Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact evaluation of the Vila Viçosa small hydroelectric power plant (Portugal) on the water quality and on the dynamics of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities of the Ardena river

Over a two-year period a study of the Vila Vicosa small hydroelectric development, located on the Ardena river (hydrographical basin of the Douro river, Portugal), was conducted, with the objective of evaluating the impact of its operation on the water quality and on the dynamics of the benthic macroinvertebrate community. A morphological, hydrologic and physico-chemical characterization of the system was done, an analysis of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities looking into their structure and dynamics, as well as ecological and physiological characteristics. With the physical and chemical data, a study of its spatial and temporal variation was performed. With the data related to the macroinvertebrate communities, an analysis of the spatial variation of some indexes and metrics and of the (non) similarity between the samples collected were done, bearing in mind the composition of the communities, through different techniques of multivariate analysis. After the analysis of the data, it is possible to say that the Ardena River is a lothic system, with good water quality, in which the working of the small hydroelectric power plant causes alterations on the macroinvertebrate community, due to the alteration of the "natural" hydrologic regime. The impact on the macroinvertebrate communities is lower upstream of the plant, where the flow is minimal throughout the whole year leading to a change in the structure of the community. Downstream of the plant, where the flow is extremely variable, there is an impoverishment of the communities, leading to the displacement of substrate and organisms.
Longevity of Foxtail Taxa in Undisturbed Sites

Survival of foxtail grass in undisturbed sites was tested in a 4-yr study of robust white foxtail (Setaria viridis var. robusta-alba Schreiber), robust purple foxtail (Setaria viridis var. robusta-purpurea Schreiber), giant green foxtail [Setaria viridis var. major (Gaud.) Posp. ], yellow foxtail [Setaria lutescens (Weigel) Hubb. ], and giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm.). Regardless of taxa seeded, giant foxtail dominated the stand with small amounts of yellow foxtail in the fourth year. Although the foxtail taxa stands corresponded to the taxa seeded in the first year of growth, robust white foxtail, robust purple foxtail, and giant green foxtail completely or nearly disappeared within 4 yr of having been seeded alone or with other taxa, and generally sooner when mixed with giant foxtail. Because of the rapid dominance of giant foxtail, the robust white foxtail, robust purple foxtail, and giant green foxtails are not likely to become a source of seed for infestation from fencerows to production fields.
Olanzapine reduces delirium symptoms in the critically ill pediatric patient

Abstract Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by acute disturbances in attention, consciousness, cognitive processing, perception, and the sleep-wake cycle. The few studies investigating treatment of delirium in critically ill children and adolescents have used differing diagnostic criteria, and have not employed control groups or procedures to blind observations. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of olanzapine for the treatment of delirium in the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) using methodological procedures to reduce bias and allow greater generalization. Psychiatric records of 59 patients admitted to the pediatric ICU or cardiothoracic ICU over a 4 yr period with the diagnosis of delirium were examined. The delirium rating scale was used to assess delirium severity at the time of initial psychiatric evaluation and five days later. Raters were blinded to medication administration. Patients who were diagnosed with delirium, but did not receive olanzapine, or any other antipsychotic medication, served as the control group. Greater improvement of delirium symptoms was found for the olanzapine group (n = 31) than the control group (n = 28) (F (1,40) = 4.86, r = 0.33, 95% confidence interval = 0.020–0.58). This finding remained statistically significant after controlling for initial delirium severity (F (1, 20) = 28.62, r = 0.77, 95% confidence interval = 0.50–0.90). This study demonstrates patients with delirium administered olanzapine had greater reduction of delirium symptom severity than controls. It supplements the existing literature by using a study design that reduces expectancy effects and allows examination of the natural history of delirium symptoms without medication administration.
Three-year outcomes of combined trabecular micro-bypass and phacoemulsification in a predominantly Hispanic population with primary open-angle glaucoma

Purpose: To present long-term, real-world outcomes after implanting one trabecular micro-bypass stent with cataract surgery for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in a predominantly Hispanic patient population. Patients and methods: This retrospective, consecutive case series evaluated intraocular pressure (IOP), medications, and safety through 36 months after implanting one iStent® during phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Eyes were stratified into 2 subgroups classified by preoperative IOP and surgical goal. The Controlled Group had IOP <18 mmHg on ≥1 medications, and goal to reduce medications. The Uncontrolled Group had IOP ≥18 mmHg and/or maximum tolerated medication load, and goal to reduce IOP. Assessments included IOP, medications, visual fields (VF), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL), adverse events, and secondary surgeries. Results: Of 168 total operated eyes, 87 eyes (49 Controlled, 38 Uncontrolled) completed 36 months of follow-up and comprise the Consistent Cohort in this report. At baseline, 79.6% (39/49) of Controlled eyes and 71.1% (27/38) of Uncontrolled eyes were from Hispanic patients. In the Controlled Group desiring medication reduction, mean medications were reduced by 77.3% (2.6 medications preoperatively vs 0.6 at 36 months; p<0.001. All Controlled eyes maintained or reduced medications versus preoperative; no eyes were on ≥3 medications (vs 61.2% preoperatively); and 58.3% were medication-free (vs 0% preoperatively). In the Uncontrolled Group desiring IOP reduction, mean IOP decreased by 31.2% (19.4 mmHg preoperatively vs 13.4 mmHg at 36 months; p<0.001), 91.7% of eyes achieved IOP ≤18 mmHg, 69.4% reached IOP ≤15 mmHg, and 77.8% decreased IOP ≥20% vs baseline. Uncontrolled eyes also experienced a 45.3% medication reduction (2.2 medications preoperatively vs 1.2 at 36 months; p<0.001). Favorable safety included no intraoperative complications, and stable VF and RNFL through 36 months. Conclusion: In this predominantly Hispanic patient cohort, significant IOP and medication reductions were sustained safely through 36 months after iStent implantation during cataract surgery.
Effects of Herbicides on RNA and Protein Syntheses

Effects of 22 herbicides on the synthesis of RNA and protein were investigated in excised tissues. The assays measured ATP and orotate incorporation into RNA, leucine incorporation into protein, and the gibberellin-controlled induction of a-amylase Statistical analysis of the average responses measured in the four assays suggested that 14 of the herbicides inhibited RNA and protein biosyntheses in vivo. The most inhibitory chemicals were 4-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzonitrile (ioxynil), 2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol (dinoseb), 3',4'-dichloropropionanilide (propanil), 2,3,5-trichloro-4-pyridinol (pyriclor), and isopropyl m-chlorocarbanilate (chlorpropham). The activity of an RNA polymerase isolated from corn (Zea mays L.) tissue was inhibited maximally at approximately 20% by ioxynil, dinoseb, and pyriclor. Hence, interference with RNA polymerase, which performs a pivotal role in RNA and protein biosyntheses, does not fully account for all inhibitions.
The Poetics of murder : detective fiction and literary theory

Eventually, you will definitely discover a additional experience and success by spending more cash. yet when? accomplish you understand that you require to get those every needs in the manner of having significantly cash? Why don't you try to acquire something basic in the beginning? That's something that will lead you to comprehend even more in relation to the globe, experience, some places, in the manner of history, amusement, and a lot more?
Racial comparisons in receipt of timely guideline-based colon cancer treatment in an equal-access health system.

6563 Background: Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) adults with colon cancer may have longer time-to-treatment and be less likely to receive guideline-based therapy than Whites (NHW) in the U.S. This may be largely related to racial differences in access to care and insurance coverage. This study aimed to determine whether there were racial differences in receipt of timely guideline-based colon cancer treatment in the equal-access Military Health System (MHS). Methods: Patients age 18-79 years diagnosed with colon adenocarcinoma between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2007 were identified in linked databases from the Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry and MHS Data Repository. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of receiving stage-specific treatment within recommended timeframes [surgery within 6 weeks of diagnosis (stages I-III); adjuvant chemotherapy within 8 weeks of surgery (stages II-III); treatment within 4 weeks of diagnosis (stage IV)] for NHB relative to NHW patients were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Patients (n = 2,170) had a mean age at diagnosis of 59.6 (SD 11.8) years and the racial distribution was 78.6% NHW and 21.4% NHB. The likelihood of receiving timely surgery between races was similar across the stage groups (I-III). NHB patients were equally likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy as NHW patients (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.57, 1.41) and to receive it within 8 weeks of surgery (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.75, 1.87). The likelihood of receiving timely treatment for patients with stage IV disease was similar between races (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.39, 1.69). The overall likelihood of receiving treatment adherent to stage-specific guidelines in the study sample was similar between NHB and NHW patients (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.31). Conclusions: In the MHS population, the likelihood of receiving timely treatment adherent to recommended guidelines was similar between races. Our results support the role of equal access to medical care and insurance coverage in reducing racial disparities in colon cancer treatment.
Al2O3 Particles on Titanium Dental Implant Systems following Sandblasting and Acid-Etching Process

Dental implants with moderately rough surfaces show enhanced osseointegration and faster bone healing compared with machined surfaces. The sandblasting and acid-etching (SA) process is one technique to create moderately rough dental implant surfaces. The purpose of this study was to analyse different commercially available implant systems with a SA-modified surface and to explore the widespread notion that they have similar surface properties regarding morphology and cleanliness. SA-modified surfaces of nine implant systems manufactured by Alpha-Bio Tec Ltd, Camlog Biotechnologies AG, Dentsply Sirona Dental GmbH, Neoss Ltd, Osstem Implant Co. Ltd, Institute Straumann AG, and Thommen Medical AG were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and examined for surface cleanliness. Six implants from three different lots were selected per each implant system. Mean particle counts for each implant and the mean size of the particles were calculated from three different regions of interest and compared using ANOVA and Tukey's test. SEM analysis showed presence of particles on the majority of analyzed implant surfaces, and EDX evaluations determined that the particles were made of Al2O3 and thus remnants of the blasting process. SPI®ELEMENT INICELL® and Bone Level (BL) Roxolid® SLActive® implant surfaces showed the highest mean particle counts, 46.6 and 50.3 per area, respectively. The surface of BL Roxolid® SLActive® implant also showed the highest variations in the particle counts, even in samples from the same lot. The mean size of particles was 1120±1011 μm2, measured for USIII CA Fixture implants, while the biggest particle was 5900 μm2 found on a BL Roxolid® SLActive® implant. These results suggest that not all manufacturers are able to produce implant surfaces without particle contamination and highlight that the surface modification process with the SA technique should be appropriately designed and controlled to achieve a clean and consistent final medical device.
Direct Pathway Neurons in Mouse Dorsolateral Striatum In Vivo Receive Stronger Synaptic Input than Indirect Pathway Neurons

Striatal projection neurons, the medium spiny neurons (MSNs), play a crucial role in various motor and cognitive functions. MSNs express either D1 or D2 type dopamine receptors and initiate the direct-pathway (dMSNs) or indirect pathways (iMSNs) of the basal ganglia, respectively. dMSNs have been shown to receive more inhibition than iMSNs from intrastriatal sources. Based on these findings, computational modelling of the striatal network has predicted that under healthy conditions dMSNs should receive more excitatory input than iMSNs. To test this prediction, we analyzed in vivo whole-cell recordings from dMSNs and iMSNs in healthy and dopamine-depleted (6OHDA) anaesthetized mice. By comparing their membrane potential fluctuations, we found that dMSNs exhibited considerably larger membrane potential fluctuations over a wide frequency range. Furthermore, by comparing the spike-triggered average membrane potentials, we found that dMSNs depolarized towards the spike threshold significantly faster than iMSNs did. Together, these finding corroborate the theoretical prediction that direct-pathway MSNs receive stronger input than indirect-pathway neurons. Finally, we found that dopamine-depleted mice exhibited no difference between the membrane potential fluctuations of dMSNs and iMSNs. These data provide new insights into the question how a lack of dopamine may lead to behavior deficits associated with Parkinson’s disease. Significance statement The direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia originate from the D1 and D2 type dopamine receptor expressing medium spiny neurons (dMSNs and iMSNs), respectively. To understand the role of the striatum in brain function and dysfunction it is important to characterize the differences in synaptic inputs to the two MSN types. Theoretical results predicted that dMSNs should receive stronger excitatory input than iMSNs. Here, we studied membrane potential fluctuation statistics of MSNs recorded in vivo in anaesthetized mice and found that dMSNs, indeed, received stronger synaptic input than iMSNs. We corroborated this finding by spike-triggered membrane potential analysis, showing that dMSNs spiking required more synaptic input than iMSNs spiking did, as had been predicted by computational models.
A training system using virtual machines for teaching assembling/disassembling operation to novices

A number of expert systems have been developed so far but most of them failed to know if a user has correctly responded to what the system told him/her to do. Such a system can not find and correct careless mistakes which a novice will easily violate. The system described shows a technical illustration of a mechanical subassembly and instructs a novice to operate a part. The part to be operated is designated using the name and movement of the user's hand is monitored by the system. When the novice understands the instruction, his/her hands will move toward the part or will open to grasp it. If neither of them are observed, it means he/she does not understand the instruction, then the color of the part is changed to teach part-name correspondence. If he/she is going to grasp a wrong part, the correct one will be shown by the system.
The role of sleep in ethnic inequalities in health: Cardiovascular disease and risk factors

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death. The prevalence is higher among ethnic minority groups compared to host population in high income countries. Efforts to reduce increased prevalence of CVD by focusing on conventional CVD risk factors have not yielded much expected results. This thesis focused on sleep as a novelty modifiable CVD risk factor and investigates the role of sleep in ethnic inequalities in health specifically on CVD and risk factors. Objectives: To assess inequalities in sleep duration in the Netherlands between ethnic groups in both adults and preschool children, and to explore possible factors that explain these inequalities. Methods: Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS) (2011-2015) study and Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) (2003-2008) study were used for this thesis. Results: Prevalence of short sleep was higher in all ethnic minority groups than in Dutch in both adult and preschoolers. Short sleep was associated with obesity and diabetes, but the association with hypertension and dyslipidaemia was inconsistent across ethnic groups. Short sleep was associated with CVD and contributed 10-15% to ethnic differences in CVD. Conclusion: Ethnic minority groups sleep shorter than native Dutch. Short sleep was associated with CVD and risk factors, and accounted significantly for ethnic inequalities in CVD. This suggests that sleep may be a new modifiable risk factor of CVD and could play a significant role in reducing ethnic inequalities in health.
Prediction of the Clinical Outcomes of Sigmoid Volvulus by Abdominal X-Ray: AXIS Classification System

Aim Early diagnosis and evaluation of the severity of sigmoid volvulus are necessary for management and early intervention. We developed a new predictive classification system for sigmoid volvulus based on X-ray findings. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 66 patients diagnosed with sigmoid volvulus using the electronic medical records at the Osaki Citizen's Hospital and the University of Tokyo Hospital from 2008-2015. We classified patients according to the coffee-bean sign mesenteric axis on X-ray (AXIS classification: group A, 0-90°; group B, 90-135°; and group C, >135°). We examined the association between AXIS classification and severe sigmoid volvulus, intestinal necrosis, need for surgery, 30-day mortality, and length of stay using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Results In total, 66 patients were analyzed. They had a mean age of 76.9 years, and 47 (71.0%) were male. They were classified into three groups according to the AXIS classification system (group A, 40 patients; group B, 23 patients; and group C, 3 patients). Group C had a significantly higher frequency of severe sigmoid volvulus (100%) compared to group B (30%) and group A (15%). AXIS classification was significantly associated with the severity of sigmoid volvulus (p = 0.003), necrosis (p = 0.004), and need for surgery (p = 0.001), but not with the 30-day mortality or the length of stay. Conclusions We developed the AXIS classification system to predict the severity of sigmoid volvulus. This new classification system may facilitate triage and therapeutic decision-making for sigmoid volvulus patients.
Symptomatic Primary Hyperparathyroidism as a Risk Factor for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Background The primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common disease for the endocrinologist. The concomitant thyroid disease and differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) appear to be more frequent in patients with PHPT than in the general population. The aim of this study was to characterize patients with symptomatic PHPT with and without DTC and analyze frequency and risk factors. Methods We consecutively studied patients with symptomatic PHPT diagnosed and treated at our center between 2013 and 2015. Patients with subclinical and syndromic forms of PHPT were excluded. Clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with and without DTC were compared and risk factors were determined. All patients were studied with thyroid ultrasound and thyroid gammagraphy with TC-MIBI. Two expert surgeons performed all the surgical procedures. Results In 59 patients included, we found 12 cases of PTC (20.3%). The final histopathological report of the PTC was 7 cases of follicular variant, 2 cases of oncocytic variant, 2 cases of classic variant, and 1 case of columnar cells variant of PTC. Patients with thyroid cancer were older than patients without thyroid cancer (62 ± 9.5 versus 52 ± 15.8, p = 0.03). Higher preoperative levels of iPTH were associated with PTC (p=0.03) [OR 5.16 (95% CI: 1.08-24.7)]. Conclusion PTC is frequent in patients with symptomatic PHPT. Thyroid nodules in patients with symptomatic PHPT must be studied before parathyroidectomy. In symptomatic PHPT, higher level concentration of parathormone (PTH) was associated with higher risk of DTC.
Oxazepam and cognitive reappraisal: A randomised experiment

Background Cognitive reappraisal is a strategy for emotional regulation, important in the context of anxiety disorders. It is not known whether anxiolytic effects of benzodiazepines affect cognitive reappraisal. Aims We aimed to investigate the effect of 25 mg oxazepam on cognitive reappraisal. Methods In a preliminary investigation, 33 healthy male volunteers were randomised to oxazepam or placebo, and then underwent an experiment where they were asked to use cognitive reappraisal to upregulate or downregulate their emotional response to images with negative or neutral emotional valence. We recorded unpleasantness ratings, skin conductance, superciliary corrugator muscle activity, and heart rate. Participants completed rating scales measuring empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index, IRI), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI), alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, TAS-20), and psychopathy (Psychopathy Personality Inventory-Revised, PPI-R). Results Upregulation to negative-valence images in the cognitive reappraisal task caused increased unpleasantness ratings, corrugator activity, and heart rate compared to downregulation. Upregulation to both negative- and neutral-valence images caused increased skin conductance responses. Oxazepam caused lower unpleasantness ratings to negative-valence stimuli, but did not interact with reappraisal instruction on any outcome. Self-rated trait empathy was associated with stronger responses to negative-valence stimuli, whereas self-rated psychopathic traits were associated with weaker responses to negative-valence stimuli. Conclusions While 25 mg oxazepam caused lower unpleasantness ratings in response to negative-valence images, we did not observe an effect of 25 mg oxazepam on emotional reappraisal.