LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Kenyan coral reef lagoon fish: effects of fishing, substrate complexity, and sea urchins

Population density, number of species, diversity, and species-area relationships of fish species in eight common coral reef-associated families were studied in three marine parks receiving total protection from fishing, four sites with unregulated fishing, and one reef which recently received protection from fishing (referred to as a transition reef). Data on coral cover, reef topographic complexity, and sea urchin abundance were collected and correlated with fish abundance and species richness. The most striking result of this survey is a consistent and large reduction in the population density and species richness of 5 families (surgeonfish, triggerfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, and parrotfish). Poor recovery of parrotfish in the transition reef, relative to other fish families, is interpreted as evidence for competitive exclusion of parrotfish by sea urchins. Reef substrate complexity is significantly associated with fish abundance and diversity, but data suggest different responses for protected versus fished reefs, protected reefs having higher species richness and numbers of individuals than unprotected reefs for the same reef complexity. Sea urchin abundance is negatively associated with numbers of fish and fish species but the interrelationship between sea urchins, substrate complexity, coral cover, and management make it difficult to attribute a set percent of variance to each factor-although fishing versus no fishing appears to be the strongest variable in predicting numbers of individuals and species of fish, and their community similarity. Localized species extirpation is evident for many species on fished reefs (for the sampled area of 1.0 ha). Fifty-two of 110 species found on protected reefs were not found on unprotected reefs.
Rewarding, stimulant, and sedative alcohol responses and relationship to future binge drinking.

CONTEXT
Excessive consumption of alcohol is a major problem in the United States and abroad. Despite many years of study, it is unclear why some individuals drink alcohol excessively while others do not. It has been postulated that either lower or greater acute responses to alcohol, or both, depending on the limb of the breath alcohol concentration curve, contribute to propensity for alcohol misuse.


OBJECTIVE
To prospectively assess the relationship of acute alcohol responses to future binge drinking.


DESIGN
Within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multidose laboratory alcohol challenge study with intensive follow-up. Each participant completed 3 randomized sessions examining responses to a high (0.8 g/kg) and low (0.4 g/kg) alcohol dose and placebo, followed by quarterly assessments for 2 years examining drinking behaviors and alcohol diagnoses.


SETTING
Participants recruited from the community.


PARTICIPANTS
High-risk heavy social drinkers aged 21 to 35 years who habitually engage in weekly binge drinking (n = 104) and light drinker controls (n = 86).


INTERVENTION
We conducted 570 laboratory sessions with a subsequent 99.1% follow-up (1506 of 1520).


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale, Drug Effects Questionnaire, cortisol response, Timeline Follow-Back, Drinker Inventory of Consequences-Recent, and DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence.


RESULTS
Alcohol produced greater stimulant and rewarding (liking and wanting) responses and lower sedative and cortisol responses in heavy vs light drinkers. Among the heavy drinkers, greater positive effects and lower sedative effects after alcohol consumption predicted increased binge drinking frequency during follow-up. In turn, greater frequency of binge drinking during follow-up was associated with greater likelihood of meeting diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence.


CONCLUSIONS
The widely held low level response theory and differentiator model should be revised: in high-risk drinkers, stimulant and rewarding alcohol responses even at peak breath alcohol concentrations are important predictors of future alcohol problems.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00961792.
Multicenter study of nucleic acid amplification tests for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in children being evaluated for sexual abuse.

BACKGROUND
Diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections in children suspected of sexual abuse is challenging due to the medico-legal implications of test results. Currently, the forensic standard for diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections is culture. In adults, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are superior to culture for CT, but these tests have been insufficiently evaluated in pediatric populations for forensic purposes.


METHODS
We evaluated the use of NAATs, using urine and genital swabs versus culture for diagnosis of CT and NG in children evaluated for sexual abuse in 4 US cities. Urine and a genital swab were collected for CT and NG NAATs along with routine cultures. NAAT positives were confirmed by PCR, using an alternate target.


RESULTS
Prevalence of infection among 485 female children were 2.7% for CT and 3.3% for NG by NAAT. The sensitivity of urine NAATs for CT and NG relative to vaginal culture was 100%. Eight participants with CT-positive and 4 with NG-positive NAATs had negative culture results (P = 0.018 for CT urine NAATs vs. culture). There were 24 of 485 (4.9%) female participants with a positive NAAT for CT or NG or both versus 16 of 485 (3.3%) with a positive culture for either, resulting in a 33% increase in children with a positive diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that NAATs on urine, with confirmation, are adequate for use as a new forensic standard for diagnosis of CT and NG in children suspected of sexual abuse. Urine NAATs offer a clear advantage over culture in sensitivity and are less invasive than swabs, reducing patient trauma and discomfort.
Revision arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: repair integrity and clinical outcome.

BACKGROUND
Literature regarding the outcomes of revision rotator cuff repair is limited. The purposes of the present study were to report the tendon repair integrity and clinical outcomes for a cohort of patients following revision arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and to examine factors related to tendon healing and the influence of healing on clinical outcomes.


METHODS
Twenty-one of twenty-nine consecutive revision arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs with a minimum of two years of postoperative follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes were evaluated on the basis of a visual analog pain scale, the range of motion of the shoulder, the Simple Shoulder Test, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and the Constant score. Ultrasonography was used to examine repair integrity at a minimum of one year following surgery. Ten shoulders underwent arthroscopic repair of a recurrent single-tendon posterior rotator cuff tear, whereas eleven shoulders had repair of both the supraspinatus and infraspinatus.


RESULTS
The mean age of the twenty-one subjects was 55.6 years; thirteen subjects were male and eight were female. Complete preoperative and postoperative clinical data were available for nineteen subjects after an average duration of follow-up of thirty-three months. Significant improvements were seen in terms of postoperative pain (p < 0.05), the Simple Shoulder Test score (p < 0.05), the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons function (p < 0.05) and total scores (p < 0.05), active forward elevation (p < 0.05), and active external rotation (p < 0.05). Postoperative ultrasound data were available for all twenty-one shoulders after a mean duration of follow-up of twenty-five months. Ten (48%) of the twenty-one shoulders had an intact repair. Seven (70%) of the ten single-tendon repairs were intact, compared with three (27%) of the eleven supraspinatus/infraspinatus repairs (p = 0.05). Patient age (p < 0.05) and the number of torn tendons (p = 0.05) had significant effects on postoperative tendon repair integrity. Shoulders with an intact repair had better postoperative Constant scores (p < 0.05) and scapular plane elevation strength (p < 0.05) in comparison with those with a recurrent tear.


CONCLUSIONS
Revision arthroscopic rotator cuff repair results in reliable pain relief and improvement in shoulder function in selected cases. Approximately half of the revision repairs can be expected to be intact at a minimum of one year following surgery. Patient age and the number of torn tendons are related to postoperative tendon integrity. The postoperative integrity of the rotator cuff can have a significant influence on shoulder abduction strength and the Constant score.
Dysphagia The Ability of the 10-Item Eating Assessment Tool ( EAT-10 ) to Predict Aspiration Risk in Persons With

Background: Dysphagia is common and costly. The ability of patient symptoms to predict objective swallowing dysfunction is uncertain. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) to screen for aspiration risk in patients with dysphagia. Methods: Data from individuals with dysphagia undergoing a videofluoroscopic swallow study between January 2012 and July 2013 were abstracted from a clinical database. Data included the EAT-10, Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS), total pharyngeal transit (TPT) time, and underlying diagnoses. Bivariate linear correlation analysis, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated. Results: The mean age of the entire cohort (N = 360) was 64.40 (± 14.75) years. Forty-six percent were female. The mean EAT-10 was 16.08 (± 10.25) for nonaspirators and 23.16 (± 10.88) for aspirators (P < .0001). There was a linear correlation between the total EAT-10 score and the PAS (r = 0.273, P < .001). Sensitivity and specificity of an EAT-10 > 15 in predicting aspiration were 71% and 53%, respectively. Conclusion: Subjective dysphagia symptoms as documented with the EAT-10 can predict aspiration risk. A linear correlation exists between the EAT-10 and aspiration events (PAS) and aspiration risk (TPT time). Persons with an EAT10 > 15 are 2.2 times more likely to aspirate (95% confidence interval, 1.3907-3.6245). The sensitivity of an EAT-10 > 15 is 71%.
Finding a benchmark for monitoring hospital cleanliness.

This study evaluated three methods for monitoring hospital cleanliness. The aim was to find a benchmark that could indicate risk to patients from a contaminated environment. We performed visual monitoring, ATP bioluminescence and microbiological screening of five clinical surfaces before and after detergent-based cleaning on two wards over a four-week period. Five additional sites that were not featured in the routine domestic specification were also sampled. Measurements from all three methods were integrated and compared in order to choose appropriate levels for routine monitoring. We found that visual assessment did not reflect ATP values nor environmental contamination with microbial flora including Staphylococcus aureus and meticillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). There was a relationship between microbial growth categories and the proportion of ATP values exceeding a chosen benchmark but neither reliably predicted the presence of S. aureus or MRSA. ATP values were occasionally diverse. Detergent-based cleaning reduced levels of organic soil by 32% (95% confidence interval: 16-44%; P<0.001) but did not necessarily eliminate indicator staphylococci, some of which survived the cleaning process. An ATP benchmark value of 100 relative light units offered the closest correlation with microbial growth levels <2.5 cfu/cm(2) (receiver operating characteristic ROC curve sensitivity: 57%; specificity: 57%). In conclusion, microbiological and ATP monitoring confirmed environmental contamination, persistence of hospital pathogens and measured the effect on the environment from current cleaning practices. This study has provided provisional benchmarks to assist with future assessment of hospital cleanliness. Further work is required to refine practical sampling strategy and choice of benchmarks.
Does mindfulness meditation improve anxiety and mood symptoms? A review of the controlled research.

OBJECTIVE
To review the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on symptoms of anxiety and depression in a range of clinical populations.


METHOD
Our review included any study that was published in a peer-reviewed journal, used a control group, and reported outcomes related to changes in depression and anxiety. We extracted the following key variables from each of the 15 studies identified: anxiety or depression outcomes after the MBSR program, measurement of compliance with MBSR instructions, type of control group included, type of clinical population studied, and length of follow-up. We also summarized modifications to the MBSR program.


RESULTS
Measures of depression and anxiety were included as outcome variables for a broad range of medical and emotional disorders. Evidence for a beneficial effect of MBSR on depression and anxiety was equivocal. When active control groups were used, MBSR did not show an effect on depression and anxiety. Adherence to the MBSR program was infrequently assessed. Where it was assessed, the relation between practising mindfulness and changes in depression and anxiety was equivocal.


CONCLUSIONS
MBSR does not have a reliable effect on depression and anxiety.
Nasal Mucociliary Clearance in Subjects With COPD After Smoking Cessation.

BACKGROUND
Exposure to cigarette smoke causes significant impairment in mucociliary clearance (MCC), which predisposes patients to secretion retention and recurrent airway infections that play a role in exacerbations of COPD. To determine whether smoking cessation may influence MCC and frequency of exacerbations, the following groups were evaluated: ex-smokers with COPD, smokers with COPD, current smokers with normal lung function, and nonsmokers with normal lung function.


METHODS
Ninety-three subjects were divided into 4 groups: ex-smokers with COPD (n = 23, 62.4 ± 8.0 y, 13 males), smokers with COPD (n = 17, 58.2 ± 8.0 y, 6 males), current smokers (n = 27, 61.5 ± 6.4 y, 17 males), and nonsmokers (n = 26, 60.8 ± 11.3 y, 7 males). MCC was evaluated using the saccharin transit time (STT) test, and the frequency of exacerbations in the last year was assessed by questionnaire. The Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's test were used to compare STT among groups, and the Goodman test was used to compare the frequency of exacerbations.


RESULTS
STT of smokers with COPD (16.5 [11-28] min; median [interquartile range 25-75%]) and current smokers (15.9 [10-27] min) was longer compared with ex-smokers with COPD (9.7 [6-12] min) and nonsmokers (8 [6-16] min) (P < .001). There was no difference in STT values between smokers with COPD and current smokers, and these values in ex-smokers with COPD were similar to the control group (P > .05). The frequency of exacerbations was lower in ex-smokers with COPD compared with smokers with COPD.


CONCLUSIONS
One year after smoking cessation, subjects with COPD had improved mucociliary clearance.
Carbon Nanotube-Based Electrochemical Sensors: Principles and Applications in Biomedical Systems

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received considerable attention in the field of electrochemical sensing, due to their unique structural, electronic and chemical properties, for instance, unique tubular nanostructure, large specific surface, excellent conductivity, modifiable sidewall, high conductivity, good biocompatibility, and so on. Here, we tried to give a comprehensive review on some important aspects of the applications of CNT-based electrochemical sensors in biomedical systems, including the electrochemical nature of CNTs, the methods for dispersing CNTs in solution, the approaches to the immobilization of functional CNT sensing films on electrodes, and the extensive biomedical applications of the CNT-based electrochemical sensors. In the last section, we mainly focused on the applications of CNT-based electrochemical sensors in the analysis of various biological substances and drugs, the methods for constructing enzyme-based electrochemical biosensors and the direct electron transfer of redox proteins on CNTs. Because several crucial factors (e.g., the surface properties of carbon nanotubes, the methods for constructing carbon nanotube electrodes and the manners for electrochemical sensing applications) predominated the analytical performances of carbon nanotube electrodes, a systematical comprehension of the related knowledge was essential to the acquaintance, mastery and development of carbon nanotube-based electrochemical sensors.
Application of Taguchi Method for Optimizing Turning Process by the effects of Machining Parameters

This paper reports on an optimization of turning process by the effects of machining parameters applying Taguchi methods to improve the quality of manufactured goods, and engineering development of designs for studying variation. EN24 steel is used as the work piece material for carrying out the experimentation to optimize the Material Removal Rate. The bars used are of diameter 44mm and length 60mm. There are three machining parameters i.e. Spindle speed, Feed rate, Depth of cut. Different experiments are done by varying one parameter and keeping other two fixed so maximum value of each parameter was obtained. Operating range is found by experimenting with top spindle speed and taking the lower levels of other parameters. Taguchi orthogonal array is designed with three levels of turning parameters with the help of software Minitab 15. In the first run nine experiments are performed and material removal rate (MRR) is calculated. When experiments are repeated in second run adain MRR is calculated. Taguchi method stresses the importance of studying the response variation using the signal–to–noise (S/N) ratio, resulting in minimization of quality characteristic variation due to uncontrollable parameter. The metal removal rate was considered as the quality characteristic with the concept of "the larger-the-better". The S/N ratio for the larger-the-better Where n is the number of measurements in a trial/row, in this case, n=1 and y is the measured value in a run/row. The S/N ratio values are calculated by taking into consideration with the help of software Minitab 15. The MRR values measured from the experiments and their optimum value for maximum material removal rate. Every day scientists are developing new materials and for each new material, we need economical and efficient machining. It is also predicted that Taguchi method is a good method for optimization of various machining parameters as it reduces the number of experiments. From the literature survey,it can be seen that there is no work done on EN24 steel. So in this project the turning of EN24 steel is done in order to optimize the turning process parameters for maximizing the material removal rate.
Simultaneous pharmacogenetics-based population pharmacokinetic analysis of darunavir and ritonavir in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND
Darunavir is a potent protease inhibitor of HIV. To enhance its pharmacokinetic profile, darunavir must be co-administered with ritonavir. There is wide inter-patient variability in darunavir pharmacokinetics among HIV-infected individuals, however. Darunavir is a known substrate for influx transporters, such as the 1A2 and the 1B1 members of the solute carrier organic anion transporter family (SLCO1A2, SLCO1B1), as well as for efflux transporters such as the multi-drug resistance protein 1 (MRP1).


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to develop a semi-mechanistic population pharmacokinetic model for darunavir and ritonavir administered in HIV-infected adults. The desired model would incorporate patient characteristics and pharmacogenetic data contributing to variability in drug concentrations and also take into account the interaction between the two compounds.


METHODS
A population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed with 705 plasma samples from 75 Caucasian individuals receiving darunavir/ritonavir (600/100 mg twice daily) for at least 4 weeks. At least one full pharmacokinetic profile was obtained for each participant, and darunavir and ritonavir concentrations in plasma were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Genotyping for 148 polymorphisms in genes coding for transporters or metabolizing enzymes was conducted by two methods: MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction-based allelic discrimination. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed for darunavir and for ritonavir. The effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms on the post hoc individual pharmacokinetic parameters was first explored using graphic methods and regression analysis. Those covariates related to changes in darunavir or ritonavir pharmacokinetic parameters were then further evaluated using non-linear mixed effects modeling (NONMEM version VII).


RESULTS
Darunavir and ritonavir pharmacokinetics were best described by a two- and one-compartment model, respectively, both with first-order absorption and elimination. The darunavir peripheral volume of distribution decreased as α1-acid glycoprotein concentrations increased. Darunavir clearance was 12 % lower in patients with SLCO3A1 rs8027174 GT/TT genotypes, while homozygosity for the rs4294800 A allele was associated with 2.5-fold higher central volume of distribution. Body weight influenced ritonavir clearance. Ritonavir inhibited darunavir clearance following a maximum-effect model.


CONCLUSION
A population pharmacokinetic model to simultaneously describe the pharmacokinetics of darunavir and ritonavir was developed in HIV-infected patients. The model provides better understanding of the interaction between darunavir and ritonavir and suggests an association between SLCO3A1 polymorphisms and darunavir pharmacokinetics. Bayesian estimates of individual darunavir parameters and ritonavir may be useful to predict darunavir exposure.
A new fitness estimation strategy for particle swarm optimization

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Article history: Received 22 June 2011 Received in revised form 5 September 2012 Accepted 20 September 2012 Available online xxxx
The role of strategic leadership in effective strategy implementation : Perceptions of South African strategic leaders

In the light of the identified problem, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the perceived role of strategic leadership in strategy implementation in South African organisations. The conclusion is that strategic leadership positively contributes to effective strategy implementation in South African organisations.
Influence of Chemical Conditions on the Nanoporous Structure of Silicate Aerogels

Silica or various silicate aerogels can be characterized by highly porous, open cell, low density structures. The synthesis parameters influence the three-dimensional porous structures by modifying the kinetics and mechanism of hydrolysis and condensation processes. Numerous investigations have shown that the structure of porous materials can be tailored by variations in synthesis conditions (e.g., the type of precursors, catalyst, and surfactants; the ratio of water/precursor; the concentrations; the medium pH; and the solvent). The objectives of this review are to summarize and elucidate the effects of chemical conditions on the nanoporous structure of sol-gel derived silicate aerogels.