Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colloidal CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals: Luminescence beyond Traditional Quantum Dots.

Traditional CdSe-based colloidal quantum dots (cQDs) have interesting photoluminescence (PL) properties. Herein we highlight the advantages in both ensemble and single-nanocrystal PL of colloidal CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (NCs) over the traditional cQDs. An ensemble of colloidal CsPbBr3 NCs (11 nm) exhibits ca. 90 % PL quantum yield with narrow (FWHM=86 meV) spectral width. Interestingly, the spectral width of a single-NC and an ensemble are almost identical, ruling out the problem of size-distribution in PL broadening. Eliminating this problem leads to a negligible influence of self-absorption and Förster resonance energy transfer, along with batch-to-batch reproducibility of NCs exhibiting PL peaks within ±1 nm. Also, PL peak positions do not alter with measurement temperature in the range of 25 to 100 °C. Importantly, CsPbBr3 NCs exhibit suppressed PL blinking with ca. 90 % of the individual NCs remain mostly emissive (on-time >85 %), without much influence of excitation power.
Student Perspectives on the Role of Formative Assessment in Physiology.

Assessment within the medical system in India is largely summative. There is, however, an increasing awareness of the need for formative assessment. In this study we developed a system for the formative assessment of 'core' areas within the physiology curriculum. Student reactions to the assessment were ascertained. The results indicate that the vast majority of students react positively to formative assessment as it allows them to gauge their strengths and weaknesses without penalization. In addition, the assessment revealed considerable lacunae in the transfer of 'core' knowledge despite what the faculty considered to be an effective teaching programme.
Electrode measurements of the net charge on muscle proteins

Electrode techniques for measuring Donnan potentials in protein solutions were studied and applied to elucidate the effect of methylation on the net charge of heavy meromyosin (HMM) and the effect of Ca2+ on the net charge of the thin filament proteins. Drifts in potentials, observed for macroelectrodes, were examined and their cause established to be KC1 leakage out of electrodes. The microelectrode technique was applied to protein solutions and microelectrodes with resistance less than 1 MΩ were used: the conditions for manufacturing and maintaining electrodes functional were established. HMM was isolated (from rabbit muscle) and methylated; the modification was verified by amino acid analysis. ATPase activity of methylated HMM was found to be significantly elevated in the presence of Ca2+ and decreased in the presence of EDTA with respect to the activity of the native protein. Values of the net charge of both proteins were determined at pH 6.7 and no significant difference was found between them. Calculations of the theoretical charge of lysine and Nͼ-dimethyllysine were performed which indicated only 0.5% difference at pH 6.7. F-actin, tropomyosin-troponin (Tm-tn) and reconstituted thin filaments (RTFs) were isolated from rabbit muscle. Conditions for preserving the binding between F-actin and Tm-tn were established. Net charges of F-actin, Tm-tn, RTFs and BSA (control) were measured in solutions of pCa 3.2-8.7 at ionic strength 0.02 M and pH 7.0. Significant decrease in the negative charge of the RTFs, Tm-tn and F-actin was observed with increasing concentrations of free Ca2+, between pCa 6.5 and 3 approximately. Values of the molecular and specific charge at pH 7.0 and the isoelectric point were calculated from the amino acid sequences of the main muscle proteins.
Tuberculosis cluster in an immigrant community: case identification issues and a transcultural perspective

Objectives In a low incidence area for tuberculosis (TB), a computerized database identified an unusually high proportion of patients coming from one single country between 2004 and 2006. To determine whether they constituted a cluster, whether clustering was due to recent transmission, and to understand what undermined the efficacy of the contact tracing procedure, we conducted a retrospective study of all patients with TB from this country.
Role of dietary antioxidants in the prevention of in vivo oxidative DNA damage

Epidemiological evidence consistently shows that diets high in fresh fruit and vegetables significantly lower cancer risk. Given the postulated role of oxidative DNA damage in carcinogenesis, the assumption has been made that it is the antioxidant properties of food constituents, such as vitamin C, E and carotenoids, which confer protection. However, epidemiological studies with specific antioxidants, either singly or in combination, have not, on the whole, supported this hypothesis. In contrast, studies examining the in vitro effect of antioxidants upon oxidative DNA damage have generally been supportive, in terms of preventing damage induction. The same, however, cannot be said for the in vivo intervention studies where overall the results have been equivocal. Nevertheless, recent work has suggested that some dietary antioxidants may confer protective properties through a novel mechanism, unrelated to their conventional free-radical scavenging abilities. Upregulation of antioxidant defence, xenobiotic metabolism, or DNA-repair genes may all limit cellular damage and hence promote maintenance of cell integrity. However, until further work has clarified whether dietary supplementation with antioxidants confers a reduced risk of cancer and the mechanism by which this effect is exerted, the recommendation for a diet rich in fruit and vegetables remains valid empirically.
Effect of the Menstrual Cycle on Mood and Sexual Arousability

The menstrual cycle is presumed to exert a powerful influence on the behavior of women. Dalton (1964) studied the effects of the menstrual cycle on female behavior and reported that 49% of acute medical and surgical hospital admissions occurred, the highest incidence of psychiatric admissions occurred, and that more suicide attempts are made on the four premenstrual and four menstrual days than during comparable periods of time in other parts of the month. He also found that 45% of the female industrial employees who report sick do so on the four premenstrual and four menstrual days. Sixty-two per cent of the crimes of violence committed by female prison inmates were committed in the premenstrual week according to Parker (1960). In a study of psychiatric admission rates, Janowsky (1969) reported findings indicating an aggravation of manic, catatonic, and schizophrenic symptoms during the premenstrual-menstrual phases of mental patients. Many women present variations in mood over the menstrual cycle with the most noticeable effects occurring during the premenstrual period (Parker, 1960). Many women become depressed or irritable. Accompanying physical symptoms are headache, backache, nausea, and edema. In some women these mood and physical changes are so extreme that gynecologists refer to the condition as premenstrual tension or the premenstrual tension syndrome (Parker, 1960). Apparently it is the psychological more often than the physical symptom that is the presenting complaint (Perr, 1958). Most women menstruate (Mazer and Israel, 1951). In view of the prevalence of the condition and the extreme physical and psychological effects reported, it is surprising that relatively few investigations of the phenomenon have been reported. * This report is based on an Honors Thesis submitted by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors at Cornell College. The research was conducted with the supervision of the junior author.
Images of health: exploring beliefs of children using the 'draw-and-write' technique

can be adapted for use in different cultural contexts. Two case studies are included which provide an empirical demonstration of the high quality and sophisticated nature of data which can be collected from young children using an innovative method called the ’draw-and-write’ technique. This technique inverts the more traditional ’top-down’ methodology to a ’bottom-up’ approach and has the potential to enable all children to participate and to improve the quality and relevance of the curriculum. However, the technique needs to be used carefully and sensitively if it is truly aiming to treat children
Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa: an evaluation of PMTCT implementation and integration into routine maternal, child and women’s health services

Objectives To evaluate prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) implementation and integration of PMTCT with routine maternal and child health services in two districts of KwaZulu‐Natal; to report PMTCT coverage, to compare recorded and reported information, and to describe responsibilities of nurses and lay counsellors.
Trichuris and hookworm infections associated with anaemia during pregnancy

Objective To assess the following associations between the second and third trimesters of pregnancy: (i) the intensity of soil‐transmitted helminth (STH) infection and haemoglobin/anaemia, (ii) the effect of mebendazole treatment on the occurrence of STH infection, and (iii) the effect of mebendazole treatment on haemoglobin/anaemia.
Tuberculous uveitis: an update

Tuberculous uveitis continues to be a diagnostic challenge, mainly due to its heterogeneous clinical manifestations but also the limitations of currently available diagnostic tools. There is often a substantial delay until a correct diagnosis is made which may influence the visual prognosis of these patients. However, there have been substantial experimental and clinical advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease as well as in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of these patients. The main aim of this review is to summarize these advances and their implications in clinical practice.
RADIATION DOSE TO SURGICAL STAFF FROM POSITRON-EMITTER-BASED LOCALIZATION AND RADIOSURGERY OF TUMORS

Surgical tissue characterization based on radiotracer uptake has become much more common in recent years, particularly due to the advent of the sentinel lymph node biopsy technique. Radiolabeled pharmaceuticals are used with hand-held gamma-sensitive probes, which are capable of localizing small tumors and lymph nodes that are first identified via scintigraphy. The radiation safety of such radioguided procedures, which typically employ 99mTc, has been well established. Now, with the emergence of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) as a widely used tracer for PET imaging of cancer patients, there is increasing interest in the possibility of utilizing 18FDG for intraoperative tumor detection. First, though, the exposure to operating room personnel must be shown to be at a safe level. Due to the short half-life of 18F, the exposure rate will vary significantly with the start time post-injection as well as the duration of the procedure. The aim of this investigation is to determine empirically an exposure rate equation that can be integrated to estimate the exposure to a surgeon and assistants, from patients injected with 18FDG, over an arbitrarily chosen time interval. The study was conducted by measuring the radiation exposure rate from hospital in-patients receiving 18FDG-PET scans at various times from one to seven hours post injection; the empirical equation was determined from the plot of exposure rate vs. time for all patients. The resulting effective dose equivalent for the surgeon for typical values of injected activity, delay time and procedure duration was approximately 60 &mgr;Sv.
DIETARY IODINE AND BROMINE INTAKES IN UKRAINIAN SUBJECTS

Dietary iodine and bromine intakes in Ukrainian subjects were estimated in relation to the health effects on inhabitants after the Chernobyl accident. Two hundred and eighty-six total diets were collected from twenty-five regions for Ukrainians by a duplicate portion study. Iodine and bromine were rapidly determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after chemical separation. The range, median, and geometric mean of iodine intakes were 2.86–698, 44.7, and 48.1 &mgr;g per person per day, respectively. Those of bromine were 0.627–16.9, 2.97, and 2.92 mg per person per day, respectively. Daily intakes of both elements in Ukrainians were lower than previously reported values. The iodine intake in areas contaminated by the Chernobyl accident was lower than that in non-contaminated areas. The low iodine intake in both areas would be related to the high prevalence of goiters throughout the whole country. The low bromine intakes indicated Ukrainians were not exposed to bromine-containing foods.
An Evaluation of a Peer-Based HIV/AIDS Education Program as Implemented in a Suburban High School Setting

ABSTRACT This study presents the results of an evaluation of a peer-based HIV/AIDS education program, the BASE program, as implemented in a suburban high school setting. The participants were 132 high school students who participated in an “AIDS Awareness Day” as a part of the BASE program in their high school. Each student completed preintervention and postintervention measures of HIV knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. Results indicated that no significant change in knowledge was observed from preintervention to postintervention. A significant decrease in fear of becoming HIV infected was observed from preintervention to postintervention; however, other attitudes did not change over time. The results suggest limited effectiveness of the program as implemented in changing student knowledge of and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. The role of fidelity to the original program is highlighted. This study provides relevant data for individuals and organizations who are responsible for selecting and implementing school-based HIV prevention programs, including health educators and health care providers, administrators, and policymakers.
Polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1‐beta promoters with possible gene regulatory functions increase the risk of preterm birth

Objective. To investigate the relation between 19 selected single nucleotide polymorphisms in three cytokine genes, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA), interleukin 1‐beta (IL1B) and interleukin 6 (IL6) and preterm birth (<37 weeks’ gestation). Design. Case‐control association study. Sample. A total of 117 singleton pregnant Danish Caucasian women, including 62 preterm birth cases and 55 controls (birth ≥37 weeks). Methods. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan probes and traditional sequencing. Descriptive statistics were carried out with Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon rank‐sum test. All genetic data were tested for Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and analyzed using logistic regression, 2×2 proportions or χ2. Haplotypes were estimated for each gene and permutation used for association testing. Results. Women carrying the TNFA −857 C>T rare allele (T) and those homozygous for the IL1B −31 T>C and IL1B −511 C>T rare alleles (C and T) have an increased risk of preterm birth with OR 3.1 (95% CI: 1.0‐10.3) and OR 6.4 (95% CI: 1.3‐60.5), respectively. Two estimated TNFA haplotypes were associated with preterm birth with OR 3.1 (p = 0.037) and OR 2.7 (p = 0.045). Conclusion. Polymorphisms in the cytokine genes TNFA and IL1B may increase the risk of preterm birth, possibly by a dysregulation of the immune system in pregnancy.
The mini‐resectoscope: A new instrument for office hysteroscopic surgery

Background. Outpatient hysteroscopy has become well‐established for the investigation abnormal uterine bleeding. Although “See and Treat” clinics have been widely introduced, the types of procedures offered are limited, and many patients with intrauterine pathology continue to be admitted as in‐patients for hysteroscopic surgery. We wanted to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of surgery for small intrauterine lesions without the need for general anesthesia by using a miniature resectoscope. Methods. This was a prospective observational study on 30 women with abnormal uterine bleeding associated with endometrial polyps or small (<3 cm) type 0 or 1 submucous fibroids. Hysteroscopic polypectomy (n = 26) or myomectomy (n = 4) was carried out using a 16 Fr gauge mini‐resectoscope. Results. Ten procedures were carried out in the outpatient clinic and 20 in the operating theatre. Sixteen procedures were done without any anaesthesia and 14 after intra‐cervical local anesthetic injections. The polyps and fibroids ranged in size from 1 to 5 cm, and all procedures took less than 15 minutes from the time the vagina was instrumented to the end of surgery. All procedures were completed successfully and were well tolerated with little discomfort. There were no complications. Conclusions. The mini‐resectoscope appears to be an efficient and acceptable instrument for hysteroscopic surgery and can be used without general anesthesia for minor procedure such as polypectomy and the resection of small submucous fibroids.
TRACK AND FIELD: Aspects of strength, power and speed in shot put training

• * This paper was gleaned from a survev of long-term theoretical research and practical ob.servations in the ihrows area. The research was conducted belween 1976-80 al The . Sport Insiitule in Poznan, Poland by myself, Prof. E. Wachowski, W. Osinski', Phd. R. Slrzelczyk, Phd, A. Winkler, M.A. and G. Jarecki. M.A. The iheoretical observations were accented by my years of coaching, both in Poland and at The (. anadian High Perfoi-mance Cenire for Track and Field al The University of Toronio. During this period of practical applicaiion I have discovered thai the theories of iraining thai were created, tested and modelled in the laboratory are still valid and arc being emphasized in modern-day shot put training. Much like the man who walks lo work each day by the same route, yet is so intent on making his destination on lime he is unaware of the great works of art he passes during the course of his route, coaches are often guilty of the same myopic vision and ignore what is right before their eyes. In our effort to help our athletes achieve greater and greater results we sometimes ignore the common-sensical approaches lo Iraining, which with hindsight seem embarrassingly obvious. A case in point is the use of weighl training in the development of shot putters. Everyone involved in the sport would agree weighl training is necessary and you would find almost universal acceptance that the main exercises used by shot putter are;
THE MEAN CONCENTRATION OF URANIUM IN DRINKING WATER, URINE, AND HAIR OF THE OCCUPATIONALLY UNEXPOSED FINNISH WORKING POPULATION

Uranium concentrations in the household water, urine, and hair of the occupationally unexposed Finnish working population were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The age of the randomly selected participants ranged from 18 to 66 y. The mean concentrations of uranium in water, urine, and hair were 1.25 &mgr;g L−1, 0.016 &mgr;g L−1, and 0.216 &mgr;g g−1, respectively. The mean uranium concentration in hair of the Finnish working population was from 3- to 15-fold higher than the values reported in the literature, while the mean uranium concentration in urine was similar to those measured elsewhere in Europe. The observed large variation in the uranium concentrations in hair and urine can be explained by the variation in the uranium concentration in drinking water. Exceptionally high concentrations have been measured in private drilled wells in the granite areas of Southern Finland.
Intradermal and serological testing for mites in healthy beagle dogs.

BACKGROUND Intradermal testing (IDT) is widely used in veterinary medicine to select allergens for immunotherapy. The recommended concentration for mites is 250 protein nitrogen units (PNU)/mL. It is not known whether healthy dogs responding to this concentration have asymptomatic sensitization or irritation. Furthermore, interbatch and intersupplier variability of allergens has not been fully addressed. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES The incidence of positive IDTs in healthy beagles was recorded and the value of combining these results with serology to differentiate between asymptomatic sensitization and irritancy evaluated. Additionally, the interbatch and intersupplier variability of allergens was assessed. ANIMALS Seventeen healthy laboratory beagles with no history or clinical signs of canine atopic dermatitis were used. METHODS Intradermal tests were performed with four mite allergens from two suppliers (varying batches). An initial IDT at 250 PNU/mL was used to determine whether decreasing or increasing test concentrations were used in the subsequent titration IDTs. Additionally, two IgE ELISA tests from different manufacturers were performed. RESULTS Seven of 17 dogs showed IDT reactions at 250 PNU/mL. There were highly significant allergen interbatch and significant intersupplier correlations and agreement. The associations between the IDT reactions and the IgE serologies statistically identified two groups of dogs: one with positive serology and IDT reactions at 250 PNU/mL; and another with negative serology and IDT reactions. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Our results suggest that dogs that have IDT reactions and positive serology are asymptomatically sensitized, while dogs that react at higher allergen concentrations, but have negative serology, do so as a result of irritant reactions.
Reliability of magnetic resonance imaging in assessing myometrial invasion absence in endometrial carcinoma

Objective. This study evaluated the reliability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing the absence of myometrial invasion in endometrial carcinoma patients, to identify candidates for conservative hormonal treatment. Methods. A total of 301 endometrial carcinoma patients who showed Stage I findings on preoperative MRI, and had received staging operations were reviewed retrospectively. We compared MRI findings of myometrial invasion with myometrial invasion levels reported by pathologists when surgical specimens were examined. Design. A descriptive study. Setting. Tertiary care gynecologic oncology clinic, Seoul, Korea. Population. A total of 301 endometrial carcinoma patients who showed Stage I findings on preoperative MRI, and had received staging operations. Main outcome measure. We compared MRI findings of myometrial invasion with myometrial invasion levels reported by pathologists when surgical specimens were examined. Results. Of 301 patients, 17 showed higher stages (FIGO Stages IIA through IIIC) on the final pathology of surgical specimen. Among the 284 patients with Stage I on histology reports, 124 showed no myometrial invasion on preoperative MRI (FIGO Stage IA). The negative predictive value (probability of absence of myometrial invasion) was 49.2%. MRI showed an accuracy of 59.2%, a sensitivity of 68.8%, a specificity of 74.4%, and an 86.9% positive predictive value, for myometrial invasion. Conclusions. MRI had a rather weak predictive value when used to assess absence of myometrial invasion. This should be borne in mind when choosing patients for conservative treatment of endometrial carcinoma.