Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of 1 Long Versus 2 Shorter Clinical Days on Clinical Learning Outcomes of Nursing Students

Clinical practice experiences for nursing students may be scheduled as 1 long day, 2 shorter days, and many other variations. Which schedule is most effective for learning has not been studied. This research compared competency achievement of students (n = 146) randomly assigned to 1 long clinical day (12 hours) with those in 2 shorter days (7-8 hours each). Study results found no difference in learning outcomes between the 2 groups.
The Role of Protein Kinase C Isozymes in Bombesin-stimulated Gastrin Release from Human Antral Gastrin Cells*

Two of the most effective stimuli of gastrin release from human antral G cells are bombesin and phorbol esters. Both agonists result in activation of the protein kinase C family of isozymes, however, the exact contribution of protein kinase C to the resultant release of gastrin has been difficult to assess, possibly due to the presence of multiple protein kinase C isozymes in the G cells. The results of the present study demonstrated that the human antral G cells expressed 6 protein kinase C isozymes α, γ, θ, ε, ζ, and μ. Of these protein kinase C, γ and θ were translocated by stimulation of the cells by either 10 nm bombesin or 1 nm phorbol ester. Inhibition of protein kinase Cμ (localized to the Golgi complex) did not decrease bombesin-stimulated gastrin release indicating that this isozyme was not involved in the secretory process. The use of selective antagonists of the calcium-sensitive conventional protein kinase C subgroup resulted in an increase in bombesin-stimulated gastrin release and indicated that protein kinase Cγ was involved in the desensitization of the bombesin response.
Monohalogenated maleimides as potential agents for the inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm

New monohalogenated maleimide derivatives (with bromine, chlorine or iodine) were synthesized to test the effect of halogen atoms in inhibiting the formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm. The evaluation of their biological activities clearly defines a structure–activity relationship. In this study, the bactericidal action of the three compounds was observed at the concentration range 0.3–5.0 mM on Luria-Bertani agar plates. The halogen atom of these molecules was critical in modulating the antibacterial activity, with a slightly higher effectiveness for chlorine. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to examine P. aeruginosa biofilms cultivated in flow cells. At concentration as low as 40 μM, the bromine and iodine compounds displayed a total inhibition towards the formation of bacterial biofilm. At this concentration, the bacterial attachment to glass surfaces was strongly affected by the presence of bromine and iodine whereas the chlorine derivative behaved as a bactericidal compound. A bioluminescent reporter strain was then used to detect the effect of the chemically synthesized maleimides on quorum sensing (QS) in P. aeruginosa. At the concentration range 10–100 μM, bioluminescence assays reveal that halogenated maleimides were able to interfere with the QS of the bacterium. Although the relationship between the weak inhibition of cell-to-cell communication (15–55% of the signal) and the high inhibition of biofilm formation has not been elucidated clearly, the results demonstrate that bromo- and iodo-N-substituted maleimides bromine and iodine may be used as new potent inhibitors that control bacterial biofilms.
Alopecia areata: Part 1: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis.

OBJECTIVE To provide family physicians with a background understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, histology, and clinical approach to the diagnosis of alopecia areata (AA). SOURCES OF INFORMATION PubMed was searched for relevant articles regarding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis of AA. MAIN MESSAGE Alopecia areata is a form of autoimmune hair loss with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 2%. A personal or family history of concomitant autoimmune disorders, such as vitiligo or thyroid disease, might be noted in a small subset of patients. Diagnosis can often be made clinically, based on the characteristic nonscarring, circular areas of hair loss, with small "exclamation mark" hairs at the periphery in those with early stages of the condition. The diagnosis of more complex cases or unusual presentations can be facilitated by biopsy and histologic examination. The prognosis varies widely, and poor outcomes are associated with an early age of onset, extensive loss, the ophiasis variant, nail changes, a family history, or comorbid autoimmune disorders. CONCLUSION Alopecia areata is an autoimmune form of hair loss seen regularly in primary care. Family physicians are well placed to identify AA, characterize the severity of disease, and form an appropriate differential diagnosis. Further, they are able educate their patients about the clinical course of AA, as well as the overall prognosis, depending on the patient subtype.
Building understanding of the development of performance management for collaborative networks with a knowledge maturity model

The objective of the study is to analyse how the stage of the performance management of a network can be evaluated with a knowledge maturity model. The purpose is to examine how the knowledge maturity model OSSIC works in the context of network-level performance management. In addition, the study generates contents for management attributes from the network perspective. The study concerns a single case consisting of a collaborative network. The empirical data has been gathered with interviews and an action research process. According to the results of the study, the OSSIC maturity model is a suitable approach for the adoption of a network-level performance measurement system, for several reasons. The use of the OSSIC model helps to observe the development issues concerning performance management in a wider scope. The results of the study indicate that the most essential attributes for the successful adoption of a network-level performance measurement system are the network culture and the skills and knowledge of the participants.
Validity of a food-frequency questionnaire for elderly men in southeast China

Abstract Objective To investigate the internal validity of a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed for a case–control study of prostate cancer in southeast China. Design A comprehensive questionnaire comprising a quantitative FFQ and a short food habit questionnaire (SFHQ) was developed and modified from previous cancer and nutritional studies. The Goldberg formula (ratio of energy intake (EI) to basal metabolic rate (BMR), EI/BMR) was used to assess the validity of the FFQ by making comparisons with physical activity levels. Physical activity levels were measured by the estimated total metabolic equivalents (MET) and the ratio of energy expenditure (EE) to BMR (EE/BMR). Correlation analyses were undertaken to compare the SFHQ variables with those of the quantitative FFQ. Setting Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Subjects A total of 404 men over 45 years old with or without prostate cancer were recruited from eight hospitals. Results The partial correlation coefficients, controlling for age and family history of prostate cancer, were moderate to high (P < 0.05) for preserved foods intake, fat consumption and tea drinking variables between the SFHQ and the quantitative FFQ. The average EI/BMR was 1.72, with 76% of subjects exceeding the Goldberg cut-off value of 1.35. Apart from weight, BMI, EE/BMR and MET, there were no significant differences in characteristics between low (< 1.35) and normal EI/BMR groups. Conclusions The FFQ is demonstrated to be a valid instrument to measure energy and food intake for elderly men in southeast China.
Were luxury foods the first domesticates? Ethnoarchaeological perspectives from Southeast Asia

There are important reasons for considering the first domesticated plants and animals as luxury foods primarily used in feasting. Using Southeast Asian tribal society as a case study, it is demonstrated that all the domesticated animals and the most important of the domesticated plants constitute forms of wealth that are primarily or exclusively used in feasting contexts. In addition, numerous studies have demonstrated that feasting generates powerful forces that intensify and increase resource production of luxury foods as well as staples. Such forces ultimately can lead to the domestication of wild species and the transformation of luxury foods into staple foods.
Neutrophil-Derived Hyperresistinemia in Severe Acute Streptococcal Infections1

The concept of neutrophil activation and degranulation as important contributors to disease pathology in invasive group A streptococcal infections has recently been emphasized. This study focuses on two of the most severe streptococcal manifestations, toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis, and the newly described proinflammatory molecule resistin, known to derive from adipocytes and monocytes. We demonstrate for the first time that these conditions are characterized by hyperresistinemia in circulation as well as at the local site of infection. Importantly, analyses of patient tissue biopsies and whole blood revealed that neutrophils represent a novel and dominant source of resistin in bacterial septic shock. This was confirmed by the identification of resistin within neutrophil azurophilic granules. In vitro assays using primary neutrophils showed that resistin release was readily triggered by streptococcal cell wall components and by the streptococcal M1 protein, but not by the potent streptococcal superantigens. This is the first report demonstrating that resistin is released from neutrophils in response to microbial stimuli, which adds resistin to the neutrophil granule proteins that are likely to contribute to the pathologic inflammatory responses associated with severe streptococcal infections.
A Taller‐Than‐Wide Shape Is a Good Predictor of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Small Solid Nodules

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a nodule with a taller‐than‐wide shape (ie, an anteroposterior diameter that is longer than the transverse diameter on a transverse or longitudinal plane [anteroposterior‐to‐transverse ratio] >1) is a good predictor of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) according to nodule size.
Clonal and non‐clonal karyotypically abnormal cells in haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

We studied chromosomes in bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood cells of nine patients with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH); three of them had a family history of HLH and four others underwent concurrent Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection. In addition to a large population of normal mitotic cells, karyotypically abnormal clonal cells were found in two patients, abnormal clonal cells and a nonclonal (single) abnormal cell in one, and nonclonal abnormal cells in three. All the six patients with chromosome abnormalities died of progressive disease; one of them also had EBV infection and EBV‐associated clonal proliferation. Two of three patients with EBV infection and only normal mitotic cells in BM completely recovered from the disease.
Visual Prosthesis

There are more than forty million blind individuals in the world whose plight would be greatly ameliorated by creating a visual prosthesis. We begin by outlining the basic operational characteristics of the visual system, as this knowledge is essential for producing a prosthetic device based on electrical stimulation through arrays of implanted electrodes. We then list a series of tenets that we believe need to be followed in this effort. Central among these is our belief that the initial research in this area, which is in its infancy, should first be carried out on animals. We suggest that implantation of area V1 holds high promise as the area is of a large volume and can therefore accommodate extensive electrode arrays. We then proceed to consider coding operations that can effectively convert visual images viewed by a camera to stimulate electrode arrays to yield visual impressions that can provide shape, motion, and depth information. We advocate experimental work that mimics electrical stimulation effects non-invasively in sighted human subjects with a camera from which visual images are converted into displays on a monitor akin to those created by electrical stimulation.
Dietary intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and coronary events in Norwegian patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Consumption of fish and n-3 (omega-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) has been associated with reduced risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) mortality. OBJECTIVE The aim was to examine the relation between dietary intake of n-3 LCPUFAs or fish and risk of future coronary events or mortality in patients with well-characterized CAD. DESIGN This was a substudy of 2412 participants in the Western Norway B Vitamin Intervention Trial with a median follow-up time of 57 mo. Patients aged >18 y diagnosed with CAD (81% men) completed a food-frequency questionnaire at baseline, from which daily intakes of eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids as well as fish were estimated on the basis of diet and intakes of supplements including fish and cod liver oils. The main endpoint was a composite of coronary events, including coronary death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, and unstable angina pectoris. RESULTS The mean (+/-SD) intakes of n-3 LCPUFAs in quartiles 1-4 were 0.58 +/- 0.29, 0.83 +/- 0.30, 1.36 +/- 0.44, and 2.64 +/- 1.18 g/d, respectively. We found no dose-response relation between quartiles of n-3 LCPUFAs (based on intake as percentage of total energy) or fish and coronary events or separate endpoints. A post hoc additive proportional hazards model showed a slightly increased risk of coronary events at an intake of n-3 LCPUFAs < approximately 0.30 g/d. CONCLUSION Among Norwegian patients with CAD consuming relatively high amounts of n-3 LCPUFAs and fish, there were no significant trends toward a reduced risk of coronary events or mortality with increasing intakes. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00354081.
Salmonella Serovars and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns on a Sample of High Seroprevalence Pig Farms in England and Wales (2003–2008)

Following the introduction of a national abattoir‐based monitoring programme for Salmonella in pigs, advisory visits were made to pig farms in England and Wales with high Salmonella seroprevalence assessed by muscle tissue fluid (meat juice) ELISA. Samples (n = 15 790), including pooled pen floor faeces (n = 12 136), were collected for Salmonella culture from 296 farms, between October 2003 and February 2008. Salmonella was isolated from 4489 (28%) of all samples collected, including 3301 (27%) of pooled pen floor faecal samples, from 270 (91%) of farms visited. Salmonella Typhimurium and S. Derby were the most prevalent serovars, representing 64% and 16% of isolates serotyped, respectively. The main phage types of S. Typhimurium identified were U288 and DT193. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was seen in 92% of isolates tested, with the highest frequencies of resistance occurring to tetracyclines (T), sulphonamide compounds (SU), ampicillin (AM), sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT), streptomycin (S) and chloramphenicol (C). Fifty‐nine AMR patterns were observed, the most frequent of these being T, AM, SXT, C, S, SU, seen in 35% of isolates tested. Multi‐drug resistance was commonly found, with 67% of isolates submitted for AMR testing showing resistance to between four and nine antimicrobials.
The biochemical basis of antioxidant therapy in critical illness

During critical illness free radical production may increase as a result of, for example, sepsis or tissue trauma. In addition, because of a potential for increased losses, and the possibility of inadequate nutrition, the antioxidant defences of the body may become compromised. Thus, the delicate balance between free radicals and antioxidants may be disturbed. Various nutritional and pharmacological strategies to enhance antioxidant defences have been proposed, which aim either to maintain or enhance endogenous antioxidant stores or to provide alternative antioxidant agents. Trace elements and amino acids are particularly important, and their synergistic role in the maintenance of the body's antioxidant defence network will be discussed.
Influence of Viral Load and Alanine Aminotransferase on Viral Genetic Heterogeneity in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Background/Aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) populations in vivo consist of genetically different heterogeneous mixtures defined as ‘quasispecies’, which vary in the hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) mostly. To further address the role of quasispecies diversity in hepatitis C infection, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of ALT, viral load and genotypes on quasispecies heterogeneity in patients with HCV infection. Methods: Thirty-six chronic hepatitis C patients with high levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were studied. None of them received any antiviral therapy. HCV RNA serum levels, genotype and genetic heterogeneity were determined by branched-chain DNA assay, restriction fragment length patterns and RT-PCR single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of HVR1, respectively. Results: Twenty-eight patients had genotype 1b (28/36; 78%), 6 patients had genotype 1a (6/36; 17%), 1 patient was 2a (1/36; 3%) and genotype could not be determined in 1 patient. The patients were categorized into two groups according to the number of bands representing the dominant strains in the circulation: group A with 2 bands having 1 strain (14/36 patients; 39%) and group B with more than 2 bands indicating more than 1 strain (22/36 patients; 61%). The serum viremia and ALT levels for these groups were 11 ± 8.8 and 5.3 ± 4.6 mEq/ml (p < 0.05), and 79 ± 20, and 127 ± 80 IU/l (p < 0.05), respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that hepatitis C patients having 1 dominant strain in the circulation may show a relatively weaker immune response resulting in lower ALT and higher viremia levels, whereas patients with high degrees of virus quasispecies diversity have higher ALT levels and a more active immune response causing the selection of new genome variants and depressing viral replication partly.
Modelo de manejo y control en tiempo real del riego por surcos

En este articulo se presenta un modelo integral de manejo del riego por surcos (MEPI) (Perez, 1994). Una serie de sensores se colocan a lo largo del surco para detectar el tiempo de avance y el tiempo de receso. Mediante una linea de transmision a dos hilos, las senales son enviadas a un ordenador. Un metodo de balance de volumen estima inicialmente los parametros de infiltracion de la ecuacion de Kostiakov-Lewis. Con estos parametros se inicializa un metodo de optimizacion simplex. Este metodo de busqueda consta de un modelo de onda cinematica que permitira realizar la simulacion del riego, comparandose posteriormente los datos de avance de la simulacion con los datos reales observados. Los parametros de infiltracion iniciales son modificados hasta minimizar la diferencia entre los datos simulados y los observados. Una vez obtenidos los parametros de infiltracion del riego se entraria en la fase de manejo del modelo MEPI estableciendo este deforma automatica los recortes de caudal a dar y el tiempo de aplicacion del riego. El modelo MEPI tiene en cuenta en todos sus calculos la variabilidad espacial y temporal de la infiltracion ajustandose, por tanto, de una forma mas exacta a la infiltracion real. Este manejo y control del riego a traves del modelo MEPI ha permitido obtener altos rendimientos de aplicacion.
Replication Study: Intestinal inflammation targets cancer-inducing activity of the microbiota

As part of the Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology we published a Registered Report (Eaton et al., 2015) that described how we intended to replicate selected experiments from the paper “Intestinal Inflammation Targets Cancer-Inducing Activity of the Microbiota” (Arthur et al., 2012). Here we report the results. We observed no impact on bacterial growth or colonization capacity when the polyketide synthase (pks) genotoxic island was deleted from E. coli NC101, similar to the original study (Supplementary Figure 7; Arthur et al., 2012). However, for the experiment that compared inflammation, invasion, and neoplasia in azoxymethane (AOM)-treated interleukin-10-deficient mice mono-associated with NC101 or NC101Δ pks the experimental timing of the replication attempt was longer than that of the original study. This difference was because in the original study the methodology was not clearly stated and likely led to the increased mortality and severity of inflammation observed in this replication attempt. Additionally, early death occurred during AOM treatment with higher mortality observed in NC101Δ pks mono-associated mice compared to NC101, which was in the same direction, but more severe than the original study (Suppleme1ntal Figure 10; Arthur et al., 2012). A meta-analysis suggests that mice mono-associated with NC101Δ pks have higher mortality compared to NC101. While these data were unable to address whether, under the conditions of the original study, NC101 and NC101Δ pks differ in inflammation, invasion, and neoplasia this replication attempt demonstrates that clear description of experimental methods is essential to ensure accurate reproduction of experimental studies.
What is sexual harassment? It depends on who asks! Framing effects on survey responses

We examine the impact of the framing of the survey request––the description of the survey's sponsor and topic––on respondents' answers and describe three mechanisms that may underline such effects. Respondents can try to be relevant and cooperative and provide answers they see as the most useful; they can use the sponsorship and other elements of the survey presentation to help them understand ambiguous questions; and they may find it easier to recall instances of events related to the survey presentation. In a study that framed the survey in two different ways––one sponsored by a feminist organisation fighting against sexual harassment and the other sponsored by a neutral research institute––we found significant differences in the ways people understood and answered questions about sexual harassment. We show that all of the three mechanisms we distinguish might have affected the results. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Horizontal Transfer of CS 1 Pilin Genes of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

CS1 is one of a limited number of serologically distinct pili found in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains associated with disease in people. The genes for the CS1 pilus are on a large plasmid, pCoo. We show that pCoo is not self-transmissible, although our sequence determination for part of pCoo shows regions almost identical to those in the conjugative drug resistance plasmid R64. When we introduced R64 into a strain containing pCoo, we found that pCoo was transferred to a recipient strain in mating. Most of the transconjugant pCoo plasmids result from recombination with R64, leading to acquisition of functional copies of all of the R64 transfer genes. Temporary coresidence of the drug resistance plasmid R64 with pCoo leads to a permanent change in pCoo so that it is now self-transmissible. We conclude that when R64-like plasmids are transmitted to an ETEC strain containing pCoo, their recombination may allow for spread of the pCoo plasmid to other enteric bacteria.