Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparing integrative cognitive-affective therapy and guided self-help cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat binge-eating disorder using standard and naturalistic momentary outcome measures: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE Innovative treatments and outcome measures are needed for binge-eating disorder (BED). This randomized controlled trial compared Integrative Cognitive-Affective Therapy (ICAT-BED), an individual psychotherapy targeting momentary behavioral and emotional precipitants of binge eating, with an established cognitive-behavioral guided self-help (CBTgsh) treatment using standard and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) outcome measures. METHOD A total of 112 participants were randomized to 17 weeks of treatment (21 sessions for ICAT-BED and 10 sessions for CBTgsh). Binge-eating frequency was assessed with the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) as well as EMA using cell phone-based real-time, naturalistic assessment at end of treatment (EOT) and 6-month follow-up. Hypothesized maintenance mechanisms were assessed using self-report questionnaires. RESULTS Binge-eating frequency as measured by the EDE and real-time assessment showed significant reductions at EOT and follow-up, with no significant differences between treatments. Hypothesized maintenance mechanisms, including emotion regulation, cognitive self-discrepancy, self-directed style, as well as measures of associated eating disorder psychopathology, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and negative affect, showed similar improvement at EOT and follow-up with no differences between treatments. Abstinence rates at EOT (ICAT-BED: 57.1%; CBTgsh: 42.9%) and 6-month follow-up (ICAT-BED: 46.4%; CBTgsh: 42.9%) were not significantly different. Treatment retention was significantly higher for ICAT-BED (87.5%) than CBTgsh (71.4%). DISCUSSION These findings suggest that ICAT-BED and CBTgsh were associated with similar improvements in binge eating, psychopathology, and putative maintenance mechanisms as measured by traditional self-report and momentary, naturalistic assessments and that these changes were generally sustained at 6-month follow-up.
A New Species of Dixonius (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Kanchanaburi Province, Western Thailand

A new species of the endemic Southeast Asian gekkonid lizard genus Dixonius Bauer et al., 1997 is described on the basis of material from Kanchanaburi Province in western Thailand. It is characterized by a distinctive orange tail and a prominent dark stripe from the snout to at least the level of the ear. It occurs sympatrically with its larger and more widely distributed congener, D. siamensis.
Parameters interacting with mannose selection employed for the production of transgenic sugar beet

The mannose selection system employs the phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) gene as selectable gene and mannose, converted to mannose-6-phosphate by endogenous hexokinase, as selective agent. The transgenic PMI-expressing cells have acquired the ability to convert mannose-6-phosphate to fructose-6-phosphate, while the non-transgenic cells accumulate mannose-6-phosphate with a concomitant consumption of the intracellular pools of phosphate and ATP. Thus, certain steps of mannose selection depend on the cells' own metabolism which may be affected by a number of factors, some of which are studied here using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer to sugar beet cotyledonary explants. Four frequently employed saccharides (sucrose, glucose, fructose, and maltose) were tested at various concentrations and were found to interact strongly with the phytotoxic effect of mannose, glucose being able to counteract nearly 100% of an almost complete mannose-induced growth inhibition. Sucrose, maltose, and fructose also alleviated significantly the mannose-induced growth inhibition, but were 4-, 5-, and 7-fold less potent than glucose, respectively (calculated as hexose equivalents). The transformation frequencies were also dependent on the nature and concentration of the added carbohydrates, but in this respect sucrose resulted in the highest transformation frequencies, about 1.0%, while glucose and fructose gave significantly lower frequencies. The selection efficiencies were highest in the presence of maltose where no non-transgenic escapes were found over a range of concentrations. The effect of the light intensity was also investigated and the transformation frequencies were positively correlated to light intensity, although the relative impact of light on growth in the presence of mannose appeared not to be dependent on the mannose concentration. Additional phosphate in the selection media had a strong positive effect on the transformation frequencies, suggesting phosphate limitation during selection. The mannose selection system was found to be relatively genotype-independent, provided a slight optimization of the mannose concentrations during selection. Analysis of F 1 -offspring showed that all studied primary transformants resulted in PMI-expressing plantlets and that the segregational patterns were in accordance with expectations in at least 50% of the transformants, confirming the stable and active inheritance of the PMI-gene.
Chemical composition and evaluation of acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity of essential oil from Dalmatian endemic species Pinus nigra Arnold ssp. dalmatica (Vis.) Franco

In the present study, the chemical composition and biological activity (acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity) of essential oil from endemic species Pinus nigra Arnold ssp. dalmatica (Vis.) Franco was investigated. α-Pinene, β-pinene, germacrene D and β-caryophyllene were identified by GC-FID and GC-MS as dominant components of the oil. P. nigra ssp. dalmatica essential oil showed relatively high inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which can be in relation with good AChE inhibitory activity of pure main monoterpene components of the oil (S-α-pinene) and their mixtures (S-α-pinene:S-β-pinene and R-α-pinene:S-β-pinene, in ratio 3:2). Essential oil from P. nigra ssp. dalmatica did not show significant antioxidant activity tested by three methods: DPPH radical scavenging method, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential (FRAP) and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Species (TBARS) assays.
Lipid evaluation of farmed and wild meagre (Argyrosomus regius)

Proximate, lipid, and fatty acid composition of farmed and wild meagre (Argyrosomus regius) muscle, head, skin, and liver, were comparatively studied. Distinct differences were evident in the lipid and fatty acid composition among different tissues of farmed and wild meagre. Total lipid content of the farmed fish parts was significantly higher than that of the wild fish. Neutral lipids, mainly triglycerides, predominated in muscle, head, and skin for both fish. The fact that muscle fat was found significantly lower in triglycerides (TG) concentration than head and skin indicates that muscle consumption after head and skin removal may contribute to a healthy diet. Wild fish muscle, head, and skin fat was found to have significant contribution to the phosphatidylcholine daily intake in the human diet. A. regius liver was also found to be an excellent source of glycerophospholipids. Fatty acid patterns of muscle, head and skin of farmed fish were found to be affected by the feed. MUFA/saturated fatty acid (SFA), PUFA/SFA, and DHA/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratios were found significantly higher in muscle, head, and skin TL of wild fish compared to the farmed one. Farmed fish muscle could provide similar amount of EPA + DHA and significantly higher amount of ω-3 PUFA compared to wild fish muscle. Practical applications: Argyrosomus regius is considered a promising fish species for aquaculture due to its tasty meat and great market acceptance in the Mediterranean countries. Hence it is important to determine its lipid and fatty acid content of both farmed and wild fish edible parts (muscle, head, and skin) for nutritional purposes. Remaining parts (such as liver) could still be interesting to analyze for possible use in other food or nutraceutical applications. Here we compare the distribution pattern of lipids and fatty acids of muscles, heads, skin, and liver in wild and farmed A. regius, fed a commercial diet. Furthermore, the present study is a novel comparison between cultured and wild fish species A. regius in terms of their proximate and fatty acid composition.
Phospholipase Dα1 mediates the high-Mg2 + stress response partially through regulation of K+ homeostasis.

Intracellular levels of Mg2+ are tightly regulated, as Mg2+ deficiency or excess affects normal plant growth and development. In Arabidopsis, we determined that phospholipase Dα1 (PLDα1) is involved in the stress response to high-magnesium conditions. The T-DNA insertion mutant pldα1 is hypersensitive to increased concentrations of magnesium, exhibiting reduced primary root length and fresh weight. PLDα1 activity increases rapidly after high-Mg2+ treatment, and this increase was found to be dose-dependent. Two lines harboring mutations in the HKD motif, which is essential for PLDα1 activity, displayed the same high-Mg2+ hypersensitivity of pldα1 plants. Moreover, we show that high concentrations of Mg2+ disrupt K+ homeostasis, and that transcription of K+ homeostasis-related genes CIPK9 and HAK5 is impaired in pldα1. Additionally, we found that the akt1, hak5 double mutant is hypersensitive to high-Mg2+ . We conclude that in Arabidopsis, the enzyme activity of PLDα1 is vital in the response to high-Mg2+ conditions, and that PLDα1 mediates this response partially through regulation of K+ homeostasis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Function of Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter at the Whole-Cell and Single Mitochondrion Levels in WT, MICU1 KO, and MICU2 KO Cells

Mitochondrial Ca2+ ([Ca2+]M) uptake through its Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) is central to many cell functions such as bioenergetics, spatiotemporal organization of Ca2+ signals, and apoptosis. MCU activity is regulated by several intrinsic proteins including MICU1, MICU2, and EMRE. While significant details about the role of MICU1, MICU2, and EMRE in MCU function have emerged recently, a key challenge for the future experiments is to investigate how these regulatory proteins modulate mitochondrial Ca2+ influx through MCU in intact cells under pathophysiological conditions. This is further complicated by the fact that several variables affecting MCU function change dynamically as cell functions. To overcome this void, we develop a data-driven model that closely replicates the behavior of MCU under a wide range of cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]C), [Ca2+]M, and mitochondrial membrane potential values in WT, MICU1 knockout (KO), and MICU2 KO cells at the single mitochondrion and whole-cell levels. The model is extended to investigate how MICU1 or MICU2 KO affect mitochondrial function. Moreover, we show how Ca2+ buffering proteins, the separation between mitochondrion and Ca2+-releasing stores, and the duration of opening of Ca2+-releasing channels affect mitochondrial function under different conditions. Finally, we demonstrate an easy extension of the model to single channel function of MCU.
Recombinant Expression and Purification of Extracellular Domain of the Programmed Cell Death Protein Receptor.

Background The programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), which is a member of the CD28 receptor family, can negatively regulate antitumor immune responses by interacting with its ligands, PD-L1 or PD-L2. The PD-1-PD-L1 signaling pathway is a checkpoint mechanism that plays essential roles in downregulating immune responses in cancerous tissues. Thus, blocking this signaling pathway leads to enhanced antitumor immunity, potentially preventing tumor progression. Methods We synthesized the extracellular domain of the PD-1 receptor (rPD-1) de novo by using a two-step polymerase chain reaction and the Phusion® DNA polymerase. The synthesized gene was cloned into the pET28 expression plasmid and transformed into competent Escherichia coli. Purification of rPD-1 was performed by metal-affinity chromatography, using a HisTrap column. Purified rPD-1 was characterized by western blotting and mass spectrometry using the SwissProt database and the Mascot program. Results Designed and synthesized construct of rPD-1 was 500 bp in size. Analysis of the electrophoresis data of purified rPD-1 showed the presence of a protein with a molecular mass of 21 kDa. Mass spectrometry data using the SwissProt database and the Mascot program outputted the highest-scoring sequence to correspond to rPD-1. Conclusion Synthesized de novo rPD-1 may have potential therapeutic applications in enhancing antitumor immune responses.
Defining the Most Effective Patient Blood Management Combined with Tranexamic Acid Regime in Primary Uncemented Total Hip Replacement Surgery †

The application of patient blood management (PBM) combined with tranexamic acid administration (TXA) results in decreased total blood loss volume (TVB) and transfusions in total hip replacements (THRs). Dosages, timing, and routes of administration of TXA are still under debate as all these aspects, as well as interpatient variations, may affect the efficacy of the protocol. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of timing and route of administration of TXA in combination with PBM by reducing the TBV following THR surgery. Consecutive primary uncemented THRs operated by a single surgical and anaesthetic team had the data prospectively collected and then retrospectively studied. Five treatment groups were formed, reflecting the progressive evolution of our protocol. Group 1 included patients managed with PBM alone (preoperative erythrocyte mass optimisation to at least 14 g/dL haemoglobin (Hb), hypotensive spinal anaesthesia and restrictive red blood cell transfusion criteria). Group 2 included patients with PBM and topical 3 g TXA diluted in normal saline to a total volume of 50 mL. Group 3 were patients with PBM and an IV dose of 20 mg/kg TXA at induction, followed by 20 mg/kg TXA as a continuous infusion for the duration of the operation. Group 4 consisted of patients managed as per Group 3 plus another 20 mg/kg TXA at three-hour post-procedure. Group 5 (combined): PBM and IV TXA as per Group 4 and topical TXA as per Group 2. A generalised linear model with the treatment group as an independent variable was modelled, using TBV as the dependent variable. The transfusion rate for all groups was 0%. TBV at 24 h, oscillated from 613.5 ± 337.63 mL in Group 1 to 376.29 ± 135.0 mL in Group 5. TBV at 48 h oscillated from 738.3 ± 367.3 mL (PBM group) to 434 ± 155.2 mL (PBM + combined group). The multivariate regression model confirmed a significant decrease of TBV in all groups with TXA compared with the PBM-only group. Overweight and preoperative Hb were confirmed to significantly influence TBV. The optimal regime to achieve the least TBV and a transfusion rate of 0% requires PBM and one loading 20 mg/kg dose of TXA, followed by continuous infusion of 20 mg/kg for the duration of the operation in uncemented THRs. Additional doses of TXA did not add a clear benefit.
Gratitude and Emotional Intelligence as Protective Factors against Cyber-Aggression: Analysis of a Mediation Model

Cyber-bullying is becoming an increasing school and health problem affecting adolescents worldwide. A number of studies have examined risk factors and protective factors in cyber-bullying situations and their consequences on the psychological well-being of adolescents. Gratitude and Emotional Intelligence (EI) are two personal resources that have been shown to have beneficial effects on the health and the social, personal and psychological functioning of young people. Nevertheless, little is known about these two variables in the context of cyber-bullying. The main purpose of this study was to examine the roles of gratitude and EI in cyber-aggression. Specifically, we hypothesised a mediational effect of gratitude in emotional intelligence-cyber-aggression link. A total of 1157 students aged 12–18 years (54.4% females) completed several questionnaires assessing gratitude (Gratitude Questionnaire; GQ-5), EI (Wong and Law’s Emotional Intelligence Scale; WLEIS-S) and cyber-bullying (European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire; ECIPQ). The results showed expected significant associations between the studied variables. Moreover, the structural equation model analysis confirmed that EI dimensions were indirectly associated with cyber-aggression via gratitude, even when controlling for the effects of socio-demographic variables. These findings provide evidence on why those adolescents high in emotional intelligence are less aggressive in cyber-bullying context and suggest possibilities for gratitude interventions to reduce aggressive actions by electronic means among adolescents. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Effects of monitoring versus blunting on the public’s preferences for information in a hypothetical cancer diagnosis scenario

Monitoring and blunting are coping styles that characterize how people respond when faced with personally threatening situations. High monitors tend to pay more attention to, scan for, and amplify threatening cues; high blunters tend to avoid information and seek distractions when faced with a threatening event. This study sought to investigate possible differential effects of monitoring and blunting coping styles on information preferences in a hypothetical cancer diagnosis scenario in the adult general public of Minnesota. In a survey administered at a large public venue (2016 Minnesota State Fair), participants were asked to imagine they carried a gene mutation and were diagnosed with colon cancer. They indicated their information preference [modified Cassileth Information Styles Questionnaire (MCISQ)], completed two coping style measures [Miller Behavioral Style Scale (MBSS) and Threatening Medical Situations Inventory (TMSI)], rated their perceived severity of colon cancer (low, moderate, high), and answered demographic questions. Eight hundred fifty‐five individuals provided usable data. Participants classified as monitors on the TMSI had significantly higher MCISQ scores (i.e., preferred more information) than those classified as blunters (p = .004). Those scoring high on monitoring and low on blunting on the MBSS preferred significantly more information than those scoring high on both monitoring and blunting (p = .04). Linear regression analysis revealed being a monitor (TMSI), scoring high on monitoring (MBSS), rating colon cancer as more severe, and having a higher education level were significant positive predictors of MCISQ scores. Results suggest individual differences in coping style, perceived severity, and education level affect desire for information. Genetic counselors should consider these patient characteristics (e.g., asking patients about their information preferences) and tailor their approaches accordingly.
Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of PD-L1 in oral cancer: A preliminary retrospective immunohistochemistry study.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relation between PD-L1 expression in oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas and clinicopathological features as well as survival outcomes. METHODS A retrospective immunohistochemical study was carried out on 55 archived tumours from 55 patients. Tumours were stained for PD-L1 and scored by the proportion of tumour cells with positive membranous staining. PD-L1 scores were compared to the patient's clinicopathological characteristics for any significant associations. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed for PD-L1 positive and negative tumours to investigate any advantage to survival. RESULTS Positive PD-L1 staining was found in 58% of tumours, and was significantly more likely in non-smokers, non-drinkers, and in tongue squamous cell carcinomas. Increased PD-L1 was also associated with increased lymphocyte infiltration as well as PD-L1 staining in lymphocytes and the epithelium adjacent to tumour invasion. No survival benefit was seen from PD-L1 expression in tumour cells. CONCLUSIONS PD-L1 expression is more common in non-smokers and non-drinkers and its presence in the adjacent non tumour epithelium suggests it may be involved in early oncogenesis.
How important is sex for females of a haplodiploid species under local mate competition

Virgin females of Hymenoptera are still able to reproduce by laying unfertilized eggs that develop into male offspring (arrhenotokous haplodiploidy). Therefore, these constrained females may face a conflict between searching hosts and obtaining immediate fitness or investing time and energy in finding a mate enabling them to produce offspring of either sex. We studied this conflict in Nasonia vitripennis Walker (Pteromalidae), a pupal parasitoid of numerous fly species, by investigating olfactory preferences of constrained females for the male sex pheromone and host odor, respectively. According to Godfray's constrained model, females of haplodiploid species gain only little advantage from mating when population sex ratio is at equilibrium. However, in species with local mate competition like N. vitripennis, females are predicted to invest comparatively more time and energy in mating activities. In behavioral 2-choice experiments, virgin females were innately attracted to both male pheromone deposits and the odor of host puparia. When given the choice between these 2 stimuli, virgin females preferred the pheromone even when they were allowed to associate host odor with oviposition success prior to the bioassay. Immediately after mating, however, the olfactory preference of females switched to host odor. We conclude that constrained females of N. vitripennis are much more motivated to invest in mate finding than in host finding as predicted by the constrained model. The results are discussed with respect to the ecology of N. vitripennis. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
Brain networks of rats under anesthesia using resting-state fMRI: comparison with dead rats, random noise and generative models of networks

Objective. Connectivity networks are crucial to understand the brain resting-state activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Alterations of these brain networks may highlight important findings concerning the resilience of the brain to different disorders. The focus of this paper is to evaluate the robustness of brain network estimations, discriminate them under anesthesia and compare them to generative models. Approach. The extraction of brain functional connectivity (FC) networks is difficult and biased due to the properties of the data: low signal to noise ratio, high dimension low sample size. We propose to use wavelet correlations to assess FC between brain areas under anesthesia using four anesthetics (isoflurane, etomidate, medetomidine, urethane). The networks are then deduced from the functional connectivity matrices by applying statistical thresholds computed using the number of samples at a given scale of wavelet decomposition. Graph measures are extracted and extensive comparisons with generative models of structured networks are conducted. Main results. The sample size and filtering are critical to obtain significant correlations values and thereby detect connections between regions. This is necessary to construct networks different from random ones as shown using rs-fMRI brain networks of dead rats. Brain networks under anesthesia on rats have topological features that are mixing small-world, scale-free and random networks. Betweenness centrality indicates that hubs are present in brain networks obtained from anesthetized rats but locations of these hubs are altered by anesthesia. Significance. Understanding the effects of anesthesia on brain areas is of particular importance in the context of animal research since animal models are commonly used to explore functions, evaluate lesions or illnesses, and test new drugs. More generally, results indicate that the use of correlations in the context of fMRI signals is robust but must be treated with caution. Solutions are proposed in order to control spurious correlations by setting them to zero.