Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between quality of life, social support and disease-related factors in HIV-infected persons in Venezuela

This study examines the relationships among health-related quality of life (HRQL), social support, sociodemographic factors and disease-related factors in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) living in Venezuela. A sample of 118 HIV-infected persons living in Caracas, Venezuela, was surveyed using a written questionnaire that included a Spanish translation of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) developed for this study, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) and a symptom inventory. All three instruments showed good internal consistency reliability. Multiple regression analyses were used to model SF-36 sub-scale scores as a function of symptoms, social support, HIV-status and use of antiretroviral drugs. The models explained between 16 and 39% of the variance in the different HRQL domains. Controlling for other variables in the model, level of symptomatology was significantly associated with all HRQL domains except social functioning and role-emotional scores. Social support was significantly associated with all HRQL domains except physical functioning and bodily pain. The use of antiretroviral drugs was significantly associated with social functioning. The study indicates the importance of social support to the quality of life of HIV-infected individuals in this culture.
An Analysis of the PLLs With Secondary Control Path

The phase-locked loops (PLLs) are widely used in different areas of applications particularly for synchronization and control purposes in grid connected applications. A major challenge associated with the PLLs is how to improve their dynamic performance without jeopardizing their stability and filtering capability. Recently, some approaches based on adding a secondary control path (SCP) to the PLL structure have been proposed to deal with this challenge. The objective of this paper is to briefly analyze these approaches. The study starts with an overview of the PLLs with SCP. The paper proceeds with the small-signal modeling of some of these PLLs, which significantly simplifies the analysis. Using these models, the effects of adding the SCP on the PLL structure are studied. The obtained results show that the SCP may not be a practical approach to improve the PLL dynamic performance mainly because it aggravates the stability problem.
The geometry of proliferating dicot cells

The distributions of cell size and cell cycle duration were studied in two‐dimensional expanding plant tissues. Plastic imprints of the leaf epidermis of three dicot plants, jade (Crassula argentae), impatiens (Impatiens wallerana), and the common begonia (Begonia semperflorens) were made and cell outlines analysed. The average, standard deviation and coefficient of variance (CV = 100 × standard deviation/average) of cell size were determined with the CV of mother cells less than the CV for daughter cells and both are less than that for all cells. An equation was devised as a simple description of the probability distribution of sizes for all cells of a tissue. Cell cycle durations as measured in arbitrary time units were determined by reconstructing the initial and final sizes of cells and they collectively give the expected asymmetric bell‐shaped probability distribution. Given the features of unequal cell division (an average of 11.6% difference in size of daughter cells) and the size variation of dividing cells, it appears that the range of cell size is more critically regulated than the size of a cell at any particular time.
Effects of phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors on human ether‐a‐go‐go related gene (hERG) channel activity

It is presumed that phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors have two mechanisms for inhibition of hERG currents in the acute applications to cells: direct channel block, and downregulation of human ether‐a‐go‐go related gene (hERG) activities by PKA‐dependent pathway mediated phosphorylation through their inhibitory effects against PDE enzymes. However, it is unknown whether PDE inhibition contributes to the inhibitory effects of PDE inhibitors on hERG currents. This study examined the effects of various PDE inhibitors on hERG currents using both the whole‐cell and perforated patch‐clamp techniques in hERG transfected CHO‐K1 cells. The study also investigated the contribution of the PKA‐dependent pathway to the inhibitory effects of PDE inhibitors on hERG currents. Of the PDE inhibitors tested, vinpocetine, erythro‐9‐(2‐hydroxy‐3‐nonyl) adenine (EHNA), vesnarinone, rolipram and dipyridamole decreased hERG currents in a concentration‐dependent manner. Vinpocetine and vesnarinone markedly decreased the hERG current with an IC 50of 0.13 and 20.6 µm, respectively, at comparatively low concentrations. Furthermore, vinpocetine caused a cumulative block of hERG currents. Milrinone, amrinone and zaprinast had no effect on the hERG current up to 100 µm. Of the PDE3 inhibitors (vesnarinone, amrinone and milrinone), only vesnarinone showed an hERG inhibitory effect. The inhibitory effects of vinpocetine and vesnarinone were not significantly affected by the co‐application of protein kinase inhibitors. Furthermore, the protein kinase activators had no effect on hERG currents. It is concluded that vinpocetine and vesnarinone block the hERG channel directly, and that the inhibitory effect on intracellular PDE in the PKA‐dependent pathway may not be involved in the inhibition of hERG currents in hERG transfected CHO‐K1 cells. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Overweight and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus

EDITOR—In their editorial, Jankowski et al provide useful information on molecular changes leading to adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and gastro-oesophageal junction.1 The incidence of and mortality from oesophageal adenocarcinoma have risen dramatically over the past few decades in Europe and North America. One very important explanation for the …
Objective measure for sound localization based on head-related transfer functions

Head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) are widely used in the study of the human auditory system. It is known that HRTFs contain spatial cues allowing individuals to localize sounds. Inter-aural phase and level differences, and high-frequency magnitude variations, are among the most common cues. While these cues require detailed analysis of specific HRTFs, in the current paper a new measure is proposed, based on the distribution of the singular values of the HRTF matrix, effectively representing the amount of information contained in the HRTFs as a function of frequency and arrival direction. This measure is generic, encompassing all cues in a single quantity. First, the validity of the proposed measure is justified theoretically. Then, the proposed measure is validated against empirically known results of human localization in the horizontal and median planes. The comparison is performed by taking into account two different aspects: (1) whether the information contained in the HRTFs is monaural or binaural, and (2) the variation of the minimum audible angle (MAA) and other localization measures as a function of azimuth and elevation. The results show that the proposed measure is in good agreement with the established theory of human sound localization and can be used as a predictor of the potential performance of human sound localization and of human-like systems such as humanoid robots.
Malignant side effects of null-hypothesis significance testing

Six decades-worth of published information has shown irrefutably that null-hypothesis significance tests (NHSTs) provide no information about the reliability of research outcomes. Nevertheless, they are still the core of editorial decision-making in Psychology. Two reasons appear to contribute to the continuing practice. One, survey information suggests that a majority of psychological researchers incorrectly believe that p values provide information about reliability of results. Two, a position sometimes taken is that using them to make decisions has been essentially benign. The mistaken belief has been pointed out many times, so it is briefly covered because of the apparent persistence of the misunderstanding. The idea that NHSTs have been benign is challenged by seven “side-effects” that continue to retard effective development of psychological science. The article concludes with both a few suggestions about possible alternatives and a challenge to psychological researchers to develop new methods that actually assess the reliability of research findings.
The Role of Natural Settings in Crisis Rehabilitation: How Does the Level of Crisis Influence the Response to Experiences of Nature with Regard to Measures of Rehabilitation?

Abstract We compare people greatly affected by a crisis with those less affected to explore how level of crisis influences their response to experiencing nature. A questionnaire comprising a validated protocol to evaluate frequency of stress conditions, the level of crisis retention, reorientation and rehabilitation potential was answered by 547 individuals. The questionnaire also comprises items on everyday activities. Our findings may be interpreted as follows: experiencing nature has a more powerful influence on the rehabilitation potential of people greatly affected by a crisis; taking a walk also has an influence, although not of equal importance; the social factor has more influence on the rehabilitation potential of people affected by a crisis to a low/moderate degree. Individuals who have many experiences of nature are less affected by their crisis than are those who have few such experiences. We suggest that the rehabilitative effect of nature is tied to its function as an enriched environment. During stays in natural settings, an interaction takes place between sensory stimulation, emotions and logical thought—an interaction that leads to a new orientation and new ways of seeing one's self and one's resources. This seems to largely be a question of how we human beings take in and process information.
Nitric oxide production during endotoxic shock in carbon tetrachloride-treated rats.

Earlier studies showed that hepatotoxicant-treated experimental animals were more susceptible than controls to the lethal effects of bacterial endotoxin. The exact mechanisms of this effect were not understood. In this paper we showed that nitric oxide (.NO) was produced in whole blood and in liver tissues of rats that had been treated with a nonlethal dose of CCl4 (1.3 g/kg) followed by a low dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 micrograms/kg). EPR spectroscopy was used in this study to detect nitrosyl-protein complexes. Hemoglobin-nitrosyl complexes were detected in both whole blood and liver. By performing analyses of EPR spectra obtained from hepatocytes exposed to . NO, we were able to identify EPR signals attributable to nitrosyl-cytochrome P420 in rat liver. We found that nitrosyl complex formation in red blood cells and liver was inhibited by treatment with NG-mono-methyl-L-arginine, suggesting enzymatic biosynthesis of . NO. A small but significant inhibition of nitrosyl complex formation by gadolinium trichloride pretreatment was found in the liver, suggesting that Kupffer cells were also involved in . NO biosynthesis, because this treatment decreased Kupffer cells. There was a synergistic effect of CCl4 and LPS on the serum levels of the hepatic enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, alanine amino-transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and sorbitol dehydrogenase, which are indices of parenchymal cell damage. NG-Mono-methyl-L-arginine treatment increased these hepatic enzyme activities, suggesting a protective role for . NO. EPR resonances at g approximately 2.48, 2.29, and 1.91, due to low-spin cytochromes P450/P420 (FE3+), were decreased in the livers of LPS-induced rats that had been previously treated with CCl4, indicating cytochrome P450/P420 destruction or at least a change in the valence state of the cytochrome P450/P420 heme groups to Fe2+ in the presence of . NO. Because nitrosyl-cytochrome P450 is not stable, the concomitant detection of nitrosyl-cytochrome P420 (Fe2+) could account, at least in part, for the decrease of the ferric low-spin heme groups. Our novel observations of hepatic nitrosyl species suggest that . NO plays an important role during hepatic injury caused by CCl4 in hosts exposed to endotoxin.
Strategies Deaf Mothers Use When Reading to Their Young Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children

The purpose of the study was to examine behaviors utilized by deaf mothers when reading to their deaf or hard of hearing children aged three to five years. Six deaf mothers were video-taped while reading the same book. The video-tapes were transcribed and coded by two observers. Data analysis revealed six specific strategies that the mothers used while reading. These included sign placement, text paired with signed demonstration, real world connection between text and child's experience, attention maintenance, physical demonstrations of character changes, and non-manual signals as questions.
Palifermin reduces patient-reported mouth and throat soreness and improves patient functioning in the hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation setting.

PURPOSE To describe patient-reported outcomes of mouth and throat soreness (MTS) and related sequelae on daily activities from a phase III study of palifermin in the autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) setting and to compare patient self-evaluations with clinicians' assessments of oral mucositis using objective scales. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients (n = 212) received palifermin (60 microg/kg/d) or placebo for 3 days before total-body irradiation (12 Gy), etoposide 60 mg/kg, and cyclophosphamide 100 mg/kg, and 3 days after HSCT. Patients completed a daily questionnaire (Oral Mucositis Daily Questionnaire [OMDQ]) evaluating MTS severity and its effects on daily functional activities. Patients' self-assessment data were compared with clinicians' assessments of oral mucositis using the objective scales. RESULTS Palifermin reduced the incidence and duration of severe oral mucositis, as assessed by both clinicians and patients. Comparisons between patient and clinician assessments demonstrated that the average daily scores between mucositis grade and subjective (MTS) instruments were similar, although patients reported MTS onset, peak, and resolution earlier (1 to 3 days) than clinicians' assessments. Patients receiving palifermin reported statistically significant improvements (P < .001) in daily functioning activities (swallowing, drinking, eating, talking, sleeping) and required significantly less narcotic opioids (P < .001); improvement in the patient's overall physical and functional well-being was also reported. This was confirmed by the results of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment questionnaire. CONCLUSION These results support the clinical benefit of palifermin in the HSCT setting, providing evidence that a patient's self-assessment instrument (OMDQ) may serve as an alternative tool to assess oral mucositis severity in clinical trials.
Daily rhythms of pituitary-ovarian function in the immature hamster are independent of adrenal and pineal influence.

In female hamsters, the daily rhythm of LH appeared on the 15th or 16th day after birth with a peak occurring at about 16:00 h (14L:10D, lights on 06:00 h). Progesterone concentrations increased and became rhythmic a few days later. In serum samples collected at 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 60-62 days of age between 13:00 and 23:00 h, significant rhythms of serum cortisol and corticosterone concentrations were not detected before 25 days of age; furthermore, the phase of the rhythms did not stabilize to the adult pattern until about 40 days of age. As in the adult, significant rhythms were present in both sexes and the levels of cortisol were greater than those of corticosterone. Injection of pig ACTH (50 i.u./kg body wt, i.p.) significantly increased serum cortisol by 10 days of age, but corticosterone did not respond until 25 days of age. Thus, for cortisol at least, the appearance of 24-h rhythms in the serum is probably not dependent on the ability of the adrenal to respond to ACTH. Ovariectomy had no effect on the late afternoon surge of serum cortisol; similarly, adrenalectomy of immature females did not abolish the surge of LH. Ovariectomy did not alter the daily rhythm of pineal melatonin content and pinealectomy had no effect on the daily afternoon surge of LH. These results demonstrate functional independence of circadian rhythms in the pituitary-gonadal axis and the pituitary-adrenal axis of the immature hamster and also independence of daily rhythms of pineal melatonin and pituitary release of LH.
Development of the gut in Xenopus laevis

The lining of the gut, together with the pancreas, liver, gall bladder, and respiratory system, is formed from the endoderm. The gut also contains smooth muscle and connective tissue of mesodermal origin. The amphibian Xenopus laevis is potentially an excellent model organism for studying how the cells of the endoderm and mesoderm become programmed to produce these internal organs. However, the anatomical complexity of the coiled gut presents a problem in studying its development. In order to overcome this problem we here present a comprehensive guide to the anatomy and histology of the developing Xenopus gut. We use a simple dissection to display its anatomy and the expression of four endodermal markers (alkaline phosphatase, IFABP, XlHbox8, and endodermin). We present schematic diagrams that show how the gut is arranged in three dimensions and how this organisation changes during development. We also present drawings of histological sections of the gut which allow any region to be identified and so represent an atlas for working with sections. Finally, we describe the histology of the cells of the various organs of the gut. This histological identification may be necessary for the identification of parts following experiments in which the normal pattern is disturbed. Dev. Dyn. 1998;212:509–521. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biofeedback and Pelvic Floor Exercises for the Rehabilitation of Urinary Stress Incontinence

We investigated the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercises or biofeedback for the treatment of urinary stress incontinence (USI). Fifty patients with USI were included in this randomized, controlled, prospective study. Twenty patients were taught PFM exercises via digital palpation and instructed to perform regularly as home program. The second group of 20 patients had PFM exercises via biofeedback three times a week for 2 months. The third group of 10 patients did not have any exercises. The patients were evaluated via pad test, perineometry, digital palpation based PFM strength, incontinence frequency, and visual analog scale based social activity index prior to and 8 weeks after the treatment. The first two groups had significant improvement in USI with respect to the control group (p < 0.001). The rise in PFM strength with perineometry of the biofeedback group was higher than in the digital palpation group after treatment (p < 0.001). PFM exercises are effective for the treatment of USI; the biofeedback method revealed better PFM strength results with respect to digital palpation.
Modification of morphine analgesia by drugs affecting adrenergic and tryptaminergic mechanisms

The effects of drugs that modify adrenergic or tryptaminergic mechanisms were tested on the analgesic action of morphine in mice. Analgesia was assessed by the hot plate method and phenylquinonewrithing method. Reserpine antagonized the analgesic action of morphine in both tests, the maximal effects occurring 6–8 h after the administration of reserpine. p‐Chlorophenylalanine antagonized the analgesic action of morphine as assessed by the writhing method but not by the hot plate method. The analgesic action of morphine was not modified in either test by pretreatment with α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine, propranolol, phentolamine or methysergide. These results suggest that the analgesic action of morphine, as measured in the writhing test, may be mediated by 5‐hydroxytryptamine but that other mechanisms may be involved in the hot plate test.
Medical engagement: a crucial underpinning to organizational performance

Medical Engagement has long been advocated as a critical component relating to organizational performance. Relatively little data though existed to support this contention. Using the Medical Engagement Scale (MES) This study demonstrates a persuasive linkage between assessed levels of Medical Engagement in secondary care organizations and independently gathered performance measures. Implications of executive leaders in promoting engagement are explored.
Medical career selection among newly graduated physicians in Madinah, KSA

Objectives: To study factors influencing medical career selection among newly graduated physicians in Al Madinah, KSA. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the period from January through March 2011. The study recruited 170 interns and residents working at Al Madinah hospitals, KSA. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was distributed that included personal data and factors influencing medical career selection. Appropriate statistical tests were used with p value ≤ 0.05 was used as an indicator of significant differences. Results: The response rate was 79.4% (n = 135, 42.2% male). Statistically significant differences were found between male and female participants regarding all the studied medical carrier selection aspects with the higher mean scores among males. Female participants chose the following specialties more than males: ENT, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and medicine. Linear regression analysis showed specialty characters to be the most important predictor in male (R2 = 0.821) and female (R2 = 0.921). Marital status and specialty training process were found to play a key role among females and personality preference and work achievement among males. Conclusions: Medical career selection is a complex decision-making process. The study revealed specialty characters, personality preference and work achievement (males) and specialty training process and marital status (females), which are the most important predictors for selection.