Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Poverty and response to treatment among panic disorder patients in primary care.

OBJECTIVE Despite well-established links between poverty and poor mental illness outcome as well as recent reports exploring racial and ethnic health disparities, little is known about the outcomes of evidence-based psychiatric treatment for poor individuals. METHOD Primary care patients with panic disorder (N=232) who were participating in a randomized controlled trial comparing a cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy intervention to usual care were divided into those patients above (N=152) and below (N=80) the poverty line. Telephone assessments at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were used to compare the amount of evidence-based care received as well as clinical and functional outcomes. RESULTS Poor subjects were more severely ill at baseline, with more medical and psychiatric comorbidity. The increases in the amount of evidence-based care and reductions in clinical symptoms and disability were comparable in the two groups such that poorer individuals, although responding equivalently, continued to be more ill and disabled at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS The comparable response of poor individuals in this study suggests that standard CBT and pharmacotherapy treatments for panic disorder do not need to be "tailored" to be effective in poor populations. However, the more severe illness both at baseline and follow-up in these poor individuals suggests that treatment programs may need to be extended in order to treat residual symptoms and disability in these patients so that they might achieve comparable levels of remission.
Contrasting signals from multiple markers illuminate population connectivity in a marine fish

Recent advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics have helped to unveil striking and previously unrecognized patterns of geographic genetic structure in marine populations. Largely driven by the pressing needs of fisheries management and conservation, studies on marine fish populations have played a pivotal role in testing the efficiency of a range of approaches to explore connectivity and dispersal at sea. Here, we employed nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers and parasitic infestations to examine the nature and patterns of population structure in a warm‐temperate coastal marine teleost across major putative biogeographic barriers in the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic Ocean. We detected deep genetic divergence between mitochondrial lineages, likely caused by dramatic climatic and geological transformations before and during the Pleistocene. Such long‐diverged lineages later came into secondary contact and can now be found in sympatry. More importantly, microsatellite data revealed that these lineages, after millions of years of independent evolution, now interbreed extensively. By combining genetic and parasite data, we were able to identify at least five independent demographic units. While the different genetic and parasite‐based methods produce notably contrasting signals and may complicate the reconstruction of connectivity dynamics, we show that by tailoring the correct interpretation to each of the descriptors used, it is possible to achieve a deeper understanding of the micro‐evolutionary process and, consequently, resolve population structure.
Use of 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance To Measure Intracellular Metabolite Levels during Growth and Asexual Sporulation in Neurospora crassa

ABSTRACT Conidiation is an asexual sporulation pathway that is a response to adverse conditions and is the main mode of dispersal utilized by filamentous fungal pathogens for reestablishment in a more favorable environment. Heterotrimeric G proteins (consisting of α, β, and γ subunits) have been shown to regulate conidiation in diverse fungi. Previous work has demonstrated that all three of the Gα subunits in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa affect the accumulation of mass on poor carbon sources and that loss of gna-3 leads to the most dramatic effects on conidiation. In this study, we used 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to profile the metabolome of N. crassa in extracts isolated from vegetative hyphae and conidia from cultures grown under conditions of high or low sucrose. We compared wild-type and Δgna-3 strains to determine whether lack of gna-3 causes a significant difference in the global metabolite profile. The results demonstrate that the global metabolome of wild-type hyphae is influenced by carbon availability. The metabolome of the Δgna-3 strain cultured on both high and low sucrose is similar to that of the wild type grown on high sucrose, suggesting an overall defect in nutrient sensing in the mutant. However, analysis of individual metabolites revealed differences in wild-type and Δgna-3 strains cultured under conditions of low and high sucrose.
Could the Bubble in U.S. House Prices Have Been Detected in Real Time

I explore whether time-series methods exploiting the long-run equilibrium properties of the housing market might have detected the disequilibrium in U.S. house prices which pre-dated the Great Recession as it was building up. Based on real-time data, I show that a VAR in levels identified as in Uhlig (2003, 2004) would have detected the disequilibrium with high confidence by the Summer of 2004, with the estimated extent of overvaluation peaking at about 15 per cent immediately before the crisis. These results demonstrate that disequilibria in the prices of at least one asset class–housing–can indeed be robustly detected as they are building up. Conceptually in line with Cochrane’s (1994) analysis for consumption and GNP, and dividends and stock prices, a key factor in order to robustly identify the transitory component of real house prices is applying Uhlig-style identification to real rents, which are cointegrated with house prices, and are comparatively much closer to the common stochastic trend. Directly focusing on house prices themselves, on the other hand, produces less robust results.
Perforin Expression in the Gastrointestinal Mucosa Is Limited to Acute Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Perforin-mediated cytotoxicity is a major effector function of virus-specific CD8 T cells. We have investigated the expression of perforin in the gut, an important site of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) pathogenesis, during experimental SIV infection of rhesus macaques. We observed significant increases in perforin protein and mRNA expression levels in the colons of SIV-infected macaques as early as 21 days after infection. However, during chronic infection, despite ongoing viral replication, perforin expression returned to levels similar to those detected in SIV-naïve animals. These findings demonstrate the presence of a robust perforin-positive response in gastrointestinal CD8 T cells during acute, but not chronic, SIV infection.
The effect of melatonin on cellular activation processes in human blood

Abstract: The pineal hormone melatonin, due to its lipophilic nature, has access to every cell and every part of a cell in the body, suggesting that it could exert effects on blood immune cells. The regulation of the activation of monocytes may be important in a number of diseases, especially pathophysiological conditions associated with inflammatory reactions. Considering this, a study on the effect of melatonin on monocytes in whole blood was carried out. Melatonin added at a final concentration of 5 ng/mL to whole blood in vitro reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced tissue factor (TF) activity in monocytes by 55% in blood from a group of subjects with melatonin‐sensitive cells. At even lower concentrations of melatonin (20‐50 pg/mL) and in the physiological range, a trend of suppressed LPS‐induced TF activity by ∼ 20% was seen. A further indication of a downregulation of LPS‐stimulated monocytes by melatonin was shown by its reduction of LPS‐induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Twenty to one hundred pg/mL melatonin caused a significant reduction of LPS‐induced TNF production by ∼ 25–30%. In contrast, melatonin at a final concentration of 10 pg/mL, added to whole blood incubated with LPS and also the phorbol ester, PMA, caused a signficant rise of 25%; whereas 100 pg/mL enhanced LPS + PMA‐induced TNF by ∼ 80% as compared to LPS + PMA alone. These effects were not detectable during the winter darkness of Tromsø (70°N), probably due to the high content of melatonin in the blood even at daytime. These results show that melatonin may have a beneficial effect by suppressing the expression of TF activity in LPS‐stimulated monocytes. Furthermore, the results indicate that LPS‐induced TF in monocytes of whole blood is independent of protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Melatonin is probably amplifying cellular activation reactions that are PKC‐dependent. This may be physiologically important in upregulation of the immune system.
Optimal dispatching model of Smart Home Energy Management System

In this paper, we developed an optimal dispatching model of Smart Home Energy Management System (SHEMS) with distributed energy resources (DERs) and intelligent domestic appliances. In order to achieve multi-objective optimization between the saving money and living comfortable, we investigate the math models of various components and come up with the new concept “load value” for quantitative measure of users' comfort. Then we set up the control strategies with demand response and adjust the parameters of optimal dispatching model by the load characteristic in this system. Applying this model to one house with Photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine (WT), storage battery and time-of-use prices, the simulation at the end of this paper proves that the energy management system and optimal dispatching model can make users of smart home live in a comfortable and economical way.
Shift rotation and age – interactions with sleep–wakefulness and inflammation

The interaction of age with shift rotation in relation to sleep–wakefulness and inflammation were studied among male employees (n = 772). Cross-sectional analyses in day, two-shift and three-shift work with different shift rotations, as well as changes in leukocytes and hsCRP among three shift workers who changed their shift system during the 2.5- yr follow-up were completed. Shift work was associated with problems to fall asleep (p < 0.001) and feeling of the current working time being harmful to sleep and wakefulness (p < 0.001). Quickly forward-rotation shift workers considered their working time less harmful compared with slower backward-rotation shift workers. Age did not influence sleep in general, but older workers in the quickly forward-rotating three-shift system had less sleep complaints than their younger colleagues. The age differences in the inflammatory markers partly depended on the shift system. The results give some support that rapidly forward-rotating shift systems are more ‘age-friendly’ than backward-rotating shift systems. Practitioner Summary: In workplaces with varying shift systems, the possibility of elderly employees with health problems to change to a more ‘age-friendly’ shift schedule would enhance older workers' well-being and better coping with shift work.
Space-time spreading based DS-UWB link scheme for wireless home entertainment networks

Recent developments in both the consumer electronics (CE) and PC industries make ultra-wideband (UWB) an almost perfect wireless solution to drive and benefit from the ongoing convergence of home entertainment and computing network. In order to meet increasing consumer demand for low cost, low power, flexible, and reliable wireless home entertainment networks, we present a high-speed DS-UWB link scheme employing space-time spreading (STS) technique combined with adaptive detection. Maximal path diversity at the receiver is achieved via our approach. In doing so, no extra spreading codes, transmit power, nor channel estimation is required and only minimal extra hardware complexity of the link. Both our analysis and simulation results show that, compared with the conventional single-antenna DS-UWB link, the proposed STS based DS-UWB link scheme is capable of obtaining at least 2.5 dB improvement in terms of the SNR, and therefore can be considered as a promising candidate to support multimedia wireless connections of good quality
Comparison of the effects of pioglitazone and voglibose on circulating total and high‐molecular‐weight adiponectin, and on two fibrinolysis inhibitors, in patients with Type 2 diabetes

Background To investigate short‐term effects of pioglitazone and voglibose on serum concentrations of both total and high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) adiponectin measured with a novel sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ,and on plasma fibrinolysis indicators, in Type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate glycaemic control on sulphonylureas.
Investigation into the Perception of Physical Education Teachers on the Ethical Climate in their Workplace

Abstract The objective of this present study is to find the perception of physical education and sports teachers serving under the Ministry of Education in various provinces on the ethical climate in their workplace. The findings show that the physical education teachers perceived the behaviors of the staff working in their institutions in terms of prioritizing the institutional interests to be at the level of ‘Undecided’, and that there are significant differences, at the dimension of institutional interests which exist between the teachers in the province of Kayseri, and the ones in the provinces of Usak and Denizli. From this dimension, the ethical climate perception of the teachers in Kayseri are considerably higher when compared to those in Usak and Denizli. It could be said that the teachers taking part in the study have positive view of the practices going on in the institutions, that they work in respect to laws, rules and policies; and that they have a positive perception of ethical climate in this regard.
A new concept in cancer care: The supportive care program

This article describes the findings of a pilot program designed to enter advanced prostate cancer patients into the hospice benefit while they are still being actively treated, but in situations where treatment is known to be primarily palliative in nature. The supportive care program (SCP) combines the medical model’s goal to prolong life with the goal of hospice to palliate symptoms and improve quality of life (QOL). The concept of a SCP was developed to create a team approach where advanced prostate cancer patients who are starting investigational chemotherapy are concurrently enrolled into a hospice program. The objectives were to identify whether SCP improved QOL and continuity of care while remaining cost-effective. Data were collected on patient quality of life, performance status, use of health care resources, and costs for the 36 enrolled patients. A comparison was made to a matched set of 23 control patients. Our findings indicate that the SCP contributes to continuity of care while being cost-effective.
Efficacy and the Reproduction of Political Activism: Evidence From the Broad Front in Uruguay

The professionalization of politics and the disappearance of party organizations based on activists seems an inescapable trend. This article shows, by studying the Broad Front of Uruguay as a deviant case, the relevance of organizational rules for explaining the reproduction of party activism. Using data from both an online survey of people differing in their levels of engagement with the Broad Front and in-depth interviews with party activists, we show that those with relatively low levels of engagement—“adherents”—and activists differ in their willingness to cooperate with the party and in the time they devote to party activities. Also, we find that reducing the perceived efficacy of political engagement strongly decreases activists’ self-reported willingness to engage with the party, while this reduction has no effect upon adherents. These findings suggest that the design of organizational rules that grant a political role to grassroots organizers can promote party activism.
Interaction of Akt-phosphorylated SRPK2 with 14-3-3 Mediates Cell Cycle and Cell Death in Neurons*

Terminally differentiated neurons are unable to reenter the cell cycle. Aberrant cell cycle activation provokes neuronal cell death, whereas cell cycle inhibition elevates neuronal survival. However, the molecular mechanism regulating the cell cycle and cell death in mature neurons remains elusive. Here we show that SRPK2, a protein kinase specific for the serine/arginine (SR) family of splicing factors, triggers cell cycle progression in neurons and induces apoptosis through regulation of nuclear cyclin D1. Akt phosphorylates SRPK2 on Thr-492 and promotes its nuclear translocation leading to cyclin D1 up-regulation, cell cycle reentry, and neuronal apoptosis. In addition, SRPK2 phosphorylates SC35 and, thus, inactivates p53, resulting in cyclin D1 up-regulation. 14-3-3 binding to SRPK2, regulated by Akt phosphorylation, inhibits these events. We find that SRPK2 is phosphorylated in ischemia-attacked brain, correlating with the observed increase in cyclin D1 levels. Hence, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt mediates the cell cycle and cell death machinery in the nervous system through phosphorylation of SRPK2.
Mentoring Dispositions for Pre-Service and Early Career Special Educators Through Service Learning

Service learning projects were created and implemented by faculty in the special education unit at Molloy College for pre-service and early career special education teachers. The service learning projects provided an opportunity for faculty to mentor participants in the area of dispositions for teaching through a shared experience outside of the higher education classroom. The projects were conducted in/or with community schools serving the K-12 population and students with disabilities in inclusive settings. It was hypothesized that service learning opportunities would serve as a platform for participants to reflect and to evaluate their dispositions as they act and interact in environments which were multidimensional. The results indicated that this was the case and that participants gained insights into their dispositions when the statements of dispositions were related to an experience. Faculty concluded that a variety of service learning projects provided varied opportunities for participants to exercise beliefs and bring clarity to the term “dispositions for teaching. ”
The Cellular RNA Helicase UAP56 Is Required for Prevention of Double-Stranded RNA Formation during Influenza A Virus Infection

ABSTRACT The cellular DEAD box RNA helicase UAP56 plays a pivotal role in the efficient transcription/replication of influenza A virus. UAP56 is recruited by the nucleoprotein (NP) of influenza A viruses, and recent data revealed that the RNA helicase is required for the nuclear export of a subset of spliced and unspliced viral mRNAs. The fact that influenza viruses do not produce detectable amounts of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) intermediates during transcription/replication suggests the involvement of cellular RNA helicases. Hence, we examined whether the RNA-unwinding activity of UAP56 or its paralog URH49 plays a role in preventing the accumulation of dsRNA during infection. First, our data showed that not only UAP56 but also its paralog URH49 can interact with NPs of avian and human influenza A viruses. The small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated depletion of either RNA helicase reduced the transport of M1 and hemagglutinin (HA) mRNAs and, to a lesser extent, NP and NS1 mRNAs into the cytoplasm. Moreover, we found that virus infection of UAP56-depleted cells leads to the rapid accumulation of dsRNA in the perinuclear region. In parallel, we observed a robust virus-mediated activation of dsRNA-dependent protein kinase R (PKR), indicating that the cellular RNA helicase UAP56 may be recruited by influenza virus to prevent dsRNA formation. The accumulation of dsRNA was blocked when actinomycin D or cycloheximide was used to inhibit viral transcription/replication or translation, respectively. In summary, we demonstrate that UAP56 is utilized by influenza A viruses to prevent the formation of dsRNA and, hence, the activation of the innate immune response.
Object-Oriented Analysis of Very High-Resolution QuickBird Data for Mega City Research in Delhi/India

The 21st century is the century of the cities and of urbanisation. Mega cities in rapidly urbanising regions are hot spots of demographic and socio-economic dynamics. Their rapid growth results in uncontrolled processes of fragmentation which counteracts governance and steering . Due to the high dynamics of mega cities, the traditional methods such as statistical and regional analyses or fieldwork are limited to capture the urban process. New monitoring and planning methodologies are therefore required to provide tools to simplify planning processes in complex urban structures. Remote sensing provides the opportunity to monitor spatial patterns of urban structures with high spatial and temporal resolution. Very high-resolution remote sensing data from the QuickBird satellite are used to identify urban structures and dynamics within Delhi/India. The paper presents a first semi-automated, object-based classification approach which allows the distinction of different settlement types within the urban area. The method was developed for a representative data set within a selected test site and afterwards transferred to the whole test site as well as to a second region to prove the transferability and general validity of the methodology. The research is focused on the identification of "informal settlements" since these represent those characteristic municipal areas which are subject to particularly high dynamics, population density as well as marginalization. The developed methodology allows the recognition of similar settlement types within the urban area. In turn this outcome is compared with a pixel-based classification result to get an idea about the limits of conventional pixel-based classification methods. One of the project aims is the critical assessment of methods and the development of analytical tools. According to this fact the classification results were embedded in a framework for the determination of different socio-economic attributes (e.g. population density) within a certain settlement. This assumption is evaluated - in combination with quantitative and qualitative socio-economic information from about 800 questionnaires emanate from two intense field campaigns - in regard to place- specific infrastructure deficits. In addition, the methodology developed was tested on its transferability and general application. For this purpose other test sites in the Delhi area characterized by similar settlement structures were selected. This is understood to be a first step to the development of indicators which will help to identify and understand the different forms, actors and processes of vulnerability in mega cities.
DHHC5 Interacts with PDZ Domain 3 of Post-synaptic Density-95 (PSD-95) Protein and Plays a Role in Learning and Memory*

A family of integral membrane proteins containing a signature DHHC motif has been shown to display protein S-acyltransferase activity, modifying cysteine residues in proteins with fatty acids. The physiological roles of these proteins have largely been unexplored. Here we report that mice homozygous for a hypomorphic allele of a previously uncharacterized member, DHHC5, are born at half the expected rate, and survivors show a marked deficit in contextual fear conditioning, an indicator of defective hippocampal-dependent learning. DHHC5 is highly enriched in a post-synaptic density preparation and co-immunoprecipitates with post-synaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), an interaction that is mediated through binding of the carboxyl terminus of DHHC5 and the PDZ3 domain of PSD-95. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that DHHC5 is expressed in the CA3 and dentate gyrus in the hippocampus. These findings point to a previously unsuspected role for DHHC5 in post-synaptic function affecting learning and memory.