Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of cryotherapy on pain intensity at puncture sites of arteriovenous fistula among children undergoing hemodialysis

Pain inflicted by the insertion of large cannulae into the arteriovenous fistula is a significant cause of concern for both children and adults on regular hemodialysis. Cryotherapy as a non pharmacological pain management is a complementary therapy has the advantage of being effective, less cost, easy to provide and safe. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of cryotherapy on pain intensity at puncture sites of arteriovenous fistula among children undergoing hemodialysis. A total sample of 40 children undergoing hemodialysis using arteriovenous fistula was selected during six months from two hemodialysis Units, Cairo University. Quasiexperimental design (pre-post test) was chosen to conduct this study. Two tools utilized for the study: structure interview questionnaire schedule sheet and subjective pain assessment tool (Wong-Baker faces pain rating scale). The results of the study showed that more than half of children were females. The majority of children did no prefer change puncture site to decrease pain sensation. The mean of Wong-Baker faces pain score during artery needle puncture reduced in the study group in the day 3 and 4 (0.82+0.84, 0.75+0.80 respectively) than the control group in the day 1 and 2 (1.57+1.35, 1.60+1.25 respectively). The mean of Wong-Baker faces pain score during vein needle puncture reduced in the study group in the day 3 and 4 (0.97+0.99, 0.77+1.12 respectively) than the control group in the day 1 and 2 (1.77 +1.49, 1.90+1.21 respectively). The study concluded that cryotherapy is effective in reducing subjective pain scores. The study recommended that hemodialysis units should involves cryotherapy for managing needle puncture pain in the routine care for hemodialysis children. [Asmaa Mahfouz Hassan, Mirret Mohamed Darwish ; Gehan Ahmed El-Samman and Fatina Ibrahem Fadel. The impact of cryotherapy on pain intensity at puncture sites of arteriovenous fistula among children undergoing hemodialysis. J Am Sci 2012;8(12):1490-1500]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience. org. 200 Keyword: Cryotherapy, hemodialysis, puncture pain, subjective assessment of pain, children
An appearance model constructed on 3-D surface for robust face recognition against pose and illumination variations

We propose a face recognition method that is robust against image variations due to arbitrary lighting and a large extent of pose variations, ranging from frontal to profile views. Existing appearance models defined on image planes are not applicable for such pose variations that cause occlusions and changes of silhouette. In contrast, our method constructs an appearance model of a three-dimensional (3-D) object on its surface. Our proposed model consists of a 3-D shape and geodesic illumination bases (GIBs). GIBs can describe the irradiances of an object's surface under any illumination and generate illumination subspace that can describe illumination variations of an image in an arbitrary pose. Our appearance model is automatically aligned to the target image by pose optimization based on a rough pose, and the residual error of this model fitting is used as the recognition score. We tested the recognition performance of our method with an extensive database that includes 14 000 images of 200 individuals with drastic illumination changes and pose variations up to 60/spl deg/ sideward and 45/spl deg/ upward. The method achieved a first-choice success ratio of 94.2% without knowing precise poses a priori.
The Antibacterial Activity of Honey and Lemon Juice against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes Isolates from Respiratory Tract Infections

Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees (the genus Apis) is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans. The various species include; Apis andreniformis, Apis florea, Apis dorsata, Apis cerana, Apis koschevnikovi, Apis mellifera, Apis nigrocincta. Other species include; Stingless bees, sometimes called stingless honey bees or simply meliponines, are a large group of bees (approximately 500 species), comprising the tribe Meliponinior subtribe Meliponina according to other authors [1]. Most microorganisms do not grow in honey because of its low water activity of 0.6 [2]. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), methylglyoxal (MGO), bee defensin, pH, osmotic effect as well as leptosin were known to be responsible for the antimicrobial effects of honey [3,4]. Lemon fruit is an inexpensive, easily available citrus fruit, popular for its culinary and medicinal uses. The Lemon fruit juice consists of about 5% citric acid that gives a sour (tarty) taste to the lemon [5]. Lemon is an important medicinal plant of the family Rutaceae. It is a rich source of vitamin C and it is cultivated mainly for its alkaloids, which are having anticancer activities and the antibacterial potential in crude extracts of different parts (viz., leaves, stem, root and flower) of Lemon against clinically significant bacterial strains has been reported [6]. Citrus flavonoids have a large spectrum of biological activity including antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anticancer and antiviral activities [7]. There are different varieties of lemon.
Evaluation of VT-1161 for Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis in Murine Infection Models

ABSTRACT Coccidioidomycosis, or valley fever, is a growing health concern endemic to the southwestern United States. Safer, more effective, and more easily administered drugs are needed especially for severe, chronic, or unresponsive infections. The novel fungal CYP51 inhibitor VT-1161 demonstrated in vitro antifungal activity, with MIC50 and MIC90 values of 1 and 2 μg/ml, respectively, against 52 Coccidioides clinical isolates. In the initial animal study, oral doses of 10 and 50 mg/kg VT-1161 significantly reduced fungal burdens and increased survival time in a lethal respiratory model in comparison with treatment with a placebo (P < 0.001). Oral doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg VT-1161 were similarly efficacious in the murine central nervous system (CNS) model compared to placebo treatment (P < 0.001). All comparisons with the positive-control drug, fluconazole at 50 mg/kg per day, demonstrated either statistical equivalence or superiority of VT-1161. VT-1161 treatment also prevented dissemination of infection from the original inoculation site to a greater extent than fluconazole. Many of these in vivo results can be explained by the long half-life of VT-1161 leading to sustained high plasma levels. Thus, the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of VT-1161 are attractive characteristics for long-term treatment of this serious fungal infection.
OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY OF SICKLE CELL MACULOPATHY.

PURPOSE To report a case of sickle cell retinopathy imaged with optical coherence tomography angiography. METHODS Case report. RESULTS An asymptomatic 33-year-old man with known sickle cell anemia (SS) presented for routine eye examination. Ultrawide-field fluorescein angiography confirmed areas of temporal nonperfusion without neovascularization and subtle enlargement of the foveal avascular zone in the left eye. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography showed thinning of the inner layers of the temporal macula in both eyes. Optovue split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation angiography optical coherence tomography was performed and showed reduced flow within the superficial and deep macular plexuses of each eye, most severely within the deep retinal capillary plexus. This abnormality was more extensive than could it be appreciated with conventional angiography. CONCLUSION This report provides evidence that optical coherence tomography angiography may be more sensitive in detecting macular capillary nonperfusion than fluorescein angiography. It also provides further evidence that the ischemic vasculopathy of sickle cell retinopathy preferentially affects the deep capillary plexus.
Esthesioneuroblastoma: Is there a role for elective neck treatment?

A retrospective review of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center experience (MSKCC) with esthesioneuroblastoma was performed. From 1975 to 1985 14 cases were identified. Overall 5‐ and 10‐year survival was 86% and 70%, respectively. Four local failures were observed and 4 neck failures were observed. A review of the literature since 1966 revealed an unexpectedly high incidence of neck failure, and of the 21 of 110 patients with neck failures that were identified through the literature, there were 6 subsequent deaths.
Calcium-Independent Negative Inotropy by &bgr;-Myosin Heavy Chain Gene Transfer in Cardiac Myocytes

Increased relative expression of the slow molecular motor of the heart (&bgr;-myosin heavy chain [MyHC]) is well known to occur in many rodent models of cardiovascular disease and in human heart failure. The direct effect of increased relative &bgr;-MyHC expression on intact cardiac myocyte contractility, however, is unclear. To determine the direct effects of increased relative &bgr;-MyHC expression on cardiac contractility, we used acute genetic engineering with a recombinant adenoviral vector (AdMYH7) to genetically titrate &bgr;-MyHC protein expression in isolated rodent ventricular cardiac myocytes that predominantly expressed &agr;-MyHC (fast molecular motor). AdMYH7-directed &bgr;-MyHC protein expression and sarcomeric incorporation was observed as soon as 1 day after gene transfer. Effects of &bgr;-MyHC expression on myocyte contractility were determined in electrically paced single myocytes (0.2 Hz, 37°C) by measuring sarcomere shortening and intracellular calcium cycling. Gene transfer-based replacement of &agr;-MyHC with &bgr;-MyHC attenuated contractility in a dose-dependent manner, whereas calcium transients were unaffected. For example, when &bgr;-MyHC expression accounted for ≈18% of the total sarcomeric myosin, the amplitude of sarcomere-length shortening (nanometers, nm) was depressed by 42% (151.0±10.7 [control] versus 87.0±5.4 nm [AdMYH7 transduced]); and genetic titration of &bgr;-MyHC, leading to 38% &bgr;-MyHC content, attenuated shortening by 57% (138.9±13.0 versus 59.7±7.1 nm). Maximal isometric cross-bridge cycling rate was also slower in AdMYH7-transduced myocytes. Results indicate that small increases of &bgr;-MyHC expression (18%) have Ca2+ transient-independent physiologically relevant effects to decrease intact cardiac myocyte function. We conclude that &bgr;-MyHC is a negative inotrope among the cardiac myofilament proteins.
Testing and Characterizing Properties of Nonadditive Measures through Violations of the Sure-Thing Principle

In expected utility theory, risk attitudes are modeled entirely in terms of utility. In the rank-dependent theories, a new dimension is added: chance attitude, modeled in terms of nonadditive measures or nonlinear probability transformations that are independent of utility. Most empirical studies of chance attitude assume probabilities given and adopt parametric fitting for estimating the probability transformation. Only a few qualitative conditions have been proposed or tested as yet, usually quasi-concavity or quasi-convexity in the case of given probabilities. This paper presents a general method of studying qualitative properties of chance attitude such as optimism, pessimism, and the "inverse-S shape" pattern, both for risk and for uncertainty. These qualitative properties can be characterized by permitting appropriate, relatively simple, violations of the sure-thing principle. In particular, this paper solves a hitherto open problem: the preference axiomatization of convex ("pessimistic" or "uncertainty averse") nonadditive measures under uncertainty. The axioms of this paper preserve the central feature of rank-dependent theories, i.e. the separation of chance attitude and utility.
Intermediate Term Follow-up of Calcaneal Osteotomy and Flexor Digitorum Longus Transfer for Treatment of Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction

Twenty-three patients with stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction who had failed non-surgical therapy were treated with flexor digitorum longus transfer and calcaneal osteotomy. At latest follow-up averaging 35±7 months (range, 24 to 51 months), 22 patients (96%) were subjectively “better” or “much better. ” No patient had difficulty with shoe wear; however, four patients (17%) required routine orthotic use consisting of a molded shoe insert. AOFAS scores were available on 21 patients and improved from a preoperative mean of 50±14 (range, 27 to 85) to a postoperative mean of 89±10 (range, 70 to 100). Our experience, at an intermediate date follow-up is that calcaneal osteotomy and flexor digitorum longus transfer is a safe and effective form of treatment for stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction.
Effects of maternal exposure to extract of Trichilia catigua on antibody production in the offspring of Wistar rats

Abstract It was evaluated the effects of maternal treatment with the Trichilia catigua (ExTc) crude extract on the antibodies’ production by their offspring. Female rats received ExTc or saline from the first day of pregnancy until the twenty-first day after the birth of the pups, when the pups were weaned. All pups were inoculated with two doses of 50 μg of IgY diluted in aluminium hydroxide/PBS on days 26 and 40 of life. Antibody levels were analysed by ELISA. Our results show an increase in levels of IgG1 and IgG2a anti-IgY in female offspring of mothers treated with ExTc compared to female offspring of untreated mothers. Furthermore, ExTc treatment suppressed the production of IgG2a anti-IgY antibodies in males. The data show that maternal exposure to ExTc can modulate the production of antibodies in the offspring.
The effect of group discussions in usability inspection: a pilot study

How do group discussions affect the output of a usability inspection, as compared to individual evaluators only? This question was investigated in association with usability inspections of a music community website. Potential users of the website participated as evaluators in two usability inspection sessions. All evaluators made individual predictions prior to group discussions. Twenty-five percent of the usability issues generated in the group discussion were new, viz. not predicted by individual evaluators. Also, the group discussion served to discard or modify the majority of usability issues predicted by the individual evaluators. The discarded individual predictions were typically low severity.
Gaining New Insights into Primitive Strategies for Embryonic Axis Specification Using the Wasp Nasonia

The evolution of genetic networks is a fascinating and complex topic that has long intrigued researchers. The genetic network controlling early embryonic patterning in Drosophila represents one of the best understood networks in developmental biology. Thus, the realization that major components of the network are not conserved features of insect embryogenesis provided the scientific field with an incredible opportunity to begin comparative studies between the well-studied Drosophila network and the genetic networks of other insect species. Moreover, the tremendous diversity among insects provides a wide variety of species to sample the conserved and novel developmental features that have evolved over time. The application of genetic screens, transgenic analysis and in particular, the development of pRNAi in various insect model systems has also contributed significantly to the advancement of the field of evolution and development. The results presented in recent reports regarding Nasonia, Tribolium, Oncopeltus and Gryllus embryonic patterning have shown the power of comparative studies between different insects for studying evolution and development. This review will focus on the establishment of the wasp Nasonia vitripennis as a powerful model system for elucidating the various biological strategies employed during insect embryogenesis. Moreover, work presented throughout this review will highlight important results regarding comparative studies between the fruit fly and the wasp.
Investigation of the spatiotemporal dynamics of the brain during perceiving words

To investigate the temporal dynamics and spatial representations in speech perception and processing, electroencephalograph (EEG) signals were recorded when subjects listening Chinese words and pseudo words. According to the source reconstruction, the early neural activations were observed in wider areas from the Spt (an area in the Sylvian fissure at the parietotemporal boundary) to the premotor cortex and posterior frontal gyrus during 35ms to 80ms, while the areas from posterior middle temporal gyrus to anterior middle temporal gyrus were activated during a time period from 110ms to 180ms. These activation patterns are consistent with the dual-stream model, where the former one corresponds to the dorsal stream and the latter one belongs to the ventral stream. These two streams interacted after 180ms and showed recurrent activation after 300ms. This phenomenon was not observed for the pseudo words. Our findings demonstrate a quite early stage of speech cognitive process and present the dynamics of interaction between the two streams during perceiving words. The results are essential for the construction of connectivity model in further studies.
Cervical Cerclage: One Stitch or Two?

Abstract Objective We sought to determine whether routine placement of a second stitch at the time of cervical cerclage improves its efficacy. Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who had cervical cerclage placement at a single institution. Operative reports, ultrasound images, and delivery records were reviewed. Pregnancy outcomes of patients receiving a two-stitch cerclage were compared with those who received a one-stitch cerclage, with a primary outcome of spontaneous preterm delivery at <35 weeks' gestation. Univariable, multivariable, and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed. Results Of 146 patients, 63 had two stitches and 83 had one. Baseline characteristics and indications for cerclage were similar except for differences in history of prior cerclage and multiple gestations. The two-stitch approach was associated with a greater median cerclage height (20 mm versus 17 mm, p = 0.008), but there was no difference in spontaneous preterm delivery at <35 weeks' gestation (47.6% versus 41.0%, adjusted odds ratio 1.22, p = 0.630). Conclusion A two-stitch approach to cervical cerclage increases cerclage height, but may not improve efficacy.
Estudo dos eventos de risco na cadeia de suprimentos da indústria farmacêutica brasileira

As empresas, em busca de reducao de custo e melhoria da eficiencia, tornam as suas cadeias de suprimentos mais globalizadas e complexas. Com isso, um evento que ocorre em uma parte do mundo pode afetar uma empresa situada do outro lado. Como consequencia, o grau de exposicao ao risco aumenta na mesma proporcao da globalizacao. Assim, o gerenciamento de risco tornou-se um instrumento para as empresas identificarem, avaliarem e tratarem os riscos, permitindo tomar acoes para mitiga-los. O setor farmaceutico brasileiro foi selecionado por ser um setor com uma forte cultura de qualidade e preocupacao com a seguranca dos seus produtos. Pois sabe das graves consequencias das falhas de seus produtos. Esse trabalho tem como objetivo principal identificar a percepcao da probabilidade de ocorrencia de uma relacao de eventos de risco e a percepcao de risco na cadeia de suprimentos da industria farmaceutica, na visao dos gestores de logistica. Tambem identificar qual e o proposito do gerenciamento do risco na cadeia de suprimentos, quais sao os principios aceitos e/ou aplicaveis para a mitigacao dos riscos e quem sao os responsaveis pelo gerenciamento de risco na empresa. Utiliza-se um questionario para coletar a percepcao da probabilidade de ocorrencia dos eventos de risco e outro questionario para coletar a percepcao de risco na cadeia de suprimentos. Tambem identificar qual e o proposito do gerenciamento de risco, quais sao os principios aceitos e/ou aplicaveis e quem sao os responsaveis pelo gerenciamento de risco nas empresas. As respostas serao analisadas de forma geral e pelo grupo de tamanho do faturamento das empresas, usando o percentual da frequencia das respostas e os resultados apresentados em graficos e tabelas Abstract
TWO HERBIVORES AND CONSTRAINTS ON SELECTION FOR RESISTANCE IN BRASSICA RAPA

Although most plants experience herbivory by several insect species, there has been little empirical work directed toward understanding plant responses to these simultaneous selection pressures. In an experiment in which herbivory by flea beetles (Phyllotreta cruciferae) and diamondback moths (Plutella xylostella) was manipulated in a factorial design, I found that selection for resistance to these herbivores is not independent in Brassica rapa. Specifically, the effect of flea beetle damage on B. rapa fitness depends on the amount of diamondback moth damage a plant experiences: damage by these herbivores has a nonadditive effect on plant fitness. When diamondbacks are abundant, plants that sustain high levels of damage by flea beetles are favored by natural selection, but when diamondbacks are rare, a low level of damage by flea beetles is favored. However, resistance to the later‐feeding diamondback moth is not affected by the presence or absence of damage by early‐feeding flea beetles. Thus, there are no plant‐mediated ecological interactions between these herbivores that affect the outcome of selection for resistance. Because these herbivores do not independently affect plant fitness, neither is likely to develop a pairwise coevolutionary relationship with its host. Instead, coevolution is diffuse.
Comparative Capacitative Calcium Entry Mechanisms in Canine Pulmonary and Renal Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells

Experiments were performed to determine whether capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) can be activated in canine pulmonary and renal arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and whether activation of CCE parallels the different functional structure of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in these two cell types. The cytosolic [Ca2+] was measured by imaging fura‐2‐loaded individual cells. Increases in the cytosolic [Ca2+] due to store depletion in pulmonary ASMCs required simultaneous depletion of both the inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (InsP3)‐ and ryanodine (RY)‐sensitive SR Ca2+ stores. In contrast, the cytosolic [Ca2+] rises in renal ASMCs occurred when the SR stores were depleted through either the InsP3 or RY pathways. The increase in the cytosolic [Ca2+] due to store depletion in both pulmonary and renal ASMCs was present in cells that were voltage clamped and was abolished when cells were perfused with a Ca2+‐free bathing solution. Rapid quenching of the fura‐2 signal by 100 μM Mn2+ following SR store depletion indicated that extracellular Ca2+ entry increased in both cell types and also verified that activation of CCE in pulmonary ASMCs required the simultaneous depletion of the InsP3‐ and RY‐sensitive SR Ca2+ stores, while CCE could be activated in renal ASMCs by the depletion of either of the InsP3‐ or RY‐sensitive SR stores. Store depletion Ca2+ entry in both pulmonary and renal ASMCs was strongly inhibited by Ni2+ (0.1–10 mM), slightly inhibited by Cd2+ (200–500 μM), but was not significantly affected by the voltage‐gated Ca2+ channel (VGCC) blocker nisoldipine (10 μM). The non‐selective cation channel blocker Gd3+ (100 μM) inhibited a portion of the Ca2+ entry in 6 of 18 renal but not pulmonary ASMCs. These results provide evidence that SR Ca2+ store depletion activates CCE in parallel with the organization of intracellular Ca2+ stores in canine pulmonary and renal ASMCs.