Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of the Sweet-Liking Phenotype and Craving for Alcohol With the Response to Naltrexone Treatment in Alcohol Dependence: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Identification of moderators of the response to naltrexone hydrochloride treatment for alcohol dependence could improve clinical care for patients with alcohol use disorders. Objective To investigate the preliminary finding that the sweet-liking (SL) phenotype interacts with a high level of craving for alcohol and is associated with an improved response to naltrexone in alcohol dependence. Design, Setting, and Participants This 12-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted from February 1, 2010, to April 30, 2012, in an academic outpatient medical center. Eighty actively drinking patients were randomized by the SL (n = 22) or the sweet-disliking (SDL) (n = 58) phenotype and by pretreatment high (n = 40) or low (n = 40) craving for alcohol, with high craving defined as greater than the median. Patients and staff were blinded to categorization. Patients were excluded for unstable medical or psychiatric illness, including dependence on drugs other than nicotine. Four patients (2 in the placebo arm and 2 in the naltrexone arm) stopped medication therapy because of adverse effects. Data were analyzed from January 15, 2013, to May 15, 2016, based on intention to treat. Interventions Oral naltrexone hydrochloride, 50 mg/d, or daily placebo with weekly to biweekly brief counseling. Main Outcomes and Measures The a priori hypothesis tested SL/SDL phenotype, pretreatment craving, and their interaction as moderators of frequency of abstinent and heavy drinking days during treatment, assessed with the timeline follow-back method. Results Eighty patients were randomized (57 men [71%]; 23 women [29%]; mean [SD] age, 47.0 [8.6] years). A nonsignificant effect of naltrexone on heavy drinking was noted (4.8 fewer heavy drinking days; Cohen d = 0.45; 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.90; F1,67 = 3.52; P = .07). The SL phenotype moderated the effect of naltrexone on heavy drinking (6.1 fewer heavy drinking days; Cohen d = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.12-1.03; F1,67 = 5.65; P = .02) and abstinence (10.0 more abstinent days; Cohen d = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.11-1.02; F1,67 = 5.36; P = .02), and high craving moderated heavy drinking (7.1 fewer heavy drinking days; Cohen d = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.20-1.11; F1,67 = 7.37; P = .008). The combination of the SL phenotype and high craving was associated with a strong response to naltrexone, with 17.1 fewer heavy drinking days (Cohen d = 1.07; 95% CI, 0.58-1.54; F1,67 = 19.33; P < .001) and 28.8 more abstinent days (Cohen d = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.25-1.17; F1,67 = 8.73; P = .004) compared with placebo. Conclusions and Relevance The SL phenotype and a high craving for alcohol independently and particularly in combination are associated with a positive response to naltrexone. The SL/SDL phenotype and a high craving for alcohol merit further investigation as factors to identify patients with alcohol dependence who are responsive to naltrexone. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01296646.
Paradigmatic Experiments: The Ultimatum Game from Testing to Measurement Device

The Ultimatum Game is one of the most successful experimental designs in the history of the social sciences. In this article I try to explain this success—what makes it a “paradigmatic experiment”—stressing in particular its versatility. Despite the intentions of its inventors, the Ultimatum Game was never a good design to test economic theory, and it is now mostly used as a heuristic tool for the observation of nonstandard preferences or as a “social thermometer” for the observation of culture‐specific norms.
Intra‐arterial continuous infusion of cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum in untreated head and neck cancer patients

The authors report the final analysis of a prospective phase I‐II study in 53 previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma (48 patients) and other histologic classifications (5 patients) of the head and neck region. Treatment consisted of cisplatin 10 mg infused intra‐arterially in a 12‐hour period, twice a day for 5 to 10 days via an external infusion pump. After a rest period of 5 to 7 days treatment could be restarted, with the same schedule, until a maximal total dose of 400 mg or toxcity. Patients who received at least 200 mg of cisplatin were considered evaluable for response. In 3 patients catheterization was not performed because of technical difficulties, in 9 treatment was stopped before reaching the total dose of 200 mg, (because of catheter‐related toxicity in 7 patients, drug toxicity in 1, and both toxitities in 1); therefore, the patients evaluable for response, drug toxicity and catheter toxicity were 41, 43, and 49 respectively. Overall, 8 patients (19.5%) obtained a complete response (CR) and 20 (48.8%) a partial response (PR) with an objective response rate (RR) of 68.3%. Eleven patients obtained a minor response (MR), whereas only 2 (4.8%) developed a progressive disease (PD). The figures, limited only to squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity and oropharinx (33 patients), are as follows: CR 8 (24.2%), PR 17 (51.5%), MR 7 (21.2%), and PD 1 (3.0%) for an objective RR of 75.7%. No grade IV and only 5 grade III toxicity were observed; whereas the most frequent grade I and II drug‐related toxcities were anemia, transient renal impairment, and thrombocytopenia. Catheter‐related toxicity accounted for five central nervous system complications (three transient motor weaknesses, one hemiparesis, one embolism) and six local problems (one coagulation of the catheter, one displacement, and four local extravasations). Intra‐arterial cisplatin is, in our experience, an effective treatment and further trials employing cisplatin combination chemotherapy are needed in order to establish the exact role of the intra‐arterial approach before definitive local treatments.
The importance of superior vena cava isolation in ablation strategy for atrial fibrillation

Purpose of review Superior vena cava (SVC) is one of the most important nonpulmonary vein origins of atrial fibrillation, and SVC should be carefully treated in order to decrease the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after ablation. Despite the fact that pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) should be performed prophylactically for all pulmonary veins, prophylactic SVC isolation (SVCI) is still controversial. This review describes recent data on treatments for SVC focus during atrial fibrillation ablation. Recent findings There are two different major approaches to treat SVC focus during atrial fibrillation ablation. One is the conventional approach, in which SVCI is performed only if atrial fibrillation from SVC origin is recognized using pacing maneuvers and/or isoproterenol infusions. Another approach is performing SVCI in all cases prophylactically in addition to PVI. The rate of atrial fibrillation freedom 1 year after initial atrial fibrillation ablation by prophylactic PVI along with SVCI was almost the same as with the conventional method (85–90% atrial fibrillation freedom). In addition, the conventional method also had a good result even 5 years after ablation (73.3%). Summary Because of the good result after using the conventional approach and possible complications during SVCI, SVCI should be performed only if SVC focus is recognized, not prophylactically.
Maternal immune activation in mice delays myelination and axonal development in the hippocampus of the offspring

Epidemiological data suggest a relationship between maternal infection and a high incidence of schizophrenia in offspring. An animal model based on this hypothesis was made by injecting double‐stranded RNA, polyinosinic‐polycytidylic acid (poly‐I:C), into early pregnant mice, and their offspring were examined for biochemical and histological abnormalities. Mouse brains were examined with special reference to oligodendrocytes, which have been implicated in several neurodevelopmental disorders. We detected a significant decrease of myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNA and protein at early postnatal periods in poly‐I:C mice. MBP immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy revealed that the hippocampus of juvenile poly‐I:C mice was less myelinated than in PBS mice, with no significant loss of oligodendrocytes. In addition, axonal diameters were significantly smaller in juvenile poly‐I:C mice than in control mice. These abnormalities reverted to normal levels when the animals reached the adult stage. These findings suggest that retarded myelination and axonal abnormalities in early postnatal stages caused by maternal immune activation could be related to schizophrenia‐related behaviors in adulthood. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Expression of Clcn7 and Ostm1 in Osteoclasts Is Coregulated by Microphthalmia Transcription Factor*

Microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) regulates osteoclast function by controling the expression of genes, including tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and cathepsin K in response to receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced signaling. To identify novel MITF target genes, we have overexpressed MITF in the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 subclone 4 (RAW/C4) and examined the gene expression profile after sRANKL-stimulated osteoclastogenesis. Microarray analysis identified a set of genes superinduced by MITF overexpression, including Clcn7 (chloride channel 7) and Ostm1 (osteopetrosis-associated transmembrane protein 1). Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we identified two MITF-binding sites (M-boxes) in the Clcn7 promoter and a single M-box in the Ostm1 promoter. An anti-MITF antibody supershifted DNA-protein complexes for promoter sites in both genes, whereas MITF binding was abolished by mutation of these sites. The Clcn7 promoter was transactivated by coexpression of MITF in reporter gene assays. Mutation of one Clcn7 M-box prevented MITF transactivation, but mutation of the second MITF-binding site only reduced basal activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that the two Clcn7 MITF binding and responsive regions in vitro bind MITF in genomic DNA. The expression of Clcn7 is repressed in the dominant negative mutant Mitf mouse, mi/mi, indicating that the dysregulated bone resorption seen in these mice can be attributed in part to transcriptional repression of Clcn7. MITF regulation of the TRAP, cathepsin K, Clcn7, and Ostm1 genes, which are critical for osteoclast resorption, suggests that the role of MITF is more significant than previously perceived and that MITF may be a master regulator of osteoclast function and bone resorption.
Short-Term Effects of Air Pollution on Oxygen Saturation in a Cohort of Senior Adults in Steubenville, Ohio

Objective: We examine whether ambient air pollution is associated with oxygen saturation in 32 elderly subjects in Steubenville, Ohio. Methods: We used linear mixed models to examine the effects of fine particulate matter less than 2.5 &mgr;m (PM2.5), sulfate (SO42−), elemental carbon, and gases on median oxygen saturation. Results: An interquartile range increase of 13.4 &mgr;g/m3 in PM2.5 on the previous day was associated with a decrease of −0.18% (95% confidence interval: −0.31 to −0.06) and a 5.1 &mgr;g/m3 interquartile range increase in SO42− on the previous day was associated with a decrease of −0.16% (95% confidence interval: −0.27 to −0.04) in oxygen saturation during the initial 5-minute rest period of the protocol. Conclusions: Increased exposure to air pollution, including the nontraffic pollutant SO42− from industrial sources, led to changes in oxygen saturation that may reflect particle-induced pulmonary inflammatory or vascular responses.
New perspectives on the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain

Peripheral neuropathy affects about 30% of people with diabetes mellitus. Between 16% and 26% of diabetes patients experience chronic pain. This may be referred to as diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) or diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP). Minimum requirements for diagnosis of DPNP should include assessment of pain and symptoms and neurological examination, with the accent on sensory examination. Given that depression and other co-morbidities are commonly associated with this condition, a broad approach to management is essential. Lifestyle intervention and optimisation of glycaemic control are recommended as initial steps in management. An evidence-based treatment algorithm for DPNP has been proposed, recommending initial use of either a tri-cyclic antidepressant, selective serotonin noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor or alpha-2-delta agonist, depending on patient co-morbidities and contra-indications. Addition of an opioid agonist may be required in the event of inadequate pain control. Irrespective of which treatment is offered, only about one third of patients are likely to achieve more than 50% pain relief. Further research to improve the diagnosis and management of DPNP is needed.
Nicotinic Modulation of Glutamate and GABA Synaptic Transmission in Hippocampal Neurons

ABSTRACT: Although the hippocampus expresses nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and receives cholinergic innervation, the functional roles of these receptors are not completely understood. Our results indicated that presynaptic nAChRs mediated a calcium influx that enhanced the release of both glutamate and GABA. Fura‐2 detection of calcium in single mossy fiber presynaptic terminals indicated that nAChRs directly mediated a calcium influx. In hippocampal neurons in primary culture, both spontaneous vesicular release and evoked release of glutamate and GABA were enhanced by nicotine. The nicotinic current displayed rapid desensitization kinetics, and the response to nicotine was inhibited by α‐bungarotoxin and methyllcaconitine, suggesting that nAChRs containing the α7 subunit mediated the effect. Modulation of synaptic activity by presynaptic calcium influx may represent a physiological role of acetylcholine in the brain, as well as a mechanism of action of nicotine.
Learning about team collaboration from Wikipedia edit history

This work presents an evalation method of teams of authors in Wikipedia based on social network analysis. We have created an implicit social network based on the edit history of articles. This network consists of four dimensions: trust, distrust, acquaintance and knowledge. Trust and distrust are based on content modifications (copying and deleting respectively); acquaintance is based on the amount of discussion on articles' talk pages between a given pair of authors and knowledge is based on the categories in which an author typically contributes. As authors edit the Wikipedia, the social network grows and changes to take into account their collaboration patterns, creating a succinct summary of entire edit history.
Cost-effectiveness of a nurse-led education and psychosocial programme for patients with chronic heart failure and their partners.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This randomised controlled trial was conducted to estimate the cost-effectiveness of a nurse-led education and psychosocial support programme for patients with heart failure (HF) and their partners. BACKGROUND There are few studies evaluating cost-effectiveness of interventions among HF patient-partner dyads. METHODS Dyads randomised to the experimental group received nurse-led counselling, computer-based education and written materials aimed at developing problem-solving skills at two, six and 12 weeks after hospitalisation with HF exacerbation. The dyads in the control group received usual care. A cost-effectiveness analysis that included costs associated with staff time to deliver the intervention and travel costs was conducted at 12 months. Quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) weights for patients and partners were estimated by SF-6D. RESULTS A total of 155 dyads were included. The intervention cost was €223 per patient. Participants in both groups showed improvements in QALY weights after 12 months. However, no significant difference in QALY weights was found between the patients in the two groups, nor among their partners. CONCLUSION The intervention was not proven cost-effective, neither for patients nor for partners. The intervention, however, had trends (but not significant) effects on the patient-partner dyads, and by analysing the QALY gained from the dyad, a reasonable mean cost-effectiveness ratio was achieved. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The study shows trends of a cost-effective education and psychosocial care of HF patient-partner dyads.
Histone Deacetylase 1 Plays an Acetylation-Independent Role in Influenza A Virus Replication

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) take advantage of the host acetylation system for their own benefit. Whether the nucleoprotein (NP) of IAVs undergoes acetylation and the interaction between the NP and the class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) were largely unknown. Here, we showed that the NP protein of IAV interacted with HDAC1, which downregulated the acetylation level of NP. Using mass spectrometry, we identified lysine 103 as an acetylation site of the NP. Compared with wild-type protein, two K103 NP mutants, K103A and K103R, enhanced replication efficiency of the recombinant viruses in vitro. We further demonstrated that HDAC1 facilitated viral replication via two paths: promoting the nuclear retention of NP and inhibiting TBK1-IRF3 pathway. Our results lead to a new mechanism for regulating NP acetylation, indicating that HDAC1 may be a possible target for antiviral drugs.
Further results and insights on subspace based sinusoidal frequency estimation

Subspace-based methods for parameter identification have received considerable attention in the literature. Starting with a scalar-valued process, it is well known that subspace-based identification of sinusoidal frequencies is possible if the scalar valued data is windowed to form a low-rank vector-valued process. MUSIC and ESPRIT-like estimators have, for some time, been applied to this vector model. In addition, a statistically attractive Markov-like procedure for this class of methods has been proposed. Herein, the Markov-like procedure is reinvestigated. Several results regarding rank, performance, and structure are given in a compact manner. The large sample equivalence with the approximate maximum likelihood method by Stoica et al. (1988) is also established.
Passive 3D reconstruction based on binocular vision

Stereo vision is increasingly applied to various fields of life, and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction is one of the hottest topics in stereovision. Because the active 3D system is costly and susceptible to illumination, and the reconstruction results have problems in accuracy and robustness, this paper proposes a passive 3D reconstruction method based on binocular stereo matching algorithm. Because the precision of the sparse stereo matching algorithm is not high, and most of them are applied to the indoor scenes, so the region-based dense stereo matching algorithm is adopted, which uses the correlation degree of the gray information between the windows to match, and selects the optimal similarity measure and window size by objective evaluation. After the initial disparity map is obtained, the disparity map is refined by the parallax reliability detection and the sub-pixel interpolation processing. Finally, the principle of similar triangulation is used for 3D reconstruction, and the texture mapping technology is used. The effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by experiments.
Kernel-Based Model Order Selection for Linear System Identification

Abstract The mainstream approach to identification of linear discrete-time models is given by parametric Prediction Error Methods (PEM). As a rule, the model complexity is unknown and model order selection (MOS) is a key ingredient of the estimation process. A different approach to linear system identification has been recently proposed where impulse responses are described in a Bayesian framework as zero-mean Gaussian processes. Their covariances are given by the so-called SS (stable spline), TC or DC kernels that encode information on regularity and BIBO stability. In this paper, we show that these new kernel-based techniques lead also to a new effective MOS method for PEM. Furthermore, this paves the way to the design of a new impulse response estimator that combines the regularized approaches and the classical parametric PEM. Numerical experiments show that the performance of this technique is very similar to that of PEM equipped with an oracle that selects the best model order.
Galacto-Oligosaccharides Modulate the Juvenile Gut Microbiome and Innate Immunity To Improve Broiler Chicken Performance

Improvements in the growth rate of broiler chickens can be achieved through dietary manipulation of the naturally occurring bacterial populations while mitigating the withdrawal of antibiotic growth promoters. Prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are manufactured as a by-product of dairy cheese production and can be incorporated into the diets of juvenile chickens to improve their health and performance. This study investigated the key mechanisms behind this progression and pinpointed L. johnsonii as a key species that facilitates the enhancements in growth rate and gut health. The study identified the relationships between the GOS diet, L. johnsonii intestinal populations, and cytokine immune effectors to improve growth. ABSTRACT Improvements in growth performance and health are key goals in broiler chicken production. Inclusion of prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) in broiler feed enhanced the growth rate and feed conversion of chickens relative to those obtained with a calorie-matched control diet. Comparison of the cecal microbiota identified key differences in abundances of Lactobacillus spp. Increased levels of Lactobacillus johnsonii in GOS-fed juvenile birds at the expense of Lactobacillus crispatus were linked to improved performance (growth rate and market weight). Investigation of the innate immune responses highlighted increases of ileal and cecal interleukin-17A (IL-17A) gene expression counterposed to a decrease in IL-10. Quantification of the autochthonous Lactobacillus spp. revealed a correlation between bird performance and L. johnsonii abundance. Shifts in the cecal populations of key Lactobacillus spp. of juvenile birds primed intestinal innate immunity without harmful pathogen challenge. IMPORTANCE Improvements in the growth rate of broiler chickens can be achieved through dietary manipulation of the naturally occurring bacterial populations while mitigating the withdrawal of antibiotic growth promoters. Prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are manufactured as a by-product of dairy cheese production and can be incorporated into the diets of juvenile chickens to improve their health and performance. This study investigated the key mechanisms behind this progression and pinpointed L. johnsonii as a key species that facilitates the enhancements in growth rate and gut health. The study identified the relationships between the GOS diet, L. johnsonii intestinal populations, and cytokine immune effectors to improve growth.