Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrating supportive and palliative care in the trajectory of cancer: establishing goals and models of care.

Tom, a 50-year-old man with metastatic pancreatic cancer, was referred by his phase I physician to our supportive care center for symptom management. He was initially diagnosed with pancreatic cancer involving the liver approximately 6 months before this visit. He developed progressive disease despite three lines of systemic therapy, including four cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, three cycles of gemcitabine and vorinostat under phase I, and two cycles of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin 6. His clinical course was complicated by recurrent venous thromboembolic events. Tom arrived at the supportive care clinic in a wheelchair and accompanied by his wife. He complained of right upper quadrant pain, particularly with inspiration, despite taking morphine continuous release 30 mg twice a day. He had also experienced severe fatigue, weakness, constipation, decreased appetite, and weight loss of 25 kg during the previous 5 months. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 4. Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (0 no symptom, 10 worst possible) revealed pain 8, fatigue 4, nausea 0, depression 0, anxiety 0, drowsiness 0, appetite 10, well-being 5, dyspnea 5, and sleep 5. On examination, he looked thin, was tachycardic and tachypneic, and had significant tenderness over the right upper quadrant. He was also experiencing severe weakness and had to use both hands to lift his legs to move around in bed. He lived with his wife and one son at home, but he had difficulty coping with the worsening symptoms. We adjusted his pain medications and laxatives, gave him a dose of methylnaltrexone in the clinic, recommended a home-safety evaluation, and provided supportive/expressive counseling. He expressed the desire not to receive any more cancer treatments, and we discussed the transition to hospice care so he could get more support at home. At the end of the visit, Tom said, “Oh, I wish I had seen you sooner. Why wasn’t I referred here earlier? ” Tom went home with hospice care and died 10 days later.
Effect of microemulsion formulation on biodistribution of 99mTc-Aprotinin in acute pancreatitis models induced rats

Abstract Background: Aprotinin is a monomeric globular polypeptide, which derived from bovine lung tissue and theoretically attractive molecule in ameliorating the effects of acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas that is painful and at times deadly. Over the following two decades Aprotinin therapeutic potential on pancreatitis is proven experimentally, its clinical therapeutic success is limited due to low targeting to pancreas. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biodistribution of Technetium-99m (99mTc)-Aprotinin solution (99mTc-Aprotinin-S) and 99mTc-Aprotinin loaded microemulsion, which was prepared for the aim of treatment for acute pancreatitis. Method: Aprotinin was radiolabeled with 99mTc. Radiochemical purity was determined with radioactive thin layer chromatography studies. 99mTc-Aprotinin-S and 99mTc-Aprotinin loaded microemulsion (99mTc-Aprotinin-M) was administered to acute edematous, severe necrotizing pancreatitis and air pouch model induced rats. Tissue distribution of Aprotinin was investigated with gamma scintigraphy and biodistribution studies. Results: Aprotinin was radiolabeled by 99mTc with high radiochemical purity (95.430 ± 0.946%). The complex was found to be stable at room temperature up to 6 h. Animal studies have shown that similar to that of other small proteins Aprotinin is accumulated primarily in the kidney. The scintigraphy and biodistribution studies showed that, while i.v. administration of 99mTc-Aprotinin-S distributed mostly in kidneys and bladder, 99mTc-Aprotinin-M, with droplet size of 64.550 ± 3.217 nm, has high uptake in liver, spleen and pancreas. Conclusion: This might be concluding that microemulsions may be suggested as promising formulations for selectively targeting Aprotinin to pancreas inflammation.
Pilot Study on Infant Swimming Classes and Early Motor Development

Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) scores were examined before and after four months of swimming classes in 12 babies (ages 7 to 9 mo.) assigned to Experimental (n = 6) and Control (n = 6) groups matched on age and developmental status. Infants from both groups improved their developmental status from pre- to post-test; the Experimental group improved on mean percentile rank. The sample size and the discriminative power of the AIMS do not allow conclusive judgments on these group differences, hence on the effect of infant swimming classes. Nevertheless, a number of recommendations are made for future studies on the effect of swimming classes on infant motor development.
Modelling the dynamics of intramammary E. coli infections in dairy cows: understanding mechanisms that distinguish transient from persistent infections

The majority of intramammary infections with Escherichia coli in dairy cows result in transient infections with duration of about 10 days or less, although more persistent infections (2 months or longer) have been identified. We apply a mathematical model to explore the role of an intracellular mammary epithelial cell reservoir in the dynamics of infection. We included biological knowledge of the bovine immune response and known characteristics of the bacterial population in both transient and persistent infections. The results indicate that varying the survival duration of the intracellular reservoir reproduces the data for both transient and persistent infections. Survival in an intracellular reservoir is the most likely mechanism that ensures persistence of E. coli infections in mammary glands. Knowledge of the pathogenesis of persistent infections is essential to develop preventive and treatment programmes for these important infections in dairy cows.
Efficacité et efficience de l’enseignement sur le cancer dispensé par des infirmières

Etant donne l’augmentation des couts relatifs aux soins de sante, il nous incombe d’evaluer les programmes d’enseignement sur le cancer dispenses par des infirmieres en ce qui concerne leur efficacite et leur efficience economiques. Cette recherche avait pour but de comparer deux programmes d’enseignement dispenses par des infirmieres dans un centre de cancerologie du Canada en examinant les connaissances des patients en matiere de chimiotherapie et de ses effets secondaires, le nombre de comportements d’autosoin pour les effets secondaires, le degre d’utilisation de ressources sanitaires additionnelles, la satisfaction des patients et des infirmieres sur le plan des programmes d’enseignement ainsi que le temps que ces dernieres consacrent a cet enseignement. Les resultats indiquent que, dans notre centre, l’intervention experimentale est plus efficace et plus efficiente que le programme d’enseignement structure habituellement dispense aux patients. Les resultats de cette etude commencent a remedier au manque de donnees sur la rentabilite d’un volet crucial des soins infirmiers en oncologie pour les patients traites en clinique externe.
How young is "too young"? Comparative perspectives on adolescent sexual, marital, and reproductive transitions.

This study puts forth three criteria for assessing the extent to which the timing of sexual, marital, and reproductive transitions among male and female adolescents could be considered "too young": (1) the physiological maturation of the body; (2) the cognitive capacity for making safe, informed, and voluntary decisions; and (3) institutionalized concepts of "old enough" for consent to sexual intercourse and marriage as reflected in legal frameworks and international standards. Expansion of the age grouping of adolescence is proposed, from the customary 15-19 into three age categories--early adolescence (ages 10-14, or 10-11 and 12-14), middle adolescence (15-17), and late adolescence (18-19)--to better capture the age-specific variations in the trajectories of male and female sexual, marital, and reproductive events. An application of the three adolescent development criteria to the timing of transitions observed in Demographic and Health Surveys in 64 developing countries leads to the conclusion that boys and girls aged 14 and younger are universally "too young" to make safe and consensual transitions; that 15-17-year-olds may or may not be too young, depending on their circumstances; and that 18-year-olds are generally "old enough. " Policies and programs should focus on capacity building and the creation of an enabling environment for making safe and voluntary transitions among all age groups, but particularly among 10-14-year-olds, whose sexual and reproductive health and rights are so clearly at stake.
Development of augmented reality system for AFM-based nanomanipulation

Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a nanomanipulation tool has been discussed for more than a decade. However, its lack of real-time visual feedback during manipulation has hindered its wide application. Fortunately, this problem has been overcome by our recently developed augmented reality system. By locally updating the AFM image based on real-time force information during manipulation, not only can this new system provide real-time force feedback but also real-time visual feedback. The real-time visual display combined with the real-time force feedback provides an augmented reality environment, in which the operator not only can feel the interaction forces but also observe the real-time changes of the nano-environment. This augmented reality system capable of nanolithography and manipulation of nano-particles helps the operator to perform several operations without the need of a new image scan, which makes AFM-based nano-assembly feasible and applicable.
Streptococcus salivarius strains carry either fibrils or fimbriae on the cell surface

Strains of Streptococcus salivarius were screened by negative staining for the presence of surface structures. Two structural subgroups were found, carrying either fibrils or fimbriae, projecting from the cell surface. Eight strains carried a very dense peritrichous array of fibrils of two distinct lengths. Long fibrils had an average length of 175 nm, and short fibrils had an average length of 95 nm. Two strains carried only long fibrils, one strain carried only short fibrils, and another strain carried a lateral tuft of very prominent fibrils of two lengths, with a fibrillar fuzz covering the remainder of the cell surface. In all the strains in which they were present, the long fibrils were unaffected by protease or trypsin treatment. In contrast, the short fibrils were completely digested by protease and partially removed by trypsin. Neither long nor short fibrils were affected structurally by mild pepsin digestion or by lipase. The Lancefield extraction procedure removed both long and short fibrils. These twelve fibrillar strains were therefore divisible into four structural subgroups. Extracts of all the fibrillar strains reacted with group K antiserum. The second main structural subgroup consisted of nine strains of S. salivarius, all of which carried morphologically identical, flexible fimbriae arranged peritrichously over the cell surface. The fimbriae were structurally distinct from fibrils and measured 0.5 to 1.0 micron long and 3 to 4 nm wide, with an irregular outline and no obvious substructure. There was no obvious reduction in the number of fimbriae after protease or trypsin treatment. Extracts of the fimbriated strains did not react with the group K antiserum. The two serological and structural subgroups could also be distinguished by colony morphology.
REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION BETWEEN SYMPATRIC RACES OF PEA APHIDS. I. GENE FLOW RESTRICTION AND HABITAT CHOICE

Determining the extent and causes of barriers to gene flow between genetically divergent populations or races of single species is an important complement to post facto analyses of the causes of reproductive isolation between recognized species. Sympatric populations of pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris, Homoptera: Aphididae) on alfalfa and red clover are highly genetically divergent and locally adapted. Here, hierarchical estimates of population structure based on Fst suggest that gene exchange between closely adjacent aphid populations on the two hosts is highly restricted relative to that among fields of the same host plant. Although these host‐associated races are presently considered to be the same subspecies, they appear to be significantly reproductively isolated, suggesting incipient speciation. Habitat (host) choice was investigated as the first in a temporal series of factors that could reduce gene exchange between these sympatric populations. Field studies of winged colonists to newly planted fields of each host suggest pronounced habitat fidelity. This result was verified using replicated observations of the host choice behavior of different aphid genotypes for which the relative demographic performance on each host was known. These laboratory observations of behavior revealed a strong genetic correlation between habitat choice (or acceptance) and the relative performance in each habitat. Because mating occurs on the host plant, habitat choice in this system leads to assortative mating and is therefore a major cause of reproductive isolation between the sympatric pea aphid populations on alfalfa and clover. However, the extent of dispersal between hosts estimated from the field study of winged colonists (9–11%) is too great to be consistent with the genetic divergence estimated between the races. This suggests that barriers to gene flow other than host choice also exist, such as selection against migrants or hybrids in the parental environments, hybrid sterility, or hybrid breakdown.
Spreadsheet Errors: What We Know. What We Think We Can Do

Fifteen years of research studies have concluded unanimously that spreadsheet errors are both common and non-trivial. Now w e must seek ways to reduce spreadsheet errors. Several approaches have been suggested, some of which are promising and others, while appealing because they are easy to do, are not likely to be effective. To date, only one technique, cell-by-cell code inspection, has been demonstrated to be effective. We need to conduct further r esearch to determine the degree to which other techniques can reduce spreadsheet errors.
Conformational states of the nuclear GTP-binding protein Ran and its complexes with the exchange factor RCC1 and the effector protein RanBP1.

It has been shown before by (31)P NMR that Ras bound to the nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue guanosine 5'-O-(beta, gamma-imidotriphosphate) (GppNHp) exists in two conformations which are rapidly interconverting with a rate constant of 3200 s-1 at 30 degrees C [Geyer, M. , et al. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 10308-10320]. Here we show that Ran complexed with GTP also exists in two conformational states, 1 and 2, which can be directly inferred from the occurrence of two (31)P NMR resonance lines for the gamma-phosphate group of bound GTP. The exchange between the two states is slow on the NMR time scale with a value of <200 s-1 at 5 degrees C for the corresponding first-order rate constants. In wild-type Ran, the equilibrium constant K' between the two states is 0.7 at 278 K, is different for various mutants, and is strongly dependent on the temperature. The standard enthalpy DeltaH degrees and the standard entropy DeltaS degrees for the conformational transitions determined from the NMR spectra are as follows: DeltaH degrees = 37 kJ mol-1 and DeltaS degrees = 130 J mol-1 K-1 for wild-type Ran.GTP. In complex with the Ran-binding protein RanBP1, one of the Ran.GTP conformations (state 2) is stabilized. The interaction of Ran with the guanine nucleotide exchange factor protein RCC1 was also studied by (31)P NMR spectroscopy. In the presence of nucleotide, the ternary complex of Ran.nucleotide. RCC1, an intermediate in the guanine nucleotide exchange reaction, could be observed. A model for the conformational transition of Ran.GTP is proposed where the two states observed are caused by the structural flexibility of the effector loop of Ran; in solution, state 2 resembles the GTP-bound form found in the crystal structure of the Ran-RanBP complex.
Risk of sensorineural hearing loss in infants with abnormal head size.

OBJECTIVE The purpose was to determine the risk of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in young infants with abnormal head sizes in a developing country. MATERIALS AND METHODS A matched case-control study of two (hospital-based and community-based) cohorts of term infants who failed a two-stage hearing screening test with transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions and automated auditory brainstem response in Lagos, Nigeria. Abnormal head size (microcephaly or macrocephaly) was determined with World Health Organisation's growth standards for head circumference. The adjusted odds ratios for the risk of SNHL in microcephalic and macrocephalic infants were established through unconditional and conditional logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Some 194 cases and 970 matched controls drawn from 8,872 term singletons 3 months or younger were studied. The median age of enrolment was 1 day in the hospital-based cohort and 17 days in the community-based cohort. Microcephalic infants in both cohorts were significantly at risk of SNHL while no significant risk was found among macrocephalic infants regardless of birth setting. CONCLUSIONS Microcephalic infants should be routinely screened for potential hearing loss particularly where universal newborn hearing screening is not immediately practicable. Etiological investigation of abnormal head size in this and similar population is warranted. Routine screening and maternal immunization for congenital infections should also be considered.
Self-powered wireless digital tachometer scheme without sensors for measuring spin of Yo-yo

A wireless yo-yo system with a digital tachometer function has been developed. The system consists of a self-powered wireless yo-yo and a receiver. The yo-yo contains a micropower generator and a wireless transmitter. Ultralow-power wireless on-off-keying modulation synchronized to the AC output of the generator makes it possible to determine the maximum rotational frequency of the yo-yo from the minimum period of the pulses detected by a receiver without sensors. Another advantage of the antenna of the transmitter of the yo-yo is that the receiver can detect transmitted pulses at any location around the yo-yo, even though the antenna is directional. The antenna acts as a rotational polarization antenna as it rotates along with the yo-yo. This type of antenna makes it possible for the receiver to detect transmitted pulses once every rotation of the antenna. To verify the effectiveness of our self-powered wireless yo-yo with digital tachometer scheme, we made a wireless yo-yo system consisting of a wireless yo-yo with a micropower generator and a receiver with a PC. When the yo-yo is thrown, the PC calculates the maximum rotational frequency and displays the result on the screen at a distance of up to 3 meters.
The blind separation of wireless communication signals utilizing USRP

Blind source separation (BSS) and Independent component analysis has become hot topic in modern signal processing, which has attracted great interest in fields such as wireless communications, cognitive radio and 5G communications. For the particular advantage of ‘blind’, ICA has been introduced into the problem of communication anti-jamming. The real situation of wireless communication was mainly considered in this paper. The real communication signal and the real jamming signal was produced by PXI (PCI extensions for instrumentation) instrument of NI company and the signal was transmitted into the air by USRP (universal software radio peripheral) of NI company. At the receiver end, a USRP was used to get two mixed signals. At last, the mixed signals were separated in labVIEW software. Compared with the power spectrum density functions of the mixed signals and those of the separated signals, ICA could enhance the performance of the weak communication signal by 20 dB.
Effects of gonadal steroids on tonic luteinizing hormone (LH) release and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-induced LH release from bovine pituitary cells cultured in vitro.

The objective of this study was to investigate the direct effect of estradiol-17 beta (E2) and progesterone (P4) on LH release by pituitary cells of midluteal phase cows in vitro. Pituitaries were collected at the slaughterhouse; cells were dissociated with collagenase and hyaluronidase and maintained in a static culture system in Medium 199 (M199). Various concentrations of E2 (0.1-100 nM) and P4 (0.1 and 10 nM) were used to stimulate the cells for 2, 4, 6, 15, 24, 48, or 72 h. In addition, the synergistic action of E2 and P4 was investigated by exposure of the cells to a combination of the two hormones. At the end of each incubation, the cells were challenged with LHRH (1 nM) for 2 h. The medium was collected for LH analysis at the end of each incubation period and after the LHRH challenge; furthermore, intracellular LH content was quantified at the end of each experiment. The results indicate a positive action of E2 on basal release of LH beginning after 15 h of exposure (p < 0.01). LHRH-induced LH release was modulated by E2 in a time-dependent manner with an effect at first inhibitory, then stimulatory, and finally inhibitory again (p < 0.04). P4 alone did not affect LH release, but it negatively influenced LHRH-induced LH release. P4 also exerted a positive action on intracellular LH after 6 h of incubation. A substantial inhibitory effect (p < 0.001) on both tonic LH release and LHRH-induced LH release was observed in cells exposed for 16 h to P4 after a priming with E2 for 4 h. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Oxytocin and Eating Disorders: A Narrative Review on Emerging Findings and Perspectives

Background: The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin regulates reproductive behavior and mother-infant interaction, and conclusive studies in humans indicate that oxytocin is also a potent modulator of psychosocial function. Pilot experiments have yielded first evidence that this neuropeptide moreover influences eating behavior. Methods: We briefly summarize currently available studies on the involvement of the oxytocin system in the pathophysiology of eating disorders, as well as on the effects of oxytocin administration in patients with these disorders. Results: Brain administration of oxytocin in animals with normal weight, but also with diet-induced or genetically induced obesity, attenuates food intake and reduces body weight. In normal-weight and obese individuals, acute intranasal oxytocin delivery curbs calorie intake from main dishes and snacks. Such effects might converge with the poignant social and cognitive impact of oxytocin to also improve dysfunctional eating behavior in the therapeutic context. This assumption has received support in first studies showing that oxytocin might play a role in the disease process of anorexia nervosa. In contrast, respective experiments in patients with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder are still scarce. Conclusions: We propose a framework of oxytocin’s role and its therapeutic potential in eating disorders that aims at integrating social and metabolic aspects of its pharmacological profile, and ponder perspectives and limitations of oxytocin use in the clinical setting.