Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why the Cognitive Approach in Psychology Would Profit From a Functional Approach and Vice Versa

Cognitively oriented psychologists often define behavioral effects in terms of mental constructs (e.g., classical conditioning as a change in behavior that is due to the formation of associations in memory) and thus effectively treat those effects as proxies for mental constructs. This practice can, however, hamper scientific progress. I argue that if psychologists would consistently define behavioral effects only in terms of the causal impact of elements in the environment (e.g., classical conditioning as a change in behavior that is due to the pairing of stimuli), they would adopt a functional approach that not only reveals the environmental causes of behavior but also optimizes cognitive research. The cognitive approach in turn strengthens the functional approach by facilitating the discovery of new causal relations between the environment and behavior. I thus propose a functional–cognitive framework for research in psychology that capitalizes on the mutually supportive nature of the functional and cognitive approaches in psychology.
A comparative study on the impact of fresh variables on the success of frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles using 2PN sibling embryos in women with/without polycystic ovary syndrome

Aims: The aim of the present study was to identify the fresh variables that influence the frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) outcome using sibling two pronuclei (2PN) embryos in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS women. Material & methods: Fifty-five FET cycles were performed using sibling embryos randomly cryopreserved at 2PN states and basal/cycle characteristics of fresh variables were compared between PCOS and non-PCOS groups according to the success in FET pregnancy: group A (pregnant PCOS); group B (not pregnant PCOS); group C (pregnant non-PCOS); group D (not pregnant non-PCOS). Results: In PCOS patients, higher progesterone level on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) day was observed in group A than in group B (0.9 ± 0.0 vs. 0.5 ± 0.3, p = 0.004). In non-PCOS patients who achieved a pregnancy in the fresh cycle, a subsequent FET cycle using sibling 2PN embryos conferred a thirteen times increased chance of achieving pregnancy (OR 13.0; 95% CI, 2.3–74.1). Embryo quality and endometrial maturation were comparable between A and B or C and D. Conclusions: The success of the fresh embryo transfer (ET)was the most important predictor of pregnancy in FET cycles in the non-PCOS group. The relationship between serum progesterone on hCG day in the fresh cycle and the outcome of subsequent FET would benefit further evaluation in PCOS group.
The relation of community developmental attentiveness to adolescent health.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relation of student exposure to selected developmental assets with indicators of thriving, using more reliable measures than previously reported. METHODS Self-report surveys were completed by a diverse sample of 5136 students in 6th-12th grades. Analyses of variance were used to examine the assets-thriving relation. RESULTS A majority of students reported experiencing only 3 of 12 assets. The more assets students reported, the more they reported thriving in physical, psychological, social, and academic domains. CONCLUSIONS Adults must become more intentional about building the relationships, opportunities, values, and skills young people need for optimally healthy development.
Distinguishing the effects of maternal and offspring genes through studies of "case-parent triads".

A gene variant that increases disease risk will be overrepresented among diseased persons, even compared with their own biologic parents. This insight has led to tests based solely on the asymmetric distribution of a variant allele among cases and their parents (e.g., the transmission/disequilibrium test). Existing methods focus on effects of alleles that operate through the offspring genotype. Alleles can also operate through the mother's genotype, particularly for conditions such as birth defects that have their origins in fetal life. An allele working through the mother would have higher frequency in case-mothers than in case-fathers. The authors develop a log-linear method for estimating relative risks for alleles in the context of case-parent triads. This method is able to detect the effects of genes working through the offspring, the mother, or both. The authors assume Mendelian inheritance, but Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is unnecessary. Their approach uses standard software, and simulations demonstrate satisfactory power and confidence interval coverage. This method is valid with a self-selected or hospital-based series of cases and helps to protect against misleading inference that can result when cases and controls are randomly sampled from a population not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
Cerebral oxygenation monitoring using near infrared spectroscopy during one-lung ventilation in adults

BACKGROUND: Changes in oxygenation occur during one-lung ventilation (OLV) due to intrapulmonary shunt. Although arterial oxygenation is generally adequate, there are no studies evaluating the effect of these changes on cerebral oxygenation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cerebral oxygenation (rSO2), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), oxygen saturation (SaO2), and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) were prospectively monitored during OLV in adults. Cerebral oxygenation was monitored using near infrared spectroscopy. No clinical decisions were made based on the rSO2 value. BP and HR were the inspired oxygen concentration was adjusted as needed to maintain the SaO2 ≥ 95%. RESULTS: The study cohort included 40 adult patients. 18,562 rSO2 values were collected during OLV. The rSO2 was ≥ baseline at 3,593 of the 18,562 data points (19%). The rSO2 was 0-9 ≤ baseline in 7,053 (38%) of the readings, 10-19 ≤ baseline in 4,084 (22%) of the readings, and 20-29 ≤ baseline in 3,898 (21%) of the readings. 2,599 (14%) of the rSO2 values were less than 75% of the baseline value. Thirteen patients (32.5%) had at least one rSO2 value that was less than 75% of the baseline. Eight patients (20%) had rSO2 values less than 75% of baseline for ≥ 25% of the duration of OLV. These patients were older (63.7 ± 10.2 vs 54.6 ± 9.8 years, P<0.025), weighed more (95.8 ± 17.4 vs 82.6 ± 14.6 kgs, P=0.038), and were more likely to be ASA III vs II (7 of 8 versus 25 of 32, relative risk 1.75) than the remainder of the cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Significant changes in rSO2 occur during OLV for thoracic surgical procedures. Future studies are needed to determine the impact of such changes on the postoperative course of these patients.
Body Sensor Network for Mobile Health Monitoring, a Diagnosis and Anticipating System

A system capable of mobile health monitoring was designed and implemented from the first principles. The system is capable of measuring vital physiological parameters, interpret the measured signals, and provide a sense of monitoring and biofeedback to the user. In the case, a medical emergency is detected notifications are sent to a medical tedam for the analysis. The system was designed through the investigation of various biosignal extraction methods. An optical pulse oximeter sensor was designed along with the required software algorithms. The photoplethysmographic signals were extracted and used to calculate heart rate, saturation of oxygen, and pulse transits time. The pulse transit time was utilized in the estimation of continuous blood pressure measurement. The pulse oximetry implementation applies reflectance-based sensing on the user's fingertip and palm. Skin temperature is also measurable through the use of a digital temperature sensor. The system is capable of providing feedback to the user by means of a smartphone application receiving data from the device through Bluetooth. The measurement of the proposed physiological parameters were successfully measured with the appropriate degree of accuracy required by medical standards. The system is capable of health monitoring through accurate measurements, providing the user with feedback and successfully identifying medical stress resulting in the sending of a notification to a medical doctor.
Transmission lines using aluminium cable steel reinforced ground wires nearby power substations

This article shows the advantages of using transmission lines with ACSR (Aluminium Cable Steel Reinforced) ground wires in the neighbourhood of high voltage power substations. The concept of selfneutralized current is reminded in order to explain why the utilization of a double ACSR ground wire 7–20 km from the transmission line terminal substations is able to reduce up to 65% the value of the terminal substation ground mat current. It is also shown that, for power cables with metallic shielding grounded in both terminal substation ground mats, the reduction of mat current can be as large as 99.5%. The article reminds that these procuderes are already successfully used in several high voltage power substations now in operation. Some equivalent circuits are presented in order to allow a simple calculation of the value of the mat current (IM), using ACSR ground wires close to the terminal substations. It is also reminded that Steinmetz Circuit Theory has several advantages over the direct utilization of Maxwell Equations when computing A.C. transmission metallic circuits.
Dangers of 'Facebook Login' for Mobile Apps: Is There a Price Tag for Social Information?

Social networks offer horizontal integration for any mobile platform providing app users with a convenient single sign-on point. Nonetheless, there are growing privacy concerns regarding its use. These vulnerabilities trigger alarm among app developers who fight for their user base: While they are happy to act on users’ information collected via social networks, they are not always willing to sacrifice their adoption rate for this goal. So far, understanding of this trade-off has remained ambiguous. To fill this gap, we employ a discrete choice experiment to explore the role of Facebook Login and investigate the impact of accompanying requests for different information items / actions in the mobile app adoption process. We quantify users’ concerns regarding these items in monetary terms. Beyond hands-on insights for providers, our study contributes to the theoretical discourse on the value of privacy in the growing world of Social Media and mobile web.
Contribution of molecular analysis to the typification of the non-functioning pituitary adenomas

Aim The WHO Classification of Tumours of Endocrine Organs considers the inmunohistochemical characterization of pituitary adenomas (PA) as mandatory for patient diagnosis. Recent advances in the knowledge of the molecular patterns of these tumours could complement this classification with gene expression profiling. Methods Within the context of the Spanish Molecular Registry of Pituitary Adenomas (REMAH), a multicentre clinical-basic research project, we analysed the molecular phenotype of 142 PAs with complete IHC and clinical information. Gene expression levels of all pituitary hormones, type 1 corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptor, dopamine receptors and arginine vasopressin receptor 1b were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In addition, we used three housekeeping genes for normalization and a pool of nine healthy pituitary glands from autopsies as calibration reference standard. Results Based on the clinically functioning PA (FPA: somatotroph, corticotroph, thyrotroph and lactotroph adenomas), we established the interquartile range of relative expression for all genes studied in each PA subtype. That allowed molecularly the different PA subtypes, including the clinically non-functioning PA (NFPA). Afterwards, we estimated the concordance of the molecular and immunohistochemical classification with clinical diagnosis in FPA and between them in NFPA. The kappa values were higher in molecular than in immunohistochemical classification in FPA and showed a bad concordance in all NFPA subtypes. Conclusions According to these results, the molecular characterization of the PA complements the IHC analysis, allowing a better typification of the NFPA.
Self-reported premenstrual exacerbation of depressive symptoms in patients seeking treatment for major depression

Background. Very little research has examined the frequency with which women with major depressive disorder experience premenstrual exacerbation (PME) of depression or the characteristics of those who report such worsening. The NIMH Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study provides a unique opportunity to evaluate PME in depressed women seeking treatment in primary care or psychiatric settings. Method. This report presents data from the first 1500 participants enrolled in the STAR*D study. Premenopausal women with major depressive disorder were asked if they experienced a worsening of their depressive symptoms 5–10 days prior to menses. Those reporting PME were compared with those reporting no PME with regard to sociodemographic characteristics, course of illness features, symptom presentation, general medical co-morbidity, functional impairment, and quality of life. Results. Of 433 premenopausal women not taking oral contraceptives, 64% reported a premenstrual worsening of their depression. Women who reported PME had a longer duration of their current major depressive episode [30·7 (S.D.=73·7) months versus 13·5 (S.D.=13·2) months; p=0·001], as well as greater general medical co-morbidity. Women reporting PME were also more likely to endorse symptoms of leaden paralysis, somatic complaints, gastrointestinal complaints, and psychomotor slowing, and were less likely to endorse blunted mood reactivity. Conclusions. PME is endorsed by the majority of premenopausal women with major depressive disorder and appears to be associated with a longer duration of depressive episode. PME is a common and important clinical issue deserving of further attention in both research and practice.
Estimating SIT-driven population reduction in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, from sterile mating

Abstract Area-wide sterile insect technique (SIT) programs assume that offspring reduction of the target population correlates with the mating success of the sterile males released. However, there is a lack of monitoring tools to prove the success of these programs in real-time. Field-cage tests were conducted under the environmental conditions of the Mediterranean coast of Spain to estimate: (a) the mating success of sterile Vienna-8 (V8) Ceratitis capitata males using molecular markers and (b) their efficacy to reduce C. capitata populations under six release ratios of wild females to wild males to V8 males (1:0:0, 1:1:0, 1:1:1, 1:1:5, 1:1:10, and 1:1:20). Statistical models were developed to predict: (a) the number of females captured in traps, (b) sperm ID (sterile or not) in spermathecae of the trapped females, and (c) the viable offspring produced, using release ratio and temperature as predictors. The number of females captured was affected by relative humidity. However, its influence in the model was low. Female captures were significantly higher in ratios 1:0:0 compared to ratios where V8 males were released. The proportion of V8 sperm in spermathecae increased with temperature and with the number of V8 males released, but leveled off between ratios 1:1:10 and 1:1:20. In all seasons, except winter (no offspring), viable offspring increased with temperature and was lowest for ratio 1:1:20. For the first time, a strong negative relationship between proportion of V8 sperm detected by molecular tools and C. capitata offspring was established. The models obtained should contribute to enhance the efficacy of SIT programs against this pest.
Increased peripheral blood CD5+ B cells predict earlier conversion to MS in high-risk clinically isolated syndromes

Clinically isolated syndrome patients (CIS) with oligoclonal IgG bands (OCGB) are at high risk for clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the outcome for individual patients is unpredictable and the search for reliable blood markers predicting early conversion to multiple sclerosis (MS) has clinical relevance. CD5+ B cells (CD5+Bc) are involved in some autoimmune diseases. This study investigated whether high blood CD5+Bc percentage can predict CIS conversion to MS. Fifty-five consecutive CIS showing OCGB were prospectively studied. Every patient underwent a brain MRI study and a flow cytometry analysis of CD5+Bc percentage. Conversion to MS was studied during follow-up. The CD5+Bc percentage was assessed in 40 controls and a cut-off value of 3.5% (mean + 2 SD) was calculated. A blood CD5+Bc percentage above this value predicted earlier conversion to MS in the whole group (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.69–6.68; p = 0.0005) and in CIS patients fulfilling three or more Barkhof–Tintoré criteria plus OCGB, who showed higher risk for MS (HR: 3.79; 95% CI: 1.86–15.32; p = 0.0018). Multivariate analysis also showed a predictive value for high blood CD5+Bc count (HR: 4.3; 95% CI: 1.9–9.5; p < 0.0001). It was concluded that high percentages of CD5+Bc independently associate with increased risk of early conversion to MS in CIS patients with OCGB and Barkhof–Tintoré criteria.
Analogs of Human Plasminogen That Are Labeled with Fluorescence Probes at the Catalytic Site of the Zymogen

Fluorescent analogs of the proteinase zymogen, plasminogen (Pg), which are specifically inactivated and labeled at the catalytic site have been prepared and characterized as probes of the mechanisms of Pg activation. The active site induced non-proteolytically in Pg by streptokinase (SK) was inactivated stoichiometrically with the thioester peptide chloromethyl ketone, Nα-[(acetylthio)acetyl]-(D-Phe)-Phe-Arg-CH2Cl; the thiol group generated subsequently on the incorporated inhibitor with NH2OH was quantitatively labeled with the fluorescence probe, 2-((4′-iodoacetamido)anilino)naphthalene-6-sulfonic acid; and the labeled Pg was separated from SK. Cleavage of labeled [Glu]Pg1 by urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) was accompanied by a fluorescence enhancement (ΔFmax/Fo) of 2.0, and formation of 1% plasmin (Pm) activity. Comparison of labeled and native [Glu]Pg1 as uPA substrates showed that activation of labeled [Glu]Pg1 generated [Glu]Pm1 as the major product, while native [Glu]Pg1 was activated at a faster rate and produced [Lys]Pm1 because of concurrent proteolysis by plasmin. When a mixture of labeled and native Pg was activated, to include plasmin-feedback reactions, the zymogens were activated at equivalent rates. The lack of potential proteolytic activity of the Pg derivatives allowed their interactions with SK to be studied under equilibrium binding conditions. SK bound to labeled [Glu]Pg1 and [Lys]Pg1 with dissociation constants of 590 ± 110 and 11 ± 7 nM, and fluorescence enhancements of 3.1 ± 0.1 and 1.6 ± 0.1, respectively. Characterization of the interaction of SK with native [Glu]Pg1 by the use of labeled [Glu]Pg1 as a probe indicated a ∼6-fold higher affinity of SK for the native Pg zymogen compared to the labeled Pg analog. Saturating levels of ϵ-aminocaproic acid reduced the affinity of SK for labeled [Glu]Pg1 by ∼2-fold and lowered the fluorescence enhancement to 1.8 ± 0.1, whereas the affinity of SK for labeled [Lys]Pg1 was reduced by ∼98-fold with little effect on the enhancement. These results demonstrate that occupation of lysine binding sites modulates the affinity of SK for Pg and the changes in the environment of the catalytic site associated with SK-induced conformational activation. Together, these studies show that the labeled Pg derivatives behave as analogs of native Pg which report functionally significant changes in the environment of the catalytic site of the zymogen.
Functional Dissection of an AP-2 β2 Appendage-binding Sequence within the Autosomal Recessive Hypercholesterolemia Protein*

The autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia (ARH) protein plays a critical role in regulating plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. Inherited defects in ARH lead to a hypercholesterolemia that closely phenocopies that caused by a defective LDL receptor. The elevated serum LDL-cholesterol levels typical of ARH patients and the pronounced accumulation of the LDL receptor at the cell surface of hepatocytes in ARH-null mice argue that ARH operates by promoting the internalization of the LDL receptor within clathrin-coated vesicles. ARH contains an amino-terminal phosphotyrosine-binding domain that associates physically with the LDL receptor internalization sequence and with phosphoinositides. The carboxyl-terminal half of ARH contains a clathrin-binding sequence and a separate AP-2 adaptor binding region providing a plausible mechanism for how ARH can act as an endocytic adaptor or CLASP (clathrin-associated sorting protein) to couple LDL receptors with the clathrin machinery. Because the interaction with AP-2 is highly selective for the independently folded appendage domain of the β2 subunit, we have characterized the ARH β2 appendage-binding sequence in detail. Unlike the known α appendage-binding motifs, ARH requires an extensive sequence tract to bind the β appendage with comparably high affinity. A minimal 16-residue sequence functions autonomously and depends upon ARH residues Asp253, Phe259, Leu262, and Arg266. We suggested that biased β subunit engagement by ARH and the only other β2 appendage selective adaptor, β-arrestin, promotes efficient incorporation of this mechanistically distinct subset of CLASPs into clathrin-coated buds.
Investigation of dyed human hair fibres using apertureless near‐field scanning optical microscopy

We present the first studies of dyed human hair fibres performed with an apertureless scanning near‐field optical microscope. Samples consisted of 5‐µm‐thick cross‐sections, the hair fibres being bleached and then dyed before being cut. Hair dyed with two molecular probes diffusing deep inside the fibre or mainly spreading at its periphery were investigated at a wavelength of 655 nm. An optical resolution of about 50 nm was achieved, well below the diffraction limit; the images exhibited different optical contrasts in the cuticle region, depending on the nature of the dye. Our results suggest that the dye that remains confined at the hair periphery is mainly located at its surface and in the endocuticle.