Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of adherence to antidepressant treatment guidelines on relapse and recurrence of depression.

BACKGROUND Depression is associated with high rates of relapse and recurrence during a patient's lifetime. Current guidelines regarding treatment recommend 4 to 9 months of continuation antidepressant therapy following remission of acute symptoms to allow more complete resolution of the episode. In this article, we test whether adherence to these recommendations reduces the likelihood of relapse or recurrence in a Medicaid population. METHODS We used a Medicaid database covering 1989 through 1994. The sample consists of the 4052 adult patients who filled an antidepressant prescription at the time of an initial diagnosis of depression. These patients were followed up for up to 2 years. Timing and counts of antidepressant prescription claims are used to construct a proxy measure for adherence to guidelines. Relapse or recurrence is defined by evidence of a new episode requiring antidepressant treatment, hospital admission for depression, electroconvulsive therapy, emergency department visit for mental health, or attempted suicide. We used survival analysis to predict relapse or recurrence for each patient and to examine the effect of following treatment guidelines on relapse and recurrence. RESULTS Approximately one fourth of the patients had a relapse or recurrence during their follow-up period. Factors that affect relapse and recurrence include comorbidities, race, and guideline adherence. Those who continued therapy with their initial antidepressant were least likely to experience relapse or recurrence; those who discontinued their antidepressant early were most likely to experience relapse or recurrence. CONCLUSION Adherence to depression treatment guidelines with an antidepressant that is likely to have continuous use by patients reduces the probability of relapse or recurrence.
Effects of Rumen Protozoa of Brahman Heifers and Nitrate on Fermentation and In vitro Methane Production

Two experiments were conducted assessing the effects of presence or absence of rumen protozoa and dietary nitrate addition on rumen fermentation characteristics and in vitro methane production in Brahman heifers. The first experiment assessed changes in rumen fermentation pattern and in vitro methane production post-refaunation and the second experiment investigated whether addition of nitrate to the incubation would give rise to methane mitigation additional to that contributed by defaunation. Ten Brahman heifers were progressively adapted to a diet containing 4.5% coconut oil distillate for 18 d and then all heifers were defaunated using sodium 1-(2-sulfonatooxyethoxy) dodecane (Empicol). After 15 d, the heifers were given a second dose of Empicol. Fifteen days after the second dosing, all heifers were allocated to defaunated or refaunated groups by stratified randomisation, and the experiment commenced (d 0). On d 0, an oral dose of rumen fluid collected from unrelated faunated cattle was used to inoculate 5 heifers and form a refaunated group so that the effects of re-establishment of protozoa on fermentation characteristics could be investigated. Samples of rumen fluid collected from each animal using oesophageal intubation before feeding on d 0, 7, 14, and 21 were incubated for in vitro methane production. On d 35, 2% nitrate (as NaNO3) was included in in vitro incubations to test for additivity of nitrate and absence of protozoa effects on fermentation and methane production. It was concluded that increasing protozoal numbers were associated with increased methane production in refaunated heifers 7, 14, and 21 d after refaunation. Methane production rate was significantly higher from refaunated heifers than from defaunated heifers 35 d after refaunation. Concentration and proportions of major volatile fatty acids, however, were not affected by protozoal treatments. There is scope for further reducing methane output through combining defaunation and dietary nitrate as the addition of nitrate in the defaunated heifers resulted in 86% reduction in methane production in vitro.
[First effects of training phonological awareness in two age cohorts of kindergarten children].

OBJECTIVE This study investigated to what extent young kindergarten children already benefit from training phonological awareness. METHODS The training program used here was the German "Würzburg training program of phonological awareness". The control group participated in the regular kindergarten program. A total of 80 children, one and two years before entering school, participated in the study. Tests of phonological awareness were assessed before and after the training as well as after six months. RESULTS Young kindergarten children (two years before entering school) compared to preschoolers (one year before entering school) had significant lower phonological awareness skills. However both cohorts showed noticeable significant training effects, but preschoolers benefited significantly more from training phonological awareness. Long-term effects were obtained for both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS Already young kindergarten children do benefit effectively from preschool phonological awareness training. Effects of this training on reading and spelling in school will be investigated further.
A Quasi-Dense Matching Approach and its Calibration Application with Internet Photos

This paper proposes a quasi-dense matching approach to the automatic acquisition of camera parameters, which is required for recovering 3-D information from 2-D images. An affine transformation-based optimization model and a new matching cost function are used to acquire quasi-dense correspondences with high accuracy in each pair of views. These correspondences can be effectively detected and tracked at the sub-pixel level in multiviews with our neighboring view selection strategy. A two-layer iteration algorithm is proposed to optimize 3-D quasi-dense points and camera parameters. In the inner layer, different optimization strategies based on local photometric consistency and a global objective function are employed to optimize the 3-D quasi-dense points and camera parameters, respectively. In the outer layer, quasi-dense correspondences are resampled to guide a new estimation and optimization process of the camera parameters. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm with several experiments.
Income mobility in times of economic growth: The case of Viet Nam

This paper analyses income mobility in Viet Nam from 2004 to 2008. The concept of income mobility is important for developed and developing economies, especially for those, such as Viet Nam, witnessing a stable persistent economic growth and profound structural transformations. Income mobility adds to the already established literature on poverty and inequality by quantifying how much households benefit from the economic performance of a country. The analysis shows that Viet Nam’s growth facilitated households’ income mobility. The analysis of the drivers of households’ mobility invites policy makers to tailor interventions, e.g. assisting less mobile households with many dependents, or endowing households engaging in agriculture –an important source of income and driver of mobility – with appropriated skills and tools. Furthermore, it is shown that public transfers have only little impact on income mobility, indicating that their effectiveness has to be improved if the state wants to assist households in mitigating shocks and reducing inequality.
Gene expression for enzymes and transporters involved in regulating adenosine and inosine levels in rat forebrain neurons, astrocytes and C6 glioma cells

In brain, levels of adenosine increase up to 100‐fold during cerebral ischemia. Based on in vitro studies, both astrocytes and neurons contribute to this adenosine release. Neurons release adenosine per se whereas astrocytes release adenine nucleotides that are metabolized to adenosine extracellularly. In contrast, inosine is released from both cell types via a nucleoside transporter. C6 glioma cells, which are derived from astrocytes, release inosine but not adenosine. The present study investigated the relative expression of purine metabolizing enzymes and transporters in neurons, astrocytes and C6 glioma cells by real‐time PCR analysis. In agreement with the extracellular formation of adenosine and intracellular formation of inosine by astrocytes, the present study showed high expression of ecto 5′‐nucleotidase and AMP deaminase type 3 in astrocytes. The lack of adenosine release from C6 glioma cells was consistent with the absence of expression of the AMP‐preferring cytosolic 5′‐nucleotidase in these cells. The predominance of nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) insensitive equilibrative nucleoside transport (ENT2) in all three cell types was consistent with the greater activity of this isoform in comparison to NBMPR‐sensitive ENT1 in these rat cells. Thus, cell type differences in adenosine formation and release are primarily a function of differences in expression of purinergic enzymes and transporters. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
[Interval reduction of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is not advantageous. A pilot project].

PURPOSE To find out if carrying out PDT again 6 weeks after initial PDT will improve the results at 3 months. METHODS A total of 22 eyes were treated according to the dose regimen proposed by the TAP study. RESULTS After the first PDT, the CNV remained permanently closed in 14% of the eyes. Repeating the treatment 6 weeks later did not lead to permanent closure of more CNVs or a diminished size at 3 months. Short-term re-treatment had no substantial effect on the underlying choriocapillaries. Visual acuity did not profit or suffer from early re-treatment. CONCLUSION Shortening of the treatment interval has no serious side-effects, but does not seem to improve the results reported in the TAP study.
Handbook of International Economics (vol.3)

Up-to-date surveys of all major research areas in international trade and international finance are presented in this volume. The chapters have a high standard of exposition, delivering ideas at the forefront of the field in a clear readable fashion. The volume has a good overall balance of theoretical and empirical coverage. The trade side of the volume surveys theoretical work on trade based on scale economics and imperfect competition, the relationship between trade and technological progress, strategic trade policy, the political economy of trade policy, and the rules and institutions of international trade, as well as empirical work on trade patterns, trade policies, and regional integration. The finance side covers topics such as exchange rates, purchasing power parity, the current account, the international transmission of business cycles, foreign ending, international capital markets, target zones and speculative attacks on fixed exchange rates, and international economic policy coordination. For students and researchers interested in understanding developments in modern international economics, this book is an essential reference.
Transfer of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I from blood to intestine: comparison with IGFs that bind poorly to IGF-binding proteins.

The net transfer of 125I-labelled insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I from the blood to the distal small intestine was measured in anaesthetized lambs using a non-recirculating vascular-perfused intestine. To determine whether IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) reduce net IGF transfer, radiolabelled IGF-I was compared with two analogues, des(1-3)IGF-I and LR3IGF-I, which show reduced affinity for IGFBPs. Radiolabelled IGF-I, des(1-3)IGF-I or LR3IGF-I (1 ng/ml plasma) was infused for 45 min into the arterial supply of a 10 cm intestinal segment, either in the absence of added unlabelled peptide (high specific activity) or in the presence of a 100-fold excess of unlabelled homologous peptide (low specific activity) to achieve different proportions of free and complexed peptide. Very little degradation of radiolabelled peptides was detected in plasma, with 3-10% degradation in the intestinal tissue. Less than 5% of radiolabelled IGF-I remained as free peptide in the efferent venous plasma of the perfused segment at both specific activities. Bound radiolabelled IGF-I was found by size-exclusion chromatography mainly in the 30-50 kDa region, with a smaller proportion in the 150 kDa peak. The net intestinal transfer of IGF-I, calculated as the sum of the proportions of infused tracer recovered from intestinal tissue, luminal contents and lymph, was 3.46 +/- 0.22% (S.E.M.) and 3.49 +/- 0.93% when infused at high and low specific activities respectively. The analogues differed from IGF-I with up to ninefold higher concentrations of free radiolabelled peptide in venous plasma of the perfused intestinal segment, and corresponding decreases in binding to the 30-50 kDa binding proteins. Notwithstanding these marked differences in the plasma levels of free peptide, net intestinal transfer was very similar for the three peptides, as was the extent of degradation in the intestinal tissue. The lack of correlation between binding to 30-50 kDa binding proteins and net intestinal transfer suggests that association with 30-50 kDa plasma binding proteins is not a rate-limiting determinant of net IGF transfer to intestinal tissue.
The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: biological background and clinical relevance of an emerging treatment target in immunotherapy

Introduction: The co-inhibitory receptor programmed death 1 (PD-1) and its ligands are key regulators in a wide spectrum of immune responses and play a critical role in autoimmunity and self-tolerance as well as in cancer immunology. Emerging evidence suggests that cancer cells might use the PD-1/PD-ligand (PD-L) pathway to escape anti-tumor immunity. Based on this evidence, early phase human clinical trials targeting the PD-1/PD-L pathway are currently underway for multiple human cancers. Areas covered: The role of the PD-1/PD-L pathway in autoimmune disease, viral infections as well as in malignant neoplasms is discussed and an overview of the existing therapeutics as well as the results of clinical trials targeting this pathway in cancer is given. Expert opinion: The PD-1/PD-L pathway represents an important mechanism of immune evasion for malignant neoplasms. Early clinical trials indicate effectiveness of PD-1/PD-L pathway blockade in several solid cancers. However, greater insight into the exact mechanisms by which tumors are able to evade anti-tumor immunity is needed to increase clinical effectiveness, for example by combination blockade of diverse co-inhibitory receptors.
Neurocognitive Correlates of Helplessness, Hopelessness, and Well-Being in Schizophrenia

Persons with schizophrenia are widely recognized to experience potent feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and a fragile sense of well-being. Although these subjective experiences have been linked to positive symptoms, little is known about their relationship to neurocognition. Accordingly, this study examined the relationship of self-reports of hope, self-efficacy, and well-being to measures of neurocognition, symptoms, and coping among 49 persons with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Results suggest that poorer executive function, verbal memory, and a greater reliance on escape avoidance as a coping mechanism predicted significantly higher levels of hope and well being with multiple regressions accounting for 34% and 20% of the variance (p < .0001), respectively. Self-efficacy predicted lower levels of positive symptoms and greater preference for escape avoidance as a coping mechanism with a multiple repression accounting for 9% of the variance (p < .05). Results may suggest that higher levels of neurocognitive impairment and an avoidant coping style may shield some with schizophrenia from painful subjective experiences. Theoretical and practical implications for rehabilitation are discussed.
Synchronization criteria for a generalized complex dynamical network with multiple time-varying delays

A generalized dynamical network model with different time-varying delays is discussed in this paper. Since the derivative of the time-varying delays isn't always non-negative in the real world. So, in this paper, we not only consider the case that the derivative of the time-varying delays is no less than zero, but also takes into account the case that the derivative of the time-varying delays is non-positive situation. Some sufficient conditions ensuring the synchronization stability criteria are obtained. Finally, two numerical examples are given to illustrate the efficiency of the derived results.
Sense of Humor, Hassles, and Immunoglobulin A: Evidence for a Stress-Moderating Effect of Humor

This study was designed to investigate whether sense of humor moderates immunosuppressive effects of stress. At two time periods one and one-half months apart, forty subjects completed the Daily Hassles Scale and provided saliva samples for determining secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) levels. Four scales were used to assess different aspects of the sense of humor. A negative correlation was obtained between frequency of hassles at time 1 and S-IgA levels at time 2 (r = –.32, p < .05), suggesting an immunosuppressive effect of hassles. In support of our hypothesis, hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed significant moderating effects of three of the four humor measures on this relationship between hassles and S-IgA. Subjects with low scores on the humor scales revealed a stronger negative relationship between hassles and S-IgA than did those with high humor scores. These results are discussed in terms of other research examining psychological influences on immune function.
Bacteria associated with truffle-fruiting bodies contribute to truffle aroma.

Truffles, symbiotic fungi renown for the captivating aroma of their fruiting bodies, are colonized by a complex bacterial community of unknown function. We characterized the bacterial community of the white truffle Tuber borchii and tested the involvement of its microbiome in the production of sulphur-containing volatiles. We found that sulphur-containing volatiles such as thiophene derivatives, characteristic of T. borchii fruiting bodies, resulted from the biotransformation of non-volatile precursor(s) into volatile compounds by bacteria. The bacterial community of T. borchii was dominated by α- and β-Proteobacteria. Interestingly, all bacteria phyla/classes tested in this study were able to produce thiophene volatiles from T. borchii fruiting body extract, irrespective of their isolation source (truffle or other sources). This indicates that the ability to produce thiophene volatiles might be widespread among bacteria and possibly linked to primary metabolism. Treatment of fruiting bodies with antibacterial agents fully suppressed the production of thiophene volatiles while fungicides had no inhibitory effect. This suggests that during the sexual stage of truffles, thiophene volatiles are exclusively synthesized by bacteria and not by the truffle. At this stage, the origin of thiophenes precursor in T. borchii remains elusive and the involvement of yeasts or other bacteria cannot be excluded.
L1-2 roots block with psoas compartment block: reply from the authors?

well-known approach of the PCB rather than a modification of a PCB as suggested by the authors. However, as rightly recognized by the authors, the use of this technique has some restriction which should be known to physicians before considering this technique for inguinal surgery. In contrast with lower lumbardermatomes, the higher lumbardermatomes are unreliably blocked by a PCB, regardless of which approach has been used. A possible explanation for this is the anatomic location of the lumbosacral plexus. Kirchmair and colleagues reported that in the majority of cases, the lumbosacral plexus lies within the psoas major muscle, and not inside a sheath between the muscles. We wonder if the reproducibility of this technique was also tested in a hernia repair patients group. Furthermore, the authors rightly pointed out some serious complications of a PCB such as hypotension, epiduralor subarachnoid spread, systemic toxicity, renal puncture, and retroperitoneal haematoma. A more cephalad approach of the PCB like the L2–3 approach suggested by the authors could be more prone to an unattended puncture of the kidney. The most frequently occurring undesirable side-effect of a PCB is a bilateral spread of the injected local anaesthetics, resulting in epidural anaesthesia. It was previously thought that the occurrence of bilateral spread depended on the approach taken for a PCB. However, Gadsden and colleagues concluded that injection of a local anaesthetic with high injection pressure (.20 psi) during lumbar plexus block commonly results in unwanted bilateral block and is associated with high risk of neuraxial block. Mokini and colleagues did not describe any injection pressure or assessment of bilateral local anaesthetic spread resulting in an epidural anaesthesia in their patient(s). In theory, the suitabilityof the PCB as anaesthetic technique for inguinal hernia repair suggested by the authors could be erroneously attributed to unnoticed epidural anaesthesia. Finally, in a time of increased emphasis on patient safety, informationwithregardtosuccessrateorcomplicationrateofthis technique for inguinal surgery is needed. In that sense, some data with regard to the number of patients anaesthetized with this technique and the reliability of the result thereof would have been helpful. Until then, in our opinion, the lack of reliability regarding blocking dermatome L1, together with the fact that this technique probably does not anaesthetize manipulations of the spermatic cord and the peritoneum sac (also described by Mokini and colleagues), makes this technique unsuitable for most patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery.
Anionic Redox Activity as a Key Factor in the Performance Degradation of NaFeO2 Cathodes for Sodium Ion Batteries

The origin of the irreversible capacity of O3-type NaFeO2 charged to high voltage is investigated by analyzing the oxidation state of Fe and phase transition of layered NaFeO2 cathodes for sodium-ion batteries during the charging process. In-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy results revealed that charge compensation does not occur through the Fe3+/Fe4+ redox reaction during sodium extraction as no significant shift to high energy was observed in the Fe K-edge. These results were reinforced with ex-situ near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy, which suggests that oxygen redox activity is responsible for charge compensation. Formation of Fe3O4 product occurs because of oxygen release at high voltage when more than 0.5 Na is extracted from the structure; this is observed by transmission electron microscopy. NaFeO2 irreversibility is due to the formation of Fe3O4 with oxygen release, which inhibits Na insertion into the structure.