Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk factors prospectively associated with adult obsessive–compulsive symptom dimensions and obsessive–compulsive disorder

Background Very few longitudinal studies have evaluated prospective neurodevelopmental and psychosocial risk factors for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Furthermore, despite the heterogeneous nature of OCD, no research has examined risk factors for its primary symptom dimensions, such as contamination/washing. Method Potential risk factors for symptoms or diagnosis of OCD in adulthood and for specific adult obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptom dimensions were examined in the Dunedin Study birth cohort. The presence of obsessions and compulsions and psychological disorders was assessed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) at ages 26 and 32 years. Individuals with a diagnosis of OCD at either age (n=36) were compared to both a healthy control group (n=613) and an anxious control group (n=310) to determine whether associations between a risk factor and an OCD diagnosis were specific. Results Childhood neurodevelopmental, behavioral, personality and environmental risk factors were associated with a diagnosis of OCD and with OC symptoms at ages 26 and 32. Social isolation, retrospectively reported physical abuse and negative emotionality were specific predictors of an adult OCD diagnosis. Of note, most risk factors were associated with OC symptoms in adulthood and several risk factors predicted specific OCD dimensions. Perinatal insults were linked to increased risk for symmetry/ordering and shameful thoughts dimensions, whereas poor childhood motor skills predicted the harm/checking dimension. Difficult temperament, internalizing symptoms and conduct problems in childhood also predicted specific symptom dimensions and lower IQ non-specifically predicted increased risk for most dimensions. Conclusions The current findings underscore the need for a dimensional approach in evaluating childhood risk factors for obsessions and compulsions.
Salvianolic acid A protects against vascular endothelial dysfunction in high-fat diet fed and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Salvianolic acid A (SalA) is one of the main active ingredients of Salvia miltiorrhizae. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of SalA on the diabetic vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED). The rats were given a high-fat and high-sucrose diet for 1 month followed by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (30 mg/kg). The diabetic rats were treated with SalA (1 mg/kg, 90% purity) orally for 10 weeks after modeling, and were given a high-fat diet. Contractile and relaxant responses of aorta rings as well as the serum indications were measured. Our results indicated that SalA treatment decreased the level of serum Von Willebrand factor and ameliorated acetylcholine-induced relaxation and KCl-induced contraction in aorta rings of the diabetic rats. SalA treatment also reduced the serum malondialdehyde, the content of aortic advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity as well as the expression of endothelial NOS protein in the rat aorta. Exposure of EA.hy926 cells to AGEs decreased the cell viability and changed the cell morphology, whereas SalA had protective effect on AGEs-induced cellular vitality. Our data suggested that SalA could protect against vascular VED in diabetes, which might attribute to its suppressive effect on oxidative stress and AGEs-induced endothelial dysfunction.
Nonvolatile Memory With Nitrogen-Stabilized Cubic-Phase  $\hbox{ZrO}_{2}$ as Charge-Trapping Layer

A cubic ZrO2 film formed by annealing of amorphous ZrON has been investigated as the charge-trapping layer for nonvolatile memory. The memory with a nitrogen-stabilized cubic ZrO2 film shows promising performance in terms of 3.81-V hysteresis memory window by ± 7-V program/erase voltage and 1.98-V flatband-voltage shift by programming at +7 V for 10 ms. As compared to that with an amorphous ZrON film, the improved performance is due to the greatly enhanced κ-value of 32.8 and the increased trapping sites provided by grain boundaries. Additionally, it shows 28.6% charge loss after ten-year operation at 85°C. Although it is worse than that with an amorphous ZrON film, it is advantageous over an atomic-layer-depositiongrown tetragonal ZrO2 film in terms of reduced leakage current. Improved retention can be accomplished by passivation of grain boundaries and/or high- κ double quantum barrier as the tunnel and blocking dielectric.
Demand for a Simple Weather Insurance Product in India: Theory and Evidence

This article analyzes the demand for a simple rainfall-based weather insurance product among farmers in rural India. We explore the predictions of a standard expected utility theory framework on the nature of demand in terms of price, the basis of the hedge, and risk aversion using data from a randomized control trial. We find that demand behaves as predicted: it falls with price and basis risk and is hump-shaped in risk aversion, with price sensitivity decreasing at higher levels of basis risk. We estimate a negative price elasticity of 0.58 and find that doubling the distance to a reference weather station decreases demand by 18%. These results indicate that improving pricing and quality of insurance products can directly increase demand. In addition, we examine the impact of insurance training relative to other mechanisms designed to increase understanding. The evidence suggests that increased incentives to learn or learning by using are more effective at increasing both understanding and demand. Finally, we contribute to the scarce evidence on the demand for insurance over time. In terms of our main interventions, we find that the effect of premium subsidies persists over time, while the impact of investments in new weather stations diminishes and the effect of increased training in the first season seems to disappear during the second season. Importantly, while having previously purchased insurance does not encourage future uptake, receiving a payout does. This could reflect issues of trust in the product or the insurance company, and constitutes an important topic for future research.
Nicotine attenuates iNOS expression and contributes to neuroprotection in a compressive model of spinal cord injury

Primary impact to the spinal cord results in stimulation of secondary processes that potentiate the initial trauma. In the present study, we hypothesized that the altered expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) may contribute to these effects. Recent evidence indicates that nicotine can exert potent antioxidant and neuroprotective effects in spinal cord injury (SCI). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the administration of nicotine can influence expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) and/or neuronal NOS (nNOS) in injured spinal cords. Adult male Long‐Evans rats were subjected to a moderate contusion model of SCI and received a single intraperitoneal injection of either saline or nicotine (0.35, 3.5, or 7 mg/kg) 2 hr after trauma. SCI dramatically increased iNOS (but not nNOS) mRNA and protein levels in microglial cells in the thoracic and lumbar regions of spinal cords. iNOS overexpression resulted in increased nitrotyrosine formation, decreased number of NeuN (neuronal nuclei)–immunoreactive cells, and up‐regulation of inflammatory genes. Most importantly, these effects were markedly attenuated by nicotine acting via a receptor‐mediated mechanism. These data may have significant therapeutic implications for the targeting of nicotine receptors in the treatment of compressive spinal cord trauma. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential flow analysis of exhaled nitric oxide in patients with asthma of differing severity.

BACKGROUND The majority of asthmatic patients achieve control of their illness; others do not. It is therefore crucial to validate/develop strategies that help the clinician monitor the disease, improving the response to treatment. METHODS We have quantified the inflammation in central and peripheral airways by measuring exhaled nitric oxide (NO) at multiple exhalation flows in 56 asthmatics at different levels of severity (mild, n = 10; moderate stable, n = 17; moderate during exacerbation, n = 11; severe, n = 18, 7 of whom were receiving oral corticosteroids) and 18 healthy control subjects. The reproducibility of the measurement was also assessed. RESULTS Bronchial NO (Jno) in patients with mild asthma (2,363 +/- 330 pL/s) [mean +/- SD] was higher than in patients with moderate stable asthma (1,300 +/- 59 pL/s, p < 0.0005), in patients with severe asthma receiving inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) [1,015 +/- 67 pL/s, p < 0.0005], and healthy control subjects (721 +/- 22 pL/s, p < 0.0001). There were no differences between Jno in patients with mild asthma compared to patients with severe asthma receiving ICS and oral corticosteroids (2,225 +/- 246 pL/s). Patients with exacerbations showed a higher Jno (3,475 +/- 368.9 pL/s, p < 0.05) compared to the other groups. Alveolar NO was higher in patients with severe asthma receiving oral corticosteroids (3.0 +/- 0.1 parts per billion [ppb], p < 0.0001) than in the other groups but was not significantly higher than in patients with moderate asthma during exacerbation (2.8 +/- 0.3 ppb). No differences were seen in NO diffusion levels between the different asthma groups. All the measurements were highly reproducible and free of day-to-day and diurnal variations. CONCLUSIONS Differential flow analysis of exhaled NO provides additional information about the site of inflammation in asthma and may be useful in assessing the response of peripheral inflammation to therapy.
Hyperspectral Image Classification by Exploring Low-Rank Property in Spectral or/and Spatial Domain

Within-class spectral variation, which is caused by varied imaging conditions, such as changes in illumination, environmental, atmospheric, and temporal conditions, significantly degrades the performance of hyperspectral image classification. Recent studies have shown that such spectral variation can be alleviated by exploring the low-rank property in the spectral domain, especially based on the low-rank subspace assumption. In this paper, the low-rank subspace assumption is approached by exploring the low-rank property in the local spectral domain. In addition, the low-rank property in the spatial domain is also explored to alleviate spectral variation. As a result, two novel spectral-spatial low-rank (SSLR) strategies are designed to alleviate spectral variation by exploring the low-rank property in both spectral and spatial domains. Experimental results on two benchmark hyperspectral datasets demonstrate that exploring the low-rank property in local spectral space can help to alleviate spectral variation and improve the performance of classification obviously for all tested data, while exploring the low-rank property in spatial space is more effective for images presenting large homogeneous areas.
A simple and effective model for electromagnetic bandgap structures embedded in printed circuit boards

Using a transmission-line model and considering a simple lumped-element substitute for the patch-via structure, a first-order, but detailed, quantitative and qualitative analysis of the filtering properties of a metallo-dielectric electromagnetic bandgap structure embedded in a printed circuit board is presented. This model is able to describe the resonant properties of the structure as well as its pass-band and stop-band regions.
Total or Posterior Partial Fundoplication in the Treatment of GERD: Results of a Randomized Trial After 2 Decades of Follow-up

Objective and Background: We lack long-term data (>10 years) on the efficacy of antireflux surgery when evaluated within the framework of randomized clinical trials Hereby we report the outcome of a randomized trial comparing open total (I) and a Toupet posterior partial fundoplication (II) performed between 1983 and 1991. Methods: One hundred and thirty-seven patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and were enrolled into the study. The mean follow up has now reached 18 years. During these years 26% had died and 16% were unable to trace for follow up. Symptom outcomes were assessed by the use of validated self-reporting questionnaires. Results: Long-term control of heartburn and acid regurgitation (reported as no or mild symptoms) were reported by 80% and 82% after a total fundoplication (I) and corresponding figures were 87% and 90% after a partial posterior fundoplication (II), respectively (n.s.). The dysphagia scores were low 4.6 ± 1.3 (SEM) in group I and 3.3 ± 0.9 (SEM) in group II (n.s). The point prevalences of rectal flatulence and gas distension related complaints were of similar magnitude in the 2 groups. Twenty-three percentage of the patients in the total fundoplication group noted some ability to vomit compared with 31% in the partial posterior fundoplication group. Conclusions: Both a total and a partial posterior fundoplication maintain a high level of reflux control after 2 decades of follow up. The previously reported differences in mechanical side effects, in favor of the partial wrap, seemed to disappear over time. ISRCTN59614486 http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN59614486/
The soluble form of urokinase receptor promotes angiogenesis through its Ser88‐Arg‐Ser‐Arg‐Tyr92 chemotactic sequence

Summary. Background: The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (u‐PAR) focuses the proteolytic activity of the urokinase plasminogen activator (u‐PA) on the endothelial cell surface, thus promoting angiogenesis in a protease‐dependent manner. The u‐PAR may exist in a glycophosphatidylinositol‐anchored and in a soluble form (soluble u‐PAR [Su‐PAR]), both including the chemotactic Ser88‐Arg‐Ser‐Arg‐Tyr92 internal sequence. Objective: To investigate whether Su‐PAR may trigger endothelial cell signaling leading to new vessel formation through its chemotactic Ser88‐Arg‐Ser‐Arg‐Tyr92 sequence. Methods and Results: In this study, the formation of vascular‐like structures by human umbilical vein endothelial cells was assessed by using a matrigel basement membrane preparation. First, we found that Su‐PAR protein promotes the formation of cord‐like structures, and that this ability is retained by the isolated Ser88‐Arg‐Ser‐Arg‐Tyr92 chemotactic sequence, the maximal effect being reached at 10 nmol L−1 SRSRY peptide (SRSRY). This effect is mediated by the αvβ3 vitronectin receptor, is independent of u‐PA proteolytic activity, and involves the internalization of the G‐protein‐coupled formyl‐peptide receptor in endothelial cells. Furthermore, exposure of human saphenous vein rings to Su‐PAR or SRSRY leads to a remarkable degree of sprouting. Finally, we show that Su‐PAR and SRSRY promote a marked response in angioreactors implanted into the dorsal flank of nude mice, retaining 91% and 66%, respectively, of the angiogenic response generated by a mixture of vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor type 2. Conclusions: Our results show a new protease‐independent activity of Su‐PAR that stimulates in vivo angiogenesis through its Ser88‐Arg‐Ser‐Arg‐Tyr92 chemotactic sequence.
Empirical Identification of Behavioral Choice Models Under Risk

The generalized expected utility literature typically assumes an absence of judgment bias in the individual perception of probabilities when inferring risk preferences. This assumption is in disagreement with many other studies that document such bias. We show that models of preference anomalies are mathematically equivalent to models of perception anomalies when estimating perceptions and/or preferences based on observable risky choice data. Empirical models admitting both involve multiplicative functions of common variables and are discernible only by assuming specifications that arbitrarily separate the two. This inability to separately identify preferences and probability perceptions is not readily solved by experimental means. Vastly different combinations of preference and perception modifications fit behavioral data identically, implying that Arrow-Pratt risk aversion estimates are arbitrary. In contrast, the risk premium and certainty equivalent are identifiable without unverifiable and untestable separating assumptions, and provide sufficient statistics for policy and welfare analysis regardless.
Framing Arab Refugees in Global News

This study examines the framing of Arab refugees and asylum seekers in the global news, represented by the news stories published on the online edition of CNN. Based on the framing theory, the quantitative content analysis found the attribution of responsibility frame to be the most salient and frequent frame in the coverage of Arab refugees and asylum seekers. The responsibility frame ascribing the Arab refugee crisis or its resolution to different actors and groups surpassed the other four news frames— human interest, conflict, economic consequences, and morality; although the five frames were existent in coverage. The lone hypothesis of the study expecting thematic frames to be more common than episodic frames was found supported. That is, the news coverage of Arab refugees tended to be thematic, as it covered the issue in the broader context, whereas episodic frames that focus on individual accounts and personal stories were less frequent. Security terms that describe Arab refugees as potential threats were found more often than the humanitarian terms that frame them as victims. The study pinpointed the lack of photos and voices of Arab refugees in the news coverage, as 90% of the relevant news articles did not include their quotes, whilst around two-thirds of the news stories did not include any of their images. The featured quotes tend to frame Arab refugees negatively, whereas the embedded photos presented more positive frames, however, the overall framing of Arab refugees and asylum seekers in CNN news stories tended to be generally balanced.
Evidence that the AAA+ Proteins TIP48 and TIP49 Bridge Interactions between 15.5K and the Related NOP56 and NOP58 Proteins during Box C/D snoRNP Biogenesis

ABSTRACT The box C/D small nucleolar RNPs (snoRNPs) are essential for the processing and modification of rRNA. TIP48 and TIP49 are two related AAA+ proteins that are essential for the formation of box C/D snoRNPs. These proteins are key components of the pre-snoRNP complexes, but their exact role in box C/D snoRNP biogenesis is largely uncharacterized. Here we report that TIP48 and TIP49 interact with one another in vitro, and only the TIP48/TIP49 complex, but not the individual proteins, possesses significant ATPase activity. Loss of TIP48 and TIP49 results in a change in pre-snoRNA levels and a loss of U3 snoRNA signal in the Cajal body. We show that TIP48 and TIP49 make multiple interactions with core snoRNP proteins and biogenesis factors and that these interactions are often regulated by the presence of ATP. Furthermore, we demonstrate that TIP48 and TIP49 efficiently bridge interactions between the core box C/D proteins NOP56 or NOP58 and 15.5K. Our data imply that the snoRNP assembly factor NUFIP can regulate the interactions between TIP48 and TIP49 and the core box C/D proteins. We suggest that snoRNP assembly involves an intricate series of interactions that are mediated/regulated by bridging factors and chaperones.
Serum pro-hepcidin level and iron homeostasis in Japanese dialysis patients with erythropoietin (EPO)-resistant anemia.

BACKGROUND Resistance to EPO therapy in hemodialysis (HD) patients is ascribed to inflammation and iron deficiency. Hepcidin, an antimicrobial peptide, is a key regulator of iron metabolism and synthesis of hepcidin is regulated by iron status and inflammation. The role of hepcidin in the pathogenesis of EPO-resistant anemia was assessed through measurement of serum pro-hepcidin in HD patients. MATERIAL/METHODS Serum pro-hepcidin was measured by ELISA in 57 HD patients, who were divided into three groups: Group I (n=19) had EPO-resistance anemia, based on serum ferritin of > or =100 ng/ml and EPO dose (9,000 IU/week maximum dose for 6 months); Group II (n=19) had iron-deficiency anemia, based on serum ferritin of <100 ng/ml and/or <20% transferrin iron saturation (TSAT); and Group III (n=19) had no iron deficiency and anemia. Nineteen age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled as controls (Group IV). RESULTS Serum pro-hepcidin was significantly lower in Group II than in other groups. In Group I, serum pro-hepcidin did not differ significantly from controls. Serum levels of ferritin, hs-CRP and IL-6 were higher in Group I than in other groups, and serum sTfR was higher in Groups I and II than in controls. CONCLUSIONS In EPO resistant anemia, multiple factors, including iron and inflammation related conditions, are likely to affect the level of hepcidin and this may explain the lack of elevated serum hepcidin in this condition.
Weight in infancy and prevalence of coronary heart disease in adult life

Abstract Objective: To determine whether low birth weight and low weight at 1 year are followed by an increased prevalence of coronary heart disease in adult life. Design: A follow up study of men born during 1920–30 whose birth weights and weights at 1 year were recorded. Setting: Hertfordshire, England. Subjects: 290 men born and still living in East Hertfordshire. Main outcome measure: The prevalence of coronary heart disease, defined by the Rose/WHO chest pain questionnaire, standard electrocardiographic criteria, or history of coronary artery angioplasty or graft surgery. Results: 42 (14%) men had coronary heart disease. Their mean birth weight, 7.9 lb (3600 g), was the same as that of the other men. Their mean weight at 1 year, 21.8 lb (9.9 kg), was 1 lb (454 g) lower (95% confidence interval 0.1 to 1.8, P=0.02). Percentages of men with coronary heart disease fell from 27% in those who weighed 18 lb (8.2 kg) or less at 1 year to 9% in those who weighed more than 26 lb (11.8 kg) (P value for trend=0.03). This trend occurred in both smokers and non-smokers and within each social class. Conclusion: These findings add to the evidence that coronary heart disease is “programmed” during early growth. Key messages Key messages This is consistent with the association between low weight at 1 year and increased death rates from coronary heart disease The association between low weight at 1 year and coronary heart disease occurs in smokers and non-smokers and in each social class This adds to evidence that influences acting before 1 year of age have an important effect on the risk of developing coronary heart disease
Comparative Perspectives on the Missing Link: Communicative Pragmatics

A common assumption is that communicative competence simply fl ows from some possibly innate by-product of vocal development. Understanding the dimensions of competence, or what in this chapter is called "communicative pragmatics," can be summed up as answering the "wh" questions, the "who," "what," "where," "when," and "why" of vocal performance. This chapter shows that songbirds and infants have to (a) learn how to use their signals though social modeling and social operant learning and (b) learn to lengthen their attention span so as to be able to acquire critical feedback from social companions. Of particular importance is the convergence of directed attention and vocalizations because individuals are able to receive both vocal and visual feedback to their behaviors.