Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spending on substance abuse treatment: how much is enough?

AIM To describe a framework that can be used to determine optimal spending on substance abuse treatment in the United States. METHODS Selective review of the literature on spending for substance abuse treatment combined with an economic analysis of how to determine when spending is optimal, defining optimal spending as that which minimizes the social costs of substance use disorders. RESULTS In 1997, only $11.9 billion of the $294 billion estimated social costs of substance abuse was spent on treatment. The discrepancy between the high indirect costs of illness relative to the level of spending on treatment of addictive disorders leads many to believe that the United States spends too little on treatment. In this paper, we argue that information on the social costs of substance abuse disorders and the level of spending on treatment is insufficient to determine whether current spending is optimal. We develop a framework that could be used to determine optimal spending on substance abuse treatment in the United States. We develop this framework in four steps. First, we provide background on the unique financial and delivery features of substance abuse treatment. Secondly, we outline the points raised by advocates of expanded substance abuse treatment: substance abuse has high social costs, yet few people receive the many effective treatments available partly because of financial barriers to treatment. Thirdly, we provide a framework that can be used to judge the additional benefits of alternative levels and types of spending on substance abuse treatment. Finally, we discuss the distinction between the potential impact of spending on substance abuse treatment and its actual impact, using productivity as an example of one significant portion of the costs of substance abuse. CONCLUSION To determine optimal spending on substance abuse treatment, research should describe who receives treatment, the quality of treatment received, and how treatments relate to outcomes that comprise a large share of the economic burden of substance abuse.
Feeding groups, lifetypes and the global ecology of termites

Two termite functional classifications (Abe’s lifetypes and Donovan’s feeding groups) are evaluated, and then synthesized to make a single unified ‘lifeway’ matrix classification with eight categories. The systematics and biogeography of the lifeway groups are outlined. The lifeways are then tested against other relevant data on termite ecology (stable isotopes, molecular probes, survey data) to show that they consistently reflect real distinctions in termite biology. The advantages and disadvantages of each lifeway are discussed in the context of energy availability, nitrogen balance, foraging and nest-building energetics, and biogeographical dispersal ability. Finally, an ecological evolutionary scheme is outlined for the global ecology of termites using the lifeway classification as a framework.
Asthma pharmacotherapy and utilization by children in 3 managed care organizations. The Pediatric Asthma Care Patient Outcomes Research Team.

BACKGROUND Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children and the most frequent cause of hospitalization. Appropriate pharmacotherapy is a cornerstone of published national guidelines for the care of children with asthma. OBJECTIVE The goal was to compare the baseline pharmacotherapy and health care utilization from 1996 to 1997 in children with asthma at managed care organizations (MCOs). METHODS A common protocol was used to extract the study sample from 3 MCOs with automated claims and pharmacy databases. Children were selected if they were 3 to 15 years old as of June 1997 with 1 or more encounters (outpatient, emergency department visit, hospitalization) with an asthma diagnosis in the previous year. RESULTS Of the 13,352 children studied, less than 40% were given controllers during the 12-month interval, with ranges of 15% to 77% by level of bronchodilator use, 31% to 44% by age, and 38% to 42% by MCO. Among children given 6 or more bronchodilators, controller dispensing ranged from 73% to 89% among the 3 MCOs. Variability was most evident for inhaled corticosteroids, for which dispensing ranged from 51% to 70%. Rates of asthma hospitalization and emergency department visits also differed among the MCOs, ranging from 21 to 37 per 1000 person-years and 37 to 142 per 1000 person-years, respectively. CONCLUSION Five years after dissemination of national guidelines for care, the pattern of asthma therapy does not reflect guideline recommendations. Variation among health care organizations with respect to asthma therapy and utilization of health services exists. In addition, controller medications may not be used by all children who could benefit from them.
The effects of limb posture on relationships between in vitro radial hoof strain, load and joint angles.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Radial strain in normal hooves has been found to vary with strain gauge location, limb posture and sample limb but reported magnitudes were considered to be low. More accurate measurement of radial strain may enhance the understanding of hoof function. OBJECTIVES To explore in vitro radial hoof strain in relation other kinetic and kinematic variables that may be related. METHODS Five normal forelimbs were removed at the proximal articular surface of the third metacarpal bone (McIII). The limbs were loaded using a modified Instron test machine. Six calibrated infrared cameras captured movement from markers on the hoof and bone fixed markers on the second and first phalanxes and McIII, whilst radial hoof strain was measured using a calibrated instrumented plug. Change in strain, joint angle and load were found at simulated walking postures and bivariate correlations were used to compare the relationships between them. RESULTS Radial strain was moderately correlated with proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) rotation (r = -0.519). Large reductions in radial strain were found in loading and midstance with 10 degrees of heel lift postures. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE PIPJ rotation has previously been linked to the magnitude of deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) loads and it is therefore suspected that these loads may have the greatest influence on radial strain magnitudes. Further investigation of radial strain is needed to describe the patterns fully during the stance phase in vivo.
Biotin‐Responsive Infantile Encephalopathy: EEG‐Polygraphic Study of a Case

Summary: A case of an infant suffering from progressive lethargy, sparse scalp hair, autistic‐like behavior, myoclonias, and drug‐resistant generalized seizures is reported. Laboratory investigations revealed, in the absence of metabolic acidosis, an increased urinary excretion of 2‐ketoglutaric acid and a small peak of 3‐hydroxyisovaleric acid. The serum biotinidase activity was 0.15 nmol min‐1 ml“(normal range 5.2 ± 0.9) in the propositus and 0.310 and 0.420 in her father and mother, respectively. The interictal EEG showed multifocal abnormalities; numerous seizures were recorded, with the pattern of true tonic‐clonic fits, exceptional in infancy. Also myoclonias, auditory myoclonus, and repetitive startles were documented. Because of dramatic improvement of ail symptoms and signs after starting biotin (5 mg twice daily), the authors suggest a therapeutical trial in all drug‐resistant infantile seizures.
Interpretative Repertoires That Shape Low-Income African American Women’s Reproductive Health Care Seeking: “Don’t Want to Know” and “Taking Charge of Your Health”

In the context of reproductive and sexual health, African American women have higher incidence of disease and poorer outcomes on key indicators when compared with White women. In this study, we used discourse analysis to identify and examine the workings of two clusters of interpretive resources (“interpretative repertoires”) associated with reproductive/sexual health care seeking among low-income African American women who participated in semistructured interviews as part of a health promotion initiative. Interpretative repertoires are ways of accounting for engaging in or refraining from engaging in actions, which are shared by people in a community. We labeled the two interpretative repertoires “Don’t Want to Know,” and “Take Charge of Your Health. ” Within the “Don’t Want to Know” repertoire, that testing would lead to threatening findings was assumed, a chain of devastating consequences was imagined, and a preference for uncertainty over certain knowledge was expressed. Conversely, the “Take Charge of Your Health” repertoire valued certainty over uncertainty, though in both interpretive frameworks, knowledge-based and emotion-based decision-making were intertwined. We conclude that health promotion initiatives—if they are to succeed in encouraging women to obtain valuable preventive health care services—must respond, in their choices of language and outreach strategies, to the expressed dilemma of wishing for reassurance but fearing bad news, to the intertwining of emotional reasoning and technorationality in health decision making, and to the particular relational experiences of African American women. Failure to do so will contribute to the continuation of reproductive and sexual health disparities.
Large‐Scale Characterization of Introns in the Pneumocystis carinii Genome

PREVIOUS data on Pneumocystis carinii introns were limited to 19 genes and 83 introns downloaded from GenBank (Smulian et al. 2001), as well as the sequencing and analysis of a cosmid (15A06). Cosmid 15A06 is a 32,000 base sequence localized to chromosome 1, which contains 15 genes and 55 introns (Slaven et al. 2006). Putative donor and acceptor signals have been previously identified by these studies. However, no branch site patterns have been reported for P. carinii. In the present study, a large-scale characterization of P. carinii introns and associated splice site elements was conducted using genomic and transcriptional sequence data obtained from the Pneumocystis Genome Project (PGP). Using statistical analysis and motif finding approaches, we identified donor, acceptor, and branch site patterns, as well as intron, exon, and overall A1T base pair (bp) content. This strategy should lead to improvement in the accuracy in identifying P. carinii genes and finding novel genes that are not recognized by database homology methods.
Microcirculation of the Bulbar Conjunctiva in the Goat Implanted with a Total Artificial Heart: Effects of Pulsatile and Nonpulsatile Flow

A new system to observe the microcirculation on the bulbar conjunctiva was developed using a digital high definition microscope to investigate the influence of the flow patterns on the microcirculation in a goat with a total artificial heart (TAH). The undulation pump TAH was implanted into the goat. When the whole body condition became stable, the flow pattern was modulated between the pulsatile and the nonpulsatile mode, and the changes in the microcirculation were observed. When the flow pattern was changed from pulsatile to nonpulsatile mode, the erythrocyte velocity in capillaries dropped from 526 ± 83 to 132 ± 41 μm/s and remained at a low level. The number of perfused capillaries decreased as well. Then the nonpulsatile flow mode was maintained for 20 minutes. After the flow pattern was returned to the pulsatile mode again, the erythrocyte velocity recovered to the initial level (433 ± 71 μm/s). In many cases, the flow of the nonperfused capillaries in the nonpulsatile mode recovered to the initial level after the flow pattern was changed to the pulsatile mode again. The perfused capillary density in the nonpulsatile mode (19.7 ± 4.1 number of capillaries/mm ) was significantly lower than that in the pulsatile mode (34.7 ± 6.3 number of capillaries/mm ). It is thought that the basal and flow stimulated endothelium derived nitric oxide release in the microvessels decreased because of the disappearance of pulsatility and that the nitric oxide induced the constriction of arterioles after the flow pattern was changed to the nonpulsatile mode. At the same time, the baroceptors might sense the decrease in the arterial peak pressure or dp/dt, and the sympathetic nerve increases activities and induce the constriction of arterioles. Then, the erythrocyte velocity in capillaries would decrease. Because of the flow pattern further in the chronic phase, it is important to follow the change in the microcirculation.
Research on supply chain information sharing value creation mechanism and sharing contract

This paper analyzed the value created by supply chain information system composed with a supplier and a retailer. Considering variable lead time, changing the assumption that information sharing is a given condition in Lee's (2000)research, lead in cost factor as supply chain member invested information system, analyze the cost factor changing characters, make the study subject is more close to reality. The research showed that, supply chain members, by using a imperfect but effective sharing contract on information system investment income, can achieve the whole supply chain pareto optimal, and the information system create the greatest value of supply chain.
Object Localization on Natural Scenes: A Survey

Object localization is one of the inherent tasks of computer vision. It plays an intrinsic role in object detection tasks that initiate with a recognition procedure of figuring out the presence of single/multiple instances of objects of interest in a given image. It involves determination of precise locations of object instances. This paper presents an overview of some of the popularly used approaches to the object localization problem, involving efficient branch-and-bound strategy for sub-window search, super-pixel neighborhood information based approach, boosted local structured Histogram of Oriented Gradients-Local Binary Patterns (HOG-LBP) based strategy, multi-instance learning based weakly supervised object localization, object localization by utilizing deep networks and image tag based object localization. The performance of the mentioned approaches have been compared on the basis of their results on PASCAL-VOC 2007 dataset.
From the trenches: views from decision-makers on health services priority setting

Due to resource scarcity, health organizations worldwide must decide what services to fund and, conversely, what services not to fund. One approach to priority setting, which has been widely used in Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, is programme budgeting and marginal analysis (PBMA). To date, such activity has primarily been based at a micro level, within programmes of care. In order to institute and refine the PBMA framework at a macro level across major service areas within a single health authority, researchers and decision-makers in Alberta embarked on a participatory action research project together. This paper identifies key issues of importance to decision-makers in a real-world priority-setting context. Themes discussed include making comparisons across disparate patient groups, dealing with political factors, using relevant forms of evidence, recognizing innovations and involving the public. The in-depth insight gained through this qualitative analysis will enable future refinement of PBMA at a macro level in the health authority under study, and should also serve to inform priority-setting activity in regionalized contexts elsewhere. In identifying aspects of priority setting that are important to decision-makers, researchers can also be better informed with respect to realworld processes.
Characteristics of [3H]Hemicholinium‐3 Binding to Rat Striatal Membranes: Evidence for Negative Cooperative Site‐Site Interactions

Abstract: The characteristics of [3H]hemicholinium‐3 ([3H]HC‐3) interactions with rat striatal membranes were investigated. Under the described assay conditions, [3H]‐HC‐3 binds with a saturable population of membrane binding sites having the following regional distribution: striatum « hippocampus ≧ cerebral cortex > cerebellum. The specific binding of [3H]HC‐3 showed an obligatory requirement for NaCl; other halide salts of sodium or KCl failed to substitute for NaCl. The Scatchard transformation of saturation isotherm data generated a curvilinear plot with high‐and low‐affinity components of binding. The dissociation of [3H]HC‐3 at infinite dilution was also multiexponential. The dissociation could, however, be accelerated if unla‐beled HC‐3 was included in the diluting buffer, and this increase in dissociation appeared to be dependent on the concentrations of unlabeled HC‐3 used, with the maximal increase demonstrable at 100 nM The dissociation was also dependent on the fractional saturation of binding sites with labeled HC‐3, such that, at higher fractional saturation of binding sites, the overall dissociation was faster and the difference in the dissociation observed between „dilution only” and „dilution + unlabeled HC‐3” was reduced. This occupancy‐dependent change in dissociation could also be influenced by temperature and pH. Based on the results of these kinetic studies, the steady‐state [3H]HC‐3 binding data were analyzed for a homogeneous population of binding sites undergoing site‐site interactions of the negative cooperative type. Such an analysis yielded a KD of 9.3 nM for the high‐affinity state and a KD of 22.8 nM for the low‐affinity state of binding sites, with a Bmax of 434 fmol/ mg of protein. Competitive binding studies showed that unlabeled HC‐3 was most potent in displacing [3H]HC‐3, followed by choline. Other drugs known to have little influence on the synaptosomal sodium‐dependent high‐affinity choline uptake system (SDHACU) had no significant effect on [3H]HC‐3 binding sites. Similarities in ionic dependencies, regional distributions, and pharmacological selectivi‐ties of [3H]HC‐3 binding with synaptosomal SDHACU suggest that [3H]HC‐3 selectively labels SDHACU sites located on presynaptic cholinergic neurons in rat CNS. We suggest that the two affinity states of [3H]HC‐3 binding sjtes represent the different „functional” states of the SDHACU system. The binding of HC‐3 (or choline) with the high‐affinity state of the binding sites induces negative cooperative site‐site interactions among the binding sites, resulting in the formation of a low‐affinity binding state. Because the affinities of HC‐3 and choline for this low‐affinity state of the [3H]HC‐3 binding sites correspond to the affinities of these agents for the SDHACU system, we also suggest that the low‐affinity binding state represents the „functional” form for SDHACU.
On image denoising with wavelets - A case study by considering a priori distortion

The problem of image denoising based on wavelets is considered. The paper uses an image denoising method by imposing a distortion input parameter instead of threshold. The method has two steps. The first step builds a dependency, linear or nonlinear, between the final desired quality (PSNR) and the necessary parameter to select the details coefficients. The second algorithm step performs denoising based on the parameter computed on the previous step. The threshold level is computed by estimating the probability density function (PDF) of the details coefficients and having the probability of the coefficients which must be kept. Roughly, the obtained results are at better quality levels than other well known denoising methods.
The Interleukin-1 Receptor Accessory Protein (IL-1RAcP) Is Essential for IL-1-induced Activation of Interleukin-1 Receptor-associated Kinase (IRAK) and Stress-activated Protein Kinases (SAP Kinases)*

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a central mediator of the immune system involved in acute and chronic inflammatory responses. Although the sequences of two types of IL-1 receptors are known, the exact molecular events resulting in signal transduction and coupling to downstream signaling elements remain unclear. The recently cloned IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP) has been suggested as a co-receptor molecule for IL-1RI, supported by the observation that its expression correlates to IL-1 responsiveness. We transfected the EL-4 subline D6/76 with IL-1RAcP cDNA. This cell line is an IL-1 non-responder expressing IL-1RI but lacking constitutive IL-1RAcP expression. The expression of IL-1RAcP in EL-4 D6/76 was sufficient to restore IL-1-induced activation of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase and of stress-activated protein kinases, translocation of the transcription factors NFκB and IL-1 NF to the nucleus, and induction of IL-2 mRNA synthesis. These results proved that IL-1RAcP is an indispensible molecule in the IL-1 receptor signal transduction complex, necessary to link events on the plasma membrane level to downstream signaling pathways, allowing IL-1-dependent activation of transcription factors and gene expression.
Enhancing SRAM cell performance by using independent double-gate FinFET

SRAM cells with Vth-controllable independent double-gate (IDG) FinFETs have been successfully fabricated. The performance of the fabricated SRAM cell with various circuit topologies has been investigated comprehensively. Both a reduction of leakage current and an enhancement of read and write noise margins have been successfully demonstrated by introducing the IDG FinFETs into the SRAM cells.
Effect of L-Carnitine Supplementation on Utilisation of Energy and Protein in Broiler Chicken Fed Different Dietary Fat Levels

Effects of a supplementation of 80mg L-carnitine perkg diet were studied in broiler chicken at two dietary levels of fat (4 and 8 %) and different feeding levels (ad libitum in a growth trial, 95 and 85 % of ad libitum in a balance trial). A low-carnitine basal diet adequate in amino acid concentration was used. In the growth trial, each diet was fed to 9 groups of 10 birds each for 16 days from day 5 of live onwards. Growth and feed intake were determined. At the end of the trial, birds were killed and homogenised for subsequent empty body analysis. Accretion of protein and energy was determined using a representative blank group killed at the beginning of the trial. In the balance trial, 8 individual birds were used per treatment. Birds were offered the feed at approximately 85 and 95% of ad libitum intake, which was determined with separate birds for both fat levels. Excreta were quantitatively collected three times daily for 8 consecutive days beginning on day 17 individually for each bird. Supplemented L-carnitine did not significantly affect any response criterion. However, growth and feed conversion tended to be improved by about 5% in the carnitine supplemented diets when fed ad libitum. An interaction between carnitine and fat level occurred with regard to feed conversion, indicating that carnitine had a positive effect at the high fat level, but not at the low fat level. L-carnitine did not positively affect the metabolisability of energy (ME/GE) and the efficiency of energy utilisation (RE/GE or RE/ME). Similarly, no significant carnitine effect was determined with regard to N accretion and the efficiency of utilisation of dietary protein in both trials. It is concluded that endogenous carnitine synthesis is not the limiting factor for energy utilisation in broiler chicken, even at high dietary fat concentration. Occasionally reported positive effects of supplemental carnitine were likewise caused by reasons other than improved energy or protein utilisation. Further studies on amino acid utilisation and catabolism should consider marginal amino acid supply.