Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutritional assessment of patients before gastrointestinal surgery and nurses' approach to this issue.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional status of patients before gastrointestinal surgery and to reveal nurses' opinions about this issue. BACKGROUND Although there is increasing awareness that malnutrition constitutes an important problem, especially when it accompanies diseases, malnutrition in hospitalized patients is not being diagnosed or treated. DESIGN This study was descriptive. METHODS Subjective global assessment and anthropometric/biochemical measurements were used to evaluate the nutritional status of 57 patients hospitalized for gastrointestinal surgery. Related opinions of eight nurses were obtained via semi-structured interviews. RESULTS The malnutrition rate was high in patients before gastrointestinal surgery, and the nurses were not able to evaluate nutritional status properly. Furthermore, the nurses lacked knowledge. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates the importance of evaluating the nutritional status of patients before surgery and the necessity of developing nutritional support plans. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Our study showed that subjective global assessment is an easy and useful scale for evaluating the nutritional status of patients. Nurses are suitable team members for continuous nutritional care and therefore must not delegate this role.
Binding of bromsulphthalein by serum albumin from pregnant women, neonates and subjects on oral contraceptives.

Equilibrium dialysis of bromsulphthalein (b.s.p.) against serum revealed that significantly more molecules of b.s.p. were bound per molecule of albumin in serum taken from pregnant patients and from cord blood than in serum from male and female controls. Serum from subjects taking oral contraceptives gave results midway between the two extremes. Further investigations, and re-evaluation of the results, showed that the differences could in part be explained by the variations in serum albumin concentration. There appeared also to be a difference between the serum albumin from male and female controls and that from pregnant patients, cord blood and subjects on oral contraceptives, which was independent of the variability in albumin concentration. The implications of these findings in evaluating the results of b.s.p. tests of liver function are discussed.
Case-control study of infections with Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 in England.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the source of indigenous sporadic infection with Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4. DESIGN--Case-control study of primary sporadic cases identified by the Public Health Laboratory Service between 1 August and 30 September 1988. SETTING--PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Division of Enteric Pathogens, 11 PHLS laboratories, and 42 local authority environmental health departments in England. SUBJECTS--232 Patients (cases) with confirmed primary sporadic infection, for 160 of whom (88 female) (median age 30 years, age range 4 months to 85 years) data were obtained by questionnaire about consumption of fresh eggs, egg products, precooked chicken, and minced meat in the three days and one week before onset of the symptoms. Up to three controls, matched for neighbourhood, age, and sex (if aged greater than 11 years), were asked the same questions for the same calendar period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Association of primary sporadic infection with consumption of suspected food items. RESULTS--Illness due to S enteritidis phage type 4 was significantly associated with consumption of raw shell egg products (homemade mayonnaise, ice cream, and milk drinks containing eggs) (matched p = 0.02) and shop bought sandwiches containing mayonnaise (matched p = 0.00004) or eggs (matched p = 0.02). Illness was also significantly associated with eating lightly cooked eggs (unmatched p = 0.02), but not soft boiled eggs, and precooked hot chicken (matched p = 0.006). Reported consumption of eggs was not appreciably different between cases and controls before or after the median date of interview. CONCLUSIONS--Fresh shell eggs, egg products, and precooked hot chicken are vehicles of S enteritidis phage type 4 infection in indigenous sporadic cases. Public health education and reduction in contamination of eggs and infection of poultry with S enteritidis are needed to reduce the incidence of human infection.
Discriminative Map Matching Using View Dependent Map Descriptor

The problem of matching a local occupancy grid map built by a mobile robot to previously built maps is crucial for autonomous navigation in both indoor and outdoor environments. In this paper, the map matching problem is addressed from a novel perspective, which is different from the classic bag-of-words (BoW) paradigm. Unlike previous BoW approaches that trade discriminativity for viewpoint invariance, we develop a local map descriptor that is viewdependent and highly discriminative. Our method consists of three distinct steps: (1) First, an informative local map of the robot’s local surroundings is built. (2) Next, a unique viewpoint is planned in accordance with the given local map. (3) Finally, a synthetic view is described at the designated viewpoint. Because the success of our local map descriptor (LMD) depends on the assumption that the viewpoint is unique given a local map, we also address the issue of viewpoint planning and present a solution that provides similar views for similar local maps. Consequently, we also propose a practical map-matching framework that combines the advantages of the fast succinct bag-of-words technique and the highly discriminative LMD descriptor. The results of experiments conducted verify the efficacy of our proposed approach.
Post-Paleozoic crinoid radiation in response to benthic predation preceded the Mesozoic marine revolution

It has been argued that increases in predation over geological time should result in increases in defensive adaptations in prey taxa. Recent in situ and laboratory observations indicate that cidaroid sea urchins feed on live stalked crinoids, leaving distinct bite marks on their skeletal elements. Similar bite marks on fossil crinoids from Poland strongly suggest that these animals have been subject to echinoid predation since the Triassic. Following their near-demise during the end-Permian extinction, crinoids underwent a major evolutionary radiation during the Middle–Late Triassic that produced distinct morphological and behavioral novelties, particularly motile taxa that contrasted strongly with the predominantly sessile Paleozoic crinoid faunas. We suggest that the appearance and subsequent evolutionary success of motile crinoids were related to benthic predation by post-Paleozoic echinoids with their stronger and more active feeding apparatus and that, in the case of crinoids, the predation-driven Mesozoic marine revolution started earlier than in other groups, perhaps soon after the end-Permian extinction.
In vivo MR elastography of the prostate gland using a transurethral actuator

Conventional approaches for MR elastography (MRE) using surface drivers have difficulty achieving sufficient shear wave propagation in the prostate gland due to attenuation. In this study we evaluate the feasibility of generating shear wave propagation in the prostate gland using a transurethral device. A novel transurethral actuator design is proposed, and the performance of this device was evaluated in gelatin phantoms and in a canine prostate gland. All MRI was performed on a 1.5T MR imager using a conventional gradient‐echo MRE sequence. A piezoceramic actuator was used to vibrate the transurethral device along its length. Shear wave propagation was measured transverse and parallel to the rod at frequencies between 100 and 250 Hz in phantoms and in the prostate gland. The shear wave propagation was cylindrical, and uniform along the entire length of the rod in the gel experiments. The feasibility of transurethral MRE was demonstrated in vivo in a canine model, and shear wave propagation was observed in the prostate gland as well as along the rod. These experiments demonstrate the technical feasibility of transurethral MRE in vivo. Further development of this technique is warranted. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Uso do tabaco entre estudantes de enfermagem de uma faculdade privada

O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer a prevalencia do tabagismo entre universitarios do curso de graduacao em enfermagem, das Faculdades Unificadas Doctum, Guarapari, Espirito Santo. Trata-se de estudo exploratorio, descritivo e quantitativo, desenvolvido com 68 universitarios de enfermagem. A coleta de dados ocorreu nos meses de fevereiro e marco de 2009, utilizando-se um questionario autoaplicavel. Os achados mostram que a maioria dos estudantes e do sexo feminino, na faixa etaria de 20 a 25 anos, moram com os pais; sem renda propria. Dentre eles, 50% experimentaram fumar alguma vez na vida; sendo a experiencia com o tabaco referida com familiares (53%), amigos (32,4%) e atraves da convivencia com fumantes (58,5%). O estudo possibilitou reflexoes sobre o uso/abuso de tabaco, alertando sobre os prejuizos causados por essa substância entre os adultos jovens.
Cesarean Delivery in the United Kingdom: Time Trends in the General Practice Research Database

Objective: To estimate recent temporal trends in delivery by cesarean during the past decade and the proportion of vaginal deliveries after prior caesarean in the United Kingdom. Methods: We conducted a cohort study using information from the General Practice Research Database. We identified all women with 1 or more deliveries between January 1990 and December 1999 and determined the method(s) of delivery. We estimated the proportion of women with vaginal delivery after cesarean in a subcohort who had at least 3 years of follow-up. Results: We identified 39,938 cesareans among 271,663 deliveries (14.7%), with an increase from 12.5% in 1990 to 18.3% in 1999. The proportion of cesarean deliveries increased with age and increased over time in all age groups except women aged younger than 20 years. Among 26,480 women with a caesarean delivery between 1990 and 1996, 7,649 (28.9%) had a subsequent delivery. The proportion of vaginal delivery after prior cesarean decreased from 45% in 1991 to 37% in 1999. Conclusion: Cesarean deliveries increased as a proportion of all deliveries in the United Kingdom during the past decade, and the proportion of vaginal delivery after prior cesarean decreased. Still, the proportion of cesarean deliveries is lower and the proportion of vaginal deliveries after prior cesarean is higher in the United Kingdom than in the United States. Level of Evidence: II-2
The Temple of Harmony: New Research on St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh

St Cecilia's Hall in Niddry Street, Edinburgh, was built between 1761 and 1763 as a private concert hall and practice space for the members of the Edinburgh Musical Society. This was an exclusive male club of well-to-do legal, merchant and aristocratic members, who actively participated in the performance of music. As their ambitions grew they employed professional musicians, and to pay for these artists they increased their membership and arranged concerts, to which ladies were at first, somewhat grudgingly, invited.1 This paper examines the history of the design and construction of the building from 1755, along with the changes made to it between 1763 and the departure of the Musical Society in 1801. 4.1Photograph of the front of St Cecilia's Hall, 1960. (Crown Copyright: RCAHMS)
Surface EMG crosstalk between knee extensor muscles: Experimental and model results

Surface electromyographic (EMG) crosstalk between vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris muscles was evaluated by selective electrical stimulation of one muscle and recording from the stimulated and another muscle with linear surface arrays of eight electrodes. The ratio between the amplitude of the signals recorded over nonstimulated and stimulated muscles and their correlation coefficient were used as indices to quantify crosstalk. Single‐differential and double‐differential detection systems were used with interelectrode distances in the range 10–40 mm. The multichannel EMG signals clearly showed that crosstalk is largely due to nonpropagating potentials that correspond in time to the end of the propagation of the action potentials generated by the stimulated muscle. The crosstalk signal increased with increasing interelectrode distance and was statistically higher for single‐ than for double‐differential recordings. The correlation‐based indices of crosstalk were poorly correlated with the amplitude‐based indices. Moreover, the characteristic spectral frequencies of the signals detected over the nonstimulated muscles were statistically higher than those from the stimulated muscles. A mathematical model of signal generation was used to explain the experimental findings. This study clarifies many controversial findings of past investigations and creates the basis for crosstalk interpretation, simulation, and reduction. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 681–695, 2002
Activity Determinants and Functional Specialization of Arabidopsis PEN1 Syntaxin in Innate Immunity*

In eukaryotes, proteins of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) family are believed to have a general role for the fusion of intracellular transport vesicles with acceptor membranes. Arabidopsis thaliana PEN1 syntaxin resides in the plasma membrane and was previously shown to act together with its partner SNAREs, the adaptor protein SNAP33, and endomembrane-anchored VAMP721/722 in the execution of secretory immune responses against powdery mildew fungi. We conducted a structure-function analysis of PEN1 and show that N-terminal phospho-mimicking and non-phosphorylatable variants neither affected binary nor ternary SNARE complex formation with cognate partners in vitro. However, expression of these syntaxin variants at native protein levels in a pen1 mutant background suggests that phosphorylation is required for full resistance activity in planta. All tested site-directed substitutions of SNARE domain or “linker region” residues reduced PEN1 defense activity. Two of the variants failed to form ternary complexes with the partner SNAREs in vitro, possibly explaining their diminished in planta activity. However, impaired pathogen defense in plants expressing a linker region variant is likely because of PEN1 destabilization. Although Arabidopsis PEN1 and SYP122 syntaxins share overlapping functions in plant growth and development, PEN1 activity in disease resistance is apparently the result of a complete functional specialization. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that PEN1 acts in plant defense through the formation of ternary SNARE complexes and point to the existence of unknown regulatory factors. Our data indirectly support structural inferences that the four-helical coiled coil bundle in ternary SNARE complexes is formed in a sequential order from the N- to C-terminal direction.
Chondrosarcomas of the base of the skull in Ollier's disease or Maffucci's syndrome Three Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Ollier's disease is a rare disease characterized by constitutional bone dysplasia with multiple enchondromas. The combination of haemangioma and chondromatoses is known as Maffucci's syndrome. Malignant degeneration of bone dysplasia into chondrosarcoma is a well-known complication, but a lesion of the base of the skull is exceptional. It is a slowly growing low-grade malignant tumour. Three new cases of chondrosarcoma of the base of the skull occurring in one patient with Marfucci's syndrome and two patients with Ollier's disease are reported and these cases are discussed in the light of the literature. A multidisciplinary approach, comprising surgery and radiotherapy, achieved good results.
Modeling the proteome of a Marek's disease transformed cell line: a natural animal model for CD30 overexpressing lymphomas

Marek's disease (MD) in the chicken, caused by the highly infectious MD α‐herpesvirus (MDV), is both commercially important and a unique, naturally occurring model for human T‐cell lymphomas overexpressing the Hodgkin's disease antigen, CD30. Here, we used proteomics as a basis for modeling the molecular functions and biological processes involved in MDV‐induced lymphomagenesis. Proteins were extracted from an MDV‐transformed cell line and were then identified using 2‐D LC‐ESI‐MS/MS. From the resulting 3870 cellular and 21 MDV proteins we confirm the existence of 3150 “predicted” and 12 “hypothetical” chicken proteins. The UA‐01 proteome is proliferative, differentiated, angiogenic, pro‐metastatic and pro‐immune‐escape but anti‐programmed cell death, ‐anergy, ‐quiescence and ‐senescence and is consistent with a cancer phenotype. In particular, the pro‐metastatic integrin signaling pathway and the ERK/MAPK signaling pathways were the two predominant signaling pathways represented. The cytokines, cytokine receptors, and their related proteins suggest that UA‐01 has a regulatory T‐cell phenotype.
Identification of the Binding Site of Methylglyoxal on Glutathione Peroxidase: Methylglyoxal Inhibits Glutathione Peroxidase Activity via Binding to Glutathione Binding Sites Arg 184 and 185

Methylglyoxal (MG), a physiological f -dicarbonyl compound is derived from glycolytic intermediates and produced during the Maillard reaction. The Maillard reaction, a non-enzymatic reaction of ketones and aldehydes with amino group of proteins, contributes to the aging of proteins and to complications associated with diabetes. In our previous studies (Che, et al. (1997) "Selective induction of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor by MG and 3-deoxyglucosone in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. The involvement of reactive oxygen species formation and a possible implication for atherogenesis in diabetes". J. Biol. Chem., 272 , 18453-18459), we reported that MG elevates intracellular peroxide levels, but the mechanisms for this remain unclear. Here, we report that MG inactivates bovine glutathione peroxidase (GPx), a major antioxidant enzyme, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The use of BIAM labeling, it was showed that the selenocysteine residue in the active site was intact when GPx was incubated with MG. MALDI-TOF-MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry) and protein sequencing examined the possibility that MG modifies arginine residues in GPx. The results show that Arg 184 and Arg 185, located in the glutathione binding site of GPx was irreversively modified by treatment with MG. Reactive dicarbonyl compounds such as 3-deoxyglucosone, glyoxal and phenylglyoxal also inactivated GPx, although the rates for this inactivation varied widely. These data suggest that dicarbonyl compounds are able to directly inactivate GPx, resulting in an increase in intracellular peroxides which are responsible for oxidative cellular damage.
Particle sliding on a turntable in the presence of friction

The motion of a point particle sliding on a turntable is studied. The equations of motion are derived assuming that the table exerts a frictional force on the particle that is of constant magnitude and directed opposite to the particle's motion relative to the turntable. After expressing the equations in terms of dimensionless variables, some of the general properties of the solutions are discussed. Approximate analytic solutions are found for the cases in which (i) the particle is released from rest with respect to the lab frame, and (ii) the particle is released from rest with respect to the turntable. The equations are then solved numerically to get a more complete understanding of the motion. It is found that one can define an escape speed for the particle, which is the minimum speed required to get the particle to move out to infinity. The escape speed is a function of both the distance from the center of the turntable and the direction of the initial velocity. A qualitative explanation of this behav.
Breaching Confidentiality with Adolescent Clients: A Survey of Australian Psychologists about the Considerations that Influence Their Decisions

Confidentiality is vital for building effective therapeutic alliances with clients, yet determining when to breach confidentiality to prevent harm can be challenging. This is especially true when clients are minors, as the primary concern often entails preventing harm to the young person, as opposed to others. The current study sought to explore the considerations that Australian psychologists take into account when making decisions about breaching confidentiality with adolescents. Two hundred sixty-four psychologists responded to an online survey and rated the importance of 13 considerations. Participants were also able to list additional considerations. Factor analysis indicated that four underlying constructs influence psychologists' decisions: (1)the negative nature of the behaviour; (2) maintaining the therapeutic relationship; (3)the dangerousness of the risk-behaviour; and (4) legal protection. Qualitative analysis of the additional considerations uncovered a range of complex and often competing priorities that are also utilised when making decisions about confidentiality with adolescent clients.
Clinical efficacy of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in the diagnosis of localized prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in the detection of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experimental group consisted of 20 patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy. The sensitivity, positive predictive value and accuracy of the detection of prostate cancer in the 12 sections of the peripheral zone were calculated for prostate biopsy alone, 1H-MRS alone and the combination of these methods, respectively. RESULTS The sensitivity, the positive predictive value, and the accuracy of the preoperative diagnosis of prostate cancer were 43.7%, 68.9% and 54.6%, respectively, with prostate biopsy alone; 60.6%, 87.8% and 71.4% with 1H-MRS alone; and 88.7%, 88.7% and 87.4% with the combination of biopsy and 1H-MRS, respectively. Combined use of biopsy and 1H-MRS significantly improved the sensitivity, positive predictive value and accuracy of the diagnosis. CONCLUSION 1H-MRS together with biopsy might improve the diagnostic accuracy in prostate cancer.
Investigating effects of quadrature imperfection of vector multiplier in implementing RF/Digital predistortion

RF linear vector multiplier is a key component in hybrid RF/Digital predistortion systems. It adjusts, through I and Q baseband control signals, the input signal's magnitude and phase according to the gain and phase required by the predistortion synthesis. In practical situations, due to hardware impairments, the I and Q correction signals combine in some non quadrature phase relation to give error in terms of implemented gain and phase of the predistortion functions. This quadrature imperfection can lead to poor correction in terms of predistortion and hence reduces the linearization capability of the predistortion system. This paper analyzes the effects of such quadrature imperfection in RF/Digital predistortion schemes. Experimental validation is carried out on a power amplifier biased in class B mode and driven by 3G WCDMA signal.
Circulating levels of tumour necrosis factor-α & interferon-γ in patients with dengue & dengue haemorrhagic fever during an outbreak

Background & objectives : Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a severe illness caused by dengue viruses, the pathogenesis of which is not fully understood. Immune enhancement caused by cytokines, interferon and activated complement system is one of the hypotheses proposed to explain the haemorrhagic form of disease. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in dengue infection, and their possible association with disease severity.