Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of a mail-mediated intervention on exercise behavior

approved: Vicki Ebbeck Sell-determination theory suggests that social contexts that promote a sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness will increase internalization of behavioral regulation and lead to more self-determined forms of motivation, the prototype of which is intrinsic motivation. A positive relationship between internalization of exercise behavior regulation and actual levels of exercise has been supported in the exercise domain, however the manipulation of social contexts to elicit greater internalization of exercise behavior regulation has received little attention. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a mail-mediated intervention, designed to promote perceptions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, on exercise behavior in adults. Additionally, this study examined the effect of a booster postcard that emphasized the main points of the initial intervention on the continuance of exercise behavior. Participants were 185 adults initially classified in the preparation stage of exercise behavior. Participants were randomly divided into intervention only (NT), intervention plus booster (INTB), and control (CONT) groups. Both intervention groups received a four-page intervention packet of printed materials, while the control group received an Redacted for Privacy American Heart Association physical activity and health facts packet of similar length. After 1 month, the INTB group received a booster postcard that emphasized the focal points of the initial intervention packet. All participants completed selfreport measures of perceptions of autonomy, perceptions of competence, perceptions of relatedness, exercise behavior regulation, and exercise behavior at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months. One hundred twenty-six participants completed questionnaires at all three time periods. A 3 (INT/INTB/CONT) X 2 (male/female) X 3 (baseline/i month/2 months) repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that all three groups significantly increased exercise behavior over the 2-month period, however no significant interactions were detected. A 3 (INT/NTB/CONT) X 2 (male/female) X 3 (baseline/I month/2 months) repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance conducted for perceptions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, revealed no significant interactions. Structural equation modeling techniques used to examine the pattern of theoretical relationships among variables did not support the pattern of relationships suggested by self-determination theory, but rather suggested that perceptions of competence mediated the relationship between selfdetermined exercise motivation and exercise behavior. ©Copyright by Susan S. Levy August 2, 2001 All Rights Reserved The Effect of a Mail-Mediated Intervention on Exercise Behavior
Generation and Analysis of GluR5(Q636R) Kainate Receptor Mutant Mice

The physiological significance of RNA editing of transcripts that code for kainate-preferring glutamate receptor subunits is unknown, despite the fact that the functional consequences of this molecular modification have been well characterized in cloned receptor subunits. RNA editing of the codon that encodes the glutamine/arginine (Q/R) site in the second membrane domain (MD2) of glutamate receptor 5 (GluR5) and GluR6 kainate receptor subunits produces receptors with reduced calcium permeabilities and single-channel conductances. Approximately 50% of the GluR5 subunit transcripts from adult rat brain are edited at the Q/R site in MD2. To address the role of glutamate receptor mRNA editing in the brain, we have made two strains of mice with mutations at amino acid 636, the Q/R-editing site in GluR5, using embryonic stem cell–mediated transgenesis. GluR5(RloxP/RloxP) mice encode an arginine at the Q/R site of the GluR5 subunit, whereas GluR5(wtloxP/wtloxP) mice encode a glutamine at this site, similar to wild-type mice. Mutant animals do not exhibit developmental abnormalities, nor do they show deficits in the behavioral paradigms tested in this study. Kainate receptor current densities were reduced by a factor of six in acutely isolated sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia from GluR5(RloxP/RloxP) mice compared with neurons from wild-type mice. However, the editing mutant mice did not exhibit altered responses to thermal and chemical pain stimuli. Our investigations with the GluR5-editing mutant mice have therefore defined a set of physiological processes in which editing of the GluR5 subunit is unlikely to play an important role.
Expression of adrenomedullin in human colorectal tumors and its role in cell growth and invasion in vitro and in xenograft growth in vivo

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a multifunctional peptide vasodilator that transduces its effects through calcitonin receptor‐like receptor/receptor activity‐modifying protein‐2 and ‐3 (CLR/RAMP2 and CLR/RAMP3). In this study, real‐time quantitative reverse transcription demonstrated a significant expression of AM mRNA in tumor samples from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in clinical stage II, III, and IV when compared with normal colorectal tissue. AM, CLR, RAMP2, and RAMP3 proteins were immunohistochemically localized in the carcinomatous epithelial compartment of CRC tissue. Tissue microarray analysis revealed a clear increase of AM, CLR, RAMP2, and RAMP3 staining in lymph node and distant metastasis when compared with primary tumors. The human colon carcinoma cells HT‐29 expressed and secreted AM into the culture medium with a significant increase under hypoxia. Treatment of HT‐29 cells with synthetic AM stimulated cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. Incubation with anti‐AM antibody (αAM), anti‐AM receptors antibodies (αAMR), or AM antagonist AM22–52 inhibited significantly basal levels of proliferation of HT‐29 cells, suggesting that AM may function as an autocrine growth factor for CRC cells. Treatment with αAM significantly suppressed the growth of HT‐29 tumor xenografts in vivo. Histological examination of αAM‐treated tumors showed evidence of disruption of tumor vascularity with decreased microvessel density, depletion of endothelial cells and pericytes, and increased tumor cell apoptosis. These findings highlight the potential importance of AM and its receptors in the progression of CRC and support the conclusion that αAM treatment inhibits tumor growth by suppression of angiogenesis and tumor growth, suggesting that AM may be a useful therapeutic target.
Differential activation of amygdala, dorsal and ventral hippocampus following an exposure to a reminder of underwater trauma

Recollection of emotional memories is attributed in part to the activation of the amygdala and the hippocampus. Recent hypothesis suggests a pivotal role for the ventral hippocampus (VH) in traumatic stress processing and emotional memory retrieval. Persistent re-experiencing and intrusive recollections are core symptoms in acute and posttraumatic stress disorders (ASD; PTSD). Such intrusive recollections are often triggered by reminders associated with the trauma. We examined the impact of exposure to a trauma reminder (under water trauma (UWT)) on the activation of the basolateral amygdala (BLA), dorsal and VH. Rats were exposed to UWT and 24 h later were re-exposed to the context of the trauma. Phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was used as a marker for level of activation of these regions. Significant increase in ERK activation was found in the VH and BLA. Such pattern of activation was not found in animals exposed only to the trauma or in animals exposed only to the trauma reminder. Additionally, the dissociative pattern of activation of the VH sub-regions positively correlated with the activation of the BLA. Our findings suggest a specific pattern of neural activation during recollection of a trauma reminder, with a unique contribution of the VH. Measured 24 h after the exposure to the traumatic experience, the current findings relate to relatively early stages of traumatic memory consolidation. Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying these initial stages may contribute to developing intervention strategies that could reduce the risk of eventually developing PTSD.
Induction of Cardiogenesis in Embryonic Stem Cells via Downregulation of Notch1 Signaling

Embryonic stem cells represent an attractive source of cardiomyocytes for cell-replacement therapies. However, before embryonic stem cells can be successfully used for the treatment of cardiac diseases, the precise molecular mechanisms that underlie their cardiogenic differentiation must be identified. A network of intrinsic and extrinsic factors regulates embryonic stem cell self-renewal and differentiation into a variety of different cell lineages. Here, we show that Notch signaling takes place in some but not all embryonic stem cells and that the Notch pathway is shut down during the course of differentiation concomitantly with downregulation of Notch receptor and ligand expression. Moreover, gain- and loss-of-function experiments for Notch signaling components show that this pathway is a crucial regulator of cardiomyocyte differentiation within ES cells. Differentiation of ES cells into cardiomyocytes is favored by inactivation of the Notch1 receptor, whereas endogenous Notch signaling promotes differentiation of ES cells into the neuronal lineage. We conclude that Notch signaling influences the cell fate decision between mesodermal and the neuroectodermal cell fates during embryonic stem cell differentiation. These findings should help to optimize the production of specific cell types via modulation of the Notch pathways and, in particular, to improve the production of embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.
Prevalence and clinical characteristics of glaucoma in adult Chinese: a population-based study in Liwan District, Guangzhou.

PURPOSE To assess the prevalence and mechanism of glaucoma in adults living in an urban area of southern China. METHODS Random clustering sampling was used to identify adults aged 50 years and over in Liwan District, Guangzhou. Glaucoma was diagnosed with the ISGEO (International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology) classification scheme. All subjects underwent gonioscopy. RESULTS In the study, 1504 subjects (75.3% participation rate) were examined, with a crude prevalence of all glaucoma of 3.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8%-4.8%). Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) was found in 2.1% (95% CI, 1.4%-2.8%) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) in 1.5% (95% CI, 0.8%-2.1%). The prevalence of all glaucoma was significantly higher in older people and men. CONCLUSIONS POAG was more common than PACG in this southern Chinese population, with rates similar to those reported in Chinese Singaporeans. The age-adjusted rate of POAG was similar to that found in European-derived populations, but PACG was more common among Chinese, indicating that there is a large burden of glaucoma in the Chinese people.
Sequence Variation among Group III F-Specific RNA Coliphages from Water Samples and Swine Lagoons

ABSTRACT Typing of F-specific RNA (FRNA) coliphages has been proposed as a useful method for distinguishing human from animal fecal contamination in environmental samples. Group II and III FRNA coliphages are generally associated with human wastes, but several exceptions have been noted. In the present study, we have genotyped and partially sequenced group III FRNA coliphage field isolates from swine lagoons in North Carolina (NC) and South Carolina (SC), along with isolates from surface waters and municipal wastewaters. Phylogenetic analysis of a region of the 5′ end of the maturation protein gene revealed two genetically different group III FRNA subclusters with 36.6% sequence variation. The SC swine lagoon isolates were more closely related to group III prototype virus M11, whereas the isolates from a swine lagoon in NC, surface waters, and wastewaters grouped with prototype virus Q-beta. These results suggest that refining phage genotyping systems to discriminate M11-like phages from Q-beta-like phages would not necessarily provide greater discriminatory power in distinguishing human from animal sources of pollution. Within the group III subclusters, nucleotide sequence diversity ranged from 0% to 6.9% for M11-like strains and from 0% to 8.7% for Q-beta-like strains. It is demonstrated here that nucleotide sequencing of closely related FRNA strains can be used to help track sources of contamination in surface waters. A similar use of phage genomic sequence information to track fecal pollution promises more reliable results than phage typing by nucleic acid hybridization and may hold more potential for field applications.
Fruit and vegetable consumption and prevention of cancer: the Black Churches United for Better Health project.

OBJECTIVES This study assessed the effects of the Black Churches United for Better Health project on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among rural African American church members in North Carolina. METHODS Ten counties comprising 50 churches were pair matched and randomly assigned to either intervention or delayed intervention (no program until after the follow-up survey) conditions. A multicomponent intervention was conducted over approximately 20 months. A total of 2519 adults (77.3% response rate) completed both the baseline and 2-year follow-up interviews. RESULTS The 2 study groups consumed similar amounts of fruits and vegetables at baseline. AT the 2-year follow-up, the intervention group consumed 0.85 (SE = 0.12) servings more than the delayed intervention group (P < .0001). The largest increases were observed among people 66 years or older (1 serving), those with education beyond high school (0.92 servings), those widowed or divorced (0.96 servings), and those attending church frequently (1.3 servings). The last improvement occurred among those aged 18 to 37 years and those who were single. CONCLUSIONS The project was a successful model for achieving dietary change among rural African Americans.
Nonorthogonal joint diagonalization of spatial quadratic time-frequency matrices for source separation

The separation problem of an instantaneous mixture of deterministic or random source signals is addressed. We show that the separation can be realized through the nonorthogonal joint diagonalization of spatial quadratic time-frequency matrices. One advantage of the proposed method is that it does not require any whitening stage, and thus, it is intended to work even with a class of correlated signals. We also propose a general automatic time-frequency point selection procedure for the determination of the above matrices to be joint diagonalized. An analytical example and computer simulations are provided in order to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach and to compare it with classical ones.
Die Frage der Gleichwertigkeit von allgemeiner und beruflicher Bildung in Japan und Deutschland im Vergleich

Die Frage der Gleichwertigkeit von allgemeiner und beruflicher Bildung gewinnt nicht nur in Deutschland, sondern auch im internationalen Kontext an Bedeutung. In [dem] Beitrag werden die Notwendigkeiten fur die Auseinandersetzung mit diesem Thema skizziert und anschliesend ein komparatives Indikatorenmodell zur Analyse der Gleichwertigkeit in verschiedenen Landern entwickelt sowie allgemeine Begrundungsmuster fur eine eventuell notwendige Gleichwertigkeit benannt. Danach wird das Modell fur die beiden Industrielander Deutschland und Japan, das in diesem Kontext bisher geringe Beachtung erfahren hat, zur Anwendung gebracht und werden landesspezifische sowie abschliesend komparative Schlussfolgerungen gezogen. (DIPF/Orig.) The question of the equality of status of general and vocational education (parity of esteern) is gaining in importance not only in the German context, but also internationally. The authors sketch the need for dealing with this issue and develop a comparative model of indicators for the analysis of the equality of status of the two spheres in different countries as well as general patterns of reasoning in favor of a possibly required equality. This model is then applied to the two industrial countries of Germany and Japan, the latter of which has, in this context, hardly received any attention until now. In a final step, country-specific as well as comparative conclusions are outlined. (DIPF/Orig.)
Gut Microbiota as a Target in the Pathogenesis of Metabolic Disorders: A New Approach to Novel Therapeutic Agents

Abstract As the prevalence of metabolic disorders increases dramatically, the importance of identifying environmental factors affecting metabolism control becomes greater accordingly. Gut microbiota, a complex ecosystem inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract, is one of these potential factors. Recently, the evidence has shown the associations between alteration in gut microbiota composition and obesity, diabetes, and osteoporosis. However, the causality of gut microbiota on metabolic health has yet to be explored in intervention studies and the underlying mechanisms need to be investigated more in depth. Gut microbiota plays critical roles in the control of immunity, food intake, lipid accumulation, production of short chain fatty acids, insulin signaling, and regulation of bone mass. The gut microbiota represents a novel potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of metabolic disorders. In this review, we provide insights into the role of the gut microbiota in metabolic disorders and its modulating interventions such as prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation.
Contextual Valence and Sociality Jointly Influence the Early and Later Stages of Neutral Face Processing

Recent studies have demonstrated that face perception is influenced by emotional contextual information. However, because facial expressions are routinely decoded and understood during social communication, sociality should also be considered—that is, it seems necessary to explore whether emotional contextual effects are influenced by the sociality of contextual information. Furthermore, although one behavioral study has explored the effects of context on selective attention to faces, the exact underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, the current study investigated how valence and sociality of contextual information influenced the early and later stages of neutral face processing. We first employed an established affective learning procedure, wherein neutral faces were paired with verbal information that differed in valence (negative, neutral) and sociality (social, non-social), to manipulate contextual information. Then, to explore the effects of context on face perception, participants performed a face perception task, while the N170, early posterior negativity (EPN), and late positive potential (LPP) components were measured. Finally, to explore the effects of context on selective attention, participants performed a dot probe task while the N2pc was recorded. The results showed that, in the face perception task, faces paired with negative social information elicited greater EPN and LPP than did faces paired with neutral social information; no differences existed between faces paired with negative and neutral non-social information. In the dot probe task, faces paired with negative social information elicited a more negative N2pc amplitude (indicating attentional bias) than did faces paired with neutral social information; the N2pc did not differ between faces paired with negative and neutral non-social information. Together, these results suggest that contextual information influenced both face perception and selective attention, and these context effects were governed by the interaction between valence and sociality of contextual information.
Treatment outcomes of a stage 1 cognitive-behavioral trial to reduce alcohol use among human immunodeficiency virus-infected out-patients in western Kenya.

AIMS Dual epidemics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and alcohol use disorders, and a dearth of professional resources for behavioral treatment in sub-Saharan Africa, suggest the need for development of culturally relevant and feasible interventions. The purpose of this study was to test the preliminary efficacy of a culturally adapted six-session gender-stratified group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention delivered by paraprofessionals to reduce alcohol use among HIV-infected out-patients in Eldoret, Kenya. DESIGN Randomized clinical trial comparing CBT against a usual care assessment-only control. SETTING A large HIV out-patient clinic in Eldoret, Kenya, part of the Academic Model for Providing Access to Healthcare collaboration. PARTICIPANTS Seventy-five HIV-infected out-patients who were antiretroviral (ARV)-initiated or ARV-eligible and who reported hazardous or binge drinking. MEASUREMENTS Percentage of drinking days (PDD) and mean drinks per drinking days (DDD) measured continuously using the Time line Follow back method. FINDINGS There were 299 ineligible and 102 eligible out-patients with 12 refusals. Effect sizes of the change in alcohol use since baseline between the two conditions at the 30-day follow-up were large [d=0.95, P=0.0002, mean difference=24.93, 95% confidence interval (CI): 12.43, 37.43 PDD; d=0.76, P=0.002, mean difference=2.88, 95% CI: 1.05, 4.70 DDD]. Randomized participants attended 93% of the six CBT sessions offered. Reported alcohol abstinence at the 90-day follow-up was 69% (CBT) and 38% (usual care). Paraprofessional counselors achieved independent ratings of adherence and competence equivalent to college-educated therapists in the United States. Treatment effect sizes were comparable to alcohol intervention studies conducted in the United States. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be adapted successfully to group paraprofessional delivery in Kenya and may be effective in reducing alcohol use among HIV-infected Kenyan out-patients.
Handbook of violence risk assessment.

Heilbrun, Yasuhara, Shah, Violence Risk Assessment Tools: Overview and Critical Analysis. DeMatteo, Edens, Hart, The Use of Measures of Psychopathy in Violence Risk Assessment. Part I: Juvenile Risk. Augimeri, Enebrink, Walsh, Jiang, Gender-specific Childhood Risk Assessment Tools: Early Assessment Risk Lists for Boys (EARL-20B) and Girls (EARL-21G). Borum, Lodewijks, Bartel, Forth, Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY). Hoge, Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory. Part II: Adult Risk. Rice, Harris, Hilton, The Violence Risk Appraisal Guide and Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide for Violence Risk Assessment and the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment and Domestic Violence Risk Appraisal Guide for Wife Assault Risk Assessment. Wong, Olver, Two Treatment- and Change-oriented Risk Assessment Tools: The Violence Risk Scale and Violence Risk Scale - Sexual Offender Version. Douglas, Reeves, Historical-clinical-risk Management-20 (HCR-20) Violence Risk Assessment Scheme: Rationale, Application, and Empirical Overview. Monahan, The Classification of Violence Risk. Andrews, Bonta, Wormith, The Level of Service (LS) Assessment of Adults and Older Adolescents. Kropp, Gibas, The Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA). Anderson, Hanson, Static-99: An Actuarial Tool to Assess Risk of Sexual and Violent Recidivism Among Sexual Offenders. Hart, Boer, Structured Professional Judgment Guidelines for Sexual Violence Risk Assessment: The Sexual Violence Risk-20 (SVR-20) and Risk for Sexual Violence Protocol (RSVP).