Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Behaviour change interventions to promote prescribing of generic drugs: a rapid evidence synthesis and systematic review

Objective To summarise evidence on the effectiveness of behaviour change interventions to encourage prescribing of generic forms of prescription drugs where clinically appropriate in the UK National Health Service (NHS) and similar settings. Design Systematic review. Search strategy We conducted a rapid evidence synthesis in two stages: First, we searched databases, such as the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), for systematic reviews of interventions that reported outcomes related to utilisation of generic drugs. In the second stage, we searched several databases including MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify primary studies of any interventions not covered by systematic reviews. Data extraction and quality assessment Data were extracted into a standardised data extraction form. Standardised quality assessment tools were used to assess study quality. Two reviewers were involved in data extraction and quality assessment. Results 10 reviews were included for the initial evidence synthesis, but most were of limited usefulness to our focused review question. One review evaluated the effect of prescribing policies using financial incentives and showed an increase in generic prescribing. Thirteen primary studies of other interventions were included for the rapid review. Two studies showed an increase in percentage of overall generic prescribing with an educational intervention; two studies showed an improvement in generic prescribing rates when physicians collaborated with pharmacists, though in one study this was not statistically significant; two US studies showed improvements in generic prescribing with electronic prescribing. Five out of seven studies showed positive results with multifaceted interventions. Conclusions The existing evidence remains insufficient to determine which behaviour change intervention or combination of interventions is most effective due to methodological weaknesses and conflicting results. Based on the evidence, financial incentives with educational intervention and audit/feedback look promising but decision-makers should take into account the practicality and costs of the interventions before implementation.
Somatosensory cortical map changes following digit amputation in adult monkeys

The cortical representations of the hand in area 3b in adult owl monkeys were defined with use of microelectrode mapping techniques 2–8 months after surgical amputation of digit 3, or of both digits 2 and 3. Digital nerves were tied to prevent their regeneration within the amputation stump. Successive maps were derived in several monkeys to determine the nature of changes in map organization in the same individuals over time.
[Cytoprotective effects of heat shock protein-70 in bronchial epithelium against neutrophil elastase-induced cell injury].

BACKGROUND Neutrophil releases several mediators during inflammation, including neutrophil elastase (NE) that impairs bronchial epithelial function. The stress response and stress proteins protect cells against a variety of cytotoxic conditions. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that bronchial epithelial heat shock protein (Hsp-70) would protect a NE-induced cell injury. METHODS Bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) obtained by bronchial brushing under bronchoscopy were cultured and used for experiments. Expression of Hsp-70 in BECs was confirmed by Western blot and flowcytometric analysis. To test Hsp-70 in BECs, induction of Hsp-70 protein into BECs was carried out by liposome-based delivery system. Introduction of Hsp-70 into BECs were examined by direct fluorescence microscope examination and flowcytometric analysis. NE-induced cytotoxicity was evaluated by cell culture supernatant LDH assay and cell detachment assay. RESULTS Higher expressions of Hsp-70 were observed in BECs, which were induced by sodium arsenite. Over expression of Hsp-70 in BECs reduced NE-induced cell injury. Introduction of Hsp-70 protein into BECs by liposomal delivery decreased LDH release, and inhibited necrosis and apoptosis of the cells by NE as compared to untreated control. CONCLUSION These data suggested that Hsp-70 in BECs may inhibit NE-induced airway epithelial damage. Liposomal delivery of Hsp-70 into BECs may be a possible means of protecting bronchial epithelium against inflammatory airway diseases including acute and chronic bronchitis.
Centralization of Services: Standard Setting and Outcomes

Objective To test specific standards set in the newly established cleft lip and palate service in three regions of the U.K. The standards relate to record collection and outcomes. Design Retrospective analysis. Patients Records of 31 children, 5 years of age, who were born in 1997 with complete unilateral clefts of lip and palate and were treated by surgeons in three regions. Main outcome measures Record collection standards were measured by collecting dental study models. Outcomes were measured with the 5-Year-Old Index. Results Of the 31 subjects, 52% had excellent and good outcomes. The 31 cases represented 62% of the total records collected. Conclusions The three regions examined fell short of the standards set, but the outcomes were improved compared with previous national outcomes. The failings in record collection need to be rectified. This study provides baseline data for further development of cleft services within three regions.
No evidence for induction of key components of the Notch signaling pathway (Notch-1, Jagged-1) by treatment with UV-B, 1,25(OH)2D3, and/or epigenetic drugs (TSA, 5-Aza) in human keratinocytes in vitro

Notch signaling is of high importance for growth and survival of various cell types. We now analyzed the protein expression of two key components of the Notch signaling pathway (Notch-1, Jagged-1) in spontaneously immortalized (HaCaT) and in malignant (SCL-1) human keratinocytes, using western analysis. We found that Notch-1 and its corresponding ligand Jagged-1 are expressed in both cell lines, with no marked change following UV-B treatment. Moreover, treatment of both cell lines before or after UV-B irradiation with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the biologically active form of vitamin D, and/or epigenetic modulating drugs (TSA; 5-Aza) did not result in a marked modulation of the protein expression of Notch-1 or Jagged-1. Under the experimental conditions of this study, treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 protected human keratinocytes in part against the antiproliferative effects of UV-B-radiation. In conclusion, our findings do not point at a differential expression of these two key components of Notch signaling in non-malignant as compared to malignant human keratinocytes, indicating that alterations in their expression are not of importance for the photocarcinogenesis of human squamous cell carcinomas. Moreover, our findings do not support the hypothesis that modulation of Notch signaling may be involved in the photoprotective effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, that we and others reported previously. Additionally, we demonstrate that epigenetic modulating drugs (TSA, 5-Aza) do not markedly modulate the expression Notch-1 or Jagged-1 in UV-B-treated human keratinocytes in vitro.
Spike Frequency Adaptation Affects the Synchronization Properties of Networks of Cortical Oscillators

Oscillations in many regions of the cortex have common temporal characteristics with dominant frequencies centered around the 40 Hz (gamma) frequency range and the 510 Hz (theta) frequency range. Experimental results also reveal spatially synchronous oscillations, which are stimulus dependent (Gray&Singer, 1987;Gray, Knig, Engel, & Singer, 1989; Engel, Knig, Kreiter, Schillen, & Singer, 1992). This rhythmic activity suggests that the coherence of neural populations is a crucial feature of cortical dynamics (Gray, 1994). Using both simulations and a theoretical coupled oscillator approach, we demonstrate that the spike frequency adaptation seen in many pyramidal cells plays a subtle but important role in the dynamics of cortical networks. Without adaptation, excitatory connections among model pyramidal cells are desynchronizing. However, the slow processes associated with adaptation encourage stable synchronous behavior.
Noninvasive prediction of angiographic spasm provocation using trans-thoracic Doppler echocardiography in patients with coronary spastic angina.

BACKGROUND In the present study it was examined whether transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) would be useful for noninvasive diagnosis of coronary spastic angina (CSA) by assessing coronary arterial tone in the morning. METHODS AND RESULTS The study population comprised 21 CSA patients and 27 control subjects. All diagnoses were angiographically confirmed by provocation test using acetylcholine. Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) was measured at the distal left anterior descending artery with a frequency of 5.0 MHz ultrasound at baseline and after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin (NTG). Coronary arterial tone was assessed by obtaining the change of CFVR induced by NTG administration (CFVR(NTG/Pre)). Basal CFVR tended to be lower in CSA patients (2.13+/-0.63, 2.71+/-0.67, respectively, p = 0.05). CFVR after NTG was significantly higher in CSA patients (3.91+/-1.10, 3.07+/-0.74, p = 0.003). The CFVR(NTG/Pre) was significantly higher in CSA patients than in the control subjects (1.90+/-0.49, 1.15+/-0.22, p < 0.0001). Using a cut-off value of 1.4 in CFVR(NTG/Pre), the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CSA were 91% and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSION TTDE appeared to be useful for the noninvasive diagnosis of CSA by assessing the coronary arterial tone.
Projected Future Changes of Tropical Cyclone Activity over the Western North and South Pacific in a 20-km-Mesh Regional Climate Model

AbstractA high-resolution regional atmospheric model is employed to project the late twenty-first-century changes of tropical cyclone (TC) activity over the western North Pacific (WP) and southwest Pacific (SP). The model realistically reproduces the basic features of the TC climatology in the present-day simulation. Future projections under the representative concentration pathway 4.5 (RCP45) and 8.5 (RCP85) scenarios are investigated. The results show no significant change of TC genesis frequency (TCGF) in the WP by RCP45 due to the cancellation of the reduction over the western part and the increase over the eastern part together with a considerable decrease of TCGF by RCP85 due to the excessive TCGF reduction in the western part. The TCGF over the SP consistently decreases from RCP45 to RCP85. Despite the fact that the simulated maximum surface wind speeds are below 52 m s−1, the change with more strong TCs and fewer weak TCs is robust. The future changes in the TC genesis locations and translational .
Active Miniature Transposons From a Plant Genome and Its Nonrecombining Y Chromosome

Mechanisms involved in eroding fitness of evolving Y chromosomes have been the focus of much theoretical and empirical work. Evolving Y chromosomes are expected to accumulate transposable elements (TEs), but it is not known whether such accumulation contributes to their genetic degeneration. Among TEs, miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements are nonautonomous DNA transposons, often inserted in introns and untranslated regions of genes. Thus, if they invade Y-linked genes and selection against their insertion is ineffective, they could contribute to genetic degeneration of evolving Y chromosomes. Here, we examine the population dynamics of active MITEs in the young Y chromosomes of the plant Silene latifolia and compare their distribution with those in recombining genomic regions. To isolate active MITEs, we developed a straightforward approach on the basis of the assumption that recent transposon insertions or excisions create singleton or low-frequency size polymorphisms that can be detected in alleles from natural populations. Transposon display was then used to infer the distribution of MITE insertion frequencies. The overall frequency spectrum showed an excess of singleton and low-frequency insertions, which suggests that these elements are readily removed from recombining chromosomes. In contrast, insertions on the Y chromosomes were present at high frequencies. Their potential contribution to Y degeneration is discussed.
Aberrant structures of fecal bacterial community in allergic infants profiled by 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing.

We investigated the correlation between fecal bacteria composition in early infancy and the prevalence of allergic diseases in late infancy. The fecal microbiota in the first 2 months was profiled using the 16S rRNA V6 short-tag sequences in the community and statistically compared between two groups of subjects who did and did not show allergic symptoms in the first 2 years (n = 11 vs. 11). In the allergic group, genus Bacteroides at 1 month and genera Propionibacterium and Klebsiella at 2 months were more abundant, and genera Acinetobacter and Clostridium at 1 month were less abundant than in the nonallergic group. Allergic infants who showed high colonization of Bacteroides and/or Klebsiella showed less colonization of Clostridium perfringens/butyricum, suggesting antagonism between these bacterial groups in the gastrointestinal tract. It was also remarkable that the relative abundance of total Proteobacteria, excluding genus Klebsiella, was significantly lower in the allergic than in the nonallergic group at the age of 1 month. These results indicate that pyrosequence-based 16S rRNA gene profiling is valid to find the intestinal microbiotal disorder that correlates with allergy development in later life.
Conceptual Model Evaluation. Towards more Paradigmatic Rigor

Information Systems (IS) research has so far been primarily concerned with the development of new modeling languages, techniques, and methods. Also, evaluation approaches have been developed in order to assess the appropriateness of a modeling approach in a given context. Both modeling and evaluation approaches, however, lack epistemological rigor, leading to problems regarding the applicability of a certain modeling language in a given context on the one hand, and regarding the feasibility of certain evaluation approaches towards certain modeling questions on the other hand. We therefore argue for a philosophical-paradigmatic discussion of evaluation methods for conceptual modeling languages in order to assess their applicability in given modeling contexts and present our research in progress towards a framework for paradigmatic discussion on model evaluation.
Handwashing with soap or alcoholic solutions? A randomized clinical trial of its effectiveness.

BACKGROUND The effectiveness of an alcoholic solution compared with the standard hygienic handwashing procedure during regular work in clinical wards and intensive care units of a large public university hospital in Barcelona was assessed. METHODS A prospective, randomized clinical trial with crossover design, paired data, and blind evaluation was done. Eligible health care workers (HCWs) included permanent and temporary HCWs of wards and intensive care units. From each category, a random sample of persons was selected. HCWs were randomly assigned to regular handwashing (liquid soap and water) or handwashing with the alcoholic solution by using a crossover design. The number of colony-forming units on agar plates from hands printing in 3 different samples was counted. RESULTS A total of 47 HCWs were included. The average reduction in the number of colony-forming units from samples before handwashing to samples after handwashing was 49.6% for soap and water and 88.2% for the alcoholic solution. When both methods were compared, the average number of colony-forming units recovered after the procedure showed a statistically significant difference in favor of the alcoholic solution (P <.001). The alcoholic solution was well tolerated by HCWs. Overall acceptance rate was classified as "good" by 72% of HCWs after 2 weeks use. Of all HCWs included, 9.3% stated that the use of the alcoholic solution worsened minor pre-existing skin conditions. CONCLUSIONS Although the regular use of hygienic soap and water handwashing procedures is the gold standard, the use of alcoholic solutions is effective and safe and deserves more attention, especially in situations in which the handwashing compliance rate is hampered by architectural problems (lack of sinks) or nursing work overload.
Improved Wheeler Cap Method Based on an Equivalent High-Order Circuit Model

The conventional Wheeler cap method usually produces accurate radiation efficiency of small antennas when the antennas under test (AUTs) operate as a simple series or a parallel RLC resonance circuit. However, this method often gives unreliable radiation efficiency if the AUT has a complicated operating principle such as circular polarization (CP), multiple resonances, or broad-band properties. In this paper, we propose an improved Wheeler cap method based on the equivalent high-order circuit model including transformers to provide accurate radiation efficiency, although the AUT does not operate as a simple resonance circuit. For building equivalent high-order circuit models, a method for estimating the initial values of a genetic algorithm (GA) is also proposed, which effectively reduces the searching space and improves the convergence of the optimization. To verify the proposed method, we measure the radiation efficiency of a CP microstrip antenna, a UHF RFID tag antenna, and a triple-resonance microstrip antenna.
Genetic analysis and marker validation for grain filling duration and grain growth rate under conservation agriculture in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.)

Wheat meets more than 20% of the calories and the protein requirement for the world's population and therefor need to increase its production is well recognized. Grain filling rate and grain filling duration are one of the most important growth traits, which if studied properly can pave the way for gain in productivity. Present investigation was, therefore, carried out to analyse the trend for these traits in the mega varieties released at different time, identify type of gene action governing these traits and validate the already identify QTLs Indian breeding material under conservation agriculture. The study of mega varieties showed continuous improvement in grain filling rate over time and there are no indication of its saturation and therefore can be further explored to made yield gain. Grain filling duration indicate no change in mega varieties over time for normal sown condition largely because of trade off between time and heat stress, however, conservation agriculture condition can provide opportunity to its exploitation. Under late sown linear regression showed strong declining trend over the years. The analysis of variance revealed presence of sufficient genetic variability not only among the elite breeding material specifically developed for conservation agriculture (CA) condition but also among released varieties, indicating sufficient scope for their exploitation. Diallel analysis of 21 F1s generated from 7 parents (CSW02, CSW16, CSW18, CSW57, CSW77, CSW78 and HD3117) for GFD and GFR revealed significance of both gca and sca variance with value of gca variance many times more than sca variance. The preponderance of additive gene action in the material validates the effectiveness of progeny based selection for both traits under study. Elite breeding material CSW02 have high gca for both the traits and therefore can be effectively involved in the crossing programme to make further gain. Cross CSW77 x CSW57 having high value of sca effect for both grain filling duration and grain growth rate provide scope its exploitation through hybrid development. Validation of QTLs for GFD and GFR identified two SSR markers viz., cfd42 and wmc500 explaining 6 percent and 1 variation for GFR, respectively in the material and wmc382 explaining 8 percent of variation for GFD. Further gain in yield can be made by exploiting these traits through integrated approach.
Unexceptional Seizure Potential of Tramadol or Its Enantiomers or Metabolites in Mice

Tramadol is one of the most widely used centrally acting analgesics worldwide. Because of its multimodal analgesic mechanism (opioid plus nonopioid), the adverse effects profile of tramadol, similar to its analgesic profile, can be atypical compared with single-mechanism opioid analgesics. The comparison is often favorable (e.g., less respiratory depression or abuse), but it is sometimes cited as unfavorable in regard to seizure potential. As part of a broader study of this analgesic, we compared seizure induction in mice produced by administration of tramadol, the enantiomers and metabolites [M1 (O-desmethyl tramadol), M2 (N-desmethyl tramadol), M3 (N,N-didesmethyl tramadol), M4 (O,N,N-tridesmethyl tramadol), and M5 (O,N-didesmethyl tramadol)] of tramadol, and opioid and nonopioid reference compounds. We found that tramadol, its enantiomers, and M1 to M5 metabolites were of intermediate potency in this endpoint (on either a milligram per kilogram or millimole per kilogram basis). The SD50 (estimated dose required to induce seizures in 50% of test group) of tramadol to antinociceptive ED50 ratio was almost identical to that of codeine. The enantiomers of tramadol were about equipotent to tramadol on this endpoint. The M1 to M5 metabolites (and M1 enantiomers) of tramadol were less potent than tramadol. The relative potency of tramadol to opioids was not altered by quinidine (an inhibitor of CYP4502D6), noxious stimulus (48°C hot-plate), multiple dosing, or in reserpinized mice. Tramadol seizures were increased by naloxone, principally at high tramadol doses and due to an effect on the (–)enantiomer that overcame the opposite effect on the (+)enantiomer. No synergistic effect on seizure induction was observed between concomitant tramadol and codeine or morphine.
Oxygenic bismuth minerals in the NE part of the Karkonosze pluton (West Sudetes, SW Poland)

The study presents fifteen oxygen-bearing secondary minerals of bismuth from the north-eastern part of the Variscan Karkonosze granitoid pluton in the northern zone of the Bohemian massif. The minerals were investigated by optical, electron microprobe, classic chemical, XRD, IR absorption and fluid inclusion methods. The late, very low temperature epithermal solutions most probably caused formation of sillenite, kusachiite, bismoclite, bismutite, beyerite, kettnerite, pucherite, schumacherite, namibite and eulytite. Solutions dominated by supergene (meteoric) waters were the parents for bismite, russellite, koechlinite, ximengite and walpurgite. The paper also contains information on early research on the investigated minerals.