Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Correlates of Alcohol-Induced Blackouts Among College Students: Results of an E-Mail Survey

Abstract The authors conducted an e-mail survey of 772 college students to learn more about their experiences with blackouts. Approximately half (51%) of those who had ever consumed alcohol reported they had experienced a blackout at some point in their lives, and 40% had experienced 1 in the year before the survey. Among those who drank in the 2 weeks before the survey, nearly 1 in 10 (9.4%) had experienced a blackout during that period. Many later learned that, during the blackout, they had vandalized property, driven an automobile, had sexual intercourse, or engaged in other risky behaviors. Experiencing 3 or more blackouts was associated with a variety of other experiences, including heavier drinking, lower grades, an earlier age of drinking onset, and having others express concerns about their drinking. The female students who reported blackouts during the 2 weeks before the survey drank far less than male students did during this time period, supporting the use of gender-specific definitions of risky drinking.
The roles of the first-line nurse manager: perceptions from four perspectives.

AIM To study the perception of the first-line nurse managers (FLNMs), registered nurses (RNs), assistant nurses (ANs) and head of departments (HDs) on the FLNM's current and desired roles. BACKGROUND In the process of decentralization, the role of FLNM has changed from having overall responsibility for patients to having responsibility for the management of the ward. METHOD Interviews with five FLNMs, five RNs, five ANs, and one HD were used. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the transcribed text. RESULTS When describing the current roles, the FLNMs, RNs and ANs focused on the coordination of activities that contributed to a well-functioning service and care of patients as well as on the recruitment of, support to and development of the personnel. The HD focused on the FLNM's responsibilities towards the personnel, especially regarding empowerment and staff well-being. When describing desired roles, the FLNMs, RNs and ANs emphasized service on the ward while the HD underlined the development of services and co-operation with other nurse managers. CONCLUSION The perception of the current and desired roles of the FLNM varied among the groups. The FLNMs, RNs and ANs reported a similar understanding which in turn differed from that of the HD who described fewer roles and focused on other areas.
Preaching to the choir? The influence of personal relevance on the effects of gain- and loss-framed health-promoting messages

This article examines the moderating influence of personal relevance on the persuasive effects of gain- and loss-framed messages. We assessed current behaviour as a proxy for personal relevance, provided 169 participants with gain- and loss-framed messages advocating skin self-examination (SSE) and assessed intention to engage in SSE as the outcome measure. The results showed that loss-framed information was more persuasive than gain-framed information, but only for low-relevance participants. This suggests that loss-framed information might be mainly effective for recipients who need little persuading and, in fact, runs the risk of ‘preaching to the choir’.
Systemic zoledronate precoating of a bone graft reduces bone resorption during remodeling

Background Cartilage degeneration often occurs after osteosynthesis of a devascularized intermediary fragment in a joint fracture, in mosaicplasty or in whole-joint toe-to-finger transplantation. Hypothetically, the degeneration is secondary to a collapse of the transferred subchondral bone as it remodels during high mechanical load. Bisphosphonates are used to reduce resorption of necrotic bone. We tested a systemic pretreatment before harvesting the graft in order to protect the bone and cartilage against collapse and secondary arthrosis. Methods Rats were given one zoledronate injection and bone grafts were harvested. The grafts were frozen, thawed and placed into bone chambers, and implanted into another batch of rats. Graft resorption and new bone formation was measured by histomorphometric analysis and compared with untreated grafts. Results In the remodeled area of the controls, the graft was almost totally resorbed and replaced by bone marrow. In the zoledronate-treated specimens, the graft remained and the graft trabeculas were lined with new bone. By histomorphometry, the total amount of bone (graft plus new bone) within the remodeled area was 16% in the zoledronate-treated grafts and 5% in the controls (p = 0.003). Interpretation A bone graft can be pretreated with bisphosphonate and remain protected against resorption once implanted again. ▪
How do interregional spillovers influence the distribution of technology? The case of Chinese manufacturing

ABSTRACT The Chinese economy displays considerable inequality across regions. In this paper, we analyzed the distribution of intermediate input shares in China. We use regional input–output tables from 2007 and find that regions with higher GDP per capita generally had higher input shares, regardless of sector. Then, using intermediate input shares as a proxy of technology, we analyzed the pattern of regional technology distributions across manufacturing sectors as well as the extent of interregional technology spillovers. Our results indicate that interregional backward spillovers have significantly positive impacts on the shape of the technology distributions in eastern (coastal) regions. By contrast, the vertical spillovers of the central and western regions are largely dominated by intra-regional forward effects. Our results suggest that the shift of Chinese manufacturing from coastal to inland regions with lower production costs cannot reduce the imbalance among regions unless the technology gap is narrowed.
Corporate Hypocrisy: Role of Non-Profit Corporate Foundations in Earnings Management of For-Profit Founder Firms

The purpose of this study is to examine whether for-profit firms make opportunistic use of their corporate foundations to pursue self-serving earnings objectives in China. Using data on corporate foundations and a sample of firms listed on the A-share market from 2010 to 2016, we first use the propensity score matching method to explore the effect of corporate foundations on earnings management of their founder firms. We find that the overall discretionary accruals of firms with corporate foundations are significantly higher than for those without corporate foundations. Given the ownership property with Chinese characteristics, we further find that the significant difference is driven by privately-owned firms. Then we develop a model of discretionary donation expenditures to measure the magnitude of earnings management associated with corporate foundations. We observe that firms with small profits and consecutive earnings increase record income-increasing discretionary donation expenditures. While firms that record income-decreasing discretionary donation expenditures create earnings reserves that they can use in subsequent periods to report consecutive earnings increases. The results demonstrate that the visibly ethical behavior of establishing corporate foundations does not necessarily represent the consistent embodiment of corporate social responsibility (CSR), but can be regarded as corporate hypocrisy with self-interest embedded in benevolence.
An Economic Analysis of Sugarcane Cultivation and its Productivity in Major Sugar Producing States of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra

An effort has been made in this study to examine the trends in area, production, productivity, costs, returns and profitability of sugarcane and to determine the factors which are contributing toward productivity of sugarcane in major sugar producing states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. It has been observed that area expansion has significantly contributed towards increased production of sugarcane but productivity has remained stagnant. Cost of cultivation of sugarcane also witnessed increasing trend and due to much higher use of inputs, it was found to be higher for Maharashtra than Uttar Pradesh. However growth of value of output has outpaced the growth of cost of cultivation and thus rising trend of profitability was observed and was higher for Uttar Pradesh as compared to that of Maharashtra. The study found the positive and significant contribution of human labour, machine, fertilizers, insecticides and size of plot towards productivity of sugarcane and thus efficient management of these inputs can certainly led to increasing the productivity of sugarcane in India.
Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute myeloid leukemia: cytoimmunologic and cytogenetic features.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the morphological and clinical features of the minority of acute myeloid leukemias (AML) that carry the t(9;22)(q34;q11) translocation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cytologic, cytogenetic and clinical features were studied at diagnosis and during disease evolution in 11 patients presenting with de novo AML. Diagnoses according to the FAB criteria were AML-M2 (3 cases), AML-MO and AML-M4 (2 cases each), AML-M4eos, AML-M5, AML-M6, AML-M7 (1 case each). RESULTS Immunophenotyping disclosed positivity for CD33 or CD13 and for the CD34 stem cell antigen in all cases tested. Lymphoid-associated markers (LM) were detected in 7/9 patients. In 5 cases the expression of at least 2 LM was seen. In addition, evidence of clonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin (Ig) and/or T-cell receptor (TCR) genes was documented in 3/4 evaluable cases. The Ph chromosome was found as the sole change in 5/11 cases; the karyotype reverted to normal in 2/4 patients who achieved complete remission. Rearrangement in the M-bcr region was detected by Southern blotting in 2/7 cases. CONCLUSIONS This infrequent cytogenetic subset of de novo AML appears to be characterized by heterogeneous cytologic features, with frequent expression of lymphoid markers, and by unfavorable prognosis. The combination of clinical, cytologic and cytogenetic studies is important in distinguishing de novo AML with the t(9;22) from chronic myelogenous leukemia blast crisis.
Exercise tolerance in systemic sclerosis patients without pulmonary impairment: correlation with clinical variables.

OBJECTIVES In systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients pulmonary vasculopathy (PV) is present in the early stage of disease and impairs dilation of affected pulmonary blood vessels, impeding pulmonary blood flow during exercise. Abnormal gas exchange findings were early investigated by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). METHODS A total of 34 female and 6 male [median age 49 (20-63) years] SSc patients with normal chest imaging and pulmonary function tests were enrolled. Twenty healthy controls age and sex matched [16 female and 4 male; median age 51 (35-73) years] were also recruited. All subjects underwent a full clinical examination, including a nailfold video capillaros copy (NVC). An incremental symptom-limited CPET was performed with estimation of minute ventilation (VE), workload (WR), peak oxygen uptake (pVO₂2), and ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope). RESULTS A reduced exercise tolerance (pVO₂<80% of predicted) was documented in 18 out of 40 subjects (45%). Six out of 18 patients with a reduced exercise tolerance showed indirect signs of ventilation perfusion mismatch (VE/ VCO2 slope >34). Patients with digital ulcers (DUs) history showed VE/VCO₂slope values significantly higher [31.4 (18-39.6)] than in patients without DUs history [26.9 (22-29.4)] (p<0.0001). VE/VCO₂slope values also significantly differed between the three capillaroscopic groups: early [26.3 (18-29.4)], active [28 (26.8-39.6)], and late [32.9 (22.4-39)] (p<0.0001). A positive correlation was found between the VE/ VCO₂slope and both Disease Activity Index (p<0.0001, r=0.59) and Disease Severity Scale (p<0.0001, r=0.73). CONCLUSIONS In SSc patients without evidence of pulmonary and cardiac involvement, CPET might be useful in disclosing an early PV.
Facial nerve stimulation after cochlear implantation according to types of Nucleus 24-channel electrode arrays

Conclusion. In this study, we concluded that electrode design and location did not have a high level of influence on the prevalence of facial nerve stimulation (FNS) in normal cochleae. Objective. To analysis the prevalence of FNS after cochlear implantation with Nucleus 24-channel devices according to types of electrodes arrays. Patients and methods. We retrospectively analyzed medical and mapping records of 394 patients who received cochlear implants (CIs) manufactured by Cochlear Corporation from April 1999 to March 2007. Results. In all, 23 of 394 (5.8%) patients had FNS (CI24M 4 of 39 [10.3%], CI24RCS 9 of 192 [4.7%], CI24RST 9 of 21 [42.9%], and CI24RECA 1 of 87 [1.1%]). In addition, 4 of 324 (1.2%) patients with normal cochleae complained of FNS (CI24M 1 of 33 [3.0%], CI24RCS 2 of 173 [1.2%], and CI24RECA 1 of 71 [1.4%]). There was no difference between straight and perimodiolar electrode arrays in patients with normal cochleae. In addition, when comparing two types of Contour™ electrodes, Contour Advance™ (soft-tip) electrodes offered significantly lower incidence of FNS than Contour™ electrode arrays. We could manage these patients with methods such as decrease of C-level, selective channel turning off, and changes of mapping strategies.
Citrate inhibits growth of residual fragments in an in vitro model of calcium oxalate renal stones.

BACKGROUND Alkaline citrate is thought to be helpful in reducing recurrences of calcium oxalate stones. The evidence for this is incomplete, there have been few good trials, all with their own limitations, and not all reported any significant benefit. In vitro studies are usually cited to support the clinical studies but these too have their drawbacks, in particular they relate to crystals and microscopic aggregates and not to actual stone growth. Here we test citrate in vitro using a model of macroscopic calcium oxalate stone enlargement. METHODS Twelve calcium oxalate stones were grown at a time in a stone farm. Six were grown with 2 mmol/L citrate and six with 6 mmol/L citrate. Three protocols were tested; artificial urine, artificial urine with urinary macromolecules (UMM) from male controls and artificial urine with UMM from male stone formers. The stones were grown continuously for at least 24 days. RESULTS In all three experiments the higher citrate concentration significantly reduced the growth rate of stones by more than 50% (P < 0.001). There was a small decrease in ionised calcium in the stone growth media (P < 0.001) and significant (P < 0.001) but small increase in pH (about 0.07 pH units). The inclusion of UMM also brought about a decrease in stone growth, particularly at 2 mmol/L citrate. CONCLUSION Citrate inhibited stone growth in this laboratory model. This was true both in defined media and with addition of UMM. This adds to evidence justifying the use of alkaline citrate in calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis.
The use of a confirmatory assay to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the Chlamydiazyme test.

The blocking assay was used to reexamine 15,662 patient specimens (2,565 male specimens, 13,097 female specimens) that were submitted for Chlamydia detection using the Chlamydiazyme EIA assay (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL). Specimens that gave optical density (OD) readings between 1.99 to cutoff and between cutoff to 3 times the negative control in the Chlamydiazyme EIA assay were analyzed further by the blocking assay during the phase 1 study. In the phase 2 study, another 1,120 specimens (473 male specimens and 647 female specimens) that had the above mentioned OD range in the Chlamydiazyme assay were tested with the blocking assay and the direct fluorescent antibody test using the cytospin method. Significant finding from phase 1 study demonstrated that 42.3% of the male specimens with optical density between cutoff to three times the negative control can be blocked by blocking assay (confirmed positive), whereas only 50% of the female specimens with OD range between cutoff to . 5 were blocked by the blocking assay. In the phase 2 study, similar results were obtained with the blocking assay. The direct fluorescent antibody test showed excellent correlation with the blocking assay. These data showed that both blocking or direct fluorescent antibody tests can be used for confirmation purposes to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. However, for specimens with OD values below the cutoff to 3 times the negative control, it was necessary to reassess the specimens by either of the methods. This was true especially with the male specimens.
Hemoperitoneum in horses: 67 cases (1989-2004).

OBJECTIVE To evaluate clinical findings, underlying causes, and short-term outcome associated with hemoperitoneum in horses. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 67 horses with hemoperitoneum. PROCEDURES Medical records of horses with hemo-peritoneum (excluding postoperative abdominal hemorrhage) from 1989 through 2004 were analyzed. Information obtained included history, signalment, physical examination findings, diagnostic test results, and short-term outcome. RESULTS Breed distribution was 28 Thoroughbreds, 13 Arabians, 10 Quarter Horses, 5 Warmbloods, 3 Appaloosas, and 1 each of 8 other breeds. There were 40 mares, 23 geldings, and 4 stallions. Median age was 12 years (range, 1 month to 40 years). Signs of abdominal discomfort were the primary complaint in 79% of horses. Clinical findings included shock (60%) and pale mucous membranes (60%). Median heart rate was 76 beats/min (range, 30 to 216 beats/min), median respiratory rate was 30 breaths/min (range, 8 to 92 breaths/min), median Hct was 31% (range, 10.5% to 73.0%), and total protein concentration was 5.8 g/dL (range, 3.3 to 8.7 g/dL). Cause of hemoperitoneum was attributed to trauma (25.4%), neoplasia (17.9%), uterine artery rupture (13.4%), mesenteric injury (11.9%), disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (6.0%), other causes (3.0%), and idiopathic causes (22.4%). Fifty-one percent of horses survived to hospital discharge, 37% were euthanized, and 12% died. Poor short-term outcome was significantly associated with high respiratory rate and certain underlying causes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Hemoperitoneum is an infrequent but important cause of abdominal discomfort in horses. Predominant underlying causes were trauma, neoplasia, and idiopathic causes. Identification of underlying cause is important because of its association with outcome.
Resilience of functional networks: A potential indicator for classifying bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are two prevailing psychiatric disorders with significant overlaps in symptoms, abnormalities, and disease progression. Therefore, it is difficult to differentiate these two diseases without repeated clinical visits. Previous studies demonstrated high accuracy of classification for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia at the individual level by functional connectivity, but few studies focused on classifying between these two diseases directly. In order to assist diagnosis, we investigated further the feasibility of classifying bipolar disorder and schizophrenia by the structure of functional networks. The results revealed 90.0% accuracy of the classification with the sensitivity 1.0 and the specificity 0.80 for the patients with bipolar disorder. The present study indicated that the differences between the characteristics of brain network structures in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia could be the reliable features for the classification and may be the diagnostic indicators in the future.
Gut Hormone Profiles in Critically Ill Neonates on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Objectives: The objective of this study was to gain insight into the hormonal responses to enteral nutrition in critically ill newborns requiring venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) by analyzing plasma gut hormone levels of gastrin, cholecystokinin and peptide-YY in relation to enteral nutrition. Methods: In 24 consecutive neonates treated with venoarterial ECMO intestinal hormone secretions were determined by radioimmunoassay at 2-day intervals. Twelve received parenteral nutrition only. In 12 enteral nutrition was introduced later. The findings in these patients were compared with those of 16 measurements in eight non-ECMO treated age-matched controls. Mixed model analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. Results: Concentrations of gastrin, cholecystokinin and peptide-YY were significantly higher in ECMO patients receiving enteral nutrition compared with ECMO patients who received parenteral nutrition (62, 3.8 and 59.4 pmol/L versus 46, 3.1 and 34.7 pmol/L, respectively). Overall, plasma hormone levels did not differ from those in age-matched controls. Conclusions: Intestinal hormone levels showed normal responses after introduction of enteral feeding, comparable with those in age-matched controls without ECMO. These results do not provide an argument for withholding enteral nutrition even in the most severely ill neonates on venoarterial ECMO.
The acute toxic effects of silver nanoparticles on myocardial transmembrane potential, INa and IK1 channels and heart rhythm in mice

Abstract This study focused on the potential toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on cardiac electrophysiology which is rarely investigated. We found that AgNPs (10−9–10−6 g/ml) concentration-dependently depolarized the resting potential, diminished the action potential, and finally led to loss of excitability in mice cardiac papillary muscle cells in vitro. In cultured neonatal mice cardiomyocytes, AgNPs (10−9–10−7 g/ml) concentration-dependently decreased the Na+ currents (INa), accelerated the activation, and delayed the inactivation and recovery of Na+ channels from inactivation within 5 min. AgNPs at 10−8 g/ml also rapidly decreased the inwardly rectifying K+ currents (IK1) and delayed the activation of IK1 channels. Intravenous injection of AgNPs at 3 mg/kg only decreased the heart rate, while at ≥4 mg/kg sequentially induced sinus bradycardia, complete atrio-ventricular conduction block, and cardiac asystole. AgNPs at 10−10–10−6 g/ml did not increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and only at 10−6 g/ml mildly induced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in the cardiomyocytes within 5 min. Endocytosis of AgNPs by cardiomyocytes was not observed within 5 min, but was observed 1 h after exposing to AgNPs. Comparative Ag+ (≤0.02% of the AgNPs) could not induce above toxicities. We conclude that AgNPs exert rapid toxic effects on myocardial electrophysiology and induce lethal bradyarrhythmias. These acute toxicities are likely due to direct effects of AgNPs on ion channels at the nano-scale level, but not caused by Ag+, ROS, and membrane injury. These findings provide warning to the nanomedical practice using AgNPs.