Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cognitive rehabilitation after severe acquired brain injury: current evidence and future directions

ABSTRACT Severe acquired brain injury (SABI) is damage to the brain, occurring after birth from traumatic or non-traumatic causes, and often resulting in deterioration of physical, cognitive, and emotional functions. Cognitive rehabilitation (CR) is aimed to help brain-injured or otherwise cognitively impaired individuals to restore normal functioning, or to compensate for cognitive deficits. Over the last years, the development of new technologies in the field of CR has led to a growing use of computer-based cognitive tools in patients with SABI. This review aims to investigate the efficacy of CR in individuals suffering from SABI, and evaluates the role of virtual reality and other innovative technologies in improving behavioural and functional outcomes. The current evidence for CR in the treatment of SABI-related deficits does not allow conclusive results to be achieved and further research is needed to identity the patient and treatment factors that contribute to successful outcomes.
Supplementation with high-content docosahexaenoic acid triglyceride in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Background: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex disorder in terms of etiology, clinical presentation, and treatment outcome. Pharmacological and psychological interventions are recommended as primary treatments in ADHD; however, other nonpharmacological intervention such as a dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) has emerged as an attractive option. Purpose: The objective of the present study was to assess whether dietary supplementation with highly concentrated ω-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) triglyceride may improve symptoms in ADHD. Method: A 6-month prospective double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was designed in 66 patients with ADHD, aged between 6 and 18 years. Participants in the experimental group received a combination of ω-3 fatty acids (DHA 1,000 mg, eicosapentaenoic acid 90 mg, and docosapentaenoic acid 150 mg). Instruments included d2-test, AULA Nesplora, EDAH scales, and abbreviated Conner’s Rating Scale. Results: In the cognitive test, between-group differences were not found, but within-group differences were of a greater magnitude in the DHA group. Between-group differences in favor of the DHA arm were observed in behavioral measures, which were already detected after 3 months of treatment. Results were not changed when adjusted by ADHD medication. Conclusions: This study provides further evidence of the beneficial effect of supplementation with ω-3 DHA in the management of ADHD.
Adaption and validation of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire for the Danish hospital setting

Purpose Measuring and developing a safe culture in health care is a focus point in creating highly reliable organizations being successful in avoiding patient safety incidents where these could normally be expected. Questionnaires can be used to capture a snapshot of an employee’s perceptions of patient safety culture. A commonly used instrument to measure safety climate is the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ). The purpose of this study was to adapt the SAQ for use in Danish hospitals, assess its construct validity and reliability, and present benchmark data. Materials and methods The SAQ was translated and adapted for the Danish setting (SAQ-DK). The SAQ-DK was distributed to 1,263 staff members from 31 in- and outpatient units (clinical areas) across five somatic and one psychiatric hospitals through meeting administration, hand delivery, and mailing. Construct validity and reliability were tested in a cross-sectional study. Goodness-of-fit indices from confirmatory factor analysis were reported along with inter-item correlations, Cronbach’s alpha (α), and item and subscale scores. Results Participation was 73.2% (N=925) of invited health care workers. Goodness-of-fit indices from the confirmatory factor analysis showed: c2=1496.76, P<0.001, CFI 0.901, RMSEA (90% CI) 0.053 (0.050–0056), Probability RMSEA (p close)=0.057. Inter-scale correlations between the factors showed moderate-to-high correlations. The scale stress recognition had significant negative correlations with each of the other scales. Questionnaire reliability was high, (α=0.89), and scale reliability ranged from α=0.70 to α=0.86 for the six scales. Proportions of participants with a positive attitude to each of the six SAQ scales did not differ between the somatic and psychiatric health care staff. Substantial variability at the unit level in all six scale mean scores was found within the somatic and the psychiatric samples. Conclusion SAQ-DK showed good construct validity and internal consistency reliability. SAQ-DK is potentially a useful tool for evaluating perceptions of patient safety culture in Danish hospitals.
Status and future prospects of lipid-based particulate delivery systems as vaccine adjuvants and their combination with immunostimulators

Vaccines seek to adopt pathogen-like characteristics but not true pathogen characteristics to activate the immune system without causing life-threatening disease. Vaccine formulations are therefore often particulate in nature, with dimensions comparable to pathogens, and often contain highly conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns as adjuvants stimulating the immune system. Only a few adjuvants have been approved for human use. There is therefore an unmet medical need for the development of effective and safe adjuvants that can stimulate cellular, humoral or mucosal immunity, or combinations thereof, depending on the requirements, to prevent the specific disease. Lipid-based particulate systems are in this respect promising and versatile adjuvants that can be customized rationally towards specific vaccine targets by varying their composition. In this review, current progress in the development of lipid-based vaccine delivery systems is discussed, with a special focus on emulsions, liposomes and immune-stimulating complexes, and their combination with immunostimulatory compounds. Formulations, adjuvant mechanisms and alternative administration routes are highlighted.
Obstetrical Hemorrhage: Clinical Updates, and the Need for Quantification of Blood Loss

Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) is preventable with an accurate assessment of blood loss from the use of quantification of blood loss. A standardized method to quantify blood loss provided in this review will allow providers to implement this at their institution. Quantification of Blood Loss (QBL) will allow for timely diagnosis of PPH and improve response time to administer medications, blood products and manage the cause of hemorrhage. Using maternal early warning signs and correlating this with the stages of hemorrhagic shock will prompt more timely activation of Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP).
Skin toxicity evaluation protocol with panitumumab (STEPP), a phase II, open-label, randomized trial evaluating the impact of a pre-Emptive Skin treatment regimen on skin toxicities and quality of life in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE Panitumumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is approved in the United States and Europe for the treatment of refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Skin toxicities are the most common adverse events with EGFR inhibitors. This is the first study designed to examine differences between pre-emptive and reactive skin treatment for specific skin toxicities in patients with mCRC for any EGFR inhibitor. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients receiving panitumumab-containing therapy were randomly assigned 1:1 to pre-emptive or reactive treatment (after skin toxicity developed). Pre-emptive treatment included use of skin moisturizers, sunscreen, topical steroid, and doxycycline. The primary end point of the study was the incidence of protocol-specified >or= grade 2 skin toxicities during the 6-week skin treatment period. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). RESULTS Of 95 enrolled patients, 48 received pre-emptive treatment, and 47 received reactive treatment. The incidence of protocol-specified >or= grade 2 skin toxicities during the 6-week skin treatment period was 29% and 62% for the pre-emptive and reactive groups, respectively. Mean DLQI score change from baseline to week 3 was 1.3 points and 4.2 points in the pre-emptive and reactive groups, respectively. CONCLUSION The pre-emptive skin treatment regimen was well tolerated. The incidence of specific >or= grade 2 skin toxicities during the 6-week skin treatment period was reduced by more than 50% in the pre-emptive group compared with the reactive group. Patients in the pre-emptive group reported less QOL impairment than patients in the reactive group.
Evaluating business value of IT towards optimisation of the application portfolio

Information technology has become heavily embedded in business operations. As business needs change over time, IT applications are expected to continue providing required support. Whether the existing IT applications are still fit for the business purpose they were intended or new IT applications should be introduced is a strategic decision for business, IT and business-aligned IT. In this article, we present a method that aims to analyse business functions and IT roles and to evaluate business-aligned IT from both social and technical perspectives. The method introduces a set of techniques that systematically supports the evaluation of the existing IT applications in relation to their technical capabilities for maximising business value. Furthermore, we discuss the evaluation process and results that are illustrated and validated through a real-life case study of a UK borough council and followed by discussion on implications for researchers and practitioners.
Monocyte Colony-stimulating Factor Stimulates Binding of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase to Grb2Sos Complexes in Human Monocytes (*)

Monocyte colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is required for the proliferation of mononuclear phagocytes. The activated M-CSF receptor associates with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). In the present studies, we demonstrate that M-CSF also induces direct interaction of PI 3-kinase (p85α subunit) with the SH2/SH3 adaptor protein Grb2. Tyrosine-phosphorylated PI 3-kinase interacts with the SH2 domain of Grb2. A pYRNE (pY408) site in PI 3-kinase is potentially involved in this interaction. The results also demonstrate that the PI 3-kinaseGrb2 complex associates with the guanine nucleotide exchange protein Sos. Since Sos binds to the SH3 domains of Grb2 and thereby associates with Ras at the cell membrane, formation of the PI 3-kinaseGrb2Sos complex provides a potential mechanism for growth factor-induced interactions of PI 3-kinase and Ras.
Efficacy and inhibitor development in previously treated patients with haemophilia A switched to a B domain‐deleted recombinant factor VIII – clarification of Kogenate inhibitor data

I have read with interest the paper of Gringeri et al (2004). The investigators described both a prospective study of B domaindeleted (BDD) recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) use in previously treated patients (PTPs), and a retrospective analysis of this product used by Italian haemophilia patients (PTPs) who were switched from another replacement factor to BDDrFVIII. In the presentation of the data, the authors make reference to other studies in haemophilia patients treated with rFVIII products, including several Kogenate /Kogenate -FS studies. We respectfully wish to provide clarification regarding several aspects of the Kogenate studies, particularly the numbers reported in Table IV of the Gringeri et al (2004) paper. Two of the publications (Schwartz et al, 1990; Seremetis et al, 1999) appear to be separate Kogenate studies, while in fact they are reports of the same PTP population at different time points in the study. Seremetis et al (1999) reported the final results of the worldwide study. Similarly, Abshire et al (2000) and Rothschild et al (2002), listed in Table IV of Gringeri et al (2004), are papers on the same study. The original reports (Abshire et al, 2000; Rothschild et al, 2002) clearly specified that there were no de novo inhibitors in the patients studied. It should also be noted that Giles et al (1998) reported a three time-point prevalence (not incidence) study and the population included PTPs/minimally treated patients and previously untreated patients, not representative of PTPs with greater than 100–150 exposure days only, therefore should not be part of the analysis of inhibitor incidence in PTPs. In the small postmarketing surveillance study by AygörenPürsün and Scharrer (1997), of patients who had previously been treated with products containing factor VIII, the age of the patients in the cohort ranged from 2 to 62 years, and of the 39 patients, 13 had moderate disease and 4 had mild disease. Seven of the patients in the total cohort were reported to have a single inhibitor occurrence by non-modified Bethesda assay at the study site; however, as detailed in the Methods section, repeat testing at a central reference laboratory in Frankfurt (using the Nijmegen-modified Bethesda assay) failed to confirm the presence of inhibitors in five of these patients (Aygören-Pürsün & Scharrer, 1997). Samples of two patients were not retested at the reference laboratory and are therefore unconfirmed. I hereby provide a revised table (Table I) reflecting the above clarifications pertaining to Kogenate .
Physical Digital Access Inside Archaeological Material

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Physical Digital Access Inside Archaeological Material Théophane Nicolas, Ronan Gaugne, Valérie Gouranton
The impact of carboxyalkylation of branched polyethylenimine on effectiveness in small interfering RNA delivery

Carboxyalkylation of branched 25 kDa polyethylenimine (PEI) was considered to reduce the positive surface charge of the polymer without reducing its ‘proton sponge’ buffering capacity, and to provide alkylene domains for hydrophobic interactions, thus generating optimized novel PEI carriers for efficient delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA).
Effect evaluation of a supervised versus non-supervised implementation of an oral health care guideline in nursing homes: a cluster randomised controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE To compare a supervised versus a non-supervised implementation of an oral health care guideline in Flanders (Belgium). BACKGROUND The key factor in realising good oral health is daily oral hygiene care. In 2007, the Dutch guideline 'Oral health care in care homes for elderly people' was developed to improve oral health of institutionalised elderly. MATERIALS AND METHODS A random sample of 12 nursing homes was randomly allocated to the intervention or the control group. Representative samples of 30 residents in each home were monitored during a 6-month study period. The intervention included a supervised implementation of the guideline. RESULTS At the 6-month follow-up, only a small but statistically significant (p = 0.002) beneficial effect (0.32) of the intervention was observed for denture plaque after adjustment for baseline value and the random effect of the institution. In the linear mixed regression models, including a random institution effect, difference in denture plaque level was no longer statistically significant at the 5% level. CONCLUSION Only denture hygiene has been improved by the supervised implementation, although with lower benefits than presumed. Factors on institutional level, difficult to assess quantitatively, may play an important role in the final result.
When Defense Pathways Collide. The Response of Arabidopsis to a Combination of Drought and Heat Stress1[w]

Within their natural habitat, plants are subjected to a combination of abiotic conditions that include stresses such as drought and heat. Drought and heat stress have been extensively studied; however, little is known about how their combination impacts plants. The response of Arabidopsis plants to a combination of drought and heat stress was found to be distinct from that of plants subjected to drought or heat stress. Transcriptome analysis of Arabidopsis plants subjected to a combination of drought and heat stress revealed a new pattern of defense response in plants that includes a partial combination of two multigene defense pathways (i.e. drought and heat stress), as well as 454 transcripts that are specifically expressed in plants during a combination of drought and heat stress. Metabolic profiling of plants subjected to drought, heat stress, or a combination of drought and heat stress revealed that plants subject to a combination of drought and heat stress accumulated sucrose and other sugars such as maltose and gulose. In contrast, Pro that accumulated in plants subjected to drought did not accumulate in plants during a combination of drought and heat stress. Heat stress was found to ameliorate the toxicity of Pro to cells, suggesting that during a combination of drought and heat stress sucrose replaces Pro in plants as the major osmoprotectant. Our results highlight the plasticity of the plant genome and demonstrate its ability to respond to complex environmental conditions that occur in the field.
Review of hemoglobin A1c in the management of diabetes

Hemoglobin HbA1c (A1c) has been used clinically since the 1980s as a test of glycemic control in individuals with diabetes. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) demonstrated that tight glycemic control, quantified by lower blood glucose and A1c levels, reduced the risk of the development of complications from diabetes. Subsequently, standardization of A1c measurement was introduced in different countries to ensure accuracy in A1c results. Recently, the International Federation of Clinical Chemists (IFCC) introduced a more precise measurement of A1c, which has gained international acceptance. However, if the IFCC A1c result is expressed as a percentage, it is lower than the current DCCT‐aligned A1c result, which may lead to confusion and deterioration in diabetic control. Alternative methods of reporting have been proposed, including A1c‐derived average glucose (ADAG), which derives an average glucose from the A1c result. Herein, we review A1c, the components involved in A1c formation, and the interindividual and assay variations that can lead to differences in A1c results, despite comparable glycemic control. We discuss the proposed introduction of ADAG as a surrogate for A1c reporting, review imprecisions that may result, and suggest alternative clinical approaches.
A qualitative assessment of long distance truck drivers' vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in Itajai, southern Brazil

Itajai is the largest port in southern Brazil and has one of the nation's highest AIDS incidence rates. Since over 400 truck drivers enter the city daily, they may play a key role in the HIV/AIDS epidemic due to transactions with commercial sex workers (CSWs) and/or substance use. We conducted a rapid assessment to establish the context of HIV vulnerability among truckers and CSWs in Itajai. Forty three in-depth interviews and eight focus groups were conducted with truckers and CSWs. Two truck-driving routes involving brothels, meeting places and drug-use locations were mapped and field observations were collected. Tapes and field notes were transcribed and analyzed for emerging themes. Truck drivers typically had unprotected sex with several partners, including CSWs and truckstop employees. Both truckers and CSWs had low perceived HIV risk in spite of being engaged in high-risk sex behaviors. Use of alcohol and amphetamine-like drugs was frequent among truckers and appeared to influence unsafe sex practices. Knowledge about amphetamine-related risks was low, as was access to health services and HIV/AIDS behavioral interventions. Interventions, targeting truckers, CSWs and truckstop employees, are needed that traverse cities, states and borders and take into account seasonality, spatial context and workplace conditions.
Maternal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use during pregnancy and newborn neurobehavior.

OBJECTIVE This is a prospective study of the effects of maternal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy on newborn neurobehavioral integrity, including systematic measures of behavioral state, sleep organization, motor activity, heart rate variability (HRV), tremulousness, and startles. METHODS The sample included 17 SSRI-exposed and 17 nonexposed, full-birth-weight newborn infants who had no obvious medical problems and were matched on maternal cigarette use, social class, and maternal age. SSRI exposure was determined by medical records and maternal self-report during a standard interview. Behavioral state, startles, and tremulousness were evaluated for 1 hour between feedings. Automated recordings of motor activity and HRV were also assessed during a 15-minute subset sleep period. HRV was subjected to spectral analysis to detect rhythms in autonomic regulation. Exposed and nonexposed infant groups were compared on measures of neurobehavioral development both before and after adjustment for gestational age as a covariate. RESULTS SSRI-exposed infants had a shorter mean gestational age; were more motorically active and tremulous; and showed fewer rhythms in HRV, fewer changes in behavioral state, fewer different behavioral states, and a lower peak behavioral state. SSRI-exposed infants also had significantly more rapid eye movement sleep, which was characterized by longer continuous bouts in that state and higher numbers of spontaneous startles or sudden arousals. After effects of gestational age were covaried, significant differences continued to be found in tremulousness and all measures of state and sleep organization, but effects on startles, motor activity, and rhythms in HRV were no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS Results provide the first systematic evidence that women who use SSRIs during pregnancy have healthy, full-birth-weight newborn infants who show disruptions in a wide range of neurobehavioral outcomes. Effects on motor activity, startles, and HRV may be mediated through the effects of SSRI exposure on gestational age. Future research can lead to a better understanding of the effects of SSRI use during pregnancy and an improved public health outcome.
Inhibition of G Protein βγ Subunit Signaling Abrogates Nephritis in Lupus‐Prone Mice

Despite considerable advances in the understanding of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), there is still an urgent need for new and more targeted treatment approaches. We previously demonstrated that small‐molecule blockade of G protein βγ subunit (Gβγ) signaling inhibits acute inflammation through inhibition of chemokine receptor signal transduction. We undertook this study to determine whether inhibition of Gβγ signaling ameliorates disease in a mouse model of SLE.
A Multivariate Log-Linear Model for Birnbaum-Saunders Distributions

Univariate Birnbaum-Saunders models have been widely applied to fatigue studies. Calculation of fatigue life is of great importance in determining the reliability of materials. We propose and derive new multivariate generalized Birnbaum-Saunders regression models. We use the maximum likelihood method and the EM algorithm to estimate their parameters. We carry out a simulation study to evaluate the performance of the corresponding maximum likelihood estimators. We illustrate the new models with real-world multivariate fatigue data.