Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Awareness and analysis of a significant event by general practitioners: a cross sectional survey

Objectives: To determine the extent to which general practitioners (GPs) were aware of a recent significant event and whether a structured analysis of this event was undertaken to minimise the perceived risk of recurrence. Design: Cross sectional survey using a postal questionnaire. Setting: Greater Glasgow primary care trust. Participants: 466 principals in general practice from 188 surgeries. Main outcome measures: GPs’ self-reported personal and practice characteristics, awareness of a recent significant event, participation in the structured analysis of the identified significant event, perceived chance of recurrence, forums for discussing and analysing significant events, and levels of primary care team involvement. Results: Four hundred and sixty six GPs (76%) responded to the survey. GPs from single handed practices were less likely to respond than those in multi-partner training and non-training practices. 401 (86%) reported being aware of a recent significant event; lack of awareness was clearly associated with GPs from non-training practices. 219 (55%) had performed all the necessary stages of a structured analysis (as determined by the authors) of the significant event. GPs from training practices were more likely to report participation in the structured analysis of the recent event, to perceive the chance of this event recurring as “nil” or “very low”, and to report significant event discussions taking place. Conclusions: Most GPs were aware of a recent significant event and participated in the structured analysis of this event. The wider primary care team participated in the analysis process where GPs considered this involvement relevant. There is variation in the depth of and approach to significant event analysis within general practice, which may have implications for the application of the technique as part of the NHS quality agenda.
Error Control for Continuous Media and Multipoint Applications

High-bandwidth multimedia applications pose new challenges to error control. These include the support of error control for Continuous Media (CM) streams and the scalable support of error control in multipoint applications where the number of participants is large. Current error control mechanisms provide no support for the above applications. In this report we present new error control mechanisms that provide the required support. Continuous media applications have strict timing requirements which greatly affect recovery. To support continuous media applications we have designed and implemented a point-to-point error control mechanism which features the following: (1) selective repeat retransmission, (2) conditional. Read complete abstract on page 2.
Assessing the Quality of Care for Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction in China

There is a wide practice gap between optimal care and actual care for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in China. Indicators of quality of care for AMI patients have already been developed by a modified Delphi process. Our aim was to assess the association between those indicators and in‐hospital mortality in AMI patients. We hypothesized that an association exists between quality‐of‐care indicators and in‐hospital mortality in AMI patients. Based on the data of 2128 AMI patients at 20 tertiary hospitals in Heilongjiang Province from January 1, 2009 to October 31, 2010, we estimated the compliance rates of indicators. Association between indicators and in‐hospital mortality was assessed using hierarchical generalized linear models. Among 2128 patients, 163 (7.66%) died during their hospital stay. The compliance rates were 71.6%, 41.3%, 82.5%, 63.5%, 80.4%, 5.1%, 28.9%, and 41.2% for the use of aspirin, β‐blocker, clopidogrel, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor, statin, thrombolytic, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary angiography, respectively. Aspirin, clopidogrel, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor, statin, and percutaneous coronary intervention were significantly associated with in‐hospital mortality after adjustment for potential confounding factors. We found some disparities between guidelines and clinical practice for AMI patients in China and a significant association between indicators and in‐hospital mortality. Our findings are potentially helpful for assessing and improving the quality of care for AMI patients in China.
Lasting expressions: A case study of lifelong learners in a life-story process

LOHR, KATHY DIANE. Lasting Expressions: A Case Study of Lifelong Learners in a Life-Story Process. (Under the direction of Dr. Colleen Aalsburg Wiessner.) Starting in 2012, 10,000 Americans will turn 65 years of age every day and by 2030, 20 percent of the U.S. population will be 65 and older. Considering that adult education has historically responded to individual and societal needs, it is understandable that there is a need to focus on this growing group of older learners. How will these adults find meaning and how can education enhance their later years? At the root of this research is the premise that creating legacy is a developmental need of older adults. Capturing one’s life experiences in story form is one type of legacy. The purpose of this research was to explore a life-story process as it relates to personal legacy and the insights emerging for the writers involved. Ten lifelong learners who completed a life-story writing course and joined a life-story writers’ group affiliated with a learning-in-retirement program participated in this qualitative case study. Two research questions guided interviews, stories, observations, and field notes: How does the composing and sharing of life events foster and shape stories written for the purpose of personal legacy? And, what insights emerge for writers who engage in this memory-
Opportunities for Shared Decision Making in Kidney Transplantation

Health researchers and policy‐makers increasingly urge both patient and clinician engagement in shared decision making (SDM) to promote patient‐centered care. Although SDM has been examined in numerous clinical settings, it has received little attention in solid organ transplantation. This paper describes the application of SDM to the kidney transplantation context. Several distinctive features of kidney transplantation present challenges to SDM including fragmented patient–provider relationships, the time‐sensitive and unpredictable nature of deceased organ offers, decision‐making processes by transplant providers serving as both organ guardians (given the
Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality in Women Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background—Rheumatoid arthritis may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We compared the incidence rates of myocardial infarction and stroke in subjects with and without rheumatoid arthritis. Methods and Results—A prospective cohort study was conducted among the 114 342 women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study who were free of cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis at baseline in 1976. All self-reported cases of rheumatoid arthritis were confirmed by medical record review. Fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarctions and strokes were similarly confirmed. Multivariate pooled logistic regression was used to adjust for potential cardiovascular risk factors. Five hundred twenty-seven incident cases of rheumatoid arthritis and 3622 myocardial infarctions and strokes were confirmed during 2.4 million person-years of follow-up. The adjusted relative risk of myocardial infarction in women with rheumatoid arthritis compared with those without was 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23 to 3.29). For stroke, the adjusted relative risk was 1.48 (95% CI, 0.70 to 3.12). Women who had rheumatoid arthritis for at least 10 years had a risk for myocardial infarction of 3.10 (95% CI, 1.64 to 5.87). Conclusion—In this large prospective cohort of women, participants with rheumatoid arthritis had a significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction but not stroke compared with those without rheumatoid arthritis. If these data are confirmed, aggressive coronary heart disease prevention strategies should be tested for persons with rheumatoid arthritis.
A bag-of-features approach based on Hue-SIFT descriptor for nude detection

Most of previous papers about the detection of nude or pornographic images start by the application of a skin detector followed by some kind of shape or geometric modeling. In this work, these two steps are avoided by a bag-of-features (BOF) approach, in which images are represented by histograms of sparse visual descriptors. BOF approaches have been applied successfully to object recognition tasks, but most descriptors used in that case are based on gray level information. Our approach is based on an extension to the well-known SIFT descriptor - called Hue-SIFT - aimed at adding color information to the original SIFT. Experimental results show recognition rates which are similar to those achieved by other approaches in literature, without the need for sophisticated skin or shape models.
Stress-induced sensitization and glucocorticoids. I. Sensitization of dopamine-dependent locomotor effects of amphetamine and morphine depends on stress-induced corticosterone secretion

Repeated exposures to stress sensitize motor and addictive effects of drugs of abuse. Recently, it has been shown that stress-induced behavioral sensitization depends on the secretion of glucocorticoids. We investigated if sensitization of dopamine-dependent effects of psychostimulants and opioids was influenced by glucocorticoid. Sensitization of the dopaminergic response to drugs is considered the neural substrate of behavioral sensitization and has been implicated in vulnerability to drug abuse. Dopamine-dependent effects of psychostimulants and opioids were evaluated by injecting either amphetamine into the nucleus accumbens (10 micrograms/side) or morphine into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) (1 microgram/side). The locomotor response to psychostimulants and opioids injected in these brain areas depends on the mesencephalic dopaminergic transmission. Drug-induced locomotion was compared in male rats in which corticosterone secretion was either in +tct or experimentally suppressed by an adrenalectomy associated with a substitutive treatment reproducing basal levels of the hormone. Eight days of food restriction (80% of the initial body weight) were used as a stressor. Suppression of stress-induced corticosterone secretion abolished food restriction-induced sensitization of the locomotor effects of intra-accumbens amphetamine and intra-VTA morphine. This effect was corticosterone dependent since the restoration of corticosterone levels in the range of those induced by stress totally reinstates sensitization. Our results suggest that glucocorticoids control stress-induced sensitization by changing the sensitivity of the mesencephalic dopaminergic transmission to drugs of abuse. Since dopaminergic effects of drugs are related to their addictive properties, secretion of glucocorticoids may be one of the factors determining the enhanced vulnerability to drugs observed in stressed subjects.
Analysis of the antibiotic prophylaxis prescribed by Spanish Oral Surgeons.

AIM To identify prophylactic antibiotic prescription practices among Spanish dentists with preferential dedication to Oral Surgery in different types of tooth extraction surgeries. METHOD Members of the Spanish Oral Surgery Society were surveyed on antibiotic prophylaxis use in 4 different tooth extraction modalities scaled according to their surgical invasiveness. RESULTS Sixty-nine of the 105 distributed questionnaires were returned completed. Thirteen percent of the surveyed surgeons would prescribe antibiotics to prevent postoperative wound infection when confronted with conventional tooth extraction lasting less than 5 minutes. In the case of surgery lasting more than 5 minutes, the percentage of participants that would prescribe antibiotics increased to 39%. When a mucoperiosteal flap was elevated or an ostectomy was performed, 87% and 100%, respectively, would prescribe antibiotic prophylaxis. Amoxicillin and its combination with clavulanic acid were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics. All participants would prescribe the antibiotic orally, starting after surgery and with a duration that ranged from 2-8 days. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained suggest that antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing local odontogenic infection is not being correctly implemented in Spain. This can generate new bacterial resistances, facilitate adverse drug reactions and favor opportunistic infections. Better designed studies are needed in order to clarify the role of antibiotics in the prevention of postsurgical wound infection.
Parent involvement and academic outcomes among urban adolescents: examining the role of school engagement

The present study examined the extent to which parent involvement in education was directly and indirectly (via school engagement) related to academic outcomes in an effort to more fully understand the school experiences of urban adolescents. Participants (80% racial/ethnic minority; n = 108) were in grades 6, 7 or 8. In the Fall and subsequent Spring youth completed in-school surveys with items on parental involvement in education, school engagement (affective, behavioural, cognitive engagement) and perceived academic competence. Grades were obtained from official school records. Findings showed that parental involved was positively associated with behavioural and cognitive engagement, which in turn contributed to academic competence and achievement. Results underscore the importance of parental involvement in adolescents’ engagement and academic success and highlight the importance of examining the multiple components of school engagement simultaneously, as we found differential effects for affective, behavioural, and cognitive engagement on academic competence and achievement.
Phosphorylation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF41 by the kinase Par-1b is required for epithelial cell polarity

ABSTRACT The establishment and maintenance of cell polarity is an essential property governing organismal homeostasis, and loss of polarity is a common feature of cancer cells. The ability of epithelial cells to establish apical-basal polarity depends on intracellular signals generated from polarity proteins, such as the Par-1 family of proteins, as well as extracellular signals generated through cell contacts with the extracellular matrix (ECM). The Par-1 family has a well-established role in regulating cell–cell contacts in the form of tight junctions by phosphorylating Par-3. In addition, Par-1 has been shown to impact on cell–ECM interactions by regulating laminin receptor localization and laminin deposition on the basal surface of epithelial cells. Laminins are major structural and signaling components of basement membrane (BM), a sheet of specialized ECM underlying epithelia. In this study, we identify RNF41, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, as a novel Par-1b (also known as MARK2) effector in the cell–ECM pathway. Par-1b binds to and phosphorylates RNF41 on serine 254. Phosphorylation of RNF41 by Par-1b is required for epithelial cells to localize laminin-111 receptors to their basolateral surfaces and to properly anchor to laminin-111. In addition, phosphorylation of RNF41 is required for epithelial cells to establish apical-basal polarity. Our data suggests that phosphorylation of RNF41 by Par-1b regulates basolateral membrane targeting of laminin-111 receptors, thereby facilitating cell anchorage to laminin-111 and ultimately forming the cell–ECM contacts required for epithelial cells to establish apical-basal cell polarity.
Genetic evidence that apolipoprotein E4 is not a relevant susceptibility factor for cholelithiasis in two high-risk populations Published, JLR Papers in Press, March 24, 2007.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) isoforms are genetic determinants of interindividual variations in lipid metabolism. To assess whether apoE is a genetic risk factor for cholesterol gallstone disease (GD), we analyzed apoE variants in populations from Chile and Germany, two countries with very high prevalence rates of this disease. ApoE genotypes were determined in Chilean gallstone patients (n = 117) and control subjects (n = 122) as well as in German gallstone patients (n = 184) and matched controls (n = 184). In addition, we studied apoE variants in subgroups of Chilean patients with strong differences in their susceptibility to acquire gallstones: 50 elderly subjects without gallstones in spite of well-known risk factors for this disease (gallstone-resistant) and 32 young individuals with gallstones but without risk factors (gallstone-susceptible). Furthermore, correlation analysis of apoE genotypes with cholesterol crystal formation times, biliary cholesterol saturation index (CSI), and gallstone cholesterol contents was performed in 81 cholecystectomized patients. In this study analyzing the largest sample set available, apoE4 genotype was not associated with an increased frequency of GD in either population. Moreover, in the Chilean population after adjusting for risk factors such as gender, age, body mass index, serum lipids, and glucose, the odds ratio for the association of the apoE4 allele and GD was significantly (P < 0.05) <1. Also, genotypes were not correlated with cholesterol crystal formation time, CSI, or gallstone cholesterol content. In contrast to previous smaller studies, apoE polymorphisms were not associated with susceptibility to cholesterol GD in high-risk populations.
Hand Preference in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorders: Cause and Effect?

Inter- and intra-modal matching by eight-year-old children diagnosed as having hand-eye coordination problems (HECP) and categorized as left-handed, together with a left-handed control group of children without such problems, were tested using a manual sensory matching task. The task required the children to locate target pins, visually (seen target), proprioceptively (felt target) or in combination (felt and seen target), while matching to the located target was always carried out without vision. Performance was superior when the target was located visually or visually/proprioceptively for both groups of children. These results question the conclusion that intra-modal will always be more accurate than inter-modal matching. When the combined scores for both hands were analyzed, the HECP children showed inferior performance to the control children in both inter- and intra-modal matching. Separate right and left hand analyses, demonstrated that the differences between the HECP group and control children could be accounted for by lowered performances when the right hand (nonpreferred) was used to match the located target position. Putative neurological disorders related to the development of the hemisphere controlling the nonpreferred hand (left hemisphere) are invoked to account for the poor performance with the nonpreferred hand of the HECP children.
A genetic background with low mutational robustness is associated with increased adaptability to a novel host in an RNA virus

Although mutational robustness is central to many evolutionary processes, its relationship to evolvability remains poorly understood and has been very rarely tested experimentally. Here, we measure the evolvability of Vesicular stomatitis virus in two genetic backgrounds with different levels of mutational robustness. We passaged the viruses into a novel cell type to model a host‐jump episode, quantified changes in infectivity and fitness in the new host, evaluated the cost of adaptation in the original host and analyzed the genetic basis of this adaptation. Lineages evolved from the less robust genetic background demonstrated increased adaptability, paid similar costs of adaptation to the new host and fixed approximately the same number of mutations as their more robust counterparts. Theory predicts that robustness can promote evolvability only in systems where large sets of genotypes are connected by effectively neutral mutations. We argue that this condition might not be fulfilled generally in RNA viruses.
Identification of a Small Subpopulation of Candidate Leukemia‐Initiating Cells in the Side Population of Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), apart from the CD34+CD38− compartment, the side population (SP) compartment contains leukemic stem cells (LSCs). We have previously shown that CD34+CD38− LSCs can be identified using stem cell‐associated cell surface markers, including C‐type lectin‐like molecule‐1 (CLL‐1), and lineage markers, such as CD7, CD19, and CD56. A similar study was performed for AML SP to further characterize the SP cells with the aim of narrowing down the putatively very low stem cell fraction. Fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of 48 bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at diagnosis showed SP cells in 41 of 48 cases that were partly or completely positive for the markers, including CD123. SP cells in normal bone marrow (NBM) were completely negative for markers, except CD123. Further analysis revealed that the SP fraction contains different subpopulations: (a) three small lymphoid subpopulations (with T‐, B‐, or natural killer‐cell markers); (b) a differentiated myeloid population with high forward scatter (FSChigh) and high sideward scatter (SSChigh), high CD38 expression, and usually with aberrant marker expression; (c) a more primitive FSClow/SSClow, CD38low, marker‐negative myeloid fraction; and (d) a more primitive FSClow/SSClow, CD38low, marker‐positive myeloid fraction. NBM contained the first three populations, although the aberrant markers were absent in the second population. Suspension culture assay showed that FSClow/SSClow SP cells were highly enriched for primitive cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses showed that cytogenetically abnormal colonies originated from sorted marker positive cells, whereas the cytogenetically normal colonies originated from sorted marker‐negative cells. In conclusion, AML SP cells could be discriminated from normal SP cells at diagnosis on the basis of expression of CLL‐1 and lineage markers. This reveals the presence of a low‐frequency (median, 0.0016%) SP subfraction as a likely candidate to be enriched for leukemia stem cells.
True Versus Spurious State Dependence in Firm Performance: The Case of West German Exports

This paper analyzes the persistence of firms' exporting behavior in a panel of West German manufacturing firms. Dynamic binary choice models allow us to distinguish between true and spurious state dependence in firm performance. Using random effects models as well as a recent fixed effect approach which imposes few restrictions on unobservables, we find robust evidence of state dependence in the current export status of firms. Unobserved permanent firm heterogeneity ("spurious state dependence") is found to be less important than suggested by earlier studies. The existence of true state dependence in exports has direct economic policy implications: if policy successfully turns non-exporters into exporters, the effect is likely to be lasting.