Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validity evidence of the brazilian version of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)

Mindfulness is a skill that allows the practitioner to expand an existing space between stimulus and response, so he/she may make more conscious choices which in turn prevents the perpetuation of dysfunctional patterns of behaviors, contributing to the improvement of his/her well-being. The goal of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) in a sample with 395 participants divided into smokers, people from the general population, college students and meditators. They answered the MAAS and the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS). An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to test the factor structure of the MAAS. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability and split half were respectively assessed with Cronbach's α and correlation coefficients. Construct validity was examined by correlating the MAAS with psychological well-being. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing the meditators' scores on the MAAS with the scores of other participants. After the exploratory factor analysis, the Brazilian MAAS remained a unidimensional scale. Reliability [α = . 83; split half = . 67 and test-retest = . 80 (p < .001)] and validity measures were adequate, except the criterion validity which was not confirmed in the mentioned sample.
p53 Induction by Tumor Necrosis Factor‐α and Involvement of p53 in Cell Death of Human Oligodendrocytes

Abstract : Oligodendrocytes (OLs) and their myelin membranes are the primary targets in the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS). The inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) has been implicated as a mediator of OL cell injury. TNF‐α is detectable within MS lesions and induces apoptosis of mature human OLs in vitro. One possible mechanism by which TNF‐α mediates cell death is through the activation of c‐jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK). We have previously shown that treatment of human OLs with TNF‐α leads to activation of JNK. Here we provide evidence that p53, a regulator of the cell cycle and apoptosis, is a mediator of TNF‐α‐induced apoptosis of OLs. Although p53 was undetectable by western blot analysis in adult human OLs, its levels increased within 24 h after TNF‐α treatment (100 ng/ml). The induced p53 was immunolocalized to the nucleus prior to the appearance of significant numbers of apoptotic cells. Overexpression of p53 by adenovirus‐mediated gene transfer into human OLs in vitro resulted in marked apoptosis as revealed by in situ cleavage of DNA (TUNEL positive), decreased mitochondrial function, and release of lactate dehydrogenase into the culture medium. These in vitro studies demonstrate that increased p53 levels are associated with apoptosis of human OLs. The findings further implicate p53 as a target for the JNK pathway activated during TNF‐α‐mediated cell death of human adult OLs.
Long lasting p53‐specific T cell memory responses in the absence of anti‐p53 antibodies in patients with resected primary colorectal cancer

Colorectal carcinoma is commonly associated with mutation and overexpression of p53, making this antigen a potential target for immune intervention. We analyzed humoral and proliferative immunity against p53 in the blood of patients with resected primary colorectal cancer. The majority of these patients displayed anti‐p53 T helper (Th) immunity in the absence of measurable p53 specific antibody levels. The Th responses were long‐lasting since they could be detected up to several years after resection of the primary tumor. In a number of cases the Th responses were highly sensitive, reflected by the recognition of naturally processed p53 protein. Our data argue that boosting of these responses in patients with minimal residual disease through p53‐specific vaccination, may be employed for improving the chance of disease‐free survival of these patients.
Book Review: Hearing in Time: Psychological Aspects of Musical Meter (2nd Edition)

Table of Contents Introduction Meter as a Kind of Attentional Behavior Relevant research on Rhythmic Perception and Production The Neurobiology and Development of Rhythm Meter-Rhythm Interactions I: Ground Rules Metric Representations and Metric Well-Formedness Meter-Rhythm Interactions II: Problems Metric Flux in Beethoven's Fifth Non-Isochronous Meters NI-Meters in Theory and Practice The Many Meters Hypothesis Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index
The Role of Morphology in Reading in Spanish-Speaking Children with Dyslexia

Abstract Morphemes facilitate visual word recognition, leading to greater accuracy and fluency in reading morphologically complex words. In children with dyslexia, the morphological structure might be useful to reduce difficulties caused by phonological deficits. The aim of this study was to determine whether Spanish-speaking children with dyslexia benefit from morphemes when reading. A group of children with dyslexia of different ages (7 to 10 years) and a group of children without reading disabilities, matched on chronological age and gender, participated in a task of reading isolated words and pseudowords in which morphological complexity was manipulated. Half of the stimuli were morphologically simple and half morphologically complex. Children with dyslexia benefit from morphology since they have better performance with the morphologically complex stimuli. These results indicate that they are able to develop representations of units larger than the grapheme, what suggests that Spanish-speaking children with dyslexia use the morphological structure to overcome their difficulties in phonological recoding. These results have important implications for the rehabilitation of children with dyslexia.
In-hospital mortality in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a new predictive model

Introduction and objective Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a severe complication in cirrhotics with ascites. Early identification of high-risk patients is crucial for prognostic improvement. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) relies on a few objective variables and predicts short-term survival. We aimed to determine the predictive value of MELD score, at admission, in the short-term mortality of SBP patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 73 SBP episodes admitted in our department between January 2002 and April 2006. Diagnosis (neutrophil count in ascitic fluid ≥250/mm3) was established within 24 h and cefotaxime was immediately started. Data collected included age, sex, etiology of liver disease, severity of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy, serum creatinine, total bilirubin and albumin, prothrombin time with international normalized ratio, and ascitic fluid analysis. Statistics Student's t-test, χ2 test, univariate analysis, logistic regression model, and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results In-hospital mortality rate was 37%. In multivariate analysis, MELD score (P<0.001), and advanced age (P<0.05) were independent predictors of mortality. Receiver operating characteristic curve for MELD score revealed an excellent discriminatory ability to predict death, with an area under curve of 0.84. Age increased the predictive ability of MELD score, represented by an increment of area under curve to 0.88. Conclusion MELD score and older age were independent predictors of mortality. Age increased the discriminatory ability of MELD score to predict death. This new model may be useful for stratifying patients in future therapeutic trials, deserving further validation.
Osteomyelitits Due to Cryptococcus neoformans in Advanced Age Case Report and Review of Literature

In an 84‐year‐old man cryptococcosis with a pronounced osteomyelitic course (involvement of a rib, two thoracic vertebrae, the sacrum and a femur) was diagnosed histologically post mortem, thus directing attention to cryptococcosis in advanced age. The presumptive chronic course of the Cryptococcus neoformans (Cr. n.) infection in this patient was ascribed to chronic kidney failure, diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive lung disease. Special reference is made to the mycological and radiological diagnosis of cryptococcosis of the bones as well as to its pathogenesis, therapy and epidemiology.
Oxide breakdown dependence on thickness and hole current - enhanced reliability of ultra thin oxides

The link between hole generation/trapping and oxide breakdown is demonstrated by correlating oxide breakdown with the hole current generated in the oxide. Both exhibit the same oxide thickness and field dependences. Charge-to-breakdown (QBD), time-to-breakdown (tBD), and breakdown-field (EBD) increase dramatically as oxide thickness is reduced below 80 Å due to reduced rate of hole generation, which is modeled by an average electron energy analysis. Time-dependent-dielectric-breakdown (TDDB) tests show that, for as-grown oxide capacitors, defect densities may decrease with decreasing oxide thickness down to 60 Å.
Assessment of the Affective Dimensions of Psychopathy with the Danish version of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits among Incarcerated Boys: A study of Reliability, Criterion Validity, and Construct Validity

Abstract Background: Callous-unemotional (CU) traits have been found to index an important subgroup of antisocial youth who are at high risk for developing psychopathic personality pathology, and for becoming severe and persistent offenders. On the basis of such research findings, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, have included a “with limited prosocial emotions” specifier in the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder to designate a subtype with high levels of CU traits. This creates the need for psychometrically sound measures for the assessment of these traits. The self-report questionnaire Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) was designed to provide an efficient, reliable, and valid measure of CU traits among youth populations. Method: Eighty Danish adolescent boys between the ages of 15 to 18 years in secure institutions were assessed concurrently with the ICU, the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV), self-report measures of aggression and empathy, and ratings of psychosocial problems. Approximately nine days later, the ICU was readministered in a subset of the sample (n = 40) to examine test-retest reliability. Results: Internal consistency was satisfactory, and test-retest reliability was excellent. Concurrent validity associations with the PCL:YV ranged from moderate to high. The ICU displayed excellent discriminative validity for identifying persons who displayed high levels of psychopathic traits. CU traits were also found to be associated with psychosocial impairments, aggression, and reduced empathy. Conclusions: Overall, these findings support the reliability; construct validity, and criterion validity of the ICU.
Fighting, Fleeing, and Having Fun: The Immunology of Physical Activity

Exercise places a spectrum of demands on the body, dependent on the form, intensity, and duration, which are super-imposed on a background of physiological and psychological factors peculiar to the host. Thus the net effect of these factors is both heterogeneous and complex. Studying the effects of exercise is dependent on an understanding of an elaborate network of interactions between the central nervous, endocrine, and immune systems that is yet to be understood. While investigators agree that immune suppression results from exhaustive exercise, opinions vary about its mechanism. Some of this is due to inter- and even intra-subject variation (perceptions, previous experience, gender, age, biological rhythms, other temporally related events, attributions, etc.), yet other is a result of differences in study design, parameters measured, methods and materials used, and a host of other variables. To achieve accord and to define the mechanisms leading to changes in health status, beneficial or harmful, that result from physical activity, we must strive to understand the complex network that exists in the psychoneuroendocrine immune system, design rigorous research models, standardize our methods, and offer sound hypotheses for future study. Lastly, investigations into exercise-induced immune alterations need to be conducted by multidisciplinary teams of individuals expert in each of the fields encompassed by this complex field of study. After offering some examples of the complex interactions between components of the psychoneuroendocrine immune axis, we discuss study design, caveats of laboratory methods, data reduction and interpretation, and a means of perhaps achieving our common goals in studying exercise immunology.
Comparative study of TA-606, a novel angiotensin II receptor antagonist, with losartan in terms of species difference and orthostatic hypotension.

Losartan is a prodrug type Angiotensin II (Ang II) AT1-receptor antagonist whose efficacy depends on the oxidase activity of individuals. In addition, losartan affects the normal blood pressure and can potentially cause orthostatic hypotension. In this report, we examined effects of TA-606 [(3-pentyloxy)carbonyloxymethyl-5-acetyl-2-n-propyl-3-[2'(1H -tetrazole-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxylate hydrochloride], a prodrug type AT1-receptor antagonist, on the Ang II-induced pressor response and hypertension in a dog model, which is known to have lower oxidase activity than other species, and orthostatic hypotension in the rat tilting model. The results indicated that TA-606 was immediately converted to its active form, 606A, after oral administration, and it demonstrated potent inhibition of the Ang II-induced pressor response in conscious normotensive dogs (0.3-3 mg/kg, p.o.). It also had a potent hypotensive effect in conscious 2K,1C-renal hypertensive dogs (0.3-10 mg/kg, p.o.). These effects of TA-606 were 32 and 30 times more potent than those of losartan, respectively. In addition, EXP3174 (1, 10 mg/kg, i.v.), an active metabolite of losartan, but not 606A (1-30 mg/kg, i.v.) showed an orthostatic hypotensive effect in the rat tilting model. These results suggest that TA-606 is an effective Ang II receptor antagonist without the drawbacks of losartan.
Use of a branch wire to anchor stents for exact placement proximal to bifurcation stents: The reverse Szabo technique

This report describes a technique for correct positioning of a stent proximal to a bifurcation lesion treated with V‐stents. A second wire passed through the first cell of a stent, the opposite end of the anchor wire technique as first described by Szabo et al, facilitated precise stent placement and eliminated erroneous positioning inside or outside the treated bifurcation lesion. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The switch from inorganic to organic sulphur assimilation in Escherichia coli:
 adenosine 5′‐phosphosulphate (APS) as a signalling molecule for sulphate excess

The utilization of organosulphur compounds as sources of sulphur by Escherichia coli is strongly repressed by sulphate. To search for the signal enabling E. coli to alternate gene expression according to the sulphur source, we investigated the transcriptional control of the ssuEADCB operon, required for the transport and desulphonation of aliphatic sulphonates. We demonstrate that, of the two LysR‐type regulators involved in expression from the ssu promoter, Cbl acts as a direct and sufficient activator of transcription in vivo and in vitro, whereas CysB downregulates the promoter efficiency. Most importantly, the Cbl‐mediated transcription initiation at the ssu promoter in vitro is abolished in the presence of an early metabolite of the sulphate assimilatory pathway, adenosine 5′‐phosphosulphate (APS). This role for APS was confirmed in vivo by measuring the expression of β‐galactosidase from a transcriptional ssu–lacZ fusion in strains containing different mutations blocking the synthesis and consumption of APS. Our data comprise the first evidence that APS may act as the negative cofactor of the transcriptional regulator Cbl, and that APS, and not sulphate itself, serves as the signalling molecule for sulphate excess.
Effects of ketamine on anterior cingulate glutamate metabolism in healthy humans: a 4-T proton MRS study.

OBJECTIVE The authors' goal was to test in humans the hypothesis that N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonism results in increased cortical glutamate activity, as proposed by the NMDAR hypofunction model of schizophrenia. METHOD 4-T 1H proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was used to acquire in vivo spectra from the bilateral anterior cingulate of 10 healthy subjects while they received a subanesthetic dose of either placebo or ketamine, an NMDAR antagonist. Assessments given before and after ketamine or placebo administration included the Brief Rating Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, the Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale, and the Stroop task. RESULTS As predicted, there was a significant increase in anterior cingulate glutamine, a putative marker of glutamate neurotransmitter release, with ketamine administration. This increase was not related to schizophrenia-like positive or negative symptoms but was marginally related to Stroop performance. CONCLUSIONS In humans as in animals, an acute hypofunctional NMDAR state is associated with increased glutamatergic activity in the anterior cingulate.
Clinical presentation and penetrance of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndromes.

CONTEXT The identification of mutations in genes encoding peptides of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndromes has necessitated clear elucidation of genotype-phenotype associations. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine genotype-phenotype associations in a cohort of patients with pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndromes and succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) or subunit D (SDHD) mutations. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The International SDH Consortium studied 116 individuals (83 affected and 33 clinically unaffected) from 62 families with pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndromes and SDHB or SDHD mutations. Clinical data were collected between August 2003 and September 2004 from tertiary referral centers in Australia, France, New Zealand, Germany, United States, Canada, and Scotland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Data were collected on patients with pheochromocytomas and/or paragangliomas with respect to onset of disease, diagnosis, genetic testing, surgery, pathology, and disease progression. Clinical features were evaluated for evidence of genotype-phenotype associations, and penetrance was determined. RESULTS SDHB mutation carriers were more likely than SDHD mutation carriers to develop extraadrenal pheochromocytomas and malignant disease, whereas SDHD mutation carriers had a greater propensity to develop head and neck paragangliomas and multiple tumors. For the index cases, there was no difference between 43 SDHB and 19 SDHD mutation carriers in the time to first diagnosis (34 vs. 28 yr, respectively; P = 0.3). However, when all mutation carriers were included (n = 112), the estimated age-related penetrance was different for SDHB vs. SDHD mutation carriers (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS For clinical follow-up, features of SDHB mutation-associated disease include a later age of onset, extraadrenal (abdominal or thoracic) tumors, and a higher rate of malignancy. In contrast, SDHD mutation carriers, in addition to head and neck paragangliomas, should be observed for multifocal tumors, infrequent malignancy, and the possibility of extraadrenal pheochromocytoma.
Relationship Between the Number of Occlusal Contacts and Masticatory Muscle Activity in Healthy Young Adults

ABSTRACT The electromyographic (EMG) potentials of left and right masseter and temporalis anterior muscles were recorded in 23 healthy young adults during: 1. a 3-second maximum voluntary clench (MVC) on cotton rolls positioned on the posterior teeth (standardized recording); and 2. a 3-second MVC in intercuspal position. EMG potentials recorded in intercuspal position were standardized as a percentage of the mean potentials of the standardized recording, and the EMG muscle activity was calculated. The number of occlusal contacts in intercuspal position was assessed by using eight μm thick shim stocks. Two groups of subjects with either 1. Less than ten occlusal contacts (11 subjects with “few contacts”); or 2. At least ten occlusal contacts (12 subjects with “many contacts”) were selected. The MVC muscle activity in the “few contacts” group was significantly lower than that recorded in the “many contacts” group (p<0.005). In conclusion, the number of occlusal contacts and masticatory muscular function are significantly related, at least in young adults with a sound stomatognathic apparatus.
Ageing induces apoptosis and increases HSP70 stress protein in the epididymis of Octodon degus

La apoptosis ha sido muy estudiada en el testiculo, no asi en el epididimo. Se analiza el numero de celulas apoptoticas en las diferentes regiones epididimarias (cabeza, cuerpo, cola) del roedor sudamericano Octodon degus joven y senil. La apoptosis se identifico con la tecnica de TUNEL que detecta fragmentacion del ADN y se la observo en las celulas epiteliales principales. La cabeza fue el segmento mas afectado, con 0.32/1000 celulas apoptoticas en los animales jovenes vs 5.1/1000 en seniles. Tambien en la cola la apoptosis aumenta con la edad, con 0.14/1000 y 3.9/1000 en jovenes y seniles, respectivamente. Por otra parte, la deteccion inmunohistoquimica de la proteina de estres termico HSP-70 mostro que esta aumenta notoriamente en las celulas principales de la cola epididimaria en animales seniles. Los cambios en el epitelio epididimario se deben probablemente a los bajos niveles de androgenos del animal senil y son dependientes de la region epididimaria analizada
Pointing errors in immediate and delayed conditions in unilateral optic ataxia.

The present paper provides an analysis of the pointing errors of a patient with unilateral optic ataxia (O.K.) following right hemispheric damage, revealing the type of errors related tothe use of the contralesional hand and/or to the reaching of targets located in the contralesional visual field. In addition, comparison between immediate and delayed pantomime pointing allow testing of whether pointing deficits of this patient are specific to real-time visuo-motor control and, subsequently, whether delay could improve his pointing performance. The results show different patterns in the four hand-field combinations. The following conclusion can be drawn from the results of the delayed condition. In the case of patient O. K. , the delay reduced the pointing variability for both hands in the left visual field but not in the right visual field. However, the pointing biases did not improve accordingly. As in healthy subjects, target locations tended to be coded in memory with a bias directed toward the fixation point. These results are discussed and contrasted with respect to those previously obtained in the literature in patients with bilateral optic ataxia.