Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison of methods to determine the onset of the growing season in northern Nigeria

In the sudan savanna of northern Nigeria, with its semi‐arid climate, the ability to determine effectively or predict the start of actual productive rains cannot be overemphasized. Several methods exist for calculating the date of onset of the rains that may be taken as the start of the growing season. Five methods currently in use, which are relatively easy to apply on a large scale, were selected for comparison. One is a traditional technique (Ramadan method), two use accumulated rainfall totals (Walter's and Sivakumar's methods), and two use rainfall–evapotranspiration relationships (Kowal's and Benoit's methods). For the period 1961–91, the traditional technique performed most poorly. Walter's method gave quite early onsets and Sivakumar's method gave very late onsets, thereby seriously shortening the growing season. Kowal's and Benoit's determinations fell most often in between the results of Walter's and Sivakumar's methods in their performance. However, although generally to a lesser extent than the other methods, they are still significantly affected by false starts. To avoid incorrectly predicting the growing season's onset as far as possible, but to prevent an unacceptable shortening of the growing season, a combination of Kowal's and Sivakumar's criteria was used to develop an improved technique. This proved to work well for determining the onset date in the study area. However, because some false starts remain when using average onset dates, it is suggested that an operational advisory team should be constituted by the government. This team would be responsible for calculating onset dates in any year, on‐line for the ongoing season, in a participatory approach with farmers, and for disseminating such dates to the farmers. This could be done for any place for which the appropriate data can be made available. In the future, improved climate prediction skill may replace the classical probabilistic approaches presently suffering from increasing rainfall variabilities. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society.
Trauma and critical care II: abdominal trauma

The Intensivist is involved in the management of patients with abdominal trauma from their original presentation in the Emergency Department, where assessment of haemodynamic stability will influence the decision to opt for surgical, as opposed to conservative, treatment. Subsequently a large percentage of these patients, particularly those with blunt abdominal injuries, may require level 2 (HDU) or level 3 (ITU) care to monitor progress, correct any coagulopathy, maintain organ support and allow for early recognition of the major sequelae of such injuries. These include severe sepsis, trauma-related pancreatitis and the abdominal compartment syndrome. All are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, usually many days or weeks after admission. This article, in addition to reviewing some of the contributory factors involved in trauma-related coagulopathy, will discuss these sequelae and some of the concepts and strategies currently used in their management. It also includes an overview of therapies used in a critical care setting to maintain nutrition and renal homeostasis in the event of sequential organ failure.
An Introduction to Cylindric Set Algebras

These notes are a corrected and revised version of notes which accompanied lectures given at the Banach Center in the fall of 1991. The intent is to give a self-contained introduction to cylindric algebras from the concrete point of view. I hope that after reading this introduction the reader will be able to digest the basic works on this subject (Henkin, Monk, Tarski [19, 20] and Henkin, Monk, Tarski, Andréka, Németi [21]) more easily, and that even research articles in this area will be readable by one who studies these notes carefully. As the title indicates, we are mainly concerned with the topics in Henkin, Monk, Tarski, Andréka, Németi [21], which appears in a condensed form in Henkin, Monk, Tarski [20]. One of the frightening things about both of these books is that they begin with a mass of definitions and proceed with very detailed discussion of the interrelationships of the defined notions. We are going to introduce just a few of these definitions, little by little, giving important (but not highly technical) results about them as we go along. And we will try to motivate the notions from logic. See the end of these notes for indices of symbols and words. Cylindric algebras form the most developed form of algebraic logic. In general, algebraic logic is concerned with algebraic structures which correspond to logics of various sorts. Cylindric algebras correspond to ordinary first order logics and to certain straightforward modifications of these logics. Other algebraic structures have a similar relationship to first order logic; the most developed of these are relation algebras (in Tarski’s sense) and polyadic algebras. We will not be concerned with these, but the reader should be able to study them more easily after reading these notes. We will describe only the concrete aspect of cylindric algebras. The axiomatic version, fully developed in Henkin, Monk, Tarski [19], will play only a minor role. Also, we will not deal with applications. Such applications exist in several other fields, such as combinatorics and theoretical
Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point P6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting.

BACKGROUND Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common complications following surgery and anaesthesia. Drugs to prevent PONV are only partially effective. An alternative approach is to stimulate the P6 acupoint on the wrist. This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2004. OBJECTIVES To determine the efficacy and safety of P6 acupoint stimulation in preventing PONV. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2008), MEDLINE (January 1966 to September 2008), EMBASE (January 1988 to September 2008), ISI Web of Science (January 1965 to September 2008), the National Library of Medicine publication list of acupuncture studies, and reference lists of articles. SELECTION CRITERIA All randomized trials of techniques that stimulated the P6 acupoint compared with sham treatment or drug therapy for the prevention of PONV. Interventions used in these trials included acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, transcutaneous nerve stimulation, laser stimulation, capsicum plaster, an acu-stimulation device, and acupressure in patients undergoing surgery. Primary outcomes were the risks of nausea and vomiting. Secondary outcomes were the need for rescue antiemetic therapy and adverse effects. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted the data. We collected adverse effect information from the trials. We used a random-effects model and reported relative risk (RR) with associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). MAIN RESULTS We included 40 trials involving 4858 participants; four trials reported adequate allocation concealment. Twelve trials did not report all outcomes. Compared with sham treatment P6 acupoint stimulation significantly reduced: nausea (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.83); vomiting (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.83), and the need for rescue antiemetics (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.83). Heterogeneity among trials was moderate. There was no clear difference in the effectiveness of P6 acupoint stimulation for adults and children; or for invasive and noninvasive acupoint stimulation. There was no evidence of difference between P6 acupoint stimulation and antiemetic drugs in the risk of nausea (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.13), vomiting (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.31), or the need for rescue antiemetics (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.13). The side effects associated with P6 acupoint stimulation were minor. There was no evidence of publication bias from contour-enhanced funnel plots. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS P6 acupoint stimulation prevented PONV. There was no reliable evidence for differences in risks of postoperative nausea or vomiting after P6 acupoint stimulation compared to antiemetic drugs.
Nutritional support in children and young people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND Malnutrition can often be a consequence of cancer itself or a result of chemotherapy. Nutritional support aims to reverse malnutrition seen at diagnosis, prevent malnutrition associated with treatment and promote weight gain and growth. The most effective and safe forms of nutritional support in children and young people with cancer are unclear. OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of any form of parenteral (PN) or enteral (EN) nutritional support in children and young people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the following databases: CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2009, Issue 2), MEDLINE (1950 to 2006), EMBASE (1974 to 2006), CINAHL (1982 to 2006), the National Research Register (2007) and Dissertations & Theses (2007). We scrutinised reference lists of articles to identify additional trials. We also contacted experts in the field for information on relevant trials. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing any form of nutritional support with another, or control, in children or young people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently selected trials. Three authors independently assessed quality and extracted data. We contacted trialists for missing information. MAIN RESULTS We included eight trials which randomised 159 participants (< 21 years) with leukaemias or solid tumours undergoing chemotherapy. The trials were all of low quality. One small trial found that compared to EN, PN significantly increased weight (mean difference (MD) 4.12; 95% CI 1.91 to 6.33), serum albumin levels (MD 0.70; 95% CI 0.14 to 1.26), calorie intake (MD 22.00; 95% CI 5.12 to 38.88) and protein intake (MD 0.80; 95% CI 0.45 to 1.15). One trial comparing peripheral PN and EN with central PN found that mean daily weight gain (MD -27.00; 95% CI -43.32 to -10.68) and energy intakes (MD -15.00; 95% CI -26.81 to -3.19) were significantly less for the peripheral PN and EN group, whereas mean change in serum albumin was significantly greater for that group(MD 0.47; 95% CI 0.13 to 0.81, P = 0.008). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There is limited evidence from individual trials to suggest that parenteral nutrition is more effective than enteral nutrition in well-nourished children and young people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The evidence for other methods of nutritional support remains unclear. No studies were identified comparing the nutritional content in the PN or EN groups of studies. Further research, incorporating larger sample sizes and rigorous methodology utilising valid and reliable outcome measures, is essential.
A study of lung cancer in Johannesburg, South Africa

We investigated whether or not differences existed between black and white patients in Johannesburg with regard to the demographic and histological features of lung cancer. This was a retrospective case record review of patients with lung cancer, seen over seven years in the pulmonology units of three hospitals attached to the University of the Witwatersrand. Seven hundred and seventy-eight black and white patients were enrolled. Six hundred and thirty-two (77.4%) of these patients were known to have smoked. The white patients were older than the black patients [median age of 66 years (range of 32-92) vs. 57 years (range of 26-86), p-value < 0.001], and had significantly greater mean pack years of smoking (52.7 ± 21.7 vs. 21.7 ± 14.3, p-value < 0.001). [Pack years is the numerical value of lifetime exposure to cigarettes, calculated as follows: the number of cigarette smoked x years of exposure/20 (a pack of cigarettes usually has 20 cigarettes)]. Histological cell types of lung cancer were squamous cell carcinoma in 341 (43.8%), adenocarcinoma in 167 (21.5%), small cell carcinoma in 129 (16.6%) and large cell carcinoma in 68 (8.7%) of the cases. More white than black patients had small cell carcinoma (p-value 0.01). More black than white patients had large cell carcinoma (p-value 0.04). There were also differences between the genders within the two racial groups. There were significant differences in the demographics and histological features when lung cancer in black versus white patients was compared. Black patients were younger and smoked fewer cigarettes. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common cancer in all patients, except black females, in whom small cell carcinoma was more common.
New trends in vascular engineering

All cells and tissues in the organism are continually subjected to mechanical forces from various origins, ranging from a few Pascals (e.g., vascular wall shear stress) to mega-Pascals (e.g., hip cartilage) [20,54]. It is now accepted that these applied forces can modify cell and tissue behaviour by affecting metabolism, paracrine or autocrine factors, gene secretion and expression and so induce tissue remodeling. Such is the case with vascular tissue. So, from an identical genomic material, vascular cells differentiate and associate to form vessels whose composition and structural properties will be specifically adapted to their localisation and role. Adjustments occur in the course of growth or pathology, in response to hemodynamical, mechanical and/or metabolic changes [55]. Such adaptive changes may eventually be deleterious by inducing tissue remodeling, isolating cells from their surroundings and making them less sensitive to various stimulating signals. Major advances have been made in the last two years towards the understanding of these mechanisms and have led to a dynamic consideration of the arterial wall and to the advent of “vascular engineering” and the development of a new generation of vascular substitutes. After a reminder on vascular mechanics, this paper summarizes various arterial replacement alternatives.
Relaciones del Perfil Lipídico con Variables Dietéticas, Antropométricas, Bioquímicas, y Otros Factores de Riesgo Cardiovascular en Estudiantes Universitarios

Back­ground and obje­ctive­s­: It has b­een estimated that coronary heart disease, as well as other chronic diseases, has its origins in infancy and adolescence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in Costa Rican young students, the relation of anthropometric and b­iochemical parameters, fitness level and dietary composition to the serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides) Pop­ulation and me­thods­: A sample of 110 youths (59 female and 51 male) b­etween ages 17 and 20 years, were randomly selected from the total of new students that initiated at the University of Costa Rica in 1996. Pearson correlation coefficients were first used to evaluate associations b­etween the lipid profile and anthropometric, b­iochemical, dietetic and fitness parameters. A stepwise regression procedure was used to identify independent associations b­etween the variab­les. Re­s­ults­: Total serum cholesterol and LDL levels correlate positively and significantly (p<0.01) with percent b­ody fat and triglyceride levels. LDL was inversely associated with maximum oxygen consumption (p<0.05). Greater levels of triglycerides, uric acid, waist, b­ody mass index and B6 intake were significantly (p<0.05) associated with lower HDL concentrations. Approximately 50% (R2 = 0.459) of the cholesterol variab­ility is explained b­y sex, triglyceride, HDL, and potassium serum levels. Conclus­ions­: Since adolescence, sex and anthropometric variab­les like b­ody mass index, waist/hip relation and percent b­ody fat, presented the greater associations with lipid and lipoprotein serum levels. Also, maximum oxygen consumption, uric acid and potassium plasmatic levels, fib­er, B6, vitamin C and folic acid intake were significantly correlated with the lipid profile. Ke­y words­: Coronary disease, risk factors, b­lood cholesterol, diet, adolescence. Cuadro 4 Modelos de regresion multiple escalonada para los componentes del perfil lipidico. Universidad de Costa Rica, 1996 Variable R2 total Variables que Coeficiente ingresaron en el Beta modelo (p<0.05) Colesterol total 0.459 Trigliceridos 0.460 Sexo -0.419 HDL 0.205 Potasio serico 0.156 LDL 0.282 Sexo -0.466 Trigliceridos 0.216 Potasio serico 0.183 Log HDL 0.087 Cintura -0.250 B6 -0.196 Log Trigliceridos 0.176 LDL 0.334 IMC 0.246 B6 0.206 Para construir los modelos se tomaron en cuenta todos los parametros incluidos en el Cuadro 1, a excepcion de las calorias totales ingeridas, los niveles de LDL para el colesterol y los niveles de colesterol para LDL, HDL y trigliceridos. Pe­rfi­l li­p­idi­co e­n e­studi­a­nte­s/ Ula­te­ M e­t a­l
Psychological and educational interventions for preventing depression in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND Depression is common in young people, has a marked negative impact and is associated with self-harm and suicide. Preventing its onset would be an important advance in public health. OBJECTIVES To determine whether psychological or educational interventions, or both, are effective in preventing the onset of depressive disorder in children and adolescents. SEARCH METHODS The Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Review Group's trials registers (CCDANCTR) were searched at the editorial base in July 2010. Update searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and ERIC were conducted by the authors in September 2009. Conference abstracts, reference lists of included studies and reviews were searched and experts in the field contacted. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials of psychological or educational prevention programmes, or both, compared with placebo, any comparison intervention, or no intervention for young people aged 5 to 19 years-old, who did not currently meet diagnostic criteria for depression or who were below the clinical range on standardised, validated, and reliable rating scales of depression, or both, were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently assessed studies for inclusion and rated their quality. Sample sizes were adjusted to take account of cluster designs and multiple comparisons. We contacted study authors for additional information where needed. MAIN RESULTS Fifty-three studies including 14,406 participants were included in the analysis. There were only six studies with clear allocation concealment, participants and assessors were mostly not blind to the intervention or blinding was unclear so that the overall risk of bias was moderately high. Sixteen studies including 3240 participants reported outcomes on depressive diagnosis. The risk of having a depressive disorder post-intervention was reduced immediately compared with no intervention (15 studies; 3115 participants risk difference (RD) -0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.14 to -0.05; P<0.0003), at three to nine months (14 studies; 1842 participants; RD -0.11; 95% CI -0.16 to -0.06) and at 12 months (10 studies; 1750 participants; RD -0.06; 95% CI -0.11 to -0.01). There was no evidence for continued efficacy at 24 months (eight studies; 2084 participant; RD -0.01; 95% CI -0.04 to 0.03) but limited evidence of efficacy at 36 months (two studies; 464 participants; RD -0.10; 95% CI -0.19 to -0.02). There was significant heterogeneity in all these findings. There was no evidence of efficacy in the few studies that compared intervention with placebo or attention controls. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There is some evidence from this review that targeted and universal depression prevention programmes may prevent the onset of depressive disorders compared with no intervention. However, allocation concealment is unclear in most studies, and there is heterogeneity in the findings. The persistence of findings suggests that this is real and not a placebo effect.
Treatments for gestational diabetes.

BACKGROUND Gestational diabetes (GDM) affects 3% to 6% of all pregnancies. Women are often intensively managed with increased obstetric monitoring, dietary regulation, and insulin. However, there has been no sound evidence base to support intensive treatment. The key issue for clinicians and consumers is whether treatment of GDM improves perinatal outcome. OBJECTIVES To compare the effect of alternative treatment policies for GDM on both maternal and infant outcomes. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (January 2009) and bibliographies of relevant papers. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials comparing alternative management strategies for women with GDM and impaired glucose tolerance in pregnancy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors and a member of the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's editorial team extracted and checked data independently. Disagreements were resolved through discussion with the third author. MAIN RESULTS Eight randomised controlled trials (1418 women) were included.Caesarean section rate was not significantly different when comparing any specific treatment with routine antenatal care (ANC) including data from five trials with 1255 participants (risk ratio (RR) 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80 to 1.12). However, when comparing oral hypoglycaemics with insulin as treatment for GDM, there was a significant reduction (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.77, two trials, 90 participants). There was a reduction in the risk of pre-eclampsia with intensive treatment (including dietary advice and insulin) compared to routine ANC (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.88, one trial, 1000 participants). More women had their labours induced when given specific treatment compared to routine ANC (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.57, two trials, 1068 participants). The composite outcome of perinatal morbidity (death, shoulder dystocia, bone fracture and nerve palsy) was significantly reduced for those receiving intensive treatment for mild GDM compared to routine ANC (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.73, one trial, 1030 infants). There was a reduction in the proportion of infants weighing more than 4000 grams (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.63, one trial, 1030 infants) and the proportion of infants weighing greater than the 90th birth centile (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.99, three trials, 223 infants) of mothers receiving specific treatment for GDM compared to routine ANC. However, there was no statistically significant difference in this proportion between infants of mothers receiving oral drugs compared to insulin as treatment for GDM. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Specific treatment including dietary advice and insulin for mild GDM reduces the risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity. However, it is associated with higher risk of labour induction. More research is needed to assess the impact of different types of intensive treatment, including oral drugs and insulin, on individual short- and long-term infant outcomes.