Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological underpinning of of personalized approaches in modern medicine: syndrom analysis of mitral valve prolapsed patients

The article aims to demonstrate a high efficiency of the methodological means suggested by psychological syndrome analysis approach (Vygotsky-Luria school) for solving theoretical and applied issues in contemporary person-centered medicine. This is achieved through an example of empirical study meant to construct a psychosomatic syndrome for 290 patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Analysis of all collected data was based on psychological syndrome analysis concept (Vygotsky–Luria school) and A.R. Luria’s principles for psychological factors (causes) selection, which determine the logic and structure of a neuropsychological syndrome. It demonstrated the association between characteristics of emotional experiences and clinical symptoms manifested in MVP patients. This correlation was statistically verified. The results proved that the most important syndrome-establishment factor (radical) is a specific emotionality and dysfunction of emotion regulation and emotional control in MVP patients (excessive emotional repression with insufficient reflection of emotional experiences). Features of the motivation sphere of MVP patients appear as a second psychological syndrome-establishment factor: these are domination of the motive of failure avoidance and unsatisfied self-approval need. We argue that psychological syndrome analysis can be used as a means to approach not only diagnostic but also prognostic tasks both in clinical psychology and medicine, as well as for the development and implementation of the person-centered integrative diagnosis model. We maintained that this approach, applied in theoretical and practical fields of clinical psychology and mental health care is highly efficient at the current stage of the science evolution due to prospects revealed by s new methodological context of postnonclassical model of rationality and a comprehensive character of the cultural-historical concept regarding an individual and his mind as a self-developing open systems.
Long-wave type-II superlattice detectors with unipolar electron and hole barriers

Abstract. The performance of a long-wave infrared type-II InAs/GaSb superlattice photodetector with a 50% cut-off wavelength of approximately 8.7 μm is presented. The ability to lower dark current densities over traditional P-type-Intrinsic-N-type diodes is offered by way of hetero-structure engineering of a pBiBn structure utilizing superlattice p-type (p) and n-type (n) contacts, an intrinsic (i) superlattice active (absorber) region, and unipolar superlattice electron and hole blocking (B) layers. The spectral response of this pBiBn detector structure was determined using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and the quantum efficiency was determined using a 6250 nm narrow band filter and a 500 K blackbody source. A diode structure designed, grown, and fabricated in this study yielded a dark current density of 1.05×10−5 A/cm2 at a reverse bias of −50 mV and a specific detectivity value of greater than 1011 Jones at 77 K. Theoretical fittings of the diode dark currents at 77 K were used in this study to help isolate the contributing current components observed in the empirical dark current data. A variable temperature study (80 to 300 K) of the dark current is presented for a diode demonstrating diffusion-limited dark current down to 77 K.
Mono and diterpene production in Escherichia coli

Mono‐ and diterpenoids are of great industrial and medical value as specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Production of these compounds in microbial hosts, such as Escherichia coli, can be limited by intracellular levels of the polyprenyl diphosphate precursors, geranyl diphosphate (GPP), and geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP). To alleviate this limitation, we constructed synthetic operons that express three key enzymes for biosynthesis of these precursors: (1) DXS,1‐deoxy‐d‐xylulose‐5‐phosphate synthase; (2) IPPHp, IPP isomerase from Haematococcus pluvialis; and (3) one of two variants of IspA, FPP synthase that produces either GPP or GGPP. The reporter plasmids pAC‐LYC and pACYC‐IB, which encode enzymes that convert either FPP or GGPP, respectively, to the pigment lycopene, were used to demonstrate that at full induction, the operon encoding the wild‐type FPP synthase and mutant GGPP synthase produced similar levels of lycopene. To synthesize di‐ or monoterpenes in E. coli using the GGPP and GPP encoding operons either a diterpene cyclase [casbene cyclase (Ricinus communis L) and ent‐kaurene cyclase (Phaeosphaeria sp. L487)] or a monoterpene cyclase [3‐carene cyclase (Picea abies)] was coexpressed with their respective precursor production operon. Analysis of culture extracts or headspace by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry confirmed the in vivo production of the diterpenes casbene, kaur‐15‐ene, and kaur‐16‐ene and the monoterpenes α‐pinene, myrcene, sabinene, 3‐carene, α‐terpinene, limonene, β‐phellandrene, α‐terpinene, and terpinolene. Construction and functional expression of GGPP and GPP operons provides an in vivo precursor platform host for the future engineering of di‐ and monoterpene cyclases and the overproduction of terpenes in bacteria. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dietary accumulation of hexabromocyclododecane diastereoisomers in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) I: Bioaccumulation parameters and evidence of bioisomerization

Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to three diastereoisomers (α, β, γ) of hexabromocyclododecane (C12H18Br6) via their diet for 56 d followed by 112 d of untreated food to examine bioaccumulation parameters and test the hypothesis of in vivo bioisomerization. Four groups of 70 fish were used in the study. Three groups were exposed to food fortified with known concentrations of an individual diastereoisomer, while a fourth group were fed unfortified food. Bioaccumulation of the γ‐diastereoisomer was linear during the uptake phase, while the α‐ and β‐diastereoisomers were found to increase exponentially with respective doubling times of 8.2 and 17.1 d. Both the β‐ and the γ‐diastereoisomers followed a first‐order depuration kinetics with calculated half‐lives of 157 ± 71 and 144 ± 60 d (±1 × standard error), respectively. The biomagnification factor (BMF) for the α‐diastereoisomer (BMF = 9.2) was two times greater than the β‐diastereoisomer (BMF = 4.3); the large BMF for the α‐diastereoisomer is consistent with this diastereoisomer dominating higher‐trophic‐level organisms. Although the BMF of the β‐diastereoisomer suggests that it will biomagnify, it is rarely detected in environmental samples because it is present in small quantities in commercial mixtures. Results from these studies also provide evidence of bioisomerization of the β‐ and γ‐diastereoisomers. Most importantly, the α‐diastereoisomer that was recalcitrant to bioisomerization by juvenile rainbow trout in this study and known to be the dominant diastereosiomer in fish was bioformed from both the β‐ and the γ‐diastereoisomers. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bioisomerization of a halogenated organic pollutant in biota.
Synthesis of Lipid Mediators during UVB-Induced Inflammatory Hyperalgesia in Rats and Mice

Peripheral sensitization during inflammatory pain is mediated by a variety of endogenous proalgesic mediators including a number of oxidized lipids, some of which serve endogenous modulators of sensory TRP-channels. These lipids are eicosanoids of the arachidonic acid and linoleic acid pathway, as well as lysophophatidic acids (LPAs). However, their regulation pattern during inflammatory pain and their contribution to peripheral sensitization is still unclear. Here, we used the UVB-model for inflammatory pain to investigate alterations of lipid concentrations at the site of inflammation, the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) as well as the spinal dorsal horn and quantified 21 lipid species from five different lipid families at the peak of inflammation 48 hours post irradiation. We found that known proinflammatory lipids as well as lipids with unknown roles in inflammatory pain to be strongly increased in the skin, whereas surprisingly little changes of lipid levels were seen in DRGs or the dorsal horn. Importantly, although there are profound differences between the number of cytochrome (CYP) genes between mice and rats, CYP-derived lipids were regulated similarly in both species. Since TRPV1 agonists such as LPA 18∶1, 9- and 13-HODE, 5- and 12-HETE were elevated in the skin, they may contribute to thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia during UVB-induced inflammatory pain. These results may explain why some studies show relatively weak analgesic effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitors in UVB-induced skin inflammation, as they do not inhibit synthesis of other proalgesic lipids such as LPA 18∶1, 9-and 13-HODE and HETEs.
Diversity and arrangement of the cuticular structures of Hyalella (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Dogielinotidae) and their use in taxonomy

This study describes the morphology and arrangement of the cuticular structures of Hyalella castroi Gonzalez, Bond-Buckup & Araujo, 2006 and Hyalella pleoacuta Gonzalez, Bond-Buckup & Araujo, 2006, to identify specific characters that can be used in taxonomstudies of this genus. The entire cuticular surface of both species was examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The data obtained were compared with available information for other members of Peracarida, mainly Amphipoda and Isopoda. Five different types of cuticular structures, including 30 types of setae, four types of microtrichs, three types of pores, and some structures formed by setules and denticles were identified. The results were compared with other groups of gammarids, and peracarideans, such as Thermosbaenacea and Isopoda. The use of cuticular structures as a tool for taxonomic studies showed important results, not only at species level, but also at genus, and family levels.
Maximum thick paths in static and dynamic environments

We consider the problem of finding a maximum number of disjoint paths for unit disks moving amidst static or dynamic obstacles. For the static case we give efficient exact algorithms, based on adapting the "continuous uppermost path" paradigm. As a by-product, we establish a continuous analogue of Menger's Theorem. (In this extended abstract we only state these results.) Next we study the dynamic problem in which the obstacles may move, appear and disappear, and otherwise change with time in a known manner; in addition, the disks are required to enter/exit the domain during prescribed time intervals. We observe that (unless P=NP), for any α,β > 0, one cannot decide in polynomial time whether there exist [αΚ] paths for disks of radius βR, where K is the maximum number of paths for radius-R disks. The problem is hard even if the obstacles are static, and only the entry/exit time intervals are specified for the disks. This motivates studying "dual" approximations, compromising on the radius of the disks and on the maximum speed of motion. Our main result is a pseudopolynomial-time dual-approximation algorithm: if K unit disks, each with unit bound on the speed, may be routed through an environment, our algorithm finds (at least) K paths for disks of radius Ω(1) moving with speed O(1). The algorithm computes a maxflow with "forbidden pairs" in an "adaptive" grid, laid out in space-time. Although (as we show) in general finding even an approximation to the maxflow with forbidden pairs is not possible (unless P=NP), a careful choice of time discetization and a non-uniform grid of "way-points" allows us to give provable approximation guarantees on the quality of the solution produced by the algorithm. Our algorithm extends to higher dimensions and to finding paths for translational motion of arbitrary-shape objects.
Blood donation practices, motivations and beliefs in Montreal's Black communities: the modern gift under a new light

Objectives Through the conceptual lens of the archaic and modern gift, this study aims to examine perceived limitations and facilitators to increasing blood donations within Black communities in Montreal, Canada. The overall objective is to support blood agencies, such as Héma-Québec, in understanding the challenges and opportunities they face in promoting blood donation among Black communities in pluralistic societies. Design Thirty-three semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with donors and leaders of ethnocultural groups in Montreal: of these, 6 were Héma-Québec employees; 3 were Caribbean blood drive organizers; 14 were leaders of African, Caribbean or Black multiethnic churches and community groups; and finally, 10 were donors, including 2 African, 4 French-speaking Haitian and 4 English-speaking Caribbean. Results The existence of multiple Black communities in Montreal reflects the various facilitators and obstacles facing Héma-Québec. Caribbean and African communities have their own experiences with regard to blood donation as well as different relationships with the broader Quebec society, both of which have great impact on how they perceive the cause. Questions of trust, of giving to the family and to the community, as well as perceived social exclusion appear to be fundamental issues for our informants. The current participation of groups interested in bettering the lives of those affected by sickle cell anaemia combined with the fact that leaders felt more comfortable donating to someone close to the community suggests that the promotion of blood donation through this angle would be well received. Conclusion Trust issues, perceived discrimination and social exclusion have structural and historical roots that can only be partly overcome with long-term efforts to increase awareness, develop collaborative partnerships and increase institutional efforts to adapt to the challenges of blood donation from Black citizens.
Selective activation of chicken T lymphocytes by concanavalin A.

In vitro response to Con A of chicken spleen lymphocytes was reduced by thymectomy carried out at hatching and completed by irradiation. Bursectomy combined with irradiation was ineffective. The effect of thymectomy was partially reversed by transplantation of thymus cells from 10-week-old donors although transplantation of bursa cells had no effect. These findings indicate that, also in the chicken, Con A is selectively a T cell mitogen.
Heartbeat Rate Measurement from Facial Video

Heartbeat rate (HR) reveals a person's health. This article presents an effective system for measuring HR from facial videos acquired in a more realistic environment than current systems' testing environments. The proposed method uses a facial feature point-tracking method that combines a good feature to track method with a supervised descent method to overcome the limitations of currently available facial video-based HR measuring systems, including unrealistic restriction of the subject's movement and artificial lighting during data capture. A face quality assessment system is also incorporated to automatically discard low-quality faces that occur in a realistic video sequence to reduce erroneous results. The proposed method was comprehensively tested on the publicly available MAHNOB-HCI database and the authors' local dataset. Experimental results show that the proposed system outperforms existing video-based systems for HR measurement.
Article Reference

Direct validation of in vivo localized 13C MRS measurements of brain glycogen LEI, Hongxia, et al. Abstract With the use of localized 13C MRS in conjunction with [1-(13)C]-D-glucose infusion, it is possible to study brain glycogen metabolism in vivo. The purpose of this study was to validate in vivo 13C MRS measurements by comparing them with results from a standard biochemical assay. To increase the [1-(13)C] glycogen concentration, 11 rats were subjected to an episode of acute hypoglycemia followed by a mild hyperglycemic recovery period during which [1-(13)C]-D-glucose was infused. The total brain [1-(13)C] glycogen of the same animal was determined from the enzymatically determined total brain glycogen content, which was fixed by focused microwave irradiation (4 kW in 1.4 s) immediately after the end of the in vivo NMR measurements. The corresponding isotopic enrichment (IE) of glycogen was measured by in vitro 1H MRS of protons bound to glucose C1-alpha. The in vivo [1-(13)C] glycogen concentration was strongly correlated to the in vitro [1-(13)C] glycogen content determined by biochemical measurement in a linear manner (R=0.79). The results are consistent with the notion that localized 13C MRS measurements closely reflect [. ] LEI, Hongxia, et al. Direct validation of in vivo localized 13C MRS measurements of brain glycogen.
Understanding romantic relationships among emerging adults: The significant roles of cohabitation and ambiguity.

Cohabitation has become a common element of the path that emerging adults travel as they navigate romantic relationships before settling down into marriage. There has been an explosion in the practice of cohabiting before marriage, and many emerging adults now cohabit regardless of marriage intentions. Along with the wide availability of birth control and the increased likelihood of nonmarital sex, cohabiting reflects fundamental changes in how men and women date and mate. This chapter describes this growing trend, including how individuals during the period of emerging adulthood view cohabitation and how they can be affected by it as they pursue their romantic relationship and family goals.
A theory of personality : the psychology of personal constructs

This original theory of personality is based on the concept that there are many workable ways by which individuals can construct their world. George Kelly's starting point and basic premise is that people's processes are psychologically channeled by the ways they anticipate events rather than by the ways they react to them. We develop new means of overcoming obstacles; we are, therefore, neither prisoners of our environment nor victims of our past. In Dr. Kelly's groundbreaking theory, the patterns of our make-up, which he calls constructs, are the key to changing old patters. Each person anticipates events differently, and Dr. Kelly shows how we can begin to understand each person's unique constructs. In this way, a person is enabled to create alternative constructions-finding a sense of meaning in life, regaining control over his or her environment, and establishing new roads to mental health. This volume consists of the first three chapters of Kelly's two-volume work The Psychology of Personal Constructs.
Twelve- and 52-week efficacy of the dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor LAF237 in metformin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To assess the 12- and 52-week efficacy of the dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor LAF237 versus placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes continuing metformin treatment. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 107 patients with type 2 diabetes with a 40-week extension in those completing the core study and agreeing, together with the investigator, to extend treatment to 1 year. Placebo (n=51) or LAF237 (50 mg once daily, n=56) was added to ongoing metformin treatment (1,500-3,000 mg/day). HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were measured periodically, and standardized meal tests were performed at baseline, week 12, and week 52. RESULTS In patients randomized to LAF237, baseline HbA1c averaged 7.7 +/- 0.1% and decreased at week 12 (Delta=-0.6 +/- 0.1%), whereas HbA1c did not change from a baseline of 7.9 +/- 0.1% in patients given placebo (between-group difference in DeltaHbA1c=-0.7 +/- 0.1%, P <0.0001). Mean prandial glucose and FPG were significantly reduced in patients receiving LAF237 versus placebo by 2.2 +/- 0.4 mmol/l (P <0.0001) and 1.2 +/- 0.4 mmol/l (P=0.0057), respectively, but plasma insulin levels were not affected. At end point of the extension, the between-group differences in change in mean prandial glucose, insulin, and FPG were -2.4 +/- 0.6 mmol/l (P=0.0001), 40 +/- 16 pmol/l (P=0.0153), and -1.1 +/- 0.5 mmol/l (P=0.0312), respectively. HbA1c did not change from week 12 to week 52 in LAF237-treated patients (n=42) but increased in participants given placebo (n=29). The between-group difference in DeltaHbA1c after 1 year was -1.1 +/- 0.2% (P <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Data from this study demonstrate that LAF237 effectively prevents deterioration of glycemic control when added to metformin monotherapy in type 2 diabetes.
Interleukin-10 blockade corrects impaired in vitro cellular immune responses of systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

OBJECTIVE Many systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients display impaired cellular immune responses against allo- or recall antigens. Given the down-regulating properties of interleukin-10 (IL-10) on antigen-presenting cell functions, this study was undertaken to investigate whether the well-known overproduction of IL-10 by SLE peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was involved in this process. METHODS We measured the proliferation of SLE or control PBMC against irradiated allogeneic dendritic cells in the absence or presence of antibodies blocking IL-10 activity, or in the absence or presence of IL-12. RESULTS As a group, SLE PBMC proliferated against allogeneic targets less than control PBMC. However, SLE patients could be categorized as good responders or poor responders according to the amplitude of their allogeneic response. Interestingly, serum IL-10 concentrations were significantly higher in the poor responders than in the good responders or in the controls, and addition of antibodies blocking IL-10 activity significantly increased the proliferative responses of the group. We confirmed the role of IL-10 in the impaired allogeneic responses displayed by SLE PBMC by demonstrating that addition of IL-10-containing SLE PBMC supernatants inhibited a normal allogeneic response between unrelated healthy controls, and by showing that this inhibitory effect was commensurate with the concentrations of IL-10 measured in the supernatants. In this experimental setting, we also demonstrated that IL-10-containing SLE PBMC supernatants inhibited IL-12 p35 and IL-12 p40 gene expression. Consistent with the last observation, we found that addition of exogenous IL-12 restored the proliferation of poor-responder SLE patients' PBMC. CONCLUSION Taken together, these results indicate that dysregulation of the IL-10/IL-12 balance plays a critical role in the impaired cellular immune responses observed in SLE patients.