Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stress and decision making: the role of impulsive personality

Stress, gender, and impulsive personality traits are each associated with altered decision making, but no studies have yet examined interactions between all of these factors. Impulsive personality can be parsed into five subtypes, consisting of Negative Urgency, the tendency to act rashly in the face of extreme negative emotion; Positive Urgency, the tendency to act rashly in the face of strong positive emotion; Lack of Premeditation, the tendency to insufficiently consider actions prior to their implementation; Lack of Perseverance, the tendency to not complete tasks; and Sensation Seeking, the tendency to seek out novel or exciting stimuli. To assess interactions between acute social stress, impulsivity styles, and decision making, we exposed 78 young (aged 18-27) men and women to a social stress or a non-stress condition, and then administered three decision making tasks; The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Game of Dice Task (GDT). We found that stress effects on decision making differed as a function of both gender and impulsivity traits on each of these tasks. Specifically, during stress, women low in Negative Urgency and men high in Negative Urgency made fewer risky decisions on the BART. Positive Urgency yielded a similar pattern. Furthermore, during stress, women high in Sensation Seeking made more advantageous decisions in the ambiguous phase of the IGT, whereas men high in Sensation Seeking made fewer advantageous decisions in this phase. Finally, riskier decisions on the GDT were associated with Lack of Perseverance, an effect that tended to be more prominent in the stress condition, particularly in men. Decisions of varying levels of uncertainty, risk and ambiguity may thus depend on a complex interplay between the experience of stress, gender, and impulsive personality traits. These findings are relevant to clinical assessment and intervention for impulsivity-related disorders, such as Borderline Personality Disorder or substance-use disorders, in which there are deficits in decision making and higher levels of trait impulsivity are both prominent.
Milk production and in sacco disappearance of pasture NDF in grazing Jersey cows receiving a barley based concentrate

The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of feeding low (2.4 kg/d), medium (4.8 kg/d) and high (7.2 kg/d) levels of a barley-based concentrate on milk production and in sacco ruminal disappearance of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in Jersey cows grazing a Westerwold ryegrass pasture. Sixty Jersey cows in early- to mid lactation were randomly allocated to one of three treatments (n = 20). Milk production tended to increase when concentrate level was increased from 2.4 to 4.8 kg/day. Fat corrected milk yield, milk fat yield and milk fat percentage were not affected by treatment. Protein yield only increased when the concentrate level was increased from 2.4 to 4.8 kg/cow per day but there was no further increase when feeding the high level of concentrate. Live weight change and body condition score only increased when the concentrate was fed at 7.2 kg/cow per day. An additional 12 Jersey cows, fitted with ruminal cannulae, were randomly allocated to the High and Low concentrate treatments in a two-period crossover design. Rumen liquid samples were collected every four hours for the determination of rumen pH and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations. Rumen pH was not affected by treatment while total VFA, acetate and isovalerate concentrations increased when the level of concentrate mixture was increased. Rumen NH3-N concentrations were not affected by treatment. The in situ nylon bag technique was used to determine DM and NDF degradation of the pasture. Pasture samples were incubated in the rumen for 0, 4, 8, 12, 20, 30, 48, 72 and 96 hours. Increasing the concentrate mixture did not affect in situ disappearance of pasture DM and NDF, or the rate of degradation. It was concluded that the supplementation of a barley based concentrate to pasture based Jersey cows does not improve animal response when fed at levels higher than 4.8 kg/cow per day.
Diabetes Is Related to Worse Patient-Reported Outcomes at Two Years Following Spine Surgery.

BACKGROUND Diabetes has been associated with poor outcomes following elective spine surgery. The purpose of our study was to determine if diabetes predicts worse patient-reported outcomes at two years postoperatively and to evaluate the effect of perioperative blood glucose levels and control on patient-reported outcomes in patients with diabetes. METHODS One thousand and five patients undergoing elective spine surgery were included in this prospective cohort study. The presence of diabetes and baseline and one and two-year patient-reported outcomes (Short Form-12 [SF-12], EuroQol-5D [EQ-5D], Oswestry Disability Index [ODI] or Neck Disability Index [NDI], and Numeric Rating Scale [NRS] pain scores) were recorded. The mean blood glucose measurements in patients with diabetes were collected during the postoperative period. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to determine predictors of one and two-year outcomes as well as the relationship between perioperative blood glucose and patient-reported outcomes in patients with diabetes. RESULTS Four hundred and thirty-four patients (43%) had diabetes. When compared with patients without diabetes at two years, patients with diabetes had lower SF-12 Physical Component Summary scores (34.4 points for the diabetic group compared with 38.6 points for the non-diabetic group), lower EQ-5D scores (0.67 for the diabetic group compared with 0.74 for the non-diabetic group), higher ODI or NDI scores (32.1 points for the diabetic group compared with 26.8 points for the non-diabetic group), and higher NRS scores (5.1 points for the diabetic group compared with 4.3 points for the non-diabetic group) (p < 0.05 for all). Although patients with diabetes improved significantly over time, they did not improve to the extent that patients without diabetes did in the ODI or NDI and EQ-5D scores (p < 0.05). Diabetes and preoperative opioid use were independent predictors of decreased SF-12 scores, decreased EQ-5D scores, increased ODI or NDI scores, and increased NRS scores (p < 0.05). Diabetes was associated with increased ODI or NDI (by 6.6 points) and decreased EQ-5D (by 0.1) at two years. Perioperative blood glucose control did not predict outcomes at either one or two years in patients with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes was associated with worse patient-reported outcomes when patients with diabetes were compared with patients without diabetes at two years following elective spine surgery. Although patients with diabetes improved when compared from baseline to the time following elective spine surgery, they did not improve to the same extent as patients without diabetes in the ODI or NDI and EQ-5D scores. Providers may use this information to counsel patients with diabetes on expectations following spine surgery.
Cutaneous Innervation Density in the Allodynic Form of Postherpetic Neuralgia

The relationship between deafferentation, sensory function, and pain was explored in 18 subjects with chronic postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Subjective thresholds for warmth, cooling, and heat pain were measured quantitatively in painful skin areas and compared with normal contralateral skin. The severity of allodynia was graded in the affected area. Two 3-mm punch biopsies were taken from the most painful skin area and one from unaffected contralateral mirror-image skin. Immunofluorescence with the axonal marker PGP 9.5 revealed a reduction in density of innervation of the epidermis, the dermal-epidermal junction, and the eccrine sweat glands in PHN skin. In painful PHN skin, the reduction in innervation density was positively correlated with the magnitude of the thermal sensory deficits. However, loss of cutaneous innervation was inversely correlated with allodynia, indicating that surviving cutaneous primary afferent nociceptors that are spontaneously active and/or sensitized contribute to PHN pain and allodynia.
Risk factors associated with ixodid tick species distributions in the Basque region in Spain

Abstract. Ixodid tick abundance was investigated in the Basque region in Spain in two 1‐year longitudinal studies, in 1992–1993 and 2003–2004. Forty zones were visited monthly and 162 672 ticks (87% larvae, 12% nymphs and 1% adults) were collected by blanket dragging. Eleven tick species belonging to the genera Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Rhipicephalus and Dermacentor were identified including Haemaphysalis concinna Koch, which had not previously been reported in Spain. Tick species abundance differed between zones, studies and seasons. In 1992–1993, Haemaphysalis punctata Canestrini & Fanzago was the predominant species and distinct spring–summer and autumn–early winter peaks of activity were observed. In 2003–2004, Ixodes ricinus (Linneaus) was the most common species and was active throughout the winter. Larval and nymph seasonal activity patterns coincided in both 1993 and 2003 and this could facilitate co‐feeding transmission of pathogens. Higher tick abundance was associated with increased livestock abundance in 1992–1993 and milder winter temperatures in 2003–2004. Tick collection rates in areas with moderate and high tick density were positively associated with the interaction between ambient temperature at sampling and rainfall 7 days prior to sampling. Collection rates were also significantly higher at medium rather than higher altitude, in forested areas than in open grasslands and lower in recreational areas frequented by people and with wet vegetation at sampling.
Chromium in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease

Chromium is an essential mineral that appears to have a beneficial role in the regulation of insulin action, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. There is growing evidence that chromium may facilitate insulin signaling and chromium supplementation therefore may improve systemic insulin sensitivity. Tissue chromium levels of subjects with diabetes are lower than those of normal control subjects, and a correlation exists between low circulating levels of chromium and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Controversy still exists as to the need for chromium supplementation. However, supplementation with chromium picolinate, a stable and highly bioavailable form of chromium, has been shown to reduce insulin resistance and to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Since chromium supplementation is a safe treatment, further research is necessary to resolve the confounding data. The existing data suggest to concentrate future studies on certain forms as chromium picolinate and doses as at least 200 mcg per day.
Serum and tissue tocopherol in sheep after intramuscular injection and(or) dietary vitamin E supplementation.

In a 28-d trial, 35 wethers weighing 35 to 60 kg were used to evaluate serum, liver, pancreas, kidney, diaphragm, heart, and neck muscle alpha-tocopherol concentrations after vitamin E administration as i.m. injections and(or) oral supplementation. Treatments (T) were as follows: 1) i.m. DL-alpha-tocopherol(DL-alpha-ol) d 1, 2) i.m. DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate(DL-alpha-ac) d 1, 3) i.m. DL-alpha-ol d 1, 7, 14, and 21, 4) T 1 and oral supplementation, 5) T 3 and oral supplementation, 6) oral supplementation, and 7) control, no E supplementation. Supplemented wethers received 500 IU via injection and(or) 30 IU/kg of diet (acetate form). In a second 10-d trial, blood was periodically collected from 20 wethers weighing 32 to 47 kg that had been assigned to T as follows: 1) control, 2) i.m. DL-alpha-ol d 1, 3) i.m. DL-alpha-ac d 1, 4) T 2 d 1 and 7, and 5) T 3 d 1 and 7. Results from repeated measures ANOVA in both trials indicated that there were day x T effects (P < .0001) on serum alpha-tocopherol. Pretreatment serum tocopherol concentrations were . 58 and . 66 microgram/mL for Trials 1 and 2, respectively. In Trial 1, wethers receiving the four alcohol vitamin E forms showed a rapid increase in serum tocopherol between d 1 and 3, followed by a rapid decline to pretreatment concentrations for T 1, whereas T 3, 4, and 5 maintained higher than pretreatment concentrations after the decline. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Integrins alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 contribute to cell attachment to vitronectin but differentially distribute on the cell surface

We investigated the role of the integrins alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 in mediating vitronectin adhesion of three phenotypically distinct cell types. M21 human melanoma cells and H2981 lung carcinoma cells use both alpha v-containing integrins in adhering to vitronectin while UCLA-P3 lung carcinoma cells adhere exclusively with alpha v beta 5. Specifically, monoclonal antibodies directed to functional epitopes on both receptors were required to block adhesion of M21 or H2981 cells while adhesion of UCLA-P3 cells to vitronectin could be blocked with a monoclonal antibody to alpha v beta 5. Although both receptors are involved in M21 and H2981 cell adhesion to vitronectin, only alpha v beta 3 can be detected in focal contacts, colocalizing with vinculin, talin, and the ends of actin filaments, while alpha v beta 5 shows a distinct, nonfocal contact, distribution on the cell surface. These results provide the first evidence that two homologous integrins that recognize the same ligand distribute differentially on the cell surface.
Running Head : Calcium signaling and in arteries and arterioles

26 The roles played by ryanodine receptors (RyR) and inositol 1,4,5, trisphosphate 27 receptors (IP3R) in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) in the microcirculation remain 28 unclear. Therefore, the function of both RyR and IP3R in Ca signals and myogenic 29 tone in hamster cremaster muscle feed arteries and downstream arterioles were 30 assessed using confocal imaging and pressure myography. Feed artery VSM displayed 31 Ca sparks and Ca waves, which were inhibited by the RyR antagonists, ryanodine 32 (10 μM) or tetracaine (100 μM). Despite the inhibition of sparks and waves, ryanodine 33 or tetracaine increased global intracellular Ca and constricted the arteries. Blockade of 34 IP3R with xestospongin D (5 μM) or 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB; 100 μM), or 35 inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC) using U73122 (10 μM) also attenuated Ca waves, 36 without affecting Ca sparks. Importantly, the IP3R and PLC antagonists decreased 37 global intracellular Ca and dilated the arteries. In contrast, cremaster arterioles 38 displayed only Ca waves: Casparks were not observed, and neither ryanodine (1039 50 μM) nor tetracaine (100 μM) affected either Ca signals or arteriolar tone, despite 40 the presence of functional RyR as assessed by responses to the RyR agonist, caffeine 41 (10 mM). As in feed arteries, arteriolar Ca waves were attenuated by xestospongin D 42 (5 μM), 2-APB (100 μM) and U73122 (10 μM), accompanied by decreased global 43 intracellular Ca and vasodilation. These findings highlight the contrasting roles played 44 by RyR and IP3R in Ca signals and myogenic tone in feed arteries, and demonstrate 45 important differences in the function of RyR between feed arteries and downstream 46 arterioles. 47 Calcium signaling in arteries and arterioles – H-00728-2010 Revision 1 3
The gastroprotective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Monolluma quadrangula against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injuries in Sprague Dawley rats

Monolluma quadrangula (Forssk.) Plowes is used in Saudi traditional medicines to treat gastric ulcers. The hydroalcoholic extract of M. quadrangula (MHAE) was used in an in vivo model to investigate its gastroprotective effects against ethanol-induced acute gastric lesions in rats. Five groups of Sprague Dawley rats were used. The first group was treated with 10% Tween 20 as a control. The other four groups included rats treated with absolute ethanol (5 mL/kg) to induce an ulcer, rats treated with 20 mg/kg omeprazole as a reference drug, and rats treated with 150 or 300 mg/kg MHAE. One hour later, the rats were administered absolute ethanol (5 mL/kg) orally. Animals fed with MHAE exhibited a significantly increased pH, gastric wall mucus, and flattening of the gastric mucosa, as well as a decreased area of gastric mucosal damage. Histology confirmed the results; extensive destruction of the gastric mucosa was observed in the ulcer control group, and the lesions penetrated deep into the gastric mucosa with leukocyte infiltration of the submucosal layer and edema. However, gastric protection was observed in the rats pre-fed with plant extracts. Periodic acid–Schiff staining of the gastric wall revealed a remarkably intensive uptake of magenta color in the experimental rats pretreated with MHAE compared to the ulcer control group. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed an upregulation of the Hsp70 protein and a downregulation of the Bax protein in rats pretreated with MHAE compared with the control rats. Gastric homogenate showed significantly increased catalase and superoxide dismutase, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced in the rats pretreated with MHAE compared to the control group. In conclusion, MHAE exhibited a gastroprotective effect against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. The mechanism of this gastroprotection included an increase in pH and gastric wall mucus, an increase in endogenous enzymes, and a decrease in the level of MDA. Furthermore, protection was given through the upregulation of Hsp70 and the downregulation of Bax proteins.
Language and commitment in Anglophone Cameroonian poetry: The poetic vision of three Anglophone Cameroonian poets

This paper sets out to examine the relevance of language in both early and recent Anglophone Cameroonian poets. The argument of this article is built around the premise that Fonlon, Alembong and Besong are involved with what has become known as ‘literature of sensitization and commitment’. It is the contention of this article that their ideological commitments have not compromised their artistic sophistication. Guided by the new historicist critical theory and the aesthetics of socialist realism as enunciated by Maxim Gorky (1971) and Georg Lukacs (1963), this study reveals that these three poets are deeply sensitive and responsive to the realities and moods of moments of collective experience, especially crisis moments. Their poetry is, in fact, a summation of their social and political commitments.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND EMOTIONAL EMPATHY AMONG IRANIAN TEACHERS OF THE INSTITUTE OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

This study attempted to assess the relationship between EI and emotional empathy (a factor known to affect teachers’ performance) among Iranian institute EFL teachers. It was hypothesized that an augmentation in EI would lead to a higher level of emotional empathy and vice versa. Furthermore, the relationship between EI and emotional empathy was assessed with regard to gender, age, and the years of experience of the participants. The instruments of data collection were the two questionnaires of Emotional Intelligence Scale (Schutte et al., 1998), and MultiDimensional Emotional Empathy Scale (Caruso & Mayer, 1998). A Pearson Product-Moment Correlation was conducted to assess the result of the questionnaires. The correlation showed that there was a positive significant correlation between EI and emotional empathy (r = 0.76). Conducting a T-Test, there appeared to be no significant difference among Iranian institute EFL teachers with different genders regarding their EI and emotional empathy. Using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, there came to be no significant differences among Iranian institute EFL teachers with different ages concerning their EI and emotional empathy. Regarding years of experience and EI no relations were found, however, this study showed that teachers with lower years of experience were more emotionally empathetic.
The universal mass accretion history of cold dark matter haloes

We use the extended Press-Schechter formalism to investigate the rate at which cold dark matter haloes accrete mass. We discuss the shortcomings of previous methods that have been used to compute the mass accretion histories of dark matter haloes, and present an improved method based on the N-branch merger tree algorithm of Somerville & Kolatt. We show that this method no longer suffers from inconsistencies in halo formation times, and compare its predictions with high-resolution N-body simulations. Although the overall agreement is reasonable, there are slight inconsistencies which are most easily interpreted as a reflection of ellipsoidal collapse (as opposed to spherical collapse assumed in the Press-Schechter formalism). We show that the average mass accretion histories follow a simple, universal profile, and we present a simple recipe for computing the two scale-parameters which is applicable to a wide range of halo masses and cosmologies. Together with the universal profiles for the density and angular momentum distributions of cold dark matter haloes, these universal mass accretion histories provide a simple but accurate framework for modelling the structure and formation of dark matter haloes. In particular, they can be used as a backbone for modelling various aspects of galaxy formation where one is not interested in the detailed effects of merging. As an example we use the universal mass accretion history to compute the rate at which dark matter haloes accrete mass, which we compare with the cosmic star formation history of the Universe.
CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY OF PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF HEPATITIS B AND HEPATITIS C INFECTION IN A RURAL VILLAGE OF INDIA.

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus are among the principal causes of severe liver disease. There is limited data of epidemiology of Hepatitis B in community, more so in rural population. OBJECTIVE To find the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infection in community and study the risk factors for their transmission. METHODS This was a community based cross sectional study. A total of 1833 randomly selected subjects from a rural area were interviewed for risk factors for transmission and tested for markers of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection. All the positive card tests were confirmed by ELISA. RESULTS Out of 2400 subjects, rate for participation was 76.38%. None of the subjects was positive for anti hepatitis C virus antibody. Point prevalence for HBsAg positivity was 0.92. Being healthcare worker and having tattoo were significantly associated with HBsAg positive results. Nose and ear piercing was reported by almost. History of blood or blood product transfusion, I/V drug abuse, multiple sexual partners, unsafe Injections, hemodialysis and any h/o surgery was not associated with HBsAg positivity. CONCLUSION Health care workers are at high risk for transmission of hepatitis B. Educating common people regarding mode of transmission of Hepatitis B and C will help to reduce their transmission.