Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Altered Hierarchy of Protective Responses Against Severe Hypoglycemia in Normal Aging in Healthy Men

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of normal aging on the protective responses against hypoglycemia, in view of the fact that type II diabetes is primarily a disease of aging, and its treatment is associated with risk of hypoglycemia with cognitive impairment. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Plasma glucose was lowered stepwise from 5 to 2.4 mmol/l and restored by manipulation of an infusion of 20% glucose during 220-min intravenous infusion of 1.5 mU · kg−1 · min−1 soluble insulin in 14 men; 7 were aged 60–70 years and the other 7 were 22–26 years. Changes in neurohumoral responses, subjective awareness, and choice reaction time were assessed. RESULTS Hormonal responses were similar in the two groups, but symptoms began earlier in the younger men (at a plasma glucose of 3.6 ± 0.1 vs. 3.0 ± 0.2 mmol/l, P = 0.02) and were more intense (P = 0.03). Four-choice reaction time, a measure of psychomotor coordination, deteriorated earlier in the older men (at a plasma glucose of 3.0 ± 0.1 vs. 2.6 ± 0.1 mmol/l, P = 0.07) and to a greater degree. The difference between the glucose level for subjective awareness of hypoglycemia and the onset of cognitive dysfunction was lost in the older men (0.0 ± 0.2 vs. 0.8 ± 0.1 mmol/l, P < 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Older men are prone to more severe cognitive impairment during hypoglycemia than younger men and are less likely to experience prior warning symptoms if blood glucose falls. This effect of normal aging may contribute to the risk of severe hypoglycemia in older diabetic patients treated with sulfonylureas and insulin.
Monitoring Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Using Real‐Time PCR

There is a general lack of rapid, sensitive, and quantitative methods for the detection of differentiating human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Using light microscopy and immunohistochemistry, we observed that morphological changes of differentiating hESCs precede any major alterations in the expression of several commonly used hESC markers (SSEA‐3, SSEA‐4, TRA‐1‐60, TRA‐1‐81, Oct‐4, and Nanog). In an attempt to quantify the changes during stochastic differentiation of hESCs, we developed a robust and sensitive multi‐marker quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) method. To maximize the sensitivity of the method, we measured the expression of up‐ and downregulated genes before and after differentiation of the hESCs. Out of the 12 genes assayed, we found it clearly sufficient to determine the relative differentiation state of the cells by calculating a collective expression index based on the mRNA levels of Oct‐4, Nanog, Cripto, and α‐fetoprotein. We evaluated the method using different hESC lines maintained in either feeder‐dependent or feeder‐free culture conditions. The QPCR method is very flexible, and by appropriately selecting reporter genes, the method can be designed for various applications. The combination of QPCR with hESC‐based technologies opens novel avenues for high‐throughput analysis of hESCs in, for example, pharmacological and cytotoxicity screening.
Cross‐cultural comparison of depression and depressive symptoms in older people

This article presents data on the prevalence of depression and the profile of depressive symptoms in 2 groups of people aged 65 and over: 1070 living in Liverpool, United Kingdom, and 1080 living in Zaragoza, Spain. Similar prevalence figures were found for women (Liverpool first): 14.2%vs 14.8% and, for men, 7.2%vs 6.2%. No age differences were found. The figures are lower than those found using similar methods in London and New York, but higher than those from Iceland. The article also compares the profile of depressive symptoms between Liverpool and Zaragoza and explains these by reference to social and cultural differences.
Short-Term Intra Ocular Pressure Using Intravitreal Bevacizumab

At Ophthalmology Department of Civil Hospital of Culiacán, we investigated the inmediate effect of intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab on the IOP (intra ocular pressure) 30 min before and 24 h was measured after application of 0.1 mL of Bevacizumab (Avastin) to 67 patients under sterile technique in operating room, with topical anesthetic tetracaine at 3.5 mm from the sclerocorneal junction. Pre-application average IOP was 13.5 ± 2.6 mmHg, and post-implementation IOP was 13.8 ± 2.6 mmHg. Diagnostics: PDR + MESC (proliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema significant clinically) in 26 patients (38.8%), NPDRSC (nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy significant clinical) in 14 patients (20.9%), wet AMD (age related macular degeneration) in 14 patients (20.9%), OCRV (occlusion central retinal vein) in 3 patients (4.5%), OBRV (occlusion of branch retinal vein) in 3 patients (4.5%), SCChR (serous central chorioretinopathy) in 2 patients (4.5%), ChNnoA-R (choroidal neovascularization no age related) in 2 patients (3%), CME (cystoid macular edema) in 2 patients (3%).
Nonreplicative RNA Recombination in Poliovirus

ABSTRACT Current models of recombination between viral RNAs are based on replicative template-switch mechanisms. The existence of nonreplicative RNA recombination in poliovirus is demonstrated in the present study by the rescue of viable viruses after cotransfections with different pairs of genomic RNA fragments with suppressed translatable and replicating capacities. Approximately 100 distinct recombinant genomes have been identified. The majority of crossovers occurred between nonhomologous segments of the partners and might have resulted from transesterification reactions, not necessarily involving an enzymatic activity. Some of the crossover loci are clustered. The origin of some of these “hot spots” could be explained by invoking structures similar to known ribozymes. A significant proportion of recombinant RNAs contained the entire 5′ partner, if its 3′ end was oxidized or phosphorylated prior to being mixed with the 3′ partner. All of these observations are consistent with a mechanism that involves intermediary formation of the 2′,3′-cyclic phosphate and 5′-hydroxyl termini. It is proposed that nonreplicative RNA recombination may contribute to evolutionarily significant RNA rearrangements.
The company they keep: drinking group attitudes and male bar aggression.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess (a) similarities in self-reported bar-aggression-related attitudes and behaviors among members of young male groups recruited on their way to bars and (b) group-level variables associated with individual members' self-reported likelihood of perpetrating physical bar aggression in the past year, controlling for individual attitudes. METHOD Young, male, natural drinking groups recruited on their way to a bar district Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights (n = 167, 53 groups) completed an online survey that measured whether they had perpetrated physical aggression at a bar in the past year and constructs associated with bar aggression, including attitudes toward male bar aggression and frequency of heavy episodic drinking in the past year. RESULTS Intraclass correlations and chi-square tests demonstrated significant within-group similarity on bar-aggression-related attitudes and behaviors (ps < .01). Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that group attitudes toward bar aggression were significantly associated with individuals' likelihood of perpetrating physical bar aggression, controlling for individual attitudes (p < .01); however, the link between group heavy episodic drinking and self-reported bar aggression was nonsignificant in the full model. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the most important group influence on young men's bar aggression is the attitudes of other group members. These attitudes were associated with group members' likelihood of engaging in bar aggression over and above individuals' own attitudes. A better understanding of how group attitudes and behavior affect the behavior of individual group members is needed to inform aggression-prevention programming.
Expanding substrate specificity of GT‐B fold glycosyltransferase via domain swapping and high‐throughput screening

Glycosyltransferases (GTs) are crucial enzymes in the biosynthesis and diversification of therapeutically important natural products, and the majority of them belong to the GT‐B superfamily, which is composed of separate N‐ and C‐domains that are responsible for the recognition of the sugar acceptor and donor, respectively. In an effort to expand the substrate specificity of GT, a chimeric library with different crossover points was constructed between the N‐terminal fragments of kanamycin GT (kanF) and the C‐terminal fragments of vancomycin GT (gtfE) genes by incremental truncation method. A plate‐based pH color assay was newly developed for the selection of functional domain‐swapped GTs, and a mutant (HMT31) with a crossover point (N‐kanF‐669 bp and 753 bp‐gtfE‐C) for domain swapping was screened. The most active mutant HMT31 (50 kDa) efficiently catalyzed 2‐DOS (aglycone substrate for KanF) glucosylation using dTDP‐glucose (glycone substrate for GtfE) with kcat/Km of 162.8 ± 0.1 mM−1 min−1. Moreover, HMT31 showed improved substrate specificity toward seven more NDP‐sugars. This study presents a domain swapping method as a potential means to glycorandomization toward various syntheses of 2‐DOS‐based aminoglycoside derivatives. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 988–994. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Amt/Mep/Rh family of ammonium transport proteins (Review)

The Amt/Mep/Rh family of integral membrane proteins comprises ammonium transporters of bacteria, archaea and eukarya, as well as the Rhesus proteins found in animals. They play a central role in the uptake of reduced nitrogen for biosynthetic purposes, in energy metabolism, or in renal excretion. Recent structural information on two prokaryotic Amt proteins has significantly contributed to our understanding of this class, but basic questions concerning the transport mechanism and the nature of the transported substrate, NH3 or , remain to be answered. Here we review functional and structural studies on Amt proteins and discuss the bioenergetic issues raised by the various mechanistic proposals present in the literature.
Coping Strategies and Psychological Outcomes: The Moderating Effects of Personal Resiliency

ABSTRACT Certain coping strategies alleviate stress and promote positive psychological outcomes, whereas others exacerbate stress and promote negative psychological outcomes. However, the efficacy of any given coping strategy may also depend on personal resiliency. This study examined whether personal resiliency moderated the effects of task-oriented, avoidance-oriented, and emotion-oriented coping strategies on measures of depression, anxiety, stress, positive affect, negative affect, and satisfaction with life. Results (N = 424 undergraduates) showed higher personal resiliency was associated with greater use of task-oriented coping strategies, which were in turn associated with more adaptive outcomes, and less reliance on nonconstructive emotion-oriented strategies, which in turn were associated with poorer psychological outcomes. In addition, individual differences in personal resiliency moderated the effects of task-oriented coping on negative affect and of emotion-oriented coping on negative affect and depression. Specifically, proactive task-oriented coping was associated with greater negative affect for people lower in personal resiliency. Moreover, high personal resiliency attenuated the negative effects of emotion-oriented coping on depression and negative affect. The effects of avoidance-oriented coping were mixed and were not associated with or dependent on levels of personal resiliency.
Race, gender, and marriage: destination selection during the great migration

Using historical census microdata, we present a unique analysis of racial and gender disparities in destination selection and an exploration ofhypotheses regarding tied migration in the historical context ofthe Great Migration. Black migrants were more likely to move to metropolitan areas and central cities throughout the period, while white migrants were more likely to locate in nonmetropolitan and farm destinations. Gender differences were largely dependent on marital status. Consistent with the "tied-migration" thesis, married women had destination outcomes that were similar to those of men, whereas single women had a greater propensity to reside in metropolitan locations where economic opportunities for women were more plentiful.
Large-Scale Experiment on the Importance of Social Learning and Unimodality in the Wisdom of the Crowd

In this study, we build on previous research to understand the conditions within which the Wisdom of the Crowd (WoC) improves or worsens as a result of showing individuals the predictions of their peers. Our main novel contributions are: 1) a dataset of unprecedented size and detail; 2) we observe the novel effect of the importance of the unimodality of the social information shown to individuals: if one does not see only one clear peak in the distribution of the crowd's predictions, the WoC is worsened after social exposure; and 3) we estimate social learning weights that we use to show that there exists individuals who are much better at learning from the crowd and can be filtered to improve collective accuracy.
Orienting to guilty knowledge

The Guilty Knowledge Test (GKT; Lykken, 1959) assesses whether suspects conceal information about a crime ( “guilty knowledge”). Previous studies have demonstrated larger physiological reactions to guilty knowledge compared to unknown information. In three experiments, we investigated whether guilty knowledge also demands attention. During an alleged polygraph examination, participants were presented with to‐be‐detected pictures ( “guilty knowledge”), nonsignificant, familiar pictures ( “mere knowledge”), and previously unseen pictures ( “neutral information”) for 250 ms in a modified dot probe task. In all three experiments, probe responses were slower on guilty knowledge trials as compared to the neutral trials. Results are discussed in terms of an information‐processing view on orienting to guilty knowledge.
High Frequency Strand Slippage Mutations in CTCF in MSI‐Positive Endometrial Cancers

Tumors with defective mismatch repair acquire large numbers of strand slippage mutations including frameshifts in coding sequence repeats. We identified a mutational hotspot, p.T204fs, in the insulator‐binding protein (CTCF) in MSI‐positive endometrial cancers. Although CTCF was described as a significantly mutated gene by the endometrial cancer TCGA, the A7 track variants leading to T204 frameshifts were not reported. Reanalysis of TCGA data using Pindel revealed frequent T204fs mutations, confirming CTCF is an MSI target gene and revealed the same frameshifts in tumors with intact mismatch repair. We show that T204fs transcripts are subject to nonsense‐mediated decay and as such, T204fs mutations are unlikely to act as dominant negatives. The spectrum and pattern of mutations observed is consistent with CTCF acting as a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor.
Opening Minds in Canada: Targeting Change

Objective To summarize the ongoing activities of the Opening Minds (OM) Anti-Stigma Initiative of the Mental Health Commission of Canada regarding the 4 groups targeted (youth, health care providers, media, and workplaces), highlight some of the key methodological challenges, and review lessons learned. Method The approach used by OM is rooted in community development philosophy, with clearly defined target groups, contact-based education as the central organizing element across interventions, and a strong evaluative component so that best practices can be identified, replicated, and disseminated. Contact-based education occurs when people who have experienced a mental illness share their personal story of recovery and hope. Results Results have been generally positive. Contact-based education has the capacity to reduce prejudicial attitudes and improve social acceptance of people with a mental illness across various target groups and sectors. Variations in program outcomes have contributed to our understanding of active ingredients. Conclusions Contact-based education has become a cornerstone of the OM approach to stigma reduction. A story of hope and recovery told by someone who has experienced a mental illness is powerful and engaging, and a critical ingredient in the fight against stigma. Building partnerships with existing community programs and promoting systematic evaluation using standardized approaches and instruments have contributed to our understanding of best practices in the field of anti-stigma programming. The next challenge will be to scale these up so that they may have a national impact.
The relative reinforcing strength of methamphetamine and D-amphetamine in monkeys self-administering cocaine

Epidemiological data indicate that rates of methamphetamine misuse surpass those of D-amphetamine, but self-administration research in animals and humans has not typically demonstrated differences in their reinforcing effects. The present study used a within-session, exponentially increasing progressive-ratio schedule and extended-access conditions to assess the relative reinforcing strength of D-amphetamine and methamphetamine in rhesus monkeys (n=5) trained to self-administer cocaine. A range of doses of methamphetamine (0.003–0.1 mg/kg/injection), D-amphetamine (0.003–0.1 mg/kg/injection), and cocaine (0.003–0.3 mg/kg/injection) was tested to capture the ascending and descending limbs of the dose-effect functions. Each drug functioned as a reinforcer, but the peak number of self-administered D-amphetamine injections was significantly lower compared with methamphetamine and cocaine; the peak number of self-administered injections of cocaine and methamphetamine did not differ. Although differences in availability and other social factors likely impact relative rates of abuse, the present data suggest that the greater reinforcing strength of methamphetamine contributes to its increased use compared with D-amphetamine.
Low molecular weight heparin given the evening before surgery compared with conventional low‐dose heparin in prevention of thrombosis

A prospective randomized double‐blind trial was performed comparing conventional low‐dose heparin with a low molecular weight heparin fragment for thromboprophylaxis in elective general abdominal surgical patients. The first dose of the heparin fragment was given the evening before surgery, and further doses were given thereafter every evening. There were 1002 analysable patients, 826 having received correct prophylaxis. Of these 1002 patients, 64 per cent were operated on for malignant disease. A total of 20 patients died, 10 in each group. The 5.0 per cent, P = 0.02). The frequency of bleeding was 6.7 per cent among patients with correct prophylaxis with the heparin fragment (9.2–5.0 per cent, P = 0.02). The frequency of bleeding was 6.7 per cent among the heparin fragment patients and 2.7 per cent among the patients given conventional heparin (P = 0.01), but all bleeds were of minor degree and there was no difference in the reoperation rate for bleeding, or in the transfusion requirements. Local pain at the injection site was reported significantly less often among patients given the heparin fragment.
Wnt11 and Wnt7a are up‐regulated in association with differentiation of cardiac conduction cells in vitro and in vivo

The heart beat is coordinated by a precisely timed sequence of action potentials propagated through cells of the conduction system. Previously, we have shown that conduction cells in the chick embryo are derived from multipotent, cardiomyogenic progenitors present in the looped, tubular heart. Moreover, analyses of heterogeneity within myocyte clones and cell birth dating have indicated that elaboration of the conduction system occurs by ongoing, localized recruitment from within this multipotent pool. In this study, we have focused on a potential role for Wnt signaling in development of the cardiac conduction system. Treatment of embryonic myocytes from chick with endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) has been shown to promote expression of markers of Purkinje fiber cells. By using this in vitro model, we find that Wnt11 are Wnt7a are up‐regulated in association with ET‐1 treatment. Moreover, in situ hybridization reveals expression, although not temporal coincidence of, Wnt11 and Wnt7a in specialized tissues in the developing heart in vivo. Specifically, whereas Wnt11 shows transient and prominent expression in central elements of the developing conduction system (e.g., the His bundle), relative increases in Wnt7a expression emerge at sites consistent with the location of peripheral conduction cells (e.g., subendocardial Purkinje fibers). The patterns of Wnt11 and Wnt7a expression observed in vitro and in the embryonic chick heart appear to be consistent with roles for these two Wnts in differentiation of cardiac conduction tissues. Development Dynamics 227:536–543, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Does infrastructure really cause growth?: the time scale dependent causality nexus between infrastructure investments and GDP

This paper investigates the relationship between infrastructure investments and economic activity in Sweden for the period 1800-2000. In order to overcome the problem of endogeneity, independent time scales are used to analyze the relationship. The paper also examines the dynamics between the variables by testing for causality in the Granger sense and constructing a vector autoregressive model separately for each time scale. The finding is that the causality nexus between growth and transport infrastructure investment is timescale-dependent since it reverses in a comparison of the short-run dynamics (2-4 years) and the longer-run dynamics (8-16 years). This causality reversal is unique for infrastructure investments compared to investments in other sectorsof the economy.
Demonstration of a 50 kW and 100 kHz SiC high power density converter with gate assisted circuit

The high power density converter is required due to the strict demands of volume and weight in more electric aircraft, which makes SiC extremely attractive for this application. In this work, a prototype of 50 kW SiC high power density converter with the topology of two-level three-phase voltage source inverter is demonstrated. A gate assisted circuit is further introduced to reduce the switching loss and mitigate EMI. A mathematical model with consideration of various parasitic parameters is developed. This converter is operated at a switching frequency up to 100 kHz and a narrow dead band of 250 ns. And the efficiency is measured to be 97.91% at 100 kHz and 98.68% at 60 kHz.
Identification of an A4V SOD1 mutation in a Chinese patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis without the A4V founder effect common in North America

Abstract We identified a missense alanine to valine mutation at codon 4 (A4V) in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene in a 51-year-old male of Chinese origin with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The patient displayed a typical A4V-related phenotype that included rapid progression and predominant lower motor neuron involvement. This patient is the first such carrier reported outside Caucasian ALS patients, despite the fact that A4V mutations account for up to 50% of all SOD1 mutations in North America. Further SNP analyses showed that the A4V patient of Chinese origin did not share the common founder effect observed in North America.