Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence that self‐reported psychotic experiences represent the transitory developmental expression of genetic liability to psychosis in the general population

It has been suggested that self‐reported, common, non‐clinical psychotic experiences may represent the transitory developmental expression of distributed genetic risk for psychosis. In a sample of female MZ (176 pairs) and DZ twins (113 pairs), cross‐twin, cross‐trait analyses were conducted to investigate the association between repeated continuous measures of self‐reported psychotic experiences (PE—three measures over 18 months), assessed with the CAPE, in one twin and clinical interview categorical measures of psychotic symptoms (PS), assessed with SCID‐I, in the other twin. The results showed that in MZ but not DZ pairs (interaction: χ2 = 7.9, df = 1, P = 0.005), the cross‐twin association between PE and PS was large and significant (standardized effect size: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.10–0.42) and of similar magnitude as the within‐twin PE–PS association (standardized effect size: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.10–0.45), demonstrating both PE validity and genetic effects. In addition, the cross‐twin association between PE and PS was significantly larger (interaction: χ2 = 20.3, df = 1, P < 0.0001) for younger MZ twins (standardized effect size: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.44–0.90) than older MZ twins (standardized effect size: −0.05, 95% CI: −0.26 to 0.16), demonstrating developmental effects. This study indicates that self‐reported psychotic experiences in the general population may represent the developmental expression of population genetic risk for psychosis. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Practitioner review: schizophrenia spectrum disorders and the at-risk mental state for psychosis in children and adolescents--evidence-based management approaches.

BACKGROUND Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are severe mental illnesses which often result in significant distress and disability. Attempts have been made to prospectively identify and treat young people viewed as at high risk of impending nonaffective psychosis. Once a schizophrenia spectrum disorder has developed, prompt identification and management is required. METHODS This article reviews the literature relating to the assessment and management of 'at-risk mental states' (ARMS) and the treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders in children and adolescents. A systematic search of the literature was undertaken using EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO databases for the period January 1970-December 2012. RESULTS Evidence suggests that young people fulfilling the ARMS criteria are at high risk of adverse mental health outcomes but that the majority do not develop nonaffective psychosis over the medium term. Although clinical trial findings have been inconsistent, psychosocial approaches, such as cognitive behaviour therapy, may reduce the risk of transition to psychosis and improve some symptoms, at least over the short term. The effectiveness of psychotropic medication for the ARMS is uncertain although there is accumulating evidence for potential adverse effects of antipsychotic medication, even at low dose, in this population. For the schizophrenias, clinical trial findings suggest that, as in adults, antipsychotics should be selected on the basis of side-effect profile although clozapine may be helpful in treatment refractory illness. There are almost no studies of psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia in young people under 18, and some caution must be exercised when extrapolating the findings of adult studies to younger individuals. CONCLUSIONS A stepped care approach to the ARMS in young people represents a plausible potential management approach for those at high risk of serious mental health problems. However, predictive models currently lack precision and should focus on accurately identifying those at high risk for a variety of poor outcomes who may benefit most from intervention. There is also an urgent need for age-specific research in the area of psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents with schizophrenia.
Convergence rate of the data-independent P-greedy algorithm in kernel-based approximation

Kernel-based methods provide flexible and accurate algorithms for the reconstruction of functions from meshless samples. A major question in the use of such methods is the influence of the samples locations on the behavior of the approximation, and feasible optimal strategies are not known for general problems. Nevertheless, efficient and greedy point-selection strategies are known. This paper gives a proof of the convergence rate of the data-independent \textit{$P$-greedy} algorithm, based on the application of the convergence theory for greedy algorithms in reduced basis methods. The resulting rate of convergence is shown to be near-optimal in the case of kernels generating Sobolev spaces. As a consequence, this convergence rate proves that, for kernels of Sobolev spaces, the points selected by the algorithm are asymptotically uniformly distributed, as conjectured in the paper where the algorithm has been introduced.
Pick me up

The success of a relationship initiation strategy, such as a pick-up line or opening gambit, may depend on the target’s state receptivity. Self-control is a limited resource that, when depleted, can potentially influence interpersonal interactions. The present research examines whether ego depletion can influence receptivity to various types of opening gambits. To accomplish this, 99 currently single participants either wrote a story with several restrictions (ego-depletion group) or wrote without restrictions (non-depletion group), and then read direct, innocuous, or cute opening gambits. Following each type of gambit, participants rated their receptivity by indicating how likely they would be to continue to talk to the initiator, view the initiator positively, and give the initiator their phone number. As predicted, analyses revealed that those who participated in the ego-depletion task were significantly less receptive to cute opening gambits and there was a trend of being more receptive to innocuous opening gambits, relative to the non-depletion group. Ego depletion did not influence direct gambits.
Comparative pharmacokinetic studies of three asparaginase preparations.

PURPOSE As part of pharmacologic studies of asparaginase (ASNase), we determined the half-life of ASNase activity and protein, and the effect of dose, repeated doses, different drug preparations, and hypersensitivity reactions on the half-life (t1/2) of serum ASNase activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS We measured ASNase activity (spectrophotometric assay) in serum samples obtained from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at various times during their therapy with intramuscular ASNase. ASNase protein was measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Studies following the initial dose of Escherichia coli-derived ASNase demonstrated no difference in apparent t1/2 following 25,000 IU/m2 versus 2,500 IU/m2 (1.24 v 1.35 days, P = .2). The apparent t1/2s following maintenance doses of E coli ASNase (middle dose t1/2, 1.28 days, or last dose t1/2, 1.14 days) showed no difference when compared with the initial dose of ASNase (P = .3 to .9). There was no significant difference between the apparent t1/2s of ASNase activity and ASNase protein (n = 8, P = .2 to .6). The serum t1/2 was 0.65 and 5.73 days for patients receiving Erwinia or polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified E coli ASNase, respectively, as the induction dose. ASNase activity was undetectable in sera of four patients studied in the week following an anaphylactic reaction to E coli ASNase and the t1/2 was significantly shorter in five patients with a history of allergic reaction to E coli ASNase who were studied following a dose of PEG ASNase, (t1/2, 1.80 days). CONCLUSION We conclude that (1) the apparent t1/2 of ASNase is dependent on enzyme preparation used, but is not affected by dose or by repeated use; (2) the apparent t1/2 of E coli ASNase as a protein is the same as the apparent t1/2 of enzymatic activity; and (3) patients who have had a hypersensitivity reaction to E coli ASNase have a decreased apparent t1/2 with both E coli and PEG ASNase.
Comparison of Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography and Digital Subtraction Angiography in Patients With Chronic Critical Ischemia and Tissue Loss

Rationale and Objectives:To compare the ability of intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IA-DSA) and total runoff contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) to demonstrate peripheral arterial anatomy, specifically in patients with chronic critical ischemia and tissue loss. Materials and Methods:Twenty-three consecutive patients with chronic critical ischemia and tissue loss underwent CE-MRA and IA-DSA within 2 days. Two teams, consisting of an interventional radiologist and vascular surgeon who were blinded to each other's results, determined the number of named arteries (21 segments) and the presence of ≥50% stenosis or occlusion. Results:Compared with IA-DSA, both teams detected significantly more arterial segments with CE-MRA, both above and below the knee (team 1: above knee 7.0 versus 5.2, P = 0.002, and below knee 8.5 versus 5.4, P < 0.001; team 2: above knee 7.1 versus 5.4, P = 0.004, and below knee 8.3 versus 5.9, P < 0.001). Interobserver agreement between the 2 teams with regard to presence of arteries and the presence of stenoses and/or occlusions yielded kappa values of 0.76 (95% confidence interval 0.71–0.81) for IA-DSA and 0.73 (95% confidence interval 0.66–0.80) for CE-MRA. Treatment was changed based on the CE-MRA findings in 8/23 (35%) patients. Conclusions:In the present study CE-MRA detected more patent arteries than IA-DSA in patients with chronic critical ischemia and tissue loss. CE-MRA can modify the choice of therapeutic strategy in these patients.
Microbiological and Inflammatory Effects of Murine Recombinant Interleukin-10 in Two Models of Polymicrobial Peritonitis in Rats

ABSTRACT A protective effect of interleukin-10 (IL-10) against the development of lethal shock has been demonstrated in various animal models. In contrast, the immunosuppressant properties of this mediator have been minimally evaluated in low-mortality models of infections. The clinical, microbiological, and inflammatory effects of murine recombinant IL-10 (mrIL-10) therapy were evaluated in two models of peritonitis in rats, which differed in the degree of severity of peritoneal inflammation 3 days after inoculation of Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis with or withoutEnterococcus faecalis. The severity of the disease remained unchanged compared to that in control animals. A dose-related decrease in the peritoneal phagocyte count was observed in the treated groups compared to the counts in control animals. The subsequent experiments were performed exclusively in the mixed gram-positive–gram negative model, which exhibits an intense and prolonged inflammatory response with similar criteria. The early effects of mrIL-10 (evaluated 6 h after inoculation), repeated injections of mrIL-10 (four doses injected from 0 to 9 h after bacterial challenge), and pretreatment (two doses injected 6 and 3 h before inoculation) were evaluated. The clinical and microbiological parameters remained unchanged in the treated animals. Decreases in the peritoneal phagocyte count and the peritoneal concentration of tumor necrosis factor were observed following repeated injections of mrIL-10. In summary, our data suggest that mrIL-10 does not worsen the manifestations of sepsis. However, these results need to be confirmed in clinical practice.
Intracellular sequestration of amiodarone: role of vacuolar ATPase and macroautophagic transition of the resulting vacuolar cytopathology

Background and purpose: Tissue deposits of the anti‐arrhythmic drug amiodarone are a major source of side effects (skin discoloration, etc.). We addressed the mechanism of the concentration of amiodarone in cells, and characterized the resulting vacuolar cytopathology and its evolution towards macroautophagy.
Teaching Styles and Achievement: Student and Teacher Perspectives

Using data from a Spanish assessment program of fourth-grade pupils, we analyze to what extent using traditional and modern teaching styles in class is related to achievement in maths and reading. As a novelty, we measure in-class work using two different sources of information -teacher and students. Our identifcation strategy relies on between-class within-school variation of teaching styles. We find that modern practices are related to better achievement, especially in reading, while traditional practices, if anything, are detrimental. There are dif- ferences depending on the source of information: the magnitude of coefficients is larger when practices are reported by students. These findings are robust to considering alternative defini- tions of teaching practices. We obtain heterogeneous effects of teaching styles by gender and type of school but only when using students' answers. Our findings highlight the importance of the source of information, teacher or students, to draw adequate conclusions about the effect of teaching style on achievement.
Spatiotemporal underwater light field fluctuations in the open ocean

The light availability in the upper layer of the open sea is subject to strong fluctuations due to focusing of surface waves. This paper shows measurements of downwelling spectral irradiances as well as spatiotemporal light field patterns along the water column. Results are interpreted with respect to diverse surface waves. Direct wind develops capillary and small gravity waves that affect the light regime only up to circa 5 m water depth. At high seas and below 5 m depth, light fluctuations can be described more accurately in terms of sea state parameters such as wave height and period, rather than wind speed. Between 3 m and 25 m water depth, waves with significant heights of 1.5 m to 2.5 m provoke the strongest intensity fluctuations. In general, fluctuation amplitudes decrease and periods extend with water depth where the coefficient of variation, CV, is in average four times higher above 2 m compared to 25 m water depth.
Changes in renal function in cadmium-intoxicated rats.

Changes in renal function, Na+-K+-ATPase activity and PAH transport system in kidney cortex were studied in rats treated with cadmium. Subcutaneous injections of CdCl2 (2 mg Cd/kg.day) for 16 days induced a marked polyuria and a hyposthenuria. These changes were accompanied by increase in urinary protein, glucose, urea, calcium, phosphate, chloride and potassium excretions. The change in urine flow was proportional to the change in total osmotic solute excretion. Creatinine excretion and TcH2O remained unchanged. Na+ excretion was not increased, but the Na+-K+-ATPase of renal cortex was significantly inhibited. PAH uptake by renal cortical slices was markedly attenuated in Cd-treated rats. The Vmax for active PAH influx was drastically reduced, but the Km was not changed. The passive influx and efflux of PAH across the basolateral membrane and the renal tissue oxygen consumption were not apparently altered in Cd-treated animals. These results indicate that 1) the nature of Cd-induced polyuria and hyposthenuria is an osmotic diuresis induced by proximal tubular rejection of various substances, and 2) the mechanism of impaired renal PAH excretion in Cd-treated animals is a loss of organic anion carriers in proximal tubular basolateral membranes.
Reconstruction of monocotelydoneous proto-chromosomes reveals faster evolution in plants than in animals

Paleogenomics seeks to reconstruct ancestral genomes from the genes of today's species. The characterization of paleo-duplications represented by 11,737 orthologs and 4,382 paralogs identified in five species belonging to three of the agronomically most important subfamilies of grasses, that is, Ehrhartoideae (rice) Panicoideae (sorghum, maize), and Pooideae (wheat, barley), permitted us to propose a model for an ancestral genome with a minimal size of 33.6 Mb structured in five proto-chromosomes containing at least 9,138 predicted proto-genes. It appears that only four major evolutionary shuffling events (α, β, γ, and δ) explain the divergence of these five cereal genomes during their evolution from a common paleo-ancestor. Comparative analysis of ancestral gene function with rice as a reference indicated that five categories of genes were preferentially modified during evolution. Furthermore, alignments between the five grass proto-chromosomes and the recently identified seven eudicot proto-chromosomes indicated that additional very active episodes of genome rearrangements and gene mobility occurred during angiosperm evolution. If one compares the pace of primate evolution of 90 million years (233 species) to 60 million years of the Poaceae (10,000 species), change in chromosome structure through speciation has accelerated significantly in plants.
Targeting Malaria Virulence and Remodeling Proteins to the Host Erythrocyte

To establish infection in the host, malaria parasites export remodeling and virulence proteins into the erythrocyte. These proteins can traverse a series of membranes, including the parasite membrane, the parasitophorous vacuole membrane, and the erythrocyte membrane. We show that a conserved pentameric sequence plays a central role in protein export into the host cell and predict the exported proteome in Plasmodium falciparum. We identified 400 putative erythrocyte-targeted proteins corresponding to ∼8% of all predicted genes, with 225 virulence proteins and a further 160 proteins likely to be involved in remodeling of the host erythrocyte. The conservation of this signal across Plasmodium species has implications for the development of new antimalarials.
Systematic mutagenesis of the active site omega loop of TEM-1 beta-lactamase

Beta-Lactamase is a bacterial protein that provides resistance against beta-lactam antibiotics. TEM-1 beta-lactamase is the most prevalent plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase in gram-negative bacteria. Normally, this enzyme has high levels of hydrolytic activity for penicillins, but mutant beta-lactamases have evolved with activity toward a variety of beta-lactam antibiotics. It has been shown that active site substitutions are responsible for changes in the substrate specificity. Since mutant beta-lactamases pose a serious threat to antimicrobial therapy, the mechanisms by which mutations can alter the substrate specificity of TEM-1 beta-lactamase are of interest. Previously, screens of random libraries encompassing 31 of 55 active site amino acid positions enabled the identification of the residues responsible for maintaining the substrate specificity of TEM-1 beta-lactamase. In addition to substitutions found in clinical isolates, many other specificity-altering mutations were also identified. Interestingly, many nonspecific substitutions in the N-terminal half of the active site omega loop were found to increase ceftazidime hydrolytic activity and decrease ampicillin hydrolytic activity. To complete the active sight study, eight additional random libraries were constructed and screened for specificity-altering mutations. All additional substitutions found to alter the substrate specificity were located in the C-terminal half of the active site loop. These mutants, much like the N-terminal omega loop mutants, appear to be less stable than the wild-type enzyme. Further analysis of a 165-YYG-167 triple mutant, selected for high levels of ceftazidime hydrolytic activity, provides an example of the correlation which exists between enzyme instability and increased ceftazidime hydrolytic activity in the ceftazidime-selected omega loop mutants.
The flight activity of some East African mosquitos (Diptera, Culicidae). I. Studies on a high steel tower in Zika Forest, Uganda.

A series of forty 24-hour catches was carried out at seven levels (20-ft. intervals from 0 to 120 ft.) on a steel tower in Zika Forest by means of unbaited and unlighted suction traps that acted simply as air samplers. The object was to study the general flight activity of mosquitos in a tropical forest environment from samples that would not be subject to the selective effects exercised by bait-traps and light-traps. Altogether, 4,151 mosquitos belonging to thirty-four species or species-groups were taken. Eight species, Aedes (Stegomyia) apicoargenteus (Theo.), Mansonia (Coquillettidia) aurites (Theo.), M. (C.) fuscopennata (Theo.), M. (C.) maculipennis (Theo.), M. (C.) metallica (Theo.), M. (C.) pseudoconopas (Theo.), M. (Mansonioides) africana (Theo.) and M. (M.) uniformis (Theo.), were taken in numbers sufficient for detailed analysis. By far the most abundant of these was M. aurites, comprising 55·7 per cent, of the total sample. The remaining twenty-six species together constituted only 7·6 per cent. Only 144 or 3·5 per cent, of the mosquitos taken were males; and of the females, only 19 or 0.5 per cent. were blood-fed and only 11 or 0·3 per cent, were gravid. Thus, catches in the suction traps consisted almost entirely of unfed non-gravid females. It is tentatively concluded that male mosquitos in the forest are generally very inactive in the absence of stimuli such as lights or baits. The paucity of engorged and gravid females was expected; few of these would come within range of the unlighted unbaited suction traps. Dissection of 3,072 females belonging to the eight most numerous species showed all to be inseminated. Age-composition was determined in species of Mansonia only; the majority of females in the subgenus Coquillettidia were nulliparous, whereas in the Mansonioides, nulliparous and parous females occurred in roughly equal proportions. The unlighted, unbaited suction traps caught far fewer mosquitos than did light- and bait-traps under similar conditions. In general, the vertical distributions and flight-activity cycles of the various species as indicated by the suction-trap catches differed distinctly from those indicated by bait- and light-trap catches reported by other workers. Very little activity was recorded above the forest. Although, in general, activity was irregular, three main patterns could be distinguished: largely nocturnal activity continuing up to about midday but almost completely suppressed in the afternoon, as in M. aurites, M. fuscopennata, M. maculipennis, M. metallica and M. pseudoconopas; activity spread throughout the entire 24-hour period, as in M. africana and M. uniformis; and mainly diurnal activity, as in A. apicoargenteus.