Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The putative catalytic role of higher serotonin bioavailability in the clinical response to exposure and response prevention in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Objective: Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is effective to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but the lack of tolerance to the aversion nature of exposure techniques results in a high drop-out rate. There have been reports of a generic stress endurance effect of serotonin (5-HT) in the central nervous system (CNS) which might be explained by suppression of defensive fixed action patterns. Previous studies have proposed that higher baseline 5-HT concentration and slow decrease in concentration during drug treatment of OCD were predictors of good clinical response to 5-HT reuptake inhibitors. The objective of this study was to investigate whether pre-treatment platelet rich plasma (PRP) 5-HT concentration is associated with latency of treatment response and final response to an ERP protocol for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: Thirty adult and treatment-free OCD patients were included in an 8-week, 16-session ERP protocol. 5-HT concentration was determined at baseline and after treatment. Patients with a reduction ≥30% on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) at the end of ERP were defined as responders. Results: A positive correlation between baseline 5-HT concentration and reduction of symptoms on the Y-BOCS was observed after 4 weeks. Baseline 5-HT concentration was not correlated with clinical response after 8 weeks of ERP, possibly due to the similar though delayed clinical response of patients with lower (compared to those with higher) baseline 5-HT concentration. Patients with higher 5-HT baseline concentration also showed more improvement in depressive symptoms with treatment. Conclusion: The present results partially support the hypothesis of a stress endurance effect of 5-HT in OCD patients. According to the literature, fast onset responders possibly have more or larger 5-HT containing neurons, higher endogenous 5-HT synthesis or lower monoamine oxidase activity; all these hypotheses remain to be investigated.
High sensitivity of chest radiograph reading by clinical officers in a tuberculosis prevalence survey.

BACKGROUND Chest radiographs (CXRs) are used in tuberculosis (TB) prevalence surveys to identify participants for bacteriological examination. Expert readers are rare in most African countries. In our survey, clinical officers scored CXRs of 19 216 participants once. We assessed to what extent missed CXR abnormalities affected our TB prevalence estimate. METHODS Two experts, a radiologist and pulmonologist, independently reviewed 1031 randomly selected CXRs, mixed with lms of confirmed TB cases. CXRs with disagreement on 'any abnormality' or 'abnormality consistent with TB' were jointly reviewed during a consensus panel. We compared the nal expert and clinical of cer classifications with bacteriologically confirmed TB as the gold standard. RESULTS After the panel, 199 (19%) randomly selected CXRs were considered abnormal by both expert reviewers and another 82 (8%) by one reviewer. Agreement was good among the experts (κ 0.78, 95%CI 0.73-0.82) and moderate between the clinical officers and experts (κ range 0.50-0.62). The sensitivity of 'any abnormality' was 95% for the clinical officers and 83% and 81% for the respective experts. The specificities were respectively 73%, 74% and 80%. TB prevalence was underestimated by 1.5-5.0%. CONCLUSIONS Acceptable CXR screening can be achieved with clinical officers. Reviewing a sample of CXRs by two experts allows an assessment of prevalence underestimation.
Homeless Women's Access to Health Services: A Study of Social Networks and Managed Care in the US

ABSTRACT Homeless women experience more severe physical and mental health problems than women in the general population. Under-utilization of health services complicates these health conditions. The study reported here explored how homeless women access health services within the context of shelter living and emerging managed care systems. Informed by grounded theory and dimensional analysis, the investigator conducted in-depth interviews with 19 homeless women, 6 staff from agencies serving homeless women, and 2 community health nurses. Findings revealed that homeless women usually had circuitous rather than direct routes to health services. First, they typically found a social network opportunity structure where brokers could assist them into the health care system. The first tiers of access included a domestic violence shelter, a shelter for single homeless women, and a cafe offering low-cost meals to an inner city homeless population. Even after locating this opportunity structure, the conditions of managed care, with its mechanisms of referral and unfamiliarity with the needs of impoverished women, complicated access. Thus, access requires policies that address not only the availability of health professionals, but also tiers of access that include a social network opportunity structure where women can interact with advocates who broker their entry into the health care system.
Identification of immature cornified envelopes in the barrier‐impaired epidermis by characterization of their hydrophobicity and antigenicities of the components

Abstract: Cornified envelopes (CEs), rigid and insoluble structures in the stratum corneum, which are assembled by crosslinking of several precursor proteins by transglutaminases, provide a hydrophobic foundation for barrier function; omega‐hydroxyceramides are covalently attached to the outer surface of CE components, and onto this hydrophobic assembly, lamellar layers of intercellular lipids are organized. Morphologically irregular, fragile CEs are found in the deep layer of the stratum corneum or in certain disorders, such as psoriasis, whereas most CEs from healthy subjects are rigid and polygonal. We have established a staining method to characterize such fragile CEs as immature and less hydrophobic CEs, and employed it to examine regional differences in the properties of CEs, especially in relation to the barrier function of the skin. CEs from the outermost stratum corneum of the trunk and extremities of healthy subjects were relatively uniform in morphology with larger shape, and were homogeneous in hydrophobicity as judged from the use of an environment‐sensitive fluorescent dye, Nile red. However, CEs from the face were strikingly heterogeneous, and consisted of both rigid and fragile CEs. Rigid CEs were Nile red‐positive and little stained by anti‐involucrin. In contrast, fragile CEs were Nile red‐negative but strongly stained with anti‐involucrin, as detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Thus, CEs from the face were stained with Nile red or involucrin in a mutually exclusive manner. Fragile CEs were stained with antibodies against other CE components, including loricrin, envoplakin, filaggrin, and isopeptides. Such fragile, involucrin‐positive CEs were detected not only in the face, but also in the deep layer of the stratum corneum of the arm. In addition, experimental barrier disruption resulted in the appearance of involucrin‐positive CEs in the outermost stratum corneum. These results suggest that involucrin‐positive, fragile CEs are immature and less hydrophobic, and that their occurrence is closely related to impairment of the barrier function of the skin
Effectiveness of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on upper limb function in stroke subjects.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Of all stroke survivors, more than 50% are left with motor disabilities. Impairment of upper limb movement is a common motor disability. Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is an intervention which has been used for the treatment of upper extremity motor disabilities in stroke patients. Although CIMT is an effective intervention, a recent survey revealed that this procedure is viewed with apprehension by many clinicians because of concerns about practicality and resource issues. We developed a modified CIMT that reserves the massed training of the affected arm without any physical restriction of the intact one and then used it on our stroke patients. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of this Modified-Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (m-CIMT). METHODS Thirty stroke patients were randomly assigned to either an m-CIMT (n=13) or a control group (n=17). Subjects in the m-CIMT group received a 2-week course of m-CIMT. Outcomes were evaluated using the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). RESULTS After only 2 weeks of training, significant differences (p<0.05) in favor of m-CIMT were found in the following 6 elements of the WMFT: Extend elbow with weight, Lift pencil, Stack checkers, Flip cards, Turn key in lock, and Lift basket. CONCLUSION The present study shows that our m-CIMT is useful in improving the function of the affected upper extremity in stroke patients.
The Upshot of Money Supply and Inflation in Nigeria

This study empirically investigates the upshot of money supply on inflation in Nigeria using annual time series data spanning from 1970 to 2016. Co-integration and Autoregressive Dynamic Error Correction Model (ADLECM) approach was utilized. The results showed that money supply does not considerably influence inflation both in the long and short run possibly because the country is in recession. The ECM has the correct sign of negative and it is significant meaning that about 21% of the errors are corrected yearly. The Granger causality outcome demonstrates that, there is no causality between money supply and inflation in Nigeria within the study period and vice-versa. The implication of this is often that there are different economic conditions which are key determinant of inflation in Nigeria. The study recommends that the government should diversify the economy, minimize importation by encouraging local production of products and services. The CBN should guarantee an exchange rate policy that is essentially determined by the state of the economy and not by speculators being a net importation economy. Also, the CBN should look inwards into the current interest rate and see how it can be regulated in such a way that will encourage private and foreign investors to be able to invest in the country. This in turn, successively increases income, infrastructure development and economic growth at large.
Concentric coil arrays for parallel MRI

A new type of coil array is proposed that consists of concentrically placed coil elements, each of which is characterized by symmetrically arranged lobes that have alternating current directions. Symmetries in the coil elements' conductor paths allow for the minimization of mutual inductance and noise correlations. In addition, the concentric arrangement of the coil elements provides spatial encoding capabilities in multiple directions, which is valuable when arrays are used with parallel MRI. Simulations are presented that describe the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) properties of individual concentric array elements, and a four‐element prototype concentric array is constructed. This prototype array is compared experimentally with three alternative four‐element array designs. The overall SNR of the concentric array is comparable to the SNR of the competing arrays. Reconstruction of twofold undersampled data using the concentric array yields an average g‐factor of less than 1.3 in all directions parallel to the plane of the array. There is some degradation in performance when threefold undersampled data are reconstructed, but the array still shows substantial directional invariance compared to alternative designs. Both fully‐sampled and undersampled cardiac images acquired using the concentric array are shown. These results suggest that concentric structures can be useful tools for designing specialized coil arrays for parallel MRI. Magn Reson Med, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Host–parasite interactions in oligotrophic stream ecosystems: the roles of life‐history strategy and ecological niche

Biodiversity in fluvial ecosystems is under pressure as a consequence of their degradation. Conservation strategies for endangered freshwater molluscs and for salmonid fishes have been proposed but they are typically poorly integrated. Here, we examined for the first time the genetic structure of a critically endangered obligate mollusc invertebrate parasite, the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera), and its vertebrate host fish, the brown trout (Salmo trutta m. fario), in European headwater streams. We compared genetic differentiation and diversity with productivity and ecological habitat features of both species in nine different European streams from the drainage systems of the Danube, Elbe, Weser, Tuuloma, Kemijoki and Aulne. Genetic differentiation was more pronounced in pearl mussel than in brown trout, although the drainage‐specific patterns were generally similar. Genetic diversity of host and parasite was negatively correlated. The most oligotrophic, postglacially colonized areas represented genetic diversity hotspots with high conservation priority for pearl mussels, whereas their host fish displayed low diversity in these areas. This pattern can be explained by differences in the ecological niches and in the life‐history strategies of both species. These results question the effectiveness of single‐species approaches in the conservation of genetic aquatic resources and suggest that genetic information from species with different life‐history strategies, such as invertebrates and fish, should be considered simultaneously for geographical conservation prioritization in stream ecosystems.
Susceptibilities of Mycoplasma fermentans and Mycoplasma hyorhinis to Membrane-Active Peptides and Enrofloxacin in Human Tissue Cell Cultures

ABSTRACT Mycoplasmas, which are bacteria that are devoid of a cell wall and which belong to the class Mollicutes, are pathogenic for humans and animals and are frequent contaminants of tissue cell cultures. Although contamination of cultures with mycoplasma can easily be monitored with fluorescent dyes that stain DNA and/or with molecular probes, protection and decontamination of cultures remain serious challenges. In the present work, we investigated the susceptibilities of Mycoplasma fermentans and Mycoplasma hyorhinis to the membrane-active peptides alamethicin, dermaseptin B2, gramicidin S, and surfactin by growth inhibition and lethality assays. In the absence of serum, the four peptides killed mycoplasmas at minimal bactericidal concentrations that ranged from 12.5 to 100 μM, but in all cases the activities were decreased by the presence of serum. As a result, under standard culture conditions (10% serum) only alamethicin and gramicidin S were able to inhibit mycoplasma growth (MICs, 50 μM), while dermaseptin B2 and surfactin were ineffective. Furthermore, 8 days of treatment of HeLa cell cultures experimentally contaminated with either mycoplasma species with 70 μM enrofloxacin cured the cultures of infection, whereas treatment with alamethicin and gramicidin S alone was not reliable because the concentrations and treatment times required were toxic to the cells. However, combination of alamethicin or gramicidin S with 70 μM enrofloxacin allowed mycoplasma eradication after 30 min or 24 h of treatment, depending on the mycoplasma and peptide considered. HeLa cell cultures experimentally infected with mycoplasmas should prove to be a useful model for study of the antimycoplasma activities of antibiotics and membrane-active peptides under conditions close to those found in vivo.
Molecular Characterization of a Copper Metallothionein Gene From a Ciliate Tetrahymena farahensis

A new copper metallothionein (TfCuMT) gene has been identified from a locally isolated ciliate Tetrahymena farahensis. It contains 327 nucleotides encoding a peptide chain of 108 amino acids and belongs to class MTT2 and subfamily 7b. Amplification from both gDNA and mRNA confirmed the intronless nature of this gene. Like most of the metallohtioneins, cysteine residues contribute nearly 30% content with the specific CKC motifs. Structural repeats present in peptide sequence of TfCuMT indicate internal duplication of gene at some stage of gene evolution. The predicted model of copper metallothionein protein showed that copper ions are mainly chelated by thiol sulfur of cysteine residues and are embedded in the folds of polypeptide chain. For in vivo expression of TfCuMT in Escherichia coli host cells the classical stop codons, which coded for glutamine in the ciliate were mutated to CAA and CAG through site directed mutagenesis. The mutated gene showed higher expression in pET28a expression vector compared with pET21a. Optimum expression was obtained after 6–8 h of 0.1 mM IPTG induction. Stability of His tagged TfCuMT in 5% SDS was low, with half‐life of about 104 min. Presence of 1.0 μM copper increased the expression level by 1.65‐fold. Presence of 100 μM Cysteine in culture medium caused 2.4‐fold increase in expression level. His tagged TfCuMT was purified through affinity chromatography using NTN‐His binding resin in the presence of 0.1 M imidazole and NaCl. The modeled structure of the TfCuMT showed a cleft for Cu binding with correct orientation of Cys residues in the motif CKC. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1843–1854, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The global burden of atrial fibrillation and stroke: a systematic review of the epidemiology of atrial fibrillation in regions outside North America and Europe.

BACKGROUND Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is accepted as the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, most published epidemiologic studies focus on predominantly white populations in North America or Europe, and information on AF in nonwhite populations is scarce. The objective of this study was to undertake a systematic review of the published literature on the epidemiology of AF in other regions. METHODS Systematic literature searches (MEDLINE; 1990-2010) identified epidemiologic studies reporting on the prevalence or incidence of AF, stroke in AF, risk factors for AF, or the use of antithrombotic therapy in countries outside North America and Europe. This report presents a descriptive analysis of the data; no meta-analysis was planned. RESULTS Many of the 38 articles identified were from the Far East, although Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and South America were also represented. The reported prevalence of AF varied among countries, with different ranges in community- and hospital-based studies (0.1%-4% and 2.8%-14%, respectively). The use of anticoagulant therapy varied widely among countries and studies, as did the reported prevalence of stroke in patients with AF (2.8%-24.2%). CONCLUSIONS High-quality epidemiologic studies are clearly required to improve understanding of the worldwide burden of AF and stroke in AF. Major improvements in the provision of thromboprophylaxis are also needed in many countries, given the high proportion of untreated patients who are, hence, at risk of stroke.
Improving human-agent communication using linguistic and ontological cues

Multi-agent systems allow developing large complex distributed applications. Interfaces to such systems are difficult to build using traditional point and click approaches. We propose a two step approach consisting in: first, identifying possible actions corresponding to a request; and second, extracting from the natural language data the necessary parameters to complete the action. Processing the input sentence uses an ontology, linguistic cues and the knowledge-base structure. The approach can be used for navigating in complex websites or for developing information systems, an example of which is given in the paper.
The rebuilding macroeconomic theory project: an analytical assessment

In this paper we review the Rebuilding Macroeconomic Theory Project, in which we asked a number of leading macroeconomists to describe how the benchmark New Keynesian model might be rebuilt, in the wake of the 2008 crisis. The need to change macroeconomic theory is similar to the situation in the 1930s, at the time of the Great Depression, and in the 1970s, when inflationary pressures were unsustainable. Four main changes to the core model are recommended: to emphasize financial frictions, to place a limit on the operation of rational expectations, to include heterogeneous agents, and to devise more appropriate microfoundations. Achieving these objectives requires changes to all of the behavioural equations in the model governing consumption, investment, and price setting, and also the insertion of a wedge between the interest rate set by policy-makers and that facing consumers and investors. In our view, the result will not be a paradigm shift, but an evolution towards a more pluralist discipline.
Phase I trial of concomitant vinorelbine, paclitaxel, and pelvic irradiation in cervical carcinoma and other advanced pelvic malignancies.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and toxicity of concomitant vinorelbine, paclitaxel, and pelvic radiation therapy (RT) in patients with advanced cervical cancer and other pelvic malignancies. METHODS Eligible patients included those with large or locally advanced cervical cancer. In addition, patients with other advanced gynecologic malignancies were eligible. In part I, vinorelbine was administered as a single agent during pelvic RT at a starting dose of 10 mg/m(2)/week with subsequent cohorts being escalated in 5 mg/m(2)/week increments. In part II, paclitaxel was added to vinorelbine (20 mg/m(2)/week) and pelvic RT at a starting dose of 20 mg/m(2)/week. RESULTS Thirty-three women with pelvic malignancies (22 cervix, 6 vagina, 3 endometrium, 2 vulva) were enrolled. Twenty-seven received vinorelbine and 6 received both paclitaxel and vinorelbine in combination with pelvic RT. Escalating vinorelbine doses to 25 mg/m(2)/week were well tolerated, with the primary toxicity being hematologic. RT was delayed in only 1 patient due to acute hematologic toxicity. In contrast, the combination of paclitaxel, vinorelbine, and pelvic RT was not well tolerated. Five of 6 patients (83%) experienced grade > or = 2 leukopenia, with 2 patients missing > 1 cycle of chemotherapy. Moreover, RT was delayed for 1 week in 2 of 6 patients (33%). CONCLUSIONS Concomitant pelvic RT and vinorelbine with doses to 25 mg/m(2)/week is well tolerated. The addition of paclitaxel to this combination is associated with significant hematologic toxicity and is thus not a feasible approach.
BDNF Enhances the Functional Reinnervation of the Striatum by Grafted Fetal Dopamine Neurons

Transplantation of fetal dopaminergic neurons to the striatum can ameliorate neurological deficits exhibited by experimental animals and human graft recipients with Parkinson's disease. Recovery, however, is incomplete due to suboptimal survival of grafted cells and limited synaptic integration with the host brain. A number of neurotrophic factors have recently been shown to promote the survival and differentiation of dopamine neurons in vitro. In the present study we examined the effects of one such factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), on the development of fetal substantia nigra following transplantation to the dopamine-depleted striatum of adult rats. Infusion of BDNF greatly enhanced the reinnervation of the host striatum by the engrafted dopamine neurons, as determined by tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining, and also increased the effect of the graft on locomotor behavior induced by amphetamine administration. These effects became apparent during the 4-week period of BDNF infusion and persisted for an additional 6 weeks following the termination of BDNF delivery. These findings demonstrate that BDNF exerts a significant effect on the functional reinnervation of the striatum by transplanted fetal dopamine neurons in the rat, and suggest that application of this factor might similarly improve the clinical efficacy of neural transplantation employed in the treatment for Parkinson's disease.