Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of self-regulation in health and illness

Psychology, Health & Medicine ISSN: 1354-8506 (Print) 1465-3966 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline. com/loi/cphm20 The role of self-regulation in health and illness Gerdi Weidner, Monika Sieverding & Margaret A. Chesney To cite this article: Gerdi Weidner, Monika Sieverding & Margaret A. Chesney (2015): The role of self-regulation in health and illness, Psychology, Health & Medicine, DOI: To link to this article: http://dx.doi. org/10.1080/13548506.2015. 1115528 Published online: 30 Nov 2015. Submit your article to this journal View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline. com/action/journalInformation? journalCode=cphm20 Download by: [University of California, San Francisco], [Margaret Chesney] Date: 30 November 2015, At: 08:29
Responses to Subchronic Inhalation of Low Concentrations of Diesel Exhaust and Hardwood Smoke Measured in Rat Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

Abstract Air pollution exposure is associated with adverse health effects, but the causal components and mechanisms are unclear. We compared effects of daily exposure for 6 mo to diesel exhaust (DE) or hardwood smoke (HWS) at 4 concentrations between 30 and 1000 μg/3 of total particulate matter, or filtered air, in male and female rats. Lung lavage fluid was assayed for toxicity indicators, cytokines, and glutathione. Statistical analyses included pairwise comparisons with control and exposure-related trends, modeled using techniques that facilitated evaluation of nonlinear exposure effects. Lactate dehydrogenase increased with exposure concentration in DE-exposed females, but in other groups, low exposure concentrations caused increases while higher concentrations had less effect. Total protein in the HWS-exposed males and females followed similar patterns. Alkaline phosphatase increased in DE-exposed females, but decreased in HWS-exposed males and females. β-Glucuronidase decreased in HWS- and DE-exposed males, but HWS-exposed females showed decreases at low exposure concentrations and weak increases at higher exposure concentrations. Macrophage inflammatory protein-2 decreased in HWS-exposed males and females and DE-exposed females. Tumor necrosis factor-α levels decreased in DE-exposed females and males, but HWS-exposed males showed small increases. DE did not affect total glutathione in either gender, but HWS decreased glutathione in females, while in males, increases at low exposure concentrations but not at higher exposure levels were observed. Thus, these two combustion emissions differentially affect lung responses, with gender affecting response patterns. Furthermore, effects may be nonmonotonic functions of exposure levels, with maximal responses in environmentally or occupationally relevant exposure ranges.
Lateral Force Transmission Across Costameres in Skeletal Muscle

BLOCH, R. J., and H. GONZALEZ-SERRATOS. Lateral force transmission across costameres in skeletal muscle. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 73–78, 2003. In skeletal muscle, contractile force can be transmitted laterally between the z-disks and M-lines of neighboring myofibrils, across the sarcolemma, and through the extracellular matrix to the tendon. Here we examine the data that support this model and the sarcolemmal properties and structures, termed “costameres,” that are consistent with it.
Mutant PrPSc Conformers Induced by a Synthetic Peptide and Several Prion Strains

ABSTRACT Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS) disease is a dominantly inherited, human prion disease caused by a mutation in the prion protein (PrP) gene. One mutation causing GSS is P102L, denoted P101L in mouse PrP (MoPrP). In a line of transgenic mice denoted Tg2866, the P101L mutation in MoPrP produced neurodegeneration when expressed at high levels. MoPrPSc(P101L) was detected both by the conformation-dependent immunoassay and after protease digestion at 4°C. Transmission of prions from the brains of Tg2866 mice to those of Tg196 mice expressing low levels of MoPrP(P101L) was accompanied by accumulation of protease-resistant MoPrPSc(P101L) that had previously escaped detection due to its low concentration. This conformer exhibited characteristics similar to those found in brain tissue from GSS patients. Earlier, we demonstrated that a synthetic peptide harboring the P101L mutation and folded into a β-rich conformation initiates GSS in Tg196 mice (29). Here we report that this peptide-induced disease can be serially passaged in Tg196 mice and that the PrP conformers accompanying disease progression are conformationally indistinguishable from MoPrPSc(P101L) found in Tg2866 mice developing spontaneous prion disease. In contrast to GSS prions, the 301V, RML, and 139A prion strains produced large amounts of protease-resistant PrPSc in the brains of Tg196 mice. Our results argue that MoPrPSc(P101L) may exist in at least several different conformations, each of which is biologically active. Such conformations occurred spontaneously in Tg2866 mice expressing high levels of MoPrPC(P101L) as well as in Tg196 mice expressing low levels of MoPrPC(P101L) that were inoculated with brain extracts from ill Tg2866 mice, with a synthetic peptide with the P101L mutation and folded into a β-rich structure, or with prions recovered from sheep with scrapie or cattle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Low-PAPR Precoding Design for Massive Multiuser MIMO Systems via Riemannian Manifold Optimization

Constant envelope (CE) precoding is of great interest in the context of massive multiple-input multiple-output antenna systems, because it can satisfy the demand of hardware-friendly implementation. However, existing solvers either fall into a local minimum or require huge computational cost because of the non-convex nature of the CE precoding design problem. Some computationally efficient methods are available that can relax the CE constraints to achieve the desired performance for suppressing multiuser interference (MUI) but at the cost of reducing the peak-to-average power ratio performance. To improve the MUI performance and to consider computational complexity, we propose the use of Riemannian manifold optimization (RMO) that can solve the CE precoding design problem. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed RMO-based solver achieves nearly the same performance of the conventional sequential gradient descent-based solver, but the complexity is considerably reduced.
Influence of ceramide 2 on in vitro skin permeation and retention of 5-ALA and its ester derivatives, for Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) based on topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), an endogenous precursor of protoporphyrin, is an interesting approach for the treatment of skin cancer. However, 5-ALA is a hydrophilic molecule and such a characteristic limits its appropriate cutaneous penetration and retention. In this way, more lipophilic molecules, such as esterified 5-ALA derivatives, have been under investigation in order to improve the skin penetration of this molecule. Drug formulation can also alter 5-ALA skin penetration. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the influence of ceramide 2 - the main lipid of the SC- on the cutaneous delivery of 5-ALA and its ester derivatives in vitro, using Franz diffusion cell. The skin permeation of all studied drugs was decreased in the presence of ceramide, representing a desirable characteristic in order to avoid the risk of systemic side effects. Nevertheless, the SC and [epidermis + dermis] retention after 16 h has also been decreased in the presence of ceramide, as compared to control. In conclusion, ceramide was not a good adjuvant, meaning that research of other vehicles could be useful to improve cutaneous delivery of 5-ALA.
Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of albiglutide, a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetic, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

CONTEXT Native glucagon-like peptide-1 increases insulin secretion, decreases glucagon secretion, and reduces appetite but is rapidly inactivated by dipeptidyl peptidase-4. Albiglutide is a novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4-resistant glucagon-like peptide-1 dimer fused to human albumin designed to have sustained efficacy in vivo. OBJECTIVES The objectives were to investigate pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of albiglutide in type 2 diabetes subjects. METHODS In a single-blind dose-escalation study, 54 subjects were randomized to receive placebo or 9-, 16-, or 32-mg albiglutide on d 1 and 8. In a complementary study, 46 subjects were randomized to a single dose (16 or 64 mg) of albiglutide to the arm, leg, or abdomen. RESULTS Significant dose-dependent reductions in 24-h mean weighted glucose [area under the curve((0-24 h))] were observed, with placebo-adjusted least squares means difference values in the 32-mg cohort of -34.8 and -56.4 mg/dl [95% confidence interval (-54.1, -15.5) and (-82.2, -30.5)] for d 2 and 9, respectively. Placebo-adjusted fasting plasma glucose decreased by -26.7 and -50.7 mg/dl [95% confidence interval (-46.3, -7.06) and (-75.4, -26.0)] on d 2 and 9, respectively. Postprandial glucose was also reduced. No hypoglycemic episodes were detected in the albiglutide cohorts. The frequency and severity of the most common adverse events, headache and nausea, were comparable with placebo controls. Albiglutide half-life ranged between 6 and 7 d. The pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamic of albiglutide was unaffected by injection site. CONCLUSIONS Albiglutide improved fasting plasma glucose and postprandial glucose with a favorable safety profile in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Albiglutide's long half-life may allow for once-weekly or less frequent dosing.
An Empirical Investigation of the Spillover Effects of Advertising and Sales Promotions in Umbrella Branding

The authors investigate and find evidence for advertising and sales promotion spillover effects for umbrella brands in frequently purchased packaged product categories. The authors also capture the impact of advertising (as well as use experience) on both utility mean and variance across two categories. They show that variance of the random component of utility declines over time on the basis of advertising (and use experience) in either category. This constitutes the first empirical evidence for the uncertainty-reducing role of advertising across categories for umbrella brands.
Expression of the ATDC (ataxia telangiectasia group D‐complementing) gene in A431 human squamous carcinoma cells

The ATDC gene was originally identified by its ability to complement the radiosensitivity defect of an ataxia telangiectasia (AT) fibroblast cell line. Because hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation is an important feature of the AT phenotype, we reasoned that ATDC may function generally in the suppression of radiosensitivity. Previous work in our laboratory focused on radiosensitization mechanisms in human squamous carcinoma (SC) cells, especially A431 cells. To establish a basis for investigating the role of ATDC in radiation‐responsive signaling pathways in human SC cells, we characterized ATDC message and protein expressions in A431 cells. ATDC message expression was also compared among human epidermoid cells (A431 cells, HaCaT spontaneously immortalized human keratinocytes and normal human epidermal keratinocytes) and a normal human fibroblast cell line (LM217). We made the following major observations: (i) the relative abundance of ATDC message is substantially higher in the epidermoid cells than in the fibroblast cell line, which has a message level comparable to those reported for other fibroblast lines; (ii) ATDC is constitutively phosphorylated on serine/threonine in A431 cells; (iii) in A431 cells, ATDC is a substrate for the serine/threonine protein kinase C (PKC) but not the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor tyrosine kinase; and (iv) EGF decreases ATDC message and protein expressions in A431 cells after a 24‐hr exposure. The phosphorylation studies suggest that the ability of ATDC to modulate cellular radiosensitivity may be mediated in part through a PKC signaling pathway. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pathology and human immunodeficiency virus expression in placentas of seropositive women.

The pathology of term placentas from seropositive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and seronegative women was investigated by routine histologic, immunocytochemical, and in situ hybridization techniques. Placentas were evaluated for evidence of villitis, chorioamnionitis, and funisitis. Membranes, trophoblast, and decidua were also examined by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal HIV p24 antibody. Twenty placentas were evaluated by combined immunochemical and in situ hybridization techniques, using a 35S-labeled RNA probe complementary to the 3' long terminal repeat and envelope region of HIV-1. HIV-seropositive placentas did not show significant villitis; however, the incidence of chorioamnionitis increased (P less than .01). HIV antigens and nucleic acids were identified in the trophoblast of 10% of the placentas that also showed chorionitis. Term HIV-positive placentas may show histologic changes that may or may not be directly related to the virus. Analysis of tissues from earlier gestational placentas may prove more informative in clarifying the mechanism of maternal-fetal HIV transmission.
Prolonged remission in chronic myeloid leukemia after one course of busulfan.

A patient with chronic myeloid leukemia in whom a clinical and hematologic remission of nearly 7 years duration occurred after a single short course of busulfan is described. The only abnormal finding during the remission was a negative alkaline phosphatase reaction in her leukocytes. Chromosomal studies prior to relapse revealed a normal karyotype, and no Philadelphia chromosome was found. During relapse renewed chromosomal study revealed Philadelphia chromosome in metaphases of peripheral blood leukocytes.
Arterial stiffness in predialysis patients with uremia.

BACKGROUND Hemodialysis patients have advanced arterial wall stiffening as shown by increased aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality. We compared aortic PWV of uremic patients before starting hemodialysis treatment with that of patients on maintenance hemodialysis. METHODS The subjects were 71 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) before starting hemodialysis (predialysis group), 144 patients on maintenance hemodialysis, and 140 healthy control subjects. These three groups were all nondiabetic and comparable in age and gender. RESULTS The hemodialysis group had greater aortic PWV than the healthy subjects, and the predialysis patients showed a still higher value than the hemodialysis group. Multiple regression analysis in the total subjects revealed that the presence of renal failure was significantly associated with increased aortic PWV independent of age, gender, blood pressure, body mass index, smoking, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and nonhigh-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol levels. In contrast, hemodialysis was associated with decreased aortic PWV independent of renal failure and the other factors. Further analyses in the combined uremic patients again indicated the favorable impact of hemodialysis on aortic PWV independent of the classical risk factors, use of antihypertensive medications, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blockers, hematocrit, serum calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone levels, and the use of calcium carbonate. Insulin resistance using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) was associated with increased aortic PWV. CONCLUSION Aortic stiffening was present in uremic patients before starting hemodialysis treatment and no adverse effect of hemodialysis was observed, suggesting the important roles of renal failure and/or metabolic alterations secondary to renal failure in arterial stiffness in patients with uremia.
Time-resolved scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis

We demonstrate the feasibility of investigating periodically driven magnetization dynamics in a scanning electron microscope with polarization analysis based on spin-polarized low-energy electron diffraction. With the present setup, analyzing the time structure of the scattering events, we obtain a temporal resolution of 700 ps, which is demonstrated by means of imaging the field-driven 100 MHz gyration of the vortex in a soft-magnetic FeCoSiB square. Owing to the efficient intrinsic timing scheme, high-quality movies, giving two components of the magnetization simultaneously, can be recorded on the time scale of hours.
Premature menopause – Meeting the needs

Premature menopause is characterized by amenorrhea, elevated gonadotropin levels and sex steroid deficiency occurring in women below 40 years of age. Heterogeneity of premature ovarian failure is reflected by various causes, both spontaneous and iatrogenic. X chromosomal abnormalities remain the main cause of primary ovarian insufficiency. Women with primary ovarian insufficiency present with amenorrhea, irregular cycles, signs of estrogen deficiency and infertility. They are at increased risk for non-communicable diseases such as, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoporosis. Management includes use of menopausal hormone therapy till the age of natural menopause and customized as per the needs. In women having fertility issues, IVF with donor oocytes remains the treatment of choice with the best results. With advances in assisted reproductive technologies, cryopreservation of oocytes/embryos should be utilized, whenever impending primary ovarian insufficiency is anticipated either due to therapy or biological reasons.
Extraction of Frequency-Dependent Characteristic Impedance and Complex Permittivity in Single-Ended and Edge-Coupled Transmission Lines Using the Calculated Series Parasitic Effects

This paper presents a method to obtain the characteristic impedance (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Z_{\text {C}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) and the complex permittivity (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\hat {\varepsilon }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) of single-ended and edge-coupled interconnects on printed circuit board (PCB) technology. For this purpose, experimentally determined propagation constant (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\gamma $ </tex-math></inline-formula>) data are used in combination with the frequency-dependent resistance (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$R$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) and inductance (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L$ </tex-math></inline-formula>). Due to the difficulty of directly obtaining <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$R$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L$ </tex-math></inline-formula> from measurements, closed-form equations are used to perform the corresponding calculation. In this regard, the current distribution effects are considered within the cross section of the signal traces and the ground plane. The proposal was validated for both, single-ended and edge-coupled PCB interconnects considering three cases: standard, medium-loss, and in low-loss materials. The results show that the extracted data are in agreement with values reported in material datasheets at 4 GHz. In this regard, the method is a good alternative to characterize planar transmission lines on PCB technology within the whole frequency range where the S-parameter measurements are performed.
Cultural Variations in the Sexual Marketplace: Gender Equality Correlates With More Sexual Activity

ABSTRACT Sexual economics theory assumes that heterosexual communities can be analyzed as marketplaces in which men offer women resources such as love, respect, money, and commitment in exchange for sex. In response to economic, political, and other disadvantages, women collectively restrict their sexuality to maintain a low supply relative to male demand, thereby ensuring a high price. Hence, we tested the hypothesis that sexual norms and practices would be more restrictive in countries marked by gender inequality than in countries where the genders were more equal. An international online sex survey (N>317,000) yielded four measures of sexual activity, and 37 nations' means on all four measures were correlated with independent (World Economic Forum) ratings of gender equality. Consistent with predictions, relatively high gender equality was associated with more casual sex, more sex partners per capita, younger ages for first sex, and greater tolerance/approval of premarital sex.
Comparative Analysis of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 Transcriptomes by Using DNA Microarray and Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies

ABSTRACT RNA sequencing is starting to compete with the use of DNA microarrays for transcription analysis in eukaryotes as well as in prokaryotes. The application of RNA sequencing in prokaryotes requires additional steps in the RNA preparation procedure to increase the relative abundance of mRNA and cannot employ the poly(T)-primed approach in cDNA synthesis. In this study, we aimed to validate the use of RNA sequencing (direct cDNA sequencing and 3′-untranslated region [UTR] sequencing) using Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 as a model organism, employing its established microarray platform as a reference. A limited effect of mRNA enrichment on genome-wide transcript quantification was observed, and comparative transcriptome analyses were performed for L. plantarum WCFS1 grown in two different laboratory media. Microarray analyses and both RNA sequencing methods resulted in similar depths of analysis and generated similar fold-change ratios of differentially expressed genes. The highest overall correlation was found between microarray and direct cDNA sequencing-derived transcriptomes, while the 3′-UTR sequencing-derived transcriptome appeared to deviate the most. Overall, a high similarity between patterns of transcript abundance and fold-change levels of differentially expressed genes was detected by all three methods, indicating that the biological conclusions drawn from the transcriptome data were consistent among the three technologies.
Cerebral palsies: epidemiology and causal pathways

Cerebral palsies: epidemiology and causal pathways . Stanley F, Blair E, Alberman E. (Pp 251, hardback; £37.50) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. ISBN 1 898 68320 4 Descartes, the father of modern philosophy, in his pivotal work Discourse on method , published in 1637, set himself the task of doubting everything. From that starting point, he then tried to find a solid base of certainty. Over the years, epidemiologists have attempted to follow the Cartesian approach, not least those epidemiologists who are interested in that heterogeneous group of conditions called the “cerebral palsies”. To doubt everything requires imagination and …
Rupture of the oesophagus during cricoid pressure

Rupture of the oesophagus occurred during the application of cricoid pressure at induction of anaesthesia when the patient vomited. The patient, who was bleeding from a gastric ulcer, was found to have a lower oesophageal tear which, although repaired at operation, resulted in a fatal mediastinitis.