Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mercury Induces Cell Cytotoxicity and Oxidative Stress and Increases β‐Amyloid Secretion and Tau Phosphorylation in SHSY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

Abstract: Concentrations of heavy metals, including mercury, have been shown to be altered in the brain and body fluids of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. To explore potential pathophysiological mechanisms we used an in vitro model system (SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cells) and investigated the effects of inorganic mercury (HgCl2) on oxidative stress, cell cytotoxicity, β‐amyloid production, and tau phosphorylation. We demonstrated that exposure of cells to 50 μg/L (180 nM) HgCl2 for 30 min induces a 30% reduction in cellular glutathione (GSH) levels (n = 13, p < 0.001). Preincubation of cells for 30 min with 1 μM melatonin or premixing melatonin and HgCl2 appeared to protect cells from the mercury‐induced GSH loss. Similarly, 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cytotoxicity assays revealed that 50 μg/L HgCl2 for 24 h produced a 50% inhibition of MTT reduction (n = 9, p < 0.001). Again, melatonin preincubation protected cells from the deleterious effects of mercury, resulting in MTT reduction equaling control levels. The release of β‐amyloid peptide (Aβ) 1‐40 and 1‐42 into cell culture supernatants after exposure to HgCl2 was shown to be different: Aβ 1‐40 showed maximal (15.3 ng/ml) release after 4 h, whereas Aβ 1‐42 showed maximal (9.3 ng/ml) release after 6 h of exposure to mercury compared with untreated controls (n = 9, p < 0.001). Preincubation of cells with melatonin resulted in an attenuation of Aβ 1‐40 and Aβ 1‐42 release. Tau phosphorylation was significantly increased in the presence of mercury (n = 9, p < 0.001), whereas melatonin preincubation reduced the phosphorylation to control values. These results indicate that mercury may play a role in pathophysiological mechanisms of AD.
Real-Time Digital Video Stabilization on an FPGA

We present a hardware architecture for real-time digital video stabilization in high-performance embedded systems. The stabilization algorithm analyzes the current and past video frames and obtains a motion estimation vector, which is then filtered to isolate unwanted camera movements from intentional panning. The vector is then used to correct the output video frame. We designed a hardware architecture for motion estimation, filtering and correction and implemented it on a Xilinx Spartan-6 LX45 Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Running on the 640x480-pixel video output of an infrared camera, the circuit successfully compensates involuntary camera motion at a maximum throughput of 104.15 frames per second and dissipates 24.16mW of power with a 100MHz clock.
Munc18-1: Sequential Interactions with the Fusion Machinery Stimulate Vesicle Docking and Priming

Exocytosis of secretory or synaptic vesicles is executed by a mechanism including the SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins. Munc18-1 is a part of this fusion machinery, but its role is controversial because it is indispensable for fusion but also inhibits the assembly of purified SNAREs in vitro. This inhibition reflects the binding of Munc18-1 to a closed conformation of the target-SNARE syntaxin1. The controversy would be solved if binding to closed syntaxin1 were shown to be stimulatory for vesicle fusion and/or additional essential interactions were identified between Munc18-1 and the fusion machinery. Here, we provide evidence for both notions by dissecting sequential steps of the exocytotic cascade while expressing Munc18 variants in the Munc18-1 null background. In Munc18-1 null chromaffin cells, vesicle docking is abolished and syntaxin levels are reduced. A mutation that diminished Munc18 binding to syntaxin1 in vitro attenuated the vesicle-docking step but rescued vesicle priming in excess of docking. Conversely, expressing the Munc18-2 isoform, which also displays binding to closed syntaxin1, rescued vesicle docking identical with Munc18-1 but impaired more downstream vesicle priming steps. All Munc18 variants restored syntaxin1 levels at least to wild-type levels, showing that the docking phenotype is not caused by syntaxin1 reduction. None of the Munc18 variants affected vesicle fusion kinetics or fusion pore duration. In conclusion, binding of Munc18-1 to closed syntaxin1 stimulates vesicle docking and a distinct interaction mode regulates the consecutive priming step.
Speed of reversal of midazolam‐induced respiratory depression by flumazenil ‐ a study in patients undergoing upper G.I. endoscopy

Intravenous midazolam was given to 17 patients coming to upper G.I. endoscopy. All patients had an ear oximeter and calibrated induction plethysmograph attached to record oxygen saturation and minute volume continuously. Midazolam induced significant depression of respiration. Following removal of the endoscope, a new base line was obtained before giving intravenous flumazenil in an attempt to reverse the sedative and ventilatory effects of midazolam. When 0.5 mg of flumazenil was given over 20 s, followed by 0.1 mg every minute, up to a total of 1.0 mg, all patients were apparently awake in under 2 min. Although the flumazenil had clearly reversed the sedative effects of midazolam, the ventilatory effects were largely uninfluenced. The implications are discussed.
AUTOESTIMA DE IDOSOS COMUNITÁRIOS E FATORES ASSOCIADOS: ESTUDO DE BASE POPULACIONAL

Objetivou-se avaliar autoestima de idosos comunitarios e verificar sua associacao com variaveis sociodemograficas e de saude. O inquerito epidemiologico ocorreu na zona urbana de Uberaba, estado de Minas Gerais, no qual participaram 980 idosos. Utilizaram-se Escalas de Autoestima de Rosenberg, Katz, Lawton e Depressao Geriatrica Abreviada e analise descritiva com testes de Mann Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, correlacao de Spearman e regressao linear multipla (p<0,05). A coleta de dados ocorreu entre agosto de 2012 e marco de 2013. Predominou o sexo feminino, 70-80 anos, casados, renda de um salario minimo, quatro a sete anos de estudo, que moravam com filhos. A mediana foi de cinco doencas. Os escores de autoestima apresentaram mediana de 10. Os preditores dos piores niveis de autoestima foram maior idade (p<0,01), menor escolaridade (p=0,021) e indicativo de depressao (p<0,001). Os idosos comunitarios apresentaram elevada autoestima e o indicativo de depressao foi o preditor principal da baixa autoestima.
Metachronous Primary Melanoma and Lymphoma

The association of cutaneous melanoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma has been well documented. We identified 117 patients from the Connecticut Tumor Registry between 1973 and 2002 with diagnoses of both melanoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Charts were reviewed based on patients identified with these diagnoses in the Tumor Registry at Yale-New Haven Hospital between 1926 and 2004. Data were analyzed for age at diagnosis, interval between diagnoses, survival, and gender comparisons were also made. Males comprised 62% of the patients. Females diagnosed initially with non-Hodgkin lymphoma developed melanoma after a longer interval than males. All patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma first had decreased survival. No gender-specific survival difference was seen regardless of which malignancy occurred first. The study patients had overall decreased survival than that expected with either melanoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma alone. The effects of treatment, immunosuppression, viral induction, and genetic mutations may play various roles in the development of these neoplasms. Further research is required to provide insight into the link between melanoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The identification of precursors in the early development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The principal aim of this thesis was to identify precursors to symptoms of ADHD in early childhood in the context of a longitudinal study of first-born children (the Cardiff Child Development Study; CCDS). Three criteria were used to determine whether an early behaviour could be identified as a precursor. Firstly, the precursors should ‘resemble the later developmental outcome’. In line with features of the disorder, informant-reported and measured high activity levels during a number of tasks (reflecting inattention and impulsivity domains) in infancy were proposed as precursors of ADHD symptoms. Secondly, precursors needed to be associated with ‘well-established risk factors for the later outcome’. Associations with familial symptoms of ADHD and perinatal risk factors were therefore explored. Parental ADHD symptoms predicted ADHD symptoms and executive task performance at 33 months and 7 years of age, but were only related to increased activity levels during a restraint condition at 6 months. Perinatal risk factors predicted toddlers and childrens’ ADHD symptoms, but this was no longer significant when ODD symptoms were taken into account. Higher informant-reported activity levels at 6 months were associated with stress and smoking in late pregnancy, but measured activity levels were not related to perinatal risk. Thirdly, the precursors should show ‘continuity over time’. The relationships with later ADHD symptoms and executive functioning outcomes, measured in toddlerhood and then again at age 7 were therefore explored. Continuity over time was established for informant-reported activity levels at 6 months of age, which predicted later ADHD symptoms, even when ODD symptoms were controlled for. Infants’ measured activity levels did not predict measured activity levels in toddlers, symptoms of ADHD or executive
Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis in Boyer Ahmad District, Kohgiluyeh & Boyer Ahmad Province, Southwest of Iran

Background Mediterranean type of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is present in different parts of Iran. Several studies have identified dogs as the main reservoirs of the VL caused by Leishmania infantum in Iran and other Mediterranean regions. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis as animal reservoir host for human visceral leishmaniasis in Boyer Ahmad district in southwest of Iran. Methods A seroepidemiological study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) among ownership dogs by using direct agglutination test (DAT) in 23 of 182 villages of Boyer Ahmad district, during August 2009 to August 2010. One hundred and seventy serum samples from ownership dogs were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling in villages of Boyer Ahmad district. All samples were tested by DAT and anti-Leishmania antibodies titers at ≥ 1:320 was considered as positive. Results Of the 170 serum samples, 10% were positive by DAT at titers of 1:320 and higher. No statistical significant difference was found between male (10.7%) and female (8.3%) seroprevalence. The highest seroprevalence rate (15.1%) was observed among the ownership dogs of four to seven years age. Altogether, seventeen (25.4%) of the seropositive dogs had clinical signs and symptoms. Conclusion It seems that Boyer Ahmad district is an endemic area for canine visceral leishmaniasis in Iran.
Phenomenological Aspects of Monodelusional Disorders

The monodelusional disorders correspond closely to the Kraepelinian description of paranoia (Kraepelin, 1921), and to the DSM—III—R category of “delusional (paranoid) disorder” (American Psychiatric Association, 1987). The essential feature is a stable delusional system, and the encapsulated quality of the delusion is characteristic. The rest of the personality is notably well preserved, but the delusional system, despite its encapsulation, takes over much of the individual's way of life. There are profound and striking secondary changes in affect, attitude and logic when the patient switches from the normal to the delusional mode or vice versa.
Uses and Abuses of Crime Statistics

'Lies, damned lies and statistics'; we have all heard the saying.1 It is probably nowhere more frequently heard than in connection with crime statistics. Newspapers, television and radio frequently use crime statistics to evoke images of a community about to be engulfed in a 'crime wave'. Editorial writers and commentators often follow the news of an upsurge in crime figures with demands for tougher penalties or more police or a 'crack-down' on some particular kind of offender. Oppositions use crime statistics to attack governments. Governments use the same crime statistics to defend their policies. Meanwhile, academics and others complain that the figures are not to be trusted anyway. What is the ordinary person to make of all this? It is tempting, in the circumstances, to ignore the statistics and rely instead on one's own impressions. Impressions, however, can be misleading too. The experiences of one person may be different from those of another. Statistical information is gathered in part to get away from dependence on the subjective impressions of particular individuals. The problem is how to go about using crime statistics in a way which is not misleading and which helps rather than hinders our understanding of crime. This bulletin seeks to explain some of the uses and abuses of crime statistics. Its object is not to make the reader altogether distrustful of those statistics. It is intended instead to provide a basis for critically assessing claims made using them.
Commerce et prospérité : la France au XVIIIe siècle. 2e éd.

Le " court XVIIIe siecle " (1713-1792) a ete la seule periode pendant laquelle la France a tenu la premiere place dans le commerce mondial. Cette predominance a ete accompagnee par la prosperite de son economie interieure. A partir de cet episode historique, Guillaume Daudin s'interesse a un des facteurs a l'origine de la richesse et de la pauvrete des nations : le commerce dans sa dimension nationale et internationale. Il etudie d'abord le role des marchands dans l'economie francaise, pour montrer comment une economie peut croitre par le simple jeu du developpement des echanges interieurs. Puis, ayant determine les caracteristiques du commerce international francais, il revele un modele original qui place ses profits au cœur de la croissance economique. Dans cet essai, l'etude rigoureuse des faits historiques precede toujours la reflexion theorique. L'auteur donne ainsi l'exemple d'une conception ouverte et large de l'economie.
The Education of Gifted Children in the Early Years: A First Survey of Views, Teaching Practices, Resourcing and Administration Issues

This paper reports the findings of a survey of views on the early education of gifted children in New Zealand and identifies where challenges for professional support, resourcing, and educational administration might lie. The 125 respondents represented a range of roles connected in some way with education and most (71%) also had first-hand experience of caring for or teaching a gifted child. Various views on how giftedness should be defined were expressed, indicating that no agreement on a definition existed. Notwithstanding this, it was considered important to identify if a child was gifted or not. Talking with parents about their child’s abilities, along with formal and informal observation of the child were the preferred methods for identifying giftedness. The findings suggest further research and consultation on a definition or definitions of giftedness relevant to the early years of education and the developmental characteristics of the young child is needed. Incongruence between what respondents believed teachers should do and what they actually did in practice on a number of aspects of working with young gifted children was found. Respondents’ suggestions of resources included: ideas for extension activities; identification and assessment tools; and recognition of parents as an important resource for information. Written, online and media resources and the provision of teacher professional development is clearly wanted and should help to raise understanding and knowledge about giftedness whilst also assisting teachers to more fully put beliefs into practice. In regards to an educational administration question of where responsibility for gifted education should sit within the Ministry of Education 74% of respondents thought it should be brought under the Special Education section, though concerns were expressed the adequacy of resourcing in Special Education. Opinion was more divided on a question of whether gifted children should be permitted to start primary school before their fifth birthday. This question generated the most feedback from respondents covering issues such as acceleration and appropriateness of the school setting for (any) children under-5 years.
Political skill construct and criterion‐related validation: a two‐study investigation

Purpose – Political skill is measured with the political skill inventory (PSI), and the construct is composed of four distinct dimensions. Previous validation studies of the PSI found evidence in support of the four‐factor structure, but only using self‐reports. Furthermore, no efforts have been made to also identify a single, higher‐order factor solution through second‐order factor analysis. The present research aims to expand on prior work and report on a two‐study investigation of both the construct validity and antecedents and consequences of the political skill construct.Design/methodology/approach – To test construct validity, Study 1 combined self‐ and other reports of political skill from 467 employees in a confirmatory factor analysis. Study 2 used longitudinal data from 202 employees to constructively replicate Study 1 results and to test hypotheses regarding the antecedents and consequences of political skill.Findings – The results of Study 1 confirmed both a four‐factor and a single higher‐ord.
Microalbuminuria, but not cystatin C, is associated with carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged adults.

BACKGROUND Cystatin C, a marker of renal function, has been shown to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older adults, but few data are available in middle-aged adults. Moreover, no study has compared cystatin C and microalbuminuria as risk factors for CVD outcomes in middle-aged adults, and it is not known whether cystatin C is related to an early stage of atherosclerosis. METHODS We evaluated the relationships between serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), serum cystatin C (all divided into tertiles), microalbuminuria and carotid atherosclerosis in a population-based random sample of 523 adults aged 35-64 years from the Seychelles (Indian Ocean). GFR was estimated using the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) equation. Intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed by B-mode ultrasound. RESULTS The mean age of the study sample was 52 years, and 55% were women. Carotid IMT was higher in participants with microalbuminuria (802 vs 732 microm, P<0.001) and was inversely associated with GFR tertiles (from 728 to 809 microm, P for trend=0.002). IMT was not associated with cystatin C or creatinine (P for trend=0.10 and 0.16, respectively). In multivariate analyses adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors, the association between microalbuminuria and IMT remained (P=0.047), while the association between GFR and IMT disappeared (P for trend=0.33). CONCLUSIONS Microalbuminuria, but not cystatin C, is associated with carotid atherosclerosis beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors among middle-aged adults. Cystatin C does not have a stronger relationship with carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged adults than creatinine.
ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI FROM RICINUS COMMUNIS LINN. AND THEIR ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

The aim of this study was to identify the endophytic fungi from medicinal plant Ricinus communis and to investigate their potential antibacterial activity. 10 fungal species of endophytic fungi were successfully isolated from Ricinus communis including Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus japonicas, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium semitectum, Curvularia pallescens, Phoma hedericola, Alternaria tenuissima, Fusarium solani, Drechslera australien and Aspergillus repens. The fungal extracts were assessed for antibacterial activity against six human pathogenic bacterial strains: Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcous sp. , Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus. Most of the extracts showed in vitro inhibition of bacterial growth. The phytochemical screening revealed the existence of a diverse group of secondary metabolites in the crude extracts of the endophytic fungi that resemble those in the host plant extracts.
Use of Slag/Sugar Cane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) Blends in the Production of Alkali-Activated Materials

Blast furnace slag (BFS)/sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) blends were assessed for the production of alkali-activated pastes and mortars. SCBA was collected from a lagoon in which wastes from a sugar cane industry were poured. After previous dry and grinding processes, SCBA was chemically characterized: it had a large percentage of organic matter (ca. 25%). Solutions of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate were used as activating reagents. Different BFS/SCBA mixtures were studied, replacing part of the BFS by SCBA from 0 to 40% by weight. The mechanical strength of mortar was measured, obtaining values about 60 MPa of compressive strength for BFS/SCBA systems after 270 days of curing at 20 °C. Also, microstructural properties were assessed by means of SEM, TGA, XRD, pH, electrical conductivity, FTIR spectroscopy and MIP. Results showed a good stability of matrices developed by means of alkali-activation. It was demonstrated that sugar cane bagasse ash is an interesting source for preparing alkali-activated binders.
When a Facebook Group Makes a Difference: Facebook for Language Learning

This paper investigates what Iraqi students gain from interacting in English in a Facebook group in an EFL context. An online questionnaire of eight multiple-choice and two openended questions was provided to the participants, who are university students studying English. Thirty-five participants responded to the questionnaire. In addition, four participants and one teacher were randomly selected for phone interviews. For data analysis, mixed methods analysis was conducted since the data were both qualitative and quantitative in nature. For the qualitative data analysis, the “grounded” approach was used to identify “patterns” or “themes”, and an “a priori” approach for the focused questions and responses previously determined by the researcher. As for the quantitative data analysis, percentages of responses of each Likert-scale question were calculated. The outcomes of this study are potentially important to both students and teachers who want to expand learning opportunities for students outside the classroom.
A Dynamic‐Maturational Model of Attachment

This article provides an overview of an attachment based approach to formulation of behavioural and psychiatric disorder. The dynamic- maturational model (DMM) of attachment places many such problems within a context of family-attachment relationships. In the DMM, neurological maturation interacting with experience is central to the self- protective strategies that individuals develop to regulate familial attachments. When the relationships fail to protect child (or parent), more extreme strategies are organised to wrest some measure of safety and comfort from an otherwise threatening environment. A wide range of such strategies is described. It is argued that recognising attachment strategies in patients is crucial to providing helpful treatment (and to reducing the risk of inappropriate treatment). (author abstract)