Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of the proposed DSM-5 cannabis use disorder criteria using Australian national survey data.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the current study was to evaluate the proposed cannabis use disorder criteria for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) using epidemiological data. METHOD Data came from the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Lifetime DSM-IV and DSM-5 cannabis use disorder diagnoses were assessed using a modified version of the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview among those respondents who had used cannabis more than five times (n = 1,639; 37% female). RESULTS The prevalence of cannabis use disorder decreased from DSM-IV (6.2%) to DSM-5 (5.4%). Two fifths of those with DSM-IV cannabis abuse would fall below the threshold for DSM-5 cannabis use disorder. More than a third of those classified as DSM-IV "diagnostic orphans" would meet criteria for a DSM-5 mild, moderate, or severe cannabis use disorder. In terms of demographic and clinical characteristics, those who converted from no disorder in DSM-IV to a disorder under DSM-5 were similar to those diagnosed with a disorder according to both systems. Those who converted to no disorder under DSM-5 tended to be young men with cross-substance involvement and high levels of cannabis consumption. CONCLUSIONS Although a previous study of the Australian population found that alcohol use disorders increase considerably under DSM-5, the current study found a reduction in cannabis use disorders in the transition from DSM-IV to DSM-5. This is likely the result of the high ratio of cannabis abuse to dependence when compared with other substances. Given the implications the proposed changes have on the epidemiology of substance use disorders, further research is needed to determine whether the proposed criteria are optimal.
Self-concept and racial attitudes in children of Haitian origin : an intervention for self-enhancement

The purpose of this study was to implement a self-enhancement program based on the Quality/Circle Time approach, and explore the relationship between the self-concept and racial attitudes of Black children living in a high risk neighbourhood. Four research questions were answered: (1) How can a self-enhancement program based on Quality/Circle Time increase children's self-concept? (2) How can a self-enhancement program address the negative influences of racial stereotypes in our society and influence participants' racial attitudes? (3) How are Black children's racial attitudes influenced by social representations of racial groups in our society? and (4) Is there a relationship between self-concept and racial attitudes in children of Haitian origin living in a high-risk neighbourhood? Thirteen participants were administered two instruments, the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale second edition (Piers & Herzberg, 2002) and the Multi-Response Racial Attitudes Measure (MRA; Doyle & Aboud, 1995). The participants were between the ages of 8 and 11. Both tests were administered twice, once before and once after the implementation of the self-enhancement program. No significant relationship was found between the general self-concept score and racial attitude scores: and, no significant differences were found between the pre- and post-test on the Piers-Harris 2 results. However, MRA scores for White out-group showed a significant difference between the pre- and post-test results. Finally, the importance of friendship as a central theme emerged and was addressed as a way for these children to feel better about themselves.
Variation Among Floral Visitors in Pollination Ability: A Precondition for Mutualism Specialization

The unusual floral biology of a neotropical herb provided an opportunity to determine that floral visitors varied significantly in their ability to effect fruit-set. Pollination efficiency and visitation frequency varied among Hymenoptera (five taxa), which were responsible for 99 percent of all fruits set. Lepidoptera (four taxa) were common visitors but poor pollinators. These results indicate that flower visitors vary in their beneficial effects on plants, fulfilling one of the primary conditions required for the specialization of plants on pollinators.
Warfarin Induces Cardiovascular Damage in Mice

Objective—Vascular calcification is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Once thought to be a passive process, vascular calcification is now known to be actively prevented by proteins acting systemically (fetuin-A) or locally (matrix Gla protein). Warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist, widely prescribed to reduce coagulation by inhibiting vitamin K–dependent coagulation factors. Recently, it became clear that vitamin K antagonists also affect vascular calcification by inactivation of matrix Gla protein. Here, we investigated functional cardiovascular characteristics in a mouse model with warfarin-induced media calcification. Approach and Results—DBA/2 mice received diets with variable concentrations of warfarin (0.03, 0.3, and 3 mg/g) with vitamin K1 at variable time intervals (1, 4, and 7 weeks). Von Kossa staining revealed that warfarin treatment induced calcified areas in both medial layer of aorta and heart in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, which could be inhibited by simultaneous vitamin K2 treatment. With ongoing calcification, matrix Gla protein mRNA expression decreased, and inactive matrix Gla protein expression increased. TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling–positive apoptosis increased, and vascular smooth muscle cell number was concomitantly reduced by warfarin treatment. On a functional level, warfarin treatment augmented aortic peak velocity, aortic valve–peak gradient, and carotid pulse-wave velocity. Conclusion—Warfarin induced significant calcification with resulting functional cardiovascular damage in DBA/2 wild-type mice. The model would enable future researchers to decipher mechanisms of vascular calcification and may guide them in the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Design of the Planar Six-Port Crossover With Double Rings

The six-port crossover with the planar structure has been proposed. By utilizing double rings with quarter-wavelength branches, a wide passband can be obtained. With the proposed crossover, three intersecting channels with good performances of transmission and isolation can be generated. The even-odd mode and the six-fold rotational symmetry are adopted to derive the analytical equations. Moreover, the performances of diagonal transmission, port matching, and isolation between different channels are achieved with a fractional bandwidth of 13.5%, which has been demonstrated by the theoretical and measured results.
Americans' use of dietary supplements that are potentially harmful in CKD.

BACKGROUND The prevalence in the United States of dietary supplement use that may be harmful to those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unknown. We sought to characterize potentially harmful supplement use by individual CKD status. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional national survey (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2008). SETTING & PARTICIPANTS Community-based survey of 21,169 nonpregnant noninstitutionalized US civilian adults (aged ≥20 years). PREDICTOR CKD status (no CKD, at risk of CKD [presence of diabetes, hypertension, and/or cardiovascular disease], stages 1/2 [albuminuria only (albumin-creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g)], or stages 3/4 [estimated glomerular filtration rate of 15-59 mL/min/1.73 m(2)]). OUTCOME Self-reported use of dietary supplements containing any of 37 herbs the National Kidney Foundation identified as potentially harmful in the setting of CKD. MEASUREMENTS Albuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate assessed from urine and blood samples; demographics and comorbid conditions assessed by standardized questionnaire. RESULTS An estimated 8.0% of US adults reported potentially harmful supplement use within the last 30 days. A lower crude estimated prevalence of potentially harmful supplement use was associated with higher CKD severity (no CKD, 8.5%; at risk, 8.0%; stages 1/2, 6.1%; and stages 3/4, 6.2%; P < 0.001). However, after adjustment for confounders, those with or at risk of CKD were as likely to use a potentially harmful supplement as those without CKD: at-risk OR, 0.93 (95% CI, 0.79-1.09); stages 1/2 OR, 0.83 (95% CI, 0.64-1.08); and stages 3/4 OR, 0.87 (95% CI, 0.63-1.18); all versus no CKD. LIMITATIONS Herb content was not available and the list of potentially harmful supplements examined is unlikely to be exhaustive. CONCLUSIONS The use of dietary supplements potentially harmful to people with CKD is common regardless of CKD status. Health care providers should discuss the use and potential risks of supplements with patients with and at risk of CKD.
Effect of Changes in Cycle Length on Diastolic Depolarization Produced by Ouabain in Canine Purkinje Fibers

Isolated canine papillary muscle–false tendon tissue preparations stimulated at a cycle length of 630 msec were treated with ouabain (2.1 × 10−7M) until an increase in the slope of diastolic depolarization of Purkinje fibers was produced. Then the effects of changes in cycle length on the slope were tested. Sustained shortening of the cycle length increased the slope, and sustained lengthening had the opposite effect. An abrupt decrease in cycle length caused by a stimulus during phase 3 of a driven beat induced an increase in the slope of diastolic depolarization for one or more subsequent cycles. This procedure occasionally led to the spontaneous generation of an action potential which propagated into surrounding tissue. Suspension of stimulation often was followed by spontaneous beats. Shortening of the cycle length decreased the time of onset and increased the number and frequency of spontaneous beats. These effects were correlated with increases in the slope of diastolic depolarization. The diastolic depolarization of Purkinje fibers in false tendons was increased earlier and to a greater degree by ouabain than was the depolarization of Purkinje fibers on the muscle surface. These findings suggest that enhancement of diastolic depolarization of Purkinje fibers to the point of spontaneous discharge of action potentials may be a common means by which digitalis produces a variety of ventricular arrhythmias observed in intact animals.
Potential Benefits and Withdrawal Effects of Cranial Nerve Non-invasive Neuromodulation on Functional Mobility for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective: Document and describe benefits, withdrawal effects and experience with the Cranial Nerve Non-Invasive Neuromodulation (CN-NINM) intervention. Background: Neuromodulation techniques can be used for the treatment of many diagnoses and conditions. Many current neuromodulation techniques have or can have negative consequences such as high cost, risk of surgical complications or infections, effects not lasting without the drug or stimulation presence, and need for medical experts’ direct oversight. A new rehabilitation intervention called CN-NINM may eliminate these negative factors, making it a promising tool for clinicians and participants. CN-NINM combines targeted training activities with mild, portable, electrical stimulation of the tongue to facilitate learning. It was created after repeated clinical observations and functional improvements were noted in related research. However, a great deal is not known about the intervention mechanisms. To date, no negative consequences have been documented. Methods: An A-B-A-B-A single case experimental design five week intensive protocol was implemented with one participant with a TBI. Seven measures were collected including the Timed Up and Go, Romberg, Sharpened Romberg, 4 components of the Dynamic Gait Index, 5 components of the Community Balance & Mobility Scale, Gait Efficacy Scale-modified, Community Integration Questionnaire, and Participation Objective, Participation Subjective.
Pain in the emergency department: adherence to an implemented treatment protocol.

OBJECTIVES Although pain is one of the most common presenting complaints in the Emergency Department (ED), pain management is often inadequate. Pain management protocols have been shown to be useful. The objective of this study was to assess the adherence to an already implemented pain management protocol in an urban ED. METHODS Secondary analysis of a prospective single centre cohort study on patient preferences for analgesia in the ED. Patient charts were reviewed with a focus on selection, timing and dosage of analgesics according to a visual analogue scale (VAS) on arrival and during the ED stay. RESULTS Three hundred and thirty-seven patient charts were reviewed. The adherence to the implemented pain management protocol was 42% at the time of initial evaluation and 43% during the course of therapy in all patients. Forty-two percent of the study population were discharged with at least moderate pain. However, 43% of the patients discharged with pain did not request analgesics. CONCLUSIONS The benefits of pain management protocols are proven. However, adherence to these protocols needs to be monitored regularly in order to optimise pain management.
Cloning and functional characteristics of murine large granular lymphocyte-1: a member of the Ly-49 gene family (Ly-49G2)

Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) 1 is a cell surface glycoprotein expressed on a subset (50%) of C57BL/6 natural killer (NK) cells. Immunoprecipitation experiments reveal that the LGL-1 protein exists as a disulfide-linked 40-kD homodimer. Functional studies of LGL-1+ cells indicate that selected H-2d target cells are not lysed efficiently by these interleukin (IL)-2-cultured NK cells. These findings suggested that LGL-1 may be a member of the Ly-49 gene family. Here we report the molecular cloning of the LGL-1 cDNA from a severe combined immunodeficient-adherent lymphokine-activated killer cell library transfected into Cos-7 cells and find LGL-1 to be homologous to the Ly- 49 gene at both the nucleotide (85%) and amino acid levels (73%). Sequencing of our LGL-1 cDNA has revealed it to be nearly identical to the Ly-49G2 cDNA recently isolated by cross-hybridization with an Ly-49 probe. LGL-1 represents a type II transmembrane protein of 267 amino acids with its carboxyl end exposed extracellularly. The LGL-1 protein contains 11 highly conserved cysteine residues and a 25-amino acid transmembrane region. Southern blot analysis demonstrates that there are a number of homologous genes in mouse DNA that hybridize strongly to LGL-1. Northern analyses using poly A+ RNA from LGL-1+ NK cells indicate that LGL-1 is expressed as a 1.4 kb mRNA. Two-color flow cytometry analysis (FCA) of C57BL/6 splenic NK cells demonstrates that LGL-1 and Ly-49 label overlapping subsets of cells. FCA identifies four subsets of NK cells as defined by LGL-1 versus Ly-49 staining. We have sorted these individual subsets, expanded them in IL-2, and performed cytotoxicity experiments to determine their target cell profiles in relation to class I expression. Results of these studies are complex, but indicate that Ly-49 may not be the only molecule that recognizes class I as an inhibitory signal for cytotoxicity. LGL-1+ cells also fail to lyse several H-2d-expressing tumor targets and concanavalin A lymphoblasts from BALB/c but not C57BL/6 mice. This inhibition of lysis by LGL-1+ NK cells is negated by addition of monoclonal antibody (mAb) 4D11 that recognizes the LGL-1 protein. When mAbs to the class I molecules H-2Dd and H-2Ld (alpha 1 alpha 2 domains only) are added to cytotoxicity assays, LGL-1+ cells lyse H-2d targets very effectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia: A United States Experience

Background— Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is an inherited cardiomyopathy characterized by right ventricular dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias. The purpose of our study was to describe the presentation, clinical features, survival, and natural history of ARVD in a large cohort of patients from the United States. Methods and Results— The patient population included 100 ARVD patients (51 male; median age at presentation, 26 [interquartile range {IQR}, 18 to 38; range, 2 to 70] years). A familial pattern was observed in 32 patients. The most common presenting symptoms were palpitations, syncope, and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in 27%, 26%, and 23% of patients, respectively. Among those who were diagnosed while living (n=69), the median time between first presentation and diagnosis was 1 (range, 0 to 37) year. During a median follow-up of 6 (IQR, 2 to 13; range, 0 to 37) years, implantable cardioverter/defibrillators (ICD) were implanted in 47 patients, 29 of whom received an appropriate ICD discharge, including 3 patients who received the ICD for primary prevention. At follow-up, 66 patients were alive, of whom 44 had an ICD in place, 5 developed signs of heart failure, 2 had a heart transplant, and 18 were on drug therapy. Thirty-four patients died either at presentation (n=23: 21 SCD, 2 noncardiac deaths) or during follow-up (n=11: 10 SCD, 1 of biventricular heart failure), of whom only 3 were diagnosed while living and 1 had an ICD implanted. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, the median survival in the entire population was 60 years. Conclusions— ARVD patients present between the second and fifth decades of life either with symptoms of palpitations and syncope associated with ventricular tachycardia or with SCD. Diagnosis is often delayed. Once diagnosed and treated with an ICD, mortality is low. There is a wide variation in presentation and course of ARVD patients, which can likely be explained by the genetic heterogeneity of the disease.
Photoacoustic imaging of prostate brachytherapy seeds

Brachytherapy seed therapy is an increasingly common way to treat prostate cancer through localized radiation. The current standard of care relies on transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) for imaging guidance during the seed placement procedure. As visualization of individual metallic seeds tends to be difficult or inaccurate under TRUS guidance, guide needles are generally tracked to infer seed placement. In an effort to improve seed visualization and placement accuracy, the use of photoacoustic (PA) imaging, which is highly sensitive to metallic objects in soft tissue, was investigated for this clinical application. The PA imaging properties of bare (i.e., embedded in pure gelatin) and tissue-embedded (at depths of up to 13 mm) seeds were investigated with a multi-wavelength (750 to 1090 nm) PA imaging technique. Results indicate that, much like ultrasonic (US) imaging, an angular dependence (i.e., seed orientation relative to imaging transducer) of the PA signal exists. Despite this shortcoming, however, PA imaging offers improved contrast, over US imaging, of a seed in prostate tissue if sufficient local fluence is achieved. Additionally, although the PA signal of a bare seed is greatest for lower laser wavelengths (e.g., 750 nm), the scattering that results from tissue tends to favor the use of higher wavelengths (e.g., 1064 nm, which is the primary wavelength of Nd:YAG lasers) when the seed is located in tissue. A combined PA and US imaging approach (i.e., PAUS imaging) shows strong potential to visualize both the seed and the surrounding anatomical environment of the prostate during brachytherapy seed placement procedures.
Augmented Backward Elimination: A Pragmatic and Purposeful Way to Develop Statistical Models

Statistical models are simple mathematical rules derived from empirical data describing the association between an outcome and several explanatory variables. In a typical modeling situation statistical analysis often involves a large number of potential explanatory variables and frequently only partial subject-matter knowledge is available. Therefore, selecting the most suitable variables for a model in an objective and practical manner is usually a non-trivial task. We briefly revisit the purposeful variable selection procedure suggested by Hosmer and Lemeshow which combines significance and change-in-estimate criteria for variable selection and critically discuss the change-in-estimate criterion. We show that using a significance-based threshold for the change-in-estimate criterion reduces to a simple significance-based selection of variables, as if the change-in-estimate criterion is not considered at all. Various extensions to the purposeful variable selection procedure are suggested. We propose to use backward elimination augmented with a standardized change-in-estimate criterion on the quantity of interest usually reported and interpreted in a model for variable selection. Augmented backward elimination has been implemented in a SAS macro for linear, logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression. The algorithm and its implementation were evaluated by means of a simulation study. Augmented backward elimination tends to select larger models than backward elimination and approximates the unselected model up to negligible differences in point estimates of the regression coefficients. On average, regression coefficients obtained after applying augmented backward elimination were less biased relative to the coefficients of correctly specified models than after backward elimination. In summary, we propose augmented backward elimination as a reproducible variable selection algorithm that gives the analyst more flexibility in adopting model selection to a specific statistical modeling situation.
Presence of Poly(A) Tails at the 3'-Termini of Some mRNAs of a Double-Stranded RNA Virus, Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus

Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV), a new member of the genus Fijivirus, is a double-stranded RNA virus known to lack poly(A) tails. We now showed that some of SRBSDV mRNAs were indeed polyadenylated at the 3' terminus in plant hosts, and investigated the nature of 3' poly(A) tails. The non-abundant presence of SRBSDV mRNAs bearing polyadenylate tails suggested that these viral RNA were subjected to polyadenylation-stimulated degradation. The discovery of poly(A) tails in different families of viruses implies potentially a wide occurrence of the polyadenylation-assisted RNA degradation in viruses.