Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Occupational Therapy Practice Checklist for adult physical rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE Although the practice of occupational therapy is described in textbooks, research, and professional standards, a tool for outcomes research is needed. METHOD The Occupational Therapy Practice Checklist (OTPC), based on the Model of Occupational Performance (Pedretti, 1996), includes domains of adjunctive, enabling, purposeful, and occupational performance. Practices are also identified by phase of therapy (early, middle, late). The OTPC was piloted with 40 adults in an outpatient physical rehabilitation center. RESULTS The Kuder Richardson 20 coefficient of internal consistency was . 91. Practices on the OTPC discriminated between clients with and without neurological disorders. CONCLUSION The OTPC has potential for yielding knowledge about occupational therapy practice. Results of the pilot show that occupational therapy practice was not linear, as theorized, but rather a complex integration of techniques.
Solution for Lorentz Forces Response and Degradation in ${\hbox{Nb}}_{3}{\hbox{Sn}}$ Cable in Conduit Conductors; Verification of Cabling Effect

We present the latest results of our novel model for transverse electro-magnetic load optimization (TEMLOP). The most essential and innovative feature of the TEMLOP, a priori prediction done in May 2006, is that the severe degradation in CICCs for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) can be outstandingly improved by increasing the pitch length in subsequent cabling stages and by reducing the void fraction. The model directly uses data describing the behavior of single strands under uni-axial stress and strain, periodic bending and contact loads, avoiding uncertainties in interpretation of the strand internal stress strain distribution. A full-size European Union prototype TF (TFPRO-2/OST-II) conductor was adapted according this new insight and tested in SULTAN for experimental validation of the prediction. The results were outstanding. For the first time a Nb3Sn CICC conductor achieved the maximum possible performance in relation to the strand properties, with even similar n -value, no degradation and no sensitivity to transverse load at all.
Effects of Somatostatin on Exocrine and Endocrine Pancreatic Function Stimulated by Intestinal Hormones in Man*

To evaluate the action of somatostatin on exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function, synthetic somatostatin (GIF) was administered (intravenous bolus of 300 mug followed by a constant 60-minute infusion, 5 mug/min) to 17 normal subjects. The secretin-induced volume and total bicarbonate contents of the duodenal aspirate were not affected whereas the bicarbonate concentration was significantly diminished. GIF reduced decisively the pancreatic enzyme secretion stimulated by pure (99%) cholecystokinin-pancreozymin. After the GIF infusion was stopped, a significant rise in enzyme secretion was observed. The secretin-induced insulin release was almost completely suppressed. Because GIF can be extracted in large quantities from pancreas, these data suggest that somatostatin may play a physiological role in the regulation of the secretory processes of this organ. Furthermore, GIF may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of acute pancreatitis.
Cardiovascular-Kidney Interactions in Health and Disease Translational regulation of ANG II type 1 receptors in proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells

Lee, Sunghou, Hong Ji, Zheng Wu, Wei Zheng, Ali Hassan, and Kathryn Sandberg. Translational regulation of ANG II type 1 receptors in proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 290: R50–R56, 2006. First published August 25, 2005; doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00448. 2005. —The current study examined angiotensin receptor (ATR) regulation in proliferating rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in culture. Radioligand competition analysis coupled with RNase protection assays (RPAs) revealed that angiotensin type 1a receptor (AT1aR) densities (Bmax) increased by 30% between 5 and 7 days in culture [Bmax (fmol/mg protein): day 5, 379 8.4 vs. day 7, 481 12, n 3, P 0.05] under conditions in which no significant changes in AT1aR mRNA expression occurred [in RPA arbitrary units (AU): day 5, 0.23 0.01 vs. day 7, 0.24 0.04, n 4] or in mRNA synthesis determined by nuclear run-on assays [AU: day 5, 0.35 0.14 vs. day 7, 0.33 0.11, n 5]. In contrast, polysome distribution analysis indicated that AT1aR mRNA was more efficiently translated in day 7 cells compared with day 5 [% of AT1aR mRNA in fraction 2 out of total AT1R mRNA recovered from the sucrose gradient: day 5, 20.9 9.9 vs. day 7, 56.8 5.6, n 3, P 0.001]. Accompanying the polysome shift was 50% less RNA-protein complex (RPC) formation between VSMC cytosolic RNA binding proteins in day 7 cells compared with 5-day cultures and the 5 leader sequence (5 LS) of the AT1aR [5 LS RPC (AU): day 5, 0.62 0.15 vs. day 7, 0.23 0.03; n 4, P 0.05] and also with exon 2 [Exon 2 RPC (AU): day 5, 35.0 5.7 vs. day 7, 17.2 3.6; n 4, P 0.05]. Taken together, these results suggest that AT1aR expression is regulated by translation during VSMC proliferation in part by RNA binding proteins that interact within exon 2 in the 5 LS of the AT1aR mRNA.
Chitosan silk-based three-dimensional scaffolds containing gentamicin-encapsulated calcium alginate beads for drug administration and blood compatibility

In the present study gentamicin was encapsulated within calcium alginate beads and incorporated into porous chitosan, gelatin, double-hybrid silk fibroin, chitosan/gelatin and double-hybrid silk fibroin/chitosan scaffolds. Physiochemical, morphological and biological properties of fabricated amenable model systems were evaluated, revealing hemocompatible nature of double-hybrid silk fibroin/chitosan and double-hybrid silk fibroin scaffolds of hemolysis %<5 and porosity >85%. Fourier transform infrared results confirmed the blend formation and scanning electron microscope images showed good interconnectivity. Double-hybrid silk fibroin/chitosan-blended scaffold shows higher compressive strength and compressive modulus than other fabricated scaffolds. A comparative drug release profile of fabricated scaffolds revealed that double-hybrid silk fibroin/chitosan scaffold is a pertinent model system because of its prolonged drug release, optimal hemocompatability and high compressive modulus.
The organization of binocular cortex in the primary visual area of the rabbit

A conscious rabbit which crouches in the ‘freeze’ position has an unequivocal 24° wide binocular field formed by the overlap of the two 12° sectors of uniocular optical field which extend nasal of its midline. Although this investigation reveals that the horizontal representation of the uniocular visual field in cortical visual area I extends more nasal than in earlier reports, it is found to terminate at the midline when the eyes are set in the standard freeze position. The 12° sectors of uniocular field nasal of the midline were not represented in spite of being served by retina. The binocular field of the rabbit in the freeze posture thus appears to have no binocular representation in visual area I.
A Conserved Histidine in the ij Loop of the Semliki Forest Virus E1 Protein Plays an Important Role in Membrane Fusion

ABSTRACT The enveloped alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (SFV) infects cells via a low pH-triggered membrane fusion reaction mediated by the E1 protein. E1 is a class II fusion protein that contains the hydrophobic fusion peptide loop and converts to a stable homotrimer during the fusion reaction. Intriguingly, the fusion loop is closely associated with a loop connecting the i and j β-strands. This ij loop plays a role in the cholesterol dependence of membrane fusion and is specifically susceptible to proteolysis in the protease-resistant E1 homotrimer. The SFV ij loop contains a histidine residue at position 230. Sequence comparisons revealed that an analogous histidine is completely conserved in all alphavirus and flavivirus fusion proteins. An E1 H230A mutant was constructed using the SFV infectious clone. Although cells infected with H230A RNA produced virus particles, these virions were completely noninfectious and were blocked in both cell-cell fusion and lipid mixing assays. The H230A virions efficiently bound to cell surface receptors and responded to low pH by undergoing acid-dependent conformational changes including dissociation of the E1/E2 dimer, exposure of the fusion loop, association with target liposomes, exposure of acid-conformation-specific epitopes, and formation of the stable E1 homotrimer. Studies with a soluble fragment of E1 showed that the mutant protein was defective in lipid-dependent conformational changes. Our results indicate that the E1 ij loop and the conserved H230 residue play a critical role in alphavirus-membrane fusion and suggest the presence of a previously undescribed late intermediate in the fusion reaction.
Acquisition versus loss of Helicobacter pylori infection in Japan: results from an 8-year birth cohort study.

Studies of the pattern of change in the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection are scarce. A longitudinal cohort study consisted of 644 children and adults, and two independent cross-sectional surveys were conducted in rural Japan between 1986 and 1994. The anti-H. pylori IgG seroconversion rates were 1.1% and 1% per year for children and adults, respectively. The seroreversion rate per year was 1.8% for children and 1.5% for adults. The cohort study was confirmed by the two cross-sectional studies. H. pylori prevalence fell in all age groups in both children (odds ratio [OR] = 0.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.2-1.0, P = .05) and adults (OR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.3-0.6, P = .001). The rate of loss of H. pylori infection was greater than the acquisition. Data regarding acquisition and loss of H. pylori infection are critical to understanding the epidemiology of the infection and to developing treatment and vaccination strategies.
Bridging islands of knowledge: a framework of knowledge sharing mechanisms

This paper attempts to answer the question of what and how knowledge sharing mechanisms should be used between geographically dispersed plants in multinational companies. Case studies in 11 multinational companies reveal that many mechanisms are used for inter-plant knowledge sharing, which are grouped into eight categories: transfer of people, forums (internal conferences/meetings), boundary spanners, periodicals, audits, benchmarking, best-practice guidelines and international teams. It is found that some knowledge sharing mechanisms are more suited for one stage of knowledge sharing than another, as determined by their "reach" and "richness". Specifically, mechanisms with high "reach" are more suitable for creating awareness among potential receivers and mechanisms with high "richness" are often more effective in transferring the knowledge. In addition, the choice of mechanism is also dependent on the degree of tacitness and embeddedness knowledge transferred. Based on these insights, a framework linking knowledge sharing mechanisms with knowledge transferred is constructed.
Effect of PGE2 and of agents that raise cAMP levels on macrophage activation induced by IFN‐γ and TNF‐α

The effect of prostaglandin (PG) E2 on macrophage activation by interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) was evaluated. Murine macrophages infected with Leishmania enriettii or Leishr mania major were activated by exposure to IFN‐γ (10–50 U/ml) and TNF‐α (30–3000 U/ml), leading to intracellular parasite destruction within 24–48 h. Leishmanicidal activity was markedly increased when activation was performed in the presence of PGE2 (10‐9‐10‐7 M) or arachidonate (10‐5 M, a PG precursor), concomitant with enhanced nitrite release and glucose oxidation through the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway. Conversely, activation was reduced by indomethacin and hydrocortisone, two inhibitors of PG synthesis. Parasite killing and nitrite production were fully restored by exogenous PGE2, indicating that inhibition by these drugs was related to their ability to block PG production. PG can stimulate adenylate cyclase, thus raising intracellular cAMP levels. Accordingly, dibutyryl‐cAMP, theophylline (which prevents cAMP breakdown), and forskolin (an activator of adenylate cyclase) all stimulated macrophage activation. Finally, PGE2 and cAMP enhanced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA in response to IFN‐γ and TNF‐α, and this effect was inhibited by the cAMP antagonist 2′‐O‐methyl adenosine. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that PGE2 acts as a positive agonist in macrophage activation by IFN‐γ and TNF‐α via its capacity to modulate intracellular cAMP levels. J Leukoc. Biol 58: 217–224; 1995.
Fluid dynamics of the larval zebrafish pectoral fin and the role of fin bending in fluid transport

Larval zebrafish beat their pectoral fins during many behaviors including low-speed swimming and prey tracking; however, little is known about the functions of these fin movements. Previously, we found experimental support for the function of larval fins in mixing of fluid near the body, which may enhance respiration by diffusion of dissolved oxygen across the skin. Here we use computational fluid dynamics to analyze fluid flow due to the pectoral fin movement. The pectoral fins bend along their proximodistal axis during abduction (fin extension), but remain nearly rigid during adduction (fin flexion). We hypothesize that this asymmetry in bending is critical for fluid mixing near the body and test the effects of fin bending with our simulations. For normal fin beats, we observed similar flow patterns in simulations and experiments. Flow patterns showed fluid stretching and folding, indicative of mixing. When proximodistal bending was removed from fin motion, fins were less effective at transporting fluid in a posterior direction near the body surface, but lateral mixing of fluid near the body was unaffected. Our results suggest that fin bending enhances posterior transport of fluid along the body surface, which may act to aid respiration in combination with lateral stretching and folding of fluid.
Assessment of pain in women randomly allocated to speculum or digital insertion of the Foley catheter for induction of labor

Objective. The primary aim was to assess pain subjectively and objectively in women during insertion of a Foley catheter for induction of labor. A secondary aim was to assess pain during cervical ripening and to evaluate maternal satisfaction. Design. Randomized controlled trial. Setting. University hospital, Sweden. Population. Forty‐two women undergoing induction of labor and cervical ripening with a Foley catheter. Methods. Women were randomly allocated to digital (n=21) or to speculum (n=21) placement of a Foley catheter. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for subjective assessment of pain and, for objective measurements, a skin conductance algesimeter was used and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated (μSs). Maternal satisfaction was evaluated in a questionnaire. Main outcome measures. Pain sensation during placement of the Foley catheter. Results. There was a significant difference between groups in pain measurements during insertion of the Foley catheter. The speculum group had higher median pain scores than the digital group, VAS=5 vs. = 3 (p=0.03) and greater median AUC measurements: 1840 vs. 823μSs (p=0.04). There was no difference in pain assessments during cervical ripening. Overall satisfaction scores were high and comparable between groups. Conclusion. Digital placement of the Foley catheter is subjectively and objectively less painful compared to the use of a speculum. Digital placement should therefore be considered as an alternative in the management of these patients. Ripening of the cervix with the Foley catheter is well tolerated and the overall satisfaction rate among patients induced with this method is high.
HLA-DQ genotype is associated with accelerated small bowel transit in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

Background Colonic transit (CT) is accelerated in 46% of patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Improvement in IBS-D with gluten withdrawal is associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2 positivity; the mechanism of improvement is unclear. Objective To determine if HLA-DQ2-positive or HLA-DQ8-positive patients with IBS-D have faster small bowel (SB) or CT than HLA-DQ2-negative and HLA-DQ8-negative patients. Materials and methods Among 94 patients with IBS-D, who previously provided DNA samples, 64 had undergone validated measurements of CT [geometric center at 24 h (GC24)]; 50 of the patients also had measurement of gastric emptying (GE) and 54 of SB transit (colonic filling at 6 h). HLA-DQ status was determined by tag single nucleotide polymorphism approach. Associations of colonic filling at 6 h and GC24 with HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 status were assessed using analysis of covariance, adjusting for BMI. Results Mean age was 40.8±1.6 years; 98.5% were females. In 60 of the 64 patients, celiac disease was excluded by serology or histology. There were no significant differences in age or BMI among the different HLA-DQ groups. Independently, patients positive for HLA-DQ2 had numerically greater colonic filling at 6 h compared with HLA-DQ2-negative (P=0.065), and those positive for HLA-DQ8 had greater colonic filling at 6 h compared with HLA-DQ8-negative patients (P=0.021). Gastric emptying was not associated with HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 status. Patients positive for both HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 had greater colonic filling at 6 h (P=0.013) and numerically higher, but not significant, GC24 (P=0.38) compared with HLA-DQ2-negative and HLA-DQ8-negative patients. Conclusion Patients with IBS-D positive for HLA-DQ8 or for both HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 have faster SB transit. The mechanism of the accelerated SB transit and the effect of gluten withdrawal on SB function in IBS-D deserve further investigation.
The Mutual Fund Industry Worldwide: Explicit and Closet Indexing, Fees, and Performance

Mutual fund investors face a basic choice between actively managed funds and index funds with lower expenses. We examine the prevalence of indexing in 30 countries and find that explicit indexed management is rare in most countries. Further, actively managed funds in many countries choose portfolios that track their stated benchmark index closely (i.e., engage in "closet indexing"). The degree of indexed management in a country is negatively related to fees, but the degree of “closet indexing” is positively associated with fees. The most actively managed funds outperform their benchmarks after expenses. The ability of active managers to outperform is associated with competition and fund regulations.
Impact of Individual Physicians on Enrollment of Patients into Clinical Trials

&NA; The National Cancer Institute is committed to increasing enrollment of cancer patients in clinical treatment trials. The factors that achieve successful results are poorly understood. This study analyzes the role of individual physicians in recruitment of patients in clinical trials. A retrospective review was undertaken of all patients with untreated endometrial, cervical, or ovarian cancer potentially eligible for a multi‐institutional phase III trial cared for by the Section of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Oklahoma from July 1, 1998 to September 30, 1999. Patient variables assessed included age, insurance status, cancer diagnosis, and enrollment onto clinical trial. There was no difference in faculty patients with regard to cancer type, age, or insurance status. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) between faculty in offering protocol therapy and likelihood of successfully enrolling patients. Successful enrollment was correlated with faculty experience and principal investigator status. This study shows that availability of patients, patient variances, support staff, and institutional commitment are secondary to individual physician factors in determining successful enrollment of patients onto clinical trials.
The Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S Promoter Extends into the Transcribed Region

ABSTRACT A 60-nucleotide region (S1) downstream of the transcription start site of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA can enhance gene expression. By using transient expression assays with plant protoplasts, this activity was shown to be at least partially due to the effect of transcriptional enhancers within this region. We identify sequence motifs with enhancer function, which are normally masked by the powerful upstream enhancers of the 35S promoter. A repeated CT-rich motif is involved both in enhancer function and in interaction with plant nuclear proteins. The S1 region can also enhance expression from heterologous promoters.
Identification of sequences in human transferrin that bind to the bacterial receptor protein, transferrin‐binding protein B

Alignment of amino‐acid sequences from the N‐terminal and C‐terminal halves of transferrin‐binding protein B revealed an underlying bilobed nature with several regions of identity. Based on this analysis, purified recombinant fusion proteins of maltose‐binding protein (Mbp) with intact TbpB, its N‐terminal half or C‐terminal half from the human pathogens Neisseria meningitidis and Moraxella catarrhalis were produced. Solid‐phase binding assays and affinity isolation assays demonstrated that the N‐terminal and C‐terminal halves of TbpB could bind independently to human transferrin (hTf). A solid‐phase overlapping synthetic peptide library representing the amino‐acid sequence of hTf was probed with soluble, labelled Mbp–TbpB fusions to localize TbpB‐binding regions on hTf. An essentially identical series of peptides from domains within both lobes of hTf was recognized by intact TbpB from both organisms, demonstrating a conserved TbpB–hTf interaction. Both halves of TbpB from N. meningitidis bound the same series of peptides, which included peptides from equivalent regions on the two hTf lobes, indicating that TbpB interacts with each lobe of hTf in a similar manner. Mapping of the peptide‐binding regions on a molecular model of hTf revealed a series of nearly adjacent surface regions that nearly encircled each lobe. Binding studies with chimeric hTf/bTf transferrins demonstrated that regions in the C‐lobe of hTf were preferentially recognized by the N‐terminal half of TbpB. Collectively, these results provide evidence that TbpB consists of two lobes, each with distinct yet homologous Tf‐binding regions.