Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The confusing tale of depression and distress in patients with diabetes: a call for greater clarity and precision

Studies have identified significant linkages between depression and diabetes, with depression associated with poor self‐management behaviour, poor clinical outcomes and high rates of mortality. However, findings are not consistent across studies, yielding confusing and contradictory results about these relationships. We suggest that there has been a failure to define and measure ‘depression’ in a consistent manner. Because the diagnosis of depression is symptom‐based only, without reference to source or content, the context of diabetes is not considered when addressing the emotional distress experienced by individuals struggling with diabetes. To reduce this confusion, we suggest that an underlying construct of ‘emotional distress’ be considered as a core construct to link diabetes‐related distress, subclinical depression, elevated depression symptoms and major depressive disorder (MDD). We view emotional distress as a single, continuous dimension that has two primary characteristics: content and severity; that the primary content of emotional distress among these individuals include diabetes and its management, other life stresses and other contributors; and that both the content and severity of distress be addressed directly in clinical care. We suggest further that all patients, even those whose emotional distress rises to the level of MDD or anxiety disorders, can benefit from consideration of the content of distress to direct care effectively, and we suggest strategies for integrating the emotional side of diabetes into regular diabetes care. This approach can reduce confusion between depression and distress so that appropriate and targeted patient‐centred interventions can occur.
A cross-sectional survey of children's packed lunches in the UK: food- and nutrient-based results

Background Standards for school meals were recently introduced in the UK; however, no such standards exist for packed lunches. This study measures the provision and consumption of a range of food types and nutrients in British children's packed lunches and compares the results with the prevailing school meal standards in England. Methods Cross-sectional survey data was collected from 1294 children, age 8–9 years, attending 89 British primary schools. Eighty-seven primary schools declined to take part. The outcomes were the weight of food types and nutrients, provided and consumed in packed lunches and the proportion meeting the government food and nutrient school meal standards for England. Results Fourteen out of 1294 (1.1%) of packed lunches met all the food-based standards for school meals in England. Eighty-five per cent of children were provided with a sandwich, 19% with vegetables, 54% with fruit, 17% with cheese, 44% with a milk-based dessert, 82% with restricted snacks (crisps or confectionery) and 61% with a sweetened drink. The nutrient standards most likely to be met were protein and vitamin C. The nutrient standards least likely to be met were non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) and sodium. Girls were provided with, and consumed, more fruit, vegetables and milk-based desserts. Children at schools with lower percentage free school meals eligibility (% FSME) were provided with, and consumed, more vegetables. Conclusion Few packed lunches meet the school meal standards. Future research should address policy, interventions, and programmes to educate parents about the nutritional content of packed lunches.
Globally convergent fast exact differentiator with variable gains

A new modification of the popular finite-time-convergent robust exact sliding-mode-based differentiator is proposed. Such nth-order differentiator provides for the fast global convergence of its outputs to the first n exact derivatives of its input, provided a time-variable local Lipschitz constant of the input's nth derivative is available and has a bounded logarithmic derivative. It features the standard asymptotic accuracy of the homogeneous differentiator in the presence of noises and discrete-time sampling. Special discretization preserves the same accuracy, when the differentiator is realized as a discrete-time system.
Group authentication: A new paradigm for emerging applications

Traditional secure registration protocols rely on client-server authentication procedures. This concept has been extended to support single client registration to multiple servers, using “single sign-on” protocols. In this paper, we design a framework to solve the “reverse single sign-on” problem: How can multiple clients securely register with the same server/network in a single registration procedure? The main advantage of our framework is that it allows multiple clients to register with an infrastructure, such as a cellular network, as a “group,” yet generate individual session keys as well as a group session key. With this, the process of authenticating a large number of clients is greatly simplified, thereby dramatically reducing overheads. With a view towards simplifying the exposition, we describe how our framework can be applied for performing group authentication of devices in the machine-to-machine context. While this is an immediate area of application, we outline other extensions of the framework in the application layer including webcasting in a social networking environment. © 2012 Alcatel-Lucent.
The validity and reliability of a sample of 10 Wattbike cycle ergometers

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to assess the validity and inter-bike reliability of 10 Wattbike cycle ergometers, and to assess the test–retest reliability of one Wattbike. Power outputs from 100 to 1000 W were applied using a motorised calibration rig (LODE) at cadences of 70, 90, 110 and 130 rev · min−1, which created nineteen different intensities for comparison. Significant relationships (P < 0.01, r2 = 0.99) were found between each of the Wattbikes and the LODE. Each Wattbike was found to be valid and reliable and had good inter-bike agreement. Within-bike mean differences ranged from 0.0 W to 8.1 W at 300 W and 3.3 W to 19.3 W at 600 W. When taking into account the manufacturers stated measurement error for the LODE (2%), the mean differences were less than 2%. Comparisons between Wattbikes at each of the nineteen intensities gave differences from 0.6 to 25.5 W at intensities of 152 W and 983 W, respectively. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the measures of power recorded in the test–retest condition. The data suggest that the Wattbike is an accurate and reliable tool for training and performance assessments, with data between Wattbikes being able to be used interchangeably.
The role of openness in the effect of ICT on governance*

ABSTRACT The study investigates how openness influences information and communication technology (ICT) penetration for improved government quality in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2000–2012. Openness is measured in terms of trade and financial globalization whereas ICT is proxied with mobile phone and internet penetration rates. Ten bundled and unbundled governance indicators are used. The empirical evidence is based on Generalised Method of Moments with forward orthogonal deviations. The main findings are First, financial openness has an edge over trade openness when combined with ICT to affect both economic and institutional governance. Second, mobile phones have an edge over internet penetration in complementing (i) trade openness for economic governance and (ii) financial openness for institutional governance. Third, net effects on political governance are consistently negative. Taken together, in the short-run, openness-driven ICT policies are more rewarding in terms of economic and institutional governance than political governance. Fourth, catch-up in governance is facilitated by the interaction between openness and ICT. Contributions of these findings to literature are discussed.
Mini-invasive Surgery for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Forearm: A New Technique

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is now easily identified among the athletic population. It remains common in motorcyclists. The only treatment is the fasciotomy of the compartments and the gold standard procedure is still the open-invasive surgery. The authors describe a new mini-invasive surgical procedure to perform a 4-compartment fasciotomy of the forearm, and expose their results. Over a 3-year period, we reviewed 16 cases of forearm compartment fasciotomy for 8 patients with bilateral chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the forearm who had been operated on. All 8 were males, with an average age of 23 years. All were competition motorcyclists, either in cross-country or speed competitions. They were all treated with the same bilateral procedure: a mini-open fasciotomy of the 4 forearm compartments using the Knifelight, which is a sharp blade between 2 plastic blunt skids originally designed for carpal tunnel release. All patients had resumed their sport in the 6 weeks after the surgery. They were back to their previous level in 3 cases, and improved their level in 5 cases. No complications and no recurrences were reported during an average 2-year follow-up. The mini-invasive technique for fasciotomy seems to be as efficient as the open technique procedure, which is still the gold standard. But the length of surgery, recovery time, and scar sequelae are much better. Mini-invasive surgery is simple, efficient, and the results are reproducible.
Analysis of Cartilage Tissue on a Cellular Level in Fresh Osteochondral Allograft Retrievals

Background Fresh human osteochondral allografting is a biological cartilage replacement technique used to treat articular and osteoarticular defects in the knee. A small number of grafts fail, and we analyzed every retrieved graft during a 4-year period in order to learn more about the potential causes of failure. Hypothesis A large percentage of chondrocytes still remain viable many years after fresh osteochondral allografting. Study Design Descriptive laboratory study. Methods Retrieval specimens were obtained at the time of revision surgery and immediately analyzed. Chondrocyte viability and viable cell density were determined using a live/dead staining technique followed by confocal microscopy. Glycosaminoglycan content was a measure of the cartilage matrix. Radiolabeled sulfate uptake served as a biochemical marker of chondrocyte metabolic activity. Cartilage and subchondral bone were examined histologically. Results Fourteen patients yielded a total of 26 retrieval specimens that had been originally implanted as individual fresh osteochondral allografts. Average graft survival was 42 months. Chondrocyte viability was 82% ± 17%, and chondrocyte viable cell density was 15 590 ± 5900 viable cells/mm3. Retrieved tissue demonstrated radiolabeled sulfate uptake of 437 ± 270 counts per minute and 3.5% ± 0.8% hexosamine per dry weight. Histologically, all specimens showed some degree of cartilage fibrillation. There was evidence of bone allograft incorporation in most specimens, as well as pannus formation in 4 specimens, but no evidence of immune rejection. Conclusion A small percentage of fresh osteochondral allografts fail, but the precise cause is unknown. The main theories for failure investigated here include immunologic rejection, failure of bony incorporation, and chondrocyte death causing breakdown of the cartilage matrix. We show that chondrocytes remain viable many years after transplantation, allograft bone incorporates, and immune rejection does not seem to play a primary role in failure. Clinical Relevance Fresh osteochondral allografting is becoming more common in the treatment of articular cartilage defects in the knee. Our findings support the paradigm of fresh osteochondral allografting, the transplantation of hyaline cartilage with biological incorporation of the underlying bone scaffold. The reasons for failure of a small percentage of grafts remain unclear.
Infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biologic agents.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the incidence rates of serious and nonserious infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who start treatment with a biologic agent, and to compare these rates with those in patients with RA who receive conventional treatment. METHODS Patients enrolled in the German biologics register between May 2001 and September 2003 were included. Treating rheumatologists assessed adverse events and serious adverse events. All adverse events and serious adverse events experienced within 12 months after study entry were analyzed. Propensity score methods were applied to estimate which part of a rate increase was likely to be attributable to differences in patient characteristics. RESULTS Data were available for 512 patients receiving etanercept, 346 patients receiving infliximab, 70 patients receiving anakinra, and 601 control patients treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. The total number of adverse events per 100 patient-years was 22.6 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 18.7-27.2) among patients receiving etanercept, 28.3 (95% CI 23.1-34.7) among patients receiving infliximab, and 6.8 (95% CI 5.0-9.4) among controls (P < 0.0001). Significant differences in the rate of serious adverse events were also observed. For patients receiving etanercept, those receiving infliximab, and controls, the total numbers of serious adverse events per 100 patient-years were 6.4 (95% CI 4.5-9.1), 6.2 (95% CI 4.0-9.5), and 2.3 (95% CI 1.3-3.9), respectively (P = 0.0016). After adjusting for differences in the case patient mix, the relative risks of serious adverse events were 2.2 (95% CI 0.9-5.4) for patients receiving etanercept and 2.1 (95% CI 0.8-5.5) for patients receiving infliximab, compared with controls. CONCLUSION Patients treated with biologic agents have a higher a priori risk of infection. However, our data suggest that this risk is increased by treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors.
Ischemic optic neuropathies

Purpose of reviewTo review recent clinical data on ischemic optic neuropathies, which are some of the most frequently encountered optic neuropathies. These disorders include nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, and posterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Recent findingsRecent studies have facilitated our understanding of the natural history of visual loss, recovery, and recurrence in these disorders. Additionally, the value of various diagnostic techniques and treatment options, particularly for arteritic anterior ischemic neuropathy, has been clarified. SummaryApplication of the studies described in this paper should allow the clinician to more accurately diagnose ischemic optic neuropathies and counsel the patient with regard to appropriate management, prognosis for visual recovery and future risk of recurrence.
A Method for Investigating Large Microbial Populations for Antibiotic Activity

In their search for new antibiotics, investigators throughout the world have isolated from nature and tested thousands of microbial strains. Nevertheless only a few useful antibiotics have been found and, from this, it is obvious that only a minute fraction of the microflora of nature produce desirable antibiotics. A method that would drastically increase the number of strains screened without proportionate increase in labor would improve the chances of finding new antibiotics. It would also be useful for the selection of high-yielding variants in a pure culture of an antibiotic producer. The most serious drawback of earlier methods for testing large populations was that they detected only certain definite types of antagonists. Thus the "crowded plate" method (Waksman, 1945) detected only soil organisms inhibiting other soil organisms and producing an antibiotic after not more than one or two days of incubation. Foster and Woodruff's method (1946) detected only antagonists that produced antibiotics on media supporting the growth of saprophytic mycobacteria and that inhibited such bacteria. The development (Williston et al., 1947) of various media on which both pathogenic tubercle bacilli and antagonists will grow further extends the usefulness of Foster and Woodruff's method (1946) but does not remove its fundamental limitations. Stansly (1947) and Wilska (1947) described methods for spraying sensitive bacteria onto plates on which colonies of soil organisms had grown for several days. It was thus possible to test antibiotic action against a greater variety of bacteria than was possible before. Spray methods are still, however, restricted to media on which both antagonistic colonies and sensitive bacteria can grow. In addition, there is the ever-present possibility that inhibition zones would be caused by the exhaustion of nutrients around a colony, or by an inhibitory pH, rather than by true antibiotic production. The latter objection applies also to methods that add test bacteria by flooding the surface of the plate with a liquid suspension of sensitive organisms. Fleming (1942) suggested coating a plate on which an antagonist has grown with a layer of sterile agar, on which a sensitive bacterium could be streaked. He sought to test individual isolates, and did not describe methods for testing large populations. With Fleming's agar layer suggestion as a basis, a method has been developed whereby large populations can be tested for many types of
A Programme for Photoprotection Education : Implemen tation and Results

Education for health is an increasingly important objective in education. Photoprotection education may help to avoid negative consequences for health resulting from inadequate sun exposure habits. Photoprotection is especially important for young individuals, like adolescents, as they frequently have poor photoprotection habits. In this respect, educational programmes directed to adolescents may help to develop long-lasting healthy photoprotection behaviours. We developed a sun protection programme in a secondary school of Vila-real (Spain) consisting in a 20 min educational class directed to students of the third year of secondary school before the summer season. After the summer season, a questionnaire was passed out to the students to evaluate their sources of information, knowledge on sun exposure risks, as well as their photoprotection habits. The results of the programme show that the intervention improved the information received by students on this issue. Also, students had a good knowledge of the most important risks of sun exposure as well as about basic measures for photoprotection. However, the intervention group had better level of knowledge than the control group, and girls demonstrated better knowledge than boys. Results of habits showed that a high percentage of adolescents had unhealthy habits, but again the intervention group had significantly better values for photoprotection habits than the control group. However, contrarily to what occurred with the knowledge, boys had better photoprotection habits than girls. In conclusion, educational programmes can improve the photoprotection knowledge and habits of adolescents. Given the important gender differences, we suggest that specific photoprotection programmes should be devised for each sex. Implementation of this kind of programmes in the curriculum of adolescent students could contribute to a better health education in the future.
Simultaneous determination of sulphamerazine, sulphamethazine and sulphadiazine in honey and chicken muscle by a new monoclonal antibody-based fluorescence polarisation immunoassay

A new monoclonal antibody (Mab) against sulphamerazine (SMR) was produced and a fluorescence polarisation immunoassay (FPIA) based on the Mab was developed and optimized for the simultaneous qualitative screening of SMR, sulphamethazine (SMZ) and sulphadiazine (SDZ). The Mab, raised from mice immunized with SMR, was bound to bovine serum albumin (BSA) using glutaraldehyde as the coupling reagent. Fluorescein-labelled SMR and SMZ (tracer) were synthesized and purified by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Cross-reactivities below 3.6% were displayed in the optimized FPIA for another 14 sulphonamides when both tracers were employed. The limits of detection (LOD) were 0.9 ng g−1 for SMR, 2 ng g−1 for SMZ and 3.1 ng g−1 for SDZ. Analysis of SMR, SMZ and SDZ fortified chicken muscle and honey samples by the FPIA showed average recoveries of 86–131% with a standard deviation (SD) of 4.6–32. Comparative analyses of a SMZ-treated chicken muscle sample by both FPIA and high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) showed a good correlation (r = 0.9991). The study demonstrates the practical application of FPIA in screening chicken muscle and honey samples for sulphonamides residues.
Transient upregulation of CBFA1 in response to bone morphogenetic protein‐2 and transforming growth factor β1 in C2C12 myogenic cells coincides with suppression of the myogenic phenotype but is not sufficient for osteoblast differentiation

The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐2 is a potent osteoinductive signal, inducing bone formation in vivo and osteoblast differentiation from non‐osseous cells in vitro. The runt domain‐related protein Cbfa1/PEBP2αA/AML‐3 is a critical component of bone formation in vivo and transcriptional regulator of osteoblast differentiation. To investigate the relationship between the extracellular BMP‐2 signal, Cbfa1, and osteogenesis, we examined expression of Cbfa1 and osteoblastic genes during the BMP‐2 induced osteogenic transdifferentiation of the myoblastic cell line C2C12. BMP‐2 treatment completely blocked myotube formation and transiently induced expression of Cbfa1 and the bone‐related homeodomain protein Msx‐2 concomitant with loss of the myoblast phenotype. While induction of collagen type I and alkaline phosphatase (AP) expression coincided with Cbfa1 expression, Cbfa1 mRNA was strikingly downregulated at the onset of expression of osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN) genes, reflecting the mature osteoblast phenotype. TGF‐β1 treatment effectively suppressed myogenesis and induced Cbfa1 expression but was insufficient to support osteoblast differentiation reflected by the absence of ALP, OPN, and OCN. We addressed whether induction of Cbfa1 in response to BMP‐2 results in the transcriptional activation of the OC promoter which contains three enhancer Cbfa1 elements. Transfection studies show BMP‐2 suppresses OC promoter activity in C2C12, but not in osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 cells. Maximal suppression of OC promoter activity in response to BMP‐2 requires sequences in the proximal promoter (up to nt ‐365) and may occur independent of the three Cbfa sites. Taken together, our results demonstrate a dissociation of Cbfa1 expression from development of the osteoblast phenotype. Our findings suggest that Cbfa1 may function transiently to divert a committed myoblast to a potentially osteogenic cell. However, other factors induced by BMP‐2 appear to be necessary for complete expression of the osteoblast phenotype. J. Cell. Biochem. 73:114–125, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.