Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decision making and problem solving in adolescents who deliberately self-harm

Background Healthy adolescents, and adults who engage in reward-driven, risky behaviours, demonstrate poor decision-making ability. Decision making in deliberate self-harm (DSH), a reward-driven, high-risk behaviour, has received little attention. This study assessed decision making and problem solving in adolescents with current or past SH. Method Decision making and problem solving were assessed using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Means–Ends Problem-Solving Procedure (MEPS) respectively in 133 adolescents (57 healthy and 22 depressed controls with no SH history and 54 with SH history). A second analysis separated the SH group into current (n=30) and past (n=24) SH. Results The collective performance of adolescents with SH history did not differ from depressed or healthy adolescents on the IGT. However, current self-harming adolescents had a trend towards more high-risk choices (p=0.06) than those with previous SH history and were the only group not to significantly improve over time, persisting with high-risk strategy throughout. Those who no longer self-harmed learnt to use a low-risk strategy similar to healthy and depressed controls. Recency of last SH episode correlated with IGT performance. Depressed participants performed well on the IGT but poorly on the MEPS. By contrast, both collective and divided SH groups had comparable MEPS scores to healthy controls, all performing better than depressed participants. Conclusion Poor decision making is present in adolescents who currently self-harm but not in those with previous history; improvement in decision-making skills may therefore be linked to cessation of self-harm. Depressed adolescents who do and do not self-harm may have distinct characteristics.
Efecto del déficit de suministro de agua en el rendimiento y en la calidad de un cultivo de maíz dulce

Existe un gran interes por la obtencion de las funciones de produccion respecto al agua recibida por los cultivos para optimizar el empleo de un recurso escaso y caro en las areas regables de Castilla-La Mancha. Este hecho ha motivado que se estudien las respuestas productivas, cuantitativa y cualitativa, del cultivo de maiz dulce (Zea mays L. var. rugosa Bonaf, cv.'Jubileo') sometido a diferentes estrategias de programacion de riego: deficitarias, deficitarias controladas y excedentarias. El deficit hidrico produjo una notable reduccion de los componentes del rendimiento cuantitativo (numero de mazorcas comerciales por hectarea y peso medio unitario de las mismas), de las producciones de biomasa seca total aerea, de los rendimientos de mazorcas comerciales y de grano tierno, del indice de cosecha y de las dimensiones de la mazorca, pero mejoro el contenido de solidos solubles (Brix) del grano tierno y acorto su periodo de maduracion comercial. Las relaciones que mejor se ajustaron a los datos experimentales de la produccion de materia seca total aerea, y rendimientos de mazorcas comerciales y de grano fresco, respecto al agua estacional (riego + lluvia efectiva) fueron de tipo expopolinomica de tercer grado, con valores de R elevado a 2 : 0,97-0,98. Se observaron valores maximos de las variables de produccion con volumenes estacionales de agua comprendidos entre 385 y 410 mm. El agua de riego parece que se aprovecha mejor durante el encanado y la maduracion comercial del grano de maiz dulce. Asimismo, se ha podido comprobar como, en general, los tratamientos hidricos mas excedentarios generan los valores inferiores de eficiencia del agua de riego respecto a la variable productiva. En el extremo opuesto se encuentran las respuestas del tratamiento mas deficitario, de estres hidrico intenso y prolongado.
A case study of potential human health impacts from petroleum coke transfer facilities

ABSTRACT Petroleum coke or “petcoke” is a solid material created during petroleum refinement and is distributed via transfer facilities that may be located in densely populated areas. The health impacts from petcoke exposure to residents living in proximity to such facilities were evaluated for a petcoke transfer facilities located in Chicago, Illinois. Site-specific, margin of safety (MOS) and margin of exposure (MOE) analyses were conducted using estimated airborne and dermal exposures. The exposure assessment was based on a combined measurement and modeling program that included multiyear on-site air monitoring, air dispersion modeling, and analyses of soil and surfaces in residential areas adjacent to two petcoke transfer facilities located in industrial areas. Airborne particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) were used as a marker for petcoke. Based on daily fence line monitoring, the average daily PM10 concentration at the KCBX Terminals measured on-site was 32 μg/m3, with 89% of 24-hr average PM10 concentrations below 50 μg/m3 and 99% below 100 μg/m3. A dispersion model estimated that the emission sources at the KCBX Terminals produced peak PM10 levels attributed to the petcoke facility at the most highly impacted residence of 11 μg/m3 on an annual average basis and 54 μg/m3 on 24-hr average basis. Chemical indicators of petcoke in soil and surface samples collected from residential neighborhoods adjacent to the facilities were equivalent to levels in corresponding samples collected at reference locations elsewhere in Chicago, a finding that is consistent with limited potential for off-site exposure indicated by the fence line monitoring and air dispersion modeling. The MOE based upon dispersion model estimates ranged from 800 to 900 for potential inhalation, the primary route of concern for particulate matter. This indicates a low likelihood of adverse health effects in the surrounding community. Implications: Handling of petroleum coke at bulk material transfer facilities has been identified as a concern for the public health of surrounding populations. The current assessment, based on measurements and modeling of two facilities located in a densely populated urban area, indicates that petcoke transport and accumulation in off-site locations is minimal. In addition, estimated human exposures, if any, are well below levels that could be anticipated to produce adverse health effects in the general population.
Deep molecular responses achieved in patients with CML-CP who are switched to nilotinib after long-term imatinib.

Patients in complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) with detectable BCR-ABL1 after ≥2 years on imatinib were randomized to nilotinib (400 mg twice daily, n = 104) or continued imatinib (n = 103) in the Evaluating Nilotinib Efficacy and Safety in clinical Trials-Complete Molecular Response (ENESTcmr) trial. By 1 and 2 years, confirmed undetectable BCR-ABL1 was achieved by 12.5% vs 5.8% (P = .108) and 22.1% vs 8.7% of patients in the nilotinib and imatinib arms, respectively (P = .0087). Among patients without molecular response 4.5 (BCR-ABL1(IS) ≤0.0032%; MR(4.5)) and those without major molecular response at study start, MR(4.5) by 2 years was achieved by 42.9% vs 20.8% and 29.2% vs 3.6% of patients in the nilotinib and imatinib arms, respectively. No patient in the nilotinib arm lost CCyR, vs 3 in the imatinib arm. Adverse events were more common in the nilotinib arm, as expected with the introduction of a new drug vs remaining on a well-tolerated drug. The safety profile of nilotinib was consistent with other reported studies. In summary, switching to nilotinib enabled more patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) to sustain lower levels of disease burden vs remaining on imatinib. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT00760877.
The influence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on sodium regulation and nitrogenous waste excretion in the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

ABSTRACT Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is both ubiquitous and diverse in composition in natural waters, but its effects on the branchial physiology of aquatic organisms have received little attention relative to other variables (e.g. pH, hardness, salinity, alkalinity). Here, we investigated the effects of four chemically distinct DOM isolates (three natural, one commercial, ranging from autochthonous to highly allochthonous, all at ∼6 mg C l−1) on the physiology of gill ionoregulation and nitrogenous waste excretion in zebrafish acclimated to either circumneutral (7.0–8.0) or acidic pH (5.0). Overall, lower pH tended to increase net branchial ammonia excretion, net K+ loss and [3H]PEG-4000 clearance rates (indicators of transcellular and paracellular permeability, respectively). However, unidirectional Na+ efflux, urea excretion and drinking rates were unaffected. DOM sources tended to stimulate unidirectional Na+ influx rate and exerted subtle effects on the concentration-dependent kinetics of Na+ uptake, increasing maximum transport capacity. All DOM sources reduced passive Na+ efflux rates regardless of pH, but exerted negligible effects on nitrogenous waste excretion, drinking rate, net K+ loss or [3H]PEG-4000 clearance, so the mechanism of Na+ loss reduction remains unclear. Overall, these actions appear beneficial to ionoregulatory homeostasis in zebrafish, and some may be related to physico-chemical properties of the DOM sources. They are very different from those seen in a recent parallel study on Daphnia magna using the same DOM isolates, indicating that DOM actions may be both species and DOM specific. Summary: Dissolved organic materials, ubiquitous but often overlooked components of natural waters, have profound effects on the ionoregulatory physiology of zebrafish, effects that depend on properties of these heterogeneous substances.
Hoxa9 Regulates Flt3 in Lymphohematopoietic Progenitors

Early B cell factor (EBF) is a transcription factor essential for specification and commitment to the B cell fate. In this study, we show downregulation of a developmentally regulated cluster of hoxa genes, notably hoxa9, coincides with induction of EBF at the Pro-B cell stage of B cell differentiation. Analysis of the hematopoietic progenitor compartment in Hoxa9−/− mice revealed significantly reduced frequencies and expression levels of Flt3, a cytokine receptor important for lymphoid priming and the generation of B cell precursors (BCPs). We show that Hoxa9 directly regulates the flt3 gene. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed binding of Hoxa9 to the flt3 promoter in a lymphoid progenitor cell line. Knockdown of Hoxa9 significantly reduced Flt3 transcription and expression. Conversely, forced expression of Hoxa9 increased Flt3 transcription and expression in a Pro-B cell line that expressed low levels of Flt3. Hoxa9 inversely correlated with ebf1 in ex vivo-isolated bone marrow progenitors and BCPs, suggesting that EBF might function to silence a Hoxa9 transcriptional program. Restoration of EBF function in an EBF−/− cell line induced B lineage gene expression but did not directly suppress hoxa9 transcription, revealing alternate mechanisms of Hoxa9 regulation in BCPs. These data provide new insight into Hoxa9 function and regulation during lymphoid and B cell development. Furthermore, they suggest that failure to upregulate Flt3 provides a molecular basis for the lymphoid/early B cell deficiencies in Hoxa9−/− mice.
An investigation into the site of termination of static gamma fibres within muscle spindles of the cat peroneus longus muscle.

1. The distribution of static fusimotor fibres to intrafusal muscle fibres of cat peroneus longus muscle spindles was investigated using the glycogen‐depletion technique of Edström & Kugelberg (1968). Single static gamma fibres were stimulation intermittently at high rates for 3 hr with the blood supply occluded for some of this time. Subsequently the portion of muscle containing the activated spindles was fixed, sectioned and stained for glycogen with the periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS) method. 2. Ten static axons caused depletion in eleven spindles. In five of these the only glycogen‐depleted fibres were nuclear chain fibres. In the other six spindles one nuclear bag fibre was depleted in addition to chain fibres and this was always the larger of the two within the spindle. 3. These results on a medium‐sized hind limb muscle are compared with findings concerning the distribution of static gamma fibre axons previously investigated only in very small muscles. The results agree in showing that nearly all static gamma fibres innervate nuclear chain fibres but that in 50–75% of the times in which static gamma fibres innervate spindles the distribution is to bag fibres as well as to chain fibres. The interpretation to be put upon this is uncertain. One possibility with which the results from peroneus longus are consistent is that the bag fibres which are usually innervated by static axons are the ‘intermediate’ bag fibres whose ultrastructure has recently been shown to resemble that of chain fibres.
Effect of Meditation on Endothelial Function in Black Americans With Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Trial

Objectives Psychological stress may play a role in metabolic syndrome. A consequence of metabolic syndrome is endothelial dysfunction, which is also influenced by psychological stress. We sought to compare the effect of consciously resting meditation (CRM), a sound based meditation, with a control intervention of health education (HE) on endothelial function in the setting of metabolic syndrome. Methods Sixty-eight black Americans with metabolic syndrome risk factors (age, 30–65 years) were randomized to either CRM (n = 33) or HE (n = 35); interventions were matched for frequency and duration of sessions and lasted 12 months. Endothelial function was assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. Arterial elasticity, metabolic risk factors, and psychosocial and behavioral variables were secondary end points. Results Although flow-mediated dilation improved in the CRM group for 12 months, this increase was not significantly higher than that in the HE group (p = .51 for the interaction between group and time). Non–endothelium-dependent dilation and arterial elasticity did not change in either group. Most metabolic syndrome risk factors showed beneficial trends in the CRM group only. A risk factor score counting the number of metabolic syndrome components decreased in the CRM group only (p = .049 for the interaction between treatment group and time). Conclusions Among black Americans with metabolic syndrome risk factors, CRM, did not improve endothelial function significantly more than a control intervention of HE. CRM resulted in favorable trends in metabolic syndrome risk factors, which were examined as secondary outcomes.
Peripheral blood immunological parameters for use as markers of pre-invasive to invasive colorectal cancer.

In cancer, the extent to which the disease has spread is probably the most important factor in determining patient prognosis. Hence practical and non-invasive methods are needed to identify disease stage. In a previous paper we showed how diagnostic and prognostic indices for disease progression could be defined by evaluating parameters in peripheral blood. The aim of this study was to identify further serum parameters that could be used. Serum levels of interferon (IFN) gamma, interleukin (IL)4, IL8, IL7, IL1 beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), soluble (s) IL2 receptor (R) and sIL6R were studied but only levels of IL4, sIL2R, IL8 and IL7 were found to be significant and would therefore be of use in defining diagnostic and prognostic indices for disease progression. In further detail, our results indicate that when serum levels of sIL2R < 522 U/ml, IL4 < 159 pg/ml and IL8 > 339 pg/ml there is a 95% probability that the disease is in stage I or II where there is no infiltration of lymph nodes; when serum levels of sIL2R > or = 522 Ug/ml, 159 pg/ml < or = IL4 < or = 319 pg/ml, and IL7 < 54 pg/ml, there is a 95% probability that the disease is in stage III and the tumor has invaded the lymph nodes; when the serum levels of IL4 > or = 431 pg/ml and IL7 > or = 54 pg/ml, there is a 95% probability that the disease is in stage IV and there is metastasis.
Dopaminergic Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

In this manuscript we report that human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) differentiated into dopaminergic neurons when cocultured with PA6 cells. After 3 weeks of differentiation, approximately 87% of hES colonies contained tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)–positive cells, and a high percentage of the cells in most of the colonies expressed TH. Differentiation was inhibited by exposure to BMP4 or serum.
Spatial and temporal separation fails to counteract the effects of low prevalence in visual search

Recent research has shown that, in visual search, participants can miss 30–40% of targets when they only appear rarely (i.e., on 1–2% of trials). Low target prevalence alters the behaviour of the searcher. It can lead participants to quit their search prematurely (Wolfe, Horowitz, & Kenner, 2005), to shift their decision criteria (Wolfe et al., 2007), and/or to make motor or response errors (Fleck & Mitroff, 2007). In this paper we examine whether the low prevalence (LP) effect can be ameliorated if we split the search set in two, spreading the task out over space and/or time. Observers searched for the letter “T” among “L”s. In Experiment 1, the left or right half of the display was presented to the participants before the second half. In Experiment 2, items were spatially intermixed but half of the items were presented first, followed by the second half. Experiment 3 followed the methods of Experiment 2 but allowed observers to correct perceived errors. All three experiments produced robust LP effects with higher errors at 2% prevalence than at 50% prevalence. Dividing up the display had no beneficial effect on errors. The opportunity to correct errors reduced but did not eliminate the LP effect. Low prevalence continues to elevate errors even when observers are forced to slow down and permitted to correct errors.
mechanism of glucagon choleresis in guinea pigs.

The present studies were carried out to clarify the mechanism of glucagon choleresis in guinea pigs. At the infusion rate of 1.4 nmol.min-1.kg-1, glucagon increased bile flow from 206.6 +/- 14.3 to 302.6 +/- 35.0 microliters.min-1.kg-1 and bicarbonate biliary concentration from 63.7 +/- 4.2 to 75.5 +/- 5.9 meq/l. Measurements of bile acid excretion in bile, the biliary tree volume, and of the hormone choleretic effect in guinea pigs with proliferated bile ductules/ducts induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate feeding indicated that glucagon, unlike secretin, stimulated canalicular bile flow. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by indomethacin administration (5 mg.kg-1.h-1) did not modify the choleretic effect of glucagon, and infusion of a glucagon analogue (TH-glucagon, 1.4 nmol.min-1.kg-1), which did not increase hepatic formation of adenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), failed to stimulate bile flow. Like the parent hormone, however, TH-glucagon augmented plasma glucose levels and stimulated formation of inositol phosphates. Colchicine pretreatment (0.5 mg/kg ip) almost entirely prevented the choleretic effect of glucagon but did not modify spontaneous and bile acid-induced bile flow and the stimulatory effect of the hormone on glucose release and on hepatic formation of cAMP and inositol phosphates. Finally, glucagon produced a large increase in the biliary entry of horseradish peroxidase, even though this effect was transient and was not coupled to the increase in bile flow. These results indicate that glucagon choleresis in the guinea pig is not secondary to prostaglandin release, is canalicular in origin, involves bicarbonate secretion, is mediated by cAMP, and requires an intact microtubular system.
Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Haloacid Permease from Burkholderia cepacia MBA4

ABSTRACT Burkholderia cepacia MBA4 is a bacterium that can utilize 2-haloacids as carbon and energy sources for growth. It has been proposed that dehalogenase-associated permease mediates the uptake of haloacid. In this paper, we report the first cloning and characterization of such a haloacid permease. The structural gene, designated deh4p, was found 353 bases downstream of the dehalogenase gene deh4a. Quantitative analysis of the expression of deh4p showed that it was induced by monochloroacetate (MCA), to a level similar to the MCA-induced level of deh4a. The nucleotide sequence of deh4p was determined, and an open reading frame of 1,656 bp encoding a putative peptide of 552 amino acids was identified. Deh4p has a putative molecular weight of 59,414 and an isoelectric point of 9.88. Deh4p has the signatures of sugar transport proteins and integral membrane proteins of the major facilitator superfamily. Uptake of [14C]MCA into the cell was Deh4p dependent. Deh4p has apparent Kms of 5.5 and 8.9 μM and Vmaxs of 9.1 and 23.1 nmol mg−1 min−1 for acetate and MCA, respectively. A mutant with a transposon-inactivated haloacid operon failed to grow on MCA even when deh4a was provided in trans.
Activation of Wnt Signaling Arrests Effector Differentiation in Human Peripheral and Cord Blood-Derived T Lymphocytes

The canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in thymocyte development and T cell migration, but little is known about its role in naive-to-effector differentiation in human peripheral T cells. We show that activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling arrests human peripheral blood and cord blood T lymphocytes in the naive stage and blocks their transition into functional T effector cells. Wnt signaling was induced in polyclonally activated human T cells by treatment either with the glycogen synthase kinase 3β inhibitor TWS119 or the physiological Wnt agonist Wnt-3a, and these T cells preserved a naive CD45RA+CD62L+ phenotype compared with control-activated T cells that progressed to a CD45RO+CD62L− effector phenotype, and this occurred in a TWS119 dose-dependent manner. TWS119-induced Wnt signaling reduced T cell expansion, as a result of a block in cell division, and impaired acquisition of T cell effector function, measured by degranulation and IFN-γ production in response to T cell activation. The block in T cell division may be attributed to the reduced IL-2Rα expression in TWS119-treated T cells that lowers their capacity to use autocrine IL-2 for expansion. Collectively, our data suggest that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a negative regulator of naive-to-effector T cell differentiation in human T lymphocytes. The arrest in T cell differentiation induced by Wnt signaling might have relevant clinical applications such as to preserve the naive T cell compartment in Ag-specific T cells generated ex vivo for adoptive T cell immunotherapy.
Retracted: Long‐term efficacy and safety of blonanserin in patients with first‐episode schizophrenia: A 1‐year open‐label trial

The above article from Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, first published on 6 July 2014 in Wiley Online Library (www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com), and in Volume 68, Issue 12 pp. 841–849, has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the Editors‐in‐Chief, Shigenobu Kanba and Tadafumi Kato, and John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd. The retraction has been agreed following a report from the Investigation Committee of Clinical Trials carried out at St. Marianna University School of Medicine which established that the trial included subjects who did not satisfy inclusion criteria due to a number of factors, including lack of written informed consent. At the same time, the Committee verified that there was no falsification, fabrication or other infringement associated with the paper.