Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“IF IT BURNS GOING DOWN…”: HOW FOCUS GROUPS CAN SHAPE FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME (FAS) PREVENTION

Despite public health campaigns and clinical interventions that encourage women to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy, some women continue to drink while pregnant. To provide a more in-depth understanding of how at-risk women regard—and emotionally react to—warnings about drinking alcohol during pregnancy, we conducted focus groups in 1997 with 11 pregnant and recent postpartum Native American and African American women in Los Angeles, California. The main objective of these groups was to uncover relevant aspects of women's beliefs and opinions about drinking during pregnancy that may not have been elicited by other research instruments. Results would then be used to shape a large survey of pregnant at-risk women. Analysis of the transcripts revealed three emergent themes, which had the greatest impact on our subsequent survey. These were women's exposure to and perceived believability of messages, their perception of risk associated with drinking, and the barriers to cutting down on alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Questions added to our survey instrument because of these findings included whether women think that some alcohol beverages are safer to drink than others; how they value cutting back alcohol use; their views on the irreversibility of fetal alcohol syndrome; and what pressures they feel from peers and family to drink during pregnancy. Given the small sample size associated with focus groups, these results cannot be generalized to larger populations; however, these women's words revealed important underlying issues and barriers that should be considered in studying and intervening with larger representative samples.
Receptor regulation of osmolyte homeostasis in neural cells

The capacity of cells to correct their volume in response to hyposmotic stress via the efflux of inorganic and organic osmolytes is well documented. However, the ability of cell‐surface receptors, in particular G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs), to regulate this homeostatic mechanism has received much less attention. Mechanisms that underlie the regulation of cell volume are of particular importance to cells in the central nervous system because of the physical restrictions of the skull and the adverse impact that even small increases in cell volume can have on their function. Increases in brain volume are seen in hyponatraemia, which can arise from a variety of aetiologies and is the most frequently diagnosed electrolyte disorder in clinical practice. In this review we summarize recent evidence that the activation of GPCRs facilitates the volume‐dependent efflux of osmolytes from neural cells and permits them to more efficiently respond to small, physiologically relevant, reductions in osmolarity. The characteristics of receptor‐regulated osmolyte efflux, the signalling pathways involved and the physiological significance of receptor activation are discussed. In addition, we propose that GPCRs may also regulate the re‐uptake of osmolytes into neural cells, but that the influx of organic and inorganic osmolytes is differentially regulated. The ability of neural cells to closely regulate osmolyte homeostasis through receptor‐mediated alterations in both efflux and influx mechanisms may explain, in part at least, why the brain selectively retains its complement of inorganic osmolytes during chronic hyponatraemia, whereas its organic osmolytes are depleted.
Effect of psychosocial environment change on anxiety and locomotor behaviors of the middle-aged CD-1 mice

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether adolescent psychosocial environment affects anxiety and locomotor behaviors in the middle-aged CD-1 mice. The latency and peripheral time significantly increased, and the number of squares crossed in the open field significantly decreased (Ps < 0.05) in the 18 months old control mice (old) than those in the 3 months old control mice (young). In the black–white alley task, the old control group also had a significantly longer latency and time spent in the black alley, and a lower number from the black to white alley than the young control group (Ps < 0.05). At 12 months old, the stressed group had a significantly increased time spent in the black alley of black-white alley and peripheral time in the open-field than the control group and enriched-environment group (Ps < 0.05), but the stressed group had a decreased square crossed number in the open-field (Ps < 0.05). At the 18 months old, the stressed group had more peripheral time, latency and time spent in the black alley than the enriched-environment group only (Ps < 0.05). The above results suggested that changes of anxious behavior in the CD-1 mice were age-dependent and chronic changes of psychosocial environments during adolescent-youth could modulate the age-related increase of anxiety and decline of locomotor activity in the middle-aged CD-1 mice.
Linking Quality with Social and Financial Performance: A Contextual, Ethics‐Based Approach

The objectives of this study are to test the relationships among total quality management (TQM) practices, corporate social performance (CSP), and financial and market performance (FMP); and to determine the moderating effects of two contextual factorsâ€”country and sectorâ€”on these relationships through the lenses of several theories, including stakeholder theory, integrative social contracts theory (ISCT), and legitimacy theory. Using data from the various sectors of the economies of two developing countries, Turkey and North Cyprus (NC), we tested the proposed model utilizing structural equationÂ modeling (SEM). The results from both samples supported the proposed model relationships, providing support for the idea that focusing on stakeholder interests embedded in various TQM practices helps improve both CSP and FMP. Country of origin had no moderating effects on these relationships, whereas sectoral effects were highly significant. The study also discusses the managerial and research implications of these findings.
Compact right-handed (RH) and left-handed (LH) lattice-network unit cells implemented in monolayer printed circuits

The implementation of right-handed (RH) and left-handed (LH) X-type lattice network structures in monolayer printed circuits is investigated in this work. The resulting structures, based on semi-lumped planar elements, are compact, exhibit a broad bandwidth, and can be easily fabricated in conventional microwave substrates since only two metal layers (plus via holes) are required. This latter aspect is the main advantage of the proposed approach as compared to other existing lattice network structures. The circuit model of the structures, including parasitics, is proposed and compared to full wave electromagnetic simulations. Finally, a prototype device has been fabricated, where the baluns for measurement have been added to the input and output ports. Due to the broadband operation, these structures can be of interest for the design of compact enhanced bandwidth and multiband components with superior performance as compared to those based on conventional Π- or T-type artificial lines.
Phoning while driving I: a review of epidemiological, psychological, behavioural and physiological studies

The impact of cell (mobile) phone use on driving performance has been widely questioned for 20 years. This paper reviews the literature to evaluate the extent to which phoning may impact behaviour with a risk to affect safety. After analysing epidemiological studies that give an overview of cell phone use, this paper examines the experimental results and focuses on variables showing that driving is impacted by holding a mobile-phone conversation. Information processing (e.g. reaction time and detection rate of cues related to driving information) and variables associated with vehicle control (e.g. lane-keeping, headway and vehicle speed) seem the most relevant. Although less studied than behavioural indices, physiological data give information about the supplementary potential strain that the driver may undergo under dual-task conditions. This first part of the review highlights common findings, questionable results and differences among studies, which originate from specific experimental designs with particular dependent variables, i.e. self-report, behavioural and physiological indicators. Finally, how drivers try to compensate for the additional load brought by phone use is described. Statement of Relevance: The two papers review the influence of mobile-phone use on driving performance. While there is ample evidence that this dual task is likely to increase the risk of car crash, the review analyses the variables eliciting detrimental conditions and, conversely, those that may preserve acceptable conditions for safety, close to usual driving. The decision of answering or initiating a cell phone call while driving depends upon the complex interaction among several variables, including driving conditions and driver's own characteristics. In addition, this decision remains under driver's awareness of being able or not to manage the two tasks simultaneously.
Selective inhibition of hepatic collagen accumulation in experimental liver fibrosis in rats by a new prolyl 4‐hydroxylase inhibitor

Fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver are often the result of chronic liver damage by a variety of different agents. Pathological accumulation of collagen, disruption of the lobular structure, and impaired hepatocellular function frequently lead to systemic involvement and fatal complications. Drugs inhibiting collagen hydroxylation and accumulation are expected to improve this situation, making prolyl 4‐hydroxylase (P4H), the key enzyme of intracellular collagen processing, a rational target for pharmacological intervention. S 4682, a novel inhibitor of purfied P4H (Ki= 155 nmol/L), reduced hydroxyproline (Hyp) synthesis in chicken embryo calvaria (IC50 = 8.2 μmol/L) and in cultured hepatic stellate cells (HSC) (IC50 = 39 μmol/L). S 4682 inhibited hepatic collagen hydroxylation in vivo after metabolic labeling with [14C]proline. In the CCl4 model of chronic hepatic injury, characterized by histologically and biochemically evident fibrosis and highly elevated levels of serum procollagen type III N‐peptide, S 4682 reduced hepatic collagen accumulation, decreased prevalence of ascites, and lowered serum procollagen type III N‐peptide (PIIINP) levels. The hepatic Hyp content of drug‐treated animals was closely correlated with serum levels of PIIINP. S 4682 had no influence on Hyp content of heart, lung, and kidney.
Contraception: Attitudes and Experiences of Saudi Arabian Women

We carried out a survey to find the contraception practices and experiences of Saudi Arabian females. A preset questionnaire was developed, and married Saudi females were asked to answer the questionnaire. Between July and December 2008, 215 women completed the questionnaire. The average age was 37.6 ± 9.1 years. One hundred and sixty one of the women said they were using contraception. Fifty-nine (36.6%) said they were using oral contraception pills (OCP) and 32 (19.9%) said they were using intra-uterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs). One hundred and twenty-seven (78.8%) of the women were satisfied with the contraception they were using. We found that a majority of Saudi women are using contraception methods but without medical advice.
Anatomy of hepatic lymphatics and its implications in hepatic malignancies

Hepatic malignancy with regional lymph node involvement is generally associated with poor prognosis. Lymphatic drainage from the liver to extrahepatic lymph nodes follows a complex and unpredictable pathway. To add to the complexity of management of regional lymph nodes in hepatic malignancies, not all liver cancers have the same propensity to metastasize through lymphatics. Lymphadenectomy has had mixed results in terms of improving patient survival. Other therapies especially anti‐lymphogenic agents might play a role in the near future.
Comparison of hamster and pony challenge models for evaluation of effect of antigenic drift on cross protection afforded by equine influenza vaccines.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Vaccination and challenge studies in ponies are the most relevant experimental system for predicting whether strains included in equine influenza vaccines are relevant, but they are difficult to perform. OBJECTIVES In order to investigate the feasibility of using a small animal model, results of a cross-protection study in hamsters were compared with those from a previous pony challenge experiment. METHODS Animals were immunised with inactivated vaccines containing one of 4 strains of equine influenza A H3N8 subtype virus isolated over a 26 year period (1963 to 1989), then challenged with a 1989 strain. RESULTS Although there was no significant difference in titres of excreted virus between groups of vaccinated ponies, hamsters immunised with heterologous strains had significantly higher virus titres in the lung than hamsters vaccinated with the homologous strain. In both ponies and hamsters, the number of animals excreting virus was greater the earlier the isolation date of the vaccine strain, although this was only significant in the hamster study. CONCLUSIONS Despite differences, the overall conclusion of both the pony and hamster models was that heterologous vaccines may be less effective than homologous vaccines at preventing virus excretion. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE Further validation is required, but the hamster model shows potential for preliminary assessment of the effects of antigenic drift on vaccine efficacy.
Agricultural Livelihoods and Climate Change: Employing the Livelihood Vulnerability Index in Bluefields, Jamaica

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine agricultural livelihood vulnerability to climate change in Bluefields, Westmoreland, Jamaica based on the Livelihoods Vulnerability Index (LVI). Random sampling was used to select participants. Personal interviews were conducted with farmers using an instrument consisting of LVI components representing livelihood strategies, natural and physical assets, socio-demographic profile, social networks, water issues, food issues, natural disasters, and climate variability. LVI data were aggregated using an indexing approach to create scores for comparison across vulnerability components. The results showed farmers in Bluefields had the most amount of vulnerability in social networks and water issues. Low numbers of farmers owned their land, had contact with extension services, or used irrigation. Most farmers reported having problems with access to seeds and planting material, depended on their farms for food, and experienced frequent crop failure. Development organizations and local change agents should target the areas of greatest vulnerability illuminated by this study. Vulnerability and its contributing factors of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, should be reassessed with the LVI and other methods to monitor changes in Bluefields over time. Implications for extension educators to assist subsistence farmers in understanding better the effects of climate change are noted.
Efficacy of a Benzalkonium Chloride-Impregnated Central Venous Catheter to Prevent Catheter-Associated Infection in Cancer Patients

Background: This study was performed to determine the efficacy of a benzalkonium chloride-impregnated central venous catheter (CVC) in preventing catheter-related infection in patients suffering from malignant diseases and undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: A randomized, prospective clinical trial was carried out to compare the incidence of catheter-related colonization and catheter-related bacteremia using an antiseptic-impregnated CVC (n = 25) with that using a standard triple-lumen CVC (n = 25). Results: All patients were treated with intensive chemotherapy for acute leukemia (n = 28), lymphoma (n = 17) or solid tumors (n = 5). Both study groups presented with similar data in regards to age, insertion site, duration of catheterization and neutropenia period during catheterization, demonstrating a comparable risk for catheter-related colonization. Suspicion of infection led to explantation in 14 versus 15 cases. Catheter-related colonization was proven in 4 cases (16%) and catheter-related bacteremia was observed only once (4%) in both groups. Statistical testing showed no significant differences between the study and control group. Conclusions: The rate of catheter-related colonization was lower than suspected in this high-risk patient group. The use of benzalkonium chloride-impregnated CVC failed to decrease the incidence of catheter-related colonization and bacteremia in patients with a high risk of infectious complications.
Evaluation of anti-diabetic activity of Lycopene and its synergistic effect with Metformin hydrochloride and Glipizide in Alloxan induced diabetes in rats

The present study was conducted to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of Lycopene and its synergistic effect with Metformin hydrochloride and Glipizide in Alloxan induced diabetes in rats. Lycopene at a dose of 2 and 4 mg/kg were selected for the investigation of antidiabetic activity alone and combination with Glipizide and Metformin . Diabetes was induced by s.c. injection of alloxan monohydrate (110 mg/kg) in healthy male albino wistar rats. Serum glucose, cholesterol, HDL were evaluated for the assessment of antidiabetic activity of Lycopene. Lycopene alone and combination with Glipizide and Metformin decrease the serum glucose, cholesterol and increase the HDL levels. Lycopene alone showed very significant antidiabetic activity on 14th day of the treatment and blood glucose level came to normal on 21st day of treatment. Lycopene in combination with Glipizide and Metformin showed the very significant antidiabetic activity on 14th day of the treatment and blood glucose level came to normal on 21st day of treatment.
Mechanisms for cytotoxic effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents on transmembrane tumor necrosis factor alpha-expressing cells: comparison among infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab.

OBJECTIVE Three anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFalpha) agents have been proved to be effective for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory disorders. Infliximab and adalimumab have been generated as anti-TNFalpha monoclonal antibodies, while etanercept is engineered from human type II TNF receptors. In spite of all 3 agents' equal efficacy for RA, both infliximab and adalimumab are effective for other diseases such as Crohn's disease and Wegener's granulomatosis, while etanercept is not. We undertook this study to understand the different clinical effects of these anti-TNFalpha agents by analyzing their biologic activities on transmembrane TNFalpha. METHODS Jurkat T cells stably expressing an uncleavable form of transmembrane TNFalpha were used for the following studies: 1) flow cytometric analysis of binding activities of anti-TNF agents to cell surface transmembrane TNFalpha, 2) complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), 3) antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) by using peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and 4) outside-to-inside (reverse) signal transduction through transmembrane TNFalpha estimated by apoptosis and cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry. RESULTS All of the anti-TNFalpha agents bound to transmembrane TNFalpha. Infliximab and adalimumab exerted almost equal CDC activities, while etanercept showed considerably lower activity. ADCC activities were almost equal among these 3 agents. Adalimumab and infliximab induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in transmembrane TNFalpha-expressing Jurkat T cells, reflecting an outside-to-inside signal transduction through transmembrane TNFalpha. CONCLUSION Three different anti-TNF agents showed different biologic effects on transmembrane TNFalpha. This finding suggests that CDC and outside-to-inside signals by anti-TNFalpha antibodies may explain the successful clinical efficacy of adalimumab and infliximab in Crohn's disease and Wegener's granulomatosis.
Testing and Expanding a Model of Cognitive Processing of Risk Information

Scholars have begun to explore the role of modes of information processing and related audience characteristics in reactions to risky situations and risk information. ( 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 20)“Information processing” concerns how people attend to and consider available information: systematic processors analyze messages and situations carefully, while heuristic processors skim and use cues (e.g., opinions of trusted reference groups) for quick judgments. This article uses scenarios about a semi‐hypothetical industrial facility, in particular risk comparisons being considered by its manager for inclusion in a talk to the community, to explore the impact of information processing. Information insufficiency, self‐assessed capacity to understand information, and information‐seeking propensities are tested for potential effects on information processing about industrial risks by people living near industry. As well as testing established models, this article explores the additional explanatory value of involvement, relevance, and ability (Earle et al., 1990) and objective knowledge. Both existing model variables and new ones have significant effects on information seeking and information processing in this case, and partly confirm earlier results. Trumbo( 17,18) found that heuristic processors saw lower risk and systematic processors higher risk from suspected cancer clusters. In this study, reporting knowledge about local industrial risks as insufficient for one's purposes and self‐reported avoidance of such information both raised ratings of the facility's risk and lowered ratings of its acceptability. Neither type of information processing significantly affected risk or acceptability judgments, but both increased risk ratings and heuristic processing had more effect than systematic processing. Positive ratings of risk comparisons' clarity and meaningfulness decreased risk and increased acceptability ratings, dominated other information variables in predictive power, and exceeded risk, benefit, and trust in contribution to acceptability judgments. Despite differences across studies in designs and variables, and the embryonic development of appropriate (self‐reported) measures for use in field surveys, these results confirm the potential value of further research in how information seeking and processing affect risk beliefs and reactions to risk communications.
The bile acid-inducible baiB gene from Eubacterium sp. strain VPI 12708 encodes a bile acid-coenzyme A ligase

The baiB gene from Eubacterium sp. strain VPI 12708 was previously cloned, sequenced, and shown to be part of a large bile acid-inducible operon encoding polypeptides believed to be involved in bile acid 7 alpha-dehydroxylation. In the present study, the baiB gene was subcloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and shown to encode a bile acid-coenzyme A (CoA) ligase. This ligase required a C-24 bile acid with a free carboxyl group, ATP, Mg2+, and CoA for synthesis of the final bile acid-CoA conjugate. Product analysis by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography revealed final reaction products that comigrated with cholyl-CoA and AMP. A putative bile acid-AMP intermediate was detected when CoA was omitted from the reaction mixture. The bile acid-CoA ligase has amino acid sequence similarity to several other polypeptides involved in the ATP-dependent linking of AMP or CoA to cyclic carboxylated compounds. The bile acid-CoA ligation is believed to be the initial step in the bile acid 7 alpha-dehydroxylation pathway in Eubacterium sp. strain VPI 12708.