Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic exposure and the risk for depression, anxiety, or psychosis: a nested case-control study.

OBJECTIVE Changes in the microbiota (dysbiosis) were suggested to increase the risk of several psychiatric conditions through neurologic, metabolic, and immunologic pathways. Our aim was to assess whether exposure to specific antibiotic groups increases the risk for depression, anxiety, or psychosis. METHOD We conducted 3 nested case-control studies during the years 1995-2013 using a large population-based medical record database from the United Kingdom. The study included 202,974 patients with depression, 14,570 with anxiety, and 2,690 with psychosis and 803,961, 57,862, and 10,644 matched controls, respectively. Cases were defined as individuals aged 15-65 years with any medical Read code for depression, anxiety, or psychosis. Subjects with diagnosis-specific psychotropic prescriptions > 90 days before index date were excluded. For every case, 4 controls were selected using incidence density sampling, matching on age, sex, practice site, calendar time, and duration of follow-up before index date. The primary exposure of interest was therapy with 1 of 7 antibiotic classes > 1 year before index date. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated for the association between each psychiatric disorder and exposure to individual classes of antibiotics using conditional logistic regression analysis. The risk was adjusted for obesity, smoking history, alcohol consumption, socioeconomic status, and number of infectious events before diagnosis. RESULTS Treatment with a single antibiotic course was associated with higher risk for depression with all antibiotic groups, with an adjusted OR (AOR) of 1.23 for penicillins (95% CI, 1.18-1.29) and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.15-1.35) for quinolones. The risk increased with recurrent antibiotic exposures to 1.40 (95% CI, 1.35-1.46) and 1.56 (95% CI, 1.46-1.65) for 2-5 and > 5 courses of penicillin, respectively. Similar association was observed for anxiety and was most prominent with exposures to penicillins and sulfonamides, with an AOR of 1.17 (95% CI, 1.01-1.36) for a single course of penicillin and 1.44 (95% CI, 1.18-1.75) for > 5 courses. There was no change in risk for psychosis with any antibiotic group. There was a mild increase in the risk of depression and anxiety with a single course of antifungals; however, there was no increase in risk with repeated exposures. CONCLUSION Recurrent antibiotic exposure is associated with increased risk for depression and anxiety but not for psychosis.
Oil and Electricity in Small Island Developing States: Unmasking the Risks and Opportunities

In the first study of this thesis, I analyse the effects of oil price and global demand shocks on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). To do this, I employ a global vector autoregression (GVAR) framework for 26 SIDS using annual data over the period 1980 to 2015. A key innovation associated with this research is the use of remittance weights to capture the close financial linkages between SIDS and advanced economies such as the United States. I find negligible negative effects on economic growth in SIDS on average from a negative oil price shock, though each country reacts differently. In terms of a negative demand shock to US GDP, SIDS appear vulnerable with a marginal positive effect observed for the Pacific while small negative effects emerge for the Caribbean; Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea (AIMS); and SIDS as a whole. Since oil prices influence electricity prices, the second study looks at how electricity prices influence consumer behaviour in a particular country, using Jamaica as an example. To analyse how consumers respond to prices, I use the autoregressive distributive lag bounds testing approach to cointegration to obtain long-run elasticity estimates covering the period 1970 to 2014. The analysis focuses on aggregate electricity demand and three categories of consumers: residential, commercial, and industrial. The findings suggest that residential and industrial consumers are most responsive to price changes with long-run price elasticities of demand of −0.82 and −0.25, respectively. Price-based approaches are likely to be more successful in slowing electricity demand growth in these sectors. We can use demand elasticities to analyse the behaviour of alternative electricity pricing schemes under different scenarios. Using Jamaica as a case study in the third study, my analysis confirms that in contrast to a price cap plan that uses Ramsey quantity weights, prices under a revenue cap increase as demand in a particular market becomes more elastic relative to the others. In this specific setting, a revenue cap does encourage energy conservation through reductions
Antimicrobial Penetration and Efficacy in an In Vitro Oral Biofilm Model

ABSTRACT The penetration and overall efficacy of six mouthrinse actives was evaluated by using an in vitro flow cell oral biofilm model. The technique involved preloading biofilm cells with a green fluorescent dye that leaked out as the cells were permeabilized by a treatment. The loss of green color, and of biomass, was observed by time-lapse microscopy during 60 min of treatment under continuous flow conditions. The six actives analyzed were ethanol, sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan, chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX), cetylpyridinium chloride, and nisin. Each of these agents effected loss of green fluorescence throughout biofilm cell clusters, with faster action at the edge of a cell cluster and slower action in the cluster center. The time to reach half of the initial fluorescent intensity at the center of a cell cluster, which can be viewed as a combined penetration and biological action time, ranged from 0.6 to 19 min for the various agents. These times are much longer than the predicted penetration time based on diffusion alone, suggesting that anti-biofilm action was controlled more by the biological action time than by the penetration time of the active. None of the agents tested caused any removal of the biofilm. The extent of fluorescence loss after 1 h of exposure to an active ranged from 87 to 99.5%, with CHX being the most effective. The extent of fluorescence loss in vitro, but not penetration and action time, correlated well with the relative efficacy data from published clinical trials.
A descriptive study of professional staff, and their careers, in Australian and UK universities

ABSTRACT Professional staff total approximately 23% of staff in universities in the UK, which in 2014/15 was the equivalent of 95,870 individuals (hesa.ac.uk). With their increasing span of responsibility, it is surprising that there has been little research into the careers of these staff. This study, part of a larger careers study, highlights some key attitudes to, and needs from, their careers. Via a multi-method instrument, of which only descriptive statistics are presented here, it is shown that professional staff are motivated by an integrated set of needs attributed to traditional, boundaryless and protean career theory. It is also shown that professional staff overall are satisfied in their roles, but there is a mismatch between the desire for a career and promotion opportunities, and those forthcoming from their organisations.
Expression of a Constitutively Active Stat6 In Vivo Alters Lymphocyte Homeostasis with Distinct Effects in T and B Cells1

IL-4 is a critical cytokine in the regulation of immune responses and genesis of atopy. Engagement of the IL-4R activates multiple signaling pathways, including the transcription factor Stat6. Stat6-deficient mice demonstrate the importance of this factor in lymphocyte proliferation, gene expression, and Th cell differentiation. Recently, a mutant Stat6 (Stat6VT) was generated that is transcriptionally active independent of IL-4 stimulation. To determine the ability of a constitutively active Stat6 to mimic IL-4-stimulated responses, we have generated transgenic mice expressing Stat6VT under control of the CD2 locus control region, restricting expression to lymphoid populations. The phenotype of Stat6VT transgenic mice is similar, but not identical, to IL-4 transgenic mice, suggesting a critical role for Stat6-independent signaling pathways in the generation of some IL-4 responses in vivo. The expression of a constitutively active Stat6 in vivo increases surface expression of IL-4-induced genes and increases serum levels of IgG1 and IgE, compared with nontransgenic mice. Stat6VT expression increases Th2 differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Stat6VT expression also dramatically alters homeostasis of peripheral lymphocyte populations resulting in decreased CD3+ cells and increased B220+ cells, compared with nontransgenic littermates. Altered T and B cell populations correlate with an activated phenotype and increased cell death in transgenic T cell, but not B cell, populations. Together these results suggest that expression of a constitutively active Stat6 has distinct effects on B and T lymphocytes.
Predictors of adherence with the recommended use of hip protectors.

BACKGROUND Hip protectors can prevent many hip fractures in older persons at high risk for falling. Few published studies have investigated the use of hip protectors in community-dwelling older persons, and the level of adherence with their use, and predictors of adherence in this setting, are not clear. The aim of this study was to report the predictors of adherence and the level of adherence with the use of hip protectors in frail community-dwelling older women. METHODS This cohort study of the intervention group of a randomized, controlled trial recruited participants from aged care health services in urban areas of northern Sydney, Australia. Participants were 302 women who were 74 years or older (mean age, 83 years) and who had 2 or more falls or 1 fall requiring hospital admission in the previous year and who lived in their own homes. The main outcome measure was adherence with the use of hip protectors. RESULTS Adherence was approximately 53% during the 2 years of the study, and hip protectors were worn at the time of 51% of falls. The significant independent predictors of nonadherence with hip protector use were lower self-efficacy for hip protector use (odds ratio [OR], 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI],.33 to.79), higher number of perceived barriers to hip protector use (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, .38 to.72), and lower self-rated health (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, .55 to.93). CONCLUSIONS Three easily measured factors independently predicted subsequent adherence with hip protector use. These findings may form the basis for strategies to improve adherence with the use of hip protectors and with other types of treatment or preventive strategies in older persons.
Determination of the Functional Status of Alloreactive T Cells by Interferon-&ggr; Kinetics

Background. A fundamental limitation of in vitro immunologic tests in the field of transplantation is that existing functional tests poorly correlate with in vivo immune responses such as rejection, tolerance, or absence of rejection due to immunosuppression. It would be helpful to have a measure of T lymphocyte responsiveness that reliably reflects these conditions. Methods. C57BL/6J mice received skin transplants from BALB/c donors with: a) no treatment, b) treatment with CsA, or c) treatment with CTLA-4Ig, &agr;-CD40L mAb, and &agr;-CD25 mAb. Syngeneic skin transplants served as controls. Recipient splenocytes were co-cultured with irradiated donor splenocytes and culture supernatant was harvested once a day for 5 consecutive days. IFN-&ggr; levels were measured by ELISA. Results. Splenocytes obtained from non-transplanted mice responded to specific alloantigen stimulation (primary response) at least 2 days later than the splenocytes from mice which had rejected skin grafts (effector/memory response). Splenocytes from mice treated with CsA after skin transplants had no response to third-party alloantigen, but showed an effector/memory pattern of IFN-&ggr; elaboration with donor cell stimulation (immunosuppression), although the IFN-&ggr; levels were not as high as those mice with unmodified graft rejection. Mice treated with combined CTLA4Ig, &agr;-CD40L and &agr;-CD25 accepted skin grafts without further immunosuppression. Splenocytes from these tolerant mice showed a primary response to the third-party and failed to secrete detectable IFN-&ggr; in the presence of donor cells (tolerance). Conclusion. This assay clearly differentiated the functional status of the alloreactive T cells, including primary alloimmune response, effector/memory response, immunosuppressed T cell response, and donor specific tolerance.
How Do Service Quality, Experiences and Enduring Involvement Influence Tourists' Behavior? An Empirical Study in the Picasso and Miró Museums in Barcelona

This study develops an integrated model that examines how service quality, perceived experiences and enduring involvement determine tourists' behavior. The model proposes that enduring involvement has both a direct and moderating influence on tourists' satisfaction with the destination. Data were collected from 1091 visitors of two museums in Barcelona: the Picasso Museum and the Miro Foundation. The results suggest that visit experience, service quality and involvement are drivers of satisfaction. Satisfaction influences the behavioral intentions of visitors to the museum. In addition, the visitors' level of art involvement negatively moderates the influence of perceived quality and experience on tourists' satisfaction. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficacy and safety of selegiline transdermal system (STS) for the atypical subtype of major depressive disorder: pooled analysis of 5 short-term, placebo-controlled trials

Objective The objective of the present study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of the selegiline transdermal system (STS) in major depressive disorder (MDD) with atypical features. Methods This was a post-hoc analysis of 5 short-term trials. The atypical subtype was defined as the presence of at least 1 item with a score of 2 or greater from items 22–26 on the 28-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-28), and a maximum score of 1 point for items 6 (insomnia late), 12 (somatic symptoms, gastrointestinal), and 16 (loss of weight) to exclude vegetative features of melancholic depression. The mean changes of HAMD-28 total score from baseline to the endpoint (response rate defined as ≥50% reduction in HAMD-28 scores and remission rate defined as ≤10 HAMD-28 total score at the treatment endpoint) were compared between atypical and nonatypical groups. Results In this analysis, 352 subjects (STS = 168 vs placebo = 184) met the definition of atypical subtype at baseline. STS (n = 641) significantly decreased HAMD-28 total score compared with placebo (n = 648) from beginning to end of treatment (–10.7 ± 9.3 vs –9.4 ± 9.3; p = 0.014). STS showed comparable efficacy in patients with the atypical subtype compared with the nonatypical subtype for placebo-subtracted mean change in HAMD-28 total score (–2.11 ± 1.01 vs. –1.0 ± 0.60; p = 0.34), odds ratio (OR) for response (1.41 vs 1.23, p = 0.62), and OR for remission (1.77 vs 1.18, p = 0.22). Conclusion STS appears to be comparably efficacious and tolerable in atypical and nonatypical subtypes of MDD. Adequately powered, controlled, clinical trials are necessary to confirm our findings.
Enhancing generalisation in biofeedback intervention using the challenge point framework: A case study

Abstract Biofeedback intervention can help children achieve correct production of a treatment-resistant error sound, but generalisation is often limited. This case study suggests that generalisation can be enhanced when biofeedback intervention is structured in accordance with a “challenge point” framework for speech-motor learning. The participant was an 11-year-old with residual /r/ misarticulation who had previously attained correct /r/ production through a structured course of ultrasound biofeedback treatment but did not generalise these gains beyond the word level. Treatment difficulty was adjusted in an adaptive manner following predetermined criteria for advancing, maintaining, or moving back a level in a multidimensional hierarchy of functional task complexity. The participant achieved and maintained virtually 100% accuracy in producing /r/ at both word and sentence levels. These preliminary results support the efficacy of a semi-structured implementation of the challenge point framework as a means of achieving generalisation and maintenance of treatment gains.
Stomach position versus liver-to-thoracic volume ratio in left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Abstract Objective: To describe a new grading method for stomach position (SP) in fetuses with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (L-CDH) using ultrasound and to correlate SP to liver position and to liver-to-thoracic cavity volume ratio (LiTR) using magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: SP were graded at the level of the 4-chamber view as following: grade 1-to-4 for stomach not visualised, visualised anteriorly at the apex of the heart, stomach showing abdominal structures anteriorly and stomach with its larger part posterior to the level of the atrial-ventricular heart valves, respectively. The LiTR was calculated and correlated to SP using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Seventy-four fetuses were included. Median LiTR for grade 1 SP was 0% and was not different from median LiTR for grade 2 SP (0%, p = NS). Median LiTR for grade 3 SP was 14.9% and was significantly higher than for grade 2 SP (p < 0.001). Similarly, median LiTR for grade 4 SP was 20.7% and was significantly higher than for grade 3 SP (p < 0.05). When SP was grade 1 or 2, liver was intra-abdominal in 21 (84%) out of 25 fetuses while it was always intrathoracic for SP 3 or 4. Conclusion: In L-CDH, SP as described represents a simple indirect measurement of intrathoracic position and quantification of liver.
Selective activation of nuclear bile acid receptor FXR in the intestine protects mice against cholestasis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Cholestasis is a liver disorder characterized by impaired bile flow, reduction of bile acids (BAs) in the intestine, and retention of BAs in the liver. The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is the transcriptional regulator of BA homeostasis. Activation of FXR by BAs reduces circulating BA levels in a feedback mechanism, repressing hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1), the rate-limiting enzyme for the conversion of cholesterol to BAs. This mechanism involves the hepatic nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner and the intestinal fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 and 15. We investigated the role of activation of intestine-specific FXR in reducing hepatic levels of BAs and protecting the liver from cholestasis in mice. METHODS We generated transgenic mice that express a constitutively active FXR in the intestine. Using FXR gain- and loss-of-function models, we studied the roles of intestinal FXR in mice with intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis. RESULTS Selective activation of intestinal FXR induced FGF15 and repressed hepatic Cyp7a1, reducing the pool size of BAs and changing the BA pool composition. Activation of intestinal FXR protected mice from obstructive extrahepatic cholestasis after bile duct ligation or administration of α-naphthylisothiocyanate. In Mdr2(-/-) mice, transgenic expression of activated FXR in the intestine protected against liver damage, whereas absence of FXR promoted progression of liver disease. CONCLUSIONS Activation of FXR transcription in the intestine protects the liver from cholestasis in mice by inducing FGF15 expression and reducing the hepatic pool of BA; this approach might be developed to reverse cholestasis in patients.
Localized brain metabolite changes during visual sexual stimulation in postmenopausal women: a pilot study using functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy

ObjectiveFunctional magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to compare brain metabolite changes between nonpostmenopausal and postmenopausal women exposed to visual sexual stimulation with erotic video clips. MethodsTwenty nonpostmenopausal women and 20 postmenopausal women were enrolled in this study. Menopause was defined as continuous amenorrhea for more than 12 months and a follicle-stimulating hormone level higher than 40 mIU/mL. Brain metabolite concentrations were measured from a localized voxel on the anterior cingulate gyrus, one of the most important areas associated with sexual arousal. Subjective sexual arousal and attention to visual stimulation were assessed using a 5-point scale. Functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy data were acquired from nonpostmenopausal and postmenopausal women during rest and activation conditions. ResultsCompared with nonpostmenopausal women, postmenopausal women showed significantly lower levels of both &bgr;&ggr;-glutamate/glutamine and lipid during the “rest” period but had lower levels of &bgr;&ggr;-glutamate/glutamine only during the “activation” period (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThis study finds differential brain metabolite changes during visual sexual arousal in nonpostmenopausal and postmenopausal women. These findings would be helpful in understanding the neural mechanism of visual sexual arousal in connection with brain metabolite changes after menopause.
Increasing Live Donor Kidney Transplantation: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Home‐Based Educational Intervention

With the shortage of deceased donor kidneys and the superior clinical outcomes possible with live donor kidney transplantation (LDKT), more patients should seriously consider LDKT. However, little is known about how best to educate patients and their family members about LDKT. We evaluated the effectiveness of a home‐based (HB) educational program in increasing LDKT. Patients were randomized to clinic‐based (CB) education alone (CB, n = 69) or CB plus HB education (CB+HB, n = 63). Compared to CB, more patients in the CB+HB group had living donor inquiries (63.8% vs. 82.5%, p = 0.019) and evaluations (34.8% vs. 60.3%, p = 0.005) and LDKTs (30.4% vs. 52.4%, p = 0.013). Assignment to the CB+HB group, White race, more LDKT knowledge, higher willingness to discuss LDKT with others, and fewer LDKT concerns were predictors of having LDKT (p‐values < 0.05). Both groups demonstrated an increase in LDKT knowledge after the CB education, but CB+HB led to an additional increase in LDKT knowledge (p < 0.0001) and in willingness to discuss LDKT with others (p < 0.0001), and a decrease in LDKT concerns (p < 0.0001). Results indicate that an HB outreach program is more effective in increasing LDKT rates than CB education alone.
Psychosocial Predictors of Children's Postoperative Pain

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of psychosocial variables in the prediction of children's pain intensity following surgery. Forty-two children, ages 7 to 17 years (M = 12.26, SD = 3.06), completed an interview 1 week prior to surgery assessing anticipatory distress related to their forthcoming surgery and history of coping strategy use. Following surgery, children reported the intensity of their pain using visual analog scales. Findings demonstrated that the majority of children experienced moderate to severe postoperative pain, Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that psychosocial variables added to the prediction of children's postoperative pain after controlling for the influence of surgery-related and demographic variables. These findings lend initial support for the inclusion of psychosocial assessment measures (e.g., anticipatory surgery distress) in the preoperative assessment of pediatric patients who may be at risk for excessive postsurgical pain.