Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Menopausal symptoms and quality of life in Turkish women in the climacteric period

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of menopausal symptoms in Turkish women and the impact of these symptoms and related factors on the quality of life. Methods The sample in this cross-sectional study consisted of 1030 women, aged 40–59 years. The researcher collected the data at the women's homes via the face-to-face interview method using the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire and a questionnaire developed and drawn up in line with the literature. Results The mean age (± standard deviation) of the women participating in the study was 48.58 ± 5.61 years and their mean menopausal age was 46.4 ± 4.4 years. While the most frequently experienced menopausal symptoms in the study were feeling tired and worn out (79.2%), aches in the muscles and joints (79.1%) and low backache (77.8%), the least experienced symptom was an increase in facial hair (28.3%). Significant differences were found between the subdomain mean scores on the MENQOL according to menopausal periods (p = 0.000). Significant differences were detected in all subdomain mean scores of the MENQOL questionnaire according to age groups, perception of income, education, parity and body mass index (p < 0.05). Conclusion In women in the climacteric period, the time that quality of life is the most affected among all the menopausal periods is the postmenopausal period. Women in menopause should not be forgotten; health-care services addressing the health needs of women should not be restricted only to the period of fertility but continued with the same sensitivity throughout the life cycle.
Cutting Edge: Regulatory T Cells Directly Suppress B Cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus1

In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), adaptive CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress Th cells that help autoantibody (autoAb)-producing B cells. It is not known whether naturally occurring Tregs can directly suppress B cells in SLE without an intermediate suppression of Th cells. This aspect is important for its implications in the natural course of SLE, because most if not all of the clinical and pathologic effects in SLE are associated with a dysregulated production of autoAbs. In this study, we show that natural Tregs can inhibit B cell activity in vitro and in vivo in SLE through cell contact-mediated mechanisms that directly suppress autoAb-producing B cells, including those B cells that increase numerically during active disease. These results indicate that one way by which natural Tregs attempt to limit humoral autoimmunity in SLE is by directly targeting autoreactive B cells.
Global synchronised regions of linearly coupled Lur'e systems

This article addresses the global synchronisation problem of a network of coupled Lur'e systems from the perspective of global synchronised region. A decomposition approach is proposed to convert the synchronisation of high-dimensional Lur'e networks into the test of a set of matrix inequalities whose dimensions are the same as a single Lur'e node. The notion of global synchronised region is then introduced and analysed. A necessary and sufficient condition is derived for the existence of the inner-linking matrix to guarantee a desirable unbounded synchronised region. A multi-step design procedure is given for constructing such an inner-linking matrix, which maintains a favourable decoupling property. Furthermore, the global H ∞ synchronised region is characterised for evaluating the performance of a Lur'e network subject to external disturbances. The effectiveness of the theoretical results is demonstrated through a network of Chua's circuits.
Structural Change and Catching Up: Experience of the Ten Candidate Countries

The paper analyzes the experience of the Central and East European candidate countries with respect to major macro-level changes in the structure of their economy relevant for their catching up. More precisely, the production and utilization sides of the GDP, as well as the structure of manufacturing industry are focused on. The most important development on the production side of the GDP has been the substantial reduction of previously over-developed industrial activities on the one hand, and the emancipation of service activities, on the other. In the past 11 years the candidate countries caught up with countries at the same per capita level of GDP in terms of service intensity. Expanding market services have played a crucial role filling the void after central planning was abandoned, since efficient market coordination, the working of the “invisible hand” could not have developed without them. Relevant inputoutput coefficients show some evidence that the impact of services is deepening, this sector is contributing to and determining the production of value added at more stages of the production process than before. Restructuring within manufacturing shows a wide variation across the candidate countries. Good performance in the phase of recovery of output was not necessarily associated with large structural shifts. The dominance of labor intensive products in manufacturing, however, indicate that productivity catching up will necessitate further massive shifts across the sub-sectors in most of the candidate countries. Even if the large share of “screwdriver operations” in the framework of multinational networks may blur the picture of manufacturing structures, we can identify that the countries that attracted the largest part of FDI managed either to achieve great structural shifts in their industry, or to develop sub-sectors with potentially high unit values, or both. On the utilization side of the GDP substantial fluctuations took place. The expectations, however, that following stabilization and recovery high domestic savings rates and relatively high domestic investment ratios would support the evolving real convergence process, have been realized only in a few country. Moreover, in some of these economies sizable proportion of the domestic savings was wasted. This mixed development emphasizes the importance of utilizing foreign savings, particularly in the form of direct investment. The programmed progress of the EU accession process is crucial both for increasing the potential volume of foreign savings and to achieve that the efficiency gains that were dominating the period of recovery in 1995-1999 continue to accompany the accumulation of physical capital.
Binding of the General Anesthetics Propofol and Halothane to Human Serum Albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA) is one of the most abundant proteins in the circulatory system and plays a key role in the transport of fatty acids, metabolites, and drugs. For many drugs, binding to serum albumin is a critical determinant of their distribution and pharmacokinetics; however, there have as yet been no high resolution crystal structures published of drug-albumin complexes. Here we describe high resolution crystal structures of HSA with two of the most widely used general anesthetics, propofol and halothane. In addition, we describe a crystal structure of HSA complexed with both halothane and the fatty acid, myristate. We show that the intravenous anesthetic propofol binds at two discrete sites on HSA in preformed pockets that have been shown to accommodate fatty acids. Similarly we show that the inhalational agent halothane binds (at concentrations in the pharmacologically relevant range) at three sites that are also fatty acid binding loci. At much higher halothane concentrations, we have identified additional sites that are occupied. All of the higher affinity anesthetic binding sites are amphiphilic in nature, with both polar and apolar parts, and anesthetic binding causes only minor changes in local structure.
Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives In Vermont: A Survey Based Assessment Of Current Knowledge Of Providers Of Women Of Reproductive Age

Unintended pregnancies are a long-standing public health issue nationally, with percentages hovering around 50% for at least the last five years. Vermont is doing slightly better than the national average, but is faced with it’s own challenges due to it’s rural nature. Agencies and organizations, such as the World Health Organization, March of Dimes and the Vermont Department of Health have made decreasing unintended pregnancies one of their priorities to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes, as well as social and economic opportunities for families. Current evidence-based guidelines call for longacting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), including intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, as the first-line recommendation by healthcare providers for decreasing unintended pregnancies. This study, in collaboration with several Vermont state organizations and agencies, engaged healthcare professionals throughout the state with an electronically disseminated survey aimed at assessing their knowledge of LARCs. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether healthcare professionals caring for women of reproductive age, are using current evidence-based practice guidelines to counsel women in their contraceptive choices. Survey results revealed that the majority of the respondents consider themselves to be knowledgeable about and had received a high level of training in IUD counseling and/or insertion. Areas of uncertainty were primarily about side effects and the insertion and removal processes of the implant, as well as a few categories of medical eligibility. This was especially apparent when results were stratified by urban and rural regions of Vermont. Although there seems to be a high level of provider confidence in knowledge about LARCs and reported counseling of LARCs as first-line, there is a discrepancy between what providers think they know and current evidence based contraception guidelines. Many factors exist that could explain this discrepancy, including but not limited to lack of training, provider bias, and system barriers. This study aims to illuminate gaps in provider knowledge to improve uptake of LARCs and over time make a shift in the numbers of unintended pregnancies in Vermont.
MtuA, a Lipoprotein Receptor Antigen from Streptococcus uberis, Is Responsible for Acquisition of Manganese during Growth in Milk and Is Essential for Infection of the Lactating Bovine Mammary Gland

ABSTRACT A mutant strain of Streptococcus uberis (AJS001) that was unable to grow in bovine milk was isolated following random insertional mutagenesis. The level of growth in milk was restored to that of the parental strain (strain 0140J) following addition of MnSO4 but not following addition of other metal ions. The mutant contained a single insertion within mtuA, a homologue of mtsA and psaA, which encode metal-binding proteins in Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae, respectively. Strain AJS001 was unable to infect any of eight quarters on four dairy cows following intramammary challenge with 105 CFU. Bacteria were never recovered directly from milk of these animals but were detected following enrichment in Todd-Hewitt broth in three of eight milk samples obtained within 24 h of challenge. The animals showed no inflammatory response and no signs of mastitis. Three mammary quarters on two different animals simultaneously challenged with 600 CFU of the parental strain, strain 0140J, became colonized, shed high numbers of S. uberis organisms in milk, displayed a marked inflammatory response to infection, and showed overt signs of mastitis. These data indicate that mtuA was required for efficient uptake of Mn2+ during growth in bovine milk and infection of the lactating bovine mammary gland.
Dispersal, fragmentation, and isolation shape the phylogeography of the European lineages of Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) ripartii (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Polyommatus ripartii is a biogeographically and taxonomically poorly understood species of butterfly with a scattered distribution in Europe. Recently, it has been shown that this species includes several European endemic and localized taxa (galloi, exuberans, agenjoi) that were previously considered species and even protected, a result that poses further questions about the processes that led to its current distribution. We analysed mitochondrial DNA and the morphology of P.ripartii specimens to study the phylogeography of European populations. Three genetically differentiated but apparently synmorphic lineages occur in Europe that could be considered evolutionarily significant units for conservation. Their strongly fragmented and counterintuitive distribution seems to be the result of multiple range expansions and contractions along Pleistocene climatic oscillations. Remarkably, based on the 79 specimens studied, these genetic lineages do not seem to extensively coexist in the distributional mosaic, a phenomenon most evident in the Iberian Peninsula. One of the important gaps in the European distribution of P.ripartii is reduced by the discovery of new Croatian populations, which also facilitate a better understanding of the biogeography of the species.
Inhibition of Chlamydiae by Primary Alcohols Correlates with the Strain-Specific Complement of Plasticity Zone Phospholipase D Genes

ABSTRACT Members of the genus Chlamydia are obligate intracellular pathogens that have a unique biphasic developmental cycle and interactions with host cells. Many genes that dictate host infection tropism and, putatively, pathogenic manifestations of disease are clustered in a hypervariable region of the genome termed the plasticity zone (PZ). Comparative genomics studies have determined that an uncharacterized family of PZ genes encoding orthologs of eukaryotic and prokaryotic members of the phospholipase D (PLD) enzyme family varies among chlamydiae. Here, we show that the PZ PLD (pzPLD) of Chlamydia trachomatis are transcribed during both normal and persistent infection and that the corresponding PLD proteins are predominately localized in reticulate bodies on the inner leaflet of the inclusion membrane. Further, we show that strains of chlamydiae encoding the pzPLD, but not a strain lacking these genes, are inhibited by primary alcohols, potent PLD inhibitors, during growth in HeLa 229 cells. This inhibitory effect is amplified approximately 5,000-fold during recovery from persistent infection. These findings suggest that the chlamydial pzPLD may be important, strain-specific, pathogenesis factors in vivo.
Macrophages of the Splenic Marginal Zone Are Essential for Trapping of Blood-Borne Particulate Antigen but Dispensable for Induction of Specific T Cell Responses

Rapid removal of pathogens from the circulation by secondary lymphoid organs is prerequisite for successful control of infection. Blood-borne Ags are trapped mainly in the splenic marginal zone. To identify the cell populations responsible for Ag trapping in the marginal zone, mice were selectively depleted of marginal zone macrophages and marginal metallophilic macrophages. In the absence of these cells, trapping of microspheres and Listeria monocytogenes organisms was lost, and early control of infection was impaired. Depletion of marginal zone macrophages and marginal metallophilic macrophages, however, did not limit Ag presentation because Listeria-specific protective T cell immunity was induced. Therefore, marginal zone macrophages and marginal metallophilic macrophages are crucial for trapping of particulate Ag but dispensable for Ag presentation.
Journal Abstracts

We tested the hypothesis that students in psychology of women classes would perform better on materials covered by multiple-choice exams when the first author presented these materials with active learning versus lecture, autonomous readings, and video presentations alone. Across 3 classes, we coded exam items according to how the instructor presented relevant materials and recorded classwide performance. Both between and within classes, students' performances were better on items testing materials covered with active learning techniques compared to other formats. These data provide empirical support for the efficacy of active learning techniques.
Anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective effect of Enicostemma littorale against oxidative stress in Islets of Langerhans

Abstract Context Oxidative stress induces apoptosis within Islets of Langerhans in diabetes mellitus (DM). Enicostemma littorale blume, herb of the Gentianaceae family is used as an anti-diabetic agent across rural India. Objective This report demonstrates potent anti-apoptotic and cyto-protective activity of Enicostemma littorale MeOH extract (EL MeOH ext.) against 50 μM H2O2 in isolated rat Islets. Materials and methods In this study, the whole plant methanolic extract of EL with doses 0.25–4 mg/mL each for the preincubation duration of 0.5–4 h against 50 μM H2O2 were tested for optimum protective dose and time by Trypan blue dye exclusion assay. Islet intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was quantified by DCFDA staining and cell death using PS/PI & FDA/PI staining. Further, comet assay, biochemical assessment of caspase-3 and antioxidant enzyme activities along with immunoblotting of PARP-1, caspase-3, TNF-α activation and p-P38 MapK (stress kinase) induction was performed. Results The optimized dose of EL MeOH ext. 2 mg/mL for 2 h was used throughout the study, which significantly decreased total Intracellular ROS and cell death. Further, caspase-3 activity, PARP-1 cleavage, p-P38 MapK (stress kinase) activation and TNF-α levels, which had been significantly elevated, were normalized. Antioxidant enzymes like catalase, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase, along with Comet assay, demonstrated that pretreatment with EL MeOH ext. can augment antioxidant enzyme activities and protect from DNA damage. Discussion and conclusions Significant anti-apoptotic and cyto-protective effects were mediated by EL with Islets of Langerhans subjected to oxidative stress-induced cell death.
Autobiographical memory: Exploring its functions in everyday life

This special issue of Memory spotlights research that uses a functional approach to investigate autobiographical memory (AM) in everyday life. This approach relies on studying cognition, in this case AM, taking into account the psychological, social, or cultural-historic context in which it occurs. Areas of interest include understanding to what ends AM is used by individuals and in social relationships, how it is related to other cognitive abilities and emotional states, and how memory represents our inner and outer world. One insight gained by taking this approach is that levels and types of accuracy need not always be regarded as memory “failures” but are sometimes integral to a self-memory system that serves a variety of meaningful ends of human activity. Previously hypothesised functions of AM fall into three broad domains: self, social, and directive. Each of the contributions addresses how AM serves one or more of these functions and thereby examines the usefulness and adequacy of this trio.
Rythmes de vie et rythmes scolaires : aspects chronobiologiques et chronopsychologiques

Description des differentes facettes des rythmes de vie des enfants a partir de donnees biologiques et psychologiques. Etude des rythmes de vie des jeunes, des rythmes comportementaux des eleves, de la rythmicite journaliere, de l'importance du sommeil, de l'amenagement des temps scolaires, etc.
Metacognitions in Desire Thinking: A Preliminary Investigation

Background: Desire thinking is defined as a voluntary thinking process orienting to prefigure images, information and memories about positive target-related experience. Recent research has highlighted the role of desire thinking in the maintenance of addictive, eating and impulse control disorders. Currently little is known about metacognitions in desire thinking. Aim: To investigate: (1) the presence and content of desire thinking during a desire experience; (2) the presence of metacognitive beliefs in desire thinking; (3) the goal of desire thinking; (4) attentional focus during desire thinking; and (5) the impact of desire thinking on craving. Method: Twenty-four individuals with a diagnosis of either alcohol abuse, bulimia nervosa, pathological gambling or smoking dependence were assessed using a semi-structured interview. Results: Findings indicated that participants engaged in desire thinking and endorsed both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs about this process. The goal of desire thinking was to regulate internal states. Participants also reported that during a desire experience their attentional focus was continuously shifting between internal state and external context and that engaging in desire thinking increased craving. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence that metacognitions play a role in desire thinking.
Exact inference for the risk ratio with an imperfect diagnostic test

SUMMARY The risk ratio quantifies the risk of disease in a study population relative to a reference population. Standard methods of estimation and testing assume a perfect diagnostic test having sensitivity and specificity of 100%. However, this assumption typically does not hold, and this may invalidate naive estimation and testing for the risk ratio. We propose procedures that control for sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic test, given the risks are measured by proportions, as it is in cross-sectional studies or studies with fixed follow-up times. These procedures provide an exact unconditional test and confidence interval for the true risk ratio. The methods also cover the case when sensitivity and specificity differ in the two groups (differential misclassification). The resulting test and confidence interval may be useful in epidemiological studies as well as in clinical and vaccine trials. We illustrate the method with real-life examples which demonstrate that ignoring sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic test may lead to considerable bias in the estimated risk ratio.
Phylogenetic Species Recognition and Species

Taylor, J. W. , Jacobson, D. J., Kroken, S. , Kasuga, only primarily theoretical one was the Evolutionary SpeT. , Geiser, D. M. , Hibett, D. S. , and Fisher, M. C. 2000. Fungal Genetics and Biology 31, 21–32. Phylogenetic species recognition and species concepts in fungi. Fungal Genetics and Biology 31, 000–000. The perational species concept, i.e., the one used to recgnize species, is contrasted to the theoretical speies concept. A phylogenetic approach to recognize ungal species based on concordance of multiple gene enealogies is compared to those based on morpholgy and reproductive behavior. Examples where Phyogenetic Species Recognition has been applied to ungi are reviewed and concerns regarding Phyloenetic Species Recognition are discussed.
A magnetostrictive sensor interrogated by fiber gratings for DC-current and temperature discrimination

A magnetostrictive sensor head with temperature compensation has been developed for measurement of static magnetic fields. The device consists on two different alloys with similar thermal expansion coefficient one of which has a giant magnetostriction, the expansion of both materials produced by heat and magnetism is detected by two fiber gratings. One of the gratings measures the temperature of the sensor and the difference between the wavelengths reflected by the gratings is a measurement of the magnetically induced strain.