Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scientific evaluation of community-based Parkinson's disease nurse specialists on patient outcomes and health care costs.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of community based nurses specialising in Parkinson's disease on health outcomes and healthcare costs. DESIGN Two year randomised controlled trial in 438 general practices in nine randomly selected health authority areas of England. PARTICIPANTS 1859 patients with Parkinson's disease identified by the participating general practices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Survival, stand-up test, dot in square test, bone fracture, global health question, PDQ-39, Euroqol, and healthcare costs. RESULTS After two years 315 (17.3%) patients had died, although mortality did not differ between those who were attended by nurse specialists and those receiving standard care from their general practitioner (hazard ratio for nurse group v control group 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.73 to 1.13). No significant differences were found between the two groups for the stand-up test (odds ratio 1.15, 0.93 to 1.42) and dot in square score (difference -0.7, -3.25 to 1.84). Scores on the global health question were significantly better in patients attended by nurse specialists than in controls (difference -0.23, -0.4 to -0.06), but no difference was observed in the results of the PDQ-39 or Euroqol questionnaires. Direct costs for patient health care increased by an average of pound2658 during the study, although not differentially between groups: the average increase was pound266 lower among patients attended by a nurse specialist (- pound981 to pound449). CONCLUSIONS Nurse specialists in Parkinson's disease had little effect on the clinical condition of patients, but they did improve their patients' sense of wellbeing, with no increase in patients' healthcare costs.
Effects of Pretreatment on Physical and Ion Exchange Properties of Natural Clinoptilolite

Four pretreatment procedures have been applied to natural clinoptilolite to establish the influence of the pretreatment process on the properties of the material under investigation. Modification of material properties is imposed for its use in wastewater treatment via ion exchange processes. Batch pretreatment procedures as well as continuous flow column have been studied by using sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and nitric acid solutions in deionized water. Measurements of the effective capacity, the diffusion coefficient in the solid state and examination of the crystal structure have been employed to assess the effect of each specific pretreatment on the material under test. The effective capacity is improved in all cases, by a factor of 2.4 to 3.6, while the diffusion coefficient values depend strongly on the type of pretreatment used and fall in the range of 0.03−1.37×10−8 cm2s−2 at 20°C. The crystal structure remains unaltered as evidenced by XRD measurements.
Characterization of IncN plasmids carrying bla CTX-M-1 and qnr genes in Escherichia coli and Salmonella from animals, the environment and humans.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to characterize a collection of Escherichia coli and Salmonella harbouring qnr and bla(CTX-M-1) genes on IncN plasmids isolated from humans, food-producing, companion and wild animals, and the environment from six European countries. METHODS Nineteen IncN plasmids were compared using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), plasmid multilocus sequence typing (pMLST) and hybridization with repN, qnrS1, qnrB19 or bla(CTX-M-1) probes. Plasmids pKT58A and pHHA45 were sequenced using the 454-Genome Sequencer FLX platform on a library constructed from plasmid DNA purified from the respective E. coli transformants. RESULTS Three types of IncN plasmids carrying bla(CTX-M-1), qnrS1 and qnrB19 genes were identified in strains isolated from the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands, corresponding to pMLST sequence type (ST) 1, ST3 and ST8, respectively. Related plasmids circulating in human and animal isolates were identified. Complete nucleotide sequences of the ST1 pHHA45 plasmid carrying bla(CTX-M-1), isolated from E. coli from pigs in Denmark, and the ST3 pKT58A plasmid harbouring qnrS1, identified in E. coli from a water bird, were obtained. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated wide distribution of specific IncN plasmids disseminating bla(CTX-M-1) and qnr genes among animals and humans in Europe.
Ultrasound‐Guided Suprainguinal Fascia Iliaca Technique Provides Benefit as an Analgesic Adjunct for Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty

Analgesia after total hip arthroplasty is often accomplished by the fascia iliaca compartment block, traditionally performed below the inguinal ligament, to anesthetize both femoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves. The course of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve below the inguinal ligament is variable as opposed to consistent above the inguinal ligament in the pelvis. In this case series including 5 patients, we demonstrate that an ultrasound‐guided suprainguinal fascia iliaca approach would consistently anesthetize the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve along with anterior cutaneous femoral nerve branches and provide cutaneous analgesia after total hip arthroplasty, as shown by decreased opioid consumption.
CONTRACT NUMBER Therapeutic Vascular Targeting and Irradiation : Correlation of MRI Tissue Changes at Cellular and Molecular Levels to Optimizing Outcome

s (Published Conference Proceedings): Oral presentation Zhao, D. , Jiang, L. , and Mason, R.P. MRI evaluation of tumor physiological response to combretastatin A4 phosphate: correlation with a combined radiation response. Joint ISMRMESMRMB, Berlin, Germany, May 2007. Manuscripts in preparation: 1. Zhao, D. , Jiang, L. , Hahn, E.W. , and Mason, R.P. Evaluation of breast tumor microcirculation and oxygenation using a combination of BOLD, DCE and F MRI. Magn. Reson. Med. 2. Zhao, D. , Harper, A. , Richer, E. , Liu, Li. , Slavine, N. , Shay, J. W. , Antich, P. P., Mason, R. P. Novel application of bioluminescent imaging: Interrogating acute effects of the vascular targeting agent combretastatin. Cancer Res. 3. Zhao, D. , Chang, K. , Jiang, L. , Mason, R.P. In vivo monitoring of tumor physiological response to combretastatin A4 phosphate: correlation with a combined radiation response. Radiat. Res. Conclusion: Based on the data of in vivo tumor perfusion and oxygenation dynamics in response to the vascular targeting agent, combretastatin A-4-phosphate (CA4P) evaluated by MRI, we
The earliest colonization of Europe: the short chronology revisited

Long-running discussions about when Europe was first colonized have recently been fuelled by new discoveries from the Iberian peninsula, which reports hominid occupation by 800,000, or even by 1.8 million years ago. The proceedings of the important Tautavel workshop (1993), published as The earliest occupation of Europe (Roebroeks & van Kolfschoten (ed.) 1995), are now central. This new assessment takes forward ANTIQUITY'S notice by Roebroeks & van Kolfschoten of 1994 (68: 489–503).
Effects of Nimesulide, a Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor, on Cardiovascular Alterations in Endotoxemia

Prostanoids and cytokines are known to play a pivotal role in the mechanisms leading to endotoxin-induced cardiovascular failure. We investigated the effect of nimesulide (NIM), a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, on the cardiovascular alterations occurring during endotoxemia, and on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels in endotoxemic rats. NIM significantly reduced endotoxin-induced elevation of plasma and myocardial levels of TNF-α, but not those of IL-1β. Searching for the mechanism underlying the anti-TNF-α effect of NIM, it was found that the drug reduced nuclear factor kappa B activation through diminished nuclear levels of p-65 accompanied by a protective effect against the cardiovascular alterations and mortality seen during endotoxemia. In addition, the inhibitory effect of NIM on endotoxin-induced elevation in plasma and hypothalamic levels of PGE2 was noteworthy, and this may suggest that the large amounts of PGE2 observed during endotoxemia are mainly produced via COX-2.
TERRAIN ANALYSIS

One main source of information were cartographic maps of the “Esteros del Iberá” developed by the Military Geographic Institute (IGM, Instituto Geográfico Militar). Nineteen maps in the scale 1:100000 were required to cover the study area. The main information retrieved from the maps were the Level Curves (LC). We decided to use the LC in order to define the limits of the watershed by using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Hence, our first step was to digitalize the LC and use the GIS functions to define the watershed.
Diagnosing Fabry disease--delays and difficulties within discordant siblings.

Fabry disease, or Anderson-Fabry disease, was first described in 1898 by two separate physicians, William Anderson (London) and Johannes Fabry (Germany). 1,2 They independently described patients with ‘angiokeratoma corporis diffusum’, the now well-recognized characteristic dermatological manifestations of this condition. It is perhaps more commonly known as Fabry disease since Johannes Fabry suggested a systemic disorder was responsible. We now know that Fabry disease is a multi-system progressive X-linked lysosomal storage disorder due to alpha-galactosidase deficiency, which can present in numerous ways to different clinicians.3,4 As a result the diagnosis is often delayed for many years or even decades.5 Fabry disease is often only clinically recognized in the classical form of the disorder, associated with undetectable alpha-galactosidase activity, resulting in impaired degradation of neutral glycosphingolipids, particularly globotriaosylceramide (GL-3). 3 Progressive accumulation of these substances in various tissues and body fluids produces end organ damage, which subsequently leads to presentations that include severe debilitating chronic acroparasthesias, episodes of excruciating or lightening pain, hypohidrosis, chest or abdominal pain, diarrhoea, rashes (isolated or diffuse) and so on. Many other presentations are possible and diagnosis is eventually made by specialist referral for neurological, dermatological, ophthalmological, gastrointestinal, renal (e.g. proteinuria, unexplained renal impairment), cardiac [e.g. unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), cardiomyopathy] or cerebrovascular (e.g. early stroke without obvious risk factors), signs or symptoms, in combination or isolation, from the first decade of life onwards.3 The average age of symptom onset is 9 years for males and 13 years for females, yet the age of diagnosis is 23 and 32 years, respectively.6 Life expectancy is reduced by 17 years in affected males and 5 years in affected females.7 It is now recognized that the ‘classical’ form of the disease represents only one end of a spectrum associated with …
Expression and function of nuclear receptor coactivator 4 isoforms in transformed endometriotic and malignant ovarian cells

Iron is proposed to contribute to the transition from endometriosis to specific subtypes of ovarian cancers (OVCAs). Regulation of intracellular iron occurs via a ferritinophagic process involving NCOA4 (Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 4), represented by two major isoforms (NCOA4α and NCOA4β), whose contribution to ovarian cancer biology remains uninvestigated. We thus generated transformed endometriotic cells (via HRASV12A, c-MYCT58A, and p53 inactivation) whose migratory potential was increased in response to conditioned media from senescent endometriotic cells. We identified elevated NCOA4 mRNA in transformed endometriotic cells (relative to non-transformed). Knockdown of NCOA4 increased ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) and p21 protein which was accompanied by reduced cell survival while NCOA4β overexpression reduced colony formation. NCOA4α and NCOA4β mRNA were elevated in malignant versus non-malignant gynecological cells; NCOA4α protein was increased in the assessed malignant cell lines as well as in a series of OVCA subtypes (relative to normal adjacent tissues). Further, NCOA4 protein expression was regulated in a proteasome- and autophagy-independent manner. Collectively, our results implicate NCOA4 in ovarian cancer biology in which it could be involved in the transition from precursors to OVCA.
The use of digital video in physical education

This paper details the technical and operational aspects of a project investigating the role of digital video in physical education in 12 Irish schools over a period of two academic years. The project design involved a qualitative investigation into the use of digital video in three areas of physical education, namely teaching, learning and assessment. The group of physical education teachers who implemented the project received intensive training in the use of the technology initially and were also given additional training to meet the evolving needs of the project over its duration. The time demands placed on the team in terms of planning and preparation and post‐production work were recorded. The motivational effect of the use of the technology on students was noted. The capacity of the technology to provide focused feedback on performances was examined through the reviewing of video clips of students' performances in physical education lessons. The use of digital video as an aid to both formative and summative assessment in physical education was also examined. Aspects of assessment for learning were used in providing a cohort of students with opportunities to set their own learning goals and evaluate their own learning while compiling electronic learning portfolios. A total of 31 such portfolios were collated. An examination of the use of digital video technology as a means of assessing practical performances was also undertaken.
European Government Bond Market Contagion in Turbulent Times

In this paper we investigate the dynamics of European government bond market contagion during the financial crisis and, subsequently, during the European sovereign debt crisis. Following Bae et al. (2003), we use the coexceedance variable—joint occurrences of extreme negative and positive returns in different countries on a given day—to measure contagion. We also analyze the underlying determinants of the dynamics of contagion using an ordered logistic regression. Our results reveal that interest rates, stock market returns and market volatility help explain contagion in European government bond markets; however, their individual relevance varies from crisis to crisis. We also find that past contagion significantly increases the probability of more episodes of contagion today. Finally, we find statistically significant evidence of contagion from the “old” European Monetary Union (EMU) members to the new members during the sovereign debt crisis and to the non-EMU EU-15 members during both crises. Interestingly, our results show that the new members are those that behave most differently in our analysis.
ERCC1 expression as a predictive marker of cervical cancer treated with cisplatin-based chemoradiation.

AIM The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between repair cross-complementing group-1 (ERCC1) status and the outcome of platin-based chemoradiation of locally advanced cervical cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Tumor specimens from 112 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer were evaluated for ERCC1 expression. The outcome of these patients was retrospectively assessed in correlation with ERCC1 expression. RESULTS Increased expression of ERCC1 correlates with a better prognosis of cervical cancer. The 2-year overall survival was 68.6% in the group with low H-score for ERCC-1 and gradually increased in the intermediate and high H-score groups to 71.7% and 90.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION The present study did not confirm the correlation of low levels of ERCC1 expression with unfavorable outcomes of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with platin-based radiochemotherapy.
Heterogeneous Detection of A-antigen on von Willebrand Factor Derived from Platelets, Endothelial Cells and Plasma

Summary The exact function of the carbohydrate component of von Willebrand factor (VWF) is unknown. ABO blood group antigens are present as integral structures on the oligosaccharide side chains and it has long been recognised that ABO blood group is a determinant of VWF levels. The mechanism for this is not known. Using a monoclonal antibody against the A-antigen, we investigated the presence of this antigen on VWF from plasma, platelets, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and saphenous vein endothelial cells. Initial studies on plasma VWF revealed that 23.5% of samples appeared to be negative for the A-antigen. This was shown to correlate with the A2 subtype of the A-antigen (p <0.01). Analysis of intracellular VWF from saphenous vein endothelial cells revealed low levels of A-antigen to be present in comparison to the corresponding plasma VWF. In contrast, VWF from platelets and HUVEC gave no detectable A-antigen. However, within 1 h of administration of DDAVP to type 1 VWD patients, there was a >2-fold increase in the A-antigen/VWF:Ag ratio for VWF in the plasma. In vitro experiments with serum N-acetlygalactosaminyltransferase failed to demonstrate any addition of A-antigen to platelet or HUVEC VWF. These data are consistent with heterogeneity in the content of A-antigen on VWF from different physiological compartments. Also, they are consistent with either a change in the A-antigen content of VWF after release from the intracellular compartment or a difference in the intracellular addition of A-antigen to VWF by endothelium from different vascular beds.
Energy Efficient and Throughput Optimal CSMA Scheme

Carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) is widely used as a medium access control (MAC) in wireless networks due to its simplicity and distributed nature. This motivated researchers to find CSMA schemes that achieve throughput optimality. In 2008, it has been shown that a simple CSMA-type algorithm is able to achieve optimality in terms of throughput and has been given the name “adaptive” CSMA. Later, new technologies emerged where a prolonged battery life is crucial such as environment and industrial monitoring. This inspired the foundation of new CSMA-based MAC schemes, where links are allowed to transition into a sleep mode to reduce the power consumption. However, the throughput optimality of these schemes was not established. This paper, therefore, aims to find a new CSMA scheme that combines both throughput optimality and energy efficiency by adapting to the throughput and power consumption needs of each link. This is done by controlling operational parameters, such as back-off and sleeping timers, with the aim of optimizing a certain objective function. The resulting CSMA scheme is characterized by being asynchronous, completely distributed and being able to adapt to different power consumption profiles required by each link while still ensuring throughput optimality. The performance gain in terms of energy efficiency compared with the conventional adaptive CSMA scheme is demonstrated through computer simulations.
hpRNA-Mediated Targeting of the Arabidopsis FAD2 Gene Gives Highly Efficient and Stable Silencing

The endogenous Δ12-desaturase gene (FAD2) in Arabidopsis was targeted for silencing using seed-specific cosuppression (CS), hairpin (HP) RNA (hpRNA), and intron-spliced HP (iHP) constructs. The iHP construct, incorporating the 120-bp 3′-untranslated region of the FAD2 gene, gave the highest degree of silencing. In some iHP lines Δ12-desaturase activity was reduced to levels as low as those in the nullfad2-1 mutant, and every primary transformant showed a pronounced reduction in FAD2 activity. One highly silenced iHP line was propagated for five generations and showed no reversion or diminution in its degree of silencing. About 75% of plants transformed with the HP construct, targeting theFAD2 coding region, gave dramatically reduced Δ12-desaturase activity, whereas approximately 50% of plants transformed with the CS construct, containing the same coding region sequence, showed silencing at a much less profound level. In all three types of constructs, the degree of silencing was increased when the transgenes were homozygous, but this was much more pronounced for the CS constructs. All three types of construct could give a single locus that was capable of effective silencing, but in the one such CS line where this was the case, the locus had a complex insertion pattern. This is consistent with the concept that posttranscriptional gene silencing is induced by double-stranded, or self-complementary, RNA that is formed in cases of CS by complex insertion patterns at a single locus and that the most effective way of generating profoundly silenced plants is by the use of constructs that encode hpRNAs. Furthermore, these results demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, that iHP constructs targeted against an endogenous seed-expressed gene are clearly able to generate phenotypic changes that are inherited stably over several generations, making this approach a reliable technique for genetic modification of seed quality and possibly other traits in agricultural plants.
THE MICROWAVE SYNDROME – FURTHER ASPECTS OF A SPANISH STUDY

A health survey was carried out in La Ñora, Murcia, Spain, in the vicinity of two GSM 900/1800 MHz cellular phone base stations. The E-field (~ 400 MHz – 3 GHz) measured in the bedroom was divided in tertiles (0.02 – 0.04 / 0.05 – 0.22 / 0.25 – 1.29 V/m). Spectrum analysis revealed the main contribution and variation for the Efield from the GSM base station. The adjusted (sex, age, distance) logistic regression model showed statistically significant positive exposure-response associations between the E-field and the following variables: fatigue, irritability, headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, sleeping disorder, depressive tendency, feeling of discomfort, difficulty in concentration, loss of memory, visual disorder, dizziness and cardiovascular problems. The inclusion of the distance, which might be a proxy for the sometimes raised “concerns explanation”, did not alter the model substantially. These results support the first statistical analysis based on two groups (arithmetic mean 0,65 V/m versus 0,2 V/m) as well as the correlation coefficients between the E-field and the symptoms (Navarro et al, “The Microwave Syndrome: A preliminary Study in Spain”, Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, Volume 22, Issue 2, (2003): 161 – 169). Based on the data of this study the advice would be to strive for levels not higher than 0.02 V/m for the sum total, which is equal to a power density of 0.0001 μW/cm2 or 1 μW/m2, which is the indoor exposure value for GSM base stations proposed on empirical evidence by the Public Health Office of the Government of Salzburg in 2002.