Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cumulative Psychosocial Stress and Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Older Women: Data by Race/Ethnicity

Background: Research implicates acute and chronic stressors in racial/ethnic health disparities, but the joint impact of multiple stressors on racial/ethnic disparities in cardiovascular health is unknown. Methods: In 25 062 women (24 053 white; 256 Hispanic; 440 black; 313 Asian) articipating in the Women’s Health Study follow-up cohort, we examined the relationship between cumulative psychosocial stress (CPS) and ideal cardiovascular health (ICH), as defined by the American Heart Association’s 2020 strategic Impact Goals. This health metric includes smoking, body mass index, physical activity, diet, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and glucose, with higher levels indicating more ICH and less cardiovascular risk (score range, 0–7). We created a CPS score that summarized acute stressors (eg, negative life events) and chronic stressors (eg, work, work-family spillover, financial, discrimination, relationship, and neighborhood) and traumatic life event stress reported on a stress questionnaire administered in 2012 to 2013 (score range, 16–385, with higher scores indicating higher levels of stress). Results: White women had the lowest mean CPS scores (white: 161.7±50.4; Hispanic: 171.2±51.7; black: 172.5±54.9; Asian: 170.8±50.6; Poverall<0.01). Mean CPS scores remained higher in Hispanic, black, and Asian women than in white women after adjustment for age, socioeconomic status (income and education), and psychological status (depression and anxiety) (P<0.01 for each). Mean ICH scores varied by race/ethnicity (P<0.01) and were significantly lower in black women and higher in Asian women compared with white women (&bgr;-coefficient [95% CI]: Hispanics, −0.02 [−0.13 to −0.09]; blacks, −0.34 [−0.43 to −0.25]; Asians, 0.34 [0.24 to 0.45]); control for socioeconomic status and CPS did not change these results. Interactions between CPS and race/ethnicity in ICH models were not significant. Conclusions: Both CPS and ICH varied by race/ethnicity. ICH remained worse in blacks and better in Asians compared with whites, despite taking into account socioeconomic factors and CPS.
The Experience of Orgasmic Pleasure during Partnered and Masturbatory Sex in Women with and without Orgasmic Difficulty

Abstract Pleasure is critically important to the experience of sexual behavior, yet few studies have examined factors that influence it. We explored orgasmic pleasure during masturbation and partnered sex in women with and without orgasmic difficulty, as well as the mutual influence of each type of activity on the other. Data were collected from 2059 women through online surveys and paper-and-pencil tests in both the USA and Hungary. Among women who both masturbated and had partnered sex, orgasmic pleasure was higher during partnered sex. Although women with orgasmic difficulty exhibited a similar pattern of greater pleasure during partnered sex, they reported lower pleasure during partnered sex than women without orgasmic difficulty. Women struggling most to reach orgasm were likely to view masturbation as equally or more satisfying than partnered sex. Several covariates were relevant to pleasure during partnered sex, including the importance of sex, the frequency of partnered sex, and the relationship quality, affirming the idea that relational factors play a critical role in orgasmic pleasure in women. Pleasure during masturbation was associated with higher age, frequency of masturbation, and shorter latencies to orgasm, suggesting that pleasure during masturbation was related to greater experience with masturbation and greater efficiency in reaching orgasm.
Broadening the Perspective on Emotional Contagion and Emotional Mimicry: The Correction Hypothesis

Emotional contagion has long been conceptualized as the automatic transfer of affective states between people, similar to the spread of diseases. New evidence, however, has challenged this view by demonstrating that emotions, contrary to diseases, spread selectively rather than blindly because their transfer is controlled by social factors. Here, we take a closer look at this top-down social control of emotional contagion. We review literature on the moderating role of social factors in emotional contagion and emotional mimicry, a process often considered a basic mechanism of emotional contagion. We argue that top-down social processes controlling emotional mimicry may be explained by the correction hypothesis formulated to account for contrast effects in priming research. We also analyze whether similar corrective processes may be involved in less automatic mechanisms of emotional contagion, such as social appraisal. Finally, we propose that the modulating effects of social factors on emotional contagion and its mechanisms, similar to priming effects, may be interpreted within the framework of dual-process theories.
Changes in body composition and weight during the menopause transition.

BACKGROUND The relation between the menopause transition (MT) and changes in body composition or weight remains uncertain. We hypothesized that, independent of chronological aging, the MT would have a detrimental influence on body composition. METHODS Participants were from the longitudinal Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) cohort. We assessed body composition by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Multivariable mixed effects regressions fitted piece-wise linear models to repeated measures of outcomes as a function of time before or after the final menstrual period (FMP). Covariates were age at FMP, race, study site, and hormone therapy. RESULTS Fat and lean mass increased prior to the MT. At the start of the MT, rate of fat gain doubled, and lean mass declined; gains and losses continued until 2 years after the FMP. After that, the trajectories of fat and lean mass decelerated to zero slope. Weight climbed linearly during premenopause without acceleration at the MT. Its trajectory became flat after the MT. CONCLUSION Accelerated gains in fat mass and losses of lean mass are MT-related phenomena. The rate of increase in the sum of fat mass and lean mass does not differ between premenopause and the MT; thus, there is no discernable change in rate of weight gain at the start of the MT. FUNDING NIH, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), through the National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Nursing Research, and NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (U01NR004061, U01AG012505, U01AG012535, U01AG012531, U01AG012539, U01AG012546, U01AG012553, U01AG012554, and U01AG012495).
Gigapixel Panorama Video Loops

We present the first technique to create wide-angle, high-resolution looping panoramic videos. Starting with a 2D grid of registered videos acquired on a robotic mount, we formulate a combinatorial optimization to determine for each output pixel the source video and looping parameters that jointly maximize spatiotemporal consistency. This optimization is accelerated by reducing the set of source labels using a graph-coloring scheme. We parallelize the computation and implement it out-of-core by partitioning the domain along low-importance paths. The merged panorama is assembled using gradient-domain blending and stored as a hierarchy of video tiles. Finally, an interactive viewer adaptively preloads these tiles for responsive browsing and allows the user to interactively edit and improve local regions. We demonstrate these techniques on gigapixel-sized looping panoramas.
l-Carnitine plus metformin in clomiphene-resistant obese PCOS women, reproductive and metabolic effects: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract To evaluate the reproductive and metabolic effects of L-carnitine plus metformin in clomiphene citrate (CC) resistant obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women. A double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial, clomiphene-citrate resistant obese women were allocated randomly to receive CC plus metformin and L-carnitine (n = 138) or CC plus metformin and placebo (n = 136). The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate. The secondary outcomes were hormonal and metabolic profile changes in addition to ovulation and first trimester (13 weeks) miscarriage rates. Clomiphene-citrate, L-carnitine, and metformin group showed significant improvement in the menstrual regularity, ovulation rate, and pregnancy rate compared to CC plus metformin and placebo group (29% vs. 9%, 34.7% vs.11%, and 28.2% vs. 6.6%, respectively). No statistically significant difference in the miscarriage rate between the two groups (p = .08). After three months of treatment, the reduction in body mass index (BMI) was non-significant (p = .061) between both groups. The hormonal and metabolic parameters were more significantly improved in the L-carnitine group compared with the placebo group. l-Carnitine may act synergistically with metformin for improvement of reproductive performance, insulin resistance, and lipid profile in clomiphene-resistant obese PCOS women.
Effect of fruit and host fly species on the associative learning by Fopius arisanus

Abstract Parasitoids, released in augmentative biological control programmes, which display a rapid host-location capacity, have a higher likelihood of successfully controlling target pest species. By learning to associate sensory cues to a suitable oviposition site, might parasitoids used as biological control agents, locate hosts more rapidly, and perhaps increase the efficacity of e.g. Tephritidae fruit fly management. We studied associative learning of Fopius arisanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and tested its range of learning in natural and conditional hosts and host fruits, i.e. Bactrocera dorsalis, Zeugodacus cucurbitae, Ceratitis capitata and Ceratitis cosyra (Diptera: Tephritidae) and on fruits (papaya, tomato, banana). Naïve female F. arisanus were compared with experienced wasps, which had been offered infested and non-infested fruit, and been allowed to oviposit. Preferences for olfactory cues from infested fruits were thereafter assessed in a two-choice olfactometer. Naïve and trained parasitoids preference differed in general and non-responders to infested fruits were higher among naïve parasitoids. The trained wasps preferred the fruit infested in the training more than the control fruit, for all combination, except when C. cosyra infested the fruits, hence avoidance behavioural response was observed towards the odour of the infested fruit. Fopius arisanus was capable of behaviourally respond to the learned information, e.g. associative odour learning was achieved, yet limited depending on interaction level, fruit fly and fruit combination. To create F. arisanus preference of an associated odour, it might hence be needed to ensure oviposition in perceived suitable host and host fruit, for the parasitoid learning to become favourable in a biological control setup.
Post-partum acute kidney injury: sorting placental and non-placental thrombotic microangiopathies using the trajectory of biomarkers.

BACKGROUND Among the severe complications of preeclampsia (PE), acute kidney injury (AKI) is problematic if features of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) are present. Although a haemolysis enzyme liver low-platelets syndrome is considerably more frequent, it is vital to rule out a flare of atypical haemolytic and uraemic syndrome (aHUS). Our objective was to improve differential diagnosis procedures in post-partum AKI. METHODS A total of 105 cases of post-partum AKI, admitted to nine different regional French intensive care units from 2011 to 2015, were analysed. Analysis included initial and final diagnosis, renal features, haemostasis and TMA parameters, with particular focus on the dynamics of each component within the first days following delivery. A classification and regression tree (CART) was used to construct a diagnostic algorithm. RESULTS AKI was attributed to severe PE (n = 40), post-partum haemorrhage (n = 33, including 13 renal cortical necrosis) and 'primary' TMA (n = 14, including 10 aHUS and 4 thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura). Congruence between initial and final diagnosis was low (63%). The dynamics of haemoglobin, haptoglobin and liver enzymes were poorly discriminant. In contrast, the dynamic pattern of platelets was statistically different between primary TMA-related AKI and other groups. CART analysis independently highlighted the usefulness of platelet trajectory in the diagnostic algorithm. Limitations of this study include that only the most severe cases were included in this retrospective study, and the circumstantial complexity is high. CONCLUSION Trajectory of platelet count between admission and Day 3 helps to guide therapeutic decisions in cases of TMA-associated post-partum AKI. Our study also strongly suggests that during the post-partum period, there may be a risk of transient, slowly recovering TMA in cases of severe endothelial injury in women without a genetic mutation known to induce aHUS.
Cell Signaling : Proteins , Pathways and Mechanisms Oxyradical stress increases the biosynthesis of 2-arachidonoylglycerol : involvement of NADPH oxidase

Matthews AT, Lee JH, Borazjani A, Mangum LC, Hou X, Ross MK. Oxyradical stress increases the biosynthesis of 2-arachidonoylglycerol: involvement of NADPH oxidase. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 311: C960 –C974, 2016. First published October 26, 2016; doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00251. 2015. —NADPH oxidase (Nox)derived oxyradicals contribute to atherosclerosis by oxidizing lowdensity lipoproteins (LDL), leading to their phagocytosis by vascular macrophages. Endocannabinoids, such as 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2AG), might be an important link between oxidative stress and atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that 2-AG biosynthesis in macrophages is enhanced following ligation of oxidized LDL by scavenger receptors via a signal transduction pathway involving Nox-derived ROS that activates diacylglycerol lipase(DAGL), the 2-AG biosynthetic enzyme. To test this idea, we challenged macrophage cell lines and murine primary macrophages with a xanthine oxidase system or with nonphysiological and physiological Nox stimulants [phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and arachidonic acid (AA)]. Each stressor increased cellular superoxide levels and enhanced 2-AG biosynthetic activity in a Nox-dependent manner. Levels of cytosolic phospholipase A2-dependent AA metabolites (eicosanoids) in primary macrophages were also dependent on Nox-mediated ROS. In addition, 2-AG levels in DAGL-overexpressing COS7 cells were attenuated by inhibitors of Nox and DAGL. Furthermore, ROS induced by menadione (a redox cycling agent) or PMA could be partially attenuated by the cannabinoid 1/2 receptor agonist (WIN 55,212-2). Finally, cells that overexpress Nox2 components (Phox-COS7) synthesized larger amounts of 2-AG compared with the parental COS7 cells. Together, the results suggest a positive correlation between heightened oxygen radical flux and 2-AG biosynthesis in macrophage cell lines and primary macrophages. Because of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects associated with 2-AG, the increased levels of this bioactive lipid might be an adaptive response to oxidative stress. Thus oxyradical stress may be counteracted by the enhanced endocannabinoid tone.
Upper-Body Resistance Exercise Reduces Time to Recover After a High-Volume Bench Press Protocol in Resistance-Trained Men.

Bartolomei, S, Totti, V, Griggio, F, Malerba, C, Ciacci, S, Semprini, G, and Di Michele, R. Upper-body resistance exercise reduces time to recover after a high-volume bench press protocol in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-The aim of this study was to compare the effects of active and passive strategies on the recovery response after a high-volume bench press protocol. Twenty-five resistance-trained men (mean ± SD: age = 25.8 ± 3.6 years; body mass = 87.1 ± 12.1 kg; and height = 177.4 ± 4.9 cm) performed a high-volume bench press session (8 sets of 10 reps at 70% of 1 repetition maximum). Subsequently, they were randomly assigned to an active recovery (AR) group (n = 11) or to a passive recovery (PR) group (n = 14). Active recovery consisted of light bench press sessions performed 6 hours and 30 hours after the high-volume exercise protocol. Muscle performance (bench throw power [BTP] and isometric bench press [IBP]) and morphology (muscle thickness of pectoralis major [PECMT] and of triceps brachii [TRMT]) were measured before exercise (baseline [BL]), and at 15-minute (15P), 24-hour (24P), and 48-hour (48P) post-exercise. Post-exercise recovery of both maximal strength and power was accelerated in AR compared with PR. Both BTP and IBP were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced at 15P and 24P in PR, whereas changes were significant (p < 0.001) at 15P only in AR. PECMT was still significantly (p = 0.015) altered from BL at 48P in PR, whereas changes were significant (p < 0.001) at 15P only in AR. No significant interactions (p > 0.05) between PR and AR were detected for TRMT and muscle soreness. The present results indicate that AR enhances the recovery rate after high-volume exercise sessions and may be included in resistance training programs to optimize muscle adaptations.
Nerve injury elevates functional Cav3.2 channels in superficial spinal dorsal horn

Cav3 channels play an important role in modulating chronic pain. However, less is known about the functional changes of Cav3 channels in superficial spinal dorsal horn in neuropathic pain states. Here, we examined the effect of partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) on either expression or electrophysiological properties of Cav3 channels in superficial spinal dorsal horn. Our in vivo studies showed that the blockers of Cav3 channels robustly alleviated PSNL-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, which lasted at least 14 days following PSNL. Meanwhile, PSNL triggered an increase in both mRNA and protein levels of Cav3.2 but not Cav3.1 or Cav3.3 in rats. However, in Cav3.2 knockout mice, PSNL predominantly attenuated mechanical allodynia but not thermal hyperalgesia. In addition, the results of whole-cell patch-clamp recordings showed that both the overall proportion of Cav3 current-expressing neurons and the Cav3 current density in individual neurons were elevated in spinal lamina II neurons from PSNL rats, which could not be recapitulated in Cav3.2 knockout mice. Altogether, our findings reveal that the elevated functional Cav3.2 channels in superficial spinal dorsal horn may contribute to the mechanical allodynia in PSNL-induced neuropathic pain model.
Exploring Sensory Processing Dysfunction, Parenting Stress, and Problem Behaviors in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

OBJECTIVE. We examined problem behavior in preschool- and school-age children with autism spectrum disorder and assessed whether sensory processing dysfunction (SPD) and parenting stress were differentially associated with problem behaviors in these groups of children. METHOD. Participants were 101 preschool- and 61 school-age children. An independent t test was used to examine group differences in problem behaviors. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were conducted to identify associations among SPD, parenting stress, and problem behaviors. RESULTS. Preschool children had more social withdrawal than school-age children. Moderately negative correlations were found between SPD and problem behaviors among preschool children. Parenting stress was a factor associated with problem behaviors in both groups, whereas SPD was a factor specific to preschoolers. CONCLUSION. Understanding unique problem behaviors and the significant role of SPD and parenting stress in problem behaviors could help occupational therapy clinicians plan interventions accordingly.
Stalking Victimization Among College Women and Subsequent Help-Seeking Behaviors

Objective: The authors examined the incidence of stalking victimization and subsequent help-seeking behaviors among college women. Participants and Methods: A stratified random sample of college women (N = 391) completed an anonymous Internet-based questionnaire in spring 2006. Results: One-fifth of women reported stalking victimization while enrolled at their current institution. Individuals known by victims, such as the following, were most commonly reported as stalkers: acquaintances (48.7%), classmates (37.2%), and boyfriends or ex-boyfriends (34.6%). Approximately half of the women reporting stalking victimization acknowledged not seeking help from anyone in relation to these incidents. Of those seeking some sort of help, most sought assistance from friends (90.2%), parents (29.3%), residence hall advisors (12.2%), or police (7.3%). Conclusion: Comparing their findings to a national study of college women, the authors report that being watched, followed or spied on, and sent unsolicited emails are stalking behaviors on the rise. They present implications for college health and future directions for research.
Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II and Protein Kinase A Differentially Regulate Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ Leak in Human Cardiac Pathology

Background— Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ leak through ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2) dysfunction is of major pathophysiological relevance in human heart failure (HF); however, mechanisms underlying progressive RyR2 dysregulation from cardiac hypertrophy to HF are still controversial. Methods and Results— We investigated healthy control myocardium (n=5) and myocardium from patients with compensated hypertrophy (n=25) and HF (n=32). In hypertrophy, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and protein kinase A (PKA) both phosphorylated RyR2 at levels that were not different from healthy myocardium. Accordingly, inhibitors of these kinases reduced the SR Ca2+ leak. In HF, however, the SR Ca2+ leak was nearly doubled compared with hypertrophy, which led to reduced systolic Ca2+ transients, a depletion of SR Ca2+ storage and elevated diastolic Ca2+ levels. This was accompanied by a significantly increased CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation of RyR2. In contrast, PKA-dependent RyR2 phosphorylation was not increased in HF and was independent of previous &bgr;-blocker treatment. In HF, CaMKII inhibition but not inhibition of PKA yielded a reduction of the SR Ca2+ leak. Moreover, PKA inhibition further reduced SR Ca2+ load and systolic Ca2+ transients. Conclusions— In human hypertrophy, both CaMKII and PKA functionally regulate RyR2 and may induce SR Ca2+ leak. In the transition from hypertrophy to HF, the diastolic Ca2+ leak increases and disturbed Ca2+ cycling occurs. This is associated with an increase in CaMKII- but not PKA-dependent RyR2 phosphorylation. CaMKII inhibition may thus reflect a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of arrhythmias and contractile dysfunction.