Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Atypical Antipsychotics in Patients with Psychological and Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia

Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved atypical antipsychotics for use in patients with dementia, they are commonly prescribed in this population. Recent concerns about increased risk of cerebrovascular events and mortality have led to warnings. A systematic review was conducted to assess the benefits and harms of atypical antipsychotics when used in patients with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Electronic searches (through March 2005) of the Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO were supplemented with hand searches of reference lists, dossiers submitted by pharmaceutical companies, and a review of the FDA Website and industry‐sponsored results database. Using predetermined criteria, each study was assessed for inclusion, and data about study design, population, interventions, and outcomes were abstracted. An overall quality rating (good, fair, or poor) was assigned based on internal validity.
Molecular characterization of the enzymes involved in the degradation of a brominated aromatic herbicide

Dehalogenation is the key step in the degradation of halogenated aromatics, while reductive dehalogenation is originally thought to rarely occur in aerobes. In this study, an aerobic strain of Comamonas sp. 7D‐2 was shown to degrade the brominated aromatic herbicide bromoxynil completely and release two equivalents of bromides under aerobic conditions. The enzymes involved in the degradation of bromoxynil to 4‐carboxy‐2‐hydroxymuconate‐6‐semialdehyde, including nitrilase, reductive dehalogenase (BhbA), 4‐hydroxybenzoate 3‐monooxygenase and protocatechuate 4,5‐dioxygenase, were molecularly characterized. The novel dehalogenase BhbA was shown to be a complex of a respiration‐linked reductive dehalogenase (RdhA) domain and a NAD(P)H‐dependent oxidoreductase domain and to have key features of anaerobic respiratory RdhAs, including two predicted binding motifs for [4Fe‐4S] clusters and a close association with a hydrophobic membrane protein (BhbB). BhbB was confirmed to anchor BhbA to the membrane. BhbA was partially purified and found to use NAD(P)H as electron donors. Full‐length bhbA homologues were found almost exclusively in marine aerobic proteobacteria, suggesting that reductive dehalogenation occurs extensively in aerobes and that bhbA is horizontally transferred from marine microorganisms. The discovery of a functional reductive dehalogenase and ring‐cleavage oxygenases in an aerobe opens up possibilities for basic research as well as the potential application for bioremediation.
Surface conductivity of epoxy specimens subjected to partial discharges

The surface conductivity of epoxy specimens was found to increase appreciably with the exposure time to partial discharges, the change being most pronounced during the initial stages on the exposure. No definite tendency could be detected in the mean partial discharge pulse amplitude with time. Surface degradation of the epoxy was characterized by the commonly observed occurrence of pitting and deposition of droplets and crystals. <<ETX>>
Grain yield and termite damage in rice by compaction on the furrow and seed treatment

The objective of this work was to determine the effects of soil compaction pressure on the sowing furrow and of seed treatments with insecticides on grain yield and on termite damage in upland rice plants under no-tillage, in the Center West region of Brazil. Three experiments were carried out, consisting of five seed treatments combined with three (first experiment) or four (second and third experiments) compaction pressures in a randomized complete block design, in a factorial arrangement. The seed treatments were: T0, without treatment; T1, imidacloprid+thiodicarb; T2, thiamethoxam; T3, carbofuran; and T4, fipronil+p yraclostrobin+thiophanate-methyl. The compaction pressures applied were: 25, 42, and 268 kPa, in the first experiment; and these same pressures plus 126 kPa in the second and third experiments. Seed treatment was effective in increasing rice grain yield, from 1,753 to 4,141 kg ha-1, especially in the lowest compaction pressure of 25 kPa. Soil compaction around 180 kPa in the sowing furrow results in higher rice grain yield and in fewer stems killed by termites. The use of soil compaction on the sowing furrow with seed treatment significantly increases rice grain yield under a no-tillage system.
Plant artificial chromosome technology and its potential application in genetic engineering.

Genetic engineering with just a few genes has changed agriculture in the last 20 years. The most frequently used transgenes are the herbicide resistance genes for efficient weed control and the Bt toxin genes for insect resistance. The adoption of the first-generation genetically engineered crops has been very successful in improving farming practices, reducing the application of pesticides that are harmful to both human health and the environment, and producing more profit for farmers. However, there is more potential for genetic engineering to be realized by technical advances. The recent development of plant artificial chromosome technology provides a super vector platform, which allows the management of a large number of genes for the next generation of genetic engineering. With the development of other tools such as gene assembly, genome editing, gene targeting and chromosome delivery systems, it should become possible to engineer crops with multiple genes to produce more agricultural products with less input of natural resources to meet future demands.
A Prospective Study of Oral Contraceptives and NIDDM Among U.S. Women

OBJECTIVE To examine prospectively the association between modern oral contraceptives with low doses of estrogen and progestin and subsequent incidence of NIDDM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In a prospective cohort study, 98,590 U.S. female nurses aged 25 to 42 and free of diagnosed diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer at baseline in 1989 were followed for 4 years. Endpoint was incidence of confirmed NIDDM. Oral contraceptive use was reported on mailed questionnaires. RESULTS During 352,067 person-years follow-up, we confirmed 185 incident cases of NIDDM. After adjusting for age, BMI, cigarette smoking, family history of diabetes, parity, physical activity, alcohol intake, ethnicity, history of diagnosis of infertility, elevated cholesterol, and hypertension, women currently using oral contraceptives had a relative risk (RR) of 1.6 (95% CI, 0.9–3.1). For past users, the multivariate RR was 1.2 (95% CI, 0.8–1.8). This association was attenuated after restricting the analysis to symptomatic cases of NIDDM. For current users, RR = 1.3 (95% CI, 0.6–2.8), and for past users, RR = 0.9 (95% CI, 0.6–1.4), suggesting that increased surveillance may explain at least part of any excess risk. CONCLUSIONS In this large prospective study, we found no appreciable increase in the 4-year risk of NIDDM among current users of oral contraceptives. There was no apparent increase in risk among past users. The small number of cases reflect the low absolute risk of NIDDM in this population of young women.
Generation and Phenotypic Characterization of Aspergillus nidulans Methylisocitrate Lyase Deletion Mutants: Methylisocitrate Inhibits Growth and Conidiation

ABSTRACT Propionate is a very abundant carbon source in soil, and many microorganisms are able to use this as the sole carbon source. Nevertheless, propionate not only serves as a carbon source for filamentous fungi but also acts as a preservative when added to glucose containing media. To solve this contradiction between carbon source and preservative effect, propionate metabolism of Aspergillus nidulans was studied and revealed the methylcitrate cycle as the responsible pathway. Methylisocitrate lyase is one of the key enzymes of that cycle. It catalyzes the cleavage of methylisocitrate into succinate and pyruvate and completes the α-oxidation of propionate. Previously, methylisocitrate lyase was shown to be highly specific for the substrate (2R,3S)-2-methylisocitrate. Here, the identification of the genomic sequence of the corresponding gene and the generation of deletion mutants is reported. Deletion mutants did not grow on propionate as sole carbon and energy source and were severely inhibited during growth on alternative carbon sources, when propionate was present. The strongest inhibitory effect was observed, when glycerol was the main carbon source, followed by glucose and acetate. In addition, asexual conidiation was strongly impaired in the presence of propionate. These effects might be caused by competitive inhibition of the NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase, because the Ki of (2R,3S)-2-methylisocitrate, the product of the methylcitrate cycle, on NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase was determined as 1.55 μM. Other isomers had no effect on enzymatic activity. Therefore, methylisocitrate was identified as a potential toxic compound for cellular metabolism.
Transforming growth factor alpha: an aromatic side chain at position 38 is essential for biological activity

Site-directed mutagenesis has been performed in the human transforming growth factor alpha gene. When tyrosine 38 is mutated into phenylalanine or tryptophane, biological activity is retained. In contrast, other alterations between cysteine 34 and cysteine 43 and disruption of disulfide bonds 8 to 21 and 34 to 43 resulted in loss of activities. The presence of an aromatic side chain at position 38 of transforming growth factor alpha seems to be essential for its activity.
The use of ERS-1/2 Tandem interferometric coherence in the estimation of agricultural crop heights

In this study, the relationship between ERS-1/2 SAR Tandem interferometric coherence and the height of sugar beet, potato, and winter wheat is investigated using measurements of crop growth and coherence. The development of both coherence and crop height is observed to be approximately linear during the early growing season, and linear crop-specific relationships between Tandem coherence and the heights of the studied crops are derived. The coherence of all the studied crops decreases as the crop heights increase, a probable explanation for this is that as the crop grows, it screens the ground more effectively, and a greater part of the incident radar energy is backscattered from vegetation that decorrelates more rapidly than the more stable soil. The relatively dense canopies of the root crops sugar beet and potato screen the ground considerably more effectively than the cereal crop winter wheat. This study gives a strong indication that ERS-1/2 Tandem interferometric coherence is related to the height of agricultural crops, and that this relationship can be used to retrieve crop heights.
A pilot study on the molecular phylogeny of Drepanoidea (Insecta: Lepidoptera) inferred from the nuclear gene EF-1α and the mitochondrial gene COI

Abstract A molecular phylogenetic study of the Drepanoidea based on the EF-1α sequences and combined EF-1α and COI sequences was carried out in order to infer higher classification at and above the subfamily level. The sample contained 14 taxa representing 13 genera recognized in the Drepanoidea. The results revealed that the Drepaninae, Thyatirinae and Cyclidiinae respectively form monophyletic groups. The sister relationship between the Drepaninae and the Thyatirinae was validated. The monophyly of the Cyclidiinae with the Drepaninae+Thyatirinae was supported robustly. Hypsomadius insignis and Oreta vatama within the traditional definition of the Drepaninae formed an individual clade with robust support (100%) and constitutes a sister relationship to a clade containing the rest of the Drepaninae in all the topologies, which means that the subfamily Oretinae of the Drepanidae should be restored. The family Drepanidae is divided into four subfamilies: Drepaninae, Oretinae, Thyatirinae and Cyclidiinae in this work. The family Epicopeiidae formed a monophyly with high bootstrap values. The result of combined analysis of EF-1α and COI showed that the Epicopeiidae have a closer phylogenetic relationship with the Geometridae than with the Drepanidae and belong to neither the Drepanoidea nor the Geometroidea.
Determination of Thickness of Smooth Geomembranes

Tests were conducted to determine thickness of smooth, nonreinforced geomembranes using three methods: mechanical (according to ASTM and European standards), ultrasonic, and magnetic methods. The mechanical method is the standard procedure used for determining thickness of geomembranes. The ultrasonic and magnetic methods are not commonly used for geomembranes; however, they are used for testing other materials such as metals. Tests were conducted on 15 geomembranes representing five types of polymers (HDPE, LLDPE, PVC, PP, and EPDM). The results of the testing program indicated that the level of pressures applied affected the thickness measurements in mechanical tests. While the low pressures were not sufficient to flatten particularly the rigid geomembranes, the high pressures tended to compress the geomembranes excessively. Both high and low pressures prevented obtaining representative measurements. The measurements obtained using the ASTM method were more reliable than the measurements obtained with the European method, although it is believed that the most reliable measurements can be obtained by the nondestructive methods (ultrasonic and magnetic). These techniques are sensitive only to the thickness of the materials due to the inherent properties of the test procedures, and they work equally well for rigid and flexible geomembranes. Of the two nondestructive methods, ultrasonic testing is better due to several advantages: it allows for testing from the top surface of geoembranes in the laboratory or in the field, and it can be used on coupons of geomembranes as well as on whole sheets without the need for removing test samples. Both nondestructive methods can be improved for application to geomembranes.
For Review Only Anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory compounds from Aglaia andamanica leaves

The leaves from Aglaia andamanica were determined for their anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects using RBL2H3 and RAW264.7 cells, respectively. Among the isolated compounds, 24-epi-piscidinol A (5) exhibited the highest antiallergic activity against -hexosaminidase release with an IC50 value of 19.8 M, followed by (-)-yangambin (3, IC50 = 33.8 M), pyramidaglain A (8, IC50 = 37.1 M), pachypodol (2, IC50 = 38.3 M) and pyramidaglain B (9, IC50 = 44.8 M), respectively; whereas other compounds possessed moderate to mild effects (IC50 = 67.5->100 M). For anti-inflammatory activity, 24-epi-piscidinol A (5) possessed potent activity with an IC50 value of 24.0 M, followed by pyramidaglain B (9, IC50 = 25.6 M), pachypodol (2, IC50 = 34.5 M) and (-)-yangambin (3, IC50 = 37.4 M), respectively; whereas other compounds exhibited moderate to mild activities (IC50 = 54.2->100 M). These active compounds could be developed as anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory agents in the future.
Solitary vertebral collapse: Distinction between benign and malignant causes using MR patterns

Differentiation of benign from malignant causes of vertebral compression fracture can be difficult at a single location. We studied 37 patients with solitary vertebral collapse (SVC) in the spine using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sixteen of them were found to have a benign cause of SVC, while the remaining 21 were found to have malignancy. The following four MRI characteristics were investigated: ill‐ or well‐defined margin of the intravertebral lesion (P < 0.005); pedicle involvement (P < 0.05); MR enhancement pattern (P < 0.005); and paravertebral soft tissue lesion (PSL) (P < 0.025). It was found that cases of malignant SVC tended to have an ill‐defined margin, abnormal signal involvement of the pedicle, a marked and heterogenous MR enhancement pattern, and irregular nodular‐type PSL. Pedicle change with expansile lesion totally excluded a benign cause. By using these criteria, we were able to differentiate benign or malignant causes of SVC accurately.J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;9:635–642. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Metabolic side effects of atypical antipsychotics in children: a literature review

The objective of this review is to summarize the data about metabolic side effects of atypical antipsychotics in children. Original research articles about side effects of atypical antipsychotics used in children were reviewed. The data was obtained mainly through Medline searches, identifying articles focusing on the use of atypical antipsychotics in children. Forty studies that addressed the issue of metabolic side effects were selected. The use of atypical antipsychotics in children has been consistently associated with weight gain and moderate prolactin elevation, while only a few case reports address the issue of glucose dysregulation and dyslipidaemia. The risk of weight gain and hyperprolactinaemia might be higher in younger children. Other risk factors have also been associated with antipsychotic-induced metabolic disturbances. These changes seem to be reversible, at least in some cases. Metabolic side effects of atypical antipsychotics could lead to serious complications in children who are prescribed these medications. Serious considerations should be given before initiating treatment and consistent clinical monitoring is essential. More research is needed, especially regarding glucose dysregulation and dyslipidaemia.
Laparoscopic versus open surgery for rectal cancer: oncologic outcomes

Laparoscopic surgery has proved to be a safe option in the surgical treatment of colon cancer, with better short-term results and similar oncologic outcomes when compared to conventional surgery. However, there has been some skepticism towards the use of laparoscopy to treat rectal cancer, particularly regarding long-term oncologic outcomes. Two central setbacks are the demanding surgical techniques and the lack of prospective randomized clinical trials. This review presents the current evidence regarding the oncologic outcomes achieved with laparoscopy versus laparotomy for the treatment of rectal cancer, including conversion, local recurrence, positivity of circumferential margins, lymph node harvest, and overall and disease-free survival rates. Conversion rate varied widely among studies, from 0 to 34%, with lower rates reported by more recent studies. Local recurrence, surgical margins positivity and lymph node harvest rates were similar in both surgical techniques. Some studies reported higher survival rates with laparoscopy, while others reported laparotomy advantage. However, these differences were not statistically significant and none of the studies reported a clear domain of one surgical technique over the other. Concerns about compromise of long-term oncologic outcomes are not supported by current literature. Expert hands and appropriate patient selection are certainly key factors laparoscopic may not be suitable for all rectal cancers, but it could be safe and successful in selected patients when performed by experienced surgeons. Results of ongoing trials (COLOR II, ACOSOG-Z6051 and COREAN) are eagerly awaited to define the role of laparoscopic resection for the treatment of rectal cancer.
A dynamic model for water flow in a single tree: evidence that models must account for hydraulic architecture.

A model is presented for the dynamics of water flow in a single eastern white cedar tree (Thuja occidentalis L.). The model takes into account the spatial and temporal dependence of the evaporative flux from leaves in the crown. It also accounts for the quantitative hydraulic architecture of the tree, i.e., the model characterizes the tree as a branched catena of > 4000 stem segments in which account is taken of the segment length, diameter, hydraulic resistance, and the total area of leaves attached to the segment. Input values needed to run the model are measurements of evaporative flux, hydraulic conductance of stems versus stem diameter, and leaf and stem water storage capacitances. Output parameters are the spatial and temporal characterization of stem and leaf water potentials, stem and leaf water deficits, sap flow rate, and relative sap velocity. The input and output values of the branched catena model are compared and contrasted to that of an unbranched catena model. It is shown that the branched catena model fits independently measured field parameters better than an unbranched catena model. Close correspondence is found between model predictions and field measurements of shoot water potential, pressure gradients in stems, hysteresis in sap velocity between the lower and upper parts of the tree, and diurnal changes in stem and leaf water deficits. This model is discussed in terms of both the hydraulic architecture of trees and the potential application of the model to questions of tree morphology, ecology, physiology and evolution.
Field Conditions for Agricultural Workers in the El Paso, Texas Region

Agricultural workers labor long hours under difficult conditions in many of the nations' fields and orchards. Agricultural workers are primarily minority populations, the most dominant group being Hispanic/Latino. The Rural Coalition and the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute were funded under the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Environmental Justice Program, to investigate health and environmental issues that impact agricultural workers along the Texas-Mexican border area. A Spanish-language field conditions survey was developed and distributed to the workers entering the Sin Fronteras Organizing Project in El Paso, Texas. There were 841 valid surveys collected and analyzed for the calendar year 1998. Workers' age mean was 51, with 18.6 years of work experience in agriculture. In the time period surveyed, workers labored for 7.2 hours per day. The primary crop in which they worked were chilies.
Precise BER analysis of dual-channel reception of QPSK in Nakagami fading and cochannel interference

A precise bit error rate analysis is performed for bandwidth-efficient dual-channel quadrature phase shift keying in Nakagami fading with Nakagami-faded asynchronous interfering signals. In contrast to previous works, the analysis accounts for the dependencies between the quadrature carriers owing to nonRayleigh fading and cochannel interference. The impact of the interfering users' fading severities on the desired user bit error rate is investigated. A comparison of the bit error performance for binary phase shift keying and quadrature phase shift keying is given.