Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atopic symptoms among California veterinarians.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of allergic symptoms among veterinarians has not been studied adequately. METHODS A questionnaire was sent to 2,000 California veterinarians; the return rate was 73% (N=1416). RESULTS A history of either asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), or atopic dermatitis (AD) was reported by 66% of respondents. AR was reported by 62%, asthma by 16%, and AD by 11%. Forty percent of the veterinarians reported animal related respiratory and/or skin symptoms. The most commonly reported causes of symptoms were cats and dogs. In multivariate logistic analysis, the significant risk factors for having adult asthma were the history of AR with the history of AD (OR 13.9), AR alone (OR 6.3), and asthma in childhood (OR 6.4). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of asthma and other atopic symptoms was high in the studied population. Most veterinarians with respiratory or skin symptoms reported the symptoms as being related to specific animal contact.
After-Hours Block Trading, Short Sales, And Information Leakage: Evidence From Korea

We investigate the impact of insider trading in after-hours block market on stock price and short sales volume, before and after the trading becomes public information. During pre-announcement period, positive (negative) abnormal stock return is generated when insiders buy (sell) their shares but does not when quasi-insiders trade, implying that stock price reflects long-lived private information of corporate governance structure. The impact is most prominent when ownership shares are transferred to (from) corporate insiders. In contrast, short sales volume generally does not depend on the identity of block holders. Short sales volume has a negative correlation with abnormal stock return only during the transaction date, indicating that a short-sale decision of tippees is based on their sole expectation on instantaneous stock returns. We also find evidence that insiders select the timing of their trades with respect to maximizing their realized profits or minimizing their purchasing costs.
Improved Fraunhofer Line Discrimination Method for Vegetation Fluorescence Quantification

This letter presents a modification to the established Fraunhofer line discrimination (FLD) method for improving the accuracy of the solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (ChF) retrieval over terrestrial vegetation. The FLD method relies on the decoupling of reflected and ChF emitted radiation by the evaluation of measurements inside and outside the absorption bands. The improved FLD method introduces two correction coefficients that relate the values of the fluorescence and the reflectance inside and outside the absorption band. The new method uses the full spectral information around the absorption band to derive these coefficients. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to evaluate the impact of the correction coefficients on the accuracy of the ChF estimation. The new formulation has been tested for the O2 A-band on synthetic data obtaining lower errors in comparison to the standard FLD and has been successfully applied to real measurements at canopy level.
Reliability and Validity of a Novel Internet-Based Battery to Assess Mood and Cognitive Function in the Elderly.

Dementia is a chronic condition in the elderly and depression is often a concurrent symptom. As populations continue to age, accessible and useful tools to screen for cognitive function and its associated symptoms in elderly populations are needed. The aim of this study was to test the reliability and validity of a new internet-based assessment battery for screening mood and cognitive function in an elderly population. Specifically, the Helping Hand Technology (HHT) assessments for depression (HHT-D) and global cognitive function (HHT-G) were evaluated in a sample of 57 elderly participants (22 male, 35 female) aged 59-85 years. The study sample was categorized into three groups: 1) dementia (n = 8; Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score 10-24), 2) mild cognitive impairment (n = 24; MMSE score 25-28), and 3) control (n = 25; MMSE score 29-30). Test-retest reliability (Pearson correlation coefficient, r) and internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha, α) of the HHT-D and HHT-G were assessed. Validity of the HHT-D and HHT-G was tested via comparison (Pearson r) to commonly used pencil-and-paper based assessments: HHT-D versus the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and HHT-G versus the MMSE. Good test-retest (r = 0.80; p < 0.0001) and acceptable internal consistency reliability (α= 0.73) of the HHT-D were established. Moderate support for the validity of the HHT-D was obtained (r = 0.60 between the HHT-D and GDS; p < 0.0001). Results indicated good test-retest (r = 0.87; p < 0.0001) and acceptable internal consistency reliability (α= 0.70) of the HHT-G. Validity of the HHT-G was supported (r = 0.71 between the HHT-G and MMSE; p < 0.0001). In summary, the HHT-D and HHT-G were found to be reliable and valid computerized assessments to screen for depression and cognitive status, respectively, in an elderly sample.
HLA‐antibody testing: The immune phagocytosis inhibition test is superior to the PRA‐STAT and NIH lymphocytotoxic test with respect to specificity

We compared the specificity and sensitivity of four different methods for the detection of antibodies specific for HLA antigens. The NIH version of the complement‐dependent cytotoxic test (CDC) was used as the gold standard to which we compared two Fcγ receptor (FcγR)‐dependent immune phagocytosis inhibition tests (IPI) and one commercial enzyme‐labelled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with soluble HLA class I‐antigen preparations bound to the plate (PRA‐STAT). Both IPI tests are based on the fact that HLA‐antibodies specifically bind to antigens on the monocyte surface via their Fab portion, and in so doing block a neighbouring FcγR with their Fc region. This blockade prevents phagocytosis of IgG‐coated red blood cells (RBCs), which can be measured either microscopically (IPIm) or photometrically (IPIp). The four assays were used in blind tests on 20 human alloantisera or monoclonal antibodies with known HLA‐antigen reactivities. Additionally, two monoclonal antibodies and one human serum were titrated to elucidate the sensitivity of each test. After all tests were completed, the identities of the samples were disclosed. Both IPI methods detected and identified all clinically relevant HLA class I and class II specific antibodies. In contrast, the CDC was not able to detect noncytotoxic HLA‐antibodies and HLA class II specific antibodies; however, it detected clinically insignificant IgM lymphocytotoxins. The PRA‐STAT assay enabled identification of all cytotoxic and noncytotoxic IgG antibodies with specificity for HLA‐class I antigens. With respect to sensitivity, the CDC and the IPI methods were superior to the PRA‐STAT. These facts demonstrate the advantage of IPI methods in the detection of clinically relevant HLA‐antibodies. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:334–341, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The (Im)possible Pursuit of the College Degree: Exploring the Experiences of a Small Urban High School's Alumni.

Bridges Institute is a small public urban high school founded in 1994 as part of the restructuring of a failing comprehensive high school. Part of a network of “critical” small schools in New York City, Bridges aims to interrupt the educational neglect of their students through carefully designed student-centered instruction and authentic assessment, as well as through active engagement in relevant social issues. While the school has experienced success at helping students “beat the odds,” a previous study hinted that students faced considerable challenges in pursuing college degrees. The present study explores the issue more fully through an explicit examination of the college experiences of a group of Bridges alumni. Their perspectives on the challenges they faced, along with possible areas for action and further study, are discussed.
An Integrated Micro Data Base for Tax Analysis in Germany

This paper documents methodology underlying the construction of the integrated data base for our study on “Wer tragt die Steuerlast in Deutschland? - Verteilungswirkungen des deutschen Steuer- und Transfersystems” (Who bears the tax burden in Germany? – Distributional Analyses of the German tax and transfer system). Financial support from the Hans Bockler Stiftung for the project is gratefully acknowledged. The paper greatly benefited from comments by the members of the scientific advisory council of the project.
Reassessment of the carcinogenicity of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

The current policy for regulating polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is based on one chronic bioassay that examined the carcinogenicity of a 60% chlorinated PCB (Norback & Weltman, 1985). All studies originally considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in calculating a cancer slope factor (CSF) for PCBs were reevaluated and new CSFs calculated based on the results of a pathology reassessment (Moore et al., 1994). When studies of 60% chlorine PCBs from 3 different laboratories were compared, there was no scientific basis for selecting only 1 data set for deriving CSF estimates. Using a geometric mean to calculate a CSF based on all studies of PCBs with 60% chlorine replaces the current value of 7.7 (mg/kg/d)(-1) with a value of 1.9 (mg/kg/d)(-1). CSFs for PCBs containing less than 60% chlorine (54% and 42%) were less than 1.0 (mg/kg/d)(-1). Using a toxic equivalency factor (TEF) approach similar to that of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin shows no correlation between toxic equivalent dose and CSFs, indicating that use of TEFs is not predictive of cancer potency for PCBs. Based on these findings, PCB cancer risk assessment policy would more closely reflect scientific data if (1) separate risk assessments were developed for each major PCB formulation and (2) all appropriate data were used when calculating cancer potency for PCB mixtures of 60% chlorine.
Assessment of fatigue in primary Sjögren's syndrome: the Swedish version of the Profile of Fatigue

Objective: To translate the disease‐specific Profile of Fatigue (ProF) into Swedish and to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Swedish version. Methods: Forward and back translations were performed. Seventy patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS), 48 control persons, and two rheumatologists participated. Test–retest reliability, internal consistency, content, construct and discriminant validity were investigated. Results: The translation was accepted without modifications. The test–retest reliability varied between moderate and good (weighted Kappa = 0.51–0.63). Internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.97). Construct validity was proved by significant correlations of the questionnaire items with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for fatigue (rs = 0.55–0.70), and the Physical Function (PF) (rs = −0.20 to −0.41) and Vitality (VT) scales (rs = −0.60 to −0.77) of the MOS 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36). Content validity was mainly judged as good. A significant difference between the scorings of the patients and the scorings of the control group was seen (mean difference 1.6, p<0.005). Conclusion: The Swedish version of the ProF is a relatively reliable and valid instrument for the measurement of fatigue in patients with PSS.
Offshore: Exploring the Worlds of Global Outsourcing

Offshore outsourcing-the movement of jobs to lower-wage countries-is one of the defining features of globalization. Routine blue-collar work has been going offshore for decades, but the digital revolution beginning in the 1990s extended this process to many parts of the service economy too. Politically controversial from the beginning, "offshoring" is conventionally seen as a threat to jobs, wages, and economic security in higher-income countries-having become synonymous with the dirty work of globalization. Even though the majority of corporations make some use of offshore outsourcing, fearful of negative publicity most now choose to manage these activities in a discreet manner. Partly as a result, the global sourcing business, now reckoned to be worth more $120 billion, largely operates under the radar, its ocean-spanning activities in low-cost labour arbitrage being poorly documented and poorly understood. Offshore is the first sustained investigation of the workings of the global sourcing industry, its business practices, its market dynamics, its technologies, and its politics. The book traces the complex transformation of the worlds of global sourcing, from its origins in the new international division of labour in the 1970s, through the rapid growth of back-office economies in India and the Philippines since the 1990s, to the development of "nearshore" markets in Latin America and Eastern Europe. Recently, this evolving process of geographical and organizational restructuring has included experiments in "backshoring" within low-cost, ex-urban locations in the United States and a wave of software-enabled automation, which threatens to remove labour from many back offices altogether. In these and other ways, the offshore revolution continues.
Development of an Image‐Based System for Measurement of Membrane Potential, Intracellular Ca2+ and Contraction in Arteriolar Smooth Muscle Cells

Please cite this paper as: Ella, Yang, Clifford, Gulia, Dora, Meininger, Davis and Hill (2010). Development of an Image‐Based System for Measurement of Membrane Potential, Intracellular Ca2+ and Contraction in Arteriolar Smooth Muscle Cells. Microcirculation17(8), 629–640.
The impact of the 2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak in Liberia on parent preferences for harsh discipline practices: a quasi-experimental, pre-post design

Background. This paper uses data from a cohort of parents and guardians of young children living in Monrovia, Liberia collected before and after the 2014 outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) to estimate the impact of EVD exposure on implicit preferences for harsh discipline. We hypothesized that parents exposed to EVD-related sickness or death would exhibit a stronger preference for harsh discipline practices compared with non-exposed parents. Methods. The data for this analysis come from two survey rounds conducted in Liberia as part of an intervention trial of a behavioral parenting skills intervention. Following a baseline assessment of 201 enrolled parents in July 2014, all program and study activities were halted due to the outbreak of EVD. Following the EVD crisis, we conducted a tracking survey with parents who completed the baseline survey 12 months prior. In both rounds, we presented parents with 12 digital comic strips of a child misbehaving and asked them to indicate how they would react if they were the parent in the stories. Results. Parents from households with reported EVD sickness or death became more ‘harsh’ (Glass's delta = 1.41) in their hypothetical decision-making compared with non-exposed parents, t (167)=−2.3, p < 0.05. Parents from households that experienced EVD-related sickness or death not only reported significantly more household conflict and anxiety, but also reported that their child exhibited fewer difficulties. Conclusions. Results support the need for family-based interventions, including strategies to help parents learn alternatives to harsh punishment.
Enhancement of Tissue-type Plasminogen Activator-induced Thrombolysis and Prevention of Reocclusion by Combination with a Humanized Anti-glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Monoclonal Antibody, YM337, in a Rhesus Monkey Model of Coronary Thrombosis

Summary We examined the effect of a humanized anti-glycoprotein IIb/IIIa monoclonal antibody, YM337, on thrombolysis with tissue-type plasminogen activator in a copper coil-induced coronary thrombosis model in rhesus monkeys. Fifty minutes after the formation of an occlusive thrombus, a test drug was administered by either i.v. bolus injection followed by continuous infusion (YM337, 0.25 mg/kg + 1.5 μg/kg/min) or i.v. bolus injection (aspirin, 17 mg/kg). Sixty minutes after induction of the occlusive thrombus, thrombolysis was initiated with tPA at a total dose of 0.5 mg/kg intravenously administered over 60 min, with 10% given as an initial bolus. The median time to reperfusion was significantly shortened by YM337 [saline, 60 min (n = 5); aspirin, 45 min (n = 5); YM337, 30 min (n = 5)]. The incidence of reocclusion was significantly decreased by YM337 (saline, 4/4; aspirin, 5/5; YM337, 1/5), and the median time to reocclusion was significantly prolonged by YM337 [saline, 30 min (n = 4); aspirin, 30 min (n = 5); YM337, 180 min (n = 5)]. YM337 significantly reduced the thrombus protein content at the end of experiment. ADP-induced platelet aggregation was completely inhibited by YM337. These results suggest that YM337 may be of clinical value as an adjunctive agent in thrombolytic therapy for patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Occupational Exposure to Solvents and the Risk of Lymphomas

Background: A number of studies have shown possible associations between occupational exposures, particularly solvents, and lymphomas. The present investigation aimed to evaluate the association between exposure to solvents and lymphomas (Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin) in a large population-based, multicenter, case–control study in Italy. Methods: All newly diagnosed cases of malignant lymphoma in men and women age 20 to 74 years in 1991–1993 were identified in 8 areas in Italy. The control group was formed by a random sample of the general population in the areas under study stratified by sex and 5-year age groups. We interviewed 1428 non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases, 304 Hodgkin disease cases, and 1530 controls. Experts examined the questionnaire data and assessed a level of probability and intensity of exposure to a range of chemicals. Results: Those in the medium/high level of exposure had an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with exposure to toluene (odds ratio = 1.8; 95% confidence interval = 1.1–2.8), xylene 1.7 (1.0–2.6), and benzene 1.6 (1.0–2.4). Subjects exposed to all 3 aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, and xylene; medium/high intensity compared with none) had an odds ratio of 2.1 (1.1–4.3). We observed an increased risk for Hodgkin disease for those exposed to technical solvents (2.7; 1.2–6.5) and aliphatic solvents (2.7; 1.2–5.7). Conclusion: This study suggests that aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons are a risk factor for non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and provides preliminary evidence for an association between solvents and Hodgkin disease.
Extended-release quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine XR) as adjunctive therapy in patients with generalized anxiety disorder and a history of inadequate treatment response: a randomized, double-blind study.

BACKGROUND For many patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), first-line treatment does not lead to remission. This study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of adjunctive extended-release quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine XR) in patients with GAD and an inadequate response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). METHODS Patients were randomized to quetiapine XR or placebo adjunctive to SSRI/SNRIs in an 11-week study. The primary endpoint was change from randomization to week 8 in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) total score. Secondary variables were HAM-A psychic/somatic clusters, response, and remission, and Clinical Global Impression–Severity of Illness (CGI-S) score. RESULTS A total of 409 patients received quetiapine XR (n=209) or placebo (n=200). The week 8 mean change in HAM-A total score was not statistically significant for quetiapine XR (–10.74; P=.079) vs placebo (–9.61). Secondary variables were generally consistent with the primary analysis, except for a significant reduction in HAM-A total score (week 1) and significant improvements in HAM-A psychic cluster and CGI-S total scores (week 8). Adverse events included dry mouth, somnolence, sedation, headache, and dizziness. CONCLUSIONS In patients with GAD and an inadequate response to SSRI/SNRIs, adjunctive quetiapine XR did not show a statistically significant effect for the primary endpoint at week 8, although some secondary endpoints were statistically significant vs placebo. Quetiapine XR was generally well tolerated.
Recovery of amplitude integrated electroencephalographic background patterns within 24 hours of perinatal asphyxia

Objective: To assess the time course of recovery of severely abnormal initial amplitude integrated electroencephalographic (aEEG) patterns (flat trace (FT), continuous low voltage (CLV), or burst suppression (BS)) in full term asphyxiated neonates, in relation to other neurophysiological and neuroimaging findings and neurodevelopmental outcome. Methods: A total of 190 aEEGs of full term infants were reviewed. The neonates were admitted within 6 hours of birth to the neonatal intensive care unit because of perinatal asphyxia, and aEEG recording was started immediately. In all, 160 infants were included; 65 of these had an initial FT or CLV pattern and 25 an initial BS pattern. Neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed using a full neurological examination and the Griffiths’ mental developmental scale. Results: In the FT/CLV group, the background pattern recovered to continuous normal voltage within 24 hours in six of the 65 infants (9%). All six infants survived the neonatal period; one had a severe disability, and five were normal at follow up. In the BS group, the background pattern improved to normal voltage in 12 of the 25 infants (48%) within 24 hours. Of these infants, one died, five survived with moderate to severe disability, two with mild disability, and four were normal. The patients who did not recover within 24 hours either died in the neonatal period or survived with a severe disability. Conclusion: In this study there was a small group of infants who presented with a severely abnormal aEEG background pattern within six hours of birth, but who achieved recovery to a continuous normal background pattern within the first 24 hours. Sixty one percent of these infants survived without, or with a mild, disability.
Erythropoietin treatment in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and type 2 diabetes 促红细胞生成素治疗骨髓增生异常综合征合并2型糖尿病的患者

The aim of the present study was to assess the role of a concomitant type 2 diabetes as a potentially negative factor in the management of low‐risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients treated with high‐dose (40 000 UI s.c. 2 times/week) recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) alpha (rHuEPO alpha).
Genetic questions for environmental studies. Differential parenting and psychopathology in adolescence.

BACKGROUND Recent genetic evidence suggests that the most important environmental influences on normal and pathologic development are those that are not shared by siblings in the same family. We sought to determine the relationship between differences in parenting styles and depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior in adolescence, and to compare the influence of these nonshared experiences with genetic influences. METHODS We studied 708 families with at least two same-sexed adolescent siblings who were monozygotic twins (93 families), dizygotic twins (99 families), ordinary siblings (95 families), full siblings in step families (181 families), half siblings in step families (110 families), and genetically unrelated siblings in step families (130 families). Data on parenting style were collected by questionnaire and by video recording of interaction between parents and children. RESULTS Almost 60% of variance in adolescent antisocial behavior and 37% of variance in depressive symptoms could be accounted for by conflictual and negative parental behavior directed specifically at the adolescent. In contrast, when a parent directed harsh, aggressive, explosive, and inconsistent parenting toward the sibling, we found less psychopathologic outcome in the adolescent. CONCLUSIONS Parenting behavior directed specifically at each child in the family is a major correlate of symptoms in adolescents. Furthermore, harsh parental behavior directed at a sibling may have protective effects for adolescents, a phenomenon we call the "siblin barricade. "