Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Telephone counselling for smoking cessation.

BACKGROUND Telephone services can provide information and support for smokers. Counselling may be provided proactively or offered reactively to callers to smoking cessation helplines. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of proactive and reactive telephone support to help smokers quit. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group trials register for studies using free text term 'telephone*' or the keywords 'telephone counselling' or 'Hotlines' or 'Telephone'. Date of the most recent search: September 2002. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials in which proactive or reactive telephone counselling to assist smoking cessation was offered to smokers or recent quitters. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Trials were identified and data extracted by one person and checked by a second. The main outcome measure was abstinence from smoking after at least six months follow-up. We used the most rigorous definition of abstinence in each trial, and biochemically validated rates where available. Participants lost to follow-up were considered to be continuing smokers. Where trials had more than one arm with a less intensive intervention we used only the most similar intervention as the control group in the primary analysis. Where interventions were similar, we performed meta-analysis using a fixed effects model (Peto method) to give an odds ratio. MAIN RESULTS Twenty seven trials met inclusion criteria. Thirteen trials compared proactive counselling to a minimal intervention control. There was statistical heterogeneity, with five trials showing a significant benefit, and eight showing non significant differences. The heterogeneity was associated with trials that provided tailored self-help materials to the control group. Meta-analysis using all less intensive intervention arms as the control removed the heterogeneity and suggests that telephone counselling compared to less intensive intervention increases quit rates (OR 1.56, 1.38 - 1.77). Four trials adding telephone support to a face to face intervention control failed to detect a significant effect on long term quit rates. Four trials failed to detect an additional effect of telephone support in users of nicotine replacement therapy. Providing access to a hotline showed a significant benefit in one trial and no significant difference in two. No differences in outcome were detected in trials that compared different types of telephone counselling. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS Proactive telephone counselling can be effective compared to an intervention without personal contact. Successful interventions generally involve multiple contacts timed around a quit attempt. The available evidence neither confirms nor rules out a benefit of telephone counselling as an adjunct to face to face counselling or pharmacotherapy. Further trials randomising access to helplines are unlikely to be done but indirect evidence suggests they can be a useful part of a smoking cessation service.
Study of methyl transferase (G9aMT) and methylated histone (H3-K9) expressions in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) and normal early pregnancy

We investigated the expression of methyl transferase G9a and methylated histone H3-K9 in fresh human decidual/endometrial tissue of 12 normal early pregnancies and 15 unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions (URSA). The samples were obtained through dilatation and curettage and collected as per strict inclusion–exclusion criteria. The tissue was subjected to immunohistochemical analysis (IHC), western blotting (WB) and RT–PCR analysis. The results demonstrated methyl transferase G9a to have a lower expression in abortions when compared with that in normal pregnancy (P, 0.05). The sensitivity of RT–PCR, IHC and WB were respectively 66.67, 75 and 71.43%, while specificity of the same were 66.67, 60 and 78.92%, respectively. Methylated histone H3-K9 was significantly lower (P, 0.0001) in URSA tissues than in controls. This study suggests that methylation may cause URSA and indicates the need for further work to explore the role of methylation in URSA and its possible prevention through locally acting methylating/demethylating agents.
Willingness to Record Police-Public Encounters

Although using personal electronic devices to record police–public encounters has surfaced as an important social phenomenon that could potentially shape public perceptions of the police and police–community relations, very little research has investigated factors affecting people’s willingness to record the police. Using survey data collected from two universities, this study assessed whether race/ethnicity and social and legal consciousness influence college students’ inclination to record public interactions with the police. Results indicated that minority students and those who believed that recording served social justice, had a deterrent effect on the police, and was legally justified were more likely to engage in such behavior. Past recording experience and negative encounters with the police also led to higher levels of willingness to record police activity. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.
Accuracy and precision of hemoglobin point‐of‐care testing during major pediatric surgery

Introduction: The aim of the study was to compare accuracy and reproducibility of four point‐of‐care testing (POCT) devices (GEM® Premier 3000, ABL 800 flex, GEM®OPL™, HemoCue® B‐Hemoglobin) for hemoglobin (Hb) analyzes as compared with the reference laboratory method (Sysmex XE 2100) in children undergoing major surgery.
An anthropology of well-being: Local perspectives and cultural constructions in the Bolivian Altiplano

This thesis focuses on individual and collective definitions of ‘the good life’ in the Bolivian plateau. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in the urban area of El Alto, the thesis explores potential contradictions between different orientations and models of well-being. The increasing interest amongst a group of Aymara intellectuals (GTZ) in an indigenous perspective on this topic provides the point of departure for an exploration of the complexity of ideas relating to this issue and an account of different definitions of ‘the good life’ among Aymara people. The thesis makes a contribution to debates regarding poverty and well-being and the problems attached to universal definitions, which tend to be based on simplified and economic criteria. By considering what different people value and prioritise in terms of their own well-being and, where applicable, their children’s well-being and happiness, the thesis offers a contribution to Andean anthropology and to the understanding of ‘poverty’. This entails an exploration of the moments of tension and synergy that exist between Aymara and Bolivian identity. It offers a detailed analysis of different collective and individual actions adopted for the achievement of well-being. In particular, these include social protests, moments of religious celebration, household cooperation, and the resort to supernatural forces and ‘making of luck (suerte)’ with a specific focus on gender and generational differences.
Prevalence of oral diseases/conditions in Uganda.

OBJECTIVES The aim was to report the prevalence of oral diseases/conditions among a Ugandan population. METHODS Subjects aged 12 (n=696) and 35-44 years (n=396) were chosen from randomly selected urban and peri-urban areas of Arua, Mbale, Kampala and Mbarara districts. They were clinically examined by 4 trained and calibrated dentists for oral diseases/conditions using criteria described by World Health Organisation. RESULTS Dental caries (DMFT >or=1) was recorded in 40% and 62.5% of the children and adults, respectively. The overall mean DMFT score was 0.9 for children and 3.4 for adults. Caries was significantly more severe in females as compared to males in children (p<0.05), whereas in adults, there was no significant gender difference. Kampala had a significantly higher mean DMFT score compared to other districts in all age groups (p>0.05). Culculus deposits were generally, more prevalent in adults as compare to children except in Mbarara district. Gum bleeding was also significantly more prevalent among children as compared to adults (p<0.05). Significantly higher prevalence of gum bleeding in both children and adults was recorded in Arua district as compared to other areas (p<0.05). Each of the age groups had a prevalence of malocclusion of 61%. However, the severity of malocclusion varied between age groups and districts. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 3% and 4% for children and adults, respectively. All subjects in Arua district were fluorosis-free. Tetracycline enamel staining was less than 1% in both age groups. Enamel attrition was more prevalent in adults as compared to children: 19% versus 1%. CONCLUSION The prevalence of oral diseases/conditions was generally low among the study population. Caries experience was significantly higher in the Kampala (urban) district as compared to rural districts in all age groups; the D - component being the major contributor.
Testing conditions for viewpoint invariance in object recognition.

Based on the geon structural description approach, I. Biederman and P.C. Gerhardstein (1993) proposed 3 conditions under which object recognition is predicted to be viewpoint invariant. Two experiments are reported that satisfied all 3 criteria yet revealed performance that was clearly viewpoint dependent. Experiment 1 demonstrated that for both sequential matching and naming tasks, recognition of qualitatively distinct objects became progressively longer and less accurate as the viewpoint difference between study and test viewpoints increased. Experiment 2 demonstrated that for single-part objects, larger effects of viewpoint occurred when there was a change in the visible structure, indicating sensitivity to qualitative features in the image, not geon structural descriptions. These results suggest that the conditions proposed by I. Biederman and P.C. Gerhardstein are not generally applicable, the recognition of qualitatively distinct objects often relies on viewpoint-dependent mechanisms, and the molar features of view-based mechanisms appear to be image features rather than geons.
Effect of Spinal Construct Stiffness on Early Fusion Mass Incorporation Experimental Study

The relationship between initial spinal construct stiffness and the stiffness of the resulting fusion mass was studied by performing standardized 10-segment posterior spinal fusions in goats. Animals were divided into 5 groups based on type of spinal construct, using rods of different diameters (3.2 mm, 4.8 mm, 6.4 mm) with or without rigid crosslinking to produce constructs of different stiffnesses. Stiffness data on 28 animals were obtained by removing the spines en bloc, at 6 or 12 weeks postoperatively, and performing load-deformation testing in axial and torsional loading to determine the stiffness of the fusion masses (rods removed). The initial construct stiffnesses were also compared by ex vivo testing on spine specimens to correlate initial construct stiffness with eventual fusion mass stiffness. In axial testing, results showed stiffer fusion masses from larger diameter rod constructs compared with smaller rod constructs. This was similar to results of control testing on spine specimens ex vivo. Rigid crosslinking did not produce stiffer fusions in axial testing, due to a technical limitation of the button-wire implants used to segmentally fix the rods at each vertebra. In torsional testing, stiffer fusion masses resulted from using larger rods, and rigid Crosslinking also produced the stiffest fusion masses, which was consistent with ex vivo testing. In general, larger diameter (stiffer) rods produced stiffer fusion masses, and no evidence of stress shielding was found.
Viral shedding and emission of airborne infectious bursal disease virus from a broiler room

1. The significance of airborne transmission in epidemics of infectious diseases in the livestock production industry remains unclear. The study therefore investigated the shedding route (faeces vs. exhaled air) of a vaccine strain of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) by broilers and the emission of airborne virus. 2. The experimental room contained 526 broilers which were orally inoculated at the age of 20 d. The airborne virus was sampled by three different bioaerosol samplers: Andersen six-stage impactor, all-glass impinger (AGI-30) and OMNI-3000. 3. Infected broilers started to shed virus in faeces on d 5 post inoculation (PI), and stopped shedding on d 12 PI. The faecal virus remained detectable for at least two d after drying under broiler room conditions. No virus was detected in the air exhaled by broilers. 4. Airborne virus was collected on d 5, 8 and 12 PI at 20 cm above the floor, and on d 8 and 12 PI in exhausted air. The emission rates of IBDV were 4·0 log10 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50)/bird/d on d 8 PI, and 4·5 log10 TCID50/bird/d on d 12 PI. 5. We concluded that broilers shed IBDV mainly through their faeces. The presence of indoor airborne virus is associated with the viral presence in faeces. The successful recovery of airborne virus in exhausted air indicates there is a potential risk of virus spreading to the ambient environment via air.
Rendezvous Search: A Personal Perspective

The rendezvous-search problem was posed by the author 25years ago. In its basic form, it asks how two unit speed players can find each other in least expected time, when randomly placed in a known dark region. The problem received little attention until about 10 years ago. This article surveys the rapid progress that has been made since then, and also presents some new results.
Long-Term Retention Deficit Involvement in Prodromal Alzheimer’s Disease

Since episodic memory impairments have been pointed out as the first symptom to occur in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), what have we learned about the nature of those impairments? There is still no consensus regarding the cognitive substrates of the inaugural memory disorder. Encoding, storage as well as retrieval or recognition had all been pointed out, but a compound deficit has also been suggested [1]. We can point out several reasons. First, research has mainly focused on memory measures that could predict incident dementia, therefore study designs generally do not allow inference about the cognitive processes engaged in the tasks used (e.g. [2]). Secondly, concepts of encoding, storage, retrieval are quite rarely defined in literature, leading to conceptual and operational overlaps between so-called “learning, acquisition, encoding, storage, consolidation, etc.”. Nonetheless, given the importance of memory deficit for diagnosis, a detailed knowledge of underlying cognitive features of the memory deficit is required [3]. How to improve such process dissociation? The first method consists in the development of specific paradigms. Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test [4] was developed to target genuine memory deficits in dementia, and it is the most popular screening tool in French memory clinics. Unfortunately, studies using FCSRT did not achieve any clear consensus. Noteworthy, coordination between encoding and
Primary power/frequency control with wind turbines and fuel cells

The increasing penetration of variable speed wind turbines in the electricity grid results in a reduction of the number of connected conventional power plants. This requires changes in the way the grid frequency is controlled. Together with the wind turbines devices like fuel cells can be installed, which can be used to supply the primary frequency control contribution of the wind turbines. In this paper it is analyzed how large the installed capacity of fuel cells should be to enable a correct response to frequency deviations. When fuel cells have stored hydrogen available, their response to changes in the power setpoint is fast. When the hydrogen has to be obtained from natural gas, or other fuels, their response is much slower. In that case the kinetic energy stored in the rotating mass of wind turbines can be used to support primary frequency control for a limited time period. The proposed control schemes are shown with the simulation of two case studies
Novel suppressors of α-synuclein toxicity identified using yeast

The mechanism by which the Parkinson’s disease-related protein α-synuclein (α-syn) causes neurodegeneration has not been elucidated. To determine the genes that protect cells from α-syn, we used a genetic screen to identify suppressors of the super sensitivity of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing α-syn to killing by hydrogen peroxide. Forty genes in ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolism, protein biosynthesis, vesicle trafficking and the response to stress were identified. Five of the forty genes—ENT3, IDP3, JEM1, ARG2 and HSP82—ranked highest in their ability to block α-syn-induced reactive oxygen species accumulation, and these five genes were characterized in more detail. The deletion of any of these five genes enhanced the toxicity of α-syn as judged by growth defects compared with wild-type cells expressing α-syn, which indicates that these genes protect cells from α-syn. Strikingly, four of the five genes are specific for α-syn in that they fail to protect cells from the toxicity of the two inherited mutants A30P or A53T. This finding suggests that α-syn causes toxicity to cells through a different pathway than these two inherited mutants. Lastly, overexpression of Ent3p, which is a clathrin adapter protein involved in protein transport between the Golgi and the vacuole, causes α-syn to redistribute from the plasma membrane into cytoplasmic vesicular structures. Our interpretation is that Ent3p mediates the transport of α-syn to the vacuole for proteolytic degradation. A similar clathrin adaptor protein, epsinR, exists in humans.
Reactive oxygen species participate in the control of mouse embryonic cell death.

Programmed cell death or apoptosis is an essential process during the morphogenesis of a large number of structures. Evidence obtained over the past few years indicates that, in some cases, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an important event during the course of apoptosis. Using an in vitro culture system in which digit individualization of developing limbs normally occurs, we assayed the effect of different antioxidants on the cell death that takes place at interdigits. The addition of phenol, dimethyl sulfoxide, or 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCDHF-DA) to murine developing limbs in culture prevented digit individualization as well as the typical interdigital cell death. Two ROS-sensitive dyes, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and DCDHF-DA, stained interdigits and the so-called "necrotic zones," implying that they contain cells under oxidative stress. Very few interdigital cells were doubly stained with the ROS probes and two cell death indicators (i.e., acridine orange and propidium iodide), suggesting that they detect a different stage during the course of apoptosis. Furthermore, we found cells stained for ROS that did not express a specific macrophage marker and in a few cases were seen surrounded by a macrophage. Surprisingly, many regions of the midgestation mouse embryo that are undergoing cell death correlated with those that have a markedly higher level of ROS. Our data suggest that the generation of oxidative stress is a common requirement for cell death that occurs during mouse embryonic development.
Copyright and Creativity: Changing Paradigms and the Implications for Intellectual Property and the Music Industry

Copyright law is entangled with the Romantic conception of the creative process. So is the music industry. This Romantic conception has been challenged more recently to the point where there has been a paradigmatic shift of the conception of creative activity within the research community. This change has not as yet occurred for popular conceptions of creativity, nor has the law changed its basis. Once these older views are substituted with the recent work on cultural production and confluence models of creativity, the implication for rights-holders in the music industry may be significant, yet remain dependent upon the industry and others' general acceptance of these recent creativity research findings. Examples of the changing structures of intellectual property and what this shift might mean for songwriters in particular can be drawn from the struggles of Lindy Morrison, former Go-Betweens drummer, and the attitude to songwriting developed by writers such as Paul Mac and Daniel Johns.
Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders: implication and counteracting of melatonin

Age related neurodegenerative disorders are becoming a serious public health problem. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disease pathologically recognizable by deposition of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques. Oxidative stress probably plays a pivotal role in AD, but despite expectations, antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, β carotene, and flavonoids have failed as effective prophylaxis and/or treatment. Melatonin, a hormone controlling circadian rhythm, is a potent terminal antioxidant. In vitro tests and animal models have established that the application of melatonin could be beneficial for the amelioration of AD progression. Unfortunately, melatonin effects in human beings are not well understood and a lot of work has still to be done. The review summarizes the basic facts about melatonin and its prospects as a treatment for AD using its hormonal and antioxidant properties.
Circulating Levels of Carboxyterminal Propeptide of Type I Procollagen and Left Ventricular Remodeling after Myocardial Infarction

Alteration in myocardial collagen metabolism is an important factor in the progression of ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). This study examined sequential changes in circulating levels of carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) as a collagen synthesis marker in order to assess the value of PICP for predicting the progression of left ventricular remodeling after MI. The study group comprised 20 patients with first MI undergoing reperfusion therapy. Peripheral blood samples were obtained on admission and serially up to 4 weeks after admission. Circulating levels of PICP and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), a tentative biochemical marker for the severity of MI, were measured by direct radioimmunoassay. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (EDVI) in acute and chronic phases were determined by left ventriculography, and changes (Δ) in EDVI were used as an index of left ventricular remodeling. Plasma PICP levels in the non-dilation group (< median ΔEDVI) showed no significant change. However, in the dilation group (> median ΔEDVI) PICP started to increase significantly 3 days after admission, peaking on day 14 (from 74 ± 6 to 104 ± 19 ng/ml, p < 0.05). ΔEDVI was significantly correlated with plasma PICP at 2 and 3 weeks, and with plasma BNP at 1, 2 and 3 weeks. Plasma PICP 2 weeks after MI was the only independent predictor of ΔEDVI (p < 0.001). These results suggest that an increase in plasma PICP levels 2 weeks after admission is a useful biochemical predictor of the progression of ventricular remodeling after MI.