Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exposing athletes to playing form activity: outcomes of a randomised control trial among community netball teams using a game-centred approach

ABSTRACT This study evaluated whether exposing junior netball players to greater amounts of competition relevant activity (playing form activity) had an effect on game play outcomes and session involvement. A group-randomised controlled trial in one junior netball club in the Hunter Region, NSW, Australia. Ninety female athletes (mean age = 9.04 years, SD 1.53) were randomised by team (n = 11) into the intervention (n = 41) or 9-week wait-list control (n = 49) condition. The Professional Learning for Understanding Games Education into Sport (PLUNGE into Sport) programme was undertaken in the first half of nine training sessions (9 × 30 min). The intervention exposed athletes to playing form activity through a coach development programme within training sessions. Athletes’ decision-making, support and skill outcomes during a small-sided invasion game, and session involvement (pedometer step/min), were measured at baseline and 9-week follow-up. Linear mixed models revealed significant group-by-time intervention effects (P < 0.05) for decision-making (d = 0.4) and support (d = 0.5) during game play, and in-session activity (d = 1.2). An intervention exposing athletes to greater levels of playing form activity, delivered via a coach education programme, was efficacious in improving athlete decision-making and support skills in game play and increasing athlete involvement during sessions.
A new role for IKK‐α in hepatitis C virus‐induced lipogenesis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) interacts extensively with host factors to not only establish productive infection but also trigger unique pathological processes. Our recent genome-wide siRNA screen demonstrated that IjB kinase-a (IKK-a) is a crucial host factor for HCV. Here we describe a new nuclear factor jB (NF-jB)independent and kinase-mediated nuclear function of IKK-a in HCV assembly. HCV, through its 3’ untranslated region, interacts with DEAD box polypeptide 3, X-linked (DDX3X) to activate IKK-a, which translocates to the nucleus and induces a CBP/ p300-mediated transcriptional program involving sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs). This innate pathway induces lipogenic genes and enhances core-associated lipid droplet formation to facilitate viral assembly. Chemical inhibitors of IKK-a suppress HCV infection and IKK-a-induced lipogenesis, offering a proof-of-concept approach for new HCV therapeutic development. Our results show that HCV uses a novel mechanism to exploit intrinsic innate responses and hijack lipid metabolism, which may contribute to high chronicity rates and the pathological hallmark of steatosis in HCV infection.
A Co-CRISPR Strategy for Efficient Genome Editing in C. elegans

1 A Co-CRISPR Strategy for Efficient Genome Editing in C. elegans Heesun Kim, Takao Ishidate, Krishna S. Ghanta, Meetu Seth, Darryl Conte Jr., Masaki Shirayama, and Craig C. Mello Program in Molecular Medicine, RNA Therapeutics Institute, and †Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA These authors contributed equally to this work Corresponding authors Genetics: Early Online, published on May 30, 2014 as 10.1534/genetics.114. 166389
Granulocyte collection by continuous-flow filtration leukapheresis.

A safe and simple technique for the collection of large numbers of granulocytes from normal donors, based on the reversible adhesion of granulocytes to nylon wool filters, is described. The procedure is well tolerated by donors, and the granulocytes obtained show nearly normal bactericidal and phagocytic capacity in vitro. However, a surprisingly small median 1-hr posttransfusion increment of 233/cu mm was observed in leukopenic recipients lacking preformed leukocyte antibodies, as compared to the median increment of 850/cu mm reported following transfusion of leukocytes obtained by differential centrifugation. The safety and effectiveness of these granulocytes for the treatment or prevention of bacterial infections in granulocytopenic patients remains to be proven, however our initial experience with such transfusions has been encouraging.
A Phase I Trial of Docetaxel Based Induction and Concomitant Chemotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of docetaxel based induction and concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) after using the FHX platform (5 = 5-FU, H = hydroxyurea, X = Radiation). Patients with Stage III/IV locally advanced HNSCC were enrolled. Induction chemotherapy (carboplatin/docetaxel) was followed by 5 cycles of concomitant docetaxel based CRT. No DLTs were observed in dose levels 1/2 for induction and CRT. Dose level 2 was expanded. The overall survival CR rate after CRT was 79 percent. Median overall (OS) has not been reached and 2-year OS is 80.7 percent. The recommended Phase II dose of docetaxel with FHX CRT is 25 mg/m2 and 35 mg/m2 in combination with carboplatin induction (AUC = 6).
Are Corporate Restructuring Events Driven By Common Factors? Implications for Takeover Prediction

Abstract: The paper shows that variables commonly used in takeover prediction models also help to explain the likelihood of several other restructuring events, including divestitures, bankruptcies and significant employee layoffs. This finding helps to explain the larger misclassification errors in binomial takeover prediction models commonly used in prior research. The results show that modelling takeover prediction models in a binomial setting is likely to lead to misspecification in the parameter estimates and, further, result in erroneous conclusions about the determinants of takeover likelihood. The paper shows that controlling for other restructuring events by using a multinomial framework results in consistently lower misclassification errors in out-of-sample prediction tests, when compared to the benchmark of a typical binomial model.
Effect of a sublethal high‐pressure homogenization treatment on the fatty acid membrane composition of probiotic lactobacilli

High‐pressure homogenization (HPH) has been proposed to be applied directly to lactic acid bacterial cells at sublethal levels to enhance some functional properties. As the principal target of HPH are the cell surface envelope structures, the aim of this work was to study the effect of a HPH treatment, applied at 50 MPa, on cell membrane stress responses of already‐known functional strains, isolated from Argentinean products. Specifically, the membrane fatty acid composition of cells before and after the sublethal treatment was investigated, and the results showed that plasma membranes, their level of unsaturation and their composition are involved in response mechanisms adopted by microbial cells when subjected to a sublethal HPH stress. In fact, the data obtained demonstrated that the treatment was able to modify the fatty acid profile of the different strains, although a uniform response was not observed. Further studies are necessary both to elucidate the role of each fatty acid in the cell response mechanisms and to clarify the changes in membrane compositions induced by HPH treatment also in relation to the applicative potential of this technique.
Occupational Health and Safety in a Newly Industrializing Country

IN THIS case study, a four-year record review of notifi able industrial disease and accidents was undertaken in Oyo State of Nigeria with an objective of evaluating the administrative effectiveness of occupational health and safety programme in the country. Incidence rate of notifiable industrial accidents was quite high — 18.2/103 workers. The rate was higher in the construction workers — 20.1/103 — than in the manufacturing workers — 16.3/103. Yet, few of the accidents were notified and compensated for under the workmen's Compensation Act. The amount of financial compensation received by the few compensated workers was out of tune with socio-economic realities of the country. Throughout the period of the study not a single notifiable occupational disease was diagnosed and noti fied. Reasons were advanced for non-compliance with safety laws and ineffectiveness of the occupational health and safety system.
Locomotor recovery in the chronic spinal rat: effects of long‐term treatment with a 5‐HT2 agonist

A complete transection of the spinal cord at a low thoracic level induces a paraplegic syndrome that is accompanied by a loss of spinal cord serotonin content. Former experimental data suggest that the central pattern generator for locomotion, located in the lumbar segments of the spinal cord, might be able to generate rhythmic motor outputs (similar to automatic walking under certain circumstances) involving exteroceptive stimulations and activation of serotonergic receptors. In the present study, we investigated the effects of a chronic treatment using a serotonergic agonist, delivered continuously to the sublesionned spinal cord, and its effect on motor function recovery. The data obtained from behavioural, kinematic and electromyographic measurements suggest that the chronic stimulation of 5‐HT2 type receptors allows motor function recovery. Behavioural measurements show a clear improvement in motor performances when compared to spinal animals (confirmed by kinematic observations): alternating steps and foot placement is recovered in these animals. However, electromyographic data demonstrate that the pattern of activation of the muscles is only restored partially.
Placebo Group Improvement in Trials of Pharmacotherapies for Alcohol Use Disorders: A Multivariate Meta-Analysis Examining Change Over Time

Objective Placebo group improvement in pharmacotherapy trials has been increasing over time across several pharmacological treatment areas. However, it is unknown to what degree increasing improvement has occurred in pharmacotherapy trials for alcohol use disorders or what factors may account for placebo group improvement. This meta-analysis of 47 alcohol pharmacotherapy trials evaluated (1) the magnitude of placebo group improvement, (2) the extent to which placebo group improvement has been increasing over time, and (3) several potential moderators that might account for variation in placebo group improvement. Method Random-effects univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted that examined the magnitude of placebo group improvement in the 47 studies and several potential moderators of improvement: (a) publication year, (b) country in which the study was conducted, (c) outcome data source/type, (d) number of placebo administrations, (e) overall severity of study participants, and (f) additional psychosocial treatment. Results Substantial placebo group improvement was found overall and improvement was larger in more recent studies. Greater improvement was found on moderately subjective outcomes, with more frequent administrations of the placebo, and in studies with greater participant severity of illness. However, even after controlling for these moderators, placebo group improvement remained significant, as did placebo group improvement over time. Conclusions Similar to previous pharmacotherapy placebo research, substantial pretest to posttest placebo group improvement has occurred in alcohol pharmacotherapy trials, an effect that has been increasing over time. However, several plausible moderator variables were not able to explain why placebo group improvement has been increasing over time.
Personality assessment of patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I.

OBJECTIVE There is controversy regarding the importance of psychological/psychiatric factors in the development of the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Our objective was to determine whether CRPS type I patients were psychiatrically different from other chronic pain patients, with particular attention to personality pathology. DESIGN A standardized clinical assessment of all major psychiatric categories, including personality disorders, was performed on 25 CRPS type I patients and a control group of 25 patients with chronic low back pain from disc-related radiculopathy. MEASURES Both sections of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (3rd ed., rev.) and the visual analog scale. RESULTS Both groups were similar in terms of pain intensity and duration. Statistical analysis showed both groups to have a significant amount of major psychiatric comorbidity, in particular major depressive disorder, and a high incidence of personality disorders. Therefore, intense chronic pain was associated with significant psychiatric comorbidity in both groups and in similar proportions. CONCLUSION The high incidence of personality pathology in both groups may represent an exaggeration of maladaptive personality traits and coping styles as a result of a chronic, intense, state of pain.
Intrinsic-mediated caspase activation is essential for cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

Significance Cardiac hypertrophy is a pathologic enlargement of the heart, an alteration that leads to contractile dysfunction and eventual organ failure. The hypertrophy phenotype originates from concentric growth of heart muscle cells and shares many biochemical features with programmed cell death, implying a common molecular origin. Here, we show cell-autonomous activation of a mitochondrial cell death pathway during initial stages of muscle cell hypertrophy, a signal that is essential and sufficient to promote hypertrophy. Targeting individual cell death proteins may offer an effective means to limit the initial stage of cardiac disease, and forgo the transition to heart failure. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is the cellular response that mediates pathologic enlargement of the heart. This maladaptation is also characterized by cell behaviors that are typically associated with apoptosis, including cytoskeletal reorganization and disassembly, altered nuclear morphology, and enhanced protein synthesis/translation. Here, we investigated the requirement of apoptotic caspase pathways in mediating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Cardiomyocytes treated with hypertrophy agonists displayed rapid and transient activation of the intrinsic-mediated cell death pathway, characterized by elevated levels of caspase 9, followed by caspase 3 protease activity. Disruption of the intrinsic cell death pathway at multiple junctures led to a significant inhibition of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy during agonist stimulation, with a corresponding reduction in the expression of known hypertrophic markers (atrial natriuretic peptide) and transcription factor activity [myocyte enhancer factor-2, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)]. Similarly, in vivo attenuation of caspase activity via adenoviral expression of the biologic effector caspase inhibitor p35 blunted cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in response to agonist stimulation. Treatment of cardiomyocytes with procaspase 3 activating compound 1, a small-molecule activator of caspase 3, resulted in a robust induction of the hypertrophy response in the absence of any agonist stimulation. These results suggest that caspase-dependent signaling is necessary and sufficient to promote cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. These results also confirm that cell death signal pathways behave as active remodeling agents in cardiomyocytes, independent of inducing an apoptosis response.
Microwave oxidation treatment of sewage sludge

Microwave-oxidation treatment of sewage sludge using various oxidants was studied. Two treatment schemes with a combination of hydrogen peroxide and ozone were examined: hydrogen peroxide and ozone were introduced into the sludge simultaneously, followed by microwave heating. The other involved the ozonation first, and then the resulting solution was subjected to microwave and hydrogen peroxide treatment. The set with ozonation followed by hydrogen peroxide plus microwave heating yielded higher soluble materials than those of the set with hydrogen peroxide plus ozone first and then microwave treatment. No settling was observed for all treatments in the batch operation, except ozone/microwave plus hydrogen peroxide set at 120°C. The pilot-scale continuous-flow 915 MHz microwave study has demonstrated that microwave-oxidation process is feasible for real-time industrial application. It would help in providing key data for the design of a full-scale system for treating sewage sludge and the formulation of operational protocols.
MicroRNA expression profiling of kidney tissues in patients with congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction

Objectives: To identify microRNA expression signature in patients with congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) compared with normal kidney tissues, and explore microRNAs that have a relationship with the renal function of patients with congenital hydronephrosis. Methods: A total of four patients with UPJO were recruited into this study in The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yet-sen University. The case group samples were harvested from patients with congenital UPJO, while the control group samples were normal kidney tissues adjacent to tumors harvested from patients with nephroblastoma. MiRNA expression profiles were assessed using miRNA microarrays. The target genes and the functions of selected microRNA were analyzed using bioinformatic methods. Results: Five miRNAs were significantly altered in patients with congenital UPJO with the control group. Bioinformatic analyses of these differentially expressed miRNAs showed that three up-regulated miRNAs were associated with each other through a protein-protein interaction (PPI) sub-network. In addition, enrichment analyses showed that most of the genes targeted by the three up-regulated miRNAs were associated with tumor apoptosis. Conclusions: Our analysis showed that miRNA expression profiling of kidney tissues are altered in congenital UPJO patients which may contribute to the disease progression through different biological processes. After proper validation, these microRNAs may play significant roles in the therapeutic applications and be the potential therapeutic targets in congenital UPJO.
Markers of airway inflammation in the exhaled breath condensate of preschool wheezers.

BACKGROUND Leukotrienes (LT), isoprostanes, and nitrites/nitrates are biomarkers of airway inflammation and oxidative stress that can be detected in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). The aim of this study was to evaluate LTB4, LTE4, 8-isoprostane, and nitrite/nitrate levels in the EBC of healthy and wheezing preschool children. METHODS We included 21 healthy nonatopic children and 25 patients with recurrent wheezing episodes in a cross-sectional study. LTB4, LTE4, and 8-isoprostane concentrations were measured directly in EBC using a specific enzyme immunoassay; nitrite/nitrate concentrations were measured using a colorimetric assay. RESULTS LTB4 concentrations were higher in children with wheezing episodes than in healthy controls (76 pg/mL vs 20 pg/mL, P < .001). LTE4 was increased in children with wheezing episodes than in healthy controls (68 pg/mL vs 35 pg/mL, P < .001). Nitrite concentrations were higher in children with wheezing episodes than in healthy controls (14 pg/mL vs 9.7 pg/mL, P < .03). We found no differences in 8-isoprostane and nitrate concentrations between the patients and the healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that EBC is a suitable noninvasive method for the assessment of airway inflammation and oxidative stress in preschool children. Levels of LTB4, LTE4, and nitrites were higher in children with recurrent wheezing episodes than in healthy controls.
Surveillance for five health risks among older adults--United States, 1993-1997.

PROBLEM/CONDITION Overweight, drinking and driving, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, physical inactivity, and smoking are associated with the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among older adults (i.e., persons aged > or =65 years) in the United States. REPORTING PERIOD This report presents data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 1994-1997 and from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for 1993-1995. DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEMS BRFSS and NHIS are maintained by CDC and have been used for surveillance purposes. Each survey is administered annually and includes questions about health risks and health behaviors from a representative sample of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population. The NHIS is designed to provide national estimates and the BRFSS, state estimates. RESULTS Prevalences of overweight, drinking and driving, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, and smoking decreased with increasing age among older adults in the United States; physical inactivity was the only health risk that increased with increasing age. Sex and race were differentially associated with all five health risks. INTERPRETATION Specific subgroups of older adults are at risk for being overweight, drinking and driving, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, physical inactivity, and smoking. These health risks varied by age, race, residential state, and socioeconomic status and highlight the heterogeneous nature of older adults. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION Surveillance for health risks among older adults provides information to help identify effective interventions for the growing population of older adults in the United States.
Perspectives in Adjuvant Therapy of Gastric Cancer

Although the incidence of gastric cancer has been declining in Western countries, it is still a major health problem and a leading cause of cancer mortality. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for gastric adenocarcinoma. However, even among patients undergoing gastrectomy with curative intent, 5-year survival rates are disappointing due to locoregional relapse and distant metastases. This emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary management of patients with gastric cancer. In contrast to the preoperative approach, several phase III trials have been carried out in the adjuvant setting, but postoperative chemotherapy has not proven to be superior to surgery alone. Therefore, at present the routine use of adjuvant therapy should be regarded as an investigational approach. Improved clinical trial designs with standardized surgical techniques and the incorporation of newer active drugs are needed.
From research to clinical practice: Considerations in moving research into people's hands. Personal reflections that may be useful to others

It may take many years for published clinical research findings to be found, understood, adopted and applied in practice. In recognition of this delay, many jurisdictions and agencies are now promoting a stronger link between research and its dissemination in useable forms that will enable practitioners to access, understand and use new ideas. The purpose of this paper, first presented as a keynote address at the 15th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability in Oslo in October 2003, is to share experiences of the author and his colleagues at a childhood disability system-linked research centre in Ontario, Canada. The lessons learned include the value of striving to describe one's findings in plain language; writing study reports for parents and children who are involved in research studies; using multiple methods to disseminate one's work; and making explicit the potential importance and applicability of the findings to readers of the work. Engaging end users at many stages of the development and field testing of one's work will enhance buy-in and lend added credibility to the work, as well as influencing content and process as the research unfolds. The result is likely to be greater recognition of ‘familiar’ aspects of the research and the adoption of relevant findings.