Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide on T lymphocyte infiltration and its role in the therapeutic effects of acitretin in psoriasis vulgaris

Background: The pathogenesis of psoriatic plaque lesions is related to the overexpression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). We investigated changes in circulating and skin CGRP content, and their impacts on T lymphocyte infiltration and acitretin therapy in psoriasis vulgaris. Methods: CGRP expression was examined through immunohistochemistry of skin biopsies, and its serum levels were determined by radioimmunity in both patients with psoriasis vulgaris and healthy volunteers. Correlation between serum CGRP levels and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores was analyzed. Effects of CGRP on adhesion, migration, and IL-6 secretion of T lymphocytes of healthy subjects were assessed. After psoriasis patients were treated with acitretin, CGRP I and II mRNA expression of T lymphocytes was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and the CGRP contents of serum were assayed (via radioimmunity). T lymphocytes from healthy volunteers were obtained to detect the effect of acitretin on CGRP secretion. Results: CGRP expression levels in the skin and serum were higher in psoriasis patients than in healthy subjects. CGRP levels in psoriasis patients were correlated with their PASI score. CGRP facilitated T lymphocyte adhesion, migration, and IL-6 secretion. Treatment with acitretin inhibited CGRP I and II mRNA expression in T lymphocytes and serum CGRP levels in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Acitretin inhibited CGRP secretion in T lymphocytes of healthy volunteers. Conclusions: CGRP is involved in derma T lymphocyte infiltration of psoriasis vulgaris, and the therapeutic effects of acitretin are related to decreases in CGRP synthesis and the release of circulatory T lymphocytes.
The incidence of plateau at 2max is affected by a bout of prior‐priming exercise

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 6 min of prior‐priming exercise on the incidence of plateau at 2max. Twelve trained cyclists (age, 21 ± 3 years; height, 175·0 ± 8·0 cm; weight, 69·0 ± 10·4 kg; maximal oxygen uptake (2max), 56·3 ± 6·9 ml kg−1 min−1) completed three incremental tests to volitional exhaustion, which were classified as unprimed (UP), heavy‐primed (HP) and severe‐primed (SP), at a work rate of 1 W 2 s−1, from an initial workload of 100 W, for the determination of 2max. 2max trial in the HP and SP conditions was preceded by a period of 4‐min unloaded cycling followed by a further 6 min of constant load cycling at Δ50%2 gas exchange threshold (GET)‐ 2max (HP) and Δ75%2 GET‐2max (SP). Expired air was recorded on a breath‐by‐breath basis during all trials. The criteria adopted for a plateau in2max was a Δ2 over the final two consecutive 30‐s sampling periods ≤2·1 ml kg−1 min−1. There was a significant increase in plateau responses between the UP (50%) and HP (100%) conditions (P = 0·001) coupled with a significant change in the slope of the regression line during the final 60 s of the 2max test, UP and HP (P = 0·0299) and UP and SP (P = 0·0296). These data suggest that a bout of prior‐priming exercise promotes an increased incidence of plateau responses at VO2max. It is suggested that future studies address how such an approach can be adopted without prior knowledge of GET.
Examining the impact of QR codes on purchase intention and customer satisfaction on the basis of perceived flow

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of quick response (QR) codes on customer satisfaction and purchase intention in the online shopping context on the basis of perceived flow. This study also showed the impact of QR codes on perceived flow, followed by perceived flow on purchase intention and customer satisfaction, and finally the combination impact of perceived flow and customer satisfaction on purchase intention. Stimulus–Organism–Response theoretical model was used in this research. Data were collected by online questionnaires from 420 valid respondents who purchased a product online via QR code. The covariance-based structural equation modeling approach was used to analyze the structural model and measurements. This study showed that QR codes have a great impact on purchase intention and customer satisfaction. The findings of this article confirmed that QR codes influence perceived flow, combined effect of them, in turn, influenced online shoppers’ satisfaction and, finally, purchase intention. These findings are practically significant for both marketers and customers. Marketers should use QR codes as an embedded advertising tool with particular URLs that will lead to more profitability for shopping agency. Besides customers can also learn their behavior regarding QR codes in the online shopping context. This research has great real implications in the field of Internet shopping, online marketing, retailing, marketing promotion, and consumer behavior. Embedded QR codes with advertising are very helpful for advertisers to share and influence customer satisfaction and purchase intention. Sharing information via QR codes will influence customers to engage and share information with other customers in the online community, which will help to increase the volume of sales rapidly. To the best of our knowledge there is no research to evaluate the real impact of QR codes on purchase intention and customer satisfaction on the basis of perceived flow.
Food systems for healthier diets in Ethiopia : toward a research agenda

While dietary energy supply has improved, diets in Ethiopia remain low in diversity and provide insufficient amounts of protein, vitamin A, and zinc. Poor dietary quality contributes to the multiple burden of malnutrition in the country, with 38% stunting among children under five years and 24% anemia and 8% overweight among adult women. Recent Ethiopian government policies and programs call for sustainable food systems approaches aimed at achieving better nutrition for all. Such food systems approaches imply actions that include but also go beyond agriculture to consider the many processes and actors involved in food production, processing, storage, transportation, trade, transformation, retailing, and consumption. In this paper, we identify research streams to support the operationalizing of such food systems approaches in Ethiopia. To this end, we engaged with stakeholders, reviewed the literature, and applied a food systems framework to research priorities in the Ethiopian context. We develop an initial food systems profile of Ethiopia and identify 25 priority research questions, categorized into three main areas. A first area focuses on diagnosis and foresight research, for example, to further characterize dietary gaps and transitions in the context of the variety of Ethiopian settings, and to understand and anticipate which food system dynamics contribute positively or negatively to those trends. A second area includes implementation research and focuses on building a base of evidence on the dietary impact of combined demand-, market-, and supply-side interventions/innovations that focus on nonstaples; potential trade-offs in terms of economic, social, and environmental outcomes; and interactions between food system actors. A third area focuses on institutional and policy processes and explores enabling factors and private or public anchors that can take food systems approaches for healthier diets to a regional or national scale. The paper contextualizes the case of Ethiopia within global food systems thinking and thereby aims to stimulate in- and cross-country learning.
Olfactory Stimuli in Mammalian Reproduction

In the article "Olfactory stimuli in mammalian reproduction," by A. S. Parkes and H. M. Bruce [Science 134, 1049 (1961)], the acknowledgement (p. 1054, reference 31) should have read: "It is a pleasure to express our thanks to Dr. Dorothy Price for calling our attention to the work of Jan Martan on the supracaudal glands of the guinea pig. "
Política y práctica social basada en la evidencia: ¿una nueva ideología o un imperativo de Derechos Humanos?

En este articulo se sostiene que el Trabajo Social y la politica social basados en la evidencia son un imperativo de derechos humanos. Ya no es aceptable que al momento de formular politicas sociales los gobiernos o los agentes de Trabajo Social, como los trabajadores sociales, se involucren en la vida de las personas sin una evidencia que demuestre que lo que hacen puede ser beneficioso -o al menos no danino- para quienes son el objetivo de la politica o la intervencion. Este estudio sostiene que cuando los profesionales y legisladores intervienen en la vida de los demas sin una evidencia que muestre que lo que hacen podria ser beneficioso para los involucrados, no son menos culpables del dano causado y de abuso de derechos humanos simplemente porque pretendian hacer el bien. Este trabajo se divide en dos partes. La primera considera el caso del Trabajo Social y sus implicancias para la ensenanza de Trabajo Social, y la segunda considera la politica social.
Immigration and economic welfare: resource and environmental aspects.

"The relation between immigration and the economic welfare of residents is analyzed for resource-rich economies (such as Australia) both under competitive conditions and when various distortions are present. Immigration provides efficiency gains for residents under distortion-free competition for standard 'gains from trade' reasons. Such reasons, however, tend to be ignored by immigration and 'optimal population' theorists who raise the issue of restricting immigration without explicitly referring to the distortions. In situations where distortions and externalities are present, we argue that it is generally preferable to devise policies which specifically target the distortions than to restrict immigration. "
Molecular detection of BRAF‐V600E is superior to flow cytometry for disease evaluation in hairy cell leukaemia

To the Editor Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is a low grade lymphoproliferative B-cell disorder. Diagnosis relies on morphological and immunophenotypic criteria that include the following: CD20, CD22, CD11c, CD25, CD103, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and Annexin A1 [1]. However, diagnostic difficulties can often arise because of a low number of circulating leukemic cells and a ‘dry tap’ on marrow aspiration. The differential diagnosis includes myelofibrosis, splenic marginal zone lymphoma and hairy cell variant (HCLv) that is CD25 negative. Making the correct diagnosis is essential as treatment with nucleoside analogues, such as cladribine and pentostatin, or with interferon or rituximab is usually highly effective in HCL [2]. By using whole exome sequencing, Tiacci et al. in 2011 identified a V600E mutation in exon 15 of the BRAF gene in HCL [3]. Remarkably, this mutation was found in all 48 HCL patients tested by Sanger sequencing but was absent in all 195 patients with a variety of other peripheral B-cell lymphomas. This finding was independently verified by high-resolution melting analysis, where the mutation was present in all 48 HCL patients and none of 114 non-HCL patients [4]. The BRAF protein encoded on chromosome 7q34 functions as a serine/threonine kinase. The V600E mutation, which is also found in melanoma and other malignancies, causes constitutive activation of the MAP/ERK pathway leading to stimulation of cell growth and survival [5]. Targeted inhibition of BRAF by using the inhibitor PLX-4720 (vemurafenib) has been shown to yield haematological remission in a patient with BRAF-V600E mutation-positive refractory HCL [6]. On the basis of these findings, it is likely that BRAFV600E detection will be incorporated into diagnostic testing for patients suspected of having HCL in the future and indeed may become an obligatory requirement to establish a full diagnosis of HCL. Several techniques have been developed to identify this mutation and form a genetic-based diagnostic test. Techniques developed include allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [7], mRNA-based reverse transcription allele-specific PCR [8], melting curve analysis [4] and pyrosequencing [9]. However, to our knowledge, none of these tests are currently commercially available. We aimed to validate
Twist of Fate for Simple Congenital Heart Defects.

We fix congenital heart defects, but the patient is rarely cured. Even successful repair is associated with a finite risk of unfavorable long-term consequences.1,2 This maxim applies broadly to patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) with the exception of those with simple defects that were either repaired early or whose defects are thought to be so trivial as to not merit repair. These patients are generally thought to have a normal life expectancy and are counseled accordingly: Consensus guidelines do not recommend regular follow-up in specialty CHD clinics.2 Results from the current article by Videbaek and colleagues in this issue of Circulation suggest we should reconsider this exemption.3 Article see p 474 The authors present long-term outcomes for 1241 Danish patients alive at 15 years of age with an isolated simple congenital heart defect (atrial or ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary stenosis) who did not have known comorbidity such as Down syndrome or pulmonary hypertension. Subjects were enrolled between 1963 and 1973 by 1 pediatric cardiologist who visited all Danish clinics caring for such patients. Most patients underwent catheterization to confirm the diagnosis and about a quarter underwent surgical repair. The cohort was followed to a median age of 47.4 years by the use of Danish national records on clinical care and vital status. It is not surprising that these patients were at higher risk for needing cardiac surgery or cardiac morbidity in comparison with a matched population-based sample. What is remarkable is that patients with simple isolated CHD were about twice as likely to die. Those who make a new or controversial claim carry the burden of proof. In this case, most would place that heavy burden on those who would argue that patients with a simple defect appropriately managed early in …
Evaluation of gentamicin and penicillin as a synergistic combination in experimental murine listeriosis

The administration of a combination of penicillin and gentamicin to mice given an intraperitoneal challenge of a highly pathogenic strain of Listeria monocytogenes resulted in increased survival as compared with groups receiving penicillin alone or gentamicin alone or a control group that received no antibiotic. The median survival of animals that eventually died was no longer than in groups receiving single antibiotics and suggests that additional studies should be carried out to further investigate the possibility of synergism in animal models.
Influence of Strategic Leadership Practices on Competitive Advantage of National Bank of Kenya

ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.1.1 Concept of Strategic Leadership . 3 1.1.2 Strategic Leadership Practices . 3 1.1.3 Competitive Advantage . 5 1.1.4 Commercial Banks in Kenya . 6 1.1. 5 National Bank of Kenya. 7 1.2 Research Problem . 8 1.3 Objective of the Study . 10 1.4 Value of the Study . 11 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 12 2.
Altered Expression of Microtubule-Associated Proteins in Cat Trochlear Motoneurons after Peripheral and Central Lesions of the Trochlear Nerve

Neurons lesioned in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) generally regenerate and survive, while neurons lesioned in the central nervous system (CNS) do not regenerate and often die. Investigators have traditionally compared the neuronal responses to PNS and CNS lesions in two separate populations of neurons. In this study, we compared the effects of PNS and CNS lesions on the expression of cytoskeletal proteins in a single neuronal population, the trochlear motoneurons of the cat. The trochlear nerve was lesioned either unilaterally in the PNS or bilaterally in the CNS (within the anterior medullary velum), and animals were allowed to survive 1, 2, or 4 weeks. Brain sections were reacted immunocytochemically using antibodies against microtubule -associated protein-2 (MAP-2) and a phosphorylated isoform of MAP1B, termed MAP1B-P. MAP-2 immunoreactivity (IR) was significantly decreased in the CNS-lesioned trochlear nucleus, compared to the lesioned and the unlesioned trochlear nucleus of PNS-lesioned animals. MAP1B-P IR was significantly increased in PNS- and CNS- lesioned trochlear axons, compared to axons in the unlesioned trochlear nerve of PNS-lesioned animals, and appeared in a small percentage of PNS- and CNS-lesioned cell bodies. These results support the growing body of evidence that MPA-2 can serve as a marker for cells that will eventually die following neuronal insult. The increased immunostaining of MAP1B-P in lesioned axons and its appearance in lesioned cell bodies are characteristic of the immature CNS and may reflect an initial recapitulation of early development, when the levels of this protein are high.
The Extent of Histone Acetylation Correlates with the Differential Rearrangement Frequency of Individual VH Genes in Pro-B Cells1

During B lymphocyte development, Ig heavy and L chain genes are assembled by V(D)J recombination. Individual V, D, and J genes rearrange at very different frequencies in vivo, and the natural variation in recombination signal sequence does not account for all of these differences. Because a permissive chromatin structure is necessary for the accessibility of VH genes for VH to DJH recombination, we hypothesized that gene rearrangement frequency might be influenced by the extent of histone modifications. Indeed, we found in freshly isolated pro-B cells from μMT mice a positive correlation between the level of enrichment of VHS107 genes in the acetylated histone fractions as assayed by chromatin immunoprecipitation, and their relative rearrangement frequency in vivo. In the VH7183 family, the very frequently rearranging VH81X gene showed the highest association with acetylated histones, especially in the newborn. Together, our data show that the extent of histone modifications in pro-B cells should be considered as a mechanism by which accessibility and the rearrangement level of individual VH genes is regulated.
Hiperventilación y experiencia de ansiedad

Resumen : La hiperventilacion voluntaria ha sido usada como metodo de induccion de activacion fisiologica con el fin de llegar a generar experi-mentalmente una reaccion de ansiedad, o un ata-que de panico, y poder estudiar asi el proceso de la genesis de una reaccion emocional normal o el desarrollo de este trastorno de ansiedad. Sin em-bargo, la hiperventilacion voluntaria no siempre produce una verdadera reaccion de ansiedad. El proposito de este estudio es analizar las relaciones entre el proceso de activacion y la experiencia de ansiedad, utilizando la hiperventilacion como tec-nica de induccion, frente a una tarea amenazante, claramente ansiogena, la preparacion de una char-la para hablar en publico. Se sometio a prueba la capacidad de prediccion de cuatro factores (dife-rencias individuales en el rasgo general de ansie-dad y el nivel de ansiedad en los tres sistemas de respuesta: cognitivo, fisiologico y motor) sobre el cambio en el nivel de ansiedad subjetivo generado por ambas tareas. Dos grupos, equiparados en rasgo general de ansiedad, asi como en los tres sistemas de respuesta, realizaron en distinto orden y en situacion de laboratorio las dos tareas, prece-didas de una linea base en reposo y finalizando la sesion con nuevas instrucciones de reposo.
Calcification of the abdominal aorta as an independent predictor of cardiovascular events: a meta-analysis

Context Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is a common finding in patients with atherosclerosis. Objective The aim of this study was to demonstrate the incremental value of AAC in predicting long term cardiovascular (CV) outcome by conducting a meta-analysis of observational studies. Data sources MEDLINE and Cochrane databases. Study selection Longitudinal studies with at least 2 years of follow-up, reporting the influence of AAC on CV outcome of general population patients. Data extraction Four separate end points—coronary events, cerebrovascular events, all CV events and CV related death—were tested for their relationship with AAC at baseline, using weighted random effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was calculated using Q and I2 statistic tests. Publication bias was assessed by funnel plot symmetry and trim and fill methods. The importance of calcium quantification was also explored (sensitivity analysis). Results 10 studies were included. An increased relative risk (RR) was found for all end points: for coronary events (five studies, n=11250) 1.81 (95% CI 1.54 to 2.14); for cerebrovascular events (four studies, n=9736) 1.37 (1.22 to 3.54); for all CV events (four studies, n=4960) 1.64 (1.24 to 2.17); and for CV death (three studies, n=4986) 1.72 (1.03 to 2.86). Analysis of studies presenting results in categories (no/minimal, moderate and severe calcification) revealed a stepwise increase in the RR for all end points. Significant heterogeneity was found in the included studies. Sources of heterogeneity were identified in the publication date, duration of follow-up, and mean age and gender differences in the included patient cohorts. Conclusion Existing data suggest that AAC is a strong predictor of CV related events or death in the general population. The predictive impact is greater in more calcified aortas. The generalisability of the meta-analysis is limited by heterogeneity in the coronary events, all CV events and CV death end points.
Can infant CPR performance be improved through the provision of 'real time' feedback?

Cardiac arrest (CA) is a significant health issue Worldwide. Paediatric sufferers have particu-larly poor outcomes, with high-rates of associated mortality and morbidity. Early cardiopulmonary-resuscitation (CPR), an emergency procedure which combines external chest-compressions with artificial-ventilations (rescue breaths), has been shown to improve CA outcomes. Researchers have, however, demonstrated CPR, even when delivered by highly-trained-rescuers is not currently being performed optimally. International guidelines have suggested the potential contribution of feedback systems (assistance), in improving the delivery of chest-compressions and rescue breaths to improve survival rates. Thus, the main focus of this research was to design and develop a real-time CPR-performance-feedback-system, to monitor and assist rescuers in producing high-quality infant-CPR (iCPR). This was conducted as follows: assessment of current compressions by Basic Life Support (BLS) and ‘lay’ rescuers, design and development of a real-time feedback and performance system and the study of its effects during iCPR. All performances were compared against benchmarked quality standards. During unassisted iCPR, BLS and ‘lay’ rescuer overall compression quality, that is those con-comitantly achieving all four iCPR quality targets, was 61.4% and >24.6%, respectively. Assistance delivered more breaths, 5-32%, more quickly, 30-84%, complying with recommendations. As-sisted compression count, after each ventilation, was 53% less than unassisted, complying with recommendations. There were no differences in the guideline compression duty cycle (DC), provided that compression time and peak depth were the same. Thesis summary iv Unassisted compressions failed to show compliance with quality targets. Assistance produced significant improvements in the overall quality of compressions, reduced the time for breaths and regulated the compression counts after each ventilation. However, lay rescuers require additional training with the feedback system and iCPR simulation. Overall the real-time feed-back system significantly improved iCPR performance, such that it could now be trialled to investigate possible improvements in clinical outcomes.