Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complex Role of Hypnotizability in the Cognitive Control of Pain

This opinion article deals with the role of hypnotizability in the efficacy of the suggestions of analgesia for the cognitive control of pain and of its physiological correlates. Hypnotizability is a multimensional trait including suggestibility (Raz, 2007) and other characteristics such as fantasy proneness, attitude to be deeply absorped in specific tasks/mental images (Green and Lynn, 2011; Dasse et al., 2015), strong functional equivalence between imagery and perception (Papalia et al., 2014; Santarcangelo, 2014; Ibanez-Marcelo et al., 2018). It predicts the proneness to accept suggestions (Green et al., 2005; Elkins et al., 2015) and is measured by scales so that the general population is classified as high (highs, about 15%), medium (mediums, about 70%) and low (lows, about 15%) susceptible to hypnosis (De Pascalis et al., 2000). In the ordinary state of consciousness and in the absence of specific suggestions, different levels of hypnotizability are associated with different cerebral (Landry et al., 2017), cerebellar (Bocci et al., 2017; Picerni et al., 2018), sensorimotor and cardiovascular characteristics (Santarcangelo and Scattina, 2016). The paper describes the interaction between explicit suggestions of analgesia and the expectation of pain relief (Huber et al., 2013; De Pascalis and Scacchia, 2016) on the basis of new findings regarding the hypnotisability-related polymorphism of opioid receptors μ1 (Presciuttini et al., 2018). In addition, the paper reports the observed joined influence of hypnotisability and cognitive-emotional traits (Madeo et al., 2015; Jensen et al., 2016) conceptualized as Behavioral Inhibition/Activation System (BIS/BAS) (Gray, 1990) and as Interoception/Interoceptive Awareness (Sebastiani et al., 2018; Varanini et al., 2018) on pain. Finally, the paper proposes that the observed morpho-functional peculiarities of the highs’ salience network—insula, cingulate and prefrontal cortex (Landry et al., 2017)—and cerebellum (Bocci et al., 2017; Picerni et al., 2018) may play a role in the complex role of hypnotizability in pain modulation. In this respect, it should be noted that, although hypnotisability is an approximately stable individual trait, socio-cognitive factors such as relational disposition and the manipulation of expectation can modulate the efficacy of suggestions (Kirsch, 2018). The possible biological substrates for some of these factors, for instance the oxytocn release during hypnotic interventions, are now emerging (Kasos et al., 2018).
Sepsis Induces a Long-Lasting State of Trained Immunity in Bone Marrow Monocytes

Innate immune memory describes the functional reprogramming of innate immune cells after pathogen contact, leading to either a boosted (trained immunity) or a diminished (immune tolerance) response to a secondary stimulus. Immune tolerance or “sepsis-induced immunosuppression” is a typical hallmark of patients after sepsis survival, characterized by hypo-responsiveness of the host's immune system. This condition renders the host vulnerable for a persisting infection or the occurrence of secondary, often opportunistic infections, along with an increased mortality rate. The mechanisms involved in the maintenance of this long-lasting condition are not examined yet. Polymicrobial abdominal sepsis was induced in 12 week old male C57BL/6 mice by cecal ligation and puncture. Mice were euthanized 3 months after insult. Immune cell composition of the spleen and whole blood, as well as stem and progenitor cells of the bone marrow, were assessed by flow cytometry. Whole blood and bone marrow monocytes were stimulated with LPS and supernatant levels of TNF and IL-6 detected by ELISA. Furthermore, naïve bone marrow monocytes were analyzed for metabolic (Seahorse technology) and transcriptomic (RNA sequencing) changes. Flow cytometric analysis revealed an increase of inflammatory monocytes and regulatory T cells in the spleen, whereby immune composition of whole blood kept unchanged. Granulocyte-monocyte progenitor cells are increased in sepsis survivors. Systemic cytokine response was unchanged after LPS challenge. In contrast, cytokine response of post-septic naïve bone marrow monocytes was increased. Metabolic analysis revealed enhanced glycolytic activity, whereas mitochondrial indices were not affected. In addition, RNA sequencing analysis of global gene expression in monocytes revealed a sustained signature of 367 differentially expressed genes. We here demonstrate that sepsis via functional reprogramming of naïve bone marrow monocytes induces a cellular state of trained immunity, which might be counteracted depending on the compartmental localization of the cell. These findings shed new light on the complex aftermath of sepsis and open up a new pathophysiological framework in need for further research.
Bioactive xanthoquinodins and epipolythiodioxopiperazines from Chaetomium globosum 7s-1, an endophytic fungus isolated from Rhapis cochinchinensis (Lour.) Mart

Abstract A new xanthoquinodin B9 (1), together with two known xanthoquinodins, xanthoquinodin A1 (2) and xanthoquinodin A3 (3), three epipolythiodioxopiperazines, chetomin (4), chaetocochin C (5) and dethio-tetra(methylthio)chetomin (6), and four other compounds, chrysophanol (7), emodin (8), alatinone (9), and ergosterol (10) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Chaetomium globosum 7s-1, isolated from Rhapis cochinchinensis (Lour.) Mart. All isolated structures were established based on their spectroscopic data analyses. Compounds 1–6 showed antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria with MICs ranging from 0.02 pM to 10.81 µM. Compounds 1–6 also exhibited cytotoxicity against KB, MCF-7 and NCI-H187 cancer cell lines (IC50 0.04–18.40 µM). However, they were cytotoxic towards a normal cell line (Vero cell) with IC50 values ranging from 0.04 to 3.86 µM. Graphical Abstract
Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Training on the Finger Extensor Muscles for the Contralateral Corticospinal Tract in Normal Subjects: A Diffusion Tensor Tractography Study

Objectives: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a popular rehabilitative modality to improve motor function of the extremities and trunk. In this study, we investigated changes of hand function and the contralateral corticospinal tract (CST) with treatment by NMES on the finger extensor muscles for 2 weeks, using serial diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Methods: Thirteen right handed normal subjects were recruited. Treatment was applied to the left hand (the NMES side), and the right hand was the control side. NMES was applied for 30 min/day, 7 days per week, for 2 weeks. Hand motor function was evaluated twice at pre-NMES and post-NMES training using grip strength (GS), Purdue pegboard test (PPT) and tip pinch. The fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and tract volume (TV) of the CST in both hemispheres were measured using DTT. Results: On the control side, the clinical scores did not differ significantly between pre- and post-NMES training (p > 0.05). However, on the NMES side, PPT and tip pinch improved significantly (p < 0.05), although GS did not. TV of the right CST increased significantly at post-NMES training (p < 0.05) whereas FA and MD did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). By contrast, FA, MD and TV on the left CST did not change significantly (p > 0.05). Conclusion: We demonstrated facilitation of the contralateral CST with improvement of fine motor activity by 2 weeks of NMES training of peripheral muscles in normal subjects. We think our results can be applied to the normal subjects and patients with brain injury to improve the fine motor function of the hand and facilitate the normal CST or healing of the injured CST.
Dual mobility cups in primary total hip arthroplasties: trend over time in use, patient characteristics, and mid-term revision in 3,038 cases in the Dutch Arthroplasty Register (2007–2016)

Background and purpose — We noticed an increased use of dual mobility cups (DMC) in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) despite limited knowledge of implant longevity. Therefore, we determined the trend over time and mid-term cup revision rates of DMC compared with unipolar cups (UC) in primary THA. Patients and methods — All primary THA registered in the Dutch Arthroplasty Register (LROI) during 2007–2016 were included (n = 215,953) and divided into 2 groups — DMC THA (n = 3,038) and UC THA (n = 212,915). Crude competing risk and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed with cup revision for any reason as primary endpoint. Adjustments were made for sex, age, diagnosis at primary THA, previous operation, ASA score, type of fixation, surgical approach, and femoral head size. Results — The proportion of primary DMC THA increased from 0.8% (n = 184) in 2010 to 2.6% (n = 740) in 2016. Patients who underwent DMC THA more often had a previous operation on the affected hip, a higher ASA score, and the diagnosis acute fracture or late posttraumatic status compared with the UC THA group. Overall 5-year cup revision rate was 1.5% (95% CI 1.0–2.3) for DMC and 1.4% (CI 1.3–1.4) for UC THA. Stratified analyses for patient characteristics showed no differences in cup revision rates between the 2 groups. Multivariable regression analyses showed no statistically significantly increased risk for revision for DMC THA (HR 0.9 [0.6–1.2]). Interpretation — The use of primary DMC THA increased with differences in patient characteristics. The 5-year cup revision rates for DMC THA and UC THA were comparable.
Mechanisms of unprimed and dexamethasone‐primed nonviral gene delivery to human mesenchymal stem cells

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are under intense study for applications of cell and gene therapeutics because of their unique immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. Safe and efficient genetic modification of hMSCs could increase their clinical potential by allowing functional expression of therapeutic transgenes or control over behavior and differentiation. Viral gene delivery is efficient, but suffers from safety issues, while nonviral methods are safe, but highly inefficient, especially in hMSCs. Our lab previously demonstrated that priming cells before delivery of DNA complexes with dexamethasone (DEX), an anti‐inflammatory glucocorticoid drug, significantly increases hMSC transfection success. This work systematically investigates the mechanisms of hMSC transfection and DEX‐mediated enhancement of transfection. Our results show that hMSC transfection and its enhancement by DEX are decreased by inhibiting classical intracellular transport and nuclear import pathways, but DEX transfection priming does not increase cellular or nuclear internalization of plasmid DNA (pDNA). We also show that hMSC transgene expression is largely affected by pDNA promoter and enhancer sequence changes, but DEX‐mediated enhancement of transfection is unaffected by any pDNA sequence changes. Furthermore, DEX‐mediated transfection enhancement is not the result of increased transgene messenger RNA transcription or stability. However, DEX‐priming increases total protein synthesis by preventing hMSC apoptosis induced by transfection, resulting in increased translation of transgenic protein. DEX may also promote further enhancement of transgenic reporter enzyme activity by other downstream mechanisms. Mechanistic studies of nonviral gene delivery will inform future rationally designed technologies for safe and efficient genetic modification of clinically relevant cell types.
Epidemiology of Concussions in High School Boys' Ice Hockey, 2008/09 to 2016/17 School Years.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the epidemiology of concussions in high school boys' ice hockey during the 2008/09 to 2016/17 school years. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. Athletic trainers from an average 33 high schools annually reported boys' ice hockey concussion and athlete-exposure (AE) data for the High School Reporting Information Online system. SETTING Convenience sample of high school boys' ice hockey programs during the 2008/09 to 2016/17 school years. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS High school boys' ice hockey players (aged ∼14-18 years). INDEPENDENT VARIABLES Concussion data on event type, injury mechanism, symptom resolution time, and time loss were obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Concussion rates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and distributions were calculated. RESULTS Overall, 348 concussions were reported in boys' ice hockey during the 2008/09 to 2016/17 academic years, leading to a concussion rate of 0.68/1000 AEs (95% CI, 0.61-0.75). Most occurred in competitions (85.6%), particularly after the first period (72.1% of all competition concussions). Among practice concussions, most occurred after the first hour of practice (60.0%). Most concussions were due to player contact (47.7%) and boards/glass contact (31.9%). Although 69.0% of concussed athletes had symptoms resolve in less than 7 days, only 14.1% returned to activity within a week. CONCLUSIONS Most concussions occurred within the second and third periods. Preventive strategies that counter an increased risk of concussion due to a greater intensity of gameplay coupled with increased fatigue may be warranted. Moreover, athletes may further benefit from prevention efforts that focus on anticipating impacts during gameplay.
Predictors of Persistent Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms: Findings From a General Population Study

Objective: To explore the persistency of Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS) and its prognostic factors in the general adult population. Knowledge of prognostic factors of MUS may indicate possible avenues for intervention development. Methods: Data were derived from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (NEMESIS-2), a nationally representative face-to-face cohort study among the Dutch general population aged 18–64 years. We selected subjects with MUS at baseline and who participated at follow-up (N = 324) and reassessed those subjects for having MUS at 3 year follow-up. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine risk factors for persistency of MUS. Results: 36.4% of the subjects had persistent MUS at follow-up. In logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex and age, persistency of MUS was predicted by the number of comorbid chronic medical disorder(s), lower education, female sex, not having a paid job, parental psychopathology as well as lower functioning. In the logistic regression analysis in which all significant variables adjusted for sex and age were entered simultaneously, three variables predicted persistent MUS: parental psychopathology, the number of comorbid chronic medical disorder(s) and physical functioning, with odds ratios of 2.01 (1.20–3.38), 1.19 (1.01–1.40), and 0.99 (0.97–1.00), respectively. Conclusion: In the adult general population, MUS were persistent in over one third of the subjects with MUS at baseline. Persistency was significantly predicted by parental psychopathology, number of comorbid chronic medical disorders, and physical functioning. These findings warrant further research into early intervention and treatment options for persons with an increased risk of persistent MUS.
Synthesis and X-Ray Structure of [N,N-Bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-1-hydroxy-2-aminoethane](3,5-dimethylpyrazole) copper(II) dinitrate

The tridentate ligand N,N-Bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-1-hydroxy-2-aminoethane (L) has been prepared in one step by condensation of two equivalents of 1-hydroxymethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazole with one equivalent of 2-aminoethanol. This reaction is carried out under microwave irradiation (60 W) in the absence of solvent for 20 min [1]. Using this ligand L a new Cu(II) dinitrate complex has been prepared. The single-crystal X-ray structure of the title compound, [N,N-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-1-hydroxy-2-aminoethane] (3,5-dimethylpyrazole)copper(II) dinitrate, revels that the copper (II) ion is coordinated to two pyrazole nitrogens, one tertiary amine nitrogen of the ligand L and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, and in the apical position by an alcohol O atom.
A New Schizophrenia Model: Immune Activation is Associated with the Induction of Different Neurotoxic Products which Together Determine Memory Impairments and Schizophrenia Symptom Dimensions.

OBJECTIVE Recently, we reported that stable-phase schizophrenia is characterized by two interrelated symptom dimensions: PHEMN (psychotic, hostility, excitation, mannerism and negative symptoms); and DAPS (depressive, anxiety and physio-somatic symptoms) and that Major Neuro-Cognitive psychosis (MNP) is the full-blown phenotype of schizophrenia (largely overlapping with deficit schizophrenia). Herein we examined the effects of immune activation in association with tryptophan catabolite (TRYCAT) patterning and memory disorders on PHEMN/DAPS dimensions and MNP. METHODS Serum levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1), soluble interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (sIL-1RA), IL-10, eotaxin, IgA/IgM responses to TRYCATs, and Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) tests were assessed in 40 controls and 80 schizophrenia patients. RESULTS Schizophrenia and MNP were predicted by significantly increased levels of IL-10, eotaxin and TRYCATs. A large part of variance in both PHEMN/DAPS symptom dimensions (42.8%) was explained by cytokine levels and TRYCATs combined. The MIP+sIL-1RA+IL-10 composite score and eotaxin explained each around on the basis of 19% of the variance in symptom dimensions, and approximately 18% of memory deficits. Moreover, MIP+sIL-1RA+IL-10 was significantly associated with elevations in picolinic acid, xanthurenic acid and 3-OH-kynurenine. Partial Least Squares path modeling shows that highly significant effects of MIP+sIL-1RA+IL-10 on symptomatology are mediated by the effects of noxious TRYCATs on memory deficits. CONCLUSION Current findings indicate that in schizophrenia, immune activation may underpin activation of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase and kynurenine monooxygenase, while impairments in episodic and semantic memory may be caused by the neurotoxic effects of TRYCATs and eotaxin. The combined effects of immune activation, eotaxin and memory defects determine to a large extent, PHEMN/DAPS symptoms and the MNP phenotype. These findings indicate that schizophrenia phenomenology is largely mediated by multiple neuro-immune pathways and that immune activation, increased production of eotaxin and neurotoxic TRYCATs (picolinic acid, xanthurenic acid and 3-HOkynurenine) are new drug targets in schizophrenia and MNP.
Permutation and Grouping Methods for Sharpening Gaussian Process Approximations

ABSTRACT Vecchia’s approximate likelihood for Gaussian process parameters depends on how the observations are ordered, which has been cited as a deficiency. This article takes the alternative standpoint that the ordering can be tuned to sharpen the approximations. Indeed, the first part of the article includes a systematic study of how ordering affects the accuracy of Vecchia’s approximation. We demonstrate the surprising result that random orderings can give dramatically sharper approximations than default coordinate-based orderings. Additional ordering schemes are described and analyzed numerically, including orderings capable of improving on random orderings. The second contribution of this article is a new automatic method for grouping calculations of components of the approximation. The grouping methods simultaneously improve approximation accuracy and reduce computational burden. In common settings, reordering combined with grouping reduces Kullback–Leibler divergence from the target model by more than a factor of 60 compared to ungrouped approximations with default ordering. The claims are supported by theory and numerical results with comparisons to other approximations, including tapered covariances and stochastic partial differential equations. Computational details are provided, including the use of the approximations for prediction and conditional simulation. An application to space-time satellite data is presented.
Design and Evaluation of Cloud-Based Students Data Management System Usability

Cloud Computing Technology provides computing centers, providing an infrastructure for services [4]. services over Internet Protocol (IP), such as virtual private However, it is not necessary to incur administrative and networks (VPN), servers, storage, applications and hosting maintenance costs while moving the IT infrastructure into services needed by organizations and educational institutions. the Cloud computing [5]. Furthermore, today, there is In educational and learning institutions, this technology helps users (i.e., students, instructors, researchers, and administrators) to perform their tasks effectively with less cost and utilize the services that available by cloud-based applications offered by cloud service providers. This study is aimed to develop and evaluate a Student Data Management System (SDMS) in terms of system usability based on cloud database as a service (DaaS) to provide the necessary information to improve educational performance management in Yemen. This pilot study was conducted in five Language and Computer Institutes in Aden city of Yemen. The usability testing of this system was carried out on 45 teachers andadministrative staff as the participants of this study. The results showed that 95.8 % of the participants agree to use SDMS frequently, 95.5% agree that SDMS was easy to learn and 95.6% participants agree that SDMS was easy to use. In the final result of SDMS usability evaluation, a mean usability score of 83.6 was reported, this score indicates an excellent evaluation from the respondents based on the SUS score evaluation by Bangor et al. (2008), In other words there was a significant success of using cloud computing technology in terms of managing and storing of student’s data to improve educational performance management in developing countries that facing severe strains on the national economy such as Yemen.