Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Food Waste Avoidance Actions in Food Retailing: The Case of Denmark

ABSTRACT Food waste occurs throughout the entire food supply chain, from production to consumption of food in households. Retailers are in a unique position to contribute to food waste avoidance, not only by minimizing the amount of waste in their distribution channels but also by influencing consumer attitudes and behaviors. This explorative study aims to identify which food waste avoidance actions are conducted by retailers in Denmark, to which extent, and how they vary across food categories and supermarket chain. Based on an analysis of secondary and empirical data collected via observations at retail stores, the authors identify 22 food waste avoidance actions in Danish retail. The results provide new insights into food waste avoidance in retail. Based on the findings, suggestions for further research directions are developed that should serve to identify the most efficient customer targeted actions in the in-store setting and marketing of suboptimal foods.
Spinal Cord Injuries: Clinical, Functional, and Emotional Status

Ninety-eight patients with traumatic spinal cord injury, at a median age of 33.5 years (range, 16–72 years), with nonremarkable distributions of neurologic characteristics were investigated at a median of 2.3 years (range, 0.1–23 years) after injury. Functioning, mood disturbances, and overall quality of life were recorded with established self-assessment instruments. Physical dysfunction levels were moderate, being proportionate to neurologic impairment. Psychosocial functions, mood states, and quality-of-life perceptions did not differ from those of a control population sample. Psychosocial function and mood disturbances varied greatly during the first 4 years after injury, but patients' later recordings expressed predominantly a balanced emotional state and a rewarding social life. Progress in this direction consisted of clearly lessened physical dysfunction 1 year after injury and better psychosocial function and well-being after 2 years, whereas patterns of social activities and contacts became gradually less inhibited during a 4-year period after injury. Analysis of complications in patients' histories that affected function and mood showed severe pain to be the only complication that related to lower quality-of-life scores. Urinary incontinence and infection and autonomous dysref lexia related to inhibited self-care performance; spasticity related to impaired ambulation and feeding skills. Gainful employment was the only demographic factor linked to high quality-of-life scores
Perceived Job and Labor Market Insecurity in the United States: An Assessment of Workers’ Attitudes From 2002 to 2014

The distinction between perceived job insecurity (workers’ assessment of their likelihood of losing their job) and perceived labor market insecurity (workers’ assessment of their ability to find another job similar to their current position) is important because the theoretical primacy of perceived job insecurity is diminished in the context of the risk regime, presenting a need for work that identifies whether the traditional factors of security still protect workers from feeling insecure. The author addresses this need by analyzing data from the Quality of Working Life module of the General Social Survey, which was asked of respondents in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. The author finds that while characteristics of secure work are still associated with lower perceived job insecurity, most tend to increase perceived labor market insecurity. The author also finds that the Great Recession produced higher levels of perceived labor market insecurity. These findings suggest that jobs previously considered to be “good” jobs such as government and union jobs may be more of a liability than an asset in the context of decreased employer–worker attachment.
Formation and intracellular localization of hepatitis C virus envelope glycoprotein complexes expressed by recombinant vaccinia and Sindbis viruses

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) encodes two putative virion glycoproteins (E1 and E2) which are released from the polyprotein by signal peptidase cleavage. In this report, we have characterized the complexes formed between E1 and E2 (called E1E2) for two different HCV strains (H and BK) and studied their intracellular localization. Vaccinia virus and Sindbis virus vectors were used to express the HCV structural proteins in three different cell lines (HepG2, BHK-21, and PK-15). The kinetics of association between E1 and E2, as studied by pulse-chase analysis and coprecipitation of E2 with an anti-E1 monoclonal antibody, indicated that formation of stable E1E2 complexes is slow. The times required for half-maximal association between E1 and E2 were 60 to 85 min for the H strain and more than 165 min for the BK strain. In the presence of nonionic detergents, two forms of E1E2 complexes were detected. The predominant form was a heterodimer of E1 and E2 stabilized by noncovalent interactions. A minor fraction consisted of heterogeneous disulfide-linked aggregates, which most likely represent misfolded complexes. Posttranslational processing and localization of the HCV glycoproteins were examined by acquisition of endoglycosidase H resistance, subcellular fractionation, immunofluorescence, cell surface immunostaining, and immunoelectron microscopy. HCV glycoproteins containing complex N-linked glycans were not observed, and the proteins were not detected at the cell surface. Rather, the proteins localized predominantly to the endoplasmic reticular network, suggesting that some mechanism exists for their retention in this compartment.
Ethnic disparities in the treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

RATIONALE Important variations exist in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Because resection is the most effective treatment for patients with early disease, disparities in surgical rates can generate considerable differences in outcomes. OBJECTIVE We analyzed data from a national population-based registry to evaluate disparities in the treatment of Hispanic and white patients with stage I lung cancer and to assess the extent to which these inequalities explain survival differences. METHODS This study included 16,036 Hispanic and white patients with stage I lung cancer diagnosed between 1991 and 2000. Cases were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry. Survival was compared among white and Hispanics using Kaplan-Meier curves. Stratified survival curves and Cox regression were used to evaluate whether inequalities in stage (IA vs. IB) and resection could explain survival differences. RESULTS Hispanics had worse overall and lung cancer-specific survival compared with whites (p = 0.04 and 0.008, respectively). Five-year lung cancer survival was 54% for Hispanics versus 62% for whites. Hispanics were more frequently diagnosed with stage IB disease (p = 0.0002) and less likely to undergo resection (p = 0.03). Among resected patients, survival was similar for the two groups, as it was among those who did not undergo unresection. After adjusting for surgery and stage, there was no difference in survival between groups. CONCLUSIONS Hispanics with stage I lung cancer had worse survival as compared with whites. These disparities are largely explained by lower rates of resection and higher probability of diagnosis at stage IB. Future work must delineate why Hispanics are receiving less surgery.
Antibacterial Activity of Curcumin Against Periodontopathic Bacteria.

BACKGROUND Curcumin is a polyphenol extracted from root of turmeric and known to possess multifunctional properties, including antibacterial activity. Although previous studies have investigated the effects of curcumin on microorganisms, available knowledge on the effects of curcumin on periodontopathic bacteria is still limited. In this study, the antibacterial effect of curcumin on periodontopathic bacteria is investigated, particularly Porphyromonas gingivalis. METHODS Representative periodontopathic bacteria were cultured in media with and without various curcumin concentrations, and the optical density at 600 nm was measured for 60 hours. The inhibitory effect of curcumin on P. gingivalis Arg- and Lys-specific proteinase (RGP and KGP, respectively) activities were assessed using spectrofluorophotometric assay. Analysis of biofilm formation by P. gingivalis with or without Streptococcus gordonii was conducted using confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM). RESULTS Curcumin inhibited the growth of P. gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Treponema denticola in a dose-dependent manner. Bacterial growth was suppressed almost completely at very low concentrations of curcumin. Conversely, 100 μg/mL curcumin did not suppress the growth of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. It also demonstrated inhibitory effects against RGP and KGP activities in a dose-dependent manner. CLSM revealed that curcumin suppressed P. gingivalis homotypic and P. gingivalis-S. gordonii heterotypic biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner. A concentration of 20 μg/mL curcumin inhibited these P. gingivalis biofilm formations by >80%. CONCLUSION Curcumin possesses antibacterial activity against periodontopathic bacteria and may be a potent agent for preventing periodontal diseases.
Oligodendrocytes in the early course of multiple sclerosis

The neuropathology of demyelinating lesions in multiple sclerosis was studied in specimens obtained by diagnostic needle biopsy during early stages of the disease. The lesions were characterized by a chronic inflammatory reaction dominated by lymphocytes and macrophages, plaque‐like demyelination, and astroglial sclerosis. Oligodendrocytes within the lesions were studied by immunocytochemistry using antibodies against various myelin and oligodendroglia components. The expression of messenger RNA for proteolipid protein was determined by in situ hybridization. Our studies revealed that myelin‐oligodendrocyte glycoprotein is a sensitive and reliable marker for identification of oligodendrocytes in demyelinated plaques. The results suggest that in the early course of the disease in some patients, oligodendrocytes may largely be preserved, whereas in others oligodendroglial loss is pronounced. Loss of oligodendrocytes was only marginally related to the stage of demyelinating activity within the lesions. These findings indicate that the pathogenesis of demyelination may vary within different multiple sclerosis patients.
Dietary Habits and Prostate Cancer Prevention: A Review of Observational Studies by Focusing on South America

There exist several works considering the association between diet and prostate cancer (PC) risk, but the issue is largely unsettled. This article systematically reviews the epidemiological studies on diet and risk of PC focusing on those carried out in countries of South America. There is some suggestion that dairy products, red meat, processed meat, α-linolenic fatty acids, as well as dietary patterns characterized by higher intakes of red and processed meat, eggs, and grains may play some role in the development of PC. There is no clear association with the intake of vegetables and fruits, lycopene, fats, and different types of fatty acids. The evidence on diet and PC is therefore inconclusive in general and specifically in South America. Particular attention must be paid to the study of cancer risk in some countries of South America because of the singularly risky dietary pattern consumed by its population.
The Social Status of Children with Learning Disabilities

Although the low social status of children with learning disabilities (LD) has been well documented, little is known about the specific types of peer status problems that characterize these children. The present study utilized current sociometric procedures in order to clarify the nature of social status difficulties encountered by children with LD. Consistent with previous studies, results revealed that children with LD obtain significantly lower sociometric scores relative to their nondisabled peers. Moreover, children with LD were found to be disproportionately overrepresented in the rejected and neglected sociometric groups, and underrepresented in the popular and average groups. Over half of the total LD sample was classified into one of the low status categories, with approximately equal numbers in the rejected and neglected groups. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Oral contraceptives and the risk of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND It is uncertain whether the use of an oral contraceptive increases the risk of breast cancer later in life, when the incidence of breast cancer is increased. We conducted a population-based, case-control study to determine the risk of breast cancer among former and current users of oral contraceptives. METHODS We interviewed women who were 35 to 64 years old. A total of 4575 women with breast cancer and 4682 controls were interviewed. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios as estimates of the relative risk (incidence-density ratios) of breast cancer. RESULTS The relative risk was 1.0 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.8 to 1.3) for women who were currently using oral contraceptives and 0.9 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.8 to 1.0) for those who had previously used them. The relative risk did not increase consistently with longer periods of use or with higher doses of estrogen. The results were similar among white and black women. Use of oral contraceptives by women with a family history of breast cancer was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, nor was the initiation of oral-contraceptive use at a young age. CONCLUSIONS Among women from 35 to 64 years of age, current or former oral-contraceptive use was not associated with a significantly increased risk of breast cancer.
Between-User Reliability of Tier 1 Exposure Assessment Tools Used Under REACH

When applying simple screening (Tier 1) tools to estimate exposure to chemicals in a given exposure situation under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals Regulation 2006 (REACH), users must select from several possible input parameters. Previous studies have suggested that results from exposure assessments using expert judgement and from the use of modelling tools can vary considerably between assessors. This study aimed to investigate the between-user reliability of Tier 1 tools. A remote-completion exercise and in person workshop were used to identify and evaluate tool parameters and factors such as user demographics that may be potentially associated with between-user variability. Participants (N = 146) generated dermal and inhalation exposure estimates (N = 4066) from specified workplace descriptions ('exposure situations') and Tier 1 tool combinations (N = 20). Interactions between users, tools, and situations were investigated and described. Systematic variation associated with individual users was minor compared with random between-user variation. Although variation was observed between choices made for the majority of input parameters, differing choices of Process Category ('PROC') code/activity descriptor and dustiness level impacted most on the resultant exposure estimates. Exposure estimates ranging over several orders of magnitude were generated for the same exposure situation by different tool users. Such unpredictable between-user variation will reduce consistency within REACH processes and could result in under-estimation or overestimation of exposure, risking worker ill-health or the implementation of unnecessary risk controls, respectively. Implementation of additional support and quality control systems for all tool users is needed to reduce between-assessor variation and so ensure both the protection of worker health and avoidance of unnecessary business risk management expenditure.
A Meta-Analysis of Renal Function After Adult Cardiac Surgery With Pulsatile Perfusion.

The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine whether pulsatile perfusion during cardiac surgery has a lesser effect on renal dysfunction than nonpulsatile perfusion after cardiac surgery in randomized controlled trials. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were used to identify available articles published before April 25, 2014. Meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of pulsatile perfusion on postoperative renal functions, as determined by creatinine clearance (CrCl), serum creatinine (Cr), urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and the incidences of acute renal insufficiency (ARI) and acute renal failure (ARF). Nine studies involving 674 patients that received pulsatile perfusion and 698 patients that received nonpulsatile perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were considered in the meta-analysis. Stratified analysis was performed according to effective pulsatility or unclear pulsatility of the pulsatile perfusion method in the presence of heterogeneity. NGAL levels were not significantly different between the pulsatile and nonpulsatile groups. However, patients in the pulsatile group had a significantly higher CrCl and lower Cr levels when the analysis was restricted to studies on effective pulsatile flow (P < 0.00001, respectively). The incidence of ARI was significantly lower in the pulsatile group (P < 0.00001), but incidences of ARF were similar. In conclusion, the meta-analysis suggests that the use of pulsatile flow during CPB results in better postoperative renal function.
Effects of Microdesmis keayana alkaloids on vascular parameters of erectile dysfunction

Microdesmis keayana (Pandaceae) is an African tropical plant whose roots are used in traditional medicine for erection impairment but the compounds responsible for its action are unknown. Two major alkaloids recently isolated from the roots of M. keayana, keayanidine B and keayanine, were tested for vasorelaxing properties using isolated rat aortic rings precontracted by phenylephrine to confirm its traditional use. Influence of the alkaloids on the endothelial production of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) analysis. Scavenging activities were assessed versus 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyle (DPPH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion (O 2•−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in cell‐free and cellular systems.
Land Use as a Motivation for Railway Trespassing: Experience from the Czech Republic

Railway trespassing is a very risky but common behaviour, resulting in about 200 casualties annually in the Czech Republic. This study describes the formation of 27 selected risk localities with frequent occurrence of trespassing in the regions of southern, central and northern Moravia. To be able to describe the process, an evaluation of the development of land use was conducted within a wide spatial context of each spot. The evaluation was focused on functional use of built-up areas (collective and individual housing, industrial areas, shopping and services, recreational areas, etc.). In the sample of investigated localities were places of two kinds: (1) localities where the railway intersected existing settlement structures, and relationships and links within the area were radically disturbed and severed. A lack of legal possibilities for crossing restricts the movement of inhabitants at these localities; (2) localities where the railway originally passed through open landscape and was later surrounded by built-up areas with various land-use functions. Here, trespassing is the consequence of gaps in the urban-planning process, wherein the needs of pedestrians and cyclists were not sufficiently considered. The analysis of the development of land use since 1836 showed how the motivations of trespassing were gradually intensified with more and more complex structures of functional division of areas. The percentage of built-up areas increased in all monitored localities overall from 6.28% during 1836–1852 to 52.15% during 2014–2015.
Autonomic denervation in jejunal mucosa of homosexual men infected with HIV.

Autonomic nerves in jejunal mucosa of HIV-infected patients show severe structural damage on electron microscopic examination. The aim of this study was to quantify loss of autonomic axons from the lamina propria of HIV-infected patients in different clinical stages of disease. Jejunal biopsies were taken from 19 HIV-antibody-positive homosexual men and from 10 control patients. Autonomic fibres in the mucosa were stained with a neurone-specific polyclonal antibody, PGP 9.5. The density of axons was quantified by a point-counting technique using a Lennox eyepiece graticule under light microscopic examination. There was significant reduction in axonal density in the villi of HIV-infected patients [mean, 9.0; standard deviation (s.d.), 4.7] compared with controls (mean, 15.3; s.d., 5.2; P = 0.003), and in the pericryptal lamina propria of HIV-infected patients (mean, 17.8; s.d., 5.4) compared with controls (mean, 27.3; s.d., 6.2; P = 0.0002). Although autonomic denervation occurs throughout the jejunal mucosa of HIV-infected patients, there was no correlation between the clinical stage of HIV disease and the degree of denervation. The denervation was greatest in patients with the most severe diarrhoea, but this difference was not significant. This study provides the first quantitative morphological evidence for depletion of autonomic nerves in the jejunum of patients infected with HIV. Autonomic neuropathy may contribute to chronic diarrhoea in HIV disease.
Overheard in the halls: what adolescents are saying, and what teachers are hearing, about health issues.

BACKGROUND Schools have long been recognized as an excellent place to offer health education and supportive services. Teachers are among the most important influences in the lives of school-aged children and can provide valuable insight into the health issues important to adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential role general academic teachers may play in facilitating adolescent health promotion efforts. METHODS To determine what teachers think about the role of health promotion in schools and what tools and topics they would find most helpful as critical advisers to students, we administered a 28-question survey at staff development meetings in 4 New York City schools. RESULTS Teachers agreed that schools were an important venue for discussing and providing health messages. More than half of those surveyed reported having overheard student discussions about health once a week or more, and 70% stated that they had been actively approached by students 1-3 or more times per semester with reports of personal problems or health issues. Teachers expressed concern about their ability to handle student mental, behavioral, and reproductive health problems and desired additional staff development workshops to address these needs. CONCLUSIONS Teachers felt that schools were important places to promote dialogue about health and accept the importance of playing a broader role in the lives of youth beyond education. To enhance the prospect of health-promoting interactions between teachers and students, attention must be paid to developing the overall skill and comfort level of teachers with respect to adolescent health concerns.