Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Romantic relationships and alcohol use: A long-term, developmental perspective

Abstract This study considers the developmental origins of alcohol use in young adulthood. Despite substantial evidence linking committed romantic relationships to less problematic alcohol use in adulthood, the uniformity of these protective benefits across different romantic relationships is unclear. Further, the extent to which the establishment and maintenance of these romantic relationships is preceded by earlier adolescence alcohol use remains unknown. To address these gaps in the literature, the current study utilized multitiple-dimensional, multiple-informant data spanning 20 years on 585 individuals in the Child Development Project. Findings from both variable- and person-centered analyses support a progression of associations predicting adolescent alcohol use (ages 15–16), drinking, and romantic relationships in early adulthood (ages 18–25), and then problematic young adult alcohol use (age 27). Although adolescent alcohol use predicted greater romantic involvement and turnover in early adulthood, romantic involvement, but not turnover, appeared to reduce the likelihood of later problematic drinking. These findings remained robust even after accounting for a wide array of selection and socialization factors. Moreover, characteristics of the individuals (e.g., gender) and of their romantic relationships (e.g., partner substance use problems and romantic relationship satisfaction) did not moderate these findings. Findings underscore the importance of using a developmental–relational perspective to consider the antecedents and consequences of alcohol use early in the life span.
Cognitive impairment in long-term benzodiazepine users

Synopsis In view of the very extensive and often prolonged use of benzodiazepines in therapeutic practice, this study was designed to investigate whether or not cognitive ability is impaired in longterm benzodiazepine users, and to determine the nature and extent of any deficit. Fifty patients currently taking benzodiazepines for at least one year, thirty-four who had stopped taking benzodiazepines, and a matched control group of subjects who had never taken benzodiazepines or who had taken benzodiazepines in the past for less than one year were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests designed to measure a wide range of cognitive functions. It was found that patients taking high doses of benzodiazepines for long periods of time perform poorly on tasks involving visual-spatial ability and sustained attention. This is consistent with deficits in posterior cortical cognitive function.
Cognitive variability in psychotic disorders: a cross-diagnostic cluster analysis

Background. Cognitive dysfunction is a core feature of psychotic disorders; however, substantial variability exists both within and between subjects in terms of cognitive domains of dysfunction, and a clear ‘profile’ of cognitive strengths and weaknesses characteristic of any diagnosis or psychosis as a whole has not emerged. Cluster analysis provides an opportunity to group individuals using a data-driven approach rather than predetermined grouping criteria. While several studies have identified meaningful cognitive clusters in schizophrenia, no study to date has examined cognition in a cross-diagnostic sample of patients with psychotic disorders using a cluster approach. We aimed to examine cognitive variables in a sample of 167 patients with psychosis using cluster methods. Method. Subjects with schizophrenia (n = 41), schizo-affective disorder (n = 53) or bipolar disorder with psychosis (n = 73) were assessed using a battery of cognitive and clinical measures. Cognitive data were analysed using Ward's method, followed by a K-means cluster approach. Clusters were then compared on diagnosis and measures of clinical symptoms, demographic variables and community functioning. Results. A four-cluster solution was selected, including a ‘neuropsychologically normal’ cluster, a globally and significantly impaired cluster, and two clusters of mixed cognitive profiles. Clusters differed on several clinical variables; diagnoses were distributed amongst all clusters, although not evenly. Conclusions. Identification of groups of patients who share similar neurocognitive profiles may help pinpoint relevant neural abnormalities underlying these traits. Such groupings may also hasten the development of individualized treatment approaches, including cognitive remediation tailored to patients' specific cognitive profiles.
STUDIES ON THE CYTOSPECIES AND DISTRIBUTION OF Simulium damnosum COMPLEX (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE) IN PARTS OF NIGERIA, CAMEROON AND EQUATORIAL GUINEA

A dissertation submitted to the postgraduate school, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in partial fulfillment for the requirements of the award of a Doctor of Philosophy in Biology. DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA. JULY 1998
How might people interact with agents

A gents occupy a strange plarc in the rcahn ofrech-nology-generating Sear. fiction, and extraw-gant claims. The reasons are not hard to find. The concept of an qynl, especially when modified by the term m/ulliKntt, brings forth images of human-like automatons. working xvithout super-visi<m on tasks thought to be for our benefit, but not nec-ess;~r~ly to our liking. Probably all the major software manufacturers are exploring the use of intelligmt agents. Myths, promiser, and reality are all colliding. But the main dilliculties 1 foresee are social, not technical: How will intelligent agents interact with people and perhaps more important, how might people think about agents? Automata are not new concepts. Intelligent machines have rxistcd in fact or fiction for ccnturirs. Pwhaps the most relevant predecessors to today's intelligent agents are servomechanisms and other control devices, including factory control and the automated takeoff, landing, and flight control of aircraft. The new crop of intelligent agents we different from the automated devices ofearlier eras because of their computational power. They have Turing-machine powers, they take over human tasks, and they interact with people in human-like ways-perhaps with a form of natural language, prrhaps with animated graphics or video. Some agents have the potential to form their own goals and intentions. to initiate actions on their own without explicit instruction or goid-awe, and to offer suggestions to people. Thus, agents might set up schrdulcs. rcsrr~~c hotel and meeting rooms. arrange tranapm-cation. and even outline meeting topics. all without human intervention. Other more complex interventions in human acti\,iries are contemplated. These human-like activities and characteristics cause special concern over today's agents. Moreover, today's agents are simple in comparison to those that arc bring planned. To ensure a smooth introduction of this technology. two major themes are relevant. One theme deals with the
Effects of Metoclopramide on Feeding Intolerance among Preterm Neonates; A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of metoclopramide in the treatment of feeding intolerance in preterm neonates less than 36 weeks of gestational age. Methods: A randomized, controlled, masked cross-over study. A block of 4 randomizations was used. The “drug group” received intravenous metoclopramide before feeding and placebo group received placebo at the same time. The time to full enteral feeding and suspected adverse effects of metoclopramide, length of hospital stay or incidence of NEC or septicemia were the main outcome measures. Findings: Mean (standard deviation) of weight and Apgar score among metoclopramide and placebo groups were 1638.3±321 gr, 8.9±1.4 and 1593.3±318.8 gr, 8.8±1.3 respectively. Times to full feeding were significantly shorter in the metoclopramide group than in the control group (12.9±5.6 vs 17.0±6.3; P<0.0001) and also the numbers of withheld feedings were significantly lower (P<0.0001). According to the regression analysis, lower weight and placebo group were significantly related to increasing of lavage frequency, number of vomits, start time of feeding, number of feeding cessations and decreased feeding completion time (P<0.0001). No adverse effects of this treatment modality were observed in the two groups. Conclusion: Intravenous metoclopramide may be considered as an attempt in facilitating and treatment of feeding intolerance in preterm neonates.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder--a study from India.

OBJECTIVE To study the prevalence of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) in Indian women. METHODS Prospective recording of symptoms of PMDD over two menstrual cycles using a structured proforma. SUBJECTS Sixty-two volunteers who returned pro formas complete in all respects. RESULTS Four women (6.4%) fulfilled the criteria of PMDD. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of PMDD detected in this first report on the condition from India is comparable to the prevalence reported in previous studies. The group of women selected by applying such rigorous criteria appears to be heterogeneous with regard to symptom profile over the cycle.
Treatment, Outcome and Prognostic Factors in Renal Cell Carcinoma - A Single Center Study (2000-2010)

In Switzerland efficient availability of novel drugs for renal cell cancer (RCC) has been granted early. Since the advent of the targeted agents for RCC the usage of these drugs has been reported to improve progression free survival. Here, we find that patients who are able to receive sequential targeted therapy, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and mTOR inhibitors (mTORi), have a largely better outcome than those who have less exposure to these agents. The value of the prognostic scores developed by Motzer and Heng is fully reflected by the outcomes according to prognostic risk groups in our unselected patient cohort. Also, the use of surgical intervention appears to be an important prognostic factor, however with a somehow diminished effect by novel systemic therapies. The importance of multiple lines of targeted therapies is underlined by this retrospective analysis. For patients with metastatic RCC not receiving targeted therapy the median OS was 22.6 months compared to those with one TKI 25.4 months. Patients receiving a second-line therapy (median overall survival 27.6 months) and those patients with three or more lines of therapy (43.8 months) have the greatest benefit. Also, exposure to a mTORi improves survival versus non-exposure to mTORi (63.3 vs. 22.3 months, p=0.038). In conclusion a trend towards improved survival is confirmed for an unselected population when the full variety of therapeutic options is available and can be used for the individual patient.
Malignant Pelvic Pheochromocytoma Presenting as NonFunctioning Kidney and Accelerated Hypertension: A Rare Presentation

Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors that arise from sympathetic nerve ganglia. They can develop anywhere from the neck to the pelvis, but are most commonly found in the abdomen, particularly at the aortic bifurcation or in the periaortic region. Malignant paragangliomas account for 29–40% of cases. We report a case of 36-year hypertensive female presented with and right flank pain and accelerated hypertension. On evaluation she was diagnosed to have non unctioning kidney due to malignant pelvic paraganglioma with right ureteric encasement. We believe our case is one of the first reported in literature as rare presentation of malignant paraganglioma presenting as nonfunctioning kidney and accelerated hypertension.
Effect of Combination Therapy with Sodium Ozagrel and Panax Ginseng on Transient Cerebral Ischemia Model in Rats

Sodium ozagrel (SO) prevents platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction in the cerebral ischemia. It plays an important role in the prevention of brain damage induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Recently, many animal studies have suggested that the Panax ginseng (PG) has neuroprotective effects in the ischemic brain. In this study, we assessed the neuroprotective effects that come from a combination therapy of SO and PG in rat models with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Animals with MCAO were assigned randomly to one of the following four groups: (1) control (Con) group, (2) SO group (3 mg/kg, intravenously), (3) PG group (200 mg/kg, oral feeding), and (4) SO + PG group. The rats were subjected to a neurobehavior test including adhesive removal test and rotarod test at 1, 3, 7, 10, and 15 days after MCAO. The cerebral ischemic volume was quantified by Metamorph imaging software after 2-3-5-triphenyltetrazolium (TTC) staining. The neuronal cell survival and astrocytes expansion were assessed by immunohistofluorescence staining. In the adhesive removal test, the rats of PG or SO + PG group showed significantly better performance than those of the control group (Con: 88.1 ± 24.8, PG: 43.6 ± 11, SO + PG: 11.8 ± 7, P < .05). Notably, the combination therapy group (SO + PG) showed better performance than the SO group alone (SO: 56 ± 12, SO + PG: 11.8 ± 7, P < .05). In TTC staining for infarct volume, cerebral ischemic areas were also significantly reduced in the PG group and SO + PG group (Con: 219 ± 32, PG: 117 ± 8, SO + PG: 99 ± 11, P < .05). Immunohistofluorescence staining results showed that the group which received SO + PG group therapy had neuron cells in the normal range. They also had a low number of astrocytes and apoptotic cells compared with the control or SO group in the peri-infarction area. During astrocytes staining, compared to the SO + PG group, the PG group showed only minor differences in the number of NeuN-positive cells and quantitative analysis of infarct volume. In conclusion, these studies showed that in MCAO rat models, the combination therapy with SO and PG may provide better neuroprotective effects such as higher neuronal cell survival and inhibition of astrocytes expansion than monotherapy with SO alone.
A retrospective study of community-acquired Salmonella infections in patients attending public hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION A retrospective cohort study on Salmonella-associated diseases (SADs) was conducted in 14 public hospitals across Lagos State, Nigeria, between 1999 and 2008. METHODOLOGY Medical records of clinically diagnosed patients with confirmed Salmonella infections were reviewed for the 10-year period. Laboratory diagnosis of typhoid fever cases in all the hospitals were first based on Widal agglutination tests then followed by culture, while non-typhoidal Salmonella infections were based on culture technique. RESULTS A total of 85,187 confirmed cases of SADs were found, of which 880 deaths were recorded (case-fatality rate = 1.03% / 10 years). The mean incidence of SADs in Lagos State for the 10-year period was estimated at 45 cases per 100,000 persons/year, while that of typhoid fever alone was 16 cases per 100,000 persons/year. During the studied period, the number of deaths due to typhoid fever was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than deaths due to gastroenteritis except in 2003 and 2004. Risk associated with typhoidal deaths was 4 to 11 times greater when compared to gastroenteritis deaths between 2000 and 2002. Salmonella-associated diseases were most prevalent in adults 21 to 30 years of age (49.49%). Cases of patients with invasive Salmonella-associated gastroenteritis were observed mainly in children under five years of age. CONCLUSION The current surveillance data indicated high incidence of SADs in areas exposed to environmental contaminations. This study revealed that infections caused by Salmonella enterica serovars are endemic in our environment thus poses a serious threat to public health. Constant public health education is essential to avert undue epidemics.
Transcriptional silencing functions of the yeast protein Orc1/Sir3 subfunctionalized after gene duplication

The origin recognition complex (ORC) defines origins of replication and also interacts with heterochromatin proteins in a variety of species, but how ORC functions in heterochromatin assembly remains unclear. The largest subunit of ORC, Orc1, is particularly interesting because it contains a nucleosome-binding BAH domain and because it gave rise to Sir3, a key silencing protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, through gene duplication. We examined whether Orc1 possessed a Sir3-like silencing function before duplication and found that Orc1 from the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis, which diverged from S. cerevisiae before the duplication, acts in conjunction with the deacetylase Sir2 and the histone-binding protein Sir4 to generate heterochromatin at telomeres and a mating-type locus. Moreover, the ability of KlOrc1 to spread across a silenced locus depends on its nucleosome-binding BAH domain and the deacetylase Sir2. Interestingly, KlOrc1 appears to act independently of the entire ORC, as other subunits of the complex, Orc4 and Orc5, are not strongly associated with silenced domains. These findings demonstrate that Orc1 functioned in silencing before duplication and suggest that Orc1 and Sir2, both of which are broadly conserved among eukaryotes, may have an ancient history of cooperating to generate chromatin structures, with Sir2 deacetylating histones and Orc1 binding to these deacetylated nucleosomes through its BAH domain.
Cutting Edge: Critical Role of CXCL16/CXCR6 in NKT Cell Trafficking in Allograft Tolerance 1

It is well-documented that certain chemokines or their receptors play important roles in the graft rejection. However, the roles of chemokines and their receptors in the maintenance of transplantation tolerance remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that blocking of the interaction between the chemokine receptor, CXCR6, highly expressed on Vα14+ NKT cells and its ligand, CXCL16, resulted in the failure to maintain graft tolerance and thus in the induction of acceleration of graft rejection. In a mouse transplant tolerance model, the expression of CXCL16 was up-regulated in the tolerated allografts, and anti-CXCL16 mAb inhibited intragraft accumulation of NKT cells. In vitro experiments further showed that blocking of CXCL16/CXCR6 interaction significantly affected not only chemotaxis but also cell adhesion of NKT cells. These results demonstrate the unique role of CXCL16 and CXCR6 molecules in the maintenance of cardiac allograft tolerance mediated by NKT cells.
Maternal Concentrations of Polyfluoroalkyl Compounds during Pregnancy and Fetal and Postnatal Growth in British Girls

Background: Prenatal exposures to polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) may be associated with adverse changes in fetal and postnatal growth. Objective: We explored associations of prenatal serum concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) with fetal and postnatal growth in girls. Methods: We studied a sample of 447 singleton girls and their mothers participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Data on weight and length were obtained at birth and at 2, 9, and 20 months. Serum samples were obtained in 1991–1992, from mothers during pregnancy. We explored associations between prenatal PFC concentrations and weight at birth as well as longitudinal changes in weight-for-age SD scores between birth and 20 months. Results: PFOS (median, 19.6 ng/mL), PFOA (median, 3.7 ng/mL), and PFHxS (median, 1.6 ng/mL) were detected in 100% of samples. On average, girls born to mothers with prenatal concentrations of PFOS in the upper tertile weighed 140 g less [95% confidence interval (CI): –238, –42] at birth than girls born to mothers with concentrations in the lower tertile in adjusted models. Similar patterns were seen for PFOA (–133 g; 95% CI: –237, –30) and PFHxS (–108 g; 95% CI: –206, –10). At 20 months, however, girls born to mothers with prenatal concentrations of PFOS in the upper tertile weighed 580 g more (95% CI: 301, 858) when compared with those in the lower tertile. No differences in weight were found for PFOA and PFHxS. Conclusions: Girls with higher prenatal exposure to each of the PFCs examined were smaller at birth than those with lower exposure. In addition, those with higher exposure to PFOS were larger at 20 months.
Efficient collective communication in distributed heterogeneous systems

The Information Power Grid (IPG) is emerging as an infrastructure that will enable distributed applications-such as videoconferencing and distributed interactive simulation-to seamlessly integrate collections of heterogeneous workstations, multiprocessors, and mobile nodes over heterogeneous wide-area networks. This paper introduces a framework for developing efficient collective communication schedules in such systems. Our framework consists of analytical models of the heterogeneous system, scheduling algorithms for the collective communication pattern, and performance evaluation mechanisms. We show that previous models, which considered node heterogeneity but ignored network heterogeneity, can lead to solutions which are worse than the optimal by an unbounded factor. We then introduce an enhanced communication model, and develop three heuristic algorithms for the broadcast and multicast patterns. The completion time of the schedule is chosen as the performance metric. The heuristic algorithms are FEF (Fastest Edge First), ECEF (Earliest Completing Edge First), and ECEF with look-ahead. For small system sizes, we find the optimal solution using exhaustive search. Our simulation experiments indicate that the performance of our heuristic algorithms is close to optimal. For performance evaluation of larger systems, we have also developed a simple lower bound on the completion time. Our heuristic algorithms achieve significant performance improvements over previous approaches.
Controls on the formation of stratabound dolostone bodies, Hammam Faraun Fault block, Gulf of Suez

Dolomitization is commonly associated with crustal‐scale faults, but tectonic rejuvenation, diagenetic overprinting and a fluid and Mg mass‐imbalance often makes it difficult to determine the dolomitization mechanism. This study considers differential dolomitization of the Eocene Thebes Formation on the Hammam Faraun Fault block, Gulf of Suez, which has undergone a simple history of burial and exhumation as a result of rifting. Stratabound dolostone bodies occur selectively within remobilized sediments (debrites and turbidites) in the lower Thebes Formation and extend into the footwall of, and for up to 2 km away from, the Hammam Faraun Fault. They are offset by the north–south trending Gebel fault, which was active during the earliest phases of rifting, suggesting that dolomitization occurred between rift initiation (26 Ma) and rift climax (15 Ma). Geochemical data suggest that dolomitization occurred from evaporated (ca 1·43 concentration) seawater at less than ca 80°C. Geothermal convection is interpreted to have occurred as seawater was drawn down surface‐breaching faults into the Nubian sandstone aquifer, convected and discharged into the lower Thebes Formation via the Hammam Faraun Fault. Assuming a ca 10 Myr window for dolomitization, a horizontal velocity of ca 0·7 m year−1 into the Thebes Formation is calculated, with fluid flux and reactivity likely to have been facilitated by fracturing. Although fluids were at least marginally hydrothermal, stratabound dolostone bodies do not contain saddle dolomite and there is no evidence of hydrobrecciation. This highlights how misleading dolostone textures can be as a proxy for the genesis and spatial distribution of such bodies in the subsurface. Overall, this study provides an excellent example of how fluid flux may occur during the earliest phases of rifting, and the importance of crustal‐scale faults on fluid flow from the onset of their growth. Furthermore, this article presents a mechanism for dolomitization from seawater that has none of the inherent mass balance problems of classical, conceptual models of hydrothermal dolomitization.