Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The cost of lung cancer in Alberta.

BACKGROUND Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. In addition, lung cancer has a significant economic impact on society. OBJECTIVE To present an economic analysis of the actual care costs of lung cancer which will allow comparison with, and verification of, cost estimates that were developed through modelling and opinion. METHODS A chart review was conducted of incident cases (circa 1998) of primary bronchogenic lung cancer. Cases were censored at two years from the date of diagnosis. Relevant clinical and health utilization data were collected. Health utilization data included hospital and institutional outpatient (ie, ambulatory clinic) costs. Cost estimates were derived for over 200 specific health services. The present analysis was performed from the economic perspective of the health care institution. RESULTS A total of 13,389 health service events were captured with an estimated total cost of $8.4 million. Laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging and ambulatory visits constituted 86% of the service events while patient admissions and therapy constituted 76% of the costs. The vast majority of overall costs occurred just before, or within, three months of diagnosis. The median nonsmall cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer case costs were $10,928 (range $9,234 to $11,047) and $15,350 (range $13,033 to $21,436), respectively. CONCLUSION The results agree with the literature that the majority of lung cancer case costs are realized around the date of diagnosis (ie, early phase). The present study illustrates Canadian health care system lung cancer case costs based on actual care received versus hypothetical care algorithms.
Potential of Dark-Striped Field Mice, Apodemus agrarius coreae, for Use as a Biological Radiation Dosimeter for Human Environments

Abstract This study examined the possibility of using striped field mice as a biological dosimeter or indicator for surveillance of the ecological effects of boundary radiation emitted by nuclear power plants. For this study, the external morphological characteristics and isoenzymic electrophoretypes of Korean domestic dark-striped field mice were studied after they were captured, controlled for reproduction, and their exact species were identified. In terms of morphological external characteristics, the dark-brown coat, dark back stripe, head-to-tail length, tail length, and ear length matched the taxonomical characteristics of dark-striped field mice. In terms of isoenzymic electrophoretypes, the analyses on l-lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and malate dehydrogenase revealed that one species of dark-striped field mice, called Apodemus agrarius coreae, was scattered throughout a wide range of habitats. On the other hand, after irradiating the A. a. coreae (0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, and 7 gray [Gy]) to analyze their survival rate and frequency of micronuclei in peripheral polychromatic erythrocytes, their LD50/30 was approximately 5 Gy. Also, the mice that contained 1 or 3 Gy gained weight compared with those that contained 0.5 Gy. Moreover, those with 0.5 Gy and higher showed an increase in white blood cells and platelets as well as in sodium and creatinine. However, decreased concentrations of alkaline phosphatase, alanine animotransferase, calcium, phosphorus, and globulin were observed in the A. a. coreae after irradiation. The results of the study reveal that wild A. a. coreae mice have high potential as a biological monitoring system to determine radiation effects in human environments such as those within the vicinity of nuclear power plants.
Effect of Temperature, Aeration, and Moisture on CO2 Formation in Bench-Scale, Continuously Thermophilic Composting of Solid Waste

A compost production system was employed to supply uniform material for controlled experiments of factorial design. Over a 96-h composting period, the cumulative amount of CO2 evolved was maximal at 56 to 60°C, an aeration rate that left an O2 residual of 10 or 18% in the exhaust gas and a moisture content of 60% wet weight. Carbon dioxide evolution was submaximal at 64°C and higher.
Impacts of Parental Health Shocks on Children's Non-Cognitive Skills

We examine how parental health shocks affect children’s non-cognitive skills. Based on a German mother-and-child data base, we draw on significant changes in selfreported parental health as an exogenous source of health variation to identify effects on outcomes for children at ages of three and six years. At the age of six, we observe that maternal health shocks in the previous three years have significant negative effects on children’s behavioral outcomes. The most serious of these maternal health shocks decrease the observed non-cognitive skills up to half a standard deviation. Paternal health does not robustly affect non-cognitive outcomes.
Prevalence and risk factors for reduced pulmonary function in diabetic patients: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background/Aims An association between reduced pulmonary function and diabetes has been observed. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors associated with reduced pulmonary function in diabetic patients. Methods We analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011 to 2013. The study population included data from 8,784 participants (including 1,431 diabetics) aged ≥ 40 years. Reduced pulmonary function was defined as patients with restrictive (forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity [FEV1/FVC] ≥ 0.7 and FVC < 80% of predicted value) or obstructive (FEV1/FVC < 0.7) patterns. Results Subjects with diabetes had a higher prevalence of restrictive (18.4% vs. 9.4%, p < 0.001) and obstructive impairments (20% vs. 12.6%, p < 0.001) than those without diabetes. The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for obstructive and restrictive pulmonary impairment were 0.91 (0.75 to 1.11) and 1.57 (1.30 to 1.89), respectively. In the diabetes population, age (aOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.06), male sex (aOR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.88), and body mass index (aOR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.21) were independently associated with restrictive pulmonary impairment. Age (aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.14), male sex (aOR, 4.24; 95% CI, 2.42 to 7.44), and smoking at any point (ever-smoker: aOR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.16 to 3.33) were independent risk factors for obstructive pulmonary impairment in diabetics. Diabetes duration or glycated hemoglobin had no association with pulmonary impairment in diabetes. Conclusions Subjects with diabetes had a higher risk of restrictive pulmonary impairment than those without diabetes after adjusting for confounding factors. Older age, male sex, body mass index, and smoking were associated with reduced lung function in diabetes.
Cytokine responses to exercise and activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: case–control study

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by fatigue after exertion. A systematic review suggested that transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β concentrations are often elevated in cases of CFS when compared to healthy controls. This study attempted to replicate this finding and investigate whether post‐exertional symptoms were associated with altered cytokine protein concentrations and their RNA in CFS patients. Twenty‐four patients fulfilling Centers for Disease Control criteria for CFS, but with no comorbid psychiatric disorders, were recruited from two CFS clinics in London, UK. Twenty‐one healthy, sedentary controls were matched by gender, age and other variables. Circulating proteins and RNA were measured for TGF‐β, tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)‐8, IL‐6 and IL‐1β. We measured six further cytokine protein concentrations (IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐10, IL‐12p70, and interferon (IFN)‐γ). Measures were taken at rest, and before and after both commuting and aerobic exercise. CFS cases had higher TGF‐β protein levels compared to controls at rest (median (quartiles) = 43·9 (19·2, 61·8) versus 18·9 (16·1, 30·0) ng/ml) (P = 0·003), and consistently so over a 9‐day period. However, this was a spurious finding due to variation between different assay batches. There were no differences between groups in changes to TGF‐β protein concentrations after either commuting or exercise. All other cytokine protein and RNA levels were similar between cases and controls. Post‐exertional symptoms and perceived effort were not associated with any increased cytokines. We were unable to replicate previously found elevations in circulating cytokine concentrations, suggesting that elevated circulating cytokines are not important in the pathophysiology of CFS.
Nuclear Functions of the Arf Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor BRAG2

BRAG2 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the GTPase Arf6 that cycles between the cytoplasm and nucleus in a CRM1/exportin1‐dependent manner. Despite its presence in the nucleus, nuclear functions have not previously been described. Here, we show that depletion of endogenous BRAG2 by RNAi leads to an increased number of Cajal bodies (CBs), and altered structure of nucleoli, as indicated by less focal fibrillarin staining. This result was surprising given that nuclear BRAG2 is diffusely distributed throughout the nucleoplasm and is not concentrated within nucleoli at steady state. However, we found that ectopic expression of the nuclear GTPase PIKE/AGAP2 causes both BRAG2 and the CB marker coilin to accumulate in nucleoli. Neither the GTPase activity of PIKE nor the nucleotide exchange activity of BRAG2 is required for this nucleolar concentration. Increased levels of exogenous BRAG2 in nucleoli result in a redistribution of fibrillarin to the nucleolar periphery, supporting a role for BRAG2 in regulating nucleolar architecture. These observations suggest that, in addition to its role in endocytic regulation at the plasma membrane, BRAG2 also functions within the nucleus.
La década ganada: evolución de la clase media y las condiciones de vida en Colombia, 2002-2011

Este trabajo estudia la evolucion reciente de las condiciones de vida en Colombia con un enfasis en el crecimiento de la clase media. Entre 2002 y 2011, el ingreso per capita real de los hogares crecio 36%, la participacion de la clase media en la poblacion total paso de 16% a 27% y la pobreza disminuyo de 50% a 34% Adicionalmente, los hogares de todos los grupos sociales mejoraron sus condiciones de vida en varias dimensiones: educacion, salud, trabajo y caracteristicas de las viviendas, entre otras. A pesar del aumento reciente, el tamano de la clase media en Colombia sigue siendo relativamente menor al de otros paises latinoamericanos y los hogares de clase media no han superado los problemas estructurales de informalidad laboral y bajo nivel educativo.
Development of lateral line organs in leptocephali of the freshwater eel Anguilla japonica (Teleostei, Anguilliformes)

A study of the ontogeny of the lateral line system in leptocephali of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica reveals the existence of three morphologically different types of lateral line organs. Type I is a novel sensory organ with hair cells bearing a single kinocilium, lacking stereocilia, distributed mainly on the head of larvae, and morphologically different from typical superficial neuromasts of the lateral line system. Its developmental sequence suggests that it may be a presumptive canal neuromast. Type II is an ordinary superficial neuromast, common in other teleost larvae, which includes presumptive canal neuromasts that first appear on the trunk and accessory superficial neuromasts that later appear on the head and trunk. Type III is a very unusual neuromast located just behind the orbit, close to the otic vesicle, with radially oriented hair cells, suggesting that these serve as multiple axes of sensitivity for mechanical stimuli. The behavior of larval eels suggests that the radially oriented neuromasts may act as the sole mechanosensory organ until the ordinary superficial neuromasts develop. The finding that larval eels possess a well‐developed mechanosensory system suggests the possibility that they are also capable of perceiving weak environmental mechanical stimuli, like other teleost larvae. J. Morphol. 254:81–91, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Subcutaneous Desmopressin (DDAVP) Shortens the Prolonged Bleeding Time in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Summary The intravenous infusion of 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) shortens the prolonged bleeding time in patients with congenital or acquired bleeding disorders, including patients with uremia or liver cirrhosis. We carried out a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in ten patients with liver cirrhosis to evaluate whether or not their prolonged bleeding times could be shortened by subcutaneous injections of DDAVP (0.3 μg/kg), a more practical route of administration than intravenous infusions. One hour after DDAVP injection the bleeding time was significantly shortened (p <0.05). After 4 h, however, the bleeding time shortening was no longer statistically significant. There was no bleeding time change after placebo. Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF: Ag) did not significantly increase after DDAVP or placebo. The study shows that subcutaneous DDAVP is an alternative method for shortterm shortening of the bleeding time in liver cirrhosis.
Treatment of adult hypophosphatasia with teriparatide.

OBJECTIVE To describe the effects of 24 months of teriparatide therapy in an adult with hypophosphatasia, which thus far has no established medical treatment. METHODS A 75-year-old woman with hypophosphatasia was treated with ergocalciferol and calcium supplements for 2 years. She had sustained multiple spontaneous and low-trauma fractures since she was 10 years old. Baseline biochemical values (and reference ranges) were as follows: serum total alkaline phosphatase ranged from 14 to 17 U/L (30 to 110), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSALP) was 5 U/L (14 to 43), serum phosphorus was elevated at 5.4 mg/dL (2.6 to 4.4), and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was high at 250 ng/mL (5 to 30). At baseline, she had mild secondary hyperparathyroidism (intact parathyroid hormone, 76 pg/mL; reference range, 10 to 65), which was corrected by the calcium supplementation and vitamin D therapy. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning in 2003 showed L1-L4 bone mineral density (BMD) of 0.786 g/cm2, T score of -3.3, and Z score of -1.7; DXA also showed femoral neck BMD of 0.740 g/cm2, T score of -2.5, and Z score of -0.5. During walking, the patient sustained a low-trauma fracture in a metatarsal. Teriparatide, synthetic parathyroid hormone(1-34), in a dosage of 20 microg subcutaneously was given daily from April 2004 until June 2006. RESULTS After about 1.5 years of teriparatide therapy, BSALP reached the lower end of the reference range at 16 U/L, and after 24 months of continuous teriparatide treatment, both serum total alkaline phosphatase and BSALP normalized at 30 U/L and 18 U/L, respectively. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate declined from a baseline of 250 to 188 ng/mL after 17 months of treatment. Urinary N-telopeptide increased from a baseline of <6 to 19 after 17 months and to 70 bone collagen equivalents/mmol creatinine after 24 months of anabolic therapy. Repeated DXA scanning showed a substantial improvement in lumbar spine BMD and stability in hip BMD. The patient experienced no clinical fractures or adverse events during teriparatide therapy. CONCLUSION In one woman with adult hypophosphatasia, 2 years of teriparatide treatment improved biochemical markers of bone remodeling and increased skeletal mineralization. Teriparatide may prove to be a viable treatment for adult hypophosphatasia; thus, this intervention warrants further evaluation.
Predictors of post‐traumatic psychological growth in the late years after lung transplantation

Although lung transplantation improves quality of life, most psychosocial research focuses on adverse psychological and social functioning outcomes. Positive effects, particularly in the late‐term years as physical morbidities increase, have received little attention. We provide the first data on a psychological benefit – post‐traumatic growth (PTG) – and we focused on long‐term (>5 yr) survivors.
Role of autophagy in the host defense against Toxoplasma gondii in astrocytes

Autophagy has recently been implicated in the host defense against the intracellular protozoan pathogen, Toxoplasma gondii, a major opportunistic pathogen of the central nervous system in immunosuppressed individuals. In both IFNγ-activated macrophages and astrocytes, the p47 GTPases traffic to the T. gondii parasitophorous vacuole, followed by vacuolar disruption, parasite killing, and clearance of the dead parasites. In macrophages, it is relatively well established that autophagy is involved in parasite elimination and killing. The role of autophagy in parasite elimination in astrocytes, a dominant host cell in the central nervous system, is much less clear. Our studies indicate that in IFNγ-stimulated astrocytes, autophagy of disrupted vacuoles and/or dead parasites does not occur but rather that degradation of the parasite occurs in the host cytoplasm. However, recent studies indicate autophagy may be involved in the elimination of the degraded parasite material from the astrocyte host cell cytoplasm and suggest that autophagous removal of degraded parasite material may be necessary for survival of the host cell. Delivery of parasite antigen from the cytosol to the endolysosomal compartments in astrocytes is of importance as it suggests a pathway by which astrocytes could present Toxoplasma antigens via the MHC Class II pathway and function as an antigen-presenting cell for the parasite in the brain.
Estimating Age of Majority on Third Molars Developmental Stages in Young Adults from Thailand Using a Modified Scoring Technique *

Abstract: The aim of this study was to achieve a referral database for dental age estimation of unaccompanied minors of Thai nationality. A total of 1199 orthopantomograms were collected from original Thai women and men equally divided in age categories between 15 and 24 years. On the radiographs, the developmental stage of the third molars was scored applying a modified scoring technique. Inter‐ and intra‐observer reliabilities were tested using kappa statistics. Correlation between the scores of all four wisdom teeth and left–right symmetry were evaluated with Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Student’s t‐test on asymmetry was performed and regression formulas were calculated. The present database was the first to assemble third molar developmental scores on radiographs of Thai individuals and provides more appropriate dental age estimation of unaccompanied Thai minors. Future research on similar databases of different nationalities worldwide may expose ethnical influences on dental development.
Perception of the Upright in Normal and Schizophrenic Subjects

To see the effects of a large angle of frame-tilt, movement of the rod in the clockwise direction, and the difference between the normal and schizophrenic subjects in the perception of the upright, a mixed design (subjects × angle × presentation × trial) was used. 24 normal and 24 schizophrenic subjects were tested in a darkroom with a rod-and-frame test. The results showed a small error with a clockwise movement of the rod, when the frame also was tilted clockwise, and no difference in perception of the upright between the normal and schizophrenic subjects.
Pure exchange markets for resource sharing in federated clouds

Cloud Computing is the latest paradigm proposed toward fulfilling the vision of computing being delivered as an utility such as phone, electricity, gas and water services. It enables users to have access to computing infrastructure, platform and software as services over the Internet. The services can be accessed on demand and from anywhere in the world in a quick and flexible manner, and charged for based on their usage, making the rapid and often unpredictable expansion demanded by nowadays' business environment affordable also for small spin‐off and start‐up companies. In order to be competitive, however, Cloud providers need to be able to adapt to the dynamic loads from users, not only optimizing the local usage and costs but also engaging into agreements with other Clouds so as to complement local capacity. The infrastructure in which competing Clouds are able to cooperate to maximize their benefits is called a Federated Cloud. Just as Clouds enable users to cope with unexpected demand loads, a Federated Cloud will enable individual Clouds to cope with unforeseen variations of demand. The definition of the mechanism to ensure mutual benefits for the individual Clouds composing the federation, however, is one of its main challenges. This paper proposes and investigates the application of market‐oriented mechanisms based on the General Equilibrium Theory of Microeconomics to coordinate the sharing of resources between the Clouds in the Federated Cloud. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) +405G>C 5'-untranslated region polymorphism and increased risk of endometriosis in South Indian women: a case control study.

BACKGROUND Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a major mediator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability, is known to play a key role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. METHODS AND RESULTS The single nucleotide polymorphisms, -460C>T and +405G>C, in the 5'-untranslated region of the VEGF gene were tested for association in a case-control study of 215 affected women and 210 women with no evidence of disease. All the women were of South Indian origin and ascertained from the same infertility clinic. The genotype and allele frequencies of the -460C>T polymorphism did not differ significantly between cases and controls. In contrast, the genotype (P = 0.002) and allele (P = 0.001) frequencies of the +405G>C polymorphism showed a significant difference between cases and controls. The +405 GG genotype was found more often in patients with an endometrioma >3 cm compared to controls. The frequency of the -460T/+405C haplotype (P = 0.016) was significantly lower in affected women compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS The -460T/+405C haplotype in the VEGF gene, which is associated with lower promoter activity, was significantly less common in women with endometriosis than in controls. These data suggest that the +405G allele may influence the likelihood of a woman developing the disease.