Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spring bloom community change modifies carbon pathways and C : N : P : Chl a stoichiometry of coastal material fluxes

Diatoms and dinoflagellates are major bloom- forming phytoplankton groups competing for resources in the oceans and coastal seas. Recent evidence suggests that their competition is significantly affected by climatic fac- tors under ongoing change, modifying especially the condi- tions for cold-water, spring bloom communities in temper- ate and Arctic regions. We investigated the effects of phy- toplankton community composition on spring bloom car- bon flows and nutrient stoichiometry in multiyear mesocosm experiments. Comparison of differing communities showed that community structure significantly affected C accumu- lation parameters, with highest particulate organic carbon (POC) buildup and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) release in diatom-dominated communities. In terms of inorganic nu- trient drawdown and bloom accumulation phase, the domi- nating groups behaved as functional surrogates. Dominance patterns, however, significantly affected C : N : P : Chl a ra- tios over the whole bloom event: when diatoms were domi- nant, these ratios increased compared to dinoflagellate dom- inance or mixed communities. Diatom-dominated communi- ties sequestered carbon up to 3.6-fold higher than the expec- tation based on the Redfield ratio, and 2-fold higher com- pared to dinoflagellate dominance. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental report of consequences of climatically driven shifts in phytoplankton dominance patterns for carbon sequestration and related biogeochemical cycles in coastal seas. Our results also highlight the need for remote sensing technologies with taxonomical resolution, as the C : Chla ra- tio was strongly dependent on community composition and bloom stage. Climate-driven changes in phytoplankton domi- nance patterns will have far-reaching consequences for major biogeochemical cycles and need to be considered in climate change scenarios for marine systems.
A New Quality Assurance System for the Evaluation of Ecotoxicity Studies Submitted Under the New Substances Notification Regulations in Canada

Abstract New substances destined for import into, or manufacture in, Canada must be reported to Environment Canada and Health Canada under the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers) (NSNR). With the use of information provided by the notifier, and other complementary information available to the 2 departments, the New Substances Program conducts ecological and human health risk assessments. Over the past 10 y, more than 750 ecotoxicity studies have been submitted to the New Substances Program of Environment Canada under the NSNR. Most of these experimental studies are not publicly available but are useful in the ecological risk assessment of new substances and for the development of Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationships (QSARs). In this paper, we describe the development and validation of a computer-based scoring system and our approach in the development of scoring methods used to assess the quality and usability of ecotoxicity studies with fish, Daphnia spp. , and green algae. Results of ranking exercises conducted with these methods are described and discussed, together with the potential use of these results in a regulatory context. In addition, the methods are discussed in comparison with other similar evaluation schemes described in the literature.
Haemodialysis increases QTc interval but not QTc dispersion in ESRD patients without manifest cardiac disease.

Sir, I read with interest the article by Covic and co-workers [1] showing that haemodialysis increases the QTc interval (mainly due to rapid changes in electrolyte plasma concentrations), but not QTc dispersion in uraemic patients without manifest cardiac disease. Indeed, studying QTc interval and QTc dispersion is of great importance because of their significance as risk factors that predispose to severe ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death, especially in dialysis patients. This article supports early findings that the QTc interval is connected to calcium plasma levels [2–4]. Moreover, it is well known that calcium plasma levels can be predicted using special formulae that include the QTc interval [3,4]. It is also proposed that the QTc interval might be used as a marker of venous tone reactivity in dialysis patients [5]. However, there is a problem in the exact interpretation of the QTc interval and QTc dispersion that I discussed in 1995 [6]. The problem is in defining the end of the T wave: is it the time the T wave takes to return to baseline, or the nadir of the T and U waves? The measurements can be difficult in patients with flat T waves; a broad or notched T wave could represent TU fusion. The duration of the QT interval cannot be measured exactly when the U wave starts before the end of the T wave. To resolve the above-mentioned problems with QT measurements (and interpretation, of course), I suggest once again the measurement of the so-called QaT interval, i.e. the measurements from the beginning of the Q wave to the apex of the T wave. The QaT interval is more easily and precisely measured than either the QoT or QeT intervals (the measurement from the beginning of the Q wave to the onset of the T wave, or to the end of the T wave, respectively); in addition, by using the QaT interval, the influence of the U wave would be avoided. The QeT interval represents the classically measured QT interval. The QaT interval is the most reproducible measurement in comparison to the other two QT variants [3,4]. In conclusion, I wonder what the results of the study by Covic and colleagues would have been if they had used the QaT interval.
Temporal associations between arousal and body/limb movement in children with suspected obstructed sleep apnoea

The inter-relationship between arousal events and body and/or limb movements during sleep may significantly impact the performance and clinical interpretation of actigraphy. As such, the objective of this study was to quantify the temporal association between arousals and body/limb movement. From this, we aim to determine whether actigraphy can predict arousal events in children, and identify the impact of arousal-related movements on estimates of sleep/wake periods. Thirty otherwise healthy children (5–16 years, median 9 years, 21 male) with suspected sleep apnoea were studied using full polysomnography and customised raw tri-axial accelerometry measured at the left fingertip, left wrist, upper thorax, left ankle and left great toe. Raw data were synchronised to within 0.1 s of the polysomnogram. Movements were then identified using a custom algorithm. On average 67.5% of arousals were associated with wrist movement. Arousals associated with movement were longer than those without movement (mean duration: 12.2 s versus 7.9 s respectively, p < 0.01); movements during wake and arousal were longer than other sleep movements (wrist duration: 6.26 s and 9.89 s versus 2.35 s respectively, p < 0.01); and the movement index (movements/h) did not predict apnoea-hypopnoea index (ρ = −0.11). Movements associated with arousals are likely to unavoidably contribute to actigraphy’s poor sensitivity for wake. However, as sleep-related movements tend to be shorter than those during wake or arousal, incorporating movement duration into the actigraphy scoring algorithm may improve sleep staging performance. Although actigraphy-based measurements cannot reliably predict all arousal events, actigraphy can likely identify longer events that may have the greatest impact on sleep quality.
Understanding physical activity in adolescent cancer survivors: an application of the theory of planned behavior

Notwithstanding the remarkable achievements in survival, there is a growing recognition that pediatric cancer survivors are faced with a variety of chronic health problems that may be exacerbated by maladaptive health behaviors. The purpose of the present study was to examine the utility of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in understanding adolescent survivors' motivation to engage in physical activity. A group of adolescent cancer survivors recalled their beliefs, attitudes, norms, perceptions of control, intentions and post‐treatment physical activity behaviors using a self‐administered, mailed questionnaire in a retrospective design. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the TPB explained 29.1% of the variance in physical activity behavior, with the significant independent correlates being intention (β=0.31,p=0.023) and self‐efficacy (β=0.42,p=0.04). For intention, 33.7% of the variance was explained by the TPB, with affective attitude (β=0.32,p=0.016) and instrumental attitude (β=0.31, p=0.037) making significant unique contributions. The present study has provided some of the first data toward understanding physical activity behavior in adolescent cancer survivors. Specifically, the results suggest that interventions designed to promote physical activity in this population should focus on the development of a positive attitude as well as fostering an enhanced sense of self‐efficacy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prospective study of tardive dyskinesia incidence in the elderly.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the incidence of tardive dyskinesia in elderly individuals beginning treatment with antipsychotic drugs and to identify risk factors for the development of tardive dyskinesia in the elderly. DESIGN A cohort of previously neuroleptic-naive patients was identified at the time of initiation of antipsychotic drug treatment. Patients were evaluated at baseline and followed up at 3-month intervals for periods ranging from 3 to 119 weeks. SETTING Subjects were recruited from the psychiatric and geriatric medical services of two medical centers, a geriatric institute, and three nursing homes in the metropolitan area of New York City, NY. PATIENTS Two hundred fifteen individuals older than 55 years have entered the study thus far. Preliminary data are presented for 160 patients who were followed up for at least 1 month. Their age range was 57 to 99 years (mean, 77 years). Seventy-two percent were women and 87% were white. Sixty-seven percent of patients had a diagnosis of organic mental syndrome and 42% had a psychiatric diagnosis. INTERVENTIONS A naturalistic, longitudinal, repeated assessment paradigm was employed. Assessments included abnormal involuntary movements, extrapyramidal signs, psychiatric symptoms, and medical and drug treatment histories. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The incidence of tardive dyskinesia was determined using a standardized rating instrument and survival analysis. RESULTS The incidence of neuroleptic-induced dyskinesia was 31% (95% confidence interval, 20%, 42%) after 43 weeks of cumulative neuroleptic treatment. Psychiatric (as opposed to organic) diagnosis and presence of extrapyramidal signs early in treatment were associated with increased tardive dyskinesia vulnerability.
Türkiye'de Sağlık ve Ekonomik Büyüme Arasındaki Nedensellik İlişkisi

Beseri sermayenin asil kaynagini egitim olusturmakla birlikte, toplumun saglik duzeyi de beseri sermayeyi besleyen ve gelismesine onemli katkida bulunan diger bir unsur olarak karsimiza cikmaktadir. Toplumun saglik duzeyi ile ekonomik gelismislik arasinda yakin bir iliski soz konusudur. Ekonomik gelismesini belli bir duzeye getirebilmis toplumlarda saglik icin ayrilan kaynaklar arttigi gibi, bireylerin saglik bilinci de yukselmektedir. Bununla birlikte, saglik duzeyinin gelisimi de artan verimlilik yoluyla ekonomik buyumeyi hizlandirmaktadir. Bu calismada, Turkiye’de secilmis saglik gostergeleri ile ekonomik buyume arasindaki iliski nedensellik baglaminda incelenmistir. Saglik gostergeleri olarak, dogusta yasam beklentisi, saglik kurumlarinin yatak sayilari, saglik kurumlarinin sayisi ve saglik personeli basina dusen kisi sayilari kullanilmistir. Nedensellik test sonuclarina gore, saglik kurumlarinin sayisi ile reel GSYIH arasinda herhangi bir nedensellik iliskisi gorulmemesine karsin, diger saglik gostergeleri ile reel GSYIH arasinda ise cift yonlu nedensellik iliskisi bulunmustur.
[Effect of pingyangmycin on the growth and cell cycle of human vascular endothelial cells].

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of pingyangmycin (PYM, bleomycin A5) on the proliferation and cell cycle of the cultured ECV304 cells, a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) line. METHODS The growth inhibition of PYM on ECV304 cells was measured by MTT assay and the changes in the cell cycle by flow cytometry. RESULTS After 10 microg/ml PYM treatment of the cells for 24, 48, and 72 h, the inhibition rates were 44.7%, 59.7%, and 74.4% respectively, showing a dose- and time-dependent inhibitory effect, with the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of PYM corresponding to treatment durations of 24, 48 and 72 h being 32.94, 2.56 and 0.75 microg/ml respectively. Flow cytometry showed that ECV304 cell cycle was arrested at G2-M phase after 24-hour treatment with 1 microg/ml PYM, with significant reduction in the cell ratio of S phase and increase of G2-M phase (P<0.01) CONCLUSION PYM can effectively inhibit the proliferation of ECV304 cells, the mechanism of which might involve the blocking of cell cycle.
The Inhibitory Potential of Thai Mango Seed Kernel Extract against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Plant extracts are a valuable source of novel antibacterial compounds to combat pathogenic isolates of methicillin−resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a global nosocomial infection. In this study, the alcoholic extract from Thai mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. ‘Fahlun’) seed kernel extract (MSKE) and its phenolic principles (gallic acid, methyl gallate and pentagalloylglucopyranose) demonstrated potent in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and 19 clinical MRSA isolates in studies of disc diffusion, broth microdilution and time−kill assays. Electron microscopy studies using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed impaired cell division and ultra−structural changes in bacterial cell morphology, including the thickening of cell walls, of microorganisms treated with MSKE; these damaging effects were increased with increasing concentrations of MSKE. MSKE and its phenolic principles enhanced and intensified the antibacterial activity of penicillin G against 19 clinical MRSA isolates by lowering the minimum inhibitory concentration by at least 5−fold. The major phenolic principle, pentagalloylglucopyranose, was demonstrated to be the major contributor to the antibacterial activity of MSKE. These results suggest that MSKE may potentially be useful as an alternative therapeutic agent or an adjunctive therapy along with penicillin G in the treatment of MRSA infections.
A Bargaining Model to Simulate Negotiations between Water Users

The French water law of 1992 requires that regulations on water use and water management be negotiated collectively and locally in each river sub-basin. Decision-makers therefore need new tools to guide the negotiation process which will take place between water users. A formal computable bargaining model of multilateral negotiations is applied to the Adour Basin case, in the South West of France, with seven aggregate players (three "farmers", two "environmental lobbies", the water manager, the taxpayer) and seven negotiation variables (three individual irrigation quotas, the price of water, the sizes of three dams). The farmers' utility functions are estimated with hydraulic and economic models. A sensibility analysis is conducted to quantify the impact of the negotiation structure (political weights of players, choice of players.) on game outcomes. The relevance of the bargaining models as negotiation-support tools is assessed.
Radiation-related risks of non-cancer outcomes in the atomic bomb survivors

Risks of non-cancer outcomes after exposure to atomic bomb (A-bomb) radiation have been evaluated among the Life Span Study (LSS) cohort and its subcohort, the Adult Health Study (AHS). Information regarding non-cancer outcomes in the LSS is obtained from death certificates. In the AHS, members undergo clinical examinations biennially to determine their health status. Many AHS studies have been limited to participants attending the clinic over a limited period, and therefore have varying degrees of inferential utility; as such, care is required for comparison with the LSS results. Disease structure of non-cancer diseases in Japan has changed over the long follow-up period since the end of World War II. The health status of the A-bomb survivors may be associated with the hardships of living in a devastated city and impoverished country following the prolonged war effort, in addition to the direct effects of radiation exposure. Radiation-related risk of cardiovascular disease may have increased due to radiation-related increased risk of hypertension and other secondary associations, and the risk of atherosclerotic disorders has also been reported recently. These results should be interpreted with caution because of changes in disease definitions over the follow-up period. The radiation-related risk of non-cancer respiratory diseases also appears to have increased over the follow-up period, but the shapes of the dose–response curves have shown little consistency.
Einblicke in die zentrale serotonerge Funktion bei Patienten mit affektiven Störungen

OBJECTIVE The simple insight in the central serotonergic activity would allow a more specific pharmacotherapy of disorders with serotonergic deficits and could thus serve as a predictive parameter. An antidepressive treatment could be chosen due to the verification or falsification of such a deficit with a serotonergic or noradrenergic substance. In search of predictive parameters we have investigated the loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP), a parameter that has already been discussed concerning this matter, and serotonin levels in the human blood serum regarding their correlation. METHODS Eight outpatients of a lithium clinics were investigated neurophysiologically after blood samples had been taken. RESULTS A significant negative correlation between LDAEP and serotonin level in the serum was found, a low serotonin level correlates with a high LDAEP. CONCLUSIONS The result of this pilot study justifies further investigations with larger sample sizes. In case of further and stable evidence the use of serotonin levels in the serum as a predicitve parameter is conceivable.
Clinical and laboratory presentation of EBV positive infectious mononucleosis in young adults

Clinical descriptions of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) positive infectious mononucleosis (IM) are rare and their results are inconsistent. Over a 4-year period, we prospectively studied 590 young adults with clinically suspected IM, all of whom were tested for the presence of EBV IgM antibodies. We investigated the demographical, clinical and laboratory features of subjects with positive EBV IgM serology and heterophile antibodies. Contrary to previous studies, we found a seasonal disease pattern with a peak incidence during summer months, and a lower-than-expected prevalence of lymphadenopathy (88·9%), leucocytosis (46·2%), atypical lymphocytosis (89·2%) and elevated liver enzymes (57·9%). The prevalence of hyperbilirubinemia was relatively high (14·9%). The classic triad of fever, sore throat and lymph-adenopathy had relatively low sensitivity (68·2%) and specificity (41·9%) for EBV infection. Our study provides a complete and updated description of the clinical and laboratory presentation of laboratory confirmed IM, which is important for both clinicians and epidemiologists.
Acute Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Glucose Tolerance and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE To investigate the acute effect of cigarette smoking on glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, serum lipids, blood pressure, and heart rate. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This nonrandomized experimental control trial in a tertiary care center included 20 healthy chronic smokers and 20 age-, sex-, and BMI-matched healthy volunteers. Two oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were performed on each subject. Three cigarettes were smoked during the first 30 min in one of the tests. Serum glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels were measured every 30 min; the area under the curve (AUC) and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were calculated; serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured at 0 and 180 min; and blood pressure and heart rate were recorded every 5 min throughout 180 min. RESULTS Smoking acutely impaired glucose tolerance: the AUC for glucose in smokers was 25.5 ± 1.03 mmol/l (mean ± SE) (95% CI 22.9–28) during the smoking OGTT and 21.8 ± 0.85 mmol/l (CI 19.2–24.3) in the control OGTT (P < 0.01); in nonsmokers, it was 19.7 ± 0.3 mmol/l (CI 18.8–20.5) in the smoking OGTT and 18.7 ± 0.35 mmol/l (CI 17.8–19.5) in the control OGTT (P < 0.05). Smoking acutely increased serum insulin and C-peptide levels and decreased ISI only in smokers: ISI in smokers was 55 ± 2.8 (CI 47.4–62.6) in the control OGTT and 43 ± 2.7 (CI 35.4–50.6) in the smoking OGTT (P < 0.05). Smoking acutely caused a rise of serum total cholesterol levels in both groups and increased LDL cholesterol and triglyceride serum levels significantly only in smokers (P < 0.05). A significant rise of blood pressure and heart rate while smoking was present in all the subjects. CONCLUSIONS Smoking acutely impaired glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, enhanced serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and raised blood pressure and heart rate. These findings support the pathogenetic role of cigarette smoking on cardiovascular risk factors.
SWINE VESICULAR DISEASE SUMMARY

Swine vesicular disease (SVD) is a contagious disease of pigs, caused by an enterovirus and characterised by vesicles on the coronary bands, heels of the feet and occasionally on the lips, tongue, snout and teats. Strains of SVD virus may vary in virulence, and the disease may be subclinical, mild or severe, the latter usually only being seen when pigs are housed on abrasive floors in damp conditions. The main importance of SVD is that it is clinically indistinguishable from foot and mouth disease (FMD), and any outbreaks of vesicular disease in pigs must be assumed to be FMD until investigated by laboratory tests and proven otherwise. However, subclinical infection has been the most frequent condition observed during recent years.
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response in Newborns and Infants

Brainstem auditory evoked response studies were carried out on 105 neonates, with gestational ages ranging from 26 to 43 weeks. The mean chronologic and postconception ages of the subjects were 6.5 weeks and 40.6 weeks, respectively. Statistically significant relationships between brainstem auditory evoked response and gestational age, postconception age (gestational age plus chronologic age), and the 5-minute Apgar score, were demonstrated. Shortening of brainstem auditory evoked response as related to postconception age was demonstrated and this trend was statistically significant. However, of these factors a statistically significant shortening (maturation) of evoked response was demonstrated only in relation to postconception age. (J Child Neurol 2000;15:33-35).