Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prospective comparison of nasal versus oral insertion of a thin video endoscope in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS Attempts have been made to improve patient's tolerance of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and to decrease the need for sedation, using thinner endoscopes and a nasal introduction route. We prospectively compared the oral and nasal routes in volunteers, using a thin prototype video endoscope. METHODS Ten healthy volunteers underwent two upper gastrointestinal endoscopies in a random order on two different days, with the procedure being carried out by a single experienced endoscopist. Parameters assessed were the tolerance of scope insertion and the assessment of the entire procedure (0-10 scale), the method of insertion preferred by the volunteers, the completeness of the examination (assessed by an independent endoscopist), and the time required for the procedure. RESULTS In one patient, nasal insertion failed, and she was excluded from further analysis. The insertion of the scope was easier via the oral route, as reflected in a shorter examination time (mean 165 vs. 210 seconds, p = 0.017) and patients' tolerance for the scope insertion (mean score: 8 for oral vs. 4 for nasal route; p = 0.03). On the other hand, gagging occurred more frequently during oral endoscopy (6/9 vs 1/9, p = 0.05). Three of the volunteers in each case preferred the oral or the nasal route, and three were not decided, in case of a repeated endoscopy. Similarly, the overall tolerance for the procedure did not between the two groups. CONCLUSION Thin-diameter gastroscopes seem to improve patient's tolerance. In this small study in volunteers, nasal introduction showed no overall benefit over oral introduction. Modifications of the scope to achieve better nasal passage are necessary.
Prevalence and trend of HIV infection among voluntary blood donors in China since implementation of the Blood Donation Law: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Objective In 1998, the Blood Donation Law was enacted in China in response to the outbreak of HIV endemic in central rural China as a result of unhygienic and commercial blood collection. This study aims to provide a first comprehensive review of available data on the prevalence, trend and other epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection among voluntary blood donors since 1998.
Liposomes in cosmeceutics

Introduction: Cosmeceuticals are cosmetic products with biologically active ingredients purporting to have medical or drug-like benefits. Some cosmeceuticals can act effectively when reaching their target sites in the deeper layers of the skin. However, the barrier nature of skin causes significant difficulties for compounds to be delivered through. Therefore, scientists are investigating various strategies to overcome these barrier properties. Liposomes have been claimed to improve the topical delivery of compounds. Areas covered: This paper offers a brief overview of current approaches in the research and development of liposomal formulations to improve the performance of cosmeceuticals, from recent literature. This review deals with the potential of liposomes as a skin delivery system for cosmeceuticals, with a focus on the clinical application of liposomes. Expert opinion: Liposomes are well-known vesicular cosmetic delivery systems. The topical application of liposomes offers a wide range of advantages including increased moisturization, restoring action, biodegradability, biocompatibility and extended and slow dermal release. Their similar structure to biological membranes allows penetration into the epidermal barrier, compared with other delivery systems. The incorporation of cosmeceuticals using suitable delivery systems is important in the management of cosmetic disorders.
Ankylosing spondylitis: a risk factor for myocardial infarction?

Objective To ascertain the prevalence of myocardial infarction (MI) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) relative to that in the general population. Methods A questionnaire was sent to 593 patients with AS, aged between 50 and 75 years and registered at the Jan van Breemen Institute or VU University Medical Centre. A total of 383 (65%) patients with AS returned their questionnaire that covered the primary outcome, (non-fatal) MI. The prevalence of MI was calculated with data from the general population provided by Netherlands Information Network of General Practice databases as reference. Results The overall prevalence for MI was 4.4% in patients with AS versus 1.2% in the general population, resulting in an age- and gender-adjusted odds ratio of 3.1 (95% CI 1.9 to 5.1) for patients with AS. When non-responders (35%) were considered as non-MI the odds ratio decreased to 1.9 (95% CI 1.2 to 3.2). Conclusions These observations indicate that the prevalence of MI is increased in patients with AS.
A heuristic pricing and hedging framework for multi-currency fixed income desks

It is well known that traded foreign exchange forwards and cross currency swaps (CCS) cannot be priced applying overnight cash and carry arguments as they imply absence of funding advantage of one currency to the other. This paper proposes a heuristic present value concept for multi-currency pricing and hedging which allows taking into account the funding and therefore the collateral currency and its pricing impact. For uncollateralized operations, it provides more funding optionality to achieve either cheaper or more connected funding to the hedging instruments. When foreign exchange forwards get aligned with overnight cash and carry arguments, this method naturally converges to the well established OIS discounting where each leg is funded in its own currency. A worked example compares this approach with a benchmark.
Leadership, knowledge and people in knowledge-intensive organisations: implications for HRM theory and practice

In order to offer insights into the management of HR challenges in Knowledge Intensive Firms/Organisations (KIO’s), this Special Issue explores three strands of research: International HRM, leadership and the knowledge-intensive firm/organisation. In this introduction against the background of global developments affecting KIOs, we will first highlight the key leadership issues in global KIOs, including managing, creating and sharing knowledge, and motivating and developing those employed in KIOs. Then we introduce the papers in the special issue, including a Practitioner’s Vision of HRM in a global KIO, and seven research papers from authors from Australia, Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom on leadership in KIOs that reflect the title of this article: leadership, leading knowledge and leading people in knowledge-intensive organisations. And finally, we sketch some future developments and recommendations for further research relevant to international HRM.
The Geography of Development Studies: Leaving No One Behind

Abstract Whereas the Millennium Development Goals sought reductions, the Sustainable Development Goals have set forth bold new objectives of leaving no one behind. This Commentary explores the continued geographic prioritization and exclusions within development studies research and some of the causes. The status quo is entrenching exclusion. A transformation of research, and the research community, is required to ensure that no one is left behind. Providing the evidence to support decision-making that is equitable and inclusive necessitates critical reflection of the exclusions that exist, along with innovation and creativity in how the research community can address gaps and support the more inclusive SDG agenda. Thought leadership and evidence will be the foundation that transforms our research and practice – if we, as a community of researchers, heed the call.
Numerical determination of reverberation chamber field uniformity by a 3-D simulation

The paper presents a 3-D reverberation chamber simulation. An optimized FDTD numerical code runs accounting for the presence of two stirrers in the chamber. A real log-periodic antenna is modeled as field source. Stirrer rotations are also included by a proper parallelization of the code. The chamber electric field is computed within a defined working volume when one, two or three stirrers rotate. In the case of multiple stirrers both synchronized and interleaved moving modality are analyzed. Field uniformity is computed in the working volume according the IEC standard procedure.
MP29-02: a breakthrough for the treatment of allergic rhinitis

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) can be challenging to treat. For many patients, current therapies (including multiple therapies) provide insufficient symptom relief. There is, therefore, a clear unmet medical need for a new and more effective AR treatment option. MP29-02 (Dymista) is a novel intranasal formulation of azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate in an advanced delivery system. Areas covered: The goal of this article is to review all MP29-02 clinical data currently published with a view to establish its potential to fill the current unmet medical need in AR. Relevant articles and abstracts were reviewed from PUBMED and conference proceedings. Expert opinion: MP29-02 represents a breakthrough in AR management for the following reasons: i) MP29-02 has been extensively studied in comparison to first-line therapies in both seasonal AR (SAR) patients and in those with chronic rhinitis (i.e., perennial allergic rhinitis [PAR] and nonallergic (vasomotor) rhinitis) in one of the largest direct head-to-head clinical trial programmes in AR, to date. ii) With MP29-02, the efficacy of an intranasal corticosteroid (INS), the first-line choice for AR has been exceeded for the first time without safety repercussions. AR patients treated with MP29-02 experience significantly greater relief from their overall nasal and ocular symptoms compared to two first-line AR therapies, irrespective of season, symptom type, or disease severity. More patients treated with MP29-02 achieve a substantial reduction (i.e., 50% reduction) in their symptoms and also complete symptom relief and achieve these clinically relevant responses days faster than an INS or antihistamine. iii) Formulation of a topical medication is critical, and MP29-02's novel formulation and/or its device contribute to its clinical efficacy.
Trends in the Prevalence of Pathogens Causing Urethritis in Asturias, Spain, 1989–2000

Background There are few studies of recent trends in the etiology and epidemiologic characteristics of specific microorganisms causing urethritis in men. Goal The objective of the current study was to show the clinical experience in our country and to evaluate the trends in the prevalence of the pathogens in male urethritis, as well as the epidemiologic patterns in a series of 2101 patients. Study Design This was a descriptive study of the etiological agents causing urethritis in our sexually transmitted disease clinics in a period of 12 years (1989–2000), with a comparison of two periods of time. Results There were 97 cases of gonococcal urethritis (4.6%), 2004 of nongonococcal urethritis (95.4%), and 82 of mixed urethritis (3.9%). An association was found between gonococcal urethritis and heterosexual men; between chlamydial urethritis and homosexual/bisexual men;Ureaplasma urealyticum urethritis and heterosexual men and patients younger than 30 years of age; and between trichomonal urethritis and patients more than 30 years of age and the presence of HIV antibodies. Conclusion During the period of research there was a significant decrease in cases of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis urethritis and an increase in those of U urealyticum urethritis. In conclusion, this report describes changes in the etiology and epidemiologic patterns of urethritis in our country in recent years.
Lipid-based nanocarrier for quercetin delivery: system characterization and molecular interactions studies

Abstract The flavonoid quercetin (QU) is a naturally occurring compound with several biological activities. However, the oral bioavailability of this compound is very low due to the high pre-systemic metabolism in the colon and liver and its low water solubility. In this context, the development of QU-loaded nanocarriers (NEs) is a promising approach to improve the drug oral bioavailability. This study investigates the variation of the concentration of 12-hydroxystearic acid–polyethylene glycol copolymer, lecithin and castor oil (CO) as to increase the amount of QU encapsulated while maintaining physicochemical characteristics described in previous studies. To better understand the ability to load and release the drug, we investigated the molecular interactions between QU and NE. Lipid-based NEs were prepared using CO as oily phase and PEG 660-stearate and lecithin as surfactants. Hot solvent diffusion and phase inversion temperature were methods employed to produce NEs. The QU-NEs were investigated for physicochemical characteristics and in vitro drug release. Molecular interactions between QU and the NEs were monitored through the complementary infrared (Fourier transform infrared) and NMR. The results revealed that it was possible to incorporate higher amounts of QU in a lipid-based NE with a reduced size (20 nm). The system developed allow a sustained release of QU probably due to the shell formed by the surfactants around the NE and the flavonoid ordering effect in the emulsion hydrophobic regions, which may reduce the system permeability.
Cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding 14-3-3 protein with leaf and stem-specific expression from wheat

The 14-3-3 proteins, originally described as the mammalian brain proteins, are ubiquitous eukaryotic proteins and have been shown to exert an array of function. A great number of 14-3-3 sequences have been reported in Eudicotyledon. The data of 14-3-3 from the monocotyledon plants, however, are limited. In this report, a 14-3-3 cDNA (designated as Ta14A) was isolated from wheat. An extensive search in GenBank database revealed another 14 14-3-3 isoforms from monocotyledonous plants. These proteins plus 14-3-3 isoforms from Arabidopsis were used for phylogenetic reconstruction, which revealed two groups of 14-3-3 proteins in monocotyledonous plants, namely epsilon and non-epsilon, respectively. The epsilon isoforms were present in monocotyledonous plants. Therefore, the gene duplication to result in an epsilon and non-epsilon isoforms was likely to take place before the speciation of monocotyledon and Eudicotyledon plants. Structural analysis indicated that the different conserved domains and structural characters existed in the monocotyledon 14-3-3 isoforms, which will affect their interaction with other effector proteins. Ta14A was strongly expressed in leaf and stem, undetected in root, suggesting it may have the unique functions within these tissues. These data suggest that structure difference and spatial expression of 14-3-3 will be the important factors to confine its functional specificity.
Organization Capital and the Cost of Equity Financing in Medium-Sized Manufacturing Firms

We examine the effects of organization capital—evident in management quality practices—on firms’ implied cost of equity. We show that superior management practices decrease firms’ cost of equity capital. This novel finding, robust to a battery of sensitivity analyses and to endogeneity bias, highlights the importance of superior management practices in improving firms’ financing conditions. In sum, this study demonstrates that the quality of management practices maps onto firms’ financing conditions, stressing the value relevance of intangible assets. Les auteurs etudient l'incidence du capital organisationnel — qui se manifeste dans la qualite des methodes de gestion — sur le cout implicite des capitaux propres pour les entreprises. Ils montrent que des methodes de gestion de qualite superieure diminuent le cout des capitaux propres pour les entreprises. Cette constatation nouvelle, qui resiste a une batterie d'analyses de sensibilite et a la distorsion de l'endogeneite, met en lumiere l'importance du role de methodes de gestion de qualite superieure dans l'amelioration des conditions de financement des entreprises. En somme, l’etude demontre que la qualite des methodes de gestion se superpose aux conditions de financement des entreprises, ce qui souligne la pertinence des actifs incorporels au chapitre de l’evaluation.
How Does Selling Insurance As an Add-On Affect Consumer Decisions? A Practical Application of Behavioural Experiments in Financial Regulation

The Occasional Paper on behavioural economics published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in April 2013 concluded that the effective regulation of retail financial markets requires a deeper and more realistic understanding of how consumers behave and what choices they find particularly difficult. Over the past year, the FCA has made considerable progress in embedding behavioural economics in its regulatory practice. For instance, more sophisticated analysis of consumer behaviour is being used to help identify problems in markets, design policy interventions, and analyse drivers of market outcomes. More practical results of this work will emerge over time - for example, in market studies conducted in pursuit of the FCA’s objective to promote effective competition in the interests of consumers. Practical behavioural analysis needs to be grounded in good empirical evidence on how consumers actually make decisions. This is particularly important for identifying the underlying drivers of consumer behaviour that in turn lead to poor market outcomes – for example, features of the market that might impede consumers’ ability to drive effective competition. Regulators need this understanding to be able to target the root causes of problems, rather than tackle symptoms. This granular investigation of consumer behaviour often requires more complex behavioural research techniques, which have not traditionally been in the regulators’ analytical toolkit.
Transcortical Transventricular Endoscopic Approach and Ommaya Reservoir Placement for Cystic Craniopharyngioma

The treatment of craniopharyngioma is varied. It ranges from radical excision to direct radiotherapy. As the morbidity of excision is high, more conservative approaches are used. Placement of a catheter and reservoir is one such option for cystic craniopharyngiomas. The positioning of catheters has been performed by various means. A method of endoscopic reservoir catheter placement is described. Three children with ages ranging from 5 to 12 years presented with clinical features of raised intracranial pressure. They did not have vision impairment. Imaging showed a predominantly cystic craniopharyngioma extending into the third ventricle with hydrocephalus. All underwent precoronal burr hole, transcortical transventricular endoscopic biopsy of craniopharyngioma, and Ommaya reservoir placement. There were no complications. All children did well after surgery and did not require further cyst aspiration.
Comparing alcohol screening measures among HIV-infected and -uninfected men.

BACKGROUND Brief measures of unhealthy alcohol use have not been well validated among people with HIV. We compared the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to reference standards for unhealthy alcohol use based on 30-day Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) and Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Substance Abuse Module (CIDI-SAM), among 837 male HIV-infected and -uninfected patients in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study. METHODS Three reference standards were (i) Risky drinking-based on TLFB >14 drinks over 7 consecutive days or >4 drinks on 1 day; (ii) Alcohol dependence-based on a CIDI-SAM diagnosis; and (iii) Unhealthy alcohol use-risky drinking or a CIDI-SAM diagnosis of abuse or dependence. Various cutoffs for the AUDIT, AUDIT-C, and heavy episodic drinking were compared with the reference standards. RESULTS Mean age of patients was 52 years, 53% (444) were HIV-infected, and 53% (444) were African American. Among HIV-infected and -uninfected patients, the prevalence of risky drinking (14 vs. 12%, respectively), alcohol dependence (8 vs. 7%), and unhealthy alcohol use (22 vs. 20%) was similar. For risky drinking and alcohol dependence, multiple cutoffs of AUDIT, AUDIT-C, and heavy episodic drinking provided good sensitivity (≥80%) and specificity (≥90%). For unhealthy alcohol use, few cutoffs provided sensitivity ≥80%; however, many cutoffs provided good specificity. For all 3 alcohol screening measures, sensitivity improved when heavy episodic drinking was included with the cutoff. Sensitivity of measures for risky drinking and unhealthy alcohol use was lower in HIV-infected than in uninfected patients. CONCLUSIONS For identifying risky drinking, alcohol dependence, and unhealthy alcohol use, AUDIT-C performs as well as AUDIT and similarly in HIV-infected and -uninfected patients. Cutoffs should be based on the importance of specific operating characteristics for the intended research or clinical use. Incorporating heavy episodic drinking increased sensitivity for detecting alcohol dependence and unhealthy alcohol use.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease of unknown aetiology characterised by inflammation and fibrosis of the biliary tree. The mean age at diagnosis is 40 years and men are affected twice as often as women. There is a reported annual incidence of PSC of 0.9–1.31/100,000 and point prevalence of 8.5–13.6/100,000. The onset of PSC is usually insidious and many patients are asymptomatic at diagnosis or have mild symptoms only such as fatigue, abdominal discomfort and pruritus In late stages, splenomegaly and jaundice may be a feature. In most, the disease progresses to cirrhosis and liver failure. Cholangiocarcinoma develops in 8–30% of patients. PSC is thought to be immune mediated and is often associated with inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis. The disease is diagnosed on typical cholangiographic and histological findings and after exclusion of secondary sclerosing cholangitis. Median survival has been estimated to be 12 years from diagnosis in symptomatic patients. Patients who are asymptomatic at diagnosis, the majority of whom will develop progressive disease, have a survival rate greater than 70% at 16 years after diagnosis. Liver transplantation remains the only effective therapeutic option for patients with end-stage liver disease from PSC, although high dose ursodeoxycholic acid may have a beneficial effect.
Size distribution of metastatic lymph nodes with extranodal extension in patients with papillary thyroid cancer: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND Extranodal extension (ENE) is a documented negative prognostic factor in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). ENE is presumed to manifest in larger lymph nodes. Yet, to date, no study has proven this. This is a pilot study that specifically examines the size distribution of positive lymph nodes manifesting ENE in patients with PTC. METHODS An Institutional Review Board approved review examined the size of all lymph nodes demonstrating ENE in postoperative PTC patients that underwent surgery for PTC under the care of a single surgeon between 2004 and 2014. All patients in the study had regional metastatic lymph nodes with ENE. Analysis of the size distribution for all lymph nodes with ENE was performed. RESULTS A total of 47% of lymph nodes with ENE were ≤10 mm. CONCLUSIONS RESULTS indicate that clinically nonevident, small lymph nodes are at risk of harboring aggressive disease biology reflected in ENE. A total of 47% of all nodes fell within Randolph et al.'s classification of "small" lymph nodes, while 59% of the nodes with ENE were <1.5 cm-the threshold size that was deemed to be prognostically significant by Ito et al. It is apparent that clinically nonevident regional lymph nodes can have adverse histologic features and that the previous presumption that nodes with ENE only appear in clinically evident, macroscopic nodes is flawed.