Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Associations between Abortion, Mental Disorders, and Suicidal Behaviour in a Nationally Representative Sample

Objective: Most previous studies that have investigated the relation between abortion and mental illness have presented mixed findings. We examined the relation between abortion, mental disorders, and suicidality using a US nationally representative sample. Methods: Data came from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (n = 3310 women, aged 18 years and older). The World Health Organization-Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to assess mental disorders based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria and lifetime abortion in women. Multiple logistic regression analyses were employed to examine associations between abortion and lifetime mood, anxiety, substance use, eating, and disruptive behaviour disorders, as well as suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. We calculated the percentage of respondents whose mental disorder came after the first abortion. The role of violence was also explored. Population attributable fractions were calculated for significant associations between abortion and mental disorders. Results: After adjusting for sociodemographics, abortion was associated with an increased likelihood of several mental disorders—mood disorders (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] ranging from 1.75 to 1.91), anxiety disorders (AOR ranging from 1.87 to 1.91), substance use disorders (AOR ranging from 3.14 to 4.99), as well as suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (AOR ranging from 1.97 to 2.18). Adjusting for violence weakened some of these associations. Forall disorders examined, less than one-half of women reported that their mental disorder had begun after the first abortion. Population attributable fractions ranged from 5.8% (suicidal ideation) to 24.7% (drug abuse). Conclusions: Our study confirms a strong association between abortion and mental disorders. Possible mechanisms of this relation are discussed.
CRS1, a Chloroplast Group II Intron Splicing Factor, Promotes Intron Folding through Specific Interactions with Two Intron Domainsw⃞

Group II introns are ribozymes that catalyze a splicing reaction with the same chemical steps as spliceosome-mediated splicing. Many group II introns have lost the capacity to self-splice while acquiring compensatory interactions with host-derived protein cofactors. Degenerate group II introns are particularly abundant in the organellar genomes of plants, where their requirement for nuclear-encoded splicing factors provides a means for the integration of nuclear and organellar functions. We present a biochemical analysis of the interactions between a nuclear-encoded group II splicing factor and its chloroplast intron target. The maize (Zea mays) protein Chloroplast RNA Splicing 1 (CRS1) is required specifically for the splicing of the group II intron in the chloroplast atpF gene and belongs to a plant-specific protein family defined by a recently recognized RNA binding domain, the CRM domain. We show that CRS1's specificity for the atpF intron in vivo can be explained by CRS1's intrinsic RNA binding properties. CRS1 binds in vitro with high affinity and specificity to atpF intron RNA and does so through the recognition of elements in intron domains I and IV. These binding sites are not conserved in other group II introns, accounting for CRS1's intron specificity. In the absence of CRS1, the atpF intron has little uniform tertiary structure even at elevated [Mg2+]. CRS1 binding reorganizes the RNA, such that intron elements expected to be at the catalytic core become less accessible to solvent. We conclude that CRS1 promotes the folding of its group II intron target through tight and specific interactions with two peripheral intron segments.
Change in bi‐directional plasticity at CA1 synapses in hippocampal slices taken from 6‐hydroxydopamine‐treated rats: the role of endogenous norepinephrine

The object of the present study is to investigate the role of endogenous adrenergic innervation in regulating bi‐directional synaptic plasticity in rat hippocampal CA1 synapses. The endogenous adrenergic system was eliminated by giving subcutaneous injection of 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) to rats immediately after birth, and the animals were killed for experiments at postnatal ages of 25–35 days. In hippocampal slices taken from 6‐OHDA‐treated animals, theta‐burst stimulation at 100 Hz failed to induce long‐term potentiation (LTP) at CA1 synapses. However, the induction of long‐term depression (LTD) by prolonged low frequency stimulation at 1 Hz was unaffected in slices from 6‐OHDA‐treated animals. Bath application of norepinephrine (NE) restored LTP to control levels and blocked LTD. This effect was mimicked by β‐ but not α‐adrenergic receptor agonists, i.e. by isoproterenol but not phenylephrine. The activators of adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase A (PKA), i.e. forskolin and 8‐bromoadenosine‐3′, 5′‐cyclic monophosphate, respectively, restored LTP in slices from 6‐OHDA‐treated animals. In addition, application of the D1/D5 receptor agonist, dihydrexidine, also restored LTP in slices from 6‐OHDA‐treated animals. These results suggest that physiologically the recruitment of catecholamine innervation may be important for induction of LTP at hippocampal CA1 synapses during tetanic stimulation, while it may not be essential for LTD induction by prolonged 1 Hz stimulation. The released NE and dopamine exert their role in modulating synaptic plasticity via activation of β‐adrenergic and D1/D5 receptors, respectively, which in turn increase the levels of cytoplasm adenosine‐3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate and PKA.
A near-IR spectrum of the DO white dwarf RE J0503-285

We present a near-IR spectroscopic analysis of the intriguing DO white dwarf RE J0503-285. The IR spectrum fails to reveal evidence of the presence of a spatially unresolved, cool, late-type companion. Hence we have placed an approximate limit on the spectral-type and mass of a putative companion (later than M8, M < 0.085 M� ). This result rules out ongoing interaction between the white dwarf and a close companion with M ≥ 0.085 Mas responsible for the discrepancies between the observed photospheric abundances and model predictions. As the possibility remains that there is a cooler companion lying beyond the detection threshold of this study we use our modelling to estimate the improvement in sensitivity offered by a Spitzer observation.
In vitro shoot proliferation and in vitro and ex vitro root formation of Pyrus elaeagrifolia Pallas

Shoot-tip cultures of Pyrus elaeagrifolia Pallas, an important gene source for drought and chlorosis resistance in pear rootstock breeding, were established from a wild mature tree originated from seed. Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with different concentrations of benzyladenine (BA) singly or in combination with auxin was used in the study. In the initial culture, the highest percentages (>80%) of shoot proliferation were obtained in the mediums supplemented with 9.0 μM BA and 0.5 μM indole-3-acetic acid. In the subcultures, the highest shoot proliferation rates were obtained in the medium containing 4.5 and 9.0 μM BA. The shoot proliferation rates ranged from 91.1 ± 2.4 to 96.4 ± 2.0% in the second subculture and from 76.7 ± 7.8 to 89.4 ± 3.3% in the third subculture. In the second subculture, the shoots grown on 9.0 μM BA without auxin produced the best proliferation (10.6 ± 1.6). For the in vitro rooting experiments, the highest rooting rate (54.2 ± 10.4%), root length (10.5 ± 2.4 mm), and root number (2.5 ± 0.6) were obtained from 10 days dark treatment on the medium containing half strength of macronutrients supplemented with 5 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). For the ex vitro rooting experiments, shoot rooting was significantly influenced by 10 mM IBA applied as quick-dip method. The percentage of rooting was 55 ± 9.6% and root number was 1.8 ± 0.3 at this concentration.
Experimental and Computational Methods to Assess Central Nervous System Penetration of Small Molecules

In CNS drug discovery, the estimation of brain exposure to lead compounds is critical for their optimization. Compounds need to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to reach the pharmacological targets in the CNS. The BBB is a complex system involving passive and active mechanisms of transport and efflux transporters such as P-glycoproteins (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), which play an essential role in CNS penetration of small molecules. Several in vivo, in vitro, and in silico methods are available to estimate human brain penetration. Preclinical species are used as in vivo models to understand unbound brain exposure by deriving the Kp,uu parameter and the brain/plasma ratio of exposure corrected with the plasma and brain free fraction. The MDCK-mdr1 (Madin Darby canine kidney cells transfected with the MDR1 gene encoding for the human P-gp) assay is the commonly used in vitro assay to estimate compound permeability and human efflux. The in silico methods to predict brain exposure, such as CNS MPO, CNS BBB scores, and various machine learning models, help save costs and speed up compound discovery and optimization at all stages. These methods enable the screening of virtual compounds, building of a CNS penetrable compounds library, and optimization of lead molecules for CNS penetration. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the reliability and ability of these methods to predict CNS penetration. We review the in silico, in vitro, and in vivo data and their correlation with each other, as well as assess published experimental and computational approaches to predict the BBB penetrability of compounds.
Coordinated within-Trial Dynamics of Low-Frequency Neural Rhythms Controls Evidence Accumulation

Higher cognitive functions, such as human perceptual decision making, require information processing and transmission across wide-spread cortical networks. Temporally synchronized neural firing patterns are advantageous for efficiently representing and transmitting information within and between assemblies. Computational, empirical, and conceptual considerations all lead to the expectation that the informational redundancy of neural firing rates is positively related to their synchronization. Recent theorizing and initial evidence also suggest that the coding of stimulus characteristics and their integration with behavioral goal states require neural interactions across a hierarchy of timescales. However, most studies thus have focused on neural activity in a single frequency range or on a restricted set of brain regions. Here we provide evidence for cooperative spatiotemporal dynamics of slow and fast EEG signals during perceptual decision making at the single-trial level. Participants performed three masked two-choice decision tasks, one each with numerical, verbal, or figural content. Decrements in posterior α power (8–14 Hz) were paralleled by increments in high-frequency (>30 Hz) signal entropy in trials demanding active sensory processing. Simultaneously, frontocentral θ power (4–7 Hz) increased, indicating evidence integration. The coordinated α/θ dynamics were tightly linked to decision speed and remarkably similar across tasks, suggesting a domain-general mechanism. In sum, we demonstrate an inverse association between decision-related changes in widespread low-frequency power and local high-frequency entropy. The cooperation among mechanisms captured by these changes enhances the informational density of neural response patterns and qualifies as a neural coding system in the service of perceptual decision making.
Norepinephrine in Urine and Plasma Following Provocative Maneuvers in Normal and Hypertensive Subjects

SUMMARY Urinary norepinephrine (UNE) excretion rate and venous plasma norepinephrine (PNE) concentrations were studied in 266 normotensive and 107 essential hypertensive men and women under conditions of volume expansion with 2 liters of intravenous normal saline over 4 hours, and volume contraction with a 10 mEq sodium diet and 120 mg oral furosemide. The UNE excretion rate was correlated with age in normal women only. In men, and in hypertensives of both sexes, the relationship appeared to be biphasic. The PNE concentration was not correlated with age in the hypertensive subjects. Insufficient numbers of older subjects were available to exclude absolutely such a relationship among normals. The UNE and PNE were influenced by volume expansion and contraction in both normals and hypertensives; however, normals exhibited a correlation between UNE and blood pressure as well as consistent correlations between UNE and PNE, neither of which were observed in the hypertensives. Hypertensive women generally had greater UNE and PNE values than normal women or hypertensive men. Hypertensive women may have altered sympathetic activity.
Identification of Deterministic Hybrid ARX Systems via the Identification of Algebraic Varieties ?

We present a closed-form (linear-algebraic) solution to the identification of hybrid deterministic ARX systems and characterize conditions on the input and switching sequences that guarantee the uniqueness of the solution. We show that the simultaneous identification of the number of ARX systems, the (possibly different) model orders, the ARX model parameters, and the switching sequence is equivalent to the identification and decomposition of a projective algebraic variety whose degree and dimension depend on the number of ARX systems and the model orders, respectively. Given an upper bound for the number of systems, our algorithm identifies the variety and the maximum orders by fitting a polynomial to the data, and the number of systems, the model parameters, and the switching sequence by differentiating this polynomial. Our method is provably correct in the deterministic case, provides a good sub-optimal solution in the stochastic case, and can handle large low-dimensional data sets (up to tens of thousands points) in a batch fashion.
Modulation of human dendritic cell phenotype and function by probiotic bacteria

Background: “Probiotic” bacteria are effective in treating some inflammatory bowel diseases. However which bacteria confer benefit and mechanisms of action remain poorly defined. Dendritic cells, which are pivotal in early bacterial recognition, tolerance induction, and shaping of T cell responses, may be central in mediating the effects of these bacteria. Aims: To assess effects of different probiotic bacteria on dendritic cell function. Methods: Human intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells, whole blood, or an enriched blood dendritic cell population were cultured with cell wall components of the eight bacterial strains in the probiotic preparation VSL#3 (four lactobacilli, three bifidobacteria, and one streptococcal strains). Dendritic cells were identified and changes in dendritic cell maturation/costimulatory markers and cytokine production in response to probiotic bacteria were analysed by multicolour flow cytometry, in addition to subsequent effects on T cell polarisation. Results: VSL#3 was a potent inducer of IL-10 by dendritic cells from blood and intestinal tissue, and inhibited generation of Th1 cells. Individual strains within VSL#3 displayed distinct immunomodulatory effects on dendritic cells; the most marked anti-inflammatory effects were produced by bifidobacteria strains which upregulated IL-10 production by dendritic cells, decreased expression of the costimulatory molecule CD80, and decreased interferon-γ production by T cells. VSL#3 diminished proinflammatory effects of LPS by decreasing LPS induced production of IL-12 while maintaining IL-10 production. Conclusions: Probiotic bacteria differ in their immunomodulatory activity and influence polarisation of immune responses at the earliest stage of antigen presentation by dendritic cells.
Effect of Incubation Time on Amylase Enzyme Activity in Cassava Tape

Cassava tape is a product made by a fermentation process that requires the help of microorganisms. The tape fermentation process involves the enzyme amylase. Amylase is a glycoside hydrolase enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of starch into simple sugars. Enzyme activity can be calculated by measuring the amount of product formed, or by calculating the amount of substrate reduction in a given unit of time. This study aims to determine the effect of incubation time on amylase enzyme activity in cassava tape. The research method used was the descriptive experimental method. The results of the experiment showed a reduction in the substrate due to amylase enzyme activity. The highest percentage of substrate reduction occurred at 48 hours incubation time and the lowest percentage at 144 hours incubation time. An organoleptic test was conducted with color, aroma, texture, and taste parameters conducted on 30 panelists. Incubation time affected the percentage of substrate reduction and organoleptic parameters
Lower bound element and submodel for modelling of joints between precast concrete panels

In practice, precast concrete structures are designed using either analytical methods or linear finite element tools, and the in-situ cast joints between the precast panels are assessed using conservative empirical design formulas. This often leads to a suboptimal design, and local mechanisms inside the joint are not taken into account. This paper presents an equilibrium element representing in-situ cast joints and an advanced submodel yield criterion is developed. The element and submodel are verified by compar- ison to a detailed numerical model as well as experimental results. The computational time and problem size of the joint element and detailed model will be discussed.
Validation of a fornix depth measurer: a putative tool for the assessment of progressive cicatrising conjunctivitis

Background/aims Documentation of conjunctival forniceal foreshortening in cases of progressive cicatrising conjunctivitis (PCC) is important in ascertaining disease stage and progression. Lower fornix shortening is often documented subjectively or semi-objectively, whereas upper forniceal obliteration is seldom quantified. Although tools such as fornix depth measurers (FDMs) have been described, their designs limit upper fornix measurement. The purpose of this study was to custom-design a FDM to evaluate the upper fornix and to assess variability in gauging fornix depth. Methods A polymethylmethacrylate FDM was constructed using industry-standard jewellery computer software and machinery. Two observers undertook a prospective independent evaluation of central lower fornix depth in a heterogeneous cohort of patients with clinically normal and abnormal conjunctival fornices both subjectively and by using the FDM (in mm). Upper central fornix depth was also measured. Agreement was assessed using Bland–Altman plots. Results Fifty-one eyes were evaluated. There was 100% intraobserver agreement to within 1 mm for each observer for lower fornix measurement. The mean difference in fornix depth loss using the FDM between observer 1 and 2 was 1.19%, with 95% confidence of agreement (±2SD) of −15% to +20%. In total, 86% (44/51) of measurements taken by the two observers agreed to within 10% of total lower fornix depth (ie, ±1 mm) versus only 63% (32/51) of the subjective measurements. Mean upper fornix difference was 0.57 mm, with 95% confidence of agreement of between −2 and +3 mm. Conclusions This custom-designed FDM is well tolerated by patients and shows low intraobserver and interobserver variability. This enables repeatable and reproducible measurement of upper and lower fornix depths, facilitating improved rates of detection and better monitoring of progression of conjunctival scarring.
An analysis of the node spatial distribution of the random waypoint mobility model for ad hoc networks

In this paper we analyze the node spatial distribution generated by nodes moving according to the random waypoint model, which is widely used in the simulation of mobile ad hoc networks. We extend an existing analysis for the case in which nodes are continuously moving (i.e., the pause time is 0) to the more general case in which nodes have arbitrary pause times between movements. We also generalize the mobility model, allowing the nodes to remain stationary for the entire simulation time with a given probabilit . Our analysis shows that the structure of the resulting as asymptotic spatial density is composed by three distinct components: the initial, the pause and the mobilit component. The relative values of these components depend on the mobilit parameters. We derive an explicit formula of the one-dimensional node spatial density, and an approximated formula for the two-dimensional case.The quality of this approximation is verified through experimentation, which shows that the accuracy heavily depends on the choice of the mobilit parameters.
Metaplasticity of Mossy Fiber Synaptic Transmission Involves Altered Release Probability

Activity-dependent synaptic plasticity is a fundamental feature of CNS synapses. Intriguingly, the capacity of synapses to express plastic changes is itself subject to considerable activity-dependent variation, or metaplasticity. These forms of higher order plasticity are important because they may be crucial to maintain synapses within a dynamic functional range. In this study, we asked whether neuronal activity induced in vivo by application of kainate can induce lasting changes in mossy fiber short- and long-term plasticity. Several weeks after kainate-induced status epilepticus, the mossy fiber, but not the associational-commissural pathway, exhibits a marked loss of paired-pulse facilitation, augmentation, and long-term potentiation (LTP). Because the adenylyl cyclase–protein kinase A cascade is involved in mossy fiber LTP induction, we have tested the integrity of this key pathway by pharmacological activation of either adenylyl cyclase or protein kinase A. These treatments resulted in LTP in control, but not in kainate-treated animals, indicating that status-induced changes occur downstream of protein kinase A. To test whether altered neurotransmitter release might account for these changes, we measured the size of the releasable pool of glutamate in mossy fiber terminals. We find that the size of the releasable pool of glutamate was significantly increased in kainate-treated rats, indicating an increased release probability at the mossy fiber-CA3 synapse. Therefore, we suggest that lasting changes in neurotransmitter release probability caused by neuronal activity may be a powerful mechanism for metaplasticity that modulates both short- and long-term plasticity in the mossy fiber-CA3 synapse after status epilepticus.
Viewpoint Paper: e-Prescribing, Efficiency, Quality: Lessons from the Computerization of UK Family Practice

Nearly all general practice physicians (GPs) in the United Kingdom (UK) have electronic health record (EHR) systems in their practices compared with perhaps 15% of primary care physicians in the United States (U.S.). Based on interviews of 13 general GPs and review of current literature, the authors argue that the historical experience of widespread electronic health record uptake in the UK provides insight into features that might motivate broad adoption in the United States. These features include electronic prescribing, improved quality and consistency of care, practice efficiencies that have both timesaving and revenue generating effects, and potential shielding from malpractice claims.