Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Competence development in palliative care in Norway: A description and evaluation of a postgraduate education program in palliative care in Drammen, Norway

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate competence development in palliative treatment, nursing and care in students (n = 25) undergoing a two-year postgraduate education program in palliation at a university college in Norway. Methods: A questionnaire was handed out on five occasions during the education period. Results: Results showed that the students rated their competence level as between some competence and good competence before entering the course. However, the competence level rose throughout the course period, and at the end of their education most of the students perceived themselves at a very good or extremely good competence level. Significance of results: Statistically significant differences in all questions measuring competence in palliation were found on all occasions. Further studies are needed to confirm the effect of education on students' perceived competence development and whether it has a positive impact on clinical practice.
Short-term predictors of incident stroke in older adults. The Cardiovascular Health Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Risk factors for incident stroke have been examined in middle-aged persons, but less is known about stroke precursors in the elderly, who suffer the highest rates of stroke. Short-term risk factors for incident stroke were examined in a longitudinal, population-based study including extensive measures of subclinical disease. METHODS Prospective study of 5201 women and men aged 65 years and older was undertaken in the multicenter Cardiovascular Health Study. RESULTS During an average 3.31-year follow-up, 188 incident strokes occurred. Stroke incidence increased significantly with age and was similar in women and men. Factors associated with increased stroke risk in multivariate analysis included age, aspirin use, diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, higher systolic blood pressure, increased time needed to walk 15 ft. frequent falls, elevated creatinine level, abnormal left ventricular (LV) wall motion and increased LV mass on echocardiography, ultrasound-defined carotid stenosis, and atrial fibrillation. Increased LV mass and carotid stenosis were associated with twofold and threefold increases in incidences of stroke, respectively (P < .001). Aspirin users had a 52% higher risk of stroke (relative risk, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 2.0; P < .007) after adjustment for other factors. This association was present only among aspirin users without prior coronary disease, atrial fibrillation, claudication, or transient ischemic attack, who had an 84% higher risk (relative risk, 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 2.8). CONCLUSIONS Short-term risk of stroke has a complex relationship with aspirin use and is strongly related to subclinical disease in this sample of older adults. These relationships should be considered in assessing stroke risk in the elderly, in whom recognized and subclinical cardiovascular disease is highly prevalent.
GENE EXPRESSION OF VEGF AND ITS RECEPTORS Flk-1/KDR AND Flt-1 IN CULTURED AND TRANSPLANTED RAT ISLETS1

Background. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its two receptor tyrosine kinases, Flk-1/KDR and Flt-1, may play an important role in mediating the revascularization of transplanted pancreatic islets. Methods. Using semiquantitative multiplex reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction we determined the gene expression of VEGF and its receptors in cultured and transplanted rat islets. Results. After exposure of islet cells to hypoxia in vitro, increases were found in the gene expression of the VEGF120 and VEGF164 isoforms, with simultaneous increases in VE-cadherin, Flk-1/KDR, and Flt-1. In vivo studies consisted of analysis of islet grafts transplanted into both normal and diabetic recipients. Expression of both VEGF120 and VEGF164 in grafts was up-regulated for the first 2–3 days after transplantation, with the response being more prolonged in the diabetic rats. These increases were followed by reduced expression of VEGF on days 5, 7, and 9. Increases in the expression of VE-cadherin in islet grafts in normal and diabetic recipients tended to parallel VEGF expression, with the increases in both probably being caused by hypoxia. The early increases of VEGF expression were followed by a rise in the expression of VEGF receptors, which probably represents the early stages of angiogenesis. Graft expression of Flk-1/KDR and Flt-1 was enhanced at 3 and 5 days in the normoglycemic recipients, while in the diabetic recipients increases were found later on days 5, 7, and 14. Conclusions. The delayed expression of VEGF receptors in the diabetic recipients could reflect impaired angiogenesis caused by the diabetic milieu; this delay could contribute to the less outcomes of grafts transplanted into a hyperglycemic environment.
Second phase of formalin‐induced excitation of spinal dorsal horn neurons in spinalized rats is reversed by sciatic nerve block

Considerable debate persists concerning peripheral vs. central mechanisms underlying the second phase of the nociceptive response in the formalin test in the rat. To gain insight into the neurophysiological basis of this pain, we investigated the effects of block of afferent nerve conduction during the second phase of formalin‐evoked excitation of single nociceptive neurons recorded extracellularly from rat spinal dorsal horn segments (L3−4) in pentobarbital‐anaesthetized, male Sprague–Dawley rats. Rats were spinally transected (T9) to examine exclusively peripheral and spinal nociceptive processing. In six control rats, hind paw intraplantar formalin injection (50 µL, 2.5%) induced the typical biphasic increase in the discharge rate of the six wide dynamic range neurons tested. This response consisted of a relatively brief immediate phase (approximately 5 min), followed by decreased firing. An ensuing second phase of elevated discharge began approximately 35 min after injection and persisted to at least 80 min. In this control group, 0.9% saline was applied to the exposed ipsilateral sciatic nerve after onset of the second phase (40 min after formalin injection). In a group of six test rats, application of 2% lidocaine instead of saline reversed the second phase of excitation in all six wide dynamic range neurons examined. When the firing rate was normalized to that at 40 min (100%), the time of saline or lidocaine administration, the rate at 50 min was 120 ± 7.5% in the saline‐treated group and 31 ± 7.4% in the lidocaine‐treated group; following lidocaine treatment firing rate remained markedly less than that before administration throughout the remainder of the recording. It is concluded that: (i) spinal mechanisms alone are not sufficient for induction and maintenance of second phase increased discharge of spinal nociceptive dorsal horn neurons; (ii) descending influences via supraspinal inputs are not causal in the development and maintenance of second phase increased discharge and (iii) tonic input from afferent neurons during the second phase plays a primary and essential role in generating and sustaining the second phase of elevated discharge of dorsal horn neurons and, thus, presumably the second phase of nociceptive scores in the formalin test. The data in this study reveal how much of an altered synaptically elicited response in the spinal dorsal horn can be attributed to postsynaptic plastic changes vs. how much can be simply due to increased synaptic input. The present results are important not only in the context of the formalin test but also in the context of other models related to inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain.
Association of Parkinson's disease with infections and occupational exposure to possible vectors

The ultimate causes of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) are not fully known, but environmental and occupational causes are suspected. Postencephalitic parkinsonism has been linked to influenza, and other viral infections have also been suspected to relate to PD. We estimated the relationship between PD and both infections and possible vectors of infection (i.e., animal and human) in a population‐based, case‐control study in British Columbia, Canada. We recruited 403 cases detected by their use of antiparkinsonian medications and 405 controls from the registrants of the provincial universal health insurance plan. Severe influenza was associated with PD (odds ratio [OR]: 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–3.48), although this effect was attenuated when reports were restricted to those occurring 10 or more years before diagnosis. Childhood illnesses were inversely associated with PD, particularly red measles (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.48–0.90). Several animal exposures were associated with PD, with statistically significant effects for cats (OR: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.09–3.92) and cattle (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.22–4.09). Influenza infection may be associated with PD. The inverse relationships with childhood infections may suggest an increased risk with subclinical or asymptomatic childhood infections. Occupational exposure to animals may increase risk through transmission of infections or may indicate exposure to another agent of interest (e.g., bacterial endotoxin). © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
The islet enhancer vildagliptin: mechanisms of improved glucose metabolism

Vildagliptin is a potent, selective and reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4), the enzyme responsible for rapid inactivation of the incretin hormones glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP). GLP‐1 and GIP are important for the maintenance of normal glucose homeostasis as they enhance the sensitivity of insulin (β‐cell) and glucagon (α‐cell) secretion to glucose. The delicate balance that is achieved by the incretin hormones is disturbed in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Mechanistic studies of vildagliptin performed to characterise the effects of DPP‐4 inhibition on pancreatic islet function and glucose metabolism have found that vildagliptin produces dose‐dependent reductions in DPP‐4; these result in persistent levels of active GLP‐1 and GIP in the circulation leading to improved β‐cell sensitivity to glucose and glucose‐dependent insulin secretion, and improved α‐cell sensitivity to glucose and reduction in inappropriate glucagon secretion. These islet effects in turn lead to a reduction of the inappropriate endogenous glucose production and glucose utilisation during meals, resulting in improved glucose tolerance, and to a reduction of the inappropriate endogenous glucose production during the postabsorptive period that contributes to a reduced fasting hyperglycaemia. These islet effects are associated with improved insulin sensitivity and reduced meal‐related hypertriglyceridaemia. In contrast, the GLP‐1 effect of significantly delaying gastric emptying was not evident with vildagliptin treatment. The metabolic benefits of vildagliptin observed in T2DM are also evident in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. Hence, vildagliptin improves glucose metabolism mainly by improving islet function.
Inactivation of Dual-Specificity Phosphatases Is Involved in the Regulation of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases by Heat Shock and Hsp72

ABSTRACT Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2 (ERK1/2) dramatically enhance survival of cells exposed to heat shock. Using Cos-7 cells and primary human fibroblasts (IMR90 cells), we demonstrated that heat shock activates ERKs via two distinct mechanisms: stimulation of the ERK-activating kinases, MEK1/2, and inhibition of ERK dephosphorylation. Under milder heat shock conditions, activation of ERKs proceeded mainly through stimulation of MEK1/2, whereas under more severe heat shock MEK1/2 could no longer be activated and the inhibition of ERK phosphatases became critical. In Cos-7 cells, nontoxic heat shock caused rapid inactivation of the major ERK phosphatase, MKP-3, by promoting its aggregation, so that in cells exposed to 45°C for 20 min, 90% of MKP-3 became insoluble. MKP-3 aggregation was reversible and, 1 h after heat shock, MKP-3 partially resolubilized. The redistribution of MKP-3 correlated with an increased rate of ERK dephosphorylation. Similar heat-induced aggregation, followed by partial resolubilization, was found with a distinct dual-specificity phosphatase MKP-1 but not with MKP-2. Therefore, MKP-3 and MKP-1 appeared to be critical heat-labile phosphatases involved in the activation of ERKs by heat shock. Expression of the major heat shock protein Hsp72 inhibited activation of MEK1/2 and prevented inactivation of MKP-3 and MKP-1. Hsp72ΔEEVD mutant lacking a chaperone activity was unable to protect MKP-3 from heat inactivation but interfered with MEK1/2 activation similar to normal Hsp72. Hence, Hsp72 suppressed ERK activation by both protecting dual-specificity phosphatases, which was dependent on the chaperone activity, and suppressing MEK1/2, which was independent of the chaperone activity.
Extracellular Xylanopectinolytic Enzymes by Bacillus subtilis ADI1 from EFB's Compost

Microbial xylanase and pectinase are two extremely valuable enzymes, which have captivated much attention. This can be seen from the increased demand for these enzymes by many industrial sectors. This study investigates the isolation and screening of extracellular xylanopectinolytic enzymes-producing bacteria in a submerged fermentation (SmF). Samples are collected from the compost of empty fruit bunch (EFB) at Biocompost Pilot Plant, located at Biorefinery Plant, Universiti Putra Malaysia. From the experiment, out of 20 isolates, 11 isolates show xylanase or/and pectinase activity, and only one isolate (EFB-11) shows the concurrent activities of xylanase and pectinase. These activities are selected for enzyme production under submerged fermentation (quantitative screening). At the 72nd hour of incubation, xylanase and pectinase show the highest production, which ranges about 42.33 U/mL and 62.17 U/mL (with low amount of cellulase present), supplemented with 2% (w/v) of rice bran as carbon source at incubation temperature level, which is 30°C. Meanwhile, the pH of media is shifted to 8.42, which indicates that EFB-11 isolate is alkalotolerant bacteria and identified as Bacillus subtilis ADI1. This strain proves to have potential in agroindustrial bioconversion and has a promising ability to scale up to an industrial scale.
In Vitro Inactivation of Chlamydia trachomatis by Fatty Acids and Monoglycerides

ABSTRACT The antichlamydial effects of several fatty acids and monoglycerides were studied by incubating Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria with equal volumes of lipid solutions for 10 min and measuring the reduction in infectivity titer compared with that in a control solution without lipid. Caprylic acid (8:0), monocaprylin (8:0), monolaurin (12:0), myristic acid (14:0), palmitoleic acid (16:1), monopalmitolein (16:1), oleic acid (18:1), and monoolein (18:1) at concentrations of 20 mM (final concentration, 10 mM) had negligible effects on C. trachomatis. In contrast, lauric acid (12:0), capric acid (10:0), and monocaprin (10:0) caused a greater than 10,000-fold (>4-log10) reduction in the infectivity titer. When the fatty acids and monoglycerides were further compared at lower concentrations and with shorter exposure times, lauric acid was more active than capric acid and monocaprin was the most active, causing a greater than 100,000-fold (>5-log10) inactivation of C. trachomatis at a concentration of 5 mM for 5 min. The high levels of activity of capric and lauric acids and particularly that of monocaprin are notable and suggest that these lipids have specific antichlamydial effects. The mode of action of monocaprin was further studied by removal of the lipid by centrifugation before inoculation ofChlamydia onto host cells and by electron microscopy. The results indicate that the bacteria are killed by the lipid, possibly by disrupting the membrane(s) of the elementary bodies. A 50% effective concentration of 30 μg/ml was found by incubation of Chlamydia with monocaprin for 2 h. The rapid inactivation of large numbers of C. trachomatis organisms by monocaprin suggests that it may be useful as a microbicidal agent for the prevention of the sexual transmission of C. trachomatis.
Inter-day glycemic variability assessed by continuous glucose monitoring in insulin-treated type 2 diabetes patients on hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes patients on chronic hemodialysis have a high prevalence of cardiovascular complications and often show a poor glycemic control. Single-spot glycemic measurements are not always meaningful, and the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) value does not reflect short-term variations in glucose metabolism in this patient category. Therefore, to better understand their metabolic balance, we studied a group of diabetes patients on hemodialysis by a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system. METHODS Twelve insulin-treated type 2 diabetes patients on hemodialysis were studied by a microdialysis-based subcutaneous glucose sensor over a period of 2 days, including the dialysis day (HD) and the following inter-dialytic period ("free" day [FD]). RESULTS The mean 24-h glycemic value, the mean amplitude of glucose excursions, and the SD of mean glucose were significantly higher in the HD than the FD (186 ± 50 vs. 154 ± 25 mg/dL, P<0.05; 75 ± 22 vs. 56 ± 15 mg/dL, P<0.05; and 57 ± 6 vs. 35 ± 11 mg/dL, P<0.05, respectively). Considering the 48-h recording, there was a direct correlation between the mean glucose concentration and the HbA1c (r=0.47, P<0.05), whereas no association was observed between the measures of glucose variability and HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS Insulin-treated diabetes patients on hemodialysis showed different glucose profiles between the HD and the FD. In particular, in the HD they have had an increased glycemic variability, which may represent an adjunctive risk factor for cardiovascular complications. Therefore the use of a CGM system, as a means of assessing the measures of glycemic variability, could improve the management of insulin therapy in these patients.
Uma Análise das Diferenças em Termos dos Interesses Profissionais a Partir do Projeto de Substituição da IAS 39

Os interesses profissionais dos distintos grupos de stakeholders sao frequentemente encarados como obstaculos a plena harmonizacao contabilistica. O estudo dos diferentes interesses profissionais no âmbito da contabilidade e importante para os organismos envolvidos no processo de harmonizacao contabilistica internacional, na medida em que possibilita a identificacao dos principais obstaculos a enfrentar para atingir a plena harmonizacao. Nesse sentido, este artigo propoe-se a analisar as diferencas em termos dos interesses profissionais a partir da participacao de diferentes grupos de stakeholders nos processos de emissao/alteracao de normas do International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Tendo por base a analise de conteudo, foram examinadas as comment letters enviadas ao IASB no contexto da primeira parte da primeira fase do projeto de substituicao da International Accounting Standard (IAS) 39, intitulada "Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement", pela International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 9, por sua vez intitulada "Financial Instruments". Os respondentes foram identificados consoante o grupo de stakeholders, sendo os dados coletados posteriormente submetidos ao teste nao parametrico do qui-quadrado. Os resultados deste estudo indicam a existencia de diferencas significativas entre as respostas obtidas por parte dos distintos grupos de stakeholders envolvidos no processo de emissao ou revisao de uma norma do IASB, sobretudo evidenciada entre o grupo dos preparadores financeiros e dos organismos reguladores e/ou normalizadores e as associacoes profissionais ligadas a contabilidade.
Trust in autonomous vehicles: The case of Tesla Autopilot and Summon

Autonomous driving is on the horizon. Vehicles with partially automated driving capabilities are already in the market. Before the widespread adoption however, human factors issues regarding automated driving need to be addressed. One of the key issues is how much drivers trust in automated driving systems and how they calibrate their trust and reliance based on their experience. In this paper, we report the results of a survey conducted with Tesla drivers about their experiences with two advanced driver assistance systems, Autopilot and Summon. We found that drivers have high levels of trust in Autopilot and Summon. Trust decreased with age for Autopilot but not for Summon. Drivers who experienced unexpected behaviors from their vehicles reported lower levels of trust in Autopilot. Over time, trust in these systems increased regardless of experience. Additionally, trust was correlated with several attitudinal and behavioral factors such as frequency of use, self-rated knowledge about these systems, and ease of learning. These findings highlight the importance of trust in real world use of autonomous cars. Also, the results suggest that previous findings on trust in automation are applicable to real world cases as well.
Breast Cancer Risk-Factors and Breast Self Examination Practice among Jordanian Women

Method: One hundred and fifty-one women working in the hospital, aged (20-51). The subjects completed an instrument composed of 3 forms developed by the researcher, the first one including personal characteristics of the subjects, the second form composed of 14 items concerning breast cancer risk factors and the third form composed of 7 items of breast self examination (BSE). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Management of inappetant sheep during export by sea.

In the first of 2 experiments, a simulated voyage was conducted to examine the effects of various treatments on bodyweight change and feeding frequency of inappetant sheep at the end of lot-feeding (non-feeders). The treatments, applied during simulated shipping, were: normal quantities of feed and length of troughs; extra trough length; extra feed. Adult Merino wethers (n = 108) were used in each treatment. A voyage to the Middle East was then conducted to establish whether shipboard mortality could be reduced by separating non-feeders (n = 305) from feeders (n = 5,620) late in the feedlot hase and housing the groups separately aboard ship. A control group of non-feeders (n = 215) mixed with feeders (n = 5,732) was used for comparison. Bars (marker bars), containing a coloured dye, were attached to feed troughs to mark sheep that fed. Most non-feeders (82%) began eating when placed in shipping pens in both studies. However, there was no significant difference in percentage of sheep that fed between non-feeders given extra trough length or extra feed compared with non-feeders given standard management at any stage of simulated shipping. There was no significant difference in mean bodyweights between treatment groups on days 1, 8 and 15 of simulated shipping. Differences in bodyweight on d 22 were probably associated with different levels of gut fill. Death rates were not significantly different in separated and control groups (1.1%, 0.9%, P = 0.6) in the voyage of 14 d to the Middle East. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)