Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chromosome arm 6q loss is the most common recurrent autosomal alteration detected in primary pediatric ependymoma

We analyzed 23 samples of primary pediatric ependymoma for significant gains or losses of genomic DNA, using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and a rigorous statistical approach. Nine of the tumors in this series (39%) appeared normal by CGH. The remainder had a limited number of regions of genomic imbalance, most often involving losses of chromosome arms 6q and 22q and the X chromosome, or gains of either 1q or 9. Recurrent and exclusive losses of 6q or 22q suggest that these regions harbor tumor suppressor genes that may contribute independently to the pathogenesis of childhood ependymoma. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 24:230–237, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Smoking and age-related maculopathy. The Blue Mountains Eye Study.

OBJECTIVE To assess the associations between stage of age-related maculopathy (ARM) and current, past, and passive smoking. METHODS A cross-sectional study of 3654 subjects from a defined geographic area west of Sydney, Australia, identified subjects with late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and early ARM by ocular examination and detailed grading of retinal photographs. Interviewer-administered questionnaires provided data about smoking history for subjects and spouses. Logistic regression, adjusting for age and sex, and 2-way analysis of variance were used to assess associations. RESULTS Current tobacco smoking was significantly associated with late AMD (odds ratio [OR], 3.92), including neovascular AMD (OR, 3.20) and geographic atrophy (OR, 4.54), and early ARM (OR, 1.75). Having ever smoked was significantly associated with late AMD (OR, 1.83) but not early ARM. Passive smoking was associated with increased but insignificant odds for late AMD. The risk was slightly higher among women compared with men for most exposure categories. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide convincing evidence that smoking may be causally associated with ARM. The strongest risk was found for current smokers, suggesting potential benefits of targeting education to older people who are current smokers and have signs of early ARM.
Self-reported hearing quality of traffic policemen: A questionnaire-based study

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of traffic policemen towards the health effects caused by noise pollution. Materials and Methods: The present questionnaire-based study was carried out among 86 traffic policemen randomly selected for an awareness workshop for prevention of noise pollution. The questionnaire included questions regarding the self-assessment of the policemen about their hearing ability, past and present exposure to loud sound and the use of personal protective devices such as earplugs and earmuffs. The questionnaire was filled up by the subjects. The data analysis was carried out using Epi Info 3.3. 2 and included calculation of percentages and proportions and application of the test of significance. Results: The mean age was 39.2 ± 7.8 years and the mean years of exposure was 2.1 ± 1.8 years. Only 2.3% of the subjects felt that their hearing ability was below average. 11.6% complained of regular tinnitus, while 62.8% had work-related tinnitus and experienced it during working hours only. Only 4.7% used earplugs and that too, very seldom. Reasons for non-usage of earplugs/earmuffs included non-availability (65.1%), discomfort (11.6%), bad fit (2.3%), personal dislike (16.3%) and headache caused by its use (4.7%). 67.4% subjects did not use any method to reduce exposure to noise, while remaining used fingers, hands and cotton to avoid noise exposure. Conclusion: The self-assessment of hearing by traffic policemen suggests that most of the traffic policemen have normal hearing. However, a systematic study with audiometry of these subjects is recommended.
Competitive Implications of Interfirm Mobility

This paper examines the competitive consequences of interfirm mobility. Because the loss of key members (defined as top decision makers) to competing firms may amount to a replication of a firm's higher-order routines, we investigate the conditions under which interfirm mobility triggers transfer of routines across organizational boundaries. We examine membership lists pertinent to the Dutch accounting industry to study key member exits and firm dissolutions over the period 1880--1986. We exploit information on the type of membership migration (individual versus collective) and the competitive saliency of the destination firm as inferred from the recipient status (incumbent versus start-up) and its geographic location (same versus different province). The dissolution risk is highest when collective interfirm mobility results in a new venture within the same geographic area. The theoretical implications of this study are discussed.
Unmet health care needs and impact on families with children with disabilities in Germany.

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the independent effect of unmet health needs on family burden, in addition to the effects of functional impairment and parental care load, in children and adolescents with disabilities. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 273 families with children with disabilities using ambulatory services at an academic children's hospital in Germany. We measured family burden using a translated version of the Impact on Family Scale (FABEL). Independent variables were unmet health needs in 4 areas (medical care, care coordination, health education, and psychosocial services), level of functional disability, and nursing care load at home. Control variables included the child's age and gender, maternal employment status, and parental educational attainment. RESULTS Most children had complex health conditions such as brain injury, congenital malformations, metabolic disease, myopathies, and brain tumors. Nearly half of families (44.6%) received home nursing cash benefits, indicating high care load. Parents reported most unmet needs in the areas of psychosocial counseling (17.2%) and care coordination (8.1%). After controlling for sociodemographic factors, unmet health needs predicted family burden independently of type (mental retardation or mobility impairment) and number of disabilities and nursing care load. Although only a few parents reported lack of medical services, this factor also contributed significantly to family burden. Multivariate analysis with these variables explained 45% of the variance in impact on the family. CONCLUSIONS Addressing unmet health needs may alleviate the impact of caring for a child with a disability. Further studies are needed to show more definitively that families can benefit from integrated services including psychosocial counseling.
The Capsule and S-Layer: Two Independent and Yet Compatible Macromolecular Structures in Bacillus anthracis

ABSTRACT Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of anthrax, is a gram-positive spore-forming bacterium. Fully virulent bacilli are toxinogenic and capsulated. Two abundant surface proteins, including the major antigen, are components of the B. anthracissurface layer (S-layer). The B. anthracis paracrystalline S-layer has previously only been found in noncapsulated vegetative cells. Here we report that the S-layer proteins are also synthesized under conditions where the poly-γ-d-glutamic acid capsule is present. Structural and immunological analyses show that the capsule is exterior to and completely covers the S-layer proteins. Nevertheless, analysis of single and double S-layer protein mutants shows that the presence of these proteins is not required for normal capsulation of the bacilli. Similarly, the S-layer proteins assemble as a two-dimensional crystal, even in the presence of the capsule. Thus, both structures are compatible, and yet neither is required for the correct formation of the other.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy for metabolic characterization of plaques in multiple sclerosis

We are investigating the potential of in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy for noninvasive characterization of the chemical pathology of plaques in magnetic resonance brain images from patients with multiple sclerosis. Spectra localized to chronic, irreversible plaques showed a decrease in the ratio of N-acetyl/creatine resonance intensities relative to normal-appearing white matter. Spectra localized to active plaques showed different metabolite changes as compared with spectra from identical, plaque-free volumes in the contralateral hemispheres. Some active plaques showed either no abnormalities or only an increase in tissue lactate. Spectra from others showed an increased ratio of choline/creatine resonance intensities, with or without a decreased N-acetyl/creatine resonance intensity ratio. In one case, serial observations showed an evolution of changes in spectra from a single plaque from an increased choline/creatine ratio to a decreased N-acetyl/creatine ratio. These observations suggest that proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy may be able to distinguish acute or active from chronic plaques and to characterize the pathologic evolution of active plaques by measurement of local tissue metabolite levels.
Beliefs about control in the physician-patient relationship

OBJECTIVES: Effective communication is a critical component of quality health care, and to improve it we must understand its dynamics. This investigation examined the extent to which physicians’ and patients’ preferences for control in their relationship (e.g., shared control vs doctor control) were related to their communications styles and adaptations (i.e., how they responded to the communication of the other participant). DESIGN: Stratified case-controlled study.PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Twenty family medicine and internal medicine physicians and 135 patients.MEASUREMENTS: Based on scores from the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale, 10 patient-centered physicians (5 male, 5 female) and 10 doctor-centered physicians (5 male, 5 female) each interacted with 5 to 8 patients, roughly half of whom preferred shared control and the other half of whom were oriented toward doctor control. Audiotapes of 135 consultations were coded for behaviors indicative of physician partnership buidling and active patient participation.MAIN RESULTS: Patients who preferred shared control were more active participants (i.e., expressed more opinions, concerns, and questions) than were patients oriented toward doctor control. Physicians’ beliefs about control were not related to their use of partnership building. However, physicians did use more partnership building with male patients. Not only were active patient participation and physician partnership building mutually predictive of each other, but also approximately 14% of patient participation was prompted by physician partnership building and 33% of physician partnership building was in response to active patient participation.CONCLUSIONS: Communication in medical encounters is influenced by the physician’s and patient’s beliefs about control in their relationship as well as by one another’s behavior. The relationship between physicians’ partnership building and active patient participation is one of mutual influence such that increases in one often lead to increases in the other.
A study of P 2 X 1 receptor function in murine megakaryocytes and human platelets reveals synergy with P 2 Y receptors

1 We have examined the role of ATP-dependent P2X1 receptors in megakaryocytes (MKs) and platelets using receptor-de®cient mice and selective agonists. 2 a,b-meATPand ATPevoked ionotropic inward currents were absent in whole-cell recordings from MKs of P2X1 7/7 mice, demonstrating that the P2X receptor phenotype in MKs, and by inference, platelets, is due to expression of homomeric P2X1 receptors. 3 P2X1 receptor de®ciency had no eect on MK (CD 41) numbers or size distribution, showing that it is not essential for normal MK development. 4 P2Y receptor-stimulated [Ca]i responses were unaected in MKs from P2X1 7/7 mice, however the inward cation current associated with Ca release was reduced by *50%, suggesting an interaction between the membrane conductances activated by P2X1 and P2Y receptors. 5 Interaction between P2X1 and P2Y receptors in human platelets was also examined using [Ca ]i recordings from cell suspensions. a,b-meATP (10 mM) evoked a rapid transient P2X1 receptormediated increase in [Ca]i, whereas ADP-(10 mM) evoked P2Y receptor responses were slower, peaked at a higher level and remained elevated for longer periods. Co-application of a,b-meATP and ADP resulted in marked acceleration and ampli®cation of the peak [Ca]i response. 6 We conclude that ionotropic P2X1 receptors may play a priming role in the subsequent activation of metabotropic P2Y receptors during platelet stimulation. British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 135, 363 ± 372
Functional cerebral changes in multiple sclerosis patients during an autobiographical memory test

Our aim was to investigate the functional underpinnings of autobiographical memory (AM) impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. To that end, 18 patients and 18 controls underwent the autobiographical interview (AI). Subsequently, the 36 participants underwent a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) session designed to assess the construction and elaboration of AMs. A categorical control task was also presented. Patients were trained in the fMRI procedure to optimise the procedural aspects accompanying the task itself. Although the patients obtained significantly poorer AI scores (p < .001), their performance on the easier AM fMRI task was efficiently carried out, allowing relevant comparisons with healthy controls. Relatively to healthy controls, the patients showed increased and bilateral cerebral activations (p < .005) during the construction and elaboration phases. The prefrontal, temporal and posterior cerebral region activations were located within the core network sustaining AM, with the bilateral prefrontal region being centrally involved. The parametric neural responses to the difficulty of access and amount of details of memories were also significantly different for the two groups, with the right hippocampal region showing a particularly increased recruitment (p < .005). The findings suggested the presence of functional cerebral changes during AM performance and supported the presence of AM retrieval deficit in MS patients.
A new multifield determination of the galaxy luminosity function at z = 7-9 incorporating the 2012 Hubble Ultra-Deep Field imaging

We present a new determination of the ultraviolet (UV) galaxy luminosity function (LF) at redshift z ≃ 7 and 8, and a first estimate at z ≃ 9. An accurate determination of the form and evolution of the galaxy LF during this era is of key importance for improving our knowledge of the earliest phases of galaxy evolution and the process of cosmic reionization. Our analysis exploits to the full the new, deepest Wide Field Camera 3/infrared imaging from our Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Ultra-Deep Field 2012 (UDF12) campaign, with dynamic range provided by including a new and consistent analysis of all appropriate, shallower/wider area HST survey data. Our new measurement of the evolving LF at z ≃ 7 to 8 is based on a final catalogue of ≃600 galaxies, and involves a step-wise maximum-likelihood determination based on the photometric redshift probability distribution for each object; this approach makes full use of the 11-band imaging now available in the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field (HUDF), including the new UDF12 F140W data, and the latest Spitzer IRAC imaging. The final result is a determination of the z ≃ 7 LF extending down to UV absolute magnitudes M_1500 = −16.75 (AB mag) and the z ≃ 8 LF down to M_1500 = −17.00. Fitting a Schechter function, we find M*_1500 = −19.90^(+0.23)_(−0.28), log ϕ* = −2.96^(+0.18)_(−0.23) and a faint-end slope α = −1.90^(+0.14)_(−0.15) at z ≃ 7, and M*_1500 = −20.12^(+0.37)_(−0.48), log ϕ* = −3.35^(+0.28)_(−0.47) and α = −2.02^(+0.22)_(-0.23) at z ≃ 8. These results strengthen previous suggestions that the evolution at z > 7 appears more akin to ‘density evolution’ than the apparent ‘luminosity evolution’ seen at z ≃ 5 − 7. We also provide the first meaningful information on the LF at z ≃ 9, explore alternative extrapolations to higher redshifts, and consider the implications for the early evolution of UV luminosity density. Finally, we provide catalogues (including derived z_phot, M_1500 and photometry) for the most robust z ∼ 6.5-11.9 galaxies used in this analysis. We briefly discuss our results in the context of earlier work and the results derived from an independent analysis of the UDF12 data based on colour–colour selection.
Evaluation of an Electronic Monitoring Device for Urinary Incontinence in Elderly Patients in an Acute Care Setting

AIM The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the use of habit training with an electronic monitoring device is better than standard habit training in the assessment and management of urinary incontinence in elderly patients in acute care hospitals. The second aim was to describe nurses' perceptions of continence management in acute care settings. DESIGN A randomized controlled trial was conducted for an 18-month period. SAMPLE AND SETTING The sample consisted of 41 elderly incontinent patients who resided on the acute care rehabilitation wards of 2 western Australian hospitals. INSTRUMENTS A continence assessment form was used to document self-reported or carer-reported frequency and severity of incontinence. A continence monitoring chart was used to record voiding patterns and continence outcomes. A semi-structured interview guide was developed to elicit nurses' perceptions of continence management. RESULTS Findings revealed no significant improvements in the self-reported or carer-reported frequency of incontinence from baseline to follow-up of in-patients and at 1 month after discharge, although there was a trend toward improvement in both the experimental and the control groups at the posttest time points. A significant reduction in self-reported or carer-reported severity of incontinence was demonstrated in the experimental group at 1 month follow-up (P = 5.025). Nurses' perceptions of continence management of elderly patients in acute care settings ranged from positive to extremely negative. Even those with positive perceptions were challenged by problems with device malfunction, perceptions of lack of time, lack of support from other staff, and lack of knowledge about how best to meet the continence management needs of this complex group of patients. CONCLUSION The potential value of an electronic monitoring device for reducing incontinence could not be adequately assessed because of the small sample size and problems with the device and with implementing the study protocol. Although it was possible to determine a pattern in voiding times using the electronic device, compliance with the toileting regimen was difficult to achieve. Researchers and clinicians planning future studies with this device should be aware of the practical limitations associated with habit-training regimens for elderly patients in the acute care setting.
Objectively measured physical activity in urban alternative high school students.

INTRODUCTION Alternative high school (AHS) students are an underserved population of youth at greater risk for poor health behaviors and outcomes. Little is known about their physical activity patterns. PURPOSE : The purpose of this study was to describe 1) physical activity levels of students attending alternative high schools (AHS) in St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN, and 2) compliance with wearing a physical activity accelerometer. METHODS Sixty-five students (59% male, 65% <18 yr old, 51% African American, 17% Caucasian, 32% mixed and other) wore an accelerometer during all waking hours for 7 d as part of the baseline assessment for a school-based physical activity and dietary behavior intervention. Accelerometer data were reduced to summary variables using a custom software program. Compliance with wearing the accelerometer was assessed by the number of days with >or=10 h of data. Accelerometer counts per minute and minutes spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were calculated. RESULTS Students averaged 323 +/- 143.0 counts min(-1) and 51 +/- 25.5 min d(-1) of MVPA. Minutes of MVPA d(-1) were greater on weekdays compared with the weekend (52 +/- 27.3 vs 43 +/- 39.7 min d(-1), respectively; P = 0.05). However, students wore the accelerometer less on the weekends (weekdays = 17.2 +/- 3.0, weekend = 14.9 +/- 6.8 h d(-1)). Expressing minutes of MVPA as a percentage of the number of minutes of available data, students spent approximately 5% of their time in MVPA on weekdays and weekends. Forty-five percent of students had 7 d of data, 51% had 4-6 d, and 5% had fewer than 4 d. On average, students wore the accelerometer for 17 +/- 3.2 h d(-1) (range = 12.0-23.8 h d(-1)). CONCLUSION Compliance was high (95% of students provided at least 4 d of data), and physical activity was relatively low representing a vulnerable population in need of further study and intervention.
Reliable harvest of a dorsal scapular artery perforator flap by augmenting its perfusion

Despite confirmation of a reliable perforasome in the dorsal scapular artery in an anatomic study, a true perforator flap has not been recommended in previous clinical studies because of concerns regarding insufficient perfusion in the distal region. In this report, we present two cases of reconstruction for occipital defects caused by tumor extirpation using pedicled dorsal scapular artery perforator flaps without a muscle component. To secure the perfusion of the dorsal scapular artery perforator flap, inclusion of an additional perforator was attempted for perfusion augmentation. The second dorsal scapular artery perforator was harvested in one case. In an additional case, the sixth dorsal intercostal artery perforator with a branch that directly connected with the dorsal scapular artery within the trapezius muscle was additionally harvested. The flaps survived without any perfusion‐related complications, including tip necrosis, and no donor site morbidities were observed. We suggest that a perfusion augmented dorsal scapular artery perforator flap by harvesting multiple perforators could be a safe and useful alternative for reconstructive surgery of head and neck defects. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:152–156, 2016.
Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr virus infection and the p53 tumour suppressor pathway in gastric stump cancer compared with carcinoma in the non-operated stomach.

AIM: To evaluate similarities and differences between gastric stump cancer and conventional carcinoma in the non-operated stomach. METHODS: 26 stump carcinomas were compared with 24 conventional stomach cancers. Stage, histological type, and demographics were comparable in the two groups. Expression of p53 and p21-Waf1/Cip1 was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. Helicobacter pylori infection was evaluated by examining haematoxylin-eosin stained slides and immunohistochemistry. Epstein-Barr virus infection was evaluated by RNA in situ hybridisation. RESULTS: Expression of p53 and p21-Waf1/Cip1 was similar in both groups and positive in more than half of the patients. H pylori infection was observed in six stump carcinomas and 17 conventional carcinomas in the intact stomach (p < 0.01). RNA in situ hybridisation (EBER1-ISH) for Epstein-Barr virus was positive in nine stump carcinomas and two carcinomas in the non-operated stomach (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There appear to be aetiological differences between stump carcinoma and cancer in the intact stomach. Further study of these differences may improve our understanding of gastric carcinogenesis in general.