Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vitro effect of leptin on LH release by anterior pituitary glands from female rats at the time of spontaneous and steroid-induced LH surge.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this work was to study the direct effect of leptin on LH release by anterior pituitary glands from female rats at the time of spontaneous and steroid-induced LH surge. METHODS LH responsiveness to leptin by pituitaries from rats killed in the afternoon (1500 h) at different stages of the 4-day estrous cycle (diestrus-1: D1; diestrus-2: D2; proestrus; estrus), ovariectomized (OVX; 15 days post-castration) and ovariectomized steroid-primed (OVX-E(2)/Pg; pretreated with 5 microg estradiol and 1 mg progesterone), was evaluated in vitro. Hemi-adenohypophyses were incubated in the presence of synthetic murine leptin for 3 h. RESULTS Addition of increasing concentrations of leptin (0.1-100 nmol/l) to the incubation medium of proestrus pituitaries produced a dose-related stimulation of LH release; the maximal increase to 315% of control was obtained with 10 nmol/l leptin. Leptin (10 nmol/l) enhanced LH release at all days of the estrous cycle, the greatest response occurring in proestrus (318%) and the lowest at D1 (123%). In order to evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the action of leptin on LH release, glands from proestrus rats were incubated in the presence of 10 nmol/l leptin with or without 0.3 mmol/l N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine (NMMA), a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS). NMMA completely suppressed the stimulation of LH release induced by leptin. Leptin also stimulated LH release by pituitaries from OVX rats, and treatment with steroid hormones led to a marked increase in the response (OVX: 162% compared with OVX-E(2)/Pg: 263%; P<0.05). For comparative analysis, a similar experimental procedure was carried out using GnRH (10 nmol/l). Leptin acts at the pituitary level in a similar manner as GnRH, although with significantly lower potency. CONCLUSIONS These results confirm and extend previous reports regarding a direct action of leptin at the pituitary level, stimulating LH release by anterior pituitaries from female rats at the time of spontaneous and steroid-induced LH surge. In the female rat pituitary this leptin action is controlled by gonadal steroids and mediated by NO.
Structural neural correlates of impairments in social cognition in first episode psychosis

Abstract Several studies have demonstrated that patients with schizophrenia show impairments in social cognition and current evidence indicate that this deficit is associated with abnormal activity in specific brain regions. In addition to functional imaging studies, we believe that the identification of structural correlates of social cognitive processes may help to better understand the neural underpinnings of these specific skills. The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between gray matter density and social cognitive deficits in first episode of schizophrenia spectrum psychosis, using a comprehensive assessment that we previously demonstrated to be a highly sensitive measure of social cognitive deficits in this population. Thirty-eight patients with a first episode of psychosis participated in this study, and the Four Factor Test of Social Intelligence was used as a measure of social cognition. Social cognitive impairments in first episode psychosis were significantly correlated with reduced gray-matter density in the left middle frontal gyrus other regions within the mirror neuron system network (MSN), namely the right supplementary motor cortex, the left superior temporal gyrus and the left inferior parietal lobule. We concluded that structural abnormalities within the MSN may account for the social cognitive deficits present in some psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia.
Reflections on the effects of globalisation on local tradition

In the 1990s both the end of the Cold War and the emergence of the globalisation have had a great impact on world polity, which has resulted in the support of westernised humanistic principles within the context of cultural universalism. These issues were taken into consideration at the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna, which confirmed that the 1948 Declaration is a universal value. Most nonwestern countries have strongly been encouraged to adopt the standards of these universal human values. Thus, the main aspect of globalisation is a common global political culture across nation-states or regions. However, the main argument of this paradigm has brought into question the exploration of the directions and implications of globalisation's cultural consequences. Today, questions regarding the effects of globalisation remain important; however, globalisation studies must also account for the reflections on the forces of globalisation on local tradition in a more substantial way. As Tomlinson (1994) notes, if each culture is to be accorded respect then it is necessary to avoid such taking for granted of western ideas, including ideas of political and human rights. Scholars have argued that globalisation proceeds as a hybridisation as well as a homogenisation process (Appadurai 1990; Holton 2000; Kraidy 1999; Pieterse 1995). Hall (1991a, b; 1992) argues that globalisation's cultural process can be explained in terms of the dialectic relationship between the global and the local or national realms of culture. Here, global culture will be constructed through an interaction among each tulture, even though western countries dominate international values and vocabularies, such as human rights language (Chitty 2001). In the case of human rights in world constitutional laws, for instance, each national culture has influenced its own written constitutions, even though each constitution has similar human rights language. Such constitutional language may have particular cultural implications and interpretations in one society and different ones in another.
Science and Transscience in Carcinogen Risk Assessment--The European Union Regulatory Process for Trichloroethylene

This is a study of carcinogen risk assessment of the chlorinated solvent trichloroethylene within the European Union existing substances program and the classification and labeling process. The focus is on the most active and influential participants of this process, namely, those from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sweden, and from industry. The member state and other experts have different opinions regarding the appropriate classification of trichloroethylene for mutagenicity (no classification or category 3) and carcinogenicity (category 3, 2, or 1). In this article these differences are described, as well as how the primary carcinogenicity and mutagenicity data have been interpreted and evaluated by these participants. It is concluded that underlying the different assessments are disagreements about issues that to some degree lie outside the scope of purely scientific considerations.
The Way Of Transition: Embracing Life's Most Difficult Moments

William Bridges' lifelong work has been devoted to a deep understanding of transitions and to helping others through them. When his own wife of thirty-five years died of cancer, however, he was thrown head-first into the kind of painful and confusing abyss he had known before only in theory. An honest account of being in transition, this uncommonly wise and moving book is a richly textured map of the personal, professional, and emotional transformations that grow out of tragedy and crisis. Demonstrating how disillusionment, sorrow, or confusion can blossom into a time of incredible creativity and contentment, Bridges highlights the profound significance and value of endings in our lives.
Parallelization of a 3D magnetostatic code using High Performance Fortran

Numerical simulation in electrical engineering allows one to reduce development costs by predicting device performance. An accurate prediction often requires 3D models, inducing high storage capacity and CPU power needs. As computation times can be very important, parallel computers are well suited to these models. 3D simulation in electrical engineering is based on recent research work (Whitney's elements, auto-gauged formulations, discretization of the source terms) and it results in complex and irregular codes using sparse matrices, where data accesses are done via indirect addressing. We present the results of the parallelization of a 3D magnetostatic code using High Performance Fortran (HPF). This high level programming language allows a simple and efficient approach to parallel machines. It provides both easier maintenance of the code and higher software productivity for electrical engineers.
The Process of Department Leadership

Leadership studies within higher education have failed to recognize the importance of effective management strategy in the primary work unit, the academic department. This article presents a grounded theory of chairperson management strategy derived from interviews with outstanding chairpersons at three urban universities. It concludes that five interacting factors lead to department leadership effectiveness: leader values, department stages, management strategies, congruence level, and resource control.
Do the Gifted Read Early

THE BELIEF that gifted or in tellectually talented chil ren read early is fairly widely accepted. In fact, some programs for gifted youngsters in the primary grades require advanced reading ability as a prerequisite for admittance. Much of the evidence supporting the advanced reading ability of pre cocious youngsters stems from some of the early research on gifted students. Terman (1925) reported that about half of his subjects learned to read before starting first grade. About 20% of these subjects learned to read before the age of five. Kasdon (1958) interviewed 50 college fresh men who were superior readers and found that 27 reported learning to read before entering first grade. Strang (1954) interviewed 54 junior high students, all of whom had IQs of 120 or higher, and found that about half of them had learned to read when they were five or younger. Durkin (1966), however, found that the IQs of early readers in her two studies covered a considerable range, anywhere from 82 to 170. The median IQs were 121 and 133. All of this research tends to
Preimplantation Genetic Screening: An Effective Testing for Infertile and Repeated Miscarriage Patients?

Aneuploidy in pregnancy is known to increase with advanced maternal age (AMA) and associate with repeated implantation failure (RIF), and repeated miscarriage (RM). Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) has been introduced into clinical practice, screening, and eliminating aneuploidy embryos, which can improve the chance of conceptions for infertility cases with poor prognosis. These patients are a good target group to assess the possible benefit of aneuploidy screening. Although practiced widely throughout the world, there still exist some doubts about the efficacy of this technique. Recent randomized trials were not as desirable as we expected, suggesting that PGS needs to be reconsidered. The aim of this review is to discuss the efficacy of PGS.
Understanding and Changing Health Behaviour: From Health Beliefs to Self-Regulation

Introduction. Applications of Social Cognition Models. Using the Theory of Reasoned Action to Predict Condom Use Among High-risk Heterosexual Teens. Can Protection Motivation Theory Predict Breast Self-examination? A Longitudinal Test Exploring the Role of Previous Behaviour. Comparing the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Health Belief Model: The Example of Safety Helmet Use among Schoolboy Cyclists. Extensions to Social Cognition Models. Attitudinal and Normative Processes in Health Behaviour. Behavioural and Normative Beliefs about Condom Use: Comparing Measurement Alternatives Within the Theory of Reasoned Action. Discriminating between Behavioural Intention and Behavioural Willingness: Cognitive Antecedents to Adolescent Health Risk. Stages of Change. The Attitude-social Influence Model Applied to the Prediction of Motivational Transitions in the Process of Smoking Cessation. Relationships among the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Stages of Change and Exercise Behaviour in Older Persons over a Three Year Period: A Critical Review of the Transtheoretical Model Applied to Smoking Cessation. Self-regulation and Health Goals. The Emergence and Implementation of Health Goals. Goal Setting and Goal Pursuit in the Regulation of Body Weight. Health Promotion from the Perspective of Social Cognitive Theory. Conclusions and Future Directions. Towards a Psychology of Health Related Behaviour Change.
Cultures of Kindness : A Meta-Analysis of Trust Game Experiments

We collect data on trust and trustworthy behavior from eighty-four iterations of the Berg, Dickhaut, and McCabe Investment game (the “trust” game). We perform a meta-analysis of these games in order to identify the effect of experimental protocols and cross-country cultural differences on trust and trustworthiness. We find that approximately 40% of the variance in trust and 30% of the variance in trustworthiness is explained by changes to experimental protocols. We also find that cultural variables that are highly correlated with a country’s stock of social capital, such as ethnic fractionalization and income inequality, are most closely related to trustworthiness rather than trust. We use these findings to show that the negative relationship between diversity and social capital disappears as competitive free markets become more prevalent in a country. JEL Classification: C90, D03, Z13
Replication and Virus-Induced Transcriptome of HAdV-5 in Normal Host Cells versus Cancer Cells - Differences of Relevance for Adenoviral Oncolysis

Adenoviruses (Ads), especially HAdV-5, have been genetically equipped with tumor-restricted replication potential to enable applications in oncolytic cancer therapy. Such oncolytic adenoviruses have been well tolerated in cancer patients, but their anti-tumor efficacy needs to be enhanced. In this regard, it should be considered that cancer cells, dependent on their tissue of origin, can differ substantially from the normal host cells to which Ads are adapted by complex virus-host interactions. Consequently, viral replication efficiency, a key determinant of oncolytic activity, might be suboptimal in cancer cells. Therefore, we have analyzed both the replication kinetics of HAdV-5 and the virus-induced transcriptome in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) in comparison to cancer cells. This is the first report on genome-wide expression profiling of Ads in their native host cells. We found that E1A expression and onset of viral genome replication are most rapid in HBEC and considerably delayed in melanoma cells. In squamous cell lung carcinoma cells, we observed intermediate HAdV-5 replication kinetics. Infectious particle production, viral spread and lytic activity of HAdV-5 were attenuated in melanoma cells versus HBEC. Expression profiling at the onset of viral genome replication revealed that HAdV-5 induced the strongest changes in the cellular transcriptome in HBEC, followed by lung cancer and melanoma cells. We identified prominent regulation of genes involved in cell cycle and DNA metabolism, replication and packaging in HBEC, which is in accord with the necessity to induce S phase for viral replication. Strikingly, in melanoma cells HAdV-5 triggered opposing regulation of said genes and, in contrast to lung cancer cells, no weak S phase induction was detected when using the E2F promoter as reporter. Our results provide a rationale for improving oncolytic adenoviruses either by adaptation of viral infection to target tumor cells or by modulating tumor cell functions to better support viral replication.
Comparison of the olfactory sensitivity of two sympatric steppe grasshopper species (Orthoptera: Acrididae) to plant volatile compounds

Electroantennogram (EAG) responses of male and female Oedipodinae grasshoppers, Oedaleus decorus asiaticus B. -Bienko and Angaracris barabensis Pall to 37 plant volatile compounds were recorded. The two species have sympatric distribution and synchronous seasonal activity in Inner Mongolia Grasslands. They have different host plant preference with Oedaleus decorus asiaticus graminivorous and A. barabensis forbivorous. The EAG response profiles to 37 compounds of the two species and their both sexes were similar. Most of the green leaf volatiles elicited higher EAG responses in both species and sexes than terpenic compounds and some aromatic compounds. Strong EAG responses were elicited by 6-carbon alcohols (1-hexanol, Z-hexen-2-ol-1, E-2-hexen-1-ol, E-hexen-3-ol-1), aldehyde (E-2-hexen-1-al), ester (Z-hexen-3-yl acetate), and 7-carbon alcohols (1-heptanol) in both species and sexes. Monoterpenes with functional groups of alcohols and aldehydes were more stimulating than other monoterpenes tested. The sesquiterpenes tested elicited relatively low responses. Benzaldehyde elicited the highest responses for both species among aromatic components. Oedaleus decorus asiaticus showed higher EAG responses than A. barabensis to the green leaf volatiles, 1-decanol, 1-nonanol, 1-pentanol, hexanal, Z-hexen-3-yl acetate and to the sesquiterpenes (-)-trans-caryophyllene. Males have higher responses than females in Oedaleus decorus asiaticus. No sexual difference was observed in A. barabensis. Dose-dependent responses to six selected chemicals were observed from females. In both species, all the chemicals tested elicit EAG responses at concentration between 10-3 mol/L and 10-2 mol/L, except that the responses of A. barabensis to terpineol had a threshold concentration of 10-2 mol/L benzaldehyde and 1-hexanol had the highest slopes in dose curves, while 1-octen-3-ol showed the smallest slope in responses to the six chemicals tested. Comparative studies on the responses of two antennal sections and the whole antenna to six selected chemicals were carried out using females of both species. A significant EAG response was only recorded from the distal part of the antenna and not from the proximal seven segments.
Effects of insulin resistance on white matter microstructure in middle-aged and older adults

Objective: To investigate the potential relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and white matter (WM) microstructure using diffusion tensor imaging in cognitively healthy middle-aged and older adults. Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging was acquired from 127 individuals (age range 41–86 years). IR was evaluated by the homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR). Participants were divided into 2 groups based on HOMA-IR values: “high HOMA-IR” (≥2.5, n = 27) and “low HOMA-IR” (<2.5, n = 100). Cross-sectional voxel-based comparisons were performed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics and anatomically defined regions of interest analysis. Results: The high HOMA-IR group demonstrated decreased axial diffusivity broadly throughout the cerebral WM in areas such as the corpus callosum, corona radiata, cerebral peduncle, posterior thalamic radiation, and right superior longitudinal fasciculus, and WM underlying the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes, as well as decreased fractional anisotropy in the body and genu of corpus callosum and parts of the superior and anterior corona radiata, compared with the low HOMA-IR group, independent of age, WM signal abnormality volume, and antihypertensive medication status. These regions additionally demonstrated linear associations between diffusion measures and HOMA-IR across all subjects, with higher HOMA-IR values being correlated with lower axial diffusivity. Conclusions: In generally healthy adults, greater IR is associated with alterations in WM tissue integrity. These cross-sectional findings suggest that IR contributes to WM microstructural alterations in middle-aged and older adults.
Severe and Enduring Eating Disorder (SEED): Management of Complex Presentations of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa

Clinical Descriptions. About the Author. Preface. Acknowledgements. 1 Introduction. 2 SEED, Psychiatric Considerations. 3 Medical Aspects of SEED. 4 Social and Occupational Aspects of SEED. 5 Family Life with SEED. 6 Care Programming in SEED. 7 A Pilot Case Series Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Biological, Psychological and Social Outcome in Severe and Enduring Eating Disorder (Anorexia Nervosa). 8 A Comparison between SEED and Chronic Schizophrenia. 9 99 Research Ideas. Glossary. References. Index
Detection of Legionella pneumophila in water samples by species‐specific real‐time and nested PCR assays

Aims: Legionella pneumophila is a contaminant of man‐made water systems, including potable water, cooling towers, water systems of large buildings, etc. It is the most common causative agent of legionellosis, a respiratory infection, which may give rise to restricted outbreaks. To survey environmental water samples from hospitals and private habitations in Bologna, we developed a species‐specific nested and a TaqMan real‐time PCR for the detection of L. pneumophila. We compared the two assays and both to cultural isolation.
Resting Brain Perfusion and Selected Vascular Risk Factors in Healthy Elderly Subjects

Background and Purpose Both cerebral hypoperfusion and vascular risk factors have been implicated in early aging of the brain and the development of neurodegenerative disease. However, the current knowledge of the importance of cardiovascular health on resting brain perfusion is limited. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the relation between brain perfusion variability and risk factors of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in healthy aged subjects. Methods Thirty-eight healthy subjects aged 50–75 years old were included. Mean global brain perfusion was measured using magnetic resonance phase contrast mapping and regional brain perfusion by use of arterial spin labeling. Results Mean global brain perfusion was inversely correlated with caffeine and hematocrit, and positively with end-tidal PCO2. Furthermore, the mean global brain perfusion was inversely correlated with circulating homocysteine, but not with asymmetric dimethylarginine, dyslipidemia or the carotid intima-media thickness. The relative regional brain perfusion was associated with circulating homocysteine, with a relative parietal hypoperfusion and a frontal hyperperfusion. No effect on regional brain perfusion was observed for any of the other risk factors. A multiple regression model including homocysteine, caffeine, hematocrit and end-tidal PCO2, explained nearly half of the observed variability. Conclusion Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors influenced global cerebral perfusion variation between subjects. Further, the results suggest that the inverse relation between homocysteine and brain perfusion is owing to other mechanisms, than reflected by asymmetric dimethylarginine, and that homocysteine may be a marker of cerebral perfusion in aging brains.
Polycrystalline Silicon Nanowires Synthesis Compatible With CMOS Technology for Integrated Gas Sensing Applications

Polysilicon nanowires are synthesized following a classical top-down approach using conventional UV lithography technique fully compatible with the existing silicon complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology. N- and P-type in situ doping of these nanowires is controlled over a large range of doping levels and the electrical properties of these nanowires are analyzed. The results show that resistivity dependence with the doping level is both related to the nanowire size-dependent structural quality and doping specie. Charged gas species (ammonia) sensitivity of these nanowires has also been studied. In addition, the feasibility of N- and P-channel polysilicon nanowire transistors is demonstrated.