Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Processing of different types of social threat in shyness: Preliminary findings of distinct functional neural connectivity

Current theory suggests that the processing of different types of threat is supported by distinct neural networks. Here we tested whether there are distinct neural correlates associated with different types of threat processing in shyness. Using fMRI and multivariate techniques, we compared neural responses and functional connectivity during the processing of imminent (i.e., congruent angry/angry face pairs) and ambiguous (i.e., incongruent angry/neutral face pairs) social threat in young adults selected for high and low shyness. To both types of threat processing, non-shy adults recruited a right medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) network encompassing nodes of the default mode network involved in automatic emotion regulation, whereas shy adults recruited a right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) network encompassing nodes of the frontoparietal network that instantiate active attentional and cognitive control. Furthermore, in shy adults, the mPFC interacted with the dACC network for ambiguous threat, but with a distinct network encompassing nodes of the salience network for imminent threat. These preliminary results expand our understanding of right mPFC function associated with temperamental shyness. They also provide initial evidence for differential neural networks associated with shy and non-shy profiles in the context of different types of social threat processing.
Reaction time performance in adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Evidence of inconsistency in the fast and slow portions of the RT distribution

Inconsistency across trials of 2-choice reaction time (RT) data was analyzed in 72 adolescents (age 12–17 years) within 4 groups differentiated by the presence or absence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and reading difficulties (RD). ADHD participants were more inconsistent (across all trials, and in the slow portion of the RT distribution) than controls, but only when RD was present. Within the fast portion of the RT distribution, ADHD participants were more inconsistent than controls regardless of RD. The results highlight the importance of fluctuations in cognitive performance in ADHD and suggest that there may be independent sources of variation in inconsistency affecting the fast and slow portions of the RT distribution.
Limb‐kinetic apraxia in corticobasal degeneration: Clinical and kinematic features

Current concepts regarding the organisation of the motor system indicate the existence of a frontoparietal circuit involved in prehension and manipulation, whose damage may result in a motor behavioural disorder strongly resembling the one originally described as limb‐kinetic apraxia. To determine the specific clinical and kinematic features of this distinctive praxic disorder, 5 patients with corticobasal degeneration (apraxic group), 5 with Parkinson's disease (nonapraxic group), and 10 control subjects were studied by a comprehensive apraxic battery, three‐dimensional motion analysis of manipulative movements and motor evoked potentials. A mathematical model [quality of movement coefficient (QMC)] was applied to quantify differential kinematic characteristics between elementary motor deficits and the praxic disorder. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to evaluate corticomotoneural projections and cortical inhibition. All five patients in the apraxic group exhibited a unilateral praxic deficit characterised by derangement of fractionated and segmental finger movements. QMC was significantly greater in apraxic than in nonapraxic patients (P < 0.02), revealing a chaotic movement with marked interfinger uncoordination. Conventional transcranial magnetic stimulation parameters were within normal limits in both groups of patients; however, the silent period was significantly shorter in the apraxic limb when compared with control subjects (P < 0.001). Limb‐kinetic apraxia is a distinctive disorder affecting the performance of finger and hand postures and movements over and above a corticospinal or basal ganglion deficit. Disruption of the frontoparietal circuit devoted to grasping and manipulation, together with defective cortical inhibition, which would also interfere with the selection and control of hand muscle activity, are the most likely underlying physiopathological mechanisms of limb‐kinetic apraxia in patients with corticobasal degeneration.
Assessment of Silver Nanorod Synthesis

​— Crucial for optical, thermal, and electrical applications, silver nanoparticles can be synthesized through various methods, most notably the strong-reducing agent (sodium borohydride-toluene) method and the polyol (ethylene glycol-tannic acid) method. The strong-reducing agent method is advantageous because of its claimed ease of reproducibility; however, the polyol method is investigated here due to its low environmental impact. A study of the reproducibility of the polyol process is presented, assessing both the exact synthesis method described in a paper reported by Javier Patarroyo and collaborators, as well as modified temperature-dependent syntheses. Additionally, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the monetary cost, energy efficiency, human health impact, and environmental impact of polyol synthesis is presented with comparisons to previous strong-reducing agent syntheses. The LCA demonstrates that the new polyol method presented here is slightly less efficient in cost-per-yield than the strong reducing agent method. Thus, Patarroyo’s procedure was successfully modified to obtain reproducible, efficient, and environmentally friendly methods of silver nanorod synthesis. These silver nanorods are now being applied to phosphorescent blue organic-LEDs as well as SPASERs (nanoscale lasers) due to their excellent optical properties in the blue wavelengths.
Pseudoprune belly syndrome; its' associations and management challenge in a developing country: a case report.

BACKGROUND Pseudo prune belly syndrome is an incomplete expression of the triad syndrome. Its incidence is poorly documented worldwide. We are not aware of any documented cases in Nigeria in recent times. Diagnosis is clinical; however, ultrasound scan plays key role in the overall assessment of the patient. METHOD It is a report of an 8 day old boy who had pseudo prune belly syndrome with associated micro colon and rectal atresia managed at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, in October, 2005. CONCLUSION Management of this patient was challenging due to lack of frozen section facility parenteral nutrition and finance. Awareness of the associated conditions and how to manage them is emphasized for good outcome.
JAPANESE SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES REGARDING COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHING: AN EXPLORATORY SURVEY

Since 1989, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) has attempted to promote higher achievement in English communicative skills among secondary school students by urging teachers to use communicative activities. MEXT has also undertaken to achieve this goal by executing a 5-year Action Plan. This exploratory study investigates Japanese teachers’ beliefs and practices regarding communicative language teaching (CLT) in their classrooms through a survey of 21 secondary school teachers. The results show that in order to employ CLT in their classrooms, teachers feel that a change in classroom conditions is a prerequisite. The results also show that CLT is beginning to be employed at the local level. In order to delineate ways to help this small local change lead to real English education reform in Japan, a comprehensive investigation of the beliefs of a larger number of language teachers is necessary.
Oxytocin mediates stress‐induced analgesia in adult mice

As a neurohormone and as a neurotransmitter, oxytocin has been implicated in the stress response. Descending oxytocin‐containing fibres project to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, an area important for processing nociceptive inputs. Here we tested the hypothesis that oxytocin plays a role in stress‐induced analgesia and modulates spinal sensory transmission. Mice lacking oxytocin exhibited significantly reduced stress‐induced antinociception following both cold‐swim (10 °C, 3 min) and restraint stress (30 min). In contrast, the mice exhibited normal behavioural responses to thermal and mechanical noxious stimuli and morphine‐induced antinociception. In wild‐type mice, intrathecal injection of the oxytocin antagonist dOVT (200 μm in 5 μl) significantly attenuated antinociception induced by cold‐swim. Immunocytochemical staining revealed that, in the mouse, oxytocin‐containing neurones in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus are activated by stress. Furthermore, oxytocin‐containing fibres were present in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. To test whether descending oxytocin‐containing fibres could alter nociceptive transmission, we performed intracellular recordings of dorsal horn neurones in spinal slices from adult mice. Bath application of oxytocin (1 and 10 μm) inhibited excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) evoked by dorsal root stimulation. This effect was reversed by the oxytocin antagonist dOVT (1 μm). Whole‐cell recordings of dorsal horn neurones in postnatal rat slices revealed that the effect of oxytocin could be blocked by the addition of GTP‐γ‐S to the recording pipette, suggesting activation of postsynaptic oxytocin receptors. We conclude that oxytocin is important for both cold‐swim and restraint stress‐induced antinociception, acting by inhibiting glutamatergic spinal sensory transmission.
A Novel Role for Hedgehog in T-Cell Receptor Signaling: Implications for Development and Immunity

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is a key regulator of both embryonic development and homeostasis of adult tissues, including thymus and blood. In the thymus, Hh signals for differentiation, survival and proliferation in the early stages of T cell development, before TCR gene rearrangement. Our recent data has shown that Hh signaling also modulates T cell receptor (TCR) signal strength in more mature T lineage cells. We showed that constitutive activation of the Hh pathway in thymocytes (by transgenic expression of the transcriptional activator form of Gli2) decreased TCR signal strength with profound consequences for the thymus - allowing self-reactive T cells to escape deletion and altering T cell CD4/CD8 lineage decisions. In contrast, in the Sonic Hh deficient thymus, TCR signaling was increased, again influencing both TCR repertoire selection and CD4/8 lineage commitment. In peripheral T cells, the transcriptional changes induced by activation of the Hh signaling pathway lead to reduced T cell activation. Hh signaling also attenuated ERK phosphorylation and proliferation in mature T cells on TCR ligation. Modulation of TCR signal strength by Hh pathway activation has importance for immunity as the presence or absence of Hh in the environment in which a T cell is activated would shape the immune response.
Effect of phosphorus on drought mitigation and productivity of rainfed upland rice (Oryza sativa)

The effect of phosphorus application at varying rates, viz. 0, 12, 24, 48 and 96 kg/ha, was studied on drought mitigation and productivity of two upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties (‘Vandana’ and ‘Annada’) during 1999, 2000 and 2001 under rainfed upland condition at Hazaribag in Jharkhand. Phosphorus was applied basal through single superphosphate along with common doses of N, K, Zn and Mg. The effects of P rates, and interaction effects between P rates and varieties were significant in the drought year only (2000). Reduction in grain yield due to drought in no-P plots was 27.4% in ‘Vandana’ and 58.4% in ‘Annada’ in comparison with normal rainfall year (1999). The grain yield of ‘Annada’ and ‘Vandana’ decreased by 11.7 and 25.4 at 24 kg P/ha, and by 2.5 and 5.2 at 48 kg P/ha respectively. Maximum P-use efficiency was achieved at 24 kg P/ha in both the varieties. Concentration of P in grain and straw was also reduced due to drought in 2000 at low P application compared with that in 1999. Differences in agronomic P-use efficiency were apparent due to varieties. Agronomic Puse efficiency was 38.1 kg grain/kg P in ‘Annada’ compared with 15.5 kg grain/kg applied P in ‘Vandana’. However, differences due to varieties in relative effect of drought stress (RDS) and available soil P were marginal. It was concluded that the application of P @ 24 kg/ha helped in reducing the effect of drought as well as in increasing the rice productivity and P-use efficiency of rainfed upland rice.
Vagal reflex actions of atrial natriuretic peptide survive physiological but not pathological cardiac hypertrophy in rat

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) enhances cardiac vagal baroreflexes in normotensive animals. In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) this effect of ANP was absent. The reflex actions of ANP were preserved if hypertrophy was completely prevented in SHRs. However even a small amount of cardiac hypertrophy, with no hypertension, in SHRs was accompanied by a loss of the reflex bradycardic actions of ANP. In the present study, we investigated whether pathophysiological cardiac hypertrophy, induced by one‐kidney, one‐clip renovascular hypertension (1K‐1C; n= 6), or physiological cardiac hypertrophy induced by chronic spontaneous, wheel‐running exercise training (n= 7), similarly prevented vagal reflex actions of ANP. Cardiac baroreceptor‐activated bradycardia was measured during rapid ramp increases (∼5 s) in blood pressure after bolus doses of methoxamine or vehicle in conscious, chronically instrumented rats during infusions of ANP (50 pmol kg−1 min−1). Compared with uninephrectomised control rats (n= 10), rats with 1K‐1C had cardiac hypertrophy (∼55% increase in left ventricle:body weight (LV:BW) ratio; P < 0.05) and blunted vagal baroreflex gain (−0.93 ± 0.18 versus−0.50 ± 0.13 beats min−1 mmHg−1; P < 0.05). ANP did not augment baroreflex function in 1K‐1C. Compared with their sedentary controls (n= 7), exercise‐trained rats with cardiac hypertrophy (∼20% increase LV:BW ratio; P < 0.05) also had blunted ramp baroreflex bradycardia (−1.28 ± 0.23 versus−0.57 ± 0.09 beats min−1 mmHg−1; P < 0.05). In contrast, ANP more than doubled baroreflex bradycardia in exercise‐trained rats (P < 0.05). The aetiology of cardiac hypertrophy therefore influenced whether ANP retained its vagal baroreflex enhancing properties.
Urinary Excretion of Ephedrine After Nasal Application in Healthy Volunteers

Abstract— The urinary excretion of ephedrine after intranasal administration of the drug was studied in 8 healthy volunteers. Ephedrine (6 drops of a commercial 0·75% nasal ephedrine solution in each nasal cavity) was administered 4 times at intervals of 2 h (total amount applied equivalent to approximately 14 mg ephedrine), and urine was collected each hour for 10 h; the volunteers exercised on a bicycle ergometer at 50% of their V̊O2max for 2 h after the last ephedrine application. Ephedrine was detected in all urine samples. The urinary ephedrine concentration ranged from 0·9 to 16–5 μg mL−1; the number of urine samples with an ephedrine concentration exceeding 5 μg mL−1 ranged from 1/10 (volunteer 2) to 9/10 (volunteers 1 and 3). The mean percentage of dose recovered within 10 h was 33% (range 23–50%). There was a weak but significant negative correlation between urinary pH and amount of ephedrine in the urine; exercise did not consistently influence the urinary amount. These results illustrate the systemic availability of ephedrine upon intranasal administration and show that the therapeutic use of a nasal ephedrine formulation by an athlete on the day of a competition can lead to a urinary ephedrine concentration above 5 μg mL−1, which is considered positive in current doping regulations of the International Union of Cyclists.
Do Students Profit from For-Profit Education? Estimating the Returns to Postsecondary Education with Tax Data

I use administrative panel data on earnings and educational attendance from the Internal Revenue Service to estimate the differential earnings effect of attending a not-for-profit postsecondary institution, relative to a for-profit institution. The results suggest that there is a substantial differential increase in earnings after enrollment, relative to years prior to enrollment, for individuals who attend not-for-profit institutions, compared to individuals who attend forprofit schools. The results also suggest that earnings decrease during enrollment, compared to years before enrollment, but that this decline is relatively smaller for individuals who attend notfor-profit institutions. Given that for-profit institutions cost more on average than not-for-profit institutions, these results imply that students may realize better long-run financial outcomes from attending not-for-profits institutions. JEL Codes: J31; H52
Imaging the surface of Staphylococcus aureus by atomic force microscopy

The surfaces of four strains of Staphylococcus aureus, which differed in their expression of capsular polysaccharides, were examined using atomic force microscopy. The images show that it is possible to get information about surface characteristics of S. aureus using atomic force microscopy (AFM) following simple preparation. Strains Smith Diffuse (serotype 2), Reynolds (serotype 5), Wood‐46 (capsule negative) and JL243 (capsule negative) were grown on medium known to promote the expression of capsular polysaccharides. The bacteria were air‐dried prior to being imaged using tapping‐mode AFM. Differences in the appearance of the bacterial surfaces were evident between the strains. The two capsule‐negative strains exhibited a smooth regular surface, as opposed to the mucoid appearance of the two strains having polysaccharide capsules. Moreover, comparison of images of the heavily encapsulated serotype 2 strain and the serotype 5 strain indicates that a type 2 capsule can be distinguished from a type 5 microcapsule.
Ventricular Fibrillation and Ventricular Tachycardia Triggered by Late‐Coupled Ventricular Extrasystoles in a Brugada Syndrome Patient

Premature ventricular complexes (PVC) falling after the end of the T wave triggered ventricular fibrillation (VF) at night and monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT) during daytime, in a recipient of implantable cardioverter defibrillator with Brugada syndrome. Treatment with bepridil (1) decreased the height of ST segment elevation in leads V1‐V3, (2) completely eliminated VF, and (3) markedly decreased the incidence of PVC and MVT. Albeit rare, VF can be triggered by late‐coupled PVC, due to a mechanism other than phase 2 reentry in some patients with Brugada syndrome. (PACE 2011; e1–e5)
Offshore wind farms - VSC-based HVDC connection

Due to significantly higher and more constant wind speeds and the shortage of suitable sites for wind turbines on the land, offshore wind farms are becoming very attractive. The connection of the large offshore wind farms is possible with HVAC, classical HVDC and voltage source converter (VSC- based) HVDC technology. In this paper their main features will be given. From the economical and technical viewpoint, the type of connection depends on the size of the wind farm and on the distance to the connection point of the system. As very promising technology, especially from the technical viewpoint, the focus of this paper will be put on the VSC-based HVDC technology. Its main technical features as well as its model will be detailed. At the end, obtained simulation results for different faults and disturbances for one offshore wind farm connected with VSC-based HVDC technology will be presented.
Site‐directed mutagenesis of a LuxR‐type quorum‐sensing transcription factor: alteration of autoinducer specificity

TraR is a quorum‐sensing transcription factor from Agrobacterium tumefaciens that regulates replication and conjugation genes of the tumour‐inducing (Ti) plasmid. TraR activity requires the autoinducer pheromone N‐3‐oxooctanoyl‐l‐homoserine lactone (OOHL). Structural studies of TraR–OOHL–DNA complexes showed that one molecule of OOHL is completely engulfed within the N‐terminal domain of each TraR subunit. TraR is thought to bind OOHL via four hydrogen bonds, three of them direct and one water mediated, and by numerous hydrophobic interactions. Here, we show that all residues predicted to hydrogen bond with OOHL are essential for wild‐type protein function. Mutants that failed to detect OOHL in vivo invariably failed to sequester exogenous OOHL. We showed previously that TraR is protected from cellular proteases by OOHL, and now show that mutants that failed to detect OOHL were also not protected from proteolysis by OOHL. We also describe several mutants with altered autoinducer specificity. Three mutants (T129V, T129A and T115I) detected 3‐oxo‐AHLs and 3‐unsubstituted AHLs with equal sensitivity, indicating that these mutations perturb the water‐mediated hydrogen bond to the 3‐oxo moiety of OOHL. Three other mutants (A49I, A49M and Q58L) preferentially detected AHLs containing six or seven carbon atoms rather than eight. The bulkier residues in these mutations appear to have occupied a portion of the OOHL binding site, interfering with binding of the acyl chain of AHLs.
Nutritional analysis of spirulina sp to promote as superfood candidate

An analysis of the nutrition content of Spirulina sp is reported. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the nutritional value of Spirulina sp that produced by the large culture at ambient temperature. The analysis method was used high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, spectrophotometers UV-Vis and inductively Coupled Plasma-OES. The analysis has found vitamins, minerals, amino acids, pigments, and essential fatty acids. It is concluded that Spirulina sp which is produced by large-scale culture is a good source of nutrition and potent an alternative superfood.
Epstein-Barr Virus-positive Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphomas of the Elderly

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the elderly has been included in the 2008 WHO classification as a new provisional entity and is defined as blastic, clonal B-cell proliferation associated with EBV occurring in patients over 50 years of age, presumably due to senescence of the immune system. Secondary immunodeficiencies must be excluded. Morphologically, the predominant polymorphic subtype shows a mixed proliferation of large transformed cells, plasma cells, plasmablasts, lymphocytes, and commonly Reed-Sternberg (RS)-like cells, whereas the monomorphic subtype reveals sheets of large cells. An additional characteristic feature is large areas of “geographical” necrosis. EBV+ DLBCL of the elderly is positive for pan-B cell markers and often for CD30. EBV infection detected by Epstein Barr early RNA in situ hybridization should be present in the majority of tumor cells. Most cases express LMP1 and up to 32% EBNA2, the latter a sign of an impaired immune system. The most challenging differential diagnosis is EBV+ classical Hodgkin lymphoma in older patients. Strong, homogeneous expression of B-cell markers, including transcription factors OCT2 and BOB.1, and lack of CD15 support a diagnosis of EBV+ DLBCL. EBV+ DLBCL of the elderly accounts for 8% to 10% of DLBCL in Asian countries, but seems to be uncommon in Western populations, indicating an ethnic or geographic predisposition. Clinically, patients may present with nodal or extranodal involvement. B-symptoms and poor performance status are common, and prognosis is significantly inferior compared with EBV- cases. Whether EBV+DLBCL of the elderly represents a true entity or only a DLBCL variant remains to be determined.