Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selenium status of Christchurch infants and the effect of diet.

OBJECT New Zealanders, because of a soil deficiency, have a low intake of selenium. To determine the impact of this on the infant population in Christchurch. METHODS we have measured red cell and plasma selenium and the selenoenzyme, glutathione peroxidase, in 70 infants less than 12 months old and related these to age and diet. RESULTS the infant population as a whole had mean plasma levels of selenium and glutathione peroxidase of 33 micrograms/L and 97 U/L compared with adult values of 74 micrograms/L and 150 U/L. Infant red cell levels of 0.30 mu g selenium and 9.0 U glutathione peroxidase per g haemoglobin were similar to those in adults. The selenium status of most breast fed infants after birth remained similar to that of cord blood. Mean plasma selenium and glutathione peroxidase levels in formula fed infants were about half those of breast fed infants, and their red cell selenium was also significantly lower. These did not increase until solids were introduced into the diet. The status of the infants reflected their diet, with the concentration of selenium in formulae being 3.9-5.2 micrograms/mL compared with a mean of 13.4 micrograms/mL in breast milk. CONCLUSIONS since infants in more replete selenium areas show a gradual rise in blood selenium parameters after birth, this study suggests that formula fed and some breast fed infants in Christchurch receive an inadequate selenium intake. Consideration should be given to supplementing infant formulae and perhaps also the diet of pregnant and/or breast feeding mothers.
Study of Request Strategies Employed By Libyan and Malay POSTGRADUATE Students at USM

There has been considerable attention from the cross-cultural pragmatics literature towards the various strategies speakers use when performing the requesting speech act. Speech acts are often used when communicating verbally in either the first language or a second language. This paper presents a study into the similarities and differences in the request strategies by Malaysian and Libyan postgraduate students at USM. The study majorly uses information from existing literature on what other people have written on this topic. The study findings will give new insights to the directness and requesting behaviors within Libyan and Malaysian students and the challenges of cross-linguistic and cross-cultural communication. This study has cultural implications such as awareness of the request strategies used in one culture compared to another culture. This study tackles the ability of Libyan and Malay learners to apply requests in English. Furthermore, this study attempts to provide explanations for pragmatic errors that Libyan and Malay learners may perform. Keywords: Cross-Cultural, Strategies, Modifications, Linguistic.
Anthropometric and Physical Fitness Characteristics of Elite Futsal Tunisian Players

The purposes of this study are to establish the relationships among vertical jumping parameters, aerobic fitness and sprint running performance and to examine the anthropometric and physiological profile in elite Futsal Tunisian players. Twenty-six elite Tunisian Futsal players (age 26 ± 3 years, height 1.77 ± 0.75 m, weight 69.3 ± 8.5 Kg) volunteered to participate in this study. On separate days, all participants were asked to perform physical performance tests (Squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), sprint and aerobic power test (20-m shuttle run). Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data set and to identify which variables significantly influence sprint performance variables. We have found in the current study a negative association between 10 m sprint time and maximal oxygen uptake (r= -0.44, p<0.05). Leg anaerobic power characteristics were inversely related to 20 m (r= -0.46) and 10 × 5 m sprint time (r= -0.41). Therefore, muscle power and maximum oxygen uptake seem to be important physiological characteristics for sprinting performance in elite Futsal Tunisian players. This study could help practitioners and coaches to better design training by emphasizing the importance of combining adapted leg muscular power training with sprint running training programs for improving short-distance sprint performance.
Astrocytes and neurons: different roles in regulating adenosine levels

Abstract Objectives: Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside that signals through G-protein coupled receptors. Extracellular adenosine is required for receptor activation and two pathways have been identified for formation and cellular release of adenosine. The CLASSICAL pathway relies on intracellular formation of adenosine from adenine nucleotides and cellular efflux of adenosine via equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs). The ALTERNATE pathway involves cellular release of adenine nucleotides, hydrolysis via ecto-5'-nucleotidases and extracellular formation of adenosine. Methods: A rat model of cerebral ischemia and primary cultures of rat forebrain astrocytes and neurons were used. Results: Using a rat model of cerebral ischemia, the ENT1 inhibitor nitrobenzylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (NBMPR) significantly increased post-ischemic forebrain adenosine levels and significantly decreased hippocampal neuron injury relative to saline-treatment. NBMPR-induced increases in adenosine receptor activation were not detected, suggesting that altering the intracellular:extracellular distribution of adenosine can affect ischemic outcome. Using primary cultures of rat forebrain astrocytes and neurons, adenosine release was evoked by ischemic-like conditions. Dipyridamole, an inhibitor of ENTs, was more effective at inhibiting adenosine release from neurons than from astrocytes. In contrast, α , β-methylene ADP, an inhibitor of ecto-5'-nucleotidase, was effective at inhibiting adenosine release from astrocytes, but not from neurons. Thus, during ischemic-like conditions, neurons released adenosine via the CLASSICAL pathway, while astrocytes released adenosine via the ALTERNATE pathway. Discussion: These cell type differences in pathways for adenosine formation during ischemia may allow transport inhibitors to block simultaneously adenosine release from neurons and adenosine uptake into astrocytes. In principle, this could improve neuronal ATP levels without decreasing adenosine receptor activation.
Effects of nanoparticle‐encapsulated curcumin on arsenic‐induced liver toxicity in rats

We investigated the therapeutic effectiveness of the nanoparticle‐encapsulated curcumin (CUR‐NP) against sodium arsenite‐induced hepatic oxidative damage in rats. The CUR‐NP prepared by emulsion technique was spherical in shape with an encapsulation efficiency of 86.5%. The particle size ranged between 120 and 140 nm with the mean particle size being 130.8 nm. Rats were divided into five groups of six each. Group 1 served as control. Group 2 rats were exposed to sodium arsenite (25 ppm) daily through drinking water for 42 days. Groups 3, 4, and 5 were treated with arsenic as in group 2, however, they were administered, empty nanoparticles, curcumin (100 mg/kg bw) and CUR‐NP (100 mg/kg bw), respectively, by oral gavage during the last 14 days of arsenic exposure. Arsenic increased the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase and caused histological alterations in liver indicating hepatotoxicity. Arsenic increased lipid peroxidation, depleted reduced glutathione and decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in liver. All these effects of arsenic were attenuated with both curcumin and CUR‐NP. However, the magnitude of amelioration was more pronounced with CUR‐NP. The results indicate that curcumin given in nano‐encapsulated form caused better amelioration than free curcumin. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 628–637, 2015.
Sleep and health in shift working nurses

In this thesis, the prevalence of Shift Work Disorder (SWD) in a sample of nurses, and the association between SWD and work characteristics, health outcome and personality (paper 1) have been investigated. Next, the psychometric properties of the “Bergen Shift Work Sleep Questionnaire” (BSWSQ) were evaluated (paper 2). The BSWSQ evaluates sleep and sleepiness problems in relation to day shifts, evening shifts, night shifts and rest-days. The validated BSWSQ was used to investigate how different work shifts and work schedules affected problems with sleep and sleepiness (paper 3). In paper 1, three symptom-based questions were used to assess the prevalence of symptoms indicative of SWD. To evaluate the accuracy of these questions, two additional measurement procedures were used for comparison. All three procedures were based on the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, second edition (ICSD-2) diagnostic criteria that entail the presence of a sleep or sleepiness problem associated with a work schedule that imposes wakefulness during the usual time for sleep (American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), 2005). Logistic regression analyses were performed with symptoms indicative of SWD as outcome variables. Nurses (n = 1968) reported their age, gender, type of work schedule, commute duration, fraction of a full-time position, presence of children in household (yes/no), number of nights and number of shifts separated by less than 11 hours worked during the previous year, use of sleep medication, melatonin and bright light therapy. All of the nurses completed the Bergen Insomnia Scale, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Global Sleep Assessment Questionnaire, the Diurnal Scale, the Revised Circadian Type Inventory, the Dispositional Resilience (Hardiness) Scale – Revised, the Fatigue Questionnaire, questions about alcohol and caffeine consumption, as well as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
Liquidity Risk, Firm Risk, and Issue Risk Premium Effects on the Abnormal Returns to New Issues of Convertible Bonds

This paper provides new evidence on the effects of the risk profiles of firms on the returns to convertible bond issues. Liquidity risk, firm risk, and issue risk premium factors are examined as determinants of abnormal returns around the convertible bond issue dates. The market responds favorably to the issuance of convertible bonds by issuers with mild levels of firm volatility risk. Liquidity risk (issue size) and issue risk premium factors (convertible Vega) have significantly negative effects on abnormal returns around the issue date. The findings are robust to different grouping criteria and estimation methods.
Interrater reliability and internal consistency of the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV axis II personality disorders (SCID-II), version 2.0.

Interrater reliability and internal consistency of the SCID-II 2.0 was assessed in a sample of 231 consecutively admitted in- and outpatients using a pairwise interview design, with randomized rater pairing and blind interview assessment. Interrater reliability coefficients ranged from . 48 to . 98 for categorical diagnosis (Cohen kappa), and from . 90 to . 98 for dimensional judgements (Intraclass correlation coefficient). Internal consistency coefficients were satisfactory (.71-.94). The results suggest that the SCID-II 2.0 has adequate interrater and internal consistency reliability.
Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Network Meta-Analysis of 13 Randomized Controlled Studies

Objective The present network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to summarize the direct and indirect evidence of common programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors including avelumab, atezolizumab, cemiplimab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and further to determine the optimal therapeutic regimen. Methods We performed a systematic literature search to identify all potentially eligible studies in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library until August 7, 2021. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), and the second outcome was treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). We used random-effects model to conduct direct and network meta-analyses, which were performed by using RevMan 5.3 and R version 3.6. 1, respectively. Results Direct meta-analysis suggested that atezolizumab, cemiplimab, nivolumab, or pembrolizumab significantly improved OS compared with chemotherapy (CT), and NMA further established that atezolizumab [hazard ratio (HR), 0.77; 95% CrI, 0.62–0.96], nivolumab (HR, 0.75; 95% CrI, 0.62–0.93), or pembrolizumab (HR, 0.71; 95% Credible interval (Crl), 0.57–0.89) significantly and cemiplimab (HR, 0.68; 95% CrI, 0.46–1.02) numerically improved OS compared with CT. Meanwhile, NMA also indicated that cemiplimab was numerically superior to other PD-1/PD-L1 agents. Moreover, avelumab, atezolizumab, cemiplimab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab were found to have fewer TRAEs compared with CT in direct meta-analysis, which were supported by the results from the NMA. Meanwhile, surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) and ranking probability suggested that cemiplimab provided the most favorable balance between efficacy and safety, with the first ranking for the OS. Conclusions Based on available evidence, cemiplimab may have the most favorable risk–benefit ratio for NSCLC patients compared with other common therapeutic management. However, future research with a large-scale, high-quality, and mature follow-up is needed to further determine which agents should be preferentially selected for NSCLC patients due to the limitations of our NMA and variations of eligible studies in treatment line and PD-L1 status.
Reynolds number effect on the dissipation function in wall-bounded flows

The evolution with Reynolds number of the dissipation function, normalized by wall variables, is investigated using direct numerical simulation (DNS) databases for incompressible turbulent Poiseuille flow in a plane channel, at friction Reynolds numbers up to Reτ=2000. DNS results show that the mean part, directly dissipated by the mean flow, reaches a constant value while the turbulent part, converted into turbulent kinetic energy before being dissipated, follows a logarithmic law. This result shows that the logarithmic law of friction can be obtained without any assumption on the mean velocity distribution. The proposed law is in good agreement with experimental results in plane-channel and boundary layer flows.
Host resistance to bacterial endotoxemia: mechanisms in endotoxin-tolerant animals.

We designed this study to determine the contribution to host defense of the humoral detoxifying mechanism in endotoxin-tolerant animals. Compared with normal serum, sera from tolerant rabbits proved to be a much more potent medium for the detoxification of endotoxins. A fivefold increase in the activity of heatstable, organophosphate-resistant esterase in tolerant serum was shown to be associated with the low-density lipoprotein fraction. The response of tolerant rabbits to challenge with endotoxin was immediate and was manifested by a sharp drop in ionized calcium in serum and a rapid formation of endotoxin-lipoprotein (esterase) complexes in the circulation. Tolerant rabbits were capable of effecting a rapid intravascular detoxification of endotoxin in spite of total occlusion of blood flow to the liver and spleen. These results clearly support the thesis that intravascular detoxification plays a dominant role in the increased resistance of tolerant animals to endotoxin.
Similar Brain Mechanism of Hypothesis-Testing Between Children and Adults

Fourteen children and 15 adults were sequentially presented with triplets of cookies and were asked to learn what kinds of cookies were eatable while event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. The results locked to the third cookies that served to strengthen or reject a preliminary hypothesis showed that (1) the parietal P220 and frontal HRP (Hypothesis Reject Potential) was larger in reject condition than in strengthen condition for both age groups; (2) the intensive process of hypothesis testing activated most of the left brain. These results suggest that the logical function of the frontal lobe has been formed during the critical period of development of thinking.
Transitioning Towards New Ways of Working: Do Job Demands, Job Resources, Burnout, and Engagement Change?

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a mandatory transition to New Ways of Working (NWW) on employees’ job demands (i.e., mental demands, workload, and task ambiguity), job resources (i.e., autonomy, supervisor support, coworker support, and possibilities for development), and their levels of burnout and work engagement. Additionally, it was investigated whether the effects of the transition depended on employees’ personal resources (Psychological Capital—PsyCap). Design/methodology/approach We investigated an organization in transition. In three waves (one before and two after the transition), data were collected via online surveys among 126 employees of a large Dutch provider of financial services. Findings NWW were beneficial in reducing mental demands and workload and did not harm the relationships with supervisor and coworkers. However, autonomy and possibilities for professional development decreased. Burnout and work engagement remained stable over time. The effects of the transition did not depend on employees’ PsyCap. Implications NWW have received a very positive popular press. Scientific evidence for its beneficial and/or adverse effects on worker well-being can help organizations making an informed decision when considering NWW. Moreover, this can help to develop targeted interventions that alleviate the negative consequences (e.g., paying extra attention to professional development). Originality/value This is one of the first longitudinal studies in which employees were followed who transitioned to NWW. Building on the Job Demands-Resources model, this study provides a comprehensive picture of the effects of NWW.
Caregiver Burden Associated with Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Elderly People in the Local Community

Background: Despite many studies about the association between caregiver burden and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), there have been no population-based studies to evaluate caregiver burden associated with each BPSD. Objective: To evaluate caregiver burden associated with the individual BPSD in elderly people living in the community. Methods: The subjects were 67 participants with dementia living with their caregivers (diagnosed in the third Nakayama study): 51 Alzheimer’s disease, 5 vascular dementia and 11 other. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and NPI Caregiver Distress Scale (NPI-D) were used to assess subjects’ BPSD and related caregiver distress, respectively. Results: In the subjects exhibiting BPSD, aberrant motor behavior had the highest mean NPI score, and depression/dysphoria had the lowest. Agitation/aggression had the highest mean NPI-D score, and euphoria/elation had the lowest. Delusion, agitation/aggression, apathy/indifference, irritability/lability and aberrant motor behavior showed a correlation between the NPI and NPI-D scores. Conclusion: The burden associated with BPSD is different for each symptom and does not always depend on frequency and severity of BPSD. These findings suggest that some symptoms, such as agitation/aggression and irritability/lability, may affect the caregivers significantly, although their frequency and severity are low.
Pharmacology of Antiemetics

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has been characterized as the “big little problem. ” Historically, it has been an all too common complication for both inpatients and outpatients undergoing virtually all types of surgical procedures, regardless of the anesthetic regimen used. Postoperative nausea and vomiting encompasses a triad of signs and symptoms. Nausea is typically described as a subjectively unpleasant sensation associated with the awareness of the urge to vomit, whereas vomiting is the actual physical phenomenon of the forceful expulsion of gastric contents from the mouth. Retching is physiologically similar to vomiting and is defined as the labored, spasmodic, rhythmic contractions of the respiratory muscles without expulsion of gastric contents. Postoperative nausea and vomiting thus encompasses not only physical signs (i.e., retching and vomiting) but also the unpleasant subjective feeling (nausea) experienced by the patient. A given episode of PONV can manifest any or all of these signs and symptoms and can last from minutes to hours or even days. Improvement in the understanding of the physiologic mechanisms of nausea and vomiting as well as the introduction of new pharmacologic agents has led to a proliferation of clinical trials of antiemetic therapy over the past 10 years. Although hundreds of studies comparing and contrasting various therapeutic options have been performed, methodologic variations in clinical trials make comparisons difficult. These methodologic variations include heterogenous patient populations, inconsistent doses and timing of administration, insufficient sample sizes, inadequate assessment of nausea, vomiting, and retching, and inconsistent definition of successful treatment. Postoperative nausea and vomiting is a frequent side effect of surgery and anesthesia. The overall frequency has been estimated to be 20% to 30%. The frequency of symptoms depends on a variety of risk factors. In the case of patients undergoing ambulatory surgery, these symptoms can persist even after discharge. It has been estimated that 17%
Dissociation between Attentional Set Shifting and Habit Learning: a Longitudinal Case Study

We report a patient (ST) with predominant damage to the right neostriatum, caused by a rare cerebral angiitis. The testing procedure was focused on attentional set shifting (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: WCST) and habit learning (probabilistic classification learning; PCL). ST showed impairments in the WCST, digit span backward, alphabet span, and PCL procedures, whereas he exhibited spared IQ, short-term verbal memory, object recognition, episodic and semantic memory. After 1 month of steroid therapy, there was a significant improvement in the WCST, digit span backward and alphabet span tests, whereas PCL remained severely impaired. The three control patients with damage to the parietal lobe displayed normal learning rates in PCL. These results suggest that separate frontostriatal mechanisms exist for attentional set shifting and habit learning.
Iranian intensive care unit nurses’ moral distress

Researchers have identified the phenomena of moral distress through many studies in Western countries. This research reports the first study of moral distress in Iran. Because of the differences in cultural values and nursing education, nurses working in intensive care units may experience moral distress differently than reported in previous studies. This research used a qualitative method involving semistructured and in-depth interviews of a purposive sample of 31 (28 clinical nurses and 3 nurse educators) individuals to identify the types of moral distress among clinical nurses and nurse educators working in 12 cities in Iran. A content analysis of the data produced four themes to describe the nurses’ moral distress. The four themes were as follows: (a) institutional barriers and constraints; (b) communication problems; (c) futile actions, malpractice, and medical/care errors; (d) inappropriate responsibilities, resources, and competencies. The results demonstrate that moral distress for intensive care unit nurses is different and that the nursing leaders must reduce moral distress among nursing in intensive care.