Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reconstructing the δ(18) O of atmospheric water vapour via the CAM epiphyte Tillandsia usneoides: seasonal controls on δ(18) O in the field and large-scale reconstruction of δ(18) Oa.

Using both oxygen isotope ratios of leaf water (δ(18) OL ) and cellulose (δ(18) OC ) of Tillandsia usneoides in situ, this paper examined how short- and long-term responses to environmental variation and model parameterization affected the reconstruction of the atmospheric water vapour (δ(18) Oa ). During sample-intensive field campaigns, predictions of δ(18) OL matched observations well using a non-steady-state model, but the model required data-rich parameterization. Predictions from the more easily parameterized maximum enrichment model (δ(18) OL-M ) matched observed δ(18) OL and observed δ(18) Oa when leaf water turnover was less than 3.5 d. Using the δ(18) OL-M model and weekly samples of δ(18) OL across two growing seasons in Florida, USA, reconstructed δ(18) Oa was -12.6 ± 0.3‰. This is compared with δ(18) Oa of -12.4 ± 0.2‰ resolved from the growing-season-weighted δ(18) OC . Both of these values were similar to δ(18) Oa in equilibrium with precipitation, -12.9‰. δ(18) Oa was also reconstructed through a large-scale transect with δ(18) OL and the growing-season-integrated δ(18) OC across the southeastern United States. There was considerable large-scale variation, but there was regional, weather-induced coherence in δ(18) Oa when using δ(18) OL . The reconstruction of δ(18) Oa with δ(18) OC generally supported the assumption of δ(18) Oa being in equilibrium with precipitation δ(18) O (δ(18) Oppt ), but the pool of δ(18) Oppt with which δ(18) Oa was in equilibrium - growing season versus annual δ(18) Oppt - changed with latitude.
Reduction in outpatient antibiotic sales for pre-school children: interrupted time series analysis of weekly antibiotic sales data in Sweden 1992-2002.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to use detailed weekly data on outpatient antibiotic sales for pre-school children in Sweden to test for the significance of trends during 1992-2002. We also report on the special features found in weekly antibiotic data, and how the interrupted time series (ITS) design can adjust for this. METHODS Weekly data on the total number of dispensed outpatient antibiotic prescriptions to pre-school children were studied, as well as the individual subgroups commonly used to treat respiratory tract infections in children: narrow-spectrum penicillins, broad-spectrum penicillins and macrolides. In parallel, monthly data of paracetamol sales of paediatric dosages were analysed to reflect trends in symptomatic treatment. An ITS model controlling for seasonality and autocorrelation was used to examine the datasets for significant level and trend shifts. RESULTS A significant increase in mean and change in level could be found in the total antibiotic data in 1997, also reflected in broad-spectrum penicillin data where a similar trend break occurred in 1996. For macrolides, a trend break with a decrease in mean was noted in 1996, but no trend breaks were found in narrow-spectrum penicillin data. In contrast to the general decreasing trends in antibiotic sales, the yearly over-the-counter sales of paracetamol in paediatric preparations increased during the same period, with no identified trend breaks. CONCLUSIONS The overall decrease in antibiotic sales and increase in paediatric paracetamol sales might suggest that symptomatic treatment in the home has increased, as antibiotics are less commonly prescribed.
Platelet Function Measurement–Based Strategy to Reduce Bleeding and Waiting Time in Clopidogrel-Treated Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: The Timing Based on Platelet Function Strategy to Reduce Clopidogrel-Associated Bleeding Related to CABG (TARGET-CABG) Study

Background— Aspirin and clopidogrel therapy is associated with a variable bleeding risk in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We evaluated the role of platelet function testing in clopidogrel-treated patients undergoing CABG. Methods and Results— One hundred eighty patients on background aspirin with/without clopidogrel therapy undergoing elective first time isolated on-pump CABG were enrolled in a prospective single-center, nonrandomized, unblinded investigation (Timing Based on Platelet Function Strategy to Reduce Clopidogrel-Associated Bleeding Related to CABG [TARGET-CABG] study) between September 2008 and January 2011. Clopidogrel responsiveness (ADP-induced platelet-fibrin clot strength [MAADP]) was determined by thrombelastography; CABG was done within 1 day, 3–5 days, and >5 days in patients with an MAADP >50 mm, 35–50 mm, and <35 mm, respectively. The primary end point was 24-hour chest tube drainage and key secondary end point was total number of transfused red blood cells. Equivalence was defined as ⩽25% difference between groups. ANCOVA was used to adjust for confounders. Mean 24-hour chest tube drainage in clopidogrel-treated patients was 93% (95% confidence interval, 81–107%) of the amount observed in clopidogrel-naive patients, and the total amount of red blood cells transfused did not differ between groups (1.80 U versus 2.08 U, respectively, P=0.540). The total waiting period in clopidogrel-treated patients was 233 days (mean, 2.7 days per patient). Conclusions— A strategy based on preoperative platelet function testing to determine the timing of CABG in clopidogrel-treated patients was associated with the same amount of bleeding observed in clopidogrel-naive patients and ≈50% shorter waiting time than recommended in the current guidelines. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00857155.
Measuring the global burden of disease and epidemiological transitions: 2002–2030

Abstract Any planning process for health development ought to be based on a thorough understanding of the health needs of the population. This should be sufficiently comprehensive to include the causes of premature death and of disability, as well as the major risk factors that underlie disease and injury. To be truly useful to inform health-policy debates, such an assessment is needed across a large number of diseases, injuries and risk factors, in order to guide prioritization. The results of the original Global Burden of Disease Study and, particularly, those of its 2000–2002 update provide a conceptual and methodological framework to quantify and compare the health of populations using a summary measure of both mortality and disability: the disability-adjusted life-year (DALY). Globally, it appears that about 56 million deaths occur each year, 10.5 million (almost all in poor countries) in children. Of the child deaths, about one-fifth result from perinatal causes such as birth asphyxia and birth trauma, and only slightly less from lower respiratory infections. Annually, diarrhoeal diseases kill over 1.5 million children, and malaria, measles and HIV/AIDS each claim between 500,000 and 800,000 children. HIV/AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death world-wide (2.9 million deaths) and the leading cause in Africa. The top three causes of death globally are ischaemic heart disease (7.2 million deaths), stroke (5.5 million) and lower respiratory diseases (3.9 million). Chronic obstructive lung diseases (COPD) cause almost as many deaths as HIV/AIDS (2.7 million). The leading causes of DALY, on the other hand, include causes that are common at young ages [perinatal conditions (7.1% of global DALY), lower respiratory infections (6.7%), and diarrhoeal diseases (4.7%)] as well as depression (4.1%). Ischaemic heart disease and stroke rank sixth and seventh, retrospectively, as causes of global disease burden, followed by road traffic accidents, malaria and tuberculosis. Projections to 2030 indicate that, although these major vascular diseases will remain leading causes of global disease burden, with HIV/AIDS the leading cause, diarrhoeal diseases and lower respiratory infections will be outranked by COPD, in part reflecting the projected increases in death and disability from tobacco use.
Transmembrane Segment 3 of Drosophila melanogaster Odorant Receptor Subunit 85b Contributes to Ligand-Receptor Interactions*

The OR class insect odorant receptors are ligand-gated ion channels comprised of at least one common subunit (OR83b in Drosophila) and at least one putative odorant-binding subunit. However, little else is known about the molecular details of insect OR architecture. For example, nothing is known about how these receptors bind odorants, greatly limiting efforts to develop insect OR-targeted compounds for the control of insects involved in disease propagation and agricultural damage. Here we identify a portion of a Drosophila OR that is involved in odorant activation of the receptor. Using the substituted cysteine accessibility method, we identified residues 146–150 of OR85b, located at the predicted interface between transmembrane segment 3 (TMS3) and extracellular loop 2 (ECL2), as playing a role in odorant (2-heptanone) activation. We found that occupation of the receptor by the competitive antagonist 2-nonanone protected the receptor from methanethiosulfonate action at position 148, placing this region close to the odorant-binding site. In addition, mutations at positions 142 and 143 within TMS3 altered odorant sensitivity. Our results identify the involvement of the extracellular half of TMS3 in Drosophila OR85b in odorant activation of the receptor. This finding can serve as a starting point for future detailed analysis of the molecular basis for odorant recognition by insect ORs, a novel class of ligand-gated channel.
SONRISA: A Curriculum Toolbox for Promotores to Address Mental Health and Diabetes

Introduction SONRISA is a Spanish/English mental health curriculum toolbox developed for promotores (community health workers) who work with Hispanic clients to prevent or manage diabetes. Promotoras and community members from a community-based project requested their university partner to help promotores address depression observed in their clients with diabetes. Methods Data collection included reviewing existing educational materials and conducting focus groups. Promotoras piloted the first version of SONRISA in a 1-day workshop. Results Four curricula from community agencies were reviewed, and 49 individuals participated in eight focus groups. Promotora feedback during the workshop informed the revision of SONRISA. The community-based participatory approach produced a highly relevant and culturally appropriate toolbox for general use by promotores and their clients. SONRISA provides training material to address depression and diabetes, educational material for clients, and approaches to prevent work-related emotional burnout. Conclusion SONRISA offers an innovative, integrated approach to training promotores to address depression among their clients with chronic illnesses. It is culturally appropriate and adaptable to other populations.
Allogeneic heart transplantation activates alloreactive NK cells.

The ability of natural killer (NK) cells to recognize and reject transplants has so far been shown in hematopoietic grafts only. This study was designed to ascertain whether NK cells may also be involved in the rejection of transplanted organs. In most rat strain combinations, immunization with allogeneic cells induces a T cell response with cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activation. We have previously found one exception to this. In contrast to Wistar Furth rats (WF, RT1u), which manifest allospecific CTL activation in response to immunization with Brown Norway (BN, RT1n) cells, BN rats immunized with repeated intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of allogeneic WF spleen cells manifest activation of alloreactive NK effector cells. The alloreactive NK cells were of the TCR-, CD3-, CD8+, and NKR-P1 intermediate phenotype and killed target cells with alloselectivity. In this study we used a heart transplantation model to study the rejection response of BN rats receiving WF grafts. NK cell infiltration was greater in WF hearts transplanted to BN recipients than in BN hearts transplanted to WF recipients. Furthermore, the extent of T cell infiltration was less in BN recipients. In WF rats transplanted with allogeneic BN hearts, CTL were activated in response to i.p. challenge with allogeneic BN cells, whereas BN rats transplanted with allogeneic WF hearts and i.p. challenged with allogeneic WF cells, manifested activation of alloreactive NK cells but no measurable activation of classic CTL. The alloreactive NK cells killed their allogeneic targets with specificity and with potency comparable to that of CTL. Furthermore, WF grafts were rejected in BN recipients as efficiently as were BN grafts in WF recipients. These results not only show cardiac allografts to be able to activate alloreactive NK cells, but also suggest that NK cells may be involved in the rejection of solid organ transplants and function as classic CTL in certain donor-recipient combinations.
Reconstructed human skin produced in vitro and grafted on athymic mice1,2

Background. The best alternative to a split-thickness graft for the wound coverage of patients with extensive burns should be in vitro reconstructed autologous skin made of both dermis and epidermis and devoid of exogenous extracellular matrix proteins and synthetic material. We have designed such a reconstructed human skin (rHS) and present here its first in vivo grafting on athymic mice. Methods. The rHS was made by culturing newborn or adult keratinocytes on superimposed fibrous sheets obtained after culturing human fibroblasts with ascorbic acid. Ten days after keratinocyte seeding, reconstructed skins were either cultured at the air-liquid interface or grafted on athymic mice. We present the macroscopic, histologic, and phenotypic properties of such tissues in vitro and in vivo after grafting on nude mice. Results. After maturation in vitro, the reconstructed skin exhibited a well-developed human epidermis that expressed differentiated markers and basement membrane proteins. Four days after grafting, a complete take of all grafts was obtained. Histological analysis revealed that the newly generated epidermis of newborn rHS was thicker than that of adult rHS after 4 days but similar 21 days after grafting. The basement membrane components (bullous pemphigoid antigens, laminin, and type IV and VII collagens) were detected at the dermo-epidermal junction, showing a continuous line 4 days after grafting. Ultrastructural studies revealed that the basement membrane was continuous and well organized 21 days after transplantation. The macroscopic aspect of the reconstructed skin revealed a resistant, supple, and elastic tissue. Elastin staining and elastic fibers were detected as a complex network in the rHS that contributes to the good elasticity of this new reconstructed tissue. Conclusions. This new rHS model gives supple and easy to handle skins while demonstrating an adequate wound healing on mice. These results are promising for the development of this skin substitute for permanent coverage of burn wounds.
Fractalkine protein localization and gene expression in mouse brain

Few chemokines are expressed constitutively in the brain at detectable levels; amongst them is fractalkine. We analyzed the distribution of fractalkine in the mouse brain with the aim of giving a neuroanatomical support to the study of its physiological function. To this end, we carried out an analysis of fractalkine protein localization and gene expression. An anti‐fractalkine antibody was produced and used to perform an immunohistochemical study. The results indicated a high level of fractalkine protein in cortex, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and olfactory bulb. In particular, the presence of abundant immunoreactive neurons was observed in layers II, III, V, and VI of the cortex. In the hippocampus, the CA1 region was the most intensely labeled, but immunoreactive neurons were present also in CA2 and CA3, whereas in the basal ganglia, immunoreactive cells were observed in the caudate putamen. Other brain structures such as the brainstem showed a few scattered immunoreactive cells. The presence of fractalkine immunoreactive fibers was revealed only in the olfactory bulb and in the anterior olfactory nuclei. Gene expression study results, obtained by both semiquantitative PCR and in situ hybridization, matched protein localization with the highest levels of fractalkine transcript detected in the hippocampus, cortex, and striatum. The present study showed that fractalkine protein and mRNA are constitutively expressed at a high level in forebrain structure, but are almost absent in the hindbrain. Furthermore, localization at the cellular body level would suggest a paracrine or cell‐to‐cell interaction role for fractalkine more than a neurotransmission modulatory function. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anomalies of disparity detection in the human visual system.

1. Oculomotor and psychophysical depth responses were investigated in thirty individuals by use of briefly exposed disparities in the range from 0‐6 to 4‐6 degrees (1‐8 centrads). 2. The results substantiate a previous finding which reported the common occurrence of specific types of stereoanomalies within a sample from the normal population. However, arguments are presented to suggest that these forms of stereoanomalies are limited to coarse stereopsis and spare mechanisms concerned with fine disparity, high resolution stereopsis. 3. A relatively high proportion of individuals were found to manifest deficiencies of vergence eye movement under these stimulus conditions. These vergence‐anomalies are characterized by a marked reduction, or absence, of neither convergent or divergent eye movements to briefly exposed stimuli. 4. The vergence‐anomaly is not detrimental under normal seeing conditions since it can be present in persons with adequate binocular vision and normal fine stereopsis. 5. The presence of vergence‐anomaly was always associated with the occurrence of stereoanomaly; however, the converse was not true. 6. The results are taken as evidence to show how disparity information is organized prior to its influence upon the processes of coarse stereopsis and vergence initiation.
The role of radioactive iodine usage in the management of thyroid disorders with emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND Radioactive iodine (RAI) usage is increasingly becoming a standard therapeutic and diagnostic measure in the management of thyroid disorders. Despite these advances, there are varying opinions on the appropriate usage of this treatment option of thyroid disorders. In sub-saharan Africa, reports on RAI in the management of thyroid disorders are scanty and RAI usage is shrouded in mystery. OBJECTIVES This review article sought to evaluate the role of RAI in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders with emphasis on its usage in Africa. It also addresses specific areas of concern amongst others such as RAI use in children, in large compressive goiters, reproductive function and the issue of associated iatrogenic hypothyroidism. METHODS A systematic review of literature--local and otherwise--on radioactive iodine usage from indexed and online journals using Pubmed, Google and Google Scholar in the period between 1942 till 2007. RESULTS The most common complication of RAI therapy is hypothyroidism which appears to be almost inevitable. There is controversy as to whether RAI therapy is a risk factor for thyroid cancer or cancer of other iodine-concentrating organs. Equally controversial is whether RAI leads to infertility or genetic disorders of children whose parents were treated with RAI. The use of RAI in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders appears unduly limited. CONCLUSION Radioactive iodine--a major tool in the diagnosis and management of benign and malignant thyroid disorders--is underutilized in the African. There is a need for heightened awareness amongst endocrinologists from the African continent on the usage of this all-important treatment modality of thyroid disorders.
The Histopathologic Spectrum of Carcinomas Involving the Gastroesophageal Junction in the Chinese

Carcinomas involving the gastroesophageal junction are common in China. The histopathologic characteristics of these cancers have not been systematically investigated. Reported are 41 such resected cancers from Chinese patients (30 men, 11 women). Their mean age was 62 years. The mean tumor size was 4.4 cm (range, 2 to 9 cm), and 58% were poorly differentiated. An unusual spectrum of tumor differentiation was observed, including adenocarcinomas (83%), adenosquamous (32%), colloid (2%), signet-ring (10%), squamous (5%), oncocytic (7%), pancreatic acinar (12%), and neuroendocrine (5%) carcinomas. Cancers with multiple types of differentiation in the same tumor were identified in 37 cases (90%). The adjacent gastric cardiac mucosa showed hyperplasia, oncocytic, and pancreatic acinar metaplasia, and mild chronic inflammation. Dysplasia was uncommon (n = 6). Barrett esophagus was not identified. Carcinomas involving the gastroesophageal junction in the Chinese are morphologically distinct, heterogeneous, and may be of esophageal origin.
The roots and development of constructivist grounded theory.

AIM To deconstruct how Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory (CGT) evolved from the original ideas of Glaser and Strauss, and to explore how CGT is similar to and different from the original grounded theory (GT). BACKGROUND The origins of GT date to 1967 with Glaser and Strauss's study of the treatment of dying individuals, applying an inductive method allowing for the development of theory without the guidance of a preconceived theory. CGT moves away from the positivism of the Glaserian and Straussian GT schools, approaching GT through a constructivist lens that addresses how realities are made. DATA SOURCES This article does not involve the collection and analysis of primary data; instead, academic literature written by leaders in the field of GT was reviewed to generate the ideas presented. REVIEW METHODS Comprehensive literature review drawing on the 'integrative review' principles. DISCUSSION When selecting a GT approach, the possibility of a congruence between the chosen methodology and the worldviews of the researcher's discipline and own outlook should be considered. CONCLUSION The differences among the various schools of GT lie in their overarching goals and their perspectives of the nature of reality. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH/PRACTICE Considering the alignment between the constructivist worldview and the field of nursing, CGT offers a valuable methodology for researchers in this area.