Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The association between self-harm and area-level characteristics in Northern Ireland: an ecological study.

BACKGROUND Factors contributing to suicidal behaviour are complex and multi-faceted. This study took an ecological approach to examine the association between area-level factors and rates of self-harm in Northern Ireland. METHODS Data on self-harm presentations to emergency departments (EDs) were obtained from the Northern Ireland Self-harm Registry. The study included residents of Northern Ireland aged 16-64 years. Deprivation was measured using the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017. Population density and social fragmentation were calculated using measures from the 2011 census. Associations between area-level factors and self-harm rates were explored using negative binomial regression. RESULTS Between 2013 and 2015, 14 477 individuals aged 16-64 years presented to EDs in Northern Ireland following self-harm. The rate of self-harm was 472 per 100 000 and was higher for male residents (478 vs. 467). Self-harm rates were highest in urban areas-680 per 100 000 in Belfast City and 751 per 100 000 in Derry City. Rates of self-harm in Northern Ireland were more than four times higher in the most deprived areas. A positive association with rates of self-harm held for the deprivation domains of employment, crime, education, health and income. There was a moderate association with population density. Some gender differences emerged, with associations with male rates of self-harm more pronounced. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that self-harm rates are highest for those residing in highly deprived areas, where unemployment, crime and low level of education are challenges. Community interventions tailored to meet the needs of specific areas may be effective in reducing suicidal behaviour.
miR200c Attenuates P-gp–Mediated MDR and Metastasis by Targeting JNK2/c-Jun Signaling Pathway in Colorectal Cancer

MicroRNA-200c (miR200c) recently emerged as an important regulator of tumorigenicity and cancer metastasis; however, its role in regulating multidrug resistance (MDR) remains unknown. In the current study, we found that the expression levels of miR200c in recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancers were significantly lower, whereas the JNK2 expression was higher compared with primary tumors. We showed that in MDR colorectal cancer cells, miR200c targeted the 3′ untranslated region of the JNK2 gene. Overexpression of miR200c attenuated the levels of p-JNK, p-c-Jun, P-gp, and MMP-2/-9, the downstream factors of the JNK signaling pathway, resulting in increased sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, which was accompanied by heightened apoptosis and decreased cell invasion and migration. Moreover, in an orthotopic MDR colorectal cancer mouse model, we demonstrated that overexpression of miR200c effectively inhibited the tumor growth and metastasis. At last, in the tumor samples from patients with locally advanced colorectal cancer with routine postsurgical chemotherapy, we observed an inverse correlation between the levels of mRNA expression of miR200c and JNK2, ABCB1, and MMP-9, thus predicting patient therapeutic outcomes. In summary, we found that miR200c negatively regulated the expression of JNK2 gene and increased the sensitivity of MDR colorectal cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs, via inhibiting the JNK2/p-JNK/p-c-Jun/ABCB1 signaling. Restoration of miR200c expression in MDR colorectal cancer may serve as a promising therapeutic approach in MDR-induced metastasis. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(12); 3137–51. ©2014 AACR.
Periinsular hemispherotomy in children with stroke-induced refractory epilepsy.

OBJECT Ischemic cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs) in children result in epilepsy in 25% of patients, which is refractory in 7% of cases. Repeated seizures worsen the global and cognitive prognosis of these patients. To evaluate the prognosis of epilepsy and cognitive development in children with refractory seizures following a CVA, the authors retrospectively studied the effectiveness of periinsular hemispherotomy in the treatment of these patients. METHODS Between March 1995 and November 2007, 8 children who suffered from stroke-induced refractory epilepsy underwent a periinsular hemispherotomy. All patients' charts were reviewed in a retrospective manner. Age at the time of the CVA, imaging studies, cause of the ischemic event, onset of the first seizure, patient's handedness, the extent of the parenchymal damage, electroencephalography findings, type of epileptic seizures, number of seizures per day, number of antiepileptic medications, preoperative neuropsychological evaluation, and surgical outcome with regard to the patient's seizure activity were analyzed. RESULTS There were 7 boys and 1 girl in this study. The mean age at stroke was 23 months (range birth-5 years). The mean age at onset of epilepsy was 22 months (range 0-60 months). The mean age at the time of the hemispherotomy was 7 years (range 54-130 months). The average delay prior to the hemispherotomy was 5 years and 3 months (range 23-115 months). Prior to surgery, the average number of seizures per day was 35 (range 5-100). The average number of antiepileptic medications introduced before the hemispherotomy was 8 (range 6-12). Six patients required only 1 surgical intervention and 2 necessitated 2 separate operations:1 underwent a 2-staged hemispherotomy and the other underwent a prior callosotomy. There were no reported surgical complications in this series. Seven children are seizure free. However, the remaining child, after a 3.5-year disease-free interval, has recently started having seizures. No child demonstrated an improvement in neuropsychological evaluation. CONCLUSIONS The periinsular hemispherotomy must be considered an alternative in the therapeutic approach to stroke-induced pediatric refractory epilepsy. It is effective in controlling seizure activity. The authors believe the delay before hemispherotomy must be shortened in children with post-CVA refractory epilepsy.
Application of waste tyre-based powdered activated carbon for the adsorptive removal of cylindrospermopsin toxins from environmental matrices: Optimization using response surface methodology and desirability function

Abstract Activated carbon (AC) derived from waste tyre was investigated for the removal of cylindrospermopsin (CYN) from aqueous solutions and spiked real water samples. Response surface methodology based on Box–Behnken design was used for the optimization of experimental conditions. Based on the desirability score of 1.0, the percentage recovery of CYN was optimized at 104% and the optimum conditions were found to be 50.0 mg for the mass of adsorbent, 60 min for contact time and sample pH value of 3. The experimental equilibrium data best fitted Langmuir isotherm model and the maximum monolayer adsorption uptake of the waste tyre-based AC (WTAC) was 107 µg g−1. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the adsorption data were best described by pseudo-second-order. Finally, the optimized adsorption process was applied for the removal of CYN from real samples.
Colonization of the Residues of Diverse Plant Species by Gibberella zeae and Their Contribution to Fusarium Head Blight Inoculum.

The presence of Fusarium spp. was examined in the residues of wheat, barley, corn, sunflower, pasture, and gramineous weed species common in wheat and barley cropping systems collected from no-tillage and reduced-tillage plots from February 2001 to March 2003 in Uruguay. Gibberella zeae was recovered from residues of wheat, barley, corn, sunflower, fescue, and the gramineous weeds Digitaria sanguinalis, Setaria spp. , Lolium multiflorum, and Cynodon dactylon, except from birdsfoot trefoil or white clover. Of the Fusarium spp. obtained, G. zeae was the most frequently recovered from wheat and barley residues, while other species were more common in other crops. G. zeae declined over time in all residues examined. Wheat and barley residues produced more ascospores of G. zeae than corn or other gramineous residues. Sunflower residue did not support ascospore production, indicating that it probably did not contribute to primary inoculum. Wheat and barley residues supported G. zeae colonization longer in no-till than in reduced-tillage production systems and, thus, may represent major contributors to Fusarium head blight (FHB) inoculum in Uruguay. The presence of G. zeae in the gramineous components of pastures, weed species, and sunflower should be considered when implementing control strategies for FHB.
Central Renin–Angiotensin System Activation and Inflammation Induced by High-Fat Diet Sensitize Angiotensin II–Elicited Hypertension

Obesity has been shown to promote renin–angiotensin system activity and inflammation in the brain and to be accompanied by increased sympathetic activity and blood pressure. Our previous studies demonstrated that administration of a subpressor dose of angiotensin (Ang) II sensitizes subsequent Ang II–elicited hypertension. The present study tested whether high-fat diet (HFD) feeding also sensitizes the Ang II–elicited hypertensive response and whether HFD-induced sensitization is mediated by an increase in renin–angiotensin system activity and inflammatory mechanisms in the brain. HFD did not increase baseline blood pressure, but enhanced the hypertensive response to Ang II compared with a normal-fat diet. The sensitization produced by the HFD was abolished by concomitant central infusions of either a tumor necrosis factor-&agr; synthesis inhibitor, pentoxifylline, an Ang II type 1 receptor blocker, irbesartan, or an inhibitor of microglial activation, minocycline. Furthermore, central pretreatment with tumor necrosis factor-&agr; mimicked the sensitizing action of a central subpressor dose of Ang II, whereas central pentoxifylline or minocycline abolished this Ang II–induced sensitization. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis of lamina terminalis tissue indicated that HFD feeding, central tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, or a central subpressor dose of Ang II upregulated mRNA expression of several components of the renin–angiotensin system and proinflammatory cytokines, whereas inhibition of Ang II type 1 receptor and of inflammation reversed these changes. The results suggest that HFD-induced sensitization of Ang II–elicited hypertension is mediated by upregulation of the brain renin–angiotensin system and of central proinflammatory cytokines.
Flat-Pan Nail-Wide Acquired Epiungual Fibrokeratoma: Report of 4 Cases

Acquired digital fibrokeratoma (ADFK) is a benign tumor. Clinically, it usually presents as skin-colored, slow-growing firm fibrous projection with a characteristic hyperkeratotic collarette at its base. It has a predilection for the periungual tissue. Some clinical variations have been described according to its macroscopic appearance and relation to the nail apparatus. The authors present 4 cases of unique ADFK expanding over the whole width of the nail.
Activin B Stimulates Mouse Vibrissae Growth and Regulates Cell Proliferation and Cell Cycle Progression of Hair Matrix Cells through ERK Signaling

Activins and their receptors play important roles in the control of hair follicle morphogenesis, but their role in vibrissae follicle growth remains unclear. To investigate the effect of Activin B on vibrissae follicles, the anagen induction assay and an in vitro vibrissae culture system were constructed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining were performed to determine the hair cycle stages. The 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were used to examine the cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle phase. Inhibitors and Western blot analysis were used to investigate the signaling pathway induced by Activin B. As a result, we found that the vibrissae follicle growth was accelerated by 10 ng/mL Activin B in the anagen induction assay and in an organ culture model. 10 ng/mL Activin B promoted hair matrix cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, Activin B modulates hair matrix cell growth through the ERK–Elk1 signaling pathway, and Activin B accelerates hair matrix cell transition from the G1/G0 phase to the S phase through the ERK–Cyclin D1 signaling pathway. Taken together, these results demonstrated that Activin B may promote mouse vibrissae growth by stimulating hair matrix cell proliferation and cell cycle progression through ERK signaling.
Disparity level identification using the voxel‐wise Gabor model of fMRI data

Perceiving disparities is the intuitive basis for our understanding of the physical world. Although many electrophysiology studies have revealed the disparity‐tuning characteristics of the neurons in the visual areas of the macaque brain, neuron population responses to disparity processing have seldom been investigated. Many disparity studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have revealed the disparity‐selective visual areas in the human brain. However, it is unclear how to characterize neuron population disparity‐tuning responses using fMRI technique. In the present study, we constructed three voxel‐wise encoding Gabor models to predict the voxel responses to novel disparity levels and used a decoding method to identify the new disparity levels from population responses in the cortex. Among the three encoding models, the fine‐coarse model (FCM) that used fine/coarse disparities to fit the voxel responses to disparities outperformed the single model and uncrossed‐crossed model. Moreover, the FCM demonstrated high accuracy in predicting voxel responses in V3A complex and high accuracy in identifying novel disparities from responses in V3A complex. Our results suggest that the FCM can better characterize the voxel responses to disparities than the other two models and V3A complex is a critical visual area for representing disparity information.
Effects of Water Stress on Botryosphaeria Blight of Pistachio Caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea.

The effects of water potential (Ψ) on spore germination, germ tube elongation, mycelial growth of Botryosphaeria dothidea, and development of Botryosphaeria blight of pistachio caused by this fungus were studied in the laboratory and greenhouse. In laboratory tests, spore germination, germ tube elongation, and mycelial growth of B. dothidea increased as Ψ decreased from 0 to -2.0 MPa and declined as Ψ decreased below -2.0 MPa. Water stress (Ψ < -0.260 MPa) increased the severity of Botryosphaeria blight on young detached pistachio leaves. In greenhouse inoculation experiments, drought-stressed 2-year-old pistachio trees (leaf Ψ < -0.635 MPa) developed more severe Botryosphaeria blight disease than the nonstressed trees (Ψ > -0.485 MPa) in both 1999 and 2000 experiments. In a similar experiment using 1-year-old potted pistachio trees in 2000, withholding water treatments did not cause enough drought stress in pistachio leaves (Ψ > -0.584 MPa) and did not result in higher disease than the nonstressed trees (Ψ = -0.466 MPa). The correlation coefficient between Ψ and disease index for 1999 experiments was 0.954, and for 2000 experiments I and II was 0.981 and 0.939, respectively. These results indicate that drought stress can be a major predisposing factor of pistachio to infection by B. dothidea. Results from this study can be used to better understand the disease outbreaks in California pistachio orchards and to develop integrated management strategies by adjusting irrigation.
Fast pressure-jump all-atom simulations and experiments reveal site-specific protein dehydration-folding dynamics

Significance When proteins fold, water is squeezed out of the hydrophobic core, leaving small desolvated pockets. Such voids are critical for protein flexibility and function, but not much is known about how and when they form during protein folding. We combine long atomic-level simulations with rapid pressure-drop experiments to see how water gets out of a protein as it folds. For one small protein, we find that dry pockets can form repeatedly between various pairs of protein α-helices before a successful folding event finally occurs. For another small protein, drying and folding are much more concerted. Thus, the formation of void pockets that enhance protein flexibility can occur in a concerted fashion or by coincidence of several local events. As theory and experiment have shown, protein dehydration is a major contributor to protein folding. Dehydration upon folding can be characterized directly by all-atom simulations of fast pressure drops, which create desolvated pockets inside the nascent hydrophobic core. Here, we study pressure-drop refolding of three λ-repressor fragment (λ6–85) mutants computationally and experimentally. The three mutants report on tertiary structure formation via different fluorescent helix–helix contact pairs. All-atom simulations of pressure drops capture refolding and unfolding of all three mutants by a similar mechanism, thus validating the nonperturbative nature of the fluorescent contact probes. Analysis of simulated interprobe distances shows that the α-helix 1–3 pair distance displays a slower characteristic time scale than the 1–2 or 3–2 pair distance. To see whether slow packing of α-helices 1 and 3 is reflected in the rate-limiting folding step, fast pressure-drop relaxation experiments captured refolding on a millisecond time scale. These experiments reveal that refolding monitored by 1–3 contact formation indeed is much slower than when monitored by 1–2 or 3–2 contact formation. Unlike the case of the two-state folder [three–α-helix bundle (α3D)], whose drying and core formation proceed in concert, λ6–85 repeatedly dries and rewets different local tertiary contacts before finally forming a solvent-excluded core, explaining the non–two-state behavior observed during refolding in molecular dynamics simulations. This work demonstrates that proteins can explore desolvated pockets and dry globular states numerous times before reaching the native conformation.
Myocardial dysfunction as a predictor of the severity and mortality of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in severe perinatal asphyxia: a case–control study

ABSTRACT Background: In perinatal asphyxia, hypoxia often leads to myocardial ischaemia. Few studies have assessed the degree of myocardial dysfunction in severely asphyxiated term neonates. Aim: To assess the extent of myocardial damage in newborns with severe perinatal asphyxia. Methods: A case–control study was conducted in asphyxiated newborns with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) and in controls who were term non-asphyxiated newborns. Total (T) creatinine kinase (CK), CK-MB, troponin-T and 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography were performed in both groups within 24–48 h after birth. The proportions of asphyxiated neonates with myocardial dysfunction and its relationship between severity of HIE and immediate outcome was compared. Results: Five of 23 asphyxiated neonates developed stage I, 10 stage II and eight stage III HIE. Serum levels of CK-T and CK-MB were raised in all 23 cases and troponin-T was raised in 13 (56.5%) HIE cases. ECG was abnormal in all cases and echocardiography in three (13%). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) were significantly decreased in all asphyxiated neonates. Eight (35%) patients died. Enzyme levels were higher and ECG and echocardiography abnormalities were common in infants with more severe HIE (p <0.05). Mean serum levels of CK-T and MB (p <0.001) and troponin-T (p =0.002) were higher in non-survivors. Mean LVEF and RVEF values were higher in survivors (p <0.001). All the controls had normal enzyme levels and echocardiography. ECG was abnormal in one control. Conclusion: Cardiac enzymes, ECG and echocardiography changes were associated with increasing severity of HIE and mortality.
Capturing the multiplicative effect of perseverance and passion: Measurement issues of combining two grit facets

Recently in PNAS, Jachimowicz et al. (1) attribute the lack of empirical support for the strong grit–performance relationship to the measurement of grit (2, 3). While the grit scale (2, 3) comprises two facets—“perseverance of effort” (PE) and “consistency of interests” (CI; also sometimes referred to as passion)—Jachimowicz et al. argue that it focuses only on perseverance without adequately capturing passion, and that success requires both passion and perseverance by the grit definition (2). Consequently, they propose measuring grit through a combination of the passion attainment scale for passion and an aggregate of PE and CI for perseverance. They find a significant and synergistic interaction effect between perseverance and passion attainment on job (study 2) and … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: jiesiguo{at}gmail.com. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Response of Commercially Developed Soybean Cultivars and the Ancestral Soybean Lines to Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines.

Sudden death syndrome, caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines, has caused severe damage to soybean production in recent years. One way to control sudden death syndrome is with resistant cultivars. Over a 3-year period, 2,335 publicly and privately developed soybean entries were inoculated and evaluated for their response to F. solani f. sp. glycines under greenhouse conditions. The entries were compared with the susceptible check, Great Lakes 3302 (GL3302), and the moderately resistant checks, plant introductions (PIs) 520733 and 567374. Thirty-eight entries were identified with moderate levels of resistance. Based on foliar ratings, there were no differences (P < 0.05) between the Roundup Ready and conventional cultivars. In all, 90 ancestral lines that represent 99% of the genes in modern U.S. cultivars and 55 lines found in the pedigrees of public cultivars reported to have some resistance were evaluated for their response to F. solani f. sp. glycines. Nine ancestral lines (Aoda, Kim, Jackson, Sioux, Mammoth Yellow, T117, PI 171450, PI 54615-1, and PI 71506) and 12 cultivars or experimental lines (Ina, D83-3349, LN98-4340, LN83-2356, Hartwig, Harosoy, Bedford, Merit, Cutler, Calland, Hill, and Evans) had disease ratings not significantly different (P < 0.05) from PI 520733 or PI 567374. PI 54610, a putative ancestral line, also was found to be moderately resistant.
Effectiveness of olfactory training on different severities of posttraumatic loss of smell

A common, lasting condition from traumatic brain injury is impairment to smell. In patients with olfactory impairment, recent meta‐analyses have demonstrated that olfactory training consistently improves higher‐order functions, such as odor identification. The focus of this work was to assess effects of olfactory training (OT) in posttraumatic olfactory loss patients through several metrics including psychophysical, olfactory bulb (OB) volume, and functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Two unusual cases of lacrimal sac inflammatory polyps with allergic mucin sine fungi

ABSTRACT This case report deals with two patients with lacrimal sac swellings. Case 1 presented with bilateral sac swelling and Case 2 with a unilateral presentation. Dacrocystorhinostomy (DCR) followed by biopsies of both sacs in Case 1 revealed inflammatory polyps of the sac mucosa, identical in appearance to typical nasal allergic inflammatory polyps. The biopsies were accompanied by typical allergic mucin, featuring tiered mucin layers between which were numerous eosinophils, accompanied by Charcot–Leyden crystals. The histology of the dacryocystectomy specimen for Case 2 showed identical histopathological changes with the additional feature of prominent numbers of Immunoglobulin G (IgG)4-positive plasma cells in the stroma of the lacrimal sac inflammatory polyps. These features extend the sites affected by allergic inflammatory polyps and allergic mucin and possible pathogenesis is discussed.