Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metformin Increases Cortisol Regeneration by 11βHSD1 in Obese Men With and Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Context: The mechanism of action of metformin remains unclear. Given the regulation of the cortisol-regenerating enzyme 11βhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11βHSD1) by insulin and the limited efficacy of selective 11βHSD1 inhibitors to lower blood glucose when co-prescribed with metformin, we hypothesized that metformin reduces 11βHSD1 activity. Objective: To determine whether metformin regulates 11βHSD1 activity in vivo in obese men with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. Design: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Setting: A hospital clinical research facility. Participants: Eight obese nondiabetic (OND) men and eight obese men with type 2 diabetes (ODM). Intervention: Participants received 28 days of metformin (1 g twice daily), placebo, or (in the ODM group) gliclazide (80 mg twice daily) in random order. A deuterated cortisol infusion at the end of each phase measured cortisol regeneration by 11βHSD1. Oral cortisone was given to measure hepatic 11βHSD1 activity in the ODM group. The effect of metformin on 11βHSD1 was also assessed in human hepatocytes and Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome adipocytes. Main Outcome Measures: The effect of metformin on whole-body and hepatic 11βHSD1 activity. Results: Whole-body 11βHSD1 activity was approximately 25% higher in the ODM group than the OND group. Metformin increased whole-body cortisol regeneration by 11βHSD1 in both groups compared with placebo and gliclazide and tended to increase hepatic 11βHSD1 activity. In vitro, metformin did not increase 11βHSD1 activity in hepatocytes or adipocytes. Conclusions: Metformin increases whole-body cortisol generation by 11βHSD1 probably through an indirect mechanism, potentially offsetting other metabolic benefits of metformin. Co-prescription with metformin should provide a greater target for selective 11βHSD1 inhibitors.
Use of antibiotics as feed additives: a burning question

Antibiotics are chemotherapeutic agents used for the clinical management of infectious diseases in humans, plants and animals. However a sizeable fraction of antibiotics produced every year all over the world is used for non-therapeutic purposes. In US alone, about 24.6 million pounds of antibiotics are used in animal agriculture annually and a substantial portion of this is used as growth promoters and not for the treatment of infections (Oliver et al., 2011). According to a recent report, out of 13 million kg of antibiotics administered to animals in 2010, the major portion was meant for promoting the growth of the livestock (Spellberg et al., 2013). The ability of low doses antibiotics to promote growth of animals and birds was discovered serendipitously in the 1940s (Gustafson and Bowen, 1997). Subsequently, it was widely exploited and by this time, addition of antibiotics to the animal feed to stimulate growth has turned into a global practice. The basis of growth-promoting effect of antibiotics is not clearly known. It is postulated that microorganisms present in the animal feed consume a considerable portion of nutrients in the feed. They also inhibit absorption from the intestine and produce toxins having adverse effect on the health of the animals. The growth-promoting effect of antibiotics might stem from their ability to suppress these harmful organisms. It is also suggested that animals reared in the unhygienic environments always bear some latent infections, which trigger a cascade of events in their immune system. Cytokines produced in the process lead to the release of some catabolic hormones which cause wastage of muscles. Antibiotics relieve the animals of the need to produce cytokines by suppressing the causative agents of infections.
The Role of Positive Emotions in Reducing Depressive Symptoms Among Army Wives

The homecoming period following combat deployment can be as stressful to military spouses as the deployment itself. This study used the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions to examine whether personal resources (adaptive coping, maladaptive coping, and resilience) mediate the relationship between positive emotions and depressive symptoms in Army wives (N = 252) following the homecoming of a deployed active-duty service member. Using path analysis, after controlling for demographic variables and marital satisfaction, positive emotions were related to all 3 personal resources (positively to adaptive coping and resilience, negatively to maladaptive coping). In turn, adaptive coping and resilience were related to fewer depressive symptoms and maladaptive coping to greater depressive symptoms. The direct path between positive emotions and depressive symptoms was nonsignificant, suggesting complete mediation. The final model accounted for 54% of the total variance in depressive symptoms. Results support the important role that positive emotions play in decreasing depressive symptoms in this high-risk population.
Collaborative Discovery in a Scientific Domain

This study compares Pairs of subjects with Single subjects in a task of discovering scientific laws with the aid of experiments. Subjects solved a molecular genetics task in a computer micro-world (Dunbar, 1993). Pairs were more successful in discovery than Singles and participated more actively in explanatory activities (i.e., entertaining hypotheses and considering alternative ideas and justifications). Explanatory activities were effective for discovery only when the subjects also conducted crucial experiments. Explanatory activities were facilitated when paired subjects made requests of each other for explanation and focused on them. The study extends from individual to collaborative discovery activities the importance to the discovery process of setting goals to find hypotheses and evidence (Dunbar, 1993) and to construct explanations of phenomena and processes encountered in examples (Chi, Bassok, Lewis, & Glaser, 1989). Discovery through collaboration is a common and growing practice in science whose processes have not yet been extensively studied. We do not yet know whether discovery processes are different when people work together, what role discussion plays in collaboration, how researchers entertain hypotheses and conduct experiments when working together or how they handle alternative hypotheses and justifications that arise in discussion. These questions may be approached through historical case studies, field observation, interviews with researchers involved in collaboration, and laboratory experiments. Each approach has its advantages and limitations. This paper follows an experimental approach. We are aware that, although experiments are highly useful for detailed analyses of discovery processes, we need to be cautious in interpreting these data as reflecting actual scientists’ collaborative discovery processes. Over the long run, combining various approaches
Availability, Cost or Culture? Obstacles to Childcare Services for Low-Income Families

Abstract Recent research has highlighted the existence of a social bias in the extent to which children have access to childcare. In general, children living in higher income households are more likely to be cared for in childcare centres. While the existence of a social bias in access to childcare services has been clearly demonstrated, we currently lack a clear explanation as to why this is the case. This paper uses a unique dataset based on survey data collected specifically to study patterns of childcare use in the Swiss canton of Vaud (N = 875). The paper exploits the variation in the way childcare is organised within the canton. Childcare is a municipal policy, as a result of which there are twenty-nine different systems in operation. Fees are progressive everywhere, but variation is substantial. Availability is also very different. This peculiar institutional setup provides an ideal situation to examine the determinants of childcare use by different income groups. Our findings suggest that differences in the fees charged to low-income households, as well as the degree of progressivity of the fee structure, are significant predictors of use, while availability seems to matter less.
The Leader-Member Exchange as a Link between Managerial Trust and Employee Empowerment

This article examines the relationship between managerial trust and employee empowerment. Hypotheses derived from leader-member exchange (LMX) theory suggest that the quality of leader-member relations mediates the linkage between managerial trust and employee empowerment. Data from 128 manager-employee dyads from 13 organizations support this model. Whereas previous research has pointed to the influence of organizational and social structural variables on empowerment, this research shows the importance of manager-employee relationships on perceived empowerment. Implications for researchers and managers leading empowerment initiatives are discussed.
Heuristics and criterion setting during selective encoding in visual decision making: Evidence from eye movements

When making a decision, people spend longer looking at the option they ultimately choose compared to other options—termed the gaze bias effect—even during their first encounter with the options (Glaholt & Reingold, 2009a, 2009b; Schotter, Berry, McKenzie & Rayner, 2010). Schotter et al. (2010) suggested that this is because people selectively encode decision-relevant information about the options, online during the first encounter with them. To extend their findings and test this claim, we recorded subjects' eye movements as they made judgements about pairs of images (i.e., which one was taken more recently or which one was taken longer ago). We manipulated whether both images were presented in the same colour content (e.g., both in colour or both in black-and-white) or whether they differed in colour content and the extent to which colour content was a reliable cue to relative recentness of the images. We found that the magnitude of the gaze bias effect decreased when the colour content cue was not reliable during the first encounter with the images, but no modulation of the gaze bias effect in remaining time on the trial. These data suggest people do selectively encode decision-relevant information online.
Cross-Cultural Differences in the Acceptance of Barnum Profiles Supposedly Derived From Western Versus Chinese Astrology

The present study examines cross-cultural differences in the Barnum effect. At Stage 1 of the study, 287 respondents (comprising 149 Westerners and 138 Chinese nationals) provided birth details and completed a belief-in-astrology questionnaire. At Stage 2 a week later, 258 of these (130 Westerners, 128 Chinese) then completed a second belief-in-astrology questionnaire before receiving a Barnum profile supposedly derived from either Western or Chinese astrology, which they rated for, among other things, perceived accuracy (a) for themselves and (b) for other people in general. Preliminary analysis offered initial support for a universal Barnum effect. However, this disappeared after respondent gender, age, general education, and psychological knowledge were controlled for. Further analyses revealed little support for cross-cultural differences in either astrological beliefs or susceptibility to the Barnum effect, although surprisingly, Chinese nationals who believed in astrology did perceive their own (Barnum) profile to be more accurate for people in general than did Chinese skeptics. Finally, Barnum acceptance was not influenced by the apparent source of profiles. The role these factors play in relation to Barnum susceptibility and methodological limitations of the present study are discussed.
A temporal logic for Markov chains

Most models of agents and multi-agent systems include information about possible states of the system (that defines relations between states and their external characteristics), and information about relationships between states. Qualitative models of this kind assign no numerical measures to these relationships. At the same time, quantitative models assume that the relationships are measurable, and provide numerical information about the degrees of relations. In this paper, we explore the analogies between some qualitative and quantitative models of agents/processes, especially those between transition systems and Markovian models. Typical analysis of Markovian models of processes refers only to the expected utility that can be obtained by the process. On the other hand, modal logic offers a systematic method of describing phenomena by combining various modal operators. Here, we try to exploit linguistic features, offered by propositional modal logic, for analysis of Markov chains and Markov decision processes. To this end, we propose Markov temporal logic - a multi-valued logic that extends the branching time logic CTL*.
Childhood Cruelty to Animals and Subsequent Violence against Humans

Recent studies have offered compelling evidence supporting a relationship between childhood cruelty to animals and later violence against humans. This study investigated whether violent offenders were significantly more likely than nonviolent offenders to have abused animals of various types during childhood. Interviews were conducted with 45 violent and 45 nonviolent offenders incarcerated in a maximum-security prison and randomly selected for this study by institutional staff members. Two data collection instruments were used. The first extracted demographic and social history from the participants. The second was used to gather information regarding cruelty to animals as categorized into four types (wild, farm, pet, and stray). Results indicated that a statistically significant relationship existed between childhood cruelty to animals and later violence against humans. Furthermore, the study found, consistent with prior research, that violent offenders were significantly more likely than nonviolent offenders to have committed acts of cruelty toward pet animals as children.
Effective Treatments for Auditory Sensitivities in Autism

Hypersensitivity to sound is a frequent symptom of autism spectrum disorders and can be difficult to manage. Because an individual with sound hypersensitivity may display disruptive behaviors for significant periods of time in response to the sound, the condition demands treatment. Behavioral and desensitization therapies, which employ some of the techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy, appear to be promising, efficient, and effective types of treatment for these symptoms.
Autonomic and peripheral neuropathies in patients with chronic alcoholism. A dose-related toxic effect of alcohol.

OBJECTIVE To assess autonomic and peripheral nervous system function in patients with chronic alcoholism. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. PATIENTS A consecutive sample of 107 alcoholic patients and 61 controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE For autonomic assessment, heart rate variations during deep breathing and Valsalva maneuver and on standing were measured. Blood pressure response to standing up and to sustained handgrip were also evaluated. For assessment of the peripheral nervous system, an electrophysiologic examination was performed. RESULTS Alcoholic patients exhibited reduced heart rate variability compared with controls (P < .01, on all parasympathetic tests), whereas no differences in the mean values of the blood pressure responses between both groups were found. Twenty-six patients (24.3%) had criteria of autonomic neuropathy, and 34 (32%) had electrophysiologic criteria of peripheral neuropathy. None of the controls exhibited criteria of autonomic neuropathy, and only one had criteria of peripheral neuropathy. The estimated total lifetime dose of alcohol correlated inversely with the parasympathetic indexes (r = -.48 to -.51; P < .001 on all parasympathetic tests) and the sensory potential amplitudes of upper and lower limbs (r = -.43; P < .001, both limbs). Finally, a significant correlation between autonomic and peripheral neuropathies was observed (P = .01). By contrast, these lesions were not related to age, nutritional status, or other alcohol-related diseases. CONCLUSIONS Autonomic and peripheral neuropathies are common among hospitalized alcoholic patients. Alcohol appears to be toxic to autonomic and peripheral nerves in a dose-dependent manner.
Endogenous opioids modify dyspnoea during treadmill exercise in patients with COPD

Exogenous opioid drugs, such as morphine, relieve breathlessness. The present study hypothesis was that endogenous opioids, released during the stress of exercise, modify dyspnoea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. After familiarisation, patients performed an incremental treadmill exercise test followed by constant work on the treadmill for 10 min. At subsequent visits (2 to 3 days apart), patients received two puffs of albuterol, had a catheter placed in an arm vein for removal of blood to measure β-endorphin immunoreactivity, received normal saline or 10 mg of naloxone intravenously in randomised order, and then performed high-intensity constant work rate exercise on the treadmill. The mean±sd age of the 17 patients (eight females and nine males) was 63±7 yrs, and post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second was 50±17% predicted. In both conditions, β-endorphin levels increased three-fold from rest to end-exercise. The regression slope of breathlessness as a function of oxygen consumption (primary outcome), mean ratings of breathlessness throughout exercise and peak ratings of breathlessness were significantly higher with naloxone than normal saline. There were no differences in physiological responses throughout exercise between conditions. In conclusion, endogenous opioids modify dyspnoea during treadmill exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by apparent alteration of central perception.
Interventions for Infant and Toddler Sleep Disturbance: A Review

ABSTRACT Sleep disturbance affects nearly 25% of infants and toddlers, resulting in fatigue, stress, and family dissatisfaction. This review describes empirically-based treatments for infant and toddler sleep disturbance involving difficulty settling and night waking, including behavioral and pharmacological approaches. Pharmacological interventions included antihistamines, chloral hydrate, benzodiazepines, and melatonin. Behavioral interventions included extinction and its many variants, positive bedtime routines, scheduled awakenings, and disassociating feeding from sleep-wake transitions. Advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed and suggestions offered for future research.
Beginning Literacy with Language: Young Children Learning at Home and School.

In this fascinating book, you'll travel into the homes and schools of over 70 young children from diverse backgrounds and observe parent-child and teacher-child interactions. Through research gathered in the Home School Study of Language and Literacy Development, the authors share with you the relationship they've found between these critical, early interactions and children's kindergarten language and literacy skills. You'll explore both the home and school environments of children at ages 3, 4, and 5 and see how families talk to their young children during everyday activities like book reading, toy play, and mealtimes. You'll also examine children's conversations throughout the classroom day and consider how teachers strive to support children's development. In each chapter, you'll see how the data was collected read actual transcripts of parent-child and teacher-child interactions recognize how these interactions relate to later development get suggestions for supporting children's language and literacy development learn how these findings play out in the lives of four of the children in the study Find out how young children's home and classroom experiences during the preschool years are related to their kindergarten language and literacy skills, and discover the kinds of conversations that make a difference.
Spontaneous Verbal Elaboration in Gifted and Non-Gifted Youths

In two experiments, differences were investigated between gifted youths and comparison groups with respect to: (a) performance on paired-associate tasks involving meaningful and nonmeaningful words; (b) reported use of spontaneously produced learning strategies; and (c) degree to which learning strategies facilitated recall. Under free-study conditions, gifted youths outperformed their age peers in recall and strategy use, for both meaningful and nonmeaningful word pairs. In both experiments, gifted youths appeared to benefit greatly from mediational strategy use. Results of this and previous investigations, taken together, suggest that the learning of gifted students may be inhibited by rate learning environments which are too highly structured. When gifted learners were allowed to study at their own pace and develop their own learning strategies, performance increased.
A Three-Scale Model of Spatio-Temporal Bursting

We study spatio-temporal bursting in a three-scale reaction diffusion equation organized by the winged cusp singularity. For large time-scale separation the model exhibits traveling bursts, whereas for large space-scale separation the model exhibits standing bursts. Both behaviors exhibit a common singular skeleton, whose geometry is fully determined by persistent bifurcation diagrams of the winged cusp. The modulation of spatio-temporal bursting in such a model naturally translates into paths in the universal unfolding of the winged-cusp.
To be a European citizen - Eros and civilization

This essay, the 1997 Jean Monnet Lecture at the London School of Economics, explores the relationship between nationality, democracy and European integration in the context of the debate on European citizenship. Citizenship, an integral part of the vocabulary of statehood, nationality and peoplehood, seems to run into conflict with the very Telos of European integration: a project which aims at a union among the distinct peoples of Europe and not the creation of a new European people. And yet, absence of such a European demos undermines the democratic legitimacy of the Union. This articles explores, inter alia , various models of multiple demoi as a way of addressing this conundrum. It also suggests some ideas for enhancing the mechanics of transnational citizenship.
Study of fundamental control concepts through interactive learning objects

Abstract Information technology has contributed significantly to the renewal of teaching methodologies used in control systems teaching. Computer applications are becoming very popular as a support in traditional lectures and as self-learning tools. This paper describes an on-going project which tries to develop a suite of interactive learning objects composed by graphical interactive applications plus simple learning cards to cover the complete contents of an introductory control system course.
Words Are All I Have: Linguistic Cues as Predictors of Settlement in Divorce Mediation

What we say conveys information about how we perceived our relationships with others. In this research, we draw on Relational Order Theory (ROT) to analyze how words associated with affiliation (liking) affect the outcome of child custody mediations. We found that two indicators of relational distance—pronouns and the expression of emotions—were associated with agreement. In successful mediations, disputants decreased their use of third person pronouns, negative emotions and anger over time. The differential use of I by husbands and wives affected agreements, which were more likely if wives used I frequently in the first quarter of the mediation. Convergence to wives positive emotions also affected outcomes: agreement was reached when husbands converged to wives high levels of positive emotion, whereas impasses occurred when husbands converged to wives low levels of positive emotion. We discuss implications for extending ROT and for the practice of mediation.