Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Associations Between Maternal Childrearing Cognitions and Conduct Problems in Young Children

This study investigated maternal childrearing cognitions associated with ineffective parenting practices, using the Parental Childrearing Cognitions Questionnaire (PCCQ). Intergenerational transmission of parenting problems and cognitions was investigated using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), which measures overprotectiveness and care experienced by parents in childhood. As a new measure, the PCCQ's psychometric properties were evaluated and found to be robust in terms of internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Seventy-four mothers of 3–5-year-old boys (23 clinical: boys referred with conduct problems; 51 control) completed the PCCQ, Revised Rutter Parent Scale for Preschool Children and PBI. PCCQ scores were significantly higher for clinical group mothers, and significantly correlated with both Parent and Teacher Rutter Child problem scores. There were significant correlations between PBI overprotection (positive) and PBI care (negative) scores and Rutter Parent and PCCQ scores. Clinical group mothers rated lower care and higher overprotection, from both parents, in their own childhoods. Results are consistent with a hypothesized model of intergenerational transmission of parenting problems, whereby experiences of low care and high overprotection in childhood predispose mothers to a dysfunctional ‘set’ of parenting cognitions, impairing maternal capacity to provide sensitive responses to challenging child behaviours.
Is Tobacco Use a Problem Among Deaf College Students?

College students' tobacco use poses a significant public health problem. Effective intervention requires understanding of this behavior among race/ethnic, cultural, and linguistic collegiate subgroups, including deaf and hard of hearing collegians. Findings from a first-ever tobacco-related survey among this understudied population are reported. The authors used written questionnaires and the Interactive Video Questionnaireâ¢, a multimedia computer technology developed for use with the deaf and hard of hearing, to interview 241 volunteers on seven California college campuses. They found lower self-reported current smoking prevalence (14.5%) relative to collegians in the general population, but considerable ever smoking (65.1%) and multiple types of Âtobacco use (37.3%). The authors report on factors associated with tobacco use and on students' exposure to cigarette marketing, gaps experienced in receipt of antitobacco messages and services, and students' antitobacco intervention recommendations. Limitations of the research are described, including possible underreporting of participants' tobacco use.
Learned voluntary control of heart rate and rhythm in two subjects with premature ventricular contractions.

Two people with frequent premature ventricular contractions and bigeminal rhythm not associated with other signs of heart disease, learned to suppress the arrhythmia using a biofeedback technique. In both cases, physical exercise and atropine suppressed the arrhythmia, and in both the learned control was related to the development of tachycardia. In Case 1, it appeared to depend on something more than speeding alone, for sinus rhythm could be maintained during voluntary control at a lower heart rate than during physical manoeuvres such as exercise. In Case 2, the premature ventricular contractions could be induced by a sudden fall of heart rate, e.g. after a Valsalva manoeuvre, and could be suppressed by voluntary increase of heart rate by up to 40 beats/minute produced with little change in breathing or muscle activity.
Characteristic studies on the mechanical properties of quarry dust addition in conventional concrete

Currently India has taken a major initiative on developing the infrastructures such as express highways, power projects and industrial structures etc., to meet the requirements of globalization, in the construction of buildings and other structures. Concrete plays the key role and a large quantum of concrete is being utilized in every construction practices. River sand, which is one of the constituents used in the production of conventional concrete, has become very expensive and also becoming scarce due to depletion of river bed. Quarry dust is a waste obtained during quarrying process. It has very recently gained good attention to be used as an effective filler material instead of fine aggregate. In the present study, the hardened and durable properties of concrete using quarry dust were investigated. Also, the use of quarry dust as the fine aggregate decreases the cost of concrete production in terms of the complete replacement for natural river sand. This paper reports the experimental study which investigated the influence of 100% replacement of sand with quarry dust. Initially cement mortar cube was studied with various proportions of quarry dust (CM 1:3, CM 1:2, and CM 1:1). The experimental results showed that the addition of quarry dust for a fine to coarse aggregate ratio of 0.6 was found to enhance the compressive properties as well as elastic modulus. Key words: Concrete, quarry dust, fillers, elastic modulus, compressive strength.
Guillain-Barré syndrome complicating pregnancy and correlation with maternal and fetal outcome in North Eastern India: A retrospective study

Background: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is rare in pregnancy with an estimated incidence between 1.2 and 1.9 cases per 100,000 people annually, and it is generally accepted that it carries a high maternal risk. Most reports of GBS with pregnancy are case reports only. Aim: Purpose of this retrospective study was to find the correlation between pregnancy and GBS. Settings and Design: Records of patients admitted in neurology division were analyzed in a tertiary care teaching hospital in the northeastern Indian pregnant female population with GBS between 15-49 years during the period of 2009-2013. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the records of 47 patients with pregnancy and GBS, evaluated and treated in our institute from August 2009 to December 2013. This is retrospective observational study done in North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), India. Result: Predominant form of GBS was acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP). The weakness started from the lower limbs in majority of patients. Ten percent of women had bifacial weakness. Most of patients had good maternal and fetal outcome. Two patients received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Only two patient required ventilator supports and one patient had intrauterine death (IUD) and died due to respiratory failure. Conclusion: Our results indicate that risk of GBS increases in third trimester and first 2 weeks after delivery. Demyelinating variety of GBS was common in our population. GBS natural course during pregnancy is mild and showed quick recovery. Maternal and perinatal outcome was good.
Vitamin D deficiency at 16 to 20 weeks' gestation is associated with impaired lung function and asthma at 6 years of age.

RATIONALE Vitamin D deficiency is associated with chronic lung disease. We have previously shown in an in vivo mouse model that maternal vitamin D deficiency is associated with alterations in early life lung structure and function. However, there are limited data to support a relationship between maternal vitamin D deficiency during the early stages of lung development and postnatal lung function in human populations. OBJECTIVES To assess the association between maternal vitamin D deficiency, postnatal lung function, and asthmatic status in a longitudinal birth cohort. METHODS Serum was collected at 16 to 20 weeks' gestation at the time of recruitment in a community-based prospective birth cohort for measurement of vitamin D (25[OH]D). Lung function was assessed by spirometry according to American Thoracic Society guidelines in children at 6 and 14 years of age. Demographic and clinical history data were collected by questionnaire at recruitment and at the follow-up visits. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS FVC Z-scores in both sexes (β, 0.007 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.001-0.013]; P = 0.02) and FEV1 Z-scores in girls (β, 0.007 [95% CI, 0.001-0.013]; P = 0.02) were positively associated with maternal serum 25(OH)D at 6 years of age. These associations were mostly absent at 14 years of age. Maternal vitamin D deficiency was positively associated with asthma at 6 years of age but only in boys (odds ratio, 3.03 [95% CI, 1.02-9.02]; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS This study supports the notion that vitamin D deficiency during lung development may impact on postnatal lung growth and increase the risk of developing lung disease.
Leaf-cutting ant nests near roads increase fitness of exotic plant species in natural protected areas

Understanding the mechanisms that promote the invasion of natural protected areas by exotic plants is a central concern for ecology. We demonstrated that nests of the leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex lobicornis, near roadsides promote the abundance, growth and reproduction of two exotic plant species, Carduus nutans and Onopordum acanthium, in a national park in northern Patagonia, Argentina and determine the mechanisms that produce these effects. Refuse dumps (RDs) from ant nests have a higher nutrient content than nearby non-nest soils (NNSs); foliar nutrient content and their 15N isotopic signature strongly suggest that plants reach and use these nutrients. Both species of exotic plants in RDs were 50–600% more abundant; seedlings had 100–1000% more foliar area and root and leaf biomass; and adult plants produced 100–300% more seeds than nearby NNS plants. Plants can thus gain access to and benefit from the nutrient content of ant RD, supporting the hypotheses that enhanced resource availability promotes exotic plant performance that could increase the likelihood of biological invasions. The two exotics produce an estimated of 8 385 000 more seeds ha−1 in areas with ant nests compared with areas without; this exceptional increase in seed production represents a potential threat to nearby non-invaded communities. We propose several management strategies to mitigate this threat. Removal efforts of exotics should be focused on ant RDs, where plants are denser and represent a higher source of propagules.
Modeling the evolution of the Guadalquivir foreland basin (southern Spain)

Previous quantitative studies dealing with the origin of foreland basins have focused primarily either on the rheological basis of the lithosphere mechanical response or on the relationship between orogenic loading and sediment geometry. To link the evolution of the Guadalquivir foreland basin (South Iberia) with the thermomechanical stratification of the Iberian lithosphere, we combine quantitative approaches to deep and shallow processes: thrust loading, lithospheric flexure, thickness changes of the crust and the lithospheric mantle, and surface mass transport. A planform flexural analysis of the present‐day load distribution shows that basement subsidence is related not only to upper crustal thrusting but also to a deep‐seated additional load. On the basis of the observed gravity and geoid fields, we propose this additional load to be related to a lithospheric mantle thickening larger than the coeval crustal thickening. Further modeling of the evolution of a basin cross section reveals that the architecture of the sedimentary basin is additionally related to the lithosphere rheological response. The quantitative study of the evolution of basement faulting and the forebulge uplift of Sierra Morena leads us to conclude that viscous stress relaxation and/or plastic yielding within the lithosphere are key processes to explain the flexural evolution of the basin.
Protective effect of Urtica dioica L against nicotine-induced damage on sperm parameters, testosterone and testis tissue in mice

Background: Nicotine consumption can decrease fertility drive in males by inducing oxidative stress and DNA damage. Urtica dioica L (U.dioica) is a multipurpose herb in traditional medicine for which some anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties have been identified. Objective: The main goal is to investigate whether the U.dioica could inhibit nicotine adverse effects on sperm cells viability, count, motility, and testis histology and testosterone hormone. Materials and Methods: In this study, hydro-alcoholic extract of U.dioica was prepared and various doses of U.dioica (0, 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg) and U.dioica plus nicotine (0, 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to 56 male mice for 28 consequent days. These mice were randomly assigned to 8 groups (n=7) and sperm parameters (sperm cells viability, count, motility, and morphology), testis and prostate weight, testis histology and testosterone hormone were analyzed and compared. Results: The results indicated that nicotine administration (0.5 mg/kg) significantly decreased testosterone level, count and motility of sperm cells, and testis weight compared to control group (p=0.00). However, increasing the dose of U.dioica significantly boosted motility, count, normal morphology of sperm cells, seminiferous tubules diameter, and testosterone in all groups compared to control (p=0.00) and testis weight in 20 and 50 mg/kg doses in comparison with control group (p=0.00). Conclusion: It seems that U.dioica hydro-alcoholic extract administration could increase the quality of spermatozoa and inhibits nicotine-induced adverse effects on sperm parameters.
Extended versus standard azathioprine maintenance therapy in newly diagnosed proteinase-3 anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis patients who remain cytoplasmic anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive after induction of remission: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND Cytoplasmic anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (C-ANCA) positivity at remission has been associated with an increased relapse rate in patients with proteinase 3 anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (PR3-AAV) after a switch to azathioprine maintenance therapy. We therefore hypothesized that extended azathioprine maintenance therapy could reduce the incidence of relapse in this setting. METHODS Patients newly diagnosed with PR3-AAV at 12 centres in The Netherlands during 2003-11 who received a standardized induction regimen consisting of oral cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids were enrolled (n = 131). Patients were randomized to standard or extended azathioprine maintenance therapy when C-ANCA was positive at the time of stable remission. Standard maintenance treatment consisted of azathioprine (1.5-2.0 mg/kg) until 1 year after diagnosis and subsequent tapering to 25 mg every 3 months. Extended azathioprine maintenance therapy (1.5-2.0 mg/kg) was continued until 4 years after diagnosis and tapered thereafter. The primary endpoint was relapse-free survival at 4 years after diagnosis. RESULTS In patients with PR3-AAV who were C-ANCA positive at the time of stable remission, relapse-free survival at 4 years after diagnosis did not differ significantly between standard azathioprine (n = 24) and extended azathioprine (n = 21) maintenance therapy (P = 0.40). There was also no significant difference in relapse-free survival between patients receiving standard azathioprine (n = 106) versus extended azathioprine maintenance therapy (n = 21; P = 0.94). In addition, there was no difference in the relapse rate between patients with PR3-AAV who were C-ANCA positive (n = 45) at the time of remission versus patients who became C-ANCA negative at the time of remission (n = 82; P = 0.62). CONCLUSIONS This randomized trial suggests that extended azathioprine maintenance therapy has only a limited effect on the prevention of relapse in patients with PR3-AAV at 4 years after diagnosis. Moreover, positive C-ANCA status at stable remission was not associated with an increased rate of relapse. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 00128895.
Detecting topic shifts using a cache memory

The use of cache memories and symmetric Kullback-Leibler distances is proposed for topic classification and topic-shift detection. Experiments with a large corpus of articles from the French newspaper "Le Monde show tangible advantages when different models are combined with a suitable strategy. Experimental results show that different strategies for topic shift detection have to be used depending on whether high recall or high precision are sought. Furthermore, methods based on topic independent distributions provide complementary candidates with respect to the use of topic-dependent distributions leading to an increase in recall with a minor loss in precision.
The Bacterial Causes of Camel-calf (Camelus dromedarius) Diarrhea in Eastern Sudan.

Fecal samples were collected from diarrheic camel-calves owned by nomadic pastoralists in the Butana Region. They were examined for 5 types of bacteria reported to cause the diarrhea. Sixty nine E. coli (66%), 14 Salmonella spp. (13%) and 11 Clostridium perfringens (10%) isolates were obtained from the samples. However, neither Campylobacter spp. nor Yersinia enterocolitiaca were isolated. The E. coli probing revealed the presence of K88, F41 adhesion factors and StaP, STb, LT, SLTII enterotoxins, while a high molecular weight plasmid was evident in the plasmid analysis profile. Thirteen of the Salmonella isolates were serotyped using group and specific antisera to be identified as Salmonella typhi strain.
Modification of inactivation in cardiac sodium channels: ionic current studies with Anthopleurin-A toxin

The site 3 toxin, Anthopleurin-A (Ap-A), was used to modify inactivation of sodium channels in voltage-clamped single canine cardiac Purkinje cells at approximately 12 degrees C. Although Ap-A toxin markedly prolonged decay of sodium current (INa) in response to step depolarizations, there was only a minor hyperpolarizing shift by 2.5 +/- 1.7 mV (n = 13) of the half-point of the peak conductance- voltage relationship with a slight steepening of the relationship from - 8.2 +/- 0.8 mV to -7.2 +/- 0.8 mV (n = 13). Increases in Gmax were dependent on the choice of cation used as a Na substitute intracellularly and ranged between 26 +/- 15% (Cs, n = 5) to 77 +/- 19% (TMA, n = 8). Associated with Ap-A toxin modification time to peak INa occurred later, but analysis of the time course INa at multiple potentials showed that the largest effects were on inactivation with only a small effect on activation. Consistent with little change in Na channel activation by Ap-A toxin, INa tail current relaxations at very negative potentials, where the dominant process of current relaxation is deactivation, were similar in control and after toxin modification. The time course of the development of inactivation after Ap-A toxin modification was dramatically prolonged at positive potentials where Na channels open. However, it was not prolonged after Ap-A toxin at negative potentials, where channels predominately inactivate directly from closed states. Steady state voltage-dependent availability (h infinity or steady state inactivation), which predominately reflects the voltage dependence of closed-closed transitions equilibrating with closed-inactivated transitions was shifted in the depolarizing direction by only 1.9 +/- 0.8 mV (n = 8) after toxin modification. The slope factor changed from 7.2 +/- 0.8 to 9.9 +/- 0.9 mV (n = 8), consistent with a prolongation of inactivation from the open state of Ap-A toxin modified channels at more depolarized potentials. We conclude that Ap-A selectively modifies Na channel inactivation from the open state with little effect on channel activation or on inactivation from closed state(s).
Effects of age-related hearing loss and background noise on neuromagnetic activity from auditory cortex

Aging is often accompanied by hearing loss, which impacts how sounds are processed and represented along the ascending auditory pathways and within the auditory cortices. Here, we assess the impact of mild binaural hearing loss on the older adults’ ability to both process complex sounds embedded in noise and to segregate a mistuned harmonic in an otherwise periodic stimulus. We measured auditory evoked fields (AEFs) using magnetoencephalography while participants were presented with complex tones that had either all harmonics in tune or had the third harmonic mistuned by 4 or 16% of its original value. The tones (75 dB sound pressure level, SPL) were presented without, with low (45 dBA SPL), or with moderate (65 dBA SPL) Gaussian noise. For each participant, we modeled the AEFs with a pair of dipoles in the superior temporal plane. We then examined the effects of hearing loss and noise on the amplitude and latency of the resulting source waveforms. In the present study, results revealed that similar noise-induced increases in N1m were present in older adults with and without hearing loss. Our results also showed that the P1m amplitude was larger in the hearing impaired than in the normal-hearing adults. In addition, the object-related negativity (ORN) elicited by the mistuned harmonic was larger in hearing impaired listeners. The enhanced P1m and ORN amplitude in the hearing impaired older adults suggests that hearing loss increased neural excitability in auditory cortices, which could be related to deficits in inhibitory control.
Maternal Cognitions and Mother–Infant Interaction in Postnatal Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Postnatal depression and anxiety have been shown to increase the risk of disturbances in mother–child interaction and child development. Research into mechanisms has focused on genetics and maternal behavior; maternal cognitions have received little attention. Our aim was to experimentally determine if worry and rumination in mothers with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), diagnosed in the postnatal 6 months, interfered with maternal responsiveness to their 10-month old infants. Mothers (N = 253: GAD n = 90; MDD n = 57; control n = 106) and their infants were randomized to either a worry/rumination prime (WRP) or a neutral prime (NP); mother–infant interactions were assessed before and after priming. Type of priming was a significant predictor of maternal cognitions, with WRP resulting in more negative thoughts, higher thought recurrence and more self-focus relative to NP across the entire sample. Interaction effects between group and priming were significant for two parenting variables: Compared with controls, WRP had a more negative impact on maternal responsiveness to infant vocalization for GAD, and to a lesser extent for MDD; WRP led to decreased maternal vocalization for GAD. Also, mothers with GAD used stronger control after the NP than WRP, as well as compared with other groups, and overall post-priming, their children exhibited lower emotional tone and more withdrawal. Across the entire sample, WRP was associated with increased child vocalization relative to NP. This study demonstrated that disturbances in maternal cognitions, in the context of postnatal anxiety and to a lesser degree depression, play a significant role in mother–child interaction.
Seventy‐six cases of presumed sudden hearing loss occurring in 1973: Prognosis and incidence

A sudden hearing loss (SHL) research clinic to which 30 members of an ENT Society refer patients, accumulates information about incidence, prognosis, recovery patterns, and treatment of SHL. The diagnostic protocol includes laboratory, audiometric, and radiologic studies; patients are followed for a minimum of 10 months. Among 76 patients seen in 1973, the diagnosis of idiopathic SHL was retained in 52; more specific diagnoses were established in 24. The incidence of SHL in the general population is estimated at 10.7 cases per 100,000.