Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluación de la publicidad alimentaria dirigida a niños por televisión en España

La obesidad infantil representa uno de los principales problemas de salud publica del siglo XXI. Dentro de los paises europeos, Espana tiene una de las mayores prevalencias de obesidad y sobrepeso infantil. De etiologia multifactorial y compleja, en la aparicion de la obesidad intervienen factores geneticos, familiares, psicologicos y ambientales que afectan la dieta, la actividad fisica, o ambos. Actualmente el entorno alimentario promueve la ingesta de energia y actividades de ocio sedentarias como ver la television, desincentivando la practica de actividad fisica. Los ninos se encuentran expuestos diariamente a diferentes tecnicas de marketing utilizadas en comunicaciones comerciales de alimentos y bebidas (CCAB), en su mayoria poco saludables, y principalmente a traves de la television. El uso de tecnicas de mercadeo cada vez mas novedosas y sofisticadas, ha permitido que los anunciantes alcancen un mayor numero de ninos con menos control parental. La influencia publicitaria de productos poco saludables esta contribuyendo al desarrollo y mantenimiento del sobrepeso y obesidad en Espana y en el mundo. Para evitar que esta pandemia siga creciendo, es fundamental intervenir durante las primeras etapas de la vida, ya que las preferencias alimentarias se establecen en este momento, a traves de sistemas reguladores mas efectivos que controlen la publicidad televisiva de alimentos y bebidas dirigida a menores. Una de las intervenciones de salud publica mas costo-efectivas para reducir el impacto de la publicidad de alimentos y bebidas en los ninos, es su regulacion. Los principales sistemas reguladores de la publicidad de alimentos y bebidas dirigida a menores son la regulacion estatutaria, la autorregulacion y la corregulacion, existiendo algunos paises con sistemas mixtos. Espana, desde el ano 2005, cuenta con el Codigo de autorregulacion de la publicidad de alimentos y bebidas dirigido a menores (de 12 anos), prevencion de la obesidad y salud (Codigo PAOS).
Inhibitory Effect of Calcium Antagonists on Histamine Release from Human Leukocytes

A study was made of the influence of calcium antagonists on human basophil histamine release induced in vitro by specific antigen, anti‐IgE or the calcium ionophore A23187. Both verapamil, nifedipine, and nimodipine were found to inhibit the release, and a similar effect was also observed after peroral administration of verapamil and nifedipine. The inhibitory effect of the drugs on histamine release seems to depend on interaction with calcium at different sites. The anti‐allergic effect might explain the improvement found with calcium antagonists in exercise‐induced asthma.
Surgical Management of Traumatic Nasolacrimal duct Obstruction

Purpose To evaluate etiologies, demographics, and surgical outcomes in cases of traumatic nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). Methods Charts of 35 patients with the diagnosis of traumatic NLDO were reviewed retrospectively. Patient demographics, type of trauma, previous lacrimal surgery history, surgical treatment, follow-up time, and anatomical and functional outcomes were evaluated. Results Forty eyes of 35 patients were included in this study over 12 years. Twenty-four patients were male (68.5%) and the mean age of the patients was 31.52 ± 14.58 years (range 9-68). The most common etiology was motor vehicle accidents (52.5%), followed by high velocity blunt injury (27.5%), accidental fall (7.5%), occupational trauma (5%), iatrogenic surgical trauma (5%), and animal bite (2.5%). A total of 21 eyes (52.5%) were treated with external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), 30% with conjunctival DCR, 15% with endoscopic DCR, and 2.5% with diode laser-assisted DCR. Mean follow-up time was 23.02 ± 13.53 months. Functional and anatomical success was recorded in 37 out of 40 eyes (92.5%). Conclusions Naso-orbitoethmoidal fracture is the main etiology of traumatic NLDO. The majority of the injuries occurred in male participants from motor vehicle accidents and high-velocity blunt injury. Dacryocystorhinostomy provides anatomical and functional success in 92.5% of cases of traumatic NLDO.
Laser-Generated Air Contaminants from Medical Laser Applications: A State-of-the-Science Review of Exposure Characterization, Health Effects, and Control

The clinical use of lasers in surgery began in 1973 with applications of the carbon dioxide laser in otolaryngology, and since then the use of lasers has become commonplace in many medical and surgical specialties. Nonetheless, when biological tissue is subjected to laser radiation, the target cells can be vaporized, resulting in the aerosolization of their contents and the subsequent exposure of health care workers to laser-generated air contaminants (LGACs). The purpose of our analysis was to summarize and present all of the published literature pertaining to the laser-induced plume chemical and physical composition, health effects, and methods of control. The objective was to identify knowledge gaps within exposure science to set a research agenda for the protection of health care personnel exposed to LGACs. A literature search was performed using the PubMed database using a variety of search strategies and keyword combinations. To locate additional studies, we systematically searched the reference lists of all studies identified by our search, as well as key review papers. To date, researchers have identified roughly 150 chemical constituents of plume, as well as fine and ultrafine particulate matter, which has been shown to include viable cellular material, viruses, and bacteria. However, very few studies have attempted to characterize the effects of laser system type, power, and tissue treated, as it relates to LGAC exposure. Furthermore, current control strategies do not appear to be adequate in preventing occupational exposure to LGACs.
Impacts of temporal variation on apparent competition and coexistence in open ecosystems

The natural world is variable both in space and in time, but little ecological theory has been explicitly devoted to analyzing the consequences of both kinds of variability operating simultaneously. This issue is examined relative to the indirect interaction of apparent competition, which can limit the membership of prey communities. One limiting case that provides a useful starting point is to imagine that a local community is influenced by coupling with an external source landscape, but has little reciprocal influence on that landscape. There usually will be some rate of input of a locally inferior species that suffices to ‘swamp’ a superior species and drive it to extinction. We use simple models of apparent competition to show that when one superimposes upon this scenario temporal fluctuations, mediated through shifts in parameter values, such variation can either magnify the importance of the external input, or reduce it, depending on which component of the system experiences variation. We examine this in the case of both slow variation (for which we suggest a protocol that may be useful in a wide range of ecological models), and fast variation. The theoretical studies presented here provide examples of the rich range of outcomes that may arise due to temporal variability in spatially heterogeneous landscapes.
Integrating sporadic imitation in Reinforcement Learning robots

Although the combination of Reinforcement Learning and imitation has been already considered in recent research, it always revolved around fixed settings where demonstrator and imitator are fixed and the imitation process is a well-defined period of time. What is missing is the investigation of approaches that also work in scenarios where imitation is only sporadically possible. This means that in a multi-robot scenario a robot is now allowed to interrupt another robot by asking to repeat certain actions, but can only observe and integrate information bits delivered occasionally. In this paper we present how that can be done in continuous and noisy environment within an SMDP context.
Influenza vaccination reduces cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

AIMS Influenza infection has been shown to accentuate the progression of atherosclerosis and precipitate the occurrence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the protective effects of the influenza vaccine on cardiovascular events are still inconclusive. METHODS AND RESULTS The study was a prospective randomized open with blinded endpoint (PROBE) study. The 439 patients who had been admitted due to ACS within 8 weeks were enrolled and randomly allocated to receive inactivated influenza vaccine in the vaccine group and no treatment in the control group. All patients were treated with the standard therapy including revascularization according to primary cardiologists. The primary endpoint, which was the combined major cardiovascular events, including death, hospitalization from ACS, hospitalization from heart failure, and hospitalization from stroke, occurred less frequently in the vaccine group than the control group [9.5 vs. 19.3%, unadjusted HR 0.70 (0.57-0.86), P = 0.004]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of cardiovascular death between the vaccine and control groups [2.3 vs. 5.5%, unadjusted HR 0.39 (0.14-1.12), P = 0.088]. CONCLUSION The influenza vaccine reduced major cardiovascular events in patients with ACS. Therefore, it should be encouraged as a secondary prevention in this group of patients.
Future Generation Computer Systems

Within a closed ecosystem, end-users cannot interoperate with other platforms or port their software and data easily without a cost for interface integration or data re-formatting. The customers of these closed software service platforms are locked-in. Potential customers, who are aware of this lock-in issue, are hesitant to adopt a closed software service platform, slowing down the wide deployment of the software service platform. This paper applies an economic perspective to investigate the value creation for providers and users at different levels of interoperability. For the analysis, a value creation model for software service platforms within a software service ecosystem has been developed. Simulations of the value creation model show that, even if investments in interoperability and portability are aimed at addressinguserrequirements,theirimpactalsodrivestheproviders’profitability.Furthermore,emerging providers require investing more than market leading providers, as they have less power to set de facto standards. The simulation results also show that there is an optimal level of investments, with respect to profit and return on investments. Overall, from these results, platform providers cannot only obtain an understanding on how investments in interoperability and portability impact cost, enable cost-effective service integration, and create value, but also design new strategies for optimizing investments.
Adult bone marrow stromal stem cells express germline, ectodermal, endodermal, and mesodermal genes prior to neurogenesis

Bone marrow stromal stem cells (MSCs) normally differentiate into mesenchymal derivatives but recently have also been converted into neurons, classical ectodermal cells. To begin defining underlying mechanisms, we extended our characterization of MSCs and the differentiated neurons. In addition to expected mesodermal mRNAs, populations and clonal lines of MSCs expressed germinal, endodermal, and ectodermal genes. Thus, the MSCs are apparently “multidifferentiated” in addition to being multipotent. Conversely, the differentiating neurons derived from populations and clonal lines of MSCs expressed the specific markers β‐III tubulin, tau, neurofilament‐M, TOAD‐64, and synaptophysin de novo. The transmitter enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase were localized to neuronal subpopulations. Our observations suggest that MSCs are already multidifferentiated and that neural differentiation comprises quantitative modulation of gene expression rather than simple on–off switching of neural‐specific genes. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of the quantitative trait locus for haloperidol‐induced catalepsy on distal mouse chromosome 1

We report here the confirmation of the quantitative trait locus for haloperidol‐induced catalepsy on distal chromosome (Chr) 1. We determined that this quantitative trait locus was captured in the B6.D2‐Mtv7a/Ty congenic mouse strain, whose introgressed genomic interval extends from approximately 169.1 to 191.3 Mb. We then constructed a group of overlapping interval‐specific congenic strains to further break up the interval and remapped the locus between 177.5 and 183.4 Mb. We next queried single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data sets and identified three genes with nonsynonymous coding SNPs in the quantitative trait locus. We also queried two brain gene expression data sets and found five known genes in this 5.9‐Mb interval that are differentially expressed in both whole brain and striatum. Three of the candidate quantitative trait genes were differentially expressed using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction analyses. Overall, the current study illustrates how multiple approaches, including congenic fine mapping, SNP analysis and microarray gene expression screens, can be integrated both to reduce the quantitative trait locus interval significantly and to detect promising candidate quantitative trait genes.
Biotypes and Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Brucella Isolates

41 Brucella strains isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were identified to species level and biotypes detected. All of the isolates were Brucella melitensis: 2 strains of B. melitensis biotype-1 and 39 strains of B. melitensis biotype-3. In vitro activities of these strains were detected by the E test method. According to the 90% minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC90) values, the most active agent was doxycycline (MIC90 0.064 μg/ml), followed by ciprofloxacin (MIC90 0.25 μg/ml), trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole and ceftriaxone (MIC90 0.38 μg/ml). Rifampin exhibited the highest MIC90 value (0.75 μg/ml).
Longitudinal Tear of the Medial Meniscus Posterior Horn in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Deficient Knee Significantly Influences Anterior Stability

Background: Longitudinal tears of the medial meniscus posterior horn (MMPH) are commonly associated with a chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency. Many studies have demonstrated the importance of the medial meniscus in terms of limiting the amount of anterior-posterior tibial translation in response to anterior tibial loads in ACL-deficient knees. Hypothesis: An MMPH tear in an ACL-deficient knee increases the anterior-posterior tibial translation and rotatory instability. In addition, MMPH repair will restore the tibial translation to the level before the tear. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Ten human cadaveric knees were tested sequentially using a custom testing system under 5 conditions: intact, ACL deficient, ACL deficient with an MMPH peripheral longitudinal tear, ACL deficient with an MMPH repair, and ACL deficient with a total medial meniscectomy. The knee kinematics were measured at 0°, 15°, 30°, 60°, and 90° of flexion in response to a 134-N anterior and 200-N axial compressive tibial load. The rotatory kinematics were also measured at 15° and 30° of flexion in a combined rotatory load of 5 N·m of internal tibial torque and 10 N·m of valgus torque. Results: Medial meniscus posterior horn longitudinal tears in ACL-deficient knees resulted in a significant increase in anterior-posterior tibial translation at all flexion angles except 90° (P < .05). An MMPH repair in an ACL-deficient knee showed a significant decrease in anterior-posterior tibial translation at all flexion angles except 60° compared with the ACL-deficient/MMPH tear state (P < .05). The total anterior-posterior translation of the ACL-deficient/MMPH repaired knee was not significantly increased compared with the ACL (only)–deficient knee but was increased compared with the ACL–intact knee (P > .05). A total medial meniscectomy in an ACL-deficient knee did not increase the anterior-posterior tibial translation significantly compared with MMPH tears in ACL-deficient knees at all flexion angles (P > .05). In a combined rotatory load, tibial rotation after MMPH tears or a total medial meniscectomy in an ACL-deficient knee were not affected significantly at all flexion angles. Conclusion: This study shows that an MMPH longitudinal tear in an ACL-deficient knee alters the knee kinematics, particularly the anterior-posterior tibial translation. MMPH repair significantly improved anterior-posterior tibial translation in ACL-deficient knees. Clinical Relevance: These findings may help improve the treatment of patients with ACL and MMPH longitudinal tear by suggesting that the medial meniscal repairs should be performed for greater longevity when combined with an ACL reconstruction.
Rituximab in the treatment of refractory pulmonary sarcoidosis

To the Editor: Sarcoidosis is a chronic disease characterised by granulomatous depositions that can occur in virtually any organ system [1]. Currently, there is no US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapy for sarcoidosis; however, corticosteroids have proven efficacious and are a commonly used treatment [2]. In patients with chronic or pulmonary disease who do not respond to corticosteroids, or in whom steroid use is contraindicated, agents such as methotrexate, azathioprine and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α antagonists may be effective [3, 4]. However, a need persists for patients who fail to respond to current options. Sarcoidosis is a T-cell-mediated disease; however, humoral mechanisms may play a role in its pathogenesis [5]. Sarcoidosis is often associated with hypergammaglobulinaemia, autoantibody production and circulating immune complexes [6]. B-cell-targeted therapies have shown positive results in many T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that causes depletion of CD20+ B-cells [7]. Rituximab is FDA approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s) and microscopic polyangiitis, and is also being studied in Sjogren’s syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus and vasculitis [8]. There have been case reports of the effectiveness of rituximab for sarcoidosis [9–11]. Given the evidence for humoral involvement in sarcoidosis pathogenesis, this study sought to evaluate the utility of B-cell depletion using rituximab in patients with refractory pulmonary sarcoidosis. This was a prospective, open-label, phase I/II trial. The study was approved by the …
Reduction of nitrates, oxalates and phenols in fermented solar-dried stored cowpea ( vigna unguiculata l. ) leaf vegetables

This study was conducted to determine the effect of fermentation, solar drying and storage duration on the levels of anti-nutrients: nitrates, oxalates and phenols, in cowpea leaf vegetables. The rationale was reduction of the anti-nutrients. Reduction of nutritional stress factors in plant foods increases bioavailability of nutrients, hence improving their quality as foodstuffs. The cowpea leaves were purchased from the local markets, sorted to remove blemished leaves and foreign materials, washed in running tap water. Then, the vegetables were drained and divided into three batches of 16 kg each. One batch was heat-treated in hot water for 3 minutes and then cooled to ambient temperatures, drained and solar-dried. The second portion was acidified to a pH of 3.8, heat-treated, and solar-dried. The third portion was fermented for 21 days, heat-treated, and solar-dried. The three batches of vegetables were spread at different times on drying trays at the rate of 4 kg/m2 and dried in a solar drier to an approximate moisture content of 10%. The dried vegetables were packaged in either polyethylene bags or Kraft paper bags and stored for three months at 18oC, 22o- 26oC or 32oC. Fermentation, heat-treatment and drying of vegetables led to significant (P level of nitrates, oxalates and phenols. Data obtained in this study reveal a novel technique for the reduction of anti-nutrients in cowpea leaf vegetables, namely; fermentation followed by solar drying. The increased acceptability of these fermented-dried vegetables would help rural communities in providing better foodstuff with fewer anti-nutrients, thus alleviating micronutrient malnutrition. This novel long-term storage technology can greatly help to deal with the issue of seasonality and will increase food security, especially during the dry season.
Functional polymorphisms in the BRCA1 promoter influence transcription and are associated with decreased risk for breast cancer in Chinese women

Background: The BRCA1 gene is an important breast-cancer susceptibility gene. Promoter polymorphisms can alter the binding affinity of transcription factors, changing transcriptional activity and may affect susceptibility to disease. Methods and Results: Using direct sequencing of the BRCA1 promoter region, we identified four polymorphisms c. -2804T→C (rs799908:T→C), c. -2265C→T (rs11655505:C→T), c. -2004A→G (rs799906:A→G) and c. -1896(ACA)1→(ACA)2 (rs8176071:(ACA)1→(ACA)2) present in Hong Kong Chinese. Each polymorphism was studied independently and in combination by functional assays. Although all four variants significantly altered promoter activity, the c. -2265T allele had stronger binding than the C allele, and the most common mutant haplotype, which contains the c. -2265T allele, increased promoter activity by 70%. Risk association first tested in Hong Kong Chinese women with breast cancer and age-matched controls and replicated in a large population-based study of Shanghai Chinese, together totalling >3000 participants, showed that carriers of the c. -2265T allele had a reduced risk for breast cancer (combined odd ratio (OR) = 0.80, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.93; p = 0.003) which was more evident among women aged ⩾45 years at first diagnosis of breast cancer and without a family history of breast cancer (combined OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.91; p = 0.004). The most common haplotype containing the c. -2265T allele also showed significant risk association for women aged ⩾45 years without a family history of breast cancer (OR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.89; p = 0.008). Conclusion: This comprehensive study of BRCA1 promoter polymorphisms found four variants that altered promoter activity and with the most significant contribution from c. -2265C→T, which could affect susceptibility to breast cancer in the Chinese population. Its significance in other populations remains to be investigated.
Effect of uncorrected refractive errors upon central visual field testing

An investigation of the effects of uncorrected refractive errors upon a central visual field examination has been made with a view to establishing what the likely effects would be of omitting a refractive correction when screening the visual field with a threshold related, supra‐threshold strategy on the Henson CFA3000. The results indicate that, while a linear relationship exists between the extent of threshold elevation and the product of residual refractive error and pupil size, the scatter in the results means that accurate predictions cannot he made in individual cases. The threshold elevation was found to be independent of eccentricity (within the central 21° from fixation) and did not increase the variability of results. These last two findings indicate that uncorrected refractive errors are unlikely to affect the sensitivity of the threshold related, supra‐threshold strategy to localized visual field defects.