Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cognitive structure and the affective domain: On knowing and feeling in biology

This cross-age study explored the structural complexity and propositional validity of knowledge about and attitudes toward sharks, and the relationships among knowledge and attitudes. Responses were elicited from a convenience sample of students (5th, 8th and 11th grade, and college level) and senior citizens (n = 238). All subjects constructed a concept map on sharks and responded to a Likert-type attitude inventory. Based on the work of Novak and Gowin ( Leaning How to Learn, Cambridge University Press, 1984), concept maps were scored for frequencies of non-redundant concepts and scientifically valid relationships, levels of hierarchy, incidence of branching and number of crosslinks. The attitude inventory, emerging from Kellert's ( The Value of Life: Biological Diversity and Human Society, Island Press, 1996) work, generated subscale scores on four affective dimensions: scientific, naturalistic, moralistic and utilitarian/negative. Significant differences were found among subject groups on all knowledge structure variables and attitudinal dimensions. Gender differences were documented on three of four attitude subscales. A series of simple, mulitiple and canonical correlations revealed moderately strong relationships between knowledge structure variables and attitudinal dimensions. The pattern of these relationships supports conservation education efforts and instructional practices that encourage meaningful learning, knowledge restructuring and conceptual change (Mintzes et al., Assessing Science Understanding: A Human Constructivist View, Academic Press, 2000).
Current Understandings on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

The mechanisms underlying complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) have been increasingly studied over the past decade. Classically, this painful and disabling disorder was considered to emerge from pathology of the central nervous system. However, the involvement of additional peripheral disease mechanisms is likely, and recently these mechanisms have also attracted scientific attention. The present article provides an overview of the current understandings regarding pathology of the autonomic and somatic nervous system in CRPS, as well as the roles of neurogenic inflammation, hypoxia, and the contribution of psychological factors. Potential connections between the separate disease mechanisms will be discussed. Additionally, currently known risk factors for CRPS will be addressed. Insight into risk factors is of relevance as it facilitates early diagnosis and tailored treatment. Moreover, it may provide clues for further unraveling of the pathogenesis and etiology of CRPS.
Marital Quality for Men and Women in Stepfamilies

Although economic pressure and family stress models have been examined with samples of men and women in first marriages, previous models have neglected to focus on men and women in stepfamilies and to examine stress sources unique to stepfamilies. This study examines the effect of economic pressure on both common stressors and stepfamily-specific stressors and the subsequent effects on negativity, positivity, and marital quality. Results of structural equation modeling with a sample of 490 men and women in stepfamilies indicate that the proposed stepfamily stress model fit the data well for both men and women. For women, stepfamily-specific stressors have a direct inverse effect on positivity, negativity, and marital quality. For men, stepfamily-specific stressors were predictive of both positivity and marital quality. Findings from the study advance previous research on economic pressure, family stress, and marital quality.
Sox10 Controls Migration of B16F10 Melanoma Cells through Multiple Regulatory Target Genes

It is believed that the inherent differentiation program of melanocytes during embryogenesis predisposes melanoma cells to high frequency of metastasis. Sox10, a transcription factor expressed in neural crest stem cells and a subset of progeny lineages, plays a key role in the development of melanocytes. We show that B16F10 melanoma cells transfected with siRNAs specific for Sox10 display reduced migratory activity which in turn indicated that a subset of transcriptional regulatory target genes of Sox10 is likely to be involved in migration and metastasis of melanoma cells. We carried out a microarray-based gene expression profiling using a Sox10-specific siRNA to identify relevant regulatory targets and found that multiple genes including melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r) partake in the regulation of migration. We provide evidences that the effect of Sox10 on migration is mediated in large part by Mitf, a transcription factor downstream to Sox10. Among the mouse melanoma cell lines examined, however, only B16F10 showed robust down-regulation of Sox10 and inhibition of cell migration indicating that further dissection of dosage effects and/or cell line-specific regulatory networks is necessary. The involvement of Mc1r in migration was studied in detail in vivo using a murine metastasis model. Specifically, B16F10 melanoma cells treated with a specific siRNA showed reduced tendency in metastasizing to and colonizing the lung after being injected in the tail vein. These data reveal a cadre of novel regulators and mediators involved in migration and metastasis of melanoma cells that represents potential targets of therapeutic intervention.
Classroom Behavior of Elementary School-Age Boys with Fragile X Syndrome

Despite reports suggesting numerous academic and social behavior deficits in boys with fragile X syndrome (FXS), little information is available concerning their actual classroom academic and social behavior. In this study, direct observational data were collected on the behavior of 26 elementary school-age boys with FXS during classroom academic activities in primarily self-contained special education classrooms. Results indicated moderate levels of academic engagement during periods of academic instruction, comparable to that of their classroom peers. Classroom engagement was not related to intrasubject variables such as severity of delay, autism status, or medication usage. A general measure of classroom quality and instruction was significantly correlated with engagement. Relatively low levels of stereotypic or self-injurious behavior were observed. These findings are discussed in relation to the existing engagement literature for school-age individuals with disabilities and issues concerning syndrome specific behaviors.
Estrogen receptor alpha activation enhances mitochondrial function and systemic metabolism in high‐fat‐fed ovariectomized mice

Estrogen impacts insulin action and cardiac metabolism, and menopause dramatically increases cardiometabolic risk in women. However, the mechanism(s) of cardiometabolic protection by estrogen remain incompletely understood. Here, we tested the effects of selective activation of E2 receptor alpha (ERα) on systemic metabolism, insulin action, and cardiac mitochondrial function in a mouse model of metabolic dysfunction (ovariectomy [OVX], insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and advanced age). Middle‐aged (12‐month‐old) female low‐density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr)−/− mice were subjected to OVX or sham surgery and fed “western” high‐fat diet (WHFD) for 3 months. Selective ERα activation with 4,4′,4″‐(4‐Propyl‐[1H]‐pyrazole‐1,3,5‐triyl) (PPT), prevented weight gain, improved insulin action, and reduced visceral fat accumulation in WHFD‐fed OVX mice. PPT treatment also elevated systemic metabolism, increasing oxygen consumption and core body temperature, induced expression of several metabolic genes such as peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma, coactivator 1 alpha, and nuclear respiratory factor 1 in heart, liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue, and increased cardiac mitochondrial function. Taken together, selective activation of ERα with PPT enhances metabolic effects including insulin resistance, whole body energy metabolism, and mitochondrial function in OVX mice with metabolic syndrome.
Physiological aspects of the interaction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillem in entomopathogenic spores

The objective of the study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of aqueous suspensions of commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on spores of three entomopathogenic fungus species of Beauveria bassiana. Spores were placed in contact with MWCNTs for 1, 24, 72 and 216 h and then an in vitro evaluation in the subculture was performed on the linear growth of the vegetative mycelium of the spores after the contact with nanomaterial, as well as its sporulation after completion of the culture. No fungistatic effect of MWCNTs against B. bassiana spores was identified. Modification of vegetative mycelium surface growth in the culture of spores after contact with MWCNTs was mainly due to less effective inoculation, especially when shorter contact times with nanomaterial were applied. For one of the investigated strains, growth stimulation was observed in the culture of spores in contact with nanotubes for 72 and 216 h. Based on the significant intensification of sporulation observed in combination with the longest (216 h) contact with the investigated spore strains before culture with MWCNTs, it can be concluded that the tested nanomaterial constitutes a stress factor and may modify the metabolism of B. bassiana cells. Detailed evaluation of B. bassiana metabolic changes induced by MWCNTs should be conducted.
Understanding Preferences: 'Demand Types', and The Existence of Equilibrium with Indivisibilities

We propose new techniques for understanding agents' valuations. Our classification into \demand types", incorporates existing definitions (substitutes, complements, \strong substitutes", etc.) and permits new ones. Our Unimodularity Theorem generalises previous results about when competitive equilibrium exists for any set of agents whose valuations are all of a \demand type" for indivisible goods. Contrary to popular belief, equilibrium is guaranteed for more classes of purely-complements, than of purely-substitutes, preferences. Our Intersection Count Theorem checks equilibrium existence for combinations of agents with specific valuations by counting the intersection points of geometric objects. Applications include matching and coalition-formation; and the Product-Mix Auction, introduced by the Bank of England in response to the financial crisis.
Mechanics of Flexible Needles Robotically Steered through Soft Tissue

The tip asymmetry of a bevel-tip needle results in the needle naturally bending when it is inserted into soft tissue. This enables robotic needle steering, which can be used in medical procedures to reach subsurface targets inaccessible by straight-line trajectories. However, accurate path planning and control of needle steering require models of needle-tissue interaction. Previous kinematic models required empirical observations of each needle and tissue combination in order to fit model parameters. This study describes a mechanics-based model of robotic needle steering, which can be used to predict needle behavior and optimize system design based on fundamental mechanical and geometrical properties of the needle and tissue. We first present an analytical model for the loads developed at the tip, based on the geometry of the bevel edge and material properties of soft-tissue simulants (gels). We then present a mechanics-based model that calculates the deflection of a bevel-tipped needle inserted through a soft elastic medium. The model design is guided by microscopic observations of needle-gel interactions. The energy-based formulation incorporates tissue-specific parameters, and the geometry and material properties of the needle. Simulation results follow similar trends (deflection and radius of curvature) to those observed in experimental studies of robotic needle insertion.
Octreotide-induced bradycardia and heart block during surgical resection of a carcinoid tumor.

UNLABELLED Octreotide may be a life-saving treatment in the case of an acute carcinoid crisis, but when given as an i.v. bolus in larger doses, it may cause significant effects on the cardiac conduction system. We describe cardiac conduction impairment observed during octreotide administration in a patient undergoing carcinoid tumor surgery. In this patient, i.v. boluses of 100 microg of octreotide resulted in symptomatic bradycardia, Mobitz type II atrioventricular block, and complete heart block. Perioperative physicians especially need to be aware of these potential effects because they may be more likely to occur during surgery because of the larger doses and boluses that are used to treat acute symptoms secondary to tumor manipulation. IMPLICATIONS In some susceptible patients, i.v. bolus administration of octreotide may cause significant bradycardia and cardiac conduction defects. Therefore, when octreotide is administered as a bolus, it may be advisable to give it slowly while monitoring the electrocardiogram.
Subcortical Atrophy Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Mild Parkinson Disease: A Combined Investigation of Volumetric Changes, Cortical Thickness, and Vertex-Based Shape Analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The involvement of subcortical deep gray matter and cortical thinning associated with mild Parkinson disease remains poorly understood. We assessed cortical thickness and subcortical volumes in patients with Parkinson disease without dementia and evaluated their associations with cognitive dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 90 patients with mild Parkinson disease without dementia. Neuropsychological assessments classified the sample into patients with mild cognitive impairment (n = 25) and patients without cognitive impairment (n = 65). Volumetric data for subcortical structures were obtained by using the FMRIB Integrated Registration and Segmentation Tool while whole-brain, gray and white matter volumes were estimated by using Structural Image Evaluation, with Normalization of Atrophy. Vertex-based shape analyses were performed to investigate shape differences in subcortical structures. Vertex-wise group differences in cortical thickness were also assessed. Volumetric comparisons between Parkinson disease with mild cognitive impairment and Parkinson disease with no cognitive impairment were performed by using ANCOVA. Associations of subcortical structures with both cognitive function and disease severity were assessed by using linear regression models. RESULTS: Compared with Parkinson disease with no cognitive impairment, Parkinson disease with mild cognitive impairment demonstrated reduced volumes of the thalamus (P = .03) and the nucleus accumbens (P = .04). Significant associations were found for the nucleus accumbens and putamen with performances on the attention/working memory domains (P < .05) and nucleus accumbens and language domains (P = .04). The 2 groups did not differ in measures of subcortical shape or in cortical thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Parkinson disease with mild cognitive impairment demonstrated reduced subcortical volumes, which were associated with cognitive deficits. The thalamus, nucleus accumbens, and putamen may serve as potential biomarkers for Parkinson disease–mild cognitive impairment.
HMGB1 mediates splenomegaly and expansion of splenic CD11b+ Ly-6Chigh inflammatory monocytes in murine sepsis survivors

More than 500,000 hospitalized patients survive severe sepsis annually in the USA. Recent epidemiological evidence, however, demonstrated that these survivors have significant morbidity and mortality, with 3‐year fatality rates higher than 70%. To investigate the mechanisms underlying persistent functional impairment in sepsis survivors, here we developed a model to study severe sepsis survivors following cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).
Animals recover but plant life knowledge is still impaired 10 years after herpetic encephalitis: the long-term follow-up of a patient

In this study we report the long-term follow-up of EA, a patient originally affected by a disproportionate semantic impairment of biological categories due to herpetic encephalitis. After 10 years, EA still presented a biological categories semantic impairment, but his deficit had become minimal for animals while it remained considerably severe for fruit and vegetables, without any evolution from the original level of impairment. The eventual discrepancy between the two subsets of biological categories was statistically significant at word–picture matching and verbal semantic probes (and could not be explained by nuisance variables), but not significant at picture naming due to an associated lexical impairment that, besides plant life items, also affected animals and artefact stimuli. The mean male familiarity for the 10 vegetable stimuli was 2.08 (SD = 0.52, range 1.46–3.05), that for the 10 fruit stimuli was 2.31 (SD = 0.25, range 1.84–2.68), and that for the 10 animal stimuli was 1.44 (SD = 0.24, range 1.18–1.97). Vegetable stimuli were celery, corn, onion, pepper, artichoke, asparagus, mushroom, carrot, lettuce, tomato. Fruit stimuli were banana, watermelon, pineapple, cherry, pear, strawberry, lemon, apple, grapes, orange. Animal stimuli were giraffe, camel, ostrich, frog, swan, caterpillar, cow, rooster, butterfly, mouse. The list of the 60 stimuli and all the familiarity values are reported by Albanese et al. (2000). The values of word frequency (for the Italian language), prototypicality, image agreement, and visual complexity for all the stimuli are eported in Laiacona and Capitani (2001). Our recovery data corroborate the notion that biological categories should be further fractionated, and we comment on the suitability of different accounts of category specificity to accommodate such findings. We discuss our case against the background of other cases reported in the literature and the current models of organisation of the semantic system, bringing to light some interesting consistencies concerning patients whose semantic impairment disproportionately affects the categories of fruit and vegetables.
An Open Trial of Relapse Prevention Therapy for Smokers With Schizophrenia

Objective: Following successful smoking cessation, smokers with schizophrenia are vulnerable to relapse shortly after treatment discontinuation. Our objective was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a 12-month relapse prevention intervention in recently abstinent smokers with schizophrenia. Method: Adult outpatient smokers with schizophrenia received weekly cognitive-behavioral therapy groups, bupropion slow-release, transdermal nicotine patch, and nicotine gum or lozenge for 3 months. Subjects with 7-day point prevalence abstinence at month 3 received an additional 12 months (months 4 through 15) of therapy with bupropion, transdermal nicotine patch, and nicotine gum/lozenge in conjunction with relapse prevention–based cognitive-behavioral therapy groups that were held weekly in month 4, biweekly in months 5 and 6, and monthly in months 7 through 15. Results: Seventeen of 41 participants (41.5%) attained biochemically verified self-report of 7-day point prevalence abstinence at the end of 3 months of treatment and entered relapse prevention treatment. There was an 81% attendance rate at relapse prevention groups. At the end of the 12-month relapse prevention phase (month 15 overall), 11 of 17 (64.7%) demonstrated biochemically verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence, and 10 of 17 (58.8%) reported 4-week continuous abstinence. Almost one-quarter of the sample (23.5%) demonstrated long-term prolonged abstinence through the end of the trial. There were no clinically detected cases of psychiatric symptom exacerbation. One participant, who was managed as an outpatient, self-reported psychiatric symptom exacerbation in the interim period between study visits. Conclusions: Extended-duration smoking cessation treatment is well tolerated and may improve smoking outcomes for recently abstinent smokers with schizophrenia. Controlled trials are warranted.
(CAG)·(CTG) Repeats Associated with Neurodegenerative Diseases Are Stable in the Escherichia coli Chromosome*

(CAG)n·(CTG)n expansion is associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. Repeat instability has been extensively studied in bacterial plasmids, where repeats undergo deletion at high rates. We report an assay for (CAG)n·(CTG)n deletion from the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene integrated into the Escherichia coli chromosome. In strain AB1157, deletion rates for 25–60 (CAG)·(CTG) repeats integrated in the chromosome ranged from 6.88 × 10–9 to 1.33 × 10–10, or ∼6,300 to 660,000-fold lower than in plasmid pBR325. In contrast to the situation in plasmids, deletions occur at a higher rate when (CTG)43, rather than (CAG)43, comprised the leading template strand, and complete rather than partial deletions were the predominant mutation observed. Repeats were also stable on long term growth following multiple passages through exponential and stationary phase. Mutations in priA and recG increased or decreased deletion rates, but repeats were still greatly stabilized in the chromosome. The remarkable stability of (CAG)n·(CTG)n repeats in the E. coli chromosome may result from the differences in the mechanisms for replication or the probability for recombination afforded by a high plasmid copy number. The integration of (CAG)n·(CTG)n repeats into the chromosome provides a model system in which the inherent stability of these repeats reflects that in the human genome more closely.
A Linear Surface Epitope in a Proline-Rich Region of ORF3 Product of Genotype 1 Hepatitis E Virus

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the viral pathogens causing hepatitis in humans. HEV open reading frame 3 (ORF3) encodes a small multifunctional protein (VP13), which is essential for HEV infection. In this study, a linear epitope was identified in a polyproline (PXXP) motif from VP13 of genotype 1 HEV by using a monoclonal antibody. The epitope was detected in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays. Epitope mapping showed that the epitope locates in a proline-rich region containing a PXXP motif in amino acid residues 66-75 of VP13. The epitope was also detected in HEV-infected liver cells and reacted with genotype 1-specific antibodies in an HEV-positive human serum sample. The results demonstrated that the epitope in the PXXP motif of the genotype 1 VP13 is linear and surface-oriented, which should facilitate in-depth studies on the viral protein and HEV biology.
Disabled-2 is a novel αIIb-integrin-binding protein that negatively regulates platelet-fibrinogen interactions and platelet aggregation

Platelet aggregation plays a pivotal role in the haemostatic process and is involved in the pathological counterpart of arterial thrombosis. We have shown that the adapter protein disabled-2 (DAB2) is expressed abundantly in platelets. In this study, DAB2 was found to distribute in the platelet α-granules and was released from the granular compartment upon platelet activation. The secreted DAB2 binds to the extracellular region of αIIbβ3 integrin on the platelet surface through the phosphotyrosine-binding domain. The DAB2-platelet interactions result in the inhibition of agonist-induced platelet aggregation with the exception of thrombin, a DAB2 protease that renders DAB2 inactive. Biochemical and mutational analysis revealed that the DAB2 cell-adhesion Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif (amino acid residues 64-66) and the αIIb-integrin–fibrinogen-binding region (amino acid residues 171-464) are important for the DAB2-platelet interactions. Such interactions compete for the binding of αIIb integrin with fibrinogen and provide a mechanism for DAB2 to inhibit platelet aggregation. Accordingly, the synthetic RGD-motif-containing DAB2 peptide PDARGDKM also elicited anti-platelet aggregation activity. These findings demonstrate for the first time that DAB2 is an αIIb-integrin-binding protein that plays a novel role in the control of platelet-fibrinogen interactions and platelet aggregation.