Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disrupted Prediction Error Links Excessive Amygdala Activation to Excessive Fear

Basolateral amygdala (BLA) is critical for fear learning, and its heightened activation is widely thought to underpin a variety of anxiety disorders. Here we used chemogenetic techniques in rats to study the consequences of heightened BLA activation for fear learning and memory, and to specifically identify a mechanism linking increased activity of BLA glutamatergic neurons to aberrant fear. We expressed the excitatory hM3Dq DREADD in rat BLA glutamatergic neurons and showed that CNO acted selectively to increase their activity, depolarizing these neurons and increasing their firing rates. This chemogenetic excitation of BLA glutamatergic neurons had no effect on the acquisition of simple fear learning, regardless of whether this learning led to a weak or strong fear memory. However, in an associative blocking task, chemogenetic excitation of BLA glutamatergic neurons yielded significant learning to a blocked conditioned stimulus, which otherwise should not have been learned about. Moreover, in an overexpectation task, chemogenetic manipulation of BLA glutamatergic neurons prevented use of negative prediction error to reduce fear learning, leading to significant impairments in fear inhibition. These effects were not attributable to the chemogenetic manipulation enhancing arousal, increasing asymptotic levels of fear learning or fear memory consolidation. Instead, chemogenetic excitation of BLA glutamatergic neurons disrupted use of prediction error to regulate fear learning. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Several neuropsychiatric disorders are characterized by heightened activation of the amygdala. This heightened activation has been hypothesized to underlie increased emotional reactivity, fear over generalization, and deficits in fear inhibition. Yet the mechanisms linking heightened amygdala activation to heightened emotional learning are elusive. Here we combined chemogenetic excitation of rat basolateral amygdala glutamatergic neurons with a variety of behavioral approaches to show that, although simple fear learning is unaffected, the use of prediction error to regulate this learning is profoundly disrupted, leading to formation of inappropriate fear associations and impaired fear inhibition.
Sexual identity following breast cancer treatments in premenopausal women

The phenomenon in focus for this study was the sexual identity preserved in premenopausal women due to breast cancer treatments. During the last decade the methods of breast cancer treatments have become more aggressive and many women have had to undergo surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, as well as three to five years of hormone therapy. All these forms of treatment can have negative side effects on their sexual capability. The purpose of this study was to describe the meaning structure and the constituents of sexual identity in the lifeworld of premenopausal women. Six informants who had become menopausal following cancer treatment were interviewed about their experiences related to their sexual identity. Their ages varied between 38 and 48 years. The empirical phenomenological psychological (EPP) method was used. The meaning structure of the phenomenon could be symbolized using the metaphor of a bird which is pinioned and unable to fly. The women perceived their sexual identity as being inhibited in different ways. They felt odd and marginalized as women, and it was only within a support group that they felt completely confirmed. A future challenge for the health care professionals would be to care for their patients on the basis of their lifeworld experiences.
Socio-economic differentiation in the post-communist rural Baltics: the case of three kolkhozes

ABSTRACT This paper uses longitudinal quantitative data to examine socio-economic differentiation in the rural Baltic areas after decollectivization. It argues that the rural social structure in the post-Soviet Baltics is best determined by two criteria: source of income (income from farming entrepreneurship or income from salaries) and land holdings. Four rural groups are identified: people getting their main income from farming can be differentiated into large landowners engaged in the commercial production of agricultural goods and people with small or medium-sized farms; and people earning their main income from wages can be separated into people with no farming activities and people who are still keeping small or medium-sized farms. The paper also finds that the importance of farming activities in the countryside decreases while importance of wage income tends to increase.
Outcomes of a community-based weight management programme for morbidly obese populations.

BACKGROUND Morbid obesity is an ongoing concern worldwide. There is a paucity of research reporting primary care outcomes focussed on complex and morbidly obese populations. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends a specialist, multidisciplinary weight management team for the successful management of such populations. This is the first service evaluation reporting both primary (weight change) and secondary [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, physical activity levels, fruit and vegetable intake, Rosenberg self-esteem score] outcomes in these patients. METHODS The present study comprised a prospective observational study of a cohort data set for patients (n = 288) attending their 3-month and 6-month (n = 115) assessment appointments at a specialist community weight management programme. RESULTS Patients had a mean (SD) initial BMI of 45.5 (6.6) kg m- ²; 66% were females. Over 80% of patients attending the service lost some weight by 3 months. Average absolute weight loss was 4.11 (4.95) kg at 3 months and 6.30 (8.41) kg at 6 months, equating to 3.28% (3.82%) and 4.90% (6.26%), respectively, demonstrating a statistically significant weight change at both time points (P < 0.001). This meets NICE best practice guidelines for the commissioning of services leading to a minimum of 3% average weight loss, with at least 30% of patients losing at ≥5% of their initial weight. Waist measurement and BMI were reduced significantly at 3 months. Improvements were also seen in physical activity levels, fruit and vegetable consumption, and self-esteem levels (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This service was successful in aiding weight loss in morbidly obese populations. The findings of the present study support the view that weight-loss targets of 3% are realistic.
Plasma Changes in Micronutrients Following a Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement in Healthy Adults

Objective: To estimate the micronutrient (riboflavin, folate, vitamin C, vitamin B12, iron, zinc and copper) bioavailability in healthy adults from a multi-micronutrient dietary supplement to assess the possible influence on it by the tablet disintegration properties and by the relative intestinal permeability of subject. Methods: The bioavailability of seven micronutrients from a single brand of multi-micronutrient dietary supplement was measured on two separate occasions in the presence of a standardized test meal in 15 healthy adult subjects. Each subject visited the Metabolic Research Unit on four separate randomized occasions for an absorption test. One test measured the intestinal permeability. The other three tests measured the postprandial changes in plasma or serum concentrations after consuming a test meal alone (control:placebo effect), or the test meal with either whole or crushed and powdered dietary supplements. 15 healthy Caucasian adult volunteers, aged 42 ± 14 years. Results: The 12 hour-post-dose AUC for riboflavin, folate and vitamin C (whole and crushed tablet), and that for vitamin B12 (only for the crushed tablet treatment) and iron (only for the whole tablet treatment) were all significantly (p < 0.001) higher than after a test meal alone. In contrast there was no significant increase in the AUC after supplement intake for zinc and copper. Neither the form of the supplement for all micronutrients tested nor intestinal permeability of the subject for riboflavin, folate, vitamin C, iron, zinc and copper influenced the postdose nutrient AUC. In contrast, for vitamin B12 the intestinal permeability of the subject influenced significantly the nutrient AUC (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Tablet disintegration characteristics of this dietary supplement did not limit absorption of these seven micronutrients. The intestinal permeability of subject was only positively correlated with the B12 bioavailability. Results are suggestive of using multi-micronutrients dietary supplements as a vehicle to decrease the prevalence of multiple micronutrient deficiencies overall for vitamins in healthy adults.
Evaluating the sleep/wake cycle in persons with asthma: Three case scenarios

Purpose: To evaluate if wrist actigraphy, a measurement of movement, is an effective tool for assessing sleep/wake patterns and use in clinical practice in persons with asthma. Data sources: Data from three individuals with asthma were utilized to develop three case scenarios. The case scenarios illustrated the use of actigraphy as the measurement tool for sleep patterns as they relate to individuals with varying degrees of asthma control. Conclusions: The person with poorly controlled asthma had less total sleep time and lower sleep efficiency than the person with well‐controlled asthma. The actigraph provided useful information on sleep patterns such as daytime napping, nighttime sleep, and sleep efficiency in persons with varying degrees of asthma control. Implications for practice: Nighttime asthma symptoms are often hard for the nurse practitioner (NP) to assess as they are often subjectively reported by patients. The use of actigraph in the clinical setting can provide useful, objective information on the sleep/wake cycles of persons with asthma to aid the NP in providing optimal management of the disease.
[Multidirectional palmar fixed-angle plate fixation for unstable distal radius fracture].

PURPOSE/BACKGROUND Open reduction and internal fixation with plates is a valid treatment of displaced extra- and intra-articular distal radius fractures. This report presents our experience treating unstable distal radius fractures by using a multidirectional palmar fixed-angle plate system (Aptus(R) Radius 2.5 by Medartis). The subchondral support of the articular surface by fixed angle screws prevents secondary dislocation allowing early mobilisation. PATIENTS AND METHOD 61 patients with distal radius fractures were treated during 6/2003 and 10/2004 using this palmar fixed-angle plate fixation without bonegraft. Postoperative X-rays showed anatomical reduction in all cases. 55 patients could be evaluated postoperatively. The follow-up examination included the patient's history, physical and radiographic examination as well as the DASH questionnaire and the Krimmer's modified Cooney wrist score. RESULTS The average follow-up time was 9.6 +/- 5.2 months. The mean age of the examined patients was 53.9 +/- 17.8 years. The fractures were classified according to AO. There were eleven A3, four B2 and five B3 fractures, ten C1, 16 C2 and nine C3 fractures. All fractures united without complications. Just two cases showed a loss of length. At follow-up the average palmar angulation was 8 degrees , ulnar inclination 21 degrees and ulnar variance + 0.2 mm. Wrist motion averaged a decrease for extension and flexion of 12 %, for ulnar and radial deviation of 9 % and for pronation and supination only of 2 % in comparison to the uninjured side. Grip strength reached an average of 85 % of the contralateral side. Patients regained good function as represented in a mean DASH score of 14 points and a Krimmer score of 82 points. CONCLUSIONS The treatment of unstable distal radius fractures with this plate fixation provided stable internal fixation and allowed early function. Due to multidirectional angle fixation and two lines of cortical screws it is possible to achieve an optimal restoration. The fixation of the central articular surface is guaranteed by the distal line, the dorsal subchondral support by the proximal line.
Corporate Social Responsibility: Review and Roadmap of Theoretical Perspectives

Based on a survey and content analysis of 462 peer‐reviewed academic articles over the period 1990–2014, this article reviews theories related to the external drivers of corporate social responsibility (CSR) (such as stakeholder theory and resource‐dependence theory) and the internal drivers of CSR (such as resource‐based view [RBV] and agency theory) that have been utilized to explain CSR. The article discusses the main tenets of the principal theoretical perspectives and their application in CSR research. Going beyond previous reviews that have largely failed to investigate theory applications in CSR scholarship, this article stresses the importance of theory‐driven explanations of CSR and the complementarity of different theories. The article demonstrates that the current mainstream theorizing of CSR is dominated by theories related to the external drivers of CSR and is less developed with regard to the internal dynamics. The article outlines several productive avenues for future research: the need for multi‐theory studies and more research at multiple levels of analysis, particularly at the individual level of analysis. It suggests that CSR scholarship can benefit from combining theoretical insights from a range of established theoretical lenses such as institutional theory and RBV, and can gain new insights from theoretical lenses such as Austrian economics and micro‐level psychological theories.
Characterization of histone lysine‐specific demethylase in relation to thyroid hormone‐regulated anuran metamorphosis

The thyroid hormone receptor (THR) is a member of the nuclear transcription factor and plays a central role in regulating anuran metamorphosis. Previous studies with mammalian cells have suggested that THR is involved in chromatin remodeling through histone methylation. In the present study, we cloned cDNA of lysine‐specific demethylase gene, xLSD1, from Xenopus laevis and examined its expression in relation to metamorphosis. Overexpression of xLSD1 in A6 cells, a Xenopus laevis cell line, resulted in the decrease of methylation status of lysine residues of histone H3, indicating that the protein of cloned xLSD1 was functionally active. The expression of LSD1 at mRNA levels was up‐regulated in the body skin and the intestine during natural and thyroid hormone‐induced metamorphosis. Larval epidermal basal cells and intestinal epithelial cells at the premetamorphic stage were identified as the xLSD1‐expressing cells. At the metamorphic climax stage the progenitor cells of adult epidermal basal cells also expressed xLSD1, whereas those of the adult intestinal epithelial cells did not. We propose that LSD1 participates in the regulation of metamorphosis through THR‐ or another transcriptional factor‐induced chromatin remodeling.
Economic Conditions and Employment Dynamics of Immigrants versus Natives: Who Pays the Costs of the “Great Recession”?

This paper studies how unemployment and employment durations for immigrants and natives respond differently to changes in the economic conditions due to the 2008 crisis and to the receipt of unemployment benefits when the economy declines. Using administrative data for Spain, we estimate multi-state multi-spell duration models that disentangle unobserved heterogeneity from true duration dependence. Our findings suggest that immigrants are more sensitive to changes in economic conditions, both in terms of unemployment and employment hazards. Moreover, the effect of the business cycle is not constant but decreases with duration at a higher rate among immigrants. The results also point to a disincentive effect of unemployment benefits on unemployment duration, which is stronger for immigrants but only at the beginning of the unemployment spell and mainly during good times (before the 2008 recession). Finally, we find evidence of a positive effect of unemployment benefits on subsequent employment duration, but only for native workers with temporary contracts. Nonetheless, this effect vanishes as workers qualify again for unemployment benefits.
Fast and Accurate Velocity Estimation for OFDM Systems Based on Channel Frequency Response

In this paper, we proposed a new velocity estimation algorithm for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, which is based on the variance of channel frequency response (CFR) of two adjacent OFDM symbols. The proposed algorithm can fast and accurately estimate the velocity in both Rayleigh and Rician fading channels, and is low in computational complexity and memory storage. Simulation results show that, compared with the conventional crossingbased and covariance-based velocity estimation algorithms, the proposed algorithm can reduce estimation error by nearly 20% on average.
CD20 Antigen May Be Expressed by Reactive or Lymphomatous Cells of Transformed Mycosis Fungoides: Diagnostic and Prognostic Impact

Mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common primitive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, can undergo transformation in about 10% of cases. Transformed mycosis fungoides (T-MF) is often associated with the appearance of a CD20+ component. The aim of this study was to analyze whether such cells are reactive or lymphomatous and to evaluate their prognostic impact. Among 311 T-MFs from the French Cutaneous Lymphoma Study Group registry, we studied 148 cases. CD20 was expressed in 88 cases (59%). The proportion of CD20+ cells among T-MF lesions was <10% for 54 cases (38%), 10% to 49% for 71 cases (81%), and >50% for 17 cases (19%). We focused the study on 23 cases that contained >50% CD20+ cells. To evaluate the nature of the CD20+ component, we used immunohistochemistry (2 anti-CD20 antibodies, L26 and 7D1 clones, and 2 other anti–B-cell antigen antibodies, CD22 and PAX5) and a double-stain immunofluorescence technique (anti-CD20 and anti-CD3 antibodies). The clonality of B cells was studied by polymerase chain reaction. Three profiles were observed. In 15 of the 23 cases, the CD20+ cells were reactive. In 6 cases, CD20 protein was aberrantly expressed in T-MF lesions. Lastly, there were 2 composite lymphomas (T-MF infiltrate with a B-cell follicular lymphoma). In view of this series, we propose a simple algorithm to help pathologists evaluate the nature of the CD20+ component associated with T-MF. Although statistically not significant, there was a trend toward a worse prognosis in the presence of >50% CD20+ cells and of a nodular perifollicular pattern of this component.
Risk factors for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in glomerulonephritis patients receiving immunosuppressants.

OBJECTIVE Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) infection is a rare but lethal complication in immunocompromised hosts. However, risk factors for PJP infection in glomerulonephritis (GN) patients receiving immunosuppressants are unknown. METHODS From August 2009 to July 2010, we encountered a cluster occurrence of PJP infection in our renal biopsy patients. Seven of 73 GN patients under immunosuppressant agents developed PJP infection, which were diagnosed by the Giemsa and Gomori's methenamine silver stains of the bronchoalveolar lavage specimen. RESULTS The average time of PJP onset was 2.4 months after immunosuppressant initiation. We found that the immunosuppressant regimens were equal between patients with and without the development of PJP infection regarding the daily dose per body weight, treatment duration, and accumulative dose per body weight. Logistic regression analysis indicated that high serum creatinine, low hemoglobin, and low absolute lymphocyte count at immunosuppressant initiation, and high chronicity indices of kidney pathology were predictors of PJP infection. In addition, patients with PJP infection had persistently worse renal function, more severe anemia, and more severe lymphocytopenia as compared to those without. CONCLUSION Prophylactic therapy for P. jiroveci and immunosuppressant dose reduction should be considered in GN patients with high chronicity of their kidney diseases and/or persistent lymphocytopenia.
Inpatient observation for elective decannulation of pediatric patients with tracheostomy.

IMPORTANCE The incidence and timing patterns of decannulation failure in children are unknown. There is substantial variability in the duration of inpatient hospitalization for patients undergoing decannulation, which represents an opportunity for improved resource use. OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence and timing patterns of elective decannulation failure in the pediatric population and to determine an appropriate interval of inpatient observation following decannulation that optimizes both patient safety and resource use. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective review of medical records of consecutive patients 18 years or younger hospitalized for elective, inpatient decannulation between January 1, 2012, and October 31, 2013, at a quaternary care pediatric hospital. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Duration of decannulation hospitalization, failure of elective decannulation (decision not to decannulate or reinsertion of tracheostomy tube after decannulation), time interval from decannulation to failure. RESULTS Forty-six patients completed 50 elective decannulation hospitalizations during the study period. The median duration of hospitalization for decannulation was 3.0 days. The hospitalization-specific failure rate was 16% (8 of 50), and the overall failure rate was 9% (4 of 46). Four patients were not able to tolerate capping of the tracheostomy tube and were discharged with their original tracheostomy tubes in place. Three of these patients were decannulated at a later hospitalization. In 4 patients, decannulation failed and they had to have their tracheostomy tubes replaced prior to discharge. Patients who did not tolerate decannulation were younger (mean [SD] age, 45.7 [17.0] months) than patients whose decannulation was successful (68.2 [48.0] months). All patients with unsuccessful decannulation attempts were symptomatic during capping. The longest interval from decannulation to tracheostomy reinsertion was 11 hours. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Elective decannulation failure occurred in 9% of this population and may be more common in younger patients and those with a diagnosis of vocal fold paralysis. Patients who are symptomatic during predecannulation capping are at high risk for decannulation failure. Inpatient observation for a 24-hour asymptomatic interval after decannulation may be sufficient because late failures were not observed in this sample.
Building trust through public service co-production

Purpose – Co-production of public service delivery is believed to foster trust among users, but little empirical work is devoted to this assumption. Public sector organizations have therefore little knowledge about the conditions that determine whether co-production leads to trust. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – A longitudinal mixed method is used, following participants of a co-produced activation programme over time (n=60). Quantitative methods are employed to investigate changes in trust levels, whereas qualitative methods are used to explain these changes and explore conditions for trust-building. Findings – After a half year, trust in the service provider, trust in local government and generalized trust decreased significantly among co-producing participants. Particularly, a decrease in trust in fellow participants strongly related to decreases in trust in the service provider and generalized trust. Qualitative evidence indicate that motivation during the co-pro.