Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Insomnia on Neuropsychological Functioning in Patients with Comorbid Symptoms of Pain, Fatigue, and Mood Disorders

Abstract Objectives To examine if elevated symptoms of insomnia affects neuropsychological functioning in patients with concurrent symptoms of pain, fatigue, and mood disorders. Methods and results A total of seventy-six subjects participated in this (cross-sectional) study. Based on the cut-off score guidelines from The Insomnia Severity Index subjects were assigned to either a clinical insomnia group (N = 35) or a comparison group (N = 41). Factors such as age, general cognitive functioning, and symptoms of pain, fatigue, depression, and anxiety did not differ between the groups. Both groups completed a questionnaire which assessed subjective memory functioning. In addition they completed a set of neuropsychological tests measuring general cognitive functioning, spatial and verbal working memory, and inhibitory control. Although the subjects with clinical insomnia did not report more memory problems than the comparison group, they presented significant deficiencies on the tests assessing spatial and verbal working memory. There was no difference between the groups in inhibitory control. Conclusions This study shows that as the symptom severity of insomnia increases and become clinically significant, it has substantial effect on both spatial and verbal-numeric working memory functioning. By differentiating and testing different domains of working memory, this study provides a more detailed and nuanced characterization of working memory deficiencies than the previous studies within this field. The results need to be transferred to clinical practice so that neuropsychologists include assessments of sleep as part of their routine screenings.
2BC Non-Structural Protein of Enterovirus A71 Interacts with SNARE Proteins to Trigger Autolysosome Formation

Viruses have evolved unique strategies to evade or subvert autophagy machinery. Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) induces autophagy during infection in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we report that EV-A71 triggers autolysosome formation during infection in human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells to facilitate its replication. Blocking autophagosome-lysosome fusion with chloroquine inhibited virus RNA replication, resulting in lower viral titres, viral RNA copies and viral proteins. Overexpression of the non-structural protein 2BC of EV-A71 induced autolysosome formation. Yeast 2-hybrid and co-affinity purification assays showed that 2BC physically and specifically interacted with a N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) protein, syntaxin-17 (STX17). Co-immunoprecipitation assay further showed that 2BC binds to SNARE proteins, STX17 and synaptosome associated protein 29 (SNAP29). Transient knockdown of STX17, SNAP29, and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B), crucial proteins in the fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes) as well as the lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) impaired production of infectious EV-A71 in RD cells. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the generation of autolysosomes triggered by the 2BC non-structural protein is important for EV-A71 replication, revealing a potential molecular pathway targeted by the virus to exploit autophagy. This study opens the possibility for the development of novel antivirals that specifically target 2BC to inhibit formation of autolysosomes during EV-A71 infection.
Effects of bradykinin on TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in ARPE-19 cells

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of bradykinin (BK) on an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells through exposure to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). The aim was to improve the effect of BK on proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) progression, and to find a novel method of clinical prevention and treatment for PVR. The morphology of ARPE-19 cells was observed using an inverted phase-contrast microscope. A Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to assess the effects of TGF-β1 on the proliferation of ARPE-19 cells. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression levels of the epithelial marker E-cadherin, mesenchymal markers α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and vimentin, and phosphorylated (p) mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad)3 and Smad7 of the TGF/Smad signaling pathway. Wound healing tests and Transwell assays were performed to detect cell migration ability. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of pSmad3 and Smad7 in the TGF/Smad signaling pathway. The results revealed that the addition of 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 resulted in the expression of factors associated with EMT in ARPE-19 cells. BK decreased the expression levels of the mesenchymal markers α-SMA and vimentin, and increased the expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin. BK decreased cell migration in TGF-β1-induced EMT. These effects were reversed by HOE-140, a specific BK 2 receptor antagonist. BK significantly downregulated the expression of pSmad3 and upregulated the expression of Smad7 in TGF-β1-treated ARPE-19 cells, and the protective alterations produced by BK were inhibited by HOE-140. In conclusion, 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 resulted in EMT in ARPE-19 cells and BK served a negative role in TGF-β1-induced EMT. BK had effects in TGF-β1-induced EMT by upregulating the expression of Smad7 and downregulating the expression of pSmad3 in TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, indicating that BK may be a novel and effective therapy for PVR.
Emotional context modulates micro‐expression processing as reflected in event‐related potentials

Micro-expression recognition is influenced by emotional contexts at the behavioral level. It is found that the recognition for micro-expressions is poorer following a negative context compared to the recognition following a neutral context. However, it remains unclear whether the modulation takes place in the early or later stage of the processing of micro-expressions as reflected in event-related potentials (ERPs). Using synthesized micro-expressions in this study, we investigated how emotional context modulates the ERP components that are elicited by micro-expressions. We observed that, compared to neutral contexts, negative and positive contexts elicited more positive amplitude trends for processing the subsequent target micro-expressions, and more positive P1 and N170 effects were elicited by target micro-expressions following negative and positive contexts compared to those following neutral contexts. Moreover, there were larger P1 effects elicited by the target micro-expressions when the context and target expressions were incongruent compared to when they were congruent. Our findings provide new ERP evidence to indicate that emotional contexts modulate micro-expression processing, and that the modulation of emotional contexts takes place at the early stage of facial-expression processing.
'Containers' for self-healing epoxy composites and coating: Trends and advances

The introduction of self-healing functionality into epoxy matrix is an important and challenging topic. Various micro/nano containers loaded self-healing agents are developed and incorporated into epoxy matrix to impart self-healing ability. The current report reviews the major findings in the area of self-healing epoxy composites and coatings with special emphasis on these containers. The preparation and use of polymer micro/nano capsules, polymer fibers, hollow glass fibers/bubbles, inorganic nanotubes, inorganic meso- and nano-porous materials, carbon nanotubes etc. as self-healing con- tainers are outlined. The nature of the container and its response to the external stimulations greatly influence the self-heal- ing performance. The self-healing mechanism associated with each type of container and the role of container parameters on self-healing performance of self-healing epoxy systems are reviewed. Comparison of the efficiency offered by different types of containers is introduced. Finally, the selection of containers to develop cost effective and green self-healing sys- tems are mentioned.
Impedance control: Learning stability in human sensorimotor control

The human sensorimotor control system generates movement by adapting and controlling the mechanics of the musculoskeletal system. To generate skilful movements the sensorimotor control system must be able to predict and compensate for any disturbances generated either in our own body or in the external environment. While stable and repeatable perturbations can be easily adapted through iterative learning, instability and unpredictability require a different approach: impedance control. Here I outline the arguments for impedance control as a fundamental process of human adaptation as well as describe evidence suggesting the manner in which such impedance can be learned in order to ensure the stability of the neuro-mechanical system.
Wii-based interactive video games as a supplement to conventional therapy for rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy: A pilot, randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the effect of interactive video gaming (IVG) with Nintendo Wii (Wii) supplemented to conventional therapy in rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Design: Randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded study. Participants: Children with CP; 10 children each in the control and intervention groups. Intervention: IVG using Wii, given as a supplement to conventional therapy, for 45 min per day, 6 days a week for 3 weeks. The children in the control group received conventional therapy alone. Outcome Measures: Posture control and balance, upper limb function, visual-perceptual skills, and functional mobility. Results: Significant improvement in upper limb functions was seen in the intervention group but not in the control group. Improvements in balance, visual perception, and functional mobility were not significantly different between control and intervention groups. Conclusions: Wii-based IVG may be offered as an effective supplement to conventional therapy in the rehabilitation of children with CP.
Monocarboxylate transporter expression in mouse brain.

Although glucose is the major metabolic fuel needed for normal brain function, monocarboxylic acids, i.e., lactate, pyruvate, and ketone bodies, can also be utilized by the brain as alternative energy substrates. In most mammalian cells, these substrates are transported either into or out of the cell by a family of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), first cloned and sequenced in the hamster. We have recently cloned two MCT isoforms (MCT1 and MCT2) from a mouse kidney cDNA library. Northern blot analysis revealed that MCT1 mRNA is ubiquitous and can be detected in most tissues at a relatively constant level. MCT2 expression is more limited, with high levels of expression confined to testes, kidney, stomach, and liver and lower levels in lung, brain, and epididymal fat. Both MCT1 mRNA and MCT2 mRNA are detected in mouse brain using antisense riboprobes and in situ hybridization. MCT1 mRNA is found throughout the cortex, with higher levels of hybridization in hippocampus and cerebellum. MCT2 mRNA was detected in the same areas, but the pattern of expression was more specific. In addition, MCT1 mRNA, but not MCT2, is localized to the choroid plexus, ependyma, microvessels, and white matter structures such as the corpus callosum. These results suggest a differential expression of the two MCTs at the cellular level.
Do final‐year medical students have sufficient prescribing competencies? A systematic literature review

Aims Prescribing errors are an important cause of patient safety incidents and are frequently caused by junior doctors. This might be because the prescribing competence of final‐year medical students is poor as a result of inadequate clinical pharmacology and therapeutic (CPT) education. We reviewed the literature to investigate which prescribing competencies medical students should have acquired in order to prescribe safely and effectively, and whether these have been attained by the time they graduate. Methods PubMed, EMBASE and ERIC databases were searched from the earliest dates up to and including January 2017, using the terms ‘prescribing’, ‘competence’ and ‘medical students’ in combination. Articles describing or evaluating essential prescribing competencies of final‐year medical students were included. Results Twenty‐five articles describing, and 47 articles evaluating, the prescribing competencies of final‐year students were included. Although there seems to be some agreement, we found no clear consensus among CPT teachers on which prescribing competencies medical students should have when they graduate. Studies showed that students had a general lack of preparedness, self‐confidence, knowledge and skills, specifically regarding general and antimicrobial prescribing and pharmacovigilance. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, given the heterogeneity and methodological weaknesses of the included studies. Conclusions There is considerable evidence that final‐year students have insufficient competencies to prescribe safely and effectively, although there is a need for a greater consensus among CPT teachers on the required competencies. Changes in undergraduate CPT education are urgently required in order to improve the prescribing of future doctors.
Height and risk of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis

Several epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship between height and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the results were inconsistent. Thus, a meta-analysis of observational studies was carried out to clarify this association. A literature search was performed in PubMed and Web of Science databases for all relevant studies up to 25 May 2016. The random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled relative risks (RRs) and restricted cubic spline model was adopted for the dose–response analysis. A total of 31 studies involving 13 077 848 participants with 93 818 cases were included. The pooled RR (95% confidence interval) of CRC for the highest versus the lowest category of height was 1.25 (1.18–1.32); the pooled RR was 1.32 (1.22–1.43) for colon cancer and 1.12 (1.05–1.19) for rectal cancer for the highest versus the lowest category of height. A nonlinear relationship was found between height and the risk of CRC in the dose–response analysis (Pnonlinearity=0.0024). This meta-analysis indicates that height is associated with an increased risk of CRC.
Detecting the association of health problems in consumer-level medical text

Consumers usually do not know the complicated links between related health problems. This fact may cause troubles when they wish to seek complete information regarding such problems. This study detects the associations among health problems by extending the meaning of health terms with methods based on the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) probability topic model, the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) thesaurus structure and the Wikipedia concept mapping. The terms represented health problems are selected from and extended by the consumer-level medical text. The vocabulary is different between the consumer-level and the professional-level medical text. Thus, the findings can be easily understood by the general public and be suitable to consumer-oriented applications. The methods were evaluated in two ways: (1) correlation analysis with expert rating to show the overall performance and (2) P@N to reflect the ability of detecting strong associations. The LDA topic-model-based method outperforms the other two types. The judgment incongruence between the best method and the expert ratings has been examined, and the evidence shows that the automatic method sometimes detects real associations beyond those identified by human experts.
Mentalization‐based treatment or psychodynamic treatment programmes for patients with borderline personality disorder – the impact of clinical severity

Objectives Mentalization‐based treatment (MBT), originally designed for patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), may be particularly indicated for severe conditions. However, there is limited documentation of how increasing severity of personality disorder (PD) effect outcomes of highly specialized treatments. This study aimed to investigate associations between clinical severity and outcomes for patients in MBT as compared to a psychodynamic group‐based treatment programme (PDT). Design A naturalistic, longitudinal, comparison study. Methods The sample included 345 patients with BPD (PDT n = 281, MBT n = 64). The number of diagnosed PDs, PD criteria, and symptom disorders were chosen as baseline indicators of clinical severity. Clinical outcomes (global functioning, symptom distress, interpersonal problems) were repeatedly assessed over three years. Therapists’ fidelity to MBT was satisfactory. Linear mixed models were the applied statistics. Results In PDT, greater clinical severity was associated with poorer improvement rates. Clinical severity was not associated with significant differences in outcomes for patients in MBT. Differences in outcomes for patients in MBT and PDT increased significantly with higher severity of disorder. Conclusions Supporting previous research, this study indicates that clinical benefits associated with MBT also apply for BPD patients with severe conditions. The results also suggest that increasing severity was a challenge in PDT. Practitioner points MBT may be particularly beneficial for severely disordered BPD patients Differences between MBT and PDT were less pronounced in moderately disordered BPD patients.
Seasonal Sex Ratio Trend in the European Kestrel: An Evolutionarily Stable Strategy Analysis

We present an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) model to analyze selection on seasonal variation in the brood sex ratio, as observed in several species of raptorial birds. The model is specifically tailored to the life history of the European kestrel, and it reflects the maturation time hypothesis, the idea that a seasonal sex ratio trend has evolved because of sex differences in the dependence of age of first breeding on date of birth. First we show how to derive a fitness function in the context of a seasonal environment. Model parameters are estimated from field data in order to derive quantitative predictions. Since little is known about constraints on sex ratio control in birds, we analyze three scenarios, each corresponding to a different strategy set. We consider a model without constraints on sex ratio control, a model where the sex ratio trend is constrained to be linear, and a mechanistic model incorporating a plausible mechanism of sex ratio control in birds. One of the models yields an ESS sex ratio trend that closely resembles the trend observed in the field. However, the predictions are very sensitive to the choice of strategy set. Moreover, the selective forces generated by sex differences in maturation are rather weak. In fact, the mechanistic model shows that seemingly negligible costs of sex ratio control may be sufficient to overcome the adaptive value of adjusting the sex ratio.
Phosphorylation of the 27-kDa heat shock protein via p38 MAP kinase and MAPKAP kinase in smooth muscle.

The 27-kDa heat shock protein (HSP27) is expressed in a variety of tissues in the absence of stress and is thought to regulate actin filament dynamics, possibly by a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism. HSP27 has also been suggested to be involved in contraction of intestinal smooth muscle. We have investigated phosphorylation of HSP27 in airway smooth muscle in response to the muscarinic agonist carbachol. Carbachol increased32P incorporation into canine tracheal HSP27 and induced a shift in the distribution of charge isoforms on two-dimensional gels to more acidic, phosphorylated forms. The canine HSP27 amino acid sequence includes three serine residues corresponding to sites in human HSP27 known to be phosphorylated by mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase-2. To determine whether muscarinic receptors are coupled to a "stress response" pathway in smooth muscle culminating in phosphorylation of HSP27, we assayed MAPKAP kinase-2 activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, the enzyme thought to activate MAPKAP kinase-2. Recombinant canine HSP27 expressed in Escherichia coli was a substrate for MAPKAP kinase-2 in vitro as well as a substrate for endogenous smooth muscle HSP27 kinase, which was activated by carbachol. Carbachol also increased tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. SB-203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinases, reduced activation of endogenous HSP27 kinase activity and blocked the shift in HSP27 charge isoforms to acidic forms. We suggest that HSP27 in airway smooth muscle, in addition to being a stress response protein, is phosphorylated by a receptor-initiated signaling cascade involving muscarinic receptors, tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase, and activation of MAPKAP kinase-2.
A language-independent parallel refactoring framework

Recent trends towards increasingly parallel computers mean that there needs to be a seismic shift in programming practice. The time is rapidly approaching when most programming will be for parallel systems. However, most programming techniques in use today are geared towards sequential, or occasionally small-scale parallel, programming. While refactoring has so far mainly been applied to sequential programs, it is our contention that refactoring can play a key role in significantly improving the programmability of parallel systems, by allowing the programmer to apply a set of well-defined transformations in order to parallelise their programs. In this paper, we describe a new language-independent refactoring approach that helps introduce and tune parallelism through high-level design patterns targeting a set of well-specified parallel skeletons. We believe this new refactoring process is the key to allowing programmers to truly start thinking in parallel.
GLP-2 augments the adaptive response to massive intestinal resection in rat.

To determine whether treatment with a potent protease-resistant analog of human glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) might augment the adaptive response to massive intestinal resection, rats were divided into resected, which had 75% of the midjejunoileum removed, sham-resected, and nonsurgical groups. Within each group, animals were assigned to 21 days of treatment with the drug (0.1 μg/g of the GLP-2 analog in phosphate-buffered saline) or vehicle alone subcutaneously twice daily. Food intake; weight gain; jejunal and ileal diameters, total and mucosal wet weights per centimeter, crypt depths, and villus heights; mucosal sucrase activity, milligrams of protein per centimeter, and micrograms of DNA per centimeter; andd-xylose absorption were measured. There was a significant increase in diameter, total and mucosal wet weights per centimeter, crypt-villus height, sucrase activity, milligrams of protein per centimeter and micrograms of DNA per centimeter in both the jejunum and ileum in response to resection and a significant additive response to the GLP-2 analog in the jejunum but not in the ileum. The ratio of milligrams of protein per centimeter to micrograms of DNA per centimeter of mucosa was not different among groups, consistent with hyperplasia.d-Xylose absorption was significantly reduced in response to resection; however, the GLP-2 analog enhanced the absorptive capacity in control animals and restored the absorptive capacity in resected animals. Thus the GLP-2 analog induces mucosal hyperplasia and enhances the rate and magnitude of the proximal intestinal adaptive response to massive resection.