Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pilot trial of the safety, tolerability, and retinoid levels of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide in combination with tamoxifen in patients at high risk for developing invasive breast cancer.

PURPOSE N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (¿4-HPR, Fenretinide; R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Springhouse, PA) and tamoxifen (TAM) have synergistic antitumor and chemopreventive activity against mammary cancer in preclinical studies. We performed a pilot study of this combination in women at high risk for developing breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-two women were treated with four cycles of 4-HPR, 200 mg orally (PO) for 25 days of each 28-day cycle, and TAM, 20 mg PO once daily for 23 months beginning after 1 month of 4-HPR alone. Tolerability, dark adaptometry, tissue biopsies, and retinoid plasma concentrations (Cp) were evaluated. RESULTS Symptomatic reversible nyctalopia developed in two patients (6%) on 4-HPR, but 16 (73%) of 22 patients had reversible changes in dark adaptation, which correlated with relative decrease in Cp retinol (P </=.01). Four patients stopped treatment for side effects, and 84% of patients had hot flashes. Other commonly reported (grade </= 2) reversible toxicities included skin and ocular dryness, fatigue, and mood changes. Serum high-density lipoprotein increased and cholesterol decreased from baseline to month 4. Baseline mean +/- SD Cp retinol was 708 +/- 280 ng/mL. Mean +/- SD Cp of 4-HPR, N-(4-methoxyphenyl) retinamide (4-MPR), and retinol after 1 month of 4-HPR were 0.34 +/- 0.21 micromol/L, 0.28 +/- 0.21 micromol/L, and 282 +/- 127 ng/mL, respectively. Mean retinoid Cps did not change after 3 months of 4-HPR + TAM. CONCLUSIONS TAM administration did not affect Cp 4-HPR or 4-MPR. Reversible nyctalopia correlated with relative decrease in Cp retinol but was not symptomatic for most patients. TAM + 4-HPR has acceptable tolerability for this high-risk cohort.
The Effect of Unemployment Insurance Sanctions on the Transition Rate from Unemployment to Employment

Sanctions or punitive benefits reductions are increasingly used as a tool to enforce compliance of unemployment insurance claimants with search requirements. This article analyses sanctions using a unique administrative data set of individuals who started collecting unemployment insurance in the Netherlands in 1992. After correction for selectivity in the imposition of sanctions, we find that sanctions substantially raise individual re-employment rates.
Quench in High-Temperature Superconducting Motor Field Coils: Reduced-Temperature Modeling of HTS Tapes

The concept of reduced temperature for the characterization of the electrical properties of HTS tapes is presented. The formulation was developed based on experimental data from [1] and verified by experimental data from [2], [3]. Also, the experimental data from [4]-[6] indicate that the same formulation may be applicable to NbTi and Nb3 Sn LTS superconductors. In general, the electric field in a superconductor is a function of four parameters: temperature, perpendicular and parallel magnetic flux densities and current. In the proposed formulation, the electric field is determined from only two parameters; the current and a quantity which we have chosen to call the reduced temperature. The latter is defined as the difference between the actual temperature and the critical temperature as determined by the perpendicular and parallel components of the magnetic flux density. This formulation results in considerable simplification in the application of the well-known power law for the DC electric field in HTS tapes. First, the characteristic current and the power exponent can be expressed as functions of the reduced temperature only. Second, the power exponent reduces to a function of the critical current alone.
Got Rhythm? Better Inhibitory Control Is Linked with More Consistent Drumming and Enhanced Neural Tracking of the Musical Beat in Adult Percussionists and Nonpercussionists

Musical rhythm engages motor and reward circuitry that is important for cognitive control, and there is evidence for enhanced inhibitory control in musicians. We recently revealed an inhibitory control advantage in percussionists compared with vocalists, highlighting the potential importance of rhythmic expertise in mediating this advantage. Previous research has shown that better inhibitory control is associated with less variable performance in simple sensorimotor synchronization tasks; however, this relationship has not been examined through the lens of rhythmic expertise. We hypothesize that the development of rhythm skills strengthens inhibitory control in two ways: by fine-tuning motor networks through the precise coordination of movements “in time” and by activating reward-based mechanisms, such as predictive processing and conflict monitoring, which are involved in tracking temporal structure in music. Here, we assess adult percussionists and nonpercussionists on inhibitory control, selective attention, basic drumming skills (self-paced, paced, and continuation drumming), and cortical evoked responses to an auditory stimulus presented on versus off the beat of music. Consistent with our hypotheses, we find that better inhibitory control is correlated with more consistent drumming and enhanced neural tracking of the musical beat. Drumming variability and the neural index of beat alignment each contribute unique predictive power to a regression model, explaining 57% of variance in inhibitory control. These outcomes present the first evidence that enhanced inhibitory control in musicians may be mediated by rhythmic expertise and provide a foundation for future research investigating the potential for rhythm-based training to strengthen cognitive function.
Effects of Contact Lens Multipurpose Solutions on Human Corneal Epithelial Survival and Barrier Function

Purpose. To examine the effect of 4 commercially available contact lens multipurpose solutions (MPS) on the viability and barrier function of human corneal epithelial cells in vitro. Methods. Immortalized human corneal epithelial cells were exposed to 4 solutions, MPS A, B, C, and D with culture medium and Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution as controls. MTT assay was used to evaluate cell viability. ApopTag Fluorescein Apoptosis assay was used to detect cell death in situ. Corneal epithelial barrier function was evaluated by fluorescein permeability and immunofluorescent staining for tight junction proteins zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and occludin. Results. Corneal epithelial survival rates, evaluated by MTT assay showed no statistical difference between MPS A and the culture medium or Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution controls. MPS B, C, and D were associated with significantly less cell survival than the controls after exposure for 6 hrs (all P<0.01). Compared with the controls, the MPS A did not increase cell apoptosis, whereas the other 3 caused higher apoptotic rates. The epithelial permeability after exposure to MPS A was similar to controls and significantly lower than MPS B and MPS D (P<0.01). The tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin were well maintained after exposure to MPS A. In contrast, the expression of ZO-1 and occludin were largely disturbed by the other 3 MPS solutions. Conclusions. The current marketed contact lens MPS may have negative effects on human corneal epithelial viability and barrier function. Among 4 MPS studied, MPS A maintains the cell viability and barrier function significantly better than other 3 marketed products.
Improving screening recall services for women with false-positive mammograms: a comparison of qualitative evidence with UK guidelines

Objectives To gain an understanding of the views of women with false-positive screening mammograms of screening recall services, their ideas for service improvements and how these compare with current UK guidelines. Methods Inductive qualitative content analysis of semistructured interviews of 21 women who had false-positive screening mammograms. These were then compared with UK National Health Service (NHS) guidelines. Results Participants’ concerns about mammography screening recall services focused on issues of communication and choice. Many of the issues raised indicated that the 1998 NHS Breast Screening Programme guidelines on improving the quality of written information sent to women who are recalled, had not been fully implemented. This included being told a clear reason for recall, who may attend with them, the length of appointment, who they will see and what tests will be carried out. Additionally women voiced a need for: reassurance that a swift appointment did not imply they had cancer; choice about invasive assessment or watchful waiting; the offer of a follow-up mammogram for those uncertain about the validity of their all-clear and an extension of the role of the clinical nurse specialist, outlined in the 2012 NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) guidelines, to include availability at the clinic after the all-clear for women with false-positive mammograms. Conclusions It is time the NHSBSP 1998 recall information guidelines were fully implemented. Additionally, the further suggestions from this research, including extending the role of the clinical nurses from the 2012 NHSBSP guidelines, should be considered. These actions have the potential to reduce the anxiety of being recalled.
Chronic bronchitis, work related respiratory symptoms, and pulmonary function in welders in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: A cross sectional study of respiratory symptoms and lung function in welders was performed at eight New Zealand welding sites: 62 current welders and 75 non-welders participated. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to record demographic data, smoking habit, and current respiratory symptoms. Current and previous welding exposures were recorded to calculate a total lifetime welding fume exposure index. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured before the start of the shift. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in ethnicity, smoking habits, or years of work experience between welders and non-welders. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis were more common in current welders (11.3%) than in non-welders (5.0%). Of those workers with a cumulative exposure index to welding fume > or = 10 years, 16.7% reported symptoms of chronic bronchitis compared with 4.7% of those with a cumulative exposure index < 4 years (odds ratio (OR) 4.1, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.90 to 17.6). Workers with chronic bronchitis had significantly lower measures of baseline PEF (p = 0.008) and FEV/FVC ratio (p = 0.001) than workers without chronic bronchitis. Multivariate analysis showed that current smoking (OR 9.3, 1.0 to 86.9) and total exposure index to welding fumes > 10 years (OR 9.5, 1.3 to 71.9) were independent risk factors for chronic bronchitis. The report of any work related respiratory symptom was more prevalent in welders (30.7%) than non-welders (15.0%) and workers with these symptoms had significantly lower FEV, (p = 0.004) and FVC (p = 0.04) values. Multivariate analysis identified a high proportion of time spent welding in confined spaces as the main risk factor for reporting these symptoms (OR 2.8, 1.0 to 8.3). CONCLUSION: This study has documented a high prevalence of symptoms of chronic bronchitis and other work related respiratory symptoms in current welders. Also, workers with chronic bronchitis had reduced PEF and FEV/FVC compared with those without chronic bronchitis. These symptoms related both to cigarette smoking and a measure of lifetime exposure to welding fume.
'Hard' and 'soft' aspects of learning as investment: opening up the neo-liberal view of a programme with 'high' levels of attrition

For many decades in Australia, enabling educators have worked to engage people in higher education while remaining on the relative periphery of higher education institutions. Recently, there has been an intensification of focus on the value of enabling education from the government policy perspective of widening access for different equity groups, and from the institution, which increasingly operates with a focus on enabling as a source of student capital. Although different, these rationales - both governmental and neo-liberal - tend to consider the education of the student as a form of investment, conceptualised in the form of a productive, manageable citizen or as a potential source of revenue.
Association between mossy fiber sprouting and expression of semaphorin-3f protein in dentate gyrus of hippocampus in lithium-pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus mouse model

Objectives: Mossy fiber sprouting is involved in the pathogenesis of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. But the exact mechanism of formation of mossy fiber sprouting is still unclear. Semaphorin-3f protein could inhibit the growth of neuron axons. The aim of this research is to evaluate the association between semaphorin-3f expression and mossy fiber sprouting. Methods: We established pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (PISE) models firstly. Then, mossy fiber sprouting in the hippocampus of PISE models was examined by Timm staining. Expression of semaphorin-3f was evaluated by western blot analysis and immunohistochemical examination. Expression of semaphorin-3f protein in different subregions of hippocampus and its relationship with mossy fiber sprouting were studied. Results: We found that in PISE group, mossy fiber sprouting appeared in dentate gyrus (DG) region. It started to develop in the latent phase of PISE group and increased significantly in the chronic phase. Expression of semaphorin-3f protein in DG region started to decrease in the latent phase, and stayed at low level in the chronic phase. No such change was found in the other groups. Conclusions: These results indicate that the decrease in semaphorin-3f expression in DG region was in parallel to the change of mossy fiber sprouting in PISE models, suggesting that mossy fiber sprouting is closely associated with reduced expression of semaphorin-3f in this model.
A History of Massage in Nurse Training School Curricula (1860-1945)

Introduction: Guided by Florence Nightingale, massage nurse training instruction methods were duplicated in the U.S. nurse training curricula. In the 1880s to 1900s massage training and instruction was delivered by physicians, nurses, or masseurs for many disease conditions. In the 1930s to 1940s, influential nurse authors and educators began to recommend specialization in physiotherapy for nurses. Scientific and pharmacological solutions for symptoms of disease became popular, thus practicing basic nursing comfort measures using massage declined. Purposes: To trace roots of massage in the medical literature, the inclusion of massage in U.S. nurse training school curricula, and examine the historical shift from massage as a basic nursing comfort measure to a specialization of physiotherapy. Method: Primary text books by physicians, nurses, massage instructors; medical/nursing journals; nursing curriculum guidelines—archival collections of the Center for Historical Nursing Inquiry; Historical Collections at the University of Virginia Claude Moore Health Sciences Library; private historical collections; and secondary published books/ articles were used. Findings: Prior to increase in scientific care, use of analgesics, and specialization of physiotherapy departments, the nurse provided basic comfort measures that included massage. Historical research in the use of massage in nursing may help refocus attention on the healing of the mind/body and reinforce the value of compassionate touch and balance in nursing practice today.
Evaluation of larvicidal activity of the methanolic extracts of Piper alatabaccum branches and P. tuberculatum leaves and compounds isolated against Anopheles darlingi

Piper is a notable genus among Piperaceae due to their secondary metabolites such as lignans, amides, esters and long chain fatty acids used as anti-herbivore defenses with comparable effects of pyrethroids, that holds a promise in insect control, including malaria vectors such as Anopheles darlingi, the main vector in the North of Brazil. Methanolic extracts of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. , Piperaceae, and P. alatabaccum Trel. & Yunck. , Piperaceae, and some isolated compounds, i.e, 3,4,5-trimetoxy-dihydrocinamic acid, dihydropiplartine; piplartine, piplartine-dihydropiplartine and 5,5',7-trimetoxy-3',4'-metilenodioxiflavone were tested as larvicides against A. darlingi. The Lethal Concentrations (LC50 and LC90) of methanolic extracts were 194 and 333 ppm for P. tuberculatum and 235 and 401 ppm for P. alatabacum, respectively. Isolated compounds had lower LC values, e.g. the LC50 and LC90 of the piplartine-dihidropiplartine isolated from both plant species was 40 and 79 ppm, respectively.
Life events, difficulties and depression among women in an urban setting in Zimbabwe

Background. A previous paper (Abas & Broadhead, 1997) reported that among 172 women randomly selected from a Zimbabwean township 30·8% had a depressive or anxiety disorder during the previous year. Compared with London, the higher annual prevalence of disorders in Harare could mostly be accounted for by an excess of onset cases in the study year (annual incidence of depression 18%). This paper reports on the role of life events and difficulties in the aetiology of depression among these women. Method. Randomly selected women (N=172) from a township in Harare were interviewed with a Zimbabwean modification of the Bedford College Life Events and Difficulties Schedule (LEDS). Results. Events and difficulties proved critical in provoking the onset of depression in Harare. Far more events occurring in Harare were severe or disruptive. Furthermore, a proportion of the Harare severe events were more threatening than have been described in London. As in London, certain types of severe event were particularly depressogenic, i.e. those involving the woman's humiliation, her entrapment in an ongoing difficult situation, or bereavement. However, more severe events in Harare involved these specific dimensions. Conclusions. Results indicate a common mechanism for the development of depression, as defined by international criteria, between Zimbabwe and London. The high frequency of severe events, and their especially adverse qualities, offer an explanation for the high incidence of depression in Harare.
THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN INTERIM INFORMATION AND SECURITY RETURNS SURROUNDING EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS

This paper analyzes cross-sectional differences in the information content of earnings announcements by selecting seven firm-specific variables to proxy for the level of a firm's interim information and testing the following predictions on a sample of firms whose securities trade over-the-counter (OTC): (1) the amount of information content of fourthquarter/annual earnings announcements is negatively associated with the level of interim information, while (2) the extent of preemption of that information content is positively associated with the level of interim information. This study differs in two ways from prior studies that document the explanatory power of firm size with respect to both announcement and preannouncement firm-specific security returns (see, for example, Atiase [1985], Collins, Kothari, and Rayburn [1987], Foster, Olsen, and Shevlin [1984], and Freeman [1987]). I examine firm-specific variables in addition to firm size in order to determine whether the additional proxies provide
Pedestrian injuries in children: who is most at risk?

INTRODUCTION This study evaluates the demographics of paediatric pedestrian injuries with the aim of identifying the group of children who is most vulnerable and the risk factors for major trauma (MT). METHODS Data was extracted from the integrated trauma system of a regional paediatric referral hospital. All paediatric cases involving road traffic accidents from January 2011 to December 2013 were studied. Demographics, injury mechanism, treatment and outcome were evaluated. Patients were categorised as MT or non-MT (NMT) based on their Injury Severity Score, admission to the intensive care unit, type of surgery (e.g. life/limb-saving) and death. Data analysis was done using nonparametric tests and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS A total of 261 children were admitted for pedestrian injuries during the study period. The median age was ten years (range 14 months-16 years) and the median weight was 42.4 (range 8.6-93.7) kg. Half (i.e. 50.2%) of the children were primary-schoolers. The majority of the accidents occurred on roads (i.e. 83.1%), between 12 pm and 6 pm (i.e. 52.8%). Among the 261 children, 177 (67.8%) were unaccompanied by an adult at the time of the accident; 17 (6.5%) children sustained MT, while 244 (93.5%) suffered NMT. MT patients were more likely to have lost consciousness (p < 0.001) and been flung (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Most paediatric pedestrian injuries involved primary-schoolers walking home from school unaccompanied by adults. This information should inform future road safety campaigns. Being flung and loss of consciousness predicted MT in children who sustained pedestrian injuries.
The genetic basis for psychiatric illness in man *

Following the influential genetic studies of Heston and Kety, there has been growing acceptance of the role of genes in determining behaviour. It is now recognized that most types of behaviour, from normal variations in traits such as personality to complex psychiatric disorders, are influenced not only by environmental factors but also by multiple genes. While twin and adoption studies have been vital in demonstrating the heritability of behaviour, the focus is now on the identification of the genes involved using the molecular genetic strategies linkage analysis and allelic association. This article will discuss techniques that have been used in psychiatric genetics, and how they have advanced our understanding of complex behaviour.