Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perinatal Supplementation with Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Improves Sevoflurane-Induced Neurodegeneration and Memory Impairment in Neonatal Rats

Objectives To investigate if perinatal Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) supplementation can improve sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive impairment in neonatal rats. Methods Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 3 each group) were treated with or without an n-3 PUFAs (fish oil) enriched diet from the second day of pregnancy to 14 days after parturition. The offspring rats (P7) were treated with six hours sevoflurane administration (one group without sevoflurane/prenatal n-3 PUFAs supplement as control). The 5-bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) was injected intraperitoneally during and after sevoflurane anesthesia to assess dentate gyrus (DG) progenitor proliferation. Brain tissues were harvested and subjected to Western blot and immunohistochemistry respectively. Morris water maze spatial reference memory, fear conditioning, and Morris water maze memory consolidation were tested at P35, P63 and P70 (n = 9), respectively. Results Six hours 3% sevoflurane administration increased the cleaved caspase-3 in the thalamus, parietal cortex but not hippocampus of neonatal rat brain. Sevoflurane anesthesia also decreased the neuronal precursor proliferation of DG in rat hippocampus. However, perinatal n-3 PUFAs supplement could decrease the cleaved caspase-3 in the cerebral cortex of neonatal rats, and mitigate the decrease in neuronal proliferation in their hippocampus. In neurobehavioral studies, compared with control and n-3 PUFAs supplement groups, we did not find significant spatial cognitive deficit and early long-term memory impairment in sevoflurane anesthetized neonatal rats at their adulthood. However, sevoflurane could impair the immediate fear response and working memory and short-term memory. And n-3 PUFAs could improve neurocognitive function in later life after neonatal sevoflurane exposure. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that neonatal exposure to prolonged sevoflurane could impair the immediate fear response, working memory and short-term memory of rats at their adulthood, which may through inducing neuronal apoptosis and decreasing neurogenesis. However, these sevoflurane-induced unfavorable neuronal effects can be mitigated by perinatal n-3 PUFAs supplementation.
Influence of Nitrate and Nitrite on Thyroid Hormone Responsive and Stress-Associated Gene Expression in Cultured Rana catesbeiana Tadpole Tail Fin Tissue

Nitrate and nitrite are common aqueous pollutants that are known to disrupt the thyroid axis. In amphibians, thyroid hormone (TH)-dependent metamorphosis is affected, although whether the effect is acceleration or deceleration of this developmental process varies from study to study. One mechanism of action of these nitrogenous compounds is through alteration of TH synthesis. However, direct target tissue effects on TH signaling are hypothesized. The present study uses the recently developed cultured tail fin biopsy (C-fin) assay to study possible direct tissue effects of nitrate and nitrite. Tail biopsies obtained from premetamorphic Rana catesbeiana tadpoles were exposed to 5 and 50 mg/L nitrate (NO3–N) and 0.5 and 5 mg/L nitrite (NO2–N) in the absence and presence of 10 nM T3. Thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ) and Rana larval keratin type I (RLKI), both of which are TH-responsive gene transcripts, were measured using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. To assess cellular stress which could affect TH signaling and metamorphosis, heat shock protein 30, and catalase (CAT) transcript levels were also measured. We found that nitrate and nitrite did not significantly change the level of any of the four transcripts tested. However, nitrate exposure significantly increased the heteroscedasticity in response of TRβ and RLKI transcripts to T3. Alteration in population variation in such a way could contribute to the previously observed alterations of metamorphosis in frog tadpoles, but may not represent a major mechanism of action.
Mesocorticolimbic abnormalities in schizophrenia: A magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion tensor imaging study

Schizophrenia is a complex, often debilitating chronic mental disorder that affects approximately 1% of people worldwide. Recently, there has been growing interest in identifying non-invasive biomarkers of schizophrenia. Understanding the molecular and structural mechanisms underlying clinical features of schizophrenia and patients' drug response is an important step in identifying biomarkers and potential targets for novel medications, treatment strategies, and interventions. The primary objective of this dissertation research was to use non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging techniques, specifically magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to examine the neurochemical and structural correlates of symptoms, cognition, and treatment response to antipsychotic medication in patients with schizophrenia. Based on our previous work, we focused on the mesocorticolimbic regions and their related white matter connections. In the first study, we demonstrated the feasibility of acquiring single-voxel MRS measurements at 3T from the substantia nigra of patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. We found a positive correlation between glutamate and cognition in controls but not schizophrenia patients, demonstrating the utility of MRS for investigating neurometabolite abnormalities underlying cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. In the second study, we used MRS to test the hypothesis that antipsychotic treatment alters glutamate, N-iv acetylaspartate, and the glutamate/N-acetylaspartate ratio in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and hippocampus of patients with schizophrenia. We found that regionally specific glutamate abnormalities are present in unmedicated patients and that antipsychotic medication appears to modulate glutamate function in a manner that is regionally specific. We also demonstrated that glutamatergic measurements may become useful trait markers and predictors of treatment response. In the third study, we used DTI to assess white matter integrity and proton MRS to assess neuronal integrity in the ACC and hippocampus. We found widespread white matter abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia that appear to be driven by loss of myelin integrity. We also demonstrated the utility of a multi-modal neuroimaging approach to help further our understanding of the relationship between white matter microstructure and neurochemistry in distinct regions connected by white matter tracts. v " This is the way it's supposed to be because this is the way it is. " Miranda Johnson " This is what we're here for, to help each other. This is what life is about. " Adrienne C. Lahti vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Photocatalytic Activity of Vis-Responsive Ag-Nanoparticles/TiO2 Composite Thin Films Fabricated by Molecular Precursor Method (MPM)

The Ag-nanoparticles (Ag-NP)/TiO2 composite thin films with various amounts of Ag (10 mol% ≤ n ≤ 80 mol%) were examined as a potential photocatalyst by decoloration reaction of methylene blue (MB) in an aqueous solution. These composite thin films of ca. 100 nm thickness were fabricated by the MPM at 600 °C in air. The decoloration rates monitored by the absorption intensity of the MB solution indicated that the composite thin films of Ag with an amount less than 40 mol% are not effective under vis-irradiation, though they can work as a photocatalyst under UV-irradiation. Further, the UV-sensitivity of the composite thin films gradually decreased to almost half the level of that of the TiO2 thin film fabricated under the identical conditions when the Ag amount increased from 10 to 40 mol%. Contrarily, the composite thin films of Ag content larger than 50 mol% showed the vis-responsive activity, whose level was slightly lower than the decreased UV-sensitivity. Diffuse reflectance spectra suggested that the vis-responsive activity of the composite thin films is due to the conductivity, localized surface plasmon resonance and surface plasmon resonance of Ag-NP. It was also elucidated that the vis-responsive level of the composite thin films corresponds to their electrical conductivity that depends on the Ag content.
Examining the Relationship between Need to Belong, Tolerance for Disagreement, Attachment Style and Life Satisfaction.

This study was conducted to assess to possible relationships between tolerance for disagreement, need to belong, attachment styles and if the relate to life satisfaction in an adult sample. Participants were (N-114) in total with (N= 67) females and (N=47) males. Participants were asked demographic gender question in order to test for gender differences and to confirm their age above 18 along with self-report measures. The Tolerance for Disagreement Scale (TFD) (Teven, Richmond & McCroskey, 1998) was used to measure the degree to which an individual can tolerate other people disagreeing with what the individual believes to be true. The Measure of Attachment Qualities (MAQ) (Carver, 1997) was used to measure adult attachment patterns The Need to Belong Scale (NTBS) (Leary, Kelly, Cottrell & Schreindorfer, 2006) was used to measure individuals need to belong. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985) was used to measure subjective life satisfaction. Independent samples t-test found there to be gender differences in need to belong (M=-5.556, SE= 1.48, t(84.857)= -3.753, p < . 0005) and in tolerance for disagreement (M= 4.08, 98% CI [.132, 8.039], t(112) = 2.047, p= . 043). Spearman’s rho showed there was a negative correlation between need to belong and tolerance for disagreement (Rs (112) = -. 534, p < . 0005). A multiple regression showed it possible to predict life satisfaction from tolerance for disagreement, need to belong and attachment qualities secure, avoidance, ambivalence-worry and ambivalence-merger. (F (6,107) = 8.201, p < . 005 adj. R = . 28). Spearman’s rho’s also showed correlations between attachment qualities and both need to belong and tolerance for disagreement, these and implications of findings are discussed in greater detail.
Emotionally Supportive Classroom Contexts for Young Latino Children in Rural California

Some have described the academic underperformance of Latino children, on the one hand, and their relatively strong socioemotional competencies on the other, as a “Latino Paradox. ” We unpack the affective climate of early elementary classrooms to explore how this paradox is addressed in a rural school district where children from low-income Latino families predominate. Using quantitative and qualitative data from a reliable observation instrument, we describe the quality of “emotional support” rendered through classroom interactions, analyze relationships between emotional support and a series of teacher characteristics, and assess how highly supportive teachers interact differently than less supportive teachers in ways that are responsive to children’s cultural and linguistic backgrounds. We provide evidence—Spanish use associated with greater emotional support—for attending to both universal and cultural dimensions of classroom interactions to address the Latino paradox.
Impact of Spiritual Intelligence on the Staff Happiness (Case Study: Golpayegan Petrochemical Company)

Spiritual intelligence as a infrastructure of individuals beliefs, have a basic role in the various fields particularly in the promotion and provision of mental health and the other hand, importance of happiness in the mental health, physical health, efficiency and social participation are the most important priorities in the psychology. The aim of this study is investigation of relationship between spiritual intelligence and staff happiness of Golpayegan Petrochemical Company. This study is descriptive survey and of correlation branch with the functional nature. The statistical population includes employees of Golpayegan Petrochemical Company and questionnaire was used for data collection. Formal justifiability was used to determine questionnaire justifiability. Cronbach's alpha reliability amount of 94% was confirmed. In this study, software SPSS and AMOS was used for data analysis. Component of spiritual intelligence: transcendental consciousness, spiritual experience, patience and forgiveness were tested with the staff happiness and it is determined that there is a significant relationship between spiritual intelligence variable with the staff happiness variable.
Exploring peer heterogeneity: Towards understanding and application

The heterogeneous nature of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks can be exploited to optimize a wide range of applications. But this requires an accurate characterization of peer heterogeneity, which is difficult due to huge population and disparate properties of individuals. To overcome this barrier, we conduct a thorough inspection of peer heterogeneity in terms of individual churn and resource capacity. We make a first attempt to (i) experimentally reduce heterogeneous churn and resource dynamics to simple distributions with individual-specific parameters, and to (ii) provide an empirical support for the heterogeneous Markov model of churn. We further demonstrate how our characterization can be leveraged to optimize practical systems, through two case studies: fast backup in online storage and fault-tolerance in cycle-sharing systems. Both applications gain remarkable performance improvement by incorporating our model of peer heterogeneity.
Stroke survivors over-estimate their medication self-administration (MSA) ability, predicting memory loss

Abstract Background and objective: Medication self-administration (MSA) may be cognitively challenging after stroke, but guidelines are currently lacking for identifying high-functioning stroke survivors who may have difficulty with this task. Complicating this matter, stroke survivors may not be aware of their cognitive problems (cognitive anosognosia) and may over-estimate their MSA competence. The authors wished to evaluate medication self-administration and MSA self-awareness in 24 consecutive acute stroke survivors undergoing inpatient rehabilitation, to determine if they would over-estimate their medication self-administration and if this predicted memory disorder. Methods: Stroke survivors were tested on the Hopkins Medication Schedule and also their memory, naming mood and dexterity were evaluated, comparing their performance to 17 matched controls. Results: The anosognosia ratio indicated MSA over-estimation in stroke survivors compared with controls—no other over-estimation errors were noted relative to controls. A strong correlation was observed between over-estimation of MSA ability and verbal memory deficit, suggesting that formally assessing MSA and MSA self-awareness may help detect cognitive deficits. Conclusions: Assessing medication self-administration and MSA self-awareness may be useful in rehabilitation and successful community-return after stroke.
The milk-alkali syndrome : a reversible form of acute renal failure

The milk-alkali syndrome became rare with the advent of modern ulcer therapy with nonabsorbable antacids, histamine2blockers, and sucralfate. An increased frequency of this syndrome seems likely with the growing popularity of the use of calcium carbonate as an antacid or as calcium supplementation to prevent osteoporosis. We treated five patients who had six episodes of the milk-alkali syndrome; four of these cases were diagnosed between 1990 and 1992. All patients were ingesting massive quantities of calcium and absorbable alkali and were unaware of the toxic effects of these compounds. All patients presented with the triad of hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis, and renal failure. All metabolic abnormalities were corrected, and renal function improved with appropriate supportive measures and cessation of calcium and alkali ingestion. In two patients, the renal failure was so severe that dialysis was necessary. In four patients, either the serum amino-terminal parathyroid hormone or 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol levels were appropriately decreased in response to hypercalcemia. The serum carboxy-terminal parathyroid hormone levels were increased because of renal failure. Since both physicians and patients are often unaware of the calcium and alkali content of many nonprescription medicines, the diagnosis of the milk-alkali syndrome, a reversible cause of renal failure, can be missed if a detailed history of such intake is not elicited. Measurement of the serum amino-terminal parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol levels may help differentiate milk-alkali syndrome from primary hyperparathyroidism. (Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:1005-1010)
Aspirin use and all-cause mortality among patients being evaluated for known or suspected coronary artery disease: A propensity analysis.

CONTEXT Although aspirin has been shown to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and short-term mortality following acute myocardial infarction, the association between its use and long-term all-cause mortality has not been well defined. OBJECTIVES To determine whether aspirin is associated with a mortality benefit in stable patients with known or suspected coronary disease and to identify patient characteristics that predict the maximum absolute mortality benefit from aspirin. DESIGN AND SETTING Prospective, nonrandomized, observational cohort study conducted between 1990 and 1998 at an academic medical institution, with a median follow-up of 3.1 years. PATIENTS Of 6174 consecutive adults undergoing stress echocardiography for evaluation of known or suspected coronary disease, 2310 (37%) were taking aspirin. Patients with significant valvular disease or documented contraindication to aspirin use, including peptic ulcer disease, renal insufficiency, and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE All-cause mortality according to aspirin use. RESULTS During 3.1 years of follow-up, 276 patients (4.5%) died. In a simple univariable analysis, there was no association between aspirin use and mortality (4.5% vs 4.5%). However, after adjustment for age, sex, standard cardiovascular risk factors, use of other medications, coronary disease history, ejection fraction, exercise capacity, heart rate recovery, and echocardiographic ischemia, aspirin use was associated with reduced mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.87; P =.002). In further analysis using matching by propensity score, 1351 patients who were taking aspirin were at lower risk for death than 1351 patients not using aspirin (4% vs 8%, respectively; HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.38-0.74; P =.002). After adjusting for the propensity for using aspirin, as well as other possible confounders and interactions, aspirin use remained associated with a lower risk for death (adjusted HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.40-0.78; P<.001). The patient characteristics associated with the most aspirin-related reductions in mortality were older age, known coronary artery disease, and impaired exercise capacity. CONCLUSION Aspirin use among patients undergoing stress echocardiography was independently associated with reduced long-term all-cause mortality, particularly among older patients, those with known coronary artery disease, and those with impaired exercise capacity.
An outbreak of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex infection in the US military health care system associated with military operations in Iraq.

BACKGROUND We investigated an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex infection among US service members injured in Iraq. METHODS The investigation was conducted in Iraq and Kuwait, in the 2 military hospitals where the majority of injured service members were initially treated. After initially characterizing the outbreak, we evaluated 3 potential sources of infection for the period March 2003 to December 2004. The evaluation included screening samples that were obtained from the skin of patients for the presence of colonization and assessing the soil and health care environments for the presence of A. baumanii-calcoaceticus complex organisms. Isolates obtained from samples from patients in US Military treatment facilities, as well as environmental isolates, were genotypically characterized and compared using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. RESULTS A. baumanii-calcoaceticus complex organisms were present on the skin in only 1 (0.6%) of 160 patients who were screened and in 1 (2%) of 49 soil samples. A. baumanii-calcoaceticus complex isolates were recovered from treatment areas in 7 of the 7 field hospitals sampled. Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, we identified 5 cluster groups in which isolates from patients were related to environmental isolates. One cluster included hospitalized patients who had not been deployed to Iraq. Among the clinical isolates, only imipenem, polymyxin B, and colistin demonstrated reliable in vitro antimicrobial activity. Generally, the environmental isolates were more drug susceptible than were the clinical isolates. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that environmental contamination of field hospitals and infection transmission within health care facilities played a major role in this outbreak. On the basis of these findings, maintaining infection control throughout the military health care system is essential. Novel strategies may be required to prevent the transmission of pathogens in combat field hospitals.
Grasping Points Determination Using Visual Features

This paper discusses some issues for generating point of contact using visual features. To address these issues, the paper is divided into two sections: visual features extraction and grasp planning. In order to provide a suitable description of object contour, a method for grouping visual features is proposed. A very important aspect of this method is the way knowledge about grasping regions are represented in the extraction process, which is used also as filtering process to exclude all undesirable grasping point (unstable points) and all line segments that do not fit to the fingertip position. Fingertips are modelled as point contact with friction using the theory of polyhedral convex cones. Our approach uses three-finger contact for grasping planar objects. Each set of three candidate of grasping points is formu- lated as linear constraints and solved using linear programming solvers. Finally, we briefly describe some experiments on a humanoid robot with a stereo camera head and an anthropomorphic robot hand within the ”Centre of excellence on Humanoid Robots: Learning and co-operating Systems” at the University of Karlsruhe and Forchungszentrum Karlsruhe.