Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptation to low levels of chemical exposure in individuals with multiple chemical sensitivity in a controlled indoor environment

Environmental sensitivity or multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a debilitating condition and increasingly prevalent in the recent years. MCS is a multisystem disorder with lack of standardized treatment strategies and clinical practice guidelines. Consequently, there are significant costs associated with disability and treating individuals with an increasing percentage of the population experiencing challenges in indoor environments from exposure to everyday chemicals such as personal care products. MCS remains a poorly understood condition with many challenges in establishing evidence to support the reactivity to the indoor environment experienced in individuals. This research attempts to validate the physiological reactivity and adaptation to everyday chemicals in a controlled environment in a sample of individuals (n = 90) with MCS. Sixty percent of the female and 40% of the male subjects demonstrated confirmed physiological reactivity to the test substance. The results from this study indicate that the multifaceted nature of this condition possibly goes beyond the reactivity to chemicals in the environment. Further research is essential to understand the implications of hypersensitivity to help individuals optimally manage their health.
Bidder hubris and founder targets

markdownabstract__Abstract__ Overpayment for acquisitions can occur if managerial hubris leads bidders to overestimate target standalone values under their control. We provide a unique test of this phenomenon by analyzing whether bidders overpay for founder CEO targets because they overestimate their ability to replicate the value of the founder CEOs’ firm-specific human capital post-acquisition. We show that the founder CEOs’ human capital is valuable and embedded in the ex-ante targets’ value and is, economically and statistically, negatively associated with bidder gains and synergy returns. Our findings are consistent with bidders’ overestimating the value of founder CEO targets as stand-alone firms under their control. [version: December 2013]
UK scholarly reading and the value of library resources

JISC Collections, together with Professor Carol Tenopir from the Center for Information and Communication Studies at the University of Tennessee, has carried out research to measure the value and outcomes from access to scholarly publications by academics. Presented in the UK Scholarly Reading and the Value of Library Resources report, the research examines how valuable scholarly reading has become for academics, especially in terms of access to journal articles. It surveyed academic and associate staff at 6 UK Higher Education institutions in 2011 exploring how academic library collections support research and teaching activities and how reading patterns of articles, books, and other materials differ. The research also examined what academics would do if library resources were not available. The findings suggest that without the library, academics and their departments would not find articles of such quality, that they would find fewer related articles, and that it would be a significantly more costly and time-consuming process. Image: rachel_titiriga / flickr
Animal Models of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury could be used to describe all injuries to the brain caused by external mechanical forces. It shows a variety of clinical manifestations from mild to severe forms and can result to death. Moderate to severe injuries can produce disabilities on physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional aspects. Animal models of traumatic brain injury have been developed to reproduce characteristics of human brain injury, to understand molecular and cellular pathophysiology and neurobehavioral outcomes following trauma and to find out the promising pharmacological drugs or rehabilitative skills to treat. This article reviewed the current experimental traumatic brain injury models, including weight drop, fluid percussion, and controlled cortical impact, and also the neurobehavioral assessments that are most commonly used to measure loss of function. (Brain & NeuroRehabilitation 2011; 4: 12-20)
Preventing chronic lung disease in an aging society by improved building ventilation: An economic assessment

Leading edge ventilation systems in buildings might slow down the degradation of quality of life in a population. We therefore performed an economic assessment to determine the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (the amount of money needed to produce one healthy life year) for a full-scale ventilation upgrade of the building stock in the Netherlands, to increase the healthy lifespan of citizens by preventing and diminishing COPD (Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease), lung cancer and asthma. The upgrade includes a capacity increase of ventilation systems in dwellings and schools, as well as demand-driven ventilation control. Current and upgraded ventilation systems are compared for (i) operating costs, (ii) health care costs, and (iii) DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years). This resulted in yearly additional technical operating costs of the upgrade of €13x10 6 per million inhabitants of the Netherlands. Yearly health benefits per million inhabitants consist of 5,000 DALYs and €23.9x10 6 of health care expenditure. This leads to an Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) for one extra healthy year (DALY) of €18,000, which is an acceptable amount for a healthy life year in the Netherlands. The new ventilation design appears to be cost-effective in preventing and diminishing premature aging of the lungs of Dutch citizens. Future simulation studies are required to increase the accuracy of this assessment.
Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydiae pneumoniae and trachomatis as probable etiological agents of preeclampsia

Abstract Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the evidence for Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydiae pneumoniae and trachomatis to act as a probable etiology for preeclampsia (PE), together with estimating the prevalence of such infections in pregnant women with PE. Methods: We performed a prospective study in Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt, for detecting H. pylori infection by estimating H. pylori IgG and IgM, in addition to detection of Chlamydiae infections by PCR in 90 pregnant women with PE and 90 normotensive pregnant women of the same age and body mass index who were studied as control. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection in preeclamptic pregnant women was 54.4% with a statistically significant association to PE. The prevalence of C. pneumonia was 27.8% whereas that of C. trachomatis was 4.44%. The infected preeclamptic cases showed high levels of leucocytes besides elevated C-reactive protein concentrations. Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori was found to act as a cofactor in the development of PE. Occurrence of C. trachomatis was low in pregnant women in our community; however, it showed that it may act as a cofactor in PE, whereas C. pneumoniae was attributed to have no role in PE pathogenesis until supported by further studies.
Vascular Invasion, Satellite Nodules and Absence of Tumor Capsule Strongly Correlate with Disease-Free Survival and Long-Term Outcome in Patients Resected for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancer in the world. Liver resection (LR) is the most used therapy in well compensated liver cirrhosis and maybe used as a first-line treatment. Aim of the study is to evaluate survival rates in patients who underwent LR for HCC and to identify risk factors able to influence the prognosis. Material/Method: A retrospective study was carried out in 115 patients whounderwent LR for HCC. We evaluated overall and disease-free survival rates at 1, 3 and 5years (y) and a series of variables included: type of resection, clamping, blood loss, transfusions, tumor size, presence of capsule, satellite nodules and vascular invasion. Results: The 1-, 3-, 5-y survival rates were 90.2%, 67% and 52.7%, and disease-free survival rates were 75.3%, 44.7% and 28.4%, respectively. We have found presence/ absence of capsulated tumor (p = 0.05), satellite nodules (p = 0.004) and vascular invasion (p = 0.001) as factors able to influence the overall survival and the disease-free survival (p = 0.04 for capsulated tumor, p = 0.01 for satellite nodules and p = 0.006 for vascular invasion). Conclusion: LR is the best therapeutic option for HCC when liver transplantation is contraindicated, with good survival rates. Presence of capsule, satellite nodules and vascular invasion are the most important factors able to influence the prognosis.
Standards for Programs for Men Who Batter?

Summary Programs for men who batter their intimate partners were developed in the late 1970s. Since that time, mandatory and presumptive arrest policies have increased the number of men arrested for domestic violence. Diversion into programs for batterers evolved into a standard part of a coordinated community intervention for domestic violence. Recently, a number of states have begun to establish standards for batterers' programs. While having standards makes sense, especially as it could assure quality of programs, this article argues that it is premature to establish such standards. The article reviews evaluation data on programs for men who batter and concludes thatwe know too little about what types or features of programs are effective for which men under what circumstances. Establishing rigorous standards may actually produce more harm than good.
Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant in Patients with Persistent Diabetic Macular Edema

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of a single injection of Ozurdex over 6 months in eyes with persistent diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: In this retrospective interventional study, 9 patients with decreased visual acuity, as a result of persistent DME, received Ozurdex (intravitreal dexamethasone implant 0.7 mg). Main outcome measures included changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT). Results: Nine eyes of 9 patients (5 males, 4 females; mean age 58 years) were included in the analysis. The mean duration of DME was 49.9 months (range 24–85). All patients had undergone previous treatments for DME (intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, steroids or laser photocoagulation) before entering the study. At baseline, the mean BCVA was 0.74 ± 0.33 logMAR, and the mean CRT was 502 ± 222.16 µm. The mean BCVA was unchanged on the third day (0.74 ± 0.38 logMAR, p = 0.5), improved to 0.62 ± 0.32 logMAR (p = 0.02), 0.59 ± 0.26 logMAR (p = 0.02) and 0.63 ± 0.38 logMAR (p = 0.6) after the first, third and fourth months, respectively, and decreased again to 0.73 ± 0.35 logMAR (p = 0.4) at 6 months. The mean CRT improved to 397 ± 115.31 µm (p = 0.17), 271 ± 99.97 µm (p = 0.007), 325 ± 133.05 µm (p = 0.03) and 462 ± 176.48 µm (p = 0.36) on the third day and after 1, 3 and 4 months of follow-up and then increased again to 537 ± 265.42 µm (p = 0.33) at 6 months. Eight patients needed retreatments in the sixth month. One eye developed a transient intraocular pressure (IOP) increase 1 month after injection, which was successfully managed with topical IOP-lowering medication. Conclusion: In eyes with persistent DME, Ozurdex produces improvement in BCVA and CRT as soon as the first days after the injection. Such improvement is maintained until the fourth month.
A Comparison of Food Habits of Middle School Students

Children and adolescents in the United States, overall, do not have healthy food habits. Previous studies indicate a decline in milk consumption with an increase in soda pop consumption, a decrease in fruit and vegetable consumption, an increase in salty snack food and candy consumption with a decrease in desserts eaten as snacks, and an increase in fast food consumption. Poor food habits can contribute to an undesirable body weight. It is estimated that 17% of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years are overweight. Child hood overweight can predict adulthood overweight. Because food habits are learned in childhood and tend to persist into adulthood, the timing for the development of healthy food habits is important. The main objective of this study was to examine the food habits of sixth graders by determining the frequency of daily intake of milk, soda pop, vegetables, fruit, sweets, chips or other salty snack foods, and fast foods within a 24-hour time period and by determining the food use of boys and girls. The subjects included boys and girls in the sixth grade at a local middle school. A total of 42 students, 19 boys and 23 girls, completed the survey designed specifically for this study. The results indicated that boys and girls had similar food habits for milk, soda pop, vegetables, fruit, sweets, and fast food consumption. There was a statistical significant difference for the number of times that boys and girls ate chips and other salty snacks. Boys ate chips or other salty snack foods more often than the girls did. The results of this study are of importance to the involved middle school, nutrition professionals, and other public health educators. It is recommended that further studies be done to determine the quantity of the targeted foods consumed, interview the participants one-on-one, and incorporate a larger sample size. The Graduate School University of Wisconsin-Stout
Nutritional and Plasma Antioxidant Status Assessment in a Group of Old Alzheimer′s Inpatients

This study was carried out to assess the nutritional and plasma antioxidant status of Alzheimer's inpatients compared to age-matched controls by means of anthropometric measurements, neuropsychological and nutritional tests and plasma biomarkers. Assessment of nutritional biomarkers of prooxidant/antioxidant balance in patients with AD as well as nutritional status and neuropsychological evaluation are important since many studies have demonstrated their association with cognitive impairment. This cross sectional study was carried out in 35 subjects recruited in a geriatric institution in Pavia, Northern Italy. Cases mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was lower than controls' one as well as mid arm circumference, triceps skinfold and arm muscle circumference. Both inpatients MNA and MMSE mean scores were lower than controls ones. Plasma levels of lutein plus zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, alfa tocopherol, ascorbic acid were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in AD in patients as well as superoxide desmutase and glutathione peroxidase concentrations, while all the other biochemical markers levels did not differ. Plasma antioxidant levels and activities were decreased in AD and could be biologically predictive of an early mild cognitive decline, suggesting early intervention on dietary antioxidant intake.
Anti hepatitis E virus antibodies in sick and healthy Individuals in Ekiti State, Nigeria

A cross-sectional serosurvey of 186 healthy and sick individuals between ages 3 and 72 years in Ekiti State, Nigeria was conducted for the presence of antibodies to hepatitis E virus (HEV) using a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit. Antibody to HEV was detected in 25(13.4%) of the samples analyzed. The prevalence of antibodies was greater among males (20%) than among females (11.3%) and increased with age for both sexes from 7.8% among subjects 11-20 years to 20% among subjects 61-70 years old. Five pregnant women (8.3%) and 4 (22.22%) children also had detectable anti HEV antibodies in them. Five (8.3%) healthy and 20(15.9%) sick individuals had detectable anti – HEV antibodies in them. There is a dearth of information about HEV infection in Ekiti State and in Nigeria as a whole thus making it difficult to compare with other states. HEV is likely to be endemic in the study areas as there are no portable water and good toilet facilities in most of the places. The pregnant women and the healthy but anti – HEV antibodies positive individuals suggest that HEV had been in the study area before the study was conducted.
IGF-I; IGF-binding protein-3 and breast cancer risk

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and its main binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) are multi-regulatory peptides important in tumour cell growth and survival. In the circulation, they occur in large quantities and are readily measured. Across a population, concentrations vary and this may impact on risk of cancers common in western societies. Emerging epidemiological evidence supports the notion that higher levels of IGF-I are associated with increased risk of pre-menopausal, but not post-menopausal, breast cancer. Higher levels of IGFBP-3 may also predict for increased risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, but this is contrary to the conventional view that this peptide is tumour protective. Nutritional and lifestyle factors, important in breast cancer risk, also inter-relate with circulating levels of IGF-I, but in many circumstances, the relationships are complex. It is becoming increasingly important that the clinical breast oncologist understands the physiology of the IGF system and its potential role in cancer risk assessment and prevention.
Gamma knife radiosurgery for thalamotomy in parkinsonian tremor: a five-year experience.

OBJECT Certain patients, for example, elderly high-risk surgical patients, may be unfit for radiofrequency thalamotomy to treat parkinsonian tremor. Some patients, when given the opportunity, may choose to avoid an invasive surgical procedure. The authors retrospectively reviewed their experience using gamma knife radiosurgery for thalamotomies in this patient subpopulation: 1) to determine the efficacy of the procedure; 2) to see if there is a dose-response relationship; 3) to review radiological findings of radiosurgical lesioning; and 4) to assess the risks of complications. METHODS Radiosurgical nucleus ventralis intermedius thalamotomy using the gamma knife unit was performed to make 38 lesions in 24 men and 10 women (median age 73 years, range 58-87 years) over a 5-year period. A median radiation dose of 130 Gy (range 100-165 Gy) was delivered to 38 nuclei (four patients underwent bilateral thalamotomy) using a single 4-mm collimator following classic anatomical landmarks. Twenty-nine lesions were made in the left nucleus ventralis intermedius thalamus for right-sided tremor. Patients were followed for a median of 28 months (range 6-58 months). Independent neurological evaluation of tremor based on the change in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale tremor score was correlated with subjective patient evaluation. Comparison was made between a subgroup of patients in whom "low-dose" lesions were made (range 110-135 Gy, mean 120 Gy) and those in whom "high-dose" lesions were made (range 140-165 Gy, mean 160 Gy) for purposes of dose-response information. Four thalamotomies (10.5%) failed, four (10.5%) produced mild improvement, 11 (29%) produced good improvement, and 10 (26%) produced excellent relief of tremor. In nine thalamotomies (24%) the tremor was eliminated completely. The median time to onset of improvement was 2 months (range 1 week-8 months). Concordance between an independent neurologist's evaluation and that of the patient was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Two patients who underwent unilateral thalamotomy experienced bilateral improvement in their tremor. There were no neurological complications. There was better tremor reduction in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group (p < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Although less effective than other stereotactic techniques, gamma knife radiosurgery for thalamotomy offers tremor control with minimal risk to patients unsuited for open surgery.
Infants of Depressed Mothers Living in Poverty: Opportunities to Identify and Serve

Depression in parents poses serious risks to millions of children in the United States each day, yet very often goes undetected and untreated. The risk can be very great for babies and toddlers, who are completely dependent on their parents for nurturing, stimulation, and care—and for poor families that do not have the resources to cope with depression. But depression is treatable and opportunities to reach these families and connect them to help already exist within multiple systems. In this brief, we take a first-time national look at the characteristics, access to services, and parenting approaches for infants living in poverty whose mothers are depressed (we focus on mothers as they are often the primary caregivers). We also identify current service systems that could intervene and help depressed mothers find support.
Building Self-efficacy for Exercise Among Rural High School Students: It Takes Ongoing Practice

Background: Self-efficacy has been associated with adolescent exercise. Previous studies have revealed that self-efficacy is relatively resistant to change. Effective strategies to build self-efficacy among adolescents are needed. Purpose: To describe the changes in self-efficacy and leisure time exercise produced by the “Planning to be Active Curriculum” (PBA). These changes will be studied among insufficiently active and active adolescents. Methods: A treatment/control group design was implemented in 3 rural Appalachian high schools. PBA curriculum was received by the treatment group, and the control group received a sport-based curriculum. Measurements were collected at pretest, mid-intervention, and 2 weeks postintervention. Results: A significant decrease in self-efficacy was produced by PBA for the insufficiently active at intervention midpoint. These scores significantly increased by intervention posttest. This group also reported an increase from 1 to 3 days of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Discussion: Behaviorally based health education programs could produce initial declines in self-efficacy. Skill building assignments over 8 weeks can build self-efficacy for exercise. Translation to Health Education Practice: Health education programs should target behavioral skills over a period of 8 to 10 weeks to overcome short-term declines and build self-efficacy.
Nurses' Experience of End-of Life Care for Older Adults

Purpose: This study was designed to provide qualitative data to explore the nurses' experience of caring for elders who are dying. Methods: Data were collected from ten nurses who had experiences in nursing elders who were dying and receiving care in long term care facilities in Korea. Analysis of data was done by conventional content analysis. Results: In this study, 8 essential themes were extracted; 'beginning of dying with uncertainty', 'approach- ing death in daily life', 'effort for medical intervention', 'arranging the last meeting with significant others', 'becoming elder's family member inside who shared elder's life', 'rumination about the situation of elders' dying and accumu- lated experience, 'empirical understanding and coping with human death', 'results depends on nurses'role' Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that nursing care manuals and prediction tools regarding end-of-life care for elders need to be developed and preparation of advance directives for elders in the long-term care settings should be required.
Pattern and severity of rheumatic valvular lesions in children in Khartoum, Sudan.

We determined the pattern and severity of valvular involvement in 100 Sudanese patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in 2 centres in Khartoum in 2003. All the patients underwent history taking, physical examination and Doppler echocardiography. The commonest lesions were mitral regur- gitation (84%) and aortic regurgitation (40%). Mitral stenosis alone was uncommon (9%) which could be due to a low detection rate related to the slow stenotic process and the subtle early signs. This, together with the inconsistent history of rheumatic fever, may lead to an underestimate of the prevalence of RHD. There was a strong correlation between severity of the lesion and irregular prophylaxis (P < 0.001). Caracteristiques et gravite des lesions valvulaires rhumatismales chez des enfants a Khartoum