Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of coping strategies and attitudes in mediating distress due to hallucinations in schizophrenia

The purpose of the present study was to determine the role of coping strategies and attitudes in predicting distress due to hallucinations in schizophrenia. Seventy‐five chronic stable schizophrenia patients were assessed with respect to sociodemographic profile, clinical variables, general psychopathology, phenomenology (severity) of hallucinations, attitude towards hallucinations, distress due to hallucinations (determined by two measures) and coping strategies used to deal with hallucinations. On multiple stepwise regression analysis, ‘severity of hallucinations’ and ‘problem‐solving coping strategies’ contributed significantly to both measures of distress. It can be concluded that distress due to hallucinations in schizophrenia is determined by severity of hallucinations (stressor) and problem‐solving coping strategies. Attitudes do not seem to play any role in this respect.
Persistent secondary hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND The persistence of secondary hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation is frequent and often complicated by overt hypercalcemia. Recent investigations have shown an effect of the different vitamin D receptor (VDR) genotypes on parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion in both primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism. The aims of this study were (i) to assess whether persistent secondary hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation is characterized by any change in calcium-controlled PTH secretion, and (ii) whether different VDR allelic distributions might play any role on this setting. METHODS Eighty-one cadaveric renal transplantation recipients, followed-up for at least 12 months, were checked for PTH, other primary metabolic and clinical variables, and VDR B/b alleles (BsmI). In 22 of these the following parameters were evaluated: (a) kinetics parameters of the Ca-PTH relation curve; (b) vertebral mineral density; (c) calcitriol serum levels; (d) PTH-related peptide serum levels; and (e) urinary hydroxyproline. RESULTS According to the stabilised PTH levels (reached by the third month), the patients were divided in two groups: group A (N = 40, PTH < 80 pg/ml) and group B (N = 41, PTH > 80 pg/ml). Group B differed from group A in that patients had higher PTH levels at the time of transplantation, were older in age, and spent more time on dialysis. Group B had increased maximal and minimal PTH levels, and higher set-point levels than Group A. The patients with the BB pattern of VDR genotype were characterized by the lowest PTH levels both at time of transplantation and after stabilization, and lower set point values than patients with Bb and bb patterns. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that (i) the severity of pre-existing secondary hyperparathyroidism is the main factor determining its persistence after renal transplantation, (ii) persistent secondary hyperparathyroidism is characterized by an autonomous pattern of PTH secretion, (iii) the VDR BB genotype seems to be related to lower PTH levels.
CLINICAL HEMATOLOGY AND BLOOD CHEMISTRY VALUES FOR THE COMMON BUZZARD ( Buteo buteo )

ABSTR^CT. --Clinical hematology and serum chemistry values for 23 clinically normal Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo) have provided reference values for use in clinical pathology. Hematological values, including red and white blood cell counts, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, leukocyte differential count and red cell indices were established. Reference values of blood chemical parameters, including total plasma protein, total plasma solids, fibrinogen, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST, SGOT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT, SGPT), gamma glutamyltransferase ('y-GT), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine, uric acid, calcium and phosphorus were also established and compared to results obtained by other authors.
Self-Awareness and the Regulation of Emotional Intensity

People often regulate their feelings by striving for particular emotional states. The self-regulation of emotions should be influenced by self-awareness, which is a primary instigator of self-regulation. Because the outcome of self-regulation depends, in part, on the relevant comparison standards, self-focus will have a flexible effect on emotional intensity depending on the standard. But an earlier view (Scheier & Carver, 1977) argues that self-focused attention will always amplify emotional intensity because self-focus makes emotional states more salient. An experiment tested these different predictions. Participants were pre-selected for extreme emotionality standards: One group felt that emotions should be unregulated, and the other group felt that emotions should be inhibited. All persons were led to feel happy; self-focus was then manipulated using a large mirror. Consistent with the self-regulation view, persons with “inhibition” standards were significantly less happy when highly self-focused. Persons with “no regulation” standards, in contrast, were unaffected by high self-focus; the two groups didn't differ when self-focus was low. Someimplications for the intersection of self-awareness and emotional experience are considered.
Recalled Social Experiences and Current Psychological Adjustment among Adults Reared by Gay and Lesbian Parents

Children of gay and lesbian parents are a diverse group, but existing studies offer limited information about individual differences in their social experiences and subsequent psychological outcomes. In this study, 91 adults reared by gay and lesbian parents responded to measures of recalled social experiences as well as current depressive symptoms, positive and negative affect, and life satisfaction. Participants reported differing social experiences (e.g., stigma) as a function of their sex, family type, gay/lesbian parent's sex, and age at which they learned that a parent was gay or lesbian. Despite such diverse experiences, participants reported no significant differences in long-term psychological adjustment. It could be the case that children of gay and lesbian parents learn to cope with difficult social experiences, leading to positive adjustment overall. Indeed, the current sample perceived their social experiences as becoming significantly more positive over the life course, with less stigma and more benefits related to their family situation during adulthood than during earlier developmental periods. Future studies of adaptive coping processes and longitudinal changes in social experiences among offspring of gay and lesbian parents are warranted.
Early and late effects of Ibuprofen on mouse sperm parameters, chromatin condensation, and DNA integrity in mice

Background: There are few studies indicating the detrimental effects of ibuprofen on sperm fertility potential and DNA integrity. Objective: To determine the effects of Ibuprofen on sperm parameters, chromatin condensation and DNA integrity of mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 36 adult male mice with average weight 37 gr were divided into three groups, including control (group I, n=12), normal dosage of ibuprofen (group II, n=12) and high dosage (group III, n=12). Ibuprofen with different doses was dissolved in daily water of animals. After 35, 70 and 105 days, the cauda epididymis of mice were cut and incubated in Ham’s F10 media. Sperm samples were analyzed for parameters (motility, morphology and count), DNA integrity (SCD test) and chromatin condensation (chromomycin A3 and Aniline blue staining). Results: After 35 days, in addition to above mentioned sperm parameters, all of the treated mice showed statistically significant increase in spermatozoa with immature chromatin (P<0.05). However, after 70 days, the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation assessed by SCD was increased in group II (66.5±0.7) and the percentage of immature spermatozoa (AB+ and CMA3+) was higher in group III (77.5±0.7 and 49.5±6.3 respectively) than other groups. After 105 days, the AB+ spermatozoa were increased in both normal dose and high dose groups. Conclusion: Ibuprofen may cause a significant reduction in sperm parameters and sperm chromatin/DNA integrity in mice. It should be noted that these deleterious effects are dose-dependent and can be seen in early and late stage of drug treatments.
Whole-brain N-acetylaspartate spectroscopy and diffusion tensor imaging in patients with newly diagnosed gliomas: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Glial cancer cells can be found well beyond the MR imaging T2 signal-intensity hyperintensity. To quantify the extent of the diffuse microstructural tissue damage possibly due to the presence of these satellite tumor cells, we investigated the relationships between global metabolic and microstructural abnormalities in the normal-appearing brain regions of patients with newly diagnosed glioma. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ten patients (6 men, 4 women) with radiologically suspected untreated supratentorial glial tumors and 9 healthy controls (5 men, 4 women) were studied with T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging, diffusion-weighted echo-planar MR imaging, and whole-brain N-acetylaspartate (WBNAA) proton MR spectroscopy. The relationship between the WBNAA concentration, the mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) values in a large contralateral normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) brain region was investigated with the Spearman rank correlation test. RESULTS WBNAA values were significantly lower (P < .001) in patients (9.7 +/- 1.7 mmol/L) than controls (13.1 +/- 1.1 mmol/L). MD values were higher (P = .0001) in patients (0.95 +/- 0.07 mm(2)s(-1)) than in controls (0.61 +/- 0.04 mm(2)s(-1)). FA values did not differ between patients (0.42 +/- 0.08) and controls (0.43 +/- 0.041). A strong inverse correlation between WBNAA and MD (r = -0.88, P = .0008) was found in the patients but not in controls (r = 0.012, P = .975). CONCLUSION The correlation between the WBNAA and MD in the contralateral NAWM suggests that the microstructural damage possibly related to the presence of infiltrative tumor cells contributes to WBNAA decline in these patients.
Resting Energy Expenditure and Substrate Metabolism in Patients With Acute-on-chronic Hepatitis B Liver Failure

Goals This study was designed to characterize the energy metabolism in the patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Background Protein-energy malnutrition usually occurs in the patients with chronic liver disease and is exacerbated during the progression of liver failure. Unfortunately, there is limited study to fully elucidate the energy metabolism in the patients with ACLF. Study A retrospective cohort was designed with a total of 282 patients (100 patients with ACLF, 100 with liver cirrhosis, and 82 with chronic hepatitis B). Resting energy expenditure and the oxidation rates of glucose, lipid, and protein were assessed by indirect heat measurement using the critical care monitor and desktop analysis system, nutritive metabolic investigation system. Survival rate was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Results There was no significant difference in resting energy expenditure among the patients with ACLF, the liver cirrhosis, and the chronic hepatitis (1402.05±480.07 kcal/d in patients with ACLF, 1274.27±316.36 kcal/d in patients with liver cirrhosis, and 1396.77±384.80 kcal/d in patients with chronic hepatitis). Respiratory quotient (RQ) was significantly lower in the patients with ACLF than those in the liver cirrhosis and the chronic hepatitis B (P=0.000). In patients with ACLF, RQ of the nonsurvival group was significantly lower than the survival group (P=0.000). It is identified from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis that a RQ cutoff value of 0.83 (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.760) is favorable to predict good prognosis in patients with liver failure, which has a sensitivity of 73.68%, a specificity of 74.42%, and positive predictive value of 79.2% and negative predictive value of 68.1%. Conclusions In patients with ACLF, RQ was significantly lower in the nonsurvival group than the survival group, thus suggesting that RQ may be used as an indicator of prognosis of liver failure.
A study of the metabolism of rat testis in vitro.

introduction During the course of a study of the effect of various gonadotrophins on rat testis it seemed pertinent to correlate previously described changes in chemical morphology (Tepperman and Tepperman, 1947) with the metabolism of the gland in vitro. A survey of the literature revealed that Schuler (1944) and Meier and Schuler (1941) had made careful studies of the metabolism of surviving testis. The present study is an outgrowth of experiments that were done for the purpose of confirming an observation made by these authors. In 1944, Schuler reported that the of normal adult testis and that of testicular tissue obtained from weanling rats is about the same in the presence of added glucose. However, when glucose was omitted from the medium, the of surviving gland obtained from adult rats was very low, whereas that of the weanling rat’s gonad was slightly higher without added substrate than it was in the presence of 0.2% glucose.
Leading in a multi-sector environment Leadership Promotion of Public Values : Public Service Motivation as a Leadership Strategy in the Public Sector Wouter Vandenabeele

Both leadership and public service motivation are important issues in contemporary public administration. By connecting these issues, the aim of this paper is to assess the impact of transformational leadership behaviour (promoting public values) on public service motivation development. Two hypotheses were tested with a dataset of 3507 state civil servants in Belgium. The analysis shows that a positive relation exists, and that it is moderated by a set of basic psychological needs (security, autonomy, competence and relatedness).
Latent structure of eating disorder symptoms: a factor analytic and taxometric investigation.

OBJECTIVE The latent structure of eating disorder symptoms, as defined by DSM-IV, was tested in a group of 341 women with and without an eating disorder diagnosis. METHOD The study group consisted of 201 participants with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or eating disorder not otherwise specified; 24 comparison subjects who were obese but did not have an eating disorder diagnosis; and 116 normal-weight comparison subjects. The presence and severity of DSM-IV eating disorder symptoms was assessed with the semi-structured Interview for the Diagnosis of Eating Disorders-IV. The study group was randomly divided into two subgroups for factor analytic studies, and the data were subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Pilot taxometric analyses were used to examine whether the obtained factors represented true dimensions or latent discrete classes. RESULTS In exploratory factor analyses with data from subgroup 1, three factors were found to account for 66% of the variance in eating disorder symptoms: binge eating, fear of fatness/compensatory behaviors, and drive for extreme thinness. Confirmatory factor analysis cross-validated this factor structure with data from subgroup 2. The eating disorder groups and comparison groups were found to differ on at least one of the three factors. The results of the taxometric analyses were inconsistent with a strictly dimensional model of eating disorders and suggested that some features may be dimensional whereas others may be taxonic (discrete). DISCUSSION The eating disorders, as defined by DSM-IV, can be conceptualized as having three latent features. Taxometric tests found empirical support for conceptualizing bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder as discrete syndromes.
Activation of the Proteolytic Activity of ADAMTS4 (Aggrecanase-1) by C-terminal Truncation*

Proteolysis of the hyalectans (aggrecan, versican, brevican) in vivo appears to result from the activity of ADAMTS4 (aggrecanase-1, herein referred to as an hyalectanase). To examine the mode of activation of ADAMTS4, a human chondrosarcoma cell line, JJ012, has been stably transfected with the full-length c-DNA for human ADAMTS4. The cells synthesized a high molecular weight form of the enzyme (p100), which in serum-free culture was processed to three truncated forms, p75, p60, and p50. Treatment of the p100 form with recombinant furin indicated that the p75 form is generated by the removal of the prodomain by a furin-like activity. Analysis with domain-specific antisera showed that the p60 and p50 forms are generated by C-terminal truncation of the p75 form. The appearance of the p60 and p50 forms in culture medium was prevented by inclusion of a furin inhibitor, inhibitors of glycosylphosphatidylinositol synthesis, glucosamine, a hydroxamate-based matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, and TIMP-1, but not by AEBSF (4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride) or E64. Only medium samples containing the p60/p50 forms exhibited aggrecanase activity, and isolation of the p75, p60, and p50 forms by preparative SDS-PAGE showed that only p60 and p50 were active in aggrecanase and versicanase assays. Pig synovium and human cartilages also contained ADAMTS4 in the p75, p60, and p50 forms. We suggest thatin vivo production of proteolytically active ADAMTS4 requires not only removal of the prodomain by a furin-like activity but also MMP-mediated removal of a portion of the C-terminal spacer domain.
Gadoxetate Disodium-Enhanced MRI to Differentiate Dysplastic Nodules and Grade of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Correlation With Histopathology.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to determine quantitative differences to differentiate low-grade from high-grade dysplastic nodules (DNs) and low-grade from high-grade hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) using gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study of 149 hepatic nodules in 127 consecutive patients who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI was performed. MRI signal intensities (SIs) of the representative lesion ROI and of ROIs in liver parenchyma adjacent to the lesion were measured on unenhanced T1-weighted imaging and on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in the arterial, portal venous, delayed, and hepatobiliary phases. The relative SI of the lesion was calculated for each phase as the relative intensity ratio as follows: [mass SI / liver SI]. RESULTS Of the 149 liver lesions, nine (6.0%) were low-grade DNs, 21 (14.1%) were high-grade DNs, 83 (55.7%) were low-grade HCCs, and 36 (24.2%) were high-grade HCCs. The optimal cutoffs for differentiating low-grade DNs from high-grade DNs and HCCs were an unenhanced to arterial SI of ≥ 0 or a relative SI on T2-weighted imaging of ≤ 1.5, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 99.2% and accuracy of 88.6%. The optimal cutoffs for differentiating low-grade HCCs from high-grade HCCs were a relative hepatobiliary SI of ≤ 0.5 or a relative T2 SI of ≥ 1.5, with a PPV of 81.0% and an accuracy of 60.5%. CONCLUSION Gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI allows quantitative differentiation of low-grade DNs from high-grade DNs and HCCs, but significant overlap was seen between low-grade HCCs and high-grade HCCs.
Chronic proliferative hepatitis in A/JCr mice associated with persistent Helicobacter hepaticus infection: a model of helicobacter-induced carcinogenesis

Helicobacter hepaticus causes hepatitis in selected strains of mice and in A/JCr mice is linked to liver cancer. To analyze whether H. hepaticus persists in specified ecological niches, to determine whether biomarkers of infection exist, and to analyze the influence of H. hepaticus on hepatocyte proliferation, a longitudinal study of H. hepaticus-infected A/JCr mice was undertaken. A/JCr mice were serially euthanatized from 3 through 18 months and surveyed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; bacterial culture of liver, colon, and cecum; histology; electron microscopy; hepatocyte proliferation indices determined by using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine; and measurement of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase. In infected animals throughout the 18-month study, H. hepaticus was consistently isolated from the lower bowel but only sporadically from the liver. By electron microscopy, H. hepaticus was noted infrequently and only in bile canaliculi. Infected mice, particularly males, showed chronic inflammation; oval cell, Kupffer cell, and Ito cell hyperplasia; hepatocytomegaly; and bile duct proliferation. The inflammatory and necrotizing lesion was progressive and involved the hepatic parenchyma, portal triads, and intralobular venules. Hepatic adenomas were noted only in male mice, whereas 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine proliferation indices were markedly increased in both sexes, but especially in males, compared to control A/J mice. Infected mice also developed sustained anti-H. hepaticus serum immunoglobulin G antibody responses and elevated alanine aminotransferase levels. H. hepaticus, which persists in the lower bowels and livers of A/JCr mice, is associated with a chronic proliferative hepatitis, and hepatomas in selected male mice indicate that this novel bacterium may cause an increased risk of hepatic cancer induction in susceptible strains of mice. This murine model should prove useful in dissecting the molecular events operable in the development of neoplasms induced by bacteria belonging to this expanding genera of pathogenic Helicobacter species.
Accelerometer-monitored sedentary behavior and observed physical function loss.

OBJECTIVES We examined whether objectively measured sedentary behavior is related to subsequent functional loss among community-dwelling adults with or at high risk for knee osteoarthritis. METHODS We analyzed longitudinal data (2008-2012) from 1659 Osteoarthritis Initiative participants aged 49 to 83 years in 4 cities. Baseline sedentary time was assessed by accelerometer monitoring. Functional loss (gait speed and chair stand testing) was regressed on baseline sedentary time and covariates (baseline function; socioeconomics [age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, education], health factors [obesity, depression, comorbidities, knee symptoms, knee osteoarthritis severity, prior knee injury, other lower extremity pain, smoking], and moderate-to-vigorous activity). RESULTS This cohort spent almost two thirds of their waking hours (average=9.8 h) in sedentary behaviors. Sedentary time was significantly positively associated with subsequent functional loss in both gait speed (-1.66 ft/min decrease per 10% increment sedentary percentage waking hours) and chair stand rate (-0.75 repetitions/min decrease), controlling for covariates. CONCLUSIONS Being less sedentary was related to less future decline in function, independent of time spent in moderate-to-vigorous activity. Both limiting sedentary activities and promoting physical activity in adults with knee osteoarthritis may be important in maintaining function.