Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The feasibility of meta-cognitive strategy training in acute inpatient stroke rehabilitation: Case report

Meta-cognitive strategy training may be used to augment inpatient rehabilitation to promote active engagement and subsequent benefit for individuals with cognitive impairments after stroke. We examined the feasibility of administering a form of meta-cognitive strategy training, Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP), during inpatient rehabilitation. We trained an individual with cognitive impairments after right hemisphere stroke to identify performance problems, set self-selected goals, develop plans to address goals, and evaluate performance improvements. To assess feasibility, we examined the number of meta-cognitive training sessions attended, the number of self-selected goals, and changes in goal-related performance. We also examined changes in rehabilitation engagement and disability. The participant used the meta-cognitive strategy to set eight goals addressing physically oriented, instrumental, and work-related activities. Mean improvement in Canadian Occupational Performance Measure Performance Scale scores was 6.1. Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale scores (measuring rehabilitation engagement) improved from 3.2 at admission to 4.9 at discharge. Functional Independence Measure scores (measuring disability) improved from 68 at admission, to 97 at discharge. Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills scores improved from 1.1 at admission to 2.9 at discharge. The results indicate that meta-cognitive strategy training was feasible during inpatient rehabilitation and warrants further evaluation to determine its effectiveness.
Disponibilidad de alimento para aves playeras (tigüises) migratorias en la bahía de Bluefields

En la red de humedales que rodea la bahia de Bluefields indagamos y analizamos la disponibilidad de invertebrados bentonicos susceptibles de ser parte de la dieta de aves playeras (Charadriidae). Por medio de busqueda intensiva en tres microhabitats de la bahia investigamos la fauna invertebrada bentica en general esta conformada por 4 phylum, 6 clases, 14 ordenes, 35 familias y 36 generos mas 2 no identificados. La densidad poblacional de estos organismos reflejan variaciones: El Bluff registra 14,814.72 ind/m2 en febrero, 11,342.52 ind/m2 en marzo y 31,828.8 ind/m2 en abril. La isla El Venado es el microhabitat que reporta las densidades de poblacion mas alta. La barra de Hone Sound tiene las densidades de invertebrados mas bajas. Los tres microhabitats estudiados muestran diferencias en la disponibilidad de alimento para las aves playeras migratorias, probablemente se deba a las particularidades en las caracteristicas ecologicas de cada sitio.
Humoral responses against Trypanosoma brucei variable surface antigen are induced by degenerating parasites

An analysis was made of the inductive stimuli for anti‐T. brucei variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) responses and the role played by humoral immunity in trypanosome wave control. The first wave parasitaemia was influenced by the rate of parasite differentiation from rapidly dividing slender forms to short lived stumpy forms. Remission of first wave parasitaemia was caused by a humoral immune response against external determinants of surface expressed VSG. Anti‐VSG responses were accompanied by anti‐trypanosome plasma membrane responses and were followed by non‐specific responses. Responses appeared to be initiated by fragments of parasites on which VSG external determinants and plasma membrane antigens were accessible and were possibly accelerated and amplified by a trypanosome mitogen which was not VSG. The parasite fragments may have arisen as a result of degeneration of stumpy form but not slender form parasites.
El Rol del Empowerment en el Éxito Empresarial

Fil: Calix Gomez, Carlos Geovany. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Bahia Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Economicas y Sociales del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Economia. Instituto de Investigaciones Economicas y Sociales del Sur; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Honduras; Honduras
The efficacy of laser therapy in wound repair: a meta-analysis of the literature.

OBJECTIVE We determined the overall effects of laser therapy on tissue healing by aggregating the literature and subjecting studies meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria to statistical meta-analysis. BACKGROUND DATA Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) devices have been in use since the mid sixties, but their therapeutic value remains doubtful, as the literature seems replete with conflicting findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pertinent original research papers were gathered from library sources, online databases and secondary sources. The papers were screened and coded; those meeting every inclusion and exclusion criterion were subjected to meta-analysis, using Cohen's d. statistic to determine the treatment effect size of each study. RESULTS Twenty-four studies with 31 effect sizes met the stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. The overall mean effect of laser therapy on wound healing was highly significant (d = +2.22). Sub-analyses of the data revealed significant positive effects on wound healing in animal experiments (d = +1.97) as well as human clinical studies (d = +0.54). The analysis further revealed significant positive effects on specific indices of healing, for example, acceleration of inflammation (d = +4.45); augmentation of collagen synthesis (d = +1.80); increased tensile strength (d = +2.37), reduced healing time (d = +3.24); and diminution of wound size (d = +0.55). The Fail-Safe number associated with the overall effect of laser therapy was 509; a high number representing the number of additional studies-in which laser therapy has negative or no effect on wound healing-required to negate the overall large effect size of +2.22. The corresponding Fail-Safe number for clinical studies was 22. CONCLUSION We conclude that laser therapy is an effective tool for promoting wound repair.
Role of mitomycin in combination with fluorouracil and radiotherapy, and of salvage chemoradiation in the definitive nonsurgical treatment of epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal: results of a phase III randomized intergroup study.

PURPOSE Definitive chemoradiation (CR) has replaced radical surgery as the preferred treatment of epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal. To determine the importance of mitomycin (MMC) in the standard CR regimen and to assess the role of salvage CR in patients who have residual tumor following CR, a phase III randomized trial was undertaken by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)/Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). PATIENTS AND METHODS Between August 1988 and December 1991, 310 patients were randomized to receive either radiotherapy (RT) and fluorouracil (5-FU) or radiotherapy, 5-FU, and MMC. Of 291 assessable patients, 145 received 45 to 50.4 Gy of pelvic RT plus 5-FU at 1,000 mg/m2/d for 4 days, and 146 received RT, 5-FU, and MMC (10 mg/m2 per dose for two doses). Patients with residual tumor on posttreatment biopsy were treated with a salvage regimen that consisted of additional pelvic RT (9 Gy), 5-FU, and cisplatin (100 mg/m2). RESULTS Posttreatment biopsies were positive in 15% of patients in the 5-FU arm versus 7.7% in the MMC arm (P = .135). At 4 years, colostomy rates were lower (9% v 22%; P = .002), colostomy-free survival higher (71% v 59%; P = .014), and disease-free survival higher (73% v 51%; P = .0003) in the MMC arm. A significant difference in overall survival has not been observed at 4 years. Toxicity was greater in the MMC arm (23% v 7% grade 4 and 5 toxicity; P < or = .001). Of 24 assessable patients who underwent salvage CR, 12 (50%) were rendered disease-free. CONCLUSION Despite greater toxicity, the use of MMC in a definitive CR regimen for anal cancer is justified, particularly in patients with large primary tumors. Salvage CR should be attempted in patients with residual disease following definitive CR before resorting to radical surgery.
Desorption and bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in contaminated soil subjected to long‐term in situ biostimulation

The distribution and potential bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil from a former manufactured‐gas plant (MGP) site were examined before and after long‐term biostimulation under simulated in situ conditions. Treated soil was collected from the oxygenated zones of two continuous‐flow columns, one subjected to biostimulation and the other serving as a control, and separated into low‐ and high‐density fractions. In the original soil, over 50% of the total PAH mass was associated with lower density particles, which made up <2% of the total soil mass. However, desorbable fractions of PAHs were much lower in the low‐density material than in the high‐density material. After more than 500 d of biostimulation, significant removal of total PAHs occurred in both the high‐ and low‐density materials (77 and 53%, respectively), with three‐ and four‐ring PAHs accounting for the majority of the observed mass loss. Total PAHs that desorbed over a 28‐d period were substantially lower in treated soil from the biostimulated column than in the original soil for both the high‐density material (23 vs. 63%) and the low‐density material (5 vs. 20%). The fast‐desorbing fractions quantified by a two‐site desorption model ranged from 0.1 to 0.5 for most PAHs in the original soil but were essentially zero in the biostimulated soil. The fast‐desorbing fractions in the original soil underestimated the extent of PAH biodegradation observed in the biostimulated column and thus was not a good predictor of PAH bioavailability after long‐term, simulated in situ biostimulation. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:2674–2681. © 2011 SETAC
Protein synthesis and secretion by the human endometrium during the menstrual cycle and the effect of progesterone in vitro.

To identify markers of endometrial differentiation specimens of endometrium from the menstrual cycle were incubated in vitro with [35S]methionine, in the absence or presence of progesterone, and protein synthesis and secretion were studied by fluorographic analysis of one dimensional SDS/gradient polyacrylamide gels. Changes were demonstrated in the rate of synthesis and secretion of a number of endometrial proteins (EP) during the cycle and in response to progesterone. Endometrial proteins were classified into three groups: Group I-synthesized and secreted throughout the menstrual cycle and unaffected by progesterone exposure; Group II-synthesis and secretion associated with histological type of endometrium and unaffected by progesterone exposure, e.g. EP 13 (Mr 33,000) with proliferative, EP 15 (Mr 28,000) with secretory and EP 14 (Mr 32,000) with late secretory endometrium; Group III-synthesis and secretion regulated by progesterone exposure irrespective of source of endometrium, e.g. EP 9 (Mr 54,000) and 11 (Mr 45,000). The Group II proteins EP 14 and 15 were also the major secretory protein products of endometrium from first and second trimester pregnancy respectively, the native forms referred to as pregnancy-associated endometrial alpha 1- and alpha 2-globulins (alpha 1- and alpha 2-PEG). We conclude that EP 15 (alpha 2-PEG) represents a human analogue of uteroglobin.
Arabidopsis decuple mutant reveals the importance of SnRK2 kinases in osmotic stress responses in vivo

Osmotic stress associated with drought or salinity is a major factor that limits plant productivity. Protein kinases in the SNF1-related protein kinase 2 (SnRK2) family are activated by osmotic stress, suggesting that the kinases are involved in osmotic stress signaling. However, due to functional redundancy, their contribution to osmotic stress responses remained unclear. In this report, we constructed an Arabidopsis line carrying mutations in all 10 members of the SnRK2 family. The decuple mutant snrk2.1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10 grew poorly under hyperosmotic stress conditions but was similar to the wild type in culture media in the absence of osmotic stress. The mutant was also defective in gene regulation and the accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA), proline, and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate under osmotic stress. In addition, analysis of mutants defective in the ABA-activated SnRK2s (snrk2.2/3/6) and mutants defective in the rest of the SnRK2s (snrk2.1/4/5/7/8/9/10) revealed that SnRK2s are a merging point of ABA-dependent and -independent pathways for osmotic stress responses. These results demonstrate critical functions of the SnRK2s in mediating osmotic stress signaling and tolerance.
Nitric oxide potentiation of the homomeric ρ1 GABAC receptor function

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE NO is a highly diffusible and reactive gas produced in the nervous system, which acts as a neuronal signal mediating physiological or pathological mechanisms. NO can modulate the activity of neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels, including NMDA and GABAA receptors. In the present work, we examined whether GABAC receptor function can also be regulated by NO.
Shaping School Culture

've had problems with [new] people [coming] from other schools who may have talked with kids a certain way. Talked to parents a certain way. And who had to just be pulled to the side and [told], 'Look, we don't talk to children that way here. ' We almost had to just go through a whole re-education process where, you know, you don't say, 'This is stupid. ' No, you don't tell them to shut up. No you don't tell parents, 'Well, that's just the way it is. ' No, that's not the way it is. " The staff member quoted above works in a high-poverty middle level school that has demonstrated remarkable student performance gains over several years. It was one of seven middle schools that participated in a study conducted by the Charles A. examining how high-performing, high-poverty middle level schools improved student performance. The findings reported in this article are preliminary. One striking feature shared by all of these schools is the culture of equity and high achievement that shapes the way staff members go about their work. Strong leaders play a significant role in building these cultures. Once established, these cultures are deeply embedded in the attitudes , beliefs, and behaviors of staff members. When a strong, positive culture exists in a school, members of the organization feel a responsibility to protect that culture. In most of the study schools, a new leader came in who was responsible for improving student performance and forming a clear focus for the school. These leaders were committed to creating cultures that valued equity and high expectations. Leaders from these seven schools promoted their values through their dialogue, actions, and symbolic gestures. Dialogue In some cases, implementing high expectations meant that staff members needed to change the defeatist attitudes they held about student learning. These leaders made it very clear that such attitudes would no longer be tolerated. For example , the former principal of Memorial Junior High School in Eagle Pass, TX, recalled, " One of the first [changes] was, high expectations. Don't come and tell me that this is a poor Mexican child and he comes from the barrio and everything. No, no, no. I don't want you to come and tell me.that we have absolutely no jurisdiction over [a child] while he's at home. When he crosses that street and he gets in here—what are we doing about that child? …
Increased activity of constitutive nitric oxide synthase in cardiac endothelium in spontaneous hypertension.

BACKGROUND We analyzed the activity of nitric oxide synthase in the rat heart to study whether this activity is affected by high blood pressure. Hearts from young (3 to 4 weeks old) and adult (15 to 25 weeks old) Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were excised and frozen in liquid nitrogen. The activities of Ca(2+)-dependent (cNOS) and Ca(2+)-independent (iNOS) were determined in homogenized tissues by measuring the conversion of [14C]-L-arginine to [14C]-L-citrulline in the presence or absence of either EGTA (1 mmol/L) or EGTA plus NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 1 mmol/L each). METHODS AND RESULTS Arterial pressure was higher in adult SHR than in young SHR and WKY rats of both ages (P < .01). The cNOS activity was two to three times higher in hypertensive than in normotensive hearts (P = .01 to P = .04). No significant activity of iNOS was detected in any tissue. Studies of the right and left ventricles demonstrated a higher cNOS activity in the left sides of the hearts of adult SHR (P < .05). No differences were found in hearts from WKY rats. Selective removal of endocardial or coronary endothelial cells in hearts of SHR and WKY rats substantially reduced cNOS activity (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS The cNOS activity is upregulated in cardiac endothelial cells of genetically hypertensive rats. The high activity of cardiac cNOS is related to increased arterial pressure of these animals. We propose that in the heart, endothelial cells respond with a higher production of nitric oxide as a compensatory mechanism against high blood pressure and its damaging effects in this organ.
Gonorrhoea and chlamydia core groups and sexual networks in Manitoba

This paper summarises the results of the R0 equation in sexually transmitted infection (STI) repeaters in Manitoba, Canada, in the early 1990s, with both concurrent and more recent descriptions of sexual networks in the same population. The research presented provides empirical network and sex partner data to refine definitions of sexual networks and core groups in phase IV epidemics. New challenges for both practice and research are also discussed.
Soluble HIV-1 gp120 enhances HIV-1 replication in non-dividing CD4+ T cells, mediated via cell signaling and Tat cofactor overexpression

Objectives:The soluble HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein, after being shed from infected cells, can cross-link its receptors on both HIV-1 infected and non-infected target cells, leading to their activation. We have assessed the impact of soluble gp120 on viral replication in CD4+/CXCR4+ T cells, via its effects on Tat-mediated transactivation of the HIV-1/LTR. Materials and methods:Primary cord blood-derived CD4+/CXCR4+ T cells were stimulated with soluble recombinant gp120 (rgp120) from the HIV-1/HXB2 clone. The level of gene or protein expression was assessed by serial analysis gene expression (SAGE), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting or flow-cytometry analysis. Cellular division of rgp120-stimulated T cells was assessed by CFDA-SE labeling. Long terminal repeat (LTR) activity and HIV infection level were respectively measured by a chemiluminescent β-gal Reporter Gene Assay and by p24 determination. Results:We have demonstrated that rgp120 activates both PKCϵ and its upstream effector PI3K/Akt, involved in the HIV-1 replication process. Moreover, rgp120 enhances the gene, as well as protein expression of the cellular Tat cofactors Tat-Sf1 and SPT5 in primary CD4+/CXCR4+ T cells. Finally, stimulation of HIV-1 infected T cells with rgp120 was found to result in both a higher LTR-activity and an increased production of viral particles. Conclusion:Taken together, these results show that soluble gp120 contributes to HIV-1 replication and dissemination, via the activation of multiple cell signaling pathways and the induction of Tat-cofactor expression, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target in HIV-1-mediated pathogenesis.
Pulmonary vasoreactivity predicts long-term outcome in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome receiving bosentan therapy

Background Vasoreactivity testing is recommended in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but its clinical relevance in congenital heart disease (CHD)-associated PAH has not been established. Objective To determine whether residual pulmonary vascular responsiveness to intravenous. epoprostenol is predictive of clinical outcome in patients with CHD-PAH and Eisenmenger syndrome. Methods and results A diagnostic right heart catheterisation with reversibility testing using epoprostenol infusion was performed in 38 consecutive patients with CHD-PAH and Eisenmenger syndrome. Patients were treated with bosentan and were assessed every 3 months. Clinical worsening was defined as death from any cause, heart–lung or lung transplantation (or on the waiting list for this procedure), hospitalisation for PAH, or symptom exacerbation defined as a ≥20% decrease in the 6 min walking distance on two consecutive tests, an increase in WHO functional class, or worsening right heart failure. The mean follow-up was 33±17 months. Sixteen patients showed clinical worsening. Although they did not differ from the other patients in their baseline exercise capacity, haemodynamic characteristics and underlying CHD, pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRi) was less reversible (ΔPVRi 29±21 vs 52±14%, p=0.0003). At univariate analysis, systemic vascular resistance, PVRi and ΔPVRi were significant predictors of clinical worsening. At multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model, ΔPVRi was found to be the only independent predictor of clinical worsening (HR=0.973, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99; p=0.01). ΔPVRi ≥25% had a positive and negative predictive value for clinical worsening of 100% and 75.9%, respectively. Conclusion Pulmonary vasoreactivity is a significant predictor of clinical worsening in patients with CHD-PAH.
Do statins reduce hepatitis C RNA titers during routine clinical use?

AIM To compare hepatitis C virus (HCV) titers in patients with chronic hepatitis C with and without exposure to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins). METHODS Medical records were reviewed for 6463 patients with documented HCV infection at a single center between March 2004 and September 2006. Patients with confirmed viremia and meeting inclusion criteria were assigned to one of three groups: Group A (n = 50), dyslipidemic patients with statin usage during HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) determination; Group B (n = 49), dyslipidemic patients with prior or future statin usage but not at the time of HCV RNA PCR determination; and Group C (n = 102), patients without statin usage during the study period. The primary analysis explored the effect of statin therapy on HCV viremia. Secondary analyses assessed class effect, dose response, and effect of other lipid-lowering therapies on HCV viral titers. RESULTS Median HCV RNA titers did not significantly differ among the three groups (Group A: 4 550 000 IU/mL, Group B: 2 850 000 IU/mL, Group C: 3 055 000 IU/mL). For those subjects with longitudinal assessment of HCV viremia prior to and while on statins, there were no significant differences between pre- and post-HCV viral titers. Additionally, no differences in HCV titers were observed at any dose level of the most prescribed statin, simvastatin. However, hypertriglyceridemia independently correlated with HCV titers, and niacin exposure was associated with significantly lower viral titers (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION There was no apparent effect of statins on HCV viral replication in this analysis. Further investigation is warranted to explore the possible antiviral properties of triglyceride-lowering agents and their potential role as adjuncts to standard HCV therapy.