Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Timolol Maleate on Subjective and Physiological Components of Air Travel Phobia

Twenty-one monophobic patients with moderately severe fear of flying were exposed to two 40 minute challenge flights after taking either Timolol 20mg/day or placebo. Heart rate, blood pressure, subjective ratings of anxiety, fear and palpitation and Hamilton Anxiety Scale ratings were made at the predetermined assessment intervals. Post-treatment global ratings of improvement were provided by patients and the attending psychiatrist. Results showed that heart rate significantly increased from baseline with placebo while Timolol successfully inhibited tachycardia during the challenge flights. Subjective ratings of anxiety, fear and palpitations did not show any drug group differences. These variables, however, showed a nonsignificant decrease from outgoing to return flight assessments after an initial significant increase from baseline scores. Hamilton Anxiety Scale ratings showed a significant decrease from baseline to post-treatment assessments, irrespective of drug group. Global improvement ratings revealed no significant differences between drug groups. Overall ratings by the psychiatrist were generally more positive than patients’ ratings, with the difference between the two sources of assessment reaching significance only in the placebo group. Disregarding group membership, heart rate was positively and significantly correlated with subjective ratings of fear, but not with palpitations or ratings of overall anxiety.
Month of Conception and Learning Disabilities: A Record-Linkage Study of 801,592 Children.

Learning disabilities have profound, long-lasting health sequelae. Affected children born over the course of 1 year in the United States of America generated an estimated lifetime cost of $51.2 billion. Results from some studies have suggested that autistic spectrum disorder may vary by season of birth, but there have been few studies in which investigators examined whether this is also true of other causes of learning disabilities. We undertook Scotland-wide record linkage of education (annual pupil census) and maternity (Scottish Morbidity Record 02) databases for 801,592 singleton children attending Scottish schools in 2006-2011. We modeled monthly rates using principal sine and cosine transformations of the month number and demonstrated cyclicity in the percentage of children with special educational needs. Rates were highest among children conceived in the first quarter of the year (January-March) and lowest among those conceived in the third (July-September) (8.9% vs 7.6%; P < 0.001). Seasonal variations were specific to autistic spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, and learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia) and were absent for sensory or motor/physical impairments and mental, physical, or communication problems. Seasonality accounted for 11.4% (95% confidence interval: 9.0, 13.7) of all cases. Some biologically plausible causes of this variation, such as infection and maternal vitamin D levels, are potentially amendable to intervention.
Convergence of Multiple Autophagy and Cytoplasm to Vacuole Targeting Components to a Perivacuolar Membrane Compartment Prior tode Novo Vesicle Formation*

Under starvation conditions, the majority of intracellular degradation occurs at the lysosome or vacuole by the autophagy pathway. The cytoplasmic substrates destined for degradation are packaged inside unique double-membrane transport vesicles called autophagosomes and are targeted to the lysosome/vacuole for subsequent breakdown and recycling. Genetic analyses of yeast autophagy mutants,apg and aut, have begun to identify the molecular machinery as well as indicate a substantial overlap with the biosynthetic cytoplasm to vacuole targeting (Cvt) pathway. Transport vesicle formation is a key regulatory step of both pathways. In this study, we characterize the putative compartment from which both autophagosomes and the analogous Cvt vesicles may originate. Microscopy analyses identified a perivacuolar membrane as the resident compartment for both the Apg1-Cvt9 signaling complex, which mediates the switching between autophagic and Cvt transport, and the autophagy/Cvt-specific phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex. Furthermore, the perivacuolar compartment designates the initial site of membrane binding by the Apg/Cvt vesicle component Aut7, the Cvt cargo receptor Cvt19, and the Apg conjugation machinery, which functions in the de novoformation of vesicles. Biochemical isolation of the vesicle component Aut7 and density gradient analyses recapitulate the microscopy findings although also supporting the paradigm that components required for vesicle formation and packaging concentrate at subdomains within the donor membrane compartment.
Range of Normal Neutrophil Counts in Healthy Zimbabwean Infants: Implications for Monitoring Antiretroviral Drug Toxicity

Summary: Mother-to-child HIV prevention trials in sub-Saharan Africa use the US National Institutes of Health Division of AIDS (DAIDS) grading scale to monitor hematologic toxicity. A recent study of nevirapine prophylaxis given for 6 months in breast-feeding Zimbabwean infants reported several cases of relative neutropenia in clinically well infants, raising concerns of drug toxicity. However, the DAIDS tables are based on normal blood counts for white infants, although there is evidence that black African infants may have lower absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) than white infants. To establish normal hematologic values in black Zimbabwean infants and to quantify the apparent prevalence of relative neutropenia in this population, we evaluated HIV-uninfected healthy infants born to HIV-uninfected women at birth, 10 days, 6 weeks, 3, and 4 months of life. A physical examination and blood count were performed at each visit, and an HIV test was performed at the final visit. The ANC values were graded using the DAIDS table. A total of 145 healthy term infants satisfied the inclusion criteria. The mean ANC values for Zimbabwean infants were less than half of the corresponding standard values at all 5 time points (P < 0.0001). Using the DAIDS table in use at the time that the blood was collected, 57% of these healthy infants had relative neutropenia of any grade at birth, followed by 29% at day 10, 53% at 6 weeks, 32% at 3 months, and 37% at 4 months of life. Our data indicate that relative neutropenia exists in healthy black Zimbabwean infants. The guidelines for identifying toxicity were changed in December 2004. However, even by the new DAIDS tables, 43%, 23%, 24%, 42%, and 43% of these healthy babies had relative neutropenia at the time of the 5 visits. Future HIV prevention and treatment trials in sub-Saharan Africa should use normal hematologic values derived from African infants to avoid the overestimation of antiretroviral drug toxicity.
The Negative Influence of Mass Media on the Youth's Ideological and Political Education

In modern societies,the mass media is an important carrier of Youth's ideological and political education,they induced the youth's value orientations and the formation of behavior.This article's introduction to the mass media and ideological and political education,this paper analysis of the negative influence of mass media on the young people's ideological and political education.Besides,it puts forward some effective measures to enhance the effectiveness o f ideological and political education of college students.
Competitiveness in the sawmills and wood preservation industry in the United States and Canada

We examine relative prices, relative productivity levels, and competitiveness in the sawmills and wood preservation industry in the United States and Canada between 1958 and 2003 by using purchasing power parities and bilateral translog production function. Our results show that the competitiveness of the Canadian industry is facilitated by higher relative productivity levels and depreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar on both inputs and outputs in earlier periods, and only due to depreciation of the Canadian dollar in later periods. The average annual rate of productivity growth was higher for the US industry. Although Canadian relative productivity levels were higher before 1994, the US industry’s relative productivity level eventually surpassed the Canadian industry. FOR. SCI. 52(4):340–352.
Reaching black men who have sex with men: a comparison between respondent-driven sampling and time-location sampling

Objectives The authors explored whether respondent-driven sampling (RDS) can generate a more diverse sample of black men who have sex with men (MSM) than time-location sampling (TLS) by comparing sample characteristics accrued by each method in two independent studies. Methods The first study exclusively recruited black MSM through RDS (N=256), while the second recruited MSM through TLS including a subsample of black MSM (N=69). Crude and adjusted point estimates and 95% CIs were calculated for socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics, HIV prevalence and prevalence of unrecognised infections, and were compared using the Z-test. Results The samples differed significantly regarding all socio-demographic and some behavioural characteristics. Compared with TLS, RDS estimated higher proportions of older, less educated, poorer, currently homeless and self-identified bisexual black MSM. Participants in RDS were less likely to have a main partner, had fewer male partners, were more likely to have a female partner and have both male and female partners, and reported greater methamphetamine, crack and heroin use. Prevalence of HIV and unrecognised infections were slightly higher among RDS participants. Conclusions The RDS sample comprised black MSM who were more diverse with respect to socio-demographic characteristics and may also be at higher risk for HIV. Thus, RDS has advantages in reaching higher risk black MSM who are most hidden from intervention research and service delivery. Future studies of black MSM using RDS could use steering strategies to recruit younger participants and other subgroups of greatest interest to public health and prevention.
Subsyndromal depressive symptoms are associated with functional impairment in patients with bipolar disorder: results of a large, multisite study.

OBJECTIVE Studies of patients with unipolar depression have demonstrated a relationship between subthreshold depressive symptoms and impairment in role functioning. Research examining this relationship in persons with bipolar disorder is rare. This study sought to evaluate the association between subsyndromal depressive symptoms and role functioning in subjects with bipolar disorder. METHOD 759 adult outpatients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder were entered into this study at 7 different sites in the Stanley Foundation Bipolar Network (SFBN) beginning in March 1996 and ending in November 2002 and were followed longitudinally for assessment of their course of illness. Subsyndromal depression was operationalized using cutoff scores on the Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology-Clinician Rated (IDS-C), and patients were divided into 3 groups: not depressed (IDS-C score < 13), subsyndromally depressed (IDS-C score 13 to 27), and syndromally depressed (IDS-C score >or= 28). Groups were compared using a series of chi(2) analyses on degree of role function impairment across 4 role domains (work, home duties, family life, and friendships) from the Life Functioning Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to estimate the probability of any impairment in life functioning based on severity of depressive symptoms. RESULTS Subsyndromally depressed patients were significantly more likely than those not depressed to report impairment in their work and home functioning roles, as well as impairment in relations with family and friends (p < .001). Across all domains of role function, the proportion of patients impaired in the subsyndromally depressed group was more similar to the syndromally depressed group than to the not depressed group. CONCLUSIONS These findings clearly demonstrate the public health significance of subsyndromal depression in the bipolar population. The most appropriate interventions for subsyndromal depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder remain to be determined.
Inheritance of strabismus and the gain of using heredity to determine populations at risk of developing strabismus.

PURPOSE In the Nordic countries 2 to 4% of the population squint or have been squinting. Since strabismus is one of the major causes of amblyopia early detection and treatment is important for preventing this development. For centuries it has been recognized that strabismus is hereditary. Identifying individuals with a family history of squinting could give access to a risk population for a selective screening. METHODS AND RESULTS 1,571 children were selected for this study. All children that took part in a voluntary eye examination at one year of age (born 1978-1983) in the city of Vasteras, Sweden and that had a family history of strabismus were selected together with controls. The study was a 6-year follow-up from 1 to 7 years of age. Parental knowledge of squint among relatives and measured high hyperopia (>3.0 D) present at 1 year of age were each and in combination evaluated as a risk indicator for development of strabismus between 1 to 7 years of age. CONCLUSION The study indicates that a family history of squint in combination with measured high hyperopia can be used in a selective screening to identify a population with an increased risk of 4 to 6 times for developing strabismus. Among the children with parental knowledge of squint among several relatives of both the parents, those with high hyperopia developed strabismus in almost every second case while this was the case in only approximately 10% of those with low hyperopia. Finally, heredity is an important risk indicator that can be used for selective screening purpose. Its potential as a risk indicator is substantially increased when combined with a high hyperopia.
Record Q symmetrical inductors for 10-GHz LC-VCOs in 0.18-μm gate-length CMOS

We report a single-loop inductor suitable for integration in a differential voltage-controlled oscillator (LC-VCO) with 0.6-nH inductance and record quality factors of 18 at 10 GHz and 20 at 15 GHz fabricated in an industrial CMOS process on a 10 /spl Omega/cm substrate. A new lumped element model which accurately describes the inductor performance without the need for frequency-dependent elements is presented. During the course of this work, we found that a patterned ground shield significantly improves the inductor performance at these frequencies, but only when the polysilicon bars are connected from the center of the inductor.
Sampling Efficiency and Performance of Selected Thoracic Aerosol Samplers

Measurement of worker exposure to a thoracic health-related aerosol fraction is necessary in a number of occupational situations. This is the case of workplaces with atmospheres polluted by fibrous particles, such as cotton dust or asbestos, and by particles inducing irritation or bronchoconstriction such as acid mists or flour dust. Three personal and two static thoracic aerosol samplers were tested under laboratory conditions. Sampling efficiency with respect to particle aerodynamic diameter was measured in a horizontal low wind tunnel and in a vertical calm air chamber. Sampling performance was evaluated against conventional thoracic penetration. Three of the tested samplers performed well, when sampling the thoracic aerosol at nominal flow rate and two others performed well at optimized flow rate. The limit of flow rate optimization was found when using cyclone samplers.
Shadow Based On-Road Vehicle Detection and Verification Using HAAR Wavelet Packet Transform

The paper describes a novel, approach for an on road vehicle detection system with the view of driving assistance. The presented technique generates the initial hypothesis by detecting the shadows projected by vehicles on the road surface. The results of detection are then verified using the Haar wavelet packet transform. The verification step compares the standard deviations of the best basis vector of the hypothesized vehicle with pre-computed feature vector of similar values for different vehicular structures. Experimental results confirm the validity of the presented approach in different lightening conditions and scenarios. The presented technique is capable of detecting vehicles at twelve frames per sec which makes it ideal for real time pre-crash sensing.
Risk of injury associated with rugby union played on artificial turf

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the incidence, nature, and cause of injuries sustained in rugby union played on artificial turf and grass. The study comprised a two-season investigation of match injuries sustained by six teams competing in Hong Kong's Division 1 and training injuries sustained by two teams in the English Premiership. Injury definitions and recording procedures were compliant with the international consensus statement on epidemiological studies of injuries in rugby union. There were no significant differences in the overall incidence (rate ratio = 1.42; P = 0.134) or severity (P = 0.620) of match injuries sustained on the two surfaces. The lower limb and joint (non-bone)/ligament injuries were the most common location and type of match injury on both surfaces; the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries was nearly four times higher on artificial turf than grass but the difference was not statistically significant (rate ratio = 3.82; P = 0.222). There were no significant differences in the overall incidence (rate ratio = 1.36; P = 0.204) or severity (P = 0.302) of training injuries sustained on artificial turf and grass. The lower limb and muscle/tendon injuries were the most common location and type of training injury on both surfaces. The results indicate that the overall risks of injury on artificial turf are not significantly different from those experienced on grass; however, the difference in the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries on the two surfaces is worthy of further study.
BIOSORPTION OF HEAVY METALS FROM LANDFILL LEACHATE ONTO ACTIVATED SLUDGE

The removal of various heavy metals was studied when activated sludge was exposed to heavy metals in landfill leachate. Batch uptake tests were conducted for this purpose. Adsorption was the main mechanism of removal when biomass was contacted with heavy metals. Activated sludge had a high biosorption capacity and equilibrium was reached in a short time with respect to copper, iron, manganese, zinc and chromium. Adsorption isotherms were generated for those heavy metals and the Freundlich constants were calculated. Among the metals studied, manganese became very concentrated on activated sludge with time.
Apoptosis Induced by Staphylococcus aureus in Epithelial Cells Utilizes a Mechanism Involving Caspases 8 and 3

ABSTRACT In this study, we demonstrate that the mechanism by whichStaphylococcus aureus induces apoptosis in bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cells involves caspases 8 and 3, two key components of a proteolytic cascade leading to apoptosis. In addition, internalized S. aureus induces expression of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1β by MAC-T cells. These data suggest that the internalization of S. aureus could induce specific cellular responses in vivo that may ultimately impact the course of infection.
Analysis of psychoemotional state and intellectual abilities in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--preliminary results.

BACKGROUND In the literature we can find examples of comorbidity of the diseases of the respiratory tract and mental disorders. Among them a particularly significant position is occupied by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, which may be accompanied by anxiety, depressive and cognitive symptoms. The present research project was aimed to establish a connection between psycho-intellectual functioning and suffering from the aforementioned diseases. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The patients were divided into 3 groups. In the asthma group there were 11 people, mean age 54, who met the GINA criteria for asthma. The group of patients with COPD was formed by 12 people, mean age 67. The control group included 13 people, mean age 48. Patients from all the groups underwent spirometry, sputum induction and the following tests: Mini-Mental State Examination (MSSE), Trail Making Test (TMT A and B), Beck Depression Inventory - BDI (Beck et al. 1961) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults - STAI 1 and 2. RESULTS In the TMT tests results were the following: We can presume some deficiency when the time required by a patient to complete the task is longer than 78 seconds for Part A and 273 seconds for Part B. In our research the best mean time was obtained in control group (Part A - 30.04 s, Part B - 67.37 s), then in the asthma group (Part A - 35.54 s, Part B - 98.81 s) and in the COPD group (Part A - 42.80 s, Part B - 107.79 s). In our research study the lowest score for the Beck Depression Inventory was obtained in the control group (mean 6.15), then in asthma (mean 9.63) and in COPD (mean 13.61). Results for State-Train Anxiety Inventory were distributed as follows: mean score in the asthma group was 36.48 in Part 1 and 43.27 in Part 2, in the COPD group 36.41 in Part 1 and 42.66 in Part 2 and in the control group 32.61 in Part 1 and 36.75 in Part 2. CONCLUSIONS In our research the level of anxiety and depression measured by self-assessment questionnaires was higher in the study groups than in the control group. Also cognitive functions were worse than in the healthy controls, especially among COPD patients.
Aspirin use and the risk of prostate cancer mortality in men treated with prostatectomy or radiotherapy.

PURPOSE Experimental evidence suggests that anticoagulants (ACs) may inhibit cancer growth and metastasis, but clinical data have been limited. We investigated whether use of ACs was associated with the risk of death from prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study comprised 5,955 men in the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor database with localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiotherapy (RT). Of them, 2,175 (37%) were receiving ACs (warfarin, clopidogrel, enoxaparin, and/or aspirin). The risk of prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) was compared between the AC and non-AC groups. RESULTS After a median follow-up of 70 months, risk of PCSM was significantly lower in the AC group compared with the non-AC group (3% v 8% at 10 years; P < .01). The risks of disease recurrence and bone metastasis were also significantly lower. In a subgroup analysis by clinical risk category, the reduction in PCSM was most prominent in patients with high-risk disease (4% v 19% at 10 years; P < .01). The benefit from AC was present across treatment modalities (RT or RP). Analysis by type of AC medication suggested that the PCSM reduction was primarily associated with aspirin. Multivariable analysis indicated that aspirin use was independently associated with a lower risk of PCSM (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.87; P = .02). CONCLUSION AC therapy, particularly aspirin, was associated with a reduced risk of PCSM in men treated with RT or RP for prostate cancer. The association was most prominent in patients with high-risk disease.