Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating differences in Pavlovian fear acquisition and extinction as predictors of outcome from cognitive behavioural therapy for anxious children.

BACKGROUND Extinction is a key theoretical model of exposure-based treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This study examined whether individual differences in physiological responses and subjective stimulus evaluations as indices of fear extinction predicted response to CBT. METHODS Thirty-two nonanxious comparisons and 44 anxious, 7-to-13-year-old children completed a Pavlovian conditioning and extinction task. Anxious children then completed group-based CBT. Skin conductance responses (SCRs) as well as subjective arousal and valence evaluations were measured in response to a conditioned stimulus paired with an aversive tone (CS+) and another conditioned stimulus presented alone (CS-). Both stimuli were presented alone during extinction. Diagnostic and symptom measures were completed before and after treatment. RESULTS Like nonanxious comparisons, treatment responders did not acquire conditioned negative stimulus evaluations and displayed elevated SCRs that declined significantly across extinction trials. Nonresponders, by contrast, showed elevated negative stimulus evaluations of both CSs that were sensitive to extinction trials but showed no change in SCRs during extinction. Change in physiological but not evaluative indices of fear extinction predicted better treatment outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Individual differences in evaluative and physiological indices of fear extinction might moderate response to CBT.
PACs and the Congressional Supermarket: The Currency is Complex

Although PACs attempt to influence the legislative process with contributions, this research finds little evidence that the contributions of 120 PACs affiliated with 10 organizations affected the voting patterns of the House members who served continuously from 1975 to 1982. In the few cases in which a relationship between contributions and a member's votes is established, the analysis indicates that contributions are a surrogate measure of a more important and larger package of support for the member from the interest groups. Two-stage least squares regression models are used to test the relationship between PAC contributions and a member's votes, controlling for the incumbent's ideology and party, and the political leaning of the district. Interviews with PAC officials supplement the statistical analysis.
Translating principles of neural plasticity into research on speech motor control recovery and rehabilitation.

PURPOSE To review the principles of neural plasticity and make recommendations for research on the neural bases for rehabilitation of neurogenic speech disorders. METHOD A working group in speech motor control and disorders developed this report, which examines the potential relevance of basic research on the brain mechanisms involved in neural plasticity and discusses possible similarities and differences for application to speech motor control disorders. The possible involvement of neural plasticity in changes in speech production in normalcy, development, aging, and neurological diseases and disorders was considered. This report focuses on the appropriate use of functional and structural neuroimaging and the design of feasibility studies aimed at understanding how brain mechanisms are altered by environmental manipulations such as training and stimulation and how these changes might enhance the future development of rehabilitative methods for persons with speech motor control disorders. CONCLUSIONS Increased collaboration with neuroscientists working in clinical research centers addressing human communication disorders might foster research in this area. It is hoped that this article will encourage future research on speech motor control disorders to address the principles of neural plasticity and their application for rehabilitation.
Axonal damage in the spinal cord of MS patients occurs largely independent of T2 MRI lesions

Objective: To determine the degree of axonal damage in relationship to signal abnormalities on T2-weighted high-resolution MRI in spinal cord tissue of patients with MS. Methods: Spinal cord specimens of nine patients with MS and four controls were imaged at high resolution (4.7 T) in an axial plane and scored for lesions with increased signal intensity (SI). Histopathologic sections were cut and immunostained with NE14 (neurofilament marker) and Luxol fast blue (myelin stain). For each area, axonal density and diameter were quantified; axonal irregularity, NE14 axonal staining intensity, and myelin content were semiquantitatively scored. Included were 209 areas from MS cases and 109 areas from control cases distributed over lateral, posterior, and anterior columns. Results: In control cases, no SI changes were found, average density of axons was 26,989/mm2, average diameter was 1.1 μm, and all scores for axonal irregularity, NE14 staining intensity, and myelin were normal. In MS cases, areas with increased SI were found, average axonal density was 11,807/mm2 (p < 0.0001), and average axonal diameter 2.0 μm (p = 0.001). Areas with high SI on MRI had lowest axonal density (average count: 10,504/mm2; range: 3,433 to 26,325/mm2), largest diameter (average: 2.3 μm; range: 1.0 to 4.0 μm), and highest axonal irregularity and NE14 staining intensity compared to normal appearing cord tissue (NACT). However, NACT of MS cases also had lower axonal density (14,158/mm2) and higher average axonal diameter (1.6 μm) than controls. Conclusions: Marked axonal loss occurs in MS spinal cords, largely independent of the degree of signal abnormality on T2-weighted MRI.
Sampling protein motion and solvent effect during ligand binding

An exhaustive description of the molecular recognition mechanism between a ligand and its biological target is of great value because it provides the opportunity for an exogenous control of the related process. Very often this aim can be pursued using high resolution structures of the complex in combination with inexpensive computational protocols such as docking algorithms. Unfortunately, in many other cases a number of factors, like protein flexibility or solvent effects, increase the degree of complexity of ligand/protein interaction and these standard techniques are no longer sufficient to describe the binding event. We have experienced and tested these limits in the present study in which we have developed and revealed the mechanism of binding of a new series of potent inhibitors of Adenosine Deaminase. We have first performed a large number of docking calculations, which unfortunately failed to yield reliable results due to the dynamical character of the enzyme and the complex role of the solvent. Thus, we have stepped up the computational strategy using a protocol based on metadynamics. Our approach has allowed dealing with protein motion and solvation during ligand binding and finally identifying the lowest energy binding modes of the most potent compound of the series, 4-decyl-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-one.
FRET-based mitochondria-targetable dual-excitation ratiometric fluorescent probe for monitoring hydrogen sulfide in living cells.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is connected with various physiological and pathological functions. However, understanding the important functions of H2S remains challenging, in part because of the lack of tools for detecting endogenous H2S. Herein, compounds Ratio-H2S 1/2 are the first FRET-based mitochondrial-targetable dual-excitation ratiometric fluorescent probes for H2S on the basis of H2S-promoted thiolysis of dinitrophenyl ether. With the enhancement of H2S concentration, the excitation peak at λ≈402 nm of the phenolate form of the hydroxycoumarin unit drastically increases, whereas the excitation band centered at λ≈570 nm from rhodamine stays constant and can serve as a reference signal. Thus, the ratios of fluorescence intensities at λ=402 and 570 nm (I402/I570) exhibit a drastic change from 0.048 in the absence of H2S to 0.36 in the presence of 180 μM H2S; this is a 7.5-fold variation in the excitation ratios. The favorable properties of the probe include the donor and acceptor excitation bands, which exhibit large excitation separations (up to 168 nm separation) and comparable excitation intensities, high sensitivity and selectivity, and function well at physiological pH. In addition, it is demonstrated that the probe can localize in the mitochondria and determine H2S in living cells. It is expected that this strategy will lead to the development of a wide range of mitochondria-targetable dual-excitation ratiometric probes for other analytes with outstanding spectral features, including large separations between the excitation wavelengths and comparable excitation intensities.
Evaluation of the Ortho‐Clinical Diagnostics Vitros ECi Anti‐HCV test: comparison with three other methods

After observing a high incidence of low positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody screens by the Ortho‐Clinical Vitros ECi test (Orthoclinical Diagnostics, Raritan, NJ), we compared results against those obtained using another chemiluminescent analyzer, as well as two U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved confirmatory methodologies. To ascertain the true anti‐HCV status of samples deemed low‐positive by the Ortho‐Clinical Vitros ECi test, we tested samples using the ADVIA Centaur HCV screen test (Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics), the Chiron recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) test (Chiron Corp., Emeryville, CA), and the Roche COBAS Amplicor HCV qualitative test (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN) in a series of studies. Of 94 specimens positive by Vitros ECi, 19% were observed to be negative by Centaur. A separate study of 91 samples with signal‐to‐cutoff (s/co) values less than 8.0 showed that all but one was negative for HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA). In comparison with RIBA, 100% (77) samples positive by the Vitros ECi test with s/co values less than 12.0 were negative or indeterminate by RIBA. A final study comparing all four methods side‐by‐side showed 63% disagreement by Centaur for Vitros ECi low‐positive samples, 75% disagreement by RIBA, and 97% disagreement by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In conclusion, the Ortho‐Clinical Vitros ECi Anti‐HCV test yields a high rate of false‐positive results in the low s/co range in our patient population. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 21:162–166, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
XAFS studies of anti-inflammatory dinuclear and mononuclear Zn(II) complexes of indomethacin.

Zinc K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) experiments were performed in the solid and solution states at low temperature (10 K), on dimeric and monomeric anti-inflammatory Zn(II) complexes of indomethacin [1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indole-3-acetic acid=IndoH] of the formula [Zn2(Indo)4L2] [L=pyridine (Py), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA)], [Zn(Indo)2L2] [L=ethanol (EtOH), methanol (MeOH)], and Zn(II) acetate dihydrate [Zn(OAc)2(OH2)2]. The bond distances and angles obtained from multiple-scattering fits to the XAFS data of the Zn(II) dimeric complexes in the solid and solution states exhibit excellent correspondence with those obtained from single crystal diffraction studies. The Zn.Zn separations of 2.97 and 2.96 A and carboxylate group O-C-O angles of 125 degrees for powdered [Zn2(Indo)4(Py)2] and [Zn2(Indo)4(DMA)2] agree well with the XRD values of 2.969(1) and 2.9686(6) A and 125.8(4) degrees and 126.1(2) degrees, respectively. The calculated Zn-O(RCOO) and Zn-L bond distances of 2.03 and 2.04 A, or 2.02 and 1.98 A for Py or DMA complexes, respectively, also agree well with crystallographic data. The X-ray powder diffraction data on samples of the monomers exhibited additional reflections apart from those due to the crystallographically characterized cis-[Zn(eta2-O,O'-Indo)2L2], but microanalyses were consistent with this formulation. Therefore, mixed models that contained the cis complex and a second component consisting of a trans-six-coordinate complex, a five-coordinate complex, or a four-coordinate complex were used to model the XAFS. The best fits to the XAFS data were obtained with a mixture of the cis-six-coordinate complex and a four-coordinate complex containing two monodentate Indo ligands. The bond lengths for the six-coordinate structure were consistent with those determined on a single crystal, and those for the four-coordinate complexes were consistent with related four-coordinate structures with two monodentate carboxylate ligands. Dissolution of the dimer (DMA adduct) in DMF resulted in a mixture of dimer and monomer species as shown by MS XAFS fitting. This is the first time that solution structures have been determined for anti-inflammatory Zn(II) complexes, and this is an important first step in understanding the pharmacology of the complexes.
Cysticercosis vaccine: cross protecting immunity with T. solium antigens against experimental murine T. crassiceps cysticercosis

Summary Vaccination of mice with an antigen extract from Taenia solium cysticerci induced protection against challenge with T. crassiceps cysticerci as successfully as did antigen extracts from T. crassiceps. Vaccination was more effective in male than in female mice and in the resistant strain (BALB/B) more so than in the susceptible strain (BALB/c). While only the resistant strain was completely protected by vaccination, the parasite load of the susceptible strain was significantly reduced by vaccination. Cross immunity between the human and murine parasites establishes murine T. crassiceps cysticercosis as a convenient laboratory model in which to test promising T. solium antigens aimed at vaccine development against T. solium cysticercosis. Further, results point to strong interactions of the immune system with sexual and histocompatibility factors in the host's dealing with cysticercosis.
Chronic alcohol intake, resistance training, and muscle androgen receptor content.

INTRODUCTION Chronic alcohol intake and resistance training (RT) have opposite effects on muscle physiology. PURPOSE This study examined the effect of chronic alcohol intake on androgen receptor (AR) content in skeletal muscle to determine whether this effect was influenced by RT. METHODS A total of 48 male Sprague Dawley(R) rats (mass = 456 +/- 1 g; mean +/- SE) were divided into five groups: baseline (N = 8), sedentary + alcohol (Sed-Al) (N = 8), sedentary + normal diet (Sed-Nml) (N = 8), exercise + alcohol (Ex-Al) (N = 12), and exercise + normal diet (Ex-Nml) (N = 12). Exercise groups completed a 6 1/3-wk "squat" RT protocol; alcohol groups received an ethanol-rich (35% caloric content of alcohol) diet throughout the 6 1/3-wk period. Baseline animals were killed at the onset of the 6 1/3-wk training period. RESULTS Western blot analysis showed no effect of alcohol or RT on the AR of the extensor digitorum longus. Alcohol significantly reduced AR content of the rectus femoris (P < 0.05) and prevented RT-induced increases in AR content of the soleus. CONCLUSION Chronic alcohol intake appeared to reduce the AR content of the type IIB fiber-predominant rectus femoris, and this reduction was not affected by RT. In the type I-predominant soleus, chronic alcohol intake alone had no effect but seemed to prevent RT-induced increases in AR content.
An inter-domain load balancing mechanism and performance evaluation

Load balancing technique may improve the performance and scalability of the Internet greatly. Many researchers focus on intra-domain load balancing which distributes traffic over multiple paths or server farms in a single domain. However, there is little research on interdomain (such as inter-AS or inter-PoP) load balancing due to the loose relationship and complex policies among domains. It is important to study inter-domain load balancing under the trend toward a denser mesh of inter-domain connectivity within the Internet. In this paper, we propose a distributed and dynamic load balancing mechanism using a hashing-based algorithm to distribute traffic between domains which preserves per-flow packet ordering and supports unequal weighted distribution when dynamic adaptation is used. We also evaluate the performance of the mechanism.
Periodontopathogen levels following the use of an Er:YAG laser in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.

BACKGROUND Inflammatory periodontal diseases are initiated by microbial biofilms. The reduction of the biofilm is important in the management of the disease. This study compares periodontopathogen levels following the treatment of chronic periodontitis using Er:YAG laser (ERL) debridement and mechanical scaling and root planing (SRP). METHODS Using a split-mouth design, two quadrants were randomly allocated for treatment. Two hundred and fifty-two subgingival plaque samples were collected from 21 patients, before treatment (baseline) and at 6 and 12 weeks post-therapy. Multiplex qPCR was used to determine relative levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Treponema denticola (Td), Tannerella forsythensis (Tf), and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). RESULTS Tf and Pg were significantly reduced post-treatment for both ERL and SRP. ERL treatment resulted in a reduction of Td at 12 weeks. Following SRP treatment Aa was significantly reduced at 12 weeks. No statistically significant difference was seen when treatments were compared at 6 and 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS A comparable reduction in the level of the four periodontal pathogens assayed was achieved with Er:YAG laser debridement and mechanical scaling and root planing.
Impulse-radio waveforms for MM-wave satellite communications: Potential benefits and open issues

Impulse radio has been historically proposed for short-range Ultra-Wideband (UWB) transmission. However, thanks to the well-known properties of easy generation and robust detection in presence of linear and nonlinear distortions, such kind of waveforms have been considered also for long-range broadband satellite communications, in particular exploiting Extremely High Frequency (EHF) bands (Q-V band and W-band). In this paper, we shall review the basic concepts of satellite transmission in the millimeter wave domain and we shall analyze the potential benefits that can be obtained by the use of some specific impulse radio waveforms (Gaussian pulses with Time Hopping or Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum, Prolate Spheroidal Wave Functions, etc.) in such an application framework. The discussion of some preliminary experimental results and the analysis of the open technical issues will conclude the paper.
Limb preferences in non-human vertebrates

There is considerable debate about whether population-level asymmetries in limb preferences are uniquely human or are a common feature among vertebrates. In the present article the results of studies investigating limb preferences in all non-extinct vertebrate orders are systematically analysed by employing cladographic comparisons. These studies analysed 119 different species, with 61 (51.26%) showing evidence for population-level asymmetries, 20 (16.81%) showing evidence for individual-level asymmetries and 38 (31.93%) showing no evidence for asymmetry. The cladographic comparison revealed that research in several key taxa in particular (e.g., Chondrichtyes, Crocodylia, Atlantogenata and Palaeognathae) would have important implications for our understanding of the evolution of vertebrate limb preferences. Furthermore, the findings of the present study support the position that population-level asymmetries in limb preferences as such represent a common vertebrate feature. Looking into the details, however, some important differences from human handedness become visible: Non-human limb preferences typically show a less-skewed lateralisation pattern and there are larger numbers of individuals without a preference in most species compared to humans. Moreover, limb preferences in non-human animals are often less task-invariant than human handedness and are more frequently modulated by external factors and individual characteristics.
Nanoparticles induced by embedding self‐assembling cassette into glucagon‐like peptide 1 for improving in vivo stability

The multiple physiologic characteristics of glucagon‐like peptide 1 (GLP‐1) make it a promising drug candidate for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the half‐life of GLP‐1 is short as a result of degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase IV and renal clearance. Stabilizing GLP‐1 is therefore critical for its use in drug development. Self‐assembling peptides are a class of peptides that undergo spontaneous assembly into ordered nanostructures. Recently, studies of self‐assembling peptides as drug carriers have increased because of their enhanced stability. In the present study, GLP‐1 was modified to incorporate the structural characteristics of self‐assembling peptides aiming to generate a self‐assembling GLP‐1 derivative. Receptor binding capacity and insulinotropic effects were measured to investigate the physiologic functions of GLP‐1, along with morphologic approaches to observe supramolecular formation on self‐assembly at the nano scale. Finally, blood glucose regulation and body weight were monitored after administration of selected derivatives. Our findings revealed that cadyglp1e and cadyglp1m both exhibited improved stability even though different nanoshapes were observed for these two self‐assembling peptides. Both cadyglp1e and cadyglp1m retained glucoregulatory activity after insulin stimulation and were potent drug candidates for long‐acting GLP‐1 derivatives to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our findings support the feasibility of introducing self‐assembly functions into peptides with poor stabilities, such as GLP‐1. —Li, Y. , Cui, T. , Kong, X. , Yi, X. , Kong, D. , Zhang, J., Liu, C. , Gong, M. Nanoparticles induced by embedding self‐assembling cassette into glucagon‐like peptide 1 for improving in vivo stability. FASEB J. 32, 2992–3004 (2018). www.fasebj. org
Detection of Structural Variants Involving Repetitive Regions in the Reference Genome

Next-generation sequencing techniques are now commonly used to characterize structural variations (SVs) in population genomics and elucidate their associations with phenotypes. Many of the computational tools developed for detecting structural variations work by mapping paired-end reads to a reference genome and identifying the discordant read-pairs whose mapped loci in the reference genome deviate from the expected insert size and orientation. However, repetitive regions in the reference genome represent a major challenge in SV detection, because the paired-end reads from these regions may be mapped to multiple loci in the reference genome, resulting in spuriously discordant read-pairs. To address this issue, we have developed an algorithmic approach for read mapping and SV detection based on the framework of A-Bruijn graphs. Instead of mapping reads to a linear sequence of the reference genome, we propose to map reads onto the A-Bruijn graph constructed from the reference genome in which all instances of the same repeat are collapsed into a single edge. As a result, any given read, either from repetitive regions or not, will be mapped to a unique location in the A-Bruijn graph, and each discordant read-pair in the A-Bruijn graph indicates a potentially true SV event. We also developed a simple clustering algorithm to derive valid clusters of these discordant read-pairs, each supporting a different SV event. Finally, we demonstrate the performance of this approach, compared to existing approaches, by identifying transposition events of insertion sequence (IS) elements, a class of simple mobile genetic elements (MGEs), in E. coli by using simulated and real paired-end sequence data acquired from E. coli mutation accumulation lines.