Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Challenges in obesity epidemiology

This paper was commissioned by the Foresight programme of the Office of Science and Innovation, Department of Trade and Industry © 2007 Queen’s Printer and Controller of HMSO; published with permission Journal compilation © 2007 The International Association for the Study of Obesity. obesity reviews 8 (Suppl. 1) , 1–11 1 obesity reviews (2007) 8 (Suppl. 1) , 1–11 OnlineOpen: This article is available free online at www.blackwell-synergy.com Blackwell Publishing LtdOxford, UKOBRObesity Reviews1467-7881© 2007 Queen’s Printer and Controller of HMSO; published with permission; Journal compilation © 2007 The International Association for the Study of Obesity ? 20078 ••111Review Article Challenges in obesity epidemiology D. Canoy & I. Buchan
Worker Mobility and Firm Leverage: Evidence from State Health Mandates

We study how changes in intra-firm bargaining through health insurance induced ’job-lock’ affects financing decisions of firms. We use staggered adoption of state health mandates which significantly increased the cost of health insurance borne by firms, along with providing better insurance coverage for their employees. Higher health care costs reduce worker mobility and allow firms to increase financial leverage by lowering operating costs. Consistent with this, we show that following the adoption of high-cost mandates, job turnover among workers reduces significantly, specifically for workers with employer-sponsored health insurance. Further, we find that firms that experience greater benefit from this job-lock significantly increase their debt ratios. Particularly, the increase in leverage is stronger for a) firms with small labor pool, b) financially constrained firms, and c) firms that operate in industries where workers have high job mobility. Our results are robust to geographic regression discontinuity design where we focus on firms located in counties adjacent to state borders. Overall, these results are consistent with greater operational flexibility allowing firms to raise financial leverage via increase in intra-firm bargaining power.
Activation of TRPV1 in the spinal cord by oxidized linoleic acid metabolites contributes to inflammatory hyperalgesia

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) plays a major role in hyperalgesia and allodynia and is expressed both in the peripheral and central nervous systems (CNS). However, few studies have evaluated mechanisms by which CNS TRPV1 mediates hyperalgesia and allodynia after injury. We hypothesized that activation of spinal cord systems releases endogenous TRPV1 agonists that evoke the development of mechanical allodynia by this receptor. Using in vitro superfusion, the depolarization of spinal cord triggered the release of oxidized linoleic acid metabolites, such as 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HODE) that potently activated spinal TRPV1, leading to the development of mechanical allodynia. Subsequent calcium imaging and electrophysiology studies demonstrated that synthetic oxidized linoleic acid metabolites, including 9-HODE, 13-HODE, and 9 and 13-oxoODE, comprise a family of endogenous TRPV1 agonists. In vivo studies demonstrated that intrathecal application of these oxidized linoleic acid metabolites rapidly evokes mechanical allodynia. Finally, intrathecal neutralization of 9- and 13-HODE by antibodies blocks CFA-evoked mechanical allodynia. These data collectively reveal a mechanism by which an endogenous family of lipids activates TRPV1 in the spinal cord, leading to the development of inflammatory hyperalgesia. These findings may integrate many pain disorders and provide an approach for developing analgesic drugs.
[Nontuberculous purulent pleural effusion in adults in Yaounde, Cameroon].

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to analyze current etiologic, bacteriologic and prognostic features of nontuberculous purulent pleural effusion in adults in Yaounde, Cameroon. METHODS This study prospectively included 54 adults hospitalized for community-acquired nontuberculous purulent pleural effusion in the chest-disease clinic of the Jamot Hospital in Yaounde from August 2007 to July 2010. RESULTS The study included 34 men and 20 women with a mean age of 40.8 ± 16.4 years. At least one or more predisposing condition or underlying disease was found in 59.2%. The most frequent predisposing condition was HIV infection, seen in 35.2% of patients. In 92.6% of patients (n=50), purulent pleural effusion followed acute bronchopulmonary infection. Positive cultures of pleural fluid were found in half the patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common bacteria identified (41.4%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (20.7%). Anaerobic bacteria were isolated in only 13.4% (n=4). Improvement was achieved in 79.6% of patients (n=43) and the in-hospital mortality rate was 3.7%. The mean duration of hospitalization was 26.8±15.6 days. CONCLUSION This study indicates that HIV infection is the most frequent predisposing condition for community-acquired nontuberculous purulent pleural effusion in adults in Yaounde. The most commonly isolated bacterial pathogen was S. pneumoniae. Although the mortality rate of this disease is low, its prevention by proper management of acute respiratory tract infection is important.
Design and Synthesis of an Eu-Based β-Diketone-Sensor for the Detection of Al 3 + Ions

A new β-diketone, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-hydroxy-2H-chromen-3-yl)ethanone (4-TFC), which contains a trifluorinated alkyl group and a rigid chromanone, has been designed and synthesised successfully, and utilized for the synthesis of a new stable Eu3+ ion-based 4-TFC lanthanide complex (1). The central Eu3+ ion is eight-coordinated by two O/N atoms from ancillary ligands and six oxygen atoms provided by three 4-TFC ligands. In particular, the complex (1) can detect Al3+ ions with high selectivity and sensitivity in a moment and can be seen by the naked eye clearly under 365 nm. The experimental data can be explained with the calculated transitions quite well.
A computational model of the cognitive impact of decorative elements on the perception of suspense

ABSTRACT Suspense is a key narrative issue in terms of emotional gratification, influencing the way in which the audience experiences a story. Virtually all narrative media uses suspense as a strategy for reader engagement regardless of the technology or genre. Being such an important narrative component, computational creativity has tackled suspense in a number of automatic storytelling. These systems are mainly based on narrative theories, and in general lack a cognitive approach involving the study of empathy or emotional effect of the environment impact. With this idea in mind, this paper reports on a computational model of the influence of decorative elements on suspense. It has been developed as part of a more general proposal for plot generation based on cognitive aspects. In order to test and parameterise the model, an evaluation based on textual stories and an evaluation based on a 3D virtual environment was run. In both cases, results suggest a direct influence of emotional perception of decorative objects in the suspense of a scene.
Clinical and Echocardiographic Factors Associated with Right Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Hemodialysis Patients

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a disorder of epidemic proportions that impairs cardiac function. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in hemodialysis patients, and the understanding of new nontraditional predictors of mortality could improve their outcomes. Right ventricular systolic dysfunction (RVSD) has recently been recognized as a predictor of cardiovascular death in heart failure and hemodialysis patients. However, the factors contributing to RVSD in hemodialysis patients remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic factors associated with RVSD in hemodialysis patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 100 outpatients with end-stage renal disease on chronic hemodialysis were evaluated. A transthoracic echocardiographic examination was performed at optimal dry weight. Right ventricular systolic function was evaluated using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). Clinical and echocardiographic data were recorded for each patient. A multivariate linear logistic regression was created using RVSD (TAPSE <14 mm) as the dependent variable. Results: Fifteen patients with RVSD and 85 patients without RVSD were analyzed. TAPSE had a positive correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and myocardial relaxation velocity. Independent contributors to RVSD were LVEF (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.26), left ventricular mass index (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04), and myocardial relaxation velocity (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.18-3.19). Conclusions: Echocardiographic factors were significant contributors to RVSD. These measurements could be included as part of the routine workup in all end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis.
CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIA AND PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY: SEROLOGIC EVIDENCES IN A PILOT STUDY

Purpose: Chlamydia pneumonia is a known endothelial pathogen in several vascular diseases including atherosclerosis, age-related macular degeneration and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a retinal vascular disease that may similarly be affected. We serologically investigated the presence of C. pneumonia infection in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Design: Pilot case-control study. Patients & Methods: During a period of 12 months, we examined sera of 27 type I diabetic patients with different stages of diabetic retinopathy for anti-chlamydial IgG and IgA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The IgG seropositivity was significantly different between different diabetic retinopathy groups (P=0.017). Rate of seropositivity was higher among patients with PDR comparing to patients without PDR, with a marginal significance (P=0.062). Although the titer of IgA was negative in all patients (less than 0.357 U/mL), the IgA titer was higher in patients with PDR than those without PDR, reaching the significance at P<0.06 level. Conclusion: C. pneumonia may be an independent risk factor for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Recycle Potential of Externally Fibrillated Chemical Pulp

The objective of the study was to clarify the recycle potential of externally fibrillated chemical pulp. To this end, internally fibrillated and externally fibrillated fibers were prepared using a Lampen mill and an ultra-fine friction grinder, respectively. Fibers were hornified to roughly the same level by recycling, regardless of the degree of internal or external fibrillation of nonrecycled fibers, and this was restored to some extent by refining. Externally fibrillated fibers offer greater potential for restoring swelling and straightening by refining than internally fibrillated fibers. The higher degree of external fibrillation of externally fibrillated fibers was not changed during recycling and refining. After five recycles, the tensile strength and internal bond strength of externally fibrillated fibers were higher than those of internally fibrillated fibers. The loss in tensile strength for internally fibrillated fibers was not fully restored by refining. However, the strength of externally fibrillated fibers was restored beyond their original strength. The potential for restoring their internal bond strength was even more enhanced by refining.
What Happens When Someone Acts

What happens when someone acts? A familiar answer goes like this. There is something that the agent wants, and there is an action that he believes conducive to its attainment. His desire for the end, and his belief in the action as a means, justify taking the action, and they jointly cause an intention to take it, which in turn causes the corresponding movements of the agent's body. Provided that these causal processes take their normal course, the agent's movements consummate an action, and his motivating desire and belief constitute his reasons for acting. This story is widely accepted as a satisfactory account of human action-or at least, as an account that will be satisfactory once it is completed by a definition of what's normal in the relevant causal processes. The story is widely credited to Donald Davidson's Essays on Actions and Events (1980), but I do not wish to become embroiled in questions of exegesis.2 I shall therefore refer to it simply as the standard story of human action. I think that the standard story is flawed in several respects. The flaw that will concern me in this paper is that the story fails to include an agent-or, more precisely, fails to cast the agent in his proper role.3 In this story, reasons cause an intention, and an intention causes bodily movements, but nobody-that is, no person-does anything. Psychological and physiological events take place inside a person, but the person serves merely as the arena for these events: he takes no active part.4
Design considerations in MEMS parallel plate variable capacitors

This paper presents some important design considerations usually ignored that need to be taken into account when designing MEMS parallel plate variable capacitors. Explicitly, it introduces an accurate method that incorporates parasitic and fringing capacitances in calculating the tuning range. Secondly, it shows, by the finite element method, that the etching hole effects for two-plate and three- plate varactors on the capacitance are low and can be ignored in the initial design stages. Finally a novel closed form expression, which calculates the capacitance of a varactor with a warped top suspended plate due to residual stress, is introduced; the expression is based on a second order model.
Low-dose methotrexate controls a severe form of polyarteritis nodosa.

A 41-year-old white man presented with a 7-year history of erythematous papules, livedo reticularis, swelling, myalgias, arthralgias, Raynaud phenomenon, and very large, painful and progressive ulcers on the lower part of both legs (Figure 1). A skin biopsy specimen revealed polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) with fibrinoid necrosis of medium-sized vessels. The patient fulfilled 4 of the criteria for PAN (ie, weight loss .4 kg, livedo reticularis, myalgias, and characteristic histological picture). Also, he had an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocyte count (Figure 2), CD3 cell count (pan-T cells) (3.5 3 10/L), CD3CD4 T-cell count (T-helper cells) (2.7 3 10/L), and antinuclear antibody titer (1:640, speckled pattern). Systemic prednisone therapy administered at dosages as high as 100 mg/d had little, if any, effect. The patient’s intense pain could only be controlled with morphine derivatives.
Fast and area-time efficient Berger code checkers

In this paper we extend the direct implementation of threshold functions using ratioed FET circuits presented earlier. Such designs are fast, area-time efficient and highly testable with respect to a large class of realistic defects, e.g., resistive breaks and bridges. These threshold functions were then used as core of the new Berger code checkers. For 32-bit checkers, the proposed design has a 59% speed and a 72% area-time improvements over the conventional design assuming 1.2 /spl mu/m VLSI implementations.
Biculturalism and Cognitive Complexity

To explore the possible cognitive consequences of biculturalism, the authors examine the complexity of cultural representations in monocultural and bicultural individuals. Study 1 found that Chinese American biculturals' free descriptions of both American and Chinese cultures are higher in cognitive complexity than that of Anglo-American monoculturals, but the same effect was not apparent in descriptions of culturally neutral entities (landscapes). With the same procedures, Study 2 found that the cultural representations of biculturals with low levels of Bicultural Identity Integration (BII; or biculturals with conflicted cultural identities) are more cognitively complex than that of biculturals with high BII (biculturals with compatible cultural identities). This article shows that cultural frame switching and BII have meaningful cognitive consequences; furthermore, it suggests that exposure to more than one culture may increase individuals' ability to detect, process, and organize everyday cultural meaning, highlighting the potential benefits of multiculturalism.
HYPERAMYLASEMIA AND ACUTE PANCREATITIS FOLLOWING ORGANOPHOSPHATE POISONING

Objective: To determine the frequency of hyperamylasemia and acute pancreatitis following organophosphate poisoning. Methodology: This is a descriptive study conducted at the Medicine Department, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi during the period of six months from 16 th June 2006 to December 2006. All patients of both sexes and ages above 15 years admitted with a positive history of organophosphate poisoning (OP) were included in the study. A special Proforma was designed to enter all the collected data containing the basic information about the patient, history of recent event and the past history, physical examination and the relevant investigations like complete blood count, serum amylase and lipase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ultrasound abdomen. Result: Among 90 patients, hyperamylasemia was found in 28 (31%) patients. Hyperlipasemia was seen in nine (10%) patients and pancreatitis was seen in two (2.2%) patients. Conclusion: Hyperamylasemia is more frequently seen in organophosphate poisoning while two patients proved to have acute pancreatitis as a complication.
MicroRNA expression in differentially metastasizing tumors of the head and neck: adenoid cystic versus squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM Head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma (HNACC) is a rare malignancy of the salivary glands with a tendency to metastasize in lung or liver without lymph node involvement, whereas squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) preferentially metastasizes to locoregional lymph nodes. The expression patterns of microRNA, a class of small non-coding RNA transcripts, involved in gene regulation and various developmental processes, could be of influence during the metastatic process. The aim of the present study was to compare mircoRNA expression patterns of HNACC and HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a total of 21 tissue samples, a genome-wide screening for microRNAs was performed. A microRNA array platform was used for the identification of target microRNA. RESULTS Five microRNAs, hsa-MiR-214, hsa-MiR-125a-5p, hsa-MiR-574-3p, hsa-MiR-199a-3p/199b-3p and hsa-miR-199a-5p were identified to be over-expressed in HNACC compared to HNSCC, whereas hsa-MiR-452 showed a lower expression level. CONCLUSION Our data showed significantly different expression patterns of mircoRNA in HNACC and HNSCC supporting the theory of tumor-specific expression and giving hints for different clinical behavior.
A novel, safe and cost effective way for teaching corneal foreign body removal

Dear Editor, Corneal foreign body and rust ring removal is usually performed under slit lamp microscopy in accident and emergency, acute ophthalmology services or optometry practices. It requires good hand–eye coordination, fine motor skills and dexterity. Acquisition of these skills warrants regular practice for safe application on actual patients, as mistakes can potentially result in irreversible visual loss. The most recent publication in the literature regarding methods of practice was from the mid-1990s.1 ,2 We have …
Temporomandibular joint involvement as a positive clinical prognostic factor in necrotising external otitis

Abstract Objective: Necrotising otitis externa is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. This study investigated whether temporomandibular joint involvement had any prognostic effect on the course of necrotising otitis externa in patients who had undergone hyperbaric oxygen therapy after failed medical and sometimes surgical therapy. Methods: A retrospective case series was conducted of patients in whom antibiotic treatment and surgery had failed, who had been hospitalised for further treatment and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Results: Twenty-three patients with necrotising otitis externa were identified. The temporomandibular joint was involved in four patients (17 per cent); these patients showed a constant gradual improvement in C-reactive protein and were eventually discharged free of disease, except one patient who was lost to follow up. Four patients (16 per cent) without temporomandibular joint involvement died within 90 days of discharge, while all patients with temporomandibular joint involvement were alive. Three patients (13 per cent) without temporomandibular joint involvement needed recurrent hospitalisation including further hyperbaric oxygen therapy; no patients with temporomandibular joint involvement required such treatment. Conclusion: Patients with temporomandibular joint involvement had lower rates of recurrent disease and no mortality. Therefore, we suggest considering temporomandibular joint involvement as a positive prognostic factor in necrotising otitis externa management.
Effectiveness of continuous passive motion and conventional physical therapy after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This randomized clinical trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of 3 in-hospital rehabilitation programs with and without continuous passive motion (CPM) for range of motion (ROM) in knee flexion and knee extension, functional ability, and length of stay after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). SUBJECTS Eighty-one subjects who underwent TKA for a diagnosis of osteoarthritis were recruited. METHODS All subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups immediately after TKA: a control group, which received conventional physical therapy intervention only; experimental group 1, which received conventional physical therapy and 35 minutes of CPM applications daily; and experimental group 2, which received conventional physical therapy and 2 hours of CPM applications daily. All subjects were evaluated once before TKA and at discharge. The primary outcome measure was active ROM in knee flexion at discharge. Active ROM in knee extension, Timed "Up & Go" Test results, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire scores, and length of stay were the secondary outcome measures. RESULTS The characteristics of and outcome measurements for the subjects in the 3 groups were similar at baseline. No significant difference among the 3 groups was demonstrated in primary or secondary outcomes at discharge. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The results of this study do not support the addition of CPM applications to conventional physical therapy in rehabilitation programs after primary TKA, as applied in this clinical trial, because they did not further reduce knee impairments or disability or reduce the length of the hospital stay.
Dreading the boards: stress response to a competitive audition characterized by social-evaluative threat

The capacity of psychosocial stressors to provoke the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis has been demonstrated to vary depending upon a number of psychological factors. Laboratory stressors characterized by social-evaluative threat are proposed to be the most efficacious in the elicitation of a cortisol stress response. Salivary cortisol, cardiovascular, and subjective responses of 16 healthy adults facing a naturalistic stressor characterized by social-evaluative threat (competitive performance auditions) were examined. Audition exposure was sufficient to provoke significant cortisol, arterial blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), and subjective stress responses. Cortisol response reactivity (area under the curve with respect to increase [AUCi]) also correlated with participants' subjective rating of social-evaluative threat. The competitive performance audition context is therefore considered a promising context in which to further explore cortisol responsivity to social-evaluative threat.