Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the impact of healthcare research: A systematic review of methodological frameworks

Background Increasingly, researchers need to demonstrate the impact of their research to their sponsors, funders, and fellow academics. However, the most appropriate way of measuring the impact of healthcare research is subject to debate. We aimed to identify the existing methodological frameworks used to measure healthcare research impact and to summarise the common themes and metrics in an impact matrix. Methods and findings Two independent investigators systematically searched the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), the Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL+), the Health Management Information Consortium, and the Journal of Research Evaluation from inception until May 2017 for publications that presented a methodological framework for research impact. We then summarised the common concepts and themes across methodological frameworks and identified the metrics used to evaluate differing forms of impact. Twenty-four unique methodological frameworks were identified, addressing 5 broad categories of impact: (1) ‘primary research-related impact’, (2) ‘influence on policy making’, (3) ‘health and health systems impact’, (4) ‘health-related and societal impact’, and (5) ‘broader economic impact’. These categories were subdivided into 16 common impact subgroups. Authors of the included publications proposed 80 different metrics aimed at measuring impact in these areas. The main limitation of the study was the potential exclusion of relevant articles, as a consequence of the poor indexing of the databases searched. Conclusions The measurement of research impact is an essential exercise to help direct the allocation of limited research resources, to maximise research benefit, and to help minimise research waste. This review provides a collective summary of existing methodological frameworks for research impact, which funders may use to inform the measurement of research impact and researchers may use to inform study design decisions aimed at maximising the short-, medium-, and long-term impact of their research.
The Decision to Lose Weight

The purpose of this article is to describe the reasons people give for deciding to lose weight compared by weight history and gender The sample consisted of 162 Caucasian community volunteers. Data were obtainedfrom an extensive open-ended interview that was analyzed using content analysis. Respondents were categorized into five groups, according to their success at weight loss: Successful, Always Normal Weight, Underweight, Clinically Successful, and Always Obese. The Clinically Successful and Always Obese were included in the category Unsuccessful Dieter Reasons given for entering a weight-loss regime included attractiveness or appearance, health, fear, self-esteem issues, age, and competition. For the Successful Dieter, attractiveness and health were the two major motivations. Men and women were similar in their reasons for entering a weight-loss program. The issue of what makes a decision of sufficient importance to maintain weight loss remains unexplained. "Centrality" is offered as a possible explanation.
Estimates of repeatability and heritability of productive and reproductive traits in a herd of Jersey cattle

Estimates of the repeatability and heritability of 19 measures of performance in Jersey cows were obtained using an animal model with a relationship matrix and a derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood algorithm. The data consisted of 935 records for 374 cows by 69 sires over the period 1969-1987. The estimates were similar to those obtained by ordinary least squares methods reported for the same data set and in other studies, but had smaller error variances. A likelihood ratio test showed agreement between these heritability estimates and those in the literature. The heritability estimates of milk, fat, protein, lactose-mineral, solids-not-fat, and total solids yields were about 0.25; for the corresponding percentages, and for the protein to fat and solids-not-fat to fat ratios, the estimates were 0.50. Heritability estimates were 0.10 or less for the time from parturition to first breeding and for three measures of somatic cell counts. These estimates of heritability in a dairy cattle population in a subtropical environment were not different from those of populations in temperate climates.
Comment on: Knop et al. (2007) Reduced Incretin Effect in Type 2 Diabetes: Cause or Consequence of the Diabetic State? Diabetes 56:1951–1959

In the excellent article by Knop et al. (1), the authors use an interesting design to show that the decreased incretin effect observed in patients with type 2 diabetes is a consequence of the diabetic state rather than a causal factor. However, analyses concerning glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) concentrations seem a bit disturbing. Looking at Fig. 3 in their article, it is obvious that a 50-g glucose ingestion induces a peak of intact GLP-1 concentrations in patients …
Impulse Breakdown of Polymer Dielectrics in the NS Range in Divergent Fields

The short time impulse breakdown of polymer dielectrics, polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in a pointplane electrode system has been studied using a ns rise time pulser. A polarity effect was found in all polymers: a highet voltage is required to induce breakdown for a negative point than for a positive point. This effect usually increases with increasing gap distance except for PMMA, in which the ratio of the negative to the positive breakdown voltage is small even for longer gap distances. There is much difference in the results of the 50% breakdown voltage Vb for pulses of 100 ns duration for each polymer. Vb for PS is the very highest among polymers tested in both negative and positve points. Vb for PET and Vb for PMMA are the lowest in the positive point and in the negative point, respectively, in the thicker gap region. The formative time lag is, in most cases, less than about 10 ns.
A New Synthetic-Aperture Focusing Method for Ultrasonic B-Scan Imaging by the Fourier Transform

This paper presents a new synthetic-aperture focusing method for ultrasonic E-scan imaging. The method involves the two- dimensional Fourier transform and is named Fourier domain recon- struction (FDR). The performance of FDR as well as the basis for the availability of the image is derived theoretically in some detail. Conven- tional synthetic-aperture focusing is referred to as delay and sum (D&S). The computational complexity of FDR is of the order of OW2 log N) as compared to O(N3) for delay and sum in reconstructing N X N pixels. In experiments, good images of several objects have been re- constructed by FDR.
Effect of the combined treatment with sodium and calcium chlorides on the growth and medicinal compounds of Cichorium intybus

Cichorium intybus (Chicory) is a summer, tap rooted perennial herb of Asteraceae. C. intybus plants grow naturally in the Bersim (Trifolium alexandrinum) as a natural weed. It is harvested and eaten by animals with Bersim but there is no study for its nutritive value. C. intybus was reported to have many medical uses as: Anti oxidative as the water extract of C. intybus showed a remarkable anti oxidative effect on LDL (low density lipoproteins), and inhibitory effects on the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and the degradation of fatty acids in LDL (Kim and Yang, 2001). Vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acids in LDL were protected by adding water extract of C. intybus from the effects of metal catalyzed LDL oxidation (Kim and Yang, 2001). Also, C. intybus derived beta (2-1) fructans, have been shown to exert cancer protective effects in animal models (Hughes and Rowland, 2001). The two plant-fructans, Effect of the combined treatment with sodium and calcium chlorides on the growth and medicinal compounds of Cichorium intybus ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 3 Number 7 (2014) pp. 613-630 http://www.ijcmas. com
A Cytosolic Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase PTP1B Specifically Dephosphorylates and Deactivates Prolactin-activated STAT5a and STAT5b*

Prolactin (PRL) plays a central and crucial role in the regulation of milk protein gene expression in mammary epithelial cells. PRL binding to its cognate receptor leads to receptor dimerization and activation of the tyrosine kinase Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), associated with the membrane-proximal, intracellular domain of the receptor. In turn, JAK2 phosphorylates and activates STAT5, a member of the signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) family. We have recently reported that 16 different protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) were expressed in lactating mouse mammary gland and mammary epithelial cells (Aoki, N., Kawamura, M., Yamaguchi-Aoki, Y., Ohira, S., and Matsuda, T. (1999) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 125, 669–675). We investigated the involvement of each PTP in PRL signaling. Among the 12 phosphatases including SHP-2 examined, a cytosolic phosphatase PTP1B was found to specifically dephosphorylate STAT5a and STAT5b in transfected COS7 and in vitro. Nuclear translocation of STAT5a and STAT5b was largely inhibited upon overexpression of PTP1B. The PRL-dependent transcriptional activation of the β-casein gene promoter was also inhibited by PTP1B. Furthermore, retrovirus-mediated overexpression of PTP1B resulted in dephosphorylation of endogenous STAT5 and down-regulation of β-casein gene expression in mammary epithelial COMMA-1D cells when the cells were treated with lactogenic hormones. Endogenous tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT5 proteins in mammary epithelial COMMA-1D cells as well as tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT5a and STAT5b expressed in COS7 cells were co-precipitated by substrate-trapping mutants of recombinant PTP1B. These results strongly suggest that PTP1B dephosphorylates PRL-activated STAT5a and STAT5b, thereby negatively regulating PRL-mediated signaling pathway.
Laminin drives survival signals to promote a contractile smooth muscle phenotype and airway hyperreactivity

Increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass is believed to underlie the relatively fixed airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in asthma. Developments of therapeutic approaches to reverse airway remodeling are impeded by our lack of insight on the mechanisms behind the increase in mass of contractile ASM cells. Increased expression of laminin, an extracellular matrix protein, is associated with asthma. Our studies investigate the role of laminin‐induced ASM survival signals in the development of increased ASM and AHR. Antagonizing laminin integrin binding using the laminin‐selective competing peptide, YIGSR, and mimicking laminin with exogenous α2‐chain laminin, we show that laminin is both necessary and sufficient to induce ASM cell survival, concomitant with the induction of ASM contractile phenotype. Using siRNA, we show that the laminin‐binding integrin α7β1 mediates this process. Moreover, in laminin‐211‐deficient mice, allergen‐induced AHR was not observed. Notably, ASM cells from asthmatic airways express a higher abundance of intracellular cell survival proteins, consistent with a role for reduced rates of cell apoptosis in development of ASM hyperplasia. Targeting the laminin‐integrin α7β1 signaling pathway may offer new avenues for the development of therapies to reduce the increase in mass of contractile phenotype ASM cells that underlie AHR in asthma. —Tran, T. , Teoh, C. M. , Tam, J. K. C. , Qiao, Y. , Chin, C. Y. , Chong, O. K. , Stewart, A. G. , Harris, T. , Wong, W. S. F. , Guan, S. P., Leung, B. P., Gerthoffer, W. T. , Unruh, H. , and Halayko, A J. Laminin drives survival signals to promote a contractile smooth muscle phenotype and airway hyperreactivity. FASEB J. 27, 3991–4003 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Tools to Maintain Postharvest Fruit and Vegetable Quality through the Inhibition of Ethylene Action: A Review

Ethylene is a plant hormone controlling a wide range of physiological processes in plants. During postharvest storage of fruit and vegetables ethylene can induce negative effects including senescence, over-ripening, accelerated quality loss, increased fruit pathogen susceptibility, and physiological disorders, among others. Apart from the endogenous ethylene production by plant tissues, external sources of ethylene (e.g. engine exhausts, pollutants, plant, and fungi metabolism) occur along the food chain, in packages, storage chambers, during transportation, and in domestic refrigerators. Thus, it is a great goal in postharvest to avoid ethylene action. This review focuses on tools which may be used to inhibit ethylene biosynthesis/action or to remove ethylene surrounding commodities in order to avoid its detrimental effects on fruit and vegetable quality. As inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis and action, good results have been found with polyamines and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) in terms of maintenance of fruit and vegetable quality and extension of postharvest shelf-life. As ethylene scavengers, the best results can be achieved by adsorbers combined with catalysts, either chemical or biological (biofilters).
Neurokinin 3 Receptor Immunoreactivity in the Septal Region, Preoptic Area and Hypothalamus of the Female Sheep: Colocalisation in Neurokinin B Cells of the Arcuate Nucleus but not in Gonadotrophin‐Releasing Hormone Neurones

Recent evidence has implicated neurokinin B (NKB) in the complex neuronal network mediating the effects of gonadal steroids on the regulation of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. Because the neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) is considered to mediate the effects of NKB at the cellular level, we determined the distribution of immunoreactive NK3R in the septal region, preoptic area (POA) and hypothalamus of the ewe. NK3R cells and/or fibres were found in areas including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, POA, anterior hypothalamic and perifornical areas, dopaminergic A15 region, dorsomedial and lateral hypothalamus, arcuate nucleus (ARC) and the ventral premammillary nucleus. We also used dual‐label immunocytochemistry to determine whether a neuroanatomical basis for direct modulation of GnRH neurones by NKB was evident. No GnRH neurones at any rostral‐caudal level were observed to contain NK3R immunoreactivity, although GnRH neurones and fibres were in proximity to NK3R‐containing fibres. Because NKB fibres formed close contacts with NKB neurones in the ARC, we determined whether these NKB neurones also contained immunoreactive NK3R. In luteal‐phase ewes, 64% ± 11 of NKB neurones colocalised NK3R. In summary, NK3R is distributed in areas of the sheep POA and hypothalamus known to be involved in the control of reproductive neuroendocrine function. Colocalisation of NK3R in NKB neurones of the ARC suggests a potential mechanism for the autoregulation of this subpopulation; however, the lack of NK3R in GnRH neurones suggests that the actions of NKB on GnRH neurosecretory activity in the ewe are mediated indirectly via other neurones and/or neuropeptides.
Genetic dissection of the syndrome X in the rat.

In 1988, Reaven used the term syndrome X to describe a relation between several disorders including hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, obesity, and coronary heart disease. Despite a number of studies dealing with syndrome X, its genetic basis remains poorly understood. Regarding the complexity of this syndrome, it is important to use animal models developing the traits of the disease. Here we show a genetic dissection of syndrome X in the WOKW rat, an animal model of genetically determined syndrome X. We found a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) for glucose metabolism on chromosome 3 and further QTLs influencing obesity and body weight on chromosomes 1 and 5. Genetic determinants of dyslipidemia were mapped to chromosomes 4 and 17. In addition, suggestive linkage for serum insulin was found on chromosome 1 to the region previously shown to be associated with type-1 diabetes mellitus. This is the first study demonstrating independent genetic factors influencing traits of the syndrome X in the rat as well as a possible genetic relationships between syndrome X and diabetes mellitus. Moreover, regarding the close similarities between WOKW rat and human syndrome X, the study could help in a search of genetic factors involved in this complex metabolic disorder in human.
[Obesity or overweight and metabolic syndrome in Mexico City teenagers].

UNLABELLED aim: To know the metabolic syndrome and its components prevalence in Mexico City adolescents sample. DESIGN A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 772 men and 1078 women, 12 to 16 years old, from 8 randomly selected public junior high schools in Mexico City. METHODS Anthropometric variables, lipids, lipoproteins, Apo AI and B, glucose and insulin were determined. RESULTS Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 12.5%, 11.15% in men and 13.5% en women (p ns). The most frequently metabolic syndrome component found in México City adolescents was low HDL-C levels (38%), followed by hypertriglyceridemia (25.5%), hypertension (19.2%), central obesity (11.8%) and elevated fasting glucose (1.7). Except by the hypertriglyceridemia, higher in woman than in men, 28.2% vs. 21.6%, p < 0.001, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome components was similar between males and females. CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of biochemical and physiological factors of metabolic syndrome, associated with overweight and obesity in Mexico City adolescents, increases the risk of premature development of coronary atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus in this population.
Serum Lysophosphatidic Acid Is Produced through Diverse Phospholipase Pathways*

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a lipid mediator with multiple biological activities that accounts for many biological properties of serum. LPA is thought to be produced during serum formation based on the fact that the LPA level is much higher in serum than in plasma. In this study, to better understand the pathways of LPA synthesis in serum, we evaluated the roles of platelets, plasma, and phospholipases by measuring LPA using a novel enzyme-linked fluorometric assay. First, examination of platelet-depleted rats showed that half of the LPA in serum is produced via a platelet-dependent pathway. However, the amount of LPA released from isolated platelets after they are activated by thrombin or calcium ionophore accounted for only a small part of serum LPA. Most of the platelet-derived LPA was produced in a two-step process: lysophospholipids such as lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and lysophosphatidylserine, were released from activated rat platelets by the actions of two phospholipases, group IIA secretory phospholipase A2(sPLA2-IIA) and phosphatidylserine-specific phospholipase A1 (PS-PLA1), which were abundantly expressed in the cells. Then these lysophospholipids were converted to LPA by the action of plasma lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD). Second, accumulation of LPA in incubated plasma was strongly accelerated by the addition of recombinant lysoPLD with a concomitant decrease in LPC accumulation, indicating that the enzyme produces LPA by hydrolyzing LPC produced during the incubation. In addition, incubation of plasma isolated from human subjects who were deficient in lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) did not result in increases of either LPC or LPA. The present study demonstrates multiple pathways for LPA production in serum and the involvement of several phospholipases, including PS-PLA1, sPLA2-IIA, LCAT, and lysoPLD.
Emerging Roles of Ganoderma Lucidum in Anti-Aging

Ganoderma lucidum is a white-rot fungus that has been viewed as a traditional Chinese tonic for promoting health and longevity. It has been revealed that several extractions from Ganoderma lucidum, such as Ethanol extract, aqueous extract, mycelia extract, water soluble extract of the culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia, Ganodermasides A, B, C, D, and some bioactive components of Ganoderma lucidum, including Reishi Polysaccharide Fraction 3, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides I, II, III, IV, Ganoderma lucidum peptide, Ganoderma polysaccharide peptide, total G. lucidum triterpenes and Ganoderic acid C1 could exert lifespan elongation or related activities. Although the use of Ganoderma lucidum as an elixir has been around for thousands of years, studies revealing its effect of lifespan extension are only the tip of the iceberg. Besides which, the kinds of extractions or components being comfrimed to be anti-aging are too few compared with the large amounts of Ganoderma lucidum extractions or constituients being discovered. This review aims to lay the ground for fully elucidating the potential mechanisms of Ganoderma lucidum underlying anti-aging effect and its clinical application.
Activation of TGF-β by Leishmania chagasi: Importance for Parasite Survival in Macrophages 1

TGF-β is a potent regulatory cytokine that suppresses expression of inducible NO synthase and IFN-γ, and suppresses Th1 and Th2 cell development. We examined whether functionally active TGF-β is present in the local environment surrounding the invading protozoan Leishmania chagasi. Our prior data showed that TGF-β levels are significantly increased in L. chagasi-infected mice. In the current study, we found TGF-β was also abundant in bone marrows of humans with acute visceral leishmaniasis but not in those of uninfected controls. Furthermore, L. chagasi infection caused an increase in biologically active TGF-β in human macrophage cultures without changing the total TGF-β. Therefore, we investigated the means through which leishmania could augment activated but not total TGF-β. Incubation of latent TGF-β with Leishmania sp. promastigotes caused active TGF-β to be released from the latent complex. In contrast, the nonpathogenic protozoan Crithidia fasciculata could not activate TGF-β. TGF-β activation by leishmania was prevented by inhibitors of cysteine proteases and by the specific cathepsin B inhibitor CA074. Physiologic concentrations of TGF-β inhibited killing of intracellular L. chagasi in macrophages, although the phagocytosis-induced respiratory burst remained intact. In contrast, supraphysiologic concentrations of TGF-β had no effect on parasite survival. We hypothesize that the combined effect of abundant TGF-β stores at extracellular sites during infection, and the ability of the parasite to activate TGF-β in its local environment, leads to high levels of active TGF-β in the vicinity of the infected macrophage. Locally activated TGF-β could, in turn, enhance parasite survival through its effects on innate and adaptive immune responses.
Bulk Chemical Characteristics of Dissolved Organic Matter in the Ocean

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is the largest reservoir of reduced carbon in the oceans. The nature of DOM is poorly understood, in part, because it has been difficult to isolate sufficient amounts of representative material for analysis. Tangential-flow ultrafiltration was shown to recover milligram amounts of >1000 daltons of DOM from seawater collected at three depths in the North Pacific Ocean. These isolates represented 22 to 33 percent of the total DOM and included essentially all colloidal material. The elemental, carbohydrate, and carbon-type (by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance) compositions of the isolates indicated that the relative abundance of polysaccharides was high (∼50 percent) in surface water and decreased to ∼25 percent in deeper samples. Polysaccharides thus appear to be more abundant and reactive components of seawater DOM than has been recognized.
ENDOGENOUS OPIOIDS AND OPIATE ANTAGONISTS IN AUTISM: BRIEF REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICIANS

Endogenous opioid dysfunction hypotheses for the development of autism are reviewed, along with clinical empirical studies of opiate antagonists in autism and self‐injurious behaviour. There is not yet sufficient evidence to suggest the use of opiate antagonists in the treatment of autism. Further research, particularly of natrexone in severe self‐injury, is warranted.