Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A review of a new Dutch guideline for management of recurrent varicose veins

In 2013, the new Dutch guideline for “Venous Pathology” was published. The guideline was a revision and update from the guideline “Diagnostics and Treatment of Varicose Veins” from 2009 and the guideline “Venous Ulcer” from 2005. A guideline for “Deep Venous Pathology” and one for “Compression Therapy” was added to the overall guideline “Venous Pathology. ” The chapter about treatment of recurrent varicose veins after initial intervention was recently updated in 2015 and is reviewed here. The Dutch term “recidief varices” or the French “récidive de varices” should be used analogous to the English term “recurrent varicose veins. ” The DCOP Guideline Development Group Neovarices concluded that “recidief” in Dutch actually suggests recurrence after apparent successful treatment and ignores the natural progression of venous disease in its own right. So the group opted to use the term “neovarices. ” In the Dutch guideline, neovarices is meant to be an all embracing term for recurrent varicose veins caused by technical or tactical failure, evolvement from residual refluxing veins or natural progression of varicose vein disease at different locations of the treated leg after intervention. This report reviews the most important issues in the treatment of varicose vein recurrence, and discusses conclusions and recommendations of the Dutch Neovarices Guideline Committee.
Positive Modulation of GABAB Receptors Decreased Nicotine Self-Administration and Counteracted Nicotine-Induced Enhancement of Brain Reward Function in Rats

Acute administration of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-B receptor agonists decreases nicotine, cocaine, ethanol, and heroin self-administration and also decreases food-maintained responding and suppresses locomotor activity at high doses. GABAB receptor-positive modulators may represent potentially improved therapeutic compounds because of their fewer side effects than receptor agonists. The present study investigated the effects of administration of the GABAB receptor-positive modulators 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-propyl)-phenol (CGP7930) and N-[(1R,2R,4S)-bicyclo[2.2. 1]hept-2-yl]-2-methyl-5-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-pyrimidinamine (BHF177) and coadministration of the GABAB receptor-positive modulator N,N′-dicyclopentyl-2-methylsulfanyl-5-nitro-pyrimidine-4,6-diamine (GS39783) with the GABAB receptor agonist (3-amino-2[S]-hydroxypropyl)-methylphosphinic acid (CGP44532) on nicotine- and food-maintained responding under fixed ratio (FR) 5 and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement. Furthermore, the effects of BHF177 and CGP44532 on nicotine-induced enhancement of brain reward function were evaluated. The results indicated that administration of CGP7930 decreased nicotine self-administration under an FR5 schedule. Administration of either GS39783 or CGP44532 selectively decreased nicotine self-administration, whereas coadministration of these compounds had additive effects. BHF177 administration selectively decreased nicotine- but not food-maintained responding under FR5 and progressive ratio schedules. The nicotine-induced enhancement of brain reward function was blocked by BHF177 or CGP44532, although the highest doses of both compounds, particularly CGP44532, decreased brain reward function when administered alone, suggesting an additive, rather than interactive, effect. Overall, the present results indicate that GABAB receptor-positive modulators, similarly to GABAB receptor agonists, attenuated the reinforcing and reward-enhancing effects of nicotine, perhaps with higher selectivity than GABAB receptor agonists. Thus, GABAB receptor-positive modulators may be useful antismoking medications.
Immune response to Plasmodium vivax has a potential to reduce malaria severity

Plasmodium falciparum infection causes transient immunosuppression during the parasitaemic stage. However, the immune response during simultaneous infections with both P. vivax and P. falciparum has been investigated rarely. In particular, it is not clear whether the host's immune response to malaria will be different when infected with a single or mixed malaria species. Phenotypes of T cells from mixed P. vivax–P. falciparum (PV‐PF) infection were characterized by flow cytometry, and anti‐malarial antibodies in the plasma were determined by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. We found the percentage of CD3+δ2+‐T cell receptor (TCR) T cells in the acute‐mixed PV‐PF infection and single P. vivax infection three times higher than in the single P. falciparum infection. This implied that P. vivax might lead to the host immune response to the production of effector T killer cells. During the parasitaemic stage, the mixed PV‐PF infection had the highest number of plasma antibodies against both P. vivax and P. falciparum. Interestingly, plasma from the group of single P. vivax or P. falciparum malaria infections had both anti‐P. vivax and anti‐P. falciparum antibodies. In addition, antigenic cross‐reactivity of P. vivax or P. falciparum resulting in antibodies against both malaria species was shown in the supernatant of lymphocyte cultures cross‐stimulated with either antigen of P. vivax or P. falciparum. The role of δ2 ± TCR T cells and the antibodies against both species during acute mixed malaria infection could have an impact on the immunity to malaria infection.
FTY720 preserved islet β‐cell mass by inhibiting apoptosis and increasing survival of β‐cells in db/db mice

FTY720, an analogue of sphingosine‐1‐phosphate, has shown potential in the treatment of several autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes and systemic lupus erythematosus. It prevents development or cure of autoimmune diabetes in animal models. Recently, we reported that FTY720 also prevents development of diabetes in db/db mice by β‐cell regeneration in vivo. This study investigated the effect of FTY720 on apoptosis in β‐cells in db/db mice treated with FTY720 16 weeks.
Policy Entrepreneurs in the Picture: the Who, What, Why, and How

Despite the fact that we currently witness an increasing interest in the study of the role of agency in policy dynamics, it remains in many respects a puzzle how policy change can be explained, let alone directed. This paper focusses intently on the concept, incidence, and strategic behaviour of policy entrepreneurs. By elucidating their strategic modus operandi, we aim to contribute to a better understanding of the strategies that individual change agents employ in their efforts to effect policy change, as well as to examine their contextual effectiveness. In addition to novel data on the incidence and profile of policy entrepreneurs and the (contextual) conditions relating to the selection of strategies, this paper presents a robust and complete typology of entrepreneurial strategies, linking these to circumstances under which they can be effective. Our paper concludes with a discussion on how our findings relate to the main theories of policy change, and what they mean for the larger democratic questions about accountability and legitimacy.
Immunological, chemical and clinical aspects of exposure to mixtures of contact allergens

Allergic contact dermatitis is one of the most frequent forms of skin inflammation. Very often, we are exposed to mixtures of allergens with varying potencies, doses/areas, and exposure times. Therefore, improved knowledge about immune responses to combinations of contact allergens is highly relevant. In this article, we provide a general introduction to immune responses to contact allergens, and discuss the literature concerning immune responses to mixtures of allergens. According to the existing evidence, increased responses are induced following sensitization with combinations of allergens as compared with single allergens. The response to a mixture of allergens can be both additive and synergistic, depending on the dose and combination of allergens. Importantly, sensitization with combinations of either fragrance allergens or metal salts can result in increased challenge responses to specific allergens within the mixture. Taken together, the immune responses to mixtures of allergens are complex, and further studies are required to obtain the necessary knowledge to improve consumer safety.
Economic Performance of Alternative Tillage Systems in the Northern Corn Belt

While no-till (NT) cropping systems can provide conservation benefits in the northern Corn Belt, adoption has been low due to concerns about potential yield reductions and economic risk. Strip-tillage (ST) systems have been proposed as an alternative that may provide many of the conservation benefits of NT while maintaining productivity and economic returns. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of NT and five ST alternatives: fall residue management (Fall RM), Fall RM + ST, spring residue management (Spring RM), Spring RM + ST, and Fall RM + Subsoil, relative to conventional moldboard plow (MP) and chisel plow (CP) tillage systems on corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] yields and economic risks and returns. Average yields over the 7-yr study were not significantly different among tillage systems, but average net returns for NT, Fall RM, and Spring RM were $85, 92, and 53 ha -1 higher, respectively, than for MP. Risk analysis showed tillage system preferences ranked as: Fall RM > NT > Fall RM + ST > Spring RM + ST, Spring RM > CP > Fall RM + Subsoil > MP for risk neutral or risk averse producers facing uncertain yield, crop price, and input price conditions. Thus, ST and NT may be economically viable alternatives to conventional tillage systems for corn and soybean production in the northern Corn Belt.
Surgical‐site infections and postoperative complications: agreement between the Danish Gynecological Cancer Database and a randomized clinical trial

Objective. Surgical‐site infections are serious complications and thorough follow‐up is important for accurate surveillance. We aimed to compare the frequency of complications recorded in a clinical quality database with those noted in a randomized clinical trial with follow‐up visits. Design. Evaluation study. Setting. Danish Gynecological Cancer Database (DGCD) and the Danish multicenter trial on perioperative oxygen and surgical‐site infections (PROXI). Sample. Paired data from 222 patients who participated in the PROXI trial taking place at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet between November 2006 and October 2008 and data from the DGCD. Methods. Outcomes within 30 days from the trial and the database were compared and levels of agreements were calculated with kappa‐statistics. Main Outcome Measures. Primary outcome was surgical‐site infection. Other outcomes included re‐operation, urinary tract infection, pneumonia and sepsis. Results. Surgical‐site infection was found in 21 of 222 patients (9.5%) in the PROXI trial versus 6 of 222 patients (2.7%) in the DGCD (p < 0.01, kappa 0.42). Twelve of 15 superficial and three of six deep or organ‐space surgical‐site infections were registered in the PROXI trial, but not in the DGCD. Agreements between secondary outcomes were very varying (kappa‐value 0.77 for re‐operation, 0.37 for urinary tract infections, 0.19 for sepsis and 0.18 for pneumonia). Conclusions. The randomized trial reported significantly more surgical‐site infections than the clinical database. The DGCD reported only 50% of the deep and organ‐space infections, and hence, the low‐overall agreement indicates a need for more careful database registration.
English loan words spoken by Madinah Hijazi arabic speakers

This paper investigates English loanwords phonology in Madin Hijazi Arabic (MHA). A list of about two hundred words was analyzed for phonological changes. It is argued that adaptation of loanwords runs off the systematic phonetic level of representation of the donor language, taking into account the phonetic cues to phonological categories. I will, thus, discuss the phonological changes that occur in English loanwords frequently used by MHD speakers, mainly in syllable structure. MHD speakers rely on those phonological processes such as epenthesis, consonant voicing, vowel change and resyllabification in order to maintain the preferred MHD phonological structures.
Glycemia (or, in women, estimated glucose disposal rate) predict lower extremity arterial disease events in type 1 diabetes.

The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) events in a type 1 diabetes population. Data are from the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study of childhood onset type 1 diabetes. At baseline, the study population had a mean age 28 (range, 8 to 47) years and duration 19 (range, 7 to 37) years. LEAD events, assessed by questionnaire or clinical examination, were defined as claudication (Rose questionnaire), foot ulceration, or lower extremity amputation. Estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), a measure of insulin resistance, was calculated from glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1)), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and hypertension using an equation previously validated with hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp studies. There were incident LEAD events in 70 of 586 subjects during 10 years follow-up, giving an incidence density of 1.3 events/100 person-years. Incidence did not differ by gender. Major predictors of LEAD events were diabetes duration, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), heart rate, eGDR, log albumin excretion rate (AER), systolic blood pressure (SBP), hypertension, proliferative retinopathy, distal symmetric polyneuropathy, and overt nephropathy (each P <.001). HbA(1), low ankle brachial index (ABI) (<0.9), and a high ankle brachial difference (ABD) (SBP > or = 75 mm Hg) also predicted LEAD events. Cox modeling suggested that duration (P <.001), HbA(1) (P <.001), hypertension (P =.006), log albumin excretion rate (P =.011), and heart rate (P =.028) predicted events independently. The overall model with HbA(1) and hypertension was significantly better than with eGDR, while the alternate models in men were similar. In women, the model with eGDR showed a significantly better fit. Glycemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and renal disease are powerful predictors of symptomatic lower extremity arterial disease in type 1 diabetes.
Hypertension in people living with HIV

Purpose of review This review describes what is known concerning the burden of hypertension among people living with HIV (PLHIV), and also addresses relevant topics with respect to its risk factors and clinical management. Recent findings Hypertension is highly prevalent in HIV-positive populations, and may be more common than in HIV-negative populations. Risk factors contributing to the development of hypertension in PLHIV include demographic factors, genetic predisposition, lifestyle, comorbidities such as obesity, antiretroviral therapy-related changes in body composition, and potentially also immunodeficiency, immune activation and inflammation, as well as effects from antiretroviral therapy itself. Clinical management of hypertension in PLHIV requires awareness for drug–drug interactions between antiretroviral drugs and antihypertensive drugs. Awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in PLHIV is currently suboptimal and should be improved. Summary The burden of hypertension among PLHIV is high and its pathophysiology most likely multifactorial. Elucidating the exact pathophysiology of hypertension in PLHIV is vital as this may provide new targets to impact and improve clinical management. In the meantime, efforts should be made to improve hypertension management as per existing clinical guidelines in order to safeguard cardiovascular health and quality of life in PLHIV.
Replication and Economics Journal Policies

Economics journals with reproducibility policies are cited more often than others. For the minority of journals with a mandatory and enforced policy, this is significant when controlling for time and journal effects. To cope with the large variety of software used and to develop standards for replicability, joint efforts of journals could ensure each empirical study is published with data, code, and instructions on how to use them together. Individual reviewers could take initiative by asking for replicable empirical results. The American Journal of Political Science sets an example by having all empirical studies externally check for replicability prior to publication.
A method for estimating the number of motor units in thenar muscles and the changes in motor unit count with ageing

A method for estimating the number of motor units in median innervated thenar muscles is described. In normal human subjects under 40 years of age, the mean and 1 SD was 253+34. The number of motor units falls with increasing age, especially after mid life, so that elderly subjects often have less than one-half the number in youth despite good strength. The cause is not known but probably includes peripheral nerve trauma and `primary neuronal cell death'.
Comparison study of growth plate fusion using MRI versus plain radiographs as used in age determination for exclusion of overaged football players

Background MRI of distal radius fusion is currently being used in the U17 World Cup to exclude overaged players. Developing countries that cannot afford to perform MRI on their players are using plain radiographs based on the same MRI criteria of fusion. Objective The aim of this study is to compare the grade of fusion of the left wrist distal radial growth plate between MRI and plain radiographs. Methods 150 healthy male football players were grouped into five age groups ranging from 15 to 19 years old. Each participant had coronal T1-weighted MRI and plain radiograph of the left wrist. The degree of distal radius fusion was rated randomly by three radiologists using a six-stage grading system proposed by the FIFA Research Centre. Results MRI assessment of distal radial growth plate fusion has good correlation with plain radiograph fusion (r=0.949). The mean of x-ray grading is higher than the MRI grading in the 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 years old age groups with p=0.443, 0.001, 0.009, <0.001 and 0.003, respectively, using Wilcoxon signed ranked test. Intraobserver and interobserver correlations were high (r=0.9). T1 MRI correlation with chronological age (r=0.771) was close to plain radiographs (r=0.821) with p value of <0.001. Conclusion This article is of major importance as it is the first to show that x-rays significantly overrate the grading of fusion in this age group and therefore should not be used to exclude overaged players as is occurring now to the distress of many genuinely eligible players.
Characterization of Rhizobacteria Associated with Weed Seedlings

Rhizobacteria were isolated from seedlings of seven economically important weeds and characterized for potential phytopathogenicity, effects on seedling growth, and antibiosis to assess the possibility of developing deleterious rhizobacteria as biological control agents. The abundance and composition of rhizobacteria varied among the different weed species. For example, fluorescent pseudomonads represented from 11 to 42% of the total rhizobacterial populations from jimsonweed and lambsquarters, respectively. Other bacteria frequently isolated were nonfluorescent pseudomonads, Erwinia herbicola, Alcaligenes spp. , and Flavobacterium spp. Only 18% of all isolates were potentially phytopathogenic, based on an Escherichia coli indicator bioassay. However, the proportion of isolates that inhibited growth in seedling assays ranged from 35 to 65% depending on the weed host. Antibiosis was most prevalent among isolates of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. , the activity of which was due to siderophore production in over 75% of these isolates. Overall, rhizobacterial isolates exhibited a complex array of properties that were inconsistent with accepted definitions for plant growth-promoting and deleterious rhizobacteria. It is suggested that for development of effective biological control agents for weed control, deleterious rhizobacteria must be screened directly on host seedlings and must possess several properties including high colonizing ability, specific phytotoxin production, and resistance or tolerance to antibiotics produced by other rhizosphere microorganisms, and they must either synthesize or utilize other bacterial siderophores.
New method for estimating outage intensity for various propagation path categories

This paper describes measurement results of fading characteristics in a fixed radio link in the frequency band of 4 to 6 GHz for a period of two years. In order to study the dependency of propagation path categories, the measurements were carried out on various propagation paths in Japan, i.e., mountain, coastal, and sea links. The measurement results represent the fade duration characteristics for each propagation path category. Based on these results, we clarify the relationship between the occurrence factor of multipath fading and some parameters of the fade duration distribution, and propose a new method for estimating the outage intensity due to multipath fading.
Dendritic morphology of pyramidal neurones of the visual cortex of the rat: III. Spine distributions

The vast majority of excitatory synaptic inputs to neocortical pyramidal cells terminate on dendritic spines, which can thus serve as markers, visible by light microscopy, for the locations of these synapses. The aim of this study was to provide estimates of the total numbers and distributions of spines on the dendrites of individual pyramidal neurones from layers 2/3 and 5 of the visual cortex of the rat. High magnification camera lucida drawings were made of dendritic segments lying close to the plane of section and the number of spines per unit length of dendrite calculated for each. These spine densities were used to estimate the numbers of spines on the other dendritic segments and the results were entered to a computer program that calculated various statistics.
Fluorescein Diacetate Hydrolysis as a Measure of Total Microbial Activity in Soil and Litter

Spectrophotometric determination of the hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) was shown to be a simple, sensitive, and rapid method for determining microbial activity in soil and litter. FDA hydrolysis was studied in soil and straw incubated for up to 3 h. Hydrolysis was found to increase linearly with soil addition. FDA hydrolysis by pure cultures of Fusarium culmorum increased linearly with mycelium addition both in shake cultures and after inoculation into sterile soil. FDA hydrolysis by Pseudomonas denitrificans increased linearly with biomass addition. The FDA hydrolytic activities in soil samples from different layers of an agricultural soil were correlated with respiration. Acetone was found to be suitable for terminating the reaction.
Anti-gay violence and discrimination: the need for legislation against anti-gay hate crimes in the sociopolitically changing South Africa

On 2 February 1990 the South African State President, Mr FW de Klerk, announced that the government was prepared to commence with a reform process that would eliminate all forms of discrimination and oppression. In addition to the promise of a new constitution which would ensure the democratic election of a new government, the undertaking was given that a bill of human rights, guaranteeing the rights of all South Africans, would be adopted.