Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
American protestant missionaries and Monastir, 1912–17: secondary actors in the construction of Balkan nationalisms

Le present article analyse les activites de missionnaires protestants americains a Monastir au debut du XXe siecle, leurs evaluations des evenements qui se sont produits dans cette ville entre 1912 et 1917, et ce que furent leurs relations avec les nationalites et gouvernements a la fin du XIXe et au debut du XXe siecle. Il s'appuie sur des documents decouverts dans les archives des Missions Etrangeres americaines et conserves a Harvard.
Stimulation of Gastric Intrinsic Factor Secretion

It is uncertain whether the abnormal findings indicate impaired liver function. It has been suggested that they may be a result of the pseudopregnancy state (Tyler, 1964). , While the B.S.P.-removal mechanisms have been found to be impaired in normal pregnancy (Combes et al., 1963), the serum-transaminase levels and the standard B.S.P. retention are not abnormal (Christhilf et al., 1950 ; Combes et al., 1963; Ikonen, 1964). Mueller and Kappas (1964) in their patients, who were mostly post-menopausal, showed that natural oestrogens increased B.S.P. retention, but did not affect serumtransaminase levels. Lyndiol, with an oestrogenic component of 0.15 mg. per tablet, provoked abnormal serum-transaminase levels and B.S.P. retention more often than did Volidan with only 0.05 mg. of 17a-ethinyloestradiol per tablet. This may be merely due to the fact that Lyndiol contains three times as much oestrogen as Volidan, but it is also possible that the 3-methoxy radical potentiates the effect of oestrogen on the liver. On the other hand, 1 7a-ethynyloestrenol itself or one of its metabolites may also be an active principle. There is evidence that in man 19-norsteroids are converted into oestrogenic compounds (Goldzieher, 1964), and the progestogen component of Lyndiol might in this way potentiate the effect of synthetic oestrogen on the liver. It seems likely that oestrogens interfere with the transport of B.S.P. through the liver but not with its conjugation (Mueller and Kappas, 1964), as evidenced by the abnormally low B.S.P. clearance in post-menopausal women treated with oral contraceptives (Eisalo et al., 1964). Finally, it was surprising to find an almost identical incidence of abnormal results in the Orgametril and Volidan groups. In conclusion, the serum transaminase levels and the B.S.P. retention should be determined in women taking oral contraceptive drugs, and withdrawal of medication should be considered in the event of abnormal results. Summary
Racial and Ethnic Group Variations in Service Use in a National Sample of Medicare Home Health Care Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is known to affect adults in racial and ethnic minority groups disproportionately. When diabetes mellitus–related symptoms lead to the need for skilled care in the community‐dwelling Medicare population, physicians can order the Medicare home health care (HHC) benefit, and Medicare‐certified home health agencies can deliver it. Little is known about the extent to which racial and ethnic disparities exist in types and patterns of HHC services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes mellitus when they are approved for the Medicare HHC benefit. This was examined by comparing racial and ethnic groups in terms of measures of HHC service use in a nationally representative sample of Medicare HHC beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Uniform clinical data from the Outcome and Assessment Information Set were linked with Medicare HHC claims for beneficiaries who received a complete episode of HHC in 2002. In the study sample (n=9,838), 62% of participants self‐identified as white, 22% African American, 12% Hispanic, and 3% Asian. Nearly all (99%) participants in all racial and ethnic groups received skilled nursing services. Controlling for numerous sociodemographic and health‐related covariates and geographic region of the country, African‐American participants received fewer nurse visits per week and fewer visits per week from all clinical disciplines combined than whites (both P<.001), and Hispanic participants were less likely than whites to receive physical therapy (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.640, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.543–0.754, P<. 001) or home health aide (AOR=0.716, 95% CI=0.582–0.880, P=.002) services. Lower use of skilled nursing and rehabilitation services by African Americans and of rehabilitation services by Hispanics warrant further clinical and research attention.
Developmental Students' Perception of a First Year Learning Community

Developmental Students’ Perception of a First Year Learning Community by Dennell Smith MSW, University of California Berkeley, 2006 MA, California State University Sacramento, 2000 BA, California State University, Stanislaus, 1996 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Walden University October 2015
Stress Prompts Habit Behavior in Humans

Instrumental behavior can be controlled by goal-directed action–outcome and habitual stimulus–response processes that are supported by anatomically distinct brain systems. Based on previous findings showing that stress modulates the interaction of “cognitive” and “habit” memory systems, we asked in the presented study whether stress may coordinate goal-directed and habit processes in instrumental learning. For this purpose, participants were exposed to stress (socially evaluated cold pressor test) or a control condition before they were trained to perform two instrumental actions that were associated with two distinct food outcomes. After training, one of these food outcomes was selectively devalued as subjects were saturated with that food. Next, subjects were presented the two instrumental actions in extinction. Stress before training in the instrumental task rendered participants' behavior insensitive to the change in the value of the food outcomes, that is stress led to habit performance. Moreover, stress reduced subjects' explicit knowledge of the action–outcome contingencies. These results demonstrate for the first time that stress promotes habits at the expense of goal-directed performance in humans.
Susceptibility of Human Placenta Derived Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells to Human Herpesviruses Infection

Fetal membranes (FM) derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are higher in number, expansion and differentiation abilities compared with those obtained from adult tissues, including bone marrow. Upon systemic administration, ex vivo expanded FM-MSCs preferentially home to damaged tissues promoting regenerative processes through their unique biological properties. These characteristics together with their immune-privileged nature and immune suppressive activity, a low infection rate and young age of placenta compared to other sources of SCs make FM-MSCs an attractive target for cell-based therapy and a valuable tool in regenerative medicine, currently being evaluated in clinical trials. In the present study we investigated the permissivity of FM-MSCs to all members of the human Herpesviridae family, an issue which is relevant to their purification, propagation, conservation and therapeutic use, as well as to their potential role in the vertical transmission of viral agents to the fetus and to their potential viral vector-mediated genetic modification. We present here evidence that FM-MSCs are fully permissive to infection with Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), Varicella zoster virus (VZV), and Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV), but not with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Human Herpesvirus-6, 7 and 8 (HHV-6, 7, 8) although these viruses are capable of entering FM-MSCs and transient, limited viral gene expression occurs. Our findings therefore strongly suggest that FM-MSCs should be screened for the presence of herpesviruses before xenotransplantation. In addition, they suggest that herpesviruses may be indicated as viral vectors for gene expression in MSCs both in gene therapy applications and in the selective induction of differentiation.
Ability of a Rapid Serology Test To Detect Seroconversion to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Glycoprotein G Soon after Infection

ABSTRACT Sera (n = 188) from 29 patients with first-episode genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections were tested by POCkit-HSV-2 and Western blot (WB) to determine the speed of seroconversion. The median time to detection of HSV-2 antibody was 13 days (range, 3 to 102 days) by the POCkit-HSV-2 test versus 13 days (range, 2 to 58 days) for WB.
Identifying barriers to internal supply chain integration using Systems Thinking

This exploratory site-centred research investigates barriers to internal supply chain integration in practice, using systems thinking. A multi-method procedure termed the Quick Scan Audit Methodology is applied to four engineering to order case companies from two different country settings to identify and categorize the actual barriers to internal supply chain integration. The study establishes that the case-significant barriers to internal supply chain integration chiefly relate to behavioral / cultural factors and the organizational arrangement / structures imposed on employees. A cross-case comparison reveals two major clusters of supply chain integration barriers termed “fire-fighting” and “functional-silo mentalities”. The fundamental structures of these clusters are identified.
Detection of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in Iranian native cattle

Neospora caninum is an Apicomplexan parasite which may cause abortion in cattle. This study investigated occurrences of antibodies against N. caninum in Iranian native cattle. From September 2010 to September 2011, blood samples (n=768) of native cows were collected randomly from different rural regions of Hamedan (n=400) and Kurdistan provinces (n=368) located to the western part of Iran. All the samples were evaluated for IgG antibodies against N. caninum using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. The IgG antibodies to N. caninum were found in 14.2% (n=109/768) of serum samples (95% CI: 11.74 - 16.66). There was a significant difference between seropositivity and abortion history (p
Differences in sizes of red and white muscle fibres in vastus lateralis of musculus quadriceps femoris of normal individuals and athletes. Relation to physical performance.

Weight-lifters, endurance events athletes and untrained controls (8 in each group) were studied by means of muscle biopsy, and determination of maximal aerobic capacity and maximal voluntary isometric muscle strength. By histochemical methods applied to the biopsy specimens, muscle fibres were separated in two main groups: red fibres (with low activity of myofibrillar ATPase) and white fibres (with high activity of myofibrillar ATPase). The weight lifters with high isometric muscular strength had significantly larger white fibres than the others. The endurance events athletes with high aerobic capacity but ordinary isometric muscle strength had white fibres of the same size as the control group. The size of the red fibres was the same for all three groups. It was concluded that a high isometric muscular strength is well correlated with large cross-sectional area of white fibres. The size of red fibres seems to be unrelated to isometric muscular strength as well as aerobic capacity.
Pretreatment attrition in a comparative treatment outcome study on panic disorder.

OBJECTIVE Whereas the fact of attrition during the course of treatment is well documented, little is known about the factors that affect sample selection before the beginning of a study ("pretreatment attrition"). The present study reports on the degree and sources of pretreatment attrition at two sites of a multicenter study on panic disorder that compared treatment outcomes for imipramine and cognitive behavior therapy. METHOD Data were collected at two clinical research sites, one with a pharmacological treatment orientation (N = 420) and one with a psychosocial treatment orientation (N = 208). RESULTS The main source of pretreatment attrition was participant refusal. At both research sites, eligible patients most often refused participation because they were either unwilling to start treatment with imipramine (30.6% and 47.4%, respectively) or discontinue their current medication (22.6% and 35.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Results from comparative treatment outcome studies are limited not only to people who meet the study criteria but also to those who are willing to begin a medication treatment and discontinue their current medication.
Expression of Purinergic Receptor Channels and Their Role in Calcium Signaling and Hormone Release in Pituitary Gonadotrophs

The role of ATP as a positive feedback element in Ca2+ signaling and secretion was examined in female rat pituitary gonadotrophs. ATP and ADP, but not AMP or adenosine, induced a dose- and extracellular Ca2+-dependent rise in [Ca2+]i in identified gonadotrophs in a Mg2+- and suramin-sensitive manner. ATP, adenosine-5′-O-(3-thiotriphosphate), adenosine-5′-O-(1-thiotriphosphate), 2-methylthio-ATP, and 3′-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyl-ATP were roughly equipotent in rising [Ca2+]i in gonadotrophs, while ADP was effective only at submillimolar concentration range, and none of these compounds permeabilized the cells. On the other hand, α,β-methylene-ATP, β,γ-methylene-ATP, and UTP were unable to induce any rise in [Ca2+]i. This pharmacological profile is consistent with expression of P2X2 and/or P2X5 purinergic receptor channels. Patch-clamp experiments showed that ATP induced an inward depolarizing current in gonadotrophs clamped at −90 mV, associated with an increase in [Ca2+]i. The ATP-induced [Ca2+]i response was partially inhibited by nifedipine, a blocker of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels (VSCC), but was not affected by tetrodotoxin, a blocker of voltage-sensitive Na+ channels. Thus, the P2-depolarizing current itself drives Ca2+ into the cell, but also activates Ca2+ entry through VSCC. In accord with this, low [ATP] induced plasma membrane-dependent [Ca2+]i oscillations in quiescent cells, and increased the frequency of spiking in spontaneously active cells. ATP-induced Ca2+ influx also affected agonist-induced and InsP3-dependent [Ca2+]i oscillations by increasing the frequency, base line, and duration of Ca2+ spiking. In addition, ATP stimulated gonadotropin secretion and enhanced agonist-induced gonadotropin release. ATP was found to be secreted by pituitary cells during agonist stimulation and was promptly degraded by ectonucleotidase to adenosine. These observations indicate that ATP represents a paracrine/autocrine factor in the regulation of Ca2+ signaling and secretion in gonadotrophs, and that these actions are mediated by P2 receptor channels.
Upregulation of Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase IV Improves Memory Formation and Rescues Memory Loss with Aging

Previous studies have suggested that calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV) functions as a positive regulator for memory formation and that age-related memory deficits are the result of dysfunctional signaling pathways mediated by cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), the downstream transcription factor of CaMKIV. Little is known, however, about the effects of increased CaMKIV levels on the ability to form memory in adult and aged stages. We generated a transgenic mouse overexpressing CaMKIV in the forebrain and showed that the upregulation of CaMKIV led to an increase in learning-induced CREB activity, increased learning-related hippocampal potentiation, and enhanced consolidation of contextual fear and social memories. Importantly, we also observed reduced hippocampal CaMKIV expression with aging and a correlation between CaMKIV expression level and memory performance in aged mice. Genetic overexpression of CaMKIV was able to rescue associated memory deficits in aged mice. Our findings suggest that the level of CaMKIV expression correlates positively with the ability to form long-term memory and implicate the decline of CaMKIV signaling mechanisms in age-related memory deficits.
Spatio-Temporal Progression of Grey and White Matter Damage Following Contusion Injury in Rat Spinal Cord

Cellular mechanisms of secondary damage progression following spinal cord injury remain unclear. We have studied the extent of tissue damage from 15 min to 10 weeks after injury using morphological and biochemical estimates of lesion volume and surviving grey and white matter. This has been achieved by semi-quantitative immunocytochemical methods for a range of cellular markers, quantitative counts of white matter axonal profiles in semi-thin sections and semi-quantitative Western blot analysis, together with behavioural tests (BBB scores, ledged beam, random rung horizontal ladder and DigiGait™ analysis). We have developed a new computer-controlled electronic impactor based on a linear motor that allows specification of the precise nature, extent and timing of the impact. Initial (15 min) lesion volumes showed very low variance (1.92±0.23 mm3, mean±SD, n = 5). Although substantial tissue clearance continued for weeks after injury, loss of grey matter was rapid and complete by 24 hours, whereas loss of white matter extended up to one week. No change was found between one and 10 weeks after injury for almost all morphological and biochemical estimates of lesion size or behavioural methods. These results suggest that previously reported apparent ongoing injury progression is likely to be due, to a large extent, to clearance of tissue damaged by the primary impact rather than continuing cell death. The low variance of the impactor and the comprehensive assessment methods described in this paper provide an improved basis on which the effects of potential treatment regimes for spinal cord injury can be assessed.
Placental and Cord Blood Methylation of Genes Involved in Energy Homeostasis: Association With Fetal Growth and Neonatal Body Composition

Low weight at birth is associated with subsequent susceptibility to diabetes. Epigenetic modulation is among the mechanisms potentially mediating this association. We performed a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis in placentas from term infants born appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) or small-for-gestational-age (SGA) to identify new genes related to fetal growth and neonatal body composition. Candidate genes were validated by bisulfite pyrosequencing (30 AGA, 21 SGA) and also analyzed in cord blood. Gene expression analyses were performed by RT-PCR. Neonatal body composition was assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry at age 2 weeks. The ATG2B, NKX6.1, and SLC13A5 genes (respectively related to autophagy, β-cell development and function, and lipid metabolism) were hypermethylated in placenta and cord blood from SGA newborns, whereas GPR120 (related to free fatty acid regulation) was hypomethylated in placenta and hypermethylated in cord blood. Gene expression levels were opposite to methylation status, and both correlated with birth weight, circulating IGF-I, and total and abdominal fat at age 2 weeks. In conclusion, alterations in methylation and expression of genes involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis were found to relate to fetal growth and neonatal body composition and thus may be among the early mechanisms modulating later susceptibility to diabetes.
Programmable and coherent crystallization of semiconductors

Programmable crystallization of thin films produces patterns and bespoke microstructures for semiconductor applications. The functional properties and technological utility of polycrystalline materials are largely determined by the structure, geometry, and spatial distribution of their multitude of crystals. However, crystallization is seeded through stochastic and incoherent nucleation events, limiting the ability to control or pattern the microstructure, texture, and functional properties of polycrystalline materials. We present a universal approach that can program the microstructure of materials through the coherent seeding of otherwise stochastic homogeneous nucleation events. The method relies on creating topographic variations to seed nucleation and growth at designated locations while delaying nucleation elsewhere. Each seed can thus produce a coherent growth front of crystallization with a geometry designated by the shape and arrangement of seeds. Periodic and aperiodic crystalline arrays of functional materials, such as semiconductors, can thus be created on demand and with unprecedented sophistication and ease by patterning the location and shape of the seeds. This approach is used to demonstrate printed arrays of organic thin-film transistors with remarkable performance and reproducibility owing to their demonstrated spatial control over the microstructure of organic and inorganic polycrystalline semiconductors.
Aripiprazole Versus Haloperidol in Combination With Clozapine for Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: A 12-Month, Randomized, Naturalistic Trial

Background Long-term studies for patients with resistant schizophrenia are necessary to assess the effectiveness of combination strategies on persisting positive symptoms. Aims and Methods This multicenter, naturalistic, randomized, superiority study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00395915) aimed to compare clinical efficacy and tolerability of haloperidol versus aripiprazole as combination treatment with clozapine in patients with resistant schizophrenia. Results One hundred six patients were followed up for 12 months. After 12 months, the proportion of patients who discontinued treatment was not significantly different between aripiprazole and haloperidol (37% vs 28%, respectively; P = 0.431). The change in the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale score was similar in the aripiprazole and haloperidol groups (−7.0 vs −7.9, respectively; P = 0.389), whereas the tolerability total score decreased significantly more in the aripiprazole group (−7.2 vs −2.3; P = 0.008). Conclusions While the effectiveness of clozapine augmentation with a second antipsychotic agent is not clearly demonstrated yet, results from this study suggest that augmentation with aripiprazole offers no substantial benefit over haloperidol in efficacy. Aripiprazole was perceived more tolerable than haloperidol, but it is uncertain how this finding may translate into the real world of clinical practice.