Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Rewards Outweigh the Efforts: Breastfeeding Outcomes for Mothers of Preterm Infants

This study describes the rewards and efforts of breastfeeding for mothers of preterm infants. Using a semi-structured interview guide, 20 mothers of preterm infants were interviewed in their homes approximately 1 month after infant discharge from a Level III NICU. Mothers described the following rewards of breastfeeding: knowing they were providing the healthiest nutrition for the infant, enhancing closeness between the mother and infant, perceiving infant contentment and tranquility during breastfeeding, providing convenience for the mother, and giving the mother a tangible claim on the infant. Most mothers identified some "efforts" associated with breastfeeding their preterm infants, but indicated that overall, breastfeeding was a rewarding experience. These data provide scientific support for the promotion and facilitation of breastfeeding for mothers of preterm infants, in that mothers perceive specific emotional advantages that they relate to the breastfeeding experience.
Credence Goods and Online Product Reviews: An Exploration of the Product Type Concept in the Social Commerce Era

Social commerce has shown significant growth in recent years. Today, consumers share their opinions and experiences about a wide range of services and products online in order to reduce their information search costs. In the related literature building upon the product type concept, the traditional distinction between search goods and experience goods seems to be taken for granted. However, credence goods, i.e. products for which qualities cannot be easily evaluated even after purchase, have not been taken into account yet although online product reviews are especially important in this context. Thus, we present an empirical analysis of product reviews collected from amazon.com to extend the knowledge about the product type concept and conduct a content analysis of reviews discussing credence goods. We find that these differ regarding product evaluations, statements about product quality and expressed feelings of need. Implications are drawn for both theory and practice.
Semantic encoding enhances the pictorial superiority effect in the oldest-old*

ABSTRACT We examined the effect of a semantic orienting task during encoding on free recall and recognition of simple line drawings and matching words in middle-aged (44–59 years), older (60–89 years), and oldest-old (90+ years) adults. Participants studied line drawings and matching words presented in blocked order. Half of the participants were given a semantic orienting task and the other half received standard intentional learning instructions. Results confirmed that the pictorial superiority effect was greater in magnitude following semantic encoding compared to the control condition. Analyses of clustering in free recall revealed that oldest-old adults' encoding and retrieval strategies were generally similar to the two younger groups. Self-reported strategy use was less frequent among the oldest-old adults. These data strongly suggest that semantic elaboration is an effective compensatory mechanism underlying preserved episodic memory performance that persists well into the ninth decade of life.
Cytosine methylation profiling of cancer cell lines

DNA-methylation changes in human cancer are complex and vary between the different types of cancer. Capturing this epigenetic variability in an atlas of DNA-methylation changes will be beneficial for basic research as well as translational medicine. Hypothesis-free approaches that interrogate methylation patterns genome-wide have already generated promising results. However, these methods are still limited by their quantitative accuracy and the number of CpG sites that can be assessed individually. Here, we use a unique approach to measure quantitative methylation patterns in a set of >400 candidate genes. In this high-resolution study, we employed a cell-line model consisting of 59 cancer cell lines provided by the National Cancer Institute and six healthy control tissues for discovery of methylation differences in cancer-related genes. To assess the effect of cell culturing, we validated the results from colon cancer cell lines by using clinical colon cancer specimens. Our results show that a large proportion of genes (78 of 400 genes) are epigenetically altered in cancer. Although most genes show methylation changes in only one tumor type (35 genes), we also found a set of genes that changed in many different forms of cancer (seven genes). This dataset can easily be expanded to develop a more comprehensive and ultimately complete map of quantitative methylation changes. Our methylation data also provide an ideal starting point for further translational research where the results can be combined with existing large-scale datasets to develop an approach that integrates epigenetic, transcriptional, and mutational findings.
Survival in patients with nosocomial pneumonia: impact of the severity of illness and the etiologic agent.

OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of severity of illness at different times, using the Mortality Probability Models (MPM II), and the impact of etiologic agent on survival in patients with nosocomial pneumonia. DESIGN Retrospective, observational study. SETTING Fourteen-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in a teaching hospital. PATIENTS Sixty-two patients with nosocomial pneumonia who were receiving early appropriate antibiotic treatment. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Severity of illness at the time of admission to the ICU (M0), 24 hrs after admission (M24), and at the time of pneumonia diagnosis (M1) was determined using MPM II. Bacteriology was established by quantitative cultures from bronchoscopic samples. The outcome measure was the crude mortality rate. The crude mortality rate in the ICU was 59.7%, compared with average predicted mortality rates of 43.5% (M0), 36.4% (M24), and 52.2% (M1). We observed significant differences in mean MPM II determinations between survivors and nonsurvivors at M1 (39.3% vs. 60.9%, p = .001) but not at M0 and M24. In the univariate analysis, the variables most predictive of mortality were the presence of coma (p = .02), inotropic medication use (p = .001), and an MPM II determination of > 50% (p = .001) when pneumonia was diagnosed (M1). Multivariate analysis showed that, in the absence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an MPM II determination of > 50% at M1 was associated with a relative risk of death of 4.8. The presence of P. aeruginosa was associated with an increase in the risk of death of 2.6 and 6.36 in both populations with MPM II determinations at M1 of < or = 50% and > 50%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Severity of illness when pneumonia is diagnosed is the most important predictor of survival, and this determination should be used for therapeutic and prognostic stratification. In addition, the presence of P. aeruginosa contributed to an excess of mortality that could not be measured by MPM II alone, suggesting the importance of the pathogen in prognosis.
Expression and Regulatory Effects of Murine Schlafen (Slfn) Genes in Malignant Melanoma and Renal Cell Carcinoma*

Background: The role of Slfn genes in antineoplastic responses is yet to be defined. Results: Murine Slfn genes are up-regulated in an IFN-dependent manner in melanoma, and RCC cells and members of this family differentially suppress proliferation and anchorage-independent malignant cell growth. Conclusion: Slfns play important roles in controlling malignant melanoma and RCC tumorigenesis. Significance: Modulation of Slfn expression may provide a novel approach for the treatment of malignancies. There is emerging evidence that the IFN-inducible family of Slfn genes and proteins play important roles in cell cycle progression and control of cellular proliferation, but the precise functional roles of different Slfn members in the regulation of tumorigenesis remain unclear. In the present study, we undertook a systematic analysis on the expression and functional relevance of different mouse Slfn genes in malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma cells. Our studies demonstrate that several mouse Slfn genes are up-regulated in response to IFN treatment of mouse melanoma and renal cell carcinoma cells, including Slfn1, Slfn2, Slfn4, Slfn5, and Slfn8. Our data show that Slfn2 and Slfn3 play essential roles in the control of mouse malignant melanoma cell proliferation and/or anchorage-independent growth, suggesting key and non-overlapping roles for these genes in the control of malignant melanoma tumorigenesis. In renal cell carcinoma cells, in addition to Slfn2 and Slfn3, Slfn5 also exhibits important antineoplastic effects. Altogether, our findings indicate important functions for distinct mouse Slfn genes in the control of tumorigenesis and provide evidence for differential involvement of distinct members of this gene family in controlling tumorigenesis. They also raise the potential of future therapeutic approaches involving modulation of expression of members of this family of genes in malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma.
Spectral Reflectance to Estimate Genetic Variation for In-Season Biomass, Leaf Chlorophyll, and Canopy Temperature in Wheat

Spectral indices as a selection tool in plant breeding could improve genetic gains for different important traits. The objectives of this study were to assess the potential of using spectral reflectance indices (SRI) to estimate genetic variation for in-season biomass production, leaf chlorophyll, and canopy temperature (CT) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under irrigated conditions. Three field experiments, GHIST (15 CIMMYT globally adapted historic genotypes), RILs1 (25 recombinant inbred lines [RILs]), and RILs2 (36 RILs) were conducted under irrigated conditions at the CIMMYT research station in northwest Mexico in three different years. Five SRI were evaluated to differentiate genotypes for biomass production. In general, genotypic variation for all the indices was significant. Near infrared radiation (NIR)–basedindicesgavethehighestlevelsofassociationwithbiomass production and the higher associations were observed at heading and grainfilling, rather than at booting. Overall, NIR-based indices were more consistent and differentiated biomass more effectively compared to the other indices. Indices based on ratio of reflection spectra cor
Autobiographical memory in adults with autism spectrum disorder: The role of depressed mood, rumination, working memory and theory of mind

Autobiographical memory difficulties have been widely reported in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of the current study was to explore the potential correlates of autobiographical memory performance (including depressed mood, rumination, working memory and theory of mind) in adults with ASD, relative to a group of typical adults matched for age, gender and IQ. Results demonstrated that the adults with ASD reported higher levels of depressed mood and rumination than the typical adults, and also received lower scores on measures of theory of mind and working memory. Correlational analysis suggested that theory of mind and working memory were associated with autobiographical memory performance in the adults with ASD, but no significant relationships were observed between autobiographical memory, depressed mood and rumination in this group. To explore these patterns further, two cases of adults with a dual diagnosis of ASD and depression are discussed. These participants present a profile in line with the idea that depressed mood and rumination do not have the same influence on autobiographical memory in adults with ASD as they do in typical adults.
Do Incidental Hyperechoic Renal Lesions Measuring Up to 1 cm Warrant Further Imaging? Outcomes of 161 Lesions.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the outcomes of hyperechoic renal lesions measuring 1 cm or less at ultrasound examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study included 161 hyperechoic renal lesions measuring 1 cm or less at ultrasound that were evaluated with follow-up ultrasound, CT, or MRI. Follow-up imaging examinations were reviewed to assess for definitive lesion characterization or size stability. RESULTS Follow-up included 11 unenhanced CT, 39 contrast-enhanced CT, 52 unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT, two unenhanced MRI, 50 unenhanced and contrast-enhanced MRI, and 87 ultrasound examinations. At CT or MRI 58.4% of lesions were confirmed to be angiomyolipomas. At CT, one lesion represented a stone, and one a hyperdense cyst. At CT or MRI 11.8% of the lesions had no correlate; 3.1% were not visualized at follow-up ultrasound. An additional 23.6% were stable at 2-year follow-up imaging or beyond. Two lesions were evaluated with only contrast-enhanced CT less than 1 month after ultrasound, and the CT images did not show macroscopic fat or calcification or meet the criteria for a simple cyst. These lesions were considered indeterminate. One lesion in a 65-year-old man was imaged with unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT 23 months after ultrasound, and the CT showed an increase in size, solid enhancement, and no macroscopic fat. This lesion was presumed to represent renal cell carcinoma. Overall, the one lesion presumed malignant and the two indeterminate lesions constituted 1.9% of the cohort. The other 98.1% of lesions were considered clinically insignificant. CONCLUSION Most hyperechoic renal lesions measuring 1 cm or smaller were clinically insignificant, suggesting that such lesions may not require additional imaging. Patient demographics, symptoms and risk factors for malignancy may help inform the decision to forgo follow-up imaging of such lesions.
Enhanced cancer stem cell properties of a mitotically quiescent subpopulation of p75NTR-positive cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Mitotically quiescent cancer stem cells (CSCs) possess higher malignant potential than other CSCs, indicating their higher contribution to therapeutic resistance than that of other CSCs. In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) is expressed in a candidate CSC population showing high tumorigenicity and chemoresistance. In the present study, we isolated and characterized quiescent CSCs population in ESCC based on p75NTR expression and cell cycle status. Expression of p75NTR and Ki-67 in ESCC cell lines (KYSE cells) and surgically resected ESCC specimens was detected by performing immunocytochemical analysis. p75NTR-positive KYSE cells were fractionated into quiescent and proliferating cells by performing flow cytometry with a fluorescent DNA-staining dye to determine their CSC phenotype. Immunocytochemical analysis showed that 21.8 and 36.5% of the p75NTR-positive cells were Ki-67-negative (G0), which accounted for 11.4 and 15.7% of cells in KYSE-30 and KYSE-140 cell lines, respectively. Flow cytometric cell sorting showed that p75NTR-positive cells in the G0-G1 phase (p75NTR-positive/G0-1 cells) but not in the S-G2-M phase (p75NTR-positive/S-G2-M cells) showed strong expression of stem cell-related genes Nanog, BMI-1, and p63; high colony formation ability; high tumorigenicity in a mouse xenograft model; and strong chemoresistance against cisplatin because of the expression of drug resistance genes ABCG2 and ERCC1. Label-retention assay showed that 3.4% p75NTR-positive cells retained fluorescent cell-tracing dye, but p75NTR-negative cells did not. Immunohistochemical analysis of ESCC specimens showed p75NTR expression in 39 of 95 (41.1%) patients, with a median of 13.2% (range, 3.0–80.1%) p75NTR-positive/Ki-67-negative cells, which were found to be associated with poorly differentiated histology. Our results suggest that p75NTR-positive/G0-1 cells represent quiescent CSCs in ESCC and indicate that these cells can be used as targets to investigate molecular processes regulating CSC phenotype and to develop novel therapeutic strategies.
Prospective evaluation of ambient operating room temperature on the core temperature of injured patients undergoing emergent surgery

BACKGROUND Although uncomfortable for the operating team, trauma operating room (OR) temperatures have traditionally been kept warm in an attempt to mitigate intraoperative heat loss. The purpose of this study was to examine how ambient OR temperatures impact core temperature in patients undergoing emergent surgery for trauma. METHODS Injured adult patients requiring emergent surgery at a Level 1 trauma center were prospectively enrolled between July 2008 and January 2010. Standardized warming measures were used for all patients. Ambient OR temperature was recorded in 5-minute intervals with the Fourier Microlog EC600 temperature data logger. Intraoperative core patient temperatures were compared with ambient OR temperature. Patients experiencing intraoperative core temperature decreases were compared with those who did not, to examine the impact of ambient temperature changes on the risk of perioperative hypothermia. RESULTS During the 18-month study period, 118 patients requiring emergent surgery (73% laparotomy, 5% thoracotomy, 7% combined, 15% other) were enrolled. Incidence of hypothermia (<35°C) at admission to the OR was 29.7%. Crude mortality increased as the final patient core temperature achieved in the OR decreased (4.2% for temperatures >35°C and as high as 50% for temperatures ⩽32°C). Overall, core temperature decreased in 46 patients (39.0%) but remained stable or increased by the end of the procedure in 72 (61%). There were no significant differences in the admission temperature, clinical demographics, or volume of fluids and blood products between the two groups. In a forward logistic regression analysis, a lower ambient OR temperature was not associated with a drop in the patient’s core temperature. CONCLUSION In this prospective study, the ambient OR temperature did not affect the core temperature of injured patients undergoing emergent surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV.
The Role of Bequests in Shaping Wealth Inequality: Evidence from Danish Wealth Records

Using Danish administrative data, we estimate the impact of bequests on the level and inequality of wealth. We employ an event study design where we follow the distribution of wealth over time of people who are 45-50 years old, and divided into treatment group and control group depending on whether a parent dies or not. Bequests account for 26 percent of the average post-bequest wealth 1-3 years after parental death and significantly affect wealth throughout the distribution. We find that bequests increase measures of absolute wealth inequality (variance), but reduce relative inequality (top wealth shares). Following the receipts of bequests, variance of the distribution censored at the top/bottom 1% increases by 33 percent, but the top 1% share declines by 6 percentage points from an initial level of 31 percent and the top 10% share declines by 10 percentage points from a base of around 81 percent.
Political and Medical Views on Medical Marijuana and its Future

The policies, laws, politics, public opinions, and scientific inferences of medical marijuana are rapidly changing as the debate on medical use of marijuana has always been political, rather than scientific. Federal law has barred the use of medical marijuana though 18 state governments and Washington, DC, support the medical use of marijuana. Unfortunately, not many studies exist on medical marijuana to back these laws and policies. The judiciary, on the other hand, has elicited a diverse response to medical marijuana through its rulings over several decades. Some rulings favored the federal government's opinion, and others supported the larger public view and many state governments with legalized medical marijuana. Public opinion on legalizing medical marijuana has always favored the use of medical marijuana. The movement of scientific knowledge of medical marijuana follows an erratic, discontinuous pathway. The future place of medical marijuana in U.S. society remains unknown. The three forces—scientific knowledge, social-political acceptance, and laws—play a role in the direction that medical marijuana takes in society. Overcoming political-social forces requires a concerted effort from the scientific community and political leaders. The results of scientific research must guide the decisions for laws and medical use of marijuana. This article aims to trace the political dilemma and contradictory views shared by federal and state governments and predict the future of medical marijuana by tracing the past history of medical marijuana with its bumpy pathway in the social-political arena.
Designing for privacy in personal learning spaces

We present the results of a study of information sharing behaviour of the users of a personal learning space. Our study uses grounded theory methodology and involves 12 K12 students who have used a personal learning space for over a year. The resulting grounded theory suggests that users’ preferences regarding privacy of their artefacts in such an environment depends on a number of factors, including the current stage in the artefact's life cycle, the nature of trust between the owner and the receiver of information, and the dynamics of the group or community within which the information is being shared. Based on our findings, we propose a framework for understanding and designing privacy control mechanisms for personal learning spaces that reflect users’ mental model of information privacy. To illustrate these principles in practice, we describe the privacy management mechanisms of OpnTag, an application we have designed as a test bed for social information management.
Are journal clubs effective in supporting evidence-based decision making? A systematic review. BEME Guide No. 16.

Background: Journal clubs (JCs) are a common form of interactive education in health care aiming to promote the uptake of research evidence into practice, but their effectiveness has not been established. Objective: This systematic review aimed to determine whether the JC is an effective intervention in supporting clinical decision making. Methods: We searched for studies which evaluated whether clubs promote changes in learner reaction, attitudes, knowledge, skills, behaviour or patient outcomes. We included undergraduate, postgraduate and practice JCs and excluded studies evaluating video/internet meetings or single meetings. Results: Eighteen studies were included. Studies reported improvements in reading behaviour (N = 5/11), confidence in critical appraisal (N = 7/7), critical appraisal test scores (N = 5/7) and ability to use findings (N = 5/7). No studies reported on patient outcomes. Sixteen studies used self-reported measures, but only four studies used validated tests. Interventions were too heterogeneous to allow pooling. Realist synthesis identified potentially ‘active educational ingredients’, including mentoring, brief training in clinical epidemiology, structured critical appraisal tools, adult-learning principles, multifaceted teaching approaches and integration of the JC with other clinical and academic activities. Conclusion: The effectiveness of JCs in supporting evidence-based decision making is not clear. Better reporting of the intervention and a mixed methods approach to evaluating active ingredients are needed in order to understand how JCs may support evidence-based practice.