Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low‐level lead exposure and children

Abstract: The adverse effects of environmental lead exposure on the mental development of young children are well established. There is no safe level of blood lead below which children are not affected. Recent research expands our understanding of the impact of lead exposure continuing into later childhood, as well as its effects on children’s behaviour. However, social and other environmental factors also contribute to variance in measures of developmental and behavioural outcomes. Lead is associated with only modest effects on children’s development, but is a potentially modifiable risk factor. As environmental exposure to lead declines for the whole population, continued specific attention is needed for children living in industrial areas.
Perioperative administration of pregabalin in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: does it help to relieve postoperative pain?

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the analgesic effect of perioperative administration of pregabalin in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. MATERIAL AND METHOD Fifty-six patients were randomly assigned to receive either pregabalin 75 mg or a matching placebo, one hour prior to spinal anesthesia, with the second dose repeated 12 hours after the first dose in this comparative study. The means of postoperative pain intensity measured by a verbal rating scale (VRS) of 0 to 10, sedation score of 0 to 3, requirement for morphine using a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device, and the median respiratory rate, as well as adverse effect were recorded every four-hour up to 24 hours. RESULTS Twenty-seven patients received pregabalin, and 29 cases got placebo. Characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups, except for the ages of 29.3 years in the pregabalin group, and 33.8 years in the placebo group. The means of postoperative pain severity, sedation score, consumption of PCA morphine, median respiratory rate, and adverse effects were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION Perioperative administration of pregabalin was not superior to placebo in terms of reducing postoperative pain intensity and PCA morphine requirement in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Brief overview on 2H NMR studies of polysiloxane‐based side‐chain nematic elastomers

This is a brief overview on recent studies on liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) based on polysiloxane chain, in the form of monodomain films, selectively 2H‐labeled in different parts of the LCE samples, i.e. on the crosslinker or mesogenic units. 2H NMR spectroscopic techniques were used to measure the temperature dependence of the quadrupolar splittings, line widths and relaxation times, T1 and T2. From these data, several information about the orientational order parameter, S, of various LCE fragments, thermodynamic features of the isotropic–nematic transition and main motional processes could be generalized for this type of elastomers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Leaf area dynamics of a boreal black spruce fire chronosequence.

Specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area index (LAI) were estimated using site-specific allometric equations for a boreal black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) fire chronosequence in northern Manitoba, Canada. Stands ranged from 3 to 131 years in age and had soils that were categorized as well or poorly drained. The goals of the study were to: (i) measure SLA for the dominant tree and understory species of boreal black spruce-dominated stands, and examine the effect of various biophysical conditions on SLA; and (ii) examine leaf area dynamics of both understory and overstory for well- and poorly drained stands in the chronosequence. Overall, average SLA values for black spruce (n = 215), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb., n = 72) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx., n = 27) were 5.82 +/- 1.91, 5.76 +/- 1.91 and 17.42 +/- 2.21 m2 x kg-1, respectively. Foliage age, stand age, vertical position in the canopy and soil drainage had significant effects on SLA. Black spruce dominated overstory LAI in the older stands. Well-drained stands had significantly higher overstory LAI (P < 0.001), but lower understory LAI (P = 0.022), than poorly drained stands. Overstory LAI was negligible in the recent (3-12 years old) burn sites and highest in the 70-year-old burn site (6.8 and 3.0 in the well- and poorly drained stands, respectively), declining significantly (by 30-50%) from this peak in the oldest stands. Understory leaf area represented a significant portion (> 40%) of total leaf area in all stands except the oldest.
Vascular Access for Chronic Haemodialysis in Lombardy

To evaluate the organisation of vascular access surgery, the techniques used to monitor surgical access and the central catheters, a survey was conducted amongst dialysis Units of Lombardy. A questionnaire was sent out to the 43 dialysis centres in Lombardy, 96% of which replied. In almost 90% of dialysis units nephrologists perform vascular access albeit in close cooperation with vascular surgeons for the more complex cases. First choice access is by distal arteriovenous fistula (AVF): 36% end-to-end, 31.7% side-to-end, and 19.5% side-to-side with distal ligature of the vein. As second choice proximal AVF is more widely used than AV grafts, which are implanted only when all native vessels and related surgical procedures are exhausted. Central venous catheters offer valid solutions not only as temporary access, but also as an alternative permanent one. In both cases the jugular vein is the most frequent site of insertion. Despite the documented incidence of related episodes of stenosis/obstruction, the subclavian vein is used as a temporary access in quite a high percentage of cases. Only in selected cases are diagnostic procedures (mainly Venography and Doppler studies) performed prior to permanent access choice. Similarly vascular access is monitored mainly using a recirculation test albeit not routinely. In case of vascular access thrombosis, surgical revision is the most common approach.
Cost of Stroke

Introduction I n considering thecostof strokeinScotland, a rangeofconceptual and methodological issues must be addressed. Cost of illnessstudiesoftendrawadistinction between directandindirect costs.Directcostscomprisethecostsof strokeprevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and terminal care. However, concentrating solelyon the impactof strokeon healthandsocial services ignores the value of lives lost, personal suffering, the welfare of family and friends and a host of other costs. Many lossesor foregone opportunities due to strokeare indirectin so far as theycan be distinguished from thosecosts directly arising fromthecareand management of stroke. Indirectcostsare often assessed using the monetary value of economic losses arising fromstroke,proxiedby thevalueof lostproduction. Thisnarrow economic measure of indirect cost based on personalearnings loss will fail to encompass manyof the important consequences which are readily apparent to even the most casual observer; namely, the impactof cerebrovascular diseaseonan individual's ability to sustain what would be regarded as a desirable quality of life.
Pregnancy outcome in women treated with doxorubicin for childhood cancer.

OBJECTIVE Pregnancy outcome and the effect of pregnancy on cardiac function were assessed in women cured of childhood cancer. STUDY DESIGN Forty women who received doxorubicin as part of a chemotherapy protocol for a neoplastic disorder in childhood were followed up at the same center during pregnancy and after delivery. RESULTS Thirty-seven women (72 pregnancies) completed follow-up. Pregnancy outcome was favorable in the 29 women with fractional shortening values of >or=30% before pregnancy, and their myocardial function was sustained. In 8 women with fractional shortening of <30% before pregnancy, pregnancy outcome was less favorable; a 19% decrease in fractional shortening was observed after pregnancy, and this finding was not significant (P=.08). CONCLUSION Pregnancy outcome in women who received doxorubicin for malignancy in childhood is generally favorable. However, those with baseline left ventricular dysfunction should be considered at increased risk for worse pregnancy outcome and further deterioration in myocardial function.
Sedimentología y estratigrafía de los sedimentos del Pleistoceno del lago Llauset (sur Pirineos, España) = Sedimentology and stratigraphy of the Pleistocene sediments in lake Llauset (southern Pyrenees, Spain) - a first approach

The high alpine valleys in the Southem Pyrenees are characterised by a many small lakes and ponds. They occur above 2000 m and are said to have been formed by glacial erosion. The sediments in these basins should, therefore, contain s t p tigraphic information since deglaciation, at least. An interesting and may be one of the most important of these basins is Lake Llauset in the Alta Ribagorca. The Llauset basin has recently been developped for hydsopower production. In conection with the construction of the retaining wall at the "Riegel" the sedimentary filling of the lake basin could be investigated, and the first sedimentological and stratigraphical results are presented.
Emergency braking is affected by the use of cruise control

ABSTRACT Objective: We compared the differences in the braking response to vehicle collision between an active human emergency braking (control condition) and cruise control (CC) or adaptive cruise control (ACC). Methods: In 11 male subjects, age 22 to 67 years, we measured the active emergency braking response during manual driving using the accelerator pedal (control condition) or in condition mimicking CC or ACC. In both conditions, we measured the brake reaction time (BRT), delay to produce the peak braking force (PBD), total emergency braking response (BRT + PBD), and peak braking force (PBF). Electromyograms of leg and thigh muscles were recorded during braking. The tonic vibratory response (TVR), Hoffman reflex (HR), and M-waves were recorded in leg muscles to explore the change in sensorimotor control. Results: No difference in PBF, TVR amplitude, HR latency, and Hmax/Mmax ratio were found between the control and CC/ACC conditions. On the other hand, BRT and PBD were significantly lengthened in the CC/ACC condition (240 ± 13 ms and 704 ± 70 ms, respectively) compared to control (183 ± 7 ms and 568 ± 36 ms, respectively). BRT increased with the age of participants and the driving experience shortened PBD and increased PBF. Conclusions: In male subjects, driving in a CC/ACC condition significantly delays the active emergency braking response to vehicle collision. This could result from higher amplitude of leg motion in the CC/ACC condition and/or by the age-related changes in motor control. Car and truck drivers must take account of the significant increase in the braking distance in a CC/ACC condition.
Recommender Systems: Introduction

In this age of information overload, people use a variety of strategies to make choices about what to buy, how to spend their leisure time, and even whom to date. Recommender systems automate some of these strategies with the goal of providing affordable, personal, and high-quality recommendations. This book offers an overview of approaches to developing state-of-the-art recommender systems. The authors present current algorithmic approaches for generating personalized buying proposals, such as collaborative and content-based filtering, as well as more interactive and knowledge-based approaches. They also discuss how to measure the effectiveness of recommender systems and illustrate the methods with practical case studies. The final chapters cover emerging topics such as recommender systems in the social web and consumer buying behavior theory. Suitable for computer science researchers and students interested in getting an overview of the field, this book will also be useful for professionals looking for the right technology to build real-world recommender systems.
High-intensity focused ultrasound to treat primary hyperparathyroidism: a feasibility study in four patients.

OBJECTIVE Many patients with primary hyperparathyroidism either decline or are not candidates for surgical parathyroidectomy. There are drawbacks to medical therapy as well as percutaneous ethanol injection as alternative therapies for primary hyperparathyroidism. Therefore, in this pilot study, our aim was to test the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a newly developed noninvasive high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technique for the nonsurgical management of primary hyperparathyroidism. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We treated four menopausal women with biochemical, sonographic, and cytologic evidence of benign primary hyperparathyroidism. HIFU treatment was performed in two sessions using TH-One under sonographic guidance and with the patient under conscious sedation. Parathyroid volume and function were evaluated at baseline and repeatedly until 12 months after the second HIFU session. RESULTS Serum parathyroid hormone levels decreased in all four patients and normalized 1 and 8 months after the second HIFU session in two patients. Serum calcium levels decreased in all patients and normalized in three patients. Three of four parathyroid tumors had decreased in size by 11%, 43%, and 79%, respectively, 12 months after the second HIFU session. All adverse events related to HIFU were transient: mild subcutaneous edema in three patients and impaired vocal cord mobility in one patient that resolved 40 days later. CONCLUSION HIFU is a promising procedure for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism that may become an alternative to established options, especially in elderly patients with comorbidities, or in patients who decline surgery. Large-scale long-term studies including patients with secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism are warranted.
Is serum retinol binding protein-4: A predictor for diabetes in genetically high risk population?

Background: Retinol binding protein-4 (BP-4) a new adipocytokine, specifically binds to retinol, through experimental studies, reported its link between obesity and insulin resistance (IR). But till date no studies are available on influence of genetic predisposition of diabetes on RBP-4 expression. Hence, we aimed to study the influence of genetic predisposition of diabetes on the serum RBP-4 and its role in development of IR and diabetes in genetically high risk population. Materials and Methods: Healthy non diabetic individuals (age 18 to 22) were grouped into Group I: Control (n = 81), whose parents are non diabetic, non hypertensive and does not have any family history of coronary heart diseases. Group II: (n = 157) with one of their parents diabetic and Group III: (n = 47) with both parents diabetic. In all the participants, we estimated fasting serum RBP-4, insulin and glucose. Homeostasis model for assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and homeostasis model for assessment-beta cell dysfunction (HOMA-B) were calculated from fasting serum insulin and glucose levels. Results: In this study, we observed significantly higher RBP-4 levels 12.71 ± 2.3 in Group-II and 13.25 ± 2 in Group-III, respectively when compared to Group-I 11.4 ± 1.8 (P < 0.01). RBP-4 showed a significantly strong positive correlation with plasma insulin, glucose and HOMA-IR in genetically high risk population (group II and III) P < 0.01. Linear regression analysis revealed a strong positive association of RBP-4 with parental diabetes even after adjusting for BMI, age and sex (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.089-1.40). Conclusion: Higher serum RBP-4 and its positive correlation with Insulin, glucose, and HOMA-IR in healthy non diabetic participants of genetically high risk population, indicating its role as predictor for the onset of diabetes in coming future.
Sural and radial sensory responses in healthy adults: Diagnostic implications for polyneuropathy

We prospectively performed sural and radial sensory nerve conduction studies in 92 healthy subjects, aged between 21 and 88 years, both to determine the lower limits of normal (LLN) and to assess the effects of age and body mass index (BMI) on the sural and radial sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes and on the sural/radial amplitude ratio (SRAR). Using the nonparametric bootstrap method to calculate 95% confidence intervals, we found that the 5% LLN values for sural and radial SNAPs were 14 μV and 25.5 μV in subjects aged ≤39 years, 7 μV and 17.4 μV in subjects aged 40–59 years, and 3 μV and 12 μV in subjects aged ≥60 years. The 5% LLN for SRAR for all patients was 0.21. Sural and radial SNAP amplitudes but not SRAR were strongly and inversely correlated with age and BMI. These age‐adjusted normal values and revised SRAR will aid in the electrodiagnosis of polyneuropathy. Muscle Nerve, 2005
Service Quality Effects on Customer Satisfaction in Banking Industry

This study contributes to the literature by considering a model for testing the quality of deposit services in the banking industry. The results indicating support for the hypotheses suggest that the five SERQUAL factors can be used to test banking services based on the whole system. Previous studies have shown that satisfying customers is not enough to retain them because even satisfied customers may defect at a high rate in many industries. Vietnam is a developing economy, and its banking sector has wide geographic reach catering to needs of a diverse range of customers. In this regard, the Vietnamese context offers a good opportunity for examining the issue of banking quality. Most customers have difficulty in understanding the complex nature of financial products and thus tend to focus on brand names, which are generally built on quality services.
Skin closure after trauma laparotomy in high-risk patients: Opening opportunities for improvement

BACKGROUND Although many surgeons leave laparotomy incisions open after colon injury to prevent surgical site infection (SSI), other injured patient subsets are also at risk. We hypothesized that leaving trauma laparotomy skin incisions open in high-risk patients with any enteric injury or requiring damage control laparotomy (DCL) would not affect superficial SSI and fascial dehiscence rates. METHODS Patients who underwent trauma laparotomy (2004–2008) at two Level I centers were reviewed. To ensure a high-risk sample, only patients with transmural enteric injuries or need for DCL surviving 5 days or more were included. SSIs were categorized by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) criteria and risk factors were analyzed by skin closure (open vs. any closure). Significant (p < 0.05) univariate variables were applied to two multivariate analyses examining superficial SSI and fascial dehiscence. RESULTS Of 1,501 patients who underwent laparotomy, 503 met inclusion criteria. Patients were young (median, 28.0 years; range, 22.0–40.0 years) with penetrating (74%) or enteric (80%) injuries, and DCL (36%) and SSI (44%; superficial, 25%; deep, 3%; organ/space, 25%) were common. While no difference in superficial SSI after loose (n = 136) or complete skin closure (n = 224) was detected (p = 0.64), superficial SSIs were less common with open skin incisions (9.8%), despite multiple risk factors, than with any skin closure (31.1%, p < 0.001). Predictors of superficial SSIs and fascial dehiscence were each evaluated with multiple-variable logistic regression analysis. After adjusting for multiple potential confounding variables, any skin closure increased the risk of superficial SSIs approximately nine times (odds ratio, 8.6; p < 0.001) and fascial dehiscence six times (odds ratio, 5.7; p = 0.013). CONCLUSION Management of skin incisions takes careful consideration like any other step of a laparotomy. Our results suggest that the decision to leave skin open is one simple method to improve outcomes in high-risk patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level III.
Executive dysfunction and depressive symptoms associated with reduced participation of people with severe congestive heart failure.

OBJECTIVE We investigated participation levels and relationships among cognition, depression, and participation for people with severe congestive heart failure (CHF). METHOD People with severe CHF (New York Heart Association Class III or IV) awaiting heart transplantation (N = 27) completed standardized tests of cognition and self-report measures of executive dysfunction, depressive symptoms, and participation. RESULTS Possible depression (64%) and cognitive impairment (15%-59%) were prevalent. Participants reported significant reductions in participation across all activity domains since CHF diagnosis (ps < .001). Worse executive dysfunction and depressive symptoms were associated with reduced participation and together accounted for 35%-46% of the variance in participation (ps < .01). CONCLUSION Participation restrictions associated with CHF are not limited to physically demanding activities and are significantly associated with executive dysfunction and depression. Cardiac rehabilitation should address cognitive and psychological functioning in the context of all life situations instead of focusing solely on physical function and disability.
Reproductive outcomes after resection of intrauterine septum

Abstract Pre-and post-septal resection reproductive outcomes were compared in women with infertility and prior pregnancy losses operated on for uterine septum from 2003 to 2010. The major indications for surgery were primary infertility (n = 41, 33.1%), secondary infertility (n = 21, 16.9%) and prior pregnancy losses (n = 52, 41.9%). A total of 74 women (59.7%) had an incomplete septum and 50 (40.3%) had a complete septum. Re-hysteroscopy was done in two women (1.6%); 40 (32.3%) women were lost to follow-up after resection; 63 of the remaining 84 (75.0%) conceived and there were a total of 98 pregnancies. A cerclage was done in 28 (32.9%) of these pregnancies. Miscarriage and live birth rates were 92.9% and 4.1% pre- and 32.1% and 61.2% post-resection, respectively. Hysteroscopic septal resection significantly improves reproductive performance in women with infertility and prior pregnancy losses.
Correlates of strength exercise in colorectal cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence and correlates of meeting the public health strength exercise guidelines (≥2 days/week) in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors. METHODS A random sample of 600 CRC survivors in Alberta, Canada, completed a mailed questionnaire assessing medical, demographic, and behavioral variables and participation in strength exercise. RESULTS About a quarter (25.5%) of CRC survivors were meeting strength exercise guidelines. In multivariate analysis, meeting guidelines was associated with being male (p = .052), married (p = .079), a drinker (p = .006), in better health (p < .001), nonsmoking (p = .023), and nonobese (p = .010). CONCLUSIONS Interventions to increase strength exercise participation in CRC survivors are needed.
A decrease in the sink for atmospheric CO2 in the North Atlantic

Global ocean carbon models and available syntheses of the oceanic CO2 flux suggest that the North Atlantic subpolar gyre (50°N–70°N, 80°W–10°W) is a region of increasing uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere, with the oceanic partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) increasing more slowly than the atmospheric CO2 over time. Our analysis of available CO2 data shows that, on the contrary, seawater pCO2 has increased faster than the atmosphere in recent decades, especially in summer, resulting in a decrease in uptake from the atmosphere. A decrease in the biological productivity of the region may be the underlying cause of this trend. From the observed trend we estimated a significant decrease in the annual carbon uptake in this region.