Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between Nursing Staffing Levels and Nursing Home Outcomes

This study examined the effects of selected Minnesota nursing home attributes (size, ownership, noncompliance with a state correction order, and licensed and nonlicensed nursing hours) on specific outcomes (functional ability, discharge home, and death) for residents ages 65 and older, controlling for residents' age and previous functional ability. The functional outcome was operationalized by calculating the resident's Total Dependence Score (TDS), the total score on the assessment of eight activities of daily living (score range: 0-33). Ordinary least squares regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of facility attributes, admission TDS, and age on resident outcomes, and nonlinear probability analyses were used to estimate the effects of facility attributes, admission TDS, and age on the probability of death or discharge home. In the year after admission, licensed (but not nonlicensed) nursing hours were significantly related to improved functional ability, increased probability of discharge home, and decreased probability of death, but when limited to chronic residents, the role of professional nursing hours virtually disappears. Overall, the findings support greater use of licensed nurses in the nursing home setting.
Remarks on the Trigeminal Rhizotomy by the Subtemporal Trans-tentorial Route

Technical aspects and results of the trigeminal rhizotomy by the subtemporal trans-tentorial route are discussed. Preservation of the accessory fibers gives a hypalgesia-thermal hypaesthesia, with persistence of touch perception and corneal reflex. Advantages of the antero-lateral approach are stressed.
Case Based Surveillance for Measles in Lagos, South Western Nigeria, September 2011

Objective The objective of this study was to describe the performance of the measles surveillance in Lagos, characterize the epidemiologic pattern of measles infection and determine the measles vaccine efficacy. Introduction Measles is a vaccine preventable disease that has been successfully eliminated in some parts of the world. It causes high morbidity and mortality with the potential of large outbreaks. About a third of reported measles cases involve one or more complications including diarrhea, pneumonia, otitis media, blindness, post infections encephalitis and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. It is however, one of the leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria despite availability of safe and effective vaccines Methods We obtained the measles surveillance data for all the 20 Local Governments Areas (LGAs) in Lagos and reviewed all the measles case based investigation forms between the period 1st January to 31st December 2010.The WHO Recommended Surveillance Standards for Measles was used. Data was analyzed using EPI INFO version 3.5. 3. Results Of the 615 suspected measles cases, 63(10.2%) were laboratory confirmed (measles IGM+) and 3(0.5%) clinically confirmed. Cases investigated within 48 hours was 222 (36%) (target ≥ 80%), 510 (83%) had adequate blood sample collected (target ≥ 80%) and 595 (97%) of sample results were received from the lab within 7 days (target ≥ 80%). The surveillance system sensitivity was 6.5/100,000 (target >2/100,000) with a predictive value positive of 10.73%. The overall attack rate was 0.73/100,000 population with 1 mortality (case fatality rate 1.5%). The Under 1 year attack rate (8.33/100,000) was higher than the 1– 4 years attack rate (3.48/100,000) (p= 0.01). Those vaccinated with at least 1 dose of measles vaccine had a 3 times lower risk of measles infection than the unvaccinated. The proportion of unvaccinated cases was 36%. The measles vaccine efficacy was 60%. Conclusions The quality of surveillance need to be strengthened by improving the time lapse between notification and investigation of suspected cases. Measles is still a significant cause of morbidity particularly among the under 1 year age group.The proportion of unvaccinated cases is also high, suggesting a low vaccine coverage among susceptibles. Prompt investigation of cases, good vaccine coverage and high vaccine efficacy are all vital in eliminating measles from Nigeria. Morbidity and Mortality rates AGE GROUP ATTACK RATES <1 Year 8.33/100,000 1–4 Years 3.48/100,000 5 and above 0.11/100,000 overall attack rate 0.73/100,000 CASE FATALITY RATE 1.5% No of Reported Measles Cases in Lagos, South Western Nigeria by LGA with onset date from 1st January – 31st December 2010 Legend
Action potential repolarization and a fast after‐hyperpolarization in rat hippocampal pyramidal cells.

1. The repolarization of the action potential, and a fast after‐hyperpolarization (a.h.p.) were studied in CA1 pyramidal cells (n = 76) in rat hippocampal slices (28‐37 degrees C). Single spikes were elicited by brief (1‐3 ms) current pulses, at membrane potentials close to rest (‐60 to ‐70 mV). 2. Each action potential was followed by four after‐potentials: (a) the fast a.h. p., lasting 2‐5 ms; (b) an after‐depolarization; (c) a medium a.h. p., (50‐100 ms); and (d) a slow a.h. p. (1‐2 s). Both the fast a.h. p. and the slow a.h. p. (but not the medium a.h.p.) were inhibited by Ca2+‐free medium or Ca2+‐channel blockers (Co2+, Mn2+ or Cd2+); but tetraethylammonium (TEA; 0.5‐2 nM) blocked only the fast a.h. p., and noradrenaline (2‐5 microM) only the slow a.h. p. This suggests that two Ca2+‐activated K+ currents were involved: a fast, TEA‐sensitive one (IC) underlying the fast a.h. p., and a slow noradrenaline‐sensitive one (IAHP) underlying the slow a.h. p. 3. Like the fast a.h. p., spike repolarization seems to depend on a Ca2+‐dependent K+ current of the fast, TEA‐sensitive kind (IC). The repolarization was slowed by Ca2+‐free medium, Co2+, Mn2+, Cd2+, or TEA, but not by noradrenaline. Charybdotoxin (CTX; 30 nM), a scorpion toxin which blocks the large‐conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ channel in muscle, had a similar effect to TEA. The effects of TEA and Cd2+ (or Mn2+) showed mutual occlusion. Raising the external K+ concentration reduced the fast a.h. p. and slowed the spike repolarization, whereas Cl‐ loading of the cell was ineffective. 4. The transient K+ current, IA, seems also to contribute to spike repolarization, because: (a) 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP; 0.1 mM), which blocks IA, slowed the spike repolarization; (b) depolarizing pre‐pulses, which inactivate IA, had a similar effect; (c) hyperpolarizing pre‐pulses speeded up the spike repolarization; (d) the effects of 4‐AP and pre‐pulses persisted during Ca2+ blockade (like IA); and (e) depolarizing pre‐pulses reduced the effect of 4‐AP. 5. Pre‐pulses or 4‐AP broadened the spike less, and in a different manner, than Ca2+‐free medium, Cd2+, Co2+, Mn2+, TEA or CTX. The former broadening was uniform, with little effect on the fast a.h. p., whereas the latter affected mostly the last two‐thirds of the spike repolarization and abolished the fast a.h. p.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Surface coat on the epithelium of developing palatine shelves in the mouse as revealed by electron microscopy.

SUMMARY The fine structure of the surface epithelium of developing palatine shelves in the mouse was studied from days 11 through 14 of gestation. Ruthenium red, a cationic stain used as an ultrastructural indicator of acid mucopolysaccharides, was employed to detect the presence of any surface coat. Positive staining was first observed on day 12 of gestation and was seen to be present throughout the period of shelf elevation and fusion. It was seen over medial and lateral surfaces as well as the inferior tic of vertical shelves. The surface coat was found to be present along the entire length of the shelf, extending superiorly up the medial and lateral epithelial borders until it abruptly disappeared. Since this surface coat first appeared approximately 48 h prior to shelf elevation, it is suggested that its appearance may be associated with the ability of palatine shelves to undergo fusion as shown by previous in vitro experiments. The time of acquisition by the shelves of this 'fusing potential' is also in the range of 48 h before shelf elevation.
Studies on Pathogenic Porcine Enteroviruses: 1. Preliminary Investigations.

Following reports (1) on the occurrence of a disease of suckling piglets in Southwestern Ontario during the Fall of 1957, a similar condition was encountered in Eastern Ontario commencing in the Spring of 1958 (2). At this time twelve outbreaks were investigated and others were reported by veterinary practitioners. In all cases the symptoms resembled those described by Roe and Alexander in their original paper (3), viz. vomiting, anorexia, constipation, progressive wasting and death. At that time no pathognomonic lesions were found in the affected piglets examined and limited transmission studies indicated that the condition was distinct from transmissible gastro-enteritis (T.G.E.). No further outbreaks were investigated until April of 1959 when lesions of a viral polioencephalomyelitis were observed in the brains of two piglets from an affected litter. Subsequent papers by Alexander et al (4) and Richards and Savan (5) described the finding of a viral encephalomyelitis in 84 piglets from 44 herds in Southern Ontario. They stated that the disease was characterized by high morbidity and mortality and that affected piglets showed marked clinical signs of a central nervous system disturbance. The authors suggested the cause to be a virus and after further study they proposed that the disease belonged to the same group of non-suppurative encephalomyelitides of swine as Teschen disease, Talfan disease and poliomyelitis suum. Since our initial observation of lesions indicative of a viral polioencephalomyelitis a number of outbreaks of disease in pigs, where the clinical histories were suggestive of this condition, have been investigated in more detail. The purpose of this paper is to describe and discuss preliminary findings with respect to the clinical history,
Marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma of the infratemporal fossa: A rare case and review

Although it represents the second most common neoplasm of the head and neck, lymphoma is generally not surgically managed and thus may be less familiar to otolaryngologists than other malignancies. However, otolaryngologists are often involved in the initial diagnosis, and should be aware of unusual presentations and the main lymphoma subtypes. We present a case of an extranodal marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma, an indolent non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma subtype. This type of lymphoma most commonly occurs in the stomach, but was found in the infratemporal fossa. This is the first report of an extranodal marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma occurring in this location. Laryngoscope, 2010
Flavonoids from Achillea nobilis L.

The detailed investigation of a methanolic extract of aerial parts of Achillea nobilis resulted in the isolation of 10 flavonoids. A new C-glycosylflavone, luteolin-6-C-apiofuranosyl-(1‴→2″)-glucoside, was isolated besides orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isoschaftoside, luteolin- 7-O-β-glucuronide, luteolin-4′-O-β-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-methyl ether and two rare flavonolglycosides, quercetin-3-O-α-arabinosyl-(1‴→6″ )-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-methylether-7-O-β-glucoside. The structures were established either by comparison with authentic substances or by UV, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic methods including 2ᴅ-NMR techniques and ESI-MS
Catastrophizing, Pain, and Pain Interference in Individuals With Disabilities

Objective:The aim of this study was to examine the influence of sex and disability on catastrophizing, pain intensity, and pain interference in individuals with a spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis. Design:A cross-sectional survey design was used. Two hundred forty-eight community-dwelling adults with a physical disability (spinal cord injury, n = 124; multiple sclerosis, n = 124) and chronic pain completed measures of demographic and clinical characteristics, pain intensity and interference, psychologic functioning, and pain catastrophizing. Results:Men reported marginally greater catastrophizing (P < 0.10) than did the women across both disability groups; however, there was no significant difference in catastrophizing between the disability groups. Catastrophizing was the only significant predictor of pain intensity in the multivariate regression analysis, with greater catastrophizing associated with greater pain. Pain intensity and catastrophizing were the only significant variables in the regression analyses predicting pain interference and psychologic functioning; as hypothesized, greater pain intensity and catastrophizing were associated with more pain interference and poorer psychologic functioning. There was also a trend (P < 0.10) for women, relative to men, to have a stronger association between catastrophizing and pain interference. Conclusions:These findings are consistent with a biopsychosocial conceptualization of pain and functioning in individuals with chronic pain secondary to a physical disability. In addition, these data suggest that assessment and treatment (when indicated) of catastrophizing should be a regular part of the clinical management of these patients.
The Acceptability of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Scheme in Malaysia

Today’s competitive global environment has led governments around the world to seek new ways to finance projects, build infrastructure and deliver services. Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is increasingly being used as a tool to bring together the strengths of both sectors, public and private to facilitate the delivery of projects and services. However, the new PFI Scheme introduced by the Government of Malaysia through the Ninth Malaysia-Plan in the delivery of public infrastructure is subject to criticisms, in particular when the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) was used as a main source of project financing. The study presented in this paper investigates the acceptability of PFI in Malaysia, taking into consideration factors contributing to success, negative factors, and key differences between PFI and the traditional forms of procurement. Empirical research was undertaken based on a questionnaire survey to public and private sectors in Malaysia. In total 60, valid responses were received, constituting a response rate of 45 per cent. The results were analysed by means of various statistical methods. The study disclosed that 97 percent (public) strongly disagree that EPF was the main source of project financing in implementing PFI projects in Malaysia.
RELATIVE CLUTCH MASS AND BODY SHAPE IN LIZARDS AND SNAKES: IS REPRODUCTIVE INVESTMENT CONSTRAINED OR OPTIMIZED?

fitness and bright birds: A role for parasites? Science 218:384-387. HILL, G. E. 1990. Female house finches prefer colourful males: Sexual selection for a condition-dependent trait. Anim. Behav. 40:563-572. HILLGARTH, N. 1990. Parasites and female choice in the ring-necked pheasant. Am. Zool. 30:227-233. JARVI, T. , E. R0SKAFr, M. BAKKEN, AND B. ZUMSTEG. 1987. Evolution of variation in male secondary sexual characteristics: A test of eight hypotheses applied to pied flycatchers. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 20:161-169. LIFJEW,J. T. , AND T. SLAGsvow. 1988. Female pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca choose male characteristics in homogeneous habitats. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 22:27-36. ---. 1989. How frequent is cuckoldry in pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca? Problems with the use of heritability estimates of tarsus length. Oikos 54: 205-210. ---. 1990. Manipulations of male parental investment in polygynous pied flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca. Behav. Ecol. 1:48-54. LIFJEW,J. T. , T. SLAGSVOLD, AND H. LAMPE. 1991. Low frequency of extra-pair paternity in pied flycatchers revealed by DNA fingerprinting. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 29:95-101. ROHWER, S. , AND G. S. BUTCHER. 1988. Winter ver-
Cell Adhesion and Ca2+ Signaling Activity in Stably Transfected Trypanosoma cruzi Epimastigotes Expressing the Metacyclic Stage-Specific Surface Molecule gp82

ABSTRACT Metacyclic trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi express a developmentally regulated 82-kDa surface glycoprotein (gp82) that has been implicated in host cell invasion. gp82-mediated interaction of metacyclic forms with target cells induces in both cells activation of the signal transduction pathways, leading to intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, which is required for parasite internalization. Noninfective epimastigotes do not express detectable levels of gp82 and are unable to induce a Ca2+ response. We stably transfected epimastigotes with a T. cruzi expression vector carrying the metacyclic stage gp82 cDNA. These transfectants produced a functional gp82, which bound to and triggered a Ca2+ response in HeLa cells, in the same manner as the metacyclic trypomastigote gp82. Such properties were not found in epimastigotes transfected with the plasmid vector alone. Epimastigotes expressing gp82 on the surface adhered to HeLa cells but were not internalized. Treatment of gp82-expressing epimastigotes with forskolin, an activator of adenylyl cyclase that increases the metacyclic trypomastigote entry into target cells, did not promote parasite internalization. P175, an intracellular tyrosine phosphorylated protein, which appears to play a role in gp82-dependent signaling cascade in metacyclic forms, was undetectable in epimastigotes, either transfected or not with pTEX-gp82. Overall, our results indicate that gp82 is required but not sufficient for target cell invasion.
Recognition of the Cornelia de Lange syndrome phenotype with facial dysmorphology novel analysis

Facial analysis systems are becoming available to healthcare providers to aid in the recognition of dysmorphic phenotypes associated with a multitude of genetic syndromes. These technologies automatically detect facial points and extract various measurements from images to recognize dysmorphic features and evaluate similarities to known facial patterns (gestalts). To evaluate such systems' usefulness for supporting the clinical practice of healthcare professionals, the recognition accuracy of the Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) phenotype was examined with FDNA's automated facial dysmorphology novel analysis (FDNA) technology. In the first experiment, 2D facial images of CdLS patients with either an NIPBL or SMC1A gene mutation as well as non‐CdLS patients which were assessed by dysmorphologists in a previous study were evaluated by the FDNA technology; the average detection rate of experts was 77% while the system's detection rate was 87%. In the second study, when a new set of NIPBL, SMC1A and non‐CdLS patient photos was evaluated, the detection rate increased to 94%. The results from both studies indicated that the system's detection rate was comparable to that of dysmorphology experts. Therefore, utilizing such technologies may be a useful tool in a clinical setting.
The yield of colonoscopy in average-risk patients with non-specific colonic symptoms

Objectives The need for full colonoscopies in average-risk patients with non-specific colonic symptoms is controversial. We aimed to evaluate: (1) the yield of full colonoscopy; (2) the prevalence of proximal neoplasia in these patients; (3) the yield if any of doing full colonoscopies to diagnose proximal lesions in patients in whom the distal colon was clear; (4) the significance of this yield with respect to age. Design This is a retrospective analysis to assess the value of open access colonoscopy. Patients and methods All patients who underwent a colonoscopy in our Endoscopy Unit during January 1996 to December 1999 were assessed (n = 3357). Results We analysed 945 patients with average risk and non-specific colonic symptoms (significant risk factors excluded). The overall yield of adenomas was 5.8%. The yield of distal adenomas in patients ⩾ 50 years of age was 8.2% (37 out of 450) versus 0.2% in the < 50 years group (one out of 495;P = 0.0001). The proximal adenoma yield in ⩾ 50 year olds was 3.8% (17 out of 495) versus 0.2% in < 50 year olds (one out of 495) (P = 0.0001). Conclusions In a cohort of average-risk patients with non-specific colonic symptoms attending an ‘open access’ colonoscopy clinic, the yield for proximal adenomas is small in the < 50 years group. In patients aged < 50 years, distal colonic examination is all that is required, whereas a full colonoscopy may be justified in patients ⩾ 50 years old.
Identification of NV‐F virus DNA in hepatocellular carcinoma

A fragment of DNA sequence derived from a hepatotropic virus, named NV‐F was isolated recently. The aim of this study was to examine whether this virus was associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Total cellular DNA was extracted from hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. NV‐F virus DNA was detected by PCR. The PCR products were subjected to sequence analysis. Of the 78 HCC samples included, 12 (15.4%) were positive for NV‐F virus DNA. Sequence analysis of the 12 amplified DNA fragments revealed a point mutation in one of them. The clinicopathological parameters between patients with and without NV‐F virus infection were compared. It was found that patients with NV‐F virus infection were older than those without NV‐F virus infection (mean ages, 61.5 versus 52.5 years; P = 0.032). Otherwise, no difference was observed between the two groups. Of the 12 HCC patients positive for NV‐F virus DNA, 11 patients were co‐infected by either hepatitis B or C virus. The remaining patient was a Taiwanese aboriginal inhabitant with cryptogenic cirrhosis. In conclusion, NV‐F virus DNA was identified in 15.4% of HCC tissues. HCC patients with NV‐F virus infection were significantly older than those without NV‐F virus infection. J. Med. Virol. 79:92–96, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of acute and chronic leukapheresis on the natural killer (NK) cell function of normal human volunteers

Twenty‐two normal volunteers had approximately eight, 2‐hr‐long leukapheresis procedures over a 2‐year period and their natural killer (NK) cell function was prospectively measured. The NK activity of the preprocedure peripheral blood (pre‐PB) was found to correlate well with the NK activity of the inital leukocytes removed by leukapheresis (I‐Leuk). When the I‐Leuk specimens were compared with the leukapheresis specimens removed at the termination of leukapheresis (T‐Leuk), T‐Leuk showed a consistent 10% increase in NK activity. When the pre‐PB and the I‐Leuk values were analyzed for each donor over the 2 years of the study, 18 donors revealed no significant change from their baseline NK activity, two donors showed a minimal increase in NK cell activity, and two donors displayed a minimal decrease in NK cell activity. We conclude that although leukapheresis appears acutely to boost NK cell activity, this increase is transient and small in magnitude. Most importantly, repeated leukapheresis does not appear adversely to effect this important effector function in normal donors.
Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism and bone metabolism during low-dose oral contraceptive use in young women

With the aim to determine whether bone metabolism in young women using low-dose oral contraception is inﬂuenced by vitamin D receptor (VDR) genotype, we designed the prospective clinical study of 41 healthy women aged 20–27 years. Twenty-one women of the study group were prescribed an oral contraceptive (30 (cid:1) g ethynyl estradiol and 150 (cid:1) g levonorgestrel) and 20 women of the control group a nonhormonal contraceptive or none. Biochemical markers of bone metabolism (bone-speciﬁc alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, deoxypyridinoline) and VDR genotype, using Bsm I endonuclease, were determined. After 3 months in the study group, the BB genotype subgroup showed signiﬁcantly decreased osteocalcin (p (cid:1) 0.010), in the Bb genotype subgroup bone-speciﬁc alkaline phosphatase (p (cid:1) 0.043) and osteocalcin (p (cid:1) 0.006) decreased, and in the bb genotype subgroup no changes were observed. In the control group, there were no signiﬁcant changes in markers of bone metabolism regarding VDR genotype. In conclusion, our study shows that in young women VDR gene polymorphism could inﬂuence bone metabolism during low-dose oral contraceptive use. © 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.