Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unconscious Processing of Negative Animals and Objects: Role of the Amygdala Revealed by fMRI

Previous studies have shown that emotional stimuli can be processed through the amygdala without conscious awareness. The amygdala is also involved in processing animate and social information. However, it is unclear whether different categories of pictures (e.g., animals, objects) elicit different activity in the amygdale and other regions without conscious awareness. The objective of this study was to explore whether the factors of category, emotion and picture context modulate brain activation for unconscious processing. Pictures denoting different nonhuman animals and objects in negative and neutral emotional valences were presented using a sandwich-masking paradigm. Half of them were presented with human-related information in the contexts, and half were not. Our results showed significant interaction among category, emotion and context in the amygdala and subcortical regions. Specifically, negative animals elicited stronger activation in these regions than negative objects, especially with human contexts. In addition, there were different correlation patterns between the amygdala and cortical regions according to whether they included human context. There were limited activations in cortical category-related networks. These results suggest that the amygdala and subcortical regions dominantly process negative animals, and contextual information modulates their activities, making threatening stimuli that are most relevant to human survival preferentially processed without conscious awareness.
Secrecy Cognitive Gain of Cognitive Radio Sensor Networks with Primary Outage Constraint

This paper studies the physical layer security issue for cognitive radio sensor networks (CRSNs) with primary outage constraint, for which a tractable framework is developed to analyze the secrecy performance for CRSNs related to the random channel characteristics, the spatial distributions of nodes, the nearest neighbour routing protocol, and the aggregate interference. Based on stochastic geometry technique, a novel random analysis method is proposed to derive the closed-form expression of secrecy transmission capacity and analyze the connection outage probability (COP) and secrecy outage probability (SOP) for both secondary (SR) and primary (PR) systems. Then, the concept of secrecy cognitive gain is produced to highlight the effect of SR systems with secrecy on the whole networks security. Comparing with a single PR system, the SR system is beneficial to enhance the secrecy level for overlaid CRSNs. In addition, the maximum achievable secrecy capacity is achieved through optimizing the density of SR systems satisfying outage constraints of PR and SR systems. Analytical results provide insights into regimes in which the SR system with secrecy is beneficial for the overlaid network secrecy.
The epidemiology of autism: a review

Background. There is some uncertainty about the rate and correlates of autism. Method. Twenty-three epidemiological surveys of autism published in the English language between 1966 and 1998 were reviewed. Results. Over 4 million subjects were surveyed; 1533 subjects with autism were identified. The methodological characteristics of each study are summarized, including case definition, case-finding procedures, participation rates and precision achieved. Across surveys, the median prevalence estimate was 5·2/10000. Half the surveys had 95% confidence intervals consistent with population estimates of 5·4–5·5/10000. Prevalence rates significantly increased with publication year, reflecting changes in case definition and improved recognition; the median rate was 7·2/10000 for 11 surveys conducted since 1989. The average male/female ratio was 3·8[ratio ]1, varying according to the absence or presence of mental retardation. Intellectual functioning within the normal range was reported in about 20% of subjects. On average, medical conditions of potential causal significance were found in 6% of subjects with autism, with tuberous sclerosis having a consistently strong association with autism. Social class and immigrant status did not appear to be associated with autism. There was no evidence for a secular increase in the incidence of autism. In eight surveys, rates for other forms of pervasive developmental disorders were two to three times higher than the rate for autism. Conclusion. Based on recent surveys, a minimum estimate of 18·7/10000 for all forms of pervasive developmental disorders was derived, which outlines the needs in special services for a large group of children.
Reduced lists of error patterns for maximum likelihood soft decoding

A method whereby a substantially reduced family of error patterns, called survivors, may be created for maximum likelihood soft decoding is introduced. The family of survivor depends on the received word. A decoder based on this approach first forms the survivors, then scores them. Rather than obtaining the survivors by online elimination of error patterns, the use of predetermined lists that represent all families of survivors is proposed. >
Base-modified Donor Analogues Reveal Novel Dynamic Features of a Glycosyltransferase*

Background: Modified UDP-Gal donor substrates with 5-formylthienyl and 5-phenyl substituents on the uracil base exhibit differential inhibition patterns for glycosyltransferases. Results: Structural studies reveal a new enzyme loop folding mode for the 5-formylthienyl analogue. Conclusion: Differential inhibition is attributed to alternate enzyme conformational changes and interactions with the respective inhibitors. Significance: The conformational plasticity of glycosyltransferases can be exploited in designing novel inhibitors. Glycosyltransferases (GTs) are enzymes that are involved, as Nature's “glycosylation reagents,” in many fundamental biological processes including cell adhesion and blood group biosynthesis. Although of similar importance to that of other large enzyme families such as protein kinases and proteases, the undisputed potential of GTs for chemical biology and drug discovery has remained largely unrealized to date. This is due, at least in part, to a relative lack of GT inhibitors and tool compounds for structural, mechanistic, and cellular studies. In this study, we have used a novel class of GT donor analogues to obtain new structural and enzymological information for a representative blood group GT. These analogues interfere with the folding of an internal loop and the C terminus, which are essential for catalysis. Our experiments have led to the discovery of an entirely new active site folding mode for this enzyme family, which can be targeted in inhibitor development, similar to the DFG motif in protein kinases. Taken together, our results provide new insights into substrate binding, dynamics, and utilization in this important enzyme family, which can very likely be harnessed for the rational development of new GT inhibitors and probes.
Professional values and reported behaviours of doctors in the USA and UK: quantitative survey

Background The authors aimed to determine US and UK doctors' professional values and reported behaviours, and the extent to which these vary with the context of care. Method 1891 US and 1078 UK doctors completed the survey (64.4% and 40.3% response rate respectively). Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare responses to identical questions in the two surveys. Results UK doctors were more likely to have developed practice guidelines (82.8% UK vs 49.6% US, p<0.001) and to have taken part in a formal medical error-reduction programme (70.9% UK vs 55.7% US, p<0.001). US doctors were more likely to agree about the need for periodic recertification (completely agree 23.4% UK vs 53.9% US, p<0.001). Nearly a fifth of doctors had direct experience of an impaired or incompetent colleague in the previous 3 years. Where the doctor had not reported the colleague to relevant authorities, reasons included thinking that someone else was taking care of the problem, believing that nothing would happen as a result, or fear of retribution. UK doctors were more likely than US doctors to agree that significant medical errors should always be disclosed to patients. More US doctors reported that they had not disclosed an error to a patient because they were afraid of being sued. Discussion The context of care may influence both how professional values are expressed and the extent to which behaviours are in line with stated values. Doctors have an important responsibility to develop their healthcare systems in ways which will support good professional behaviour.
METABOLIC SYNDROME IN FEMALE WORKERS FROM A TEXTILE MILL: EFFECT OF NOISE

Objective: Noise creates alteration in human health in both physical as well as psychological variations. Effect of noise on components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been discussed but not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the MetS in female workers from textile mill. Methods: A total of 65 female workers were recruited for the study from the high noise (>70 dB) area and low noise (<40 dB) area of a textile mill. Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), blood sugar (BS), and lipid profile were investigated of the female workers. BP was estimated by auscultatory method. BS was investigated by glucose oxidase-peroxidase (POD) method. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were investigated by cholesterol oxidase (CHOD)-POD method, GPO- PAP method, CHOD-POD/phosphotungustate method, and friedewald formula, respectively. R esults: Significant outcomes were obtained in this study. BMI was significantly (<0.01) higher in workers working in high noise area compared to low noise (<40 dB) area. Systolic BP and diastolic BP was also significantly (<0.01) higher in high noise area. Fasting BS level was found to be significantly (<0.01) lower in low noise area. In case of lipid profile significant (<0.01) results were obtained except LDL-C. TC and TG were found to be related with noise since their concentration was higher in high noise area compared to low noise area. However, HDL-C was found to be lower in high noise area compared to low noise area. C onclusion: Continuous exposure to occupational noise might be reason for developing cardiovascular disease depending on the degree of MetS in industrial workers. BP and BS seems to be better predictor of MetS in assessing cardiovascular risk. Ke ywords: Occupational noise, Metabolic syndrome, Dyslipidemia.
Prucalopride succinate for the treatment of constipation: an update

ABSTRACT Constipation is a disorder frequently complained about by patients in daily clinical practice. However, to date, its treatment is still commonly unsatisfactory, especially concerning patients’ quality of life, when using conventional measures. Prucalopride, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 agonist, was introduced to the market in 2009 and has been commercially available in Europe since 2010. The main effect of prucalopride is to stimulate colonic motility, which explains its efficacy to treat constipated patients unresponsive to other regimens. Literature search was carrieod out to look for effects of prucalopride on constipated patients. Several papers were found demonstrating that prucalopride is effective in treatment of constipated patients. Due to its few side effects, the lack of cardiovascular effects and interactions with other drugs, prucalopride may be safely used in elderly people as well.
A Methodology for Optimized Design of Secure Differential Logic Gates for DPA Resistant Circuits

Cryptocircuits can be attacked by third parties using differential power analysis (DPA), which uses power consumption dependence on data being processed to reveal critical information. To protect security devices against this issue, differential logic styles with (almost) constant power dissipation are widely used. However, to use such circuits effectively for secure applications it is necessary to eliminate any energy-secure flaw in security in the shape of memory effects that could leak information. This paper proposes a design methodology to improve pull-down logic configuration for secure differential gates by redistributing the charge stored in internal nodes and thus, removing memory effects that represent a significant threat to security. To evaluate the methodology, it was applied to the design of AND/NAND and XOR/XNOR gates in a 90 nm technology, adopting the sense amplifier based logic (SABL) style for the pull-up network. The proposed solutions leak less information than typical SABL gates, increasing security by at least two orders of magnitude and with negligible performance degradation. A simulation-based DPA attack on the Sbox9 cryptographic module used in the Kasumi algorithm, implemented with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor, SABL and proposed gates, was performed. The results obtained illustrate that the number of measurements needed to disclose the key increased by much more than one order of magnitude when using our proposal. This paper also discusses how the effectivenness of DPA attacks is influenced by operating temperature and details how to insure energy-secure operations in the new proposals.
Molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH).

REVIEW Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH) is defined as a hypomineralisation of systemic origin of one to four permanent first molars frequently associated with affected incisors. MIH molars are fragile and caries can develop very easily in those molars. Although MIH molars are well known by paediatric dentists and their occurrence is related in severe cases to major clinical problems, only limited data of the size of the problem are available. The prevalence of MIH ranges in the literature from about 3.6 to 25% and seems to differ in certain regions and birth cohorts. Unfortunately more complete comparable valid data are lacking at the moment. It seems that several aetiological factors can cause the enamel defects and that their occurrence is child related. CONCLUSION For children with repeated illnesses in the first years after birth and children with opacities on erupted molars or incisors it seems useful to increase the frequency of dental check-ups during the period of erupting first permanent molars.
Impaired primary T cell responses in L-selectin-deficient mice

L-selectin is a homing receptor that mediates the selective attachment of leukocytes to specialized high endothelial venules. To study the potential role of L-selectin in immune responses in intact mice, we generated L-selectin-deficient mice by gene targeting. L-selectin- deficient mice are defective in cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses when tested after conventional intervals of immunization (4 d). Primary T cell proliferative responses and cytokine production (interleukin [IL] 2, IL-4, and interferon gamma) were also compromised when tested after 5 d of immunization, indicating that L- selectin is important for the immune response to antigens. In contrast, after more prolonged immunization protocols (9 d), normal responses were observed, suggesting that L-selectin-independent compensatory mechanisms exist. Interestingly, humoral responses of L-selectin- deficient mice to keyhole limpet hemocyanin are indistinguishable from wild-type control mice, implying that L-selectin plays no rate-limiting role in T cell help of B cell function. Thus, our results suggest that L-selectin plays an important role in the generation of primary T cell responses but may not be essential for humoral and memory T cell responses. L-selectin does not appear to be rate limiting for the events leading to antigen-driven neutrophil recruitment, since normal DTH responses are obtained at late time points after immunization.
Mechanical Properties of Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR)-Mortar and its Potential Application to Restore the Strength and Serviceability of Patched Reinforced Concrete Slab

Degradation of reinforced concrete could occur in various forms including spalling of concrete cover as a result of reinforcement corrosion. The degradation would shorthen the service life of the reinforced concrete structure. Patch repair method may be employed to recover this type of degradation using a suitable patch repair material. The authors have developed a patch repair material made from unsaturated polyester resin (UPR)-mortar. In this paper, the mechanical properties of this material which includes compressive strength, elastic modulus, flexural strength and bond strength are highlighted. Comparisons are also made with the normal mortar to emphasize the superior properties of UPR-mortar. Based on these properties, the potential application of UPR-mortar for repairing damaged reinforced concrete slab is examined through finite element simulation. It is pointed out that the tensile stress intensity in the UPR-layer is reduced with a consequence of reducing a risk of cracking in the repair zone. In addition, the patching of damaged zone with UPR-mortar could minimize the deflection.
Differential expression of urokinase‐type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 in early and late gestational mouse skin and skin wounds

Early gestation fetal mouse skin heals without scars. Plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) has been associated with postnatal organ fibrosis. We hypothesized that the relative balance between urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA) and PAI‐1 expression in favor of uPA prevents scarring in early fetal skin wounds, whereas a change in favor of PAI‐1 in late gestation results in wound scarring. To evaluate uPA and PAI‐1 expression, 1‐mm skin wounds were made in E14.5 and E18 mice and harvested 24, 48, or 96 hours postwounding. Aprotinin (2 mg/ml)‐coated beads were injected into selected E14.5 wounds. Normal skin and skin wounds were evaluated for uPA, PAI‐1, and collagen expression. We showed that in normal skin uPA level is higher in E14.5 than in E18 mice, while PAI‐1 is lower in E14.5 than in E18 mice. After wounding, E14.5 wounds show a moderate increase in uPA and a minimal increase in PAI‐1. E18 wounds show a transient increase in uPA but a significant, sustained increase in PAI‐1. Addition of aprotinin to E14.5 wounds causes an increase in collagen deposition. We conclude that the differential expression of uPA and PAI‐1 in the skin of early vs. late gestation mice may contribute to the degree of scar formation seen after cutaneous injury. (WOUND REP REG 2002;10:387–396)
Interactions between Intrarenal Epinephrine Receptors and the Renal Baroreceptor in the Control of PRA in Conscious Dogs

We investigated the relationship between plasma renin activity (PRA) and renal arterial pressure (RAP) during (1) control conditions, (2) intravenous epinephrine infusion, and (3) intrarenal epinephrine infusion. In five uninephrectomized conscious dogs maintained on a low-salt diet, we controlled the RAP with an inflatable constricting cuff around the renal artery. (1) The control stimulus-response curve of the renal baroreceptor consists of a relatively flat section (slope = −0.03 ng Al/ml/hr per mm Hg) at RAP's close to control pressure and a much steeper section (slope = −0.48 ng Al/ml/hr per mm Hg) at RAP's below a threshold pressure of approximately 75 mm Hg. (2) Intravenous infusion of epinephrine at a dose that yields physiological plasma concentrations shifts the stimulus-response curve to the right by 10–15 mm Hg without altering either slope. (3) Intrarenal epinephrine infusion also displaces the stimulus-response curve to the right; intrarenal and intravenous epinephrine infusions that produce similar renal arterial epinephrine concentrations shift the response curve by the same amount. (4) However, as previously reported, intravenous administration of epinephrine decreases mean aortic pressure (MAP) (93 to 88 mm Hg, P < 0.05) and increases PRA (1.1 to 1.6 ng Al/ml per hr, P < 0.05), while intrarenal epinephrine has no effect on either MAP or PRA. Taken together, these results demonstrate that both infusions act intrarenally, increasing the threshold pressure, but that only intravenous epinephrine has an additional systemic effect, lowering MAP and, therefore, RAP. The combination of an increase in threshold pressure and a decrease in RAP causes the RAP to fall below the threshold pressure, raising PRA. These observations explain why PRA increases during intravenous but not intrarenal infusion.
Evaluation of the Phadebact Gonococcus Test for confirmation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae grown on Thayer-Martin medium and media with and without serum were examined by the Phadebact Gonococcus Test. By using the direct method, in which colonies from growth media were mixed directly with the reagents on a microscope slide, Thayer-Martin medium, contrary to the manufacturer's claim, was not found to be the medium giving best results, and presence or absence of serum in the media did not affect the results. A large number of inconclusive results were obtained. A modification of the alternative procedure, which uses a heated suspension of the gonococcal cells as the antigen, is described. Of the 432 strains of N. gonorrhoeae examined by this method, 427 were accurately identified. Five strains, however, gave false-negative results. None of the 80 strains of N. meningitidis gave positive results. Nine of nineteen strains of N. lactamica, however, gave clear-cut positive results. Use of the o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside test in conjunction with the Phadebact Gonococcus Test, particularly on isolates from the pharynx, is recommended.
Phase 3 clinical trial of steroids/mycophenolate mofetil vs steroids/placebo as therapy for acute GVHD: BMT CTN 0802.

Corticosteroids are the accepted primary therapy for acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but durable responses are seen in only about half of the patients. Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN) 0802, a phase 3 multicenter randomized double-blinded trial, was designed to test whether mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) plus corticosteroids was superior to corticosteroids alone as initial therapy for acute GVHD. Patients with newly diagnosed acute GVHD were eligible if they required systemic therapy. Patients were randomized to receive prednisone with either MMF or placebo. The primary end point was acute or chronic GVHD-free survival at day 56 after initiation of therapy. A futility rule for GVHD-free survival at day 56 was met at a planned interim analysis after 235 patients (of 372) were enrolled: 116 MMF, 119 placebo. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between treatment groups including grade and organ distribution of GVHD. GVHD-free survival at day 56, cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD at 12 months, overall survival, Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, severe, life-threatening infections, relapse at 12 months, and quality of life were similar. The addition of MMF to corticosteroids as initial therapy for acute GVHD does not improve GVHD-free survival compared with corticosteroids alone. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT01002742.