Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of rapid-cycling and non-rapid-cycling bipolar disorder based on prospective mood ratings in 539 outpatients.

OBJECTIVE To detect risk factors for rapid cycling in bipolar disorder, the authors compared characteristics of rapid-cycling and non-rapid-cycling patients both from a categorical and a dimensional perspective. METHOD Outpatients with bipolar I disorder (N=419), bipolar II disorder (N=104), and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (N=16) were prospectively evaluated with daily mood ratings for 1 year. Subjects were classified as having rapid cycling (defined by the DSM-IV criterion of four or more manic or depressive episodes within 1 year) or not having rapid cycling, and the two groups' demographic and retrospective and prospective illness characteristics were compared. Associated factors were also evaluated in relationship to episode frequency. RESULTS Patients with rapid cycling (N=206; 38.2%) significantly differed from those without rapid cycling (N=333) with respect to the following independent variables: history of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse, bipolar I disorder subtype, number of lifetime manic or depressive episodes, history of rapid cycling, and history of drug abuse. The prevalence of these characteristics increased progressively with episode frequency. The proportion of women was greater than the proportion of men only among patients with eight or more episodes per year. The average time spent manic/hypomanic increased as a function of episode frequency, but the average time spent depressed was comparable in patients with one episode and in those with more than one episode. Brief episodes were as frequent as full-duration DSM-IV-defined episodes. CONCLUSIONS A number of heterogeneous risk factors were progressively associated with increasing episode frequency. Depression predominated in all bipolar disorder patients, but patients with rapid cycling were more likely to be characterized by manic features. The findings overall suggest that rapid cycling is a dimensional course specifier arbitrarily defined on a continuum of episode frequency.
Crop Rotation and Nitrogen Input Effects on Soil Fertility, Maize Mineral Nutrition, Yield, and Seed Composition

Knowledge of complex relationships between soils, crops, and management practices is necessary to develop sustainable agricultural production systems. Objectives were to determine how maize (Zea mays L.) would respond to monoculture (C-C), 2-yr rotation (C-S) with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ], or 4-yr rotation (C-S-W/A-A) with soybean, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) under different N input levels. We evaluated N fertilizer input (8.5 or 5.3 Mg/ha yield goal, or no N) and crop rotation (C-C, C-S, or C-S-W/A-A) treatment effects on soil minerals (N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn) and their subsequent effect on shoot dry weight and mineral concentrations, grain yield, and grain composition (oil, starch, and mineral concentrations) using univariate and multivariate statistical tests. Soil under C-S-W/A-A rotation had greater NO 3 ―N and less extractable P than other rotations. Significant input x rotation interactions revealed that shoot concentrations ofN, Ca, and Mg were less while P, K, and Zn were greater at no N input for the C-C rotation compared with other N input/rotation treatments. Increased soil NO 3 ―N, increased plant Ca concentration, and increased grain N and grain S concentrations were most important in differentiating C-S-W/A-A rotation from C-C and C-S rotation treatments. No N input resulted in less yield and kernel N concentration within the C-C and C-S rotations but not C-S-W/A-A. Thus, growing maize in extended rotations that include forage legumes may be a more sustainable practice than growing maize in either monoculture or 2-yr rotation with soybean.
Differential contribution of interleukin‐10 promoter variants in malaria and schistosomiasis mono‐ and co‐infections among Nigerian children

Interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) is an anti‐inflammatory cytokine produced by Th1 cells and macrophages. The rationale of this study was to examine and validate possible contributions of IL‐10 promoter polymorphisms in sub‐Saharan Africa in children infected with either Plasmodium falciparum or Schistosoma haematobium and in children co‐infected with both parasites.
Quantitative analysis of trace elements in saliva of oral cancer patients from Iraq

Trace elements like iron, zinc, magnesium, cobalt and manganese are some of these elements involved in antioxidant defense mechanism. Many authors observed direct association between trace elements deficiency and the cancer mortality. The study was conducted to measure levels of Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), and Magnesium (Mg) in saliva of 50 patients with histologically proved squamous cell carcinoma. Patient and Method: Unstimulated (resting) saliva was collected from oral cancer patients one day before surgical excision of the tumor and one day after surgery using plastic polyethylene tubes. The collected saliva was cold centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 10 minutes at 0-5°C.The centrifuged supernatants were stored frozen at (-20°C) until time of analysis using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results: Saliva levels of Zn, Mn, Co and Ni were significantly higher in preoperative saliva of oral cancer patients when compared to the normal control. On the other hand, a highly significant reduction in the levels of Cu, Fe and Mg was observed in preoperative saliva of oral cancer patients. However, no significant changes were seen in saliva trace element levels when preoperative values were compared with postoperative values of same patients. Conclusion: Saliva may be employed alone for trace elements measurements or it can be used supplementary to serum test for confirmation of any finding. However, saliva has the advantage of easy collection without trauma to the patients.
ÖRGÜTSEL İKLİMİN İŞGÖREN PERFORMANSI ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ:OSTİM İMALAT İŞLETMELERİ ÇALIŞANLARI ÜZERİNE BİR ARAŞTIRMA

Bu calismanin amaci, Ankara’da kisa adi OSTIM olan Ortadogu Sanayi ve Ticaret Merkezinde imalat isletmelerinde calisanlarin algiladiklari orgutsel iklim ile performanslari arasindaki iliskiyi incelemektir. Bu amacla, orgut ikliminin boyutlari ile (ustun destegi, is yuku baskisi, tarafsizlik, bagdasiklik, icsel takdir) calisanlarin performans algilari arasindaki iliski incelenmistir. Arastirma tesadufi ornekleme yontemine gore belirlenen orneklem uzerinde yapilmistir. Verilerin analizi icin f testi, regresyon ve korelasyon analizleri yapilmistir. Yapilan analiz sonuclari, orgutsel iklim algisi ile calisanlarin performanslari arasinda iliskinin oldugu anlasilmistir. Ayrica, calisanlarin demografik ozellikleri ile orgutsel iklim ve performans algilari bakimindan farkliligin oldugu anlasilmistir.
Contact Lens Drying and Visual Performance: The Vision Cycle with Contact Lenses

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of precontact lens tear film break-up on visual performance. Methods. Four asymptomatic soft contact lens wearers had contrast sensitivity measured by a temporal, two-alternative, force choice paradigm combined with a self-paced methods of limits. Stimuli were vertically orientated sine wave gratings (0.5 to 14 cycles per degree [cpd] presented for 16.67 ms. Contrast sensitivity was measured before precontact lens tear break-up by a stimuli presented 2 s after the blink. A post-tear layer break-up measurement taken with the stimuli presented after break-up had been observed by the use of a video camera attached to a Tearscope. Results. Contrast sensitivity was found to be reduced following precontact lens tear film break-up for stimuli of 4, 6, and 10 cpd; the data approached significance at 14 cpd. Further reductions in contrast sensitivity were observed for one subject when measurements were continued for 4 s following break-up. Conclusions. Contrast sensitivity is significantly reduced for middle to high spatial frequencies when the precontact lens tear film dries and breaks up. The combination of observations of visual performance immediately following the blink (from earlier experiments) and measurements following tear film break-up in this experiment allows description of a “vision cycle” for contact lens wearers in the interval between blinks. It is suggested that break-up of the precontact lens tear film could account for the complaints of intermittent blurred vision in some contact lens wearers and may provide a stimulus to blinking in these individuals.
Effect of pulmonary surfactant on the dissolution, stability and uptake of zinc oxide nanowires by human respiratory epithelial cells

Abstract Inhaled nanoparticles (NPs) have high-deposition rates in the alveolar region of the lung but the effects of pulmonary surfactant (PS) on nanoparticle bioreactivity are unclear. Here, the impact of PS on the stability and dissolution of ZnO nanowires (ZnONWs) was investigated, and linked with their bioreactivity in vitro with human alveolar epithelial type 1-like cells (TT1). Pre-incubation of ZnONWs with Curosurf® (a natural porcine PS) decreased their dissolution at acidic pH, through the formation of a phospholipid corona. Confocal live cell microscopy confirmed that Curosurf® lowered intracellular dissolution, thus delaying the onset of cell death compared to bare ZnONWs. Despite reducing dissolution, Curosurf® significantly increased the uptake of ZnONWs within TT1 cells, ultimately increasing their toxicity after 24 h. Although serum improved ZnONW dispersion in suspension similar to Curosurf®, it had no effect on ZnONW internalization and toxicity, indicating a unique role of PS in promoting particle uptake. In the absence of PS, ZnONW length had no effect on dissolution kinetics or degree of cellular toxicity, indicating a less important role of length in determining ZnONW bioreactivity. This work provides unique findings on the effects of PS on the stability and toxicity of ZnONWs, which could be important in the study of pulmonary toxicity and epithelial-endothelial translocation of nanoparticles in general.
Comparative sensitivity of five species of macrophytes and six species of algae to atrazine, metribuzin, alachlor, and metolachlor

This study determined the relative sensitivity of five species of aquatic macrophytes and six species of algae to four commonly used herbicides (atrazine, metribuzin, alachlor, and metolachlor). Toxicity tests consisted of 96‐h (duckweed and algae) or 14‐d (submerged macrophytes) static exposures. The triazine herbicides (atrazine and metribuzin) were significantly more toxic to aquatic plants than were the acetanilide herbicides (alachlor and metolachlor). Toxicity studies ranked metribuzin > atrazine > alachlor > metolachlor in decreasing order of overall toxicity to aquatic plants. Relative sensitivities of macrophytes to these herbicides decreased in the order of Ceratophyllum > Najas > Elodea > Lemna > Myriophyllum. Relative sensitivities of algae to herbicides decreased in the order of Selenastrum > Chlorella > Chlamydomonas > Microcystis > Scenedesmus > Anabaena. Algae and macrophytes were of similar overall sensitivities to herbicides. Data indicated that Selenastrum, a commonly tested green alga, was generally more sensitive compared to other plant species. Lemna minor, a commonly tested floating vascular plant, was of intermediate sensitivity, and was fivefold less sensitive than Ceratophyllum, which was the most sensitive species tested. The results indicated that no species was consistently most sensitive, and that a suite of aquatic plant test species may be needed to perform accurate risk assessments of herbicides.
Postoperative Analgesia After Co-administration of Clonidine and Morphine by the Intrathecal Route in Patients Undergoing Hip Replacement

Postoperative analgesia after intrathecal co-administration of clonidine hydrochloride (75 micro gram) and morphine sulfate (0.5 mg) was compared with analgesia produced after either intrathecal morphine (0.5 mg) or 0.9% sodium chloride in 90 patients undergoing total hip replacement under bupivacaine spinal anesthesia. Patient-controlled morphine requirements were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) postoperation by both clonidine/morphine (median 5 mg/24 h) and morphine (median 7 mg/24 h) compared with control (saline) (median 28 mg/24 h). However, no significant additional reduction in postoperative analgesic requirements was shown with the clonidine/morphine combination compared with morphine alone. Visual analog pain scores, although good in all groups at all times, were significantly poorer in the control group at 2 h (P < 0.04) and 4 h (P < 0.001) after operation compared with both treatment groups, and significantly poorer than the clonidine/morphine group at 6 h (P < 0.002) and 24 h (P < 0.009) postoperation. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly lower in the clonidine/morphine group than in the two other groups (P < 0.001) between 2 and 5 h after operation. The incidence of emesis was similar in the clonidine/morphine and morphine groups and was significantly more than in the control group. (Anesth Analg 1995;80:86-91)
More Than Meets the Eye: Relationship Between Low Health Literacy and Poor Vision in Hospitalized Patients

Patient-centered care includes involving patients and their families in self-management of chronic diseases. Identifying and addressing barriers to self-management, including those related to health literacy and vision limitations, may enhance one's ability to self-manage. A set of brief verbal screening questions (BVSQ) that does not rely on sufficient vision to assess health literacy was developed by Chew and colleagues in the outpatient setting. The authors aimed to evaluate the usefulness of this tool for hospitalized patients and to determine the prevalence of poor vision among inpatients. In a prospective study, the BVSQ and the Rapid Estimate of Adult Learning in Medicine–Revised (REALM-R; among participants with sufficient vision, ≥ 20/50 Snellen) were administered to general medicine inpatients. Of 893 participants, 79% were African American, and 57% were female; the mean age was 53 years. Among 668 participants who completed both tools, the proportion with low health literacy was 38% with the BVSQ versus 47% with the REALM-R (p = .0001). Almost one fourth of participants had insufficient vision; participants with insufficient vision were more likely to be identified as having low health literacy by the BVSQ, compared with those with sufficient vision (59% vs. 38%, p < .001).
ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUG USE AND URINARY ALBUMIN EXCRETION IN NON-DIABETIC HYPERTENSIVE POPULATION

Arterial hypertension together with proteinuria is one of the most important factors associated with the progression of both diabetic and nondiabetic chronic kidney disease. Reduction of blood pressure is an efficient way of slowing the progression of this damage whereas antihypertensive drugs vary in their proteinuriaand microalbuminurialowering effects. The objective of the present study was to determine the influence of different antihypertensive drug groups on urinary albumin excretion (UAE) as related to blood pressure in non-diabetic subjects. Subjects (n=39) with chronic renal disease accompanied by mild-to-moderate hypertension and varying degrees of proteinuria were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups based on UAE values (normoalbuminurics, microalbuminurics and macroalbminurics) and were placed on usual care including nonpharmacological and/or treatment with an antihypertensive drug regime (consisting of one or more out of three different antihypertensive drugs (beta-blocker, ACE inhibitor or calcium-channel blocker) to achieve target blood pressure ≤ 130/85 mmHg. Periodic UAE measurements were performed until regression or significant reduction. A reduction in UAE was observed over time in most patients. However, it reached statistical significance only in the microalbuminuric group (p < 0.01). To further analyze the impact of different antihypertensive drugs on UAE, all patients were stratified into groups depending on the assigned therapy. They were divided into the following 5 groups: 0 – nonpharmacological treatment; 1 – assigned drug group 1; 12 – assigned drug groups 1 and 2; 13 – assigned drug groups 1 and 3; 123 – assigned all 3 drug groups where '1' stood for ACE inhibitors, '2' for beta blockers and '3' for calcium channel blockers. A statistically significant change in mean UAE values at the start and end of the study period in patients assigned to drug groups 12, 13 and 123 was achieved (p<0.05). Also, a statistically significant difference existed in the average reduction of proteinuria under varying antihypertensive drug regimens (p<0.05, ANOVA). Post hoc analyses revealed also a significant difference between groups 0 and 13 (p<0.01, Dunnett T3) as well as groups 1 and 13 (p<0.01, Dunnett T3). In patients with hypertension, changes in UAE depend on the initial UAE values and the type of antihypertensive treatment. ACE inhibitors combined with calcium channel blockers produced higher UAE reduction than other drug groups.
Investigating the relation of social support functions and the demographic features of diabetic patients

BACKGROUND: Social support is a form of social capital which can be related to the health of patients. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, are incurable but they can be controlled. However, the patient is always facing stressful physical, mental and social factors. Therefore, he needs to receive different kinds of supports. The present research aimed to determine the factors of social support in diabetic patients and its relation with the demographic features of the patients. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2008. The population of the study was all of the dia-betic patients of Khorramabad who went to the clinics for treatment. Among this population, 150 cases were selected and a questionnaire including a demographic section and a social support section was used for data collection. Social support was assessed by integrating and balancing four standard questionnaires of social support for diabetic patients. RESULTS: The results revealed that factors of social support have not been optimal in 59% of the cases. Among all factors, emotional support scored the highest (36.8%). In addition, age, sex, job, education, and the duration of disease had statistically significant relationship with some of the factors of social support. CONCLUSIONS: Due to non-optimality of some factors and effects of some demographic variables in receiving social support, it can be recommended that authorities should plan programs with consulting, educational and instrumental contents in order to promote patient's reception of social support from different support sources.
Parametric instability of a monochromatic Alfven wave: Perpendicular decay in low beta plasma

Two-dimensional hybrid simulations are performed to investigate the parametric decay of a monochromatic Alfven wave in low beta plasma. Both the linearly and left-hand polarized pump Alfven waves are considered in the paper. For the linearly polarized pump Alfven wave, either a parallel or obliquely propagating wave can lead to the decay along the perpendicular direction. Initially, the parametric decay takes place along the propagating direction of the pump wave, and then the decay occurs in the perpendicular direction. With the increase of the amplitude and the propagating angle of the pump wave (the angle between the propagating direction of the pump wave and the ambient magnetic field), the spectral range of the excited waves becomes broad in the perpendicular direction. But the effects of the plasma beta on the spectral range of the excited waves in perpendicular direction are negligible. However, for the left-hand polarized pump Alfven wave, when the pump wave propagates along the ambient magnetic field, the parametric decay occurs nearly along the ambient magnetic field, and there is no obvious decay in the perpendicular direction. Significant decay in the perpendicular direction can only be found when the pump wave propagates obliquely.
The Effect of Joint Form and Parameter Values on Mechanical Properties of Bamboo-Bundle Laminated Veneer Lumber (BLVL)

Bamboo-bundle laminated veneer lumber (BLVL) was produced by joint lengthening technology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of joint form and the values of key parameters on mechanical properties of BLVL. Two joint forms, i.e., finger joint and scarf joint, and two corresponding joint parameters, i.e., finger length and scarf angle, were investigated in laminates. The results indicated that the mechanical properties of jointed BLVL were reduced in comparison to those of BLVL without joints. For finger-joint form, the BLVL member with 14 mm fingers achieved better compressive strength, bending modulus of rupture (MOR), and tensile strength than 19 and 25 mm ones. For scarf-joint form, the 30° scarf-jointed member exhibited the highest bending modulus and tensile modulus of rupture (MOR) in this study, then followed the 45° and 60° ones. The 60° scarf-jointed BLVLs were better than 30° and 45° groups in compression strength. Synthesis of the testing results revealed that finger-jointed BLVLs achieved better bending modulus of rupture than scarf-jointed ones.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Community Health Threat

Abstract Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one of the most common causes of infections, has been traditionally recognized as a nosocomial pathogen. However, in recent years, its epidemiology has radically changed, being now observed even more frequently in the community, and accounting for > 50% of staphylococcal infections in the US outpatient setting. Community-acquired (CA)-MRSA strains typically cause infections among otherwise healthy individuals, with risk factors differing from those of nosocomial MRSA. The clinical manifestations may range from a furuncle to life-threatening infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis and pneumonia. The antibiotic treatment of these infections may also differ because CA-MRSA strains often retain susceptibility to antimicrobials other than glycopeptides and newer agents. Moreover, the production of toxins, such as the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), should influence the antibiotic choice because in these cases the use of a combination therapy with antimicrobial agents able to decrease toxin production is suggested. There are still many unanswered key questions regarding the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of CA-MRSA infections. This article reviews current knowledge of CA-MRSA.
Experience‐dependent refinement of the inhibitory axons projecting to the medial superior olive

Neurons in the medial superior olive (MSO) analyze interaural time differences (ITDs) by comparing the arrival times of the two excitatory inputs from each ear using a coincidence detection mechanism. They also receive a prominent inhibitory, glycinergic projection from the ipsilateral medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), which contributes to the fine‐tuning of ITD analysis. Here, we investigated developmental changes of the axonal arborisation pattern of single Microruby‐labeled MNTB neurons projecting to the MSO region. During the first 2 weeks after hearing onset, the axonal arborisation of MNTB neurons was significantly refined resulting in a narrowed projection area across the tonotopic axis of the MSO and a redistribution of the axonal endsegments to a mostly somatic location. Rearing the animals in omnidirectional noise prevented the structural changes of single MNTB projections. These results indicate that the functional elimination of inhibitory inputs on MSO neurons after hearing onset, as described previously, is paralleled by a structural, site‐specific refinement of the inputs and is dependent on the normal acoustic experience of the animal. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2008