Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Absence of geochemical evidence for an impact event at the Bølling–Allerød/Younger Dryas transition

High concentrations of iridium have been reported in terrestrial sediments dated at 12.9 ka and are interpreted to support an extraterrestrial impact event as the cause of the observed extinction in the Rancholabrean fauna, changes in the Paleoindian cultures, and the onset of the Younger Dryas cooling [Firestone RB, et al. (2007) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:16016–16021]. Here, we report platinum group element (PGE: Os, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pt, Pd), gold (Au) concentrations, and 187Os/188Os ratios in time-equivalent terrestrial, lacustrine, and marine sections to seek robust evidence of an extraterrestrial contribution. First, our results do not reproduce the previously reported elevated Ir concentrations. Second, 187Os/188Os isotopic ratios in the sediment layers investigated are similar to average crustal values, indicating the absence of a significant meteoritic Os contribution to these sediments. Third, no PGE anomalies distinct from crustal signatures are present in the marine record in either the Gulf of California (DSDP 480, Guaymas Basin) or the Cariaco Basin (ODP 1002C). Our data show no evidence of an extraterrestrial (ET)-PGE enrichment anomaly in any of the investigated depositional settings investigated across North America and in one section in Belgium. The lack of a clear ET-PGE signature in this sample suite is inconsistent with the impact of a large chondritic projectile at the Bølling–Allerød/Younger Dryas transition.
Costs of deinstitutionalization in a rural catchment area in the Netherlands

Background. In contrast to many other countries, the Netherlands left the initiative in deinstitutionalizing mental health care to the traditional providers of mental health services. The goal of this study is to determine the effect of this policy on the allocation of mental health care resources to services. Method. All 20- to 64-year old users and their use of community- and hospital-based services between 1990 and 1999 were retrieved from the Groningen case register. Service utilization was combined with the direct unit costs of these services for the 1999 price level. Changes in the population as to size and age were taken into account. Results. In 1999 the direct costs of mental health care were €268 per adult inhabitant of the register area, which is 9% higher than in 1990. Costs increased most in the early 1990s before deinstitutionalization policy took effect. From 1993 and onwards the reduced length of stay in the hospital was the main cause for the decreased costs of in-patient care. These savings equalled the increased expenditures for day-treatment, sheltered residences and home-treatment, even though the unit costs of these types of community care are much lower than the unit costs of admissions. This was not caused by an increasing number of new clients, but was a result of longer periods of care during a larger number of years. Conclusions. These findings are in accordance with Dutch mental health care policy, which aims at prolonged care and aftercare outside the hospital whenever possible.
Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Hospital Admissions for Pneumonia in a Subtropical City: Taipei, Taiwan

This study was undertaken to determine whether there was a correlation between fine particles (PM2.5) levels and hospital admissions for pneumonia in Taipei, Taiwan. Hospital admissions for pneumonia and ambient air pollution data for Taipei were obtained for the period from 2006 to 2010. The relative risk of hospital admissions for pneumonia was estimated using a case-crossover approach, controlling for weather variables, day of the week, seasonality, and long-term time trends. For the single-pollutant model (without adjustment for other pollutants), increased numbers of admissions for pneumonia were significantly associated with higher PM2.5 levels both on warm days (>23°C) and on cool days (<23°C). This was accompanied by an interquartile range elevation correlated with a 12% (95% CI = 16%–13%) and 4% (95% CI = 3%–6%) rise in number of admissions for pneumonia, respectively. In the two-pollutant models, PM2.5 remained significant after inclusion of sulfur dioxide (SO2) or ozone (O3) both on warm and on cool days. This study provides evidence that higher levels of PM2.5 increase the risk of hospital admissions for pneumonia.
[Effects of L-carnitine on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and epididymal sperm count and motility in rats with diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of L-carnitine (LC) on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and on the count and motility of epididymal sperm in rats with diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS Twenty-four SD rats (200-230 g) were randomly divided into a control group, a DM model group and an LC group. After the establishment of DM models in the latter two groups by injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at 65 mg/kg, the controls and DM models were treated intragastrically with physiological saline, while the rats in the LC group with LC at 300 mg/kg, all for 6 consecutive weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, all the rats were killed for the detection of the count and motility of epididymal sperm and the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells. RESULTS The motilities of caput and cauda epididymal sperm were (53.7 +/- 1.8)% and (60.3 +/- 1.6)% in the LC group, significantly higher than in the DM model group ([32.2 +/- 2.0]% and [40.5 +/- 1.4]%, P < 0.05), but remarkably lower than in the control ([63.1 +/- 2.4 ]% and [68.9 +/- 1.3]%, P < 0.05). The count of cauda epididymal sperm was (25.5 +/- 1.1) x 10(6)/100 mg in the DM models, and was increased to (32.0 +/- 1.5) x 10(6)/100 mg after LC treatment (P < 0.05), but still markedly lower than in the controls ([37.8 +/- 1.1] x 10(6)/100 mg) (P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells was (52.5 +/- 4.4)% in the DM model group, and it was reduced to (35.3 +/- 3.5)% after LC administration (P < 0.05), but still significantly higher than in the control group ([3.7 +/- 1.3]%) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Intragastrically gavage of LC at 300 mg/kg for 6 weeks increased the epididymal sperm count, improved sperm motility, and reduced the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rats with DM.
Teoría del conocimiento, teoría de la enseñanza y desarrollo profesional. Las concepciones epistemológicas de los profesores

LA TESIS DOCTORAL QUE SE PRESENTA FORMA PARTE DE UN PROGRAMA MAS AMPLIO DE INVESTIGACION EDUCATIVA LIGADA A LOS PROCESOS DE TRANSFORMACION DE LA ESCUELA. LA PRIMERA PARTE DESARROLLA UNA VISION EPISTEMOLOGICA ACTUAL DE LA ENSENANZA, SEGUN LA CUAL: A) LOS CONOCIMIENTOS, EN GENERAL, SON ENTIDADES PLURALES SOMETIDAS PERMANENTEMENTE A UN PROCESO DE SELECCION CRITICA Y EVOLUCION. B) LOS FENOMENOS DE ENSENANZA-APRENDIZAJE SON SOCIO-SISTEMAS COMPLEJOS DE COMUNICACION, INVESTIGACION Y CONSTRUCCION DE CONOCIMIENTOS. C) EL DESARROLLO PROFESIONAL DE LOS PROFESORES HA DE BASARSE EN LA REFLEXION Y ACCION CRITICA EN TORNO A PROGRAMAS DE INVESTIGACION ESCOLAR Y EXPERIMENTACION CURRICULAR. EN LA SEGUNDA PARTE, EL TRABAJO PRESENTA DOS ESTUDIOS DESCRIPTIVOS SOBRE LAS CREENCIAS EPISTEMOLOGICAS DE PROFESORES EN FORMACION Y EN EJERCICIO, SIETE ESTUDIANTES DE CIENCIAS DE MAGISTERIO, EN EL PRIMER CASO, Y 107 ESTUDIANTES Y 158 PROFESORES DE CICLO SUPERIOR, EN EL SEGUNDO. SE USARON TECNICAS CUALITATIVAS (ENTREVISTAS E INFORMES) Y MULTIFACTORIALES (INVENTARIO DE CREENCIAS PEDAGOGICAS Y CIENTIFICAS-IPEC). LOS RESULTADOS PERMITEN PLANTEAR LAS SIGUIENTES CONCLUSIONES: A) ENTRE LOS ESTUDIANTES SE DETECTA UNA TENDENCIA MAYORITARIA BASADA EN UNA VISION ABSOLUTISTA Y POSITIVISTA DEL CONOCIMIENTO, DE TAL MANERA QUE EL "EMPIRISMO INGENUO" SE CONFIGURA COMO UN POTENTE PRINCIPIO DIDACTICO VERTEBRADOR. B) LOS PROFESORES EN EJERCICIO PRESENTAN MAYOR DIVERSIDAD EPISTEMOLOGICA. NO OBSTANTE, LA TENDENCIA MAS REPRESENTATIVA RESPONDE A UN REDUCCIONISMO EPISTEMOLOGICO QUE CONCIBE EL CONOCIMIENTO COMO UN PRODUCTO FORMAL DE CARACTER OBJETIVO, NEUTRO Y UNIVERSAL, QUE SOLO POSEE UN DETERMINADO SIGNIFICADO ASOCIADO A UN UNICO FORMATO LINGUISTICO POSIBLE. C) POR ULTIMO, SE DETECTA TAMBIEN EN LOS PROFESORES UNA TENDENCIA A QUE SE INCREMENTE LA INFLUENCIA LA TENDENCIA ANTERIOR CON LOS ANOS DE EXPERIENCIA.
Influence of Process Conditions During Impulsed Electrostatic Droplet Formation on Size Distribution of Hydrogel Beads

In the medical applications of microencapsulation of living cells there are strict requirements concerning the high size uniformity and the optimal diameter, the latter dependent on the kind of therapeutic application, of manufactured gel beads. The possibility of manufacturing small size gel bead samples (diameter 300 µm and below) with a low size dispersion (less than 10%), using an impulsed voltage droplet generator, was examined in this work. The main topic was the investigation of the influence of values of electric parameters (voltage U, impulse time τ and impulse frequency f)on the quality of obtained droplets. It was concluded that, owing to the implementation of the impulse mode and regulation of τ and f values, it is possible to work in a controlled manner in the jet flow regime (U> critical voltage UC). It is also possible to obtain uniform bead samples with the average diameter, deff, significantly lower than the nozzle inner diameter dI (bead diameters 0.12–0.25 mm by dI equal to 0.3 mm, size dispersion 5–7%). Alterations of the physical parameters of the process (polymer solution physico-chemical properties, flow rate, distance between nozzle and gellifying bath) enable one to manufacture uniform gel beads in the wide range of diameters using a single nozzle.
High‐grade mature B‐cell lymphoma with Burkitt‐like morphology: Results of a clinicopathological study of 72 Japanese patients

The aim of the present study was to estimate optimum chemotherapeutic regimens for high‐grade mature B‐cell lymphoma cases with Burkitt‐like morphology (Burkitt's lymphoma [BL]/Burkitt‐like lymphoma [BLL]) patients. We analyzed 72 BL/BLL, including 36 with the c‐myc translocation (molecular BL [mBL]), 20 without it (mBL‐like), and 16 in whom we were uncertain regarding the existence of the c‐myc translocation, and compared them with 182 diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cases. On clinical and immunophenotypic analysis, the typical BL immunophenotype (CD10 positive, bcl‐2 negative, and Ki‐67 index ≥95%) was noted in 23 (66%) and 11 (55%) of the 35 mBL and 20 mBL‐like patients, respectively. The presence of the c‐myc translocation and typical immunophenotype in BL did not affect the overall survival of BL/BLL. There were no significant differences between the overall survival of DLBCL (45%) and BL/BLL (50%, P = 0.85). However, the overall survival of BL/BLL patients who received cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone‐related therapy (22%) was significantly lower than that of DLBCL patients (P = 0.01). In contrast, the overall survival of BL/BLL patients who received aggressive short‐term chemotherapy (75%) was better than that of the patients who received cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone therapy (P < 0.01). The finding was confirmed by multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 4.4; confidence interval 2.0–9.7; P = 0.0003). We concluded that aggressive short‐term chemotherapy improves survival in BL/BLL, regardless of its genetic and immunophenotypic features. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 246–252)
Effect of Aqueous Extract from Phaseolus vulgaris Pods on Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Enzymes Activity in The Liver and Kidney of Diabetic Rats

The social significance of diabetes mellitus (DM) lies in the fact that in addition to significant prevalence, this disease is associated with many complications. To facilitate the course of diabetes and its complications medicinal plants are widely used in traditional medicine. One of such plants is kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). This plant is used in traditional medicine, especially for the secondary complications of diabetes. Since complications of diabetes are often associated with increased oxidative stress, the study of antioxidant properties of P. vulgaris is important to clarify the mechanism of its therapeutic effect. Present investigation shows that long-term oral administration of aqueous P. vulgaris pods extract in dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. besides its pronounced hypoglycemic action also has a positive influence on the liver and kidney function markers in STZ-treated diabetic rats. The extract also inhibits free radical production and lipid peroxidation and activates antioxidant enzymes in liver and kidneys of rats with STZ-induced diabetes. Thus, our data reveal antioxidant properties of aqueous P. vulgaris pods extract that might have beneficial effect in treatment of diabetes.
Primary Caregivers' Descriptions of Alzheimer Patients' Personality Traits: Temporal Stability and Sensitivity to Change

SummaryCaregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients provided characterizations of the patients' premorbid personality traits and current personality traits on two occasions nearly 1 year apart. Characterizations of pre-illness personality traits did not differ between the two assessments. Changes in personality over the year were found for neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness. The findings support the reliability of observer's descriptions of premorbid personality using the NEO-PI and the sensitivity of the instrument to personality change in dementia.
No Refuge from Terror: The Impact of Detention on the Mental Health of Trauma-affected Refugees Seeking Asylum in Australia

The final decades of the twentieth century were accompanied by an upsurge in the number of persons fleeing persecution and regional wars. To stem the flow of asylum seekers, several countries in the west introduced policies of deterrence, including detention. Although many countries detain asylum seekers, Australia has been unique in establishing a policy of mandatory, indefinite detention. The impact of prolonged detention on the mental health of asylum seekers drew commentary from mental health professionals soon after the policy was introduced, but administrators and politicians disputed the assertion that detention was a factor in causing or exacerbating mental disorder. This overview examines the impact of mandatory, indefinite detention on the mental health of asylum seekers by drawing on evidence gathered during Commissions of Inquiry, from observations of health and mental health professionals who have worked in detention centres, and from the small body of systematic research undertaken among immigration detainees. The data from all sources converge in demonstrating that prolonged detention has adverse mental health and psychosocial impacts on adults, families and children. Recent studies suggest that the mental health effects may be prolonged, extending well beyond the point of release into the community. The Australian experience offers general lessons to health professionals worldwide about the importance of remaining vigilant in protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, and more specifically, to ensure that the traumas that cause mental suffering in refugees are not compounded as a consequence of immigration policy decisions in recipient countries. Documentation and research can be vital in achieving policy change in these settings.
Comparison of Radiologic Signs and Clinical Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis

Study Design. Clinical findings of spinal stenosis were compared to graded radiologic findings of dural sac narrowing. Objectives. To examine the changes of the dural sac area of the lumbar spine on computerized tomography (CT) performed without and with axial loading, and study the correlations between the radiologic findings and clinical symptoms suggestive of spinal stenosis. Summary of Background Data. Although several studies have been performed regarding the advantage of an external compression device in lumbar CT, to our knowledge, none of these studies have correlated radiologic findings with clinical symptoms. Methods. The cross-sectional areas of the dural sac at the 3 lowest lumbar intravenous spaces, measured by CT both without and with external compression, were correlated to the clinical symptoms suggestive of spinal stenosis in 117 patients and 351 intervertebral levels. Results. No statistically significant correlation between the severity of the clinical symptoms of spinal stenosis and dural cross-sectional areas was found. Neither did the use of an external compression device improve the correlation. Conclusion. Although an external compression simulates the dynamic condition in the back during standing position, it does not eliminate the need to compare the radiologic findings with the clinical symptoms of patients examined because of a suspected narrowing of the spinal canal.
Intravenous transplantation of mouse embryonic stem cells attenuates demyelination in an ICR outbred mouse model of demyelinating diseases

Induction of demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS) of experimental mice using cuprizone is widely used as an animal model for studying the pathogenesis and treatment of demyelination. However, different mouse strains used result in different pathological outcomes. Moreover, because current medicinal treatments are not always effective in multiple sclerosis patients, so the study of exogenous cell transplantation in an animal model is of great importance. The aims of the present study were to establish an alternative ICR outbred mouse model for studying demyelination and to evaluate the effects of intravenous cell transplantation in the present developed mouse model. Two sets of experiments were conducted. Firstly, ICR outbred and BALB/c inbred mice were fed with 0.2% cuprizone for 6 consecutive weeks; then demyelinating scores determined by luxol fast blue stain or immunolabeling with CNPase were evaluated. Secondly, attenuation of demyelination in ICR mice by intravenous injection of mES cells was studied. Scores for demyelination in the brains of ICR mice receiving cell injection (mES cells-injected group) and vehicle (sham-inoculated group) were assessed and compared. The results showed that cuprizone significantly induced demyelination in the cerebral cortex and corpus callosum of both ICR and BALB/c mice. Additionally, intravenous transplantation of mES cells potentially attenuated demyelination in ICR mice compared with sham-inoculated groups. The present study is among the earliest reports to describe the cuprizone-induced demyelination in ICR outbred mice. Although it remains unclear whether mES cells or trophic effects from mES cells are the cause of enhanced remyelination, the results of the present study may shed some light on exogenous cell therapy in central nervous system demyelinating diseases.
What do smartphone users do when they sense phone notifications?

Smartphone users receive a variety of notifications on their phone every day. To understand how smartphone users deal with notifications, recent mobile receptivity research has started studying notification management and attendance behavior. However, what do smartphone users do when they sense a notification, such as hearing the sound or feeling the vibration before they spot it? We present a study investigating smartphone users' behavior starting from the moment when they sense a notification, including speculating the source and deciding whether and when to look at it, until they attend to it. We explore how users' behaviors vary according to the situation, what factors affect the behaviors, and in what situations users need particular help from a notification system to be better aware of and to accurately judge the source of a notification. We expect the findings will provide useful implications for the design of future notification alert system.
Percutaneous treatment with drug-eluting stent vs bypass surgery in patients suffering from chronic stable angina with multivessel disease involving significant proximal stenosis in left anterior descending artery.

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of drug-eluting stents (DES) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients suffering from chronic stable angina with multivessel disease, involving significant proximal stenosis in the left anterior descending artery (LAD). METHODS AND RESULTS All consecutive patients suffering from chronic stable angina with multivessel disease involving significant proximal LAD stenosis underwent DES implantation (n=600) or CABG (n=709) at our institution. At 2 years, the unadjusted mortality was significantly lower in the DES group than in the CABG group (2.2% vs 5.2%, P=0.004), but the adjusted risk of death was similar (odds ratio (OR) 0.74, 95%CI 0.28-1.97, P=0.555). Furthermore, both the adjusted rate of nonfatal myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular events was also comparable. However, the unadjusted and adjusted risk of major adverse cardiac cerebrovascular events in the DES was significantly higher than in the CABG (13.3% vs 9.6%, OR 2.71, 95%CI 1.56-4.74, P<0.001), which is probably attributed to the higher subsequent revascularization rate after DES implantation. CONCLUSIONS DES showed comparable long-term mortality for the treatment of multivessel disease involving significant proximal stenosis in LAD in comparison with CABG.
Fluridil, a Rationally Designed Topical Agent for Androgenetic Alopecia: First Clinical Experience

BACKGROUND Fluridil, a novel topical antiandrogen, suppresses the human androgen receptor. While highly hydrophobic and hydrolytically degradable, it is systemically nonresorbable. In animals, fluridil demonstrated high local and general tolerance. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a topical anti- androgen, fluridil, in male androgenetic alopecia. METHODS In 20 men, for 21 days, occlusive forearm patches with 2, 4, and 6% fluridil, isopropanol, and/or vaseline were applied. In 43 men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), Norwood grade II–Va, 2% fluridil was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study after 3 months clinically by phototrichograms, hematology, and blood chemistry including analysis for fluridil, and at 9 months by phototrichograms. RESULTS Neither fluridil nor isopropanol showed sensitization/irritation potential, unlike vaseline. In all AGA subjects, baseline anagen/telogen counts were equal. After 3 months, the average anagen percentage did not change in placebo subjects, but increased in fluridil subjects from 76% to 85%, and at 9 months to 87%. In former placebo subjects, fluridil increased the anagen percentage after 6 months from 76% to 85%. Sexual functions, libido, hematology, and blood chemistry values were normal throughout, except that at 3 months, in the spring, serum testosterone increased within the normal range equally in placebo and fluridil groups. No fluridil or its decomposition product, BP-34, was detectable in the serum at 0, 3, or 90 days. CONCLUSION Topical fluridil is nonirritating, nonsensitizing, nonresorbable, devoid of systemic activity, and anagen promoting after daily use in most AGA males.