Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Self Care Management Program regarding Fatigue among Adolescents' Cancer Patients

Fatigue is a common and complex, subjective symptom with physical, emotional and cognitive dimensions. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of self-care management program regarding fatigue among adolescents' cancer patients. Research design Quasi-experimental design was used to complete this study. Setting: The study was conducted at the Outpatient Unit at Specialized Children Hospital in Kalyobia Governorate, and Cancer Institute in Cairo City. Sample: Simple random sample of forty six adolescents' patients with cancer who were newly or old diagnosed with cancer. Tools: Two tools were used to collect the study data: I): An interviewing Questionnaire which includes five parts: a): A study subjects' characteristics. b): Burden of the disease on patients. c): Present medical history of the study subject. d): Adolescents' patients' knowledge regarding fatigue. e): Self-care practices as reported regarding fatigue. II): Multidimensional assessment of fatigue (MAF) scale which includes 12 questions -after modifying- ranged from no fatigue to sever felling with fatigue. Results: 65.2% aged less than14 years as the same percentage were female while 63.0% engaged in secondary education and 54.3 living in urban areas. 43.5% of study subjects had dependent on other persons for daily living activities, 69.6% having no any sports. Overall the results have statistically significant differences before and after implementing the program regarding (MAF) scale. Conclusion: the study concluded that the adolescent patient with cancer had inadequate knowledge regarding fatigue, and the health educational program was succeed to increasing their knowledge, and improving health practices to deal with fatigue, their overall activities were improved after implementation the program regarding MAF scale. Recommendations: The study recommended that the importance of health educational program for patients and families regarding self care management of fatigue related cancer should be provided.
Perpendicular drive integration

This paper reports on progress in perpendicular drive integration. In the first part, the performance of a series of perpendicular media with different coercivity (5-6 kOe), nucleation field, and soft-underlayer thickness (120/80 nm) is compared using two different head designs. Good overwrite and bit error rate performance is achieved for all head/media combinations. Higher coercivity leads to lower linear density but higher track density, resulting in approximately equal areal density capability. The thinner soft underlayer causes wider erase bands and therefore a loss of areal density. Wide-area track erasure measurements were performed on all media. The media with lower coercivity do not show any measurable amplitude loss, due to their larger absolute value of the nucleation field and the smaller write current needed to write on them. Two types of single-head, 7200 RPM desktop perpendicular drives (40 and 80 GB capacity) were built using 95 mm perpendicular media. They both achieve good bit error rate and off-track capability in all zones. The thermal decay for the 40 GB drive was measured and compared to a similar longitudinal drive. It was found that the thermal decay rate is much smaller in the case of the perpendicular drive in the range -6/spl deg/C to +80/spl deg/C.
Retinal Arteriolar Caliber Predicts Incident Retinopathy

Changes in retinal vascular caliber may reflect subclinical microvascular disease and provide prognostic information regarding risk of retinopathy. In this study, we examined the prospective association of retinal vascular caliber with retinopathy risk in an Australian population-based cohort. A total of 906 participants without retinopathy at baseline had retinal vascular caliber measured from photographs and were followed-up for 5 years for incident retinopathy. After adjusting for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, A1C, and other risk factors, individuals with wider retinal arteriolar caliber (widest 25% vs. the remaining three-quarters of the population) were more likely to develop incident retinopathy (odds ratio 4.79 [95% CI 1.57–14.58]). This association was not significant in individuals without diabetes. Venular caliber did not predict incident retinopathy. Our findings suggest that retinal arteriolar dilatation is a specific sign of diabetic microvascular dysfunction and may be a preclinical marker of diabetic retinopathy.
Normative Data for Elderly Adults: The Maine-Syracuse Study

The primary objective of this study was to provide supplementary normative data on aging and cognition from an ongoing community-based study. This dementia- and stroke-free sample (age range = 70–89; mean = 77.5) consisted of 228 women and 155 men participating in the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study at waves 6 to 7 (2001–2009). The authors employed a battery of 23 widely utilized clinical cognitive tests. In this cross-sectional study, the authors focus on subjects 70 to 79 (n = 248) and 80 to 89 (n = 135) years old, and provide preliminary data for a smaller number of subjects aged 90 to 98 years old (n = 14). More highly educated and younger participants exhibited better performance on cognitive tests. Education was not significantly associated with every cognitive outcome, nor was age cohort membership. The addition of cardiovascular disease (CVD)/health variables to a model including age, education, and gender main effects provided statistically significant increases in R² (range = .021–.084) of performance on some tests. Results are discussed in relation to this study's value with respect to determining cognitive impairment in individuals free from probable dementia or stroke.
Institutional reform and FDI decision in transition economies

The article considers the impact of institutional reform on the decision of foreign enterprises and foreign entrepreneurs to directly invest in the transition economy of Syria. It responds to the calls for more open research design that can go beyond the borders of the quantitative findings of previous econometric research by adopting a qualitative research strategy. The results reveal that institutional reforms enhanced Syria’s attractiveness to foreign direct investment. Institutional barriers proved to be less daunting to foreign investors whose backgrounds were culturally similar to that of Syria and/or already had experience in Syria or in a similar type of economy. The impact of background similarity and previous experience in similar contexts appeared to be less important when the foreign investor was a multinational enterprise than for individual entrepreneur. Moreover, these factors also appeared to be less important for large enterprises compared to small enterprises.
Seafood-Associated Shellfish Allergy: A Comprehensive Review

ABSTRACT Shellfish are diverse, serve as main constituents of seafood, and are extensively consumed globally because of their nutritional values. Consequently, increase in reports of IgE-mediated seafood allergy is particularly food associated to shellfish. Seafood-associated shellfish consists of crustaceans (decapods, stomatopods, barnacles, and euphausiids) and molluskans (gastropods, bivalves, and cephalopods) and its products can start from mild local symptoms and lead to severe systemic anaphylactic reactions through ingestion, inhalation, or contact like most other food allergens. Globally, the most commonly causative shellfish are shrimps, crabs, lobsters, clams, oysters, and mussels. The prevalence of shellfish allergy is estimated to be 0.5–2.5% of the general population but higher in coastal Asian countries where shellfish constitute a large proportion of the diet. Diversity in allergens such as tropomyosin, arginine kinase, myosin light chain, and sarcoplasmic binding protein are from crustaceans whereas tropomyosin, paramyosin, troponin, actine, amylase, and hemoyanin are reported from molluskans shellfish. Tropomyosin is the major allergen and is responsible for cross-reactivity between shellfish and other invertebrates, within crustaceans, within molluskans, between crustaceans vs. molluskans as well as between shellfish and fish. Allergenicity diagnosis requires clinical history, in vivo skin prick testing, in vitro quantification of IgE, immunoCAP, and confirmation by oral challenge testing unless the reactions borne by it are life-threatening. This comprehensive review provides the update and new findings in the area of shellfish allergy including demographic, diversity of allergens, allergenicity, their cross-reactivity, and innovative molecular genetics approaches in diagnosing and managing this life-threatening as well as life-long disease.
Human Coronavirus NL63 and 229E Seroconversion in Children

ABSTRACT In 2004, the novel respiratory human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) was identified, and subsequent research revealed that the virus has spread worldwide. HCoV-229E is a close relative of HCoV-NL63, and infection with either virus can lead to the hospitalization of young children, immunocompromised persons, and the elderly. Children infected with HCoV-NL63 often develop croup, with obstruction of the airway. In this study we investigated at which age children are confronted for the first time with an HCoV-NL63 infection and, thus, at which age they seroconvert to HCoV-NL63 positivity. We designed a recombinant HCoV-229E and a recombinant HCoV-NL63 nucleocapsid protein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and performed a seroepidemiology survey on longitudinal and cross-sectional serum samples. The longitudinal serum samples were collected from 13 newborns, and data for those newborns were available from multiple time points spanning a period of at least 18 months. For the cross-sectional survey we tested serum samples of 139 children, including newborns to children 16 years of age. In examinations of the longitudinal serum samples we observed that all of the children had maternal anti-NL63 and anti-229E antibodies at birth that disappeared within 3 months. Seven of the 13 children became HCoV-NL63 seropositive during follow-up, whereas only 2 became HCoV-229E seropositive. The serology data of the cross-sectional serum samples revealed that 75% and 65% of the children in the age group 2.5 to 3.5 years were HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229E seropositive, respectively. We conclude that on average, HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229E seroconversion occurs before children reach the age of 3.5 years.
Lipid Peroxidation in the Presence of Albumin, Inhibitory and Prooxidative Effects

Oxidative modifications of LDL are involved in atherogenesis. Previously we have developed a simple assay to evaluate the susceptibility of lipids to copper-induced peroxidation in the relatively natural milieu of unfractionated serum in the presence of excess citrate. Based on our previous results we have proposed that the inducer of peroxidation in our optimized assay is a copper-citrate complex. Recent investigations indicate that under certain conditions a copper-albumin complex may induce peroxidation of ascorbate. Two different complexes may be formed in albumin-containing systems (e.g. serum) namely 1:1 and 2:1 copper-albumin complexes. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the possibility that at least one of these complexes may be responsible for the induction of peroxidation of lipids in lipidic systems containing copper and albumin, including our optimized assay. Towards this end, we have investigated the dependence of copper-induced peroxidation on the concentration of added albumin in lipidic systems in the absence and presence of citrate. In all the systems investigated in this study (PLPC liposomes, LDL, HDL and mixtures of HDL and LDL) we found that at low concentrations of free copper (e.g. in the presence of excess citrate) the 2:1 copper-albumin complex is redox-active and that this complex is the major contributor to the initiation of lipid peroxidation in these systems and in our optimized assay. The possible relevance of the induction of peroxidation in vivo by the latter complex has yet to be studied. <footnote id="fn1"><no>*</no>This work was performed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Ph.D. degree of Dorit Samocha-Bonet, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. </footnote>
Diterpenoid Derivatives of Kenyan Croton sylvaticus

Kenyan Croton sylvaticus Hochst. ex Krauss gave four clerodane diterpenoids, the new ent–3,13E-clerodadiene-15-formate (1), the known 15-acetoxy-ent-3,13E-clerodadiene (2), ent-3,13E-clerodadien-15-ol (3) and hardwickiic acid (4), two known halimane diterpenoids, penduliflaworosin (5) and crotohalimaneic acid (6) and one labdane diterpenoid, labda-13E-ene-8α,15-diol (7). The compounds, when tested for their anti-microbial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Xanthomonas campestris and Candida albicans, were found to be inactive.
Aragonite crystalline matrix as an instructive microenvironment for neural development

The ability to mimic cell–matrix interactions in a way that closely resembles the natural environment is of a great importance for both basic neuroscience and for fabrication of potent scaffolding materials for nervous tissue engineering. Such scaffolding materials should not only facilitate cell attachment but also create a microenvironment that provides essential developmental and survival cues. We previously found that porous aragonite crystalline matrices of marine origin are an adequate and active biomaterial that promotes neural cell growth and tissue development. Here we studied the mechanism underlying these neural cell–material interactions, focusing on the three‐dimensional (3D) surface architecture and matrix activity of these scaffolds. We introduced a new cloning technique of the hydrozoan Millepora dichotoma, through which calcein or 45Ca2+ were incorporated into the organism's growing skeleton and neuronal cells could then be cultured on the labelled matrices. Herein, we describe the role of matrix 3D architecture on neural cell type composition and survival in culture, and report for the first time on the capacity of neurons and astrocytes to exploit calcium ions from the supporting biomatrix. We found that hippocampal cells growing on the prelabelled aragonite lattice took up aragonite‐derived Ca2+, and even enhanced this uptake when extracellular calcium ions were chelated by EGTA. When the aragonite‐derived Ca2+ uptake was omitted by culturing the cells on coral skeletons coated with gold, cell survival was reduced but not arrested, suggesting a role for matrix architecture in neural survival. In addition, we found that the effects of scaffold architecture and chemistry on cell survival were more profound for neurons than for astrocytes. We submit that translocation of calcium from the biomaterial to the cells activates a variety of membrane‐bound signalling molecules and leads to the subsequent cell behaviour. This kind of cell–material interaction possesses great potential for fabricating advanced biomaterials for neural tissue‐engineering applications. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Seminal fluid-mediated fitness traits in Drosophila

The seminal fluid of male Drosophila contains a cocktail of proteins that have striking effects on male and female fitness. In D. melanogaster, seminal fluid proteins affect female receptivity, ovulation, oogenesis, sperm storage, sperm competition and mating plug formation. In addition, the seminal fluid contains antibacterial peptides and protease inhibitors. Some seminal fluid-encoding genes also show high rates of evolutionary change, exhibiting both significant between-species divergence and within-species polymorphism. Seminal fluid protein genes are expressed only in males, begging the question of how and why the reproductive processes of females are influenced by males. In this review I address these issues by bringing together evidence for the function, evolution, diversification, and maintenance of variation in, seminal fluid-mediated traits.
PP1 control of M phase entry exerted through 14‐3‐3‐regulated Cdc25 dephosphorylation

It has been known for over a decade that inhibition of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) activity prevents entry into M phase, but the relevant substrate has not been identified. We report here that PP1 is required for dephosphorylation of the Cdc2‐directed phosphatase Cdc25 at Ser287 (of Xenopus Cdc25; Ser216 of human Cdc25C), a site that suppresses Cdc25 during interphase. Moreover, PP1 recognizes Cdc25 directly by interacting with a PP1‐binding motif in the Cdc25 N‐terminus. We have also found that 14‐3‐3 binding to phospho‐Ser287 protects Cdc25 from premature dephosphorylation. Upon entry into M phase, 14‐3‐3 removal from Cdc25 precedes Ser287 dephosphorylation, suggesting the existence of a phosphatase‐ independent pathway for 14‐3‐3 removal from Cdc25. We show here that this dissociation of 14‐3‐3 from Cdc25 requires the activity of the cyclin‐dependent kinase Cdk2, providing a molecular explanation for the previously reported requirement for Cdk2 in promoting mitotic entry. Collectively, our data clarify several steps important for Cdc25 activation and provide new insight into the role of PP1 in Cdc2 activation and mitotic entry.
Characterization of air-coupled transducers

This paper describes a theoretical and experimental study for determination of the through-air system impulse response and insertion loss with different air-coupled ultrasonic transducers. Wide-band piezopolymer transducers (PVDF) are employed in both transmission and reception modes and their behavior assessed by means of mathematical modeling and experiment. Specifically, a linear systems approach, modified to include the influence of attenuation in the propagation medium, was used to design suitable PVDF transducers for wide-band operation in air. Suitable devices were then manufactured for determination of the transmission and reception response characteristics of piezocomposite and electrostatic transducers when operating in the air environment. A range of transducers was evaluated, including 1-3 connectivity composites of different ceramic volume fraction and mechanical matching conditions, in addition to electrostatic devices of varying design. To complement the investigation, relative performances for narrow-band operation are also presented under transmission and transmit-receive conditions. Despite the obvious measurement difficulties, good agreement between theory and experiment was observed and the methodology is shown to provide a convenient and robust procedure for comparison of through-air transducers operating in the frequency range 50 KHz to 2 MHz. Although highly resonant, the most effective composite transducers under consideration demonstrate an improvement in two-way insertion loss of 22.4 dB and 11.5 dB over a corresponding electrostatic pair, under narrow-band and wide-band operation, respectively.
Herbicidal and Cytotoxic Constituents from Aralia armata (Wall.) Seem.

Two new triterpenoids, 3β‐hydroxyoleana‐11,13(18)‐diene‐28,30‐dioic acid (1) and 3‐oxooleana‐11,13(18)‐diene‐28,30‐dioic acid (2), one novel triterpenoid glycoside, 3β‐O‐(6′‐O‐methyl‐β‐d‐glucuronopyranosyl)oleana‐11,13(18)‐dien‐28‐oic acid (3) along with six known compounds (4 – 9) were isolated from the stem bark of Aralia armata (Wall.) Seem. Their structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic methods. The herbicidal activities of these compounds against Bidens pilosa L. , an invasive weed in P. R. China, were evaluated. Compounds 3, 5, and 6 exhibited more significant herbicidal activities on B. pilosa than the positive‐control pendimethalin. Their possible use as herbicidal chemicals or model compounds deserved more attention. The effects of compounds 1 – 9 on Spodoptera litura cultured cell line Sl‐1 cell proliferation and its morphology were also evaluated. The results indicated that compounds 1 – 5 affected Sl‐1 cell proliferation. Compound 3 showed more obvious proliferation inhibition activities on Sl‐1 cell than the positive‐control rotenone. With regard to the effect on morphology, compound 2 significantly changed Sl‐1 cell, resulting in cell blebbing and vacuole forming. Triterpenoids aremedicinally and agriculturally important, and cytotoxicity of the three new compounds 1 – 3 deserved further studies.
Protean Clinical Presentation of Antiphospholipid-Protein Antibodies (APA)

Antiphospholipid-protein antibodies (APA) are a family of immunoglobulins which have been defined by varying laboratory test systems. Lupus anticoagulants (LA) and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) are the two most prominent members of this family of antibodies. LA are detected utilizing various phospholipid (PL) dependent tests of coagulation (e.g., activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT], Kaolin Clotting Time [KCT], dilute Russell Viper Venom Time [dRVVT]). Originally, LA were thought to be a laboratory nuisance since the vast majority of individuals with LA did not bleed. Paradoxically, patients with LA were found to have an increased incidence of thromboembolic events and also recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA). Thus, the laboratory detection of LA has become part of the work up of patients with thromboembolic disorders and RSA. ACA are detected using solid phase assay systems (radioimmunoassay or ELISA). The presence of ACA has the same clinical implications as that of LA. Although originally it was suggested ACA and LA were the same antibody, it is now well accepted that they, in many instances, are different antibodies. Therefore, it is critical for laboratories to evaluate patient samples for both LA and ACA. In approximately 60% of circumstances, both antibodies will be found. In the remaining cases, there will be discordance between the two test systems. The question of whether APA are causative, coincidental, or a consequence of the clinical complications of RSA and thrombosis remains controversial. Recent evidence based on prospective clinical studies and analysis of markers of in vivo coagulation suggests APA are causative. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Long-acting beta(2)-agonists in management of childhood asthma: A critical review of the literature.

This review assesses the evidence regarding the use of long-acting beta(2)-agonists in the management of pediatric asthma. Thirty double-blind, randomized, controlled trials on the effects of formoterol and salmeterol on lung function in asthmatic children were identified. Single doses of inhaled salmeterol or formoterol cause prolonged bronchodilatation (>12 h) and extended bronchoprotection against exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in children, some children achieving full protection for more than 12 h. Heterogeneity in bronchoprotection has been observed, and individual dose-titration may be attempted. The onset of action of formoterol is comparable to salbutamol, while salmeterol has a slower onset of action. Partial tolerance develops when long-acting beta(2)-agonists are used as regular treatment, including cross-tolerance to short-acting beta(2)-agonists. Regular treatment with salmeterol in children with or without corticosteroids provides statistically significant bronchodilatation, but the degree of improvement in lung function or bronchoprotection against exercise and nonspecific irritants is small with regular use. There is no evidence of anti-inflammatory effects from inhaled long-acting beta(2)-agonists, which is reflected by unchanged or increased bronchial hyperreactivity and no reduction of exacerbation rates. The evidence does not support a recommendation for long-acting beta(2)-agonists as monotherapy, nor does it support their general use as regular add-on therapy. In conclusion, long-acting beta(2)-agonists provide effective bronchodilatation and bronchoprotection when used as intermittent, single-dose treatment of asthma in children, but not when used as regular treatment. Future studies should examine the positioning of long-acting beta(2)-agonists as an "as needed" rescue medication instead of short-acting beta(2)-agonists for pediatric asthma management.