Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Premorbid and Illness-related Social Difficulties in Eating Disorders: An Overview of the Literature and Treatment Developments

Background: Social difficulties in eating disorders can manifest as predisposing traits and premorbid difficulties, and/or as consequences of the illness. Objective: The aim of this paper is to briefly review the evidence of social problems in people with eating disorders and to consider the literature on treatments that target these features. Method: A narrative review of the literature was conducted. Results: People with eating disorders often manifest traits, such as shyness, increased tendency to submissiveness and social comparison, and problems with peer relationships before illness onset. Further social difficulties occur as the illness devel-ops, including impaired social cognition and increased threat sensitivity. All relationships with family, peers and therapists are compromised by these effects. Thus, social difficulties are both risk and maintaining factors of eating disorders and are suitable targets for interventions. Several forms of generic treatments (e.g. interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive analytic therapy, focal psychodynamic therapy) have an interpersonal focus and show some efficacy. Guided self-management based on the cognitive interpersonal model of the illness directed to both individuals and support persons has been found to im-prove outcomes for all parties. Adjunctive treatments that focus on specific social difficulties, such as cognitive remediation and emotion skills training and cognitive bias modification have been shown to have a promising role. Conclusion: More work is needed to establish whether these approaches can improve on the rather disappointing outcomes that are attained by currently used treatments for eating disorders
Radiant near infrared light emitting Diode exposure as skin preparation to enhance photodynamic therapy inflammatory type acne treatment outcome

An alternative approach in the treatment of acne vulgaris is photodynamic therapy (PDT) that uses light and aminolevulinic acid (ALA)‐induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) production to eradicate Propionibacterium acnes found in acne lesions. PpIX formation is dependent on ALA percutaneaous penetration. In this study, to enhance ALA penetration and subsequent accumulation of PpIX, skin temperature was increased with radiant infrared (IR) prior to ALA–PDT application and compared to ALA–PDT alone in the treatment of inflammatory acne.
Issues in cross-cultural validity: example from the adaptation, reliability, and validity testing of a Turkish version of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE Guidelines have been established for cross-cultural adaptation of outcome measures. However, invariance across cultures must also be demonstrated through analysis of Differential Item Functioning (DIF). This is tested in the context of a Turkish adaptation of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). METHODS Internal construct validity of the adapted HAQ is assessed by Rasch analysis; reliability, by internal consistency and the intraclass correlation coefficient; external construct validity, by association with impairments and American College of Rheumatology functional stages. Cross-cultural validity is tested through DIF by comparison with data from the UK version of the HAQ. RESULTS The adapted version of the HAQ demonstrated good internal construct validity through fit of the data to the Rasch model (mean item fit 0.205; SD 0.998). Reliability was excellent (alpha = 0.97) and external construct validity was confirmed by expected associations. DIF for culture was found in only 1 item. CONCLUSIONS Cross-cultural validity was found to be sufficient for use in international studies between the UK and Turkey. Future adaptation of instruments should include analysis of DIF at the field testing stage in the adaptation process.
Tizanidine and electrophysiologic analysis of spinal control mechanisms in humans with spasticity

Article abstractSpasticity results from various pathophysiologic abnormalities in spinal cord neuronal circuits. Noninvasive electrophysiologic techniques can be used to study these circuits in humans. The best correlation between briskness of reflexes and results of electrophysiologic testing is found with reduction in vibratory inhibition, a test that reflects presynaptic inhibition. For increase in muscle tone, the best correlation is found with reduction of Ib nonreciprocal inhibition. These test results, which are stable under controlled conditions, are influenced by myorelaxant drugs and may be used to analyze the mode of action of new products because the tests study specific circuits involving known neurotransmitters. Tizanidine reinforces presynaptic inhibition and two types of postsynaptic inhibition: Ia reciprocal and Ib nonreciprocal. It also markedly reduces flexor reflexes. These effects are explained by an action exerted on spinal interneurons deprived of their normal monoaminergic descending innervation. The spectrum of activity for tizanidine is thus broad, making it likely that tizanidine corrects more than one pathophysiologic abnormality. Because tizanidine reinforces presynaptic as well as Ib nonreciprocal inhibition, it may reduce both brisk tendon jerks and muscle hypertonia.
Impact of projected land conversion on water balance of boreal soils in western Newfoundland

Conversion of boreal forest into agricultural land is likely to occur due to the shift of climatic zones and increasing food demand. However, any land conversion will affect the water balance and hence solute fluxes within the soil column and connected ecosystems. Understanding the consequences of land conversion on soil hydrology is essential to support an economically viable agriculture while minimizing its environmental footprint. Hydrological models can simulate these effects based on regionally adjusted climate scenarios. Here, we combined a local climate analysis with hydrological simulations (Hydrus-1D) of boreal soils before and after agricultural conversion. Historical climate analysis showed increasing temperatures and growing degree days while precipitation remains stable. Hydrological simulations revealed lower saturation and higher infiltration rates for unconverted soils, indicating lower runoff and increased infiltration and deep percolation. In contrast, agricultural soils have slower infiltration rates, particularly in the upper horizon. Over the long term, agricultural conversion consequently increases erosion risk and nutrient loss by runoff. This might further progressively limit groundwater recharge, affect hydrological processes and functions and future drought/flood conditions at catchment levels. Hence, conversion of boreal soils demands a primary identification of suitable areas to minimize its impacts.
Acute Effects of Tobacco Smoking on Hunger and Eating in Male and Female Smokers

Cigarette smoking is associated with reduced body weight, an effect which has often been attributed to acute anorectic actions of nicotine. In this study, male and female smokers (n = 10 each), abstinent overnight from smoking and food, participated in three 2-h sessions, involving intermittent, controlled exposure to their usual cigarette (mean yield = 0.75 mg nicotine), a very low nicotine cigarette (0.1 mg) or an unlit cigarette. Hunger and cigarette craving were assessed throughout each session, which ended with ad libitum consumption of a variety of food items ("lunch"). Plasma nicotine analyses confirmed successful control of nicotine exposure via smoking. Results indicated no differences across cigarette conditions in hunger, in contrast to the sharp differences in cigarette craving. There were no differences in total caloric intake, or in macronutrient or taste selection. There were also no differences in any responses to smoking condition as a function of gender. These findings cast into question the commonly held notion that nicotine or smoking has acute anorectic actions in smokers.
The Auditory System Involvement in Parkinson Disease: Electrophysiological and Neuropsychological Correlations

In the course of Parkinson disease (PD), apart from motor symptoms, presence of mental disturbances such as dementia and depression is common. The aims of this study were to assess the auditory system involvement in patients with PD using electrophysiological and neuropsychological tests and to correlate the cognitive impairment and the auditory evoked potentials tests results. The auditory and cognitive functions were studied in 53 patients with idiopathic PD, mean age 65.8 ± 9.1 years; mean disease duration 7.8 ± 5.0 years; mean motor disability score 2.5 ± 0.8 points in Hoehn-Yahr scale compared with a control group matched for age and sex. In patients and controls, cognitive functions were analyzed electrophysiologically using middle latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEP) and long latency (event-related potentials, P300) auditory evoked potentials. Neuropsychological testing consisted of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). According to WCST results, patients with PD were divided into 2 subgroups: patients with normal and abnormal WCST performance (WCST(−) and WCST(+) subgroups, respectively). Sixteen of 46 patients (34.8%) showed cognitive impairment when evaluated with WCST. Statistically significant differences in middle latency auditory evoked potentials and P300 results between WCST(−) and WCST(+) groups were found consisting of P300 abnormalities in 93.8% patients in WCST(+) and 57.7% in WCST(−) group. Middle latency auditory evoked potentials were abnormal in 71.4% and 63% patients in WCST(+) and WCST(−) group, respectively. P300 was absent significantly more often (P < 0.01) in the subgroup with cognitive impairment. The difference in middle latency auditory evoked potentials results between these subgroups was statistically insignificant. The auditory evoked potentials changes were more common among patients with abnormal WCST performance. According to our results, the auditory evoked potentials of different latencies are helpful in the assessment of cognitive changes accompanying PD.
Focusing the Gap: Productive Post-IEP Development

For signed language interpreters there are a limited number of formal transition programs to aid the development from completion of an interpreter education program (IEP) to competent professional. This period of time is an important time for building a professional foundation. Research in other practice professions has shown that gradual transitions towards autonomy under adequate supervision and coaching provide a forum for practitioners to grow in their professional abilities with the support needed to guide them. The type of program used as a model in this study is the medical residency program where underclassmen learn a new skill from an upperclassman, practice this skill, and finally teach the skill to the next cohort. All phases are done under a competent professional’s observation. By conducting an action research project on my practice, benefits of this progression during an interpreter's formative years were delineated. The study was conducted to assess the benefits of cycling through learning, practicing and teaching phases with the oversight of a competent practitioner. The action research findings support the recommended progression of learn, practice, teach.
Capturing the linguistic landscape of Edinburgh: A pedagogical tool to investigate student teachers’ understandings of cultural and linguistic diversity

Citation for published version: Hancock, A 2012, Capturing the Linguistic Landscape of Edinburgh: a pedagogical tool to investigate student teachers' understandings of cultural and linguistic diversity. in C Hélot, M Barni, R Janssens & C Bagna (eds), Linguistic Landscapes, Multilingualism and Social Change . Peter Lang Publishing Group, Frankfurt , pp. 249-266 . <http://www.peterlang. com/index.cfm? event=cmp.ccc. seitenstruktur.detailseiten&seitentyp=produkt&pk=59 689&cid=448>
CT Angiographic Features of Symptom-Producing Plaque in Moderate-Grade Carotid Artery Stenosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Emerging evidence indicates that plaque imaging can improve stroke risk stratification in patients with carotid artery atherosclerosis. We studied the association between soft and hard (calcified) plaque thickness measurements on CTA and symptomatic disease status (ipsilateral stroke or TIA) in patients with moderate-grade carotid artery stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured soft-plaque and hard-plaque thickness on CTA axial source images in each carotid artery plaque in subjects with NASCET 50%–69% ICA stenosis. We used logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses to assess the strength of the association between thickness measurements and prior stroke or TIA. RESULTS: Twenty of 72 vessels studied (27.7%) had ischemic symptoms ipsilateral to the side of moderate-grade carotid stenosis. Each 1-mm increase in soft plaque resulted in a 3.7 times greater odds of a prior ipsilateral ischemic event (95% CI, 1.9–7.2). Conversely, for each 1-mm increase in hard plaque, the odds of being symptomatic decreased by approximately 80% (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.10%–0.48%). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.88 by using soft-plaque thickness measurements to discriminate between asymptomatic and symptomatic plaques. Sensitivity and specificity were optimized by using a maximum soft-plaque thickness of 2.2 mm, which provided a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 83%. CONCLUSIONS: Simple CTA plaque-thickness measurements might differentiate symptomatic and asymptomatic moderate-grade carotid artery plaque. With further prospective validation, CTA plaque measures could function as an easily implementable tool for risk stratification in carotid artery disease.
The New Zealand financial cycle 1968–2017

ABSTRACT This paper identifies a financial cycle for New Zealand over the period 1968–2017 using spectral analysis and band-pass filter methods. We report the main characteristics of the financial cycle and examine the extent to which it is synchronised with the business cycle in New Zealand and the financial cycle in the United States. Our results suggest that the median length of the financial cycle in New Zealand is 8 years, and its duration has increased substantially (from 4.75 to 9.75 years) following the economic reforms of the mid-eighties. There appears to be a strong relationship between financial cycle contractions and real economic outcomes, with 83% of financial cycle contractions preceding a recession by a median of 2.5 years. We also find a strong degree of synchronicity between the New Zealand and US financial cycles.
Moderating effect of organizational citizenship behavior on the effect of organizational commitment, transformational leadership and work motivation on employee performance

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between transformational leadership, organizational commitment, motivation, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and employee performance.Design/methodology/approachThis research is located in the province of Papua, and more specifically at the District Secretariat Papua Province. The study was conducted in the months from April to June 2016. This study tested the effect of transformational leadership, organizational commitment, work motivation, OCB and performance Officer Regional Secretariat Papua Province, then the variable research is transformational leadership, organizational commitment, work motivation, OCB and performance officer. Structural equation modeling (SEM) calculation tool is commonly used is the program analysis of moment structures.FindingsThe results of studies show that moderating OCB does not significantly affect the relationship between organizational commitment, transformational leadership, work motivation and the performance of employees at the District Secretariat in Papua Province.Originality/valueOriginality of this paper is on the comprehensive study that combines the variables of transformational leadership, organizational commitment, work motivation, OCB and performance into a complete model of study. Originality for this paper shows the moderation effect of OCB on the effect of organizational commitment, transformational leadership and work motivation on employee performance. This research is located in the Province of Papua, and more specifically at the District Secretariat Papua Province.
Liver‐associated macrophage precursors as natural cytotoxic effectors against Candida albicans and Yac‐1 cells

Liver nonparenchymal cells of maleic anhydride divinyl ether or cyclophosphamide‐treated mice were assayed for cytotoxic activity against the yeast form of Candida albicans. A strong increase in this activity was observed after both in vivo treatments, as compared to untreated control mice. The effector cell was enriched by nylon wool passage and separation of nonadherent liver nonparenchymal cells on a discontinuous Percoll gradient. By means of direct and indirect rosetting techniques, based on the presence of Fc receptors and the F4/80 and M143 macrophage surface markers, we could separate a nearly homogeneous effector cell population. It displayed, besides the candidacidal activity, Fc receptors and the M143 and F4/80 antigens, also strong natural cytotoxicity against Yac‐1 lymphoma cells. When cultured in medium containing colony‐stimulating factor‐1, this effector population reacted with a strong proliferative response as measured through incorporation of tritiated thymidine. The data presented show that nonadherent, nonphagocytic macrophage precursors, which we characterized previously from in vitro bone marrow cultures, occur in vivo as organ‐associated effector cells in the liver after elicitation with maleic anhydride divinyl ether or cyclophosphamide. These macrophage precursors have prior to their maturation the ability to serve as a microbicidal and tumoricidal natural killer cell.
Impact of cellular immune function on prognosis of lung cancer patients after cytokine-induced killer cell therapy.

AIMS To investigate changes in cellular immune function of patients with lung cancer before and after cytokine- induced killer (CIK) cell therapy and to identify variation effects on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 943 lung cancer patients with immune dysfunction were recruited from January 2002 to January 2010, 532 being allocated to conventional therapy and 411 to CIK therapy after a standard treatment according to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines. All the patients were investigated for cellular immune function before and after therapy every three months. and clinical prognostic outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS After six courses of treatment, immune function was much improved in patients receiving CIK cells therapy as compared to controls. The percentages of recurrence and/or metastases for patients undergoing CIK cell therapy was 56.2% and 49.1% respectively but 78.6% and 70.3% among controls (p<0.001). The median OS times for CIK cell therapy and control groups were 48 and 36 months respectively. The OS rates at 12, 36, 60, 84 months in CIK treated patients were 97.8%, 66.9%, 27.7%, and 4.1% while they were 92.3%, 44.5%, 9.2%, and 1.5% in controls. OS and PFS were significantly different by log rank test between the two groups and across the three immune improvement classes. CONCLUSIONS The immune function of lung cancer patients was improved by CIK cell therapy, associated with an increase in the OS rate and extension of the time to recurrence and/or metastasis.
Study of prognosis in acute myeloid leukemias (AML) by cluster analysis.

BACKGROUND Cluster analysis is particularly effective in detecting homogeneous subgroups among large series of observations. We applied this relatively uncommon approach to the study of prognosis in 137 patients affected by acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS AND RESULTS Employing simple presentation parameters (age, WBC, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly) we used cluster analysis to define 3 groups with different overall survival (p = 0.0019). This classification was obtained following a rescaling of the variables and principal component analysis. Validation was performed through random definition of a control group. With the same variables, univariate analysis demonstrated age was the only prognostic factor, while Cox's model was not significant. CONCLUSIONS In our series cluster analysis allowed a better definition of prognosis than Cox's analysis. Since the 3 groups are well identifiable, each patient can be rapidly classified and his allocation confirmed by discriminant functions. For cluster 2 we were able to project a possible myelodysplastic evolution, while cluster 3 was more frequently associated with a monocytic blastic component. We think that cluster analysis deserves consideration as an alternative statistical approach in the analysis of large series of data; its usefulness lies in its power to define homogeneous prognostic or biologic subgroups and to elaborate further hypotheses for new studies.
Human Papillomavirus in Women With and Without HIV-1 Infection Attending an STI Clinic in Vitoria, Brazil

We conducted a cross-sectional study in Vitória, Brazil, to assess the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women attending a sexually transmitted infection (STI)/AIDS clinic. We also investigated the presence of HPV genotypes and assessed covariates for HIV infection. Enrolled patients received a gynecological evaluation, and cervical scrape samples were collected for cytological analysis and HPV-DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A blood sample was obtained to determine HIV status. HPV infection and squamous intraepithelial lesions were studied in 284 women, 112 (39.4%) HIV-positive women and 172 (60.5%) HIV-negative women. HPV-DNA was detected in 133 (46.8%). HIV-infected women were almost twice as likely to be concurrently infected with HPV than HIV-negative women (OR = 1.87 95% CI: 1.16-3.03). The high proportion of HPV detected among women attending an STI/AIDS clinic, particularly among HIV-infected women, proves the importance of screening this high-risk group in the hope of earlier detection and treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).
Bank Capital Regulation in a Zero Interest Environment

How do near-zero deposit rates affect (optimal) bank capital regulation and risk taking? I study these questions in a tractable, dynamic equilibrium model, in which forward-looking banks compete imperfectly for deposit funding, subject to a (zero) lower bound constraint on deposit rates (ZLB). At the ZLB, capital requirements become less effective in curbing excessive risk-taking incentives, as they disproportionately hurt franchise values. As a consequence, optimal dynamic capital requirements vary with the level of interest rates if the ZLB binds occasionally. Subsidizing bank funding costs at the ZLB dampens risk-taking, but may reduce overall welfare.