Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
National vehicle emissions policies and practices and declining US carbon monoxide-related mortality.

CONTEXT Carbon monoxide (CO) has been reported to contribute to more than 2000 poisoning deaths per year in the United States. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the influence of national vehicle emissions policies and practices on CO-related mortality and to describe 31 years (1968-1998) of CO-related deaths in the United States. DESIGN AND SETTING Longitudinal trend analysis using computerized death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Census Bureau population data, and annual CO emissions estimates for light-duty vehicles provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE All deaths in the US for which non-fire-related CO poisoning was an underlying or contributing condition, classified by intent and mechanism of death. Negative binomial regression was used to incorporate every year of data into estimated percentage changes in CO emissions and mortality rates over time. RESULTS During 1968-1998, CO-related mortality rates in the United States declined from 20.2 deaths to 8.8 deaths per 1 million person-years (an estimated decline of 57.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -62.4% to -52.6%). Following the introduction of the catalytic converter to automobiles in 1975, CO emissions from automobiles decreased by an estimated 76.3% of 1975 levels (95% CI, -82.0% to -70.4%) and unintentional motor vehicle-related CO death rates declined from 4.0 to 0.9 deaths per 1 million person-years (an estimated decline of 81.3%; 95% CI, -84.8% to -77.0%). Rates of motor vehicle-related CO suicides declined from 10.0 to 4.9 deaths per 1 million person-years (an estimated decline of 43.3%; 95% CI, -57.5% to -24.3%). During 1975-1996, an annual decrease of 10 g/mile of estimated CO emissions from automobiles was associated with a 21.3% decrease (95% CI, -24.2% to -18.4%) in the annual unintentional motor vehicle-related CO death rate and a 5.9% decrease (95%CI, -10.0% to -1.8%) in the annual rate of motor vehicle-related CO suicides. CONCLUSIONS If rates of unintentional CO-related deaths had remained at pre-1975 levels, an estimated additional 11 700 motor vehicle-related CO poisoning deaths might have occurred by 1998. This decline in death rates appears to be a public health benefit associated with the enforcement of standards set by the 1970 Clean Air Act.
Assessment of patient satisfaction with psychiatric care

Quality management and quality control of health services has become increasingly important. Central to the concept of quality of care is the patient's (the health care consumer's) own view of the care provided and the treatment outcome. UKU (Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser; that is, Committee for Clinical Trials), a working group within the Scandinavian Society for Psychopharmacology (SSP), has designed a brief consumer satisfaction rating scale, the UKU-ConSat. Based on an extensive literature review, a number of principles related to content, assessment, interview techniques, documentation and standardisation steered the design of the rating scale. UKU-ConSat consists of six items related to the structure and process of treatment/care, and two items related to outcome and well-being. A manual accompanies the rating scale with guidelines for how to solicit information from the patient and how to rate each item. A first field trial of the rating scale in 135 inpatients at multiple clinical sites in Finland and Sweden showed that it could be applied to several relevant patient categories (psychotic, affective, neurotic, organic and alcohol and substance abuse disorders). According to both patients and staff the rating scale promises to become useful both for research and for improvement of routine psychiatric services.
Accuracy of Volume Measurements of Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Phantoms by Three-Dimensional Reconstruction and Preliminary Clinical Application

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. Using an independent three-dimensional workstation, the accuracy of volume measurements of phantoms was assessed using three-dimensional reconstruction of two-dimensional computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images. METHODS. Round, cylindrical, and irregularly shaped high-contrast phantoms of known volume were imaged in a water bath. The effect of object contrast on volume estimation was tested using phantoms of known volume diluted serially with a contrast agent. The effect of changing field of view and slice thickness was assessed. A clinical application was performed, in which nine shoulders were injected with a known quantity of contrast material, to test the accuracy of the technique in vivo. RESULTS. A strong paired correlation (r = .99) between estimated and true volumes was obtained for high-contrast phantoms ranging from 17 to 128 mL. The weighted average absolute error was 1.42 mL (MR) and 3.50 mL (CT). Accuracy of the serially diluted 27-mL phantoms was essentially unaffected by contrast differences greater than 133 units (MR) and 102 units (CT). The weighted average absolute error was 1.33 mL (MR) and 1.56 mL (CT). Changing field of view had no effect on accuracy, but increasing the slice thickness resulted in overestimation of volume. The mean error for the clinical application was 4.4% (range: 1.7%-8.3%). CONCLUSION. Under certain circumstances, three-dimensional reconstructive volume estimation can be a convenient and accurate method for volume determination.
Current concepts on the neurobiology of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is an early onset, clinically heterogeneous disorder of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In contrast to the widespread acceptance of ADHD as a childhood diagnosis, its prevalence in adults and its implications for clinical practice remain a source of controversy. Throughout the lifecycle, a key clinical feature observed in ADHD patients is comorbidity with Conduct, Depressive, Bipolar, and Anxiety disorders. Family studies consistently support the assertion that ADHD runs in families. Heritabillty data from twin studies of ADHD attribute about 80 percent of the etiology of ADHD to genetic factors. Adoption studies of ADHD also implicate genes in its etiology. Molecular genetic data are bolstered by considerations suggesting that DRD4 and DAT genes may be relevant for ADHD. Independently of genes, prenatal exposure to nicotine and psychosocial adversity have also been identified as risk factors for ADHD. Structural and functional Imaging studies consistently implicate catecholamine-rich fronto-subcortical systems in the pathophysiology of ADHD. The effectiveness of stimulants, along with animal models of hyperactivity, point to catecholamine disruption as at least one source of ADHD brain dysfunction. Although not entirely sufficient, changes in dopaminergic and noradrenergic function appear necessary for the clinical efficacy of pharmacological treatments for ADHD, providing support for the hypothesis that alteration of monoaminergic transmission in critical brain regions may be the basis for therapeutic action in ADHD.
Immunopathogenesis of chronic inflammatory periodontal disease: cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Recent studies of the cellular mechanisms involved in chronic inflammatory periodontal disease (CIPD) have contributed significantly to our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease process. Functional studies have demonstrated polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) chemotactic defects in some 70% of subjects with localized juvenile periodontitis while chemiluminescence data have suggested that peripheral blood PMNs from young subjects with adult periodontitis (AP) may be in a metabolically active state. Further studies have shown that stimulation of PMNs with a number of periodontopathic bacteria resulted in the production of an IL-1 inhibitor suggesting a possible regulatory role for PMNs in CIPD in addition to their established protective role. Most work on the immunoregulation of CIPD has, however, concentrated on T-cells. Recent limit dilution analysis has demonstrated the presence of periodontopathic bacteria-specific T cells in peripheral blood and the involvement and homing of these cells to the local lesions of CIPD is currently the focus of many studies. In animal studies, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa)-specific T-cell clones home to the gingival tissues where they may exert a protective role. Homing and retention of lymphocytes to and in specific sites is dependent upon the expression of adhesion molecules. Recent data indicate however, that while there are increasing levels of ICAM-1, LECAM-1 and PECAM-1 expression with increasing degrees of inflammation, there are no differences between gingivitis and periodontitis lesions. Cytokine profiles may be related to the role of T-cell clones homing to the gingiva in CIPD. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Empirical subgroups of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire-Revised: a multisample study.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the dimensions of coping, measured by the subscales of the new revised Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ-R) using factor analysis, and to perform cluster analysis on these factors to explore the existence of distinct subgroups. No published studies have identifed subgroups of chronic pain patients based on the use of CSQ coping strategies. SOURCE A sample of 419 chronic low back pain patients from a multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation clinic and a sample of 556 chronic pain patients of mixed pain etiology presenting for treatment at an anesthesia pain clinic were used to establish reliability of factors and clusters. RESULTS Both samples yielded very similar two-factor solutions, with initial solutions accounting for 67.1% and 69.1% of the total variance. The factors were characterized as cognitive coping and distraction. Three homogeneous subgroups were then identified that consisted of a group high on cognitive coping, a group with low overall ratings of response CSQ-R items in general, and a group with frequent endorsement of catastrophizing and distraction-related items. CONCLUSION This paper is the first to report empirically derived subgroups from scores on the CSQ or CSQ-R. In addition, the three clusters were significantly different across measures of pain, psychological distress, and levels of physical functioning, demonstrating validity for the clusters.
Self-Control of Feedback During Motor Learning: Accounting for the Absolute Amount of Feedback Using a Yoked Group With Self-Control Over Feedback

ABSTRACT A traditional control group yoked to a group that self-controls their reception of feedback receives feedback in the same relative and absolute manner. This traditional control group typically does not learn the task as well as the self-control group. Although the groups are matched for the amount of feedback they receive, the information is provided on trials in which the individual may not request feedback if he or she were provided the opportunity. Similarly, individuals may not receive feedback on trials for which it would be a beneficial learning experience. Subsequently, the mismatch between the provision of feedback and the potential learning opportunity leads to a decrement in retention. The present study was designed to examine motor learning for a yoked group with the same absolute amount of feedback, but who could self-control when they received feedback. Increased mental processing of error detection and correction was expected for the participants in the yoked self-control group because of their choice to employ a limited resource in the form of a decreasing amount of feedback opportunities. Participants in the yoked with self-control group committed fewer errors than the self-control group in retention and the traditional yoked group in both the retention and time transfer blocks. The results suggest that the yoked with self-control group was able to produce efficient learning effects and can be a viable control group for further motor learning studies.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Repress Osteoblast Differentiation Under Osteogenic‐Inducing Conditions

This study was designed to investigate the influence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on osteoblast (OB) differentiation. Rat bone marrow MSCs were cultured either in growth medium that maintained a MSC phenotype or in osteogenic medium that induced differentiation into OBs. Then, cells were grown in two different culture conditions: indirect co‐culture of MSCs and OBs and OBs cultured in MSC‐conditioned medium. As a control culture condition, OBs were grown in osteogenic medium without the influence of MSCs. We evaluated cell proliferation, the gene expression of key bone markers, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, bone sialoprotein (BSP) expression, and extracellular matrix mineralization. The results showed that, regardless of whether OBs were indirectly co‐cultured with MSCs or cultured in MSC‐conditioned medium, MSCs repressed OB differentiation, as evidenced by the downregulation of all evaluated bone marker genes, decreased ALP activity, inhibition of BSP protein expression, and reduced extracellular matrix mineralization. Taken together, these results indicate that despite the key role of both MSCs and OBs in the osteogenic process, the repressive effect of MSCs on OB differentiation in an osteogenic environment may represent a barrier to the strategy of using them together in cell‐based therapies to induce bone repair. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2896–2902, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Safety and Acceptability of the Candidate Microbicide Carraguard in Thai Women: Findings From a Phase II Clinical Trial

Objective:To determine the safety and acceptability of vaginal application of Carraguard, a carrageenan-derived candidate microbicide gel. Design:A randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blinded clinical trial was conducted in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand. Methods:Women were asked to insert one applicator of study gel vaginally at least three times per week (with or without sex) and to use gel with condoms every time they had sex. Safety was assessed by visual inspection of the vagina and cervix, changes in vaginal flora and self-reported symptoms at day 14, month 1 and then monthly for up to 1 year. Acceptability was assessed through reported use of the gel, return of used and unused applicators, and quarterly interviews. Results:One hundred sixty-five women were randomized: 83 to Carraguard and 82 to the placebo (methylcellulose gel) group. Study gel use was similarly high in both groups throughout the trial with an average of four applicators per week. Carraguard use was not associated with abnormal genital clinical findings, abnormal vaginal flora, Pap smear abnormalities or other abnormal clinical signs or symptoms. Adverse events were mostly mild, not attributed to gel use, and similarly distributed between groups. Participants in both groups reported high acceptability. Conclusions:Carraguard can safely be used an average of four times per week with or without sex and is acceptable to Thai women. A Phase III efficacy trial of Carraguard is warranted and is currently ongoing in South Africa.
An effective going concern prediction model for the sustainability of enterprises and capital market development

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to construct a two-stage effective and innovative going concern prediction model to predict going concern doubt for the sustainability of enterprises and capital market development. Samples of this study are the companies listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange or the Taipei Exchange, totalling 196 companies and including 49 companies with going concern doubt and 147 normal companies (with no going concern doubt). The data are taken from the Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ) and the Market Observation Post System during the period from 2001 to 2016 (totalling 16 years). This study adopts a two-stage way to construct the going concern prediction models. In Stage I, the traditional statistical method of stepwise regression (SR) and the data mining technique artificial neural network (ANN) are applied to select the important variables. In Stage II, two decision tree algorithms (data mining techniques): classification and regression tree (CART) and C5.0 are used to establish the prediction models. The results show that the SR + CART model has the highest going concern prediction accuracy, with an overall accuracy of 87.42%.
Which is more important for the efficiency of hypertension treatment: hypertension stage, type of drug or therapeutic compliance?

Objectives Hypertensive patients are a heterogeneous population that can be distributed in groups showing different cardiovascular risk and benefit from treatment. This study examines the cost-effectiveness of arterial hypertension treatment by age, sex, arterial hypertension stage, type of drug used and level of treatment compliance. Design Markov models combining absolute risks for stroke, coronary heart disease and all causes of death with relative risks from clinical trials and observational studies. Data on health costs were collected from hospitals and primary care settings in the Basque Country (Spain). Results Cost-effectiveness ratios vary from 34 516 euros/quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained in 30-year-old women to 3307 euros/QALY in 80-year-old men. A treatment compliance of 50% increases these values to 45 270 and 4905 euros/QALY, respectively. Treatment of arterial hypertension stage II shows lower ratios (19 798 euros/QALY in 30-year-old women and 1918 euros/QALY in 80-year-old persons). Cost-effectiveness ratios for arterial hypertension stage I vary from 645 euros/QALY in 80-year-old men for diuretics to 47 325 euros/QALY in 30-year-old women for inhibitors of the angiotensin converting enzyme. Conclusions There are large variations in the cost-effectiveness of arterial hypertension treatment depending on age, sex, arterial hypertension stage, drug used and compliance. Improvement of treatment compliance yields the greatest gain both in effectiveness and efficiency.
Systemic macrophage and neutrophil destruction by secondary necrosis induced by a bacterial exotoxin in a Gram‐negative septicaemia

Bacterial modulation of phagocyte cell death is an emerging theme in pathogenesis. Here we describe the systemic destruction of macrophages and neutrophils by the Gram‐negative Photobacterium damselae ssp. piscicida (Phdp) in fish pasteurellosis, a deadly systemic infection. Following experimental inoculation, Phdp spreads by bacteraemia and colonizes the organs, producing a septicaemic infection, and secretes the apoptogenic exotoxin AIP56 which is systemically disseminated. In experimental and natural pasteurellosis, destruction of macrophages and neutrophils by secondary necrosis following caspase‐3‐associated apoptosis was seen predominantly in the spleen, head kidney and gut lamina propria. Identical phagocyte destruction occurred after injection of rAIP56, but not of heat‐inactivated rAIP56, or AIP56‐negative Phdp strains, indicating that AIP56 is responsible for phagocyte destruction occurring in pasteurellosis. Active caspase‐3 and active neutrophil elastase are present in the blood in advanced infection, indicating that phagocyte lysis by secondary necrosis is accompanied by release of tissue‐damaging molecules. The AIP56‐induced lysis of phagocytes represents a very efficient, self‐amplifying etiopathogenic mechanism, because it results in two effects that operate in concert against the host, namely, evasion of the pathogen from a crucial defence mechanism through the destruction of both professional phagocytes, and release of tissue‐damaging molecules. The induction by a bacterial exotoxin of in vivo systemic lysis of both professional phagocytes by secondary necrosis, now described for the first time, may represent an overlooked etiopathogenic mechanism operating in other infections of vertebrates.
Write Error Rate of Spin-Transfer-Torque Random Access Memory Including Micromagnetic Effects Using Rare Event Enhancement

Spin-transfer-torque random access memory (STT-RAM) is a promising candidate for the next generation of random access memory due to improved scalability, read-write speeds, and endurance. However, the write pulse duration must be long enough to ensure a low write error rate (WER), the probability that a bit will remain unswitched after the write pulse is turned OFF, in the presence of stochastic thermal effects. WERs on the scale of 10-9 or lower are desired. Within a macrospin approximation, WERs can be calculated analytically using the Fokker-Planck method to this point and beyond. However, dynamic micromagnetic effects within the bit can affect and lead to faster switching. Such micromagnetic effects can be addressed via numerical solution of the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert-Slonczewski (LLGS) equation. However, determining WERs approaching 10-9 would require well over 109 such independent simulations, which is infeasible. In this paper, we explore the calculation of WER using rare event enhancement (REE), an approach that has been used for Monte Carlo simulation of other systems where rare events nevertheless remain important. Using a prototype REE approach tailored to the STT-RAM switching physics, we demonstrate reliable calculation of a WER to 10-9 with sets of only approximately 103 ongoing stochastic LLGS simulations, and the apparent ability to go further.
Running head: HEALTH BELIEF MODEL AND BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION An application of the health belief model to the prediction of breast self-examination in a national sample of women with a family history of breast cancer

Women with a family history of breast cancer (N=833) completed questionnaires that assessed the main constructs of the health belief model (HBM), self-efficacy, behavioral intention and past behavior in relation to breast self-examination (BSE). Regression analyses revealed that intentions to perform BSE were predicted by perceived benefits, perceived emotional barriers, perceived skill barriers, self-efficacy and past behavior. At 9-month follow-up, BSE performance was predicted by perceived benefits, self-efficacy and past behavior. The results provide strong support for the inclusion of self-efficacy in the HBM. However, the significant effects for past behavior indicate that the HBM is not a sufficient model of BSE intentions or behavior and that it may benefit from further development. The practical implications of the results are outlined.
Enhanced Requirement for TNFR2 in Graft Rejection Mediated by Low-Affinity Memory CD8+ T Cells during Heterologous Immunity

The affinity of a TCR binding to peptide:MHC profoundly impacts the phenotype and function of effector and memory cell differentiation. Little is known about the effect of low-affinity priming on memory cell generation and function, which is particularly important in heterologous immunity, when microbe-specific T cells cross-react with allogeneic Ag and mediate graft rejection. We found that low-affinity–primed memory CD8+ T cells produced high levels of TNF ex vivo in response to heterologous rechallenge compared with high-affinity–primed memory T cells. Low-affinity secondary effectors significantly upregulated TNFR2 on the cell surface and contained a higher frequency of TNFR2hi proliferating cells. Low-affinity–primed secondary effectors concurrently downregulated TNF production. Importantly, blockade of TNFR2 attenuated graft rejection in low- but not high-affinity–primed animals. These data establish a functional connection between TNF signaling and TCR-priming affinity and have implications for the immunomodulation of pathogenic T cell responses during transplantation.