Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health disparities paradoxes: Depression and chronic back pain in college alumnae and U.S. women, 39–49

Aims: In the US, higher SES (socio-economic status) groups and white Americans tend to be “healthier” than less advantaged groups. Elimination of disparities is a major public health goal. This study examines disparities for two highly prevalent medical conditions – depression and chronic back pain – and selected medical conditions and behavioral practices. The aim is to provide evidence that may have public health implications for prevention as well as for treatment. Methods: Data from two groups of women: 1) 1704 college-educated women who responded to a self-report questionnaire; and 2) women whose data are reported in the U.S. Health Interview survey and in epidemiologic studies of depression and chronic back pain were compared for depression, chronic back pain and selected behavioral practices and medical conditions reported by the two groups of women. Results: The percentages reporting depression were 17.6 and 16.6; for chronic back pain 9.6 and 10.2 – non statistically-significant differences. For other conditions, the higher SES women had significantly more favorable outcomes. Conclusions: The paradox of no SES disparities for depression and low back pain raises a number of questions regarding the underlying mechanisms; and also has implications for prevention and treatment strategies of the two highly prevalent conditions.
Causes of Death Among Finnish Women with Cosmetic Breast Implants, 1971–2001

Mortality patterns among women with cosmetic breast implants have not been well characterized. We examined cause-specific mortality among women who underwent cosmetic breast implantation at major public hospitals and private clinics in Finland from 1970 through 2000. Causes of death through 2001 were identified through the national mortality register. Expected numbers of deaths were calculated on the basis of mortality rates in the general female population, and standardized mortality ratios (SMR), i.e. ratios of observed to expected deaths, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Among the 2166 women with cosmetic breast implants, we observed 31 deaths versus 32.1 expected. Overall disease mortality was below expectation, mainly due to low mortality from diseases of the circulatory system (SMR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.03–1.02). Mortality from cancer was close to expectation. There was a statistically significant excess of suicide, based on 10 deaths, which was most pronounced during the first 5 years of follow-up (SMR, 4.26; 95% CI, 1.56–9.26). In conclusion, although based on small numbers, women with cosmetic breast implants did not experience higher mortality overall than women in the general population. The high suicide risk supports other studies and warrants further detailed investigation.
PREVALENCE OF DENTAL CARIES AMONG 5-14 YEARS OLD POOR LOCALITY SCHOOL CHILDREN OF LAHORE

The aim of study was to investigate the Prevalence of dental caries among 5-14 years old poor locality school children of Lahore Pakistan. Sixteen hundred and seventy three poor locality school children aged 5-14 years; 1113, 5-11 years old and 560, 12-14 years old were examined for dental caries and oral hygiene status using the World Health Organization criteria for diagnosis of caries and oral hygiene status. The overall caries prevalence among the study group was 71%. The mean df (decayed and filled primary teeth) score in the 5-11 years age group was 2.98. The mean DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) score among 12-14 years old age group it was 3.70. Only 14% of the poor locality school children had good oral hygiene with corresponding mean df of 1.33 and mean DMFT score of 1.97, followed by 31% having fairly good oral hygiene, 26% having poor oral hygiene. 29% of children had a very poor oral hygiene with corresponding mean df score of 2.96 and mean DMFT score of 3.31. The results of the study emphasize the need for re-orientation of oral health services and programs to a more preventive approach. Serious efforts need to be made by focusing on this neglected group of population.
Modified lymphocyte response to mitogens after intraperitoneal injection of glycopeptidolipid antigens from Mycobacterium avium complex

Intraperitoneal injection of glycopeptidolipid (GPL) antigens from Mycobacterium avium complex serovar 4 resulted in the decreased ability of murine splenic lymphocytes to respond to nonspecific-mitogen-induced blastogenesis when exposed to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and lipopolysaccharide. Adherent cell depletion and cell mixing experiments with T lymphocytes indicated that macrophages were not a major contributor to the immunosuppression observed in this study. Enumeration of splenic lymphocytes by means of flow-cytometry with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of GPL antigens resulted in a significant decrease in Thy-1+ and Lyt-1+ cells but no change in the numbers of Lyt-2+ cells. Treatment with GPL antigens in vitro affected the ability of splenic mononuclear cells to respond optimally for concanavalin A-induced blastogenesis at 40 micrograms of GPL per 4 X 10(5) cells per 0.2 ml and lipopolysaccharide-induced blastogenesis at concentrations ranging from 5 to 40 micrograms of GPL per 4 X 10(5) cells per 0.2 ml. However, in vitro treatment with GPL antigens did not affect phytohemagglutinin-induced blastogenesis at concentrations ranging from 5 to 40 micrograms of GPL per 4 X 10(5) cells per 0.2 ml. These findings suggest that GPL antigens or their metabolites affect lymphocyte function and may be important cofactors in the overall pathogenesis of M. avium complex infections.
Exploring Awareness Behaviours and Collaboration Activities in Learning Groups

Collaborative learning is a useful approach in which learners work jointly to achieve learning goals. Awareness plays a significant role in promoting collaboration opportunities and enhancing the effectiveness of the collaborative learning. This poster reports a study to explore awareness behaviours in a long-term collaborative project. The research questions focus on awareness behaviours, the changes in awareness over time, and the applications used to communicate and collaborate. Three main data collection methods were used: observations, short interviews and questionnaires. Participants were students who were working on collaborative coursework for 6 weeks. Results show that different awareness types and behaviours were evident and activity awareness was higher at the beginning of the collaborative project than it was towards the middle or the end. In addition, groups used different general-purpose applications to support their collaborations.
The effect of online and offline experiential marketing on brand equity in the hotel sector

Propose This paper aims to measure the relationship between online experiential marketing (during the purchasing process involving information search and booking) and offline experiential marketing (during the stay) with hotel brand equity. In addition, the study attempts to determine if there is a significant link between the online hotel experience and the subsequent offline hotel stay experience. Desing/methodology/approach A self-report survey was conducted in a series of four-star hotels in Granada city. The questionnaire was focused on measuring online experience, offline experience and brand equity. For the analysis of the data, a structural equations model was developed. Findings The results suggest that the experience during the hotel stay, contrary to that of the online purchase process, has an influence on hotel brand equity. Nonetheless, the online experience has a significant impact on the hotel stay experience. Practical implications This study is of particular utility for hotel management given that, although it is a sector that for several years has integrated experiential marketing in its service strategy, there is little research analyzing the impact of such actions on the variables that are of interest to the hotel. Originality/value There are no hotel sector studies that have jointly analyzed the role of the online and offline tourist experience and its role in contributing to brand equity. Recognizing the previous notions will allow hotels to identify where to focus marketing efforts so as to increase brand equity.
Effects of seasonal acclimation on cold tolerance and biochemical status of the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller, last instar larvae

Abstract The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae, a pest of Punica granatum, overwinters as a larva. In this study, physiological changes, water content, cold hardiness and supercooling points (SCPs) in relation to ambient temperature in the overwintering period (October to March) and changes of these factors between diapausing (February) and non-diapausing (September) larvae were studied. Pupae that were derived from diapausing larvae (April) and from non-diapausing larvae (August) were also compared. Total body sugar, lipid and protein contents increased with decrease in the temperature and reached the highest levels (12.82, 1.99 and 6.11 mg g−1 body weight, respectively) in February, but glycogen content decreased and reached the lowest level (1.12 mg g−1 body weight) in February. There were significant differences in the levels of these compounds between diapausing and non-diapausing larvae, and pupae that were derived from diapausing and non-diapausing larvae. Trehalose and myo-inositol contents increased during diapause and reached the highest levels (0.50 and 0.07 mg g−1 body weight, respectively) in February. There were significant differences in the levels of these compounds between diapausing and non-diapausing larvae, but the differences between pupae that were derived from diapausing and non-diapausing larvae were not significant. The SCP of diapausing larvae (−17.3 °C) was significantly lower than in the non-diapausing larvae (−12.0 °C). SCP decreased gradually in autumn and reached the lowest level in the middle of winter. Changes of cold hardiness were inversely proportional to SCP changes. The lowest levels of water (65%) and weight (43.13 mg) were recorded in January and March, respectively. Most probably, lipids play a role as energy reserve, and low-molecular weight carbohydrates and polyols provide cryoprotection for overwintering larvae of the carob moth. Since the overwintering larvae die at temperatures above the SCP, the carob moth larvae were found to be a chill-intolerant insect.
Oral Health Behaviour and Periodontal Treatment Needs in a Group of Iranian Adults With Diabetes One Year After an Oral Health Intervention

Aim: To investigate changes in oral health behaviour and periodontal treatment needs among adults with diabetes one year after an oral health intervention. Methods: The study subjects consisted of 299 dentate adults with diabetes who were regular attenders at a diabetic clinic in Tehran, Iran. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the subjects� oral health behaviour and background. The participants were randomly assigned to two intervention groups and one control group. In one group, oral-health-related information was delivered by an educational booklet only; in the other intervention group, in addition to distributing the same booklet, an oral hygienist also gave personal oral health care instructions. Plaque and the need for periodontal treatment were assessed using the Plaque Index (Silness & L�e 1964) and the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) and were recorded during clinical periodontal examinations before and one year after intervention. The statistical significance of differences between the groups was evaluated by means of ANOVA, chi-square test, paired t-test, and logistic regression models. Results: In comparison to the control group, both interventional groups showed a statistically significant decrease in visible plaque and periodontal treatment needs. In the active intervention group, the fall in the number of participants with a CPITN score of 4 was from 13 to 9 and for CPITN 3 from 33 to 22. In the passive intervention group, the falls were from 27 to 22 for the score CPITN 4 and from 34 to 24 for CPITN 3. In the control group, the number with a CPITN score of 4 fell from 18 to 13 and the number with a CPITN score of 3 rose from 30 to 33. The mean reduction in the sum of Plaque Index (PI) scores for all sextants was 1.3 (SD 2.6) in the active intervention group and 2.0 (SD 2.4) in the passive intervention group, these changes being greater than in the control group (0.3, SD 2.2, P=0.03, and P
A P-Selectin/CD62P Monoclonal Antibody (LYP-20), in Tandem with Flow Cytometry, Detects in vivo Activated Circulating Rat Platelets in Severe Vascular Trauma

Summary P-selectin, also known as CD62P, GMP140 or PADGEM, is present in platelet a-granules and endothelial cell Weibel-Palade bodies and is very rapidly expressed on the surface of these cells on activation. In this study, an anti P-selectin monoclonal antibody (LYP20) was used, in tandem with flow cytometry, to identify activated platelets at the site of induced vascular trauma or in peripheral blood. Moreover, electron microscopy was performed to characterize sites of vascular trauma and quantify the number of adhering platelets. The same induced vascular trauma was observed to result into animals responding in 2 different ways (Group I, Group II) following the degree of platelet activation. Five rats, out of 14 with induced vascular trauma, had more than half of their circulating platelets expressing P-selectin when drawn at the site of the trauma (67.4% ± 3.44) or in peripheral blood (78.5% ± 2.5) (Group I). In the remaining 9 animals a much smaller proportion of circulating platelets expressed P-selectin when assayed from trauma sites (18% ± 3.34) or in peripheral blood (18.0% ± 4.30) (Group II). Enhanced P-selectin expression by circulating platelets in Group I, compared to Group II, appears to be linked to the degree of activated platelets adhering at sites of trauma (171 ± 15 × 103 platelets versus 48 ± 31 × 103 platelets per mm2). In the 5 control animals, that were not operated on, platelets expressing P-selectin when drawn at the site of a mock trauma (7.0% ± 1.84) or in the peripheral blood (11.2% ± 3.30) showed little activation. In addition, no platelet adhesion was seen on the vascular bed of these animals. Results from this study show that analysis of P-selectin (CD62P) expression, in circulating platelets, is a valuable and rapid marker of platelet activation following severe vascular trauma induced in rats. However, activated platelets were not detected to the same extent in the peripheral blood of all animals having undergone vascular trauma. It is conceivable that platelets, depending on the degree of activation, may be actively sequestered in organs and prevented from circulating. Alternatively, P-selectin may be rapidly endocytosed, or not expressed, by activated circulating platelets depending on the type of agonists implicated in vivo activation.
Native Chicken Production in Indonesia: A Review

Indonesia is a country rich in native chicken genetic resources. There are 31 native chicken breed in Indonesia. Native chicken farming was developed for decades. In early period of 1907’s, mostly farmers reared their native chicken by traditional system (about 80%). In 1980s until now, the number of native chicken farmers which rear native chicken by semi intensive and intensive system have been increasing. These rearing system changing have significantly increased the native chicken productivity. The major constraints for the development of native chicken i.e. low growth rate, risks of high mortality, low egg production. Many research results stated that improving in breeding, feeding and management aspect will increase native chicken production. The information and data contained in this paper is the result of study literature for scientific papers, either in the form of journals, books, or proceedings, and livestock statistics books. This paper is made to support the development of native chickens in Indonesia.
Proliferation and DNA ploidy in malignant breast tumors in relation to early oral contraceptive use and early abortions

In 175 premenopausal breast cancer patients, a history of oral contraceptive (OC) use before 20 years of age was significantly associated with higher tumor cell proliferative activity, as indicated by a higher S‐phase fraction (SPF), and a higher fraction of DNA aneuploid tumors, compared with later or never users (P = 0.05 and P = 0.01, respectively). The higher SPF among early OC users was apparent in patients with aneuploid tumors but not in patients with euploid tumors. Abortions (spontaneous or induced) before the first full‐term pregnancy also were associated with a higher SPF compared with other young patients with breast cancer (P = 0.03). Adjusting for parity and abortions or OC use, respectively, an early OC use was associated with a 43% higher SPF and early abortions were associated with 49% higher SPF. Younger patients had a higher SPF and a higher frequency of aneuploid tumors, but this was found to be because the users of OC had a lower median age at diagnosis. Among never users, no significant age relationship was seen for SPF or the frequency of aneuploidy. For the DNA analyses there is a selection of patients with breast cancer with larger tumors, and therefore the conclusions drawn in this article may not be generalizable to patients with smaller primary tumors, e.g., cases diagnosed at breast cancer screening. The higher tumor proliferative activity and frequency of aneuploidy in early OC users are in line with previously reported findings of worse prognostic indicators and a worse survival in early users of OC compared with other young women with breast cancer.
Tobacco Use Increases Oxidative DNA Damage in Sperm - Possible Etiology of Childhood Cancer.

BACKGROUND Cigarette smoking and tobacco chewing are common modes of consuming tobacco all over the world. Parents need to be aware that germ cell integrity is vital for birth of healthy offspring as biological parenting begins much before birth of a child and even before conception. The present study was conducted to determine the etiology of non-familial sporadic heritable retinoblastoma (NFSHRb), by evaluating oxidative sperm DNA damage in fathers due to use of tobacco (smoking and chewing). MATERIALS AND METHODS We recruited 145 fathers of NFSHRb children and 53 fathers of healthy children (controls) in the study. Tobacco history was obtained by personal interview. Seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) in semen, sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and 8 hydroxy 2' deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in sperm were evaluated. The RB1 gene was screened in genomic blood DNA of parents of children with NFSHRb and controls. Odds ratios (ORs) derived from conditional logistic regression models. RESULTS There was significant difference in the levels of ROS (p<0.05), DFI (p<0.05) and 8-OHdG (p<0.05) between tobacco users and non-users. The OR of NFSHRb for smokers was 7.29 (95%CI 2.9-34.5, p<0.01), for tobacco chewers 4.75 (2.07-10.9, p<0.05) and for both 9.11 (3.79-39.2; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS This study emphasizes the adverse effect of tobacco on the paternal genome and how accumulation of oxidative damage in sperm DNA may contribute to the etiology of NFSHRb. In an ongoing parallel study in our laboratory, 11 of fathers who smoked underwent. Meditation and yoga interventions, showed significant decline in levels of highly mutagenic oxidised DNA adducts after 6 months. Thus our lifestyle and social habits impact sperm DNA integrity and simple interventions like yoga and meditation are therapeutic for oxidative damage to sperm DNA.
The Shift from Traditional Marketing to Entrepreneurial Marketing Practices: A Literature Review

Small and medium enterprise(SME) have always been an interesting subject for research. In comparison to larger business organizations, SMEs faced many challenges including how they manage daily marketing activities and make marketing related decision. This study compiles the related literature review on the issues of traditional marketing and entrepreneurial marketing. Purpose, This study aims to explore the role of marketing practices in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and to evaluate the impact of changes in marketing practices from traditional to entrepreneurial marketing practices will have an impact on the SME performance. Research methodology: A compilation of related literature review on traditional marketing and entrepreneurial marketing was done. An observation on the changes in marketing practices in small and medium enterprises towards a more innovative marketing practice were identified. Findings, Marketing in SMEs is centered on traditional methods such as using print media and hard selling. SME owners should take account of the findings and work towards introducing SME-specific marketing practices in trying to achieve higher sales volume and growth. In the study area which is Klang Valley, Malaysia the shift from traditional marketing to entrepreneurial marketing was observed amongst the SMEs being studied. Research limitations: This study uses a small number of SME companies in one region and therefore the generalizability of the findings may be limited. Further research could extend the number of SME companies and to other regions of Malaysia. Practical Implications: The findings have a bearing on the Malaysian SME performance. This study offers insights into how the marketing practices in Malaysian SMEs needs to be adapted in light of the findings to ensure marketing practices of SMEs are compatible with current digital approaches.
Variables affecting implant performance in children

This study examined the variables that contribute to the large individual differences in the speech perception skills of children with the Nucleus multichannel cochlear implant. Sixty‐one children were tested on four measures of speech perception: two tests of closed‐set word recognition, one test of open‐set recognition of phrases, and one open‐set monosyllabic word test, scored on the basis of the percentage of phonemes as well as words identified correctly. The results of a series of multiple regression analyses revealed that the variables of processor type, duration of deafness, communication mode, age at onset of deafness, length of implant use, and age implanted accounted for roughly 35% of the variance on two tests of closed‐set word recognition, and 40% of the variance on measures that assessed recognition of words or phomenes in an open set. Length of implant use accounted for the most variance on all of the speech perception measures.