Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alcohol consumption, abstaining, health utility, and quality of life--a general population survey in Finland.

AIMS To examine the associations between alcohol consumption and utility-based health-related quality of life (HRQoL), subjective quality of life (QoL), self-rated health (SRH), and mental distress. METHODS Representative general population survey in Finland, with 5871 persons aged 30-64 years. HRQoL was measured with two health utility instruments (15D and EQ-5D), QoL and SRH were measured with RATING scales, and mental distress with a General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Past alcohol problems were diagnosed with a structured psychiatric interview known as the composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI). Alcohol consumption was examined with a self-report questionnaire. RESULTS Negative associations between alcohol and well-being were observed on several measures for women consuming more than 173 g and men more than 229 g per week. Former drinkers scored worst on most measures, even in comparison to the highest drinking decile. For men, all statistically significant associations between moderate drinking and well-being disappeared when sociodemographic factors and former drinkers were controlled for. For women, moderate alcohol use associated with better SRH and EQ-5D as compared to abstainers. However, the possible health utility benefits associated with moderate alcohol consumption were of clinically insignificant magnitude. CONCLUSIONS Failure to separate former drinkers and other abstainers produces a significant bias favoring moderate drinkers. As the possible health utility benefits of moderate alcohol use were clinically insignificant, it suffices to investigate mortality, when estimating the public health impact of moderate alcohol consumption using quality-adjusted life years.
[Abdominal massage as intervention for patients with paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury--a pilot study].

UNLABELLED Patients with paraplegia caused by spinal cord injuries have to deal with the loss of the central nervous regulation of the bowel functions. The management of defaecation can take a lot of their daily time. To support the colon motility, different methods of abdominal massage are used in nursing practice. But a review of current international literature reveals, that there is still a lack of evidence for the effect of abdominal massage on defaecation. In order to prove this effect, a pilot study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with time series and including seven patients with paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury. Data were collected over three weeks: one week before intervention, during the intervention week and one week after intervention. In the intervention week, the patients received a specific abdominal massage each morning before breakfast. Following outcome-criteria have been considered: frequency and duration of defaecation, amount and consistency of faeces as well as subjective perception of the massage and its effects. RESULTS Some distinctive changes in the frequency and duration of defaecation could be registered over time. Most patients regarded the massage as a comfortable intervention that may have positive effects of the defaecation. Due to the pilot character of the study further research is necessary in order to validate these effects.
Epidemiological factors involved in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very low birth-weight preterm infants.

BACKGROUND In spite of the advances made in perinatal medicine, the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has not decreased and the aetiopathogenesis of the "new" BPD is still a matter for debate. The objectives of the present study were to analyse the epidemiological factors and morbidity associated with the development of BPD in a cohort of very low birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants. METHODS This retrospective observational study included all the preterm infants with birth weight ≤1500 g who were admitted to a tertiary-level hospital NICU from 2008 to 2011. A neurological follow-up was also carried out during the first two years of life. RESULTS A total of 140 VLBW infants were analyzed: 28.4% presented oxygen dependence at 28 days, and 17.2% at 36 weeks adjusted gestational age. Predictive factors for the development of BPD were gestational age, birth weight, number of days of parenteral nutrition, number of days to achieve full enteral feeding, number of transfusions, duration of respiratory support and insulin administration, vasoactive drugs, diuretics, sedoanalgesia and postnatal corticosteroids. The neonatal morbidity associated with the development of BPD was late neonatal sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and intraventricular hemorrhage. Non-significant associations with neurodevelopmental impairment were observed. CONCLUSIONS Predictive factors for the development of BPD were respiratory support, feeding and different types of medication. Moreover, patients with BPD had a higher associated morbidity than those who did not develop BPD.
N-acetylcysteine attenuates oxidative stress and liver pathology in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

AIM To evaluate attenuating properties of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on oxidative stress and liver pathology in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (control, n=8) was free accessed to regular dry rat chow (RC) for 6 wk. Group 2 (NASH, n=8) was fed with 100% fat diet for 6 wk. Group 3 (NASH+NAC(20), n=9) was fed with 100% fat diet plus 20 mg/kg per day of NAC orally for 6 wk. All rats were sacrificed to collect blood and liver samples at the end of the study. RESULTS The levels of total glutathione (GSH) and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased significantly in the NASH group as compared with the control group (GSH; 2066.7+/-93.2 vs 1337.5+/-31.5 micromol/L and MDA; 209.9+/-43.9 vs 3.8+/-1.7 micromol/g protein, respectively, P<0.05). Liver histopathology from group 2 showed moderate to severe macrovesicular steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, and necroinflammation. NAC treatment improved the level of GSH (1394.8+/-81.2 micromol/L, P<0.05), it did not affect MDA (150.1+/-27.0 micromol/g protein), but led to a decrease in fat deposition and necroinflammation. CONCLUSION NAC treatment could attenuate oxidative stress and improve liver histology in rats with NASH.
Effect of adenovirus 2 on cellular gene activation in blood‐derived monocytes and macrophages

We have investigated the effect of adenovirus 2 (Ad2) infection on human monocytes and monocytederived macrophages with regard to expression of TNF‐α and IL‐1β. In monocytes, the virus was bound to the surface without being internalized. On the other hand, Ad2 was internalized by macrophages. No virus replication and no transcription of the Ad2 early genes was observed in either of the cells. Ad2 infection induced transient increase in the mRNA levels for TNF‐α andIL‐1β in both monocytes and in macrophages, although the kinetics of the transcription was slightly different. The production of both cytokines, measured by ELISA tests, was enhanced in monocytes. In macrophages, a slight enhancement of TNF‐α production was seen, whereas IL‐1β was not detected. The data indicate that cellular genes might be activated by Ad2 virus infection in nonpermissive cells where no viral gene products could be detected.
Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy: Clinical spectrum of disease

The clinical features of 13 patients with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy were analyzed to determine prognostic factors and response to therapy. Eleven patients presented with sudden onset of fever, weight loss, generalized lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory features included autoimmune hemolytic anemia and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Pulmonary involvement was seen in six cases and skin rash in four. Two patients had localized lymphadenopathy without systemic symptoms. Both are alive at 5.5 and 2.5 years, respectively, after diagnosis, although the latter patient has required intermittent prednisone for recurrent lymphadenopathy. An additional patient is alive on treatment four months following diagnosis. The remaining ten have died, nine of sepsis and one of cerebral hemorrhage. The immunosuppression and myelosuppression of combination chemotherapy may have hastened their deaths. An individualized, conservative treatment approach is recommended.
A Holistic Approach to Estimating the Influence of Good Practices on Student Outcomes at Liberal Arts and non-Liberal Arts Institutions

Many higher education administrators and researchers have considered certain “good practices” of institutions as an instrumental way to improve student outcomes. Chickering and Gamson’s (1987) seven principles of good practice has been particularly salient in defining these practices. Often, prior studies only select some of the seven principles for their analysis. Even studies that consider several principles of good practice on student outcomes typically examine the net effect of each principle instead of assessing how these principles holistically influence student outcomes. Using structural equation modeling, we test a basic conceptual framework where we investigate the contribution of the seven principles on a global measure of good practices (GP), as well as the influence of GP on a multitude of student outcomes. We further test whether liberal arts colleges promote an institutional ethos of good practices as compared to non-liberal arts colleges. Overall, the majority (but not all) of the principles affect GP. Moreover, we find partial evidence that liberal arts colleges foster an institutional ethos of good practices. Although a commitment to foster good practices may create a supportive environment that influences student outcomes, this commitment may lead to unintended consequences for those with little exposure to these good practices.
Development and evaluation of an ultrasound-guided tracking and gating system for hepatic radiotherapy.

PURPOSE Respiratory motion must be accounted for daily in order to permit optimum radiotherapy of hepatic malignancies. However, existing tracking systems are often invasive or poorly tolerated by patients. The authors describe the development and validation of an ultrasound-guided tracking and gating system for stereotactic body radiation therapy of the liver. METHODS This noninvasive system is designed to determine the correlation between tumor and external fiducial motion and to verify the optimum gating level for treatment delivery daily. A tracked ultrasound probe moves with patient respiration, obtaining 2D ultrasound images of tumor motion throughout the respiratory cycle. The target volume is registered to the static radiotherapy treatment beams in order to verify optimum gating levels. These gating levels are then transferred to an existing gating system for treatment delivery. The authors examined the temporal and spatial accuracy of this system using a custom-built phantom and verified the accuracy of gating level transfer and delivery. RESULTS The temporal accuracy of the ultrasound-guided system was shown to be comparable to the existing clinical x-ray imaging system. Using ultrasound rather than x-rays to image internal targets provides good soft-tissue contrast without the invasiveness of implanting fiducial markers. High frame rates enable continuous monitoring of the target throughout the respiratory cycle. The authors anticipate this passive monitoring system should be well tolerated by patients. CONCLUSIONS The system developed provides good quality video of the laboratory motion phantom and can be successfully used in gated beam delivery.
Host genetic variants influencing the clinical course of Hepatitis B virus infection

The clinical course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection greatly differs in individuals. Various viral, host, and environmental factors influence the natural history of HBV infection. Recent genome‐wide association studies identified several host genetic factors influencing the clinical course of HBV infection. Genetic variations in HLA class II loci were significantly associated with susceptibility to persistent HBV infection. Other polymorphisms in or near the genes EHMT2, TCF19, and HLA‐C, located near HLA class II loci, and UBE2L3 were also associated with persistent HBV infection. Meanwhile, polymorphisms in KIF1B, GRIK1, and STAT4 were associated with HBV‐related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Interestingly, HLA class II genetic variations were strongly associated with not only persistent HBV infection, but also disease progression and HBV‐related HCC in chronic hepatitis B. Understanding the various genetic factors associated with the clinical course of HBV infection is essential for personalized treatment and surveillance of disease progression and HCC. J. Med. Virol. 88:371–379, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Expanding Cooperative Extension's Audience: Establishing a Relationship with Cowboy Church Members

The study reported here provided a descriptive report on cowboy churches, while identifying the potential for Extension-cowboy church collaborations and examining the direct implications to Extension. The diffusion of innovations conceptualized the qualitative study. Semi-structured, face-to-face and phone interviews were conducted with 10 adults from cowboy churches. Findings revealed relative advantages for Extension-cowboy church collaborations, areas of compatibility, and ample opportunities for trialibility. Disseminating nutrition, animal science, and youth development information to cowboy church members may establish a relationship between the two groups. Extension could gain positive advocates in local communities through educating and establishing relationships with cowboy church members.
Phase II study of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide (NSC 249992) in children with acute leukemia and lymphoma.

Phase I clinical studies of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide (AMSA) using several dose schedules have shown acceptable toxicity and antitumor responses in acute leukemia and several carcinomas. Thirty-eight children with acute leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with AMSA in a total dose of 140 to 600 mg/sq m given as a daily i.v. infusion in 2 to 5 days. Maximal tolerated dose was 600 mg/sq m given in 5 days. Complete and partial remissions were seen in four of 18 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia, zero of eight patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, and one of five patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Marrow aplasia and remissions were also seen with lower doses. The major toxic effects were mucositis, fever, and sepsis which were dose related. Mild nausea and vomiting, transient elevation of serum glutamic oxaloacetic-acid-transaminase, and bilirubin were noted. All of these patients had had prior anthracycline therapy. Abnormal echocardiograms were seen in 14 of 23 patients who had echocardiograms done before and after AMSA. Seven developed congestive heart failure in association with sepsis in five and with epicardial disease in one. We conclude that AMSA possesses significant activity in childhood leukemia and lymphoma and that studies of AMSA in combination with other effective agents should be done.
Aligning services and requirements with user feedback

For analysts the alignment between the requirements and the available services presents a significant challenge in service oriented paradigm. To address this challenge various technical solutions have already been proposed. Although technical issues play an important role in this selection but organizational and social factors are equally as important in selecting an optimally aligned service for a specific requirement. The users of services are mostly ignored in the alignment process. User feedback analysis has recently gained a lot of research focus, but these benefits have not been fully explored and utilized in service oriented software development. In this paper I present a method for aligning services to requirements that is designed using the Situational Method Engineering approach and it incorporates user feedback about the services. This feedback assists the analysts in extracting required information for making informed decisions while selecting services among available options that satisfies both the user requirements and customer preferences. The method is supported by a proposed tool. The method and the supporting tool will be validated by a controlled experiment and focus group feedback from the practitioners.
Spontaneous mutation spectrum at the lambda cII locus in liver, lung, and spleen tissue of Big Blue® transgenic mice

Big Blue® mice harbor a recoverable transgene in a lambda/LIZ shuttle vector. In the standard assay, in vivo mutations are measured in the bacterial lacI gene using a labor‐intensive color plaque assay. Applying a simpler assay [Jakubczak et al. (1996): Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:9073–9078], we measured mutations in the lambda cII gene portion of the transgene. Spontaneous clear plaque mutants were analyzed from liver, lung, and spleen of five untreated mice. Of 314 mutants, 182 (58%) had independent mutations, 74 (23.5%) appeared clonal, and 58 (18.5%) showed no cII mutations. Of 182 independent cII mutations, 156 (85.7%) were base substitutions, 20 (10.9%) were frameshifts, and 6 (3.2%) were multiple substitutions and one deletion. G:C → A:T transitions were the predominant base substitution (78% of these at CpG sites). The major mutation hotspot, a six G run and its 3′ flanking T at bases 179 to 185, comprised 18.7% of the independent mutations. Other hotspots were positions 103, 196, and 212. The in vivo cII spectrum had a significantly higher proportion of G → A and G → T mutations and fewer frameshifts than reported in vitro. The cII and published lacI spectra are similar, though G → A transitions and deletions were fewer in the cII gene. The cI gene was sequenced in 48 mutants with no cII mutations and most had cI mutations: 81.3% base substitutions and 18.7% frameshifts. We conclude that the cII/cI system is insensitive to deletion events, but is useful for detecting point mutations. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 33:132–143, 1999 © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of an Intensity Ratio to Describe Breastfeeding Exclusivity in a National Sample

Breastfeeding behavior in a sample of 1863 mother-infant pairswas examined using data from the 1988 National Maternal-Infant Health Survey. Breastfeeding behavior was operationalized as an intensity ratio, calculated as the number of breast milk feeds (on average in 24 hours) divided by the total number of all liquid feeds (on average in 24 hours), with a range from 0 to 1.0. During the first month postpartum, 61% of the sample reported exclusive breastfeeding, declining to 31% during months 2-3 postpartum and to 13% during months 4-6 postpartum. This declinewas consistent with the linear decline in the mean intensity ratio, . 82, . 55, and . 31, respectively, during the same three time periods. A higher breastfeeding intensity ratio was significantly associated with longer duration of breastfeeding, up to 1 year of life. Intensity ratio, as a measure of exclusivity, is a useful outcome measure for monitoring breastfeeding behavior.
Genetic differentiation and spatiotemporal history of diploidy and tetraploidy of Clintonia udensis

Abstract Polyploidy is an important factor shaping the geographic range of a species. Clintonia udensis (Clintonia) is a primary perennial herb widely distributed in China with two karyotypic characteristics—diploid and tetraploid and thereby used to understand the ploidy and distribution. This study unraveled the patterns of genetic variation and spatiotemporal history among the cytotypes of C. udensis using simple sequence repeat or microsatellites. The results showed that the diploids and tetraploids showed the medium level of genetic differentiation; tetraploid was slightly lower than diploid in genetic diversity; recurrent polyploidization seems to have opened new possibilities for the local genotype; the spatiotemporal history of C. udensis allows tracing the interplay of polyploidy evolution; isolated and different ecological surroundings could act as evolutionary capacitors, preserve distinct karyological, and genetic diversity. The approaches of integrating genetic differentiation and spatiotemporal history of diploidy and tetraploidy of Clintonia udens would possibly provide a powerful way to understand the ploidy and plant distribution and undertaken in similar studies in other plant species simultaneously contained the diploid and tetraploid.
Aquatic food webs and heavy metal contamination in the upper Blackfoot River, Montana

Acid mine drainage (AMD), characterized by low pH and abundant heavy metals, is a widespread problem affecting water quality and fish habitat in Montana. Montana’s upper Blackfoot River exhibits impaired water quality from historic mining that has significantly degraded aquatic habitat and reduced fish and invertebrate abundance in impacted streams. The goal of this study is to investigate the direct and indirect effects of mine-related heavy metals contamination on aquatic ecosystems by examining changes in aquatic community composition, bioaccumulation, and toxicity risk of heavy metals along a contamination gradient in the upper Blackfoot River. Three primary research questions were addressed in this study: 1) How are macro-invertebrate communities influenced by heavy metals contamination? 2) What are the implications of changes in food web structure for exposure pathways? 3) What levels of environmental contamination produce the greatest risk to upper trophic levels? Invertebrate and fish communities impacted by heavy metals in the upper Blackfoot River were sampled in 2009 and 2010 for community composition analyses and metals concentrations. The results of this study indicate that an increase in heavy metals contamination in the upper Blackfoot River results in important changes in exposure pathways of metals entering aquatic food webs through invertebrate food sources, as well as exposure pathways of metals to fish. The greatest exposure risk to upper trophic levels from the pool of bioavailable metals in invertebrates occurred at moderately contaminated sites where moderate invertebrate abundance and moderate sediment metals levels coincided. In addition, the highest metals concentrations in fish tissue were at sites with high exposure values in invertebrates, rather than sites with the highest sediment contamination levels. The results of this study indicate that biological mechanisms influencing the movement of heavy metals in aquatic food webs are important factors for assessing toxicity risk to upper trophic levels that may not be evident when considering environmental contamination alone.