Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Development and Application of an Instrument for Assessing Resident Competence During Preanesthesia Consultation

In this study, we aimed to construct, validate, and apply an instrument for assessing resident performance at outpatient preanesthesia consultation (PAC). A focus group and a Delphi panel of experts defined component items of a typical outpatient PAC, which could be used as indicators of competence. Items were incorporated in a checklist, which was further validated in a sample of consultations performed by board-certified anesthesiologists. The resulting instrument contained 37 items, grouped into five domains (physician-patient relationship, medical history, physical examination, patient education, and preanesthesia records), with high construct validity, high discriminant validity, moderate internal consistency, and high probability of inter-raters agreement. The instrument was applied to evaluate the performance of seven first-year residents at 317 consecutive PAC. Data were analyzed by constructing exponentially weighted moving average charts for domain and total scores. Statistically significant differing levels of performance could be consistently detected. Applying exponentially weighted moving average charts to the sequential analysis of the developed checklist scores can reliably assess resident performance at the devised criteria. The Preanesthesia Consultation Scoring Checklist is a potentially useful instrument for both formative and summative assessment of residents during their training in processes involved in outpatient preanesthesia evaluation.
Effects of testosterone on Heterakis spumosa infections in mice

SUMMARY This study describes the effects of testosterone (Te) on the intestinal nematode Heterakis spumosa in mice. The course of Heterakis infections is apparently under Te-control. At high circulating Te-levels as occurring in intact males, Te-treated females, and Te-treated castrated males, the period of release of Heterakis eggs in mouse faeces is greatly extended and the number of eggs released per unit time is markedly elevated in comparison to low Te-levels, as found in untreated females and castrated male mice. Also, the onset of the patent period occurs earlier in Te-treated mice. Testosterone also accelerates development and growth of both female and male worms of Heterakis in mice. Thus, young adult male worms can be observed in the upper colon of Te-treated castrated male mice on day 21 post-infection (p. i.), whereas, at that time, only L4 larvae are present in Te-untreated male castrates. Testosterone also favours the survival of nematodes in hosts. In untreated male castrates, the number of worms present on day 7 p.i. (L2 larvae) is approximately two thirds higher than that found on day 21 p.i. However, such a reduction in the number of worms does not occur in Te-treated castrated mice during the same period of time. The early phases of the life-cycle of Heterakis, i.e. hatching in the small intestine and final settling of L2 larvae in the upper colon are independent of Te. Also, Te does not affect motility and even slightly reduces the fecundity of adult female worms in vitro. Our data suggest that Te and/or Te-metabolites and/or Te-induced host factor(s) accelerate the development and growth of H. spumosa and favour the survival of Heterakis in the colon of mice.
Moderate Maternal and Paternal Alcohol Consumption and the Risk of Spontaneous Abortion

Maternal alcoholism can lead to the fetal alcohol syndrome in offspring, but the effect of more moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy remains an issue of concern. Therefore, we analyzed data from a large case-control study of spontaneous abortion (626 cases, 1,300 controls) that ascertained maternal alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy, as well as paternal consumption. Asking when in pregnancy alcohol consumption changed allowed us to calculate a weighted average of the amount consumed weekly during the first trimester. The odds ratio for consumption of seven or more drinks per week was 1.9 [95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1–3.4] when adjusted for maternal smoking, passive smoking, and maternal age. Data were too sparse to examine higher consumtion levels. There was some evidence that cases may have had less opportunity than controls to decrease consumption during their shorter pregnancies, potentially biasing the odds ratio upward. The adjusted odds ratio for any paternal alcohol consumption was 1.2 (CI=0.93–1.5), with no dose-response effect seen. Among pregnancies in which the mother did not drink, there was no association with paternal drinking. (Epidemiology 1992;3:364–370)
First evidence for relocation of stationary food resources during foraging in a strepsirhine primate (Microcebus murinus)

Field observations suggest that the diet of the Malagasy gray mouse lemur consists not only of non‐stationary animal prey (invertebrates or small vertebrates), but also of stationary food resources such as gum or homopteran larvae secretions (HLS). We studied the foraging behavior of five mouse lemurs radiotelemetrically, each during six consecutive nights in the dry season, to explore to which extent they use these food resources and whether there is evidence for their relocation. We found that animals used all three different food categories. Mouse lemurs fed on gums and spent 68.5% (range 20.1–99.7%) of their feeding time eating this item. They were observed eating HLS in 8.4% (range 0–71.5%) of the feeding time and consuming small animals in 8.4% (range 0.3–26%) of their feeding time. The animals relocated stationary feeding sites significantly more frequently than non‐stationary ones. They revisited the relocated stationary food sites about five times over the six nights. Furthermore, departure directions when leaving the sleeping site at dusk were not randomly distributed but showed a preferred orientation. Altogether, we provided first evidence for the relocation of stationary food resources in nature and thereby for the potential significance of spatial memory during foraging in a strepsirhine primate. Am. J. Primatol. 69:1045–1052, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Elderly Depressed and Treatment with Fluvoxarnine

Depression is highly prevalent in the elderly and there are difficulties with definition and diagnosis. The signs and symptoms of depression may differ from those in younger patients since the elderly are frequently preoccupied with physical ailments and may have more agitation, insomnia and hypochondriasis.The aetiology and cause of depression and its association with psychosocial and other risk factors are discussed, with particular reference to masked depression, depressive delusional illness and 'pseudo dementia'. A range of treatments have been used in depressive patients, including psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, ECT and various drug treatments. In the elderly drugs may cause more problems than in younger patients. These can be divided into those associated with: pharmacokinetics, polypharmacy, side effects, dosage and lethality.Trials of antidepressants in the elderly are discussed and include trials with tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and SSRIs. Particular reference is made to a trial of fluvoxamine versus mianserin in the elderly, which demonstrated that fluvoxamine is as effective as mianserin in treating depression, and has fewer side effects.
Privatschulen und die soziale Frage: Wirkung rechtlicher Vorgaben zum Sonderungsverbot in den Bundesländern

Die Genehmigung einer privaten Ersatzschule darf in Deutschland nur gewahrt werden, wenn »eine Sonderung der Schuler nach den Besitzverhaltnissen der Eltern nicht gefordert wird« (Art 7 Abs. 4 S. 3 GG). Dieses Sonderungsverbot wird in den Bundeslandern unterschiedlich umgesetzt. Bei seiner rechtlichen Umsetzung wird sich dabei ausschlieslich auf Vorgaben zur Einhaltung des Schulgelds konzentriert. Es wird auf weitere Grunde eingegangen, warum der Zugang zu Privatschulen sozial ungleich ist. Wir zeigen in diesem Beitrag anhand von Daten aus Berlin (rechtlicher Verstos gegen das Sonderungsverbot) und Rheinland-Pfalz (faktisches Verbot von Schulgeld), dass der Verzicht auf Schulgeld zwar eine notwendige, aber keine hinreichende Voraussetzung zur Einhaltung des Sonderungsverbots ist.
Effect of human rhinovirus infection in pediatric patients with influenza‐like illness on the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus

Background Some research groups have hypothesized that human rhinoviruses (HRVs) delayed the circulation of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus (A(H1N1)pdm09) at the beginning of Autumn 2009 in France. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between HRV and A(H1N1)pdm09 in pediatric patients with influenza‐like illness in Beijing, China. Methods A systematic analysis to detect A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal influenza A virus (FLU A) was performed on 4 349 clinical samples from pediatric patients with influenza‐like illness during the period June 1, 2009 to February 28, 2010, while a one‐step real‐time RT‐PCR (rRT‐PCR) assay was used to detect HRV in 1 146 clinical specimens selected from those 4 349 specimens. Results During the survey period, only one wave of A(H1N1)pdm09 was observed. The percentage of positive cases for A(H1N1)pdm09 increased sharply in September with a peak in November 2009 and then declined in February 2010. Data on the monthly distribution of HRVs indicated that more HRV‐positive samples were detected in September (2.2%) and October (3.3%), revealing that the peak of HRV infection in 2009 was similar to that of other years. Among the 1 146 specimens examined for HRVs, 21 (1.8%) were HRV‐positive, which was significantly lower than that reported previously in Beijing (15.4% to 19.2%) (P <0.01). Overall, 6 samples were positive for both A(H1N1)pdm09 and HRV, which represented a positive relative frequency of 1.60% and 2.08% HRV, considering the A(H1N1)pdm09‐positive and ‐negative specimens, respectively. The odds ratio was 0.87 (95% CI 0.32; 2.44, P=0.80). Conclusions HRVs and A (H1N1)pdm09 co‐circulated in this Chinese population during September and October 2009, and the HRV epidemic in 2009 did not affect A(H1N1)pdm09 infection rates in Beijing, China as suggested by other studies. However, the presence of A(H1N1)pdm09 might explain the unexpected reduction in the percentage of HRV positive cases during the period studied.
Solid-Duty-Control Technique for Alleviating the Right-Half-Plane Zero Effect in Continuous Conduction Mode Boost Converters

This paper proposes a solid-duty-control (SDC) technique for application in boost converters to maintain a constant duty value and reduce dip voltage during load transient periods. Fast transient response was also achieved because of the variable transient enhancement controller. The proposed SDC technique can provide a stable and regulated output for edge-lit light-emitting diode backlight systems. This converter was used in a 0.25-μm CMOS process. Experimental results show that compared with a conventional design without a fast transient technique, the proposed approach yields about 30% and 80% improvement in undershoot voltage and recovery time, respectively, as load current changes from 50 to 250 mA.
Impact of Surgical Severity and Analgesic Treatment on Plasma Corticosterone in Rats during Surgery

Tissue injury and anaesthesia during surgery induce a stress response associated with increased glucocorticoid secretion from the adrenal glands. This response alters the normal physiology and may cause postoperative morbidity, as well as affect the results during acute experiments. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of surgical severity and analgesic treatment on circulating corticosterone in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Male rats were treated with either lidocaine infiltrated during surgery, buprenorphine (0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously) or saline subcutaneously. Each treatment group was subjected to either arterial catheterisation or arterial catheterisation and laparotomy. A catheter was inserted in the common carotid artery and blood was collected during surgery and during anaesthesia 6 h after surgery. Lidocaine treatment reduced the corticosterone levels compared to saline treatment after catheterisation but not after laparotomy. Buprenorphine treatment reduced the corticosterone levels during the first hour after surgery after both catheterisation and laparotomy. The higher buprenorphine dose led to an earlier and more pronounced reduction, especially after laparotomy. In the present study, the corticosterone response during surgery in laboratory rats is correlated with the severity of the procedure, and buprenorphine reduces the surgical stress response more effectively than lidocaine treatment.
DIS Union of the Core and the Periphery

This paper investigates the drivers of shock synchronization using quarterly data for 27 European countries over the period 1999–2013 and taking into account the difference between core and peripheral euro area and European transition countries. The results from panel error-correction models suggest that the euro area core has not been a strong magnetizer of the shock convergence of peripheral and transition countries since the euro’s inception as a result of the offsetting effects of the various factors that affected the shock convergence process. In particular, the demand shock convergence was supported by the intra-industry trade developments and, to some extent, by the trade intensity, at least for the peripheral countries, but their effects were offset by divergent fiscal policies, production structure changes and financial flows. On the other hand, supply shocks registered a divergent tendency that was mainly driven by trade intensity flows and uncoordinated fiscal policies. These findings challenge the endogeneity hypothesis and support the specialization paradigm, which is concerning evidence for the future stability of the euro area.
Leucine Regulates Translation of Specific mRNAs in L6 Myoblasts through mTOR-mediated Changes in Availability of eIF4E and Phosphorylation of Ribosomal Protein S6*

Regulation of translation of mRNAs coding for specific proteins plays an important role in controlling cell growth, differentiation, and transformation. Two proteins have been implicated in the regulation of specific mRNA translation: eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E and ribosomal protein S6. Increased phosphorylation of eIF4E as well as its overexpression are associated with stimulation of translation of mRNAs with highly structured 5′-untranslated regions. Similarly, phosphorylation of S6 results in preferential translation of mRNAs containing an oligopyrimidine tract at the 5′-end of the message. In the present study, leucine stimulated phosphorylation of the eIF4E-binding protein, 4E-BP1, in L6 myoblasts, resulting in dissociation of eIF4E from the inactive eIF4E·4E-BP1 complex. The increased availability of eIF4E was associated with a 1.6-fold elevation in ornithine decarboxylase relative to global protein synthesis. Leucine also stimulated phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein S6 kinase, p70S6k, resulting in increased phosphorylation of S6. Hyperphosphorylation of S6 was associated with a 4-fold increase in synthesis of elongation factor eEF1A. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of the protein kinase mTOR, prevented all of the leucine-induced effects. Thus, leucine acting through an mTOR-dependent pathway stimulates the translation of specific mRNAs both by increasing the availability of eIF4E and by stimulating phosphorylation of S6.
Avoiding complications in endoscopic skull base surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Endoscopic skull base surgery has become an established approach for the removal of tumors and cerebrospinal fluid fistulae repair. Compared with external approaches, it provides better aesthetic results and quality of life postoperatively. However, as it becomes popular and expands its indications possible complications should be reassessed in terms of incidence and variability in order to confirm its efficacy and safety. This article reviews the recent literature describing the main categories of possible complications suggesting strategies to minimize their incidence. RECENT FINDINGS Detailed preoperative planning based on imaging and histology can prevent major complications. Intraoperative use of image guidance and meticulous hemostasis provide the surgical field needed to avoid complications. Postoperative patient counseling, along with close and detailed nasal postoperative care are significant factors for an optimal outcome. SUMMARY Monitoring of complications after endoscopic skull base surgery is necessary in order to standardize protocols of management and improve our surgical techniques. The presence of late onset complications underlines the need of a special focus in postoperative care and follow-up.
Binding of the WASP/N-WASP-Interacting Protein WIP to Actin Regulates Focal Adhesion Assembly and Adhesion

ABSTRACT The actin cytoskeleton is essential for cell adhesion and migration, functions important for tumor invasion. In addition to binding N-WASP/WASP, WIP binds and stabilizes F-actin. WIP−/− fibroblasts were used to test the role of WIP in F-actin function. WIP−/− cells had defective focal adhesion (FA), stress fiber assembly, and adherence to substrates, functions that were restored by transduction of wild-type WIP. Protein and mRNA levels of several FA constituents regulated by the myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF)–serum response factor (SRF) transcription factor complex were reduced in WIP−/− fibroblasts. The level of G-actin, which sequesters MRTF in the cytoplasm, was increased, and nuclear localization of MRTF-A and SRF was reduced, in WIP−/− fibroblasts. Transfection of an MRTF-A mutant that constitutively translocates to the nucleus or transfection of constitutively active SRF restored FA and stress fiber assembly. Fibroblasts from knock-in mice expressing a WIP mutant that fails to bind actin phenocopied WIP−/− fibroblasts. Thus, WIP is a novel regulator of FA assembly and cell adhesion.
International Students in the Classroom: A South African Evidence of Impact on Lecturer and Domestic Student Classroom Practices and Classroom Effectiveness

Abstract This study considers the behavioural impacts of the presence of international students on domestic students and lecturers and classroom effectiveness with the underlying theory being, learning does not take place in a vacuum but happens in a broad context with cultural sensitivity a major factor. Although cultural sensitivity can manifest in many forms, the focus is on the willingness of domestic students and lecturers to accommodate the special needs of international studentsby adapting their classroom behaviours and practices respectively. The conceptual framework for examining changes in classroom behaviours and practices consists of communication, teaching, assessment, and classroom organizationfor lecturers and communicationand attitudefor domestic students. Based on the conceptual framework, rating scale questionnaires were developed and used to collect data from 20 lecturers and 350 domestic students. Results of the data analysis indicates that: (i) both local students and lecturers had to make major adaptions in their classroom behaviours and practices respectively in order to accommodate the needs of international students; and (ii) both sets of respondents are of the opinion that the changes made in their classroom behaviours and practices respectively have resulted in improved classroom effectiveness.
Redox-Bohr and Other Cooperativity Effects in the Nine-heme Cytochrome c from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774

The nine-heme cytochrome c is a monomeric multiheme cytochrome found in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774. The polypeptide chain comprises 296 residues and wraps around nine hemes of type c. It is believed to take part in the periplasmic assembly of proteins involved in the mechanism of hydrogen cycling, receiving electrons from the tetraheme cytochrome c3. With the purpose of understanding the molecular basis of electron transfer processes in this cytochrome, we have determined the crystal structures of its oxidized and reduced forms at pH 7.5 and performed theoretical calculations of the binding equilibrium of protons and electrons in these structures. This integrated study allowed us to observe that the reduction process induced relevant conformational changes in several residues, as well as protonation changes in some protonatable residues. In particular, the surroundings of hemes I and IV constitute two areas of special interest. In addition, we were able to ascertain the groups involved in the redox-Bohr effect present in this cytochrome and the conformational changes that may underlie the redox-cooperativity effects on different hemes. Furthermore, the thermodynamic simulations provide evidence that the N- and C-terminal domains function in an independent manner, with the hemes belonging to the N-terminal domain showing, in general, a lower redox potential than those found in the C-terminal domain. In this way, electrons captured by the N-terminal domain could easily flow to the C-terminal domain, allowing the former to capture more electrons. A notable exception is heme IX, which has low redox potential and could serve as the exit path for electrons toward other proteins in the electron transfer pathway.
Enumerated-MPC-based dynamic voltage restorer using lc filter with damping resistor

This paper presents an enumerated model predictive control (MPC) based method for the dynamic voltage restorer (DVR), which consists of a series-connected transformer and a voltage source inverter. The filter adopted in the DVR is a LC filter with a damping resistor. The design of the discrete model for the voltage source inverter and the corresponding controller are discussed in this paper. The proposed method is capable to regulate the DVR to compensate the sag, swell and harmonic distortions of the grid voltage. Simulation studies are conducted to verify the performance of the proposed enumerated MPC-based method, and the simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective to achieve the protection of the loads from the grid voltage sag, swell and harmonic distortion.
Synaptic currents at individual connections among stellate cells in rat cerebellar slices

1 Unitary inhibitory synaptic connections among stellate cells were studied in rat cerebellar slices. Presynaptic action potentials and inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were simultaneously recorded by loose cell‐attached and tight‐seal whole‐cell recording, respectively. 2 Several types of synaptic connections were distinguished on the basis of the shape of the amplitude distribution of successfully evoked currents. For simple synapses, which presumably arise at single release sites, these histograms could be fitted to a single Gaussian (5 cases). In four additional cases a small amplitude component (< 50 pA) was superimposed to a single Gaussian peak. The small events had slow rise times and widely distributed amplitudes. Finally eleven histograms showed two or more Gaussian components and were classified as complex connections. 3 Failure rates ranged from 0.06 to 0.85 for unitary connections (n= 20) and from 0.59 to 0.78 for simple synapses (n= 5). 4 Coefficient of variation values derived from Gaussian fits to simple synapse histograms ranged between 0.20 and 0.38 (n= 5). 5 In simple synapses peak current amplitudes were positively correlated to both current rise time and decay half‐width. 6 Intervals between presynaptic action potentials were widely distributed. During stationary periods there was no correlation between interspike interval and amplitude size, success rate or latency. In some experiments, episodes with shorter interspike intervals were observed. During these periods, amplitude and success rate decreased, and the latency increased. Thus, IPSC characteristics depend on the mean frequency of presynaptic spikes, but not on random fluctuations of interspike intervals during stationary periods.