Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute alcohol administration and placebo effectiveness in older moderate drinkers: influences on cognitive performance.

OBJECTIVE Placebo effectiveness and subsequent influence on cognitive performance were investigated in older moderate drinkers (ages 50-69; N = 30; 15 men) following acute alcohol administration. METHOD Double-blind, placebo-controlled alcohol administration techniques were designed to produce peak breath alcohol concentration levels consistent with an episode of social drinking (approximately 40 mg/100 ml). Cognitive performance, measured via a covert attentional processing task, was assessed. Participants were also asked to rate their perceived levels of intoxication and impairment. RESULTS The placebo beverage was effective in older moderate drinkers, with 63% of participants who received placebo reporting that they received alcohol. Placebo beverage effectiveness influenced cognitive performance. Participants who received placebo, but reported they received alcohol, demonstrated slower reaction times on the covert attentional processing task, similar to those receiving alcohol. Placebo effects did not influence accuracy on the covert attentional processing task or self-reported measures of intoxication and impairment. As expected, participants who received alcohol had less accuracy on the covert attentional processing task and more self-reported impairment and intoxication than those who received placebo, regardless of placebo effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that belief of having received a moderate dose of alcohol has an effect on reaction time similar to that of its pharmacological effect in older moderate drinkers. Although placebo effects are not novel, these findings suggest that cognitive processes are differentially affected. The study of moderate doses and more complex real-world tasks is an important next step.
Examining Health Problems and Intensity of Need for Care in Family-Focused Community and Public Health Nursing

The purpose of this study was to advance evidence-based family-focused community and public health nursing (C/PHN) practice by examining 2 important indicators of health need, family health problem labels, and intensity of need for care, and their relationship to each other. The Omaha System (OS; Martin & Scheet, 1992) was the framework used to classify the most common family health problems. Intensity of need for care was determined using the Community Health Intensity Rating Scale (CHIRS; Hays, Sather, & Peters, 1998). Secondary analysis of C/PHN clinical data was done using a descriptive correlational design (n = 205). An investigator scored the CHIRS and assigned OS family problems based on clinical record data. The mean number of family health problems per person was 4.40 (±2.06). The mean CHIRS total score was 33.9 (±6.34). The total number of OSproblems was significantly correlated with CHIRS total scores (r = .586, p < .001). Family problem labels and intensity of need for care both provide essential information for health need determination in C/PHN practice.
Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology Polyploidization of Murine Mesenchymal Cells Is Associated with Suppression of the Long Noncoding RNA H 19 and Reduced

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are used extensively in clinical trials; however, the possibility thatMSCs have a potential for malignant transformation was raised. We examined the genomic stability versus the tumorforming capacity of multiple mouse MSCs. Murine MSCs have been shown to be less stable and more prone to malignant transformation than their human counterparts. A large series of independently isolated MSC populations exhibited low tumorigenic potential under syngeneic conditions, which increased in immunocompromised animals. Unexpectedly, higher ploidy correlated with reduced tumor-forming capacity. Furthermore, in both cultured MSCs and primary hepatocytes, polyploidization was associated with a dramatic decrease in the expression of the long noncoding RNA H19. Direct knockdown of H19 expression in diploid cells resulted in acquisition of polyploid cell traits.Moreover, artificial tetraploidization of diploid cancer cells led to a reduction of H19 levels, as well as to an attenuation of the tumorigenic potential. Polyploidy might therefore serve as a protective mechanism aimed at reducing malignant transformation through the involvement of the H19 regulatory long noncoding RNA. Cancer Res; 72(24); 1–11. 2012 AACR.
Electroencephalographic abnormalities during sleep in children with developmental speech‐language disorders: a case–control study

Earlier research has suggested a link between epileptiform activity in the electroencephalogram (EEG) and developmental speech‐language disorder (DSLD). This study investigated the strength of this association by comparing the frequency of EEG abnormalities in 45 language‐normal children (29 males, 16 females; mean age 6y 11mo, SD 1y 10mo, range 4y–9y 10mo) and 54 community‐ascertained children (35 males, 19 females; mean age 5y 7mo, SD 1y 6mo, range 4y–9y 11mo) with a diagnosis of severe DSLD, defined as a score at least 2 SD below the mean on at least one speech‐language measure, and a performance IQ of at least 80 points. All participants underwent sleep EEGs after sedation. Children with DSLD also had detailed speech‐language, hearing, and psychological assessments. Results failed to support the previously identified strong association between abnormal EEG and DSLD. There was a weak, non‐significant relationship between DSLD and epileptiform EEG. Epileptiform EEG was significantly associated with low performance IQ (p=0.04). This study draws into question previously reported associations between epileptiform activity and DSLD probably because it examined a purer cohort of children with more severe language difficulties who did not have seizures.
The acquisition of syllable structure by Russian-speaking children with SLI

The purpose of this study is to address the acquisition of syllable structure by Russianspeaking children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI). We report results of a pseudo-word repetition task in which syllable number and syllable complexity are manipulated. This study employed a non-equivalent groups design in which nineteen participants were classified into an SLI impaired group (6) and a Typically Developing (TD) non-impaired group (13) based on three measures of general language competence. All subjects participated in an experiment involving repetition of 144 pseudo-words which varied in syllable structure, number, and stress (resulting in 36 unique cells per subject). The results show that SLI children perform significantly worse than TD children on this task, indicating that Russian follows the general pattern in this respect. However, the factors affecting the difficulty of the task are the same for both groups, contrary to previous claims in the literature. We also discuss such factors as onset and coda complexity and sonority.
Alteration of the Fe protein of nitrogenase by oxygen in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain CA

Changes in protein composition were noted when heterocysts of Anabaena sp. strain CA were isolated from filaments grown in 1% CO2-99% N2 and subsequently exposed to oxygen. Immunospecific Western blot analysis showed that the Fe protein of nitrogenase is altered. In cells grown under microaerobic conditions, the Fe protein was found in a form with an apparent molecular weight of 30,000. Exposure to oxygen caused a shift in the migration of this polypeptide to a position corresponding to an apparent molecular weight of 31,500. This modification was reversible upon removal of oxygen from the culture. Chloramphenicol did not inhibit the alteration in either direction. Suppression by ammonium nitrate of the recovery of nitrogenase activity from the effects of oxygen did not prevent the alteration of the protein. Other inhibitors of nitrogenase activity, (metronidazole, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, and phenazine methosulfate) were tested for their effect on Fe protein modification. Alteration of the Fe protein may relate to the protection of nitrogenase from the deleterious effects of oxygen.
Is brain cancer an occupational disease of cardiologists?

OBJECTIVE To assess the plausibility of radiation as a cause of the statistically unusual event of two cardiologists in Toronto, Ontario who were diagnosed with brain tumours in 1997. DESIGN Computation of the expected occurrence of brain cancer in Ontario cardiologists and review of the epidemiological literature pertaining to radiation and brain cancer. DATA SYNTHESIS The occurrence of these two cases is a statistically unusual event--a 'cluster'. There are several plausible explanations for this cluster. First, this may be a chance occurrence, and the tumours may have no causative factors in common. Second, the cause may be radiation exposure. A connection to occupational radiation exposure is biologically plausible, but risk assessment suggests that it is unlikely that this effect would have been observable in the small population of Ontario cardiologists. CONCLUSIONS Initiation of brain tumours during cardiac fluoroscopic procedures is plausible. Physicians are reminded to practise radiation safety methods during fluoroscopic procedures. The diagnosis of two additional brain tumours in Canadian interventional cardiologists during the past 10 years would confirm the occupational causation theory. The author invites physicians to report knowledge of the diagnosis of brain tumours in Canadian cardiologists to the author or to the editors.
Posterior or Single-stage Combined Anterior and Posterior Approach Decompression for Treating Complex Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Coincident Multilevel Anterior and Posterior Compression

Study Design: A single-center, retrospective, longitudinal matched cohort clinical study of prospectively collected outcomes. Objective: To compare retrospectively the clinical outcomes and complications of the posterior approach laminoplasty and single-stage anterior approach laminoplasty combined with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for treating patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy coincident multilevel anterior and posterior compression, known as complex cervical spondylotic myelopathy (cCSM) here. Summary of Background Data: The optimal surgical management of this type of cCSM remains controversial. Methods: Sixty-seven patients with multilevel cCSM underwent decompression surgery from 1996 to 2007. Among these patients, 31 underwent a single-stage combined approach with decompression (combined approach group) and 36 underwent laminoplasty for posterior approach (posterior approach group). Average operative duration, operative estimated blood loss, surgical costs, and cervical alignment were measured. Results: Average operative duration, operative estimated blood loss, and surgical costs were significantly lower in the posterior approach group than those in the combined approach group (P<0.001). Visual analog scale and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scale were insignificantly different at each data collection period (P>0.05). No statistical difference was observed in the preoperative Cobb angle (P>0.05), whereas a significant statistical difference was observed for the postoperative Cobb angle (P<0.05) and variation of Cobb angle (P<0.05) between the 2 groups. The surgical incidences of complications were 22.2% and 48.4% in the posterior and combined approach groups (P<0.05), respectively. Conclusions: For treating multilevel cCSM, both the posterior approach laminoplasty and single-stage combined approach led to significant neurological improvement and pain reduction in the majority of patients. Both approaches showed similar results in terms of decompression and neurological improvement. The posterior approach was superior to the combined approach in terms of surgical costs, surgical time, blood loss, and complication rate.
Directing neurotransmitter identity of neurones derived from expanded adult neural stem cells

In‐vitro expanded neural stem cells (NSCs) of the adult subependymal zone (SEZ) may serve as a source for replacing degenerating neurones in disease and trauma. Crucial for the viability of this approach is the ability to selectively generate specific types of neurones from these cells. Here we show that NSCs derived from the adult mouse SEZ and expanded in vitro as neurosphere cells lose their in‐vivo specification and generate a mixture of progeny comprising both GABAergic and also, surprisingly, glutamatergic neurones. When forced to express the pro‐neural transcription factor neurogenin 2, virtually all progeny of in‐vitro expanded adult NSCs acquire a glutamatergic identity, whereas only GABAergic neurones are generated upon expression of the transcription factor Mash1. Respecification of expanded NSCs from the adult SEZ by neurogenin 2 was accompanied by upregulation of the T‐box transcription factor Tbr1, suggesting that their progeny had acquired a dorsal telencephalic identity. Thus, in‐vitro expanded adult NSCs have the competence to become directed towards distinct functional neurotransmitter phenotypes when the appropriate transcriptional cues are provided.
Atrial septal defect closure and de novo migraine: Exclusive ticlopidine efficacy

Background: De novo onset or aggravation of migraine has been observed after atrial septal defect closure (ASDC), whereas antiplatelet drugs, such as clopidogrel, used to prevent post-ASDC thromboembolic events, have been associated with migraine amelioration. Case: We report the case of a woman who, after ASDC, experienced de novo severe migraine with aura. Whereas use of acetylsalicylic acid or clopidogrel had no effect, ticlopidine use was associated with migraine amelioration. Migraine relapsed after two ticlopidine dechallenges, and disappeared after drug rechallenges. Conclusion: A ticlopidine trial could be proposed to patients with migraine which occurs or worsens immediately after ASDC and does not improve with clopidogrel.
Sensory deprivation regulates the development of the hyperpolarization‐activated current in auditory brainstem neurons

Hyperpolarization‐activated and cyclic nucleotide‐gated (HCN) channels are highly expressed in the superior olivary complex, the primary locus for binaural information processing. This hyperpolarization‐activated current (Ih) regulates the excitability of neurons and enhances the temporally precise analysis of the binaural acoustic cues. By using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique, we examined the properties of Ih current in neurons of the lateral superior olive (LSO) and the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) before and after hearing onset. Moreover, we tested the hypothesis that Ih currents are actively regulated by sensory input activity by performing bilateral and unilateral cochlear ablations before hearing onset, resulting in a chronic auditory deprivation. The results show that after hearing onset, Ih currents are rapidly upregulated in LSO neurons, but change only marginally in neurons of the MNTB. We also found a striking difference in maximal current density, voltage dependence and activation time constant between the LSO and the MNTB in mature‐like animals. Following bilateral cochlear ablations before hearing onset, the Ih currents were scaled up in the LSO and scaled down in the MNTB. Consequently, in the LSO this resulted in a depolarized resting membrane potential and a lower input resistance of these neurons. This type of activity‐dependent homeostatic change could thus result in an augmented response to the remaining inputs.
A MODIFIED GOAL-DIRECTED PROTOCOL IMPROVES CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PATIENTS WITH SEPTIC SHOCK: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

ABSTRACT We evaluated whether a goal-directed protocol, without measurement of central venous oxygen saturation, would improve survival in medical intensive care unit (ICU) patients with septic shock. This is a prospective, controlled study in a 24-bed medical ICU at a tertiary care hospital. From a total of 241 consecutive patients with septic shock, 224 were randomly assigned to receive therapy with or without a written protocol using central venous pressure, mean arterial pressure, and urine output as therapeutic goals. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Implementation of goal-directed therapy caused a more rapid reversal of persistent shock (47 ± 22.8 vs. 65.4 ± 32.1 h, P = 0.006) and decreases of ICU (50% vs. 67.2%, P = 0.009) and in-hospital (53.7% vs. 71.6%, P = 0.006) mortality rates compared with non-goal-directed therapy. Patients receiving goal-directed therapy also had less risk for developing central nervous system or renal failure than patients without. Patients with goal-directed therapy received more fluid during the period of persistent shock (136.2 ± 119 vs. 88.6 ± 57.7 mL h−1, P = 0.034) and less delay in vasopressor administration (78 ± 22.2 vs. 104.4 ± 29 min, P = 0.001) than patients with non-goal therapy. Implementation of a goal-directed protocol improves survival and clinical outcomes in ICU patients with septic shock. These benefits may arise from adequate fluid resuscitation, earlier vasopressor administration, rapid shock reversal, and protection of major organ function. With central venous oxygen saturation measurement to detect tissue perfusion, the clinical outcomes may be further improved.
Virus Replication in Engineered Human Cells That Do Not Respond to Interferons

ABSTRACT The V protein of the paramyxovirus simian virus 5 blocks interferon (IFN) signaling by targeting STAT1 for proteasome-mediated degradation. Here we report on the isolation of human cell lines that express the V protein and can no longer respond to IFN. A variety of viruses, particularly slow-growing wild-type viruses and vaccine candidate viruses (which are attenuated due to mutations that affect virus replication, virus spread, or ability to circumvent the IFN response), form bigger plaques and grow to titers that are increased as much as 10- to 4,000-fold in these IFN-nonresponsive cells. We discuss the practical applications of using such cells in vaccine development and manufacture, virus diagnostics and isolation of newly emerging viruses, and studies on host cell tropism and pathogenesis.
Total leukocyte and neutrophil count changes associated with antenatal betamethasone administration in premature infants

The white blood cell counts of 84 premature infants were included in a retrospective study of 45 infants treated antenatally with betamethasone and 39 non‐treated infants. A significant increase in neutrophil and immature neutrophil forms was found in the treated group when the drug was administered to the mother close to delivery. This effect lasted for three days. Afterwards, although the counts were not significantly high compared to the control group, their physiological decrease was delayed. This study indicates that the known stimulating effect of steroids on total leukocyte and neutrophil counts in adult humans and fetal lambs, also occurs in premature infants. This fact supports recent reports which propose the antenatal maternal administration of betamethasone as a cause of leukemoid reaction or leukocytosis after birth.
Interbank Contagion: An Agent-Based Model Approach to Endogenously Formed Networks

The potential impact of interconnected financial institutions on interbank financial systems is a financial stability concern for central banks and regulators. A number of algorithms/methods have been developed to extrapolate latent interbank risk exposures. However, most use highly stylized network models and reconstruction methods with global optimality lending allocation approaches such as maximizing entropy or minimizing costs. This paper argues that U.S. bank lending and borrowing decisions are largely suboptimal and performance-driven. We present an agent-based model to endogenously reconstruct interbank networks based on 6,600 banks' decision rules and behaviors reflected in quarterly balance sheets. The model formulation reproduces dynamics similar to those of the 2007-09 financial crisis and shows how bank losses and failures arise from network contagion and lending market illiquidity. When calibrated to post-crisis data from 2011-14, the model shows the banking system has reduced its likelihood of bank failures through network contagion and illiquidity, given a similar stress scenario.
Plutonium and Americium Geochemistry at Hanford: A Site Wide Review

This report was produced to provide a systematic review of the state-of-knowledge of plutonium and americium geochemistry at the Hanford Site. The report integrates existing knowledge of the subsurface migration behavior of plutonium and americium at the Hanford Site with available information in the scientific literature regarding the geochemistry of plutonium and americium in systems that are environmentally relevant to the Hanford Site. As a part of the report, key research needs are identified and prioritized, with the ultimate goal of developing a science-based capability to quantitatively assess risk at sites contaminated with plutonium and americium at the Hanford Site and the impact of remediation technologies and closure strategies.
Scrambling and information focus in old and contemporary portuguese

This paper proposes that object scrambling both in Old and Contemporary Portuguese is a strategy to create appropriate information focus configurations. Essentially, it makes the rightmost constituent that would otherwise bear the neutral sentence nuclear stress escape it. In narrow information focus structures this amounts to defocusing of the scrambled constituent. In broad information focus sentences the scrambled constituent is prosodically and pragmatically demoted with respect to salience. Thus, leftward displacement of the scrambled constituent either allows another constituent to acquire discourse/informational prominence or creates a ‘flat’ structure in that respect. The informational import of the scrambling strategy is constant throughout the history of Portuguese. But while Old Portuguese allowed both short scrambling (i.e. adjunction to VP) and middle scrambling (i.e. raising to multiple Spec,TP), only short scrambling is a grammatical option in Contemporary European Portuguese. Hence, Old Portuguese scrambling could derive SOV sentences whereas Contemporary European Portuguese scrambling maintains the object in postverbal position. The view that scrambling may induce loss or downgrading of discourse/ informational prominence as it removes constituents from the clause-final position to which such prominence is assigned is supported by cross-linguistic evidence (Taylor & Pintzuk 2010 for Old English, Pinkster 1990 and Devine & Stephens 2006 for Latin).