Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endogenous cannabinoids: a new system involved in the homeostasis of arterial pressure in experimental cirrhosis in the rat.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Recent studies have described the existence of endogenous cannabinoids with vasodilator activity because of their interaction with peripheral CB1 receptors, anandamide being the most extensively investigated. The study investigated whether endogenous cannabinoids are involved in the pathogenesis of the cardiovascular disturbances in experimental cirrhosis. METHODS Arterial pressure, cardiac output, and total peripheral resistance were measured before and after the administration of a cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist to cirrhotic rats with ascites and to control rats. Blood pressure was also assessed in normotensive recipient rats after the intravenous administration of blood cells or isolated monocytes obtained from cirrhotic and control rats. Moreover, the endogenous content of anandamide was measured in circulating monocytes of cirrhotic and control rats by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS CB1 receptor blockade did not modify systemic hemodynamics in control rats, but significantly increased arterial pressure and peripheral resistance in cirrhotic animals. Blood cell suspension or monocytes from cirrhotic animals, but not from controls, induced arterial hypotension in recipient rats. Finally, anandamide was solely detected in monocytes of cirrhotic animals. CONCLUSIONS Monocytes of cirrhotic rats with ascites are activated to produce anandamide and this substance contributes to arterial hypotension in experimental cirrhosis.
PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine submissions made to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and assess whether the predicted financial impact was associated with a recommendation. The second objective was to assess whether the financial and utilization estimates for listing the proposed medicine were reliable. Methods: Data were extracted from public summary documents of major submissions considered by the PBAC from 2012 to 2014. Information collected included whether submissions were accepted, rejected, or deferred; estimated use; and financial impact. For those submissions that were recommended in 2012 and listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) by January 2014, a comparison was made between predicted and actual use and cost in 2014, based on PBS utilization. Results: In 2012 to 2014, the PBAC considered 142 unique major submissions; of those, 65 were recommended for listing. A higher financial cost to the government was a statistically significant factor in predicting rejection (p = .004 for cost > AUD 30 million Australian dollars [20.7 million Euros] compared with cost-saving). Of the submissions that were recommended in 2012 and listed by 2014, the actual use was higher than predicted for 5/19 medications. The estimated cost was outside the predicted bracket of cost for 10/19 medications, with 8/19 medications having threefold underestimated expenditure, and 2/19 items having lower than predicted expenditure. Conclusions: This study highlights that the predicted financial impact of a medication to the PBS budget is associated with a PBAC recommendation and also highlights that predicted use may not reflect actual prescribing practices.
Metabolic Profiling of Chicken Embryos Exposed to Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Agonists to Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors

Untargeted metabolic profiling of body fluids in experimental animals and humans exposed to chemicals may reveal early signs of toxicity and indicate toxicity pathways. Avian embryos develop separately from their mothers, which gives unique possibilities to study effects of chemicals during embryo development with minimal confounding factors from the mother. In this study we explored blood plasma and allantoic fluid from chicken embryos as matrices for revealing metabolic changes caused by exposure to chemicals during embryonic development. Embryos were exposed via egg injection on day 7 to the environmental pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and effects on the metabolic profile on day 12 were compared with those caused by GW7647 and rosiglitazone, which are selective agonists to peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα) and PPARγ, respectively. Analysis of the metabolite concentrations from allantoic fluid by Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) showed clear separation between the embryos exposed to GW7647, rosiglitazone, and vehicle control, respectively. In blood plasma only GW7647 caused a significant effect on the metabolic profile. PFOA induced embryo mortality and increased relative liver weight at the highest dose. Sublethal doses of PFOA did not significantly affect the metabolic profile in either matrix, although single metabolites appeared to be altered. Neonatal mortality by PFOA in the mouse has been suggested to be mediated via activation of PPARα. However, we found no similarity in the metabolite profile of chicken embryos exposed to PFOA with those of embryos exposed to PPAR agonists. This indicates that PFOA does not activate PPAR pathways in our model at concentrations in eggs and embryos well above those found in wild birds. The present study suggests that allantoic fluid and plasma from chicken embryos are useful and complementary matrices for exploring effects on the metabolic profile resulting from chemical exposure during embryonic development.
The assessment of social‐communicative anxiety via self‐reports: A comparison of measures

A necessary assumption for the derivation of general summative propositions about any personality dimension is that measures assessing the characteristic are equivalent. In communication, research on social‐communicative anxiety has reflected this assumption. The present research assessed the accuracy of the assumption in terms of self‐report measures of social‐communicative anxiety. Fourteen instruments, representative of three conceptual groups (performance, communicative and social anxiety) were completed by a group of undergraduates. Three major tests of empirical equivalence were completed (correlations, factor analysis, classification analysis). Results indicated that virtually every measure was significantly and strongly associated with most other measures and most reflected the same general construct. The classification analysis revealed only moderate agreement among measures. A replication was completed which supported the conclusion of the primary study. In addition, the different measures were .
Novel Inversions in Auditory Sequences Provide Evidence for Spontaneous Subtraction of Time and Number

Animals, including fish, birds, rodents, non-human primates, and pre-verbal infants are able to discriminate the duration and number of events without the use of language. In this paper, we present the results of six experiments exploring the capability of adult rats to count 2–6 sequentially presented white-noise stimuli. The investigation focuses on the animal’s ability to exhibit spontaneous subtraction following the presentation of novel stimulus inversions in the auditory signals being counted. Results suggest that a subtraction operation between two opposite sensory representations may be a general processing strategy used for the comparison of stimulus magnitudes. These findings are discussed within the context of a mode-control model of timing and counting that relies on an analog temporal-integration process for the addition and subtraction of sequential events.
An Information Theoretical Approach to Task-Switching: Evidence from Cognitive Brain Potentials in Humans

This study aimed to clarify the neural substrates of behavioral switch and restart costs in intermittently instructed task-switching paradigms. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while participants were intermittently cued to switch or repeat their categorization rule (Switch task), or else they performed two perceptually identical control conditions (NoGo and Oddball). The three tasks involved different task-sets with distinct stimulus-response associations in each, but identical visual stimulation, consisting of frequent colored shapes (p = 0.9) and randomly interspersed infrequent black shapes (p = 0.1; ‘+’ and ‘x’ symbols). Behavioral restart costs were observed in the first target responses following all black shapes in the Switch and NoGo tasks – but not in the Oddball task – and corresponded with enhanced fronto-centrally distributed early cue-locked P3 activity (peak latency 325–375 ms post-cue onset at the vertex). In turn, behavioral switch costs were associated with larger late cue-locked P3 amplitudes in the Switch task only (peak latency 400–450 ms post-cue onset at mid-parietal sites). Together with our information theoretical estimations, ERP results suggested that restart and switch costs indexed two neural mechanisms related to the preparatory resolution of uncertainty: (1) the intermittent re-activation of task-set information, and (2) the updating of stimulus-response mappings within an active task set, as indexed by early and late cue-locked P3 activations, respectively. In contrast, target-locked P3 activations reflected a functionally distinct mechanism related to the implementation of task-set information. We conclude that task-switching costs consist of both switch-specific and switch-unspecific processes during the preparation and execution stages of task performance.
Examining school culture in Flemish and Chinese primary schools

The aim of this research is to gain understanding about school culture characteristics of primary schools in the Flemish and Chinese context. The study was carried out in Flanders (Belgium) and China, involving a total of 44 Flemish schools and 40 Chinese schools. The School Culture Scales were used to measure five school culture dimensions with regard to goal orientation, leadership, innovation orientation, participative decision making and formal relationships. The School Culture Scales were validated in both contexts, and within-group agreement indexes were calculated. The results show that on average, the Flemish schools scored higher than the Chinese schools in four dimensions of the school culture features. Within-group differences were also found. The differences between and among the Chinese and Flemish schools are discussed.
Effect of ramipril on the incidence of diabetes.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have suggested that blockade of the renin-angiotensin system may prevent diabetes in people with cardiovascular disease or hypertension. METHODS In a double-blind, randomized clinical trial with a 2-by-2 factorial design, we randomly assigned 5269 participants without cardiovascular disease but with impaired fasting glucose levels (after an 8-hour fast) or impaired glucose tolerance to receive ramipril (up to 15 mg per day) or placebo (and rosiglitazone or placebo) and followed them for a median of 3 years. We studied the effects of ramipril on the development of diabetes or death, whichever came first (the primary outcome), and on secondary outcomes, including regression to normoglycemia. RESULTS The incidence of the primary outcome did not differ significantly between the ramipril group (18.1%) and the placebo group (19.5%; hazard ratio for the ramipril group, 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81 to 1.03; P=0.15). Participants receiving ramipril were more likely to have regression to normoglycemia than those receiving placebo (hazard ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.27; P=0.001). At the end of the study, the median fasting plasma glucose level was not significantly lower in the ramipril group (102.7 mg per deciliter [5.70 mmol per liter]) than in the placebo group (103.4 mg per deciliter [5.74 mmol per liter], P=0.07), though plasma glucose levels 2 hours after an oral glucose load were significantly lower in the ramipril group (135.1 mg per deciliter [7.50 mmol per liter] vs. 140.5 mg per deciliter [7.80 mmol per liter], P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS Among persons with impaired fasting glucose levels or impaired glucose tolerance, the use of ramipril for 3 years does not significantly reduce the incidence of diabetes or death but does significantly increase regression to normoglycemia. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00095654 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
SERIAL POSITION EFFECTS IN HIV-INFECTED INJECTING DRUG USERS

This study examined memory and serial position effects in HIV-positive injecting drug users (IDUs), HIV-negative IDUs, and nondrug using control participants. Exploratory analyses investigating a possible mediating role of executive functions with HIV infection, drug use, and memory were also performed. Control participants showed stronger primacy effects than did both HIV-positive and HIV-negative IDUs and also outperformed the drug using groups on all memory measures. Interestingly, analysis of the role of executive functions with HIV infection, drug use, and memory suggested that executive functioning may mediate the verbal memory deficits associated with HIV infection, but not those associated with IDU
Herpes Simplex Virus ICP 27 Activation of Stress Kinases JNK and p 38

We previously reported that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can activate the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs) p38 and JNK. In the present study, we undertook a comprehensive and comparative analysis of the requirements for viral protein synthesis in the activation of JNK and p38. Infection with the UL36 mutant tsB7 or with UV-irradiated virus indicated that both JNK and p38 activation required viral gene expression. Cycloheximide reversal or phosphonoacetic acid treatment of wild-type virus-infected cells as well as infection with the ICP4 mutant vi13 indicated that only the immediate-early class of viral proteins were required for SAPK activation. Infection with ICP4, ICP27, or ICP0 mutant viruses indicated that only ICP27 was necessary. Additionally, we determined that in the context of virus infection ICP27 was sufficient for SAPK activation and activation of the p38 targets Mnk1 and MK2 by infecting with mutants deleted for various combinations of immediate-early proteins. Specifically, the d100 (0 /4 ) and d103 (4 /22 /47 ) mutants activated p38 and JNK, while the d106 (4 /22 /27 /47 ) and d107 (4 /27 ) mutants did not. Finally, infections with a series of ICP27 mutants demonstrated that the functional domain of ICP27 required for activation was located in the region encompassing amino acids 20 to 65 near the N terminus of the protein and that the C-terminal transactivation activity of ICP27 was not necessary.
GM1 Binding-Deficient Exotoxin Is a Potent Noninflammatory Broad Spectrum Intradermal Immunoadjuvant

Intradermal (i.d.) immunization is a promising route of vaccine administration. Suitable i.d. adjuvants are important to increase vaccine efficacy in poorly responding populations such as the elderly or for dose-sparing strategies in the face of vaccine shortages. Bacterial exotoxins, such as Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), exert strong immunostimulatory effects through binding to monosialoganglioside (GM1) cell surface receptors; however, injection is hampered by local inflammation. We demonstrate that the injection of LT formulations deficient in GM1 binding by mutation (LT(G33D)) or in vitro ligand coupling does not cause localized edema and inflammation in mice, yet these formulations retain potent adjuvant activity by enhancing functional Ab and cellular immune responses to coadministered Ags. Complete protection against in vivo lethal tetanus toxin challenge and the induction of Ag-specific CTL responses capable of killing target cells in vivo indicated in vivo efficacy of the induced immune responses. LT(G33D) proved superior to standard alum adjuvant regarding the magnitude and breadth of the induced immune responses. Immunizations in complex ganglioside knockout mice revealed a GM1-independent pathway of LT adjuvanticity. Immunostimulation by i.d. LT(G33D) is explained by its ability to induce migration of activated APCs to the proximal draining lymph nodes. LT(G33D) is a promising candidate adjuvant for human trials of parenteral vaccines in general and for current i.d. vaccine development in particular.
What Did We Learn from the Financial Crisis, the Great Recession, and the Pathetic Recovery?

This article comes in three parts. Part 1 reviews a few pertinent facts about the stunning economic events that have occurred in the United States (and elsewhere) since 2007. The author chose these particular facts from among many for their relevance to the rest of the article. The next two parts take up, first, some of the key lessons that professional economists should have learned from the crisis and its aftermath and second, some important lessons for teaching economics (especially but not exclusively macroeconomics). The two categories of lessons overlap a bit, but it is perhaps surprising how different they are.
Impact of Vane Size and Separation on Radiometric Forces for Microactuation (Preprint)

Abstract : A kinetic approach is used to study the feasibility of increasing the efficiency of microactuators that use radiometric force through etching holes in a single radiometer vane. It has been shown that a radiometer that consists of small vanes is capable of producing at least an order of magnitude larger force than a single vane radiometer that takes up the same area. The optimum gap between the vanes is found to be slightly smaller than the vane size, with the optimum Knudsen number of about 0.05 based on the vane height. Several competing processes have been suggested for the actuation of micromechanical devices. Electrostatic micro-actuators have been suggested(1), (2) where a potential difference between two sets of combs produces a force generated by the associated electric field. Generally, electrostatic micro-actuators are linear drive devices and are not well suited for rotational operation. Piezoelectric devices(3) have been considered where an electric field applied to a material causes mechanical deformation in the material. The piezoelectric effect typically produces very small material deflections; however, they can have a very fast actuation frequency from the kHz up to the MHz range. Electrically conducting polymers(4) can be used to change the volume of a material to provide more actuation distance than a typical piezoelectric material with lower applied voltages.
A formally verified compiler for Lustre

The correct compilation of block diagram languages like Lustre, Scade, and a discrete subset of Simulink is important since they are used to program critical embedded control software. We describe the specification and verification in an Interactive Theorem Prover of a compilation chain that treats the key aspects of Lustre: sampling, nodes, and delays. Building on CompCert, we show that repeated execution of the generated assembly code faithfully implements the dataflow semantics of source programs. We resolve two key technical challenges. The first is the change from a synchronous dataflow semantics, where programs manipulate streams of values, to an imperative one, where computations manipulate memory sequentially. The second is the verified compilation of an imperative language with encapsulated state to C code where the state is realized by nested records. We also treat a standard control optimization that eliminates unnecessary conditional statements.
Measuring the Complexity of Continuous Distributions

We extend previously proposed measures of complexity, emergence, and self-organization to continuous distributions using differential entropy. This allows us to calculate the complexity of phenomena for which distributions are known. We find that a broad range of common parameters found in Gaussian and scale-free distributions present high complexity values. We also explore the relationship between our measure of complexity and information adaptation.
Interactive Disaster Communication on the Internet: A Content Analysis of Sixty-Four Disaster Relief Home Pages

Disaster relief home pages were content analyzed using a seven-dimensional conceptualization of interactivity. This study provides a theoretical exploration of the concept of interactivity and its potential contributions to the Internet as an increasingly interactive mass medium. It then applies interactivity to the development of disaster communication and tests that framework in the context of disaster relief home pages. Although most sites that were analyzed contained a large amount of news and explanatory content, as well as potential for user response, most did not show high scores in actual responsiveness to user or the other five dimensions of interactivity.
Prospection in Cognition: The Case for Joint Episodic-Procedural Memory in Cognitive Robotics

Prospection lies at the core of cognition: it is the means by which an agent — a person or a cognitive robot — shifts its perspective from immediate sensory experience to anticipate future events, be they the actions of other agents or the outcome of its own actions. Prospection, accomplished by internal simulation, requires mechanisms for both perceptual imagery and motor imagery. While it is known that these two forms of imagery are tightly entwined in the mirror neuron system, we do not yet have an effective model of the mentalizing network which would provide a framework to integrate declarative episodic and procedural memory systems and to combine experiential knowledge with skillful know-how. Such a framework would be founded on joint perceptuo-motor representations. In this paper we examine the case for this form of representation, contrasting sensory-motor theory with ideo-motor theory, and we discuss how such a framework could be realized by joint episodic-procedural memory. We argue that such a representation framework has several advantages for cognitive robotics. Since episodic memory operates by recombining imperfectly recalled past experience, this allows it to simulate new or unexpected events. Furthermore, by virtue of its associative nature, joint episodic-procedural memory allows the internal simulation to be conditioned by current context, semantic memory, and the agent’s value system. Context and semantics constrain the combinatorial explosion of potential perception-action associations and allow effective action selection in the pursuit of goals, while the value system provides the motives that underpin the agent’s autonomy and cognitive development. This joint episodic-procedural memory framework is neutral regarding the final implementation of these episodic and procedural memories, which can be configured sub-symbolically as associative networks or symbolically as content-addressable image databases and databases of motor-control scripts.
Influence of perceived family environment on adolescent leisure participation

The purpose of the present study was to examine if, and to what extent, the family environment can influence adolescent leisure participation. Measures of leisure participation, leisure satisfaction and with whom adolescents participate during leisure activities plus the Family Environment Scale (FES) Form R were administered to 313 high school students between 13 and 16 years of age. The results demonstrated a relationship between leisure activity and with whom adolescents participated, that the time spent in leisure activities and the amount of satisfaction gained was linked to the activities that gender predicted the types of leisure activities preferred, and that the satisfaction of the adolescent's leisure needs is related to the type of perceived family environment.