Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nurses' experiences of caring for children in pain.

AIM To describe nurses' experiences when caring for children in pain. BACKGROUND Earlier studies have shown that nurses are key actors in pain management and that there is a need to focus on the nurses' own experiences of caring for children in pain. METHOD Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 nurses at one paediatric clinic. The data were analysed by means of content analysis. RESULTS The interviews suggested that when a child's pain followed an expected pattern and they complied with treatment, the nurses trusted their knowledge and felt comfortable. On the other hand, in unpredictable situations the nurses felt fearful, powerless, abandoned and distrustful. CONCLUSION The nurses were comfortable in predictable situations, but if a situation was unpredictable, they felt they had lost control over it. IMPLICATIONS FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT: To reduce feelings of abandonment, work shifts should be organized so that more experienced nurses can work side by side with those who are less experienced. Pain assessment tools and guidelines for pain management should be introduced into the daily work, and systematic reflection should be used for nurses' professional development.
Isolation and characterization of starches from two cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) cultivars.

This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the gross chemical compositions and functional properties of starches derived from two cultivars of cowpea. White cowpea starch (WCS) and brown cowpea starch (BCS) were isolated from their respective seeds. The starch yield (40.00%) with its residual protein content (0.09%) from white cowpea seeds was higher than that obtained from brown cowpea seeds. The apparent amylose (AAM) content of WCS was lower than in BCS. Moisture, fats and ash contents for the WCS and BCS were 11.54 and 10.18%, 0.05 and 0.07%, 0.03 and 0.05%, respectively, and their pH was 6.98 and 6.93, respectively. Bulk density of WCS was lower than in BCS; in contrast the percentage dispersibility of WCS was higher than in BCS. The shapes of the starch granules obtained from SEM were round to elliptical with many granules occurring in clusters. WCS granules were clustered while BCS granules were singled. Fissures were also observed on the surfaces of BCS granules. When heated from 55 to 95oC at 10oC intervals, the swelling power (SP) and water solubility index (WSI) of both starches were evaluated. SP of WCS and BCS increased with increased temperature, but were more pronounced in BCS. The WSI of WCS increased progressively with increased temperature until a decrease occurred after 85oC, for BCS the WSI values were inconsistent with increase in temperature. Pasting parameters (PP) were evaluated using RVA. Significant differences were observed in the PP of the two cowpea starches, especially in PV, TV, FV and SV. The results revealed that cultivar difference has an effect on pasting properties of cowpea starch.
A multiple site‐specific DNA‐inversion model for the control of Ompi phase and antigenic variation in Dichelobacter nodosus

The molecular cloning and sequence analysis of four structurally variant linked genes (omp1A,B,C,D) that encode the major outer membrane protein of Dichelobacter nodosus strain VCS1001 are described. The isolation of rearranged copies of omp1A and omp1B, and the identification in the 5′ regions of all four genes of short cross‐over‐site sequences that were similar to the Din family of cross‐over‐site sequences, suggested that site‐specific DNA inversion was involved in omp1 rearrangement. Evidence for site‐specific inversion of the 497 bp DNA fragment, which was located between the divergently orientated omp1A and omp1B genes, and which contained the promoter and 5t' coding sequence of omp1, was obtained by polymerase chain reaction‐mediated amplification of inverted forms of these genes. However, to account for all of the omp1 gene copies cloned in this study, a more widespread inversion phenomenon must be involved in the rearrangement of these genes and a model for multiple site‐specific DNA inversions at the omp1 locus is described. In this model the four structurally variant omp1 genes can be assembled from one of four structurally variant C‐terminal coding regions and a conserved N‐terminal coding region and can be expressed from a single promoter. It is postulated that this genetic capability endows D. nodosus with the ability to switch the antigenic specificity of one of its major surface proteins.
State-of-the-art: rheumatoid arthritis

The understanding of the pathogenesis and optimal therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has advanced remarkably over the last decade. This review highlights these key advances, particularly the outcomes of genome-wide scans which have provided an increasingly robust appraisal of the complex genetics that underpin RA. Such observations are placed in pathogenetic context, particularly concerning the breach of tolerance that presages synovitis and the mechanisms that subserve chronicity. The key therapeutic strategies and treatment agents, both conventional and biological, now available to effectively manage the disease are described. Throughout the review, emphasis is placed on unanswered questions and challenges in this exciting field.
Emerging Flt3 kinase inhibitors in the treatment of leukaemia

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is characterised by the infiltration of the bone marrow with highly proliferative leukaemic cells that stop to differentiate at different stages of myeloid development and carry survival advantages. Conventionally, AML is treated with aggressive cytotoxic therapy, in eligible patients followed by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. However, despite this aggressive treatment, many patients relapse and eventually die from the disease. Activating mutations in the coding sequence of the receptor tyrosine kinase Flt3 are found in leukaemic blasts from ~ 30% of AML patients. The mutations have been described to severely alter the signalling properties of this receptor and to have transforming activity in cell-line models and in primary mouse bone marrow. The prognosis of patients harbouring the most common Flt3 mutations tends to be worse than that of comparable patients without the mutations. Thus, Flt3 seems a promising target for therapeutic intervention. Several small molecules that inhibit Flt3 kinase activity are being evaluated for the treatment of AML in clinical trials. This review article discusses the signal transduction and biological function of Flt3 and its mutations in normal and malignant haematopoiesis and recent progress in drug development aiming at the inhibition of Flt3 kinases.
Interface-Trap Driven NBTI for Ultrathin (EOT~12Å) Plasma and Thermal Nitrided Oxynitrides

Negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) is studied in ultrathin Si oxynitride (SiON) films made by thermal (TNO) and plasma (PNO) processes. Threshold voltage degradation (DeltaVT) and recovery during and after NBTI stress are explained by generation and recovery of interface traps (DeltaNIT)
Human embryonic stem cell genes OCT4, NANOG, STELLAR, and GDF3 are expressed in both seminoma and breast carcinoma

The seminoma class of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) are characterized by a morphological resemblance to primordial germ cells (PGCs) or gonocytes, and chromosome duplications at 12p. Recently, it was determined that human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) express genes in common with PGCs, and that three of these genes, GDF3, STELLAR, and NANOG, are located on 12p. The current study was designed to identify whether expression of these 12p genes were elevated in seminoma relative to normal testis, and to determine whether elevated expression was unique to seminoma.
Differences in embryo quality are associated with differences in oocyte composition: A proteomic study in inbred mice

Current models of early mouse development assign roles to stochastic processes and epigenetic regulation, which are considered to be as influential as the genetic differences that exist between strains of the species Mus musculus. The aim of this study was to test whether mouse oocytes vary from each other in the abundance of gene products that could influence, prime, or even predetermine developmental trajectories and features of derivative embryos. Using the paradigm of inbred mouse strains, we quantified 2010 protein groups (SILAC LC‐MS/MS) and 15205 transcripts (RNA deep sequencing) present simultaneously in oocytes of four strains tested (129/Sv, C57Bl/6J, C3H/HeN, DBA/2J). Oocytes differed according to donor strain in the abundance of catalytic and regulatory proteins, as confirmed for a subset (bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger domain, 1B [BAZ1B], heme oxygenase 1 [HMOX1], estrogen related receptor, beta [ESRRB]) via immunofluorescence in situ. Given a Pearson's r correlation coefficient of 0.18–0.20, the abundance of oocytic proteins could not be predicted from that of cognate mRNAs. Our results document that a prerequisite to generate embryo diversity, namely the different abundances of maternal proteins in oocytes, can be studied in the model of inbred mouse strains. Thus, we highlight the importance of proteomic quantifications in modern embryology. All MS data have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD001059 (http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD001059).
FOFDM Based on Discrete Cosine Transform for Intensity-Modulated and Direct-Detected Systems

In this paper, three basic intensity-modulated and direct-detected (IM/DD) fast orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (FOFDM) schemes are compared, including Flip-FOFDM, asymmetrically clipped optical FOFDM (ACO-FOFDM) and DC-offset FOFDM (DCO-FOFDM). The modulation/demodulation processing of FOFDM employs the discrete cosine transform. Compared with conventional OFDM based on discrete Fourier transform, FOFDM exhibits lower computational complexity because of its simple one-dimensional modulation and real-valued operation. To the best of our knowledge, Flip-FOFDM is first reported. We analyze the key parameters of three basic IM/DD FOFDM schemes in detail, including spectral efficiency, computational complexity, bit-error-ratio performance, and power efficiency. We categorize ACO-FOFDM and Flip-FOFDM in U-FOFDM. The spectral efficiency of DCO-FOFDM is twice that of U-FOFDM. However, due to the large DC bias of DCO-FOFDM, DCO-FOFDM is less efficient than U-FOFDM in terms of optical power when the bit rate/normalized bandwidth is less than 5, but DCO-FOFDM becomes more efficient than U-FOFDM when the bit rate/normalized bandwidth is greater or equal to 5. FOFDM shows great potential for application in IM/DD systems.
Sandy beach ecosystems: key features, sampling issues, management challenges and climate change impacts

Escalating pressures caused by the combined effects of population growth, demographic shifts, economic development and global climate change pose unprecedented threats to sandy beach ecosystems worldwide. Conservation of beaches as functional ecosystems and protection of their unique biodiversity requires management interventions that not only mitigate threats to physical properties of sandy shores, but also include ecological dimensions. Yet, beach management remains overwhelmingly focused on engineering interventions. Here we summarise the key outcomes of several workshops, held during the 2006 Sandy Beach Ecology Symposium in Vigo, Spain, that addressed issues of climate change, beach management and sampling methodology. Because efficient communication between managers and ecologists is critical, we summarise the salient features of sandy beaches as functional ecosystems in 50 ‘key statements’; these provide a succinct synopsis of the main structural and functional characteristics of these highly dynamic systems. Key outcomes of the workshops include a set of recommendations on designs and methods for sampling the benthic infaunal communities of beaches, the identification of the main ecological effects caused by direct and indirect human interventions, the predicted consequence of climate change for beach ecosystems, and priority areas for future research.
Performance Evaluation of Spectrum Sensing Using Recovered Secondary Frames With Decoding Errors

The performance of spectrum sensing using the recovered secondary frames is analyzed. Unlike the previous work that assumes perfect decoding of the secondary signal, the new analysis takes the decoding errors into account and therefore provides a more realistic comparison between the new model and the conventional model. Both the receiver operating characteristics curves for spectrum sensing and the achievable throughput for data transmission are derived. Effects of fading and error control codes are also investigated. Numerical results show that the new model that considers the decoding error outperforms the conventional model when the number of transmitted secondary frames is below a certain threshold. An upper bound performance can also be obtained by ignoring the decoding error. The threshold is determined by the primary user traffic, the spectrum sensing technique and the secondary signal modulation scheme.
Optimal qualifications, staffing and scope of practice for first responder nurses in disaster.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore: the selection criteria for first responder nurses during disaster; scope of practice for disaster relief nurses; appropriate nurse - medical practitioner ratio at the disaster site. BACKGROUND Nurses are key members of disaster response medical teams. A scarcity of literature exists relating to nurses attending disasters, their qualifications, experience, scope of practice and appropriate staffing ratios. DESIGN Qualitative and quantitative data were collected via survey using self-developed questionnaires. Participants were 95 medical workers, who participated in emergency rescue teams following the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. A response rate of 93·7% achieved. METHOD The questionnaire included questions relating to nurses: previous experience in disaster relief; scope of practice at the disaster site; optimal ratio of medical practitioners to nurses in disaster relief teams. RESULTS Following a disaster, first responder nurses considered most suitable were those with at least three years clinical experience, particularly in the emergency department or having emergency rescue skills training. The scope of practice for disaster relief nurses was different to that of nurses working in a hospital. The majority of participants reported insufficient nurses during the relief effort, concluding the optimal ratio of medical practitioner to nurse should range between 1:1-1:2 depending on the task and situation. CONCLUSION At the scene of disaster, the preferred first responder nurses were nurses: with emergency rescue training; experienced in the emergency department; with at least three years clinical experience. The scope of practice for first responder nurses needs to be extended. Appropriate nurse - medical practitioner ratios in responding medical teams is dependant on the specific medical requirements of the disaster. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The recommendations made by this study provide a guide to ensure that nurses can contribute effectively as essential members of first responder emergency disaster relief teams.
HUMORAL AND LOCAL FACTORS IN LIVER REGENERATION.

Summary A method has been devised for maintaining an extensive cross-circulation between two rats for periods of up to 48 hours. When one of the partners in such a cross-circulation was partially hepatectomized compensatory hyperplasia took place in the remaining fragment of liver but not in the liver of its intact partner. When single rats were subjected to partial hepatectomy the pressure in the portal vein showed a slight and transient increase and returned to about the pre-operative value within 24 hours.
A novel DOTA-alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analog for metastatic melanoma diagnosis.

UNLABELLED Scintigraphic imaging of metastatic melanoma lesions requires highly tumor-specific radiolabeled compounds. Because both melanotic and amelanotic melanomas overexpress receptors for alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH; receptor name: melanocortin type 1 receptor, or MC1R), radiolabeled alpha-MSH analogs are potential candidates for melanoma diagnosis. The aim of this study was to develop a melanoma-selective radiolabeled alpha-MSH analog suitable for melanoma diagnosis. METHODS The very potent alpha-MSH analog [Nle(4), D-Phe(7)]-alpha-MSH (NDP-MSH) and a newly designed alpha-MSH octapeptide analog, [betaAla(3), Nle(4), Asp(5), D-Phe(7), Lys(10)]-alpha-MSH(3-10) (MSH(oct)), were conjugated to the metal chelator 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) to enable radiometal incorporation. The resulting DOTA conjugates were evaluated in vitro for their MC1R-binding affinity and melanogenic activity in isolated mouse B16F1 cells and in vivo for their biodistribution in mouse models of primary and metastatic melanoma after labeling with (111)In. RESULTS DOTA-MSH(oct) was shown to bind with high affinity (inhibitory concentration of 50% [IC(50)] = 9.21 nmol/L) to the MC1R, although with lower potency than does DOTA-NDP-MSH (IC(50) = 0.25 nmol/L). In B16F1 melanoma-bearing mice, both (111)In-DOTA-NDP-MSH and (111)In-DOTA-MSH(oct) exhibited high MC1R-mediated uptake by melanoma, which differed by a factor of only 1.5 at 4 h after injection. The main route of excretion for both radioconjugates was the kidneys, whereby (111)In-DOTA-MSH(oct) led to somewhat higher kidney values than did (111)In-DOTA-NDP-MSH. In contrast, the latter was much more poorly cleared from other nonmalignant tissues, including bone, the most radiosensitive organ. Therefore, (111)In-DOTA-MSH(oct) displayed higher uptake ratios of tumor to nontarget tissue (e.g., tumor-to-bone ratio 4 h after injection was 4.9 for (111)In-DOTA-NDP-MSH and 53.9 for (111)In-DOTA-MSH(oct)). Lung and liver melanoma metastases could easily be visualized on tissue section autoradiographs after injection of (111)In-DOTA-MSH(oct). Radio-reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of urine samples revealed that most (111)In-DOTA-MSH(oct) is excreted intact 4 h after injection, indicating good in vivo stability. CONCLUSION (111)In-DOTA-MSH(oct) exhibits more favorable overall performance than does (111)In-DOTA-NDP-MSH in murine models of primary and metastatic melanoma, making it a promising melanoma imaging agent.
Cellular Metabolism and Macrophage Functional Polarization

Macrophages are a functionally heterogeneous cell population that is mainly shaped by a variety of microenvironmental stimuli. Interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induce a classical activation of macrophages (M1), whereas IL-4 and IL-13 induce an alternative activation program in macrophages (M2). Reprogramming of intracellular metabolisms is required for the proper polarization and functions of activated macrophages. Similar to the Warburg effect observed in tumor cells, M1 macrophages increase glucose consumption and lactate release and decreased oxygen consumption rate. In comparison, M2 macrophages mainly employ oxidative glucose metabolism pathways. In addition, fatty acids, vitamins, and iron metabolisms are also related to macrophage polarization. However, detailed metabolic pathways involved in macrophages have remained elusive. Understanding the bidirectional interactions between cellular metabolism and macrophage functions in physiological and pathological situations and the regulatory pathways involved may offer novel therapies for macrophage-associated diseases.
Chapter 7: Biomathematical engineering of cell renewal systems: A biomathematical model of granulocytopoiesis for estimation of stem cell numbers

In this paper a dynamic model of granulocytopoiesis is used to estimate stem cell numbers after acute and chronic irradiation. Regeneration data from irradiation accidents and bone marrow transplantation are investigated in the case of acute irradiation. Data from dogs living in a low‐dose irradiation field are investigated for the case of chronic irradiation. The effects of acute irradiation and bone marrow transplantation are interpreted as a change of the initial conditions of the model, while the effect of chronic irradiation is interpreted as a continuous cell loss in the proliferating cell compartments of the model. The unknown initial conditions of the model are computed on the basis of real patient and dog data with the help of a suitably constructed optimization problem. The numerical solution of this optimization problem will only be sketched in this paper. In all cases discussed in this paper, a very good agreement between the model and the real data is achieved.
Scintigraphic imaging using technetium-99m-labeled ceftizoxime in an experimental model of acute osteomyelitis in rats

Purpose To investigate inflammatory (zymosan) and infectious (Staphylococcus aureus) processes in experimental models in rats using technetium-99m-labeled ceftizoxime (CFT). Methods Male Wistar rats were used for the development of the inflammatory (zymosan) and infectious (S. aureus) processes in the medullary cavity of the left tibia. Sterile saline was used for the control group. At 48 h after induction of the processes, the animals were anesthetized and scintigraphic images were acquired at 1, 2, 4, and 6 h after intravenous injection of 0.1 ml of 99mTc–CFT (55 MBq). Quantitative analysis of the scintigraphic images was performed by counting the radioactivity in the regions of interest. Samples of tibia were taken for histopathological examination. Results The images showed that 99mTc–CFT presented higher tropism to infectious foci than with the inflammatory site. The average value of the target/nontarget ratio of the 99mTc–CFT was significantly higher in the infected (2.40±0.22) than in the inflamed tibia (1.50±0.05) and the control group (1.05±0.04) for all of the investigated times. The histological data showed a similar inflammatory response for both the S. aureus and zymosan groups. Conclusion The 99mTc–CFT presented a high tropism and retention for an infected region in this model of osteomyelitis, thereby constituting an interesting strategy to distinguish aseptic from septic sites.
Quality of life in women with heart failure, normative groups, and patients with other chronic conditions.

BACKGROUND In the United States, 2.5 million women have heart failure, yet little is known about their quality of life. Because most studies included small samples of women, the results are not generalizable. OBJECTIVE To compare the quality of life of women with heart failure with that of a normative group and with that of women with other chronic conditions. METHODS Descriptive techniques were applied to baseline data collected in the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction trials to characterize quality of life in women with heart failure (n = 691). Global quality of life and the quality-of-life dimensions of physical function, emotional distress, social health, and general health were measured by using the Ladder of Life, items from the Profile of Mood States Inventory, the Functional Status Questionnaire, the Beta Blocker Heart Attack Trial instrument, and an item from the RAND Medical Outcomes Study instrument. RESULTS Compared with the normative group of women, women with heart failure had significantly lower global quality of life; worse vigor, intermediate activities of daily living, social activity, and general health ratings; and higher ratings for anxiety and depression. Fewer than half of the women with heartfailure felt that they were healthy enough to perform normal activities. CONCLUSIONS Women with heart failure have worse quality of life than do normative populations and patients with other chronic diseases such as hypertension, Parkinson disease, and cancer.