Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of joint mobility in rheumatoid arthritis trials: the value of the EPM-range of motion scale.

OBJECTIVE Evaluation of joint range of motion (ROM) is important in the therapeutic approach to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The reliability, construct validity and sensitivity to change of the Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM)--range of motion scale that measures 10 distinct movements of small and large joints were examined. METHODS Fifty patients with active RA who were participating in an inpatient multidisciplinary treatment program were examined by 2 investigators. Twenty-five of the patients were examined both at admission and at discharge from the hospital. RESULTS The mean EPM-ROM score at study entry was 11.52 (SD +/- 3.80). The intra and inter-observer reliability of the EPM-ROM scale was high, with correlations of r = 0.91 and r = 0.85, respectively. There was a good correlation between the EPM-ROM scale and measures of functional ability. Correlations with measures of disease activity were poor. After a mean duration of the treatment program of 4.2 weeks, patients generally improved in variables of functional status and disease activity. The improvement of the EPM-ROM score (mean difference 1.58, 95% CI 0.84-2.32) was generally larger than improvement in other variables of functional status. CONCLUSION The EPM-ROM scale is a reliable instrument, and according to its correlation with measures of functional status, relevant to the performance of activities of daily living. It showed a good response to improvement of functional status and disease activity and was more sensitive to changes than other variables of functional status.
Zerumbone, a sesquiterpene in subtropical ginger, suppresses skin tumor initiation and promotion stages in ICR mice

We recently showed that zerumbone, a sesquiterpene found in subtropical ginger, suppresses colonic tumor marker formation in rats and induces apoptosis in colon cancer cell lines. In our present study, the anti‐tumor initiating and promoting activities of zerumbone in mouse skin were evaluated using a conventional 2‐stage carcinogenesis model. A single topical pretreatment to mouse skin (2 μmol) 24 hr before application of dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (0.2 μmol) markedly suppressed tumor incidence by 60% and the number of tumors by 80% per mouse. Repeated pretreatment (16 nmol) twice weekly during the post‐initiation phase reduced the number of 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA, 1.6 nmol)‐induced tumors by 83% as well as their diameter by 57%. Multiple reverse transcriptase (RT) PCR experiments revealed that zerumbone (2 μmol) enhanced the mRNA expression level of manganese superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase‐1, glutathione S‐transferase‐P1 and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase in the epidermis, but not that of cytochrome P450 1A1 or 1B1. Further, it diminished TPA‐induced cyclooxygenase‐2 protein expression and phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2, while pretreatment(s), in either the priming or activation stage or both, reduced double TPA application‐induced hydrogen peroxide formation and edema induction by 29% to 86%, respectively. Histologic examination revealed that pretreatment(s) with zerumbone suppressed leukocyte infiltration and reduced proliferating cell nuclear antigen‐labeling indices. Together, our results indicate that zerumbone is a promising agent for the prevention of both tumor initiating and promoting processes, through induction of anti‐oxidative and phase II drug metabolizing enzymes as well as attenuation of proinflammatory signaling pathways. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Screening of effective pharmacological treatments for MELAS syndrome using yeasts, fibroblasts and cybrid models of the disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke‐like episodes) is a mitochondrial disease most usually caused by point mutations in tRNA genes encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Approximately 80% of cases of MELAS syndrome are associated with a m.3243A > G mutation in the MT‐TL1 gene, which encodes the mitochondrial tRNALeu (UUR). Currently, no effective treatments are available for this chronic progressive disorder. Treatment strategies in MELAS and other mitochondrial diseases consist of several drugs that diminish the deleterious effects of the abnormal respiratory chain function, reduce the presence of toxic agents or correct deficiencies in essential cofactors.
Lack of activity of betulin‐based Oleogel‐S10 in the treatment of actinic keratoses: a randomized, multicentre, placebo‐controlled double‐blind phase II trial

Betulinic acid and other triterpenes have shown strong antitumour activity in vitro and in vivo. A triterpene extract of birch bark formed the base of Oleogel‐S10 and allowed topical application. Two previous trials have shown efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) with betulin‐based Oleogel‐S10.
Email versus In-Person Audit Inquiry: Recent Research and Additional Survey Data

Recent research suggests that an auditor's choice to conduct audit inquiry via email versus in person can adversely impact both auditor and client behavior. In this study, I review recent research on this important topic, and I present additional survey-based evidence that describes how clients perceive auditor email versus in-person inquiries. I find that clients generally view auditors' in-person requests as more important and urgent than email requests, and clients feel they can more carefully craft their responses to support their company's preferred reporting position via email compared to in person. Further, clients expect that auditors will question an aggressive response more quickly in person than over email. Although audit partners have expressed concerns that email communication could impede auditor-client relationship building, I find no differences in how much clients like the auditor or in clients' willingness to work again with the auditor after receiving an email or in-person request. However, recent research suggests that email requests can lead to more negative feelings toward the auditor, which could affect the auditor-client relationship over time. I discuss implications for audit firms and provide suggestions for future research.
Notch Inhibition of E47 Supports the Existence of a Novel Signaling Pathway

ABSTRACT E47 is a widely expressed transcription factor that activates B-cell-specific immunoglobulin gene transcription and is required for early B-cell development. In an effort to identify processes that regulate E47, and potentially B-cell development, we found that activated Notch1 and Notch2 effectively inhibit E47 activity. Only the intact E47 protein was inhibited by Notch—fusion proteins containing isolated DNA binding and activation domains were unaffected—suggesting that Notch targets an atypical E47 cofactor. Although overexpression of the coactivator p300 partially reversed E47 inhibition, results of several assays indicated that p300/CBP is not a general target of Notch. Notch inhibition of E47 did not correlate with its ability to activate CBF1/RBP-Jκ, the mammalian homolog of Suppressor of Hairless, a protein that associates physically with Notch and defines the only known Notch signaling pathway in drosophila. Importantly, E47 was inhibited independently of CBF1/RPB-Jκ by Deltex, a second Notch-interacting protein. We provide evidence that Notch and Deltex may act on E47 by inhibiting signaling through Ras because (i) full E47 activity was found to be dependent on Ras and (ii) both Notch and Deltex inhibited GAL4-Jun, a hybrid transcription factor whose activity is dependent on signaling from Ras to SAPK/JNK.
Silicon-organic hybrid devices for THz generation based on difference frequency generation

We present a novel concept for broadband frequency conversion in silicon-organic hybrid devices and open up the pathway to use this ansatz for efficient THz sources based on the silicon photonic platform. Silicon-organic hybrid devices combine the mature silicon technology with the exceptional high nonlinear response of organic polymers, which can be designed by molecular engineering. Exploitation of the high nonlinearity of organic polymers has enabled highly efficient integrated devices such as, ultra-fast electro-optic modulators, optical interconnects, photonic sensors and couplers. THz generation based on difference frequency generation in silicon-organic devices was theoretically discussed as a promising prospect but never demonstrated. The problem is the dramatic wavelength mismatch of the optical and THz modes which imposes a challenge for the device design in order to accomplish sufficient mode overlap and phase matching. Here, we introduce a paradigm change in phase matching strategy and demonstrate how integrated waveguide optics can be used for broadband wave mixing with large wavelength mismatch. By folding optical waveguides into meander line structures we obtain compact devices for which the propagation of the optical modes and the excited THz mode are effectively decoupled from each other. Due to the meander line arrangement of the waveguide, the optical modes excite a distribution of nonlinear polarization in the cladding material which oscillates as a quasi-standing wave at THz frequency. This standing polarization wave effectively radiates directed and coherent THz radiation into free space. Phase matching in this concept is accomplished by spatial arrangement of the waveguide rather than mode matching and is therefore essentially different from ordinary phase matching concepts such as conventional effective index phase matching or quasi phase matching where the participating waves are co-propagating. We show that for a frequency of 5 THz for a 1 cm silicon waveguide with a polymer cladding having a Pockels coefficient (r33) of 300 pm/V and optical input power of 10 mW CW a power output in the order of 3 μW CW can be obtained.
THE MANAGEMENT OF SUBJECT COURSEWORK ASSESSMENT FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF STUDENTS’ ACTIVE LEARNING IN A PRIVATE INSTITUTION

This study is to investigate the management required for different methods of subject coursework assessment such as quizzes, group exercises and short presentations, midterm-test, assignment and student‟ attendance. Furthermore, this study will assess whether the overall subject‟s coursework assessment is correlated with a student‟s final examination results. The aim of this study is to facilitate and to encourage a student‟s active learning, thus enhancing their interest in the subject being taught. It is believed that this method has been traditionally used to help the
Tobacco cessation counselling for women in rural Sindh: is it being offered?

BACKGROUND Tobacco is the single leading and most preventable cause of death in today's worlds and responsible for six of the eight leading mortality causes in the world. Diseases related to tobacco use are known to cause about 5.4 million deaths every year, 80% of which are contributed by the developing world, and this toll is estimated to increase up to 8 million deaths per year by 2030. This study was conducted to determine the number of women who were offered counselling regarding cessation of tobacco use by all health care providers (medical and alternate), in rural Sindh, Pakistan. METHODS This cross-sectional survey was conducted during January to March, 2008 in District Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. A validated, pre-tested, translated questionnaire was used to collect the data from 502, adult women (aged between 18-60 years). These women were asked about the type of health provider they visited in the past 12 months and practices of provider regarding tobacco control including cessation and advice. RESULTS A large majority of women (nearly 71%) were illiterate, and 44% of women were in the age group 18-24 years. High prevalence (10%) of adult women were smokers. Only 12% of the total women who visited physicians during this time period were asked about their smoking status as compared to 7% who visited hakims and 13% who were approached by lady health visitors. CONCLUSION A very small segment of the women users of health care system is enquired and counselled about tobacco use in any form by the health providers in Rural Sindh. Revisiting practices for health care professionals is urgently needed to address inevitable tobacco use in the region.
Association of HIV viral load with oral diseases.

OBJECTIVE The measurement of HIV viral load as a predictor of disease progression has revolutionized the medical management of HIV patients. In this study, oral diseases as measured by DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth), periodontal assessment and oral Candidacolonization, were related to HIV viral load. Also correlated was HIV status assessments, including CD4+ count, a history of intravenous drug abuse (IVDA) and the use of protease inhibitor drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS Oral and periodontal examination, dental radiographs, and tongue swab for fungal culture was accomplished over a 2-month period on 39 HIV positive patients attending the University of Maryland Dental School. Twenty-eight (71. 8%) of these patients had a history of IVDA. Viral load was measured by a quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS Among the patients with high viral load (>10 000 copies ml-1), 92.3% were found to have a history of IVDA. Also, patients with high viral load demonstrated average CD4+ counts of 136 mm-3 while moderate viral load (400-10 000 copies ml-1) corresponded to average counts of 271 mm-3. Periodontal pocket depths (PPD) of >5 mm at a minimum of two oral sites were found in 76.9% of the patients with high viral load. Among the high viral load patients, 69.2% had DMFT >20, 69.2% were culture positive for Candida and 81.5% of patients on protease inhibitors demonstrated moderate or low viral loads. CONCLUSION These data demonstrated that elevated viral load levels correlate well with oral disease prevalence in this predominantly IVDA population of HIV-infected dental patients.
Item-level gender fairness in the Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation and the Conceptual Survey of Electricity and Magnetism

Gender gaps on the most widely used conceptual inventories created by physics education researchers have been extensively studied. Most of the research exploring the consistent gender gaps has been performed at the student level using the total evaluation score; less research has been performed examining these assessments at the item level and this research has been predominately restricted to the Force Concept Inventory (FCI). Many studies have identified subsets of FCI items as unfair to either men or women. An item is fair if men and women of equal ability in conceptual physics score equally on the item. This study explored the item-level gender fairness of the Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation (FMCE) and the Conceptual Survey of Electricity and Magnetism (CSEM). Classical test theory and differential item functioning (DIF) analysis were employed to examine item fairness. Fairness was investigated with four large post-test samples, two for the FMCE ( n 1 ¼ 3016 , n 2 ¼ 3719 ) and two for the CSEM ( n 1 ¼ 2014 , n 2 ¼ 2657 ). Men and women performed significantly differently on the majority of FMCE items but with no more than a small effect size. There were fewer items in the CSEM where men and women performed differently. Using DIF analysis, which assumes that overall test score is an accurate measure of ability, only one item in the FMCE demonstrated large DIF in both samples with that item unfair to women. One additional item showed large DIF in a single sample, also unfair to women. Only one item in the CSEM demonstrated large DIF. The item was unfair to men but this result was not consistent across all samples. The number of large DIF items identified in both the FMCE and the CSEM was substantially smaller than the number of large DIF items identified in the FCI by previous studies.
Inactivation of the GacA response regulator in Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf-5 has far-reaching transcriptomic consequences.

The GacS/GacA signal transduction system is a central regulator in Pseudomonas spp. , including the biological control strain P. fluorescens Pf-5, in which GacS/GacA controls the production of secondary metabolites and exoenzymes that suppress plant pathogens. A whole genome oligonucleotide microarray was developed for Pf-5 and used to assess the global transcriptomic consequences of a gacA mutation in P. fluorescens Pf-5. In cultures at the transition from exponential to stationary growth phase, GacA significantly influenced transcript levels of 635 genes, representing more than 10% of the 6147 annotated genes in the Pf-5 genome. Transcripts of genes involved in the production of hydrogen cyanide, the antibiotic pyoluteorin and the extracellular protease AprA were at a low level in the gacA mutant, whereas those functioning in siderophore production and other aspects of iron homeostasis were significantly higher in the gacA mutant than in wild-type Pf-5. Notable effects of gacA inactivation were also observed in the transcription of genes encoding components of a type VI secretion system and cytochrome c oxidase subunits. Two novel gene clusters expressed under the control of gacA were identified from transcriptome analysis, and we propose global-regulator-based genome mining as an approach to decipher the secondary metabolome of Pseudomonas spp.
GABAA‐benzodiazepine receptor availability in smokers and nonsmokers: Relationship to subsyndromal anxiety and depression

Many smokers experience subsyndromal anxiety symptoms while smoking and during acute abstinence, which may contribute to relapse. We hypothesized that cortical gamma aminobutyric acidA‐benzodiazepine receptor (GABAA‐BZR) availability in smokers and nonsmokers might be related to the expression of subsyndromal anxiety, depressive, and pain symptoms. Cortical GABAA‐BZRs were imaged in 15 smokers (8 men and 7 women), and 15 healthy age and sex‐matched nonsmokers, and 4 abstinent tobacco smokers (3 men; 1 woman) using [123I]iomazenil and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured using the Spielberger's State‐Trait Anxiety Index (STAI) and the Center for Epidemiology Scale for Depressive Symptoms (CES‐D). The cold pressor task was administered to assess pain tolerance and sensitivity. The relationship between cortical GABAA‐BZR availability, smoking status, and subsyndromal depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as pain tolerance and sensitivity, were evaluated. Surprisingly, there were no statistically significant differences in overall GABAA‐BZR availability between smokers and nonsmokers or between active and abstinent smokers; however, cortical GABAA‐BZR availability negatively correlated with subsyndromal state anxiety symptoms in nonsmokers but not in smokers. In nonsmokers, the correlation was seen across many brain areas with state anxiety [parietal (r = −0.47, P = 0.03), frontal (r = −0.46, P = 0.03), anterior cingulate (r = −0.47, P = 0.04), temporal (r = −0.47, P = 0.03), occipital (r = −0.43, P = 0.05) cortices, and cerebellum (r = −0.46, P = 0.04)], trait anxiety [parietal (r = −0.72, P = 0.02), frontal (r = −0.72, P = 0.02), and occipital (r = −0.65, P = 0.04) cortices] and depressive symptoms [parietal (r = −0.68; P = 0.02), frontal (r = −0.65; P = 0.03), anterior cingulate (r = −0.61; P = 0.04), and temporal (r = −0.66; P = 0.02) cortices]. The finding that a similar relationship between GABAA‐BZR availability and anxiety symptoms was not observed in smokers suggests that there is a difference in GABAA‐BZR function, but not number, in smokers. Thus, while subsyndromal anxiety and depressive symptoms in nonsmokers may be determined in part by GABAA‐BZR availability, smoking disrupts this relationship. Aberrant regulation of GABAA‐BZR function in vulnerable smokers may explain why some smokers experience subsyndromal anxiety and depression. Synapse 63:1089–1099, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Patterns of Bat Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities in North America

Abstract Wind has become one of the fastest growing sources of renewable energy worldwide, but widespread and often extensive fatalities of bats have increased concern regarding the impacts of wind energy development on bats and other wildlife. We synthesized available information on patterns of bat fatalities from a review of 21 postconstruction fatality studies conducted at 19 facilities in 5 United States regions and one Canadian province. Dominance of migratory, foliage- and tree-roosting lasiurine species (e.g., hoary bat [Lasiurus cinereus]) killed by turbines was consistent among studies. Bat fatalities, although highly variable and periodic, consistently peaked in late summer and fall, coinciding with migration of lasiurines and other species. A notable exception was documented fatalities of pregnant female Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) in May and June at a facility in Oklahoma, USA, and female silver-haired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans) during spring in Tennessee, USA, and Alberta, Canada. Most studies reported that fatalities were distributed randomly across turbines at a site, although the highest number of fatalities was often found near the end of turbine strings. Two studies conducted simultaneously in the same region documented similar timing of fatalities between sites, which suggests broader patterns of collisions dictated by weather, prey abundance, or other factors. None of the studies found differences in bat fatalities between turbines equipped with lighting required by the Federal Aviation Administration and turbines that were unlit. All studies that addressed relationships between bat fatalities and weather patterns found that most bats were killed on nights with low wind speed (<6 m/sec) and that fatalities increased immediately before and after passage of storm fronts. Weather patterns may be predictors of bat activity and fatality; thus, mitigation efforts that focus on these high-risk periods could reduce bat fatality substantially. We caution that estimates of bat fatality are conditioned by length of study and search interval and that they are biased in relation to how searcher efficiency, scavenger removal, and habitat differences were or were not accounted for. Our review will assist managers, biologists, and decision-makers with understanding unifying and unique patterns of bat fatality, biases, and limitations of existing efforts, and it will aid in designing future research needed to develop mitigation strategies for minimizing or eliminating bat fatality at wind facilities.
Effects of process parameters on solid self-microemulsifying particles in a laboratory scale fluid bed

The purpose of this study was to select the critical process parameters of the fluid bed processes impacting the quality attribute of a solid self-microemulsifying (SME) system of albendazole (ABZ). A fractional factorial design (24–1) with four parameters (spray rate, inlet air temperature, inlet air flow, and atomization air pressure) was created by MINITAB™ software. Batches were manufactured in a laboratory top-spray fluid bed at 625-g scale. Loss on drying (LOD) samples were taken throughout each batch to build the entire moisture profiles. All dried granulation were sieved using mesh 20 and analyzed for particle size distribution (PSD), morphology, density, and flow. It was found that as spray rate increased, sauter-mean diameter (Ds) also increased. The effect of inlet air temperature on the peak moisture which is directly related to the mean particle size was found to be significant. There were two-way interactions between studied process parameters. The main effects of inlet air flow rate and atomization air pressure could not be found as the data were inconclusive. The partial least square (PLS) regression model was found significant (P < 0.01) and predictive for optimization. This study established a design space for the parameters for solid SME manufacturing process.