Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early patterns of symptom change signal remission with interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents

Background: This study examined whether reductions in depression symptoms at different time points over the course of therapy predict remission for depressed adolescents treated with interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT‐A) or treatment as usual (TAU) delivered in school‐based health clinics. Methods: Participants were 63 adolescents (ages 12–18) drawn from a randomized controlled clinical trial examining the effectiveness of IPT‐A Mufson et al. [2004; Archives of General Psychiatry 61:577–584]. Adolescents were randomized to receive IPT‐A or TAU delivered by school‐based mental health clinicians. Assessments were completed at baseline and weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16 (or at early termination) and included the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD; Hamilton [1967; British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 6:278–2962]). Results: Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to identify the time point and degree of reduction in HRSD that best predicted remission (HRSD <7) at the end of the trial (week 16). Week 4 was the best time point for classifying adolescents as likely to remit or not likely to remit for both IPT‐A and TAU. A 16.2% reduction in HRSD from baseline represented the best combined sensitivity and specificity in predicting week 16 remission status for adolescents treated with IPT‐A. A 24.4% reduction in depressive symptoms represented the best combined sensitivity and specificity in predicting remission status for TAU. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence of one early marker of remission with IPT‐A. Replication with larger samples would suggest that depressed adolescents who have not demonstrated at least a 16.2% reduction in their depressive symptoms after 4 weeks of IPT‐A may benefit from a change in the treatment plan. Depression and Anxiety, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Comparison of Electric Power Tracing Methods Used in Deregulated Power Systems

Tracing the flow of electricity becomes an important issue under transmission open access. In practice, power flow follows the physical laws of electricity and therefore it is not straightforward to map out how the participants make use of the system. This paper focuses on presenting an analysis of the performance of major power tracing methods based on proportional sharing principle namely the graph, node and commons method. A number of simulations are performed based on their assumptions to critically compare their performance and validate the exactness of each method. Finally, conclusions and recommendations are stated.
Congestion management in deregulated power sector using fuzzy based optimal location technique for series flexible alternative current transmission system (FACTS) device

The deregulated power sectors suffer from congestion management problems. The congestion occurs when the generation and consumption of electric power causes the transmission system to operate beyond transfer limits. Flexible alternative current transmission system (FACTS) devices can be used to reduce the flows in heavily loaded lines, resulting in low power loss and improved stability of the system. In this paper, a fuzzy technique is proposed in determining the optimal location of thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC) to control active power flows and reduction of congestion in a transmission line. A line utilization factor (LUF) and real power performance index (RPPI) factor is used to determine the level of congestion in a transmission line. Sensitivity parameters for the total system losses are derived as a function of the real power at the individual load points in the presence of TCSC. These sensitivity parameters are used to compare the alternative locations available for allocating generation and percentage of congestion. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm has been simulated on IEEE 14-bus system. The fuzzy based results have been compared with the solution given by sensitivity method. The simulation results proved the efficiency of the proposed approach by optimal placement of the FACTS device to minimize congestion in a power system network. Key words: Flexible alternative current transmission system (FACTS), thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC), congestion management, line utilization factor (LUF), real power performance index (RPPI), fuzzy logic controller.
Idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip in children: early MRI findings.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to identify the early MRI findings characteristic of idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip in children. CONCLUSION A geometric region of abnormal signal intensity centered in the proximal femoral epiphysis, accompanied by ipsilateral ill-defined acetabular bone marrow edema, mild synovial hypertrophy, and minimal if any joint fluid, in a child with a painful stiff hip are early MRI findings characteristic of idiopathic chondrolysis.
Age‐Dependent Vulnerability of the Striatum to the Mitochondrial Toxin 3‐Nitropropionic Acid

Abstract: The mechanisms of delayed onset and cell death in Huntington's disease (HD) are unknown. One possibility is that a genetic defect in energy metabolism may result in slow excitotoxic neuronal death. Therefore, we examined the effects of age on striatal lesions produced by local administration of the mitochondrial toxin 3‐nitropropionic acid in rats. In vivo chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging showed marked increases in striatal lactate concentrations that significantly correlated with increasing age. Histologic and neurochemical studies showed a striking age dependence of the lesions, with 4‐ and 12‐month‐old animals being much more susceptible than 1‐month‐old animals. Continuous systemic administration of low doses of 3‐nitropropionic acid for 1 month resulted in striatal lesions showing growth‐related changes in dendrites of striatal spiny neurons using the Golgi technique. These results show that a known mitochondrial toxin can produce selective axon‐sparing striatal lesions showing both the age dependence and striatal spiny neuron dendritic changes that characterize HD.
GluR7 is an essential subunit of presynaptic kainate autoreceptors at hippocampal mossy fiber synapses

Presynaptic ionotropic glutamate receptors are emerging as key players in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Here we identify GluR7, a kainate receptor (KAR) subunit with no known function in the brain, as an essential subunit of presynaptic autoreceptors that facilitate hippocampal mossy fiber synaptic transmission. GluR7−/− mice display markedly reduced short- and long-term synaptic potentiation. Our data suggest that presynaptic KARs are GluR6/GluR7 heteromers that coassemble and are localized within synapses. We show that recombinant GluR6/GluR7 KARs exhibit low sensitivity to glutamate, and we provide evidence that presynaptic KARs at mossy fiber synapses are likely activated by high concentrations of glutamate. Overall, from our data, we propose a model whereby presynaptic KARs are localized in the presynaptic active zone close to release sites, display low affinity for glutamate, are likely Ca2+-permeable, are activated by single release events, and operate within a short time window to facilitate the subsequent release of glutamate.
Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus in Spain: Identification of viral genotypes and prediction of antigenic subtypes by limited sequencing

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes were studied by a line probe assay (LiPA) and by direct sequencing of a 339 nucleotide fragment from the S region of the viral genome in samples from 269 carriers living in Spain, either native to Spain (231) or immigrants from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe (38). The sequences were also used to predict the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) subtype on the basis of the amino acids specified at selected positions of the HBsAg molecule. Agreement between the two genotyping methods was found in most cases (98.1%) and a HBV genotype could be assigned to all samples. The viral groups D/ayw2 (30.1%), D/ayw3 (28.6%), and A/adw2 (21.2%) were prevalent, with an additional participation of the groups D/ayw4 (4.8%), F/adw4q− (1.9%), A/ayw1 (1.9%), and D/adw3 (0.7%), all of them present among the autochthonous carriers. Strains from genotypes B and C were found exclusively among Chinese immigrants. Genotype E strains were found in immigrants from Central Africa and in one patient native of Spain. Point mutations leading to amino acid changes of residues involved in the expression of the HBsAg subtype determinants were found in 12 samples (4.5%). Some mutations would predict the putative novel genotype‐subtype associations A/adw4q+, A/ayr, D/ayr, and E/ayw1, while others would suggest the loss of subtype‐specific determinants. The finding of HBV strains characteristic for Africa among the autochthonous carriers confirms the emergence of African HBV strains in Spain. J. Med. Virol. 76:176–184, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Etiology and presentation of acute bacterial meningitis in children at Al-Thawrah Hospital, Sana'a, Yemen.

BACKGROUND This study was carried out to determine the etiology and management outcome of acute bacterial meningitis among children presenting at Al-Thawrah hospital, Sana'a, Yemen. METHODS This study was carried out from 01/01/2001 to 23/08/2002. It initially included 77 children of all ages (newborn to 12 years), who attended pediatric emergency with fever, convulsions and altered sensorium. Full medical history. clinical examination and lab investigations were used to diagnose acute bacterial meningitis, and to summarize etiology, presentation and management outcome. RESULTS Over this 20 months period only 63 (81.81%) out of 77 suspected children were diagnosed as acute bacterial meningitis (ABM). The most affected age group was 4 months and 3 years. Based on CSF exam; there were 23 with positive findings of CSF analysis (turbid, decrease glucose <40mg.dl, increase protein >80mg.dl and leucocytes neutrophils >5cells.cu.mm), 21 cases were confirmed with CSF culture, while the remaining 19 cases showed normal CSF pictures. The fatality rate was 14.28%. The predominant organism in CSF culture was Klebsiella (33.33%) followed by Haemophilius influenza (23.80%), streptococcal pneumonia (14.28%) then 02 cases each; E-coli, Pseudomonas (09.52%) while with one cases each of tubercles meningitis and staphylococcus aureus. CONCLUSION Proper knowledge of etiology and presentation of ABM along with timely vaccination can help reduce mortality and morbidity associated with this deadly disease.
Response to oCRH in depressed and nondepressed adolescents: does gender make a difference?

OBJECTIVE To examine the hypothesis that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses to stress vary across gender, contributing to gender differences in the prevalence of depression. METHOD This study examined gender differences between depressed (n = 21) and control (n = 20) adolescents in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol response to two ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone (oCRH) tests, at baseline and following a cognitive stressor. RESULTS Boys had higher (p < .05) measures of ACTH than girls, regardless of depression status, whereas corresponding cortisol parameters were similar in both groups. Cortisol measures were higher (p < .05) at time 1 than at time 2 in both groups, a phenomenon that might reflect the novelty of the situation. CONCLUSIONS Gender differences in hormone responses may be related to differences in peripheral metabolism of ACTH, resulting in changes of immunoreactivity but not bioactivity or a different set point of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The pattern of ACTH and cortisol responses to oCRH and the 24-hour excretion of free cortisol was normal in adolescents with depression, probably reflecting normal negative feedback mechanisms at this age or that most of these patients suffer from atypical rather than melancholic depression.
The state of research on racial/ethnic discrimination in the receipt of health care.

OBJECTIVES We conducted a review to examine current literature on the effects of interpersonal and institutional racism and discrimination occurring within health care settings on the health care received by racial/ethnic minority patients. METHODS We searched the PsychNet, PubMed, and Scopus databases for articles on US populations published between January 1, 2008 and November 1, 2011. We used various combinations of the following search terms: discrimination, perceived discrimination, race, ethnicity, racism, institutional racism, stereotype, prejudice or bias, and health or health care. Fifty-eight articles were reviewed. RESULTS Patient perception of discriminatory treatment and implicit provider biases were the most frequently examined topics in health care settings. Few studies examined the overall prevalence of racial/ethnic discrimination and none examined temporal trends. In general, measures used were insufficient for examining the impact of interpersonal discrimination or institutional racism within health care settings on racial/ethnic disparities in health care. CONCLUSIONS Better instrumentation, innovative methodology, and strategies are needed for identifying and tracking racial/ethnic discrimination in health care settings.
Experiences of Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer: Being Resigned to Sleep-Wake Disturbances While Maintaining Hope for Optimal Treatment Outcomes

Background: Sleep-wake disturbances are prevalent in patients with lung cancer yet are infrequently studied over time. This article reports on the qualitative results of a mixed-methods study of newly diagnosed patients’ narratives over 6 months. Objective: The objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the treatment and illness trajectory related to sleep-wake disturbances as well as the beliefs and practices of patients while seeking optimal treatment outcomes. Methods: Longitudinal interview narratives of 26 patients’ experiences with advanced lung cancer diagnosis (at baseline, pre–second and third treatment, and 6 months) were obtained from participants recruited from Veterans Administration Hospital Center and a Comprehensive Cancer Center in Northeast United States. Analysis of illness narratives used interpretive phenomenology based on Heideggarian hermeneutic traditions. Results: At diagnosis, participants described poor sleep such as trouble falling asleep and frequent awakenings. Over time, as the treatment worsened their sleep symptoms, these participants still maintained hope for more time with treatment. This focus enabled them to tolerate the sleep-wake disturbances and treatment adverse effects. As the treatment effectiveness declined, their focus changed to spiritual meanings for the future and to keep living life with a purpose. Conclusions: By explicating lung cancer patients’ experiences with sleep-wake disturbances, nurses will gain insight into potential interventions to improve sleep and support effective outcomes as well as open a dialogue about hope. Implications for Practice: Findings offer insight for oncology nurses to provide opportunities for dialogue about treatment options and techniques to improve sleep, which will facilitate patients living their lives.
Migration as Class-based Consumption: The Emigration of the Rich in Contemporary China

Abstract Labelled as the third wave of migration out of post-reform China, the recent emigration of wealthy Chinese has attracted worldwide attention. Although this form of mobility involves primarily the richest 0.1 per cent of the Chinese population, the high profile of the people who move and the amount of wealth implied have made it a sensational social phenomenon. Through interviews, participant observation and media reports, this paper searches for the social meanings of this trend of emigration. Journalists generally attribute the exodus of the rich to a desire to secure their wealth, an aspiration for a different education for their children, or concerns with air pollution and food safety. What this paper argues is that underneath these stated motivations, emigration is in fact a form of class-based consumption, a strategy for class reproduction, and a way to convert economic resources into social status and prestige. “Emigration” (yimin), a form of mobility that may not entail settling abroad, is a path created by wealthy Chinese striving to be among the global elite. 摘要 近年中国富裕阶层纷纷移民国外, 在中国被称为改革开放后的 “第三次移民潮”。 虽然能够走投资移民这条路线的人口仅是中国最富有的千分之一, 他们的经济地位和可携走财富使此移民现象不仅震动中国社会, 也在全世界受到瞩目。 本篇论文通过个人访谈, 参与观察及媒体报道, 试图深层次分析这次移民潮的社会含义。 中外媒体一般认为中国富人大量出国或是为了保证自己的财产安全, 或是为孩子教育考虑, 也或是出于对中国空气污染, 食品安全之类生活环境的忧虑。 虽然这些因素确有存在, 本文认为, 富人移民实质上是一种阶层性消费, 一种社会阶层再生产的手段, 也是一种把经济资源转化为社会地位和身份威望的方式。 “移民”, 对于当代中国富人来说, 并不意味着移居国外, 更是一条通向全球精英行列的途径。
Effect of 25‐OH‐vitamin D on fracture healing in elderly rats

To investigate the effect of 25‐OH‐vitamin D supplements (calcidiol) on fracture healing in the elderly, an experimental model with 15 18‐month‐old female Wistar rats was designed. An experimental fracture in the middle third of both femora of each rat was made. Then the rats were randomly assigned to two groups: one group was subcutaneously treated with 25‐OH‐vitamin D during all healing processes, and the other group (the control group) was not. After 5 weeks of healing, the animals were killed and both femora were extracted. Blood samples were collected before fracture and at death to determine the levels of 25‐OH‐vitamin D. All bones that were extracted were subjected to a torsion test to assess healing; a significantly greater maximum shear force before failure was supported in the treated group (p < 0.01). Moreover, a positive correlation (p < 0.01; r = 0.55) was found between blood levels of 25‐OH‐vitamin D at death and the mechanical strength of the callus. Thus, the administration of 25‐OH‐vitamin D after the experimental fracture significantly improved the mechanical strength of the fractured bone. If similar results are found in the human, then treatment with 25‐OH‐vitamin D after the occurrence of a fracture would be a good way to improve fracture healing in the elderly.
The Parathyroid Hormone–Related Protein (PTHrP) Gene: Use of Downstream TATA Promotor and PTHrP 1–139 Coding Pathways in Primary Breast Cancers Vary with the Occurrence of Bone Metastasis

We analyzed the use of different promoters and the splicing patterns of the exons encoding 5′‐ and 3′‐untranslated sequence amounts of parathyroid hormone–related protein (PTHrP) gene products in breast cancers. Tumor samples from 74 cases of primary breast cancer that had been followed from 1 to 14 years were selected retrospectively according to the occurrence of metastasis: 18 patients developed no metastasis (NM), 56 developed metastases (M), 22 of whom developed metastases in soft tissues (MB−) and 34 of whom developed bone metastases (MB+). The amount of the 1–139 isoform mRNA was much higher in the tumors of patients who later developed metastases (M: 0.29 ± 0.03) than in those of patients who developed no metastases (NM, 0.13 ± 0.03; p < 0.01). This isoform mRNA was also more abundant in breast tumors from patients who developed bone metastases (MB+, 0.39 ± 0.04) than in those of patients who developed metastases in soft tissues (MB−, 0.15 ± 0.03; p < 0.0001). By contrast, the amounts of the 1–141 isoform mRNA in these three groups of tumors were similar, but its concentration was higher in the tumors of premenopausal women than in those of postmenopausal women (p < 0.05). Analysis with 5′ untranslated regions‐specific primers showed transcription from all three putative transcription start sites of PTHrP (P1, P2, and P3). The P3‐initiated transcripts were more abundant in patients who developed metastases (M, 0.31 ± 0.03) than in the nonmetastatic tumors (NM, 0.13 ± 0.03; p < 0.01). The amount of P3 element did not differ with the site of metastasis (BM+, 0.32 ± 0.05; BM−, 0.28 ± 0.05; NS). The same trend was observed for the P2 element. However, the use of P2‐initiated messages was strongly associated with the absence of estrogen receptors from the breast tumors (p < 0.01). We thus find a close association between the pattern of PTHrP gene expression and the outcome of breast cancer. The P3‐initiated start site and the presence of PTHrP 139 mRNA could help identify patients at risk of developing metastases.
A developmental fMRI study of self‐regulatory control

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural correlates of self‐regulatory control across development in healthy individuals performing the Stroop interference task. Proper performance of the task requires the engagement of self‐regulatory control to inhibit an automatized response (reading) in favor of another, less automatic response (color naming). Functional MRI scans were acquired from a sample of 70 healthy individuals ranging in age from 7 to 57 years. We measured task‐related regional signal changes across the entire cerebrum and conducted correlation analyses to assess the associations of signal activation with age and with behavioral performance. The magnitude of fMRI signal change increased with age in the right inferolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area [BA] 44/45) and right lenticular nucleus. Greater activation of the right inferolateral prefrontal cortex also accompanied better performance. Activity in the right frontostriatal systems increased with age and with better response inhibition, consistent with the known functions of frontostriatal circuits in self‐regulatory control. Age‐related deactivations in the mesial prefrontal cortex (BA 10), subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (BA 24), and posterior cingulate cortex (BA 31) likely represented the greater engagement of adults in self‐monitoring and free associative thought processes during the easier baseline task, consistent with the improved performance on this task in adults compared with children. Although we cannot exclude the possibility that age‐related changes in reading ability or in the strategies used to optimize task performance were responsible for our findings, the correlations of brain activation with performance suggest that changes in frontostriatal activity with age underlie the improvement in self‐regulatory control that characterizes normal human development. Hum Brain Mapp, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Enhanced male coloration after immune challenge increases reproductive potential

In many animal species, females select a mate on the basis of the expression of secondary sexual traits. A prevalent theory suggests that male ornaments are reliable indicators of immunocompetence, because the cost of immune function prevents cheating. However, sexual signalling is a component of male reproductive effort, and an immune challenge may also alter his perceived future prospects and hence signalling effort. In this study, blue‐footed booby males (Sula nebouxii) were inoculated with a diphtheria–tetanus vaccine during courtship to investigate the consequences of mounting an immune response on signalling effort. We found that, after this immune challenge, on average, males increased their signalling effort but lost more body mass compared with control males. Importantly, vaccination affected the partner's reproductive decisions: compared with control females, females paired with vaccinated males laid eggs earlier and increased clutch volume in pairs that laid early. Overall, our results suggest that blue‐footed booby males invest more in sexual signals when future breeding opportunities are at risk, eliciting a greater reproductive investment by their partners. Increased signalling effort by infected individuals may contrast the idea of sexual ornaments as signals of infection status.