Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is general practice effective? A systematic literature review

Objective - To find evidence of the effectiveness of physicians working in primary care. Design - Systematic literature search in the Medline and Cochrane databases. Material - Out of 7223 titles found in the search, 45 studies, comparing, from different aspects, primary care with specialist care, were extracted. Main outcome measures - Health indicators, health care costs, quality of health care. Results - Primary care contributed to improved public health, as expressed through different health parameters, and a lower utilisation of medical care leading to lower costs. Physicians working in primary care, in comparison with other specialists, took care of many diseases without loss of quality and often at lower cost. The organisation of primary care was important in respect of reimbursement by capita tion, more group practices, higher personal continuity, and having generalists as primary care physicians. Conclusions - To compare the effectiveness of primary care and specialist care is a complex task and there are limitations in all studies. However, we have found evidence that increased accessibility to physicians working in primary care contributes to better health and lower total costs in the health care system. It is also clear that studies with evaluation of how to most effectively organise primary care are far too few. There is an extensive need for future research in this area, a suitable task for collaborative research between the Nordic countries.
Coexistence, Coevoluation and Convergent Evolution in Seabird Communities

Ecological isolating mechanisms based on differences in size or breeding season operate in many groups of related sympatric seabirds, but not in the alcid species (Aves: Fam. Alcidae) found together in Washington State. At least three of the six coexisting species have similar diets, and all six breed at the same time of year. They differ, however, in their foraging zones at sea and appear to have reduced interspecific competition by this means. Diverse aspects of the breeding biology, behavior morphology and ecology of these alcids can be explained by reference to two sets of selective factors–interspecific competition for food and predation upon the eggs, chicks and adults. Species that fish inshore guard their chicks in exposed cliff sites grouped into ubiquitous but small colonies. They carry fish to chicks singly and frequently throughout the day. These young develop rapidly to about one—third adult weight, at which time they quit the nest site. At the other extreme, species that feed far offshore provide burrows for the chick and nest in large colonies on only a few off—shore islands. Chicks are visited at night by adults whose bills are adapted for carrying many fish. These chicks grow slowly and reach close to adult weight before leaving the nest. These patterns are repeated with considerable fidelity in the six—species alcid community of Northern Iceland, but southern hemisphere seabirds are, in general,differently organized.
Different effect on axonal outgrowth of application of non-absorbable or absorbable tubes around a nerve repair

We studied regeneration distance of rat sciatic nerve, with the sensory pinch reflex test and immunocytochemical staining for neurofilaments, four to 21 days after transsection, repair, and enclosure of the repair site in either a non-absorbable silicone tube or an absorbable polyglycolic acid (PGA) tube. The size of both tube-types was carefully selected so that they did not compress the repaired nerve. The opposite nerve was repaired and not inserted in a tube (control). The regeneration distances in repaired nerves enclosed in silicone tube were significantly longer than the control side at all time points, a result not seen when PGA tube was used. The number of proliferating non-neuronal cells (incorporation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)) was studied just proximal to the site of nerve repair after six days. Numerous stained cells were seen, but there where no significant differences between the groups. We conclude that outgrowth of sensory axons after transsection and repair of rat sciatic nerve with sutures can be increased by enclosing the site of repair in a silicone tube but not in a PGA tube. The effect is probably not related to the number of proliferative non-neuronal cells.
Walking for exercise ? immediate effect on blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes

Objective - To determine the immediate effect of walking on blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Design - Participating patients walked for half an hour on one occasion and on another day they remained physically inactive for half an hour. Blood glucose was measured before and after walking and resting. Setting - Krokom in the north of Sweden. Patients - Thirty-nine persons with type 2 diabetes, aged 63 (SD 8.5). Main outcome measures - Difference of blood glucose levels before and after walking and resting respectively. Results ? Post-walk glycaemic levels were reduced by 2.2 mmol/l (SD 1.5). No significant reduction could be observed after a period of physical rest. Conclusion ? Walking can be safely employed in groups or individually as an introduction to low-intensity exercise and as a demonstration of its blood glucose lowering effect in type 2 diabetes.
13C Natural Abundance in Plant Communities Along a Rainfall Gradient: a Biological Integrator of Water Availability

Carbon isotope natural abundance (δ13C) has been previously used as a powerful tool in the study of water-using processes at the leaf, individual and within-community levels. We analysed 348 species from 12 plant communities along a 900 km-long rainfall gradient in southern Queensland. Although the range of δ13C values found in a given community was large, variability in the δ13C signature of plants within a community was relatively small given the large numbers of species sampled (mean n per site of 29) and the taxonomic diversity in each. The community-averaged δ13C signature ranged from -25.60 in a brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) dominated community in western Queensland to - 31.20 in subtropical rainforest in eastern Queensland. A strong relationship was found between the δ13C value averaged for each site and rainfall within the range 350-1700 mm per annum. Foliar δ13C was also related to the number of rain days per annum and moisture balance (rainfall - evaporation). The strength of these relationships varied only slightly according to the rainfall parameter used, with values for r2 of 0.78, 0.70, 0.70 and 0.74 for the relationship between δ13C and long-term rainfall average, 5-year rainfall average, number of rain days and moisture balance, respectively. Despite considerable taxonomic variability within a given plant community, the averaged δ13C signature for that community gives a strong indication of moisture availability.
Food and feeding habits of jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) from the Gulf of California, Mexico

Stomach contents of 533 jumbo squid, Dosidicus gigas, ranging between 14·5 and 87·5 cm dorsal mantle length were collected on a monthly basis in the central Gulf of California from November 1995 to April 1997. Fish prey were identified by sagittal otoliths, cephalopods by beaks and crustaceans by exoskeletal features. The diet was dominated by Benthosema panamense, an abundant near-shore nyctoepipelagic myctophid that forms dense aggregations. Another myctophid, Triphoturus mexicanus, several micronektonic squid, pelagic red crab and small pelagic fish such as northern anchovy and Pacific sardine played a secondary role. The largest differences in diet were due to spatial and monthly changes, while differences regarding squid size or sex were smaller. Prey size (averaging 5–7 cm) and prey number did not vary with size of jumbo squid. Jumbo squid in the slopes of the Guaymas basin feed on abundant schooling mesopelagic micronekton of annual nature with a quick response to environmental changes, which could partly explain the large annual fluctuations of this commercial resource.
Three New Cryptic Species within the Dargida procinctus (Grote) Complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Hadeninae) from the Neotropics

Abstract Based on morphological analysis, the species Dargida procinctus (Grote), currently considered to be widespread from Canada to Bolivia, is found to include three previously unrecognized species: Dargida spinicassida, n. sp. , from northern Mexico; Dargida juxta, n. sp. , from southern Mexico and Costa Rica; and Dargida lilium, n. sp. , from Bolivia. Adults and male and female genitalia of all four species are illustrated. Dargida grammivora Walker and Dargida meridionalis (Hampson) are closely related species that could be confused with those of the Dargida procinctus complex. Adults and male and female genitalia of these are illustrated for comparison. A key is provided for differentiation of these six closely related species.
Effects of supplementary feeding on territoriality, breeding success and survival of pheasants

1. The effects of supplementary food in spring on subsequent pheasant breeding in an intensively farmed area in southern England were assessed by a large-scale, replicated field experiment. 2. Territorial cock pheasants were counted in April, and the breeding success and survival of radio-tagged hens were monitored in six 1-km2 plots during 1994 and 1995. Total numbers of young reared and post-breeding pheasant densities were found by August counts. In 1994, three randomly selected plots were supplied with wheat grains via hoppers along woodland edges and hedgerows. The other three plots acted as controls and the treatments were reversed in 1995. 3. The density of cock territories increased significantly in food-supplemented plots (44 ± 8 km−2) in relation to control plots (29 ± 8 km−2), and the presence of hoppers significantly affected the locations of territories. However, similar proportions of territorial males acquired harems in the control and food-supplemented plots. Hen density did not increase and, consequently, the mean harem size was significantly lower with supplementary feeding. 4. Hens given supplementary food did not nest earlier and the number of nests initiated, clutch sizes and the proportion of successful nests did not differ significantly from those of controls. However, hens supplied with supplementary food re-nested significantly more quickly following the loss of a nest or brood. 5. Radio-tagged hens did not rear significantly more young with supplementary feeding. Hen survival was unchanged and post-breeding pheasant densities were no higher. 6. On present evidence, spring feeding cannot be advocated as a management technique to improve the breeding success of pheasants surviving the winter.
CHANGES IN NITRIC OXIDE, SUPEROXIDE, AND BLOOD CIRCULATION IN MUSCLES OVER TIME AFTER WARM ISCHAEMIC REPERFUSION IN RABBIT RECTUS FEMORIS MUSCLE

We present the sequence of changes in nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O2-) over time in reperfusion injuries. We examined both the changes in NO and O2- over time and the blood flow in an isolated ischaemia-reperfusion muscle model in rabbits. The ischaemic group comprised 8 animals which had had vascular pedicles clamped on to their rectus femoris muscles for 4 hours. The control group (n = 6) had a sham operation. Blood samples from the femoral vein proximal to the clamping point were collected before the operation, before clamping, before reperfusion, immediately after reperfusion, and 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after reperfusion. NO was measured by Griess' method, and O2- by chemiluminescence. Blood flow was measured with a laser Doppler flowmeter. The amount of NO increased significantly immediately after reperfusion, and 15 and 30 minutes after reperfusion in the ischaemic group, compared with the control group (p < 0.05). O2- increased significantly at 5, 15, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after reperfusion, compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The blood flow volume curve increased by 1.4 times about four minutes after reperfusion compared with previously. After this it gradually decreased. The adverse effects of O2- became apparent when NO was extinguished by O2-.
The comparative breeding biology of magpies Pica pica in an urban and a rural habitat (Aves: Corvidae)

The breeding biology of magpies in an adjacent urban and rural area in the same year was compared. Breeding commenced earlier in the urban habitat. This was attributed to the earlier availability of invertebrate food in the urban habitat as a result of higher urban ambient temperature. Hatching success and the amount of nest predation were lower in the urban area than in the rural area. Low levels of nest predation in urban areas were due to reduced human predation and probably to the relatively low numbers of many natural predators. Differences in the nest tree species utilized also influenced the probability of human predation. Despite these differences in the causes of egg and chick mortality, the number of young reared to 14 days of age per nest was similar in both habitats.
Effects of competitor spacing in individual-tree indices of competition

All indices of competition represent effects of distance between competing trees. However, the functional forms of these distance relations differ, because distance interacts with tree size in the many of the indices. In particu - lar, some of the newer indices use vertical angles and crown geometry to define the effect of separation implicitly. Graphical displays showing effects of distance between subject tree and a competitor in published distance-dependent indices of competition are presented to permit visual comparisons of the indices. Nine pairs of subject and competitor crown classes are included for each index. Relation of these distance functions to the function implicit in distance- independent (stand-level) variables included in the growth prediction model is discussed. Resume : Tous les indices de competition traduisent les effets de la distance entre les arbres qui sont en competition. Cependant, les formes fonctionnelles de ces relations basees sur la distance different parce que la distance interagit avec la dimension des arbres dans plusieurs de ces indices. Certains des indices les plus recents, en particulier, utilisent des angles verticaux et la geometrie de la cime pour definir de facon implicite l'effet de separation. Des representations
Information derived from hospital coded data is inaccurate: the Birmingham Women's Hospital experience

We tested the accuracy of coded hospital information on the Patient Administration System (PAS), a major component of the Hospital Information Support System (HISS). This is the main electronic database used for healthcare research, audit, and planning in National Health Service hospitals in the UK. The accuracy of electronic records of diagnoses, interventions and diagnosis-intervention pairs was low. (Kappa agreement statistics [k] were 0·39, 0·30, and 0·21 respectively). A major source of error arose because the databases of maternities and surgical operations were not seamlessly linked to the PAS.
A new approach to individual prognostication of cancer development under conditions of chronic radiation exposure

This paper describes a new approach to modelling carcinogenesis, including that induced by ionising radiation. The specific feature of the developed approach is that the model, still adhering to the mutational theory of carcinogenesis, includes parameters of intracellular processes which can be measured for any individual. The assumptions laying the basis for this approach are that cell malignisation results from inefficient functioning of a number of barrier mechanisms on the cell's way from the primary DNA damage to phenotypically manifested mutation/aberration initiating or promoting carcinogenesis, and inefficient functioning of the barrier mechanisms is caused, in turn, by one or several genetic and/or epigenetic events, the number and type of which are of no importance for this approach. The paper points out the necessity and possibility to include model parameters that reflect the status of such intercellular mechanisms as the system of antioxidant protection, repair and apoptosis. The theoretical formalism of the model structure is presented as the generalisation of the concepts of multiple-stage and multiple-pathway models for describing the new biological approach to modelling. Also, the paper discusses issues such as schemes for measuring the parameters included in the model, approaches to individual risk estimation and further generalisation of the model.
Polyclonal anticardiolipin antibodies purified from sera of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus induce apoptosis of the cultured glomerular mesangial cells

Objective: To test the effect of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) on cultured glomerular mesangial cells with regard to their expression of apoptosis-related genes. Methods: aCL puri®ed from active lupus sera by cardiolipin micelles were incubated with cultured rodent mesangial cells (RMC). Morphological changes of the RMC were observed. The genomic DNA was extracted for the detection of apoptosis. The total cell RNA was extracted for detection of Fas, c-myc, p53, and bcl-2 transcripts by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: aCL (100 GPL-U/0.1 mg protein/ml) bound to RMC more prominent than human IgG (100mg/ml). The antibodies suppressed RMC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The RMC were undergoing apoptosis as evidenced by morphologic changes, ̄uoresceinannexin V staining and appearance of nucleosome-sized DNA fragments. RMC spontaneously express p53 and c-myc but not Fas or bcl-2. aCL (100 GPL-U/ml) enhanced the expression of Fas but not other apoptosis-related genes and suppressed the intracellular tyrosine phosphorylation. Conclusions: Binding of aCL can induce apoptosis of the RMC. The aCL may be implicated in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.
Terrestrial Movements and Upland Habitat Use of Gopher Frogs in Central Florida

Abstract In recent years, researchers have begun to focus on the upland habitat requirements of pond-breeding amphibians. The increased attention is due to a general lack of knowledge about the terrestrial phase of the life history of most pond-breeding species and a concern over loss of upland habitats. In this study, radio telemetry was used to determine the terrestrial behavior of Rana capito (Gopher Frogs) in central Florida. Frogs were captured at Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) and Geomys pinetis (pocket gopher) burrows. Surgically implanted radio transmitters were used to follow nine Gopher Frogs at various times between September 1999 and May 2000. Radio-located frogs used from one to four terrestrial shelters (Mean ± S.D. = 2.28 ± 1.11). Terrestrial movements ranged in total distance from zero to 35 m (Mean ± S.D. = 15.28 ± 15.29). Mean minimum convex polygons (m2) were calculated for each frog (Mean ± S.D. = 45.29 ± 79.73). Gopher Frogs showed strong site fidelity to both pocket gopher and Gopher Tortoise burrows. Drought conditions could have resulted in an underestimate of movement distance and an overestimate of site fidelity to upland shelters. Upland habitat should be managed to protect all species of terrestrial burrowers; in doing so, Gopher Frogs will be managed.
Variance Components in the Estimation of Potential Egg Deposition of Sockeye Salmon Escapements

The magnitude of the variance components in the estimation of the potential egg deposition of sockeye salmon escapements to the Kvichak District, Bristol Bay, Alaska, was determined from data collected from 1957 to 1966. The greatest variance component was caused by estimation of the escapement followed by the variance due to estimation of the ratio of females in the escapement. Estimation of the average fecundity added the least variance.
Heart Rate Responses during Sport-Specific High-Intensity Circuit Exercise in Child Female Gymnasts

This study examined heart rate (HR) responses during a sport-specific high-intensity circuit training session to indirectly assess cardiorespiratory stress in child athletes. Seventeen, female gymnasts, aged 9–11 years performed two 5-min 15 s sets of circuit exercise, interspersed by a 3 min rest interval. Each set included five rounds of five gymnastic exercises (7 s work, 7 s rest) executed with maximal effort. During the first circuit training set, peak heart rate (HR) was 192 ± 7 bpm and average HR was 83 ± 4% of maximum HR (HRmax), which was determined in a separate session. In the second set, peak HR and average HR were increased to 196 ± 8 bpm (p < 0.001, d = 0.55) and to 89 ± 4% HRmax (p < 0.001, d = 2.19), respectively, compared with the first set. HR was above 80% HRmax for 4.1 ± 1.2 min during set 1 and this was increased to 5.1 ± 0.4 min in set 2 (p < 0.001, d = 1.15). Likewise, HR was above 90% of HRmax for 2.0 ± 1.2 min in set 1 and was increased to 3.4 ± 1.7 min in set 2 (p < 0.001, d = 0.98). In summary, two 5-min 15 s sets of high-intensity circuit training using sport-specific exercises, increased HR to levels above 80% and 90% HRmax for extended time periods, and thus may be considered as an appropriate stimulus, in terms of intensity, for improving aerobic fitness in child female gymnasts.
Factors influencing GPs' decisions on the treatment of hypercholesterolaemic patients

Objective - To study factors influencing GPs' decisions to prescribe lipid-lowering drugs and how their judgements agree with the Swedish guidelines on hyperlipidaemia. Design - Postal questionnaire. Setting - Primary health care. Authentic written case descriptions of patients, all with a cholesterol value of at least 5.5 mmol/l and with variations in seven other variables (cues) in a Clinical Judgement Analysis (CJA) design. Subjects - Sixty randomly selected primary health care doctors in the south-eastern Stockholm area. Results - Thirty-eight doctors answered the questionnaire. Coronary heart disease had the highest influence on judgements, followed by cholesterol. The majority of doctors used two or three of the eight cues. Doctors differed markedly in their strategies. One in four did not use coronary heart disease in their judgements, even though all patients with this risk factor present (12/40) should receive pharmacological treatment, according to the guidelines. Doctors who adhered to the guidelines in this respect were younger than those who did not. The GPs' insights into their own strategies were good. Conclusions - The results indicate that doctors use very different judgement strategies for drug prescription concerning patients with hypercholesterolaemia. A fairly large subgroup of the doctors did not include coronary heart disease in their judgements, in contrast to the present guidelines.
Synthesis of Fmoc-Triazine Amino Acids and Its Application in the Synthesis of Short Antibacterial Peptidomimetics

To combat the escalating rise of antibacterial resistance, the development of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with a unique mode of action is considered an attractive strategy. However, proteolytic degradation of AMPs remains the greatest challenge in their transformation into therapeutics. Herein, we synthesized Fmoc-triazine amino acids that differ from each other by anchoring either cationic or hydrophobic residues. These unnatural amino acids were adopted for solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) to synthesize a series of amphipathic antimicrobial peptidomimetics. From the antimicrobial screening, we found that the trimer, BJK-4 is the most potent short antimicrobial peptidomimetic without showing hemolytic activity and it displayed enhanced proteolytic stability. Moreover, the mechanism of action to kill bacteria was found to be an intracellular targeting.