Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis: psychometric analysis of inventories

Objective: Measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) enables attainment of a comprehensive picture of chronic patients’ conditions. The aim was to gain insight into HRQoL as viewed by Israeli multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, with an eye to its cross-cultural applicability, using psychometric analysis and a regression-based procedure. Methods: The reliability and validity of the MSQoL-54 was assessed in 215 Israeli MS patients. Subsequently, a novel method in QoL research for assessing the relative importance to patients of different aspects of the construct, comparing these between males and females, was applied. Using factor analysis, the degree to which the MSQoL-54 dimensions are applicable in our population and the existence of a separate dimension of Fatigue were tested. Finally, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine relationships between QoL dimensions. Results: The MSQoL-54 showed reliabilities and validities comparable to those found in other populations. Females attach importance to emotional aspects of QoL, while males are more concerned with physical aspects. The distinction between Emotional and Physical dimensions emerged from SEM, as did a distinction between Fatigue and Energy, the former being primarily Physical, and the latter Emotional. SEM indicated a reciprocal causality between Physical and Emotional dimensions. Conclusions: Based on internal structure, reliability and validity, the MSQoL-54 is applicable to Israeli MS patients. However, the scale’s Social Function dimension is indecisively defined, which requires further study. QoL research in MS should distinguish between emotional and physical Fatigue. Assessing importance of QoL dimensions should inform clinicians in tailoring treatment to the individual patient.
Suppression of GST‐P by treatment with glutathione‐doxorubicin conjugate induces potent apoptosis in rat hepatoma cells

A conjugate of doxorubicin and glutathione via glutaraldehyde (GSH‐DXR) inhibited glutathione S‐transferase (GST) activity of rat hepatoma AH66 cells, and treatment of the cells with GSH‐DXR induced caspase‐3 activation and DNA fragmentation. After treatment of AH66 cells with 0.1 μM GSH‐DXR, GST‐P (placental type of rat GST isozymes) mRNA and its protein increased transiently and then decreased thereafter compared with the levels in nontreated cells. Caspase‐3 activation and DNA fragmentation were induced following the suppression of GST‐P expression by treatment with GSH‐DXR. When the cells were treated with 100 μM ethacrynic acid (ECA), an inhibitor of GST, DNA fragmentation and caspase‐3 activation were observed. In contrast, treatment of AH66 cells with a low concentration of ECA (1 μM) that showed little inhibition of GST activity induced slight, but significantly enhanced expression and activity of GST‐P, and consequent prevention of DXR‐ and GSH‐DXR‐induced DNA fragmentation. Overexpression of GST‐π (placental type of human GST isozymes) by transfection of GST‐π sense cDNA into AH66 cells decreased sensitivities to DXR and GSH‐DXR, and the suppression of GST‐P by transfection of the antisense cDNA into the cells increased drug sensitivity. On the other hand, there was little change in drug sensitivity caused by overexpression of site‐directedly mutated GST‐P in which the active‐site residue Tyr39 was replaced with His (W39H) or the substrate‐binding site residue Cys48 was replaced with Ser (C48S) by transfection of those cDNAs into AH66 cells. These results suggested that the suppression of GST‐P in AH66 cells treated with GSH‐DXR must play an important role in the induction of apoptosis. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How to make an eye

The eye is an organ of such remarkable complexity and apparently flawless design that it presents a challenge to both evolutionary biologists trying to explain its phylogenetic origins, and developmental biologists hoping to understand its formation during ontogeny. Since the discovery that the transcription factor Pax6 plays a crucial role in specifying the eye throughout the animal kingdom, both groups of biologists have been converging on the conserved mechanisms behind eye formation. Their latest meeting was at the Instituto Juan March in Madrid, at a workshop organized by Walter Gehring (Biozentrum, Basel, Switzerland) and Emili Saló (Universitat de Barcelona, Spain), entitled `The genetic control of eye development and its evolutionary implications'. The exchange of ideas provided some new insights into the construction and history of the eye.
Deconstructing the narrow-line region of the nearest obscured quasar

We study the physical and kinematic properties of the narrow-line region (NLR) of the nearest obscured quasar MRK 477 (z = 0.037), using optical and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. About 100 emission lines are identified in the optical+NIR spectrum (90 in the optical), including several narrow optical Fe+ lines. To our knowledge, this is the first type 2 active galactic nucleus (AGN) with such a detection. The Fe+ lines can be explained as the natural emission from the NLR photoionized by the AGN. Coronal line emission can only be confirmed in the NIR spectrum. As in many other AGNs, a significant correlation is found between the lines’ full width at half-maximum and the critical density log(ncrit). We propose that it is caused by the outflow. This could be the case in other AGNs. The nuclear jet-induced ionized outflow has been kinematically isolated in many emission lines covering a broad range of ionization potentials and critical densities. It is concentrated within R ∼few×100 pc from the central engine. The outflowing gas is denser (n ≳ 8000 cm−3) than the ambient non-perturbed gas (n ∼ 400–630 cm−3). This could be due to the compression effect of the jet-induced shocks. Alternatively, we propose that the outflow has been triggered by the jet at R ≲ 220 pc (possibly at ≲ 30 pc), and we trace how the impact weakens as it propagates outwards following the radiation-pressure-dominated density gradient. The different kinematic behaviour of [Fe II] λ1. 644 μm suggests that its emission is enhanced by shocks induced by the nuclear outflow/jet and is preferentially emitted at a different, less reddened spatial location.
Assessment of c-reactive protein and oxidative/antioxidative status in children with acute bacterial meningitis.

The objectives of this study were to compare the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant parameters [represented by serum ferritin, uric acid and total antioxidant status (TAS)] in children with bacterial meningitis with a control group. Twenty-seven children with bacterial meningitis were included in this study. Thirty apparently healthy children were also included as the control group. Assays of serum CRP, uric acid, ferritin and TAS were performed on samples from controls and from patients prior to antibiotic therapy. After two weeks of antibiotic therapy, assays of the same parameters were repeated in the patients. A significant rise in the serum levels of MDA and CRP, and a significant reduction in serum uric acid levels and TAS were noted in children with acute bacterial meningitis (before therapy) compared to controls. Serum ferritin levels showed no significant differences. When measured parameters of children with bacterial meningitis after therapy were compared with those of the controls, highly significant differences in the mean serum levels of uric acid, CRP and TAS were noted. There were no significant differences in the mean serum ferritin levels. Serum oxidative/antioxidative balance shifted to the oxidative side in meningitis patients before therapy, and improved after therapy. Elevation of CRP in cases with bacterial meningitis may reflect its importance as an aid in the diagnosis of such cases.
Prevalence of Self-Medication among Urban and Rural Population of Islamabad, Pakistan

Purpose : To evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of self-medication among urban and rural population of Islamabad, Pakistan. Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 participants using random sampling method. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data from urban and rural areas of Islamabad. Chi square/Fisher’s exact test was used to compare two groups. Results : Overall, 61.2% of participants practised self-medication and it was more prevalent among 15-30 years age group. An association was found between self-medication and residence, gender, and education (p<0.05). A majority of participants (n = 364, 72.8%) trusted Allopathic system the most. Pain was the most likely indication (n = 207, 67.6%) for which participants self-medicated (p<0.05). Analgesics were the most likely (n = 187, 61.1%) medicine class used (p<0.05), majorly, paracetamol. Mild illness (n = 128, 41.8%) was determined as the most common reason (p<0.05). Generally, higher proportion of urban participants reported “previous experience” and “time saving” as the most common reason for the practice of self-medication in contrast to “economical” and “lack of health care facilities” described by rural participants. A majority of the participants (n = 186, 60.8%) self-medicated on their own initiative (p<0.001). Generally, higher percentage of urban participants reported family/friends (27.9% versus 15.7%) as the commonest source in contrast to medical professionals (21.6% versus 5.2%) reported by rural respondents. Conclusion : This study shows an association between self-medication and gender, residence, and education. Urban and rural participants significantly differ on the most common reason, symptom, source and class of drug used for self-medication. Keywords : Self medication, Prevalence, Rural, Urban, Analgesics
Genotypic Diversity of Mutans Streptococci in Brazilian Nursery Children Suggests Horizontal Transmission

ABSTRACT Streptococcus mutans strains were isolated from cohorts of Brazilian nursery school children and genotyped by arbitrarily primed PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Of 24 children with two to five S. mutans isolates, 29% carried two or more genotypes. The presence of matching genotypes of S. mutans among children attending one nursery suggests horizontal transmission.
Identical twins discordant for type 1 diabetes show a different pattern of in vitro CD56+ cell activation

Recent studies in animal models indicate a role for natural killer (NK) cells in the protection against type 1 diabetes. In humans, a reduction of NK cell numbers has been reported in identical twins discordant for type 1 diabetes, irrespective of whether they have the disease. Here we have tested whether the activation and expansion of human NK cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reveals differences between these twins.
Resource-Advantage Theory: A Snake Swallowing Its Tail or a General Theory of Competition?

Deligönül and çavuşgil (1997) conduct a paradigm-level analysis of resource-advantage (R-A) theory. They argue that (1) Hunt and Morgan (1995) offer resource-advantage theory as a replacement for perfect competition theory, (2) a successful challenger to any theory must come from a new paradigm, (3) but both perfect competition and R-A theory come from the same paradigm. Therefore, (4) the replacement thesis is dubious. We evaluate their argument.
Detection of a Human Influence on North American Climate

Several indices of large-scale patterns of surface temperature variation were used to investigate climate change in North America over the 20th century. The observed variability of these indices was simulated well by a number of climate models. Comparison of index trends in observations and model simulations shows that North American temperature changes from 1950 to 1999 were unlikely to be due to natural climate variation alone. Observed trends over this period are consistent with simulations that include anthropogenic forcing from increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases and sulfate aerosols. However, most of the observed warming from 1900 to 1949 was likely due to natural climate variation.
Réseaux sublambda pour l'imagerie et la caractérisation de systèmes planétaires extrasolaires

A l'occasion du onzieme anniversaire de la decouverte de la premiere planete extrasolaire autour d'une etoile de type solaire, au moment ou environ 200 planetes ont ete decouvertes hors de notre propre systeme, de passionnantes questions a propos de leur formation, leur evolution et pour certaines d'entre elles, leur aptitude a abriter la vie, sont plus que jamais posees. Ces interrogations sur nos origines ont declenche l'emergence de nouveaux concepts technologiques et une tres forte volonte pour pousser les technologies existantes a leur limite, tout cela pour repondre au fantastique defi observationnel pose. ELTs, interferometres kilometriques au sol ou spatiaux, instruments de nouvelle generation: l'imagerie directe de systemes extrasolaires et leur caracterisation est sans conteste l'un des themes observationnels les plus exigeants, tout cela a cause de l'enorme contraste et de la minuscule separation angulaire entre les etoiles et leurs environements. Cette these est dediee a l'etude d'une classe de micro-composants bases sur la technologie des reseaux sublambda. Nous demontrons l'utilite des ces meta-materiaux integres et nano-structures dans le domaine de l'imagerie a tres grande dynamique. Les reseaux sub-lambda offrent en effet des solutions nouvelles et originales aux exigeantes contraintes induites par les objectifs scientifiques ambitieux de l'astrophysique a haut contraste. Apres avoir montre l'utilite pratique des outils coronagraphiques modernes dans l'observation de systemes planetaires en formation, nous presentons diverses solutions pour ameliorer la capacite de detection de systemes coronographiques existants, ainsi que de nouvelles totalement integrees et susceptibles de surclasser les systemes traditionnels au sein des instruments de nouvelle generation. Ensuite, toujours en profitant de la flexibilite optique des reseaux sublambda, nous proposons un nouveau concept de dephaseur achromatique pour l'interferometrie en frange noire, qui devra etre construit et teste dans le cadre des activites de R&D censees ouvrir la voie a d'ambitieuses missions d'interferometres spatiaux dedies a la detection et la caracterisation de planetes semblables a la Terre.
Target Text Contraction in English-into-Korean Translations: A Contradiction of Presumed Translation Universals?

This paper contradicts the prevailing assumptions among the advocates of translation universals (TU’s) that explicitation, a translation behavior which consists of spelling things out rather than leaving them implicit in translation, is a potential TU, irrespective of the specific language pairs involved in the process of translation. Specifically, via a study employing a newly built 517,609-word parallel corpus, it is shown that implicitation and the subsequent TT contraction as well as explicitation and TT expansion entailed were both observed in translations involving Korean and English. The significance of the direction of language combinations in translations employing the same language pair was identified, together with the introduction and verification of the validity of the four measurement units devised for this study to capture diverse aspects of explicitation/implicitation which in turn entail TT expansion/contraction.
Bovine ephemeral fever in Saudi Arabia

filament nylon. Recovery from the operation was unremarkable and the calf continued to thrive for a follow-up period of six months. Histological examination of the duct remnant revealed a layer of fibrous tissue surmounted by a thin muscularis mucosaelike layer with rudimentary mucosa above. This mucosa comprised loose lamina propria-like tissue with moderate infiltrations of plasmacytes, some polymorphonuclear cells and prominent deep coiled glands. These glands, which were lined by uniform columnar epithelial cells with basal nuclei and tall eosinophilic cytoplasmic regions, resembled gastric pits. The vitellointestinal (or omphalomesenteric) duct is the connection between the yolk sac and the midgut of the developing embryo. The duct is normally obliterated by the end of the first third of gestation as placental nutrition is established and yolk sac stores are depleted. Arrest of this involution can result in persistent vitellointestinal duct remnants which, in the human population, occur in approximately 2 per cent of individuals (Vane and others 1987). The most common of these is Meckel's diverticulum in which the proximal part of the duct persists, associated with the distal ileum. The rarer anomalies are cysts in which the central part of the duct persists, a sinus in which the distal part of the duct persists, a fistula in which the entire duct persists, a fibrous band and an umbilical mucosal polyp (Shaw 1986). Due to the rarity of such conditions, no classification of anomalies exists in the veterinary literature. Most reports involve Meckel's diverticulum, the occurrence of which appears to be less common in cattle than in swine and horses (Nieberle and Cohrs 1967). Diverticular impaction is recognised as a cause of colic in the horse (Madison and others 1991, Cook and others 1996). Fibrous remnants have been reported as a cause of intestinal obstruction and as incidental findings in adult cattle (Koch and oth-
Logistic support service improves processes and outcomes of diabetes care in general practice.

BACKGROUND Guidelines for type 2 diabetes care in general practice are well known and accepted, but the implementation falls short. OBJECTIVE To implement these guidelines by introducing a diabetes support service (DSS) to support the care delivered by the GP. METHODS A controlled, non-randomised study with delayed intervention in the control group; 78 GPs (n=51 for the intervention and n=21 for the control group) in the south of the Netherlands and 613 of their type 2 diabetic patients participated. Data were collected on the frequency, content and results of the check-ups (fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, cholesterol/HDL ratio, triglycerides, creatinine, blood pressure, fundus photography, foot examination, body mass index and smoking status) for 3 years. The year before signing up with the DSS was taken for the pre-measurements and after 2 years of DSS the post-measurements took place. The effect of the DSS was analysed in a mixed model with repeated measurement covariance structure. RESULTS At baseline the intervention and control group did not differ in control frequency and outcome (HbA1c). After the intervention the percentage of patients that attended four or more quarterly check-ups (with at least testing of fasting blood glucose or HbA1c) increased from 59 to 78%. In contrast, the frequency of check-ups in the control group remained constant. This effect was significant. The HbA1c remained the same in the intervention group while there was a significant deterioration in the HbA1c in the control group. CONCLUSION Simple logistic support by the DSS proved to have the capacity to implement type 2 diabetes guidelines in general practice.
Diabetes prevalence in India and its management through Indian system of medicines

Diabetes describes a group of metabolic diseases in which either the person has inadequate insulin production or body is not properly responding to insulin, or both. This results in high blood sugar levels. Over-weight people have a much higher risk of developing diabetes compared with those having a healthy body weight. Being over-weight can destabilize metabolic systems. The diabetes capital of the world with as many as 50 million people suffering from diabetes (type 2), India has a challenge to face. India has been witnessing an alarming rise in the incidence of diabetes. According to WHO, 80% of diabetes deaths are occurring in low and middle income countries. This disease is triggered by persistent hyperglycemia which should not be underestimated, because the progress of the disease may lead to foot ulcers, followed by gangrene that may require amputation. In Unani system of medicine, various formulations have been proven to be useful in this condition but its efficacy has not been evaluated so far, on scientific parameters, particularly for the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. In this comprehensive review, focus is laid on various such drugs.
Valgus malalignment is a risk factor for lateral knee osteoarthritis incidence and progression: findings from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study and the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of valgus malalignment on knee osteoarthritis (OA) incidence and progression. METHODS We measured the mechanical axis from long limb radiographs from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) and the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) to define limbs with valgus malalignment (mechanical axis of ≥1.1° valgus) and examined the effect of valgus alignment versus neutral alignment (neither varus nor valgus) on OA structural outcomes. Posteroanterior radiographs and knee magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained at the time of the long limb radiograph and at followup examinations. Lateral progression was defined as an increase in joint space narrowing (on a semiquantitative scale) in knees with OA, and incidence was defined as new lateral narrowing in knees without radiographic OA. We defined lateral cartilage damage and progressive meniscal damage as increases in cartilage or meniscus scores at followup on the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score scale (for the MOST) or the Boston Leeds Osteoarthritis Knee Score scale (for the OAI). We used logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and Kellgren/Lawrence grade, as well as generalized estimating equations, to evaluate the effect of valgus alignment versus neutral alignment on disease outcomes. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS We studied 5,053 knees (881 valgus) of subjects in the MOST cohort and 5,953 knees (1,358 valgus) of subjects in the OAI cohort. In both studies, all strata of valgus malalignment, including 1.1° to 3° valgus, were associated with an increased risk of lateral disease progression. In knees without radiographic OA, valgus alignment >3° was associated with incidence (e.g., in the MOST, adjusted OR 2.5 [95% CI 1.0-5.9]). Valgus alignment >3° was also associated with cartilage damage on MR imaging in knees without OA (e.g., in the OAI, adjusted OR 5.9 [95% CI 1.1-30.3]). We found a strong relationship of valgus malalignment with progressive lateral meniscal damage. CONCLUSION Valgus malalignment increases the risk of knee OA radiographic progression and incidence as well as the risk of lateral cartilage damage. It may cause these effects, in part, by increasing the risk of meniscal damage.