Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Office Ergonomic Training on Musculoskeletal Complaints, Sickness Absence, and Psychological Well-Being

This study explored whether musculoskeletal complaints can be reduced by the provision of ergonomics education. A cluster randomized controlled trial study was conducted in which 3 units were randomized to intervention and received training and 3 units were given a leaflet. The effect of intervention on knowledge, workstation practices, musculoskeletal complaints, sickness absence, and psychological well-being were assessed at 6 and 12 months. Although there was no increment of knowledge among workers, significant improvements in workstation practices in the use of monitor, keyboard, and chair were observed. There were significant reductions in neck and upper and lower back complaints among workers but these did not translate into fewer days lost from work. Workers’ stress was found to be significantly reduced across the studies. In conclusion, office ergonomics training can be beneficial in reducing musculoskeletal risks and stress among workers.
Work–Life Policies and Female Faculty Representation in US Doctoral‐Granting Economics Departments

"This article examines the relationships between work–life policies and female faculty representation and promotion at US doctoral‐granting economics departments. The data were collected in 2012 on tenure‐track and tenured full‐time faculty from 125 departments and updated in 2018 to include promotion status. Variables include individuals and their educational backgrounds, professional experience and publications. Only publications and experience are statistically significant for predicting academic rank for the female subsample, and the impact of publications is much larger for women compared with men. Work–life policies differ in explaining the representation of women across academic ranks. Dual‐career policies have a positive effect on female representation at the assistant and associate levels but do not have a statistically significant impact at the full professor level. National Science Foundation ADVANCE grantee universities have increased female representation across all ranks, but the effect is the smallest at the full professor level. Work–life policies are insignificant in predicting promotion. "
The Actin Cytoskeleton is Required for the Trafficking of the B Cell Antigen Receptor to the Late Endosomes

The B cell antigen receptor (BCR) plays two central roles in B cell activation: to internalize antigens for processing and presentation, and to initiate signal transduction cascades that both promote B cells to enter the cell cycle and facilitate antigen processing by accelerating antigen transport. An early event in B cell activation is the association of BCR with the actin cytoskeleton, and an increase in cellular F‐actin. Current evidence indicates that the organization of actin filaments changes in response to BCR‐signaling, making actin filaments good candidates for regulation of BCR‐antigen targeting. Here, we have analyzed the role of actin filaments in BCR‐mediated antigen transport, using actin filament‐disrupting reagents, cytochalasin D and latrunculin B, and an actin filament‐stabilizing reagent, jasplakinolide. Perturbing actin filaments, either by disrupting or stabilizing them, blocked the movement of BCR from the plasma membrane to late endosomes/lysosomes. Cytochalasin D‐treatment dramatically reduced the rate of internalization of BCR, and blocked the movement of the BCR from early endosomes to late endosomes/lysosomes, without affecting BCR‐signaling. Thus, BCR‐trafficking requires functional actin filaments for both internalization and movement to late endosomes/lysosomes, defining critical control points in BCR‐antigen targeting.
Pulmonary embolism severity index accurately predicts long‐term mortality rate in patients hospitalized for acute pulmonary embolism

The Pulmonary Embolism (PE) Severity Index (PESI) is a clinical prognostic rule that accurately classifies PE patients into five risk classes with increasing mortality. PESI score has been validated in studies with a relatively short‐term follow‐up and its accuracy in predicting long‐term prognosis has never been established.
Vascularized Bone Grafts to the Upper Extremities

&NA; From 1979 to 1995 in our clinic, vascularized bone grafting was performed in 29 patients with large bone defects, established nonunion, congenital pseudoarthrosis, or avascular necrosis in the upper extremity. Four patients had traumatic bone defects, six had posttraumatic nonunions, two had congenital pseudoarthroses, five had amputations, nine had defects following tumor resection, and three had other lesions. Reconstructed sites were the humerus in 7 patients, the radius in 12. the ulna in 2, both radius and ulna in 1, and the metacarpal and phalangeal bones in 7. Donor bones were fibula in 19 cases, radius in 6, scapula in 2, and medial condyle of the femur in 2. Postoperative circulatory disturbances and venous thrombosis resulted in revision surgery in two patients. Thrombectomy and reanastomosis to other veins were performed, and these flaps took successfully. No patients required additional bone grafts. The mean period required to obtain radiographic bone union was 1 months (fibula, 4.5 months; scapula, 3.5 months; radius, 2.6 months; medial condyle of the femur, 4 months). Vascularized fibula graft is indicated in patients with large bone defects in the humerus, radius, and/or ulna. The scapula is easy to transfer to the proximal humerus on its pedicle. This donor is indicated in young women because operative scars can be hidden. The radius is usually harvested with skin, and its use is indicated in patients with bone loss in the hand including thumb amputations. Thin corticoperiosteal graft from the femur is indicated in patients with established nonunion of the humerus and radius without significant bony defects.
The dermal arteries of the human thumb pad

The arteries of the skin have been postulated to form a profound plexus at the dermal/hypodermal junction and a superficial plexus in the papillary dermis. Our article aims to rebut this concept and to provide an alternative description of the arrangement of the dermal arteries. Employing a novel technique, we produced digital volume data (volume size: 2739 × 2054 × 3000 μm3; voxel size: 1.07 × 1.07 × 2 μm3) from biopsies of the skin of the thumb pads of 15 body donors. Utilizing these data, we analysed the arrangement of the dermal arteries with the aid of virtual re‐sectioning tools, and, in three specimens, with high‐quality three‐dimensional (3D) surface models. In all specimens we observed a tree‐like ramification of discrete dermal arteries. The terminal branches of the arterial trees gave rise to the ascending segments of the capillary loops of the dermal papillae. None of the specimens showed a superficial arterial plexus. This suggests that the skin of the human thumb pad can be split in discrete ‘arterial units’. Each unit represents the zone of the papillary dermis and epidermal/dermal junction, to which blood is supplied exclusively by the branches of a single dermal artery. The concept of dermal arterial units is in contrast to all existing descriptions of the architecture of the dermal arteries. However, whether it can be transferred to the skin of other body parts, remains to be tested. Likewise, the consequences of arterial units for understanding the mechanisms of wound healing and the appearance and genesis of skin diseases remain to be examined.
Scaling‐up of complex whole‐cell bioconversions in conventional and non‐conventional media

The use of whole cells is becoming a more common approach in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries in order to obtain pure compounds with fewer production steps, higher yields, and cleaner processes, as compared to those achieved with traditional strategies. Whole cells are often used as enzymes pools, in particular when multi‐step reactions and/or co‐factor regeneration are envisaged. Nonetheless, published information on the scale‐up of such systems both in aqueous and in two‐phase aqueous–organic systems is relatively scarce. The present work aims to evaluate suitable scale‐up criteria in conventional and non‐conventional medium for a whole‐cell bioconversion that uses resting cells of Mycobacterium sp. NRRL B‐3805 to cleave the side chain of β‐sitosterol, a poorly water‐soluble substrate. The experiments were performed in 24‐well microtiter plates and in 250 mL shaken flasks as orbital stirred systems, and in 300 mL stirred tanks as mechanically stirred systems. Results show that productivity yields were similar in all scales tested, when maintaining oxygen mass transfer coefficients constant in aqueous systems, or when maintaining constant volumetric power consumption in aqueous–organic two‐phase systems. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;106: 619–626. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improving sediment‐quality guidelines for nickel: Development and application of predictive bioavailability models to assess chronic toxicity of nickel in freshwater sediments

Within the framework of European Union chemical legislations an extensive data set on the chronic toxicity of sediment nickel has been generated. In the initial phase of testing, tests were conducted with 8 taxa of benthic invertebrates in 2 nickel‐spiked sediments, including 1 reasonable worst‐case sediment with low concentrations of acid‐volatile sulfide (AVS) and total organic carbon. The following species were tested: amphipods (Hyalella azteca, Gammarus pseudolimnaeus), mayflies (Hexagenia sp.), oligochaetes (Tubifex tubifex, Lumbriculus variegatus), mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea), and midges (Chironomus dilutus, Chironomus riparius). In the second phase, tests were conducted with the most sensitive species in 6 additional spiked sediments, thus generating chronic toxicity data for a total of 8 nickel‐spiked sediments. A species sensitivity distribution was elaborated based on 10% effective concentrations yielding a threshold value of 94 mg Ni/kg dry weight under reasonable worst‐case conditions. Data from all sediments were used to model predictive bioavailability relationships between chronic toxicity thresholds (20% effective concentrations) and AVS and Fe, and these models were used to derive site‐specific sediment‐quality criteria. Normalization of toxicity values reduced the intersediment variability in toxicity values significantly for the amphipod species Hyalella azteca and G. pseudolimnaeus, but these relationships were less clearly defined for the mayfly Hexagenia sp. Application of the models to prevailing local conditions resulted in threshold values ranging from 126 mg to 281 mg Ni/kg dry weight, based on the AVS model, and 143 mg to 265 mg Ni/kg dry weight, based on the Fe model. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:2507–2519. © 2013 SETAC
Comparative genetics of invasive populations of walnut aphid, Chromaphis juglandicola, and its introduced parasitoid, Trioxys pallidus, in California

Abstract Coevolution may be an important component of the sustainability of importation biological control, but how frequently introduced natural enemies coevolve with their target pests is unclear. Here we explore whether comparative population genetics of the invasive walnut aphid, Chromaphis juglandicola, and its introduced parasitoid, Trioxys pallidus, provide insights into the localized breakdown of biological control services in walnut orchards in California. We found that sampled populations of C. juglandicola exhibited higher estimates of genetic differentiation (FST) than co‐occurring populations of T. pallidus. In contrast, estimates of both the inbreeding coefficient (GIS) and contemporary gene flow were higher for T. pallidus than for C. juglandicola. We also found evidence of reciprocal outlier loci in some locations, but none showed significant signatures of selection. Synthesis and applications. Understanding the importance of coevolutionary interactions for the sustainability of biological control remains an important and understudied component of biological control research. Given the observed differences in gene flow and genetic differentiation among populations of T. pallidus and C. juglandicola, we suspect that temporary local disruption of biological control services may occur more frequently than expected while remaining stable at broader regional scales. Further research that combines genomewide single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping with measurements of phenotypic traits is needed to provide more conclusive evidence of whether the occurrence of outlier loci that display significant signatures of selection can be interpreted as evidence of the presence of a geographic mosaic of coevolution in this system.
Distribution of Serum Lipoprotein (a) Concentrations in a Healthy Turkish Population

Serum lipoprotein (a)[Lp (a)] concentrations are highly skewed in different populations. We measured serum Lp (a) by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 248 healthy Turkish subjects (127 male, 121 female). The mean Lp (a) value was 0·21 g/L and values did not differ between the sexes. The Lp (a) frequency distribution showed less skewness than those of Asian and Western populations but it clearly deviated from a Gaussian distribution. Plasma Lp (a) concentration did not correlate significantly with age, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-l and B or triglyceride concentration.
Assessment of the quality of life of patients with major depression.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the relationship between a measure of quality of life and measures of depressive symptoms among patients with major depression. METHODS One hundred patients with primary major depression and 61 control subjects from the San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center and surrounding area were compared using a variety of measures, including the Quality of Well-Being (QWB) scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and the Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS After analyses controlled for age, gender, family history of mental illness, and comorbid axis III diagnosis, subjects' scores on the QWB were significantly correlated with their scores on the Hamilton scale and Beck inventory. The severity of depressive symptoms was inversely related to quality of life as measured by the QWB, independent of the variables that were controlled for. CONCLUSIONS The QWB is sensitive to symptoms of depression among patients diagnosed with major depression. The reduction in quality of life associated with psychiatric symptoms of depression is comparable to that observed among physically ill patients.
Des-Asp-1-Angiotensin II: Possible Role in Mediating the Renin-Angiotensin Response in the Rat

Summary Angiotensin II and its heptapeptide fragment, Des-Asp-1-angiotensin II, produced a striking increase in aldosterone secretion in rats pretreated with dexamethasone and morphine to reduce ACTH release. l-Sar-8-Ala-angiotensin II (10 μg/kg min−1) given simultaneously with angiotensin II (1 μg/min) blocked the aldosterone response to angiotensin II in rats pretreated to reduce ACTH release. In contrast, 1-Sar-8-Ala-angiotensin II at the same dose failed to block the steroid response to Des-Asp-1-angiotensin II (1 μg/min) but a larger dose of 50 μg/kg min−1 of the angiotensin II antagonist blocked completely both the aldosterone and the corticosterone responses to 1 μg/min of Des-Asp-1-angiotensin II. From these data it is suggested that the heptapeptide has a higher affinity for zona glomerulosa receptors than the octapeptide and that Des-Asp-1-angiotensin II mediates, at least in part, the steroidogenic response to the renin-angiotensin system in the rat. The pressor response to Des-Asp-1-angiotensin II was approximately 50% of that produced by the octapeptide in the rat, and 1-Sar-8-Ala-angiotensin II was as effective in partially blocking the pressor response to the octapeptide as in inhibiting the heptapeptide. The present observations indicate a dissociation of adrenal cortex and peripheral arteriolar receptors in their affinity for angiotensin.
Effects of Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers on the Relationships Between Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Anti-Hypertensive Effects, Autonomic Function, and Health-Related Quality of Life

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between the anti-hypertensive effects, autonomic function, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following treatment of hypertensive subjects with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in hypertensives. Nineteen patients with hypertension were assigned randomly to daily treatment with ARBs. After 16 weeks of treatment, blood pressure (BP) and 24 h the ratio of low frequency to high frequency component (LF/HF), an index of sympathovagal balance were decreased by ARBs. The HRQOL scores improved during the study. In this study, ARB therapy was associated with an improvement in BP, autonomic function, and HRQOL.
Maximum quantity consumed and alcohol-related problems: assessing the most alcohol drunk with two measures.

PURPOSES The maximum amount of alcohol consumed on any day is an important indicator of problem drinking. This study examined the ability of 2 maximum measures, taken individually and in combination, to predict alcohol-related consequences and dependence symptoms. METHOD We analyzed data from 4,296 current drinkers who participated in the 2000 National Alcohol Survey (N10) and provided complete data on several alcohol measures. Items included the most they drank in any day in the past 12 months assessed by 2 questions: a standard question with a 6-level categorical response format and an open-ended (continuous) question referencing the occasion that you had the most to drink that followed items on drinking contexts. RESULTS In a within-subjects analysis, more than two-thirds of the respondents provided consistent responses on both questions (69.9%), 12.4% respondents reported higher maximum quantities on the open-ended question partitioned into equivalent categories, and 17.7% reported a higher maximum on the initial categorical question. In multiple logistic regression analyses predicting alcohol-related consequences, the continuous open-ended maximum or the mean of the 2 maximum items were the strongest predictors, whereas for predicting alcohol dependence symptoms, the maximum of the open-ended and closed-ended maximum items was a better predictor than each measure alone. CONCLUSION Although categorical response formats generally capture high-quantity drinking better than open-ended formats, use of a second, alternatively formatted "most drunk" question may modestly improve ability to predict survey indicators of alcohol use disorders.
Sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of medetomidine, medetomidine-butorphanol, and medetomidine-ketamine in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To determine sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of i.m. administration of medetomidine alone and in combination with butorphanol or ketamine in dogs. DESIGN Randomized, crossover study. ANIMALS 6 healthy adult dogs. PROCEDURES Dogs were given medetomidine alone (30 micrograms/kg [13.6 micrograms/lb] of body weight, i.m.), a combination of medetomidine (30 micrograms/kg, i.m.) and butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg [0.09 mg/lb], i.m.), or a combination of medetomidine (30 micrograms/kg, i.m.) and ketamine (3 mg/kg [1.36 mg/lb], i.m.). Treatments were administered in random order with a minimum of 1 week between treatments. Glycopyrrolate was given at the same time. Atipamezole (150 micrograms/kg [68 micrograms/lb], i.m.) was given 40 minutes after administration of medetomidine. RESULTS All but 1 dog (given medetomidine alone) assumed lateral recumbency within 6 minutes after drug administration. Endotracheal intubation was significantly more difficult when dogs were given medetomidine alone than when given medetomidine and butorphanol. At all evaluation times, percentages of dogs with positive responses to tail clamping or to needle pricks in the cervical region, shoulder region, abdominal region, or hindquarters were not significantly different among drug treatments. The Paco2 was significantly higher and the arterial pH and Pao2 were significantly lower when dogs were given medetomidine and butorphanol or medetomidine and ketamine than when they were given medetomidine alone. Recovery quality following atipamezole administration was unsatisfactory in 1 dog when given medetomidine and ketamine. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that a combination of medetomidine with butorphanol or ketamine resulted in more reliable and uniform sedation in dogs than did medetomidine alone.
Levels and trends of smokeless tobacco use among youth in countries of the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region.

BACKGROUND At least two rounds of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) have been completed in most of the countries in the World Health Organization South-East Asia region. Comparing findings from these two rounds provides trend data on smokeless tobacco (SLT) use for the first time. METHODS This study uses GYTS data from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste during 2006-2013. GYTS is a nationally representative survey of 13-15-year-old students using a consistent and standard protocol. Current SLT use is defined as using any kind of SLT products, such as chewing betel quid or nonbetel quid or snuffing any other products orally or through the nasal route, during the 30 days preceding the survey. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals were computed using SAS/SUDAAN software. RESULTS According to most recent GYTS data available in each country, the prevalence of current use of SLT among youth varied from 5.7% in Thailand to 23.2% in Bhutan; among boys, from 7.1% in Bangladesh to 27.2% in Bhutan; and among girls, from 3.7% in Bangladesh to 19.8% in Bhutan. Prevalence of SLT was reported significantly higher among boys than girls in Bhutan (boys 27.2%; girls 19.8%), India (boys 11.1%; girls 6.0%), Maldives (boys 9.2%; girls 2.9%), Myanmar (boys 15.2%; girls 4.0%), and Sri Lanka (boys 13.0%; girls 4.1%). Prevalence of current SLT use increased in Bhutan from 9.4% in 2009 to 23.2% in 2013, and in Nepal from 6.1% in 2007 to 16.2% in 2011. CONCLUSION The findings call for countries to implement corrective measures through strengthened policy and enforcement.
The effect of plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 gene 4G/5G polymorphism on glucose and lipid metabolisms in Turkish obese children

Objective Obesity is a metabolic disorder that is associated with increased plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) concentration in the circulation. This increase is related to insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular disease. Some studies have demonstrated a relationship between plasma PAI‐1 concentrations and the 4G/5G gene polymorphism in the PAI‐1 gene, while other studies have not. It is well known that plasma PAI‐1 levels are increased in obesity; however, the relationship between the polymorphism and obesity remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effect of the PAI‐1 4G/5G polymorphism on glucose and lipid metabolism parameters in Turkish obese children.