Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary sarcoidosis: changes on follow-up CT examination.

OBJECTIVE To determine serial changes in the pattern, distribution, and extent of disease over time, and to determine if any specific findings could be used to predict prognosis in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, we reviewed the CT scans of 18 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 18 patients with biopsy-proved sarcoidosis and pulmonary abnormalities who had two serial high-resolution CT examinations (1.5-mm collimation, high-spatial-frequency reconstruction algorithm) 4-49 months apart. Initial and follow-up CT scans were evaluated independently and then directly compared with each other by two observers. Scans were assessed for the presence, extent, and severity of ground-glass, nodular, and irregular linear opacities; interlobular septal thickening; cystic air spaces; and architectural distortion. If a finding was predominant, it was noted. RESULTS Reversible findings included ground-glass, nodular, and irregular linear opacities and septal thickening. Irreversible findings included cystic air spaces and architectural distortion. Follow-up CT showed overall improvement in 12 of 18 patients, progression in five, and no change in one. A predominant pattern of disease could be determined for each patient. Fourteen patients had predominant nodular opacities; of these, 11 had improved by follow-up. Four had predominant irregular linear opacities; of these, three showed progression of disease on follow-up. The presence of any other specific abnormalities, including ground-glass opacities, was not helpful in predicting improvement or worsening of disease on the follow-up examination. CONCLUSION In pulmonary sarcoidosis, ground-glass, nodular, and irregular linear opacities and interlobular septal thickening represent potentially reversible disease, while cystic air spaces and architectural distortion are irreversible findings. Follow-up CT usually shows improvement in patients with predominant nodular opacities, while disease tends to progress in patients with predominant irregular opacities.
The effect of combined androgen blockade on bone turnover and bone mineral densities in men treated for prostate carcinoma

Androgen receptor blocking agents have become an established form of therapy for men with disseminated prostate carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate markers of bone turnover and to measure bone mineral densities (BMD) in men with disseminated prostate carcinoma treated with combined androgen blockade prior to and after 6 months of intermittent cyclic etidronate therapy.
4.4 A 10/30MHz Wide-duty-cycle-range buck converter with DDA-based Type-III compensator and fast reference-tracking responses for DVS applications

Dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) is an effective strategy in reducing the power consumption of a processor through adjusting its supply voltage at runtime. The power converter that drives the processor should have a wide output voltage range and fast reference-tracking response while maintaining a high efficiency. For such applications, inductive switching converters are suitable candidates [1-4]. To enhance the transient response and to reduce the size of off-chip components, DC-DC converters switching in the 10MHz range are studied recently. When switching at a high frequency, efficiency is compromised as the switching loss becomes significant. Moreover, comparator delay of a few ns causes serious over-charging and over-discharging of the ramp capacitor and the delay also limits the maximum duty cycle of the converter. A current-mode control needs an on-chip current sensor that would consume too much power when running in the 10MHz range. In [5], a 5MHz converter employs auto-selectable peak- and valley-current control, but the duty cycle range is limited to 0.6. A higher switching frequency (fs) would further reduce this range and would not be applicable for DVS. Therefore, a voltage-mode control with Type-III compensation for loop bandwidth extension becomes an attractive solution. However, a conventional Type-III compensator needs large on-chip compensation capacitors and resistors. In [6], a pseudo Type-III compensator reduces the value and thus size of those components, however, it requires adding lowpass and bandpass functions that complicates the design, and furthermore it does not use any special technique for fast reference tracking.
Wittgenstein, Frege, and the Vienna circle

Part I: Philosophy of Logic Introduction Section 1: Frege 1. The Science of logic 2. The elements of logical analysis 3. Thought and language Section 2: `Notes on Logic' 1. Initial insights 2. Early criticisms of Frege's philosophy of logic 3. Some presuppositions of Wittgenstein's criticisms Section 3: Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 1. Continuity through change 2. `Logic is transcendental' 3. Criticisms of Frege Section 4: Wittgenstein: Later Reflections on Logic 1. Demolition and reconstruction 2. Logical constants and the propositions of logic 3. Frege reconsidered 4. Ils n'ont rien appris, ni rien oublie Part II: Varieties of Conventionalism Section 5: Early Conventionalism 1. The search for consistent empiricism 2. The roots of logical empiricism: Hilbert and Poincare 3. Early logical empiricism: Schlick's conventionalism Section 6: The Conventionalism of the Vienna Circle 1. The influence of the `Tractatus' 2. Mature logical empiricism Section 7: Wittgenstein and Consistent Conventionalism 1. Philosophical typology 2. The dark side of the `Tractatus' 3. Later Wittgenstein: grammar and necessity Index.
Supportive Strategies Regarding Accidents Prevention for Mothers of Children Under Five Years Old

Accidental injuries are a major health problem in children. They are the most common cause of death in children under five years of age. Every year they leave many thousands permanently disabled or disfigured. Most of cases at risk from a home accident are the 0-4 year’s age group. Most of these accidents are preventable through increased awareness, improvements in the home environment and greater product safety. A pre/post quasi experimental design was adopted in the current study. A convenient sample of 100 mothers was included in this study. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of supportive strategies regarding accident prevention on mothers’ knowledge and practice of their children under five years old. The study was conducted in Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital and Benha University Hospital from the pediatric out patients departments. Tools of data collection were socio-demographic data sheet for mothers and their children, history of accidents, questionnaire sheet regarding to mothers’ knowledge about accidents as well as mothers’ reported practices regarding accidents. The study's results revealed that more than half of the children (55%) were male. There were significant differences between pre and post supportive strategy in mothers’ knowledge and reported practices. Mothers’ knowledge and practices in prevention of falling and drowning, electrical shock, burn, and suffocation, was affected by their age and education, and child’s age (P value is 0.00, 0. 05). The study recommended that supportive strategies for accidents prevention should be applied in all pediatric care settings. Health promotion programs should be directed to prevent and control of accidents among children. Key words: Accidents Prevention; Children under Five Years; Supportive Strategies
Post-Socialist Financial Fragility: the Case of Albania

The 1997 collapse of the Albanian economy caused by the collapse of economy-widePonzi schemes contrasts sharply to itssuccess status as a post-socialist transition country in the years 1992-1996. Inthis paper, an attempt is made to explain this'Albanian Paradox'. The specific Albanian conditions for the growth of Ponzischemes are identified. Theoretically, theAlbanian Paradox can be interpreted as one version of the 'Financial InstabilityHypothesis' suggested by Minsky.Investigation of the underlying factors that render financial markets fragilesuggests that the Albanian case is extreme butnot rare in the region. In the post-socialist setting, expectations of thepopulation and other potential investors based on alack of reliable information on returns may lead to excessive capital inflow.This trend is reinforced if governments areweak, and if transition policies rely largely on liberal financial marketdevelopment, rapid privatisation and external capitalinflows, facilitating the tendency to instability. Identification of this trendis hindered if policy makers and observers largelyrely on macroeconomic indicators in monitoring the economy.
Conceptual similarity across sensory and neural diversity : The Fodor/Lepore challenge answered

Reponse a la critique de la semantique de l'etat-espace, consideree comme modele du reseau neuronal, developpee par J. Fodor et E. Lepore dans leur ouvrage intitule «Holism: a shopper's guide» (1992). S'appuyant sur les mesures mathematiques de la similitude conceptuelle realisees par A. Laakso et G. Cottrell, l'A. s'interroge sur l'application de celles-ci au-dela de la diversite des reseaux individuels du cerveau, d'une part, et sur leur generalisation aux reseaux a multi-niveaux et aux reseaux des series temporelles, d'autre part
Unsafe abortion and its ethical, sexual and reproductive rights implications.

BACKGROUND Unsafe abortion is an important cause of maternal mortality and morbidity, particularly marked in developing countries with restrictive abortion laws. It has both bioethical and human rights implications, violating their key principles and components. OBJECTIVE To highlight the magnitude of complications of unsafe abortion and examine the legal,bioethical, sexual and reproductive right implications of unsafe abortion as well as to review post abortion care (PAC) in Nigeria. DATA SOURCE Information derived from online web-search, literature review of articles from learned journals, serials and monographs from local and supra-national agencies working on abortion, and reproductive health. RESULTS About 20 million unsafe abortions are performed annually globally resulting in about 80, 000 maternal deaths. Asia and Africa have the highest number of maternal deaths. In Nigeria, 760, 000 abortions are performed annually. Abortion law in Nigeria is restrictive. Unsafe abortion violates three key bioethical principles at micro and mega-ethical levels. It also violates eleven of the twelve components of sexual and reproductive rights. PAC is approved as an effective approach to reducing abortion morbidity and mortality and promoting women's reproductive rights. CONCLUSION Stakeholders can promote the ethical, sexual and reproductive rights of women through the following interventions: advocacy, liberalization of restrictive abortion law, training of health workers on PAC services, inter-organisational collaboration, development of right based code of ethics and inclusion into medical training curriculum. Socio-economic empowerment of women, provision of PAC services equipments in health facilities, and improvement of access to quality family planning services will also help promote the rights of women.
Cortical and thalamic connections of the parietal ventral somatosensory area in marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus)

Microelectrode mapping methods were used to define the parietal ventral somatosensory area (PV) on the upper bank of the lateral sulcus in five marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). In the same animals, neuroanatomical tracers were placed into electrophysiologically identified sites in PV and/or the second somatosensory area (S2). Foci of anterograde and retrograde label were related to electrophysiological maps of cortical areas and cortical and thalamic architecture. The results lead to the following conclusions: (1) Multiunit recordings from cortex on the upper bank of the lateral sulcus demonstrate that PV is somatotopically organized, with the face representation adjoining area 3b and the hindlimb and tail representations away from this border in cortex deep on the upper bank of the lateral sulcus. The forelimb representation is caudal in PV adjacent to the S2 forelimb representation. The body surface representation in PV approximates a mirror image of that in S2; (2) Areas PV and S2 are less myelinated and have less cytochrome oxidase enzyme activity than area 3b; (3) The ventroposterior inferior nucleus (VPI) of the thalamus provides the major somatosensory projections to PV. PV is reciprocally connected with VPI and anterior pulvinar; (4) PV has ipsilateral cortical connections with areas 3a, 3b, 1, and M1 and higher order somatosensory fields, and at least most of these connections are somatotopically matched; and (5) Callosal connections of PV are with S2 and PV of the other cerebral hemisphere. These results further establish PV as one of at least four somatosensory areas of the lateral sulcus of primates. J. Comp. Neurol. 443:168–182, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Application of Western Blotting and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the Diagnosis of Dicrocoelium dendriticum in Sheep Using Excretory Secretory (E/S) Antigens

Protein bands of excretory/secretory (E/S) antigens of Dicrocoelium dendriticum were determined using SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The E/S antigens were prepared from live adult D. dendriticum, which were obtained from slaughtered sheep at a local abattoir. In the SDS-PAGE analysis of D. dendriticum E/S antigen, 9 protein bands with molecular weights varying between 6 and 66 kDa with Coomassie staining and 14 bands between 6 and 205 kDa with silver staining were detected. Blood samples were obtained from sheep at the local abattoir. Following the examination of the organs for D. dendriticum and other helminths, serum samples were divided into 2 groups as positive (n = 23) and negative (n = 17) for D. dendriticum and the sera were tested using Western blotting. The bands obtained from the sera of positive and negative groups were compared and the molecular weight of specific protein band for D. dendriticum infection was determined as 205 kDa. On the other hand, the ELISA technique was used to study the response of IgG antibodies against E/S antigens of D. dendriticum in the sera of 40 sheep. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were 82.6% and 76.4%, respectively.
THE MORE IT IS NEEDED, THE LESS IT IS WANTED: ATTITUDES TOWARD FACE‐TO‐FACE INTERVENTION AMONG DEPRESSED PATIENTS UNDERGOING ONLINE TREATMENT

Many individuals suffering from depression do not actively seek treatment. Self‐help strategies represent low‐threshold treatment options that are particularly relevant for milder cases. The present study addressed two important issues: (1) we examined depressed individuals’ motives and attitudes that may represent barriers to face‐to‐face treatment; (2) we examined if the participation in an online treatment program facilitates or compromises their willingness to undergo face‐to‐face treatment. We recruited 210 participants with depression for a trial on the efficacy of an online treatment program for depression. Participants were randomly allocated either to a self‐help treatment (Deprexis) or to a wait‐list control group. All participants filled out a newly developed 42‐item questionnaire called Psychotherapy Expectations, Concerns, and Hopes Inventory (PECHI). The scale measures attitudes toward face‐to‐face treatment and was administered at baseline and 8 weeks later. Principal component analysis of the PECHI revealed five dimensions: hope for symptomatic improvement, fear of poor alliance with the therapist, skill acquisition, skepticism and resentment of psychotherapy, and self‐stigma. Attitudes toward treatment were stable over time and neither modulated by group status nor by self‐reported or objective symptom decline. Correlation analyses revealed that current levels of depression and well‐being were potent predictors of attitudes toward treatment, suggesting that when the patient feels more depressed, doubts about the effectiveness of therapy emerge more strongly. To conclude, results suggest that Deprexis neither promotes nor reduces negative attitudes toward psychotherapy, nor does it increase barriers to enter face‐to‐face treatments. An alarming paradox emerged: when a depressed person is in greatest need of help, motivation to seek face‐to‐face treatment is lowest. Depression and Anxiety 00:1‐11, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Life Events, Social Support, and Onset of Major Depressive Episode in Finnish Patients

We investigated differences in life events and social support between subgroups of depressed patients and the distribution of life events in phases preceding or during depression. In the Vantaa Depression Study, 269 psychiatric patients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder were diagnosed with Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, Version 2.0, and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R personality disorders (SCID-II). Life events during the 12 months preceding the interview were investigated with the Interview for Recent Life Events, and social support with the Interview Measure of Social Relationships and the Perceived Social Support Scale—Revised. Nearly all patients (91%) reported life events, on average 4.1 per preceding year. No major differences between sociodemographic or clinical subgroups were found; the frequency of events was somewhat greater among the younger subjects, whereas those with comorbid alcoholism or personality disorders perceived less social support. Although events were distributed evenly between the time preceding depression, the prodromal phase, and the index major depressive episode, two thirds of the patients attributed their depression to some event. Despite clinical and sociodemographic heterogeneity, patients with major depressive disorder are fairly homogeneous in terms of life events during the preceding year. Events do not cluster in any particular phase of the progression to an episode.
Dantrolene Dose Response in Awake Man: Implications for Management of Malignant Hyperthermia

Dantrolene sodium was administered intravenously to 12 adult volunteers to assess muscular and cardiopulmonary response. Pharmacokinetic results were obtained from whole blood drug concentration. Indirectly evoked thumb adduction was quantitated. Handgrip strength and subjective weakness score (10 equal to full strength, 0 equal to paralyzed) were assessed. Cardiopulmonary variables included forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), percentage of end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2), indirect mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR). Commercially available dantrolene for intravenous administration 0.33 mg/ml was administered in bolus doses of 0.1 mg/kg every 5 min until a plateau in twitch depression was achieved. Monitored variables were assessed either after each dose or following each cumulative 0.2 mg/kg dose over approximately 2 h. Intermittently during the subsequent 46 h, grip strength, subjective weakness, and blood levels were assessed. An average maximal twitch depression of 75% was reached at 2.2–2.5 mg/kg cumulative dantrolene dose. Significant depression of grip strength was observed after a dantrolene dose of 1.0 mg/kg and remained for 20 h. Subjective weakness score was 4.7 after dantrolene and slowly returned to 10 by 48 h. FVC and PEFR were not depressed significantly from control levels. ETCO2, MAP, and HR were unchanged. Maximum dantrolene blood level was 4.2 μg/ml at 2.9 h after the initial dantrolene dose. A near steady state existed for 5.5 h following the last dantrolene dose with a blood level of 3.6 μg/ml. Then blood levels declined slowly following first-order kinetics with a t 1/2 elimination of 12.1 h. Based on these results, the authors predict that the acute intravenous administration of dantrolene, 2.4 mg/kg, will achieve MH prophylaxis or therapeusis in humans.
Diabetes mellitus-induced male reproductive impairment : The role of natural products : A review

ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycaemia, with multi-organ complications. DM is known to trigger oxidative stress in virtually all tissues of the body including male reproductive organs. Several experimental and clinical studies have reported varying degrees of male reproductive impairment in DM. Disruption in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, abnormal testicular energy metabolism, testicular and epididymal oxidative stress and oxidative stress-induced germ cell apoptosis have been reported in DM. The use of natural products in the treatment of various diseases is gaining more attention in experimental and clinical studies for the management and/or treatment of various diseases. In this review, the effects of DM on male reproductive system at pre-testicular, testicular and post-testicular levels are discussed. The role of various natural products including whole plant extracts and some pure compounds isolated from plants, with their suggested mechanism of actions is also reviewed.
Exploring the role of service process and its effect on guest encounter satisfaction

Exploring the Role of Service Process And Its Effect on Guest Encounter Satisfaction by Karl J. Mayer Dr. John T. Bowen, Examination Committee Chair Professor o f Hotel Administration University of Nevada, Las Vegas The dissertation empirically investigates the area of service process using a hospitality research setting. The concept of process has previously been identified as a key element in the marketing of services. However, the area of process design has had a reduced status in services, with the result that detailed service planning remains an unexplored research area. Similarly, no empirical research appears to have been conducted that defines the dimensions o f the service delivery process. This study addresses that gap by developing a general model that identifies the key dimensions of service process. The model proposes that service process can be represented by a series o f situational and structural descriptors, which are linked to encounter satisfaction. It further proposes that a customer's perceptual filters influence both the situational and structural dimensions of service process. Then, by examining a portion of the general model, this study assesses guest satisfaction with the check in experience using path analysis to analyze data that was collected from a survey instrument that was distributed
Reliable detection of early myocardial dysfunction by tissue Doppler echocardiography in Becker muscular dystrophy

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is an X linked mutation of the dystrophin gene characterised by skeletal muscle dystrophy and progressive heart failure which frequently leads to a fatal outcome.1 Cardiac involvement is not accurately predicted by gene mutation and may occur in patients without muscle weakness. Consequently, systematic cardiac examinations are required. Tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) allows accurate quantification of regional myocardial function and may be a reliable method for early detection of myocardial dysfunction in BMD.2 Twenty four consecutive men with genetically documented BMD were prospectively investigated after informed consent and compared to 17 age matched controls. All patients underwent clinical examination, ECG, radionuclide ventriculography, and conventional echocardiography with TDE imaging. Radionuclide ventriculography (gamma camera General Electric, Starport 400AT, interfaced with ADAC computer, DPS 3000) was performed after in vitro red cell labelling with 15 mCi of technetium-99m. Ultrasound examinations (HDI5000, ATL ultrasound, Bothell, Washington DC) were recorded and analysed offline (HDILab Software) by two cardiologists unaware of any information. Radial left ventricular (LV) thickening was interrogated using colour M mode TDE acquisitions in the posterior wall. Myocardial wall motion velocities were extracted in endocardium (EndoV) and epicardium (EpiV) …