Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validity and Reliability of the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire in Turkish Adolescents

The aim of this study was to adapt the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ), developed to measure two dimensions of aggression which are reactive and proactive, to Turkish and test the validity and reliability of the Turkish form. The study group consisted of 278 students in four junior high schools in Adana, Turkey, and 485 students in four high schools in Hatay, Turkey. One-factor and two-factor models were compared in the study of Confirmatory Factor Analysis conducted to examine the construct validity of the scale and the two-factor model was found to have better fit values for both junior high school and high school students, as well as the general study group as a whole. It was found that reactive and proactive aggressions have significant relations with attitude towards violence, trait anger, delinquency, deviant peers, anxiety, depression and hostility. Furthermore, it was determined that the scale has high internal consistency and item-total correlation. The results obtained in this study are consistent with the results of the original form of the scale. Findings of the study demonstrate that the Turkish version of RPQ has adequate reliability and validity values. Key words: Reactive aggression, proactive aggression, adolescents, scale adaptation.
Combining 2 Commonly Adopted Nutrition Instruments in the Critical Care Setting Is Superior to Administering Either One Alone

BACKGROUND This study aimed to determine the agreement between the modified Nutrition Risk in Critically ill Score (mNUTRIC) and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and compare their ability in discriminating and quantifying mortality risk independently and in combination. METHODS Between August 2015 and October 2016, all patients in a Singaporean hospital received the SGA within 48 hours of intensive care unit admission. Nutrition status was dichotomized into presence or absence of malnutrition. The mNUTRIC of patients was retrospectively calculated at the end of the study, and high mNUTRIC was defined as scores ≥5. RESULTS There were 439 patients and 67.9% had high mNUTRIC, whereas only 28% were malnourished. Hospital mortality was 29.6%, and none was lost to follow-up. Although both tools had poor agreement (κ statistics: 0.13, P < .001), they had similar discriminative value for hospital mortality (C-statistics [95% confidence interval (CI)], 0.66 [0.62-0.70] for high mNUTRIC and 0.61 [0.56-0.66] for malnutrition, P = . 12). However, a high mNUTRIC was associated with higher adjusted odds for hospital mortality compared with malnutrition (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI], 5.32 [2.15-13.17], P < .001, and 4.27 [1.03-17.71], P = .046, respectively). Combination of both tools showed malnutrition and high mNUTRIC were associated with the highest adjusted odds for hospital mortality (14.43 [5.38-38.78], P < .001). CONCLUSION The mNUTRIC and SGA had poor agreement. Although they individually provided a fair discriminative value for hospital mortality, the combination of these approaches is a better discriminator to quantify mortality risk.
Diet composition and physical activity in overweight and obese premenopausal women with or without polycystic ovary syndrome

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex polygenic disorder in which environmental factors play an important modifying role. We aimed to find differences in diet and life-style that might contribute to the development of PCOS among overweight or obese premenopausal women. We compared diet composition and self-reported physical activity among 22 patients with PCOS and 59 women without androgen excess recruited from a total of 113 consecutive premenopausal women reporting for management of weight excess. After correcting for a difference in age between women with PCOS and controls, there were no overall statistical significant differences between them in the total caloric intake, in the intake of macro- and micro-nutrients, caffeine, fiber and alcohol, in the proportion of women exercising regularly, or in the number of hours of exercise per week. The proportion of fat in the diets of the overweight and obese women irrespective of PCOS was well-above current recommendations, yet this excessive fat intake occurred at the expense of monounsaturated fatty acids mostly. In conclusion, diet composition and physical activity were apparently not decisive for the development of PCOS among overweight and obese premenopausal women.
Differential behavioral and molecular alterations upon protracted abstinence from cocaine versus morphine, nicotine, THC and alcohol

Unified theories of addiction are challenged by differing drug‐seeking behaviors and neurobiological adaptations across drug classes, particularly for narcotics and psychostimulants. We previously showed that protracted abstinence to opiates leads to despair behavior and social withdrawal in mice, and we identified a transcriptional signature in the extended amygdala that was also present in animals abstinent from nicotine, Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and alcohol. Here we examined whether protracted abstinence to these four drugs would also share common behavioral features, and eventually differ from abstinence to the prototypic psychostimulant cocaine. We found similar reduced social recognition, increased motor stereotypies and increased anxiety with relevant c‐fos response alterations in morphine, nicotine, THC and alcohol abstinent mice. Protracted abstinence to cocaine, however, led to strikingly distinct, mostly opposing adaptations at all levels, including behavioral responses, neuronal activation and gene expression. Together, these data further document the existence of common hallmarks for protracted abstinence to opiates, nicotine, THC and alcohol that develop within motivation/emotion brain circuits. In our model, however, these do not apply to cocaine, supporting the notion of unique mechanisms in psychostimulant abuse.
Regulation of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding proteins by tumor necrosis factor.

The purpose of the present study was to determine 1) whether exogenous administration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) alters insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding proteins (BPs) and 2) whether the enhanced endogenous production of TNF mediates the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced changes in the IGF system. The overnight infusion of murine TNF-alpha reduced circulating concentrations of both growth hormone (GH) and IGF-I in fasted rats. Furthermore, TNF-alpha decreased IGF-I content in liver, gastrocnemius muscle, and pituitary. In contrast, TNF-alpha increased IGF-I content in kidney and brain. IGFBP-1 was increased in plasma, liver, and muscle in response to TNF-alpha. In a second study, rats were injected with LPS after treatment with a neutralizing anti-TNF antibody (Ab), and blood and tissues were collected 4 h later. In LPS-treated rats, plasma concentrations of GH and IGF-I were reduced. LPS also decreased the IGF-I content in liver and skeletal muscle and increased plasma, liver, and muscle concentrations of IGFBP-1. Pretreatment with anti-TNF Ab attenuated the LPS-induced reduction in IGF-I and the increased IGFBP-1 in plasma and liver and completely prevented the decrease in IGF-I observed in muscle. In contrast, the LPS-induced decrease in plasma GH and the increased IGFBP-1 observed in muscle were unaltered by the anti-TNF Ab. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
MiR-29 mediates TGFβ 1-induced extracellular matrix synthesis through activation of Wnt/β -catenin pathway in human pulmonary fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND TGFβ 1 is very important in the synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), and also in the mediation of human pulmonary fibroblasts proliferation, and miR-29 plays an important role in this process. OBJECTIVE In the present study, the effects of TGFβ 1 on the expression of miR-29 and whether miR-29 is involved in pro-survival signaling pathways mediated by TGFβ 1 were examined in human pulmonary fibroblasts. METHODS AND RESULTS Treatment of the human IMR-90 cells with TGFβ 1 caused a decrease in the expression of miR-29a/b/c as determined by real-time PCR analysis. TGFβ 1 stimulation increased cell proliferation, colony formation and up-regulated expression of COL1A1; transfecting with miR-29a/b/c mimics reverse TGFβ 1-induced phenotype changes in IMR-90. Western blot analyses showed that TGFβ 1 treatment unchanged total protein expression levels of β -catenin, but phosphorylation of β -catenin and the expression levels of wnt3a and COL1A1 were increased; and miR-19a/b/c mimics interfering blocked DKK1, wnt3a, and phosphorylation of β -catenin and decreased expression of COL1A1 after TGFβ 1 treatment. Our results showed that TGFβ 1 activated the wnt/β -catenin pathway, and this activation was essential for the expression of miR-29 in IMR-90. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate a novel biological function of the wnt/β -catenin pathway in IMR-90. Elevated expression of miR-29 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of diseases related to fibrogenic reactions in human IMR-90.
Decomposition of Malaysian Production Structure Input-Output Approach

Structural decomposition techniques are widely used to break down the growth in some variable into the changes in its determinants. Over the past two decades, input-output structural decomposition analysis (SDA) has developed into a major analytical tool. We review the development of SDA and its relationship to other methodologies. We present the fundamental principle of alternative approaches to deriving SDA estimating similarities and explore the various & decompositions of changes in I-0 tables. Using I-O Tables for the Malaysian Economy 1983-2000, this comparative study focuses on changes in the economic structure with different levels of development over time (1983-2000). The change in the economic structure is decomposed into two initial components (Technology and total output). According to the results, there are similarities over time in the national structure of production patterns of intermediate use of commodities. Also, the results indicate a rather remarkable degree of commonality in the patterns of growth processes, with more significant differences between sectors than between tables. However, the most changes within sectors, and the Malaysian table as a whole, seem to result from changes in x, and f. A seems to have remained relatively unchanged.
Shadow Banking

Shadow Banking Faculty Member: Eduardo Davila This project explores the optimal design of financial regulation in the presence of unregulated entities (shadow banks). e project has b th a theoretic l and a measurement component. Initially, th RA will assist the researchers by reading, summarizing, and d ssecti g so of the xisting literature. L t r on, it may be necessary to replicate and expa d on so e empirical s udies. The exact t sks may vary depend ng on ’s skills. This proj ct is ideal for stu e ts in ere ted in b king and financial regulation.
EFFECTS OF GONADAL HORMONES ON THYMUS GLAND AFTER BILATERAL OVARIECTOMY AND ORCHIDECTOMY IN RATS

This study examined the histological changes that occurred in the thymus gland after gonadectomy and the administration of various sex steroids following gonadectomy. Male and female Wistar-albino rats that were 6 weeks of age were used. The rats were subjected to bilaterally gonadectomy and then gonadal steroid hormones (testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, 2.5 mg/kg) were given. Effects of gonadal steroid hormones on the thymus gland were microscopically examined. Thymic weight increased in all the groups after gonadectomy. Testosterone, estrogen, and estrogen + progesterone treatment decreased thymic weight after gonadectomy. Progesterone treatment also decreased weight, but there was no statistical significance. In the light microscopy, testosterone and estrogen treatment induced a loss of lymphoid elements from the thymic cortex, increased the number of phagocytic macrophages and mast cells, and enlarged blood vessels and connective tissue were observed in the thymic medulla. In the electron microscopic study it was observed that rough endoplasmic reticulum enlarged in the thymic lymphocytes. The same results were also found after estrogen + progesterone treatment. No histologically identifiable changes were observed in the thymus gland after progesterone treatment. This study demonstrated that the thymus gland undergoes involution after testosterone and estrogen treatment, but not progesterone, following gonadectomy.
Security in a sea of insecurity: job security and intention to stay among service sector employees in Turkey

This article examines the association between job security and intention to stay for those who are employed in Turkey. There is a high level of unemployment in the country and many workers there are concerned about their job security. Job security refers to the objective dimensions of continuous contract, working full-time hours and paid and unpaid overtime. Job security also refers to the subjective dimension of perceived job security. We surveyed 407 employees in banking and related sectors' call centres, five-star hotel front-line staff and airline cabin crews. Results show that objective dimensions of job security are not associated with intention to stay. However, perceived job security is significantly and positively associated with intention to stay. We recommend that human resource managers focus on the perceived job security aspect of employment to keep valuable employees with the company.
Clonidine Inhibition of Norepinephrine Release from Normal and Morphine‐Tolerant Guinea Pig Cortical Slices

Abstract: Endogenous norepinephrine (NE) release in cerebral cortex slices taken from normal and morphine‐tolerant guinea pigs was measured by HPLC. In normal slices, a linear relationship was found between electrically evoked NE release and the log of the frequency of stimulation in the range of 1–20 Hz. The efficiency of the α2‐mediated autofeedback was tested by adding the α2 agonist clonidine and the α2 antagonist idazoxan. NE release was dose‐dependently reduced by clonidine (1 nmol/L–1 μmol/L) and increased by idazoxan (10–100 nmol/L). The inhibition by clonidine was significantly greater at 1 Hz than at 3 Hz, whereas the absolute increase in NE release induced by idazoxan was greater at 3 Hz than at 1 Hz. Morphine at 1 μmol/L (a concentration per se ineffective) shifted to the left the clonidine concentrations able to inhibit NE release at 3 and 1 Hz (1–10 nmol/L), but at both frequencies, the opiate reduced the maximal inhibition induced by clonidine at 1 μmol/L. In slices taken from morphine‐tolerant guinea pigs (in the presence of morphine at 1 μmol/L), clonidine (1 nmol/L–1 μmol/L) was ineffective at the stimulation rate of 3 Hz, but it was more active than in normal slices at 1 Hz. Such a response pattern suggests a reduced availability of α2 receptors and an increase in their sensitivity to clonidine. However, chronic morphine treatment did not influence the physiological autoinhibition because the increase in NE release elicited by idazoxan (10–100 nmol/L) at 1 and 3 Hz was the same in normal and in “morphine‐tolerant”slices. Therefore, morphine tolerance affects only the clonidine responsiveness of some α2 receptors, possibly located far from the hot spots of NE release. In contrast, the autofeedback exerted by synaptically released transmitter, as evaluated by testing idazoxan, remains unchanged.
Angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene polymorphism in myocardial infarction patients

Introduction. Acute myocardial infarction is commonly known as heart attack. It is a multifactorial disease influenced by environmental and genetic factors.The objective of the present study was to investigate the association of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene A/C polymorphism in South Indian myocardial infarction patients. Subjects and methods. The present study included a total number of 221 subjects (107 myocardial infarction patients and 114 age- and sex-matched controls). Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Lipid profiles were estimated. DNA was isolated and the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene A/C polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Results. Comparison of the lipid profiles between patients and controls showed that patients had statistically highly significant values (p=0.0001). The CC genotype of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor was not associated with myocardial infarction patients when compared to controls. CC vs. AA was χ2 = 2.08, odds ratio 2.30, 95% confidence interval 0.72 — 7.23, and p value was 0.14. Conclusion. The angiotensin II type 1 receptor CC genotype is not a risk factor for myocardial infarction in patients in a South Indian population.
Effect of Interdot Separation on Collective Magnonic Modes in Chains of Rectangular Dots

The behavior of collective spin excitations in chains of rectangular NiFe dots is studied as a function of interdot separation. Dots have thickness of 40 nm and lateral dimensions of 715 × 450 nm2. They are put side by side along the major axis and the interdot separation is varied in the range 55-625 nm. Brillouin light scattering experiments have been performed at normal incidence (exchanged wave vector q = 0) and with the external magnetic field applied along the chain length. A satisfactory interpretation of the experimental data is achieved by magnonic bands calculations based on the dynamical matrix method. Such calculations have been performed at both the center and the border of the first Brillouin zone, in the case of Bloch wave vector q parallel to the applied field. In this way we can predict the amplitude of modes frequency oscillation (magnonic band), which is an important property to identify the behavior of a one-dimensional magnonic meta-material.
Failure characteristics of the isolated distal radius in response to dynamic impact loading

We examined the mechanical response of the distal radius pre‐fracture and at fracture under dynamic impact loads. The distal third of eight human cadaveric radii were potted and placed in a custom designed pneumatic impact system. The distal intra‐articular surface of the radius rested against a model scaphoid and lunate, simulating 45° of wrist extension. The scaphoid and lunate were attached to a load cell that in turn was attached to an impact plate. Impulsive impacts were applied at increasing energy levels, in 10 J increments, until fracture occurred. Three 45° stacked strain gauge rosettes were affixed along the length of the radius quantifying the bone strains. The mean (SD) fracture energy was 45.5 (16) J. The mean (SD) resultant impact reaction force (IRFr) at failure was 2,142 (1,229) N, resulting in high compressive strains at the distal (2,718 (1,698) µε) and proximal radius (3,664 (1,890) µε). We successfully reproduced consistent fracture patterns in response to dynamic loads. The fracture energy and forces reported here are lower and the strains are higher than those previously reported and can likely be attributed to the controlled, incremental, dynamic nature of the applied loads. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:885–892, 2012
Dexamethasone promotes phagocytosis and bacterial killing by human monocytes/macrophages in vitro

One of the actions of glucocorticoids (GC) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inhibitory effect on demyelination. This can be caused by a reduction in the number of infiltrating macrophages and/or by an effect on the phagocytosis of myelin. Here we investigate the effect of GC on the phagocytosis of myelin. Contrary to what was expected, we found that incubation of human monocytes with dexamethasone (DEX) for 48 h augmented (approximately threefold) the phagocytosis of myelin. This enhancement of phagocytosis by human monocytes was not restricted to myelin. Phagocytosis of various particles mediated by different macrophage receptors was increased by DEX. We found that not only the phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was augmented, but also the killing of these bacteria was at least twice as effective after culture with DEX. Tumor necrosis factor α production of human monocyte‐derived macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide and S. aureus was suppressed by DEX. Together our results show that DEX promotes the phagocytosis of particles by human monocytes and thereby may contribute to tissue repair after immune‐mediated tissue damage or infection. These data shed a new light on the clinical application of GC. J. Leukoc. Biol. 67: 801–807; 2000.
Fermi surfaces and gauge-gravity duality

We give a unied overview of the zero temperature phases of compressible quantum matter: i.e. phases in which the expectation value of a globally conserved U(1) density,Q, varies smoothly as a function of parameters. Provided the global U(1) and translational symmetries are unbroken, such phases are expected to have Fermi surfaces, and the Luttinger theorem relates the volumes enclosed by these Fermi surfaces tohQi. We survey models of interacting bosons and/or fermions and/or gauge elds which realize such phases. Some phases have Fermi surfaces with the singularities of Landau’s Fermi liquid theory, while other Fermi surfaces have non-Fermi liquid singularities. Compressible phases found in models applicable to condensed matter systems are argued to also be present in models obtained by applying chemical potentials (and other deformations allowed by the residual symmetry at non-zero chemical potential) to the paradigmic supersymmetric gauge theories underlying gauge-gravity duality: the ABJM model in spatial dimension d = 2, and the N = 4 SYM theory in d = 3.