Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel ways of using tobacco packaging to communicate health messages: Interviews with packaging and marketing experts

Abstract Background: Packaging is a powerful communications tool. In this study innovative ways in which cigarette packaging could potentially be used to communicate health messages, beyond the on-pack warnings and plain packaging, were explored. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with packaging and marketing experts (N = 12) in the United Kingdom to explore novel ways of using the cigarette pack and cigarette to communicate with consumers: (1) Pack inserts, (2) A cigarette displaying a health warning, and (3) A pack playing an audio health message when opened. Participants were also asked to propose other ways, beyond those discussed, in which the pack could potentially be used to communicate health messages. Results: The on-cigarette warning was considered a powerful deterrent, thought to confront smokers, put off non-smokers, signal to youth that it is neither cool nor intelligent to smoke, and prolong the health message. Inserts were considered an appropriate supplement to the on-pack warnings, particularly if they featured gain-framed messages, and helpful for engaging smokers contemplating quitting. It was suggested that the pack with an audio health message may badger a regular smoker to the point of quitting, but the concern was that it was annoying and could lead smokers to decant their cigarettes into an alternative carrier. A number of other options for communicating with consumers were proposed. Conclusions: Pack inserts and cigarettes displaying health messages are two viable options available to regulators for supplementing the warnings on the outside of packs and thus extending health communication with consumers.
A study of Nepalese families' paid and unpaid work after migration to Australia

The patterns of paid and unpaid work adopted by migrant families with dependent children are more or less similar to that of the prevailing working patterns of men and women of Australian born couples. A case study with 14 couple families, 14 husbands and 14 wives who migrated from Nepal under the “skill” or “professional” category and the literature review on paid and unpaid work of couple families with dependent children show that in both Nepalese-born and Australian families in general the trend of change of working pattern in paid and unpaid work is similar. With the increased participation of married women in the paid labour force, men have increased their participation in household work. There is increased household work for both husbands and wives, but women tend to do more household “inside” and childcare work than men. In the mean time, men tend to do more work in the “masculine” sphere of “outside” work in house maintenance, repair and car care. The major factor that differentiates the working pattern of migrant families from Australian born families is the experience of migration and the category under which they migrated. The change of working practices of paid and unpaid work by migrant families is affected by the change of their family type from a three generational extended family to a two generational family and their education and previous work experience that they brought along with them. These professional migrants migrated as a “family unit”, that is, migrated as spouses and dependent children and they made their own decision to migrate, unlike other categories of migrants who migrated from political or economic pressure. One of the important experiences of migrant families is that there are new opportunities, new lifestyle, new intimacy and companionship and new sharing of work between husbands and wives after migration. At the same time, there are losses of extended family relatives, close friends and cultural events which affect their day to day lives. There are Australian-based friends who provide support in the initial period of migration but these families do not provide regular assistance or support which family relatives provided in Nepal.
EXPRESSION OF RENIN AND ANGIOTENSINOGEN GENES IN PREECLAMPTIC AND NORMAL HUMAN PLACENTAL TISSUE

Objective: We have quantitated renin activity and angiotensinogen and measured the expression of renin and angiotensinogen genes in placentas from normal and preeclamptic subjects to determine if tissue renin system parameters are elevated in preeclampsia.Methods: Tissue renin activity and tissue levels of angiotensinogen were measured by enzymatic techniques, and renin and angiotensinogen mRNA were quantitated by blot hybrodization in placentae from young nulliparous black women with preeclampsia and normal controls.Main Outcome: Placental ischemia is considered one of the etiological factors of preeclampsia. All components of the renin system are present in human placenta, and enhanced expression of this system may contribute to placental ischemia.Results: Tissue active renin concentration was slightly elevated in preeclamptics (130 ± 20 ng Al/mg protein/h) versus controls (80 ± 20), but angiotensinogen levels did not differ. In preeclamptic placentae renin mRNA was also elevated (249 ± 35 versus 207 ± .
Dynamic resolution of acrosomal exocytosis in human sperm

An essential step in mammalian fertilisation is the sperm acrosome reaction (AR) – exocytosis of a single large vesicle (the acrosome) that surrounds the nucleus at the apical sperm head. The acrosomal and plasma membranes fuse, resulting in both the release of factors that might facilitate penetration of the zona pellucida (which invests the egg) and the externalisation of membrane components required for gamete fusion. Exocytosis in somatic cells is a rapid process – typically complete within milliseconds – yet acrosomal enzymes are required throughout zona penetration – a period of minutes. Here, we present the first studies of this crucial and complex event occurring in real-time in individual live sperm using time-lapse fluorescence microscopy. Simultaneous imaging of separate probes for acrosomal content and inner acrosomal membrane show that rapid membrane fusion, initiated at the cell apex, is followed by exceptionally slow dispersal of acrosomal content (up to 12 minutes). Cells that lose their acrosome prematurely (spontaneous AR), compromising their ability to penetrate the egg vestments, are those that are already subject to a loss of motility and viability. Cells undergoing stimulus-induced AR (progesterone or A23187) remain viable, with a proportion remaining motile (progesterone). These findings suggest that the AR is a highly adapted form of exocytosis.
Hairless induces cell death by downregulation of EGFR signalling activity

Overexpression of the Notch antagonist Hairless (H) during imaginal development in Drosophila is correlated with tissue loss and cell death. Together with the co-repressors Groucho (Gro) and C-terminal binding protein (CtBP), H assembles a repression complex on Notch target genes, thereby downregulating Notch signalling activity. Here we investigated the mechanisms underlying H-mediated cell death in S2 cell culture and in vivo during imaginal development in Drosophila. First, we mapped the domains within the H protein that are required for apoptosis induction in cell culture. These include the binding sites for the co-repressors, both of which are essential for H-mediated cell death during fly development. Hence, the underlying cause of H-mediated apoptosis seems to be a transcriptional downregulation of Notch target genes involved in cell survival. In a search for potential targets, we observed transcriptional downregulation of rho-lacZ and EGFR signalling output. Moreover, the EGFR antagonists lozenge, klumpfuss and argos were all activated upon H overexpression. This result conforms to the proapoptotic activity of H, as these factors are known to be involved in apoptosis induction. Together, the results indicate that H induces apoptosis by downregulation of EGFR signalling activity. This highlights the importance of a coordinated interplay of Notch and EGFR signalling pathways for cell survival during Drosophila development.
Role of syntaxin 18 in the organization of endoplasmic reticulum subdomains

The presence of subdomains in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) enables this organelle to perform a variety of functions, yet the mechanisms underlying their organization are poorly understood. In the present study, we show that syntaxin 18, a SNAP (soluble NSF attachment protein) receptor localized in the ER, is important for the organization of two ER subdomains, smooth/rough ER membranes and ER exit sites. Knockdown of syntaxin 18 caused a global change in ER membrane architecture, leading to the segregation of the smooth and rough ER. Furthermore, the organization of ER exit sites was markedly changed concomitantly with dispersion of the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment and the Golgi complex. These morphological changes in the ER were substantially recovered by treatment of syntaxin-18-depleted cells with brefeldin A, a reagent that stimulates retrograde membrane flow to the ER. These results suggest that syntaxin 18 has an important role in ER subdomain organization by mediating the fusion of retrograde membrane carriers with the ER membrane.
Probiotics and Prebiotics in Pediatrics

This clinical report reviews the currently known health benefits of probiotic and prebiotic products, including those added to commercially available infant formula and other food products for use in children. Probiotics are supplements or foods that contain viable microorganisms that cause alterations of the microflora of the host. Use of probiotics has been shown to be modestly effective in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in (1) treating acute viral gastroenteritis in healthy children; and (2) preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in healthy children. There is some evidence that probiotics prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants (birth weight between 1000 and 1500 g), but more studies are needed. The results of RCTs in which probiotics were used to treat childhood Helicobacter pylori gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic ulcerative colitis, and infantile colic, as well as in preventing childhood atopy, although encouraging, are preliminary and require further confirmation. Probiotics have not been proven to be beneficial in treating or preventing human cancers or in treating children with Crohn disease. There are also safety concerns with the use of probiotics in infants and children who are immunocompromised, chronically debilitated, or seriously ill with indwelling medical devices. Prebiotics are supplements or foods that contain a nondigestible food ingredient that selectively stimulates the favorable growth and/or activity of indigenous probiotic bacteria. Human milk contains substantial quantities of prebiotics. There is a paucity of RCTs examining prebiotics in children, although there may be some long-term benefit of prebiotics for the prevention of atopic eczema and common infections in healthy infants. Confirmatory well-designed clinical research studies are necessary.
Clinical Impact of RT-PCR for Pediatric Acute Respiratory Infections: A Controlled Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing is a quick sensitive method for detecting respiratory pathogens. We evaluated the diagnostic yield of RT-PCR assays and measured the effect of rapid reporting on patient care. METHODS: In a controlled clinical trial, nasal wash specimens were obtained from patients <12 years of age with suspected acute respiratory infections. In addition to the standard hospital protocol, RT-PCR assays for 17 pathogens were performed. The RT-PCR results were communicated to the clinicians within 12 to 36 hours in the intervention group and after 4 weeks in the control group. RESULTS: A total of 583 patients were included (mean age: 8.1 months [range: 0–107.5 months]): 298 in the intervention group and 285 in the control group. Eighty-two percent of nasal wash specimens tested positive for ≥1 pathogen. Respiratory syncytial virus was the most frequently encountered (55%) pathogen. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to hospital admissions (intervention group: 223 admissions; control group: 211 admissions; P = .825), length of hospital stay (mean ± SD: 3.68 ± 2.68 days [intervention group] and 3.96 ± 2.67 days [control group]; P = .178), or duration of antibiotic use (mean ± SD: 6.52 ± 2.15 days [intervention group] and 6.97 ± 2.86 days [control group]; P = .490), when antibiotic treatment had been initiated. CONCLUSIONS: RT-PCR testing has a high yield of viral diagnoses, but rapid communication does not lead to decreases in hospital admissions, shorter hospital stays, or less antibiotic use for children with acute respiratory infections.
Parents' Evaluation of Media Ratings a Decade After the Television Ratings Were Introduced

OBJECTIVE: The 3 national studies reported here were designed to find out how satisfied parents are with media rating systems, how regularly they use them, and what types of information they ideally would like to have. METHODS: Parents (n = 745, study 1; n = 768, study 2; n = 769, study 3) were surveyed nationally by independent research firms. Studies 1 and 2 were conducted by Harris Interactive, and study 3 was conducted by Research Now. All of them were cross-sectional national surveys. RESULTS: Parents desire ratings for many types of media, but they do not think the existing ratings accurately provide the information they want. They would prefer ratings to provide detailed content information. In general, parents tend to agree on the types and descriptors of content about which they would like to know. They do not, however, agree on the ages for which different content aspects are appropriate. Parents would support the creation of a universal rating system that could be applied to multiple types of media. CONCLUSIONS: Ratings can be effective only if they are useful for parents. This set of studies reveals that improvements in media ratings are needed to make them valuable for parents.
Shear Bond Strength of Ormocer-Based Restorative Material Using Specific and Nonspecific Adhesive Systems

The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength of ormocer-based restorative material bonded to tooth structure using specific ormocer and nonspecific resin-based adhesives. Human molars were prepared to obtain flat buccal enamel surfaces and flat occlusal dentin surfaces. Admira bond, and Prime & Bond NT, Excite, AdheSE, and Prompt-L-Pop were applied to the prepared enamel and dentin surfaces. Ormocer restorative material was inserted into a mold fixed onto the prepared tooth surfaces. The restorative material was applied and cured. The shear bond strength was measured using a universal testing machine. The highest bond strength was recorded for Admira bond. The non-specific adhesives (AdheSE and Prompt-L-Pop) were recorded the lowest bond strength. Etch & Rinse (Prime & Bond NT and Excite) adhesives were recorded an intermediate values. Admira bond usually showed cohesive failure in the material with enamel and cohesive and mixed failure with the dentin. Etch & Rinse adhesives showed mixed failure with the enamel and, mixed and adhesive failures with the dentin. Self-etching adhesives commonly exhibited adhesive mode of failure. So, Etch & Rinse, non-specific bonding agents can be used with Admira ormocer-based restorative material when the specific adhesive is depleted.
The perception of the current provision of care for multiple sclerosis sufferers in the community

This multistakeholder study looked at the current provision of care for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) within North Hillingdon, from the perspective of both the patient and the healthcare professional. Using in-depth interviews and focus groups, the study explored the patients' perception of their current care provision and unmet needs. Six main themes emerged from the research: lack of support at diagnosis; lack of information (both short and long term); social isolation; the impact on the family and carers; nonpresentation of other medical problems; inequality of access to care, and a lack of continued and co-ordinated care. The multidisciplinary focus groups and questionnaires carried out with hospital consultants, doctors, GPs, practice nurses, district nurses and physiotherapists echoed these themes. The main proposal that emerged from the data was to have an individual with expert skills and knowledge in managing MS, to be appointed at Primary Care Trust (PCT) level. This proposal would allow a best possible model of care to be offered to all patients with MS across a PCT, and in so doing meet demands of clinical governance.
Instructional design of a programming course: a learning theoretic approach

We present a brief overview of a model for the human cognitive architecture and three learning theories based on this model: cognitive load theory, cognitive apprenticeship, and worked examples (a key area of cognitive skill acquisition). Based on this brief overview we argue how an introductory object-oriented programming course is designed according to results of cognitive science and educational psychology in general and cognitive load theory and cognitive skill acquisition in particular; the principal techniques applied are: worked examples, scaffolding, faded guidance, cognitive apprenticeship, and emphasis of patterns to aid schema creation and improve learning. As part of the presentation of the course, we provide a characterization of model-driven programming---the approach we have adopted in the introductory programming course. The result is an introductory programming course emphasizing a pattern-based approach to programming and schema acquisition in order to improve learning.
Drosophila Klp67A binds prophase kinetochores to subsequently regulate congression and spindle length

The kinesin-8 proteins are a family of microtubule-depolymerising motor molecules, which, despite their highly conserved roles in chromosome alignment and spindle dynamics, remain poorly characterised. Here, we report that the Drosophila kinesin-8 protein, Klp67A, exists in two spatially and functionally separable metaphase pools: at kinetochores and along the spindle. Fixed and live-cell analyses of different Klp67A recombinant variants indicate that this kinesin-8 first collects at kinetochores during prophase and, by metaphase, localises to the kinetochore outerplate. Although the catalytic motor activity of Klp67A is required for efficient kinetochore recruitment at all times, microtubules are entirely dispensable for this process. The tail of Klp67A does not play a role in kinetochore accumulation, but is both necessary and sufficient for spindle association. Using functional assays, we reveal that chromosome position and spindle length are determined by the microtubule-depolymerising motor activity of Klp67A exclusively when located at kinetochores, but not along the spindle. These data reveal that, unlike other metazoan kinesin-8 proteins, Klp67A binds the nascent prophase and mature metaphase kinetochore. From this location, Klp67A uses its motor activity to ensure chromosome alignment and proper spindle length.
Preterm delivery and low birth weight among neonates born to HIV-positive and HIV-negative Ghanaian women

In sub-Saharan Africa, several hundreds of pregnancies are exposed to both malaria and HIV infections annually. Adverse perinatal outcomes as a result of these infections include preterm delivery (PTD), and low birth weight (LBW). These are not well characterized in Ghana. We determined whether malaria and HIV infections during pregnancy increase the risk of delivering a preterm or a LBW neonate. We enrolled 1,154 women at their first antenatal visit (443 HIV-positive and 711 HIV-negative), and prospectively collected data at delivery on 761 mother-infant pairs. Malaria parasitemia status, HIV status, hemoglobin concentration, and CD4+ cell count were determined using standard methods. We observed a significantly increased risk of LBW among HIVpositive women with malaria at recruitment, odds ratio (OR) = 4.4, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] (2.3 to 8.4), at delivery, OR = 2.5, 95% CI (1.1 to 3.7). The risk among those who were dually-infected at recruitment and at delivery was more pronounced; OR = 11.3; 95% CI (4.6 to 27.4). Dual infection was also associated with a 4-fold risk of delivering preterm; OR = 3.96; 95% CI (1.8 to 8.5). These findings demonstrate that neonates of HIV-positive women with multiple malaria infections are at particular risk of PTD and LBW in Ghana.
Stat3 promotes directional cell migration by regulating Rac1 activity via its activator βPIX

Stat3 is a member of the signal transducer and activator of transcription family, which is important for cytokine signaling as well as for a number of cellular processes including cell proliferation, anti-apoptosis and immune responses. In recent years, evidence has emerged suggesting that Stat3 also participates in cell invasion and motility. However, how Stat3 regulates these processes remains poorly understood. Here, we find that loss of Stat3 expression in mouse embryonic fibroblasts leads to an elevation of Rac1 activity, which promotes a random mode of migration by reducing directional persistence and formation of actin stress fibers. Through rescue experiments, we demonstrate that Stat3 can regulate the activation of Rac1 to mediate persistent directional migration and that this function is not dependent on Stat3 transcriptional activity. We find that Stat3 binds to βPIX, a Rac1 activator, and that this interaction could represent a mechanism by which cytoplasmic Stat3 regulates Rac1 activity to modulate the organization of actin cytoskeleton and directional migration.
Functional interplay between LIS1, NDE1 and NDEL1 in dynein-dependent organelle positioning

LIS1, NDE1 and NDEL1 modulate cytoplasmic dynein function in several cellular contexts. However, evidence that they regulate dynein-dependent organelle positioning is limited. Here, we show that depletion of NDE1 or NDEL1 alone profoundly affected the organisation of the Golgi complex but did not cause it to disperse, and slightly affected the position of endocytic compartments. However, striking dispersal of organelles was observed when both NDE1 and NDEL1 were depleted. A substantial portion of NDE1 and NDEL1 is membrane associated, and depletion of these proteins led to complete loss of dynein from membranes. Knockdown of LIS1 also caused the Golgi complex to fragment and disperse throughout the cell, and caused endocytic compartments to relocalise to the periphery. Depletion of LIS1, which is primarily cytosolic, led to partial loss of membrane-associated dynein, without affecting NDE1 and NDEL1. These data suggest that NDE1 and NDEL1 act upstream of LIS1 in dynein recruitment, and/or activation, on the membrane. Consistent with this hypothesis, expression of exogenous NDE1 or NDEL1 rescued the effects of LIS1 depletion on Golgi organisation, whereas LIS1 was only partially effective at rescuing the loss of NDE1 and NDEL1.