Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Processing Speed and Working Memory Span: Their Differential Role in Superficial and Deep Memory Processes in Schizophrenia

Previous work has suggested that decrement in both processing speed and working memory span plays a role in the memory impairment observed in patients with schizophrenia. We undertook a study to examine simultaneously the effect of these two factors. A sample of 49 patients with schizophrenia and 43 healthy controls underwent a battery of verbal and visual memory tasks. Superficial and deep encoding memory measures were tallied. We conducted regression analyses on the various memory measures, using processing speed and working memory span as independent variables. In the patient group, processing speed was a significant predictor of superficial and deep memory measures in verbal and visual memory. Working memory span was an additional significant predictor of the deep memory measures only. Regression analyses involving all participants revealed that the effect of diagnosis on all the deep encoding memory measures was reduced to non-significance when processing speed was entered in the regression. Decreased processing speed is involved in verbal and visual memory deficit in patients, whether the task require superficial or deep encoding. Working memory is involved only insofar as the task requires a certain amount of effort. (JINS, 2011, 17, 485–493)
Roles of I(f) and intracellular Ca2+ release in spontaneous activity of ventricular cardiomyocytes during murine embryonic development

In recent years, the contribution of I(f), an important pacemaker current, and intracellular Ca2+ release (ICR) from sarcoplasmic reticulum to pacemaking and arrhythmia has been intensively studied. However, their functional roles in embryonic heart remain uncertain. Using patch clamp, Ca2+ imaging, and RT‐PCR, we found that I(f) regulated the firing rate in early and late stage embryonic ventricular cells, as ivabradine (30 µM), a specific blocker of I(f), slowed down action potential (AP) frequency. This inhibitory effect was even stronger in late stage cells, though I(f) was down‐regulated. In contrast to I(f), ICR was found to be indispensable for the occurrence of APs in ventricular cells of different stages, because abolishment of ICR with ryanodine and 2‐aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2‐APB), specific blockers of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) and inositol trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs), completely abolished APs. In addition, we noticed that RyR‐ and IP3R‐mediated ICR coexisted in early‐stage ventricular cells and RyRs functionally dominated. While at late stage RyRs, but not IP3Rs, mediated ICR. In both early and late stage ventricular cells, Na‐Ca exchanger current (INa/Ca) mediated ICR‐triggered depolarization of membrane potential and resulted in the initiation of APs. We also observed that different from I(f), which presented as the substantial component of the earlier diastolic depolarization current, application of ryanodine, and/or 2‐APB slowed the late phase of diastolic depolarization. Thus, we conclude that in murine embryonic ventricular cells I(f) regulates firing rate, while RyRs and IP3Rs (early stage) or RyRs (late stage)‐mediated ICR determines the occurrence of APs. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 1852–1862, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Delayed Diagnosis in a Case of Lupus Vulgaris with Unusual Localization

Lupus vulgaris is the most common form of cutaneous tuberculosis, and the usual sites of involvement are the head and neck. We present a forty‐six‐year‐old woman with lupus vulgaris on the external surface of the left leg and foot, an unusual site. Based on histopathological and clinical features, this case was diagnosed as lupus vulgaris with unusual localization.
How Potassium Affects the Activity of the Molecular Chaperone Hsc70

Crystallographic anomalous scattering from potassium at 1.7 Å resolution reveals two monovalent ions that interact with MgADP and Pi in the nucleotide binding cleft of wild-type recombinant bovine Hsc70 ATPase fragment. K at site 1 interacts with oxygens of the β-phosphate of ADP, whereas K at site 2 interacts with an oxygen of Pi. Both K ions also interact with specific H2O molecules in the first hydration shell of the octahedrally coordinated Mg ion and with specific protein ligands. In crystals that have Na present, K is replaced by a Na ion at site 1 and by a NaH2O pair at site 2. The K ions are positioned where they could stabilize binding of a β,-bidentate MgATP complex with Hsc70, as well as a transition state during ATP hydrolysis, suggesting that monovalent ions act as specific metal cofactors in the ATPase reaction of Hsc70.
Chemical composition of the Tatra Mountain lakes: Recovery from acidification

Ninety-one lakes distributed along the Tatra Mountains (most of lakes > 1 ha and 65% of lakes > 0.01 ha) were sampled and analysed for ionic and nutrient composition in September 2004 (15 years after reduction in acid deposition). Eighty-one lakes were in alpine zone and ten lakes in Norway spruce forest. The results were compared to similar lake surveys from 1994 (the beginning of water recovery from acidification) and 1984 (maximum acidification). Atmospheric deposition of SO42− and inorganic N decreased 57% and 35%, respectively, in this region from the late 1980s to 2000. Lake water concentrations of SO42− and NO3− have decreased both by ∼50% on average (to 23 and 19 μmol L−1, respectively, in 2004) since 1984. While the decrease in SO42− concentrations was stable throughout 1984–2004, most of the NO3− decrease occurred from 1994 to 2004. The declines in SO42− and NO3− concentrations depended on catchment coverage with vegetation, being most rapid for SO42− in forest lakes and for NO3− in rocky lakes. Concentrations of the sum of base cations (dominated by Ca2+) significantly decreased between 1984 and 2004, with the highest change in rocky lakes. Most of this decline occurred between 1994 and 2004. Acid neutralising capacity (ANC) did not change in the 1984–1994 period, but increased on average by 29 μmol L−1 between 1994 and 2004, with the highest change in rocky lakes. Over the last decade, the proportion of lakes with ANC > 150 μmol L−1 increased from 15% to 21% and that of ANC < 20 μmol L−1 decreased from 37% to 20%. The highest decline in H+ and Al concentrations occurred in the most acid lakes. On a regional basis, no significant change was observed for total phosphorus, total organic nitrogen, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the 1994–2004 period. However, these parameters increased in forest lakes, which exhibited an increasing trend in DOC concentrations, inversely related (P < 0.001) to their decreasing ionic strength (30% on average in 1994–2004).
Transcriptional analysis of product‐concentration driven changes in cellular programs of recombinant Clostridium acetobutylicumstrains

Antisense RNA (asRNA) downregulation alters protein expression without changing the regulation of gene expression. Downregulation of primary metabolic enzymes possibly combined with overexpression of other metabolic enzymes may result in profound changes in product formation, and this may alter the large‐scale transcriptional program of the cells. DNA‐array based large‐scale transcriptional analysis has the potential to elucidate factors that control cellular fluxes even in the absence of proteome data. These themes are explored in the study of large‐scale transcriptional analysis programs and the in vivo primary‐metabolism fluxes of several related recombinant C. acetobutylicum strains: C. acetobutylicum ATCC 824(pSOS95del) (plasmid control; produces high levels of butanol snd acetone), 824(pCTFB1AS) (expresses antisense RNA against CoA transferase (ctfb1‐asRNA); produces very low levels of butanol and acetone), and 824(pAADB1) (expresses ctfb1‐asRNA and the alcohol‐aldehyde dahydrogenase gene (aad); produce high alcohol and low acetone levels). DNA‐array based transcriptional analysis revealed that the large changes in product concentrations (snd notably butanol concentration) due to ctfb1‐asRNA expression alone and in combination with aad overexpression resulted in dramatic changes of the cellular transcriptome. Cluster analysis and gene expression patterns of established and putative operons involved in stress response, motility, sporulation, and fatty‐acid biosynthesis indicate that these simple genetic changes dramatically alter the cellular programs of C. acetobutylicum. Comparison of gene expression and flux analysis data may point to possible flux‐controling steps and suggest unknown regulatory mechanisms. © 2003; Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Central nervous system involvement in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma

Background: Malignant lymphoma with central nervous system (CNS) involvement has an extremely poor prognosis. We retrospectively studied the risk factors for CNS involvement in patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated by cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) or rituximab (R) ‐CHOP chemotherapy.
The fallacy of behavioral phenotyping without standardisation

Behavioral phenotyping of mutant mice is a new and challenging task for the behavioral neuroscientist. Therefore, standardisation of the experimental conditions is required to permit comparisons between the results of experiments within and between laboratories. Once mutation‐induced behavioral changes have been identified, phenotyping of mouse mutants should be performed along a systematic trajectory, which allows for an in‐depth characterisation of the mutant under investigation.
Identification of CDK4 Sequences Involved in Cyclin D1 and p16 Binding*

Activation of CDK4 is regulated, in part, by its association with a D-type cyclin. Conversely, CDK4 activity is inhibited when it is bound to the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p16 INK4A . To investigate the molecular basis of the interactions between CDK4 and cyclin D1 or p16 INK4A we performed site-directed mutagenesis of CDK4. The interaction was examined using in vitro translated wild type and mutant CDK4 proteins and bacterially expressed cyclin D1 and p16 fusion proteins. As mutational analysis of CDC2 suggests that its cyclin binding domain is primarily located near its amino terminus, the majority of the mutations constructed in CDK4 were located near its amino terminus. In addition, CDK4 residues homologous to CDC2 sites involved in Suc1 binding were also mutated. Our analysis indicates that cyclin D1 and p16 binding sites are overlapping and located primarily near the amino terminus. All CDK4 mutations that resulted in decreased p16 binding capability also diminished cyclin D1 binding. In contrast, amino-terminal sequences were identified, including the PSTAIRE region, that are important for cyclin D1 binding but are not involved in p16 binding.
Risk Taking for Oneself and Others: A Structural Model Approach

Economic theory makes no predictions about social factors affecting decisions under risk. We examine situations in which a decision maker decides for herself and another person under conditions of payoff equality, and compare them to individual decisions. By estimating a structural model, we find that responsibility leaves utility curvature unaffected, but accentuates the subjective distortion of very small and very large probabilities for both gains and losses. We also find that responsibility reduces loss aversion, but that these results only obtain under some specific definitions of the latter. These results serve to generalize and reconcile some of the still largely contradictory findings in the literature. They also have implications for financial agency, which we discuss.
Non-Specific Depurination Activity of Saporin-S6, a Ribosome-Inactivating Protein, under Acidic Conditions

Abstract Among five ribosome-inactivating proteins tested only saporin-S6 could efficiently release the adenine from adenosine 20 of the synthetic oligoribonucleotide (SRD RNA) mimic of the sarcin/ricin domain of rat 28S rRNA with a K m of 9μM and a k cat of approximately 0.4 min−1 at pH 7.6. The optimal pH for the depurination activity of saporin-S6 is 5.0. However, saporin-S6 lost its site-specificity of depurination on SRD RNA around the optimal pH. The non-specific depurination activity of saporin-S6 was dependent on the enzyme concentration and pH conditions. These results are valuable to understand the diversity and the depurination mechanism of ribosome-inactivating proteins.
Development of pigment cells in the zebrafish embryo

In recent years, the zebrafish Danio rerio has emerged as a powerful model organism for the study of vertebrate embryogenesis. Zebrafish, like other vertebrates, possess pigment cells that arise from two distinct embryonic sources: those of the dermis and epidermis originate from the neural crest, while those that comprise the outermost layer of the retina, the retinal pigment epithelium or RPE, derive from the optic cup. A better understanding of processes behind the specification and differentiation of these cells will provide insight to the evolutionary diversification of all classes of vertebrates and will have clinical relevance to human disorders of pigmentation and certain retinopathies. In the first part of this review, the present knowledge of the ontogeny of both of these populations of pigment cells in the embryonic zebrafish is summarized, in terms of both genetics and molecular markers. The final part of the review focuses on duplicate zebrafish genes encoding orthologs of the basic helix‐loop‐helix/leucine zipper protein Mitf (Microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor), and presents a hypothesis concerning their divergent roles in neural crest and retinal pigment cells. Microsc. Res. Tech. 58:435–441, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influenza A Inhibits Th17-Mediated Host Defense against Bacterial Pneumonia in Mice

Staphylococcus aureus is a significant cause of hospital and community acquired pneumonia and causes secondary infection after influenza A. Recently, patients with hyper-IgE syndrome, who often present with S. aureus infections of the lung and skin, were found to have mutations in STAT3, required for Th17 immunity, suggesting a potential critical role for Th17 cells in S. aureus pneumonia. Indeed, IL-17R−/− and IL-22−/− mice displayed impaired bacterial clearance of S. aureus compared with that of wild-type mice. Mice challenged with influenza A PR/8/34 H1N1 and subsequently with S. aureus had increased inflammation and decreased clearance of both virus and bacteria. Coinfection resulted in greater type I and II IFN production in the lung compared with that with virus infection alone. Importantly, influenza A coinfection resulted in substantially decreased IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23 production after S. aureus infection. The decrease in S. aureus-induced IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23 was independent of type II IFN but required type I IFN production in influenza A-infected mice. Furthermore, overexpression of IL-23 in influenza A, S. aureus-coinfected mice rescued the induction of IL-17 and IL-22 and markedly improved bacterial clearance. These data indicate a novel mechanism by which influenza A-induced type I IFNs inhibit Th17 immunity and increase susceptibility to secondary bacterial pneumonia.
Diet-tissue Stable Isotopic Fractionation of Tropical Sea Cucumber, Holothuria scabra

To provide a basis for a stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio (δ 13 C / δ 15 N) analysis to determine the assimilated organic matter in sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, diet-tissue fractionations were experimentally determined by mono-feeding rearing with diatom. While δ 15 N fractionation of the whole body wall (2.4‰) was similar to the commonly accepted value (2.6 – 4‰), δ 13 C fractionation of the body wall (4.2‰) showed considerable discrepancy with the commonly accepted value (0 – 1‰) due to the high content (35% dry wt/wt) of calcareous spicules (CaCO3) in the body wall, which had significantly higher δ 13 C (-8.6‰) than the organic fractions. Computational elimination of spicules based upon spicule content and spicule δ 13 C reduced the δ 13 C fractionation of the body wall to 1.5‰, close to the common value. δ 13 C fractionation after spicule removal by acid decarbonation and subsequent rinsing (3.2‰) did not agree with the common value, and δ 15 N fractionation was significantly elevated by decarbonation. δ 15 N and δ 13 C fractionations of the intestine (1.5 and 2.2‰, respectively) did not agree with the common values. Since δ 13 C and δ 15 N of the feces did not differ significantly from those of the diet, feces may be used to determine ingested organic matter in the wild.
Comparing Ksharasutra (Ayurvedic Seton) and open fistulotomy in the management of fistula-in-ano

Background: Most commonly practiced surgical “lay open” technique to treat fistula-in-ano (a common anorectal pathology) has high rate of recurrence and anal incontinence. Alternatively, a nonsurgical cost efficient treatment with Ksharasutra (cotton Seton coated with Ayurvedic medicines) has minimal complications. In our study, we have tried to compare these two techniques. Materials and Methods: A prospective randomized control study was designed involving patients referred to the Department of General Surgery in RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, India, from January 2010 to September 2011. Results: Among 50 patients, 26 were in Ksharasutra and 24 were in fistulotomy group. 86% patients were male and 54% of the patients were in the fourth decade. About 74% fistulas are inter-sphincteric and 26% were of trans-sphincteric variety. Severe postoperative pain was more (7.7% vs. 25%) in fistulotomy group, while wound discharge was more associated with Ksharasutra group (15.3% vs. 8.3%). Wound scarring, bleeding, and infection rate were similar in both groups. Ksharasutra group took more time to heal (mean: 53 vs. 35.7 days, P = 0.002) despite reduced disruption to their routine work (2.7 vs. 15.5 days work off, P <0.001). Interestingly, pain experienced was less in Ksharasutra group, there was no open wound in contrast to fistulotomy and it was significantly cost effective (Rupees 166 vs. 464). Conclusion: Treatment of fistula-in-ano with Ksharasutra is a simple with low complications and minimal cost.
Overall survival of first‐line axitinib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Japanese subgroup analysis from phase II study

Subgroup analyses of a randomized global phase II study of axitinib showed objective response rate of 66% and median progression‐free survival of 27.6 months in treatment‐naïve Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This analysis evaluated overall survival (OS) and safety in 44 Japanese patients and compared the results with 169 non‐Japanese patients. In addition, baseline characteristics for predictive factors that may influence OS in first‐line metastatic RCC were explored in all patients using a Cox proportional hazard model. With median follow‐up of 33 months, fewer than half (16 of 44) of the Japanese patients had died and median OS was not reached (95% confidence interval [CI], 38.8 months–not estimable), whereas 107 of 169 (63%) non‐Japanese patients had died and median OS was 33.9 months (95% CI, 28.9–42.7). Estimated 1‐year, 2‐year and 3‐year survival probability (95% CI) was 86.4% (76.2–96.5), 75.0% (62.2–87.8) and 68.2% (54.4–81.9), respectively, in Japanese patients, and was higher than that in non‐Japanese patients (75.1% [68.4–81.8], 62.1% [54.5–69.7] and 47.2% [39.3–55.1], respectively). The updated safety analysis did not reveal any new adverse events of concern among Japanese or non‐Japanese patients. The multivariate analysis identified that lower baseline Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, lower baseline tumor burden, and longer time from histopathological diagnosis to treatment were significant positive predictors of OS. The current analysis confirmed the clinical activity of axitinib in treatment‐naïve Japanese patients with metastatic RCC, with an acceptable toxicity profile.
Conjunctive Adverbials Viewed as Pragmatic Markers in the Genre of Research Articles

This study looks into the occurrence of conjunctive adverbials (CAs) in the genre of research articles. The theoretical part first introduces CAs along with their main properties. Subsequently, the concepts of cohesion and coherence are investigated and since CAs are viewed as pragmatic markers, the concept of pragmatics is also examined. The last chapter concentrates on the demarcation of the general terms register and genre and then singles out two fields crucial to the present investigation: the register of academic prose and the genre of research articles. The three chapters of the analytical part deal with my research findings. The corpus analysis is based on a research article corpus of 100 published papers (50 representing soft and another 50 hard knowledge fields) in 10 academic disciplines (5 representing SKF and the other 5 HKF). The qualitative method is used in connection with the investigation of semantic roles of the CAs and their pragmatic implications, and the quantitative method helps to analyze the frequency of occurrence of individual semantic categories as well as particular CAs. This occurrence is analyzed not only in research articles as a whole, but also in their individual sections such as Abstracts, Introductions and Conclusions. The distribution of CAs in terms of their syntactic functions (i.e., the position(s) they take up in a clause) is also looked into. Realization forms of CAs are examined too.
Effectiveness of Psychoanalytic-Interactional Group Therapy vs. Behavioral Group Therapy in Routine Outpatient Treatment of Alcohol-Dependent Patients

ABSTRACT Background: The cognitive behavioral therapy has been extensively investigated to assess relapse prevention rates in patients with alcohol dependence. In contrast, only little is known regarding the effectiveness of psychoanalytical psychotherapy in relapse prevention, although this treatment is widely used and especially so in Germany. The aim of this quasi-randomized study was to compare the effectiveness of these two group treatments’ approaches under the condition of routine outpatient treatment in a non-university hospital. Methods: After inpatient detoxification, patients with alcohol dependence were allocated either to combined behavioral intervention (CBI) or to psychoanalytic-interactional therapy (PIT). The group treatment was carried out weekly over a period of six months. Also, the clinical care package included both individual treatment sessions (e.g. every 4-6 weeks) and abstinence supporting medication. The main outcome criteria included retention rates and frequency of alcohol relapse. Results: Some 215 patients (mean age 49.6 years [standard deviation, 10], 56.7% males, with a mean duration of alcohol dependence of 16.5 years [range: 1-50 years]) were included in the study. Overall, CBI clients showed a retention rate of 66.7%, compared to 81.8% for PIT clients (p =.008). An intention-to-treat analysis of alcohol relapses showed a significant difference between PIT and CBI groups (PIT: 33.6%; CBI: 49.5%; p =.018). There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of prescription rates of disulfiram, naltrexone or acamprosate. Conclusions: Notwithstanding the study limitations, PIT seemed here to be at least as effective as CBI in terms of retention and relapse prevention rates' levels.