Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geographical differences of cancer incidence in Costa Rica in relation to environmental and occupational pesticide exposure.

BACKGROUND This study describes geographical differences in cancer incidence in Costa Rica, and investigates if some of these differences may be related to pesticides. METHODS Data were combined from the cancer registry (1981-1993), the 1984 population census, the 1984 agricultural census, and a national pesticide data set. The 81 counties of Costa Rica were the units for the ecological analyses. Adjacent counties were grouped into 14 regions (3 urban and 11 rural) with relatively similar socioeconomic characteristics. County indices for population density and agricultural variables were constructed and categorized. Differences across regions and categories were assessed by comparing observed numbers of incident cases to expected values derived from national rates. Within the tertile of most rural counties, rate ratios between categories of high and low pesticide use were calculated. RESULTS In urban regions, excesses were observed for lung, colorectal, breast, uterus, ovary, prostate, testis, kidney, and bladder cancers; and in rural regions for gastric, cervical, penile, and skin cancers. Skin cancers (lip, melanoma, non-melanocytic skin and penile cancer) occurred in excess in coffee growing areas with extensive use of paraquat and lead arsenate. In the most rural subset, heavy pesticide use was associated with an increase of cancer incidence overall and at a considerable number of specific sites, including lung cancer (relative risk [RR] 2.0 for men and 2.6 for women) and all female hormone-related cancers (RR between 1.3 and 1.8). CONCLUSIONS Regions and populations at high risk for specific cancers were identified. Several hypotheses for associations between pesticides and cancer emerged. The findings call for studies at the individual level.
A study on cluster validity measures for clustering network data

Modularity is one of the evaluation measures for network data and used as the criterion of merging two clusters in Louvain method. To construct useful cluster validity measures for network data, the effectiveness of eight conventional cluster validity measures are compared with Modularity. Cluster partitions of six artificial network datasets are obtained by k-medoids and evaluated by cluster validity measures including Modularity. Numerical experiments show that the Dunn's index is effective in conventional cluster validity measures than other indices.
Treatment of gingival recession defects using coronally advanced flap with a porcine collagen matrix compared to coronally advanced flap with connective tissue graft: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND Connective tissue graft (CTG) plus coronally advanced flap (CAF) is the reference therapy for root coverage. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the use of a porcine collagen matrix (PCM) plus CAF as an alternative to CTG+CAF for the treatment of gingival recessions (REC), in a prospective randomized, controlled clinical trial. METHODS Eighteen adult patients participated in this study. The patients presented 22 single Miller's Class I or II REC, randomly assigned to the test (PCM+CAF) or control (CTG+CAF) group. REC, probing depth, clinical attachment level (CAL), and width of keratinized tissue (KG) were evaluated at 12 months. In addition, the gingival thickness (GT) was measured 1mm apical to the bottom of the sulcus. RESULTS At 12 months, mean REC was 0.23 mm for test sites and 0.09 mm for control sites (P <0.01), whereas percentage of root coverage was 94.32% and 96.97%, respectively. CAL gain was 2.41 mm in test sites and 2.95 mm in control sites (P <0.01). KG gain was 1.23 mm in the test group and 1.27 mm in the control group (P <0.01). In test sites, GT changed from 0.82 to 1.82 mm, and in control sites, from 0.86 to 2.09 mm (P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS Within the limits of the study, both treatment procedures resulted in significant reduction in REC at 12 months. No statistically significant differences were found between PCM+CAF and CTG+CAF with regard to any clinical parameter. The collagen matrix represents a possible alternative to CTG.
Age-Related Change in Emotional Experience in a Sample of Chinese Adults: A Preliminary Study

Age-related change in emotional experience was explored in a Chinese community sample. 968 healthy adults (483 women, 485 men) ranging in age from 18 to 66 years (M = 37.5, SD = 12.3) took part. The frequency of experiencing negative and positive emotion was self-reported on the general dimension scales of Positive and Negative Affect Scale–Expanded Form (PANAS–X). Regression analyses indicated that the frequency of negative affect decreased with age, and the frequency of positive affect was not significantly associated with age. These findings are similar to those found in Western samples, as discussed in relation to socioemotional selectivity theory.
Childhood traumatic events and dissociation in university students

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of childhood traumatic events, to investigate its relationship with dissociation and other psychiatric symptoms and to examine the potential effect of family functioning on dissociative symptoms and general psychopathology in a Turkish university student sample. Methods. All participant completed Brief Physical and Sexual Abuse Questionnaire, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and Family Assessment Device (FAD). Results. The most frequent childhood trauma type was separation from caretaker (46.1%). Witnessing violence (33.1%), harsh punishment (21.2%) and substance abuse in family (10.5%) followed. Sexual abuse of incest type was seen in 6.3%. Students who reported childhood traumatic events had higher DES and SCL-90-R scores compared to those who did not. There were fair relationships between SCL-90-R and FAD scores. Conclusion. A history of childhood traumatic events may be related to increased level of dissociation and general psychopathology in university students. Other pathogenic family factors also may contribute to the development of psychiatric symptoms.
Prevalence and Diagnosis Rates of Childhood ADHD Among Racial-Ethnic Groups in a Public Mental Health System.

OBJECTIVE This study estimated the proportions of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white and black children ages three to 17 with a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) receiving services from the New York State public mental health system (NYS PMHS) and their annual treated ADHD prevalence rates. Findings were compared with those of recent national studies of general population samples. METHODS Data were from a 2011 survey of users of NYS PMHS nonresidential services. Adjusted odds ratios compared the probability of an ADHD diagnosis among the groups by age, gender, and insurance type. Prevalence rates were compared among groups by age and gender. RESULTS An estimated 133,091 children used the NYS PMHS, of whom 31% had an ADHD diagnosis. The prevalence rate of ADHD among whites was significantly lower than that among Hispanics or blacks in all gender and age groups except Hispanic females ages 13 to 17. White children were significantly less likely than black children to receive an ADHD diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS National studies have reported higher ADHD rates among white children. Compared with children in the NYS PMHS, those in national studies had multiple access points to care, including private psychiatrists and clinicians and primary care practitioners. The higher reported ADHD rates in national studies may reflect higher rates of private insurance among white children, which would increase the likelihood of their using private practitioners. Cultural factors that influence whether and where care is sought and whether practitioners appropriately diagnosis ADHD may also explain the difference in findings.
Free‐form neutrophil elastase is an independent marker predicting recurrence in primary breast cancer

We have measured the immunoreactive neutrophil elastase (ir‐NE) concentration in tumor extracts of 313 primary human breast cancers using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay recently developed and have evaluated its association with disease‐free survival. This is a sensitive assay that enables rapid measurement of both free‐form and α1‐proteinase inhibitor (α1‐PI)–complexed form of ir‐NE. Breast cancer patients with high ir‐NE concentrations had a significantly shorter disease‐free survival (P = .013) than those with a low ir‐NE concentration at the cutoff point of 9.0 μg/100 mg protein, which was determined in another group of 49 patients. In multivariate analysis, the ir‐NE level was found to be an independent prognostic factor (relative risk = 2.2, P = .025) for disease recurrence in human breast cancer. Furthermore, when multivariate analysis was repeated with inclusion of each level of free‐form and α1‐PI‐complexed form, the former level was an independent predictor of recurrence (relative risk = 2.5, P = .015), whereas the latter was not independently predictive (P = .43). These results support the hypothesis that this enzyme may play an active role in the tumor progression that leads to metastasis in human breast cancer. J. Leukoc. Biol. 57: 375–378; 1995.
Modification of theophylline release with alginate gel formed in hard capsules

The aim of this work was to establish whether alginate gel formed spontaneously in hard gelatin capsules which modifies release of a model drug, theophylline. The effects of the alginate composition, the calcium addition, and the dissolution medium on drug release were also investigated. After the capsule shell dissolved in water, at neutral pH the gel layer of sodium alginate was formed immediately as the sodium alginate hydrated and swelled on contact with the aqueous medium. In acidic pH, the contents remained intact and the matrix shape was the same. Theophylline release from capsules containing different grades of alginate demonstrated different release patterns, depending on alginate composition and the pH of the medium. The capsules containing sodium/calcium salts of alginate showed the slowest drug release at neutral pH but the fastest in acidic medium. The presence of calcium acetate in the formulations influenced the drug release kinetics. The drug release in acidic medium showed a non-Fickian diffusion-controlled release, while those in water at neutral pH exhibited a Super Case II transport mechanism. The study also provides evidence that the behavior of alginate in forming the hydrated gel layer may explain the drug release behavior at different pHs.
Colonization, serotypes and transmission rates of group B streptococci in pregnant women and their infants born at a single University Center in Germany

Abstract Objective: To evaluate colonization, transmission rate and serotype distribution of group B streptococci (GBS) in pregnant women and infants born in a single University Center in Germany. Methods: In a prospective study we collected cultures from pregnant women and ear cultures from newborns. We performed serotyping and susceptibility testing. Obstetrical factors associated with mother to infant transmission were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: We evaluated cultures of 869 pregnant women and 845 neonates including 657 paired maternal-neonatal cultures. Maternal colonization occurred in 21.1% (183/869), transmission from mother to newborn in 11.2% (17/152). Intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis (IAP) and cesarean delivery were associated with reduction of transmission rate (P=0.014 and 0.019, respectively). The incidence for early-onset disease (EOD) was 1.71 per 1000 live births. Of GBS positive women IAP was administered in only 39% (59/152). Serotype III was the most prevalent isolate (28% maternal; 52% neonatal) and transmission occurred more frequently compared to other serotypes. Conclusions: The incidence of EOD and distribution of serotypes in Germany are similar to published data from the USA prior to 1996. Despite national guidelines with universal GBS screening, our study demonstrated a lack of adherence to this recommendation. There is a need for enhanced compliance.
Calling strategies of male túngara frogs in response to dynamic playback

Tungara frogs produce calls of varying complexity that consist of a whine followed by 0–7 chucks. In previous studies using static playbacks, males increase chuck number in response to calls with 1 versus 0 chucks but not in response to 2 or 3 versus 1 chuck. Here we use dynamic playback in which an automated interaction program counts the number of chucks present in a call and responds according to a specified calling strategy which determines the number of chucks in the response call. Males added progressively more chucks in response to the models' strategies of de-escalate, match or escalate; there was a significant difference in the focal males' responses to the de-escalate versus the escalate strategies. Similarly, males changed their calling strategy in response to the de-escalate strategy of the model. There was no evidence of change in calling patterns, as estimated by entropy, among treatments and between experimental and field data. Males produced significantly more chucks in these experiments than in the field, but in both contexts the mean chuck number is low and never approaches the maximum observed in nature. These data suggest that males are cost-sensitive when it comes to adding chucks and that they are more influenced by vocal competitors that de-escalate rather than escalate number of chucks. These are patterns of calling not previously revealed in studies using static playbacks, and this study is another demonstration of the usefulness of dynamic playback in studies of animal communication.
Serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins A and B in epileptic patients treated with valproic acid, carbamazepine or phenobarbital

Serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins A and B were measured in 101 epileptic patients receiving chronic treatment with valproic acid, carbamazepine or phenobarbital and in 75 age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects. In relation to controls, subjects treated with valproic acid showed significantly lower values of total and LDL‐cholesterol levels; subjects treated with carbamazepine showed significantly higher values of HDL‐cholesterol and apolipoprotein A concentrations and subjects treated with phenobarbital showed significantly higher values of total cholesterol, HDL‐cholesterol, apolipoprotein A and apolipoprotein B levels. The total cholesterol/HDL‐cholesterol ratio was significantly lower in patients receiving valproic acid or carbamazepine but not in the phenobarbital‐treated group. Changes in serum lipids profile did not correlate with drug plasma concentrations nor the duration of the treatment.
WPP, No.110: Glottal stops before word-initial vowels in American English: distribution and acoustic characteristics

Author(s): Garellek, Marc | Abstract: Despite abundant research on the distribution of glottal stops and glottalization in English and other languages, it is still unclear which factors matter most in predicting where glottal stops occur. In this study, logistic mixed-effects regression modeling is used to predict the occurrence of word-initial full glottal stops vs. no voicing irregularity. The results indicate that prominence and phrasing are overwhelmingly the most important factors in predicting full glottal stop occurrence. Additionally, prominent word-initial vowels that are not preceded by full glottal stop show acoustic correlates of glottal constriction, whereas non-prominent phrase-initial vowels do not. Rather, phrase-initial voicing (even for sonorants) is less regular, but in a manner inconsistent with glottal constriction. Therefore, not all cases of voicing irregularity on wordinitial vowels should be attributed to the presence of a glottal stop gesture.
Understanding Jump Landing as an Oscillating System: A Model-based Approach of Balance and Strength Analyses

Counter movement jumps (CMJ) are well-suited to measure the muscle power and balance. Since it has been clarified that well accepted CMJ amplification-based balance measures (such as TTS or CoP) are significantly influenced by algorithmic, and measurement settings and thus, measurement results have limited meaningfulness among force platforms, we introduce a new model-based approach measuring the postural stability. In this, during the landing and recovery phases after vertical jumps, the lower extremities can be represented by an oscillating system and the corresponding transfer function is described by a second-order delay (PT2)
Associations of Energy Intake and Type 2 Diabetes with Hypertryglyceridemia in Older Adults Living in the Mediterranean Islands: The Medis Study

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the associations of bio-clinical, dietary, and other lifestyle characteristics with the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia among older individuals living in the Mediterranean islands. Information was collected for an extensive array of demographic, bio-clinical, and dietary characteristics, including serum lipids, body weight and height, and food group and nutrient information derived from a food frequency questionnaire. Serum lipid analyses showed that 37% and 35% of males and females, respectively, had elevated triglyceride (TG) levels. After adjustment for a variety of potential confounders, including age, gender, hypertension, physical activity, smoking, and energy consumption, individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) had a 112% higher likelihood of hypertriglyceridemia (95% CI 1.28–3.51). When reported energy intake was quantified in tertiles of consumption, those in the highest tertile (i.e., intakes > 1300 kcal) had a 156% higher (p < 0.01) likelihood of having hypertriglyceridemia compared to the lowest tertile (i.e., <1000 kcal). Analysis by gender showed that energy intake did not predict hypertriglyceridemia in females (p = 0.31) or in those who were normal weight (p = 0.16) or overweight (p = 0.96). However, in males (odds ratio per 1 kcal = 1.001, 95% CI 1.000–1.002) and obese participants (odds ratio per 1 kcal = 1.001, 95% CI 1.000–1.002), excess energy consumption was associated with elevated TG. In conclusion, we found that a considerable proportion of the older adults living in the Mediterranean islands and participating in this study had elevated TG levels. Furthermore, the energy intake and a finding of T2D were positively associated with occurrence of hypertriglyceridemia.
Prion strain discrimination in cell culture: The cell panel assay

Prions are thought to consist mainly or entirely of misfolded PrP, a constitutively expressed host protein. Prions associated with the same PrP sequence may occur in the form of different strains; the strain phenotype is believed to be encoded by the conformation of the PrP. Some cell lines can be persistently infected by prions and, interestingly, show preference for certain strains. We report that a cloned murine neuroblastoma cell population, N2a-PK1, is highly heterogeneous in regard to its susceptibility to RML and 22L prions. Remarkably, sibling subclones may show very different relative susceptibilities to the two strains, indicating that the responses can vary independently. We have assembled four cell lines, N2a-PK1, N2a-R33, LD9 and CAD5, which show widely different responses to prion strains RML, 22L, 301C, and Me7, into a panel that allows their discrimination in vitro within 2 weeks, using the standard scrapie cell assay (SSCA).
Effects of exercise on joint sense and balance in elderly men: Tai Chi versus golf.

PURPOSE Our previous studies showed that experienced Tai Chi practitioners had better joint proprioception and balance control during weight shifting. The objective of the present study was to examine whether experienced golfers had attained similar improvement when compared with the Tai Chi practitioners, as well as healthy elderly subjects and young university students. METHODS We compared 12 experienced elderly Tai Chi practitioners, with 11 experienced elderly golfers, 12 healthy elderly subjects, and 12 young university students, who were all males, using: 1) passive knee joint repositioning test to assess their joint proprioceptive acuity and 2) limits of stability test to assess their ability to voluntarily weight shift within their base of support. RESULTS Both Tai Chi practitioners and golfers had better knee joint proprioceptive acuity than did the elderly control subjects (P < 0.05). Of special interest is that their performance was similar to that of the young subjects. In the limits of stability test, Tai Chi practitioners and golfers had faster reaction time, leaned further without losing stability, and showed better control of leaning trajectory than did elderly control subjects (all P < 0.05). The latter two outcome measures were also comparable to those of the young subjects. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that both experienced Tai Chi practitioners and golfers had improved knee joint proprioception and limits of stability, when compared with those of elderly control subjects similar in age, gender (male), and physical activity level. Such improved outcome measures were comparable to those of young male subjects. These findings suggest that experienced Tai Chi practitioners and golfers had improved joint proprioceptive acuity and dynamic standing balance control, despite the known aging effects in these specific sensorimotor functions.
QoS aware routing protocol to improve reliability for prioritised heterogeneous traffic in wireless sensor network

Rapid penetration of smart wireless devices and enormous growth of wireless communication technologies have already led to the deployment of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Sensor nodes in these networks severely suffer from resource constraints, such as energy, buffer, bandwidth and so on. On the other hand, with increasing demand for real-time services in WSN applications, quality of service (QoS)-based routing has emerged as an interesting research topic. Naturally offering some QoS-guarantee in sensor networks raises significant challenges. The networks need to cope up with resource constraints, while providing precise QoS (end-to-end delay and reliability requirement) guarantee. This paper presents QoS aware routing protocol, namely the energy–buffer aware reliable routing (EBARR) protocol that meets both challenges of reliability and timely delivery of critical data. The EBARR achieves reliability by prioritising the packet transmission, reserving the energy and employing efficient buffer management policy to mitigate packet losses due to buffer overflow, hop-by-hop flow control mechanism to reduce packet retransmission overheads along multi-hop routes from source to sink. An angle-based router set ensures the delivery of data within the maximum tolerable time. We evaluate and compare the performance of EBARR protocol with the multi-constraint multi-path routing protocol by means of simulation experiments. Simulation results show that the proposed EBARR protocol efficiently mitigates critical packet losses even under heterogeneous traffic, thereby achieving required reliability and timely delivery of data.
Benzothiazole: Different Methods of Synthesis and Diverse Biological Activities

Substituted 1, 3-benzothiazole derivatives are an important class of heterocyclic compounds. In recent years heterocyclic compounds analogues and derivatives have attracted strong interest due to their biological and pharmacological properties. The benzothiazole nucleus containing compounds involved in research aimed at evaluating new products that possess biological activities, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antifungal, anthelmintic, anti-diabetic, amyloid imagining agents and anticancer agents. The present review focus on the different methods of synthesis of substituted benzothiazoles with potential activities that are now in developing phase.