Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Multi-Site Knowledge Attitude and Practice Survey of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria

Background The 2014 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak was characterised by fear, misconceptions and irrational behaviours. We conducted a knowledge attitude and practice survey of EVD in Nigeria to inform implementation of effective control measures. Methods Between July 30th and September 30th 2014, we undertook a cross sectional study on knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) among adults of the general population and healthcare workers (HCW) in three states of Nigeria, namely Bayelsa, Cross River and Kano states. Demographic information and data on KAP were obtained using a self-administered standardized questionnaire. The percentage KAP scores were categorised as good and poor. Independent predictors of good knowledge of EVD were ascertained using a binary logistic regression model. Results Out of 1035 study participants with median age of 32 years, 648 (62.6%) were males, 846 (81.7%) had tertiary education and 441 (42.6%) were HCW. There were 218, 239 and 578 respondents from Bayelsa, Cross River and Kano states respectively. The overall median percentage KAP scores and interquartile ranges (IQR) were 79.46% (15.07%), 95.0% (33.33%) and 49.95% (37.50%) respectively. Out of the 1035 respondents, 470 (45.4%), 544(52.56%) and 252 (24.35%) had good KAP of EVD defined using 80%, 90% and 70% score cut-offs respectively. Independent predictors of good knowledge of EVD were being a HCW (Odds Ratio-OR-2.89, 95% Confidence interval-CI of 1.41–5.90), reporting ‘moderate to high fear of EVD’ (OR-2.15, 95% CI-(1.47–3.13) and ‘willingness to modify habit’ (OR-1.68, 95% CI-1.23–2.30). Conclusion Our results reveal suboptimal EVD-related knowledge, attitude and practice among adults in Nigeria. To effectively control future outbreaks of EVD in Nigeria, there is a need to implement public sensitization programmes that improve understanding of EVD and address EVD-related myths and misconceptions, especially among the general population.
Effect of valepotriates (valerian extract) in generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized placebo‐controlled pilot study

The aim of the present study was to carry out a controlled pilot study on the putative anxiolytic effect of valepotriates. Thirty‐six outpatients with generalized anxiety disorder (DSM III‐R), after a 2‐week wash‐out, were randomized to one of the following three treatments for 4 weeks (n = 12 per group): valepotriates (mean daily dose: 81.3 mg), diazepam (mean daily dose: 6.5 mg), or placebo. A parallel, double‐blind, flexible‐dose, placebo‐controlled design was employed. No significant difference was observed among the three groups at baseline or in the change from baseline on the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM‐A) or in the trait part of the state‐trait anxiety inventory (STAI‐trait). Moreover, the three groups presented a significant reduction in the total HAM‐A scores. On the other hand, only the diazepam and valepotriates groups showed a significant reduction in the psychic factor of HAM‐A. The diazepam group also presented a significant reduction of the STAI‐trait. Although the principal analysis (HAM‐A between group comparison) found negative results (probably due to the small sample size in each group), the preliminary data obtained in the present study suggest that the valepotriates may have a potential anxiolytic effect on the psychic symptoms of anxiety. However, since the number of subjects per group was very small, the present results must be viewed as preliminary. Thus, further studies addressing this issue are warranted. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ozurdex in the management of the macular edema following retinal vein occlusion in clinical practice

when the primary tumour was diagnosed, a higher percentage than that was reported from Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) of <1% frequency (Diener-West et al. 2001). This may arise from selection bias, because our hospital is a tertiary referral centre, or from racial and ethnic disparity. All patients with metastasis died at a median of 5.0 months (range, 1–12) after detection of dissemination. The survival rate at 3 and 5 years after enucleation was 68% (95% confidence interval [CI], 48–88) and 53% (95% CI, 32–74), respectively (Fig. 1A). The rate 6 months after detection of metastasis was 31% (95% CI, 6–56; Fig. 1B). All three patients with ciliary body melanoma developed metastasis. Liver was the most common site of metastasis (12 ⁄12), followed by bone (5 ⁄12), lung (2 ⁄12), lymph nodes and brain (each 1 ⁄12). After detection of metastasis, three patients with a single site of metastasis survived 1, 6 and 10 months. Nine patients with two or more sites of metastases survived a median of 5 months (range, 3–12; p = 0.32). The 5-year survival rates for the four size categories T1–T4 were 100%, 75% (95% CI, 54–96), 31% (95% CI, 14– 48) and 26% (95% CI, 5–57), respectively (Fig. 1C), based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumour, node, metastasis (TNM 7th edition) criteria (AJCC 2010). The 5year survival rates for the four stages IIV were 100%, 56% (95% CI, 39–73), 42% (95% CI, 20–64) and 0%, respectively (Fig. 1D). These rates are lower than is given for the large material used to develop the TNM classification (AJCC 2010), partly because three patients had metastasis at diagnosis. Larger tumour size and non-spindle cell melanoma (epithelioid or mixed cell melanoma) were associated with shorter survival (log-rank test; p = 0.02 and p < 0.01). The 5-year survival rates for spindle and non-spindle cell melanoma (epithelioid or mixed cell melanoma) were 100% and 34% (Fig. 1E; 95% CI, 21–47). Age, gender and extraocular extension were not associated with survival in this small series (Table 1).
Clinical and Therapeutic Significance of Patterns of Allergic Reactions of the Lungs to Extrinsic Agents The 1977

In the analysis of respiratory tract reactions, much emphasis is placed on possible allergic mechanisms. The term "allergy" was introduced by von Pirquet in 1906 (1) to describe the profound biologic transformation of the intact organism resulting from adequate exposure to viable and nonviable agents, so that re-exposure, often to small, indeed minute, and apparently innocuous amounts of extrinsic agents, elicits a different sort of reaction. This can be summarized as the "acquired," "specific," "altered capacity to react," the nature of the reaction depending on the particular allergic mechanisms. The traditional criteria for regarding a reaction as allergic, with or without supporting immunologic evidence, are as follows.
Collateral vessel opacification with CT in patients with coronary total occlusion and its relationship with downstream myocardial infarction.

PURPOSE To assess the correlation between the filling pattern of distal coronary vessels in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) observed at coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography and the extent of downstream myocardial infarction (MI). MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients gave written informed consent, and the institutional review board approved the study protocol. A total of 97 patients (mean age, 68.5 years ± 11.5 [standard deviation]; age range, 38-87 years; 77 men, 20 women) with 106 CTOs were prospectively enrolled. Distal filling of the epicardial segment was semiquantitatively classified by using a four-point scale according to patterns at coronary CT angiography (0 = absence of distal filling; 1 = partial distal filling, with a length less than one-third of the segment; 2 = partial distal filling, with a length between one-third and two-thirds of the segment; 3 = complete or partial distal filling, with a length longer than two-thirds of the segment). A coronary CT angiography score of 3 was considered indicative of well-developed collaterals. Downstream MI transmurality and wall motion abnormality were verified semiquantitatively with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Mann-Whitney U test and t test were used for comparison. RESULTS Coronary CT angiography revealed three lesions with a score of 0, 21 with a score of 1, 35 with a score of 2, and 47 with a score of 3. The non-MI subgroup was associated with higher collateral grading at CT angiography, whereas the transmural MI subgroup was associated with lower collateral grading (P = .005). When compared with the poorly developed (score 0-2) collaterals group, the well-developed (score 3) collateral group correlated to a lower summed transmurality score (P < .001) and a lower summed regional wall motion abnormality score (P = .029). CONCLUSION The presence of well-developed distal collaterals as revealed by coronary CT angiography in patients with CTO lesions correlates with the lower frequency and extent of downstream MI.
Clarithromycin Attenuates Mastectomy-Induced Acute Inflammatory Response

ABSTRACT Based on the observation that administration of clarithromycin led to an attenuation of the inflammatory response induced by surgical trauma in a guinea pig model, we investigated the potential beneficial effects of clarithromycin on the local and systemic inflammatory response in patients undergoing mastectomy in an open-label prospective study. During a 16-month period, 54 patients who underwent mastectomy were randomly divided into two groups. In one group, the patients received oral clarithromycin at a dose of 500 mg twice a day, from the day before to 3 days after mastectomy. There was no significant difference in the incidence of antibiotic prophylaxis-related toxicities or postoperative infections between the patients who received clarithromycin and those who did not. Clarithromycin treatment was significantly associated with an attenuation of febrile response, tachycardia, tachypnea, and an increase in monocyte counts (P, <0.0001, <0.01, <0.05, and <0.01, respectively). Clarithromycin also reduced the intensity and duration of postoperative pain (P, <0.05 and <0.005, respectively) and increased the range of motion of the involved shoulder (P < 0.05 for abduction and flexion). We conclude that clarithromycin effectively modulates the acute inflammatory response associated with mastectomy and produces a better clinical outcome.
Subthalamic nucleus stimulation restores the efferent cortical drive to muscle in parallel to functional motor improvement

Pathological synchronization in large‐scale motor networks constitutes a pathophysiological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Corticomuscular synchronization in PD is pronounced in lower frequency bands (< 10 Hz), whereas efficient cortical motor integration in healthy persons is driven in the beta frequency range. Electroencephalogram and electromyogram recordings at rest and during an isometric precision grip task were performed in four perioperative sessions in 10 patients with PD undergoing subthalamic nucleus deep‐brain stimulation: (i) 1 day before (D0); (ii) 1 day after (D1); (iii) 8 days after implantation of macroelectrodes with stimulation off (D8StimOff); and (iv) on (D8StimOn). Analyses of coherence and phase delays were performed in order to challenge the effects of microlesion and stimulation on corticomuscular coherence (CMC). Additionally, local field potentials recorded from the subthalamic nucleus on D1 allowed comprehensive mapping of motor‐related synchronization in subthalamocortical and cerebromuscular networks. Motor performance improved at D8StimOn compared with D0 and D8StimOff paralleled by a reduction of muscular activity and CMC in the theta band (3.9–7.8 Hz) and by an increase of CMC in the low‐beta band (13.7–19.5 Hz). Efferent motor cortical drives to muscle presented mainly below 10 Hz on D8StimOff that were suppressed on D8StimOn and occurred on higher frequencies from 13 to 45 Hz. On D1, coherence of the high‐beta band (20.5–30.2 Hz) increased during movement compared with rest in subthalamomuscular and corticomuscular projections, whereas it was attenuated in subcorticocortical projections. The present findings lend further support to the concept of pathological network synchronization in PD that is beneficially modulated by stimulation.
Probability‐based protein secondary structure identification using combined NMR chemical‐shift data

For a long time, NMR chemical shifts have been used to identify protein secondary structures. Currently, this is accomplished through comparing the observed 1Hα, 13Cα, 13Cβ, or 13C′ chemical shifts with the random coil values. Here, we present a new protocol, which is based on the joint probability of each of the three secondary structural types (β‐strand, α‐helix, and random coil) derived from chemical‐shift data, to identify the secondary structure. In combination with empirical smooth filters/functions, this protocol shows significant improvements in the accuracy and the confidence of identification. Updated chemical‐shift statistics are reported, on the basis of which the reliability of using chemical shift to identify protein secondary structure is evaluated for each nucleus. The reliability varies greatly among the 20 amino acids, but, on average, is in the order of: 13Cα>13C′>1Hα>13Cβ>15N>1HN to distinguish an α‐helix from a random coil; and 1Hα>13Cβ >1HN ∼13Cα∼13C′∼15N for a β‐strand from a random coil. Amide 15N and 1HN chemical shifts, which are generally excluded from the application, in fact, were found to be helpful in distinguishing a β‐strand from a random coil. In addition, the chemical‐shift statistical data are compared with those reported previously, and the results are discussed. A JAVA User Interface program has been developed to make the entire procedure fully automated and is available via http://ccsr3150‐p3.stanford. edu.
Mechanisms of surface potential decay on enamel wire coatings

Results of measurements of surface potential decay on coating layer of enameled wires are presented. In experiments, surfaces of winding samples were charged by dc corona of both polarities and decay of surface potential induced by charges deposited on the materials was recorded utilizing non-contact technique. The power-law type of time dependences of surface potential decay rates was obtained that indicated a dominant role of charge injection and/or dipolar polarization in the decay process. Furthermore, several decay mechanisms were employed for examining the experimental data, which revealed that potential decay was initially governed by the injection of charges due to electron transfer between the deposited charges and the material. Later on, the contribution of polarization to decay process was significant, while intrinsic conduction became the prevailing decay mechanism only at the latest stage as polarization was stabilized.
Psychological stress and adjustment in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology and spontaneous conception: A systematic review

ABSTRACT The aim of this review was to examine studies describing the psychological stress and adjustment in pregnancy after an assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. A systematic search of the electronic databases was performed. This review considered only quantitative, primary studies in the English language, published during the period 2000–2014 and relevant to the objective. The population of interest was previously infertile pregnant women. Outcome variables were general anxiety, depressive symptoms, pregnancy-specific anxiety, quality of life, self-esteem, pregnancy attitudes and adjustment, and maternal-fetal attachment. Twenty studies met the inclusion and methodological criteria and were included in the review. The review revealed that compared to women who conceive naturally or to general norms, women who conceive after an in vitro fertilization treatment had greater pregnancy-specific anxiety, poorer quality of life, either the same or less depressive symptomatology, the same level of self-esteem, more positive attitudes toward pregnancy demands, and higher levels of maternal-fetal attachment. However, the evidence regarding the general anxiety levels in pregnancy after an ART treatment was inconclusive. Methodological limitations and differences across studies may explain the inconsistencies in their findings regarding the impact of ART. This review provides an insight into psychological reactions and adjustment in pregnancy after an ART treatment.
Family Satisfaction With Care Provided by Nurse Practitioners to Nursing Home Residents With Dementia at the End of Life

The purpose of this study was to examine family satisfaction with care provided by nurse practitioners (NP) to nursing home (NH) residents with dementia. A survey was mailed to 239 family members of nursing home residents who died with dementia. One open-ended question was added to provide comment about the care provided by the NP. A total of 131 surveys were returned (response rate 55%). The study revealed that 98% of family members agreed that they were satisfied with the end-of-life care provided by the NP. Survey responses were used to analyze the associations of communication, comfort, and satisfaction with NPs to total satisfaction with end-of-life care. Pearson’s correlations demonstrated that overall satisfaction was significantly associated with NP–family communication, resident comfort, and satisfaction with NP care. Findings suggested that NPs using a model of care that emphasizes advance care planning, communication, and comfort results in high satisfaction of family members.
An Exploration of Implicit Attitudes Towards Robots Using Implicit Measures Minae

Given the importance of setting accurate expectations of robot capabilities in humans, we explore how people form implicit competence judgments toward a robot over a prolonged interaction, and how durable those implicit judgments are. We created a live interaction between a robot deli cashier and a human customer. The robot displays a competent behavior followed by: another competent behavior (Condition A), an incompetent behavior (Condition B), or an incompetent behavior with a warning (Condition C). We measured implicit judgments of competence toward the robot using the affect misattribution procedure over time and by condition. We then measured the durability of these implicit impressions after several months. Contrary previous work, results show that there is no immediate effect of warning on guarding against a drop in implicit competence judgments. We find that the effect of warning emerge only months later.
In Vitro Activities of Piperaquine and Other 4-Aminoquinolines against Clinical Isolates of Plasmodium falciparum in Cameroon

ABSTRACT The spread of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum calls for a constant search for new drugs. The in vitro activity of piperaquine, a new Chinese synthetic drug belonging to the bisquinolines, was evaluated in 103 fresh clinical isolates of P. falciparum in Cameroon, Central Africa, and compared with that of other 4-aminoquinoline and Mannich base derivatives and dihydroartemisinin. Piperaquine was highly active (geometric mean 50% inhibitory concentration, 38.9 nmol/liter; range, 7.76 to 78.3 nmol/liter) and equally active (P > 0.05) against the chloroquine-sensitive and the chloroquine-resistant isolates. There was a significant but low correlation of response between chloroquine and piperaquine (r = 0.257, P < 0.05). These results suggest that further development of piperaquine, in combination with dihydroartemisinin, holds promise for use in chloroquine-resistant regions of endemicity.
The Ontology of the Enemy: Norbert Wiener and the Cybernetic Vision

"I . hope you can find some corner of activity in which I may be of use during the emergency," the mathematician and physicist Norbert Wiener wrote the czar of American war research, Vannevar Bush, on 20 September 1940. Britain was under unrelenting aerial attack, and a Nazi invasion seemed imminent. Wiener scrambled across the disciplinary map to throw his weight behind a technological defense. He suggested procedures to improve Bush's computational device, the so-called differential analyzer, in ways that would facilitate faster design of war materiel from airplane wings to ballistic shells. More concretely, he reiterated a previous proposal that the Allies loft air-bursting containers of liquified ethylene, propane, or acetylene gases to engulf a wide volume of the sky in a pro-
Modeling of TCP behavior in a DiffServ network supporting assured forwarding PHB

The paper presents a mathematical model of the TCP behavior in a DiffServ network and its empirical validation. The assured forwarding per hop behavior is modeled. The model is modular - individual components of DiffServ nodes are described by separate sets of equations. It makes it easy to develop a model of a system consisting of various types of DiffServ node elements (meters/markers, shaper/droppers) just by changing some of the equations. The input traffic is divided into several traffic aggregates each having a part of a bottleneck capacity dedicated to it.
Involvement of the CA3–CA1 Synapse in the Acquisition of Associative Learning in Behaving Mice

One of the brain sites more directly related with learning and memory processes is the hippocampus. We recorded, in conscious mice, the activity-dependent changes taking place at the hippocampal CA3–CA1 synapse during the acquisition, extinction, recall, and reconditioning of an associative task. Mice were classically conditioned to evoke eyelid responses using a trace [conditioned stimuli (CS), tone; unconditioned stimuli (US), shock] paradigm. A single electrical pulse presented to the Schaffer collateral–commissural pathway during the CS–US interval evoked a monosynaptic field EPSP (fEPSP) at ipsilateral CA1 pyramidal cells. The slope of evoked fEPSPs increased across conditioning sessions and decreased during extinction, being linearly related to learning evolution. In contrast, fEPSPs were not modified when evoked in control mice in the absence of a conditioning protocol. Long-term potentiation (LTP) evoked by high-frequency stimulation of Schaffer collaterals prevented acquisition, extinction, recall, or reconditioning, depending on the moment when it was triggered. Learning and memory impairments evoked by LTP induction resulted probably from the functional saturation of the CA3–CA1 synapse, although an additional disturbance of the subsequent information transfer toward postsynaptic circuits cannot be discarded. CGP 39551 [(E)-(±)-2-amino-4-methyl-5-phosphono-3-pentenoic acid ethyl ester] (an NMDA antagonist) prevented LTP induction in behaving mice, as well as the acquisition of an eyelid learned response, and the synaptic changes taking place at the CA3–CA1 synapse across conditioning. In conclusion, the responsivity of the CA3–CA1 synapse seems to be modulated during associative learning, and both processes are prevented by experimental LTP or NMDA-receptor inactivation. Our results provide evidence of a relationship between activity-dependent synaptic plasticity and associative learning in behaving mice.