Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neurobiological Background for the Development of New Drugs in Schizophrenia

Psychopharmacology of schizophrenia has remained static for many years because the mechanisms explored have been basically monoaminergics, primarily focused toward the modification of dopaminergic function and, later on, serotonergic. In fact, most of the antipsychotics introduced in clinical practice in the last years have been antagonists or selective agonists of these receptors (D2/5-HT2). The exploration of other receptor pathways, and in particular those additionally involved in the action of the paradigmatic "atypical" antipsychotic clozapine (ie, cholinergic and noradrenergic), has not been very significant. Besides, research in the antipsychotics field has developed also by exploring pathways that are beyond the spectrum of clozapine. Among the most promising mechanisms are those based on the glutamatergic hypothesis of schizophrenia (agonists at the glycine-binding modulatory site of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, glycine transporter inhibitors, modulators of the AMPA [&agr;-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid] receptor and selective agonists of the metabotropic receptor Glu2). Other less classic pathways are also under study and have led to some agents that are found in very early stages of development such as those acting on sigma receptors, cholecystokinin antagonists, neurotensin agonists, neurokinin receptor antagonists, GABAergic (+-aminobutyric acid [GABA]) enhancers, and cannabinoid(gamma-aminobutiric) receptor modulators.
Role of fatty acid binding proteins and FAAH-2 in endocannabinoid uptake and inactivation

Stony Brook University Libraries. SBU Graduate School in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Lawrence Martin (Dean of Graduate School), Dale G. Deutsch, Ph.D. – Dissertation Advisor Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology Stony Brook University, Robert S. Haltiwanger, Ph.D. – Chairperson of Defense Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology Stony Brook University, Deborah A. Brown, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology Stony Brook University, Erwin London, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology Stony Brook University, Stephen Yazulla, Ph.D., Outside Member of the Dissertation Committee Professor, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior Stony Brook University.
The Effects of 48 Hours Total Sleep Deprivation on Human Physiology, Mood, and Memory

Previous research regarding the effects of sleep deprivation (SD) on human physiology and mood has yielded conflicting results. These findings may in part be due to the use of small sample sizes and the failure to separate out the pure effects of SD from those of circadian rhythms during data analysis. One purpose of this study was to clearly identify the effects of 48 hours of SD on blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and mood by overcoming the limitations of previous research. A second purpose was to evaluate the effects of SD on recognition memory. A repeated measures design was employed to collect physiological, mood, and memory data over a 48 hour period. While strong circadian rhythms were observed for most of the physiological and mood variables, recognition memory was unaffected by 48 hours of SD.
Transobturator Tape for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: Preoperative Valsalva Leak Point Pressure Is Not Related to Cure Rate or Quality of Life Improvement

Purpose We investigated whether the Valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) is valuable for predicting postoperative outcome measurement after transobturator suburethral tape (TVT-O) implantation for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. Materials and Methods A total of 204 female patients who underwent TVT-O placement for treatment of SUI from March 2008 to February 2012 were enrolled in this retrospective study. All patients completed the incontinence quality of Life questionnaire (I-QoL), a self-reported quality of life measure specific to urinary incontinence, and the cure rate of incontinence was measured before and 6 months after surgery. Cure was defined as no leakage of urine postoperatively both subjectively and objectively. We compared pre- and postoperative I-QoL scores according to preoperative VLPP and Stamey grade. Results The numbers of patients with Stamey grades I, II, and III were 99 (48.5%), 84 (41.2%), and 21 (10.3%), respectively. A total of 30 (14.7%), 87 (42.6%), and 87 patients (42.6%) showed VLPP≤60, 6090 cm H2O, respectively. Preoperative VLPP was not significantly different according to preoperative I-QoL or change in I-QoL after surgery. However, I-QoL after surgery improved in patients with a high preoperative Stamey grade (p=0.001). Conclusions VLPP was not a factor related to surgical outcome from the midurethral sling procedure. Stamey grade rather than VLPP was important for predicting subjective quality of life and improved incontinence-related quality of life after surgery.
Always on my mind: The impact of relational ambivalence on rumination upon supervisor mistreatment

Often viewed as a self-regulatory impairment (Thau & Mitchell, 2010), rumination describes the repeated pondering of an offense (Caprara, 1986). The current study predicts that employees high in relational ambivalence with supervisors, or who “maintain both a positive and negative attitude toward their supervisor,” are more likely than those in positive or negative relationships to ruminate over a supervisor-induced psychological contract violation (S-I PCV). By use of a 10-day diary study, this study reveals differences in the moderating role of relationship quality with supervisors (i.e., positive, negative, or ambivalent) on S-I PCV and rumination. More specifically, relational ambivalence with supervisors positively moderated the relationship between S-I PCV and rumination, whereas positive and negative relationships with supervisors both negatively moderated this relationship.
Female Reproductive Hormones and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Genital Chlamydia Infection in Tubal Factor Infertility

Background Genital Chlamydia infection (GCI) and the associated pathologies have been implicated in tubal infertility. Though the actual pathologic mechanisms are still uncertain, oxidative stress and other factors have been implicated. The purpose of the study was to determine the possible contribution of female reproductive hormones and biomarkers of oxidative stress in genital Chlamydial infection to tubal occlusion. Methods This prospective case control study was carried out by recruiting 150 age matched women grouped into infertile Chlamydia positive women (n = 50), fertile Chlamydia positive women (n = 50) and fertile Chlamydia negative women as controls (n = 50). High vaginal swabs and endocervical swabs were collected for screening Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Treponema pallidum, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Sera were collected for estimation of Chlamydia trachomatis antibody, female reproductive hormones [Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Oestradiol (E2), Progesterone (P4), Prolactin (PRL)] and biomarkers of oxidative stress [Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and 8-hydroxyl-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)] by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Data were analyzed using chi square, analysis of variance and LSD Post hoc to determine mean differences at p = 0.05. Results Among women with GCI, higher levels of LH and 8-OHdG were observed in infertile Chlamydia positive women compared to fertile Chlamydia positive women (p < 0.05). Higher levels of LH and 8-OHdG and lower TAC levels were observed in infertile Chlamydia positive women compared to fertile Chlamydia negative controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion Mechanisms including oxidative DNA damage and reduced antioxidant capacity may be involved in the pathology of Chlamydia induced tubal damage.
Data Mining for Network Intrusion Detection: A Comparison of Alternative Methods

Intrusion detection systems help network administrators prepare for and deal with network security attacks. These systems collect information from a variety of systems and network sources, and analyze them for signs of intrusion and misuse. A variety of techniques have been employed for analysis ranging from traditional statistical methods to new data mining approaches. In this study the performance of three data mining methods in detecting network intrusion is examined. An experimental design (3times2x2) is created to evaluate the impact of three data mining methods, two data representation formats, and two data proportion schemes on the classification accuracy of intrusion detection systems. The results indicate that data mining methods and data proportion have a significant impact on classification accuracy. Within data mining methods, rough sets provide better accuracy, followed by neural networks and inductive learning. Balanced data proportion performs better than unbalanced data proportion. There are no major differences in performance between binary and integer data representation.
Five-year progression-free survival in 577 patients operated on with laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer

Abstract Objective. Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) was introduced in the Department of Urology, Oslo University Hospital, in 2002. The aim of this study was to report mid-term oncology results and survival data. Material and methods. From February 2002 to November 2007, 582 consecutive patients with localized prostate cancer underwent LRP. Data were collected prospectively into a database. Results. Mean and median follow-up after LRP was 30.3 months (± 15.5) and 36.0 months (range 3–72). Five patients (1%) were lost during follow-up. Two patients died of prostate cancer during the study period and 10 patients died of other causes. The overall positive surgical margin (PSM) rate was 29% and decreased to 13% for the last 100 patients. The overall PSA progression-free survival (PFS) was 85% at 3 years and 73% at 5 years. Gleason score in the tumour specimen, pT stage and surgical margins were statistical significant independent predictors of biochemical PFS. Conclusion. These oncology results and 5-year PFS data after LRP are in line with other reports.
In-vivo slit scanning confocal microscopy of normal corneas in Indian eyes.

OBJECTIVE To study the cellular populations of healthy corneas of Indian eyes using confocal microscopy and to evaluate the correlation with age, gender and laterality. METHODS The central corneas of 100 eyes of 50 healthy subjects were examined using an in-vivo slit scanning confocal microscope (Confoscan 2). Images were analysed for cell densities of the epithelium, stroma and endothelium. RESULTS Good quality images enabling analysis of all cell layer populations were obtained in 74 eyes of 43 healthy subjects (22 males and 21 females) with a mean age of 31.89 +/- 13.47 (range 19-71 years). The basal epithelial cell density was 3601.38 +/- 408.19 cells/mm2 (range 3017.3-4231.1 cells/mm2). The mean keratocyte nuclei density in the anterior stroma was 1005.02 +/- 396.86 cells/mm2 (range 571.6-1249.6 cells/mm2) and in the posterior stroma was 654.32 +/- 147.09 cells/mm2 (range 402.6-1049.1 cells/mm2). Posterior keratocyte nuclei density was 30.76% less than the anterior stromal keratocyte nuclei density. The difference in keratocyte nuclei density was statistically significant (P=0.001). The mean endothelial cell density was 2818.1 +/- 361.03 cells/mm2 (range 2118.9-4434 cells/mm2) and the mean endothelial cell area was found to be 385.44 +/- 42.66 mm2 (range 268.9-489.2 mm2). Hexagonal cells formed 22.5-69.4% of the endothelial cell populations (mean 42.04 +/- 11.81%). Mean coefficient of cell size variation was 32.29 +/- 3.06 (range 27.2-39.2). No statistically significant differences were found in cell densities of any corneal layer either between female and male patients or between right and left eyes. Basal epithelial cell density, anterior stromal keratocyte nuclei and posterior stromal keratocyte nuclei density were unaffected by age (r=0.12, 0.07, -0.12 respectively) (P=0.001). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between mean endothelial cell density and increase in age (r=-0.42, P=0.001). Coefficient of cell size variation and age were positively correlated (r=0.73, P=0.001). CONCLUSION In-vivo slit scanning confocal microscopy is useful for the study of corneal cell populations. Our study provides normative data of these cell populations.
Unpacking team dynamics with growth modeling

In this paper we advocate the use of growth modeling as an approach that is particularly useful for testing and refining existing theory on team dynamics, as well as integrating different theoretical perspectives. Quantitative studies that test team theories have typically included only one or two time points, between-team research designs, and hierarchical regression-based statistical analyses. Such an approach enables exploration of antecedents to explain why some teams are more effective than others at specified points in the team task or lifespan. In contrast, using three or more time points of data and applying growth modeling statistical analyses is atypical, but can allow for informative investigations of team trajectories, or patterns of change within teams. We argue that this approach can facilitate fruitful insights about team dynamics, and we provide guidelines for researchers as to how to investigate such team dynamics using growth modeling.
Neural Correlates of Successful and Unsuccessful Verbal Memory Encoding

Recent neuroimaging studies suggest that episodic memory encoding involves a network of neocortical structures which may act interdependently with medial temporal lobe (mTL) structures to promote the formation of durable memories, and that activation in certain structures is modulated according to task performance. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to determine the neural structures recruited during a verbal episodic encoding task and to examine the relationship between activation during encoding and subsequent recognition memory performance across subjects. Our results show performance-correlated activation during encoding both in neocortical and medial temporal structures. Neocortical activations associated with later successful and unsuccessful recognition memory were found to differ not only in magnitude, but also in hemispheric laterality. These performance-related hemispheric effects, which have not been previously reported, may correspond to between-subject differences in encoding strategy.
Different approaches to model error formulation in 4D-Var: a study with high-resolution advection schemes

Abstract All numerical models are imperfect. Weak constraint variational data assimilation (VDA), which provides a treatment of the modelling errors, is studied; building on the approach of Vidard et al. (Tellus, 56A, pp. 177–188, 2004). The evolution of model error (ME) is modelled using ordinary differential equations, which involve a scalar parameter. These approaches were tested using different high-resolution advection schemes. The first set of experiments were constructed to see if it is possible to account for (numerical) discretization error within such a framework. In other set of experiments, a systematic source of modelling error was introduced by deliberately specifying an incorrect value for the Coriolis parameter in the model. Results with observational state at half of the model state resolution, are also presented.We also discuss a method of estimating the scalar parameter in the ME through VDA. In all cases, the inclusion of ME provides reduction in forecasting errors. Also, our experiments indicate that different settings of the model (e.g. using different high-resolution advection schemes) would need different ME formulation. Results presented in this paper could be used to formulate sophisticated ME forms to account for systematic errors in higher dimensional models with complex advection schemes.
Latent Mixture of Discriminative Experts for Multimodal Prediction Modeling

During face-to-face conversation, people naturally integrate speech, gestures and higher level language interpretations to predict the right time to start talking or to give backchannel feedback. In this paper we introduce a new model called Latent Mixture of Discriminative Experts which addresses some of the key issues with multimodal language processing: (1) temporal synchrony/asynchrony between modalities, (2) micro dynamics and (3) integration of different levels of interpretation. We present an empirical evaluation on listener nonverbal feedback prediction (e.g., head nod), based on observable behaviors of the speaker. We confirm the importance of combining four types of multimodal features: lexical, syntactic structure, eye gaze, and prosody. We show that our Latent Mixture of Discriminative Experts model outperforms previous approaches based on Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) and Latent-Dynamic CRFs.
Complications of endoscopic sphincterotomy and their prevention.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy for gallstone removal and the insertion of biliary and pancreatic stents is the most difficult gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure. Success rates depend on the proper training, skills, and experience of the endoscopist and range from 90 to 95 percent, even when the technique is performed by experts.1 Complications cannot always be avoided, with hemorrhage, pancreatitis, perforation of the duodenal wall, and cholangitis being the most frequent. Complications occur in approximately 10 percent of procedures, and about 1 in 100 patients dies.2 It is a surgeon's and an endoscopist's job to know the complications of .
Rapid induction of B-cell lymphomas: insertional activation of c-myb by avian leukosis virus

EU-8 is a recombinant avian leukosis virus (ALV) constructed in vitro, which carries long terminal repeats and gag and pol genes from ring-necked pheasant virus and the env gene from UR2AV. Unlike either parent virus, when injected into 10-day-old chicken embryos, EU-8 induces a high incidence of clonally arising B-cell lymphomas within an unusually short latent period, often causing death within 5 to 7 weeks after infection. These tumors differ from the classic lymphoid leukosis induced by ALV in several respects, both biologically and at the molecular level. Most notably, in all of the EU-8-induced tumors examined, the provirus was integrated in the c-myb locus, and in no tumors were c-myc integrations found. Most of the proviral integrations were downstream of the initiation codon of c-myb and thus presumably resulted in some truncation of the c-myb gene product, although not to the same extent as has been found in other cases of c-myb activation. In addition, several of the proviruses were integrated well upstream of the c-myb coding region. This is the first report of ALV interaction with the c-myb proto-oncogene and the first report of c-myb activation resulting in tumors of lymphoid rather than myeloid origin, suggesting that the target cell specificity of transformation by the myb gene is not as restricted as previously believed.
In the eye of the beholder : Reply to wilson and shadish (2006) and radin, nelson, dobyns, and houtkooper (2006)

H. Bosch, F. Steinkamp, and E. Boller's (2006) meta-analysis, which demonstrated (a) a small but highly significant overall effect, (b) a small-study effect, and (c) extreme heterogeneity, has provoked widely differing responses. After considering D. B. Wilson and W. R. Shadish's (2006) and D. Radin, R. Nelson, Y. Dobyns, and J. Houtkooper's (2006) concerns about the possible effects of psychological moderator variables, the potential for missing data, and the difficulties inherent in any meta-analytic data, the authors reaffirm their view that publication bias is the most parsimonious model to account for all 3 findings. However, until compulsory registration of trials occurs, it cannot be proven that the effect is in fact attributable to publication bias, and it remains up to the individual reader to decide how the results are best and most parsimoniously interpreted.
Invitro Anti-mycotic Activity of Hydro Alcoholic Extracts of Some Indian Medicinal Plants against Fluconazole Resistant Candida albicans.

BACKGROUND Candidiasis is one of the most common opportunistic infections caused by Candida albicans. Fluconazole is the drug of choice for prevention and management of this condition. However, the emergence of fluconazole resistant candidal strains has become a major concern. Many herbs like fenugreek, cinnamon, papaya, oregano, garlic are rich in phytochemical constituents known to express antimycotic activity. With the available information, the present research study was carried out to assess the invitro anti-mycotic activity of hydro alcoholic extracts of Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds, Cinnamomum verum bark and Carica papaya leaves and seeds against fluconazole resistant Candida albicans. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hydro alcoholic extracts of Trigonella foenum-graecum (seeds), Cinnamomum verum (bark), Carica papaya CO.2 strain (male and female leaves) and Carica papaya CO.2 strain (seeds) were prepared by maceration. The anti-mycotic activity of the prepared extracts against Candida albicans was assessed by agar well diffusion method. Three independent experiments were performed in triplicates and the mean and standard deviation were calculated. Minimum inhibitory concentration was determined. RESULTS The results of the present study revealed that all the extracts exhibited anti-mycotic activity in a dose dependent manner and minimum inhibitory concentration of all the extracts was found to be 15.62 μg/ml. CONCLUSION The results of the present study shed light on the fact that plant extracts could be used not only as an alternate drug for management of fluconazole resistant candidiasis but also explored further for oral cancer prevention as a therapeutic adjunct.
Low-income parents’ adult interactions at childcare centres

ABSTRACT Little is known about the extent and nature of low-income parents’ interactions with other parents and staff at childcare centres, despite the potential for these interactions to provide emotional, informational, and instrumental support. This study interviewed 51 parents at three childcare centres in low-income neighbourhoods in New York City. Twenty-six per cent of parents reported talking with other parents at drop-off and pick-up, and another 35% reported meeting with parents outside the centre in addition to talking with them at the centre. Parents’ extent of interaction was related to how long they spent at drop-off and pick-up, their participation in centre activities, and their sociability in general. All parents reported interacting with teachers and administrators, and described them more often than other parents as good sources of information and advice. We discuss the implications for parents and centre-based childcare providers.