Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of exercise-referral schemes to promote physical activity in adults: systematic review.

BACKGROUND Despite the health benefits of physical activity, most adults do not take the recommended amount of exercise. AIM To assess whether exercise-referral schemes are effective in improving exercise participation in sedentary adults. DESIGN OF STUDY Systematic review. METHOD Studies were identified by searching MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, AMED, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, The Cochrane Library and SIGLE until March 2007. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, process evaluations and qualitative studies of exercise-referral schemes, defined as referral by a primary care clinician to a programme that encouraged physical activity or exercise were included. RCT results were combined in a meta-analysis where there was sufficient homogeneity. RESULTS Eighteen studies were included in the review. These comprised six RCTs, one non-randomised controlled study, four observational studies, six process evaluations and one qualitative study. In addition, two of the RCTs and two of the process evaluations incorporated a qualitative component. Results from five RCTs were combined in a meta-analysis. There was a statistically significant increase in the numbers of participants doing moderate exercise with a combined relative risk of 1.20 (95% confidence intervals = 1.06 to 1.35). This means that 17 sedentary adults would need to be referred for one to become moderately active. This small effect may be at least partly due to poor rates of uptake and adherence to the exercise schemes. CONCLUSION Exercise-referral schemes have a small effect on increasing physical activity in sedentary people. The key challenge, if future exercise-referral schemes are to be commissioned by the NHS, is to increase uptake and improve adherence by addressing the barriers described in these studies.
Role of excitatory amino acids in the generation and transmission of respiratory drive in neonatal rat.

1. The involvement of excitatory amino acids in the generation and transmission of rhythmic respiratory drive was studied in an in vitro neonatal rat brain stem‐spinal cord preparation. The subclasses of excitatory amino acid receptors studied included: (i) N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors, (ii) (R, S)‐alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid hydrobromide (AMPA) and kainate (non‐NMDA) receptors and (iii) 2‐amino‐4‐phosphonobutyric acid (AP‐4)‐sensitive receptors. Respiratory motoneurone population discharge was recorded from glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X), and hypoglossal (XII) cranial nerves, as well as cervical (C1‐C5) and thoracic (T2‐T5) spinal ventral roots. This activity is generated in the motoneurone pools that transmit respiratory drive to upper airway, accessory, diaphragm and intercostal muscles. Perturbations of motor nerve discharge were analysed after excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists or agonists were added to bathing solutions surrounding either the spinal cord or brain stem. The excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists included: (i) NMDA receptor antagonist (+)‐5‐methyl‐10,11‐dihydro‐5H‐dibenzo [a,d] cyclohepten‐5,10‐imin‐H‐maleate (MK‐801) and (ii) non‐NMDA receptor antagonist 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX). The agonists included: (i) NMDA, (ii) non‐NMDA receptor agonists AMPA and kainic acid. The effects of perturbations of AP‐4‐sensitive receptors with AP‐4, and of inhibiting excitatory amino acid uptake with dihydrokainic acid (DHK) were also studied. 2. Block of non‐NMDA receptors in the medulla by CNQX resulted in an antagonist concentration‐dependent decrease in the respiratory motoneuronal burst frequency. Non‐NMDA receptor activation with kainic acid or AMPA caused a concentration‐dependent increase in burst frequency, with competitive interactions with CNQX. 3. Inhibition of excitatory amino acid uptake in the medulla with DHK resulted in a reversible, dose‐dependent increase in respiratory frequency. A similar increase in respiratory frequency was induced by DHK when medullary NMDA receptors were blocked with MK‐801, confirming that endogenously released excitatory amino acids act at non‐NMDA receptors to modulate rhythm. 4. Non‐NMDA receptor block reduced and ultimately abolished the amplitude of integrated cranial and spinal respiratory motoneuronal discharge when added to the solution bathing the medulla and spinal cord, respectively. 5. NMDA receptor block in the medulla with MK‐801 did not perturb the spontaneous respiratory burst frequency, although bath application of NMDA produced a dose‐dependent increase in frequency, with non‐competitive interactions with MK‐801. MK‐801 also did not perturb the amplitude of cranial or bulbospinal premotoneurone discharge. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A recent review on thermo-physical properties of nanofluid

Nanofluid is a mixture of a small concentration of nanometer sized solid particle like nanoparticles, nanotubes or nanowires suspended in the liquid and making a colloidal suspension. It is relatively a new field which is less than two decades old. Nanofluid attracts researchers in many ways for their enhanced heat transfer properties. Nanofluid has better heat transfer performance than the base fluid. This paper represents a comprehensive review on the preparation and stability of nanofluid, maintaining stability, evaluating stability etc. and different thermal physical properties like convective heat transfer coefficient for laminar and turbulent region, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, viscosity etc. and some transport phenomena like pool boiling heat transfer, flow boiling heat transfer.
Aging and drug interactions. II. Effect of phenytoin and smoking on the oxidation of theophylline and cortisol in healthy men.

The effect of age on the induction of theophylline metabolism by phenytoin was examined in healthy young and old male cigarette smokers (greater than or equal to 20 cigarettes/day) and nonsmokers. Two single dose studies of theophylline pharmacokinetics were performed, one as a base-line control and another after a 2-week course of phenytoin. Phenytoin was administered as an i.v. loading dose followed by oral ingestion. The dose was adjusted to achieve total phenytoin plasma concentrations within a low therapeutic range (10-13 micrograms/ml). Free phenytoin concentrations in plasma were slightly higher in old (nonsmokers 0.84 +/- 0.13 micrograms/ml; smokers 0.89 +/- 0.12 micrograms/ml) than in young (nonsmokers 0.75 +/- 0.10 micrograms/ml; smokers 0.72 +/- 0.10 micrograms/ml) subjects, but the differences were not significant. Base-line plasma theophylline clearance was 30% lower in old compared with young nonsmokers (34.0 +/- 2.5 vs. 48.8 +/- 2.6 ml/hr/kg, P less than .001), whereas the small age difference between old and young smokers (86.0 +/- 8.4 vs. 72.4 +/- 8.0 ml/hr/kg) was not significant. Smokers had higher values of theophylline clearance than nonsmokers regardless of age. Half-life was prolonged in old nonsmokers in proportion to decreased clearance, despite a slight decrease in volume of distribution. Phenytoin induced theophylline metabolism to an equal degree in both age groups and in both smokers (young 42.6 +/- 6.5%; old 47.3 +/- 3.6%) and nonsmokers (young 56.3 +/- 8.8%; old 45.4 +/- 6.4%). The magnitude of its induction in smokers was additive to that of cigarette smoking. Old age was associated with a modest selective reduction in N-demethylated metabolic pathways to 3-methylxanthine and 1-methyluric acid, whereas smoking preferentially induced the formation of these products. Phenytoin increased the production of all theophylline primary metabolites to an equal degree in both old and young subjects. The urinary excretion of 6 beta-hydroxycortisol was not influenced significantly by age or smoking and increased 2- to 3-fold in all subject groups with phenytoin. These results confirm earlier observations of a reduction in basal oxidative capacity in elderly nonsmoking males. They also demonstrate that the ability to induce the metabolism of theophylline by smoking or phenytoin and the ability to induce the metabolism of cortisol by phenytoin are maintained in old age.
Emotional Intelligence and the ACGME Competencies.

BACKGROUND Residency programs desire assessment tools for teaching and measuring resident attainment of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competencies, including interpersonal and communication skills. OBJECTIVE We sought to evaluate the use of emotional intelligence (EI) assessment and training tools in assessing and enhancing interpersonal and communication skills. METHODS We used a quasi-experimental design, with an intervention and control group composed of 1 class each of family medicine residents. The intervention was EI coaching. The assessment used the Emotional and Social Competence Inventory, a 360-degree EI survey consisting of self and other (colleague) ratings for 12 EI competencies. RESULTS There were 21 participants in each of the 3 assessments (test, posttest, and control). Our EI coaching intervention had very limited participation due to a lack of protected time for EI coaching and residents' competing obligations. Return rates for self surveys were 86% to 91% and 66% to 68% for others. On all 3 trials, ratings by others were significantly higher than self ratings for every competence (range, P < .001-.045). None of the self ratings by the intervention group increased significantly for any of the competencies. None of the intervention group self ratings increased significantly on posttesting, whereas ratings by others increased significantly for coach/mentor (P < .001). The teamwork rating decreased significantly on both self and other ratings (P < .001). Achievement orientation was the highest intervention group posttest rating, and teamwork was the lowest. CONCLUSIONS EI is a necessary skill in today's health care environment, and our study found that a tool from another sector was useful in assessing resident EI skills. Because our EI coaching intervention was unsuccessful, the effects of coaching on interpersonal and communication skills could not be assessed.
Analysis of a possible association between oral lichen planus and drug intake. A controlled study.

OBJECTIVES To investigate whether daily systemic and/or topical medication contributes to the development of oral lichen planus (OLP) lesions. STUDY DESIGN The study involved 110 OLP patients and 76 control subjects, matched by age, race and sex. The analyzed data included medical records, drug intake and topical medication. Criteria for analysis of drug intake included: (1) ATC-code drug classification; (2) number of different drugs used daily in the categories of monopharmacy (1 drug), minor polypharmacy (2-4 drugs), and major polypharmacy ( > 5 drugs); and (3) drugs implicated in lichenoid reactions (DILRs). RESULTS Sixty (54.5%) of the 110 OLP patients reported daily medication (prior to the appearance of the OLP lesion) compared to 52 (68.4%) of the 76 control subjects. No statistical difference was found between the two groups in terms of systemic diseases, number of medicated individuals in the categories of mono- and polypharmacy, nor use of DILRs (P > 0.05). Regarding the clinical forms and site of involvement, a statistically significant difference was only found for the clinical erosive form of OLP, seen more frequently in non-DILR (P = 0.04) and nonmedicated OLP patients (P = 0.02) than in DILR OLP patients. Daily use of topical oral medication was reported by 2 (1.8%) OLP patients and 1 (1.3%) control subject. CONCLUSIONS It seems that the use of systemic medication does not lead to a significant increase in the incidence of OLP lesions. For their part, lichenoid drug reactions are likely to occur only in a very low percentage of patients.
A comparison of physiological variables in aged and young women during and following submaximal exercise

Previously, we have examined how aging affects the physiological responses of men to endurance exercise. In the present investigation, we aimed to extend our assessment of the influence of aging on exercise‐induced responses by focusing on women. Ten young (20.3 ± 0.3 years; mean ± SE) and 10 aged (75.5 ± 1.2 years) women performed 30 min of cycling at 60–65% of their predetermined peak oxygen uptake. Data for respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate, blood pressure, rectal temperature, and plasma metabolites were collected before exercise, at the 15th and 30th min of exercise, and at 5 and 15 min postexercise. A two‐way, repeated measures ANOVA with main effects of age and time was conducted on each variable. Our findings showed that age affected exercise‐induced responses of each variable quantified. Although RER, heart rate, temperature, and lactate were significantly (P < 0.05) higher among young women, blood pressure and glucose values were greater among aged women. Moreover, unlike previous results noted among men where age‐related differences primarily occurred during postexercise recovery, in women the effect of aging was detected during exercise itself. The data presented here indicate that aging impacts physiological responses of women to prolonged endurance exercise even when relative intensity (% of peak oxygen uptake) is held constant. Combined with our earlier study on men, these findings suggest that gender interacts with aging to determine whether age‐related differences are manifested during exercise itself, or during postexercise recovery. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mechanisms of Giant Papillary Formation in Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

Purpose: Tissue remodeling, known to accompany exacerbation of bronchial asthma (BA) and characterized by thickening of reticular basement membrane, increased fibrosis, and angiogenesis, is believed to be an important mechanism in giant papillary formation in vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). This study was conducted to confirm the difference of tissue remodeling between BA and VKC and to determine the most relevant factor for VKC exacerbation. Methods: Histopathologic analysis of conjunctival specimens from 6 patients with VKC and 4 normal controls was performed. Immunohistochemistry tests for collagen types 1, 3, and 5, fibronectin, laminin (a marker of the basement membrane of the epithelium or vessels), fibroblast (prolyl 4-hydroxylase), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were performed. Morphometric analysis evaluated immunoreactive areas for collagens and fibronectin and the number of cell nuclei in VKC papillae and normal control specimens. Results: In histopathologic sections of VKC papillae, mononuclear cells were mainly observed in the central region and granulocytes preferentially in the peripheral stroma. Immunohistochemistry showed increased vascularity and existence of fibroblasts and α-SMA-positive cells in VKC papillae. Morphometric analysis showed that the number of cell nuclei in VKC papillae was 7.3 times higher versus in normal controls (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the immunoreactive area for fibronectin was 4.5 times larger versus in normal controls (P < 0.05), although collagens were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Giant papillary formation in VKC is thought to occur in relation to tissue remodeling. However, the most relevant factor for the exacerbation of VKC seems to be inflammation rather than fibrosis.
Blood pressure lowering effect of low intensity aerobic training in elderly hypertensive patients.

PURPOSE The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of 9 months of low intensity aerobic training on blood pressure in elderly hypertensive patients who were receiving antihypertensive medication. METHODS The training group (N = 13; mean age 75.4 +/- 5.4 yr) agreed to take part in physical training using a treadmill with an exercise intensity at the blood lactate threshold (LT) for 30 min three to six times a week for 9 months. The rest (N = 13; mean age 73.1 +/- 4.2 yr) served as controls. RESULTS The resting systolic (-15 +/- 8 mm Hg), mean (-11 +/- 6 mm Hg), and diastolic blood pressures (-9 +/- 9 mm Hg) decreased significantly after 3 months of training and the blood pressure of all participants stabilized at a significantly lower level by the end of the study (9 months) in the training group, whereas no significant changes in blood pressure were found in the control group. Both the pretraining systolic and diastolic blood pressure of those recruited patients negatively correlated with those changes after the training (SBP: P < 0.01; DBP: P < 0.05, respectively). After 1 month of detraining in five patients, the blood pressure levels were similar to those in the pretraining state. The LT increased significantly in the training group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION In conclusion, an additional antihypertensive effect of mild aerobic training at the LT was confirmed in elderly patients receiving antihypertensive medication. The cessation of such training in five patients, however, resulted in a relatively rapid return to pretraining levels within a month.
Transition to parenthood: The effect of division of labor discrepancies on marital satisfaction

In a longitudinal study of couples during the transition to first time parenthood, I examined several hypotheses regarding expectations and the division of labor between spouses. Seventy couples expecting the birth of their first baby filled out questionnaires late in pregnancy and three months postpartum. Before the birth of their babies an experimental group participated in a marital skills training workshop. Results indicated that husbands' and wives' expectations about the post-birth division of labor differed significantly from actual post-birth division of labor. This discrepancy affected marital satisfaction for wives but not for their husbands. The discrepancy also affected spouses' satisfaction with the post-birth division of labor. There was no relationship between marital satisfaction and satisfaction with the post-birth division of labor. The marital skills training workshop was not effective in mediating satisfaction with post-birth division
Estrogen receptor protein and mRNA expression in the ovary of sheep

Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we attempted to identify the estrogen receptor (ER) protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) in sheep ovaries during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. Monoclonal anti‐ER antibodies H222 and 1D5 were used for localizing estrogen receptor on ovarian cryo‐sections. Labeling for ER was found over the nuclei of surface epithelium, interstitial tissue, and granulosa cells of small as well as large ovarian follicles. In the preantral and small antral follicles, intense nuclear ER labeling was observed in mural granulosa cells and particularly in cumulus/granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte. In the large healthy looking follicles, greater diversity in labeling for ER was observed, which is characterized by mixed populations of granulosa cells expressing positive and more or less negative nuclear labeling. Such a pattern of labeling was particularly evident in follicles showing the signs of atresia. Generally, more intense nuclear staining was localized in granulosa cells proximal to basal membrane. In situ hybridization studies revealed the presence of ER mRNA in ovarian tissue. Autoradiographic visualization localized ER mRNA expression over the granulosa cells of healthy follicles of all sizes. Level of hybridization signal was comparable in mural and cumulus granulosa cells. In atretic follicles, the level of hybridization signal in granulosa cells was comparable to that of healthy follicles. A relatively weaker level of labeling was observed in granulosa cells dispersed in follicular antrum in follicles with advanced atretic lesions. Theca cells expressed a lower level of labeling than granulosa cells. Specificity of labeling for both ER protein and mRNA in ovary was proved by parallel probing the ovine uterus. Ovine ER recognition by both H222 and 1D5 antibodies was also proved by immunoblotting. These studies demonstrate the presence of the estrogen receptor and its messenger RNA in the sheep ovary and suggest an autocrine/paracrine role of estradiol and its receptor in the regulation of ovarian follicle development in sheep. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 48:53–62, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Industrial policy for renewable energy: The innovation impact of European policy instruments and their interactions

This paper examines the impact of renewable energy policies as well as three renewable energy policy instruments (demand pull, technology push and systemic) and their interactions on renewable energy innovation in 15 European Union member states for the period 1995–2014. We first develop a conceptual framework and hypotheses, and then we test these by employing a unique and comprehensive data set. We find that renewable energy policies as a whole as well as demand pull and technology-push instruments affect renewable energy innovation positively and significantly. The impact of interactions between instruments on renewable energy innovation is also positive and significant, but that of specific pairs of instrument interaction is contingent on the specification used. We discuss reasons for these findings, implications for public policy, as well as limitations and opportunities for further research.
Comparative wood anatomy of epacrids (Styphelioideae, Ericaceae s.L.).

The wood anatomy of 16 of the 37 genera within the epacrids (Styphelioideae, Ericaceae s.l.) is investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. Several features in the secondary xylem occur consistently at the tribal level: arrangement of vessel-ray pits, distribution of axial parenchyma, ray width, and the presence and location of crystals. The primitive nature of Prionoteae and Archerieae is supported by the presence of scalariform perforation plates with many bars and scalariform to opposite vessel pitting. The wood structure of Oligarrheneae is similar to that of Styphelieae, but the very narrow vessel elements, exclusively uniseriate rays and the lack of prismatic crystals in Oligarrheneae distinguish these two tribes. The secondary xylem of Monotoca tamariscina indicates that it does not fit in Styphelieae; a position within Oligarrheneae is possible. Like most Cosmelieae, all Richeeae are characterized by exclusively scalariform perforation plates with many bars, a very high vessel density and paratracheal parenchyma, although they clearly differ in ray width (exclusively uniseriate rays in Cosmelieae vs. uniseriate and wide multiseriate rays in Richeeae). Several wood anatomical features confirm the inclusion of epacrids in Ericaceae s.l. Furthermore, there are significant ecological implications. The small vessel diameter and high vessel frequency in many epacrids are indicative of a high conductive safety to avoid embolism caused by freeze-thaw cycles, while the replacement of scalariform by simple vessel perforation plates and an increase in vessel diameter would suggest an increased conductive efficiency, which is especially found in mesic temperate or tropical Styphelieae.