Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EEG alpha measures predict therapeutic response to an SSRI antidepressant: Pre and post treatment findings Clinical Trials— Prozac treatment of major depression: discontinuation study; registration and Dichotic listening as a predictor of placebo and medication response in depression;

Background— There is growing evidence that individual differences among depressed patients on electrophysiologic (EEG), neuroimaging, and neurocognitive measures are predictive of therapeutic response to antidepressants. This study replicates prior findings of pretreatment differences between SSRI responders and nonresponders in EEG alpha power or asymmetry, and examines whether these differences normalize or are stable following treatment. Methods— Resting EEG (eyes open and closed) was recorded from 28 electrodes (nose reference) in 18 depressed patients when off medication and at the end of 12 weeks of fluoxetine treatment. Clinical response was assessed by an independent rater using the Clinical Global Improvement scale. EEG data were also obtained for 18 healthy adults matched to patients in gender and age. Results— Treatment responders had greater alpha power compared to nonresponders and healthy controls, with largest differences at occipital sites where alpha was largest. There were also differences in alpha asymmetry between responders and nonresponders at occipital sites. Responders showed greater alpha (less activity) over right than left hemisphere, whereas nonresponders tended to show the opposite asymmetry. Neither alpha power nor asymmetry changed following treatment and test-retest correlations were high, particularly for alpha power. Alpha power and asymmetry showed reasonable positive predictive value but less negative predictive value. Discussion— The findings confirm reports of alpha differences between antidepressant responders and nonresponders, and raise hopes for developing EEG tests for selecting effective treatments for patients. The stability of alpha power and asymmetry differences between SSRI responders and nonresponders following treatment suggests that they represent state-independent characteristics. The present study measured resting EEG in a new sample of depressed patients before and after 12 weeks of treatment with the SSRI fluoxetine. The purpose was twofold: (1) to replicate prior findings of pretreatment differences in alpha power and asymmetry between SSRI responders and nonresponders, as well as to examine differences in their theta power. We hypothesized that responders would differ from nonresponders in showing greater alpha power and the opposite alpha asymmetry; (2) to determine whether pretreatment differences between responders and nonresponders normalize during treatment or are stable, state-independent characteristics. normal). In these cases, using agreement across measures improved the sensitivity and negative predictive value to 83.3 % and 80.0 %. of reduced activity in depressed patients. Our findings indicate that this reduced cortical activity is evident in a subgroup of depressed patients who respond to an SSRI
Initial bow imperfections e0 for the verification of Flexural Buckling According to Eurocode 3 Part 1‐1 – additional considerations

According to Eurocode 3 Part 1‐1, the resistance of compression members may be calculated in two different ways: through the design buckling resistance based on the reduction factor χ or through the cross section resistance based on internal forces according to a second order analysis, also taking into account equivalent initial bow imperfections e0. The second way is especially advantageous in the case of axial forces and bending. Values for equivalent initial bow imperfections e0 are given in codes like Eurocode 3 [4] or DIN 18800 [3]. The presently used values from Table 5.1 of Eurocode 3 will have to be changed in future, as was demonstrated recently by intensive investigations, especially for cases of axial compression and bending moments My or Mz respectively. Additional investigations concerning high‐strength steel S700, welded sections and circular hollow sections are presented. The proposed changes included in the newest draft of prEN1993‐1‐1 are explained through the evaluation of several ultimate load calculations. It is also shown that for the case that the initial bow imperfection e0 is calculated dependent on the non‐dimensional slenderness λ̅, restrictions regarding interaction and the ratio of Mpl/Mel are also necessary.
Statistical Commentary Best (but oft-forgotten) practices: mediation analysis 1,2

This contribution in the “Best (but Oft-Forgotten) Practices” series considers mediation analysis. A mediator (sometimes referred to as an intermediate variable, surrogate endpoint, or intermediate endpoint) is a third variable that explains how or why $ 2 other variables relate in a putative causal pathway. The current article discusses mediation analysis with the ultimate intention of helping nutrition researchers to clarify the rationale for examining mediation, avoid common pitfalls when using the model, and conduct well-informed analyses that can contribute to improving causal inference in evaluations of underlying mechanisms of effects on nutrition-related behavioral and health outcomes. We give speciﬁc attention to underevaluated limitations inherent in common approaches to mediation. In addition, we discuss how to conduct a power analysis for mediation models and offer an applied example to demonstrate mediation analysis. Finally, we provide an example write-up of mediation analysis results as a model for applied researchers. Am J Clin Nutr 2017;105:1259–71.
Motivational and Skills Training HIV/STI Sexual Risk Reduction Groups for Men

The effectiveness of a motivational and skills training HIV/AIDS group intervention designed for men in substance abuse treatment was evaluated. Men in methadone maintenance (n=288) or outpatient psychosocial treatment (n=302) completed assessments at baseline, 2 weeks, 3- and 6-months post intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to attend either “Real Men Are Safe” (REMAS; five sessions containing information, motivational exercises and skills training), or HIV education (HIV-Ed; one session containing HIV prevention information). REMAS participants engaged in significantly fewer unprotected vaginal and anal sexual intercourse occasions (USO) during the 90 days prior to the 3- and 6-month follow-ups than HIV-Ed participants. Completing REMAS resulted in an even stronger effect: completers reduced their number of USO by 21% from baseline to 6-month follow-up. In contrast, HIV-Ed completers increased the number of USO by 2%. A motivational and skills training HIV prevention intervention designed for men was associated with greater sexual risk reduction over standard HIV education. Substance abuse treatment programs can therefore help reduce sexual risk among their clientele by providing a more intensive intervention than what is traditionally provided.
Geometric analysis of the b -dependent effects of Rician signal noise on DTI estimates and determining an optimal b -value

The optimal diffusion weighting (DW) factor, b , for use in DTI studies remains uncertain. In this study, the geometric relations of DW quantities are examined, in particular the effects of Rician noise in the measured MR signal. This geometric analysis is used to make theoretical predictions for selecting a b -value to reduce the influence of noise. It is shown that the optimal b -value for DTI studies is healthy human parenchyma is approximately b = 1200 s mm − 2 , with a simple relation given as well for a given expected apparent diffusion coeffcient (ADC). Monte Carlo simulations on sets of realistic DTI measures are then performed, verifying the optimal DW for minimizing estimate errors. The effects of noise on various DTI parameters such as anisotropy indices (FA and sRA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), eigenvalues and the direction of the first eigenvector are investigated as well.
The Finite Element Analysis of Osteoporotic Lumbar Vertebral Body by Influence of Trabecular Bone Apparent Density and Thickness of Cortical Shell

Abstract Osteoporosis causes the bone mass loss and increased fracture risk. This paper presents the modelling of osteoporotic human lumbar vertebrae L1 by employing finite elements method (FEM). The isolated inhomogeneous vertebral body is composed by cortical out-er shell and cancellous bone. The level of osteoporotic contribution is characterised by reducing the thickness of cortical shell and elasticity modulus of cancellous bone using power-law dependence with apparent density. The strength parameters are evaluated on the basis of von Mises-Hencky yield criterion. Parametric study of osteoporotic degradation contains the static and nonlinear dynamic analysis of stresses that occur due to physiological load. Results of our investigation are presented in terms of nonlinear interdependence between stress and external load.
Comparative serological responses in calves

A field trial was conducted to compare the serological responses in calves to eight commercial vaccines against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV), parainfluenza-3 virus (PI3V), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and/or bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Calves given IBRV, PI3V, BRSV, and BVDV vaccines had significantly higher antibodies to these viruses than unvaccinated controls; however, serological responses to killed BVDV vaccines were low. Calves with preexisting antibodies to IBRV, PI3V, BRSV, and the Singer strain of BVDV had lower seroconversion rates following vaccination than calves that were seronegative initially. Serological responses in calves to IBRV, PI3V, BRSV, and BVDV differed among various commercial vaccines. Antibody titers to IBRV were higher in calves vaccinated with modified-live IBRV vaccines than in those vaccinated with killed IBRV vaccines. Following double vaccination with modified-live IBRV and PI3V vaccines, seroconversion rates and antibody titers to IBRV and PI3V were higher in calves vaccinated intramuscularly than in those vaccinated intranasally. Calves given Cattlemaster 4 had significantly higher titers to BRSV and PI3V, and lower titers to BVDV, than calves given Cattlemaster 3, suggesting that the addition of BRSV to Cattlemaster 4 caused some interaction among antigens.
Enhanced Ethanol Inhibition of Recombinant NMDA Receptors by Magnesium: Role of NR3 Subunits

Background— The effects of ethanol on brain function are thought to be due in part to alterations in the activity of ion channels that regulate synaptic activity. Results from previous studies from this lab and others have shown that ethanol inhibits the function of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, a calcium-permeable ion channel activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate. Factors that alter the acute sensitivity of NMDA receptors to ethanol may be critical in determining how neurons and neuronal networks respond to the presence of ethanol. In this study, we have examined the effect of physiologically relevant concentrations of magnesium on the ethanol sensitivity of recombinant NMDA receptors and how ethanol inhibition under these conditions is influenced by the NR3A subunit. Methods— Recombinant cDNAs encoding NMDA receptor subunits were expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. Whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology was used to measure currents induced by rapid application of glutamate in the absence and presence of ethanol. Results— In magnesium-free recording solution, ethanol inhibited glutamate-mediated currents in cells transfected with NMDA receptor subunits. The magnitude of ethanol inhibition was significantly enhanced when recordings were carried out in media containing 1 mM magnesium. This effect was reversible and required magnesium-sensitive receptors. Magnesium did not enhance ethanol inhibition of glycine-activated NR1/NR3A/NR3B receptors. However, NR3A co-expression prevented the enhancement of ethanol's inhibitory effect on receptors composed of NR2A but not NR2B subunits. Conclusions— These results suggest that under physiological conditions, NR3A may be an important regulator of the acute ethanol sensitivity of brain NMDA receptors
Q-band ENDOR reveals out of plane hydrogen bonds stabilize an anionic ubisemiquinone in cytochrome bo 3 from Escherichia coli

The respiratory cytochrome bo 3 ubiquinol oxidase from E. coli has a high affinity ubiquinone binding site that stabilizes the one-electron reduced ubisemiquinone (SQ H ), which is a transient intermediate during the electron mediated reduction of O 2 to water. It is known that SQ H is stabilized by two strong hydrogen bonds from R71 and D75 to the ubiquinone carbonyl oxygen O1, and weak hydrogen bonds from H98 and Q101 to O4. In the current work, SQ H was investigated with orientation selective Q-band (~34 GHz) pulsed 1 H ENDOR spectroscopy on fully deuterated cyt bo 3 in an H 2 O solvent so that only exchangeable protons contribute to the observed ENDOR spectra. Simulations of the experimental ENDOR spectra provided the principal values and directions of the hyperfine (hfi) tensors for the two strongly coupled H-bond protons (H1 and H2). For H1, the largest principal component of the proton anisotropic hfi tensor T z ′ = 11.8 MHz, whereas for H2 T z7prime; = 8.6 MHz. Remarkably, the data show that the direction Graphical Abstract Cytochrome bo 3 ubiquinol oxidase (cyt bo 3 ) from Escherichia coli is a member of the heme-copper oxidoreductase superfamily of enzymes, which includes the mitochondrial cyt c oxidase and most prokaryotic respiratory oxidases (oxygen reductases). 1–4 Cyt bo 3 is located in the cytoplasmic membrane where it catalyzes the reduction of molecular oxygen to water using ubiquinol-8 (UQ 8 H 2 ) as the electron donor and also functions as a proton pump, conserving much of the energy available from the redox reaction as the proton motive force. 5–7 Whereas most of the heme-Cu oxygen reductases utilize cyt c as a substrate, cyt bo 3 is in a subgroup that utilizes quinol as a substrate. 2,3 Depending on the detergent utilized, cyt bo 3 can be co-purified with or without ubiquinone-8 (UQ 8 ). 8 The enzyme purified using the detergent n-dodecyl β -D-maltoside (DDM) contains one equivalent of UQ 8 . This “tightly bound” quinone, located at the high-affinity Q H site, is not displaced from the protein even during catalytic turnover using the soluble substrate ubiquinol-1 (UQ 1 H 2 ). 9,10 This has provided support for the existence of two separate quinone binding sites in which the high affinity site (Q H ) binds a quinone that acts as a cofactor and the low affinity site (Q L ) binds to the ubiquinol substrate. 9 The Q H site stabilizes the one-electron-reduced semiquinone (SQ H ) detected by EPR spectroscopy. 11,12 This ubisemiquinone can be trapped as a kinetic intermediate during the electron transfer process from the substrate ubiquinol
Ethanol induced TGF- β 1 and ROS production are necessary for ethanol induced alveolar macrophage dysfunction and induction of alternative activation

Rationale— Previous studies have shown that chronic ethanol ingestion results in impaired alveolar macrophage function, increased TGF- β 1 production, and decreased antioxidant availability. Similarly, alternative activation (M2 activation) of alveolar macrophages also induces TGF- β 1 production and impairs macrophage function. However, the potential links between ethanol-induced alveolar macrophage derangements, M2 activation, TGF- β 1 production signaling, and oxidant stress has yet to be examined. Objective— We hypothesized that ethanol-induced oxidant stress and induction of TGF- β 1 signaling results in alternative activation which subsequently impairs the phagocytic capacity of alveolar macrophages. Methods— Primary rat alveolar macrophages and the alveolar macrophages cell line NR8383 was treated with 0.08% ethanol ± the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) or a TGF- β 1 neutralizing antibody for 5 days. Outcome measures included TGF- β 1 production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, phagocytic capacity, and expression of markers of M2 activation. Results— Chronic ethanol treatment greatly decreased alveolar macrophage phagocytic function, increased ROS production, increased TGF- β 1 , and increased expression of markers of M2 activation. Glutathione supplementation and inhibition of TGF- β 1 signaling during ethanol treatment prevented these alterations. Conclusions— Ethanol treatment increased oxidant stress, TGF- β 1 production, and alternative activation in NR8383 cells. However, GSH supplementation and ablation of TGF- β 1 signaling prevented these effects. This suggested the ethanol-induced switch to a M2 phenotype was a result of decreased antioxidant availability and increased TGF- β 1 signaling. Preventing ethanol-induced induction of alternative activation may improve alveolar macrophage function in alcoholic subjects and decrease the risk of respiratory infections. b p ). Similar results were seen when the NR8383 cells were treated with GSH during the
Two-Stage Load Shedding for Secondary Control in Hierarchical Operation of Islanded Microgrids

A two-stage load shedding scheme is presented to cope with potential power deficits caused by microgrid islanding. Coordinated with the fast response of inverter-based grid-forming distributed energy resources, the proposed approach estimates the load shedding at each stage and the resulting power flow redistribution. The first stage of load shedding will cease any rapid frequency decline in which the locally measured frequency deviation is employed to guide the load shedding level and process. Once a new steady state is reached at the end of first stage, the second stage is activated, which performs load shedding according to load priorities. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified through time-domain simulations in PSCAD/EMTDC based on a scaled-down microgrid system.
Role of angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) in regulating plasma level of low-density lipoproteins

Background and aims— Angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) has emerged as a key regulator of lipoprotein metabolism in humans. Homozygous loss of ANGPTL3 function causes familial combined hypolipidemia characterized by low plasma levels of triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). While known effects of ANGPTL3 in inhibiting lipoprotein lipase and endothelial lipase contribute to the low TG and HDL-C, respectively, the basis of the low LDL-C remains unclear. Our aim was to explore the role of ANGPTL3 in modulating plasma LDL-C. Methods— We performed RNAi-mediated gene silencing of ANGPTL3 in five mouse models and in human hepatoma cells. We validated results by deleting ANGPTL3 gene using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. Results— RNAi-mediated Angptl3 silencing in mouse livers resulted in very low TG, HDL-C and LDL-C, a pattern similar to the human phenotype. The effect was observed in wild-type and obese mice, while in hCETP/apolipoprotein (Apo) B-100 double transgenic mice, the silencing decreased LDL-C and TG, but not HDL-C. In a humanized mouse model (Apobec1 −/− carrying human ApoB-100 transgene) deficient in LDL receptor (LDLR), Angptl3 silencing had minimum effect on LDL-C, suggesting the effect being linked to LDLR. This observation is supported by an additive effect on LDL-C between ANGPTL3 and PCSK9 siRNAs. ANGPTL3 gene deletion induced cellular long-chain TG and ApoB-100 accumulation with elevated LDLR and LDLR-related protein (LRP) 1 expression. Consistent with this, ANGPTL3 deficiency by gene deletion or silencing reduced nascent ApoB-100 secretion and increased LDL/VLDL uptake. Conclusions— Reduced secretion and increased uptake of ApoB-containing lipoproteins may contribute to the low LDL-C observed in mice and humans with genetic ANGPTL3 deficiency. and standard from three independent experiments. p were determined by ANGPTL3 siRNA Luc control
Clinical Features and Molecular Epidemiology of CMY-Type β -Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli

Background— Knowledge on the clinical features of infections caused by Escherichia coli producing plasmid-mediated AmpC β -lactamase is limited. Of the several groups of plasmid-mediated AmpC β -lactamase, CMY-type β -lactamase is the most common in the United States. Methods— We prospectively identified E. coli producing CMY-type β -lactamase and collected clinical data over a seven-month period. A retrospective cohort study was performed to identify features associated with these cases, using cases due to extended-spectrum β -lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli as controls. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), plasmid analysis and phylogenetic typing were performed. Results— Twenty-two cases with CMY-producing E. coli and 25 cases with ESBL-producing E. coli were identified. The demographics of the patients were similar between the CMY and ESBL cohorts. CMY cases were significantly more likely to represent symptomatic infection compared with ESBL cases ( P =0.028). The CMY-type β -lactamase was identified as CMY-2 or its variants. Ninety-four percent of the CMY-producing isolates belonged to E. coli phylogenetic groups B2 and D, which are associated with virulence. Many of them shared similar plasmid profiles, whereas the PFGE profiles were diverse. Co-resistance to non- β -lactam antimicrobials was common. Conclusion— In Pittsburgh, CMY-producing E. coli is almost as common as ESBL-producing E. coli and causes symptomatic infection in the majority of cases.
Canadian and Australian Ground Support Practices in High Deformation Environments

Ground support is often a substantial component of mining costs. Many mining operations face significant challenges as they progress to greater depths and the stress environment becomes more aggressive. At some point, the level of stress-related damage becomes such that large deformations occur at the excavation boundaries. Changes to ground support designs are then necessary to ensure development remains serviceable and rehabilitation costs are contained at acceptable levels. This paper presents case histories from several Australian and Canadian mines that have dealt with this transition and discusses some of the practical and technical issues involved in selecting the most appropriate support and reinforcement systems for particular conditions. The mechanisms controlling the deformation around the excavations are discussed in terms of their implications for support and reinforcement system design and selection. Numerical modelling of the stress-induced damage around the excavation has been undertaken and the results are compared with the observed mechanisms. Monitoring options are also discussed.