Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are there disparities in diabetes care? A comparison of care received by US rural and non-rural adults with diabetes

Aim Are there differences in diabetes care between rural and non-rural US adults with diabetes? Background Rural Healthy People 2010 includes diabetes as a major health priority, suggesting a possible disparity between diabetes care in rural settings as compared to non-rural locales. Methods This cross-sectional study using population-based survey data sought to determine if there was a difference in the quality of diabetes care between rural and non-rural US adults (⩾18 years). A diabetes care index was computed from five separate dichotomous care-related variables (HbA1c checked, lipids checked, dilated eye exam, feet checked by health care provider, and diabetes education), with adequate care defined as receiving at least four of these interventions. Multivariate methods were used to detect differences in diabetes care received by individuals living in rural compared to non-rural settings. Results Multivariate regression analysis revealed that US adults with diabetes living in rural communities were more likely to receive inadequate care than non-rural residents (OR = 1.205; 95% CI 1.201, 1.209). Rural residents were more likely to receive inadequate diabetes care if they were: <40 years of age, male, Caucasian, not a high school graduate, not partnered, without health insurance, inactive or without an identified health care provider. Those deferring medical care because of cost, or who did not have an annual routine physical or had fewer than two diabetes related office visits annually were also at greater risk for suboptimal care. Routine physical checkups and deferring medical care because of cost had a greater impact on diabetes care for rural adults compared to non-rural adults. Conclusion The results of this study indicated that rural residents were less likely to receive adequate diabetes care compared to their non-rural counterparts. The findings suggest that efforts to identify and to address this disparity would likely improve the outcomes for diabetic individuals living in rural communities.
Plant hormones as signals in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are non-specific symbionts developing mutual and beneficial symbiosis with most terrestrial plants. Because of the obligatory nature of the symbiosis, the presence of the host plant during the onset and proceeding of symbiosis is necessary. However, AM fungal spores are able to germinate in the absence of the host plant. The fungi detect the presence of the host plant through some signal communications. Among the signal molecules, which can affect mycorrhizal symbiosis are plant hormones, which may positively or adversely affect the symbiosis. In this review article, some of the most recent findings regarding the signaling effects of plant hormones, on mycorrhizal fungal symbiosis are reviewed. This may be useful for the production of plants, which are more responsive to mycorrhizal symbiosis under stress.
HEREDITARY GLAUCOMA IN A PEDIGREE OF THREE GENERATIONS

William H. Stokes1in the November 1940 issue of theArchives of Ophthalmologypresented a pedigree of five generations with hereditary glaucoma. In addition he was able to find in the literature 27 pedigrees with hereditary glaucoma. The literature on the subject was so thoroughly covered in his report that it may be proper for us to omit many of the details. He has sent us the history of another family, reported by Paulo Cezar Pimentel2at the third Brazilian Congress of Ophthalmology in 1939. In this family, traced through five generations, 4 couples were cousins and 4 persons had hydrophthalmos, 3 had chronic glaucoma and 8 had myopia. Certain features peculiar to hereditary glaucoma have been noted by investigators who have reported on this subject, and these workers have been fairly well agreed on the uniformity of the findings, although a few of the characteristics found in
Hyperglycemia in critically ill children

Objectives: To determine the incidence and study association of hyperglycemia with outcome of critically ill children. Setting and Design: This was a prospective observational study conducted in eight bedded pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: One hundred and one critically ill non-diabetic children between ages of 1 month to 16 years were studied from the day of admission till discharge or death. Serial blood sugars were determined first at admission, thereafter every 12 hourly in all children. Blood glucose level above 126 mg/dl (>7 mmol/dl) was considered as hyperglycemia. Children with hyperglycemia were followed 6 hourly till blood glucose fell below 126 mg/dl. Hyper and non-hyperglycemic children were compared with respect to length of stay, mechanical ventilation, use of inotrops and final outcome. Survivors and non-survivors were compared in relation to admission blood glucose, peak blood glucose level and duration of hyperglycemia. Results: Seventy (69.3%) children had hyperglycemia. Requirement of ventilation [(23) 32.9% vs.(3) 9.7%], requirement of inotropic support [(27) 38.6% vs.(5) 16.1%], Mean length of stay in PICU (7.91 ± 5.01 vs. 5.58 ± 1.95 days) and mortality (28.6% vs. 3.2%) among hyperglycemic children was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of non-hyperglycemic. Logistic regression analysis showed Peak blood glucose level and duration of hyperglycemia has independent association with increased risk of death. Conclusion: Incidence of hyperglycemia is high in critically ill children and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality.
MCMC design-based non-parametric regression for rare event. Application to nested risk computations

Abstract We design and analyze an algorithm for estimating the mean of a function of a conditional expectation when the outer expectation is related to a rare event. The outer expectation is evaluated through the average along the path of an ergodic Markov chain generated by a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampler. The inner conditional expectation is computed as a non-parametric regression, using a least-squares method with a general function basis and a design given by the sampled Markov chain. We establish non-asymptotic bounds for the L 2 ${L_{2}}$ -empirical risks associated to this least-squares regression; this generalizes the error bounds usually obtained in the case of i.i. d. observations. Global error bounds are also derived for the nested expectation problem. Numerical results in the context of financial risk computations illustrate the performance of the algorithms.
Parasitismo intestinal em uma aldeia indígena Parakanã, sudeste do Estado do Pará, Brasil

O trabalho visa estudar a ocorrencia e os aspectos epidemiologicos do parasitismo intestinal na aldeia Paranatinga da tribo indigena Parakana, Amazonia Oriental Brasileira. Foram realizados dois inqueritos coproparasitologicos, em abril de 1992 e em fevereiro de 1995. Os metodos utilizados na identificacao dos agentes parasitarios foram os de Hoffman e exame direto, dois metodos simples, facilmente exequiveis em aldeias indigenas. Da amostra de 126 indios em abril de 1992 (populacao de 215 indios), 101 (80,2%) encontravam-se parasitados por pelo menos um enteroparasita. Ancilostomideos foram encontrados em 33,3%, A. lumbricoides, em 42,8%, T. trichiura, em 0,8%, e S. stercoralis, em 5,6%. Em relacao aos protozoarios, E. histolytica foi encontrada em 65,0% e G. lamblia, em 46,8%. No inquerito de fevereiro de 1995, apesar do aumento da prevalencia total em comparacao com o de abril de 1992 (p = 0,04), houve diminuicao das prevalencias de ancilostomideos, E. histolytica, G. lamblia, e ausencia de S. stercoralis (p<0,05). A despeito das acoes de saude e saneamento empreendidas nas aldeias Parakana, a prevalencia de enteroparasitas ainda se encontra elevada na aldeia Paranatinga, sugerindo que as medidas de atencao primaria e secundaria devem ser imediatamente incrementadas.
Profile of organ dysfunction and predictors of mortality in severe scrub typhus infection requiring intensive care admission

Background and Aims: Scrub typhus, a zoonotic rickettsial infection, is an important reason for intensive care unit (ICU) admission in the Indian subcontinent. We describe the clinical profile, organ dysfunction, and predictors of mortality of severe scrub typhus infection. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of patients admitted with scrub typhus infection to a tertiary care university affiliated teaching hospital in India during a 21-month period. Results: The cohort (n = 116) aged 40.0 ± 15.2 years (mean ± SD), presented 8.5 ± 4.4 days after symptom onset. Common symptoms included fever (100%), breathlessness (68.5%), and altered mental status (25.5%). Forty-seven (41.6%) patients had an eschar. Admission APACHE-II score was 19.6 ± 8.2. Ninety-one (85.2%) patients had dysfunction of 3 or more organ systems. Respiratory (96.6%) and hematological (86.2%) dysfunction were frequent. Mechanical ventilation was required in 102 (87.9%) patients, of whom 14 (12.1%) were solely managed with non-invasive ventilation. Thirteen patients (11.2%) required dialysis. Duration of hospital stay was 10.7 ± 9.7 days. Actual hospital mortality (24.1%) was less than predicted APACHE-II mortality (36%; 95% Confidence interval 32-41). APACHE-II score and duration of fever were independently associated with mortality on logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: In this cohort of severe scrub typhus infection with multi-organ dysfunction, survival was good despite high severity of illness scores. APACHE-II score and duration of fever independently predicted mortality.
Comparison of heart rate variability and pulse rate variability detected with photoplethysmography

This study compares ear photoplethysmography (PPG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) in providing accurate heart beat intervals for use in calculations of heart rate variability (HRV, from ECG) or of pulse rate variability (PRV, from PPG) respectively. Simultaneous measurements were taken from 44 healthy subjects at rest during spontaneous breathing and during forced metronomic breathing (6/min). Under both conditions, highly significant (p > 0.001) correlations (1.0 > r > 0.97) were found between all evaluated common HRV and PRV parameters. However, under both conditions the PRV parameters were higher than HRV. In addition, we calculated the limits of agreement according to Bland and Altman between both techniques and found good agreement (< 10% difference) for heart rate and standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), but only moderate (10-20%) or even insufficient (> 20%) agreement for other standard HRV and PRV parameters. Thus, PRV data seem to be acceptable for screening purposes but, at least at this state of knowledge, not for medical decision making. However, further studies are needed before more certain determination can be made.
RESPONSE OF MELATONIN RECEPTOR MT1 IN SPLEEN OF A TROPICAL INDIAN RODENT, FUNAMBULUS PENNANTI, TO NATURAL SOLAR INSOLATION AND DIFFERENT PHOTOPERIODIC CONDITIONS

We analyzed the effect of natural solar insolation and artificial photoperiodic conditions on melatonin MT1 receptor expression of a tropical rodent, Funambulus pennanti. Melatonin mediates reproductive and circadian responses and regulates the production of a large number of cytokines, including interleukin-2 (IL-2), via modulation of MT1 receptor expression. Maximum pineal activity, resulting in high melatonin level, low melatonin receptor expression, and increased splenic mass, was noted in the winter months, while an opposite effect was noted during the summer months. Further, constant light exposure mimicked an “enhanced summer”-like condition with significant hyposplenia, and an opposite effect was observed with constant dark exposure with significant splenomegaly in F. pennanti. In the annual study, a slight increase in melatonin level was noted during the monsoon period, when the duration of photoperiod was the same but the amount of solar insolation and direct radiation decreased. The present study found that not only the duration of natural sunlight (i.e., photoperiod) but the intensity of sunlight expressed by solar insolation affects the circulatory level of melatonin and melatonin receptor expression in this wild tropical rodent. An increase in the circulatory level of melatonin induced a decrease in its receptor subtype MT1 expression in splenic cells, both at the transcriptional and translational levels, thus reflecting autoregulatory down-regulation of melatonin receptors. Therefore, in our animal model, F. pennanti melatonin may be suggested as a molecular messenger of photoperiodic signals (duration and intensity) directly acting via MT1 receptor regulation to adapt the immune system of animals residing in the tropical zone. (Author correspondence: chaldar2001@yahoo.com)
Adaylıktan Göreve Öğretmen Özyeterliği ve Öğretmenlik Mesleğine Yönelik Tutumlardaki Değişimler

In this study, it is aimed to investigate changes in teacher self-efficacy and attitudes towards teaching profession from entry into a four-year pre-service teacher education program through the induction year. The study was conducted through a longitudinal design within the quantitative research tradition. The teacher self-efficacy scale and attitude towards profession of teaching scale were administered to students who enrolled the Primary Teacher Education Program at Faculty of Education of Ege University on 2006–2007 fall semester, at the end of each academic year (May/June of 2007–2008–2009–2010) and at the end of the induction year (JuneSeptember 2011, n=32). The results indicated that teacher self-efficacy beliefs have significantly increased, however attitudes toward profession of teaching have not significantly changed during pre-service education. At the end of the induction year, the same results were obtained; teacher self-efficacy has significantly increased, although attitudes toward profession have increased, no significant difference has been observed.
Smoking before, during and after pregnancy in England

Separate surveys were conducted among pregnant women (N = 625) and new/recent mothers (N = 550) throughout England. Smoking prevalence among pregnant women was found to be linked to age, social grade, educational attainment, employment status, pregnancy planning and partner's smoking status. Possible links were also detected between smoking prevalence and number of previous pregnancies and number of miscarriages. Among those smoking during pregnancy or within 12 months before pregnancy, there was a greater likelihood of reducing consumption (35 per cent) than giving up altogether (26 per cent). Among those cutting down, consumption decreased from an average rate of 18.2 to 12 cigarettes/day. Thirty-five per cent of pregnant women in the home, and 45 per cent of pregnant women in the workplace, were exposed to passive smoking. Of children whose father or mother smoked, 44 per cent were exposed to passive smoking from their parents. The majority of both samples considered smoking to be dangerous to the foetus (86 per cent of pregnant women) and their newly born child (96 per cent of new/recent mothers) and were aware of passive smoking and its danger. Of the partners of pregnant women, and of new/recent mothers, 39 per cent and 36 per cent respectively were reported to be smokers.
INTERINDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN NEUROBEHAVIORAL PERFORMANCE IN RESPONSE TO INCREASING HOMEOSTATIC SLEEP PRESSURE

Neurobehavioral function deteriorates with increasing homeostatic sleep pressure during wakefulness. It has been claimed that some individuals exhibit a quicker rate of such deterioration than others, thus being more vulnerable than others to the detrimental impact of increasing homeostatic sleep pressure. Evidence supporting the claim, however, has been limited by methodological issues. To overcome these limitations, the current study used a 12-calendar-day, 28-h forced desynchrony (FD) protocol (sleep:wake period = 1:2) to study individual differences in the rate of change in neurobehavioral performance with increasing homeostatic sleep pressure. Neurobehavioral performance was assessed with a psychomotor vigilance task and a serial addition subtraction task. A significant performance decline on both tasks was revealed within as short as 17 h of wakefulness. The rates of decline of individual performance trajectories were, however, not different from the group average rate. This suggests that individuals are not differentially vulnerable to the detrimental impact of increasing homeostatic sleep pressure. (Author correspondence: xuan.zhou@unisa.edu.au)
The determinants of effectiveness in primary health care teams

What predicts the effectiveness of primary health care teams? We address this question through research with 528 members of 68 primary health care teams in the UK, examining the influence of team composition and processes upon team effectiveness. Six months after measuring team composition and processes, we asked team members to rate the effectiveness of their teams in relation to teamwork, organisational efficiency, health care and patient centred care. Team size, tenure and budget holding status did not predict team effectiveness. However, team processes (objectives, participation, quality emphasis and support for innovation) accounted for 23% of the variation between teams in their effectiveness. In particular, clarity of and commitment to team objectives was key in predicting the overall effectiveness of the primary health care team. These findings are discussed in relation to the need to adopt appropriate organisational supports for teamworking in health care contexts.
Chronotype Differences in Suicidal Behavior and Impulsivity Among Suicide Attempters

Morning- and evening-type individuals differ on a number of psychological and biological variables. There has been increasing interest in the relationship between chronotype and personality traits. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between impulsivity and chronotype in suicide attempters. Eighty-nine suicide attempters were included in the study, and systematic information on suicide attempts was recorded. The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire was applied to determine chronotype, and attempter impulsivity was measured by the total score of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Significant differences between chronotype and impulsivity scores were found. Evening-type subjects reported significantly higher impulsivity scores than both neither- and morning-types. A significant association between chronotype and type of suicide attempt was detected. The largest proportion of violent suicide attempters were evening-type subjects. Violent suicide attempters also reported significantly higher impulsivity scores than nonviolent attempters. Previous studies have pointed out possible relations between eveningness and impulsivity. Current findings suggest that eveningness may be a risk factor for violent suicide attempts by increasing impulsivity. (Author correspondence: dryavuzselvi@yahoo.com)
Latitude of Residence and Position in Time Zone are Predictors of Cancer Incidence, Cancer Mortality, and Life Expectancy at Birth

According to the hypothesis of circadian disruption, external factors that disturb the function of the circadian system can raise the risk of malignant neoplasm and reduce life span. Recent work has shown that the functionality of the circadian system is dependent not only on latitude of residence but also on the region's position in the time zone. The purpose of the present research was to examine the influence of latitude and time zone on cancer incidence, cancer mortality, and life expectancy at birth. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was carried out on residents of 59 regions of the European part of the Russian Federation (EPRF) using age-standardized parameters (per 100,000) of cancer incidence (CI), cancer mortality (CM), and life expectancy at birth (LE, yrs) as dependent variables. The geographical coordinates (latitude and position in the time zone) of the regions were used as independent variables, controlling for the level of economic development in the regions. The same analysis was carried out for LE in 31 regions in China. Latitude was the strongest predictor of LE in the EPRF population; it explained 48% and 45% of the variability in LE of women and men, respectively. Position within the time zone accounted for an additional 4% and 3% variability of LE in women and men, respectively. The highest values for LE were observed in the southeast of the EPRF. In China, latitude was not a predictor of LE, whereas position in the time zone explained 15% and 18% of the LE variability in women and men, respectively. The highest values of LE were observed in the eastern regions of China. Both latitude and position within the time zone were predictors for CI and CM of the EPRF population. Latitude was the best predictor of stomach CI and CM; this predictor explained 46% and 50% of the variability, respectively. Position within the time zone was the best predictor of female breast CM; it explained 15% of the variability. In most cases, CI and CM increased with increasing latitude of residence, from the eastern to the western border of the time zone, and with increasing level of economic development within the region. The dependence of CI, CM, and LE on the geographical coordinates of residence is in agreement with the hypothesis of circadian disruption. (Author correspondence: borisenkov@physiol.komisc.ru)
Season of Birth and Sleep-Timing Preferences in Adolescents

The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between season of birth and sleep-timing preferences in adolescence. To this end, the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (MEQ-CA) was administered to 1912 adolescents (1058 females and 854 males), ranging in age between 10 and 17 yrs. To assess preferred sleep habits, the authors considered the answers to the open-ended questions of the MEQ-CA (items 1 and 2), regarding the preferred arising time and the preferred going to bed time. Combining the answers to these two questions, the authors also indirectly computed the preferred sleep duration and preferred midpoint of sleep. Season of birth did not significantly modulate the overall MEQ-CA score; however, spring-born participants preferred to go to bed and reached the preferred midpoint of sleep later than those born in autumn. Agreeing with a previous study on young adults, the present data point to a significant season-of-birth effect on the two parameters of the sleep-timing preferences in adolescents. (Author correspondence: lorenzo.tonetti2@unibo.it)