Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a pharmaceutical care program for hypertensive patients in rural Portugal.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the community pharmacist's capacity to positively influence the results of antihypertensive drug therapy through a pharmaceutical care program and to determine what factors limit the program. DESIGN Randomized, controlled study. SETTING Private pharmacy caring for a semiliterate, rural Portuguese population. PATIENTS Random sample of 100 patients with a diagnosis of essential hypertension who had been on drug treatment for less than 6 months. Patients were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 50) or a control (n = 50) group. INTERVENTION Individualized health promotion by a research pharmacist involving monthly appointments for 6 months to monitor blood pressure; assess adherence to treatment; prevent, detect, and resolve drug-related problems (DRPs); and encourage nonpharmacologic measures for blood pressure control. Control patients received traditional care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Control of blood pressure; decreases in systolic/diastolic blood pressure; number of detected, resolved, and prevented DRPs. RESULTS From the initial sample of 100 patients, 41 patients in the intervention group and 41 patients in the control group completed the longitudinal study. After 6 months, prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure decreased by 77.4% in the intervention group (P < .0001) and by 10.3% in the control group (P = .48). Systolic blood pressure fell from a mean +/- standard deviation of 152 mm Hg +/- 23 mm Hg to 129 +/- 15 mm Hg in intervention patients and 148 +/- 16 mm Hg to 143 +/- 20 mm Hg in control patients (P < .001). Twenty-four of 29 (83%) detected actual DRPs were resolved. About 40% of potential DRPs were prevented. CONCLUSION In this rural community, a pharmaceutical care program was associated with significant improvements in blood pressure control in hypertensive patients.
An Evaluation of Inter- and Intraobserver Reliability of Cone-beam Computed Tomography- and Two Dimensional-based Interpretations of Maxillary Canine Impactions using a Panel of Orthodontically Trained Observers.

OBJECTIVES To assess intra- and interobserver agreement when evaluating maxillary impacted canines using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and two-dimensional (2D) images through a panel of orthodontically trained observers. MATERIALS AND METHODS An adult skull with permanent dentition was employed to perform 15 simulated maxillary canine impactions. Two sets of 2D and three-dimensional (3D) radiographic images were acquired. A panel of assessors including 11 PhD and MSc postgraduate orthodontic students evaluated maxillary impacted canines using a standard questionnaire with 11 categorical variables. Kappa (K) statistics as well as Krippendorff's alpha (α) coefficients were used for the analysis of reliability. RESULTS A high level of intraobserver agreement was found for both the CBCT- and 2D-based interpretations. The 11 observers demonstrated a higher interobserver agreement for the CBCT-based interpretations than that of the 2D-based interpretations (α = 0.68 and 0.38 respectively). The employed 3D classifications canines was found to be reliable among observers on CBCT images for the labiopalatal position (K = 0.87), mesiodistal position, vertical position, labiopalatal inclination and mesiodistal inclination (α = 0.95, 0.83, 0.84 and 0.92 respectively). The 2D-based interpretations were not in agreement among the 11 observers, except for the mesiodistal position (α = 0.88) and mesiodistal inclination (α = 0.88). CONCLUSION The intraobserver agreement was high for both the 2D- and the CBCT-based interpretations. The interobserver agreement for the CBCT-based interpretations was remarkably higher than that of the 2D-based interpretations. The utilized CBCT-based 3D classifications for the location and inclination of maxillary impacted canines were found reliable among observers.
Prevalence of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis among children in four regions of Finland

The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalences of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis and their regional differences among Finnish children. The secondary objective was to determine whether the responses to the questions used are affected by the pollen season if asked during such a season. In 1994–5, the self‐reported prevalence of allergic symptoms in four regions of Finland was studied among 11607 schoolchildren aged 13–14 years, as part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). The prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis during the preceding year was 16% in eastern Finland (Kuopio County, n=2821), 23% in southern Finland (Helsinki area, n=2771), 15% in southwestern Finland (Turku and Pod County, n=2983), and 16% in northern Finland (Lapland, n=3032). The respective prevalences of flexural dermatitis were 15%, 19%, 16%, and 18%. The surveys were performed in winter, except in the Helsinki area where the survey was carried out mainly in the spring pollen season. Among the children studied in autumn in Helsinki, the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis was 19% and that of flexural dermatitis 17%. In multivariate analysis, flexural dermatitis was slightly more common in Lapland than in all other areas. In contrast, no significant differences were found in rhinoconjunctivitis. The prevalences of both disorders were twice as high in girls as in boys. In conclusion, regional differences in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were small in our country, and the prevalence figures were rather similar to those reported from other European countries. Almost half of the children had suffered from at least one atopic disorder, and over one‐third had had symptoms in the past year. A clear season‐of‐response effect was observed; the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis was 25% when studied during the pollen seasons in the Helsinki area.
A Minimum Average-Delay Configuration Algorithm for Relay-Assisted HARQ Transmissions

The paper studies the minimum average delay and corresponding maximum spectral efficiency provided by a relayassisted Hybrid-ARQ algorithm (CHARQ), which operates under target Block-Error Rate (BLE$\mathrm {R}_{\mathrm {g}\mathrm {t}}$) and maximum delay constraints. The analysis is performed by selecting adaptively a set of QAM-modulation and coding schemes (MCs), over Rayleigh block-faded channels. It presents an algorithm mADMSE that configures CHARQ by selecting the MC which would require the smallest number of retransmissions and provide the greatest spectral efficiency for the current SNRs of the involved channels, while observing the constraints of BLERgt and maximum number of retransmissions allowed. CHARQ’s performances are compared to those of a HARQ algorithm that operates only on the direct link, both configured by mAD-MSE. The results obtained show that CHARQ ensures BLE$\mathrm {R}_{\mathrm {g}\mathrm {t}}$ at smaller SNR values and requires smaller average number of rounds, at low SNR values, than HARQ, but provides smaller spectral efficiency.
Lifesource XL-18 pedometer for measuring steps under controlled and free-living conditions

Abstract The primary aim was to examine the criterion and construct validity and test–retest reliability of the Lifesource XL-18 pedometer (A&D Medical, Toronto, ON, Canada) for measuring steps under controlled and free-living activities. The influence of body mass index, waist size and walking speed on the criterion validity of XL-18 was also explored. Forty adults (35–74 years) performed a 6-min walk test in the controlled condition, and the criterion validity of XL-18 was assessed by comparing it to steps counted manually. Thirty-five adults participated in the free-living condition and the construct validity of XL-18 was assessed by comparing it to Yamax SW-200 (YAMAX Health & Sports, Inc., San Antonio, TX, USA). During the controlled condition, XL-18 did not significantly differ from criterion (P > 0.05) and no systematic error was found using Bland–Altman analysis. The accuracy of XL-18 decreased with slower walking speed (P = 0.001). During the free-living condition, Bland–Altman analysis revealed that XL-18 overestimated daily steps by 327 ± 118 than Yamax (P = 0.004). However, the absolute percent error (APE) (6.5 ± 0.58%) was still within an acceptable range. XL-18 did not differ statistically between pant pockets. XL-18 is suitable for measuring steps in controlled and free-living conditions. However, caution may be required when interpreting the steps recorded under slower speeds and free-living conditions.
Ig-like transcript 2 (ILT2) suppresses T cell function in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

ABSTRACT Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is associated with a profound dysregulation of the immune system. Loss of T cell function is frequently caused in cancer by sustained signaling of inhibitory receptors. Here, we analyzed the role of the novel inhibitory receptor Ig-like transcript 2 (ILT2) in the pathogenesis of CLL. We observed that ILT2 expression was markedly reduced on leukemic cells, whereas it was increased on CD8 and CD4 T cells from CLL patients, particularly in those patients harboring chromosome 11q deletion, which includes the ATM gene. A deep dysregulation of ILT2 ligands expression in leukemia cells was also observed. ILT2 impaired the activation and proliferation of CD4 and CD8 T cells in CLL patients, but it had no effect in leukemic cells. ILT2 downregulated the production of IL-2 by CD4 T cells of CLL patients and induced the expression of cytokines that promote the survival of leukemic cells, such as IFN-γ, by T cells. Importantly, ILT2 blockade restored the activation, proliferation and cytokine production of T cells. In conclusion, we describe a novel immune inhibitory pathway that is upregulated in CLL and delineate a new potential target to be explored in this disease.
Charged jet evolution and the underlying event in proton-antiproton collisions at 1.8 TeV

The growth and development of "charged particle jets" produced in proton-antiproton collisions at 1.8 TeV are studied over a transverse momentum range from 0.5 GeV/c to 50 GeV/c. A variety of leading (highest transverse momentum) charged jet observables are compared with the QCD Monte Carlo models HERWIG, ISAJET, and PYTHIA. The models describe fairly well the multiplicity distribution of charged particles within the leading charged jet, the size of the leading charged jet, the radial distribution of charged particles and transverse momentum around the leading charged jet direction, and the momentum distribution of charged particles within the leading charged jet. The direction of the leading "charged particle jet" in each event is used to define three regions of eta-phi space. The "toward" region contains the leading "charged particle jet," while the "away" region, on the average, contains the away-side jet. The "transverse" region is perpendicular to the plane of the hard 2-to-2 scattering and is very sensitive to the "underlying event" component of the QCD Monte Carlo models. HERWIG, ISAJET, and PYTHIA with their default parameters do not describe correctly all the properties of the "transverse" region.
Association Mapping for Enhancing Maize (Zea mays L.) Genetic Improvement

Association mapping through linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis is a powerful tool for the dissection of complex agronomic traits and for the identifi cation of alleles that can contribute to the enhancement of a target trait. With the developments of high throughput genotyping techniques and advanced statistical approaches as well as the assembling and characterization of multiple association mapping panels, maize has become the model crop for association analysis. In this paper, we summarize progress in maize association mapping and the impacts of genetic diversity, rate of LD decay, population size, and population structure. We also review the use of candidate genes and gene-based markers in maize association mapping studies that has generated particularly promising results. In addition, we examine recent developments in genome-wide genotyping techniques that promise to improve the power of association mapping and signifi cantly refi ne our understanding of the genetic architecture of complex quantitative traits. The new challenges and opportunities associated with genome-wide analysis studies are discussed. In conclusion, we review the current and future impacts of association mapping on maize improvement along with the potential benefi ts for poor people in developing countries who are dependent on this crop for their food security and livelihoods.
How Do Firms Exercise Unilateral Market Power? Evidence from a Bid-Based Wholesale Electricity Market

This paper uses the framework in Wolak (2003a,b and 2007) and data on half-hourly offer curves and market-clearing prices and quantities from the New Zealand wholesale electricity market over the period January 1, 2001 to June 30, 2007 to characterize how the four large suppliers in this imperfectly competitive industry exercise market power. To accomplish this we introduce half-hourly measures of the firm-level ability and incentive of an individual supplier to exercise unilateral market power that are derived from a simplified model of expected profit-maximizing offer behaviour in a multi-unit auction market. We then show that half-hourly market-clearing prices are highly correlated with the half-hourly values of the firm-level and firm-average measures of both the ability and incentive of the four large suppliers in New Zealand to exercise market power. We then present evidence consistent with the view that this increasing relationship between the ability or incentive of individual suppliers to exercise market power and higher market-clearing prices is caused by the four large suppliers submitting higher offer prices when they have a greater ability or incentive to exercise unilateral market power. We show that after controlling for changes in input fossil fuel prices and other factors that impact the opportunity cost of producing electricity during that half hour, each of the four suppliers submits a higher offer price into the wholesale market when it has a greater ability or incentive to exercise unilateral market power. To strengthen the case that this increasing relationship between market prices and the ability and incentive of each of the suppliers to exercise unilateral market power is actually caused by the four large suppliers exercising unilateral market power by changing their offer prices in response to their ability and incentive to exercise market power, we also perform a test of the implications of the null hypothesis that the four large suppliers behave as if they had no ability to exercise market power. We find strong evidence against this null hypothesis and instead find that these hypothesis testing results are consistent with the perspective that these suppliers are exercising all available unilateral market power.Classification-JEL:
Gender differences in hip and ankle joint kinematics on knee abduction during running

Abstract The knee is the most common site of running injuries, particularly prevalent in females. The purpose of this study was to clarify gender differences in the lower extremity kinematics during running, with a specific emphasis on the relationships between the distal and proximal factors and the knee joint kinematics. Eleven female and 11 male runners participated in this study. Three-dimensional marker positions were recorded with a motion analysis system while the subjects ran along a 25 m runway at a speed of 3.5 m/s. Kinematic variables were analyzed for the stance phase of the right leg. Female runners demonstrated significantly greater peak knee abduction (P<0.05), hip adduction (P<0.01) and internal rotation (P<0.05), whereas male runners demonstrated significantly greater peak rearfoot eversion (P<0.01). The knee abduction angles were positively correlated with hip adduction angles (r=0.49, P<0.05) and negatively correlated with rearfoot eversion (r= −0.69, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in normalised step width between genders (P>0.05). Smaller rearfoot eversion and greater hip adduction related closely to the greater knee abduction as the distal and proximal factors, respectively. These relationships are thought to be the compensatory joint motions in the frontal plane, because there was no significant difference in the normalised step width between females and males. The current results suggest that if the step width is identical, the subjects with greater knee abduction had smaller rearfoot eversion to compensate for greater hip adduction, which were more apparent in females. This explains greater knee abduction found in female runners, which can be linked to a high risk of knee injury.
The Preoptic Area in the Hypothalamus is the Source of the Additional Respiratory Drive at Raised Body Temperature in Anaesthetised Rats

In mammals that use the ventilatory system as the principal means of increasing heat loss, raising body temperature causes the adoption of a specialised breathing pattern known as panting and this is mediated by the thermoregulatory system in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus. In these species an additional respiratory drive is also present at raised body temperature, since breathing can reappear at low Pa,CO2 levels, when stimulation of chemoreceptors is minimal. It is not known whether the preoptic area is also the source of this additional drive. Rats do not pant but do possess this additional respiratory drive at raised body temperatures. We have therefore tested whether the preoptic area of the hypothalamus is the source of this additional respiratory drive in rats. Urethane anaesthesia and hyperoxia were used in eleven rats to minimise behavioural and chemical drives to breathe. The presence of the additional respiratory drive was indicated if rhythmic diaphragmatic EMG activity reappeared during hypocapnia (a mean Pa,CO2 level of 21 ± 2 mmHg, n = 11), induced by mechanical ventilation. The additional respiratory drive was absent at normal body temperature (37°C). When the temperature of the whole body was raised using an external source of radiant heat, the additional respiratory drive appeared at 40.6 ± 0.5°C (n = 3). In two further rats this drive was induced at normal body temperature by localised warming in the preoptic area of the intact hypothalamus. The additional respiratory drive appeared at similar temperatures to those in control rats in three rats following isolation of the hypothalamus from more rostral areas of the brain. In contrast, the additional respiratory drive failed to appear at these temperatures in three rats after isolating the hypothalamus from the caudal brainstem, by sectioning pathways medial to the medial forebrain bundle. Since the preoptic area is known to contain thermoreceptors and to receive afferents from peripheral thermoreceptors, the results show that this area is also the source of the additional respiratory drive at raised body temperature in anaesthetised rats.
Efficacy of pneumatic dilatation for the treatment of idiopatic achalasia: a single-center experience

Pneumatic dilatation (PD) and Surgical Miotomy (SM) are presently the best treatments for untreated achalasia, with similar efficacy. There is no information on the relative efficacy of PD in younger compared to older patients. Aim of our study was to compare success rate and safety of PD in patients under fifty years old and in those over fifty years old affected by achalasia. Twenty consecutive symptomatic patients were treated in our Unit with graded PD under fluoroscopic view. Five male and 15 female with a median age of 47 years were treated. Twelve patients were less than fifty years old (group I) while 8 were older (group II). Median dysphagia questionnaire score was 14 and13 ingroup I and II respectively. Technical success was achieved in all patients. Seven patients were previously treated through other techniques. In group I all patients achieved a complete remission of symptoms with significant decrease of the dysphagia questionnaire score (3). In group II all patients achieved a complete remission of symptoms with significant decrease of the dysphagia questionnaire score (4.5) but 3 of them repeated the procedure. In boths groups the efficacy of the dilation was radiologically confirmed. Neither early nor late complication were reported in either groups. In our experience PD was an effective and safe procedure both in young and old patients although the older group had more recurrences, all successfully re-dilated.
Finfet with fully PH-responsive HFO2 as highly stable biochemical sensor

In this work, highly scaled FinFETs (Fin Field Effect Transistors) are proposed as both sensing and circuit units of a lab-on-a-chip platform. The FinFET-based sensors with an HfO<sub>2</sub> gate oxide demonstrate full pH-response with ΔV<sub>th</sub> ≈ 56 mV/pH. High readout sensitivity S<sub>out</sub> = ΔI<sub>d</sub>/I<sub>d</sub> ≈ 43% is achieved in combination with excellent device electronic properties, i.e. SS = 77 mV/dec and I<sub>on</sub>/I<sub>off</sub> =1.5×10<sup>6</sup>. High long-term stability is proven over 4.5 days with a drift in time limited at 0.14 mV/h.
Diffusive methane emissions to the atmosphere from Lake Kivu (Eastern Africa)

[1] We report a data set of methane (CH4) concentrations in the surface waters of Lake Kivu obtained during four cruises (March 2007, September 2007, June 2008, and April 2009) covering the two main seasons, rainy (October to May) and dry (June to September). Spatial gradients of CH4 concentrations were modest in the surface waters of the main basin. In Kabuno Bay (a small subbasin), CH4 concentrations in surface waters were significantly higher than in the main basin. Seasonal variations of CH4 in the main basin were strongly driven by deepening of the mixolimnion and mixing of surface waters with deeper waters rich in CH4. On an annual basis, both Kabuno Bay and the main basin of Lake Kivu were over-saturated in CH4 with respect to atmospheric equilibrium (7330% and 2510%, respectively), and emitted CH4 to the atmosphere (39 mmol m−2 yr−1 and 13 mmol m−2 yr−1, respectively). The source of CH4 to atmosphere was two orders of magnitude lower than the CH4 upward flux. The source of CH4 to the atmosphere from Lake Kivu corresponded to ∼60% of the terrestrial sink of atmospheric CH4 over the lake's catchment. A global cross-system comparison of CH4 in surface waters of lakes shows that both Kabuno Bay and the main basin are at the lower end of values in lakes globally, despite the huge amounts of CH4 in the deeper layers of the lake. This is related to the strongly meromictic nature of the lake that promotes an intense removal of CH4 by bacterial oxidation.
A list of 142 new plant disease recordings from New Zealand and short notes on three diseases

H. J. Boesewinkel Mt. Albert Research Centre, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand. During plant disease diagnostic work in New Zealand over the period 1968-1981 the following 142 plant diseases were recorded for the first time. Amongst the pathogens 25 (asterisked) have not been reported previously for New Zealand. Where possible, herbarium samples (POD) have been deposited in the herbarium of the Plant Diseases Division, DSIR, Auckland. A few cultures (CBS; ATCC) have been deposited in the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Baarn, The Netherlands or the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, U.S.A.
Blood pressure targets in chronic kidney disease: Does proteinuria dictate how low we go?

See related research article by Lv and colleagues on page [949][1] and at [www.cmaj. ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.121468][2] Preventing kidney failure, cardiovascular events and death among patients with chronic kidney disease is important to patients, their care providers and health care systems, and