Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Hormone Therapy on False-Positive Recall and Costs Among Women Undergoing Screening Mammography

Objective:We sought to evaluate the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on false-positive (FP) recall for additional breast evaluation and costs. Design:We undertook an observational cohort study of women ages 40–80 years with 2 mammography screenings in an integrated delivery system. Measures:FP recall, defined as mammograms resulting in a radiologist's recommendation for additional imaging, ultrasound, or invasive procedures among disease-free women, was compared for nonusers, initiators, discontinuers, and continuers of HT. Differences in health care costs by HT were assessed for total, primary care, specialty, laboratory, radiology, inpatient, mental health, and pharmacy. Results:There was no association between HT and FP recall among women ages 40–49 years. Among women 50 years or older, current HT users, ie, initiators and continuers, had increased odds of FP recall (odds ratio; 95% confidence interval) compared with nonusers (1.2; 1.0–1.4 for women 50–59 years; 1.8; 1.5–2.2 for women 60–69; and 1.7; 1.4–2.0 for women 70–80 years). Among women 50–59 years, the odds of FP recall were attributed to opposed HT (ie, estrogen + progestin). Increases in FP recall among HT users 60 years and older was maintained for initiators, continuers, opposed, and unopposed (estrogen only). Increases in FP recall among HT users were for imaging and ultrasound but not invasive procedures. Costs for current HT users during the 12 months after screening were not higher than nonusers, except for pharmacy and outpatient mental health. Conclusion:The relationship between HT use and FP recall is greatest among older women and does not result in a differential use of invasive procedures.
New Perspectives in Myringoplasty

Until 1950 the treatment of a perforated eardrum consisted of covering the drum permanently with artificial material. Since then a surgical technique to establish a functional reconstruction of the eardrum was developed (myringoplasty). A survey of the biological grafting materials used in this technique is given. Biodegradable and non-degradable synthetic materials may prove to be a valuable supplement of the existing biological grafting materials. Artificial eardrums made from several biodegradable poly(α-hydroxy acids) and poly(α-amino acids) and made from a number of microporous poly(tetrafluorethylene) membranes and from a microporous bisphenol-A poly(carbonate) membrane were implanted into the ears of rats and dogs and as a reference subcutaneously. The implants were histologically examined for periods up to one year. From the biodegradable polymers studied poly(β-benzyl-L-aspartate-co-L-leucine) 50/50 evoked the least tissue reaction and the newly formed eardrums were the best in terms of thickness and overall integrity. The formation of a reinforced eardrum may be accomplished by the support of an inert, very thin, highly porous poly(tetrafluoroethylene membrane) preferably implanted as a composite graft with a biodegradable polymer.
Racial Disparities in Childhood Asthma in the United States: Evidence From the National Health Interview Survey, 1997 to 2003

OBJECTIVE. To examine differences in asthma prevalence and emergency department (ED) visits for asthma between non-Hispanic black and white children, and factors that might explain those differences, in a large, nationally representative sample covering the period 1997 to 2003. METHODS. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses (with logit and multinomial logit methods) were conducted with a sample consisting of all non-Hispanic black and white children (<18 years of age) from the 1997 to 2003 rounds of the National Health Interview Survey. Models included a progressively larger set of controls for factors that might explain racial differences in asthma prevalence and ED visits for asthma. RESULTS. Being black was associated with a greater likelihood of currently having asthma and with a greater likelihood of having gone to the ED for asthma treatment in the past 1 year. Elevated asthma risks for black children were robust after controlling for a host of child and family characteristics that might explain them. CONCLUSIONS. Black children are more likely to have asthma and to experience ED visits for asthma, compared with otherwise comparable white children, and these racial disparities cannot be explained by differences in measurable child or family characteristics. These results suggest that racial disparities in asthma continue to pose risks for black children, and they point to the need for additional research into potential explanations and remedies.
Trade liberalization, Economic Growth and Poverty Level in Nigeria: Vector Auto-regression (VAR) Approach (1980-2009)

The paper examines the nexus among trade liberalization, economic growth and poverty level in Nigeria between 1980 and 2009 within the context of multivariate Vector Auto regression (VAR) with a view to establishing the links that exist among the three variables. The data series were also subjected to unit root and co integration tests to examine the properties of the data. The findings that emerged from the analyses showed that the interactions among trade liberalization, economic growth and poverty level suggest that economic growth had a positive impact on trade liberalization in Nigeria within the study period. Also, the interactions among trade liberalization, economic growth and poverty level were weak making the effect of trade liberalization on poverty to be low. This probability portrays the presence of some structural rigidity in the economy capable of preventing the impact of trade liberalization from being fully felt on poverty, particularly through economic growth channel. This suggests the presence of some institutional factors that create inherent problems in the economy that could largely frustrate any valid and sincere trade policies formulated by the government. It is therefore recommended that policy makers should be mindful of the fact that the Nigerian economy is structurally vulnerable; such that for any policy to succeed, the peculiar characteristics of the economy must be factored into the plan and rigorously evaluated for good policy effects.
Serum YKL‐40 as a marker of disease activity and stricture formation in patients with Crohn's disease

Background and Aim: YKL‐40 is secreted by macrophages and neutrophils and is a growth factor for vascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Elevated serum levels of YKL‐40 have been reported in patients with various inflammatory conditions and ongoing fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum concentrations of YKL‐40 and disease activity, acute phase reactants, and the presence of strictures in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).
From prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) to precursor PSA (proPSA) isoforms: a review of the emerging role of proPSAs in the detection and management of early prostate cancer

Despite the popularity of PSA blood testing for prostate cancer, there are a number of important limitations of this popular serum marker including the limited ability to accurately distinguish patients with and without prostate cancer and those who harbour an aggressive form of the disease. This is especially true when the total PSA is <10 ng/mL. Thus, significant efforts have been placed to find new serum markers that can help overcome these limitations.
Democracy and Economic Development: Modernization Theory Revisited

Interest in the relationships between society and politics is as old as written history. Ecological theories, suggesting a relation between the geographic location of homelands and the personalities of the residents and their governments, were advanced by scholars such as Aristotle, Cicero, Ibn Khaldun, and Montesquieu and may be viewed as efforts to explain the contextual determinants of political systems. Such literature in the modern era, however, has focused on the conditions of democracy. Historical studies suggest that modem democracies can occur only under certain conditions of capitalist industrialization. Karl Marx identified the bourgeoisie as the major force behind the emergence of democracy. He argued that the capitalist class used parliamentary systems and democratic mechanisms to capture the control of the state from the traditional elite. Similarly, Moore, in his study of major western democracies, and Soboul, in his analysis of the French Revolution, stressed the role of the middle class and urban bourgeoisie in the transformation of political systems into democracies. ' Max Weber marked the importance of Protestantism in the development of western democracies. He considered individualism and a sense of individual responsibility, inherent in the Protestant ethic, as the major conditions for the development of burgher classes and a democratic political culture. Contemporary writers, following Weber's lead, have searched for cultural requisites and the elements of a "democratic personality. " A "civic culture" in Almond and Verba and a "modern" personality in Lerner have been identified as essentials of a participant (democratic) society.2 Tocqueville, in his study of American institutions, pointed out the virtue of voluntary associations as the basis of social pluralism, which in turn nurtures democracy. However, the sociology of knowledge, which emphasizes the influence of structure and organizational setting on the development of attitudes and behaviors, compels us to direct our attention to the structural basis of developing such a culture or personality. In this regard, aspects of modernization appear to be the common explanatory factors used in the analysis of democracy.
A Soluble Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 Molecule Used as a Vaccine Adjuvant Elicits Greater Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to Both Particulate and Soluble Antigens1

The lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) product is a MHC class II ligand that has been used in vivo to stimulate MHC class II+ APCs to increase tumor-specific immune responses. We investigated whether LAG-3 could also play an adjuvant role in vivo for the induction of humoral and CD4 or CD8 cell-mediated immune responses when immunizing mice with a particulate (hepatitis B surface Ag) or soluble (OVA) Ag. In both cases, coadministration of 1 μg of a soluble fusion protein between murine LAG-3 and the Fc fraction of a murine IgG2a mAb (mLAG-3Ig) as a vaccine adjuvant induced or increased CTL responses to the corresponding MHC class I-restricted peptide. In addition, splenocytes of mice vaccinated with either the particulate or soluble Ag plus mLAG-3Ig exhibited a significantly greater proliferative response than did splenocytes of mice immunized with Ag and a control Ig molecule. Similarly, these splenocytes had a greater Th1- but not Th2-type cytokine response. Finally, mice immunized with Ag plus mLAG-3Ig produced higher titers of Abs than mice immunized with Ag and a control Ig molecule. Thus, these data provide evidence of a novel means of improving the immunogenicity of subunit vaccines.
Effect of Helicobacter pylori on Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Egyptian Patients

1 Zoology Department, Girls College for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. 2 Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, AL-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. 3 Bacteriology Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Egypt. 4 Cilinical Pathology Department, National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Egypt. 5 Biochemistry Department, National Organization for Research and Control of Biological product, Egypt. 6 Tropical Department, National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
Detailed immunophenotyping of B‐cell precursors in regenerating bone marrow of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients: implications for minimal residual disease detection

Flow cytometric detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in children with B‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (BCP‐ALL) requires immunophenotypic discrimination between residual leukaemic cells and B‐cell precursors (BCPs) which regenerate during therapy intervals. In this study, EuroFlow‐based 8‐colour flow cytometry and innovative analysis tools were used to first characterize the immunophenotypic maturation of normal BCPs in bone marrow (BM) from healthy children, resulting in a continuous multiparametric pathway including transition stages. This pathway was subsequently used as a reference to characterize the immunophenotypic maturation of regenerating BCPs in BM from children treated for BCP‐ALL. We identified pre‐B‐I cells that expressed low or dim CD34 levels, in contrast to the classical CD34high pre‐B‐I cell immunophenotype. These CD34−dim pre‐B‐I cells were relatively abundant in regenerating BM (11–85% within pre‐B‐I subset), while hardly present in healthy control BM (9–13% within pre‐B‐I subset; P = 0·0037). Furthermore, we showed that some of the BCP‐ALL diagnosis immunophenotypes (23%) overlapped with CD34−dim pre‐B‐I cells. Our results indicate that newly identified CD34−dim pre‐B‐I cells can be mistaken for residual BCP‐ALL cells, potentially resulting in false‐positive MRD outcomes. Therefore, regenerating BM, in which CD34−dim pre‐B‐I cells are relatively abundant, should be used as reference frame in flow cytometric MRD measurements.
The Impact of IFRS Adoption on Stock Market Volatility

From 2005 onwards, consolidated financial statements of listed European companies of around 7,000 had to comply with IFRS (IAS). This study examines the impact of IFRS adoption on the stock market volatility of 10 European stock markets by fitting Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (ARCH) and Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models. The data was obtained from yahoofinance.com for the period January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005. The stationarity of the time series was checked through unit root test and then descriptive statistics of different stock indices was obtained. The ARCH model was applied to check the presence of ARCH effect in all return series and GARCH(1, 1) model was used to estimate the return volatility. The results suggested that there was high volatility of returns in the markets during the sample period. The GARCH coefficient of Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Spain and the United Kingdom was close to 1, which indicates that volatility shocks were quite persistent. The coefficient of the lagged squared returns was also positive for these indices, and it implied that stock market volatility or market operators react more to good news than bad news, or the market is positive about the adoption of IFRS. On the other side, the IFRS adoption news did not affect the volatility of Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal during the sample period.
Variation in Expert Opinion in Medical Malpractice Review

Background Expert opinion in medical malpractice is a form of implicit assessment, based on unstated individual opinion. This contrasts with explicit assessment processes, which are characterized by criteria specified and stated before the assessment. Although sources of bias that might hinder the objectivity of expert witnesses have been identified, the effect of the implicit nature of expert review has not been firmly established. Methods Pairs of anesthesiologist-reviewers independently assessed the appropriateness of care in anesthesia malpractice claims. With potential sources of bias eliminated or held constant, the level of agreement was measured. Results Thirty anesthesiologists reviewed 103 claims. Reviewers agreed on 62% of claims and disagreed on 38%. They agreed that care was appropriate in 27% and less than appropriate in 32%. Chance-corrected levels of agreement were in the poor-good range (kappa = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.23 to 0.51). Conclusions Divergent opinion stemming from the implicit nature of expert review may be common among objective medical experts reviewing malpractice claims
Optimal population and policy implications

This dissertation explores issues of efficient and inefficient population in complete and incomplete market economies with altruistic parents who cares about the welfare of their children. Altruistic models with idiosyncratic risks are central to modern macroeconomics, particularly when studying issues of inequality and redistribution. But this framework seems to fall apart when serious consideration is given to fertility decisions as Barro and Becker (1989) because some of the most appealing conclusions obtained under the exogenous fertility assumption are seriously altered. For example, optimal fertility choice tends to eliminate intergenerational persistence of inequality. A main goal of this dissertation is to recover key features of demographic facts using micro-founded macroeconomic theory and quantitative approaches, and to derive normative analysis regarding efficiency of population, long run inequality, education, and demographic policies. The consensus of my research is that family decisions made by altruistic parents have substantial aggregate socioeconomic consequences in dynamic environments.
Knee osteoarthritis. Efficacy of a new method of contrast-enhanced musculoskeletal ultrasonography in detection of synovitis in patients with knee osteoarthritis in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging

Objective: To develop a new method of digital synovial vascularisation quantification by using contrast-enhanced musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MUS) in detecting synovitis in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) compared with healthy subjects and MRI. Methods: Evaluation of 41 patients with painful knee OA and 6 healthy subjects. The severity of knee pain was evaluated. All patients and all 6 healthy subjects underwent contrast medium-enhanced (CE)-MUS with SonoVue®, and 36 patients additionally underwent CE-MRI with Magnevist. Joint effusion, synovial thickening and pain were assessed and compared with B-mode and Power Doppler sonography (PDS) as well as contrast medium enhancement. Results: Pain evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) hardly correlated with other markers of disease activity measured by ultrasound (US) in B-mode or MRI. US of the superior recess revealed an effusion or synovial thickening in 58%. PDS findings were positive in 63%, and CE-MUS in the superior knee recess was positive in 95%. MRI showed effusion in the superior recess in 61% and showed positive findings in 82% when using contrast medium. The kappa value was 0.48 between US and MRI with regard to the effusion in the superior recess, and 0.53 between PD signal in the superior recess and effusion in the superior recess by US. Using MRI as the reference standard, there was a sensitivity of 72% for assessing effusion in the superior recess and 81% for assessing effusion in the lateral recess. Conclusion: Assessment of disease activity (synovitis) in knee OA by VAS is not sufficient. US PDS was more sensitive than B-mode, and CE-MUS was more sensitive than PDS and CE-MRI in detecting synovitis in patients with painful knee OA. Also, CE-MRI was more sensitive in detecting inflammatory changes in the superior recess than without contrast medium. Using CE-MUS and performing time/intensity analysis has shown to be a good model for evaluation of an inflammatory process in the setting of knee OA in the superior recess.
U.S. ＂National Teacher and Principal Survey＂ as a Valued Resource for Teacher and Principal Studies

In this paper we introduce and review the US National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS) as a valued resource for teacher and principal studies. The introduction covers NTPS's original format and historical development as the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) and its redesign and new format. The review examines and discusses how the SASS data have been utilized for educational research and policy analysis. We finally discuss the implications for other education systems.
Comparative performance of embedded coders at high quality

Embedded Zerotree Wavelet (EZW) coder has become very popular in image compression applications, owing to its simplicity and high coding efficiency. In this paper, we first illustrate the Shapiro algorithm (EZW). In second, we combine the discrete cosine transform (DCT) with an embedded zerotree quantizer in order to obtain the Xiong et al. algorithm (EZDCT). Our aim is to improve the bit rate gotten by EZDCT algorithm while changing the resolution level and to make a comparison with the EZW algorithm. The experiments show that the DCT-based embedded image coder gives higher peak signal-to-noise (PSNR) than Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) and almost similar than Shapiro's EZW coder. Likewise, our contribution also gave an improvement to the results gotten by Zhao et al.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Unique β-Glucosidase from Vibrio cholerae *

We have recently reported the molecular cloning of a gene, gspK, in Vibrio cholerae that encodes a specific glucosamine kinase. We describe here the identification of bglA, a gene contiguous togspK in a presumptive large chitin catabolic operon.BglA was molecularly cloned into Escherichia coli, and the protein BglA was overexpressed and purified to apparent homogeneity. BglA is 65 kDa (574 amino acids) with an N-terminal amino acid sequence predicted by the gene sequence, suggesting that the enzyme is cytoplasmic. The purified enzyme exhibited optimal activity with p-nitrophenyl β-glucoside, cellobiose, and higher oligosaccharides of cellulose. No other glucosides or glycosides tested were hydrolyzed, including Glc-Glc disaccharides where the linkage is β1→2, β1→3, and β1→6, respectively. The predicted BglA sequence bears little similarity to other proteins in the data banks. The Henrissat algorithm places BglA sequence in Family 9 of the glycosidases, suggesting it is an endoglucanase. However, the results summarized above suggested that BglA is an exoenzyme yielding Glc at each cleavage step. To resolve this apparent discrepancy, detailed kinetic studies were conducted with cellotetraose. Only exoglucanase activity was detected. The function of this enzyme in V. cholerae remains to be determined, especially because our strain of this organism does not utilize cellobiose.
Field modeling of circular microresonators by film mode matching

The film mode matching method for rigorous vectorial field analysis of circular microresonators and bent optical waveguides is described in detail. Immittance formulation is used to assure high numerical stability. Problems with the evaluation of cylindrical functions of complex order in the transition region and their cross products have been satisfactorily solved, which makes the method reliable and accurate. Results of two commercial mode solvers are used for benchmarking. The importance of vectorial modeling of microresonators is demonstrated by a numerical example.
Ketoacidosis at presentation of type 1 diabetes in children in Kuwait: frequency and clinical characteristics

Abdul‐Rasoul M, Al‐Mahdi M, Al‐Qattan H, Al‐Tarkait N, Alkhouly M, Al‐Safi R, Al‐Shawaf F, Mahmoud H. Ketoacidosis at presentation of type 1 diabetes in children in Kuwait: frequency and clinical characteristics.
Rational Sources of Momentum Profits: Evidence from the Indian Equity Market

In this paper, we evaluate if there are any momentum patterns in Indian stock returns. We report strong momentum profits for individual stocks as well as a wide range of characteristic-sorted portfolios. The momentum returns are not captured by standard CAPM. However, the Fama-French three-factor model explains momentum as the characteristic-sorted momentum portfolios tend to load on size and book equity to market equity factors. Our results suggest that there are rational sources of momentum profits in the Indian environment. The findings are in contrast with those of US where the momentum explanation is tilted towards delayed price reaction to firm-specific information. Perhaps, a more complex market like US requires an asset pricing model that has a factor structure which is more elaborate than the Fama-French model. Our work is a step towards resolving the momentum controversy.