Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Education, Ethnicity, and Subjective Life Quality of Recently Discharged Inpatients With Schizophrenia

To inform psychiatric practice and research that enhances subjective quality of life (SQL) in diverse persons with schizophrenia, this study explored whether SQL differs in blacks and whites with varying educational attainment. Participants were interviewed upon discharge from 4 New York City psychiatric hospitals and after 3 months in community care (N = 264, mean age of 37 years, 61% male, 56% black). Linear regression equations predicted white and black SQL from educational attainment and control variables (ethnicity, age, functioning level, symptom severity). Educational accomplishment predicted lower SQL (F = 3.53, df = 4,227, p < 0.01), especially among whites (F = 5.87, df = 4,92, p < 0.001). However, the association was statistically insignificant in blacks who had SQL peaks and valleys with more years of school. Findings suggest that psychiatric care and research should account for educational and cultural variation in assessing and promoting SQL.
Working Memory and Cognitive Skills in Individuals with Down Syndrome

This work is aimed at analyzing working memory (WM) components and their relationships with other cognitive processes in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Particular attention is given to examine whether a verbal WM deficit is due to difficulties in verbal abilities often showed by individuals with DS, or whether it is a deficit per se. A group of 20 individuals with DS was compared to a group of 20 typically developing (TD) children matched on vocabulary comprehension and to a group of 20 TD children matched on general verbal intelligence. The groups received a battery of 3 verbal and 3 visuospatial WM tasks requiring different degrees of control, and tests assessing verbal abilities (WPPSI verbal scale, PPVT), nonverbal skills (WPPSI performance scale), and logical thinking (LO). The results revealed that individuals with DS have deficits in both central executive (control) and verbal components of the WM system, and the latter one is independent of the general verbal abilities deficit. The data suggest that the development of central executive proceeds at a slower rate in individuals with DS and differently from TD children with comparable verbal abilities. The performance of individuals with DS on high-control WM tasks requires additional general resources that are strictly linked to intelligence.
Setting Occupational Exposure Limits for Chemical Allergens—Understanding the Challenges

Chemical allergens represent a significant health burden in the workplace. Exposures to such chemicals can cause the onset of a diverse group of adverse health effects triggered by immune-mediated responses. Common responses associated with workplace exposures to low molecular weight (LMW) chemical allergens range from allergic contact dermatitis to life-threatening cases of asthma. Establishing occupational exposure limits (OELs) for chemical allergens presents numerous difficulties for occupational hygiene professionals. Few OELs have been developed for LMW allergens because of the unique biological mechanisms that govern the immune-mediated responses. The purpose of this article is to explore the primary challenges confronting the establishment of OELs for LMW allergens. Specific topics include: (1) understanding the biology of LMW chemical allergies as it applies to setting OELs; (2) selecting the appropriate immune-mediated response (i.e., sensitization versus elicitation); (3) characterizing the dose (concentration)-response relationship of immune-mediated responses; (4) determining the impact of temporal exposure patterns (i.e., cumulative versus acute exposures); and (5) understanding the role of individual susceptibility and exposure route. Additional information is presented on the importance of using alternative exposure recommendations and risk management practices, including medical surveillance, to aid in protecting workers from exposures to LMW allergens when OELs cannot be established.
Disadvantageous Decision-Making as a Predictor of Drop-Out among Cocaine-Dependent Individuals in Long-Term Residential Treatment

Background: The treatment of cocaine-dependent individuals (CDI) is substantially challenged by high drop-out rates, raising questions regarding contributing factors. Recently, a number of studies have highlighted the potential of greater focus on the clinical significance of neurocognitive impairments in treatment-seeking cocaine users. In the present study, we hypothesized that disadvantageous decision-making would be one such factor placing CDI at greater risk for treatment drop-out. Methods: In order to explore this hypothesis, the present study contrasted baseline performance (at treatment onset) on two validated tasks of decision-making, the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Cambridge Gamble Task (CGT) in CDI who completed treatment in a residential Therapeutic Community (TC) (N = 66) and those who dropped out of TC prematurely (N = 84). Results: Compared to treatment completers, CDI who dropped out of TC prematurely did not establish a consistent and advantageous response pattern as the IGT progressed and exhibited a poorer ability to choose the most likely outcome on the CGT. There were no group differences in betting behavior. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that neurocognitive rehabilitation of disadvantageous decision-making may have clinical benefits in CDI admitted to long-term residential treatment programs.
Effect of trinitroglycerin therapy on serum zinc and copper levels and liver enzyme activities in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major MRHO/IR/75/ER

Objective(s): To evaluate the effect of trinitroglycerin (TNG) as nitric oxide donor agent on serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels and liver enzymes in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major (L. major) MRHO/IR/75/ER. Materials and Methods: Inbred female mice were divided into three groups: healthy group (uninfected naive mice), control group (infected with L. major), and test group (L. major infected mice treated with TNG). TNG (200 µg/µl) was inoculated subcutaneously into the mice of the test group. Serum Cu and Zn levels and liver enzymes activities were then evaluated by atomic absorption spectrophometer and colorimetric methods, respectively. Results: Serum Cu levels were significantly higher in the test group than in the control and naive groups (P-value <0.05), while Zn levels were higher in the test group than in the control group with no significant difference. Serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase concentrations in the test group were significantly lower than those in other groups (P-value <0.05), while serum glutamate pyruvic transaminase concentrations were significantly higher in test compared with those in other groups (P-value <0.05). Moreover, alkaline phosphatase in the control and test groups were significantly lower than that in the naive group (P-value <0.05). Conclusion: TNG treatment increased Zn and Cu levels and thus increased resistance to Leishmania because of the role of Zn and Cu; therefore, TNG therapy will be useful for treating cutaneous leishmania. In addition, the decrease of serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase activity can be an index of therapeutic process of TNG.
Development and testing of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Dentistry (TOFHLiD).

OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Dentistry (TOFHLiD), a new instrument to measure functional oral health literacy. METHODS TOFHLiD uses text passages and prompts related to fluoride use and access to care to assess reading comprehension and numerical ability. Parents of pediatric dental patients (n = 102) were administered TOFHLiD, a medical literacy comprehension test (TOFHLA), and two word recognition tests [Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (REALD), Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM)]. This design provided assessments of dental and medical health literacy by all subjects, both measured with two different methods (reading/numeracy ability and word recognition). Construct validity of TOFHLiD was assessed by entering the correlation coefficients for all pairwise comparisons of literacy instruments into a multitrait-multimethod matrix. Internal reliability of TOFHLiD was assessed with Cronbach's alpha. Criterion-related predictive validity was tested by associations between the TOFHLiD scores and the three measures of oral health in multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS The correlation coefficient for TOFHLiD and REALD-99 scores (monotrait-heteromethod) was high (r = 0.82, P < 0.05). Coefficients between TOFHLiD and TOFHLA (heterotrait-monomethod: r = 0.52) and REALM (heterotrait-heteromethod: r = 0.53) were smaller than coefficients for convergent validity Cronbach's alpha for TOFHLiD was 0.63. TOFHLiD was positively correlated with OHIP-14 (P < 0.05), but not with parent or child oral health. TOFHLA was not related to dental outcomes. CONCLUSIONS TOFHLiD demonstrates good convergent validity but only moderate ability to discriminate between dental and medical health literacy. Its predictive validity is only partially established, and internal consistency just meets the threshold for acceptability. Results provide solid support for more research, but not widespread use in clinical or public health practice.
The effect of spatial organization of targets and distractors on the capacity to selectively memorize objects in visual short-term memory

We conducted a series of experiments to explore how the spatial configuration of objects influences the selection and the processing of these objects in a visual short-term memory task. We designed a new experiment in which participants had to memorize 4 targets presented among 4 distractors. Targets were cued during the presentation of distractor objects. Their locations varied according to 4 spatial configurations. From the first to the last configuration, the distance between targets’ locations was progressively increased. The results revealed a high capacity to select and memorize targets embedded among distractors even when targets were extremely distant from each other. This capacity is discussed in relation to the unitary conception of attention, models of split attention, and the competitive interaction model. Finally, we propose that the spatial dispersion of objects has different effects on attentional allocation and processing stages. Thus, when targets are extremely distant from each other, attentional allocation becomes more difficult while processing becomes easier. This finding implicates that these 2 aspects of attention need to be more clearly distinguished in future research.
Short-Term Low-Dose Propofol Anaesthesia Associated with Severe Metabolic Acidosis

Propofol-induced metabolic acidosis is well recognised in the paediatric literature, but the existence of such a syndrome in adults remains contentious. In most reported cases, metabolic acidosis complicated prolonged administration of propofol in critically ill patients. We present a case of severe non-fatal reversible metabolic acidosis, without ventilatory depression or hypoxia, related to short-term propofol infusion in an adult during and after coronary artery bypass grafting. We suggest that lactic acidosis occurred in a genetically susceptible patient with an abnormality of mitochondrial function. This report discusses an unusual adverse effect of propofol anaesthesia and sedation and highlights the need for further investigation to define propofol toxicity.
Quasi-periodic Oscillations in the X-Ray Light Curves from Relativistic Tori

We use a relativistic ray-tracing code coupled to a relativistic hydrodynamics code to analyze the X-ray emission from a pressure-supported oscillating torus around a black hole. Solving the relativistic radiative transfer equation along each photon path, we calculate the X-ray light curves, power spectra, and broadened emission lines, as seen by a distant observer from various inclinations. We show that a strong correlation exists between the intrinsic frequencies of the torus normal modes and the extrinsic frequencies seen in the observed light-curve power spectrum. This correlation demonstrates the feasibility of the oscillating-torus model to explain the multiple peaks seen in black hole high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations. Observations of these features can provide important information about the torus as well as the black hole.
Characterization of the default mode functional connectivity in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease: An approach combining entropy-based and graph theoretical measurements

We have investigated functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) using resting state fMRI at 3T. Images from young and elderly controls, and patients with AD were processed using spatial independent component analysis to identify the DMN. Functional connectivity was quantified using integration and indices derived from graph theory. Four DMN sub-systems were identified: Frontal (medial frontal, superior frontal), Parietal (precuneus-posterior cingulate, lateral parietal), Temporal (medial temporal cortices), and Hippocampal (left and right). There was a decrease in antero-posterior interactions (lower global efficiency), but increased interactions within the Frontal and Parietal sub-systems (higher local clustering) in elderly compared to young controls. The decreased antero-posterior integration was more pronounced in AD patients compared to elderly controls, particularly in the precuneus-posterior cingulate region. The approach allows for a complete characterization of connectivity changes and could be applied to other resting state networks and pathologies.
Biometric and developmental gene–environment interactions: Looking back, moving forward

Abstract A history of research on gene–environment interaction (G × E) is provided in this article, revealing the fact that there have actually been two distinct concepts of G × E since the very origins of this research. R. A. Fisher introduced what I call the biometric concept of G × E (G × EB), whereas Lancelot Hogben introduced what I call the developmental concept of G × E (G × ED). Much of the subsequent history of research on G × E has largely consisted of the separate legacies of these separate concepts, along with the (sometimes acrimonious) disputes that have arisen time and again when employers of each have argued over the appropriate way to conceptualize the phenomenon. With this history in place, more recent attempts to distinguish between different concepts of G × E are considered, paying particular attention to the commonly made distinction between “statistical interaction” and “interactionism,” and Michael Rutter's distinction between statistical interaction and “the biological concept of interaction. ” I argue that the history of the separate legacies of G × EB and G × ED better supports Rutter's analysis of the situation and that this analysis best paves the way for an integrative relationship between the various scientists investigating the place of G × E in the etiology of complex traits.
Towards adaptive co-management of artisanal fisheries in coastal Uruguay: analysis of barriers and opportunities, with comparisons to Paraty (Brazil)

i Acknowledgements . ii List of Tables . ix List of Figures . xi List of Boxes . xi List of Acronyms . xii Glossary of Terms . xiv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1. BACKGROUND . 1 1.1.1. From conventional fisheries management to adaptive co-management . 1 1.1.2. Artisanal fisheries management in Uruguay and Brazil . 4 1.2. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES . 5 1.3. OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH METHODS. 6 1.4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH . 8 1.5. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH . 9 1.6. ORGANIZATION OF THE THESIS . 10 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW . 12 2.1. CO-MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE . 12 2.1.1. Co-management: What? When? What for? 12 2.1.2. Evolution of co-management . 13 2.1.3. Linking adaptive co-management to adaptive and interactive governance . 22 2.1.4. Summary . 29 2.2. SOCIAL CAPITAL . 29 2.2.1. Social capital: What are we talking about? 29 2.2.2. Social capital in natural resources and environmental management (NREM) . 31 2.2.3. Social capital – a critical reflection . 36 2.2.4. Summary . 37 2.3. PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH . 38 2.3.1. What is participatory research? 38 2.3.2. The positive side of participatory research: Is it faint due to numerous challenges? 41 2.3. 3. Participatory research and natural resources management . 42 2.3. 4. Summary . 46 2.4. CONCLUSIONS SUPPORTING THE RATIONALE OF THIS RESEARCH . 46 CHAPTER 3: STUDY AREAS . 49 3.1. FISHERIES IN URUGUAY . 49 3.1.1. Fishery sectors (industrial vs. artisanal) . 49 3.1.2. Fisheries history . 51 3.1.3. Fisheries management . 54 3.1.4. Artisanal fisheries in the Río de la Plata . 55 3.2. FISHERIES IN BRAZIL, WITH COMPARISONS TO URUGUAY . 60 3.2.1. Paraty (Ilha Grande Bay) . 62 CHAPTER 4: METHODS. 66 4.1. RESEARCH APPROACH . 66 4.1.1. Research worldview . 66 4.1.2. Research design (qualitative approach) and strategy of enquiry (case studies) . 67 4.2. FIELDWORK PHASES, TIMELINE AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS . 69 4.3. PHASE I (Objectives 1-3): DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES . 72 4.3.1. Participant observation . 72 4.3.2. Semi-structured interviews with artisanal fishers . 73 4.3. 3. Semi-structured interviews with non-fisher stakeholders. 75
The Downward Influence of Ozone Depletion in the Arctic Lower Stratosphere

Severe ozone depletion in the polar lower stratosphere has been linked to significant changes in tropospheric circulation patterns in the both hemispheres. Observed Southern Hemisphere circulation changes are easily reproduced in climate models and may be achieved by either increasing ozone depleting substances in a chemistry-climate model (CCM) or by imposing observed ozone losses as a zonally-symmetric perturbation in a prescribed-ozone global circulation model (GCM). In the Northern Hemisphere however, only the CCM method produces a circulation response in agreement with analysis of observations, while the GCM method is unable to produce any significant tropospheric circulation changes from imposing observed zonal-mean Arctic ozone losses. Confidence in a mechanistic link between Arctic stratospheric ozone change and changes in tropospheric circulation is greatly increased if the change can be reproduced using a GCM in addition to being reproducible in a CCM. This thesis demonstrates that by allowing ozone to vary along longitude, and by imposing ozone depletion during a realistic timeframe, the GCM method can produce circulation changes compatible with both the CCM method and observations. An equivalent-latitude coordinate allows the prescribed ozone field, and imposed ozone losses, to follow the polar vortex as it is systematically disturbed or displaced off the pole throughout the winter, producing a realistic circulation response in the troposphere in contrast to when ozone and its imposed losses are zonally-symmetric. Timing the imposed ozone depletion with the breakup of the polar vortex reveals that the appearance of the circulation response is very sensitive to the relative timing of these events and to the pre-existing dynamical state of the polar vortex. These results demonstrate that prescribing ozone as a zonallysymmetric climatology within a GCM, as has been recent practice in the literature, is only representative of the Southern Hemisphere and is inappropriate for accurately representing processes within the Arctic stratosphere. Moreover this work demonstrates that these dynamically-evolving zonal asymmetries in ozone, which are not present in zonally-symmetric ozone schemes, play a crucial role in allowing perturbations in the Arctic stratosphere to influence the troposphere and surface conditions.
HIV and STI Prevalence and Determinants among Male Migrant Workers in India

Background Our objective was to estimate for the first time the prevalence and determinants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among male migrants in India. Methodology/Principal Findings We conducted a multi-stage stratified probability sample survey of migrant (defined as not born in Surat city) men aged 18 to 49 years working in the diamond and textile industries in Surat city. Behavioural and biological data were collected. Biological data included laboratory diagnosed herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, Trichomonas vaginalis (together defined as ‘any STI’) and HIV-1. Likely recently acquired STIs included chlamydia, gonorrhoea, T.vaginalis and syphilis with rapid plasma reagin ≥1∶8. The response rate was 77% (845/1099). Among 841 participants, HIV-1 prevalence was 1.0%, ‘any STI’ prevalence was 9.5% and 38.9% of these STIs were likely to have been recently acquired. Being a diamond worker, Surat resident for 10+ years and recent antibiotic use were each associated with higher odds of ‘any STI’ (aORs 1.83 (95% CI 1.09–3.09), 1.98 (95% CI 1.22–3.22) and 2.57 (95% CI 1 .17–5.64), respectively) after adjusting for the other two factors and age. The main study limitation was social desirability bias for self-reported sexual behaviour; STIs were diagnosed in some self-reported virgins. Conclusions/Significance HIV and STI prevalence were lower than expected, but prevention interventions remain necessary in Surat since almost 40% of STIs among participants were probably recently acquired and sentinel surveillance HIV prevalence remains high. The participants had a similar HIV prevalence to Surat antenatal clinic attendees, a proxy for the general population. This suggests migrants are not always at higher risk of HIV compared to the general population in their migration destination. Our findings highlight the need to contextualise research findings from a specific setting with other local information to guide HIV/STI prevention interventions.
Immune Status of Infants Fed Soy-Based Formulas With or Without Added Nucleotides for 1 Year: Part 1: Vaccine Responses, and Morbidity

Background Immunologic development of soy-fed infants has not been extensively studied. Early studies of soy flour–based formulas showed decreased immunoglobulin production when soy protein intake was limited. However, there were no significant differences in rotavirus vaccine responses between breast-fed and soy protein isolate–based formula-fed infants. Nucleotides added to milk-based formula benefit infant immune status, but reports of the immunologic effects of adding nucleotides to soy-based formula are not available. This study evaluated immune status and morbidity of infants fed soy protein isolate formulas with and without added nucleotides for 1 year. Methods Newborn, term infants enrolled in a masked 12-month feeding trial were assigned randomly to groups fed soy formula with or without added nucleotides (n = 94, n = 92). A nonrandomized human milk/formula cohort (n = 81) was concurrently enrolled. Recommended immunizations were administered at 2, 4, and 6 months. Immune status was determined from antibody responses to Haemophilus influenzae type b, tetanus, diphtheria, and poliovirus vaccines at 6, 7, and 12 months. Parents and physicians reported morbidity data. Results All vaccine responses were within normal ranges. No response differences were observed between infants fed soy formula and those fed nucleotide-supplemented soy. However, antibody to H. influenzae type b at 7 and 12 months was higher in infants fed nucleotide-supplemented soy than in infants fed human milk/formula (P = 0.007, P = 0.008, respectively). Human milk/formula-fed infants had higher poliovirus neutralizing antibody at 12 months than did soy-fed infants (P = 0.016). Morbidity analyses showed that only physician-reported diarrhea was different among groups (groups fed human milk/formula had less diarrhea than did soy groups, P = 0.011). Conclusions Term infants fed soy protein isolate–based formulas have normal immune development as measured by antibody responses to childhood immunizations.