Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trends in alcohol consumption during pregnancy in Australia, 2001–2010

Callinan, S. , & Ferris, J. (2014). Trends in alcohol consumption during pregnancy in Australia, 2001–2010. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 3(1), 17-24 . doi:10.7895/ijadr.v3i1. 108 Aim: The aim of the current study is to examine, using cross-sectional data, the role of maternal age, period (year of pregnancy) and cohort (year of birth) as predictors of alcohol consumption during pregnancy over a 10-year period. Design: Four cross-sectional surveys were examined, both separately and together. Setting: Using cross-sectional data, there does appear to be a positive relationship between maternal age and alcohol consumption during pregnancy; however, within any one survey period, it is difficult to determine if these patterns are due to period or cohort effects. Participants : The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) is a large-scale survey administered to more than 20,000 respondents. Across four survey periods, 3,281 women reported being pregnant in the 12 months prior to the survey. Measures: The section on pregnancy and alcohol in the NDSHS 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Findings: Age was a significant positive predictor of alcohol consumption during pregnancy in 2010. However, when the four data sets were combined, period appeared to be a stronger predictor, with younger groups and cohorts decreasing consumption at a faster rate over time than older groups and cohorts. Conclusions: Although age and cohort do play a role in the likelihood of alcohol consumption among Australian women during pregnancy, period is the most important predictor, indicating that alcohol consumption among pregnant women is decreasing. Furthermore, knowledge of pregnancy results in a marked decrease in consumption, suggesting a possible focus for prevention campaigns.
Long‐lasting pro‐ictogenic effects induced in vivo by rat brain exposure to serum albumin in the absence of concomitant pathology

Purpose: Dysfunction of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a common finding during seizures or following epileptogenic brain injuries, and experimentally induced BBB opening promotes seizures both in naive and epileptic animals. Brain albumin extravasation was reported to promote hyperexcitability by inducing astrocytes dysfunction. To provide in vivo evidence for a direct role of extravasated serum albumin in seizures independently on the pathologic context, we did the following: (1) quantified the amount of serum albumin extravasated in the rat brain parenchyma during status epilepticus (SE); (2) reproduced a similar concentration in the hippocampus by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) albumin injection in naive rats; (3) measured electroencephalography (EEG) activity in these rats, their susceptibility to kainic acid (KA)–induced seizures, and their hippocampal afterdischarge threshold (ADT).
School Connectedness, Emotional Intelligence and Locus of Control as Determinants of Academic Achievement among School Going Adolescents in Ikeja, Lagos State

This study investigated school connectedness, emotional intelligence and locus of control as predictors of academic achievement among school going adolescents. The study made use of stratified random sampling in selecting 380 adolescents from twelve (12) secondary schools in Ikeja, Lagos State. The sample age ranged between 14 -18 years. Three instruments were used, namely: School Connected Scale Scale, Emotional intelligence Scale, Locus of Control Scale. Achievement Scores were collected from their previous records. Data analysis involved the use of multiple regression and Pearson Product Moment correlation. The results indicated that the three independent variables as a block were effective in determining academic achievement of the adolescents. On the basis of the finding, it was suggested that school counsellors, psychologists should develop programmes to foster emotional intelligence as well as locus of control. The needs for guidance services in Nigerian secondary school were also discussed. Keywords: School Connectedness, Emotional intelligence, Locus of control, School -going Adolescents, Academic achievement
Robust dynamic experimental identification of robots with set membership uncertainty

This paper focuses on robust dynamic identification of robots with set membership uncertainty. The error, taken additive on model output (input motor torque), is only assumed to be bounded. Three bounded-error recursive algorithms are implemented to outer-bound the solution parameter set with ellipsoids or parallelotopes. Experimental results are presented for a two degrees-of-freedom SCARA robot.
Characteristics of red cell pyruvate kinase (PK) and pyrimidine 5'nucleotidase (P5N) abnormalities in acute leukaemia and chronic lymphoid diseases with leukaemic expression

Red cell pyruvate kinase (PK), pyrimidine 5'nucleotidase (P5N) and reduced glutathione content (GSH) were studied in 126 untreated patients with acute leukaemia (AL, 80 cases), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B‐CLL, 38 cases) and B‐cell lymphoma with leukaemic expression (LSCL, eight cases). Acute leukaemias were classified into lymphoblastic (ALL) and non‐lymphoblastic (ANLL), the latter have been further sub‐divided into four different variants according to FAB morphological criteria (1976). A significant decrease of PK activity was observed only in the ANLL group, leading to a clear‐cut difference with the ALL group where a normal value was obtained. The decrease of P5N activity was similar in all the morphological variants of ANLL and no abnormalities in the low PEP assay system or after fructose 1.6‐bisphosphate (Fru 1.6‐P2) activation were observed. P5N activity was found to be significantly decreased in all groups of patients except in B‐CLL, where it was normal. In regards to the different morphological groups of ANLL, a striking decrease of P5N activity was observed in the M3 variant. Although red cell GSH content was significantly increased in all groups of patients, no correlation was demonstrated between the raised GSH levels and the decreased P5N activities.
Cloning and Characterization of the Homolog of Mammalian Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein and Bactericidal Permeability-Increasing Protein in Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss1

We cloned two cDNAs denoted as RT-LBP/BPI-1 and RT-LBP/BPI-2, respectively, which were derived from the mRNA of head kidney from rainbow trout. They showed structural homology with LPS-binding protein (LBP) and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) in mammals. The full-length cDNA of RT-LBP/BPI-1 and RT-LBP/BPI-2 is 1666 and 1741 bp, respectively. Both cDNAs encoded 473 aa residues, including the amino acids conserved in mammalian LBP and BPI proteins that were assumed to be involved in LPS binding. The overall coding sequence of RT-LBP/BPI-1 has 33% amino acid homology to human LBP and 34% to human BPI, and RT-LBP/BPI-2 has 32% amino acid homology to human LBP and 33% to human BPI. Three-dimensional structure analysis by three-dimensional/one-dimensional (3D-1D) methods also demonstrated that RT-LBP/BPI-1 and RT-LBP/BPI-2 proteins showed significant similarity to human BPI, having a boomerang shape with N-terminal and C-terminal barrels. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the LBP and BPI genes seemed to be established after the divergence of mammals from teleosts. These results suggested that RT-LBP/BPI-1 and RT-LBP/BPI-2 may be a putative ortholog for mammalian LBP and/or BPI genes. This is the first study to identify the LBP family genes from nonmammalian vertebrates.
Effectiveness of altered incentives in a food safety inspection program.

BACKGROUND The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services revamped its retail food establishment inspection program in 1998 to include, among other novel provisions, the prominent posting of grades. The purpose of the present study is to examine results from the second year of the revamped program to determine the longer-term impact of the program. METHODS An analysis of program results for Year 1 led to several program refinements: stratification of risk categories, certification of food handlers, and an external fraud hotline. Outcome measures used included routine inspection scores; closure rates; scores from owner-initiated inspections and departmentally initiated inspections; inspection frequencies; compliance with food handler certification requirements; and frequency of use of the external fraud hotline. RESULTS Inspection scores continued to increase in 1999, while the rate of closures decreased. The owner-initiated inspections also resulted in improved scores, generally maintained on subsequent inspections. Higher risk establishments were inspected more frequently than were lower risk establishments. Over 30,000 food handlers were certified. The external fraud hotline received 16 fraud complaints. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that retail food establishments are taking stronger action to assure compliance with food safety practices.
Psychiatric Emergencies in a General Hospital Outpatient Department: Some Data and a Review of the Literature

Une etude-pilote a ete menee sur un total de 350 patients ayant effectue 408 visites a la salle d'Urgence de l'Hopital General d'Ottawa dans l'intervalle de huit mois. Le but de ce travail est de v.
CATALYTIC HYDROGENATION AND OXIDATION OF BIOMASS-DERIVED LEVULINIC ACID

Levulinic acid (LA), 4-oxo-pentanoic acid, is a new platform chemical with various potential uses. In this paper, catalytic hydrogenation and oxidation of levulinic acid were studied. It was shown from experiments that levulinic acid can be hydrogenated to γ-valerolactone (GVL) over transition metal catalysts and oxidative-decarboxylated to 2-butanone (methyl-ethyl-ketone, MEK) and methyl-vinyl-ketone (MVK) by cupric oxide (CuO), cupric oxide/cerium oxide (CuO/CeO2), cupric oxide/ alumina (CuO/ Al2O3), and silver(I)/ peroxydisulfate (Ag(I)/S2O82-).
Direct Immunofluorescence as a Helpful Tool for the Differential Diagnosis of Oral Lichen Planus and Oral Lichenoid Lesions

Abstract: A great number of lichenoid lesions have overlapping clinicopathological features, so the use of adjunct tests to establish definitive diagnosis is recommended for correct management and prognosis of the lesions. In this context, direct immunofluorescence (DIF) can be a useful tool. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the clinical, histopathological, and DIF pattern in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and patients with oral lichenoid lesions (OLLs). Patients with OLP and patients with OLL were characterized and compared with patients with mucous membrane pemphigoid, pemphigus vulgaris, and fibrous hyperplasia through a cross-sectional study. Patients with OLP (n = 30) and patients with OLL (n = 26) were mostly white women in the fifth decade of age, with reticular lesions mainly on the buccal mucosa. All patients with OLP and half of the patients with OLL showed liquefaction degeneration at the basal cell layer and a band-like lymphocytic infiltrate in the subepithelial tissue. Twenty-two patients with OLP (73.3%), 10 with OLL (38.4%), 25 with mucous membrane pemphigoid (96.1%), and all with pemphigus vulgaris (100%) had positive DIF. There was no positive DIF in patients with fibrous hyperplasia. The most frequent DIF pattern in patients with OLP and patients with OLL was linear fibrinogen at the basement membrane zone, and a logistic regression model for positive DIF found statistically significant difference in OLP versus OLL (odds ratio, 3.73; confidence interval, 1.23–11.38). Although clinical and histopathological features are sufficient for diagnosing most of the patients with OLP and OLL, DIF is a key tool in differentiating some lichenoid lesions and could improve the diagnosis of OLP and OLL, especially in lesions showing typical clinical and histological features of OLP.
VAC therapy : interactions in the healing process

Vacuum assisted closure (VAC) has gained widespread acceptance over recent years for the treatment of chronic or delayed wound healing. It seals the wound from the environment and stimulates healing by applying topical negative pressure to the wound surface. It is thought to act via a number of mechanisms including stimulation of blood flow, removal of bacteria, and generation of a wound environment that allows healing. This review considers the evidence on the VAC mode of action in relation to clinical results to describe a model of how it enhances the healing of difficult wounds.
Influence of amount and degree of saturation of dietary fat on yield and guality of milk.

Abstract Four rumen-fistulated Holstein cows were used in a Latin square design experiment over 20 weeks to compare effects of a standard diet, basal low-fat, basal + hydrogenated tallow, and basal + soybean oil diets on voluntary feed intake, rumen fermentation, and on yield and composition of milk. In a second trial, six Holstein cows fed similar basal and fat supplemented diets were used in a 3×6 Latin rectangle to compare milk production and composition under a system of restricted feed intake. Voluntary feed intake was not affected by fat or oil supplementation although intake was highest on the standard diet. There were no significant differences in yields of milk, fat, or lactose. Milk fat test was lowest and protein content highest on the standard ration, presumably reflecting high grain intake. Tallow supplementation did not affect milk composition. Addition of soybean oil to the basal diet lowered milk fat percentages (P Ruminal acetic and butyric acids were lowered in favor of higher propionic acid on the standard diet whereas percentages of acetic and propionic acids were not affected by tallow or soybean oil feeding and butyric acid decreased on the soybean oil diet. There were no significant treatment effects on rumen ammonia or pH. Blood glucose levels were not significantly different but means tended to be low (33 to 38 mg/100ml).
The observed long‐case in clinical assessment

Summary. The University of Adelaide has developed a comprehensive approach to final‐year clinical assessment through the use of ward ratings during student internships and the administration of an objective examination of clinical competence at the end of the year. The traditional clinical viva has been retained only to make pass‐fail decisions on borderline students. Problems in making these decisions prompted a modification of the viva so that each student undertook two long‐cases, each being observed by a pair of examiners. Better agreement among examiners and more effective decision‐making seemed to ensue.
Growth Rates in Skeletally Immature Feet After Triple Arthrodesis

Many authors delay triple arthrodesis in skeletally immature patients secondary to the belief that such a surgery would cause excessive shortening in a foot that is often already short. In the current study, foot growth rates were compared between a group of skeletally immature patients (<11 years) and a group of more skeletally mature patients (>11 years) after triple arthrodesis. The average age at surgery in the skeletally immature group was 9.8 years, with a mean follow-up of 3.4 years, and the average age at surgery in the more skeletally mature group was 13.6 years, with a mean follow-up of 2.5 years. No statistically significant differences in length or height growth rates after triple arthrodesis were found between the two groups. The incidence of pseudoarthrosis and residual deformity in both groups was comparable with other studies in the literature. This study does not support the belief that triple arthrodesis to correct hindfoot deformity, instability, or relief of pain should be restricted to the older child.
Incidence of hepatitis C virus and HIV among new injecting drug users in London: prospective cohort study

In England, the low prevalence of HIV among injecting drug users during the 1990s was attributed in part to the introduction of harm reduction interventions in the late 1980s. Also, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus in the late 1990s was thought to be relatively low compared with other countries, at around 40% overall and 15% among those who had been injecting drugs for less than six years.1 We carried out a prospective cohort study of new injecting drug users in London to estimate the incidence of hepatitis C virus and HIV. In 2001, we recruited from community settings mainly in London, but also in Brighton, 428 injecting drug users who were aged below 30 years or had been injecting for six years or fewer. All had injected in the previous four weeks and could provide addresses for follow up. They completed interviewer administered questionnaires and provided oral fluid specimens and optionally dried capillary blood spots for testing for antibodies to hepatitis C virus and HIV using published methods.2 3 They were followed up 12 months later. …
Redox and antioxidant systems of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is highly adapted to cope with the oxidative stress to which it is exposed during the erythrocytic stages of its life cycle. This includes the defence against oxidative insults arising from the parasite's metabolism of haemoglobin which results in the formation of reactive oxygen species and the release of toxic ferriprotoporphyrin IX. Central to the parasite's defences are superoxide dismutases and thioredoxin‐dependent peroxidases; however, they lack catalase and glutathione peroxidases. The vital importance of the thioredoxin redox cycle (comprising NADPH, thioredoxin reductase and thioredoxin) is emphasized by the confirmation that thioredoxin reductase is essential for the survival of intraerythrocytic P. falciparum. The parasites also contain a fully functional glutathione redox system and the low‐molecular‐weight thiol glutathione is not only an important intracellular thiol redox buffer but also a cofactor for several redox active enzymes such as glutathione S‐transferase and glutaredoxin. Recent findings have shown that in addition to these cytosolic redox systems the parasite also has an important mitochondrial antioxidant defence system and it is suggested that lipoic acid plays a pivotal part in defending the organelle from oxidative damage.
Optical Spectroscopy to Guide Photodynamic Therapy of Head and Neck Tumors

In contrast to other interstitial applications of photodynamic therapy (PDT), optical guidance or monitoring in the head and neck is at a very early stage of development. The present paper reviews the use of optical approaches, in particular optical spectroscopy, that have been used or have the potential to guide the application of PDT. When considering the usefulness of these methods, it is important to consider the volume over which these measurements are acquired, the influence of differences in and changes to the background optical properties, the implications for these effects on the measured parameters and the difficulty of incorporating these types of measurements in clinical practice in head and neck PDT. To illustrate these considerations, we present an application of a recently developed technique, which we term fluorescence differential path length spectroscopy for monitoring meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)-chlorin or Foscan-PDT of interstitial head and neck cancer.
Recent developments in dermatological syndromes in returning travelers

Purpose of review Dermatoses are one of the three most common healthcare problems in returning travelers. Knowledge of imported dermatoses among Western physicians is however limited. In order to provide more effective pretravel counseling and better posttravel diagnosis and treatment, improvement is called for. This review highlights the most recent developments regarding dermatological syndromes in returning travelers. Recent findings The spectrum of travel-related dermatoses is broad, including tropical and cosmopolitan infections as well as environmental skin diseases. New infections such as Panton–Valentine leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus infections have begun to emerge in returning travelers. Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis can be managed with multiple drug therapies, but precise identification of the species allows tailored therapeutic management. Clearer definitions of cutaneous larva migrans, a syndrome, and creeping eruption, a cutaneous sign, have been established lately whereas the term hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans is more widely used to define the corresponding disease. Lastly, chikungunya has emerged as a cause of febrile exanthema among travelers returning from endemic areas and has to be distinguished from dengue and measles. Summary Bacterial infections continue to be the main cause of consultation in returning travelers. Most of these infections are cosmopolitan and are secondary to arthropod exposure. Conversely, tropical skin infections are less commonly observed.
The Transient Anti-Hypertensive Effect of Phentolamine in Patients Receiving Beta-Blocker Treatment

In seven hypertensives receiving beta-blocker drugs, an additional reduction in standing blood pressure occurred between 60 and 90 minutes after 40 mg phentolamine by mouth. The occurrence of the postural hypotensive effect was delayed in relation to the reported time of peak plasma concentration of unchanged phentolamine. Supine blood pressure and heart rate were unaffected. Phentolamine has no clinically useful anti-hypertensive effect in conjunction with beta-blockers in patients with essential hypertension.
Cell Modelling of Hematopoiesis

In this work, we introduce a new software created to study hematopoiesis at the cell population level with the individually based approach. It can be used as an interface between the- oretical works on population dynamics and experimental observations. We show that this software can be useful to study some features of normal hematopoiesis as well as some blood diseases such as myelogenous leukemia. It is also possible to simulate cell communication and the formation of cell colonies in the bone marrow.
Rehabilitation in practice: Environmental modifications in the homes of elderly Canadians with disabilities

This study was performed to (1) determine if the use of architectural modifications in the homes of the disabled elderly can reduce the level of disability; (2) determine the predictors of the use of architectural modifications; and (3) estimate the degree of need for environmental modifications. The degree of need was estimated using data from 8895 respondents (55 years and older) from the Canadian Health and Disability Survey (1983–84). A subgroup of 1520 respondents who needed architectural modifications was selected to predict: (1) the ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and (2) the use of architectural modifications. These data were analysed using multiple linear regression. Approximately 37·9% of the disabled elderly required at least one modification to their home. About 40% did not have the architectural modification that was needed. Income was found to be a predictor of the use of architectural modifications (p=0·0273). Users of architectural modifications were more .