Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social capital from carbon property: creating equity for indigenous people

New incentives for protection and in situ use of forests and the services they provide raise hopes for the reversal of tropical and temperate deforestation. Past management of forests appropriated the rights of forest communities, providing incentives to convert natural forest into financial capital through logging, while destroying the underlying physical property. Carbon trading aims to provide a means to convert the forest property into financial capital, while protecting the physical property of forests, thereby providing new incentives for in situ forest management. The potential for carbon–emission trading as a contributor to these new incentives is tempered by concerns that it is another tool for capitalists to exploit the indigenous communities of the developing world. Estimates of annual emission trading amounting to US $200 billion raise alarm bells about the effect of such trade in the developing world. People are right to be concerned, as the history of exploitation of indigenous people, the appropriation of their rights, the loss of forests and their benefits is well documented. This exploitation resulted in the exclusion of forest communities from the basic tenets for development created by the wealth generated by traded property. However, one virtue of trade is that it can be made subject to constraints. Through international treaties and agreements, trade can be constrained and national governments obliged to observe the rules of trade. The value of tradable carbon credits will be discounted or invalid if they do not meet these criteria, providing all parties with strong incentives to achieve the necessary performance standards relating to both processes and contracts. For carbon trading to develop social capital from natural capital requires the admission of forest communities into the polity and management of forest resources. In this paper we argue for responsible carbon–emission trading based on the clear and appropriate definition of carbon entitlements, with the proviso that trading respects the rights and needs of indigenous people. We adopt this position as emissions trading now seems inevitable and there should be proper rules to control this trade where it affects forests and their inhabitants. It is imperative that the poor and indigenous people are not excluded from these systems. Trading systems and the property systems they depend on need to be more accountable, transparent and inclusive of those features which we propose.
Sensitive Detection of Myocardial Contraction Abnormality in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients by Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization with Integrated Backscatter

Since acoustic properties of the myocardium are sensitive to the myocardial structure and the contractile conditions of myocyte, the authors evaluated cardiac dysfunction based on the integrated ultrasonic backscatter in 18 hemodialysis (HD) patients (duration: 102 ±84 months, mean age: 57.6 ±9.7 years) and 11 age-matched normals. The cyclic variation of integrated backscatter (CV-IB) at interventricular septum (IVS) and left ventricular posterior wall (PW) was measured and compared with percent fractional short ening (%FS) and percent wall thickening (%Th). The CV-IB of HD patients was smaller than that of control subjects (IVS: 6.2 ± 1.1 dB vs 8.2 ± 1.1 dB, p = 0. 0003 and PW: 8.4 ±2.2 vs 10.3 ±1.3, p = 0.025). No significant difference was observed in %FS and %Th between HD patients and control subjects. In HD, the ratio of velocities of early diastolic inflow (E) to late atrial inflow was decreased (0.7 ±0.2 vs 1.1 ±0.7, p = 0.049) and decel eration time of E was prolonged significantly (200 ±28 msec vs 159 ±30 msec, p = 0.0082). In the absence of overt cardiac systolic dysfunction, myocardial damage indicated as a decrease in CV-IB and diastolic dysfunction identified on transmitral velocity waveform were detected, which may reflect from the myocardial fibrosis. As a mechanism, pressure overload, hyperparathyroidism, and anemia were neglected, and the other humoral factors may contribute to the myocardial damage in chronic renal failure.
Quality of spirometric performance in older people.

OBJECTIVES chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma are major causes of hospitalisation and mortality among older patients but respiratory diseases are often under- or misdiagnosed because spirometry is not extensively used at this age. DESIGN we examined 715 elderly subjects with respiratory symptoms; all underwent a spirometric test and were administered the Mini Mental State Examination, Activities of Daily Living, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Geriatric Depression Scale questionnaires for cognitive, functional and effective evaluation. Their educational level and Body Mass Index were also taken into consideration. RESULTS a total of 585 patients (81.8%) were able to perform spirometry according to ATS'94 criteria while 130 (18.2%) were unable to do it. As regards educational level, Mini Mental State Examination, Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scores showed a significant difference (P<0.001) between the groups of patients with high-quality spirometries and those with inadequate ones. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of age, Body Mass Index or Geriatric Depression Scale score. CONCLUSIONS the majority of elderly subjects can perform spirometry according to international guidelines; age itself cannot be considered a risk factor for a bad spirometric performance, but it becomes influential if it is associated with cognitive and functional impairment.
Morphology of the Fetal Rat Testis Preserved in Different Fixatives

Histopathological examination of the testes of exposed fetuses and neonates is important in assessing the developmental effects of environmental toxins, including sex hormone modulators. Modified Davidson’s fluid (mDF) has been suggested as a superior substitute for Bouin’s fluid for fixation of adult animal testes. We compared the morphology of fetal rat testes stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) or immunochemically after fixation in 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF), Bouin’s fluid, or mDF. Fixation in mDF resulted in more sharply defined nuclear detail and better preservation of cellular cytoplasm on H&E-stained sections of rat testes on gestation day 19. Use of Bouin’s fluid did not allow satisfactory detection of apoptotic cells by fluorescent terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated deoxy-UTP nick labeling. Staining with the immunoperoxidase system and the conventional chromogen diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride to visualize 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine-positive cells demonstrated that the number of positive nuclei and intensity of staining were similar with all 3 fixatives. Immunostaining for cytoskeletal protein vimentin was more intense and provided better details of the Sertoli cell cytoplasm with formalin fixation than with mDF. Our study demonstrates that fixation in mDF provided better morphologic detail in the fetal rat testis compared with 10% NBF and Bouin’s fluid and illustrates the importance of establishing the correct fixation conditions for each immunostaining protocol.
Quality of life of schizophrenic patients living in the community: The relationships with personal characteristics, objective indicators and self‐esteem

Abstract The relationship of personal characteristics, objective indicators, and self‐esteem to quality of life (QOL) was investigated cross‐sectionally in 73 Japanese schizophrenic patients, and the question of how objective conditions affect subjective evaluation was evaluated. Depressive mood and uncooperativeness were negatively correlated with self‐esteem, and self‐esteem was positively correlated with QOL. Self‐esteem was considered to directly affect QOL, and depressive mood and uncooperativeness to affect QOL via self‐esteem. Findings suggest that, in order to improve the QOL of schizophrenia patients, interventions to help alleviate psychiatric symptoms (e.g. depressive mood, uncooperativeness) must be utilized. A change in Japanese society itself must occur so that the consequences of stigma may be reduced and patient coping skills improved.
Dehydroisoandrosterone is secreted episodically and synchronously with cortisol by normal man.

ABSTRACT In 4 studies in a normal man it was demonstrated that dehydroisoandrosterone (DHA) was secreted episodically and synchronously with cortisol. The studies were done at 20-min intervals in the early morning (0340–0720 hr) and in the late afternoon (1540–1920 hr). A double isotope derivative method was developed for measurement of the low concentrations of DHA in plasma. DHA never reached zero concentration in plasma, whereas cortisol did. This is explained by the contribution to DHA by hydrolysis of the relatively abundant circulating DHA sulfate. Because of the low plasma concentration a high degree of biological activity can be implied for DHA, the function of which is at present unknown.
The Macular Assessment Profile test – a new VDU‐based technique for measuring the spatial distribution of the macular pigment, lens density and rapid flicker sensitivity

The measurement of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in the eye is often carried out using optical techniques based on heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP). These require the use of two spectrally‐narrow beams, one at the wavelength of maximum absorption of the macular pigment (MP) and the other in the long wavelength region of the visible spectrum where MP absorption is negligible. A new technique for the measurement of MPOD spatial profiles has been developed by overcoming the current shortcomings associated with the use of visual displays. The new Macular Assessment Profile (MAP) test makes use of a ‘notch’ filter and a photometric model to measure and compute the peak MPOD value. Two other useful parameters are also computed from the same measurements. These describe the subject’s sensitivity to rapid flicker and the absorption of blue light by the lens. MPOD profiles, lens density, rapid flicker sensitivity, and red/green (RG) and yellow/blue (YB) colour thresholds were measured in 54 normal subjects aged 18–61 years. The results confirm previous findings on ageing effects and demonstrate the complete absence of correlation between MPOD and the subject’s YB chromatic thresholds. In contrast, RG chromatic sensitivity improves with higher levels of MPOD.
Visual outcome of craniopharyngioma in children.

PURPOSE To assess the visual outcome of children with craniopharyngioma and identify predictors of visual loss. METHODS A retrospective analysis of all patients younger than 18 at presentation who were evaluated between 1984 and 1995 was performed. Visual outcome was assessed as a function of age, systemic symptoms, visual acuity at presentation, and need for postoperative radiotherapy. RESULTS Thirty-one patients were identified, with a mean age of 7.7 years (range, 1.2 to 16.8 years) at the time of surgical resection. The initial visual acuity (known in 20 patients at presentation) in the better-seeing eye was > or = 20/40 in 14 (70%) patients and < 20/200 in 2 (10%) patients. Twelve (39%) patients presented with visual symptoms and 15 (48%) with systemic symptoms. All patients underwent surgical resection; some patients required multiple surgeries (52%) or adjuvant radiotherapy (48%). The mean postsurgical follow up was 6.5 years (range, 4 days to 25 years). Postoperative visual acuity was > or = 20/40 in the better eye in 22 (71%) patients; 8 (26%) patients had visual acuity < 20/200 in their better-seeing eye. Optic atrophy developed in 51 eyes of 27 patients (81%). CONCLUSIONS Craniopharyngioma presents with visual symptoms in children and is associated with significant permanent visual dysfunction. Age younger than 6 years at presentation and visual symptoms at presentation were associated with a significantly poorer visual outcome. Craniopharyngioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of every child with amblyopia, particularly when no amblyogenic factors such as anisometropia or strabismus are present.
Bombesin‐like peptides depolarize rat hippocampal interneurones through interaction with subtype 2 bombesin receptors

1 Whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings were made from visually identified hippocampal interneurones in slices of rat brain tissue in vitro. Bath application of the bombesin‐like neuropeptides gastrin‐releasing peptide (GRP) or neuromedin B (NMB) produced a large membrane depolarization that was blocked by pre‐incubation with the subtype 2 bombesin (BB2) receptor antagonist [D‐Phe6,Des‐Met14]bombesin‐(6‐14)ethyl amide. 2 The inward current elicited by NMB or GRP was unaffected by K+ channel blockade with external Ba2+ or by replacement of potassium gluconate in the electrode solution with caesium acetate. 3 Replacement of external NaCl with Tris‐HCl significantly reduced the magnitude of the GRP‐induced current at ‐60 mV. In contrast, replacement of external NaCl with LiCl had no effect on the magnitude of this current. 4 Photorelease of caged GTPγS inside neurones irreversibly potentiated the GRP‐induced current at ‐60 mV. Similarly, bath application of the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U‐73122 significantly reduced the size of the inward current induced by GRP. 5 Reverse transcription followed by the polymerase chain reaction using cytoplasm from single hippocampal interneurones demonstrated the expression of BB2 receptor mRNA together with glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67). 6 Although bath application of GRP or NMB had little or no effect on the resting membrane properties of CA1 pyramidal cells per se, these neuropeptides produced a dramatic increase in the number and amplitude of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in these cells in a TTX‐sensitive manner.
First update of the International Xenotransplantation Association consensus statement on conditions for undertaking clinical trials of porcine islet products in type 1 diabetes—Chapter 6: patient selection for pilot clinical trials of islet xenotransplantation

Patients in whom type 1 diabetes is complicated by impaired awareness of hypoglycemia and recurrent episodes of severe hypoglycemia are candidates for islet or pancreas transplantation if severe hypoglycemia persists after completion of a structured stepped care approach or a formalized medical optimization run‐in period that provides access to hypoglycemia‐specific education including behavioral therapies, insulin analogs, and diabetes technologies under the close supervision of a specialist hypoglycemia service. Patients with type 1 diabetes and end‐stage renal failure who cannot meet clinically appropriate glycemic goals or continue to experience severe hypoglycemia after completion of a formalized medical optimization program under the guidance of an expert diabetes care team are candidates for islet or pancreas transplantation either simultaneously with or after a previous kidney transplant. Similarly, patients with type 2 diabetes and problematic hypoglycemia or renal failure who meet these criteria are considered candidates for islet replacement. Likewise, patients with pancreatectomy‐induced diabetes in whom an islet autograft was not available or deemed inappropriate are candidates for islet or pancreas transplantation if extreme glycemic lability persists despite best medical therapy. To justify participation of these transplant candidates in early‐phase trials of porcine islet cell products, lack of timely access to islet or pancreas allotransplantation due to allosensitization, high islet dose requirements, or other factors, or alternatively, a more favorable benefit–risk determination associated with the xenoislet than the alloislet or allopancreas transplant must be demonstrated. Additionally, in non‐uremic xenoislet recipients, the risks associated with diabetes must be perceived to be more serious than the risks associated with the xenoislet product and the rejection prophylaxis, and in xenoislet recipients with renal failure, the xenoislet product and immunosuppression must not impact negatively on renal transplant outcomes. The most appropriate patient group for islet xenotransplantation trials will be defined by the specific characteristics of each investigational xenoislet product and related technologies applied for preventing rejection. Selecting recipients who are more likely to experience prolonged benefits associated with the islet xenograft will help these patients comply with lifelong monitoring and other public health measures.
Intention to breastfeed and other important health-related behaviour and beliefs during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND It is widely accepted that breastfeeding is the best form of infant feeding for the first 4-6 months of life. OBJECTIVE This study explored whether intention to breastfeed is associated with other positive maternal health-related behaviours and beliefs during pregnancy. METHOD A cross-sectional survey was carried out with 789 women attending antenatal clinics at Leicester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust. A structured questionnaire assessed feeding intention, use of folic acid, vitamin and iron supplementation, smoking status, smoking stage of change, and fetal health locus of control during pregnancy. RESULTS Forty percent of the women stated that they intended to breastfeed exclusively, 27% planned to bottle feed, 23% intended to combine breast and bottle feeding and 10% were undecided. Women planning to breastfeed (either exclusively or in combination with bottle feeding) were more likely than those with alternative feeding plans to: have increased their folic acid intake, taken vitamin/iron supplements and have a primarily internal locus of control (perceive themselves to have control over the health of their unborn baby). Women intending to breastfeed were also less likely to smoke. Of the women who did smoke, those planning to breastfeed were more likely to be either considering or preparing to quit smoking during their pregnancy. CONCLUSION In addition to educating pregnant smokers about the risks of maternal smoking, primary health care practitioners could also usefully address their knowledge, health beliefs and feeding intentions during antenatal care.
Clinically significant carbapenemases: an update

Purpose of review To provide a brief synopsis of studies which have extended our understanding of carbapenem resistance in clinical isolates in terms of epidemiology, mechanism of action and genetic factors affecting their carriage and spread. Recent findings Studies published in the last 18 months continue to confirm that VIM-2 is the dominant metallo-β-lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and that it has now moved into the cystic fibrosis P. aeruginosa population. Increased incidences of KPC and Guiana extended-spectrum serine carbapenemase would indicate that these are likely to dominate in Enterobacteriaceae and that KPC-2 has now been isolated from P. aeruginosa. Class D carbapenemases still appear to be confined to Acinetobacter baumannii and, interestingly, it has been proposed that OXA-23 was transferred from the nonpathogenic Acinetobacter radioresistens. Crystal structures of KPC-2, GES-1 and OXA-24 have been reported to enhance our understanding of why these clinically important enzymes can bind and hydrolyse carbapenems, whereas others cannot. Therapeutic options continue to be limited and although tigecycline shows activity against carbapenemase-positive Enterobacteriaceae, antibiotic combinations are required for carbapenemase-positive Acinetobacter and P. aeruginosa. Summary Carbapenem resistance continues to increase both in number and into new species/strain types, but our therapeutic options remain woefully inadequate – a dilemma that will not improve in the foreseeable future.
Treatment of Acute Diarrhea With Saccharomyces boulardii in Infants

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether an oral treatment with a commercial pharmaceutical product containing Saccharomyces boulardii would reduce the duration of diarrhea in infants with acute diarrhea. Patients and Methods: In the present double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 186 infants, 6 to 48 months old and hospitalized within 72 hours after the onset of acute diarrhea in 2 hospitals in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, were randomly assigned to receive twice per day for 5 days 200 mg of a commercial pharmaceutical product containing 4 × 109 viable cells of S boulardii or a placebo. Stool samples were submitted to search for rotavirus. Among the 176 infants who completed the trial, those treated with S boulardii (90) showed a reduction in diarrhea duration (P < 0.05) when compared with the placebo group (86). Results: The present study shows a reduction in diarrhea duration when S boulardii was given to children within 72 hours after the onset of acute diarrhea. Conclusions: The present study suggests a complementary treatment of acute diarrhea in infants with daily oral doses of S boulardii.
Mechanisms Involved in Radiation Enhancement of Intratumoral Dendritic Cell Therapy

We have previously reported that local tumor irradiation, without inducing cell death, can augment the therapeutic efficacy of intratumoral (IT) dendritic cell (DC) vaccination. This study examined potential mechanisms underlying radiation enhancement of IT DC therapy in this setting. Even though ionizing radiation did not mediate tumor cell killing, bone marrow-derived DCs acquired in vitro tumor antigens from irradiated D5 murine melanoma cells more efficiently than from untreated cells. This radiation-enhanced loading of DCs did not induce DC maturation, but was associated with improved cross-priming of T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, in vivo pulsing of DCs with irradiated versus untreated tumor cells resulted in superior presentation of tumor antigens to T cells. In addition, tumor irradiation facilitated homing of IT administered DCs to the draining lymph node, possibly by down-regulating CCL21 expression within the tumor mass. Studies of the tumor microenvironment in irradiated versus untreated tumors did not reveal significant inflammatory changes. Moreover, radiation did not promote accumulation of CD4+ or CD8+ effector T cells within solid tumors. Our results indicate that, without inducing cytotoxicity, tumor irradiation can enhance the ability of DCs to capture tumor antigens, migrate to the draining lymph node, and present processed antigens to T cells. These findings may prove useful in designing future strategies for human cancer immunotherapy.
The cruciate ligaments of the knee joint. Anatomical, functional and experimental analysis.

The anatomical and functional details of the cruciate ligamants of the knee were studied on 20 cadaver knees and 24 fresh knees. Each anterior cruciate ligament was found to consist of 2 parts: a distinct anteromedial band (AMB) and a main posterolateral part. The exact geometry of the ligaments and their relationship to bony landmarks were recorded in detail. The state of the cruciate ligaments, i.e. tightness or looseness was recorded in the various positions of the knee as the basis for classification of the function of the various anatomical components. Selective cutting of the anterior cruciate ligament resulted in an increase of anterior drawer flexion and extension. External and internal rotation were increased in both flexion and extionsion. Hyperextension also was increased. It is suggested that the AMB of the anterior cruciate is responsible for the in anteroposterior drawer with flexion. The selective cutting of the posterior cruciate ligament demonstrated that it is important in the flexed knee and produces an.increased posterior drawer sign. Rotational stability was unchanged in extension, but altered in flexion after cutting the posterior cruciate.