Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diltiazem vs. nifedipine in chilblains: a clinical trial.

BACKGROUND The treatment of chilblains remains unsatisfactory. Nifedipine in higher doses remains the mainstay of treatment. AIMS To compare the efficacy of diltiazem with that of nifedipine, and to determine the efficacy of nifedipine in lower doses, 36 chilblains cases were studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS Group A (12 patients) was treated with diltiazem 60 mg thrice daily, and Group B (24 patients) with 10 mg nifedipine thrice daily till complete relief and then maintained on a sustained release preparation of nifedipine 20 mg twice daily. RESULTS Two patients in Group A showed complete relief in 7 days, and 3 patients in about 21 days, but in 7 cases there was little or no response. In group B, 21 cases showed 80-90% relief by the fourteenth day. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that nifedipine remains the drug of choice in chilblains but can be used in a smaller dosage in the Indian population. Diltiazem is less effective in the conventional dose, which may be optimized.
Dendritic cells a double-edge sword in autoimmune responses

Dendritic cells (DC) are antigen-presenting cells that play a pivotal role in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses. In autoimmunity, DC act as a double-edged sword since on one hand they initiate adaptive self-reactive responses and on the other they play a pivotal role in promoting and maintaining tolerance. Thus, DC are the most important cells in either triggering self-specific responses or in negatively regulating auto-reactive responses. The latter function is mediated by DC in the steady-state or specialized subsets of DC, named tolerogenic DC. Clinical and experimental evidence indicate that prolonged presentation of self-antigens by DC is crucial for the development of destructive autoimmune diseases, and defects in tolerogenic DC functions contribute to eradication of self-tolerance. In recent years, DC have emerged as therapeutic targets for limiting their immunogenicity against self-antigens, while tolerogenic DC have been conceived as therapeutic tools to restore tolerance. The purpose of this review is to give a general overview of the current knowledge on the pathogenic role of DC in patients affected by autoimmune diseases. In addition, the protective role of tolerogenic DC will be addressed. The currently applied strategies to block immune activation or to exploit the tolerogenic potential of DC will be discussed.
Top-Down Management and Patrol Officers’ Attitudes About the Importance of Public Order Maintenance

Police organizations are inherently top down in their managerial style, and order maintenance policing—being a strategy adopted by top management and implemented by lower ranking personnel—may hit a roadblock that is typical in top-down organizations: Lower ranking personnel may not embrace the mission of order maintenance to the same extent that their superiors do. The present study compares attitudes about order maintenance policing across rank in an urban police department. The results indicate that patrol officers express significantly less support for public order maintenance relative to personnel of higher ranks; however, educational attainment and attachment to supervisors emerged as meaningful influences on attitude as well, which suggests that police managers and supervisors can improve lower ranking officers’ endorsement of top-down strategies like order maintenance through their supervisory and hiring practices.
Sleep and snoring in infancy: prevalence and effects on cognitive development, maternal mental health and family functioning.

X DECLARATION XII ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS XIII LIST OF TABLES XV LIST OF FIGURES . XXI PREFACE 1 Chapter 1: A literature review about the relationships between sleep, snoring and developmental outcome 3 1.1 Overview 3 1.2 Sleep in infancy 4 1.3 Definition of SDB 8 1.4 Prevalence of snoring in the population 8 1.5 Factors associated with symptoms of SDB 14 1.5. 1 Ethnic differences in the reported prevalence of SDB 14 1.5. 2 Gender differences in the reported prevalence of SDB 15 1.5. 3 Socio-economic and environmental factors associated with snoring frequency16 1.5. 4 Physiological factors associated with snoring frequency 17 1.6 The consequences of disruption to sleep on behaviour and cognitive development18 1.6. 1 The relationship between sleep and developmental outcome in infancy . 19 1.6. 2 The relationship between sleep in infancy and subsequent development in later childhood 23 1.6. 3 The relationship between sleep disruption and behavioural problems in preschool children and school aged children 24 1.6. 4 Cognitive functioning and sleep in pre-school and school-aged children . 27
Evaluating the utility of serological testing in laryngotracheal stenosis

Whereas mechanical (traumatic) causes of laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) are identified based on history, autoimmune laryngotracheal stenosis (aLTS) and idiopathic laryngotracheal stenosis (iLTS) are often more difficult to differentiate. The objective of this study was to evaluate serologic testing in a large cohort of nonmechanical LTS patients to determine which tests, if any, lead clinicians to the etiology of the LTS.
The Role of Zinc, Manganse and Copper in Rumen Metabolism and Immune Function: A Review Article

Trace minerals are dietary elements required by the body in minute amounts, ranging from 0.10 to 50.0 mg/kg dry matter in beef cattle diets [1]. These trace minerals are all necessary for the biochemical processes of the body that support proper growth and maintenance. For example, Cu is necessary for the function of superoxide dismutase and its removal of toxic byproducts from metabolic pathways [2]. The removal of these toxic byproducts allows for metabolism to proceed efficiently, uninhibited by damaging oxygen free radicals. Zinc, an important trace mineral for enzyme function, aides in the regulation of nucleic acid production, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein synthesis, thus providing a stable framework for development [3]. The immune system is part of the host’s defense against destructive forces from outside the body, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, or from within, such as malignant cells or those that produce autoantibodies [4]. This system is composed of two branches: the innate or non-specific immune system, and the adaptive or specific immune system [5]. In this review paper, an attempt has been made to review effects of mineral supplements in Rumen Metabolism, effects on Immune Function in different species of animals.
Validity and reliability of the Patient Centred Assessment Method for patient complexity and relationship with hospital length of stay: a prospective cohort study

Objectives Several instruments for evaluating patient complexity have been developed from a biopsychosocial perspective. Although relationships between the results obtained by these instruments and the length of stay in hospital have been examined, many instruments are complicated and not easy to use. The Patient Centred Assessment Method (PCAM) is a candidate for practical use. This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the PCAM and examine the correlations between length of hospital stay and PCAM scores in a regional secondary care hospital in Japan. Design Prospective cohort study. Participants and setting Two hundred and one patients admitted to Ouji Coop Hospital between July 2014 and September 2014. Main predictor PCAM total score in initial phase of hospital admission. Main outcome Length of stay in hospital. Results Among 201 patients (Female/Male=98/103) with mean (SD) age of 77.4±11.9 years, the mean PCAM score was 25±7.3 and mean (SD) length of stay in hospital (LOS) 34.1±40.9 days. Using exploratory factor analysis to examine construct validity, PCAM evidently has a two-factor structure, comprising medicine-oriented and patient-oriented complexity. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient for evaluating criterion-based validity between PCAM and INTERMED was 0.90. For reliability, Cronbach’s alpha was 0.85. According to negative binomial regression analyses, PCAM scores are a statistically significant predictor (p<0.001) of LOS after adjusting for age, gender, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form, Charlson Comorbidity Index, serum sodium concentration, total number of medications and whether public assistance was required. In another model, each factor in PCAM was independently correlated with length of stay in hospital after adjustment (medicine-oriented complexity: p=0.001, patient-oriented complexity: p=0.014). Conclusion PCAM is a reliable and valid measurement of patient complexity and PCAM scores have a significant correlation with hospital length of stay.
Self-assessed quality of sleep, occupational health, working environment, illness experience and job satisfaction of female nurses working different combination of shifts.

AIM The aim of this study was to describe and compare the self-assessed quality of sleep, occupational health, working environment, illness experience and job satisfaction among female nurses working different combinations of shifts. BACKGROUND Evidence from several studies indicates that there is an association between the disruption of the circadian cycle caused by shift work and adverse health effects. METHODS A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 348 nurses drawn from the registry of the Icelandic Nurses' Association, representing 17% of the workforce of Icelandic nurses. A self-administered questionnaire, measuring occupational health, quality of sleep, the illness experience, job satisfaction and working environment was used. Data were analysed according to type of shift (days only, rotating days/evenings, rotating days/evenings/nights) by use of analysis of variance and chi-square. RESULTS No difference was found between participants based on type of shift with regard to the illness experience, job satisfaction and quality of sleep. Nurses working rotating day/evening/night shifts reported a longer working day, more stressful environmental risk factors, more strenuous work and that they were less able to control their work-pace. In general, the nurses reported low severity of symptoms; however, nurses working rotating days/evenings shifts experienced more severe gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal symptoms when compared with others. This was explained by the short rest period provided for between evening and morning shifts. CONCLUSIONS In general Icelandic nurses are satisfied with their work and their shift assignment does not seem to pathologically disrupt their circadian cycle. Nevertheless, nursing directors are advised to look more closely at the organization of nurses' work during night shifts, as well as the rest period for nurses changing from evening to day shifts.
Magnesium sulfate versus Lidocaine pretreatment for prevention of pain on etomidate injection: A randomized, double-blinded placebo controlled trial

Objective: Etomidate is an imidazole derivative and formulated in 35% propylene glycol. When given without a rapid lidocaine injection, etomidate is associated with pain after injection. Magnesium (Mg) is a calcium channel blocker and influences the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor ion channel. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficiency of preemptive injection of magnesium sulfate and lidocaine on pain alleviation on etomidate intravenous injection. Methods: In a randomized, double-blinded trial study, 135 adult patients scheduled for elective outpatient or inpatient surgery were divided into three groups. Group M received 620 mg magnesium sulfate, Group L received 3 ml lidocaine 1% and Group S received normal saline, all in a volume of 5 mL followed by a maximal dose of 0.3 mg/kg of 1% etomidate. Pain was assessed on a four-point scale: 0 = no pain, 1 = mild pain, 2 = moderate pain and 3 = severe pain at the time of pretreatment and etomidate injection. Findings: About 60% of patients in the control group had pain during etomidate injection as compared to 22.2% and 40% in the lidocaine and magnesium sulfate groups, respectively. There was difference in induction pain score between three treatment groups, significantly (P = 0.01) and observed differences in pain scores between "normal saline and lidocaine group" (P < 0.001) and "normal saline and magnesium sulfate groups" were statistically meaningful (P = 0.044). Conclusion: Intravenous magnesium sulfate and lidocaine injection are comparably effective in reducing etomidate-induced pain.
High-throughput sequencing of partially edited trypanosome mRNAs reveals barriers to editing progression and evidence for alternative editing

Uridine insertion/deletion RNA editing in kinetoplastids entails the addition and deletion of uridine residues throughout the length of mitochondrial transcripts to generate translatable mRNAs. This complex process requires the coordinated use of several multiprotein complexes as well as the sequential use of noncoding template RNAs called guide RNAs. The majority of steady-state mitochondrial mRNAs are partially edited and often contain regions of mis-editing, termed junctions, whose role is unclear. Here, we report a novel method for sequencing entire populations of pre-edited partially edited, and fully edited RNAs and analyzing editing characteristics across populations using a new bioinformatics tool, the Trypanosome RNA Editing Alignment Tool (TREAT). Using TREAT, we examined populations of two transcripts, RPS12 and ND7-5′, in wild-type Trypanosoma brucei. We provide evidence that the majority of partially edited sequences contain junctions, that intrinsic pause sites arise during the progression of editing, and that the mechanisms that mediate pausing in the generation of canonical fully edited sequences are distinct from those that mediate the ends of junction regions. Furthermore, we identify alternatively edited sequences that constitute plausible alternative open reading frames and identify substantial variability in the 5′ UTRs of both canonical and alternatively edited sequences. This work is the first to use high-throughput sequencing to examine full-length sequences of whole populations of partially edited transcripts. Our method is highly applicable to current questions in the RNA editing field, including defining mechanisms of action for editing factors and identifying potential alternatively edited sequences.
How I Treat How we treat chronic graft-versus-host disease

The prevalence and severity of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) have increased during the past 2 decades in associationwith the increasing use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) for treatment of older age patients, the widespread use of mobilized blood cells instead of marrow for grafting, and improvements in survival during the first several months after allogeneic HCT. Pathophysiological understanding of chronicGVHD is emerging, but the long-standing reliance on prednisone described as the mainstay of treatment in Vogelsang’s “How I Treat” review in 2001 has persisted to the present. The 2005 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Conference developed a framework for characterizing the pleomorphic manifestations of chronic GVHD. The consensus project defined minimal criteria for the clinical diagnosis, emphasized differences in the clinical manifestations of chronic and acute GVHD, established criteria for scoring the severity of clinical manifestations in affected organs, and proposed new categories for describing overall disease severity and indications for treatment. The consensus project also proposed measures for monitoring disease progression and response to therapy and provided other information for purposes of clinical trials. In 2014, the NIH Conference was reconvened, and revisions are under consideration to update the recommendations based on available evidence and insights from clinical application of the original recommendations. Chronic GVHD has a wide range of pleomorphic manifestations, and many complications can emerge from both the disease and its treatment. A dedicated multidisciplinary team approach with relevant expertise is necessary in order to provide the best care for patients with a chronic illness that can have devastating effects on quality of life. Our approach to treatment emphasizes the importance of early recognition in the management of chronic GVHD, with respect to making the initial diagnosis, monitoring the response to initial treatment, and preventing complications and disability. Nuances applicable only to children are not addressed in this review. Case summary
FDTD modeling of the breast: A review

Microwave imaging is one of the most promising emerging imaging technologies for breast cancer detection. Microwave imaging exploits the dielectric contrast between normal and malignant breast tissue at microwave frequencies. Many UWB radar imaging techniques require the development of accurate numerical phantoms to model the propagation and scattering of microwave signals within the breast. The Finite Difierence Time Domain (FDTD) method is the most commonly used numerical modeling technique used to model the propagation of Electromagnetic (EM) waves in biological tissue. However, it is critical that an FDTD model accurately represents the dielectric properties of the constituent tissues and the highly correlated distribution of these tissues within the breast. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the dielectric properties of normal and cancerous breast tissue, and the heterogeneity of normal breast tissue. Furthermore, existing FDTD models of the breast are examined and compared. This paper provides a basis for the development of more geometrically and dielectrically accurate numerical breast phantoms used in the development of robust microwave imaging algorithms.
Performance Evaluation of Non – Coherent Transmission over Power Lines

High–bit–rate communication over power lines is a promisin g solution to the last–mile problem. We examine the use of bandwidth–efficien t, non–coherent multicarrier modulation as simple, flexible, and robust transmission scheme over power–line channels. Adaptive, requiring channel state information at the transmitt er, and non–adaptive multicarrier modulation are discussed and assessed. The effects of moderate complex channel coding on both modulation schemes are pointed out by simulations.
Effects of Age and Sex on Serum Biochemistry Values of Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) Reared in the Semi- Arid Environment of Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the effect of sex and age on serum biochemistry parameters of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo ). Forty healthy turkeys of three different age groups (4-8weeks old, 12-20weeks old and adults) were used. Statistical comparisons were made for differences in values between male and females and among different ages. Female turkeys had significantly (p<0.05) higher serum potassium, chloride and uric acid than the males. The adults turkeys had significantly (p<0.05) greater potassium (K ), sodium (Na ), chloride (Cl ), uric acid, creatinin, albumin, + + Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) than the poults. The Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level in the poults was significantly higher than in the adults. The globulin and bicarbonate were similar in all the age groups. The ages x sex interaction were all significant. The present study on serum biochemistry parameters of turkeys could serve as a baseline data that could be exploited for genetic improvement of turkeys.
Gender norms, masculine gender-role strain, and HIV risk behaviors among men in rural South Africa

• Research Associate Population Council HIV and AIDS Program • Postdoc, PhD, MPH UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health; received NIH Predoctoral Fellowship • 15 years of experience in global public health; 5 years living and working in sub-Saharan Africa • Advanced skills in quantitative and qualitative research design and analysis • Research interests in design and evaluation of social and behavior change interventions; implementation science; HIV, sexual and reproductive health, intimate partner violence; gender transformative programs • Proficiency in French and Spanish
Does Intravenous Infusion of Nitroglycerin Potentiate Pancuronium‐ and Vecuronium‐Induced Neuromuscular Blockade?

&NA; The dose requirement for 95% depression of twitch tension and the time course of the neuromuscular blocking effects of the ED95 of pancuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide were studied during intravenous infusion of glucose, 5%, and nitroglycerin, 1 μg•kg‐1•min‐1, in 20 cats anesthetized with pentobarbital. Nitroglycerin administered continuously starting 1 hr before the administration of the ED95 and maintained during at least five maintenance doses of either pancuronium or vecuronium did not significantly potentiate the action of the neuromuscular blocking drugs, nor did it alter their time course of action. A tendency for a decrease (statistically not significant) rather than an increase in the duration of action of maintenance doses of both pancuronium and vecuronium was apparent during the treatment with nitroglycerin. These findings indicate a lack of interaction between pancuronium or vecuronium and nitroglycerin, provided that moderate doses are used.
Emotional intelligence and culture: an exploration of the relationship between individual emotional intelligence and organisational culture

This paper explores Emotional Intelligence (EI) in the context of organisational culture. Since the publication of Daniel Goleman’s book about Emotional Intelligence (1996), there has been an explosion of interest in the subject (Higgs & Dulewicz, 1999). With hundreds of websites and many books which examine the construct or offer self-development tips. The most compelling theme from Goleman’s book, was the proposition that higher EI leads to greater ‘life’ success (Goleman, 1996). Perhaps this is because measures of intelligence have been able to account for only around 20 to 25 percent of variances in success
An Analysis of School Subject Preferences of Elementary School Children of the Middle Grades

Examining subject preferences of fourth through sixth grade pupils, Mosher(l) found little significant difference between the first choices of boys and girls. Arithmetic, art, social studies, and spelling were among the top-ranking selections. Dean, (2) investigating the relationship between subject preference and achievement of fifth grade children, reports no statistically significant finding though boys indicated strong preferences in their selection of arithmetic, spelling, and reading. In a follow-up study of Boston fifth grade children, Chase and Wilson (3) found reading, art, spelling, and social studies to rank high in terms of pupil pre ference. They report that boys show a significantly stronger preference for social studies than do girls but report no other significant preference on the basis of sex. Comparing teacher preferences with student choices a strong relationship was found to exist in all subjects except art and spelling.
Teacher Ratings and Standardised Test Scores: How Good for Predicting Achievement in Students with Learning Support Placement?

The study analysed the relationships between teacher ratings and standardised test scores in Reading and Mathematics for students receiving learning support for learning difficulties (n = 60, mean age= 16.3). Teacher ratings were found to significantly predict pupils' performance in Reading. Students with extended learning support had significantly higher teacher attainment ratings in both Reading and Mathematics. Teacher judgment ratings combined with standardized test scores were reliable for assessing instructional effectiveness. Standardised tests were more reliable than teacher ratings in assessing academic attainment.