Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intrasession and Intersession Repeatability of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Healthy Human Liver

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of signal to noise ratio (SNR) and number of gradient directions (NGD) on intra- and intersession repeatability of liver diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics. Methods At each of 3 liver DTI scan sessions, liver diffusion was assessed in 5 healthy volunteers using a 6-direction DTI scan performed 9 separate times (ie, number of signal averages [NSA]). In addition, 4 combinations of NSA and NGD were acquired (NSA/NGD = 1/30, 3/10, 3/12, and 5/6) to determine the combined effect to DTI metrics, which was based on intersubject variability and intrasession (Vintra) and intersession (Vinter) repeatability. Results Intersubject variability was less than 20%, whereas Vintra and Vinter repeatability were less than 5% and less than 10%, respectfully. Vinter was not affected by the NGD used. Decreases in Vinter(FA), Vinter(&lgr;1), Vinter(RD), and Vinter(MD) were observed with increasing NSA, and hence SNR. Conclusion Increased SNR may improve intrasession and intersession repeatability of liver DTI metrics. Scan repeatability was not influenced by NGD.
Comparison of 270 Versus 320 mg I/mL of Iodixanol in 1 Image Assessment of Both Renal Arteries and Veins With Dual-Energy Spectral CT Imaging in Late Arterial Phase and Their Influence on Renal Function

Objective The objective of this study was to compare the image quality of renal arteries and veins with dual-energy spectral computed tomography (CT) imaging in late arterial phase using 270 and 320 mg I/mL of iodixanol and their influence on renal function. Methods A total of 1062 patients underwent renal CT angiography with 270 or 320 mg I/mL of iodixanol with dual-energy spectral CT imaging in late arterial phase. Image quality and their influence on renal function were compared. Results There were no significant differences of CT value, signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, and subjective score of renal vessels between 2 groups (all P > 0.05). The incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with abnormal renal function using 320 mg I/mL of iodixanol was significantly higher than using 270 mg I/mL of iodixanol (P = 0.043). Conclusions The renal arteries and veins can be fully assessed in late arterial phase with 270 mg I/mL of iodixanol using dual-energy spectral CT scan with better preserved renal function.
The Breakdown of Static and Evolutionary Allometries during Climatic Upheaval

The influence of within-species variation and covariation on evolutionary patterns is well established for generational and macroevolutionary processes, most prominently through genetic lines of least resistance. However, it is not known whether intraspecific phenotypic variation also directs microevolutionary trajectories into the long term when a species is subject to varying environmental conditions. Here we present a continuous, high-resolution bivariate record of size and shape changes among 12,633 individual planktonic foraminifera of a surviving and an extinct-going species over 500,000 years. Our study interval spans the late Pliocene to earliest Pleistocene intensification of northern hemisphere glaciation, an interval of profound climate upheaval that can be divided into three phases of increasing glacial intensity. Within each of these three Plio-Pleistocene climate phases, the within-population allometries predict evolutionary change from one time step to the next and that the within-phase among-population (i.e., evolutionary) allometries match their corresponding static (within-population) allometries. However, the evolutionary allometry across the three climate phases deviates significantly from the static and phase-specific evolutionary allometries in the extinct-going species. Although intraspecific variation leaves a clear signature on mean evolutionary change from one time step to the next, our study suggests that the link between intraspecific variation and longer-term micro- and macroevolutionary phenomena is prone to environmental perturbation that can overcome constraints induced by within-species trait covariation.
Recovery of Missing Samples with Sparse Approximations

In most missing samples problems, the signals are assumed to be bandlimited. That is, the signals are assumed to be sparsely approximated by a known subset of the discrete Fourier transform basis vectors. We discuss the recovery of missing samples when the signals can be sparsely approximated by an unknown subset of certain unitary basis vectors. We propose the use of the orthogonal matching pursuit to recover missing samples by sparse approximations.
Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and risk of major osteoporotic fractures in older U.S. adults

Results from previous prospective studies linking serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) with fracture risk have been inconsistent. The present study examined the relationship between serum 25OHD and risk of incident major osteoporotic fracture (hip, spine, radius, and humerus) in older U.S. adults. The study used a pooled cohort of 4749 men and women ages 65 years and older from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–1994) and NHANES 2000–2004. Incident fractures were identified using linked mortality and Medicare records that were obtained for participants from both surveys. Serum 25OHD values were measured by radioimmunoassay in both surveys. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of fracture by serum 25OHD level. There were 525 incident major osteoporotic fractures (287 hip fractures) in the sample. Serum 25OHD was a significant linear predictor of major osteoporotic fracture and significant quadratic predictor of hip fracture in the total sample and among those with less than 10 years of follow‐up, but it was not related to risk of either fracture type among those with ≥10 years of follow‐up. Major osteoporotic fracture risk was increased by 26% to 27% for each SD decrease in serum 25OHD among those with less than 10 years of follow‐up. Serum 25OHD was significantly related to risk of major osteoporotic fractures as a group and to hip fracture alone in this cohort of older U.S. adults from NHANES III and NHANES 2000–2004. However, the predictive utility of serum 25OHD diminished after 10 years. In addition, the relationship appeared to be linear when major osteoporotic fracture risk was considered but quadratic when hip fracture risk was assessed. © 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Ontogeny and Consistent Individual Differences Mediate Trophic Interactions

Ecologists use species traits to predict responses to environmental change and, ultimately, to understand the composition of biological communities. However, this ignores known and substantial intraspecific variation that can have important consequences for species interactions and community composition. This within-species variation results from two distinct sources: ontogeny and consistent individual differences. Ontogeny and consistent differences interact to produce phenotypes, but the community-level consequences of this interaction have not been studied. Using larval dragonfly communities, I investigate patterns of intraguild predation by manipulating (1) consistent individual differences in activity rate and (2) the ontogeny of the focal and interacting species. I show that activity rate is a consistent individual trait but that the effect of activity rate on intraguild predation depends on the functional role of an organism in the community (predator or prey). An organism’s functional role itself varies across ontogeny of both the focal and interacting individuals. I suggest that ontogeny and consistent individual differences interact to produce intraspecific variation, with consequences for species interactions, communities, and eco-evolutionary dynamics.
Dos and don'ts for electronic journal management: some advice to publishers

Librarians, publishers, aggregators, and subscription agents find themselves in new roles as electronic journals increase in importance. Librarians are redefining their role as electronic journal administrators in the dissemination of scholarly communication. As part of a recent survey of electronic journal administrators, we elicited suggestions to ease the frustrations faced in the management of electronic journals. This article highlights some dos and don'ts that librarians would like to see the publishing community consider, and proposes realistic solutions for some of the management problems encountered.
Pain threshold analysis in patients with osteoarthrosis of hip Brit. med. J., 3 (1974) 714–715

The pain threshold was measured in patients with osteoarthrosis of the hip. The pain threshold was significantly lower in patients who required surgery than in controls. After successful surgery the threshold rose to normal levels. In patients with few or no symptoms from their osteoarthritic hips the pain threshold was high. Insensitivity to pain does not predispose towards osteoarthrosis of the hip. Indeed, the severity of symptoms can be directly related to an increased sensitivity to pain in osteoarthritic subjects.
Relationship between attributional style, perceived control, self-esteem, and depressive mood in a nonclinical sample: a structural equation-modelling approach.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to examine the intricate relationship between some personality traits (i.e., attributional style, perceived control over consequences, self-esteem), and depressive mood in a nonclinical sample (N= 334). Method. Structural equation modelling was used to estimate five competing models: two vulnerability models describing the effects of personality traits on depressive mood, one scar model describing the effects of depression on personality traits, a mixed model describing the effects of attributional style and perceived control over consequences on depressive mood, which in turn affects self-esteem, and a reciprocal model which is a non-recursive version of the mixed model that specifies bidirectional effects between depressive mood and self-esteem. RESULTS The best-fitting model was the mixed model. Moreover, we observed a significant negative effect of depression on self-esteem, but no effect in the opposite direction. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide supporting arguments against the continuum model of the relationship between self-esteem and depression, and lend substantial support to the scar model, which claims that depressive mood damages and erodes self-esteem. In addition, the 'depressogenic' nature of the pessimistic attributional style, and the 'antidepressant' nature of perceived control over consequences plead in favour of the vulnerability model.
Physical Performance and Radiographic and Clinical Vertebral Fractures in Older Men

In men, the association between poor physical performance and likelihood of incident vertebral fractures is unknown. Using data from the MrOS study (N = 5958), we describe the association between baseline physical performance (walking speed, grip strength, leg power, repeat chair stands, narrow walk [dynamic balance]) and incidence of radiographic and clinical vertebral fractures. At baseline and follow‐up an average of 4.6 years later, radiographic vertebral fractures were assessed using semiquantitative (SQ) scoring on lateral thoracic and lumbar radiographs. Logistic regression modeled the association between physical performance and incident radiographic vertebral fractures (change in SQ grade ≥1 from baseline to follow‐up). Every 4 months after baseline, participants self‐reported fractures; clinical vertebral fractures were confirmed by centralized radiologist review of the baseline study radiograph and community‐acquired spine images. Proportional hazards regression modeled the association between physical performance with incident clinical vertebral fractures. Multivariate models were adjusted for age, bone mineral density (BMD, by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry [DXA]), clinical center, race, smoking, height, weight, history of falls, activity level, and comorbid medical conditions; physical performance was analyzed as quartiles. Of 4332 men with baseline and repeat radiographs, 192 (4.4%) had an incident radiographic vertebral fracture. With the exception of walking speed, poorer performance on repeat chair stands, leg power, narrow walk, and grip strength were each associated in a graded manner with an increased risk of incident radiographic vertebral fracture (p for trend across quartiles <0.001). In addition, men with performance in the worst quartile on three or more exams had an increased risk of radiographic fracture (odds ratio [OR] = 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.33–2.45) compared with men with better performance on all exams. Clinical vertebral fracture (n =149 of 5813, 2.6%) was not consistently associated with physical performance. We conclude that poorer physical performance is associated with an increased risk of incident radiographic (but not clinical) vertebral fracture in older men. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Prediction of Incident Hip Fracture with the Estimated Femoral Strength by Finite Element Analysis of DXA Scans in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures

A bone fractures only when loaded beyond its strength. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of femoral strength, as estimated by finite element (FE) analysis of dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans, with incident hip fracture in comparison to hip bone mineral density (BMD), Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX), and hip structure analysis (HSA) variables. This prospective case‐cohort study included a random sample of 1941 women and 668 incident hip fracture cases (295 in the random sample) during a mean ± SD follow‐up of 12.8 ± 5.7 years from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (n = 7860 community‐dwelling women ≥67 years of age). We analyzed the baseline DXA scans (Hologic 1000) of the hip using a validated plane‐stress, linear‐elastic finite element (FE) model of the proximal femur and estimated the femoral strength during a simulated sideways fall. Cox regression accounting for the case‐cohort design assessed the association of estimated femoral strength with hip fracture. The age–body mass index (BMI)‐adjusted hazard ratio (HR) per SD decrease for estimated strength (2.21; 95% CI, 1.95–2.50) was greater than that for total hip (TH) BMD (1.86; 95% CI, 1.67–2.08; p < 0.05), FN BMD (2.04; 95% CI, 1.79–2.32; p > 0.05), FRAX scores (range, 1.32–1.68; p < 0.0005), and many HSA variables (range, 1.13–2.43; p < 0.005), and the association was still significant (p < 0.05) after further adjustment for hip BMD or FRAX scores. The association of estimated strength with incident hip fracture was strong (Harrell's C index 0.770), significantly better than TH BMD (0.759; p < 0.05) and FRAX scores (0.711–0.743; p < 0.0001), but not FN BMD (0.762; p > 0.05). Similar findings were obtained for intracapsular and extracapsular fractures. In conclusion, the estimated femoral strength from FE analysis of DXA scans is an independent predictor and performs at least as well as FN BMD in predicting incident hip fracture in postmenopausal women. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
The Effectiveness of an Integrated Treatment Approach for Clients With Dual Diagnoses

Objective: A randomized experiment tested the effectiveness of adding a psychoeducationally oriented group therapy intervention, Good Chemistry Groups, to standard inpatient chemical dependency services for clients dually diagnosed with mental and substance dependence disorders. Method: Ninety-seven clients were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 48) and a control group (n = 49). Outcome variables included drug and alcohol use, participation in self-help support group meetings, incarceration days, psychiatric symptoms, psychiatric inpatient admissions, compliance with prescribed psychotropic medication plans, and composite scores on the Addiction Severity Index. Results: No significant treatment effects were found on any of the outcome variables. The findings were generally consistent with those of prior controlled studies. Conclusion: Good Chemistry Groups did not add to the effects of standard treatments for dually diagnosed clients. Practitioners should continue to develop and evaluate alternative integrated treatment approaches that might prove to be more effective than this one.
Muscle Torque Relative to Cross‐Sectional Area and the Functional Muscle‐Bone Unit in Children and Adolescents With Chronic Disease

Measures of muscle mass or size are often used as surrogates of forces acting on bone. However, chronic diseases may be associated with abnormal muscle force relative to muscle size. The muscle‐bone unit was examined in 64 children and adolescents with new‐onset Crohn's disease (CD), 54 with chronic kidney disease (CKD), 51 treated with glucocorticoids for nephrotic syndrome (NS), and 264 healthy controls. Muscle torque was assessed by isometric ankle dynamometry. Calf muscle cross‐sectional area (CSA) and tibia cortical section modulus (Zp) were assessed by quantitative CT. Log‐linear regression was used to determine the relations among muscle CSA, muscle torque, and Zp, adjusted for tibia length, age, Tanner stage, sex, and race. Muscle CSA and muscle torque‐relative‐to‐muscle CSA were significantly lower than controls in advanced CKD (CSA −8.7%, p = 0.01; torque −22.9%, p < 0.001) and moderate‐to‐severe CD (CSA −14.1%, p < 0.001; torque −7.6%, p = 0.05), but not in NS. Zp was 11.5% lower in advanced CKD (p = 0.005) compared to controls, and this deficit was attenuated to 6.7% (p = 0.05) with adjustment for muscle CSA. With additional adjustment for muscle torque and body weight, Zp was 5.9% lower and the difference with controls was no longer significant (p = 0.09). In participants with moderate‐to‐severe CD, Zp was 6.8% greater than predicted (p = 0.01) given muscle CSA and torque deficits (R2 = 0.92), likely due to acute muscle loss in newly‐diagnosed patients. Zp did not differ in NS, compared with controls. In conclusion, muscle torque relative to muscle CSA was significantly lower in CKD and CD, compared with controls, and was independently associated with Zp. Future studies are needed to determine if abnormal muscle strength contributes to progressive bone deficits in chronic disease, independent of muscle area. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Iontophoresis of Vinblastine Into Normal Skin and for Treatment of Kaposi's Sarcoma in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Patients

• Background. — Patients who test positive for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and who have disfiguring and/or painful cutaneous lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) may not be candidates for systemic chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. Intralesional vinblastine sulfate, as a single-agent chemotherapeutic drug, has been used with some success to treat KS in patients who are HIV-1 positive. However, some patients may not tolerate the pain asociated with injection of vinblastine. Transcutaneous iontophoresis of vinblastine was evaluated for therapy of KS in HIV-1-infected patients. Prior to therapy of patients, we iontophoresed vinblastine into the normal skin of volunteers who were not infected with HIV-1 to document the clinical and histologic features that occurred. Observations. — Iontophoresis produced a localized erythematous papular eruption in non-HIV-infected volunteers but not in HIV-1-infected patients. Histologic changes in the biopsy specimens taken from non-HIV-infected volunteers consisted primarily of scattered necrotic keratinocytes and a mild to moderate superficial lymphohistiocytic infiltrate. Thirty-one lesions of KS were treated with partial to complete clearing and symptomatic improvement. Conclusion. — Clinical and histologic features of iontophoresed normal skin suggest an immunologic mechanism of action. lonotophoresis of vinblastine for KS is well tolerated and results in symptomatic improvement as well as varying degrees of clearing of the lesions. ( Arch Dermatol. 1992;128:1365-1370)
Learning to be confident and capable journal reviewers: an Australian perspective

Journal peer review has been the subject of much research. However, the learning process through which reviewers acquire their reviewing ability, and reviewers' own perceptions of their capability have rarely been a focus. This interview study asked three questions about reviewer capability and training. At what stage did you gain confidence in reviewing? How did you learn how to review? Is formal training necessary? The interview is part of a mixed‐method project studying experienced Australian reviewers. The respondents indicate that learning to review is a continuous cycle in which formal training will not work. Following a mostly self‐guided initiation, new reviewers establish personal reviewing patterns. By trial and error, the patterns are consolidated and the reviewers eventually feel ‘confident’. ‘Decisiveness' is a good sign of becoming confident. Most respondents emphasized that journals could play a crucial role in producing good reviewers, e.g. by specifying unambiguously their expectations of ‘good reviews’.
Life Expectancy in Patients Treated for Osteoporosis: Observational Cohort Study Using National Danish Prescription Data

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease, carrying an elevated risk of fractures, morbidity, and death. Long‐term treatment may be required, but the long‐term risks with osteoporosis drugs remain incompletely understood. The competing risk of death may be a barrier to treating the oldest, yet this may not be rational if the risk of death is reduced by treatment. It is difficult to devise goal‐directed long‐term strategies for managing osteoporosis without firm information about residual life expectancy in treated patients. We conducted an observational study in Danish national registries tracking prescriptions for osteoporosis drugs, comorbid conditions, and deaths. We included 58,637 patients and 225,084 age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects. Information on deaths until the end of 2013 was retrieved, providing a follow‐up period of 10 to 17 years. In men younger than 80 years and women younger than 60 years, the relative risk of dying declined from being strongly increased in the first year to a stable but elevated level in subsequent years. In women older than 65 to 70 years, there was only a small elevation in risk in the first year of treatment followed by lower than background population mortality. The residual life expectancy of a 50‐year‐old man beginning osteoporosis treatment was estimated to be 18.2 years and that of a 75‐year‐old man was 7.5 years. Estimates in women were 26.4 years and 13.5 years, respectively. This study shows an excess mortality in men and in women younger than 70 years who are treated for osteoporosis compared with the background population. This excess risk is more pronounced in the first few years on treatment. The average life expectancy of osteoporosis patients is in excess of 15 years in women younger than 75 years and in men younger than 60 years, highlighting the importance of developing tools for long‐term management. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.