Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Bee Kind Garden: A Qualitative Description of Work with Maltreated Children

Although overwhelming numbers of children experience maltreatment in the USA, less than half receive mental health services. Furthermore, those seeking treatment frequently find a lack of available and/or appropriate services, thus many communities look for alternative ways to provide services to maltreated children. In this article we describe the Bee Kind Garden, an innovative project for maltreated children. Because the combination of strategies employed in the Garden was not found in any other comparable, published program, our goal is to describe the program from treatment providers' perspectives and to provide a theoretical basis for the program's conceptualization. We conducted semi-structured interviews with providers from a wide variety of professional backgrounds and roles (e.g. child therapists, animal-assisted therapists, environmental educators). Through qualitative analyses, we identified five primary themes that encompassed providers' descriptions: Metaphorical environment, garden environment, one-on-one relationship, child-centered focus, and challenging representational models. Results and conclusions describing this innovative program are presented in the context of current child maltreatment literature. Discussion of collaboration between community-based organizations and academic researchers is suggested.
Residential Demand Management Using Individualized Demand Aware Price Policies

This paper presents a novel approach to demand side management (DSM), using an “individualized” price policy, where each end user receives a separate electricity pricing scheme designed to incentivize demand management in order to optimally manage flexible demands. These pricing schemes have the objective of reducing the peaks in overall system demand in such a way that the average electricity price each individual user receives is non-discriminatory. It is shown in this paper that this approach has a number of advantages and benefits compared to traditional DSM approaches. The “demand aware price policy” approach outlined in this paper exploits the knowledge, or demand-awareness, obtained from advanced metering infrastructure. The presented analysis includes a detailed case study of an existing European distribution network where DSM trial data was available from the residential end-users.
Compliance of Jordanian dentists with infection control strategies.

OBJECTIVES To assess whether dentists in Jordan are employing recommended infection techniques in their clinics and to identify the level of compliance of dentists with the recommended infection techniques commonly found in western countries. PARTICIPANTS Dentists in Jordan (n = 300). METHODS Aquestionnaire incorporating information regarding: infection control practices, vaccination, personal barrier protection, instrument sterilisation and disinfection, were distributed to 300 dentists in private and public practices. RESULTS A (93%) response rate (n = 279) was available for analysis. Gloves were used by 73.3% of dentists; masks by 69.5%, protective eye wear by 43.8% and white coats worn by 75.9%. About 25% recorded patient medical histories. Offices in Jordan were found to be in compliance with respect to the use of disposable anaesthetic needles and carpules but only 27% use plastic containers for sharps; 72.6% of dentists had been vaccinated against hepatitis B viruses; approximately 70% use an autoclave for sterilisation but only 15% always use plastic bags for packing sterilised instruments. CONCLUSIONS The majority of dental practitioners were found to be in compliance with most of the recommended infection control regulations. In this study the overall compliance with infection control procedures was 61.17% among dentists in Jordan. Further education may be appropriate in taking a medical history of each patient before treatment, wearing of masks and protective glasses and the use of plastic bags to wrap sterilised instruments.
Histologic Predictors of Pouchitis in Patients with Chronic Ulcerative Colitis

Inflammation of ileal reservoir mucosa (“pouchitis”) is a common sequelae in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients who have had a colectomy with ileal pouch anal-anastomosis (IPAA). Although several clinical, genetic, and laboratory parameters have been evaluated, reliable pathologic predictors for the development of pouchitis are lacking. The purpose of this case–control study was to determine whether there are any pathologic features in UC colectomy specimens that may help predict the subsequent development of pouchitis after an IPAA procedure. The study group consisted of 39 UC patients (male/female ratio: 21/18, mean age: 35 years), who had at least 1 episode of pouchitis after an IPAA procedure during the follow-up period (mean: 57 months, range: 12–121 months). There were 26 control patients (male/female ratio: 11/15, mean age: 37 years), all of whom also underwent a total colectomy and IPAA procedure for UC, but did not develop pouchitis during the follow-up period (mean: 78 months, range: 14–223 months). Routinely processed tissues from each colectomy specimen were evaluated for a variety of histologic features, such as extent of colitis, severity of colitis, extent of severe colitis, type and extent of ulceration, presence and severity of appendiceal inflammation, and the presence of active ileitis, and compared between the study and control patients. Pathologic features that were associated with the subsequent development of pouchitis included the presence of severe colitis that extended into the cecum (severe pancolitis), which was present in 7/39 (18%) pouchitis patients, but in none (0%) of the control patients (P = 0.03), early fissuring ulcers [9/39 (23%) pouchitis cases versus 1/26 (4%) controls (P = 0.04)], active inflammation of the appendix [20/32 (63%) pouchitis patients versus 7/19 (31%) controls (P = 0.03)], and appendiceal ulceration [13/32 (41%) pouchitis patients versus none (0%) of the controls (P = 0.002)]. No significant differences in patient gender or age, depth or extent of ulceration, or the presence or absence of “backwash ileitis” were identified between the 2 groups. In conclusion, there are several histologic features in colectomy specimens from UC patients who have undergone an IPAA procedure that may help predict the subsequent development of pouchitis. Of these features, appendiceal ulceration is highly associated with pouchitis.
How Different Respiratory Rate Patterns affect Cardiorespiratory Variables and Performance

This study aims to elucidate how respiratory rate (RR) patterns may affect respiratory gas exchange variables and performance during incremental intensity- exercise. 10 healthy young men (mean ± SD, age: 20.7 ± 0.5 years, height: 174.3 ± 5.7 cm, and body mass: 72.6 ± 10.4 kg) performed three incremental tests on a cycle ergometer at three different RR (60, 45 and 30 breaths per min) in each trial. During the tests, tidal volume (TV), minute ventilation (VE), fractional content of oxygen (FeO2), fractional content of carbon dioxide (FeCO2), oxygen uptake (VO2), expiratory carbon dioxide (VCO2), equivalent of oxygen (EqO2), VE/VCO2, and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were determinate breath-by-breath. Additionally, exercise time (as a performance marker) was measured. Statistical analyses for the results were carried out to determine significant differences between the three trials. VCO2, VO2, and exercise time did not show statistical differences in the three trials. Therefore, we concluded that RR affects some respiratory gas exchange variables but does not influence the VO2max and endurance performance.
Activation of p53-Dependent Growth Suppression in Human Cells by Mutations in PTEN or PIK3CA

ABSTRACT In an effort to identify genes whose expression is regulated by activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, we performed microarray analysis and subsequent quantitative reverse transcription-PCR on an isogenic set of PTEN gene-targeted human cancer cells. Numerous p53 effectors were upregulated following PTEN deletion, including p21, GDF15, PIG3, NOXA, and PLK2. Stable depletion of p53 led to reversion of the gene expression program. Western blots revealed that p53 was stabilized in HCT116 PTEN−/− cells via an Akt1-dependent and p14ARF-independent mechanism. Stable depletion of PTEN in untransformed human fibroblasts and epithelial cells also led to upregulation of p53 and senescence-like growth arrest. Simultaneous depletion of p53 rescued this phenotype, enabling PTEN-depleted cells to continue proliferating. Next, we tested whether oncogenic PIK3CA, like inactivated PTEN, could activate p53. Retroviral expression of oncogenic human PIK3CA in MCF10A cells led to activation of p53 and upregulation of p53-regulated genes. Stable depletion of p53 reversed these PIK3CA-induced expression changes and synergized with oncogenic PIK3CA in inducing anchorage-independent growth. Finally, targeted deletion of an endogenous allele of oncogenic, but not wild-type, PIK3CA in a human cancer cell line led to a reduction in p53 levels and a decrease in the expression of p53-regulated genes. These studies demonstrate that activation of PI3K signaling by mutations in PTEN or PIK3CA can lead to activation of p53-mediated growth suppression in human cells, indicating that p53 can function as a brake on phosphatidylinositol (3, 4, 5)-triphosphate-induced mitogenesis during human cancer pathogenesis.
Perceptual plasticity is mediated by connectivity changes of the medial thalamic nucleus

It is well known that the threshold for somatosensory perception may adapt to different inputs. Recent studies suggest the presence of a modulating effect of somatosensory inputs on the spinal dorsal horn. However, the effects of somatosensory inputs on cerebral processing and, in particular, on the functional and effective connectivity of the somatosensory brain network, are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the longitudinal impact of somatosensory stimuli on the resting‐state functional connectivity and effective connectivity of the somatosensory brain network. We performed resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 12 healthy subjects before and after unilateral electrical median nerve stimulation. We combined this analysis with a psychophysiological examination of changes of the perception threshold. We found that the unilateral median nerve stimulation increased the perception thresholds bilaterally and increased the resting‐state functional and effective connectivity between most cortical areas of the somatosensory network. The major finding, however, was a decreased resting‐state functional connectivity between both secondary somatosensory cortices and the bilateral medial nuclear complex of the thalamus. This decreased connectivity was correlated with increased perception thresholds. These findings emphasize the importance of the medial thalamic nucleus for the perceptual awareness of somatosensory stimuli. Hum Brain Mapp 34:2343–2352, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of curcumin on low-passage glioblastoma cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND Plant extract therapy has been the cornerstone of cancer treatment for many years. The natural component curcumin demonstrated antineoplastic effects on different type of tumor cells. In this study, we explored the effectiveness of curcumin against low-passage human primary glioblastoma (GB) cell cultures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Early passage GB cell cultures (GB3B, GB4B, and GB5B) were established from fresh samples tissue obtained from GB patients. Growth rate (GR) and doubling time (DT) was determined for each cell line. The cytotoxic effect of curcumin was quantified by hemocytometer cell counting, using trypan blue. To study the changes in cell shape, GB cells exposed to a concentration corresponding to inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) of curcumin were studied by phase-contrast microscopy by capturing images during the treatment. RESULTS Our results showed that GB cells proliferate with a GR of 0.2872 and a DT of 2.41 days for GB3B, a GR of 0.2787 and a DT of 2.49 days for GB4B, and a GR of 0.2787 and a DT of 2.49 days for GB5B. Curcumin induced cell death in GB cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The IC50 for GB3B was 46.4 µM, for GB4B was 78,3 µM, and for GB5B was 47.7 µM. Phase contrast microscopy showed that cultures treated with curcumin in a concentration corresponding to IC50 contained rounded cells and cell fragments, 72 h after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present investigation proved that curcumin is a natural compound potentially useful in the fight against GB.
A glance to the past: subfossils, stable isotopes, seed dispersal, and lemur species loss in Southern Madagascar

The Spiny Thicket Ecoregion (STE) of Southern and southwestern Madagascar was recently home to numerous giant lemurs and other “megafauna,” including pygmy hippopotamuses, giant tortoises, elephant birds, and large euplerid carnivores. Following the arrival of humans more than 2,000 years ago, dramatic extinctions occurred. Only one‐third of the lemur species which earlier occupied the STE survive today; other taxa suffered even greater losses. We use stable isotope biogeochemistry to reconstruct past diets and habitat preferences of the recently extinct lemurs of the STE. We show that the extinct lemurs occupied a wide range of niches, often distinct from those filled by coeval non‐primates. Many of the now‐extinct lemurs regularly exploited habitats that were drier than the gallery forests in which the remaining lemurs of this ecoregion are most often protected and studied. Most fed predominantly on C3 plants and some were likely the main dispersers of the large seeds of native C3 trees; others included CAM and/or C4 plants in their diets. These new data suggest that the recent extinctions have likely had significant ecological ramifications for the communities and ecosystems of Southern and southwestern Madagascar. Am. J. Primatol. 73:25–37, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Direct inhibition by angiotensin II of insulin‐dependent glucose transport activity in mammalian skeletal muscle involves a ROS‐dependent mechanism

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is elevated in hypertension and impairs insulin signaling and insulin‐stimulated glucose transport activity in muscle cell lines. No previous study has directly investigated how Ang II impacts insulin action in isolated mammalian skeletal muscle. We investigated the molecular actions of Ang II on insulin signaling and glucose transport activity in isolated skeletal muscle from female lean Zucker rats. Soleus strips were incubated with insulin (5 mU/ml) and/or Ang II (500 nM) for 2 hr. Ang II alone did not affect glucose transport or distal insulin signaling (Akt and glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β)). Ang II inhibited insulin‐stimulated glucose transport (39%) and decreased phosphorylation of Akt Ser473 (37%) and GSK‐3β Ser9 (42%). Ang II did not affect phosphorylation of IRS‐1 Ser307 or p38 MAPK. We used the superoxide dismutase mimetic, tempol (1 mM), to determine if reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to Ang II‐mediated insulin resistance. Tempol partially reversed (42%) the Ang II‐induced inhibition of insulin‐stimulated glucose transport. These results indicate that Ang II inhibits distal insulin signaling and insulin‐stimulated glucose transport activity in isolated mammalian skeletal muscle, and this effect is partially mediated by ROS. Ang II may represent a factor that contributes to the etiology of both hypertension and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle.
Reactivation of motility of demembranated hamster spermatozoa: role of protein tyrosine kinase and protein phosphatases

Summary. Demembranated cauda epididymidal spermatozoa of hamster, following reactivation with 1 mm ATP, exhibited either a loop or planar type of motility. The spermatozoa with planar motility exhibited increased progressive velocity (VSL), straightness (STR), linearity (LIN) and beat cross frequency (BCF) compared to the spermatozoa with loop type motility. cAMP was observed to have differential effects on the motility parameters of the demembranated spermatozoa depending on the type of motility. For instance, in the loop type, average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear velocity (VCL) and VSL were increased in the presence of cAMP unlike in the planar type. Furthermore, in an attempt to understand the role of protein kinases and protein phosphatases in regulation of sperm motility, the effects of various inhibitors of these enzymes on the motility and phosphorylation of proteins of reactivated demembranated spermatozoa were studied. Inhibitors of PTKase (protein tyrosine kinase) and protein phosphatases inhibited the motility of reactivated demembranated hamster spermatozoa. The activity of the respective enzymes associated with demembranated spermatozoa was concurrently inhibited, thus providing evidence that the effect of the inhibitors on motility was mediated through their inhibitory effects on the activities of the enzymes. The results also demonstrated that two phosphotyrosinylated proteins of molecular weight 65 and 80 kDa showed reduced phosphorylation in the presence of PTKase inhibitors, thus indicating their possible role in reactivation of motility of demembranated hamster spermatozoa.
Persistent pain is associated with substance use after detoxification: a prospective cohort analysis.

AIMS To test the hypothesis that persistent pain is associated with an increased odds of substance use after detoxification. DESIGN Analysis of data from a prospective cohort enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to improve linkage with primary medical care. SETTING An urban residential detoxification program. PARTICIPANTS Adults (n = 397) enrolled in the RCT with heroin, alcohol or cocaine as a substance of choice and at least one follow-up interview. MEASUREMENTS The key independent variable was pain status: persistent pain (moderate to very severe pain at all available interviews), no pain (mild pain or less at all available interviews) and intermittent pain (all others). There were four outcomes of interest: self-reported use of any substance; heroin/opioid use; heavy alcohol use; and cocaine use 24 months after detoxification. Multivariable logistic regression controlled for several covariates including demographics, physical/sexual abuse, depressive symptoms, duration of follow-up and addiction severity at study entry. FINDINGS Pain in detoxification patients was common; 16% had persistent pain and 54% had intermittent pain. Persistent pain was associated with an increased odds for use of any substance [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9-9.3], heroin/opioid use (AOR 5.4, 95% CI 2.1-13.8) and heavy alcohol use (AOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-4.5) at the 24-month follow-up. A statistically non-significant increase in the odds of cocaine use (AOR 2.0, 95% CI 0.9-4.6) was also observed. CONCLUSIONS Among individuals leaving residential detoxification, chronic pain is a common problem and is associated independently with long-term substance use after detoxification. Addressing pain as a treatable chronic condition among adults receiving detoxification presents a potential opportunity to improve long-term clinical outcomes and warrants further intervention research.
Ability of synbiotic encapsulated Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii to grow in berry juice and to survive under simulated gastrointestinal conditions

Abstract The probiotic yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii, was microencapsulated in a mixture of alginate–inulin–xanthan gum, and its ability to grow in berry juice and survive 4 weeks of storage at 4 °C was determined. Exposure of the yeast in these forms to artificial gastrointestinal conditions was also assessed. Encapsulation significantly enhanced cell viability after fermentation and storage compared with the free yeast (7.59 log10 colony forming units/ml versus 6.98 log10 colony forming units/ml, respectively) and protected it from exposure to a simulated gastrointestinal transit after 4 weeks of storage. Conversely, a dramatic loss of viability was exhibited by free yeast after 4 weeks of storage, and viability values closer to zero (0.23 log10 cfu/ml) were found after the simulated gastrointestinal treatment. Microcapsules were capable of absorbing a certain amount of polyphenols and anthocyanins. This work, based on use of microencapsulated probiotic yeasts, might represent the starting point for the development of new functional foods or functional ingredients. Microcapsules were capable to absorb, from berry juice, a certain amount of anthocyanins which, maintaining their native form after the in vitro gastrointestinal transit, might in vivo therein be transformed into other, simpler molecules, with beneficial effect on microflora and human health too.
The effect of fenugreek on the gene expression of arachidonic acid metabolizing enzymes

The main bioactive compounds of Trigonella foenum graecum L. (fenugreek) seeds are protodioscin, trigoneoside, diosgenin and yamogenin, which have anticarcinogenic potency through inhibition of cell proliferation and inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis.
Hormonal regulation and tissue-specific localization of alpha 2-macroglobulin in rat ovarian follicles and corpora lutea.

alpha 2-Macroglobulin (alpha 2M) is a broad spectrum protease inhibitor associated with inflammatory responses and proposed to be important in tissue remodeling. alpha 2 M also functions as a carrier of specific growth factors and cytokines, including platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta, basic fibroblast growth factor, interleukin-1, interleukin-6. To determine whether alpha 2M is associated with remodeling phenomena in the rat ovary, the expression of alpha 2M mRNA and protein has been analyzed in specific ovarian cell types during ovulation, luteinization, and luteolysis. Before ovulation, alpha 2M mRNA is not detectable in granulosa cells. Twelve hours after injection of an ovulatory dose of hCG a 5.2-kilobase alpha 2M mRNA is detectable in luteinizing follicles, which is increased further by 48 h and maintained in corpora lutea (CL) for up to 96 h. Administration of PRL from 24-96 h results in both inhibition of luteolysis and marked increases in alpha 2M mRNA in CL, but not in residual tissues, of these same ovaries, isolated 48, 72, and 96 h after an ovulatory dose of hCG, alpha 2M mRNA is also induced by PRL in cultures of luteinized granulosa cells. These changes in alpha 2M mRNA in follicles or developing CL do not appear to reflect the amount of alpha 2M protein present: alpha 2M protein (188K monomer) is present (immunoblot and immunofluorescence data) in small antral and preovulatory follicles even though mRNA is not detectable; after an ovulatory dose of hCG the protein level transiently increases by 12 h (approximately 5-fold) and declines thereafter through 96 h; the decrease in alpha 2M protein observed at 48-96 h is delayed but not abolished by treatment with PRL, even though the mRNA levels continue to rise during this same time period. In contrast, changes in alpha 2M mRNA and protein are regulated coordinately in CL of pregnant rats. alpha 2M mRNA is present, but in low concentration, from days 4-11 of gestation, increases markedly between days 11-21, and decreases at parturition, when functional luteolysis occurs. Hysterectomy of day 10 pregnant rats combined with hormone replacement determined that alpha 2M mRNA levels are regulated primarily by PRL through day 12 and by placental lactogens during midgestation (days 12-15). The increase in alpha 2M mRNA during pregnancy precedes the 40-fold increase (peak) in a alpha 2M protein observed on day 15, which remains elevated through day 21. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)