Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus as a putative food-entrainable circadian pacemaker

Temporal restriction of feeding can phase-shift behavioral and physiological circadian rhythms in mammals. These changes in biological rhythms are postulated to be brought about by a food-entrainable oscillator (FEO) that is independent of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. However, the neural substrates of FEO have remained elusive. Here, we carried out an unbiased search for mouse brain region(s) that exhibit a rhythmic expression of the Period genes in a feeding-entrainable manner. We found that the compact part of the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) demonstrates a robust oscillation of mPer expression only under restricted feeding. The oscillation persisted for at least 2 days even when mice were given no food during the expected feeding period after the establishment of food-entrained behavioral rhythms. Moreover, refeeding after fasting rapidly induced a transient mPer expression in the same area of DMH. Taken in conjunction with recent findings (i) that behavioral expression of food-entrainable circadian rhythms is blocked by cell-specific lesions of DMH in rats and (ii) that DMH neurons directly project to orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus, which are essential for proper expression of food-entrained behavioral rhythms, the present study suggests that DMH plays a key role as a central FEO in the feeding-mediated regulation of circadian behaviors.
Efficacy of topical tacrolimus for treating the malar rash of systemic lupus erythematosus

Summary The rash of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is usually treated with topical corticosteroids, but prolonged use causes adverse cutaneous side‐effects. We assessed the efficacy of topical tacrolimus for treating the skin lesions of SLE. Three patients with SLE affecting their facial skin applied 0·1% tacrolimus ointment on one side of their face twice daily for 3 weeks, in conjunction with a sunscreen cream. After 3 weeks, erythema on the treated side was ameliorated in all three patients compared with the untreated side. Although the study is preliminary, the results demonstrate that topical tacrolimus may be useful for treating the malar rash of SLE.
Bioactive polymethylmethacrylate bone cement modified with combinations of phosphate group-containing monomers and calcium acetate

Bone cement from polymethylmethacrylate powder and methylmethacrylate liquid has been successfully demonstrated as artificial material to anchor joint replacements in bone. However, it lacks the capability to bond directly to bone, so long-term implantation leads to an increased risk of loosening. Bioactive materials show better performance in fixation to bone, and the chemical bonding depends on bone-like apatite formation. This is triggered by surface reactions with body fluid. For these reactions, superficial functional groups like silanol (Si–OH) are ideal sites to induce apatite nucleation and the release of Ca2+ ions accelerates the apatite growth. Therefore, incorporation of materials containing these key components may provide the cement with apatite-forming ability. In this study, phosphoric acid 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate ester or bis[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate supplying a phosphate group (PO4H2) was added into methylmethacrylate liquid, while calcium acetate as a source of Ca2+ ions was mixed into polymethylmethacrylate powder. The influences of the combinations on the setting time and compressive strength were also investigated. Apatite was formed on the cements modified with 30 mass% of phosphoric acid 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate ester or bis[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate. The induction period was shortened with increased amounts of Ca(CH3COO)2. The setting time could be controlled by the Ca(CH3COO)2/monomer mass ratio. Faster setting was achieved at a ratio close to the mixing ratio of the powder/liquid (2:1), and both increases and decreases in the amount of Ca(CH3COO)2 prolonged the setting time based on this ratio. The highest compressive strength was 88.8 ± 2.6 MPa, higher than the lowest limit of ISO 5833 but was lower than that of the simulated body fluid-soaked reference. The increase of additives caused the decline in compressive strength. In view of balancing apatite formation and clinical standard, bis[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate is more suitable as an additive, and the optimal modification is a combination of 30 mass% of bis[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate and 20 mass% of Ca(CH3COO)2.
Quantile Regression Analysis of the Rational Addiction Model: Making unobservable heterogeneity observable

The Rational Addiction (RA) model assumes that individual decisions about the consumption of harmful and addictive commodities are made on a rational basis (Becker and Murphy, 1988). In this context, rational means forward looking, i.e. a tendency to take account of future consequences of current consumption decisions. Different individuals may well attach different weights to the present relative to the future. The degree to which an individual is forward looking in her consumption decisions is revealed not by her current consumption level but rather by the time path of her consumption of an addictive commodity. Hence, the need to estimate a forward looking second order difference equation (SODE) as part of the process of testing the RA model. Most studies using micro level data estimate a single SODE for the whole sample. This involves estimating an average propensity to be forward looking for the entire sample, even when it is believed that different fully rational individuals in the same sample may have different propensities to be forward looking. Forward looking behaviour is an aspect of treating the consumption of an addictive commodity as part of an inter-temporal optimization problem. Inter-temporal optimization is characterized by what are known as saddle point dynamics and the information about an individual’s propensity to be forward looking is contained in what are known as the characteristic roots of the equation (Ferguson, 2003). In a sample of heterogeneous individuals we expect propensity to be forward looking to differ across individuals and the best way to identify these differences is by looking at the dynamic behaviour of the individual consumption paths. Estimating a common SODE for everyone hides this key difference. In this paper, we make the argument that the best place to look for differences in individual propensities to be forward looking is in dynamic behaviour considered at different points in the distribution of the consumption of an addictive commodity. To do this we adopt techniques of Quantile Regression, (QR) estimating RA type difference equations in consumption across quantiles of cigarette consumption. We use panel data to ensure that we are examining the behaviour of individuals across time. Our hypothesis is that we will find differences in the degree of forward looking behaviour characterizing the time paths of consumption across quantiles in the micro-level data.
A meta-analysis of intervention effects on challenging behaviour among persons with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND Persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) often show challenging behaviour. We review distinct interventions that are applied to treat these challenging behaviours, and analyse intervention effects and moderating variables. METHODS A literature search was conducted using the databases ERIC, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Medline. A random-effects meta-analysis was carried out, supplemented with sensitivity, subgroup, meta-regression and publication bias analyses. RESULTS Eighty potential articles were identified, from which 30 contained sufficient data to enable statistical meta-analysis. From these 30 studies, 18 described a biological, 13 a psychotherapeutic and nine a contextual intervention, either applied alone or combined. The overall standardised mean difference was 0.671 (SD = 0.051). As shown by sensitivity analysis, this summary effect size is robust. Assessed through subgroup and meta-regression analysis, all tested moderators showed no statistically significant association with the treatment effects. After applying a funnel plot-, a fail-safe N-, and Duval's and Tweedie's trim and fill-analysis, we conclude that our meta-analysis does not suffer much from publication bias effects. CONCLUSIONS Several biological, psychotherapeutic and contextual interventions effectively reduce challenging behaviours among persons with ID.
Hysterectomy and the quality of a woman's life.

Hysterectomy is the most commonly performed major surgery in the United States (800,000 per year). The number of hysterectomies has been increasing annually in the United States. If this situation continues in the future, it will result in loss of the uterus by more than half the female population by the age of 65 years. The hysterectomy rate in the United States is proportionately twice that of England and Wales. 1 These data have stimulated discussion from many sectors of American society regarding the necessity for this treatment. Nevertheless, most women still depend on their primary care physician for referral to a surgeon. Therefore, this physician has a critical role in determining the physical necessity for the hysterectomy and the possibility of the surgery improving the quality of the woman's life. The Executive Board of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has recently issued a policy statement that gives
Can a multiphasic contrast-enhanced three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequence be sufficient for liver MR imaging?

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of a multiphasic gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) fast spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequence alone in the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions compared with a comprehensive liver evaluation using multiphasic gadolinium-enhanced 3D fast spoiled gradient-recalled echo, T1-weighted, and fat-suppressed fast spin-echo T2-weighted sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of abdominal MR imaging examinations in 61 patients was performed. All MR examinations included unenhanced spin-echo T1-weighted, unenhanced fat-suppressed fast spin-echo T2-weighted, and multiphasic gadolinium-enhanced 3D fast spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequences obtained during successive breath-holds. The liver was evaluated for focal lesions first with the 3D spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequences and then, during a separate sitting, with the T1- and T2-weighted sequences. The usefulness of each sequence in the detection and characterization of lesions was recorded. The gold standard for lesion detection and characterization was all three imaging sequences reviewed together. RESULTS A total of 114 focal liver lesions were identified, 54 of which were simple cysts. The 3D spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequence alone detected 92 (81%) of the 114 lesions, and the T1- and T2-weighted sequences detected 95 (83%) of the 114 lesions. Of the 60 lesions that were not simple cysts, the 3D spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequence alone detected 58 (97%), and T1- and T2-weighted sequences detected 51 (85%). In 24% of the patients with lesions, the T1- and T2-weighted sequences were found to be helpful for the characterization of lesions. CONCLUSION A multiphasic contrast-enhanced 3D fast spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequence alone detects most of the clinically relevant focal liver lesions. Additional liver examination using both unenhanced T1- and T2-weighted sequences is helpful for lesion characterization but increases the detection rate only minimally.
A new time series of particle export from neutrally buoyant sediments traps at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study site

Neutrally buoyant sediment traps (NBSTs) were deployed concurrently with particle interceptor traps (PITs) on monthly cruises of the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) from June 2007 to July 2010. In most months, particulate organic carbon flux measured by the two sediment trap systems agreed within the range of variability for two separate NBSTs. In three periods of this study however, the PITs collected more than three times the amount of particulate organic carbon (POC) than the NBSTs. One of these periods coincided with two instances when the mixed layer was deeper than the trap deployment depth, which may lead to biased collection. One of the anomalous periods occurred during summer months, for which we were unable to find existing evidence of biogeochemical changes that would lead to such increases in POC flux. The third anomalous period occurred when the POC flux measured by the NBSTs was near zero. We hypothesize that the PITs may have a positive bias at low fluxes relative to the NBSTs. Zooplankton swimmers accounted for 49720% of the total measured carbon flux over the three year period and swimmer removal by screening of samples through a 350 mm mesh was established as an effective method for this site. Process blank corrections based on sample-identical blanks were important for determining mass and carbon flux from both the NBSTs and the PITs. This new record of particle export from NBSTs suggests that the observed carbon imbalance in this region of the ocean (Michaels et al., 1994) is not due to undersampling by the PITs and that export ratios may be even lower than previously thought. & 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Carbon migration in a bearing steel with spheroidal cementite subjected to ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification

This paper deals with bearing steel with spheroidal cementite dispersed in a ferrite matrix subjected to ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM) treatment. Carbon migration microstructure development, including grain size refinement and dissolution of cementite, was studied utilizing electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Accumulated multiple gliding progressively refines cementite into nano-sized cementite particles mixed within ferrite nano-grains in the top surface layer. A decreasing volume fraction of cementite is observed with increasing depth in the top deformed layer, indicative of dissolution of cementite induced by plastic deformation.
Impaired facial affect recognition and emotional changes in subjects with transmodal cortical lesions.

The present study attempts to identify cortical lesion sites associated with deficits in the decoding of emotional facial expressions and with changes of emotional states. A consecutive sample of 68 subjects with lesions caused by microsurgical tumor resection or by intracerebral hemorrhage were compared with 16 clinical and 15 healthy control subjects. A set of neuropsychological test measures - two experimental tasks requiring the sorting and rating of emotional facial expressions, and an adjective checklist as a measure of mood state - were administered. An analysis according to the functional properties of the areas with lesions revealed that subjects with combined lesions of heteromodal and limbic/ paralimbic cortices of the right hemisphere showed the strongest deficits in the decoding of emotional facial expressions. In contrast, subjects with lesions of limbic/paralimbic cortices alone, or subjects with lesions of unimodal or primary motor or sensory cortices displayed only minor deficits. Subjects with combined lesions of heteromodal and limbic/paralimbic cortices of the left hemisphere showed the most negative mood states. Our results suggest that heteromodal and limbic/paralimbic, i.e. transmodal cortices may be viewed as 'bottleneck' structures for the decoding of emotional facial expressions and for the modulation of mood states. Lesions of transmodal cortices deprive limbic structures of one of their main sources of input and are therefore likely to produce deficits in various forms of complex human emotional-cognitive behaviors and emotional states.
Opposite effects of glucocorticoid receptor activation on hippocampal CA1 dendritic complexity in chronically stressed and handled animals

Remodeling of synaptic networks is believed to contribute to synaptic plasticity and long‐term memory performance, both of which are modulated by chronic stress. We here examined whether chronic stress modulates dendritic complexity of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells, under conditions of basal as well as elevated corticosteroid hormone levels. Slices were prepared from naïve, handled or chronically stressed animals and briefly treated with vehicle or corticosterone (100 nM); neurons were visualized with a fluorescent dye injected into individual CA1 pyramidal cells. We observed that 21 days of unpredictable stress did not affect hippocampal CA1 apical or basal dendritic morphology compared with naïve animals when corticosteroid levels were low. Only when slices from stressed animals were also exposed to elevated corticosteroid levels, a significant reduction in apical (but not basal) dendritic length became apparent. Unexpectedly, animals that were handled or 3 weeks showed a reduction in both apical dendritic length and number of apical branch points when compared with naïve animals. Apical dendritic length and number of branch points were restored to levels found in naïve animals several hours after in vitro treatment with 100 nM corticosterone. All effects of acute corticosterone administration could be prevented by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU38486 given during the last 4 days of the stress or handling protocol. We conclude that brief exposure to high concentrations of corticosterone can differently affect apical dendritic structure, depending on the earlier history of the animal, a process that critically depends on involvement of the glucocorticoid receptor. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Telomerase Activity Reconstituted in Vitro with Purified Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase and Human Telomerase RNA Component*

Telomerase is a specialized reverse transcriptase that catalyzes elongation of the telomeric tandem repeat, TTAGGG, by addition of this sequence to the ends of existing telomeres. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) has been identified as a catalytic enzyme involved in telomere elongation that requires telomerase RNA, human telomerase RNA component (hTR), as an RNA template. We established a new method to express and purify soluble insect-expressed recombinant hTERT. The partially purified FLAG-hTERT retained the catalytic activity of telomerase in a complementation assay in vitro to exhibit telomerase activity in telomerase-negative TIG3 cell extract and in a reconstitution assay with FLAG-hTERT and purified hTR in vitro. FLAG-hTERT (D712A) with a mutation in the VDV motif exhibited no telomerase activity, confirming the authentic catalytic activity of FLAG-hTERT. The reconstituted complex of FLAG-hTERT and hTR in vitrowas detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and its activity was stimulated by more than 30-fold by TIG3 cell extract. This suggested that some cellular component(s) in the extract facilitated the reconstituted telomerase activity in vitro. Geldanamycin had no effect on the reconstituted activity but partially reduced the stimulated activity of the reconstituted telomerase by the TIG3 cell extract, suggesting that Hsp90 may contribute to the stimulatory effect of the cellular components.
On the dissociation of spectral and temporal cues to the voicing distinction in initial stop consonants.

It has been claimed that a rising first‐formant (F1) transition is an important cue to the voiced–voiceless distinction for syllable‐initial, prestressed stop consonants in English. Lisker [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 57, 1547–1551 (L) (1975)] has pointed out that the acoustic manipulations suggesting a role for F1 have involved covariation of the onset frequency of F1 with the duration, and hence the frequency extent, of the F1 transition; he has argued that effects hitherto ascribed to the transition are more properly attributed to its onset. Two experiments are reported in which F1 onset frequency and F1 transition duration/extent were manipulated independently. The results confirm Lisker’s suggestion that the major effect of F1 in initial voicing contrasts is determined by its perceived frequency at the onset of voicing and show that a periodically excited F1 transition is not, per se, a positive cue to voicing. In further experiments, the relative levels and the frequencies at the onset of voicing of both F1.
Performance of Lotrafilcon B Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses in Experienced Low-Dk/t Daily Lens Wearers

Purpose. The silicone hydrogel lens O2OPTIX with a Dk/t of 138 (at –3.00 diopters [D]) was evaluated and compared with patients' habitual low-Dk/t lenses. Methods. This large, multisite (United States and Canada), single-masked study enrolled experienced daily-wear, low-Dk/t, 2-week replacement soft contact lens wearers. Subjects underwent baseline evaluations and were fitted with O2OPTIX lenses for a 2-week period. After 2 weeks, subjects returned for assessment versus their habitual lenses. Results. Data for 760 subjects were analyzed. The overall average habitual contact lens power was –3.13 D, and the average O2OPTIX lens power was –3.22 D. Biomicroscopy evaluations showed improvements in signs related to corneal health with O2OPTIX. Conjunctival and limbal redness, corneal neovascularization, corneal edema, and corneal and conjunctival staining all decreased significantly from baseline. O2OPTIX lenses performed better than habitual lenses in terms of comfort, symptoms, and overall preference. When wearing O2OPTIX lenses, significantly fewer subjects reported problems compared to their habitual lenses, including uncomfortable lens wear (–20.3%), redness (–44.5%), dryness during the day (–40.2%), and dryness at the end of the day (–34.4%); 47.9% reported that they could wear O2OPTIX lenses longer than their habitual lenses. At the end of study, among those with a preference, a significantly greater proportion of patients (60.3%) preferred O2OPTIX lenses to their habitual lenses. Conclusions. Daily wear of O2OPTIX lenses resulted in improvements in corneal signs of health and patient symptoms and provided excellent vision and comfort. O2OPTIX lenses were preferred by subjects over their habitual lenses.
Complement C3 and High Risk of Venous Thromboembolism: 80517 Individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study.

BACKGROUND Complement activation may contribute to venous thromboembolism, including deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. We tested the hypothesis that high complement C3 concentrations are associated with high risk of venous thromboembolism in the general population. METHODS We included 80 517 individuals without venous thromboembolism from the Copenhagen General Population Study recruited in 2003-2012. Plasma complement C3 concentrations were measured at baseline, and venous thromboembolism (n = 1176) was ascertained through April 2013 in nationwide registries. No individuals were lost to follow-up. RESULTS Complement C3 concentrations were approximately normally distributed, with a mean value of 1.13 g/L (interquartile range 0.98-1.26; SD 0.21). The cumulative incidence of venous thromboembolism was higher with progressively higher tertiles of complement C3 (log-rank trend: P = 3 × 10(-8)): at age 80, 7%, 9%, and 11% of individuals in the first, second, and third tertiles, respectively, had developed venous thromboembolism. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for venous thromboembolism compared with individuals in the first tertile were 1.36 (95% CI, 1.16-1.59) for those in the second tertile and 1.58 (1.33-1.88) for those in the third tertile. Corresponding values were 1.36 (1.16-1.60) and 1.57 (1.33-1.87) after additional adjustment for C-reactive protein and 1.27 (1.09-1.49) and 1.31(1.10-1.57) after additional adjustment for body mass index. These results were similar for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism separately. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio for venous thromboembolism for a 1-g/L increase in complement C3 was 2.43 (1.74-3.40). CONCLUSIONS High concentrations of complement C3 were associated with high risk of venous thromboembolism in the general population.