffer of pH 7.0 medium containing 20 mM sodium chloride. This water soluble, square planar Pd(II) complex has been synthesized and spectroscopic (electronic, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance) and elemental analysis of the complex are discussed. This complex shows greater growth inhibitory activity against human tumor cell line K562 than cisplatin. Results of UV-visible studies show that the complex exhibits cooperative binding with DNA and denatures the DNA at an extremely low concentration (∼11.98 μM). Fluorescence studies reveal that the mode of binding of this complex with DNA seems to be intercalation. The results of sephadex G-25 column show that the binding of metal complex with DNA is so strong that it does not readily break. Several binding and thermodynamic parameters are also described. They may shed light on the mechanisms of interaction of this agent with DNA, which should be quite different from that of cisplatin.
Use of high-dose fluconazole as salvage therapy for cryptococcal meningitis in patients with AIDS

Eight patients with AIDS were treated orally with 800 mg of fluconazole daily for cryptococcal meningitis for a mean duration of 4.5 months. Previous antifungal treatment had failed for all of the patients. No major toxicity was observed. Three patients died from cryptococcal infection. High-dose fluconazole may be effective salvage therapy for cryptococcal meningitis.
Self-care Resources and Activity as Predictors of Quality of Life in Persons After Myocardial Infarction

An ex post facto correlational study was conducted to examine predictors of quality of life in persons 3 to 6 months after a myocardial infarction. Self-care resources, self-care knowledge (needs), activity level, and selected demographic variables were examined as predictor variables. A convenience sample of 86 subjects with a mean age of 61 years, was recruited for participation in this study. The study that explained 35% of the variance in quality of life included self-care resources available, activity level, and self-care needs. Modeling and Role Modeling Paradigm provided a useful explanation of how self-care resources and self-care knowledge can be applied to persons recovering from myocardial infarction.
Complicated community acquired pneumonia in children prior to the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugated vaccine

Increasing prevalence of pleural empyema (PE) complicating community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is reported worldwide. We compared hospitalized children with PE or non-purulent pleural effusion (NP-PEF) prior to the inclusion of the pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV7) in the Israeli immunization schedule. We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical files of all children <18 y of age hospitalized with either PE or NP-PEF and CAP during 1990–2002. 75 children with NP-PEF and 37 with PE were identified. PE annual incidence increased from 0.5 in 1990 to 4.2 per 100,000 children in 2002. Higher WBC and absolute neutrophils counts were found in sera and pleural fluid of PE. The leading pathogens included Streptococcus pneumoniae (42%, all penicillin-susceptible) and Staphylococcus aureus (23%, all methicillin-susceptible). Blood cultures were positive only in children with PE (12/37, 32.4%). Patients with PE presented with higher respiratory rate and required longer hospitalization, more PICU admission, and more patients needed mechanical ventilation. PE prevalence increased in southern Israel during the study period. Streptococcus pneumoniae (62.5% serotype 1) was the most common pathogen causing PE before the introduction of PCV7. Future introduction of PCV7 or equivalents in the immunization schedule may impact clinical presentation and epidemic trends and will require future consideration.
DETERMINATION OF MACRO AND MICRONUTRIENTS AND NUTRITIONAL PROSPECTS OF SIX VEGETABLE SPECIES OF MARDAN, PAKISTAN

This study was carried out to assess the nutritional and mineral composition of selected vegetables, which are commonly used as food in Pakistan. Abelmoschus esculentus, Solanum melongena, Cucurbita moschata, Allium sativum, Momordica charantia and Portulaca oleracea were collected form Mardan (Pakistan) and subjected to nutrient analysis. Nutrient analysis (total proteins, fats, carbohydrates, ash, energy value and moisture contents) of vegetable species were determined according to AOAC methods. Macro viz. calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), and phosphorus (P) and micro viz. iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and selenium (Se) elements were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometric method. The moisture (wet and dry basis), ash, fats, fibers, proteins, energy value (305.9-382.6 Kcal/100g) and carbohydrates of these vegetable species were found in the range of 62.9-92.7, 5.4-7.7, 3.1-23.1, 0.3-8.3, 10.2-22.5, 7.7-16.9, and 51.3-80.2% respectively. The micronutrients including Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu were found to be in the range, 6.2-24.1, 0.2-11.7, 0.6-16.7, and 0.1-70 ppm respectively. The results of macronutrients obtained having values of Ca (90-1850 ppm), Mg (94-571 ppm), K (2078-4010 ppm), Na (2-170 ppm), and P (250-1532 ppm) respectively. The quantity of Ni and Se were found negligible in these vegetables. The results indicate that all these vegetables have the potential to provide essential nutrients to the human beings. Momordica charantia and Allium sativum were found to be a good source of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, hence capable of providing energy to the consumer. Both these species were found significantly useful in terms of minerals sources, particularly Ni, K, P, Zn, Cu, and Mn.
A Common Glu298→Asp (894G→T) Mutation at Exon 7 of the Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene and Vascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes

dependent and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: in vivo and in vitro studies. J Cltn Endocrinol Metab 80:3312-3320, 1995 12. Gegani H, Gichin M, Karlish S, Shechter Y: Electron paramagnetic resonance studies and insulin-like effects of vanadium in rat adipocytes. Biochemistry 20:5795-5799, 1981 13. Green A: The insulin-like effect of sodium vanadate on adipocyte glucose transport is mediated at a post-insulin-receptor level. BiochemJ 238:663-669,1986 14. Goldfine A, Landaker EJ, Willsky G, Patti ME: Defining the mechanism of action of vanadium in vivo in NIDDM (Abstract). Diabetes 47 (Suppl. l):A307, 1998
A Miniaturized 3-dB Microstrip TRD Coupled-Line Rat-Race Coupler with Harmonics Suppression

A miniaturized microstrip rat-race coupler with harmonics suppression is proposed by using shorted trans-directional (TRD) coupled lines. The shorted TRD coupled lines consist of a set of capacitor-loaded λ/4 coupled microstrip lines with two shorts, which are used to replace the 3λ/4 uniform transmission-line section (UTLS) in the traditional 3λ/2 ring coupler for miniaturization. To attain perfect matching for any coupling factor of the TRD coupled lines, shorted TRD coupled lines are synthesized and the design equations are derived. To further reduce the ring size, T-type transmission- line equivalent circuits are also adopted to replace the λ/4 UTLS and associated with a transmission zero for harmonic attenuation. Using the proposed method, a microstrip ring coupler with 26.7% circuit size of a traditional one is fabricated and tested. The measured results show that the bandwidth for the return loss of better than 10 dB is 43.9% and that for isolation of better than 20 dB is 18.7% with a maximum isolation of 40.6 dB. There is no spurious passband up to the sixth harmonic of the design center frequency with more than 20 dB suppression from the third to fifth harmonics.
Myonectin (CTRP15), a Novel Myokine That Links Skeletal Muscle to Systemic Lipid Homeostasis*

Background: Skeletal muscle-derived myokines modulate metabolic, inflammatory, and other processes. Results: Myonectin, a novel myokine whose expression and circulating levels are regulated by diet, metabolic state, and exercise, functions to control lipid metabolism. Conclusion: Myonectin is a potential nutrient-responsive metabolic regulator secreted by muscle. Significance: Myonectin links muscle to systemic lipid metabolism via its action on adipocytes and hepatocytes, providing insight into complex tissue cross-talk. Skeletal muscle plays important roles in whole-body glucose and fatty acid metabolism. However, muscle also secretes cytokines and growth factors (collectively termed myokines) that can potentially act in an autocrine, a paracrine, and/or an endocrine manner to modulate metabolic, inflammatory, and other processes. Here, we report the identification and characterization of myonectin, a novel myokine belonging to the C1q/TNF-related protein (CTRP) family. Myonectin transcript was highly induced in differentiated myotubes and predominantly expressed by skeletal muscle. Circulating levels of myonectin were tightly regulated by the metabolic state; fasting suppressed, but refeeding dramatically increased, its mRNA and serum levels. Although mRNA and circulating levels of myonectin were reduced in a diet-induced obese state, voluntary exercise increased its expression and circulating levels. Accordingly, myonectin transcript was up-regulated by compounds (forskolin, epinephrine, ionomycin) that raise cellular cAMP or calcium levels. In vitro, secreted myonectin forms disulfide-linked oligomers, and when co-expressed, forms heteromeric complexes with other members of the C1q/TNF-related protein family. In mice, recombinant myonectin administration reduced circulating levels of free fatty acids without altering adipose tissue lipolysis. Consistent with this, myonectin promoted fatty acid uptake in cultured adipocytes and hepatocytes, in part by up-regulating the expression of genes (CD36, FATP1, Fabp1, and Fabp4) that promote lipid uptake. Collectively, these results suggest that myonectin links skeletal muscle to lipid homeostasis in liver and adipose tissue in response to alterations in energy state, revealing a novel myonectin-mediated metabolic circuit.
Factors limiting the upper frequency of mm-wave spherical near-field test systems

Antennas operating at mm-wave frequencies have led to the development of spherical near-field test systems that have to function at higher frequencies than before. This paper addresses some of the factors limiting the upper frequency bound of spherical near-field test systems in terms of what is practical with current technology. This includes mechanical positioning systems, RF sub-systems and the spherical near-field sampling requirements. Correction techniques that have been developed to enhance the performance of such measurement systems are also presented.
Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma of the eyelid with a rapidly fatal course.

dition to a mechanical, tractional relationship participates in macular hole formation, at least in some instances. The OCT images in the case reported here depict this apparently tractionless sequence more clearly than previously described. An alternative explanation is that the traction component is below the resolution of OCT. A possible mediator might be the outer wall of vitreoschisis as has been proposed by Sebag, and this may be depicted on the left side of Figure 2A and B as focal areas of minimal separation of what might alternatively be interpreted as the internal limiting membrane. Degenerative factors such as subtle defects or breaks in the internal limiting membrane (tractionally or senescently induced) may allow hydration of the fovea and distort tissue enough to form a full-thickness macular hole. This may explain why surgical removal of vitreofoveal traction does not uniformly prevent macular hole formation. The mechanisms of macular hole formation are still incompletely understood but may involve degenerative and tractional factors. A full understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms would likely optimize treatment and prevention of full-thickness macular holes.