Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of SF-6D Health State Utility Scores: Is Beta Regression Appropriate?

Background: Typically, modeling of health-related quality of life data is often troublesome since its distribution is positively or negatively skewed, spikes at zero or one, bounded and heteroscedasticity. Objectives: In the present paper, we aim to investigate whether Bayesian beta regression is appropriate for analyzing the SF-6D health state utility scores and respondent characteristics. Methods: A sample of 126 Lebanese members from the American University of Beirut valued 49 health states defined by the SF-6D using the standard gamble technique. Three different models were fitted for SF-6D via Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation methods. These comprised a beta regression, random effects and random effects with covariates. Results from applying the three Bayesian beta regression models were reported and compared based on their predictive ability to previously used linear regression models, using mean prediction error (MPE), root mean squared error (RMSE) and deviance information criterion (DIC). Results: For the three different approaches, the beta regression model was found to perform better than the normal regression model under all criteria used. The beta regression with random effects model performs best, with MPE (0.084), RMSE (0.058) and DIC (−1621). Compared to the traditionally linear regression model, the beta regression provided better predictions of observed values in the entire learning sample and in an out-of-sample validation. Conclusions: Beta regression provides a flexible approach to modeling health state values. It also accounted for the boundedness and heteroscedasticity of the SF-6D index scores. Further research is encouraged.
MRI Features in Submandibular Gland Chronic Sclerosing Sialadenitis: A Report of Three Cases and Imaging Findings

Introduction: Chronic sclerosing sialadenitis (Küttner tumor) is a relatively uncommon and often under-recognized cause of salivary gland enlargement, characterised by sclerosing IgG4-related inflammation, producing a hard swelling of the gland that mimics malignancy. The name tumor is tricky and misleading, in fact the disease has no histological features of malignancy, but still it cannot easily be distinguished from cancer because of its hard consistency to touch. Case Reports: We aim to report three cases of Küttner tumor and to review morphological MRI features (homogeneous T1- and T2-hypointensity, homogeneous contrast enhancement) and diffusion weighted imaging findings (low ADC values) which can help radiologists to reach the correct diagnosis. Conclusion: Definite diagnosis of Küttner tumor is histopathological. However imaging features are straightforward and can address radiologists toward the correct diagnosis.
A SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY ON THE DNA BINDING BEHAVIOR OF THE ANTICANCER DRUG DACARBAZINE

ABSTRACT The selective binding of some drug to DNA has been explored in this study to elucidate the structure-function relationship of the anticancer agent. In the case of the binding behavior of the anticancer drug dacarbazine [5-(3,3-dimethy-1-triazenyl)imidazole-4-carboxamide; DTIC], it was found that DNA causes significant decrease of the absorption intensity of DTIC without any shift of the peak position. Besides, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study shows that only slight upfield shift was observed upon addition of DNA. These results as well as our nanostructural study by atomic force microscopy (AFM) illustrate the DNA recognition specificity of DTIC though this anticancer drug interacts with DNA by using non-intercalation mode.
Measurement of spectral UV aerosol optical depth and aerosol chemical composition at Kwangju, South Korea

Ground-based visible and UV irradiances at 11 wavelengths were measured in order to characterize the wavelength dependence of aerosol optical depth during the biomass burning period (October~November 2002) with a visible/ultraviolet multifilter rotating shadowband radiometer (vis-MFRSR, UV-MFRSR) at Gwangju (35.13°N, 126.53°E), South Korea. UVMFR has 7 wavelengths of 2 nm FWHM centered on, 299, 305, 310, 317, 323, 331, and 367 nm, and vis-MFRSR has 6 channels of 10 nm FWHM on 415, 500, 615, 673, 870 and 930 nm. Measurement outputs from the MFRSRs were sampled at 20 seconds interval and saved every minute as a mean value into a YESDAS data logger. In order to calculate aerosol optical depth at the visible and UV range, total column ozone should be considered because the surface UV radiation, especially UV-B radiation, is highly absorbed by atmospheric ozone. Ozone optical depths were calculated using TOMS (Total ozone mapping spectrometer) daily total column ozone (DU) and WMO (1985) ozone absorption coefficients. Exceptionally, UV radiation at 367.4 nm is free from ozone absorption. Rayleigh optical depth was highly dependent on the wavelength and was calculated using surface pressure information provided by the KMA (Korea Meteorological Administration). This study shows the results on October and November 2002 when both ground-based spectral AOD at visible/UV range and aerosol measurements and chemical analysis were executed simultaneously. AOD varied 0.16 ~ 0.64 dependent on the wavelengths during the measurement period and the AOD values had an anticorrelation with wavelength. On November 12, 2002 both biomass burning and Asian dust were observed simultaneously. The AOD analysis results showed that AOD increased 100~200% dependent on the wavelength when Asian dust and biomass burning were observed compared to the days when no events occurred. Aerosol measurement confirmed this from the increase of mass concentration of aerosol on this date. Aerosol optical parameters were compared with aerosol chemical composition.
Luminescence of sodium molybdate (Na2Mo2O7) and sodium tungstate (Na2W2O7)

The luminescence of Na2Mo2O7 and Na2W2O7 is reported. The most striking difference is found in the temperature dependence of the decay time at low temperatures, indicating crystal-field splitting fo the emitting level of Na2Mo2O7 and spin—orbit splitting of that of Na2W2O7. In addition Na2WO4 is found to luminesce at low temperatures only with low efficiency. Es wird uber die Lumineszenz von Na2Mo2O7 und Na2W2O7 berichtet. Die wichtigste Differenz wird in der Temperaturabhangigkeit der Abklingzeit bei niedrigen Temperaturen gefunden. Diese Beobachtung deutet auf Kristallfeldspaltung des emittierenden Niveaus von Na2Mo2O7 und Spin—Bahn-Aufspaltung des Niveaus von Na2W2O7 hin. Die Verbindung Na2WO4 luminesziert nur schwach bei niedrigen Temperaturen.
Insights into Elastic and Thermodynamics Properties of Binary Intermetallics in Ni-Al Alloys under Extreme Condition: Full-Electronic Quasi-Harmonic Study

Atomistic modeling based on the accurate first-principles method is used to investigate the lattice parameter, elastic constant, elastic modulus including bulk modulus (B) and shear modulus (G), Poisson's ratio, and elastic anisotropy of Al, NiAl and Ni 3 Al under extreme condition. The elastic constants obtained from calculations meet their mechanical stability criteria. Both NiAl and Ni 3 Al exhibit ductile behavior due to their high bulk mudulus to shear modulus ratios of B/G ratios. Through the full-electronic quasi-harmonic approximation, in which the mobile electrons are considered, we successfully obtain the thermo-physical properties including the thermal expansion coefficient, bulk modulus, heat capacity and entropy at simultaneously high temperatures and high pressures. The calculated quantities agree well with the available results. Some silent results are also interpreted. Several interesting features in the thermodynamic properties can also be observed.
Tratamento da forma mucosa de leishmaniose sem resposta a glucantime, com anfotericina B liposomal

We treated six patients with mucosal leishmaniasis who failed to respond to glucantime (20 mg/kg/day) with ambisome (2-5 grams total dose). The daily dose was 2-3 mg/kg/day given for a minimum of 20 days. After 26-38 months of follow up, five patients were clinically cured. One relapsed after six months. No side effects of therapy were observed apart from headache after infection. Ambisome is a therapeutic option for patients with mucosal leishmaniasis unresponsive to antimonials.
Characterization of CaCO3 hydrates by micro‐Raman spectroscopy

The Raman spectra of the three varieties of hydrated calcium carbonate, monohydrate, hexahydrate and ‘amorphous,’ are reported for the first time and discussed according to the already known crystal structures. The transformation by dehydration of these hydrated phases into the usual anhydrous forms was followed by in situ micro-Raman spectroscopy. It is shown that the dehydration of the hexahydrate proceeds through the formation of the ‘amorphous’ phase. The latter is better described as microcrystalline monohydrate. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of Reflectance Near Infrared Spectroscopy for Animal Slurry Analyses

The feasibility of using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for rapid prediction of the composition of cattle and pig slurries was investigated. Samples with a total solids content from < 1 to 15% were collected during a 3-yr period and used for calibration and validation. Test samples were sealed in plastic bags and measured in a sample cell moved vertically during measurements. Reflectance data in the range 1200 to 2400 nm were used for calibration based on partial least square regression. Dry matter (DM), N, NH 4 -N, and P could be determined with r 2 values of 0.97, 0.94, 0.92, and 0.87, respectively. The ratios between analyte variation range standard deviation and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) obtained on a calibration independent test set were 6.2 (DM), 4.3 (N), 3.8 (NH 4 -N), and 3.6 (P). Total C and plant-available N (PAN) could be determined by near infrared spectroscopy with r 2 values of 0.94 and 0.89, but the same correlation was obtained by calculation from DM and NH 4 -N results, respectively. The applicability of NIRS for K, Mg, Ca, Na, S, Cu, and Zn analysis was also investigated. The r 2 values were in the range 0.41 to 0.82, with the poorest results for Na, Zn, and K. The corresponding SD/RMSEP ratios were in the range 1.2 to 3.5. We concluded that the applied NIRS methodology is suitable for rapid routine analysis of DM, C, N, NH 4 -N, P, and PAN in both cattle and pig slurries.
Families and mathematics: A study of parent-child interactions

A group of 21 middle-class parents and their 4-year-old children participated in this study of mathematics and parent-child interactions. Each family chose 4 separate 15-minute periods over 2 days to share multilink blocks, a child's book, blank paper, and preschool worksheets with their child at home. Each 15-minute session was audiotaped, all artifacts generated during the sessions were kept, and each parent was interviewed. The results of the study indicate that a wide range of mathematics was evident, with counting being the most prevalent activity. All parents succeeded in injecting some mathematics in most sessions; some did so by explicitly setting mathematics as a goal, whereas others injected the mathematics as a means of carrying out, or as an aside to, the play activity they coconstructed. Questioning children's knowledge was the main way parents elicited mathematics, although some requested explanations, or clarifications, and some mediated patterns, relationships, and strategies.
The Effect of Incomplete Knowledge of Parameter Values on Single- and Multiple-Stage Designs for Logistic Regression*

SUMMARY We consider the design of single- and multiple-stage dose-response trials in which the probability of response is a logistic function of the dose. Knowledge of the parameters of the logistic at the time of planning the trial is represented by a Gaussian prior distribution. Methods are presented for determining a design that approximately optimizes a measure of the accuracy of estimation averaged over the prior distribution. Changes in design due to uncertainty of parameter values are described as well as the changes in sample size required to produce a specified precision. In multiple-stage trials, the initial stage is planned as if it were the only stage. For succeeding stages, the initial Gaussian prior distribution is updated using outcomes at the previous stages. At each such stage, the design optimizes a chosen criterion averaged over the updated prior distribution. The effectiveness of this methodology is evaluated by comparing the operating characteristics of two-stage designs with those of single-stage designs.
The Importance of Surface Coverage in the Electrochemical Study of Chemically Modified Electrodes

The importance of the surface coverage in the behavior of chemically modified electrodes and its effect on different electrochemical parameters such as the peak potential separation ΔEp, the potential of full width at half peak height Efwhm and the apparent electrochemical rate constant k°, is discussed. The influence of the morphology of the surface of the electrode on the value of surface coverage is also demonstrated.
Clinical and biological markers for outcome in schizophrenia : A review of a longitudinal follow-up study in Uppsala schizophrenia research project

During a 10-year period, 120 drugfree DSM-III-R schizophrenic patients were consecutively and unselectively admitted to a ward for young psychotic patients and subjected to a battery of examinations including symptomatology, cerebrospiral fluid (CSF)-biochemistry, computed tomography (CT)-scan, neurophysiologic and psychophysiologic (Electrodermal activity, EDA) parameters before antipsychotic treatment was initiated. After discharge, the patients were longitudinally followed with ratings of outcome (Strauss-Carpenters outcome scale) at years 1, 3, and 5 after index admission. The aim of the study was to find possible early markers for outcome in schizophrenia. At 5 years, 30% of the patients had a good outcome (total score >13) and 15% a poor outcome (total score 15) as compared with healthy controls. Further, the CSF-peptides neuropeptide Y, dynorphin A, and CRF were predictable for outcome at the 5-year follow-up evaluation. Male schizophrenics who were nonresponders on the EDA test showed an almost 100% poor outcome, which was not found in females. In summary, several clinical and biological variables seem to have a predictable value for outcome in schizophrenia and, early identification of them might be a challenge for our future treatment strategies.
On the vibrational convective instability of a horizontal, binary-mixture layer with Soret effect

A theoretical examination is made of the mechanical quasi-equilibrium stability of a horizontal, binary-mixture layer with Soret effect in the presence of a high-frequency vibrational field. The boundaries of the layer are assumed to be rigid, isothermal and impermeable. The axis of vibration is longitudinal. The study is based on the system of equations describing the behaviour of mean fields. The conditions of quasi-equilibrium are formulated. A linear stability analysis for normal modes is carried out. In the limit of long-wave disturbances the regular perturbation method is used with the wavenumber as a small parameter. For the case of an arbitrary wavenumber, the calculations are made using straight forward numerical integration. The boundaries of stability and the critical disturbance characteristics are determined for representative parameter values. Different instability mechanism and forms are discussed.
Influence of Spacing on Yield of Buddleia and Salix Grown as Cut Flowers and Stems

Plants of Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight' were planted on 165, 80 or 45 cm (5.5.3 or 1.5 ft) centers in September 1991 and plants of Salix alba 'Britzensis' , Salix x erythrojlexuosa 'Scarlet Curls' and Salix chaenomeloides were planted on 90, 60 or 30 cm (3, 2 and 1 ft) centers in April 1991. Stems of all taxa were harvested for three years. The number of harvested stems per plant decreased but the number of stems/m2 increased with increasing plant density in all taxa. No significant differences in stem length or stem diameter occurred except with Salix alba 'Britzensis' in which the longest stems occurred at the highest density, regardless of year of harvest.
Tumor necrosis factor-induced, superoxide-mediated neutrophil accumulation in cold ischemic/reperfused rat liver

The mechanisms of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury are complicated and multifactorial. This study was designed to examine superoxide generation and neutrophil accumulation in cold ischemic-reperfused rat livers after elimination of Kupffer cells and to determine the role of superoxide/tumor necrosis factor (TNF) interactions. Rat Kupffer cells were eliminated by liposome-encapsulated dichloromethylene diphosphonate injected intravenously. Livers from control and treated rats were isolated and preserved in University of Wisconsin solution (4°C) for 0, 12, and 24 hours and then perfused for 60 minutes with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (37°C) by adding neutrophils into the perfusate. Superoxide generation was measured by using real-time chemiluminescence (CL) during perfusion, and neutrophil accumulation was assessed by measuring myeloperoxidase activity in the liver tissue. In the control livers, CL intensity markedly increased on reoxygenation, and after neutrophil infusion it increased again with a lag period of 10 minutes. Total CL intensity and myeloperoxidase activity increased with the duration of cold preservation. TNF release into the effluent perfusate was detectable only after 24 hours of preservation, and lactate dehydrogenase release was high. Elimination of Kupffer cells attenuated CL intensity and TNF and lactate dehydrogenase release and resulted in reduced myeloperoxidase activity. Electron microscopy revealed amelioration of hepatocyte swelling and endothelial cell disruption when Kupffer cells were eliminated. After 24 hours of preservation, superoxide generation was inhibited in the control livers by anti-TNF antiserum, whereas TNF release was not inhibited by superoxide dismutase. These results suggest that TNF induces superoxide generation by Kupffer cells, which mediates neutrophil accumulation and causes cellular injury in the initial phase of reperfusion.
LANGUAGE ATTITUDES OF INDONESIANS AS EFL LEARNERS, GENDER, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS

This study explored the language attitude in terms of gender and socio-economic status (SES) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The aim of this study was to find out the relationships among five components of languages attitudes in terms of gender and socio-economic status (SES). There were 256 participants from four universities in Yogyakarta. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire about the language used and general language attitudes through the Google Form. The results showed that there are five components of language attitudes; 1) Indonesian learners showed positive language attitudes toward English (3.58); 2) positive language attitudes toward Indonesian (3.66); 3) positive language attitudes toward English and negative language attitudes toward Indonesian (3.52); 4) positive language attitudes toward Indonesian and negative language attitudes toward English (3.58); 5) positive language attitudes toward English and Indonesian (3.91). These five components of language attitudes were then correlated with gender; 1) gender was positively related to English language attitude where female learners had higher positive language attitudes than males did toward English (.097); 2) there was no relation between gender and Indonesian language attitude (-.071). In addition, SES was also related to five (5) components of language attitudes in which the learners who came from upper class had higher positive language attitudes towards English (.155) than learners who came from lower class. On the other hand, the correlation between SES and Indonesian language showed the learners from middle class had higher positive language attitudes (.031) than the learners from upper class and lower class.DOI: doi.org/10.24071/llt.2018. 210112
INITIAL CONTROL OF CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED NAUSEA AND VOMITING IN PATIENT QUALITY OF LIFE

The side effects commonly experienced by patients receiving chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer can challenge many aspects of daily life. Nausea and vomiting, the most common side effects reported by patients, affect the ability to continue with usual life activities and, thus have a pronounced impact on quality of life. This paper reviews studies of the impact of nausea and emesis on quality of life, and highlights the importance of prevention of these side effects by presenting new data on how persistent uncontrolled nausea and vomiting can be. The Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Emesis (MANE) was used to collect information on symptoms experienced by consecutive patients starting chemotherapy between September 1987 and December 1995 at any of 18 geographically diverse member sites of the University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program. Data from 1,413 patients were collected after each of four successive chemotherapy treatments. Reported incidences of posttreatment nausea and posttreatment vomiting after the first treatment were 59.4% and 28.6%, respectively. Occurrence of nausea/vomiting at the first treatment was a strong predictor of nausea/vomiting at later treatments. Of the 839 patients reporting initial nausea, 763 (90.9%) reported nausea at at least one subsequent treatment, and approximately 59% reported nausea after all three subsequent treatments. Fewer than half (45.6%) of the patients who had no nausea at the first treatment developed it later. The majority (72.0%) of patients reporting vomiting at the first treatment also reported subsequent vomiting, 30.7% of whom experienced emesis at all remaining treatments. Conversely, 76.2% of patients who were emesis-free at the first treatment remained so for all later treatments. These findings show a continuing need for further progress in controlling nausea and vomiting, and demonstrate the importance of aggressive nausea/vomiting control at the first treatment. In addition, more emphasis on controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea after its initial occurrence is necessary.
Impairments of Brain and Behavior

Chronic heavy drinking and alcoholism can have serious repercussions for the functioning of the entire nervous system, particularly the brain. These effects include changes in emotions and personality as well as impaired perception, learning, and memory. Neuropathological and imaging techniques have provided evidence of physical brain abnormalities in alcoholics, such as atrophy of nerve cells and brain shrinkage. At the cellular level, alcohol appears to directly affect brain function in a variety of ways, primarily by interfering with the action of glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and other neurotransmitters. Neurological disorders also can result from vitamin deficiency and liver disease, two health problems that commonly occur with alcoholism. Other hypotheses, based on factors such as aging, gender, and genetics, have been developed to explain various alcohol-related neurological consequences. Many pharmacological treatments to improve neuropsychological functioning in alcoholics have been tested, but none has proved entirely successful. With prolonged abstinence, however, slow recovery of cognitive functioning can occur in some cases.