Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for additionally increased apoptosis in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of major depressive patients with a high risk for suicide

Several studies have suggested a pathophysiological role of blood cell apoptosis in major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to evaluate mRNA expression levels of Bcl‐2, Bax, and Fas in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of MDD patients with a high risk for suicide relative to those without a high risk for suicide as well as healthy subjects. The mRNA expression of Bcl‐2, Bax, and Fas as well as the Bcl‐2/Bax ratio was examined in the PBMCs of 30 MDD patients with a high risk for suicide, 30 MDD patients without a high risk for suicide, and 30 healthy controls. The mRNA expression of target genes was measured using real‐time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). FAS mRNA expression was significantly increased, and Bcl‐2 mRNA expression and the Bcl‐2/Bax expression ratio were significantly decreased, in the PBMCs of MDD patients with or without a high risk for suicide attempts compared to healthy controls (p < .001). However, Bax mRNA expression was significantly increased only in MDD patients with a high risk for suicide. Moreover, MDD patients with a high risk for suicide had increased Bax and FAS mRNA expression and decreased Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐2/Bax ratio when compared to patients without risk for suicide (p < .001). Our findings may support the role of both internal and external apoptotic pathways in the interplay between the immune system and depressive symptoms, especially in patients with a high risk for suicide.
The magnetic, elastic, structural, and magnetodeformational properties of magnetoelastics

New, magnetically controllable composites (magnetoelastics); their structure; and their magnetic, elastic, and magnetic-deformation properties were considered. Particular attention was given to the investigation of the giant magnetodeformation effect observed in these materials and the influence of magnetic field on their elastic properties. The field-induced elongation of samples in nonuniform magnetic fields was shown to be as large as 200-300% of their initial length. It was found that the Young modulus could be increased a few times by a magnetic field.
The Welfare Effects of Encouraging Rural-Urban Migration

This paper studies the welfare effects of encouraging rural–urban migration in the developing world. To do so, we build and analyze a dynamic general‐equilibrium model of migration that features a rich set of migration motives. We estimate the model to replicate the results of a field experiment that subsidized seasonal migration in rural Bangladesh, leading to significant increases in migration and consumption. We show that the welfare gains from migration subsidies come from providing better insurance for vulnerable rural households rather than from correcting spatial misallocation by relaxing credit constraints for those with high productivity in urban areas that are stuck in rural areas.
Unerwünschte Effekte von Psychotherapie bei depressiven Patienten – Erste Anwendung der Positive and Negative Effects of Psychotherapy Scale (PANEPS)

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Die Positive and Negative Effects of Psychotherapy Scale (PANEPS), ein Selbstauskunftsfragebogen für Patienten zur Erfassung von positiven Effekten (PE) und unerwünschten Ereignissen (UE) während der letzten Psychotherapie (PT), wurde erstmalig bei einer Patientenstichprobe mit Depression eingesetzt. Der Fragebogen wurde auf seine Anwendbarkeit hin überprüft und lieferte erste empirische Ergebnisse zu PE und UE einer PT bei dieser Patientengruppe. Methode Im Rahmen einer Onlinebefragung füllten 135 Personen mit einer aktuellen oder früheren depressiven Störung die 43 Items der PANEPS aus, welche UE in Nebenwirkungen (NW), Kunstfehler (KF) und unethisches Fehlverhalten (UF) unterteilt. Zusätzlich wurden soziodemografische Angaben (Alter, Geschlecht, Beziehungsstatus) sowie Details zu psychotherapeutischer Vorerfahrung und der zuletzt wahrgenommenen PT erfasst. Die PANEPS wurde mittels Hauptkomponentenanalyse mit Varimax-Rotation geprüft und überarbeitet. Ergebnisse Eine 4-Faktoren-Lösung wurde ermittelt, welche die zuvor definierten Skalen (PE, NW, KF, UF) abbildet und eine weitere Reduktion der PANEPS ermöglicht. Die finale Version der PANEPS, wies eine zufriedenstellende bis exzellente interne Konsistenz auf (Cronbach’s α=0,72–0,92). Von den Befragten gaben 95,6% mind. einen PE (Range=0–5, MW=3,3, SD=1,4) an und 52,6% mind. ein UE (Range=0–14, MW=1,8, SD=2,9). Es gaben 38,5% mind. eine NW (Range=0–6, MW=0,7, SD=1,3), 26,7% mind. einen KF (Range=0–10, MW=0,9, SD=1,9) und 8,1% mind. ein UF (Range=0–4, MW=0,1, SD=0,5) an. PE korrelierten negativ mit KF, aber nicht mit NW und UF. Zudem bestehen Zusammenhänge zwischen Patientenmerkmalen und dem Auftreten von GE und UE. Diskussion Etwas mehr als die Hälfte der Befragten bestätigte mind. ein UE im PANEPS, wobei besonders die Zustimmung zu mind. einem KF oder UF unerwartet hoch ausfielen. Insbesondere die aktuelle Symptombelastung (PHQ-9) scheint für die Zustimmung zu PE und UE einer PT relevant zu sein. Der negative Zusammenhang zwischen PE und KF unterstreicht die Wichtigkeit leitliniengerechter Behandlung für den Erfolg von Psychotherapie. Schlussfolgerung Nebenwirkungen von PT sind auch bei Patienten mit Depressionen zu erwarten und sollten regelhaft erfasst werden.
Studies of the interaction of ticagrelor with the P2Y13 receptor and with P2Y13-dependent pro-platelet formation by human megakaryocytes

Summary Ticagrelor is an antagonist of the platelet P2Y12 receptor for ADP, approved for the prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Previous studies showed that ticagrelor has no significant activity versus P1 receptors for adenosine and other known P2Y receptors, with the exception of P2Y13, which was not tested. The P2Y12 antagonist cangrelor has been shown to also inhibit P2Y13 and to decrease the P2Y13-regulated capacity of megakaryocytes to produce pro-platelets. We tested whether or not ticagrelor inhibits P2Y13 signalling and function. The in vitro effects of ticagrelor, its active (TAM) and inactive (TIM) metabolites, cangrelor and the P2Y13 antagonist MRS2211 were tested in two experimental models: 1) a label-free cellular response assay in P2Y13-transfected HEK293 T-REx cells; and 2) pro-platelet formation by human megakaryocytes in culture. Ticagrelor, TAM, cangrelor and MRS2211, but not TIM, inhibited the cellular responses in P2Y13-transfected cells. In contrast, only MRS2211 and cangrelor, confirming previous results, inhibited pro-platelet formation by megakaryocytes in vitro. The platelet count of patients randomised to treatment with ticagrelor in the PLATO trial did not change during treatment and was comparable to those of patients randomised to clopidogrel. In conclusion, ticagrelor and TAM act as P2Y13 antagonists in a transfected cell system in vitro but this does not translate into any impact on pro-platelet formation in vitro or altered platelet count in patients.
Set2Model Networks: Learning Discriminatively To Learn Generative Models

We present a new "learning-to-learn"-type approach for small-to-medium sized training sets. At the core lies a deep architecture (a Set2Model network) that maps sets of examples to simple generative probabilistic models such as Gaussians or mixtures of Gaussians in the space of high-dimensional descriptors. The parameters of the embedding into the descriptor space are discriminatively trained in the end-to-end fashion. The main technical novelty of our approach is the derivation of the backprop process through the mixture model fitting. A trained Set2Model network facilitates learning in the cases when no negative examples are available, and whenever the concept being learned is polysemous or represented by noisy training sets. Among other experiments, we demonstrate that these properties allow Set2Model networks to pick visual concepts from the raw outputs of Internet image search engines better than a set of strong baselines.
First finding of Trypanosoma cruzi II in vampire bats from a district free of domestic vector-borne transmission in Northeastern Argentina

SUMMARY Establishing the putative links between sylvatic and domestic transmission cycles of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is of public health relevance. We conducted three surveys to assess T. cruzi infection in wild mammals from a rural and a preserved area in Misiones Province, Northeastern Argentina, which had recently been declared free of vector- and blood-borne transmission of human T. cruzi infection. A total of 200 wild mammals were examined by xenodiagnosis (XD) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the hyper-variable region of kinetoplast DNA minicircles of T. cruzi (kDNA-PCR). The overall prevalence of T. cruzi infection was 8%. Nine (16%) of 57 Didelphis albiventris opossums and two (7%) of 29 Desmodus rotundus vampire bats were positive by both XD and kDNA-PCR. Additionally, one D. rotundus positive for T. cruzi by kDNA-PCR tested positive by satellite-DNA-PCR (SAT-DNA-PCR). The T. cruzi-infected bats were captured indoors and in the yard of a vacant dwelling. All D. albiventris were infected with TcI and both XD-positive D. rotundus by TcII. Fifty-five opossum cubs within the marsupium were negative by XD. The mean infectiousness to the vector was 62% in D. albiventris and 50% in D. rotundus. Mice experimentally infected with a parasite isolate from a vampire bat displayed lesions typically caused by T. cruzi. Our study documents the presence of the genotype TcII in a sylvatic host for the first time in Argentina, and the occurrence of two transmission cycles of T. cruzi in a district free of domestic vector-borne transmission.
Parental involvement does not augment the effectiveness of an intense behavioral program for the treatment of childhood obesity

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of active parental involvement in a lifestyle intervention for the management of childhood obesity. DESIGN: Forty-two overweight children (32 girls and 10 boys), aged 9.2±0.2 years and with percent overweight 39.8±2.7%, were randomly allocated either to a child-and-parent group (N = 23) or a child-alone group (N = 19). Both groups attended a 3-month multidisciplinary program extended by booster sessions during follow-up, which involved many cognitive behavioral therapy principles and assigned high self-regulation to the children, but differed in parental involvement. Percent overweight was evaluated at baseline, and at 3, 6, and 18 months thereafter. RESULTS: There was no significant interaction between time and group or a significant difference between groups. Percent overweight decreased by 4.9±1.4 at 18 months (p <0.001); the reduction occurred during the active phase of the treatment (0-3 months) and was maintained thereafter. CONCLUSION: In the setting of the present study, the active parental involvement did not significantly modify the results of lifestyle interventions for children’s overweight management.
Left Lobe Auxiliary Liver Transplantation for End‐stage Hepatitis B Liver Cirrhosis

Auxiliary liver transplantation (ALT) for hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related liver cirrhosis previously showed poor results, because the native liver was a significant source of HBV recurrence and the graft could be rapidly destroyed by HBV infection in an immunosuppressive condition. Four patients with HBV‐related liver cirrhosis were unable to undergo orthotopic liver transplantation because the only available grafts of left lobe were too small. Under entecavir‐based anti‐HBV treatment, they underwent ALT in which the recipient left liver was removed and the small left lobe graft was implanted in the corresponding space. The mean graft weight/recipient weight was 0.49% (range, 0.38%–0.55%). One year after transplantation, the graft sizes were increased to 273% and the remnant livers were decreased to 44%. Serum HBV DNA was persistently undetectable. Periodic graft biopsy showed no signs of tissue injury and negative immunostaining for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B core antigen. After a mean follow‐up period of 21 months, all patients live well with normal graft function. Our study suggests that ALT for HBV‐related liver cirrhosis is feasible under entecavir‐based anti‐HBV treatment. Successful application of small left livers in end‐stage liver cirrhosis may significantly increase the pool of left liver grafts for adult patients.
A RETROSPECTIVE SUMMARY OF RAPTOR MORTALITY IN ONTARIO, CANADA (1991–2014), INCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF WEST NILE VIRUS

Abstract: The causes of mortality of free-ranging raptors range from anthropogenic (e.g., trauma) to dynamic environmental conditions that may affect habitat suitability and prey availability. The province of Ontario, Canada, is vulnerable to anthropogenic and environmental changes because of its northern latitudes and expanding human populations, both of which may impact wildlife. We retrospectively evaluated diagnostic data from raptors submitted to the Ontario/Nunavut node of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) from 1991 to 2014 (n=1,448). Submissions encompassed 29 species, most commonly the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis; n=308) and Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus; n=237). Trauma (n=716) accounted for the majority of deaths among all species, followed by emaciation (n=241). Traumatic deaths were most commonly attributed to collisions with stationary objects, and the odds of a diagnosis of trauma were significantly higher in adult versus immature raptors. The odds of being diagnosed with emaciation were significantly higher in males than in females but not in any age class or season. Mortality was less commonly attributed to infectious diseases (n=214), for which West Nile virus (WNV) was the most common etiology, making up 53.1% of infectious diagnoses after its 2001 arrival in Ontario. The odds of a raptor being diagnosed with an infectious disease were significantly greater in summer and fall versus spring. Immature Red-tailed Hawks had significantly greater odds of being diagnosed with WNV compared to adults. These results reveal that human- and potentially environmentally-associated deaths (e.g., trauma and emaciation, respectively) are commonly diagnosed among Ontario raptors submitted to the CWHC. Infectious diseases are less commonly diagnosed, but WNV may have underlying, ongoing impacts on the health of some raptor species.
Early microvascular and macrovascular dysfunction is not accompanied by structural arterial injury in polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE During the last decade cardiovascular risk factors and endothelial dysfunction have been shown to be present early in life in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). The aim of the present study was a global assessment of abnormalities in the arterial bed of young women with PCOS by non-invasive, reproducible methods. DESIGN 27 women with PCOS and 27 control women of comparable age, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio were studied. Macrovascular function was assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) on the brachial artery. Nitrate-induced dilatation (NID) was performed to exclude a vascular smooth muscle cells injury. Microvascular function was assessed by venous occlusion plethysmography studying forearm blood flow. Arterial structure was evaluated by ultrasonographic assessment of intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery. RESULTS FMD values were lower in women with PCOS compared to controls (PCOS: 3.84+/-0.74% vs. controls: 9.83+/-0.97%, P<0.001), but no difference was observed in NID (PCOS: 16.59+/-1.84% vs. controls: 16.64+/-2.05%, P=0.98) values. The time required for reactive hyperemia to reach peak value, a plethysmography parameter, was longer in PCOS women (PCOS: 20.63+/-4.67 sec vs. controls: 10.38+/-5.11 sec, P=0.02). No difference was observed in the combined IMT among the studied groups (PCOS: 0.49+/-0.01 mm v.s. controls: 0.51+/-0.02 mm, P=0.19). CONCLUSIONS Using non invasive methodologies endothelial dysfunction in the macrocirculation and early impairment in the microcirculation were demonstrated in young women with PCOS who had normal profile of glycemia, lipidemia and blood pressure, and no evidence of structural arterial impairment.
Imaging- and physiology-guided percutaneous coronary intervention without contrast administration in advanced renal failure: a feasibility, safety, and outcome study.

AIMS The feasibility, safety, and clinical utility of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) without radio-contrast medium in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) are unknown. In this series, we investigated a specific strategy for 'zero contrast' PCI with the aims of preserving renal function and preventing the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with advanced CKD. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 31 patients with advanced CKD [creatinine = 4.2 mg/dL, inter-quartile range (IQR) 3.1-4.8, estimated glomerular filtration rate = 16 ± 8 mL/min/1.73 m2] who had clinical indication for PCI based on a prior minimal contrast coronary angiogram were included. Zero contrast PCI was performed at least 1 week after diagnostic angiography using real-time intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance, with pre- and post-PCI measurements of fractional flow reserve and coronary flow reserve to confirm physiological improvement. This approach resulted in successful PCI, no major adverse cardiovascular events and preservation of renal function without the need for RRT within a follow-up time of 79 days (IQR 33-207) in all patients. CONCLUSION In patients with advanced CKD who require revascularization, PCI may safely be performed without contrast using IVUS and physiological guidance with high procedural success and without complications.
Study on concrete with partial replacement of cement by rice husk ash

Increase in the demand of conventional construction materials and the need for providing a sustainable growth in the construction field has prompted the designers and developers to opt for ‘alternative materials’ feasible for use in construction. For this objective, the use of industrial waste products and agricultural byproducts are very constructive. These industrial wastes and agricultural by products such as Fly Ash, Rice Husk Ash, Silica Fume, and Slag can be replaced instead of cement because of their pozzolanic behavior, which otherwise requires large tract of lands for dumping. In the present investigation, Rice Husk Ash has been used as an admixture to cement in concrete and its properties has been studied. An attempt was also done to examine the strength and workability parameters of concrete. For normal concrete, mix design is done based on Indian Standard (IS) method and taking this as reference, mix design has been made for replacement of Rice Husk Ash. Four different replacement levels namely 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% are selected and studied with respect to the replacement method.
Investigating the effectiveness of liquid rubber as a modifier for asphalt binder

Rubber modification of asphalt is one of the most common asphalt modifications used to improve asphalt rheological properties; in such applications, rubber is mainly introduced to the asphalt matrix as a solid particulate matter and referred to as crumb rubber (CR) via wet or dry processing. However, the application of solid CR particles can cause such challenges as phase separation and segregation within the asphalt matrix. Accordingly, this paper investigates the feasibility of application of liquid rubber (LR) produced through vacuum pyrolysis of scrap tyre as an asphalt modifier. The LR used in this paper is recovered from rubber vacuum pyrolysis after the separation of its light compounds for fuel application. During the pyrolysis process, high chain hydrocarbons of rubber transform into short-chain molecules. Although asphalt modified by LR still benefits from the presence of styrene butadiene rubber components in LR. As such, this paper investigates the physio-chemical properties of LR as well as rheological properties of liquid rubber-modified (LRM) asphalt as affected by the presence of short-chain and low-molecular weight hydrocarbons found in rubber. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to track the content of rubber polymer and other hydrocarbons inside LRM asphalt. Thin-layer chromatography with flame ionisation detection was used to determine the saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes components of LRM. Gel permeation chromatography showed the molecular weight distribution of LR and molecular size distribution of LRM with different percentages of LR. Thermal gravimetric analysis was performed to obtain the thermal decomposition temperatures for both modified and unmodified specimens. Furthermore, rotational viscometer, dynamic shear rheometer, multiple stress-creep recovery, and bending beam rheometer were used to evaluate rheological properties of LRM asphalt. The study results showed that introduction of LR to the asphalt matrix can improve its rheological properties while enhancing its low-temperature characteristics.
Synergistic neurotoxicity of oxygen-glucose deprivation and tetrabromobisphenol A in vitro : role of oxidative stress

Background: Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a toxic brominated flame retardant. Previous studies have demonstrated that exposure of primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule cells (CGC) to 3 10 μM TBBPA induces toxicity and excitotoxicity, and the underlying mechanism may involve calcium imbalance and oxidative stress. Here we examined whether the application of TBBPA at subtoxic concentrations may exacerbate acute damage of CGC challenged with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), and evaluated with fluorescent indicators the involvement of calcium imbalance, mitochondrial depolarization and oxidative stress. Methods: Survival of CGC was assessed 24 h after OGD/TBBPA using fluorescent dyes. An OGD challenge lasting for 45, 60 or 75 min induced a duration-dependent injury to the neurons. Results: Application of 2.5, 5 or 7.5 μM TBBPA for 45 min to normoxic and glucose-containing incubation medium did not reduce the viability of cultured CGC, but this compound exacerbated the toxic effects of OGD in a concentration-dependent way. Moreover, TBBPA had a slight effect on calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial membrane potential, but significantly activated the production of reactive oxygen species in CGC. The application of H2O2 at 5, 10 and 25 μM mimicked the effects of TBBPA on OGD toxicity, while 0.1 mM ascorbic acid or 1 mM glutathione ameliorated this toxicity. Conclusion: These results suggest the involvement of oxidative stress in the synergistic neurotoxic effects of TBBPA and OGD.
The Inhibitory Effect of WenxinKeli on H9C2 Cardiomyocytes Hypertrophy Induced by Angiotensin II through Regulating Autophagy Activity

Objectives We investigated the role of cardiomyocyte autophagy and its regulatory mechanisms by WenxinKeli (WXKL) in cells subjected to hypertrophy. Methods H9C2 cardiomyocytes were divided into 8 groups. Cytoskeletal proteins as well as endogenously expressed autophagy marker proteins were studied by confocal imaging. Western blotting was used to assess the levels of light chain-3 (LC3) and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). The cell viability assay was used to detect the content of ATP. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptotic cardiomyocytes. Results (1) Compared with the control group, the length and width of cells in the Angiotensin II (AngII) group were significantly increased, while those in the 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and the WXKL groups were decreased. (2) Compared with AngII group, the expression of LC3 II/I protein in the 3-MA and WXKL groups was downregulated, while the expression of mTOR protein was upregulated. (3) Compared with the AngII group, the cardiomyocytes in the WXKL group showed increased ATP and decreased apoptosis rate and number of autophagosome. Conclusions We propose a novel role of WXKL as a likely inhibitor of cardiac hypertrophy by regulation of pathological autophagy.