Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Development in Toddlers Born Very Low Birth Weight and Full-term

Research suggests that regional structural differences can be associated with the neurodevelopmental impairments faced by children born very low birth weight. However, most studies have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the neonatal period or during adolescence. The current study used structural MRI to examine relationships between regional volume differences in toddlers (18—22 months adjusted age) born very low birth weight (n = 16) and full-term (n = 10) and neurodevelopmental outcomes, including cognition, language, and early executive functioning. Compared with the full-term group, the very low birth weight group had larger third ventricles and smaller cerebral white matter, thalamus, hippocampus, cerebellum white matter, and anterior cingulate volume. Additionally, a significant interaction was found between language and early executive function scores and cerebral white matter volumes between groups, suggesting that young children born very low birth weight can have different trajectories in the growth and development of overall brain structure.
Effects of dorsal and lateral decubitus on peak expiratory flow in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND One of the measures of the pulmonary function is the peak expiratory flow (PEF) that can be defined as the major flow obtained in an expiratory pressure after a complete inspiration to the level of the total lung capacity. This measure depends on the effort and strength of expiratory muscles, the airway diameter and the lung volume. OBJECTIVE To compare the results of the peak expiratory flow in healthy male and female obtained in a seated position and dorsal decubitus (DD), right lateral decubitus (RLD) and left lateral decubitus (LLD). METHOD Thirty young subjects with mean age 22.7 years, healthy and non-smokers were included at the study, 15 of male sex. They did spirometry and IPAQ questionnaire to check the normal pulmonary function and physical activity level. The measures of PEF were performed in four positions, being performed 3 measures in which position, in a random order. Statistical analysis was performed according to Student's t test, with significance level set at 5%. RESULTS There was a difference between the values obtained in sitting position (481±117.1 L/min) with DD(453.2±116.3 L/min) and RLD (454±112.9 L/min) (p<0.05), however, did not find a significant difference between the sitting position and LLD (469±83 L/min). CONCLUSIONS Body position affects the values of PEF, with decreasing values in DD and RLD. The LLD can be an alternative to optimize the expiratory flow in situations of constraint to the sitting position.
The role of CD8+ T lymphocytes in coxsackievirus B3-induced myocarditis

Coxsackievirus infections have previously been shown to cause acute or chronic myocarditis in humans, and several mouse models have been established to study the pathology of this disease. Myocardial injury may result from direct viral effects and/or may be immune mediated. To determine the relative roles of these processes in pathogenesis, we have compared coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infections of normal and immuno-compromised transgenic knockout (ko) mice. CVB3 was able to infect all strains used (C57BL/6, CD4ko, and beta-microglobulin ko [beta 2Mko]), and following intraperitoneal injection, two disease processes could be distinguished. First, the virus caused early (3 to 7 days postinfection) death in a viral dose-dependent manner. Immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice were highly susceptible (50% lethal dose = 70 PFU), while immunodeficient transgenic ko mice were less susceptible, showing 10- and 180-fold increases in the 50% lethal dose (for CD4ko and beta 2Mko mice, respectively). Second, a histologic examination of surviving CD4ko mice at 7 days postinfection revealed severe myocarditis; the inflammatory infiltrate comprised 40 to 50% macrophages, 30 to 40% NK cells, and 10 to 20% CD8+ T lymphocytes. The infiltration resolved over the following 2 to 3 weeks, with resultant myocardial fibrosis. In vivo depletion of CD8+ T lymphocytes from these CD4ko mice led to a marked reduction in myocarditis and an increase in myocardial virus titers. beta 2Mko mice, which lack antiviral CD8+ T cells, are much less susceptible to early death and to the development of myocarditis. We conclude that our data support a strong immunopathologic component in CVB3-induced disease and implicate both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Compared with immunocompetent animals, (i) mice lacking CD4+ T cells (CD4ko) were more resistant to virus challenge, and (ii) mice lacking CD8+ T cells (beta 2Mko and in vivo-depleted CD4ko) showed enhanced survival and a reduced incidence of the later myocarditis. Nevertheless, the picture is complex, since (iii) removal of the CD4+ component, while protecting against early death, greatly magnified the severity of myocarditis, and (iv) removal of the CD8+ cells from CD4ko mice, although protecting against early death and later myocarditis, led to markedly increased virus titers in the heart. These data underscore the complex balance between the costs and benefits of effective antiviral immune responses.
Effect of Oral Ketoconazole on Oral and Intravenous Pharmacokinetics of Simvastatin and Its Acid in Cynomolgus Monkeys

Drugs with potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) may have a limited scope of use and, at worst, may have to be withdrawn from the market. Therefore, during the drug discovery process it is important to select drug candidates with reduced potential for DDIs. In the present study, we evaluated the pharmacokinetics of simvastatin (SV), a typical substrate for cytochrome P450 (P450) 3A, and examined the DDI between SV and ketoconazole (KTZ), a P450 3A inhibitor, in monkeys. SV metabolism in monkey liver and intestinal microsomes was almost completely inhibited by addition of anti-P450 3A4 antiserum. A similar effect was seen in human microsomes, and the IC50 values of KTZ for inhibition of SV metabolism were similar in monkey and human samples. In vivo, there were no significant differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of SV and SVA after i.v. administration of SV in the presence of KTZ compared with those in controls, probably because of the limited systemic exposure to KTZ. In contrast, the pharmacokinetics of SV and SVA after p.o. administration of SV were significantly influenced by the presence of KTZ, and Cmax and area under the plasma concentration-time curve were approximately 5 to 10 times higher than those after p.o. dosing with SV alone. The increases in systemic SV exposure caused by a concomitant p.o. dose of KTZ in monkeys were similar to those observed in clinical studies, which suggests that monkeys might be a suitable animal model in which to predict DDIs involving P450 3A inhibition.
Diseconomies of Scale, Information Processing and Hierarchy Costs: Evidence from Asset Management

Previous research has suggested that information processing and hierarchy costs play a role in firm-level diseconomies of scale. Using separate accounts (SAs) as a laboratory, we examine if these costs vary across investment style (quantitative vs. fundamental) and what role, if any, they play in producing diseconomies of scale. Consistent with lower hierarchy costs, the average investment professional (e.g., portfolio manager, research analyst, and trader) at a quantitative investment advisor manages two to three times more assets than fundamental advisors. Consistent with greater use of hard information and lower information processing costs, the performance of quantitative SAs exhibit higher factor model R2s, and greater stability in factor betas and tracking error after a change in the management team than fundamental SAs. Moreover, we find higher information diffusion speed in quant SA firms than in fundamental firms, also consistent with lower information processing costs. Finally, controlling for liquidity costs, we find the performance of quantitative SAs is unrelated to size, while fundamental SAs exhibit statistically and economically significant diseconomies of scale. Overall, our results suggest that information processing and hierarchy costs are a source of diseconomies of scale in asset management.
Physiological role of reactive oxygen species as promoters of natural defenses

It has been 60 yr since the discovery of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in biology and the beginning of the scientific community’s attempt to understand the impact of the unpaired electron of ROS molecules in biological pathways, which was eventually noted to be toxic. Several studies have shown that the presence of ROS is essential in triggering or acting as a secondary factor for numerous pathologies, including metabolic and genetic diseases; however, it was demonstrated that chronic treatment with antioxidants failed to show efficacy and positive effects in the prevention of diseases or health complications that result from oxidative stress. On the contrary, such treatment has been shown to sometimes even worsen the disease. Because of the permanent presence of ROS in organisms, elaborate mechanisms to adapt with these reactive molecules and to use them without necessarily blocking or preventing their actions have been studied. There is now a large body of evidence that shows that living organisms have conformed to the presence of ROS and, in retrospect, have adapted to the bioactive molecules that are generated by ROS on proteins, lipids, and DNA. In addition, ROS have undergone a shift from being molecules that invoked oxidative damage in regulating signaling pathways that impinged on normal physiological and redox responses. Working in this direction, this review unlocks a new conception about the involvement of cellular oxidants in the maintenance of redox homeostasis in redox regulation of normal physiological functions, and an explanation for its essential role in numerous pathophysiological states is noted. —Roy, J., Galano, J.‐M. , Durand, T. , Le Guennec, J.‐Y. , Lee, J. C. ‐Y. Physiological role of reactive oxygen species as promoters of natural defenses. FASEB J. 31, 3729–3745 (2017). www.fasebj. org—Roy, Jérôme, Galano, Jean‐Marie, Durand, Thierry, Le Guennec, Jean‐Yves, Chung‐Yung Lee, Jetty Physiological role of reactive oxygen species as promoters of natural defenses. FASEB J. 31, 3729–3745 (2017)
Reference Dependence and Incremental WTP

Applications using the standard willingness to pay (WTP) approach (where a respondent is asked his/her WTP for each option) have brought to light inherent difficulties in terms of discriminating between various options. Although an incremental WTP approach (where a less preferred option is used as a point of reference to value more preferred options) has been devised to encourage more discrimination, a theoretical basis for this approach has not been elucidated, and results from initial testing of this approach have proved inconclusive. We offer a theoretical basis for this approach, based on the theory of reference dependent preferences. We test our model in a study assessing preferences for emergency care services in France. Our empirical findings are in line with our theoretical framework, showing the standard WTP approach fails to discriminate between alternative options for which there is a strict preference ranking. The incremental approach provides discriminating values and provides a better method for determining preferences in priority-setting and policy contexts.
Ozone-Induced Changes in Antioxidant Systems of Ginkgo Biloba in Relation to the Developmental Stage of the Leaves

Ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) pollution has adverse effects on the trees grown in urban area. Using open top chambers, responses of antioxidant systems were detected in Ginkgo biloba leaves at different developmental stages after a long term O<sub>3</sub> exposure (O<sub>3</sub> concentration ≈ 80 nmol mol<sup>-1</sup>). As leaf size is closely related to the developmental stage, leaves with different sizes were chosen to indicate the various developmental stages. The results suggested that activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) were induced to a higher level in younger leaves with 50% expansion size under elevated O<sub>3</sub> exposure, whereas O<sub>3</sub>-induced decrease in APX and SOD activities was found in the 80% and 100% expanded ones. Dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activity and ascorbate (Asc) content were not affected by high O<sub>3</sub> in 50% expanded leaves, but the O<sub>3</sub>-induced decrease in them occurred in the 80% and 100% expanded ones. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) contents increased significantly in the 80% and 100% expanded leaves at elevated O<sub>3</sub>. However, O<sub>3</sub>-induced increase in MDA and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> contents did not reach the significant level in the 50% expanded leaves, indicating the higher resistance to O<sub>3</sub> in the younger leaves. The positive responses of antioxidant systems could be responsible for the higher resistance to O<sub>3</sub> in the younger leaves.
A Randomized Trial of the Positive Thoughts and Action Program for Depression Among Early Adolescents

This study was conducted to compare the outcomes of a group-based cognitive-behavioral preventive intervention (Positive Thoughts and Actions [PTA]) tailored to youth in middle school with a brief, individually administered supportive intervention (Individual Support Program [ISP]). A randomized, controlled trial was conducted with 120 early adolescents (72 girls, 48 boys; age = 11–15 years) who had elevated depressive symptoms and were selected from a school-based population. Measures of internalizing problems, externalizing problems, personal adjustment, school problems, and interpersonal relations were obtained from parents, youth, and/or teachers at preintervention (Time 1) and postintervention (Time 2, 5–7 months after preintervention). General linear model repeated measures analyses yielded a significant Group × Time interaction on youth-reported, but not parent-reported, depressive symptoms and internalizing symptoms. Youth in the PTA group showed greater decreases following intervention compared to youth who received ISP, yielding effect sizes (Cohen's d) of 0.36 for depressive symptoms, 95% CI [–. 02, . 73], and 0.44, 95% CI [. 05, . 82], for internalizing symptoms. PTA youth also showed improvements in their personal adjustment (sense of inadequacy, self-esteem), and parent-reported social skills, but no differences emerged between groups for externalizing symptoms, school problems, or interpersonal relationships. Cognitive-behavioral preventive interventions in which youth engage in personal goal-setting and practice social-emotional skills, such as PTA, may be beneficial for the reduction of depressive symptoms over and above general support and empathy.
Governments, Parliaments and Legislative Activity*

Various strands of literature in comparative politics suggest that there is a differential impact of the type of government and their supporting legislative coalitions in parliamentary democracies, for example, in terms of their size and ideological heterogeneity, and on their potential to induce policy change. Most studies in this area focus on governments as agenda-setters, possibly neglecting the role of parliaments as a further key actor in policy making. In this article, we address the broader question as to how patterns of conflict within parliament effect legislative activity of governments and parliamentary actors. Through a simultaneous analysis of the success and event history of over 12,000 legislative bills in three parliamentary systems and one semi-presidential system from 1986 until 2003, we show how the interplay of actor motivations and institutional settings has a discriminating impact on the potential of both the government and parliament to induce policy change.
Issue selection flexibility and strategic rigidity: Lessons from Sharp's crisis

This study explores the relationship between attention to managerial issues and organizational inertia. Past research shows that rigid cognition makes managers focus on specific issues during strategy formulation, and such focus prevents from altering strategies. In this study we introduce the idea from an attention based-view that issues move in and out of the focus. Analyzing the case of the Sharp Corporation from this viewpoint, it was found that top managers frequently changed peripheral issues and their answers while central issues and answers remained unchanged. Managers used several issues flexibly for justifying their fixed answers for their central issues. From this case, we get some new propositions that flexible change of issues rather prevents from changing strategies, if the managers f cognition is rigid.
Effects of High-Fidelity Patient Simulation on Nursing Students’ Resuscitation-Specific Self-Efficacy

The purpose of this study was to assess the difference in measures of pretest and posttest self-efficacy following simulation-based training and to compare differences in self-efficacy between nursing students exposed to medium- or high-fidelity patient simulations. This study used a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. A convenience sample of 163 second-year nursing students was assigned to either the high-fidelity patient simulation group (n = 28) or medium-fidelity simulation group (n = 135). Resuscitation-specific self-efficacy was measured at pretest and posttest. The overall mean self-efficacy score was higher at posttest compared with pretest in both the high-fidelity group (t = 9.327, P < .001) and medium-fidelity group (t = 6.568, P < .001). Nursing students exposed to high-fidelity patient simulation reported significantly higher scores on a debriefing and recording subscale (t = 5.578, P < .001), responding and rescuing subscale (t = 5.811, P < .001), reporting subscale (t = 3.441, P = .001), and overall scale score (t = 4.737, P < .001) compared with the medium-fidelity simulation group. Simulation-based training has a positive impact on improving self-efficacy. Additional high-fidelity simulation is more effective than medium-fidelity simulation only in improving nursing students’ self-efficacy. There is a need to boost the self-efficacy of the students through mastery experiences in their learning curriculum.
CORRELATION OF FAS AND FAS LIGAND EXPRESSION WITH REJECTION STATUS OF TRANSPLANTED HEART IN HUMAN1

Background. Activation of pro-apoptotic systems has been proven in rejection model of animal heart transplantation. The role of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) in graft rejection is not fully understood, and the expression changes of these genes in human transplanted heart have not been elucidated. Methods. Endomyocardial biopsy samples were taken from 13 consecutive patients undergoing heart transplantation at various times, and they were classified into rejection (REJ, grade 3A or more) and lack of rejection (TOL, grade 1B or less) by International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation rejection grade. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the status of Fas and FasL expression in each sample. Results. Fas was constitutively expressed both in REJ and TOL specimens (expression levels normalized by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression in semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of REJ vs. TOL, 0.842±0.096 vs. 0.848±0.103, P =0.776); however, FasL expression was detected in 66% of REJ samples and 40% of TOL samples. Normalized levels of FasL expression were 0.591±0.494 (REJ) and 0.383±0.507 (TOL) (P <0.05). FasL was expressed by cardiomyocytes as well as graft-infiltrating cells. Conclusions. This up-regulation of FasL may be one of possible mechanisms of apoptosis in rejection process of human cardiac allograft.
Long-Term Prophylaxis of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Patients with Cirrhosis

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature regarding long-term prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in patients with cirrhosis. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE (1967–September 2004) and bibliographic search of the English-language literature was conducted using the search terms spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, cirrhosis, antimicrobial, and prophylaxis. DATA SYNTHESIS: Long-term antimicrobial prophylaxis has been shown to decrease recurrent SBP in cirrhotics with a prior episode. Prophylaxis in patients with low ascitic fluid protein has also been shown to reduce the incidence of SBP; however, studies are too in-homogeneous to identify subgroups that benefit the most. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term antimicrobial therapy should be considered for secondary prophylaxis of SBP. Studies should be done to confirm this benefit and identify subsets of patients with low ascitic fluid protein who clearly benefit.
Shaping Phenotype, Function, and Survival of Dendritic Cells by Cytomegalovirus-Encoded IL-101

Human dendritic cells (DCs) are essential for the antiviral immune response and represent a strategically important target for immune evasion of viruses, including human CMV (HCMV). Recently, HCMV has been discovered to encode a unique IL-10 homologue (cmvIL-10). In this study we investigated the capacity of cmvIL-10 to shape phenotype, function, and survival of DCs. For comparison we included human IL-10 and another IL-10 homologue encoded by EBV, which does not directly target DCs. Interestingly, cmvIL-10 strongly activated STAT3 in immature DCs despite its low sequence identity with human IL-10. For most molecules cmvIL-10 blocked LPS-induced surface up-regulation, confirming its role as an inhibitor of maturation. However, a small number of molecules on LPS-treated DCs including IDO, a proposed tolerogenic molecule, showed a different behavior and were up-regulated in response to cmvIL-10. Intriguingly, the expression of C-type lectin DC-specific ICAM-grabbing nonintegrin, a receptor for HCMV infection found exclusively on DCs, was also enhanced by cmvIL-10. This phenotypic change was mirrored by the efficiency of HCMV infection. Moreover, DCs stimulated with LPS and simultaneously treated with cmvIL-10 retained the function of immature DCs. Finally, cmvIL-10 increased apoptosis associated with DC maturation by blocking up-regulation of the antiapoptotic long form cellular FLIP. Taken together, these findings show potential mechanisms by which cmvIL-10 could assist HCMV to infect DCs and to impair DC function and survival.
Personal factors related to compassion fatigue in health professionals

This study examines the role of some personal and professional factors in compassion fatigue among health-care professionals. Research participants included 182 (89 mental and 93 medical) health-care professionals who completed an assessment battery measuring compassion fatigue, emotion management, trait emotional intelligence, situation-specific coping strategies, and negative affect. Major findings indicate that both self-report “trait” emotional intelligence and ability-based emotion management are inversely associated with compassion fatigue; adaptive coping is inversely related to compassion fatigue; and differences exist between mental and medical professions in emotional intelligence, coping strategies, and negative affect. Furthermore, problem-focused coping appears to mediate the association between trait emotional intelligence and compassion fatigue. These findings shed light on the role of emotional factors in compassion fatigue among health-care professionals. Beyond enhancing our knowledge of practitioners' professional quality of life, the current study serves as a basis for the early identification of groups of practitioners at risk for compassion fatigue.