Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence of associations between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serum levels and gene polymorphisms with tinnitus

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphisms are associated with abnormalities in regulation of BDNF secretion. Studies also linked BDNF polymorphisms with changes in brainstem auditory-evoked response test results. Furthermore, BDNF levels are reduced in tinnitus, psychiatric disorders, depression, dysthymic disorder that may be associated with stress, conversion disorder, and suicide attempts due to crises of life. For this purpose, we investigated whether there is any role of BDNF changes in the pathophysiology of tinnitus. Materials and Methods: In this study, we examined the possible effects of BDNF variants in individuals diagnosed with tinnitus for more than 3 months. Fifty-two tinnitus subjects between the ages of 18 and 55, and 42 years healthy control subjects in the same age group, who were free of any otorhinolaryngology and systemic disease, were selected for examination. The intensity of tinnitus and depression was measured using the tinnitus handicap inventory, and the differential diagnosis of psychiatric diagnoses made using the Structured Clinical Interview for Fourth Edition of Mental Disorders. BDNF gene polymorphism was analyzed in the genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples extracted from the venous blood, and the serum levels of BDNF were measured. One-way analysis of variance and Chi-squared tests were applied. Results: Serum BDNF level was found lower in the tinnitus patients than controls, and it appeared that there is no correlation between BDNF gene polymorphism and tinnitus. Conclusions: This study suggests neurotrophic factors such as BDNF may have a role in tinnitus etiology. Future studies with larger sample size may be required to further confirm our results.
Improved stability of organic solar cells by cross-linking of the electron-donor polymer

We fabricated organic photovoltaic cells with enhanced performance stability measured after temperature annealing at 100 °C and over a period of 24 days at room temperature. This improvement was achieved upon chemical cross-linking of the photo-active layer of the devices, combining a cross-linkable polymer and a fullerene, PC61BM. The cells efficiency decayed by up to 14 % upon heating at 100 °C and by 37 % after the 24 days period, while the efficiency of control devices based on noncross-linked layers was decreased by 58 % and 55 %, respectively.
Successful treatment of perianal Bowen's disease with imiquimod

Although perianal Bowen's disease (BD) is a relatively uncommon malignancy, it is being detected with increasing frequency. It has a strong tendency for local recurrence and treatment remains controversial. The effectiveness of different treatment modalities, ranging from aggressive wide local excision with skin grafting to the application of a topical immune response modifier, remains uncertain.
Increasing response rates to postal questionnaires

Editor—The systematic review by Edwards et al is helpful to those of us who routinely design and use questionnaires in our research.1 One area not covered by the review, which is important, is the quality of the response. Response rates are clearly important, but the quality of the responses is also important in that returned questionnaires with some questions either missing or incorrectly filled in will have the same effect as a poor response. In a pilot study of questionnaires for a trial among people with venous ulcers one of us (CPI) noticed that many items on the SF12 were either missed or incorrectly completed. The questions that were missed were those within the stem and leaf format of the SF12; questions in a self contained format were not missed. We therefore changed the layout of the questionnaire by altering all the stem and leaf questions to self contained ones. We then tested the revised version in a randomised trial among 1500 women aged 70 or over.2 The rates of questionnaires returned did not differ, but there was a large difference in the proportion of missing or incorrectly completed questions. Thus 26.6% of women missed or incorrectly completed at least one item in the standard version of the SF12 compared with only 8.5% for the revised version (difference = 18.1%, 95% confidence interval 11.1% to 25.1%). The quality of the revised version was tested in a factor analysis, which showed that it had similar internal reliability to the standard version. In short, therefore, attention should be given to factors that improve the quality of responses as well as to response rates.
Constructed Wetland System ( CWS ) for Wastewater Treatment

Natural wetlands (e.g. swamps, bogs, marshes, fens, sloughs. etc) are being considered beneficial for food and habitat for wildlife, water quality improvement, flood protection and shoreline erosion control. However during past few decades it has been observed that the planned use of wetlands for meeting wastewater treatment and water quality objectives has been seriously studied and implemented in a controlled manner. Constructed wetland systems (CWS) for wastewater treatment have been proven to be effective, low cost and sustainable alternative for conventional wastewater treatment technologies. The removal of pollutants in these systems relies on a combination of physical, chemical and biological processes that naturally occur in wetlands and are associated with vegetation, sediment and their microbial communities. Numerous studies on the performances of the wetlands treating wastewater carried out during the last few decades have provided quantitative information which has been used to improve the treatment efficiency through design and operation measures. The CWS generally falls under two categories: Subsurface Flow System and Free Water Systems. Subsurface flow system are designed to create subsurface flow through a permeable medium, keeping the water being treated below the surface, such system have also been referred as “root zone system”, “ rock reed filters”, and “ vegetated submerged bed system”. Free water surface systems on the other hand are designed to simulate natural wetlands, with the water flowing over the soil surface at the shallow depth. Both types of wetlands treatment systems typically constructed in basins or channels with a natural or constructed subsurface barrier to limit seepage. The paper reviews the different types of constructed wetlands employed for the treatment of wastewater including its use as polishing unit. The design aspects of CWS are also discussed and suggestions have been recommended for the optimum design and operation and maintenance of CWS
Stoichiometry of SecYEG in the active translocase of Escherichia coli varies with precursor species

We have established a reconstitution system for the translocon SecYEG in proteoliposomes in which 55% of the accessible translocons are active. This level corresponds to the fraction of translocons that are active in vitro when assessed in their native environment of cytoplasmic membrane vesicles. Assays using these robust reconstituted proteoliposomes and cytoplasmic membrane vesicles have revealed that the number of SecYEG units involved in an active translocase depends on the precursor undergoing transfer. The active translocase for the precursor of periplasmic galactose-binding protein contains twice the number of heterotrimeric units of SecYEG as does that for the precursor of outer membrane protein A.
Pairs, Reflections, and the EgoI: Exploration of a Perceptual Hypothesis

In the Comprehensive System for the Rorschach (Exner, 2003), pair and reflection responses are combined into an Egocentricity Index (EgoI) that is said to measure self-focus and self-esteem. However, validation research over the past 30 years has found at most only limited support for these interpretations. This study suggests an alternative approach derived from Exner's (1969) suggestion prior to the EgoI that pairs and reflections are related to interpersonal perception and in particular to a tendency to perceive similarity. Forty custody litigants completed the Rorschach and Revised NEO Personality Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1992b) Forms S and R. As the number of reflections increased, the description of the partner and the description of the self became increasingly dissimilar. As pairs increased, the description of the ex-partner on Form R and the self-description on Form S tended to become increasingly similar. This project suggests that pairs and reflections may be differentially related to perceived similarity and that combining them into a summative index may, at least in some circumstances, result in a loss of information.
Structure and regulation of the Candida albicans ADH1 gene encoding an immunogenic alcohol dehydrogenase

The Candida albicans ADH1 gene encodes an alcohol dehydrogenase which is immunogenic during infections in humans. The ADH1 gene was isolated and sequenced, and the 5′‐ and 3′‐ends of its mRNA were mapped. The gene encodes a 350 amino acid polypeptide with strong homology (70·5–85·2% identity) to alcohol dehydrogenases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces lactis and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The cloned C. albicans ADH1 gene was shown to be functional through complementation of adh mutations and efficient production of active alcohol dehydrogenase in S. cerevisiae. Northern analysis of C. albicans RNA revealed that ADH1 mRNA levels were regulated in response to carbon source and during batch growth. During growth on glucose, ADH1 mRNA levels rose to maximum levels during late exponential growth phase and declined to low levels in stationary phase. The ADH1 mRNA was relatively abundant during growth on galactose, glycerol, pyruvate, lactate or succinate, and less abundant during growth on glucose or ethanol. Alcohol dehydrogenase levels did not correlate closely with ADH1 mRNA levels under the growth conditions studied, suggesting either that this locus is controlled at both transcriptional and post‐transcriptional levels, or that other differentially regulated ADH loci exist in C. albicans.
Shaping the Development of Prejudice

Social dominance orientation (SDO) has been theorized as a stable, early-emerging trait influencing outgroup evaluations, a view supported by evidence from cross-sectional and two-wave longitudinal research. Yet, the limitations of identifying causal paths with cross-sectional and two-wave designs are increasingly being acknowledged. This article presents the first use of multi-wave data to test the over-time relationship between SDO and outgroup affect among young people. We use cross-lagged and latent growth modeling (LGM) of a three-wave data set employing Norwegian adolescents (over 2 years, N = 453) and a five-wave data set with American university students (over 4 years, N = 748). Overall, SDO exhibits high temporal rank-order stability and predicts changes in outgroup affect. This research represents the strongest test to date of SDO’s role as a stable trait that influences the development of prejudice, while highlighting LGM as a valuable tool for social and political psychology.
Novel or Consistent Music? An Electrophysiological Study Investigating Music Use in Advertising

Music has become an integral part of advertising. But which is the best approach to music use: strategic (the same piece of music used consistently across consecutive advertising campaigns) or tactical (consecutive advertising campaigns using different pieces of background music)? The present study monitored electrical brain responses of participants while they were presented with existing TV and radio adverts with strategic, tactical, or no music. Adverts with strategic music were liked more, found more familiar, and more impactful for radio than TV adverts. The neural correlates of music usage were characterized by the &bgr;- and &ggr;-band oscillations, especially in the frontal regions, reflecting an enhanced preferential engagement. Further, adverts with strategic music were associated with a larger frontal asymmetry, suggesting for a potentially positive affective response. Furthermore, we observed an increased and sustained neural effect of strategic versus tactical music use in radio adverts. Together these findings offer novel indications for an optimum use of background music to promote advert effectiveness.
Efficacy and its predictor in microwave ablation for severe secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients undergoing haemodialysis

Abstract Background: Microwave ablation (MWA) can be used to treat severe secondary hyperparathyroidism; however, its efficacy and the predictor of its efficacy are unclear. In this retrospective study we determined the predictor of efficacy of MWA and compared the efficacy of MWA and parathyroidectomy. Materials and methods: Patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism who had received MWA or parathyroidectomy were enrolled in the study. Participants with MWA were divided into response and no response groups based on efficacy. Possible predictors were analysed using logistic regression to determine efficacy predictors. The participants were divided into MWA and parathyroidectomy groups, and the efficacy (including rates of achieving recommended goals for intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium, and phosphorus levels) were compared between the two groups. Results: Thirty-one participants were enrolled for predictor analysis. Only baseline iPTH level predicted efficacy (OR 0.997, P = 0.018). The optimal threshold value of iPTH for predicting efficacy was 1493.5 pg/mL. To compare efficacy, 30 patients were enrolled in MWA (18/30) and parathyroidectomy (12/30) groups. The rates of achieving recommended goals for iPTH levels varied between 0 and 60%; a significant difference was found between the groups at 5 months (P = 0.01). However, in the parathyroidectomy group, the iPTH level and rate of iPTH <124 pg/mL (lower limit of target range) were significantly lower than in the MWA group after treatment (40–75% versus 0–16.7%). Conclusion: Baseline iPTH level is a good predictor of MWA efficacy for severe secondary hyperparathyroidism; parathyroidectomy is more effective for severe secondary hyperparathyroidism than MWA.
Monitoring ATP dynamics in electrically active white matter tracts

In several neurodegenerative diseases and myelin disorders, the degeneration profiles of myelinated axons are compatible with underlying energy deficits. However, it is presently impossible to measure selectively axonal ATP levels in the electrically active nervous system. We combined transgenic expression of an ATP-sensor in neurons of mice with confocal FRET imaging and electrophysiological recordings of acutely isolated optic nerves. This allowed us to monitor dynamic changes and activity-dependent axonal ATP homeostasis at the cellular level and in real time. We find that changes in ATP levels correlate well with compound action potentials. However, this correlation is disrupted when metabolism of lactate is inhibited, suggesting that axonal glycolysis products are not sufficient to maintain mitochondrial energy metabolism of electrically active axons. The combined monitoring of cellular ATP and electrical activity is a novel tool to study neuronal and glial energy metabolism in normal physiology and in models of neurodegenerative disorders. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.24241. 001
Myocyte Enhancer Factor-2 and Serum Response Factor Binding Elements Regulate Fast Myosin Heavy Chain Transcription in Vivo*

Adult fast muscle fibers express distinct myosin heavy chains (MyHC) in differing proportions, but the mechanisms underlying their differential expression remain undefined. We used a variety of in vitro and in vivo approaches to explore the contribution of transcriptional regulation to adult fast MyHC expression. Here we show that 800–1000 bp of a sequence upstream of the three mouse adult fast MyHC genes (Ia, IIb, and IId/x) are sufficient to drive muscle-specific and fiber-specific expression in vivo. We show that the upstream promoter region of the gene most abundantly expressed in mouse skeletal muscles, IIb MyHC, retains binding activity and transcriptional activation for three positive transcription factors, the serum response factor, Oct-1, and myocyte enhancer factor-2, whereas the other two genes (IIa and IId/x) have nucleotide substitutions in these sites that reduce binding and transcriptional activation. Finally, we demonstrate that regions upstream of 300 bp modulate the effects of these elements. Together, these data demonstrate that the quantitative differences in MyHC expression in mouse skeletal muscle have evolved at least in part through the elimination of positive-acting transcription factor binding sites.
Bisphosphonate therapy improves the outcome of conventional periodontal treatment: results of a 12-month, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND Bone loss in periodontitis results from inflammatory reactions that stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption. Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption and increase bone mass. This study evaluated the effect of bisphosphonate therapy as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment in patients with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis. METHODS Patients were randomized (2:1) to one of two bisphosphonate therapies or placebo for 1 year. All patients received non-surgical periodontal treatment (scaling, root planing) and periodontal maintenance therapy every 3 months. Clinical assessments at baseline and 6 and 12 months included clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), and bleeding on probing (BOP). Periodontal bone mass was assessed by dental radiographs at baseline and 12 months using fractal analysis and digital subtraction radiography (DSR). RESULTS Seventy patients were randomized, 43 to the bisphosphonate group and 27 to the placebo group. Bisphosphonate therapy significantly improved CAL, PD, and BOP relative to the placebo group during the 6- to 12-month period (CAL, P = 0.0002; PD, P = 0.0156; BOP, P = 0.0079). There was no difference in the change in periodontal bone mass between the bisphosphonate and placebo groups as measured by fractal analysis and DSR. CONCLUSION These data suggest that bisphosphonate treatment improves the clinical outcome of non-surgical periodontal therapy and may be an appropriate adjunctive treatment to preserve periodontal bone mass.
NO/cGMP pathway activation and membrane potential depolarization in pig ciliary epithelium.

PURPOSE To investigate whether in isolated porcine ciliary processes, stimulation of the nitric oxide (NO)-guanylate cyclase (GC)-3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway modulates ciliary epithelial transmembrane potential. METHODS Changes in transmembrane potential induced by the two NO donors, sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 100 microM) and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP; 100 microM), or by the cGMP-analogue 8-para-chlorophenylthioguanosine-3', 5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (8-pCPT-cGMP; 100 microM) were measured with microelectrodes in the presence or in the absence of the GC-inhibitor 1-H-(1,2,4)oxadiazole(4,3-alpha)quinoxalin-1-1 (ODQ; 10 microM). The effect of 8-pCPT-cGMP was also assessed in the presence of the anion channel inhibitors niflumic acid (100 microM), diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2' disulfonic acid (DIDS; 1 mM), anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (9-AC; 1 mM), or the K+ channel blocker tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA; 10 mM). cGMP production was measured by immunoassay. RESULTS Significant membrane depolarizations (P < 0.05-0.001; n = 5-8) were induced by SNP (6 +/- 1 mV; mean +/- SEM), SNAP (8 +/- 1 mV), or 8-pCPT-cGMP (13 +/- 1 mV). In presence of ODQ, the effect of SNP and SNAP were significantly inhibited (-2 +/- 0 mV and 0 +/- 0 mV, respectively; P < 0.05; n = 5-6), but not depolarizations elicited by 8-pCPT-cGMP. These were prevented (P < 0.05-0.01; n = 5) by niflumic acid (1 +/- 1 mV), DIDS (1 +/- 1 mV), or 9-AC (5 +/- 1 mV), but not by TEA (12 +/- 2 mV). The increase in cGMP production induced by SNP (9.5-fold) was inhibited by ODQ (P < 0.001; n = 6). CONCLUSIONS Activation of the NO-GC-cGMP pathway modulates epithelial transmembrane potential in isolated porcine ciliary processes.
The St. John’s Hospital Cemetery and Environs, Cambridge: Contextualizing the Medieval Urban Dead

The excavation of four hundred complete and partial in situ burials from the Hospital of St. John the Evangelist, Cambridge, represented one of the largest medieval hospital osteoarchaeological assemblages from the British Isles. The significance of the group is enhanced by the detailed investigation of a carefully maintained network of pathways associated with the cemetery, the archaeological sequence that pre- and post-dated its use and a number of contemporary properties that were situated immediately outside its bounds. This evidence allows the cemetery to be placed within its urban context in a way that is rarely possible. The overwhelming majority of the burials were extended west-east aligned supine inhumations without grave-goods. Atypical burials included examples aligned east-west and south-north, a double burial, a prone burial and individuals buried with a jet crucifix and a brooch. Other significant finds included a nearby pit with four bodies in it, an anthropomorphic bone handle and a reused cruciform horse harness pendant. The proportion of males and females in the burial population is similar, whilst individuals who died under the age of sixteen are relatively uncommon and individuals aged under five are completely absent.
Medication Adherence in People With Parkinson Disease

ABSTRACT: Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the United States. Because there is no cure for PD currently, pharmacological therapy is the mainstay of PD symptom management. Despite the importance of medication adherence in PD, several studies have reported medication nonadherence and/or suboptimal adherence. This literature review provides an overview of medication adherence issues in people with PD. Articles were identified for this study using computerized database searches and journal hand searches. Of the 72 medication adherence articles reviewed, the following articles were eligible for this review: (a) 10 articles measuring medication adherence in people with PD, (b) four medication adherence intervention articles, and (c) six studies of medication adherence in hospitalized settings. The importance of adherence assessment and strategies in improving medication adherence are discussed with the goal of improving symptom management and clinical outcomes in people with PD. Because medication taking is a complex and multifaceted phenomena, patient-centered, theory-driven interventions are needed to improve medication adherence and quality of care and life in people with PD.
Reciprocally Interlocking Boards of Directors and Executive Compensation

Abstract Is executive compensation influenced by the composition of the board of directors? About 8% of chief executive officers (CEOs) are reciprocally interlocked with another CEO—the current CEO of firm A serves as a director of firm B and the current CEO of firm B serves as a director of firm A. Roughly 20% of firms have at least one current or retired employee sitting on the board of another firm and vice versa. I investigate how these and other features of board composition affect CEO pay by using a sample of 9,804 director positions in America's largest companies. CEOs who lead interlocked firms earn significantly higher compensation. Also, interlocked CEOs tend to head larger firms. After controlling for firm and CEO characteristics, the pay gap is reduced dramatically. However, when firms that are interlocked due to documented business relationships are considered not interlocked, the measured return to interlock is as high as 17%. There also is evidence that the return to interlock was higher in the 1970s than in the early 1990s.