Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applicability of the SMART Model of Transition Readiness for Sickle-Cell Disease.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to examine the applicability of the Social-ecological Model of Adolescent and Young Adult Readiness to Transition (SMART) model for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with sickle-cell disease (SCD). METHODS 14 AYA with SCD (14-24 years old) and 10 clinical experts (6-20 years of experience) completed semi-structured interviews. AYA completed brief questionnaires. Interviews were coded for themes, which were reviewed to determine their fit within the SMART model. RESULTS Overall, most themes were consistent with the model (e.g., sociodemographics/culture, neurocognition/IQ, etc.). Factors related to race/culture, pain management, health-care navigation skills, societal stigma, and lack of awareness about SCD were salient for AYA with SCD. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest the SMART model may be appropriate in SCD with the consideration of disease-related stigma. This study is a step toward developing a disease-specific model of transition readiness for SCD. Future directions include the development of a measure of transition readiness for this population.
Dynamics of Dual Infection with Campylobacter jejuni Strains in Chickens Reveals Distinct Strain-to-Strain Variation in Infection Ecology

ABSTRACT Although multiple genotypes of Campylobacter jejuni may be isolated from the same commercial broiler flock, little is known about the infection dynamics of different genotypes within individuals or their colonization sites within the gut. Single experimental infections with C. jejuni M1 (sequence type 137, clonal complex 45) and C. jejuni 13126 (sequence type 21, clonal complex 21) revealed that 13126 colonized the ceca at significantly higher levels. The dissemination and colonization sites of the two C. jejuni strains then were examined in an experimental broiler flock. Two 33-day-old broiler chickens were infected with M1 and two with 13126, and 15 birds were left unchallenged. Cloacal swabs were taken postinfection to determine the colonization and shedding of each strain. By 2 days postinfection (dpi), 8/19 birds were shedding M1 whereas none were shedding 13126. At 8 dpi, all birds were shedding both strains. At 18 dpi, liver and cecal levels of each isolate were quantified, while in 10 birds they also were quantified at nine sites throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. 13126 was found throughout the GI tract, while M1 was largely restricted to the ceca and colon. The livers of 7/19 birds were culture positive for 13126 only. These data show that 13126 has a distinctly different infection biology than strain M1. It showed slower colonization of the lower GI tract but was more invasive and able to colonize at a high level throughout the GI tract. The finding that C. jejuni strains have markedly different infection ecologies within the chicken has implications for control in the poultry industry and suggests that the contamination risk of edible tissues is dependent on the isolate involved.
Heterogeneity in progenitor cell subtypes in the ventricular zone of the zebrafish adult telencephalon

The zebrafish has become a new model for adult neurogenesis, owing to its abundant neurogenic areas in most brain subdivisions. Radial glia‐like cells, actively proliferating cells, and label‐retaining progenitors have been described in these areas. In the telencephalon, this complexity is enhanced by an organization of the ventricular zone (VZ) in fast and slow‐dividing domains, suggesting the existence of heterogeneous progenitor types. In this work, we studied the expression of various transgenic or immunocytochemical markers for glial cells (gfap:gfp, cyp19a1b:gfp, BLBP, and S100β), progenitors (nestin:gfp and Sox2), and neuroblasts (PSA‐NCAM) in cycling progenitors of the adult zebrafish telencephalon (identified by expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), MCM5, or bromodeoxyuridine incorporation). We demonstrate the existence of distinct populations of dividing cells at the adult telencephalic VZ. Progenitors of the overall slow‐cycling domains express high levels of Sox2 and nestin:gfp as well as all glial markers tested. In contrast, domains with an overall fast division rate are characterized by low or missing expression of glial markers. PCNA‐positive cells in fast domains further display a morphology distinct from radial glia and co‐express PSA‐NCAM, suggesting that they are early neuronal precursors. In addition, the VZ contains cycling progenitors that express neither glial markers nor nestin:gfp, but are positive for Sox2 and PSA‐NCAM, identifying them as committed neuroblasts. On the basis of the marker gene expression and distinct cell morphologies, we propose a classification for the dividing cell states at the zebrafish adult telencephalic VZ. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
E ! ects of semi-rigid arch-support orthotics: an investigation with potential ergonomic implications

For many years, arch-support orthotics have been prescribed for individuals with discomfort and/or abnormal skeletal alignments in the structures of the lower extremity. Recently there has been an increased interest in promoting semi-rigid orthotics as an ergonomic aid for asymptomatic workers who must stand all day at their workplace. A laboratory study was performed to assess the biomechanical impact of prefabricated semi-rigid orthotics on asymptomatic individuals. Ten subjects wore semi-rigid arch-support orthotics (experimental condition) for two months and # exible polyurethane/Sorbothane ’ shoe inserts (control condition) for two months. Throughout this 18-week testing period, the subjects returned to the lab to perform a battery of assessment tests at regularly scheduled intervals. These tests examined subject strength, standing posture, stability, fatigue e ! ects, and body part discomfort. The results of this study showed no signi " cant changes in the strength, posture, or stability as a function of insert type. The subjects reported a reduction in low-back discomfort along with an increase in foot discomfort during a fatiguing exertion task while wearing the semi-rigid orthotics as compared to the control condition. ( 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Attitudes towards termination of pregnancy among Hong Kong Chinese women attending prenatal diagnosis counselling clinic

To investigate the attitudes towards termination of pregnancy (TOP) among Hong Kong Chinese women attending the prenatal diagnosis counselling (PDC) clinic under three circumstances: (1) normal fetus, (2) fetal chromosomal anomalies, and (3) fetal abnormalities diagnosed after 24 weeks of gestation, and to determine the association between the attitudes and demographic factors.
A novel oxygen‐sensitive potassium current in rat carotid body type I cells.

1. Hypoxic stimuli depolarize carotid body type I cells causing voltage‐gated calcium influx. This study investigates the cause of this membrane depolarization. Isolated type I cells from neonatal (11‐16 day) rat carotid bodies were used in the experiments. 2. Tetraethylammonium (TEA; 10 mM), 1 and 5 mM 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP) and 20 nM charybdotoxin all failed to evoke a significant rise in [Ca2+]i. Similarly, in perforated patch whole‐cell recordings, a combination of 10 mM TEA and 5 mM 4‐AP failed to depolarize type I cells. 3. In type I cells voltage clamped at ‐70 mV, anoxia evoked a small inward current under control conditions, but had no effect in the absence of pipette and extracellular K+. 4. Anoxia decreased resting membrane conductance from 322 to 131 pS. The anoxia‐sensitive current (measured using voltage ramps from ‐100 to ‐40 mV) had a reversal potential of ‐89 mV in 4.5 mM Ko+ and ‐66 mV in 20 mM Ko+, indicating that this current was carried principally by potassium ions. In contrast, 10 mM TEA + 5 mM 4‐AP had little effect on the current‐voltage relationship of the cells over the same range. 5. This O2‐sensitive K+ conductance showed only mild outward rectification over the range ‐90 to +30 mV, which could be approximated by the Goldman‐Hodgkin‐Katz current equation. In addition, there was no time‐dependent activation or inactivation of membrane currents elicited by voltage steps in the range ‐100 to ‐30 mV. 6. The O2‐sensitive K+ conductance was inhibited by graded reductions in PO2 to 40 Torr and below, with a K1/2 of about 12 Torr. 7. The data suggest that hypoxia depolarizes type I cells principally through the inhibition of a small voltage‐insensitive resting (or background) K+ conductance, and not through the inhibition of voltage‐gated TEA and 4‐AP‐sensitive K+ channels (e.g. maxi‐K or KO2 channels), as has been previously suggested.
Hydrogen sulfide induces hypersensitivity of rat capsaicin-sensitive lung vagal 1 neurons : role of TRPA 1 receptors 2 3 4

Hydrogen sulfide induces hypersensitivity of rat capsaicin-sensitive lung vagal 1 neurons: role of TRPA1 receptors 2 3 4 Chun-Chun Hsu 2, , Ruei-Lung Lin, Lu-Yuan Lee, and You Shuei Lin 2, 4* 5 6 Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical 7 University, Taipei, Taiwan 8 Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 9 Taiwan 10 Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, 11 Kentucky, USA 12 Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan 13 14 Running Head: hydrogen sulfide and lung afferent sensitization 15 16 * Corresponding author: You Shuei Lin, Ph.D. 17 Department of Physiology 18 Taipei Medical University 19 Taipei, Taiwan 110 20 Telephone: +886-2-2736-1661 Ext. 3180 21 E-mail: yslin@tmu.edu. tw 22 23 Articles in PresS. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol (July 10, 2013). doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00202. 2013
"How did you feel?": increasing child sexual abuse witnesses' production of evaluative information.

In child sexual abuse cases, the victim's testimony is essential, because the victim and the perpetrator tend to be the only eyewitnesses to the crime. A potentially important component of an abuse report is the child's subjective reactions to the abuse. Attorneys may ask suggestive questions or avoid questioning children about their reactions, assuming that children, given their immaturity and reluctance, are incapable of articulation. We hypothesized that How questions referencing reactions to abuse (e.g., "how did you feel") would increase the productivity of children's descriptions of abuse reactions. Two studies compared the extent to which children provided evaluative content, defined as descriptions of emotional, cognitive, and physical reactions, in response to different question-types, including How questions, Wh- questions, Option-posing questions (yes-no or forced-choice), and Suggestive questions. The first study examined children's testimony (ages 5-18) in 80 felony child sexual abuse cases. How questions were more productive yet the least prevalent, and Option-posing and Suggestive questions were less productive but the most common. The second study examined interview transcripts of 61 children (ages 6-12) suspected of being abused, in which children were systematically asked How questions regarding their reactions to abuse, thus controlling for the possibility that in the first study, attorneys selectively asked How questions of more articulate children. Again, How questions were most productive in eliciting evaluative content. The results suggest that interviewers and attorneys interested in eliciting evaluative reactions should ask children "how did you feel? " rather than more direct or suggestive questions.
Long-Term Changes in the Masseter Muscle Following Reduction Gonioplasty

&NA; Many plastic surgeons use mandibular osteotomy (reduction gonioplasty) without masseter resection to correct a square face. However, there is not enough long-term observation of the masseter after reduction gonioplasty, although some researches have already confirmed that the volume of masseter muscle does decrease shortly after reduction gonioplasty. Methods: The Plastic Surgery Hospital database was retrospectively reviewed for patients who underwent reduction gonioplasty. Fifty-six patients with both preoperative and 4 years postoperative 3-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) were included. The changes in the volume and morphology of the masseter muscle after reduction gonioplasty were assessed quantitatively. The 3DCT data were analyzed using Mimics 10.01 software. Results: All patients were satisfied with the outcome. No complications happened. There were significant differences between the preoperative and 4 years postoperative volume and morphology. Conclusion: After reduction gonioplasty, the masseter muscle atrophied (reduced 20.98% ± 8.75%), especially the lower part of the masseter muscle in the long-term follow-up. Most patients with prominent mandibular angles should be treated with reduction gonioplasty without approaching the masseter muscle.
Long-term exposure to norepinephrine results in down-regulation and reduced mRNA expression of pulmonary beta-adrenergic receptors in guinea pigs.

We studied the down-regulation of beta 2-adrenoceptors in guinea pig lung after chronic exposure to a beta-agonist. Guinea pigs were exposed to either norepinephrine (NE) or vehicle for 7 days. The density and affinity of beta-adrenoceptors were determined by Scatchard analysis of [125I]cyanopindolol binding in a lung membrane preparation and beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor subtypes were studied in the presence of 0.1 microM ICI 118,551, a selective beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, or 0.1 microM CGP 20712 A, a selective beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, respectively. beta 2-Adrenoceptor mRNA was examined by Northern blot analysis. The tissue distribution of beta 2-adrenoceptors and of beta 2-adrenoceptor mRNA in lung after NE infusion were determined using receptor autoradiography and in situ hybridization, respectively. The functional significance of the decrease in beta 2-adrenoceptor was tested by measuring the relaxation response to a beta 2-agonist in isolated parenchymal strips. NE treatment resulted in decreases of 75 +/- 9%, 84 +/- 4%, and 66 +/- 9% of total beta-, beta 1-, and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the lung, compared with control animals. The administration of NE had only minimal effects on the dissociation constant (Kd) of the receptor for the radioligand. beta 2-Adrenoceptors mRNA was decreased by 46 +/- 13% after NE treatment. There was a correspondence between the distribution of beta 2-adrenoceptors and beta 2-adrenoceptor mRNA localization in both control and NE-treated guinea pigs. NE treatment reduced alveolar beta 2-adrenoceptors by 70 +/- 3% and its mRNA expression by 78 +/- 5%. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Secretory Capability of Islets Transplanted Intraportally in the Diabetic Rat

Long-term islet-transplanted rats were examined for their ability to secrete insulin and glucagon and maintain normal glucose homeostasis under various experimental conditions. Normal glucose tolerance and insulin secretion were noted in nonstressed transplanted animals after oral glucose loading, whereas the intravenous administration of glucose resulted in a prompt but reduced insulin release associated with a slower return to basal glucose concentrations. Both the insulin and glucagon responses of nonstressed transplanted rats to arginine were comparable to those seen in normal animals. In transplant rats, stress severely impaired glucose homeostasis, as indicated by a marked rise in plasma glucose and a significant decrease in plasma insulin under basal conditions. These abnormalities were prevented by either alpha-adrenergic blockade or adrenalectomy. Stress also severely impaired both oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests in transplant animals and markedly inhibited insulin secretory responses to tolbutamide and theophylline. Control and transplant rats exhibited comparable plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine values under basal conditions and in response to stress. The stress-induced impairment in glucose homeostasis of transplant rats was attributed to an increased sensitivity of the transplanted A- and B-cells to catecholamines secondary to their denervated state. Transplanted islet cells exhibited appropriate adaptive responses to chronic modulating factors such as a 48-hour fast and the administration of cortisol. However, cortisol-treated rats were unable to sustain a sufficient secretion of insulin to maintain normal carbohydrate tolerance, and consequently there was a reappearance of the diabetic state.
Health needs of women who have sex with women

Healthcare workers need to be aware of their specific needs The term “women who have sex with women” describes sexual behaviour while lesbian is a term that describes sexual identity. However, sexual identity does not necessarily predict sexual behaviour–most lesbians have a history of sexual intercourse with men.1 Women who have sex with women form a small but important group and have specific health needs. A lack of awareness among healthcare professionals about these needs may lead to ill informed advice and missed opportunities for the prevention of illness. An unfortunate perception exists among healthcare providers and women who have sex with women that they do not need regular cervical smears. High risk types of genital human papillomavirus are associated with developing high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and sexual intercourse with men is a powerful risk factor for cervical cancer. However, it is important to counter the erroneous assumption that women who have sex with women are not at risk of catching human papillomavirus. Around one in five women who have never had heterosexual intercourse have human papillomavirus.2 Cytological abnormality in women who have sex with women varies in prevalence between studies but ranges from inflammation to severe dyskaryosis.1 w1 …
The histological appearances of late segmental collapse of the femoral head after transcervical fracture.

1. A study of late segmental collapse in twelve femoral heads shows that it may not develop until two and a half years after the fracture. 2. Until the articular surfaces had collapsed the patients usually had no symptoms. The fractures were united and there was no obvious radiographic evidence of ischaemic necrosis. 3. There was histological evidence that the whole of the femoral heads had been necrotic at one time. The term late segmental collapse is more appropriate than late segmental necrosis. 4. The blood vessels of the ligamentum teres played little or no part in revascularisation which, when it occurred, was almost entirely across the fracture line. 5. In only one femoral head was revascularisation approaching completion and apparently continuing. In the other eleven much of the head remained necrotic and the process appeared to have halted. 6. An increase in radiological density was caused by new bone laid down on unresorbed necrotic trabeculae and was most prominent behind the line of revascularisation when the process had halted. 7. Trabecular collapse was evident within dead bone. In ten of the femoral heads it occurred in the subchondral region and in four just beyond the junction of reossified and dead bone. 8. Osteoarthritic changes occurred in the cartilage covering revascularised bone at the periphery of the head, especially when collapse was severe.
Improving MFI-MB interaction with technology: An explorative study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Micro businesses (MB) are small informal businesses, which have become important for the economy and the livelihood of many people in developing countries. MBs face a number of challenges that include access to credit and funding. Micro-finance institutions (MFI) are gaining increasing foothold in developing countries as providers of credit for micro, small, and medium sized businesses. This research explores the interactive relationship between MFIs and MBs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 informants from MFIs, and 20 informants from MBs. The data was analysed by using qualitative methods. The data analysis revealed a number of themes related to challenges in MFI-MB interactions. A number of engineering solutions to address the identified challenges are suggested.
A study of the scribal hands of Knossos based on phylogenetic methods and find-place analysis. Part II: Early, middle & late Knossian writing styles and the dating of the Knossos Tablets

It has already been demonstrated that it is possible to divide the tablets into three groups, with contents which are, at most, only weakly linked (Firth 2002, pp. 260269). In that study, the three groups were essentially the same as those given above although there were differences of detail because the earlier analysis did not have the advantage of using phylogenetic methods.2 It is clearly possible for there to be differences in writing styles that were in use at any given time. Therefore, in principle it is possible that all three of the above writing
Brahma Rasayana enhances in vivo antioxidant status in cold-stressed chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant status of chicken during cold stress and to investigate if there are any beneficial effects of Brahma Rasayana supplementation in cold stressed chicken. Materials and Methods: Activities of enzymatic and levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants in blood / serum and liver tissue were evaluated in chicken exposed to cold (4 ± 10C and relative humidity of 40 ± 5%, for six consecutive hours daily, for 5 or 10 days). The antioxidant properties of Brahma Rasayana (BR) supplementation (2 g/kg daily, orally) during cold stress was also studied. Results: There was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in antioxidant enzyme in the blood, such as, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), and serum reduced glutathione (GSH) in cold stressed chicken. Serum and liver lipid peroxidation levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cold stressed untreated chickens when compared to the treated and unstressed groups. There was also a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the antioxidant enzymes in the blood, such as, catalase (CAT) and SOD, in the liver CAT and SOD, and in GPX and GR in BR-treated cold stressed chicken, when compared to the untreated controls. Conclusions: Results of the present study conclude that in chicken, BR supplementation during cold stress brings about enhanced actions of the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, which nullify the undesired side effects of free radicals generated during cold stress.
Performance analysis of multiple bus interconnection networks with hierarchical requesting model

The performance of multiple-bus networks with full bus-memory connection, single bus-memory connection, and partial bus-memory connection are presented. A type of multiple-bus network, called a partial bus network with K classes, is proposed. Under a nonuniform requesting model called a hierarchical requesting model, the performance of the above multiple-bus networks is analyzed. The costs and fault-tolerant capabilities of each are evaluated and compared with one another. It is shown that the proposed networks are useful in applications requiring high performance and degree of fault tolerance with moderate cost. <<ETX>>