Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survey of attitudes and knowledge about science in medical students in southeast Europe

For the countries of southeast Europe, joining the European Union would mean a fundamental reassessment of beliefs, attitudes, values, and structures developed during 50 years of communist regimes.1 This would include their healthcare systems and the training of their healthcare professionals. Medical schools in southeast Europe will need to restructure medical curriculums within the unified Europe.2 Medical students will have to learn modern evidence based medicine,3 for which they have not been prepared, mainly because of weak research output of their countries and inadequate education in research methods.4 To assess medical students' knowledge about research methods and communication and their attitudes towards research in medicine we used a specially constructed and validated questionnaire5 in medical schools in five post-communist countries. In total 4307 students (66% response rate) answered a voluntary and anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire contained a 45 item Likert-type scale developed to measure attitudes towards science, grouped in three subscales, and an eight item knowledge test of principles of scientific research.5 The study was performed simultaneously at all schools, …
The Poliovirus Replication Machinery Can Escape Inhibition by an Antiviral Drug That Targets a Host Cell Protein

ABSTRACT Viral replication depends on specific interactions with host factors. For example, poliovirus RNA replication requires association with intracellular membranes. Brefeldin A (BFA), which induces a major rearrangement of the cellular secretory apparatus, is a potent inhibitor of poliovirus RNA replication. Most aspects governing the relationship between viral replication complex and the host membranes remain poorly defined. To explore these interactions, we used a genetic approach and isolated BFA-resistant poliovirus variants. Mutations within viral proteins 2C and 3A render poliovirus resistant to BFA. In the absence of BFA, viruses containing either or both of these mutations replicated similarly to wild type. In the presence of BFA, viruses carrying a single mutation in 2C or 3A exhibited an intermediate-growth phenotype, while the double mutant was fully resistant. The viral proteins 2C and 3A have critical roles in both RNA replication and vesicle formation. The identification of BFA resistant mutants may facilitate the identification of cellular membrane-associated proteins necessary for induction of vesicle formation and RNA replication. Importantly, our data underscore the dramatic plasticity of the host-virus interactions required for successful viral replication.
Pulsed-laser annealing, a low-thermal-budget technique for eliminating stress gradient in poly-SiGe MEMS structures

In this paper, we demonstrate eliminating the stress gradient in polycrystalline silicon germanium films at temperatures compatible with standard CMOS (Al interconnects) backend processing. First, we study the effect of varying the germanium concentration from 40% to 90%, layer thickness, deposition pressure from 650 to 800 mtorr and deposition temperature from 400 to 450/spl deg/C, on the mechanical properties of SiGe films. Then the effect of excimer laser annealing (248 nm, 38 ns, 780 mJ/cm/sup 2/) on stress gradient is analyzed. It is demonstrated that stress gradient can be eliminated completely by depositing Si/sub x/Ge/sub 1-x/(10%<x<92%) bilayers, with the bottom film exposed to a single laser pulse, which changes the grain microstructure of both the bottom and top films. Furthermore, laser annealing seems to reduce surface roughness, significantly, which is an attractive feature for some MEMS applications.
Biomarkers of some pulmonary diseases in exhaled breath

Analysis of various biomarkers in exhaled breath allows completely non-invasive monitoring of inflammation and oxidative stress in the respiratory tract in inflammatory lung diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), bronchiectasis and interstitial lung diseases. The technique is simple to perform, may be repeated frequently, and can be applied to children, including neonates, and patients with severe disease in whom more invasive procedures are not possible. Several volatile chemicals can be measured in the breath (nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia), and many non-volatile molecules (mediators, oxidation and nitration products, proteins) may be measured in exhaled breath condensate. Exhaled breath analysis may be used to quantify inflammation and oxidative stress in the respiratory tract, in differential diagnosis of airway disease and in the monitoring of therapy. Most progress has been made with exhaled nitric oxide (NO), which is increased in atopic asthma, is correlated with other inflammatory indices and is reduced by treatment with corticosteroids and antileukotrienes, but not (β2-agonists. In contrast, exhaled NO is normal in COPD, reduced in CF and diagnostically low in primary ciliary dyskinesia. Exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) is increased in asthma, COPD and CF. Increased concentrations of 8-isoprostane, hydrogen peroxide, nitrite and 3-nitrotyrosine are found in exhaled breath condensate in inflammatory lung diseases. Furthermore, increased levels of lipid mediators are found in these diseases, with a differential pattern depending on the nature of the disease process. In the future it is likely that smaller and more sensitive analysers will extend the discriminatory value of exhaled breath analysis and that these techniques may be available to diagnose and monitor respiratory diseases in the general practice and home setting.
Comparison of long-term outcome of children and adolescents with disseminated non-lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with COMP or daunomycin-COMP: A report from the Children's Cancer Group.

BACKGROUND Early Children's Cancer Group (CCG) trials indicated that the cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone (COMP) regimen was superior to the LSA2L2 regimen for non-lymphoblastic (NLB) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Studies by other groups suggested that addition of anthracyclines to standard therapies could improve outcome. Therefore, in 1983 CCG initiated study CCG-503, a randomized trial of COMP vs. daunomycin-COMP (D-COMP) in children and adolescents with disseminated NLB NHL. PROCEDURES Between December 1983 and April 1990, 404 eligible patients were entered. Patients without central nervous system (CNS) or marrow involvement were randomized to receive COMP (N = 139) or D-COMP (N = 145). Randomization was stratified by histology and site of disease. Patients with CNS or marrow involvement (stage IV) were non-randomly treated with D-COMP (N = 120). RESULTS Ten-year event-free survival in COMP and D-COMP patients was similar: 55 +/- 4.3% (Estimate +/- SE) vs. 57 +/- 4.2% (not significant). Stage I-III patients with large-cell (LC) NHL had worse 10-year event-free survival (EFS) (48 +/- 4.9%) than those with small non-cleaved cell (SNCC) NHL disease (61 +/- 3.5%, P < 0.05 in multivariate analysis), but equivalent survival (65 +/- 4.7% vs. 63 +/- 3.5%) due to significantly higher salvage rates in LC patients, especially those failing more than 12 months from diagnosis. Ten-year EFS in stage IV patients was 39 +/- 5.2%. Addition of daunomycin resulted in higher rates of grade 3/4 hematologic toxicity and stomatitis, as well as late cardiac-related deaths. The incidence of second malignant neoplasms was 1.0% at 10 years. CONCLUSIONS Addition of daunomycin to standard COMP therapy did not improve outcome in pediatric disseminated NLB NHL. Patients with LC disease had a significantly reduced long-term EFS, but were retrieved at a higher rate than patients with SNCC disease, resulting in equivalent long-term survival.
Board director disciplinary and cognitive influence on corporate value creation

Purpose This paper aims to investigate board director disciplinary and cognitive influence on corporate value creation. Design/methodology/approach Fixed-effect regressions are used to check whether gender diversity, education, independence and size of the board of directors affect measures of corporate value creation. Findings The empirical results show that corporate value creation is positively influenced by the cross effect of the board independence and the presence of women. They also point out a positive impact of the cross effect of board independence and management education. They reveal that the board of directors contributes significantly to corporate value creation, particularly when there is a mix of independent, female and management-qualified directors. Originality/value The evidence presented and discussed in this paper should be of interest to managers and regulators. The methodological approach and the empirical results extend the existing literature. They enrich the limited empirical research devoted to this theme, especially in a continental European context, i.e. France. They shed light on the effect of board of directors’ disciplinary and cognitive influence on corporate value creation.
Studies on the in situ nitrogen degradability corrected for bacterial contamination of concentrate feeds in steers.

Stable 15N was used to evaluate the influence of bacterial contamination on in situ DM and N degradabilities (Dg) of meat and bone meal (MBM), soybean meal (SBM), and wheat bran (WB) in two steers. Bacterial DM and N contamination ranged from 2.4 to 28.6% and 2.1 to 56.8% of residual DM and N, respectively. Effective N degradability increased when bacterial contamination was taken into account (P < .05). The difference was low for MBM (2.4%) and for SBM (3.4%) but high for WB (12.2%). Theoretically, using solid-associated bacteria should give the most accurate correction for bacterial contamination; however, results showed that Dg of N based on liquid-associated bacteria were identical for MBM and SBM (P > .05) and different for WB (P < .05). In a second experiment, five treatments were applied to incubated feeds to remove bacteria fixed to the residues and consequently to determine directly the Dg of DM and N corrected for the bacterial contamination without the need for a marker. These treatments involved chilling for 6 h at 4 degrees C in saline solution alone (T1) or with a commercial detergent (T2), or with sodium dodecyl sulfate (T3) or with methylcellulose (T4), followed by pummeling in a stomacher for 5 min. The last treatment was only machine washing twice (T5). The Dg of DM can be directly determined following the first four treatments, nevertheless their application to MBM and SBM led to higher Dg of N than that corrected for the bacterial contamination determined in the first experiment (P < .05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with bioabsorbable spacers and local autograft in a series of 27 patients.

OBJECT The goal of this prospective study was to review a series of 27 patients who underwent bilateral posterior lumbar interbody fusion with instrumented pedicle fixation and two HYDROSORB (known generically as 70:30 poly[L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide]) rectangular cages packed with locally harvested autograft at a total of 48 levels, and to assess the safety and efficacy of this novel technique. This analysis, conducted at a mean of 26 months of follow up, is the first report of a long-term evaluation of this technique. Fusion rates and clinical outcomes are presented. METHODS A prospective clinical and radiographic review of findings in 27 consecutive patients was performed. Fusion rates and clinical outcome were assessed at 6-month intervals up to the 32-month follow-up end point. Two patients with four corresponding fusion levels were lost to follow up. Radiographic evidence of satisfactory fusion was achieved in 42 (95.5%) of 44 levels fused. Satisfactory fusion at all levels was achieved in 23 (92%) of 25 patients. Two patients required repeated operations for treatment of symptomatic pseudarthrosis during the study period. The likelihood of all levels attaining fusion in a given patient decreased as the number of levels treated increased, which is consistent with previously published studies. Nonetheless, fusion rates per treated level were similar for patients in whom one to three levels were treated. No significant surgical complication occurred. CONCLUSIONS Posterior lumbar interbody fusion in which the HYDROSORB bioabsorbable implant packed with locally harvested autograft and segmental internal fixation are used appears to be an interbody fusion alternative whose efficacy is comparable with previously reported procedures.
An Overview of the Research on Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Treating Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE This systematic review aimed to collate and evaluate the existing research for the use of mindfulness-based approaches to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our primary objectives were to explore the effects of mindfulness-based approaches on PTSD symptoms and associated psychological distress, with secondary objectives to explore the attrition rate, adverse effects, resource implications, and long-term effects of such interventions. METHOD We systematically searched research databases, EMBASE, OVID MedLine, Psycinfo, CINAHL, and PILOTS, contacted relevant authors in the field, and conducted a hand search of relevant papers. RESULTS The search resulted in 12 studies that met eligibility criteria, many of which studies lacked methodological rigor. The majority of the studies indicated positive outcomes with improvements in PTSD symptoms, particularly in reducing avoidance. CONCLUSIONS The preliminary evidence for the use of mindfulness-based approaches to treat PTSD symptoms is encouraging, although further studies with a more robust research design are required.
Association of 5HT2A receptor gene polymorphism and alcohol abuse with behavior problems.

This study investigated the association between T/C polymorphism, at position 102, of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor gene and alcoholism with and without behavior problems. Eighty-five subjects (45 men, 40 women) with alcohol abuse, 75 subjects (51 men, 24 women) with alcohol dependence, and 70 normal control subjects (21 men, 49 women) participated in the study. The results show that the frequency of the homozygous T102 genotype was significantly lower in the group of male alcohol abuse with behavior problems than in the female group (chi(2) = 4.072, df = 1, P < 0.05) and the allele frequency of T102 was also lower in the male group than in the female group (chi(2) = 4.187, df = 1, P < 0.05). Of the male alcohol abuse subjects, the group with behavior problems was found to have lower frequencies of the T102 allele than the group without behavior problems (chi(2) = 4.328, df = 1, P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that alcoholism is heterogeneous and male alcohol abuse with behavioral problems was associated with T/C 102 polymorphism of the 5HT2A receptor gene. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 96:797-800, 2000.
Social and Economic Impact Analysis of Vadinar Refinery of Essar Oil: The Case of a Mega Refinery

The article is a case study on Essar Oil’s Vadinar Refinery in Gujarat. In the wake of the decision to divest the stake to Rosneft group of Russia, the Ruia’s-led Essar Group were interested to present a portrayal of the financial profitability and socio-economic importance of their refinery project at Vadinar. The project was assigned to the authors towards evaluation. The analysis assumes significance as refinery is a strategic sector, and there lies immense potential for Indian refiners to attain sustainable competitive advantage through economies of scale and adoption of most advanced technologies to process sour crude of the highest complexity, thus, producing the cleanest fuels in multiple distillates. Using a social cost–benefit approach, the article evaluates the financial viability and socio-economic contribution of the refinery at Vadinar at the local and regional level, focusing on multiplier effect of income, tax and savings generated, including other externalities. The present findings would assist in policy implications for the strategic investment in refinery operations as well as building a template for future researchers interested to explore the economic aspect of oil refineries from welfare perspective. JEL: B41, D60, D61, D62, H23, H43, L71, O22, Q43
Multipactor breakdown in waveguide irises

A detailed analysis is made in order to establish the multipactor breakdown threshold in wave guide irises. The analysis involves an analytical investigation based on the conformal mapping technique and also extensive numerical simulations. Comparison with recent experimental results shows good agreement. The main goal of the work is to obtain multipactor charts for the iris, i.e. the breakdown voltage as a function of the frequency - gap product, for different height to width ratios of the iris.
Incorporating Immersive Virtual Environments in Health Promotion Campaigns: A Construal Level Theory Approach

In immersive virtual environments (IVEs), users may observe negative consequences of a risky health behavior in a personally involving way via digital simulations. In the context of an ongoing health promotion campaign, IVEs coupled with pamphlets are proposed as a novel messaging strategy to heighten personal relevance and involvement with the issue of soft-drink consumption and obesity, as well as perceptions that the risk is proximal and imminent. The framework of construal level theory guided the design of a 2 (tailoring: other vs. self) × 2 (medium: pamphlet only vs. pamphlet with IVEs) between-subjects experiment to test the efficacy in reducing the consumption of soft drinks over 1 week. Immediately following exposure, tailoring the message to the self (vs. other) seemed to be effective in reducing intentions to consume soft drinks. The effect of tailoring dissipated after 1 week, and measures of actual soft-drink consumption 1 week following experimental treatments demonstrated that coupling IVEs with the pamphlet was more effective. Behavioral intention was a significant predictor of actual behavior, but underlying mechanisms driving intentions and actual behavior were distinct. Results prescribed a messaging strategy that incorporates both tailoring and coupling IVEs with traditional media to increase behavioral changes over time.
Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography: A Critical Appraisal of Its Current Role in the Assessment of Diastolic Dysfunction.

From the *Department of Anaesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; and †Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY. Address reprint requests to David R. McIlroy, MD, MClinEpi. , FANZCA, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, 55 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia. E-mail: D.mcilroy@alfred. org.au © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 1053-0770/2601-0001$36.00/0 http://dx.doi. org/10.1053/j.jvca. 2015.01. 009
Racial/ethnic group differences in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States: a network explanation.

BACKGROUND Many studies have observed that African Americans have comparatively high rates of selected STDs, often 10 to 20 times higher than whites and other racial/ethnic groups, but without convincing explanation. GOAL This study attempts to solve this puzzle using data from a nationally representative probability sample and a network approach. STUDY DESIGN The National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS) is a nationally representative probability sample of 1,511 men and 1,921 women in the United States. Logistic regression analysis of these data permit a multivariate analysis of the individual risk factors associated with STDs. Using loglinear analysis and a simulation, we also identify the effects of sexual network patterns within and between racial/ethnic groups. RESULTS Logistic regression analysis of the NHSLS revealed, even after controlling for all the appropriate individual-level risk factors, that African Americans are almost five times more likely to be infected by bacterial diseases than the other racial/ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS African Americans' higher infection rate for bacterial diseases can be explained by the patterns of sexual networks within and between different racial/ethnic groups. First, infections are more widespread in the African American population at large because partner choice is more highly dissortative--meaning that "peripheral" African Americans (who have had only one partner in the past year) are five times more likely to choose "core' African Americans (who have had four or more partners in the past year) than "peripheral" whites are to choose "core" whites. Secondly, sexually transmitted infections stay within the African American population because their partner choices are more segregated (assortative mating) than other groups. The likelihood of African Americans having a sexually transmitted infection is 1.3 times greater than it is for whites because of this factor alone.
[Infantile convulsions with mild gastroenteritis: epidemiological and clinical characteristics and outcome].

AIM To analyse the epidemiological, clinical and developmental characteristics of a group of children with seizures associated with mild gastroenteritis in order to facilitate the diagnostic suspicion of the condition in daily clinical practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of 24 patients who were admitted to hospital between January 2001 and December 2008 because they presented seizures associated with mild gastroenteritis: epidemiological, clinical and developmental data were collected. RESULTS The mean age at diagnosis was 18.1 months. The female/male ratio was 2.8. The interval between the gastro-enteritis and the seizure was 3.8 days. The mean rectal temperature in the seizure was 37.1 degrees C. The mean number of seizures per hospitalisation was 2.2. Seizures were brief (90.6% < or = 5 min) and 96.8% of them were recorded as generalised. Rotavirus antigenemia in faeces was positive in 55.2% of cases. Lab findings, including the cerebrospinal fluid study, were normal. The electroencephalogram, in an immediate post-seizure situation, showed generalised and/or focal paroxysmal activity in four patients. The mean follow-up time was 4.2 years. The mean age of the group is currently 5.7 years, with normal development and level of schooling. Five patients (20.8%) had recurrences coinciding with new bouts of gastroenteritis. One patient, with a history of maternal epilepsy, was later diagnosed with focal epilepsy, and whether it can be related with the earlier presentation of seizures associated with mild gastroenteritis or not is debatable. CONCLUSIONS; Seizures in children associated with mild gastroenteritis are a well-differentiated convulsive syndrome. Prognosis is excellent, but a relatively important percentage of cases tend to have recurrences if there is a new diarrhoeic process.