Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dysregulated Glycine Signaling Contributes to Increased Impulsivity during Protracted Alcohol Abstinence

Persons with alcoholism who are abstinent exhibit persistent impairments in the capacity for response inhibition, and this form of impulsivity is significantly associated with heightened relapse risk. Brain-imaging studies implicate aberrant prefrontal cortical function in this behavioral pathology, although the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Here we present evidence that deficient activation of glycine and serine release in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) contributes to increased motor impulsivity during protracted abstinence from long-term alcohol exposure. Levels of 12 neurotransmitters were monitored in the rat vmPFC during the performance of a challenging variant of the five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT) in which alcohol-exposed rats exhibit excessive premature responding. Following long-term ethanol exposure, rats showed blunted task-related recruitment of vmPFC glycine and serine release, and the loss of an inverse relationship between levels of these neurotransmitters and premature responding normally evident in alcohol-naive subjects. Intra-vmPFC administration of the glycine transport inhibitor ALX5407 prevented excessive premature responding by alcohol-exposed rats, and this was reliant on NMDA glycine site availability. Alcohol-exposed rats and controls did not differ in their premature responding and glycine and serine levels in vmPFC during the performance of the standard 5-CSRTT. Collectively, these findings provide novel insight into cortical neurochemical mechanisms contributing to increased impulsivity following long-term alcohol exposure and highlight the NMDA receptor coagonist site as a potential therapeutic target for increased impulsivity that may contribute to relapse risk. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Persons with alcoholism demonstrate increased motor impulsivity during abstinence; however, the neuronal mechanisms underlying these behavioral effects remain unknown. Here, we took advantage of an animal model that shows deficiencies in inhibitory control following prolonged alcohol exposure to investigate the neurotransmitters that are potentially responsible for dysregulated motor impulsivity following long-term alcohol exposure. We found that increased motor impulsivity is associated with reduced recruitment of glycine and serine neurotransmitters in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) cortex in rats following long-term alcohol exposure. Administration of glycine transport inhibitor ALX5407 in the vmPFC alleviated deficits in impulse control.
Low carbon dioxide permeability of the apical epithelial membrane of guinea‐pig colon

We have investigated the apical membrane permeability for CO2 of intact epithelia of proximal and distal colon of the guinea pig. The method used was the mass spectrometric 18O‐exchange technique previously described. In a first step, we determined the intraepithelial carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity by studying vital isolated colonocytes before and after lysis with Triton X‐100. Intraepithelial CA activity was found to be 41 000 and 900 for proximal and distal colon, respectively. Then 18O‐exchange measurements were done with stripped intact epithelial layers, which on their apical side were exposed to the reaction solution containing 18O‐labelled CO2 and HCO3−. The mass spectrometric signals in these measurements are determined by the intracellular epithelial CA activity, and by the apical membrane permeabilities for CO2 and HCO3−, P CO 2 and P HCO 3. From the signals, we calculated the two permeabilities while inserting the CA activities obtained from isolated colonocytes. From layers of intact colon epithelium, the apical P CO 2 was determined to be 1.5 × 10−3 cm s−1 for proximal and 0.77 × 10−3 cm s−1 for distal colon. These values are ≥200 times lower than the P CO 2 of the human red cell membrane as studied with the same technique (0.3 cm s−1). We conclude that the apical membrane offers a significant resistance towards CO2 diffusion, which implies that a major drop in CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) will occur across the apical membrane when luminal pCO2 is higher than basolateral or capillary pCO2. In view of the very high pCO2 that can occur in the colonic lumen, this property of the apical membrane constitutes a significant protection of the cell against the high acid load associated with high pCO2.
Emotional and Behavioral Implications of Viewers' Shifting Comparisons to Transforming Media Targets

Author(s): Keblusek, Lauren Marie | Advisor(s): Nabi, Robin L. | Abstract: Past research on social comparison and media has not explored how comparisons shift over the course of a program, or more specifically, how different comparison directions alter audiences' affective states and behavior. Using an experimental design that manipulated comparison direction by exposing participants to the beginning and/or the ending of a weight loss reality program, the present study found mixed support for a newly proposed Affect Model of Social Comparison (AMSC). As predicted, different comparison directions contributed to specific emotions and health behaviors. Those who made more upward health comparisons felt more envy, which in turn contributed to increased health behavioral intent. Hope was also identified as an indirect mediator in the upward health comparison-health behavioral intent relationship. Further, upward comparisons led individuals to consume more healthy snacks, and downward comparisons led individuals to consume more unhealthy snacks. This experiment indexes the importance of discrete emotions in social comparison processes, and highlights the need for research on nuanced comparison behavior that evolves as characters evolve.
Nerve growth factor induces cell cycle arrest of astrocytes

Neurotrophins can influence multiple cellular functions depending on the cellular context and the specific receptors they interact with. These neurotrophic factors have been extensively studied for their ability to support neuronal survival via Trk receptors and to induce apoptosis via the p75NTR. However, the p75NTR is also detected on cell populations that do not undergo apoptosis in response to neurotrophins. In particular, the authors have detected p75NTR expression on astrocytes during development and after seizure‐induced injury. In this study, the authors investigated the role of Nerve growth factor (NGF) in regulating astrocyte proliferation and in influencing specific aspects of the cell cycle. The authors have demonstrated that NGF prevents the induction of cyclins and their association with specific cyclin‐dependent kinases, and thereby prevents progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Since the authors have previously shown that p75NTR but not TrkA, is expressed in astrocytes, these data suggest that activation of p75NTR promotes withdrawal of astrocytes from the cell cycle, which may have important consequences during development and after injury. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 72: 766–776, 2012
Glaucoma Progression Detection: Agreement, Sensitivity, and Specificity of Expert Visual Field Evaluation, Event Analysis, and Trend Analysis

Purpose. To assess sensitivity, specificity, and agreement among automated event analysis, automated trend analysis, and expert evaluation to detect glaucoma progression. Methods. This was a prospective study that included 37 eyes with a follow-up of 36 months. All had glaucomatous disks and fields and performed reliable visual fields every 6 months. Each series of fields was assessed with 3 different methods: subjective assessment by 2 independent teams of glaucoma experts, glaucoma/guided progression analysis (GPA) event analysis, and GPA (visual field index-based) trend analysis. Kappa agreement coefficient between methods and sensitivity and specificity for each method using expert opinion as gold standard were calculated. Results. The incidence of glaucoma progression was 16% to 18% in 3 years but only 3 cases showed progression with all 3 methods. Kappa agreement coefficient was high (k=0.82) between subjective expert assessment and GPA event analysis, and only moderate between these two and GPA trend analysis (k=0.57). Sensitivity and specificity for GPA event and GPA trend analysis were 71% and 96%, and 57% and 93%, respectively. Conclusions. The 3 methods detected similar numbers of progressing cases. The GPA event analysis and expert subjective assessment showed high agreement between them and moderate agreement with GPA trend analysis. In a period of 3 years, both methods of GPA analysis offered high specificity, event analysis showed 83% sensitivity, and trend analysis had a 66% sensitivity.
Employment Prospects of Temporary and Permanent Workers: Associations with Well-being and Work Related Attitudes

This study investigates the relation between employment prospects and well-being (irritation, anxiety, and depressive moods) and job and organisational attitudes (job satisfaction, affective organisational commitment) in temporary versus permanent workers. The perception of employment prospects are considered to be part of the employer-employee-relationship and express the employees’ feeling of employment security and career progress within the company. We argue that for temporary workers reduced employment prospects are anticipated and predictable. They adapt their expectations regarding ongoing employment accordingly, whereas permanent workers may still expect lifelong employment. Results based on a German sample of 643 employees show that temporary workers experience more job insecurity than permanent workers, and they perceive fewer employment prospects. However, job insecurity is more strongly related to poor well-being among permanent workers than among temporary workers as expected, but the relationship of job insecurity with work attitudes was not different for the two employment groups. For both groups no difference was found concerning the relationship of psychological contracts on health outcomes, but the relationship to employees’ attitudes was stronger among permanent workers than among temporary workers. It has to be taken into account, that precarious short term arrangements are underrepresented in the sample.
Correlated neurocardiologic and fitness changes in athletes interrupting training.

PURPOSE We studied nine male Dutch top marathon skaters during a 1-month interruption of their training schedules after their last contest in the winter to investigate a possible decline in baroreflex sensitivity. METHODS Before and after this period, a maximal exercise test was done, and at days 0, 4, 7, 14, and 28 neurocardiologic measurement sessions--heart rate and noninvasive baroreflex sensitivity, recumbent and tilt--were performed. RESULTS Interruption of training resulted in a significant and relevant decrease in the maximal oxygen uptake (from 65.7 +/- 5.8 to 61.6 +/- 4.7 mL O2 x kg(-1) x min(-1); P = 0.03), most likely associated with decreased competitive possibilities. Resting heart rate modestly increased (from 54.6 +/- 7.2 to 58.8 +/- 7.5 bpm), however, not significantly. Heart rate during 60 degrees tilt increased considerably (from 70.1 +/- 6.1 to 80.1 +/- 9.1 bpm; P = 0.01), possibly due to a decrease in blood volume and an increase in cardiopulmonary baroreflex gain. Arterial baroreflex sensitivity decreased significantly in the recumbent (from 13.3 +/- 5.4 to 9.8 +/- 3.8 ms x mm Hg(-1), P = 0.04), but not in the 60 degrees tilt position (from 6.7 +/- 2.0 to 6.0 +/- 2.5 ms x mm Hg(-1)). The relative decrease in baroreflex sensitivity and maximal oxygen uptake correlated significantly (r = 0.71, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS In summary, our data show that correlated detrimental changes in fitness and baroreflex sensitivity are measurable in these athletes after a month of interruption of training.
Potential Cancer-Chemopreventive Activities of Wine Stilbenoids and Flavans Extracted From Grape (Vitis vinifera) Cell Cultures

Moderate consumption of wine is associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Grape plant cell cultures were used to purify 12 phenols: the stilbenoids trans-astringin, trans-piceid (2), trans-resveratroloside, trans-resveratrol, trans-piceatannol, cis-resveratroloside, cis-piceid, and cis-resveratrol; the flavans (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, and epicatechin 3′-O-gallate; and the flavan dimer procyanidin B'2 3′-O-gallate. These compounds were evaluated for potential to inhibit cyclooxygenases and preneoplastic lesion formation in carcinogen-treated mouse mammary glands in organ culture. At 10 μg/ml, trans-astringin and trans-piceatannol inhibited development of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced preneoplastic lesions in mouse mammary glands with 68.8% and 76.9% inhibition, respectively, compared with untreated glands. The latter compound was the most potent of the 12 compounds tested in this assay, with the exception of trans-resveratrol (87.5% inhibition). In the cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 assay, trans isomers of the stilbenoids appear to be more active than cis isomers: trans-resveratrol [50% inhibitory concentration (IC5050) = 14.9 μM, 96%] vs. cis-resveratrol (IC50 = 55.4 μM). In the COX-2 assay, among the compounds tested, only trans- and cis-resveratrol exhibited significant inhibitory activity (IC50 = 32.2 and 50.2 μM, respectively). This is the first report showing the potential cancer-chemopreventive activity of trans-astringin, a plant stilbenoid recently found in wine. trans-Astringin and its aglycone trans-piceatannol were active in the mouse mammary gland organ culture assay but did not exhibit activity in COX-1 and COX-2 assays. trans-Resveratrol was active in all three of the bioassays used in this investigation. These findings suggest that trans-astringin and trans-piceatannol may function as potential cancer-chemopreventive agents by a mechanism different from that of trans-resveratrol.
Foveal cone function in nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.

PURPOSE To study results of foveal cone electroretinography (ERG) in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), with and without clinically significant macular edema (CSME). METHODS Electroretinograms of foveal cones were elicited, with a dual-beam stimulator-ophthalmoscope, from 18 consecutive patients with bilateral NPDR and unilateral CSME. RESULTS Analysis of resulting data revealed that mean amplitude was significantly lower in eyes with CSME and in eyes without CSME. , compared with that in normal eyes. Mean implicit time was significantly longer in eyes with CSME compared with that in normal eyes, but in eyes of diabetic patients without CSME. , mean implicit time was the same as that in normal eyes. Amplitudes were directly correlated and implicit times were inversely correlated with best-corrected Snellen visual acuity in eyes with and without CSME. Eyes with CSME had significantly lower amplitudes and longer implicit times than their fellow eyes without CSME. In addition, eyes with NPDR, with or without CSME, did not exhibit the normal rise in amplitude with increasing duration of light exposure. CONCLUSIONS Electroretinographic findings showed abnormalities in foveal cone responses in eyes with NPDR, particularly in the presence of CSME. These results may support a functional role for outer retinal dysfunction in patients with diabetic retinopathy and loss of central vision.
Ex vivo evaluation of the ability of the ROOT ZX II to locate the apical foramen and to control the apical extent of rotary canal instrumentation.

AIM To evaluate the capacity of the ROOT ZX II to locate the apical foramen and to control the apical extent of rotary instrumentation. METHODOLOGY Sixty-five extracted human single rooted teeth were selected and measured directly using a size 15 K-Flexofile introduced in the canal until the tip was visible at the major foramen (direct length, DL). The teeth were then measured electronically (EL1) with the ROOT ZX II when used passively, that is without rotation. To test the auto reverse function, the root canals were instrumented with nickel titanium rotary instruments. Instrumentation was carried out apically until rotation was reversed by the automatic apical reverse (AAR) function at different levels (2, 1 and 0.5). The instrumented length at each level was measured and registered as AAR2, AAR1 and AAR0.5, respectively. After instrumentation, a second passive electronic measurement was conducted and noted as electronic length 2 (EL2). All measurements were expressed in millimetres with accuracy set to 0.5 mm. Percentages of acceptable measurements for each electronic reading were calculated and compared using the proportions test. The Wilcoxon's signed rank test was used to compare the differences between DL/EL1 and DL/EL2, and to compare EL2 with the different AAR measurements. The critical value of statistical significance was 5%. RESULTS EL1 and EL2 measurements were coincident to DL in 56 (86%) and 54 (83%) of the cases, respectively. The proportions test showed no statistically significant difference between these percentages (P > 0.05). The Wilcoxon's signed rank test did not show any differences (P > 0.05) when comparing the mean difference between DL with EL1 (0.03) and DL with EL2 (0.10). Statistically significant differences were observed when comparing EL2 with AAR2 and with AAR1. CONCLUSIONS The ROOT ZX II reliably located the major apical foramen, but was not an accurate method for controlling the apical extent of rotary instrumentation. Rotary instrumentation with the automatic apical reverse feature was always closer to the foramen than expected.
Negotiating Multiple Audiences of L2 Learners on Facebook: Navigating Parallel Realities

As social network sites have become popular with university students, it is easier to understand how students employ social network sites seamlessly in their academic and personal lives. L2 learners often employ Facebook to improve their English language proficiency by communicating with their native and non-native English speakers. Facebook is considered as collapsed contexts where L2 learners navigate with their numerous multiple audiences at the same time. The study investigated the strategies L2 learners negotiate multiple audiences on Facebook. The study employed a qualitative multiple case study of three L2 learners who were Facebook users. The participants’ Facebook accounts were observed for 14 weeks, and they were interviewed using semi-structured interview. The findings of the study suggest that L2 learners use four strategies to navigate their multiple audiences such as participating in closed Facebook group discussions, only commenting on relevant posts, constructing different online identities and choosing the language of the posts and comments depending on the audience. The audience management strategies used by L2 learners are determined by the informants’ personal preferences.
Stressors in clinical nursing education in Iran: A systematic review

Background: Clinical education is a critical and complex component of nursing education that is influenced by many variables. One of them is stress, which may disturb students’ learning, too. Stressors may differ according to the learning situation and environment, and recognizing them, seems to be essential for corrective interventions. The present work was performed to identify stressors in clinical nursing education in Iran, according to the published research reports. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, all published research reports available in Iranian and International web-based data bases and search engines were searched. Also, the archives of peer reviewed Iranian nursing and medical education journals (published between 1989 and 2009) were hand searched. Out of 1104 retrieved records (by a more general terms of clinical education AND Nursing), after stepwise screening, 15 original research articles were selected for content analysis. Coded data were classified and their frequency was represented in Tables. Results: The following themes were obtained to classify main areas of importance for factors related to stress in clinical nursing education: a) clinical competence and ability to play one’s roles, b) care load, or stress due to care, c) main area of education, d) interpersonal relationships and interactions, e) clinical environment (facilities and equipments, space, learning opportunities, etc,…). Subthemes were also identified in each theme. Conclusion: Published studies in Iran provide appropriate background evidences for planning and evaluating interventional programs to reduce stress among nursing students and instructors. Each identified theme in this study could be considered as a subject for planned interventions. Among them, it seems that interpersonal relationships and interactions is of the highest priority.
Subscribers’ intention towards using 3G mobile services

3G mobile network offers higher data rates than the previous generation networks (1G and 2G). The purpose of this study is to examine the factors influencing subscribers’ intention towards using 3G mobile services with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the guiding principle. Cross sectional data were collected through a survey and analyzed by means of factor analysis, correlation and regression analysis. Out of 150 questionnaires, only 100 were usable. Findings show that Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use and Attitude are jointly responsible in determining the subscribers’ intention to use of 3G mobile services. Perceived Usefulness was found as a key factor influences subscribers’ intention to use 3G mobile services. In addition, implications and direction for future research are discussed.
A Novel Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Assay Demonstrates that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Pr55Gag I Domain Mediates Gag-Gag Interactions

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) assembly takes place at the plasma membrane of cells and is directed by the Pr55Gag polyprotein (Gag). One of the essential steps in the assembly process is the multimerization of Gag. We have developed a novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay for the detection of protein-protein interactions between Gag molecules. We demonstrate that Gag multimerization takes place primarily on cellular membranes, with the majority of these interactions occurring on the plasma membrane. However, distinct sites of Gag-Gag interaction are also present at punctate intracellular locations. The I domain is a functional assembly domain within the nucleocapsid region of Gag that affects particle density, the subcellular localization of Gag, and the formation of detergent-resistant Gag protein complexes. Results from this study provide evidence that the I domain mediates Gag-Gag interactions. Using Gag-fluorescent protein fusion constructs that were previously shown to define the minimal I domain within HIV-1 Pr55Gag, we show by FRET techniques that protein-protein interactions are greatly diminished when Gag proteins lacking the I domain are expressed. Gag-Tsg101 interactions are also seen in living cells and result in a shift of Tsg101 to the plasma membrane. The results within this study provide direct evidence that the I domain mediates protein-protein interactions between Gag molecules. Furthermore, this study establishes FRET as a powerful tool for the detection of protein-protein interactions involved in retrovirus assembly.