Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drugs of abuse and stress impair LTP at inhibitory synapses in the ventral tegmental area

Synaptic plasticity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is modulated by drugs of abuse and stress and is hypothesized to contribute to specific aspects of addiction. Both excitatory and inhibitory synapses on dopamine neurons in the VTA are capable of undergoing long‐term changes in synaptic strength. While the strengthening or weakening of excitatory synapses in the VTA has been widely examined, the role of inhibitory synaptic plasticity in brain reward circuitry is less established. Here, we investigated the effects of drugs of abuse, as well as acute stress, on long‐term potentiation of GABAergic synapses onto VTA dopamine neurons (LTPGABA). Morphine (10 mg/kg i.p.) reduced the ability of inhibitory synapses in midbrain slices to express LTPGABA both at 2 and 24 h after drug exposure but not after 5 days. Cocaine (15 mg/kg i.p.) impaired LTPGABA 24 h after exposure, but not at 2 h. Nicotine (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) impaired LTPGABA 2 h after exposure, but not after 24 h. Furthermore, LTPGABA was completely blocked 24 h following brief exposure to a stressful stimulus, a forced swim task. Our data suggest that drugs of abuse and stress trigger a common modification to inhibitory plasticity, synergizing with their collective effect at excitatory synapses. Together, the net effect of addictive substances or stress is expected to increase excitability of VTA dopamine neurons, potentially contributing to the early stages of addiction.
Factors influencing adherence to anti-craving medications and drinking outcomes in patients with alcohol dependence: A hospital-based study

Objective: To examine the factors influencing the pattern and extent of anti-craving medication adherence and drinking outcomes in alcohol-dependent patients. Materials and Methods: Demographic data from 102 inpatients were collected at discharge from hospital. The pattern of anti-craving medication, extent of adherence, and drinking outcome was collected at 1 st , 3 rd , 8 th , and 12 th week follow-up. Patients′ self-reported adherence, medication diary, and simplified medication adherence questionnaire were used and data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Majority (99%) were male patients with a mean age of 41.17 ± 9.86 years and 70% belonged to middle socioeconomic status. There was a decrease in the number of patients coming for follow-up over time from 99.01% to 77.45% on day 90. Acamprosate was used in 74% and naltrexone and disulfiram in 7% of patients each. A significant reduction in adherence to acamprosate and naltrexone (P < 0.001) was associated with simultaneous decrease in days to alcohol abstinence and increase in relapse rate compared to adherent group (P < 0.001). Main barriers to adherence included younger age (odds ratio = 1.05 95% [1.01-1.09]; P < 0.01), self-decision, emotional factors, and adverse effects. Conclusions: The study demonstrated the need for safer therapeutic options along with suitable intervention at "grass root level" for sustenance of adherence to anti-craving medication among young adults to prevent relapse and achieve near-complete abstinence from alcohol dependence.
Recovery of the rod photoresponse in infants.

PURPOSE To study deactivation of the rod photoresponse in infants using a paired-flash procedure. Rhodopsin content increases and scales the parameters of the activation of rod phototransduction as rods develop. However, little is known about the kinetics of deactivation in the rods of young infants. METHODS ERG responses to pairs of flashes were used to study the recovery of the rod response in 4- and 10-week-old infants and mature control subjects. The amplitudes of rod isolated a-wave responses to a probe flash (+3.3 log scot td . s) presented 2 to 120 seconds after an equal-intensity test flash were measured. The interstimulus interval (ISI) at which the amplitude was half that of the response to the probe flash alone (t(50)) was determined by linear interpolation. RESULTS Recovery time (t(50)) was significantly longer in infants than in adults (F = 18.9, df 2, 32; P < 0.01). The shape of the recovery function did not vary with age. The t(50) values were inversely proportional to the parameters of activation of rod phototransduction. CONCLUSIONS These results are evidence that the kinetics of deactivation in infants are slower and may be set by the proportion of rhodopsin isomerized.
Qigong for cancer treatment: A systematic review of controlled clinical trials

Qigong is a mind-body integrative exercise or intervention from traditional Chinese medicine used to prevent and cure ailments, to improve health and energy levels through regular practice. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize and critically evaluate the effectiveness of qigong used as a stand-alone or additional therapy in cancer care. We have searched the literature using the following databases from their respective inceptions through November 2006: MEDLINE, AMED, British Nursing Index, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycInfo, The Cochrane Library 2006, Issue 4, four Korean Medical Databases, Qigong and Energy Medicine Database from Qigong Institute and four Chinese Databases. Randomised and non-randomised clinical trials including patients with cancer or past experience of cancer receiving single or combined qigong interventions were included. All clinical endpoints were considered. The methodological quality of the trials was assessed using the Jadad score. Nine studies met our inclusion criteria (four were randomised trials and five were non-randomised studies). Eight of these trials tested internal qigong and one trial did not reported details. The methodological quality of these studies varies greatly and was generally poor. All trials related to palliative/supportive cancer care and none to qigong as a curative treatment. Two trials suggested effectiveness in prolonging life of cancer patients and one failed to do so. We conclude that the effectiveness of qigong in cancer care is not yet supported by the evidence from rigorous clinical trials.
Specific autobiographical memory following hypnotically induced mood state

Abstract This study investigated the impact of hypnotically induced mood on the specificity of autobiographical memory. High (n = 24) and low (n = 21) hypnotizable participants were administered a hypnotic induction for sad, neutral, or happy mood and were asked to retrieve specific autobiographical memories in response to positive and negative cue words. Whereas high hypnotizable participants in the sad condition provided fewer specific memories in response to positive rather than negative cues, those in the neutral and happy conditions responded similarly to positive and negative cues. Findings suggest that impaired recall of specific memories may be mediated by state factors associated with sad mood. These results point to the utility of hypnotic mood induction as a means to experimentally investigate the relationship between mood and autobiographical memory.
Intima‐media Thickness of Carotid Arteries in Borderline Hypertensives

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease on the process of subclinical atherosclerosis in originally borderline hypertensives. The relation of far wall common carotid artery intima‐media thickness (IMT CCA) measured by B‐mode ultrasound to smoking, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, lipids, and angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism was analyzed. In 48 subjects examined (mean age, 61.9 ± 2.54 years), median IMT CCA was 0.708 mm. Statistically significant differences in BMI (26.5 vs. 29.2 kg/m2, p<0.025) and HDL‐cholesterol level (1.42 vs. 1.1 mmol/l, p<0.025) between the first and third tertile of IMT CCA were found. No differences were observed between “controls” and “cases” in blood pressure, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerols. No significant differences in IMT CCA were found between smokers and nonsmokers and among different alleles of the ACE gene. These data reflect the importance of HDL‐cholesterol and BMI on the process of atherosclerosis within an otherwise homogeneous group of patients.
Stretch Induced Hyperexcitability of Mice Callosal Pathway 1 2

Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA 4 Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA 5 Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA 6 Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA 7 College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA 8
Individual differences in the ability to avoid distracting sounds

The present work aims to establish a greater understanding of the cognitive mechanisms involved in avoiding distraction from speech and nonspeech sounds. Although mixed results have been presented by research investigating the hypothesis that individuals with superior working memory abilities are better able to avoid acoustic distraction, we found that working memory correlated with some aspects of performance during distraction when carefully examined. This is consistent with the view that working memory involves resisting interference. In a large sample, we examined two different tasks accompanied by acoustic distraction—serial recall and rapid colour naming—as well as two different measures of working memory (operation span and running span). We show that the previous inability to find relations between working memory and avoidance of distraction may stem from the use of inadequate correlational techniques. Additionally, the level of difficulty of the serial recall task may be an important factor. The results illustrate that commonly used statistical techniques can be misleading and furthermore that the ability to avoid distraction from irrelevant items may not be a unitary construct.
Neonatal Herpes Encephalitis Caused by a Virologically Confirmed Acyclovir-Resistant Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Strain

ABSTRACT A neonate with herpes simplex virus 1 encephalitis was treated with intravenous acyclovir. During the course of therapy, the infection became intractable to the treatment and a mutation in the viral thymidine kinase gene (nucleotide G375T, amino acid Q125H) developed. This mutation was demonstrated in vitro to confer acyclovir resistance.
Mirror Biofeedback Rehabilitation after Administration of Single-Dose Botulinum Toxin for Treatment of Facial Synkinesis

Objective. The efficacy of facial biofeedback rehabilitation with a mirror after administration of a single dose of botulinum A toxin on facial synkinesis was examined in patients with chronic facial palsy. Study Design. Prospective clinical study. Setting. University hospital. Subjects and Methods. The present study includes 8 patients with Bell palsy and 5 with herpes zoster oticus showing facial synkinesis. A single dose of botulinum A toxin was used as the initial process of facial rehabilitation. Patients then continued a daily facial biofeedback rehabilitation with a mirror at home. They were instructed to keep their eyes symmetrically open using a mirror during mouth movements. The degree of oral-ocular synkinesis was evaluated by the degree of asymmetry of eye opening width during mouth movements (% eye opening). Results. After administration of a single dose of botulinum A toxin, temporary relief of facial synkinesis was observed in all patients. Patients were then instructed to continue the facial biofeedback rehabilitation with a mirror for 10 months. The mean values of the percent of eye opening during 3 designated mouth movements that included lip pursing /u:/, teeth baring /i:/, and cheek puffing /pu:/ increased significantly after 10 months when the effects of botulinum A toxin had completely disappeared. Conclusion. These findings demonstrate that facial biofeedback rehabilitation with a mirror after administration of a single dose of botulinum A toxin is a long-lasting treatment of established facial synkinesis in patients with chronic facial palsy.
Traffic Fluctuations on Weighted Networks

Traffic fluctuation has so far been studied on unweighted networks. However, many real traffic systems are better represented and understood as weighted networks, where nodes and links are assigned some weight values representing their physical properties such as capacity and delay. Here, we introduce a general random diffusion (GRD) model to investigate the traffic fluctuations on weighted networks, where a random walks choice of route is affected not only by the number of links a node has, but also by the weights of individual links. We obtain analytical solutions that characterize the relation between the average traffic and the fluctuations through nodes and links. Our analysis is supported by results of extensive numerical simulations. We observe that the value ranges of the average traffic and the fluctuations, through nodes or links, increase dramatically with the level of heterogeneity in link weights. This highlights the key role that link weight plays in traffic fluctuation and the necessity to study traffic fluctuations on weighted networks.
The Challenges of Computerizing a University Library in Nigeria: The Case of Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria is one of Nigeria's first generation universities, opening its doors in 1962. University library computerization in Nigeria has been in the pipeline since the 1970s, although concerted efforts began in the late 1990s. ALICE, an integrated library system which is popular in the UK, was acquired and implemented then. Challenges to library automation include poor infrastructure, a low level of computer literacy among the staff, and a lack of resources for maintaining and updating hardware and software
Tannic Acid Enhancing Insecticidal Activity of Protoxin Produced in Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Kurstaki KB100 Strain Against Spodoptera exigua

Spodoptera exigua is classified as Order Lepidoptera, Family Noctuidae and Genus Spodoptera and it is the most common agricultural pest which is the most difficult one to control as a polyphagous pest (Ahn et al., 1989). Since S. exigua has a broad range of hosts, it gives a lot of damage to a variety of crops such as scallion, cabbage and watermelon (Park et al., 1991). As S. exigua is rapidly spread out after it passes the third stage and generations are mixed, it is the pest which is difficult one to control during packaging (Luo et al., 2000). Chemical insecticides such as organophosphate, carbamate and pyrethroid insecticides are being used to control this pest (Eveleens et al., 1973). However, S. exigua has a high resistance to most of commercially available insecticides (Noh, 2009). Moreover, larvae with increasing age exhibit significantly low sensitivity to chemical insecticides. On the other hand, the use of microbial insecticides is recently demanded for eco– friendly agriculture, but it is difficult to control this pest due to physiological and ecological characteristics of S. exigua and mixture of generation during packaging. Because B. thuringiensis agent being used as a microbial insecticide to control S. exigua in Korea exhibits low control threshold, effective studies on use methods and treatment time are needed (Jin et al., 2009). B. thuringiensis which is a microbial insecticide produces insecticidal crystal proteins (ICPs) which are called δ–endotoxin during the formation of spores (Schnepf et al., 1998; Kumar 2003). These ICPs consist of Cry proteins which have activity against Lepidoptera (CryI), Lepidoptera and Diptera (CryII), Coleoptera (CryIII), Diptera (CryIV), and Lepidoptera and Coleoptera (CryV) (De Maagd et al., 2003; Schnepf et al., 1998; van Frankenhuyzen, 2009). ICPs are produced by B. thuringiensis and their molecular weight is 130 kDa. However, it does not have insecticidal activity in steady state. It exhibits activity if it is hydrolyzed into proteins at 55–70 kDa by proteolytic enzymes in midgut juice once larvae eat it. Activated toxin acts on epithelial cells of midgut in larvae and punches the hole in the membrane. In final, it becomes toxin and kills insects (Soberon et al., 2009). Enzymes digest insecticidal toxin proteins which kill lepidopteran pests and consist of three groups such as serine proteinases, cysteine proteinases and aspartic proteinases. It is known that proteolytic enzymes such as serine proteinases and cysteine proteinases are present in midgut juice of S. exigua (Jongsma, 1996). It has been known that proteases are the most important digestive enzymes in insecticidal activity of B. thuringiensis and Tannic Acid Enhancing Insecticidal Activity of Protoxin Produced in Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Kurstaki KB100 Strain Against Spodoptera exigua
Epidemiology of acute kidney injury: How big is the problem?

Objective:Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication that occurs frequently in hospitalized patients. In this article, we provide an overview of the literature on the epidemiology of AKI in hospitalized patients. Patients and Setting:The overview is restricted to hospitalized patients, and most emphasis is put on intensive care unit patients. Measurements and Main Results:The population incidence of less severe AKI and AKI treated with renal replacement therapy is approximately 2,000–3,000 and 200–300 per million population per year, respectively. These numbers are comparable with the estimates for severe sepsis and acute lung injury. Approximately 4–5% of general intensive care unit patients will be treated with renal replacement therapy, and up to two thirds of intensive care unit patients will develop AKI defined by the RIFLE classification. The incidence of AKI is increasing. Intensive care unit patients with AKI have a longer length of stay and therefore generate greater costs. In addition, AKI is associated with increased mortality, even after correction for covariates. Increasing RIFLE class is associated with increasing risk of in-hospital death. Patients with AKI who are treated with renal replacement therapy still have a mortality rate of 50–60%. Of surviving patients, 5–20% remain dialysis dependent at hospital discharge. Conclusion:AKI has a high incidence, comparable with acute lung injury and severe sepsis, and is associated with higher hospital mortality.
[Agreement between colposcopic diagnosis with 2011 international terminology of colposcopy and cervical pathology in cervical lesions].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the agreement between colposcopic diagnosis with 2011 colposcopic terminology of the International Federation for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (IFCPC) and cervical pathology in cervical lesions. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed, which included 376 patients who underwent colposcopy with 2011 international terminology of colposcopy at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from September 2014 to November 2014. With conization or cervical biopsy pathology as the gold standard, the agreement between colposcopic diagnosis and pathologic diagnosis was calculated and correlations between variables were analyzed. RESULTS With 2011 international terminology of colposcopy, agreement of colposcopic diagnosis and cervical pathology was 60.9% (229/376) perfectly matched, and the strength of agreement with weighted Kappa statistic was 0.401 (P < 0.01), and agreement within one grade was 97.6% (367/376), which were improved compared with traditional methods. Colposcopic diagnosis were 19.9% (75/376) overestimated and 19.1% (72/376) underestimated. There were no significant difference between agreements in various grade lesions (χ(2) = 1.996, P = 0.573). Positive predictive value of high grade colposcopy or more was 84.4%, the negative predictive value of low grade colposcopy or less was 88.8%, whereas false positives were 3.5% and false negatives were 39.3%. A linear trend among three types of transformation zone and patient ages was found (χ(2) = 45.910, P < 0.01), whereas lesion sizes were not linearly correlated with lesion degrees (χ(2) = 0.690, P = 0.406). In grade 1, grade 2 and nonspecific findings, thin acetowhite epithelium, dense acetowhite epithelium and Lugol's non-staining were most frequent, the Youden indexes of each were 0.170, 0.373 and 0.145, 0.069 respectively. Positive predictive value of some other findings (such as fine mosaic) and two new signs (inner border sign and ridge sign) were 100.0%. There were no significant difference between agreements in examiners with different levels of experience (χ(2) = 1.197, P = 0.550). CONCLUSIONS Compared to traditional methods (such as Reid index), 2011 international terminology of colposcopy could improve the agreement between colposcopic diagnosis and pathologic diagnosis, without significant differences by the severity of lesion and the level of examiners' experience. Common findings were classified reasonably, and some signs were highly reliable, which is important for guiding biopsy. However, the reproducibility of transformation zone types and the implication of lesion size need to be further discussed.
Parents' experiences of care decisions about children with life-limiting illnesses.

AIM To understand the 'lived experience' of parents throughout the process of making and revising end of life care decisions for their child. METHOD Three mothers who had been bereaved participated in semi-structured interviews. These were recorded, transcribed and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. FINDINGS Two overarching themes were identified: making decisions and revising and implementing end of life care plans. Sub-themes included: who should be the decision maker; when discussions should be initiated; the values underpinning the plans; revisiting the plans; and barriers and facilitators to their implementation. CONCLUSION Parents understand the importance of planning for the end of their child's life but find the process difficult. They also find it a challenge to verbalise their decisions at the end of their child's life and value having the decision partly taken away from them. Professionals can assist parents by using a non-dissent model of decision making. The parents' values are important in these decisions and should be elicited by professionals during the initial stages of decision making.
Confidence and the real economy - the Japanese case

This paper empirically analyses whether consumer confidence has an effect on the real economy in Japan. This paper uses vector autoregressions including variables which represent consumer confidence. It is shown that in the cases of quarterly and monthly data, consumer confidence has a significant effect on GDP fluctuations, whereas in the case of semiannual data, it has no effect. In other words, consumer confidence has an effect on only short-term economic fluctuations.
Prevalence of the LRRK2 G2019S mutation in a UK community based idiopathic Parkinson’s disease cohort

The LRRK2 G2019S mutation is the commonest genetic cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD) identified to date, although estimates of its prevalence in idiopathic disease vary considerably. Our objectives were to determine G2019S mutation frequency in an unselected, community based cohort of idiopathic PD cases from the UK and to describe phenotypic characteristics among carriers. The mutation was present in two of 519 cases (0.4%) and none of 887 control individuals. The true prevalence of the mutation in idiopathic disease, its penetrance, and the phenotypic heterogeneity of associated cases have important implications for genetic screening in the clinical field.