Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors During Pregnancy and Breast-feeding: A Review and Clinical Aspects

Abstract: Mood and anxiety disorders are common in women during their childbearing years. The prevalence of depression has been reported to be between 10% and 16% during pregnancy. The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy or lactation is, to date, not promoted because of lack of safety documentation. However, the off-label use of these drugs has been common for several years. In the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy, the serotonin reuptake inhibitors are often preferred over tricyclic antidepressants because of their relatively few adverse effects and safety in overdose. This has created concern among women planning pregnancies and pregnant women, as well as among their families and physicians. Several studies and reports of the use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors during both pregnancy and lactation have been published and advanced our knowledge. We here review and discuss those studies which have been published so far on this subject.
Reconsidering Recall and Emotion in Advertising

ABSTRACT Recall, one of the key metrics in advertising testing, has been criticized over the years as favoring rational advertising over emotional advertising. An analysis and reconsideration of the available evidence show that emotional advertising is not penalized by recall, and that emotional content in well-executed commercials can actually boost recall. Strong empirical evidence shows that recall, when used in combination with other measures, is a valid measure of advertising effectiveness and, as the analysis here illustrates, does not miss the emotion in advertising that builds brands.
Substitution of liothyronine at a 1:5 ratio for a portion of levothyroxine: effect on fatigue, symptoms of depression, and working memory versus treatment with levothyroxine alone.

OBJECTIVE To attempt to confirm a previous report of superior effectiveness of using two thyroid hormones rather than one hormone to treat hypothyroidism. METHODS This trial attempted to replicate prior findings, which suggested that substituting 12.5 microg of liothyronine (LT(3)) for 50 microg of levothyroxine (LT(4)) might improve mood, cognition, and physical symptoms in patients with primary hypothyroidism. Additionally, this trial aimed to extend the previous findings to fatigue and to assess for differential effects in subjects with low fatigue and high fatigue at baseline. A randomized, double-blind, two-period, crossover design was used. At an endocrinology and diabetes clinic, 30 adult subjects with primary hypothyroidism stabilized on LT(4) were recruited. Patients randomly assigned to treatment sequence 1 received their standard LT(4) dose in one capsule and placebo in another. Patients assigned to sequence 2 received their usual LT(4) dose minus 50 microg in one capsule and 10 microg of LT(3) in the other. At the end of the first 6 weeks, subjects were crossed over to receive the other treatment. Carryover and treatment effects were assessed by t tests. RESULTS Of the 30 enrolled study subjects, 27 completed the trial. The mean LT(4) dose was 121 +/- 26 microg/day at baseline. No significant differences in fatigue and symptoms of depression were found between treatments. Measures of working memory were unchanged. During substitution treatment, the free thyroxine index was reduced by 0.7 (P<0.001), total serum thyroxine was reduced by 3.0 microg/dL (P<0.001), and total serum triiodothyronine was increased by 20.5 ng/dL (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION With regard to the outcomes measured, substitution of LT(3) at a 1:5 ratio for a portion of baseline LT(4) yielded no better results than did treatment with the original dose of LT(4) alone.
Prostaglandin E2 inhibits collagen synthesis in dermal fibroblasts and prevents hypertrophic scar formation in vivo

Hypertrophic scarring is a common dermal fibroproliferative disorder characterized by excessive collagen deposition. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), an important inflammatory product synthesized via the arachidonic acid cascade, has been shown to act as a fibroblast modulator and to possess antifibroblastic activity. However, the mechanism underlying the antifibrotic effect of PGE2 remains unclear. In this study, we explored the effects of PGE2 on TGF‐β1‐treated dermal fibroblasts in terms of collagen production and to determine the regulatory pathways involved, as well as understand the antiscarring function of PGE2 in vivo. We found that PGE2 inhibited TGF‐β1‐induced collagen synthesis by regulating the balance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP). It did so by upregulating cAMP through the E prostanoid (EP)2 receptor. We determined that inhibition of the TGF‐β1/Smad pathway by PGE2 is associated with its ability to inhibit collagen synthesis. An in vivo study further confirmed that PGE2 inhibits hypertrophic scar formation by decreasing collagen production. Our results demonstrate that the novel anti‐scarring function of PGE2 is achieved by balancing MMPs/TIMP expression and decreasing collagen production.
Parkinson's disease and immunological abnormalities: increase of HLA‐DR expression on monocytes in cerebrospinal fluid and of CD45RO+ T cells in peripheral blood

The etiology of Parkinson's disease is mainly unknown. Immune abnormalities have been described, but the cause of such abnormalities has not been resolved. We examined by two‐colour flow cytometry HLA‐DR antigen expression on monocytes from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood and, moreover, lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4+ CD45RO+, CD4+ CD45RA+, CD8+ CD11b+high) in peripheral blood from patients with Parkinson's disease compared with age‐matched patients with other neurological diseases (OND) and tension headache. We found higher HLA‐DR expression on CSF monocytes compared with blood monocytes. This difference was restricted to Parkinson's disease patients. T helper cell analysis revealed a decreased percentage of CD45RA+“naive” and an increased percentage of CD45RO+“memory” T cell subset from CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood of patients with Parkinson's disease compared with patients with tension headache. The proportions of CD8+ CD11b+high“suppressor” T cells remained unchanged, among the three patient groups compared. A selective loss of CD4+ CD45RA+ cells, previously observed in diseases like multiple sclerosis and Down's syndrome as compared with healthy controls suggests a common immunological abnormality in neurological disorders.
Implementing a Stack as a Delay-insensitive Circuit

A case study in delay-insensitive circuit design is presented. A one bit wide stack is decomposed into an array of elements in a way that minimizes the response time of the stack to pushes and pops. The stack and element are specified in D-I Algebra and the correctness of the decomposition is proved by induction. The element is further decomposed delay-insensitively into Decision-Waits (generalizations of the Muller C-element) and XOR-gates.
Multimorbidity patterns are differentially associated with functional ability and decline in a longitudinal cohort of older women.

BACKGROUND we aimed to identify multimorbidity patterns and relate these patterns to functional ability and decline. METHODS we included 7,270 participants of the older cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, who were surveyed every 3 years from 2002 to 2011. We used factor analysis to identify multimorbidity patterns from 31 self-reported chronic conditions among women aged 76-81 in 2002. We applied a linear increments model to account for attrition and related the multimorbidity patterns to functional ability and decline at subsequent surveys, as measured by activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). For each pattern, we determined mean ADL and IADL scores in the middle and highest third of factor score in comparison to a reference group. RESULTS we identified three multimorbidity patterns, labelled musculoskeletal/somatic (MSO), neurological/mental health (NMH) and cardiovascular (CVD). High factor scores for NMH, MSO and CVD were associated with significantly higher mean ADL and IADL scores (poorer functional ability) in 2005 compared with the reference group of low factor scores for all three factors. The CVD pattern was associated with the greatest decline in ADL between 2005 and 2011, whereas the NMH pattern was associated with the greatest decline in IADL. CONCLUSIONS distinct multimorbidity patterns were differentially associated with functional ability and decline. Given the paucity of studies on multimorbidity patterns, future studies should seek to assess the reproducibility of our findings in other populations and settings, and investigate the potential implications for improved prediction of functional decline.
Restoration of Stipa kryloviisteppes in Inner Mongolia of China : Assesment of seed banks and vegetation composition

The landscapes of Inner Mongolia are widely known for the vast Stipa krylovii steppes. However, overgrazing and other improper land uses have extensively degraded the Stipa krylovii steppe ecosystem in recent decades. Knowledge about the soil seed banks and the remaining vegetation in these damaged ecosystems is crucial for guiding the restoration efforts. Using a germination method, this study examined the size, composition, and species richness of the soil seed banks in three field types: overgrazed steppe, enclosed steppe and abandoned crop field. The abandoned crop field had the largest soil seed bank with mostly annual and weedy plant species. Seeds of desirable perennial grass species were impoverished by the intensive cultivation in the abandoned crop field. The lack of desirable perennial species in the abandoned field was a critical limiting factor for restoration. Grazing decreased the size of the seed bank in the overgrazed steppe. But seeds of desirable grassland species were present in both the overgrazed and the enclosed steppes. As indicated by the Sorenson’s indices of community similarity (50–67%), plant species abundance and composition in the soil seed banks were closely related to the corresponding vegetation for each of the three sites. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
CT scan in subependymomas.

Subependymomas are infrequent benign tumours first identified by Scheinker (1945). Most of the subependymomas reported in the literature are autopsy findings, generally located in the fourth ventricle, in the elderly (Russell & Rubinstein, 1977). Occasionally they reach a size big enough to block the CSF pathways and become symptomatic (Scheitauer, 1978). Because symptomatic subependymomas are very rare, only a few with CT studies have been reported (Clarenbach et al, 1979; Changaris et al, 1981; Gandolfi et al, 1981; Lobato et al, 1981). We report two cases of symptomatic supratentorial subependymoma and discuss the appearances of these tumours on CT.
Rapid Detection of Selected Steroid Hormones from Sewage Effluents using an ELISA in the Kuils River Water Catchment Area, South Africa

Abstract Steroid hormones are naturally synthesized by both humans and animals and are released into the environment. Significant levels of steroid hormones have been detected in sewage effluent around the world. The potential problem is that these hormones may interfere with the normal function of the endocrine systems, thus affecting reproduction and development in wildlife. Due to the major shortage of water in Western Cape, South Africa there is a great need to recycle water by either direct or indirect methods. The treated sewage effluent‐natural surface water mixture found in the Kuils and Eerste Rivers is used directly for irrigation of agricultural areas. Sewage effluents were collected from four sites (Jonkershoek, Belville, Zandvliet, and Macassar) and subjected to C18 solid phase extraction. Commercially available rapid ELISA kits were validated for the quantification of estrogens in these sewage effluent samples. Analysis of estrone, estradiol, and estriol levels showed a significant difference between the control site (Jonkershoek) and sewage effluent from the three sewage treatment works. Steroid hormone concentrations detected in these sewage effluents were similar to reports from Brittan, Italy, Germany, Canada, and Netherlands.
Structure-Function Relationships in Staphylokinase as Revealed by "Clustered Charge to Alanine" Mutagenesis (*)

Eighteen mutants of recombinant staphylokinase (SakSTAR) in which clusters of two or three charged residues were converted to alanine (“clustered charge-to-alanine scan”) were characterized. Fifteen of these mutants had specific plasminogen-activating activities of >20% of that of wild-type SakSTAR, whereas three mutants, SakSTAR K11A D13A D14A (SakSTAR13), SakSTAR E46A K50A (SakSTAR48), and SakSTAR E65A D69A (SakSTAR67) had specific activities of ≤3%. SakSTAR13 had an intact affinity for plasminogen and a normal rate of active site exposure in equimolar mixtures with plasminogen. The plasmin-SakSTAR13 complex had a 14-fold reduced catalytic efficiency for plasminogen activation but was 5-fold more efficient for conversion of plasminogen-SakSTAR13 to plasmin-SakSTAR13. SakSTAR48 and SakSTAR67 had a 10-20-fold reduced affinity for plasminogen and a markedly reduced active site exposure; their complexes with plasmin had a more than 20-fold reduced catalytic efficiency toward plasminogen. Thus, plasminogen activation by catalytic amounts of SakSTAR is dependent on complex formation between plasmin(ogen) and SakSTAR, which is deficient with SakSTAR48 and SakSTAR67, but also on the induction of a functional active site configuration in the plasmin-SakSTAR complex, which is deficient with all three mutants. These findings support a mechanism for the activation of plasminogen by SakSTAR involving formation of an equimolar complex of SakSTAR with traces of plasmin, which converts plasminogen to plasmin and, more rapidly, inactive plasminogen-SakSTAR to plasmin-SakSTAR.
Further thoughts on: Julie's museum: the evolution of thinking, dreaming and historicization in the treatment of traumatized patients.

The WestminsterResearch online digital archive at the University of Westminster aims to make the research output of the University available to a wider audience. Copyright and Moral Rights remain with the authors and/or copyright owners. Users are permitted to download and/or print one copy for non-commercial private study or research. Further distribution and any use of material from within this archive for profit-making enterprises or for commercial gain is strictly forbidden.
Impact of type 2 Diabetes and Metformin use on Vitamin B12 Associated Biomarkers - an Observational Study

Abstract Aims Assessment of the impact of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and metformin use on vitamin B12 (VB12) associated biomarkers and their suitability to represent VB12 supply. Methods Differences of VB12, holotranscobalamine (HoloTc), the biologically active fraction (%AB12)=HoloTc/VB12*100 and homocystein (Hcy) were analysed i) among diabetic outpatients with (DMMet+ ) and without metformin use (DMMet-) and ii) in comparison to an external non-diabetic reference group with low VB12 (<200 pmol/L). Results VB12 associated biomarkers were distributed equally between DMMet+ (n=29, 58%) and DMMet- (n=21, 42%). Significant differences in %AB12 in diabetic patients with low VB12 (n=19) compared to the non-diabetic reference group (n=31) were found. Higher %AB12 was associated with diabetes. Hcy levels were significantly associated with age, folic acid level, renal function and HoloTc but not with VB12. Conclusions In T2DM patients with low VB12, %AB12 was confirmed as being higher in comparison to nondiabetic patients. The effect was not clearly attributable to metformin use. HoloTc was unaffected by the lowering of VB12 and significantly associated with the functional marker Hcy. Both findings support the use of HoloTc for the assessment of VB12 supply in diabetic patients.
Art-Integration through Making Dioramas of Women Mathematicians’ Lives Enhances Creativity and Motivation

Creativity is essential for solving problems in the workplace, natural environment, and everyday life, necessitating that creativity be nurtured in schools. Identification of factors that intrinsically motivate students to learn difficult or initially unappealing content is also important. This project, in which 24 racially diverse fifth grade girls created dioramas of the lives of diverse successful women mathematicians, explored the girls’ reactions to art integration into mathematics through a phenomenological qualitative analysis of their products, essays, and responses to questionnaires. The project supported the Next Generation Science Standard for engineering design, Standard 3-5-ETS1-1 and two National Core Arts Standards for visual arts for fifth grade students, VA:Cr2.1. 5a and VA:Cr2.2. 5a. The students evidenced positive studio habits, including task focus and longterm persistence, expression of strong personal meaning, and acquisition of new art techniques. The most frequent theme of students’ responses was their surprise and delight that art and mathematics can be connected. The diorama construction work was viewed as intrinsically motivating because the creative aspects of the project allowed students to stretch their skills, learn new art techniques of spatial construction, and to experience flow as they became absorbed in their work. The arts-integrated and studio nature of this project promoted creative production and accompanying intrinsic motivation, allowing students to become eager to learn both information about mathematics careers and three-dimensional art techniques. Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions Volume 1, Number 2, Pages 84-103. The Journal’s Website: http://scholarworks.uni. edu/journal-stem-arts/
The potential role of anti tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibodies on some renal functions and vasoregulatory factors in preeclamptic pregnant Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential role of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) antibodies on some renal functions and release of vasoregulatory peptides using nitric oxide synthase deprived pregnant rats. METHODS This study was carried out at King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from December 2011 to November 2012. Forty female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (10 rats each); Group I - included virgin non-pregnant rats. Group II - included pregnant rats that received saline, Group III - received NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and Group IV - received both L-NAME and anti TNF-alpha antibodies. Mean arterial blood pressure, urine volume, creatinine clearance and 24 hours urinary albumin excretion were measured on day 20 of gestation. Blood samples were taken on day 20 of gestation for measurement of plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), angiotensin II (Ag II) and serum levels of total nitric oxide (NO) products, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1). Viable pups were also weighed. RESULTS Anti TNF-alpha antibodies reversed hypertension, improved renal function, decreased release of vasoactive substances and increased pup weight. CONCLUSION Preeclampsia is associated with disturbed renal function, overproduction of cytokines and vasoregulatory factors, and fetal growth restriction. Treatment of pregnant rats with anti TNF-alpha antibodies, restored urine volume, creatinine clearance, plasma ET-1, serum IL-6 and sVCAM-1 to normal levels. Hence, anti TNF-alpha antibodies may have beneficial effects in preeclampsia. Additional studies are warranted to confirm these results.
A qualitative comparison of energy band gap equations with a focus on temperature and its effect on CNTFETs

The role of temperature in semiconductors has been established as a contributing factor in affecting the energy band gap. However, the temperature in Carbon nanotube field effect transistors (CNTFETs) is said to be negligible and can be ignored as stated in [1]. An investigation on how the temperature would affect these devices is investigated by comparing different equations with a set of various parameters.
Lamin A/C is Expressed in Pluripotent Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

The pluripotent nature of embryonic stem cells (ESC) is associated with a dynamic open chromatin state and an irregular nuclear shape. It has been postulated that the absence of Lamin A/C contributes to these features. However, we show that mouse ESCs express low, yet readily detectable, amounts of Lamin A/C at both the RNA and protein levels. Full-length transcripts of both isoforms were readily detected by q-PCR and deep RNA sequencing. Additionally, protein expression was validated in multiple primary and established ESC lines by immunoblotting using several independent antibodies. Immunofluorescence labeling showed localization of Lamin A/C at the nuclear periphery of all Oct4/Nanog double-positive ESC lines examined, as well as in the inner cell mass of blastocysts. Our results demonstrate ESCs do express low levels of Lamin A/C, thus models linking pluripotency and nuclear dynamics with the absence of Lamin A/C need to be revisited.
Knowledge sharing from a different approach: The influence of quantity and quality of knowledge sharing on satisfaction, trust and commitment within a non-profit organization.

A knowledge sharing environment enables organizations to improve innovation or even organizational performance. Knowledge sharing has already been studied by various academics to find out its antecedents. This study takes a different perspective and focuses on the outcomes of knowledge sharing behaviour within organizational groups. Organizations are quite dependent on the performance of these knowledge groups. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of knowledge sharing within groups on individuals’ attitude and perspectives towards co-workers, their job and their commitment to the organization. Questionnaires were used to measure the influence of frequency, quantity and quality of knowledge sharing within groups on the dependent variables; satisfaction with co-workers, satisfaction with the job, organizational commitment and ability- based trust, benevolence- based trust, integrity- based trust in co-workers. In total, 177 participants, employees of a nonprofit organization, filled in the survey. An exploratory factor analysis determined that the items did not properly measure the ten constructs. As a consequence, the independent variables frequency and quantity of knowledge sharing were combined into one construct. Also, the dependent variable trust in co-workers was divided into competence-based trust and goodwill trust, instead of the three trustworthiness factors. Additionally, the various relationships between the dependent variables were measured. Linear regression showed that both quantity and quality of knowledge sharing have significant influence on the dependent variables, such as satisfaction with job and co-workers and trust in co-workers. These significant effects can be explained as a result of approaching knowledge sharing as a communication process, whereby communication is a requirement to share knowledge. The perceived openness and deployment of work-related information from co-workers can yield much for the employees as an individual and for the organization as a whole. Also, this study showed a significant influence of quality of knowledge sharing on organizational commitment. However, the influence of quantity of sharing on organizational commitment could not be found in this study. This study’s approach of knowledge sharing behaviour in terms of quantity and quality could be an useful approach in future studies. Implications of the findings and future knowledge sharing research directions are discussed.