Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Looked after or overlooked? An exploratory investigation of the mental health issues of adolescents living in state care in Northern Ireland

There is consistent evidence that the rate of emotional, social and behavioural problems found in children and adolescents in out-of-home placements or state care is substantially higher than that of children and adolescents living with their families. However, with a few small-scale studies as exceptions, to date there has been little research carried out into the mental health needs of adolescents living in state care in Northern Ireland. This study aimed to examine the mental health needs of young people aged between 10 and 15 years living in state care in Northern Ireland. Data were collected on 165 adolescents via an analysis of case file data, questionnaires and interviews with social workers. It was found that the 70.3% of the young people scored within the abnormal and borderline ranges of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) total difficulties score indicating “high risk” for meeting the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. Over the course of 1 year living in state care, 10 of the 165 adolescents had attempted suicide and 14 had engaged in deliberate self-harm. Nevertheless, social workers still rated the vast majority (92%) of these young people's overall health as being “as good as”, or “better than” other young people in their age. It is concluded that as this group of young people have significant contact with health and social services, potential opportunities exist to develop the therapeutic potential of the experience of being “looked after” in state care. They are a uniquely vulnerable group and their care and treatment may be considered as a minority rights issue which deserves a higher profile in the human rights agenda.
Glucocorticoid hormones inhibit food‐induced phase‐shifting of peripheral circadian oscillators

The circadian timing system in mammals is composed of a master pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus and slave clocks in most peripheral cell types. The phase of peripheral clocks can be completely uncoupled from the SCN pacemaker by restricted feeding. Thus, feeding time, while not affecting the phase of the SCN pacemaker, is a dominant Zeitgeber for peripheral circadian oscillators. Here we show that the phase resetting in peripheral clocks of nocturnal mice is slow when feeding time is changed from night to day and rapid when switched back from day to night. Unexpectedly, the inertia in daytime feeding‐induced phase resetting of circadian gene expression in liver and kidney is not an intrinsic property of peripheral oscillators, but is caused by glucocorticoid signaling. Thus, glucocorticoid hormones inhibit the uncoupling of peripheral and central circadian oscillators by altered feeding time.
Chemical mapping of anxiety in the brain of healthy humans: An in vivo 1H‐MRS study on the effects of sex, age, and brain region

We recently presented results in an in vivo study of human brain chemistry in ‘physiologic’ anxiety, i.e., the anxiety of normal everyday life. Normal subjects with high anxiety demonstrated increased concentration of chemicals in orbital frontal cortex (OFC) as compared to lower anxiety. In a separate study of aging we demonstrated a decrease of total chemical concentration in OFC of middle‐aged subjects, as compared with younger age. This brain region also showed gender dependence; men demonstrating decreased chemical concentration compared to women. We hypothesized that these sex‐ and age‐dependent differences in OFC chemistry changes are a result of anxiety effects on this brain region. In the present study we examined these sex‐ and age‐differential regional brain chemistry changes (as identified by localized in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy [1H‐MRS]) in relation to the state‐trait‐anxiety (as measured by the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory) in 35 healthy subjects. The concentrations for all nine chemicals of 1H‐MRS spectra were measured relative to creatine across multiple brain regions, including OFC in the left hemisphere. Analysis of variance showed anxiety‐specific effects on chemical concentration changes in OFC, which were different for both sexes and age groups. Male subjects showed larger effect of anxiety on OFC chemistry as compared to females when the same sex high‐anxiety subjects were compared to lower anxiety. Similarly, middle‐aged subjects showed larger effect of anxiety on OFC chemistry as compared to younger age when the same age subjects with high anxiety were compared to lower anxiety. Largest effect of anxiety on OFC chemistry was due to changes of N‐Acetyl aspartate. The results indicate that the state‐trait anxiety has sex‐ and age‐differential patterns on OFC chemistry in healthy humans, providing new information about the neurobiological roots of anxiety. Hum. Brain Mapping 11:261–272, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An investigation of leverage, contrarian overextrapolation and the p/e effect

The most common explanation for the superior returns of undervalued stocks is that market extrapolation of recent results too far into the future results in profitable opportunities for those "contrarian" investors who take advantage of the market's mistake before it corrects itself. An opposing view is that because a security's price impounds expected returns, those stocks which are riskier and will therefore be accorded high discount rates should ceteris paribus appear to be undervalued, and should thus exhibit positive excess returns over most periods. We review the evidence for both arguments and then test whether various types of leverage are priced, in the belief that leverage risk may be a factor behind the excess-returns of undervalued stocks. We find only weak evidence that leverage risk is priced, and it is clearly not priced sufficiently to be a causal factor in value-investing. We then focus our attention on a dataset in which the contrarian explanation does not hold because share price and cashflow have moved opposite to one another from previous periods, whereas for the contrarian explanation to hold price must move in the same direction as cashflows but by too much. We find the value-investing effect to be just as strong in the non-contrarian subsets as in the universe of all firms and thus conclude that the effect is not contrarian in nature but is instead consistent with market rationality, where myriad forms of risk are initially reflected in firm price and are eventually reflected in realized returns.
A Simplified Approach to Estimating the Maximal Lactate Steady State

The exercise intensity associated with an elevated but stable blood lactate (HLa) concentration during constant load work (the maximal steady state, MSS) has received attention as a candidate for the "optimal" exercise intensity for endurance training. Identification of MSS ordinarily demands direct measurement of HLa or respiratory metabolism. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of heart rate (HR) to identify MSS during steady state exercise, similar to that used in conventional exercise prescription. Trained runners (n = 9) and cyclists (n = 12) performed incremental and steady state exercise. MSS was defined as the highest intensity in which blood lactate concentration increased < 1.0 mM from minutes 10 to 30. The next higher intensity workbout completed was defined as > MSS. HR models related to the presence or absence of steady state conditions were developed from the upper 95% confidence interval of MSS and the lower 95% confidence interval of > MSS. Cross validation of the model to predict MSS was performed using 21 running and 45 cycling exercise bouts in a separate group. Using the MSS upper 95% confidence interval model 84% and 76% of workbouts were correctly predicted in cyclists and runners, respectively. Using the > MSS lower 95% confidence interval model, 76% and 81% of workbouts were correctly predicted in cyclists and runners, respectively. Prediction errors tended to incorrectly predict non-steady state conditions when steady state had occurred (16/26) (62%). We conclude that use of these simple HR models may predict MSS with sufficient accuracy to be useful when direct HLa measurement is not available.
Body mass index as predictor for asthma: a cohort study of 118,723 males and females

The objective of the present study was to quantify the relationship between body mass index (BMI; in kilogrammes per metre squared) and asthma in middle-aged males and females, and to evaluate change in BMI as a risk factor for asthma. Asthma incidence was estimated from data on redeemed prescriptions of anti-asthmatic drugs during the period 2004–2007, retrieved from the nationwide Norwegian Prescription Database. BMI was measured during health surveys in 1994–1999 in >100,000 individuals born during 1952–1959. Change in BMI was based on self-report. Relative risks were estimated using Poisson regression. The relative risk associated with a 3-unit increase in BMI ranged from 1.14 (95% confidence interval 1.10–1.18) in current smokers to 1.27 (1.22–1.32) in never-smokers after adjusting for confounders. The relative risk associated with a 3-unit increase in BMI was 1.21 (1.16–1.26) after adjusting for confounders, including sex, smoking and BMI. Asthma incidence, as measured by anti-asthmatic drug use, was positively related to both BMI and change in BMI. For BMI, the association was stronger for never-smokers than for ex-smokers and current smokers.
Dietary Purified cis-9,trans-11 Conjugated Linoleic Acid Isomer Has Anticarcinogenic Properties in Chemically Induced MammaryTumors in Rats

To determine whether the purified 9c,11t conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomer, the main dietary isomer, is biologically active on mammary tumor growth, we carried out a dietary intervention study designed to compare its effects with those of a mixture of CLA isomers on the incidence and growth of autochthonous mammary tumors induced by methylnitrosourea in rats. After the initiation step, rats were fed a sunflower oil-based diet (5%) and separated into three experimental groups supplemented with either a 1% homemade synthesized 9c,11t isomer, a 1% CLA isomer mixture, or free fatty acids prepared from sunflower oil for the control group. We found that, in the two CLA groups compared with the control group, CLA levels were about 30 times higher in mammary fat pads and about 10 times higher in tumor tissues. Compared with the control group, there was a 44% and 45% decrease in tumor mass per rat in the CLA mixture and the 9c,11t groups, respectively, at 20 wk of diet (P < 0.05). There was a nonsignificant trend for a decrease multiplicity in CLA groups compared with the control group, with a 30% and 35% decrease in the CLA mixture and the 9c,11t groups, respectively. Incidence and latency were not significantly different between the dietary groups. Although the effect was specifically restricted in reduction in tumor mass, we concluded that the main CLA isomer found in human diet has anticarcinogenic properties in experimental mammary carcinogenesis.
Parkinson Disease: An Update

Background:Over the past decade, the treatment of Parkinson disease (PD) has undergone tremendous changes. New drugs have been introduced to manage the cardinal motor symptoms of PD, and other agents have been borrowed to treat the nonmotor manifestations of the illness. For neurologists faced with the task of treating PD patients, the available array of medications may be confusing and intimidating. Review Summary:In this review, I summarize the newest approved medications for the treatment of PD, including the new dopamine agonists and catechol-O-methyl-transferase inhibitors. I also describe agents that are used to treat common problems in PD patients, including hallucinations, orthostasis, nausea, erectile dysfunction, depression, and memory loss. Guidelines for handling common scenarios in PD patients will be illustrated by 10 case histories. Finally, the most promising PD drugs that are currently in development will be reviewed. Conclusions:Neurologists have a vast armamentarium to treat both motor and nonmotor manifestations of PD. Understanding this array allows the astute clinician to improve the lives of their patients with PD.
Pengaruh Kepemimpinan, Budaya Organisasi, Motivasi Kerja Dan Kepuasan Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Pada Kantor SAR Sorong

Satisfaction and dissatisfaction that felt in performing the duties of employees is constantly always exist within an organization. This research aims to determine the effect of leadership, organization culture, motivation and job satisfaction to employee performance. Location on research conducted at the Office of the SAR Sorong with a sample of 78 employees. The data analysis in this research is done by using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the leadership have a significant effect on employee performance for 0.000, organization culture significant effect on the performance of employees amounted to 0.012, motivation significant effect on the performance of employees by 0010, job satisfaction significant effect on the performance of employees amounted to 0.007, and leadership, organizational culture, motivation employment and job satisfaction have a significant effect jointly to employee performance for 0000. Keywords: leadership, organization culture, motivation employment, job satisfaction and employee performance
[Addictive substance use among first-year university students].

OBJECTIVE To analyze several factors and attitudes related to drug use among first-year Spanish university students, with special reference to tobacco. METHODS Descriptive study using voluntary and anonymous questionnaire. STUDY VARIABLES sex, age, family environment, tobacco, cannabis and alcohol use, attitudes in favour of or against smoking, perceived danger of drugs and perceptions of friends behaviour. RESULTS 2445 students, 1014 (42%) men and 1431 (58%) women, mean age 19 years. Women in this study see smoking as appealing, believe it helps them stay slim and claim that it makes them feel good. Of the total sample (men and women), 16.5% use cannabis daily, occasionally or at weekends, while 10.4% state that their friends have tried or use other drugs. CONCLUSIONS In this sample women and men have different perceptions about tobacco. Level of tolerance and permissiveness with regard to alcohol contributes to the fact that young people perceive less risk in relation smoking. Starting smoking tobacco early may make the use of alcohol and other drugs more likely.
Microvascular endothelial cells play potential immunoregulatory roles in the immune response to foot‐and‐mouth disease vaccines

Microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) have been documented to have important immunoregulatory effects. Exploring their roles in the immune response to foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) vaccines would help to improve their efficacy. In this study, the effects of FMD vaccine 146s antigens on gene expression profiles of rat intestinal mucosal and myocardial MVECs were analysed using microarray, and their effects on transendothelial migration (TEM) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were investigated by the Transwell migration assay. Both kinds of MVECs displayed significant responses to 146s antigens, and 252 and 67 genes were differentially expressed in rat intestinal mucosal and myocardial MVECs, respectively. Despite different altered gene expression patterns, many immune‐associated genes were involved in both kinds of MVECs. The gene expression changes by microarray were confirmed by real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Transwell migration analysis indicated that the TEM of PBMC was increased by 146s antigens, which could be partially inhibited by blocking vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 in MVECs. This study suggests that MVECs play potential immunoregulatory roles in the immune response to FMD vaccines, one of which is influencing the TEM of immune cells. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GPI transamidase of Trypanosoma brucei has two previously uncharacterized (trypanosomatid transamidase 1 and 2) and three common subunits

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor is a membrane attachment mechanism for cell surface proteins widely used in eukaryotes. GPIs are added to proteins posttranslationally by a complex enzyme, GPI transamidase. Previous studies have shown that human and Saccharomyces cerevisiae GPI transamidases are similar and consist of five homologous components: GAA1, GPI8, PIG-S, PIG-T, and PIG-U in humans and Gaa1p, Gpi8p, Gpi17p, Gpi16p, and Cdc91p in S. cerevisiae. We report that GPI transamidase of Trypanosoma brucei (Tb), a causative agent of African sleeping sickness, shares only three components (TbGAA1, TbGPI8, and TbGPI16) with humans and S. cerevisiae but has two other specific components, trypanosomatid transamidase 1 (TTA1) and TTA2. GPI transamidases of both bloodstream form (growing in mammalian blood) and procyclic form (growing in tsetse fly vector) of the parasite have the same five components. Homologues of TTA1 and TTA2 are present in Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi but not in mammals, yeasts, flies, nematodes, plants, or malaria parasites, suggesting that these components may play unique roles in attachment of GPI anchors in trypanosomatid parasites and provide good targets for antitrypanosome drugs.
A new approach to estimate the number, density and variability of receptors at central synapses

Information processing within a neuronal network is influenced by the properties of synaptic connections between nerve cells. Factors that influence the behaviour of synaptic connections and the dynamics include the number of release sites between two cells, the probability of transmitter release at each site and the size of the postsynaptic response generated at each site. These parameters have traditionally been estimated with quantal analysis, a method developed and successfully applied at the neuromuscular junction (del Castillo & Katz, 1954). Miniature end-plate potentials have a Gaussian distribution with a mean value equal to the quantal size of the evoked responses. However, in most nerve cells of the central nervous system (CNS), the amplitude distributions of miniature excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs and mIPSCs, respectively) are not Gaussian, but are skewed towards larger values, which complicates the interpretation of quantal analysis (Jack et al., 1994; Walmsley, 1995). Furthermore, the size of postsynaptic responses and the transmitter release probability may not be uniform between different sites (Edwards et al., 1990; Korn & Faber, 1991; Jack et al., 1994; Dobrunz & Stevens, 1997; Markram et al., 1998), leaving too many unknown variables to be determined by quantal analysis alone. By combining morphological and electrophysiological analysis, the number of unknown parameters can be reduced. For example, several studies (Kornet al., 1982; Gulyaset al., 1993; Buhlet al., 1997) have successfully applied ultrastructural analysis to determine the number of release sites between two simultaneously recorded neurons. Furthermore, quantitative, electron microscopic autoradiography has been applied to estimate the number and density of postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions (reviewed by Salpeter & Loring, 1985), however, this method has not been applied successfully at central, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)or glutamatergic synapses. We have developed another combined anatomical and electrophysiological approach to estimate the size of postsynaptic responses by determining the number, density and variability of postsynaptic GABA and glutamate receptors (Nusser et al., 1997, 1998a, b). This method is based on electron microscopic immunogold localization of postsynaptic receptors with specific antibodies in a population of synapses (Triller et al., 1985; Somogyi et al., 1990; Baude t al., 1993; Phendet al., 1995; Matsubara et al., 1996), and electrophysiological estimation of the number of functional receptors present at the same population of synapses using patch-
Prosodic and lexical aspects of maternal linguistic input to late-talking toddlers.

BACKGROUND Children who have reached the age of 2 years without having acquired a 50-word vocabulary and/or who use no word combinations are referred to in the literature as 'Late Talkers'. Research has not yet identified the factors that cause slow development of expressive language; in particular, relatively little research has been carried out on the characteristics of the maternal linguistic input received by Late Talkers. In fact, the majority of studies in this area have focused principally on the mothers' semantic, pragmatic and interactive verbal behaviour. AIMS The objective was to verify whether the input addressed to a group of Late Talkers differs to that addressed to a group of typically developing peers. It was expected that there would be differences in the prosodic and structural/lexical properties of the input, which by creating a 'less than optimal environment' for language acquisition processes, could affect the children's rate of linguistic development. METHODS & PROCEDURES The spontaneous maternal speech of nine Italian-speaking mothers of late-talking toddlers (LT) at 20 months of age was examined and compared with that of nine mothers of age-matched children with typical language development (Late Starters). Data were collected during video-recorded play sessions, which were transcribed and coded based on the structural-lexical and acoustical characteristics of the mothers' speech. Group differences were tested for the following variables: number of utterances per minute, mean number of words per utterance (MLUw), number of nouns per minute, number of different nouns per minute, common nouns as a percentage of overall words, type/token ratio for common nouns, one-word utterances as a percentage of the total number of utterances, one-word utterances formed by a common noun as a percentage of the total number of utterances, mean syllable duration, duration of the final syllable of the utterance, F0 maximum (the highest F0 in the utterance), F0 minimum (the lowest F0 in the utterance) and F0 range (by subtracting F0 min from F0 max). OUTCOMES & RESULTS The mothers of LT produced common nouns and mark nouns by a pitch peak with a significantly lower frequency than the mothers of the children with typical language development. The mothers of LT also used flat pitch contours more often than the mothers of the typically developing peers. CONCLUSIONS The study provides evidence that maternal input addressed to Late Talkers can contribute to slowing the process of language acquisition. Based on these findings, additional investigations that examine the contribution of maternal verbal behaviour to the development of language delay are warranted.