Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
When mtDNA COI is misleading: congruent signal of ITS2 molecular marker and morphology for North European Melanostoma Schiner, 1860 (Diptera, Syrphidae)

Abstract The northern European taxa of genus Melanostoma Schiner, 1860 (Syrphidae, Diptera) are revised. A longstanding question concerning the number of Melanostoma taxa occurring in northern Europe prompted us to contrast and compare their morphological and molecular variability. Particular uncertainty concerned the putative existence of a sibling species of Melanostoma mellinum, and the identity of the taxon Melanostoma dubium in northern Europe due to existence of morphologically similar dark forms of M. mellinum in the northern parts of its distributional range. Partial sequences of two DNA markers, the mitochondrial protein-coding gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI-3') and the nuclear second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) were analysed separately under parsimony. The obtained COI-3'gene fragment showed taxon-specific haplotypes and haplotypes that were shared among the taxa. The ITS2 sequences presented genotypes unique to each species, and congruence with our independently established taxonomic entities. Based on congruent signal of the ITS2 sequences and study of morphological characters we establish the presence of four taxa in northern Europe: Melanostoma mellium (= M. dubium nec auctt., syn. n.), M. certum sp. n. (= M. dubium auctt.), M. mellarium stat. n. (= M. mellinum auctt. partim) and M. scalare. Lectotype designations were made for Musca mellina, Syrphus mellarius and Melanostoma mellinum var. melanatus. The following synonymies were established: Melanostoma mellarium = Melanostoma melanatum syn. n. ; Melanostoma mellinum = Scaeva dubia syn. n. , Melanostoma tschernovi syn. n. , and Melanostoma clausseni syn. n. Morphological circumscriptions of the taxa and an identification key are presented.
Clinical and molecular characteristics of the 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1 infection with severe or fatal disease from 2009 to 2011 in Shenzhen, China

In the past 3 years, the 2009 pandemic influenza virus H1N1 (pH1N1) has led to many severe or fatal cases. The virus‐related factors that cause severe or fatal disease are not clear. The clinical and molecular characteristics of pH1N1 infections with severe or fatal disease were examined to understand the correlation between pH1N1 infection and disease severity. Since 2009, three pH1N1 influenza epidemic outbreaks have occurred in Shenzhen, China. One hundred forty‐six severe cases were confirmed in the first wave in 2009. In severe cases, a high proportion (49.3%) of patents displayed high fever (>39.0°C), and 73.2% of patients had pneumonia and tracheobronchitis. Seven fatal cases were recorded: three with viral encephalitis and four with respiratory failure. The results of sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that the viruses from fatal or severe cases were scattered throughout the phylogenetic tree. Four substitutions (D222G, D222N, D222E, and Q223R) were observed on the 220‐loop of the receptor‐binding sites of the HA gene. Both D222G and D222N were associated statistically with severe disease. The 2011 viruses had evolved into two distinct branches. Ten specific point mutations occurred in the 2011 virus. In summary, high fever, lower respiratory tract infections and serious complications were the main features of severe cases. Gene variation seemed not to be the main reason for severe disease. Vaccination is the effective mean to prevent infection and severe disease. J. Med. Virol. 85:405–412, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dictators don't compete: autocracy, democracy, and tax competition

ABSTRACT It pays to be a tax haven. Ireland has become rich that way. Why do not all countries cut their capital taxes to get wealthy? One reason is structural. As the standard model of tax competition explains, small countries gain from competitive tax cuts while large countries suffer. Yet not all small (large) countries have low (high) capital taxes. Why? The reason, we argue, is political. While the standard model assumes governments to be democratic, more than a third of countries worldwide are non-democratic. We explain theoretically why autocracies are less likely to adjust to competitive constraints and test our argument empirically against data on the corporate tax policy of 99 countries from 1999 to 2011.
Upregulation of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Contributes to Attenuated Cutaneous Vasodilation in Essential Hypertensive Humans

Essential hypertension is a proinflammatory, proconstrictor disease coinciding with endothelial dysfunction and inward vessel remodeling. Using the skin circulation, our aim was to determine whether inducible NO synthase (iNOS) upregulation attenuates NO-dependent cutaneous vasodilation in hypertensive humans. We hypothesized that, with hypertension, localized iNOS inhibition would restore vasodilation in response to NO-dependent stimuli, and iNOS expression would be increased and phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein would be decreased. For, in vivo protocols, 4 intradermal microdialysis fibers were placed in 9 hypertensive and 10 normotensive men and women (systolic blood pressure: 146±4 versus 113±2 mm Hg; P<0.001). Microdialysis fibers served as control, iNOS inhibited (1400 W), neuronal NO synthase inhibited (N&ohgr;-propyl-L-arginine), and nonselective NOS inhibited (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester). Cutaneous vascular conductance was calculated (percentage of sodium nitroprusside) during standardized local heating (42°C) and acetylcholine dose-response protocols (0.01, 0.10, 1.00, 5.00, 10.00, 50.00, 100.00 mmol/L). The NO-dependent local heating response was attenuated at control (95±2% versus 76±2% cutaneous vascular conductance; P<0.05) and neuronal NO synthase–inhibited sites (94±4% versus 77±3% cutaneous vascular conductance; P<0.01) in hypertensives. iNOS inhibition augmented the NO-dependent local heating response (93±2% versus 89±10% cutaneous vascular conductance). Acetylcholine-induced vasodilation was attenuated in control sites at doses ≥0.1 mmol/L of acetylcholine in hypertensives and was restored with iNOS inhibition (0.1 mmol/L, P<0.05; 1, 5, and 10 mmol/L, P<0.001; 50 and 100 mmol/L, P<0.01). In vitro iNOS expression was increased (P=0.006) and phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein was decreased in skin from hypertensive humans (P=0.04). These data suggest that iNOS is upregulated in essential hypertensive humans and contributes to reduced NO-dependent cutaneous vasodilation.
The use of temporal information in the regularization of the inverse problem of electrocardiography

The inverse problem of electrocardiography is solved in order to reconstruct electrical events within the heart from information measured noninvasively on the body surface. These electrical events can be deduced from measured epicardial potentials; therefore, a noninvasive method of recovering epicardial potentials from body surface data is useful in clinical and experimental work. The ill-posed nature of this problem necessitates the use of regularization in the solution procedure. Inversion using Tihonov zero-order regularization, a quasi-static method, had been employed previously and was able to reconstruct, with relatively good accuracy, important events in cardiac excitation (maxima, minima, etc.). Taking advantage of the fact that the process of cardiac excitation is continuous in time, one can incorporate information from the time progression of excitation in the regularization procedure using the Twomey technique. Methods of this type were tested on data obtained from a human-torso tank in which a beating canine heart was placed. The results show a marked improvement in the inverse solution when these temporal methods are used. <<ETX>>
Does Aid Decrease Child Mortality

The literature has traditionally found no or little aggregate impact of foreign aid on infant mortality. We suggest that exceptionally high persistence in infant mortality data and sector aid data incompleteness may have played some role in generating such disappointing results. Accounting for both issues, this paper estimates the aggregate impacts of total and sector aid on the neo-natal, infant and under-five mortality rates using fractional estimation techniques for panel data controlling for time-invariant country-specific effects, measurement errors and endogeneity. We confirm that total aid has no impact on child mortality rates. We find mixed evidence that health aid reduces child mortality but robust evidence that agricultural aid has large effects. Aid policies aimed at reducing child mortality in developing countries should recognise the increased importance of targeting the agriculture.
Follow-up in patients with congenital cardiac disease more complex than haemodynamic assessment

The objective of the study was to assess behavioural and emotional problems, as well as physical capacity, in children and adolescents with congenital cardiac disease. From the database of Paediatric Heart Section, Children's Clinic, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway, we identified 430 patients whose parents received questionnaires using the Child Behaviour Check-List. The response rate was 75.8%. In addition, the parents received a questionnaire focusing on special issues with regard to physical activity. Parents of children and adolescents with congenital cardiac diseases reported significantly more behavioural problems than did a reference population and boys were scored higher compared to girls. Analysis showed a significant impact of physical capacity on the score representing total problems, as well as scores for externalising and internalising behaviour. Compared to a reference population, parents of children and adolescents with congenital cardiac disease score their children higher on most scales when rated using the Child Behaviour Check-List. The type of diagnosis did not affect the scores reflecting the total problem. The main factor of impact on behavioural problems was, as evaluated by the parents, the physical capacity of the children.
Photocatalytic actions of the pesticide metabolite 2-hydroxyquinoxaline: destruction of antioxidant vitamins and biogenic amines – implications of organic redox cycling

Abstract Toxicity of the pesticide quinalphos may comprise secondary, delayed effects by its main metabolite 2-hydroxyquinoxaline (HQO). We demonstrate that HQO can destroy photocatalytically vitamins C and E, catecholamines, serotonin, melatonin, the melatonin metabolite AMK (N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine), and unsubstituted and substituted anthranilic acids when exposed to visible light. In order to avoid HQO-independent ascorbate oxidation by light and to exclude actions by hydroxyl radicals, experiments on this vitamin were carried out in ethanolic solutions. Other substances tested (vitamin E, melatonin, anthranilic acids) were also photocatalytically destroyed by HQO in ethanol. After product analyses had indicated that HQO was not, or only poorly, degraded in the light, despite its catalytic action on other compounds, we followed directly the time course of HQO and ascorbate concentrations in ethanol. While ascorbate was largely destroyed, no change in HQO was demonstrable within 2 h of incubation. Destruction was not prevented by the singlet oxygen quencher DABCO. Obviously, HQO is capable of undergoing a process of organic redox cycling, perhaps via an intermediate quinoxaline-2-oxyl radical. Health problems from HQO intoxication may not only arise from the loss of valuable biomolecules, such as antioxidant vitamins and biogenic amines, but also from the formation of potentially toxic products. Dimerization and oligomerization are involved in several oxidation processes catalyzed by HQO, especially in the indoleamines, in dopamine, and presumably also in vitamin E. Melatonin oxidation by HQO did not only lead to the well-known – and usually protective – metabolite AFMK (N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine), but also to a high number of additional products, among them dimers and trimers. DABCO did not prevent melatonin destruction, but changed the spectrum of products. Serotonin was preferentially converted to a dimer, which can further oligomerize. Several indole dimers are known to be highly neurotoxic, as well as oxidation products formed from catecholamines via the adrenochrome/noradrenochrome pathway. Destruction of melatonin may cause deficiencies in circadian physiology, in immune functions and in antioxidative protection.
Mycobacterium interjectum, a New Species Isolated from a Patient with Chronic Lymphadenitis

Mycobacterium-like organisms, isolates 2081/92 and 4185/92, were recovered from a lymph node of a child with chronic lymphadenitis. The growth characteristics, acid-fastness, and mycolic acids of the isolate were consistent with those for Mycobacterium species. The isolates were biochemically distinct from described Mycobacterium species, although they most closely resembled M. scrofulaceum. Comparative 16S rDNA sequencing showed that these isolates represent a new slow-growing Mycobacterium species which is named M. interjectum. Our results demonstrate the importance of 16S rDNA sequencing for recognizing the diversity of species within the genus Mycobacterium.
An integrated model of festival revisit intentions: Theory of planned behavior and festival quality/satisfaction

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the determinants of current visitors’ festival revisit intentions. The concepts of festival quality and satisfaction were adapted and integrated with the theory of planned behavior (TPB) from social psychology to theorize a model of festival revisit intentions. In addition, given the importance of social characteristics in festival visiting behavior, the relative impacts of three modes of social influences (i.e. subjective norms, group norms and social identity) were investigated. Design/methodology/approach Statistical analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling to examine the hypothesized relationships with the data collected onsite during the Nonsan Strawberry Festival, held in Nonsan, South Korea. The eleven constructs were incorporated into the structural model to examine the hypothesized relationships among the latent factors. Findings Results of the analyses indicated that the proposed model had an acceptable fit to the empirical data. The overall explanatory power of the model had an R2 of 84 per cent for revisit intention and an R2 of 60 per cent for satisfaction. Satisfaction was found to be the strongest predictor of visitors’ revisit intensions, followed by social identity, subjective norms and group norms. Research limitations/implications This study developed an integrated model to explain festival visitors’ revisit intentions by adopting not only visitors’ personal evaluation of the festival experience and but also a series of social influences. Practical implications Based on the results, festival managers should allocate their marketing resources for the festival program, environment and souvenirs to increase the visitors’ perception of quality. Particular attention should also be given to visitor groups and their travel companions’ influences on their intentions to revisit the festival. Originality/value The incorporation of festival quality and satisfaction and TPB extended with additional social influence variables provided a model with a theoretical basis to explain festival revisit intentions. This approach may provide an initial blueprint for further investigation of other theoretical revisit models.
Thyroid hormone use and bone mineral density in elderly women. Effects of estrogen.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of long-term use of thyroid hormone on bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly women and the potential mitigating effects of estrogen replacement therapy. DESIGN Cross-sectional, community-based study. SETTING Rancho Bernardo, Calif. PARTICIPANTS A total of 991 white women aged 50 to 98 years who participated in a study of osteoporosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Bone mineral density at the ultradistal radius and midshaft radius using single-photon absorptiometry and at the hip and lumbar spine using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS A total of 196 women taking thyroid hormone for a mean duration of 20.4 years were compared with 795 women who were not using thyroid hormone. Women taking daily thyroxine-equivalent doses of 200 micrograms or more had significantly lower BMD levels at the midshaft radius and hip compared with those taking less than 200 micrograms. Daily doses of 1.6 micrograms/kg and greater were associated with lower bone mass at all four sites compared with nonuse, whereas doses less than 1.6 micrograms/kg were not associated with lower BMD levels. These associations were independent of age, body mass index, smoking status, and use of thiazides, corticosteroids, and estrogen. Women taking both estrogen and a thyroid hormone dose of 1.6 micrograms/kg or greater had significantly higher BMD levels at all four sites than women taking the same thyroid hormone dose alone. Women taking both thyroid hormone and estrogen had BMD levels comparable with those observed in women taking only estrogen. CONCLUSIONS Long-term thyroid hormone use at thyroxine-equivalent doses of 1.6 micrograms/kg or greater was associated with significant osteopenia at the ultradistal radius, midshaft radius, hip, and lumbar spine. Estrogen use appears to negate thyroid hormone-associated loss of bone density in postmenopausal women.
Cassel Personality Disorder Study

Background The effectiveness of hospital-based treatment models for personality disorder is still uncertain. Aims To compare effectiveness of two models of psychosocial intervention for personality disorder. Method Two samples of people with personality disorder allocated to a one-stage treatment model (in-patient treatment with no after care) and to a two-stage model (shorter in-patient admission followed by outreach therapy) are prospectively compared. Results Subjects in the two-stage sample did significantly better on global assessment of mental health (according to the Global Assessment Score (GAS)) at 6 and 12 months and on social adjustment (according to the Social Adjustment Scale (SAS)) at 12 months. Significant differences in rates of reliable improvement on the GAS (43% v. 17%) and SAS (39% v. 15%) in favour of the two-stage condition were found at 12 months. Subjects with borderline personality disorder (BPD) allocated to the two-stage model improved significantly more than such patients in the one-stage model. Conclusions A long-term phased model which combines hospital-based and community-based strategies has advantages over a purely in-patient model for the treatment of BPD.
Acute effect of carbamazepine on corticothalamic 5–9‐Hz and thalamocortical spindle (10–16‐Hz) oscillations in the rat

A major side effect of carbamazepine (CBZ), a drug used to treat neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, is drowsiness, a state characterized by increased slow‐wave oscillations with the emergence of sleep spindles in the electroencephalogram (EEG). We conducted cortical EEG and thalamic cellular recordings in freely moving or lightly anesthetized rats to explore the impact of CBZ within the intact corticothalamic (CT)–thalamocortical (TC) network, more specifically on CT 5–9‐Hz and TC spindle (10–16‐Hz) oscillations. Two to three successive 5–9‐Hz waves were followed by a spindle in the cortical EEG. A single systemic injection of CBZ (20 mg/kg) induced a significant increase in the power of EEG 5–9‐Hz oscillations and spindles. Intracellular recordings of glutamatergic TC neurons revealed 5–9‐Hz depolarizing wave–hyperpolarizing wave sequences prolonged by robust, rhythmic spindle‐frequency hyperpolarizing waves. This hybrid sequence occurred during a slow hyperpolarizing trough, and was at least 10 times more frequent under the CBZ condition than under the control condition. The hyperpolarizing waves reversed at approximately −70 mV, and became depolarizing when recorded with KCl‐filled intracellular micropipettes, indicating that they were GABAA receptor‐mediated potentials. In neurons of the GABAergic thalamic reticular nucleus, the principal source of TC GABAergic inputs, CBZ augmented both the number and the duration of sequences of rhythmic spindle‐frequency bursts of action potentials. This indicates that these GABAergic neurons are responsible for the generation of at least the spindle‐frequency hyperpolarizing waves in TC neurons. In conclusion, CBZ potentiates GABAA receptor‐mediated TC spindle oscillations. Furthermore, we propose that CT 5–9‐Hz waves can trigger TC spindles.
Effects of Tacrolimus or Sirolimus on Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle and Endothelial Cells

Abstract: Local strategies directed against vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation such as drug-eluting stents reduce the occurrence of restenosis. However, these approaches may also inhibit endothelial cell (EC) proliferation and, thus, impair reendothelialization. We compared the effects of tacrolimus on human VSMC and EC proliferation and migration to sirolimus, a compound with similar molecular structure. Thymidine incorporation was determined in growth factor-stimulated VSMC and EC. The drug concentration at which maximal VSMC proliferation was inhibited by 50% (IC50) was about 102-fold higher for tacrolimus (3.8 × 10−7 M) than for sirolimus (4.1 × 10−9 M; P = 0.055). It is interesting that the molar IC50 value in EC was around 104-fold higher for tacrolimus (2.3 × 10−6 M) than for sirolimus (7.1 × 10−10 M; P < 0.01). The profile of these drugs on VSMC and EC migration was similar to the one found in the proliferation assays. Inhibition of VSMC proliferation by both tacrolimus and sirolimus was associated with upregulation of the cell-cycle inhibitor p27. Thus, tacrolimus is less potent than sirolimus for inhibiting VSMC proliferation or migration. However, tacrolimus exerts markedly less antiproliferative effects on EC compared with sirolimus. In combination with its potent antiinflammatory effects, tacrolimus may represent a promising compound for the use in drug-eluting stents.
Are orthopedic surgeons prone to burnout?

OBJECTIVE Burnout syndrome (BOS) is a state of physical, and emotional or mental exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment. Health care givers are most prone to suffer from BOS. There are no studies to date on BOS among trained orthopedic, and trauma surgeons. The objective of this study, was to assess the prevalence of BOS among the orthopedic surgeons in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. METHODS This study was conducted among the orthopedic surgeons of the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia between September 2003 and October 2004. One hundred and two questionnaires of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were sent to the qualified orthopedic surgeons with a self-addressed stamped envelope, from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar. Three factors of MBI, which were assessed, were emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. The data were entered in the database, and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science. RESULTS Sixty-nine (67.6%) of the orthopedic surgeons completed the questionnaire. The average age was 45.72 +/- 6.82 (33-57) years. Thirty-five (50.7%) were found to be in a state of emotional exhaustion, 59.4% depersonalized, and 17% had low state of personal accomplishment. Doctors working in the government hospitals fared better than those in the private sector. CONCLUSION Burnout syndrome is common among orthopedic surgeons working in the Eastern province Saudi Arabia. It is emphasized that awareness of the problem should be highlighted; programs need to be put in place to reduce the prevalence of burnout syndrome.