Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Harm-Made Mind

People often think that something must have a mind to be part of a moral interaction. However, the present research suggests that minds do not create morality but that morality creates minds. In four experiments, we found that observing intentional harm to an unconscious entity—a vegetative patient, a robot, or a corpse—leads to augmented attribution of mind to that entity. A fifth experiment reconciled these results with extant research on dehumanization by showing that observing the victimization of conscious entities leads to reduced attribution of mind to those entities. Taken together, these experiments suggest that the effects of victimization vary according to victims’ preexisting mental status and that people often make an intuitive cognitive error when unconscious entities are placed in harm’s way. People assume that if apparent moral harm occurs, then there must be someone there to experience that harm—a harm-made mind. These findings have implications for political policies concerning right-to-life issues.
No evidence for a major β‐cell dysfunction in young adults born with intra‐uterine growth retardation

Abstract: The association between low birth weight and the later development of type 2 diabetes is well established. It has been hypothesized that in utero undernutrition may affect pancreatic β‐cell development, leading to an impaired β‐cell function in adulthood. We have previously demonstrated that intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is associated with insulin‐resistance early in adulthood. The aim of this study was to test whether IUGR would affect β‐cell function in young adults. Twelve 25‐yr‐old insulin‐resistant subjects with IUGR were matched for age gender and body mass index (BMI) to 13 controls. All of them had normal glucose tolerance. Mean fasting plasma glucose did not significantly differ between the group with IUGR and the control group (97 ± 7 vs. 98 ± 4 mg/dL; p = 0.83). Blood glucose was maintained at 124.8 ± 6.5 vs. 126.2 ± 7.5 mg/dL above the basal glycemia in the IUGR and control groups (p = 0.64) throughout the hyperglycemic clamp. Serum insulin concentrations did not significantly differ between the group with IUGR and the control group either during the first (0–10 min) phase (311 ± 252 vs. 248 ± 184 pmol/L, p = 0.85) or during the second (80–100 min) phase (575 ± 284 vs. 559 ± 413 pmol/L, p = 0.72). C‐peptide concentrations were similar in both groups during the two phases (2.35 ± 1.44 vs. 2.59 ± 1.10 nmol/L, p = 0.39 and 4.86 ± 1.36 vs. 4.96 ± 1.41 nmol/L, p = 0.91). In conclusion, our data do not argue in favor of an impairment of β‐cell function at 25 yr of age as a consequence of in utero undernutrition, but rather suggest that insulin resistance might be the primary defect responsible for the development of metabolic disorders associated with IUGR in adulthood.
INFLUENCE OF CHELATES ON AVAILABILITY OF FISSION PRODUCTS TO PLANTS GROWN IN A CONTAMINATED SOIL

The effects of chelates such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), hydroxyethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (HE EDTA), cyclohexane- 1,2,- diaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA), diethylenetriaminepentancetic acid (DTPA), ethylenediamine di-o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (EDDHA), and an analog of EDDHA, Ra- 156, on the uptake of Y/sup 9//sup 1/, Sr/sup 9//sup 0/ Zn/sup 6//sup 5/ and Cs/ sup 1//sup 3//sup 7/ by bean plants grown in a contaminated calcareous soil were investigated. The plant uptake of Sr/sup 9//sup 0/ and Cs/sup 1//sup 3//sup 7/ was unaltered by chelate applications to the contaminated soil. Most of the chelates increased the plant uptake of Y/sup 9//sup 1/ and Zn/sup 6//sup 5/. DTPA and H-CDTA had the greatest effect in increasing the uptske of Y/sup 9//sup 1/ and Zn/sup 6//sup 5/. EDDHA and Ra/sup 1//sup 5//sup 6/ had no effect on Y/ sup 9//sup 1/ uptake. Na-EDDHA decreased Zn/sup 6//sup 5/ uptake. Leaf to root ratios for Y/sup 9//sup 1/ and Zn/sup 6//sup 5/ indicated that chelates increased the translocation of Y/sup 9//sup 1/ and Zn/sup 6//sup 5/ to the leaves from the roots. Part of the ineffectiveness of EDDHA and Ra/sup 1//sup 5//sup 6/ appeared to be their low chelation power at the pH level of the soil, which was 7.8. (auth)
Generalized regression neural networks in prediction of drug stability

This study had two aims. Firstly, we wanted to model the effects of the percentage of Eudragit RS PO and compression pressure as the most important process and formulation variables on the time course of drug release from extended‐release matrix aspirin tablets. Secondly, we investigated the possibility of predicting drug stability and shelf‐life using an artificial neural network (ANN). Ten types of matrix aspirin tablets were prepared as model formulations and were stored in stability chambers at 60°C, 50°C, 40°C and 30°C and controlled humidity. Samples were removed at predefined time points and analysed for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and salicylic acid (SA) content using stability‐indicating HPLC. The decrease in aspirin content followed apparent zero‐order kinetics. The amount of Eudragit RS PO and compression pressure were selected as causal factors. The apparent zero‐order rate constants for each temperature were chosen as output variables for the ANN. A set of output parameters and causal factors were used as training data for the generalized regression neural network (GRNN). For two additional test formulations, Arrhenius plots were constructed from the experimentally observed and GRNN‐predicted results. The slopes of experimentally observed and predicted Arrhenius plots were tested for significance using Student's t‐test. For test formulations, the shelf life (t95%) was then calculated from experimentally observed values (t95% 82.90 weeks), as well as from GRNN‐predicted values (t95% 81.88 weeks). These results demonstrate that GRNN networks can be used to predict ASA content and shelf life without stability testing for formulations in which the amount of polymer and tablet hardness are within the investigated range.
Importance of Highly Conserved Peptide Sites of Human Cytomegalovirus gO for Formation of the gH/gL/gO Complex

ABSTRACT The glycoprotein O (gO) is betaherpesvirus specific. Together with the viral glycoproteins H and L, gO forms a covalent trimeric complex that is part of the viral envelope. This trimer is crucial for cell-free infectivity of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) but dispensable for cell-associated spread. We hypothesized that the amino acids that are conserved among gOs of different cytomegaloviruses are important for the formation of the trimeric complex and hence for efficient virus spread. In a mutational approach, nine peptide sites, containing all 13 highly conserved amino acids, were analyzed in the context of HCMV strain TB40-BAC4 with regard to infection efficiency and formation of the gH/gL/gO complex. Mutation of amino acids (aa) 181 to 186 or aa 193 to 198 resulted in the loss of the trimer and a complete small-plaque phenotype, whereas mutation of aa 108 or aa 249 to 254 caused an intermediate phenotype. While individual mutations of the five conserved cysteines had little impact, their relevance was revealed in a combined mutation, which abrogated both complex formation and cell-free infectivity. C343 was unique, as it was sufficient and necessary for covalent binding of gO to gH/gL. Remarkably, however, C218 together with C167 rescued infectivity in the absence of detectable covalent complex formation. We conclude that all highly conserved amino acids contribute to the function of gO to some extent but that aa 181 to 198 and cysteines 343, 218, and 167 are particularly relevant. Surprisingly, covalent binding of gO to gH/gL is required neither for its incorporation into virions nor for proper function in cell-free infection. IMPORTANCE Like all herpesviruses, the widespread human pathogen HCMV depends on glycoproteins gB, gH, and gL for entry into target cells. Additionally, gH and gL have to bind gO in a trimeric complex for efficient cell-free infection. Homologs of gO are shared by all cytomegaloviruses, with 13 amino acids being highly conserved. In a mutational approach we analyzed these amino acids to elucidate their role in the function of gO. All conserved amino acids contributed either to formation of the trimeric complex or to cell-free infection. Notably, these two phenotypes were not inevitably linked as the mutation of a charged cluster in the center of gO abrogated cell-free infection while trimeric complexes were still being formed. Cysteine 343 was essential for covalent binding of gO to gH/gL; however, noncovalent complex formation in the absence of cysteine 343 also allowed for cell-free infectivity.
Intraspinal Endodermal Cyst: Ultrastructural Study of Abnormal Cilia

Abnormal cilia were demonstrated in the lining epithelial cells of three cases of intraspinal endodermal (bronchogenic) cyst. The changes comprised a wide spectrum of ultrastructural abnormalities, including (a) cilia with abnormal axonemal microtubules, (b) swollen cilia, (c) compound cilia with or without excessive ciliary matrix, (d) naked cilia without limiting membrane, and (e) intracytoplasmic cilia and aggregates of microtubules. Of these, compound cilia and swollen cilia were most common. Cilia with dynein arm deficiency were not observed. Ciliary abnormalities found in the present study were very similar to those described in the bronchial epithelium of various diseases. The present findings suggest that the lining epithelium of intraspinal endodermal cyst shares similar ciliogenesis and susceptibility to abnormal ciliary formation as that of the bronchial epithelium.
Clinical profile of benign joint hypermobility syndrome from a tertiary care military hospital in India

Joint hypermobility when associated with symptoms in the absence of systemic rheumatologic disease is termed as benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS). BJHS is often an under‐recognised and a poorly managed entity. Indian studies on BJHS are very few and none have been carried out in any of the service rheumatology centres. Hence this retrospective study was carried out at a tertiary medical institute of the Indian Army to assess the varied clinical profile of BJHS.
Self-controlled learning of a complex motor skill: Effects of the learner's preferences on performance and self-efficacy.

SUMMARY The present study exammes whether self-controlled practice enhances motor learning and self-efficacy beliefs more when it refers to an aspect of the learning situation which is preferred by the learner, rather than to an aspect which is not. Participants (N=52) practiced the forehand top spin stroke in table tennis and were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Two groups of learners (self-control) were given the option to control either a preferred practice condition (eg. schedule of video instruction) or a non-preferred practice condition (eg. variability of practice), whereas another two groups (yoked) had no influence on these practice schedules. While no group differences were found during the practice phase, both self-control groups showed learning benefits regarding the movement form on a delayed retention test. Moreover, self-control participants reported significantly higher self-efficacy beliefs than yoked participants. The results suggest that the effectiveness of self-controlled practice is independent of the learner's preferences regarding the practice situation. Future research should include cognitive and motivational variables in order to explain the learning advantages of self-controlled practice schedules.
Affectionate Touch to Promote Relational, Psychological, and Physical Well-Being in Adulthood: A Theoretical Model and Review of the Research

Throughout the life span, individuals engage in affectionate touch with close others. Touch receipt promotes well-being in infancy, but the impacts of touch in adult close relationships have been largely unexplored. In this article, we propose that affectionate touch receipt promotes relational, psychological, and physical well-being in adulthood, and we present a theoretical mechanistic model to explain why affectionate touch may promote these outcomes. The model includes pathways through which touch could affect well-being by reducing stress and by promoting well-being independent of stress. Specifically, two immediate outcomes of affectionate touch receipt—relational-cognitive changes and neurobiological changes—are described as important mechanisms underlying the effects of affectionate touch on well-being. We also review and evaluate the existing research linking affectionate touch to well-being in adulthood and propose an agenda to advance research in this area. This theoretical perspective provides a foundation for future work on touch in adult close relationships.
Genetic Basis of Variation in Linseed ( Linum usitatissimumL.) Cultivars

This investigation was conducted at the University of wales in 1991-1994. The work described in this paper concerned with the genetic basis of variation in important characters of linseed ( Linum usitatissimum L.) A 8x8 full diallel cross including reciprocals was carried out using the cultivars Linda, Lidgate, Cristal, Antares, Barbara, Blue-Chip, Norman and McGregor and eight characters, namely, days to flowering, plant height, number of basal branches per plant, number of seeds per capsule, 1000-seed weight, seed yield per plant, total plant weight and harvest index investigated. The results were subjected to several standard systems of analysis (1, 2, 3, 4) designed to separate additive, dominance and epistatic effects. The extensive genetic variability detected for most characters was due to additive gene action rather than dominant effects. As a consequence none of the parental cultivars were consistently high in general combining ability for all eight traits. So that, due to lack of several complementary gen action, a high variation in the future generations can not be expected.
Altered mental status is an indicator of mortality and associated with both infectious and non-communicable disease in Lilongwe, Malawi

Little is known about diseases associated with altered mental status (AMS) in resource-limited settings. We studied adult medicine patients presenting with AMS in Lilongwe, Malawi and found that AMS and HIV infection were each significantly associated with mortality. It is therefore critical that evaluation and management in this patient population is improved.
Asymptotic analysis of three‐dimensional pressure interference tests: A point source solution

Well test analyses conducted in steady state and transient flow regimes have complementary strengths and drawbacks. While steady state analyses are easy to interpret, they are useful only on a late‐time portion of the data collected during pressure interference tests and do not provide estimates of porosity. Transient type curve and numerical inverse approaches overcome these shortcomings but are harder to analyze, and their reliability can be affected by changing external forcings. We develop a new approach to estimate permeability and porosity from well tests, which is based on an asymptotic analysis of pressure transients during three‐dimensional pressure interference tests. Our approach results in a straight line data fitting, rendering the data interpretation straightforward. It also allows one to use intermediate‐to‐late time pressure data. To illustrate the advantages of the proposed technique, we use it to analyze data from several cross‐hole pneumatic injection tests conducted in unsaturated fractured tuff. We demonstrate that the equivalent permeabilities and porosities obtained from our analysis compare well with their counterparts inferred from more complicated approaches, such as type curve and numerical inverse analyses as well as from a steady state analysis.
Correlation Analysis of Rate Constants for Dechlorination by Zero-Valent Iron

Dehalogenation is among the most important processes involved in contaminant fate, but despite all the work that has been done on the kinetics of dehalogenation, there are few linear free energy relationships (LFERs) that can be used to explain or predict rates of dehalogenation by environmental reductants. Previously, we summarized kinetic data for dehalogenation of chlorinated alkanes and alkenes by zero-valent iron (Fe0) and showed that correlation analysis of these data with published two-electron reduction potentials did not give a simple relationship. In this study, we report successful LFERs based on estimated lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies calculated from semiempirical (AM1 and PM3) and ab initio methods (6-31G*) and one-electron reduction potentials. Solvation effects can be modeled with COSMO and incorporated into semiempirical estimates of ELUMO, but this did not improve the correlation with k. The best LFER (log k = −5.7−1.5 ELUMO) explains 83% of the variability in surfac.
Antiproliferation effects of oridonin on HPB‐ALL cells and its mechanisms of action

Oridonin, an ent‐kaurane diterpenoid derived from the herbal Rabdosia rubescens, has been recently reported to have antitumor effects on a large variety of cancer cells. The present study was undertaken to investigate the in vitro antiproliferation and apoptosis inducing effects of oridonin on HPB‐ALL cell lines and its mechanisms of action. HPB‐ALL cells in culture medium in vitro were treated with different concentrations of oridonin (16–56 μmol/L). MTT assay was used to detect the cell growth inhibitory rate, and the cell viability was assessed by the trypan blue dye‐exclusion method. Cell apoptosis and the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) were investigated by flow cytometry (FCM), Hoechst 33258 staining, and DNA fragmentation analysis. The expression of caspase‐3 and different apoptosis modulators, including Fas and Bcl‐2 family members, was analyzed by Western blotting. The results revealed that oridonin could significantly inhibit the growth of HPB‐ALL cells and cause apoptosis, and the suppression was both time‐ and dose‐dependent. After treatment with oridonin for 48 hr, the percentage of disruption of Δψm gradually increased in a dose‐dependent manner along with marked changes of cell apoptosis, and necrotic cells increased remarkably after the cells were treated with oridonin for 72 hr; Western blotting showed cleavage of the caspase‐3 zymogen protein (32 kDa) with the appearance of its 20‐kDa subunit when apoptosis occurred; expression of Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐XL was downregulated remarkably while expression of Bax and Bid was upregulated concurrently after the cells were treated with oridonin for 24 hr. Of note, the expressions of Fas and other Bcl‐2 family members including Bak and Bad remained constant before and after apoptosis occurred. We therefore conclude that oridonin has significant antiproliferation effects on HPB‐ALL cells by induction of apoptosis as well as directly causing cell necrosis and that oridonin‐induced apoptosis on HPB‐ALL cells is mainly related to the disruption of Δψm and activation of caspase‐3 as well as downregulation of anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐2, Bcl‐XL, and upregulation of pro‐apoptotic proteins Bax and Bid. The results indicate that oridonin may serve as a potential antileukemia reagent. Am. J. Hematol. 81:86–94, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Concomitant iguratimod therapy in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis despite stable doses of methotrexate: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

ObjectivesTo investigate the efficacy and safety of iguratimod (T-614) in Japanese patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who had inadequate response to stable background methotrexate (MTX) alone.MethodsIn this multicenter, double-blind, controlled trial, a total of 253 patients were randomized at 2:1 ratio to either the iguratimod group or the placebo group. Iguratimod was orally administered at dosages of 25 mg/day for the first 4 weeks (25 mg once daily) and 50 mg/day for the subsequent 20 weeks (25 mg twice daily). MTX at dosage of 6 or 8 mg/week was administered to patients in both groups.ResultsThe rate of 20 % improvement in American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR20) at week 24 was 69.5 % in the iguratimod group compared with 30.7 % in the placebo group (P < 0.001). Significant improvements in the ACR50, ACR70, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, Disease Activity Score 28 <3.2, and rheumatoid factor were also observed. The most commonly reported adverse events (AEs) were blood iron decrease, nasopharyngitis, and lymphocyte decrease. These AEs were mild or moderate in severity. No deaths occurred.ConclusionThe study results suggest that iguratimod in combination with MTX was efficacious and had a manageable safety profile.
Effect of a Nontechnical Skills Intervention on First-Year Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists' Skills During Crisis Simulation.

Simulation-based education provides a safe place for student registered nurse anesthetists to practice non-technical skills before entering the clinical arena. An anesthetist's lack of nontechnical skills contributes to adverse patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an educational intervention on nontechnical skills could improve the performance of nontechnical skills during anesthesia crisis simulation with a group of first-year student registered nurse anesthetists. Thirty-two first-year students volunteered for this quasi-experimental study. Each subject was videotaped and rated as he or she performed 6 simulated crisis scenarios: 3 scenarios before the intervention and 3 after the intervention. Findings revealed that the nontechnical skills mean posttest score was greater than pretest scores: t (df = 31) = 1.99, P = . 028. The mean gain in scores for standardized nontechnical skills were significantly greater than those for standardized technical skills: t (df = 30) = 1.81, P = . 04. In conclusion, a 3-hour educational intervention on nontechnical skills resulted in significant improvement. Nontechnical skills therefore are not acquired through experience, but rather through instruction. An educational intervention using the Anaesthetists' Non-Technical Skills system is a valuable tool in the measurement of nontechnical skills assessment of first-year student registered nurse anesthetists.