Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Co-morbid anxiety and depression impacts on the correlation between symptom and radiological severity in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have reported that there is little correlation between sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22) score in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and objective radiological scoring, although conclusions vary. We aimed to investigate whether comorbid anxiety and depression, which are highly prevalent in patients with CRS may cause symptom amplification and account for the lack of correlation in previous studies. METHODOLOGY 100 patients with CRS were evaluated using the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Question- naire-9 (PHQ-9) and SNOT-22 questionnaires as well as the Lund Mackay Score (LMS). RESULTS Overall correlation analysis did not show a significant relationship between SNOT-22 and LMS scores. Subgroup analysis of patients who do not suffer with anxiety and depression showed a significant correlation between SNOT-22 and LMS scores. The nasal domain of the SNOT-22 showed strongest correlation to LMS in this patient group. We also observed a significant difference in both median SNOT-22 and LMS between patients who suffered both anxiety and depression and patients without either co- morbidity. CONCLUSION When CRS patients who do not have anxiety and depression are analysed in isolation, or when these conditions are controlled in a multivariable regression, there is a significant correlation between radiological findings and symptom score. This correlation is absent in patients with co-morbid anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression should be considered in patients in whom there is a mismatch in symptom and radiological disease severity as it is associated with symptom amplification.
On the chromatin of the immature oocyte: from morphology to function and regulatory mechanisms mediated by follicular cells

In her comment entitled ‘Nuclear histochemistry: its history in fifty volumes’ (Eur J Histochem 2006; 50:79-81) Maria Gabriella Manfredi Romanini referred to “nuclear histochemistry” as a “real molecular biology in situ, applied to research on dynamic processes in the nucleus, which makes the microscopic and histochemical approach absolutely irreplaceable for the progress of our understanding of cell biology”. These words perfectly exemplify the research path that is elucidating the process of remodeling of chromatin configuration within the nucleus of the mammalian oocyte. This process, which occurs towards the end of the oocyte differentiation phase before meiotic resumption, has received much attention in the last decade since it has a tremendous impact on the capability of the oocyte to generate an embryo after fertilization. The study of the oocyte chromatin by means of classical morphological and histochemical approaches has given a fundamental contribution to our understanding of oocyte biology and has paved the way to functional and mechanistic studies. Several research groups worldwide, including ours, are indeed dedicating a large amount of studies to find the relationship between morphological and functional aspects of the oocyte chromatin remodeling process, to reveal the molecular mechanisms involved, as well as to clarify the contribution of the follicular compartment. Here, we summarize some studies intended to give insight into the mechanism( s) regulating this complex process, including recent findings indicating that ovarian granulosa cells and their coupling with the oocyte through gap junctions are implicated in such a process.
Comparison of College Students' Blood Pressure, Perceived Exertion, and Psychosocial Outcomes During Virtual Reality, Exergaming, and Traditional Exercise: An Exploratory Study.

Objective: Integrating novel technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), into traditional exercise apparatuses (e.g., stationary bikes) may assist in promoting physical activity (PA) participation among young adults. Therefore, this study's purpose was to examine young adults' systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) change (BPpost - BPpre), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), enjoyment, and self-efficacy during VR, exergaming, and traditional stationary cycling sessions. Materials and Methods: Forty-nine college students (34 females; Mage = 23.6 ± 3.4 years; MBMI = 23.8 ± 3.1 kg/m2) participated in three separate 20-minute stationary cycling sessions: (1) PlayStation 4 VR; (2) Xbox 360 exergaming; and (3) traditional stationary cycling. Participants' systolic and diastolic BP change was measured by using an Omron HEM-705CP digital BP cuff. Further, RPE was assessed by using the modified Borg RPE Scale and enjoyment and self-efficacy were evaluated by using validated questionnaires. Results: A multivariate analysis of variance indicated significant differences for systolic BP change, RPE, enjoyment, and self-efficacy between the three cycling sessions (F(2, 144) = 3.3-32.4, P < 0.05, [Formula: see text] = 0.04-0.3). Specifically, participants had significantly higher enjoyment and self-efficacy and lower RPE during VR cycling compared with the other two cycling sessions despite similar or higher change systolic BP during the VR cycling session. There was no statistically significant change in diastolic BP between the three cycling sessions (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Incorporating VR equipment with traditional stationary cycle ergometers may be favorable when seeking to promote enjoyable PA in college students. To further support VR exercise's efficacy, future studies with more rigorous research designs are warranted.
Full Issue in PDF / Numéro complet enform PDF

When preprocessing a System Pour l’Observation de la Terre 4 (SPOT-4) high resolution visual and infrared 2 (HRVIR2) image, we found that the same image in different formats produced inconsistent results. We investigated the source of this error using two different SPOT image formats: Centre d’Archivage et de Prétraitement (CAP) and digital image map (DIMAP). When translating digital numbers (DNs) to radiance, the radiance values of the near-infrared (NIR) and red bands in the CAP format were different from those in the DIMAP format. We determined the cause of this inconsistency to be a mismatch between the band sequences and absolute radiometric calibration gains. Therefore, it is imperative that users always confirm band sequences before applying any calibration coefficients when using SPOT with level 1A (L1A) products. Résumé. Durant le prétraitement d’une image HRVIR en bande 2 de Système Pour l’Observation de la Terre 4 (SPOT-4), nous avons observé que la même image dans des formats différents produisait des résultats incohérents. Nous avons examiné la source de cette erreur en utilisant deux formats différents d’images de SPOT : Centre d’Archivage et de Prétraitement (CAP) et « digital image map » (DIMAP). Dans la transformation des comptes numériques (CN) en radiance, les valeurs de radiance du PIR et des bandes du rouge dans le format CAP étaient différentes de celles en format DIMAP. Nous avons déterminé que la cause de cette incohérence provenait d’un mésappariement entre les séquences des bandes et les gains d’étalonnage radiométrique absolu. Ainsi, il est impératif que les utilisateurs confirment toujours la séquence des bandes avant d’appliquer tout coefficient d’étalonnage lors de l’utilisation de produits L1A de SPOT. [Traduit par la Rédaction]
Increasing Trend and Characteristics of Korean Adolescents Presenting to Emergency Department for Self-Harm: A 5-Year Experience, 2015 to 2019

Purpose Emergency department (ED) is a common treatment setting for adolescents with clinically serious self-harm. Here, we investigated the clinical characteristics and trends of adolescents with self-harm who visited the ED in one Korean university hospital. We also compared patients with a single ED visit to those with multiple ED visits to identify the risk factor of repeated visits. Materials and Methods We retrospectively identified patients aged 12 to 18 years who presented to ED for self-harm from January 2015 to December 2019, based on electronic medical records. Self-harm included all thoughts and behaviors indicating intents to harm or hurt oneself, regardless of the degree of such attempt. Results A total of 168 individuals (male:female=31:137; average 15.99±1.64 years) presented to ED following 304 episodes (45 and 259 episodes in males and females, respectively). The number of episodes steeply increased between 2016 and 2019, and the overall number during the study showed an increasing trend (p=0.043). Repeated ED visitors with self-harm showed more history of psychiatric treatment/admission (58.3% vs. 85.4%, p=0.002; 14.2% vs. 43.9%, p<0.001), history of child abuse (32.3% vs. 53.7%, p=0.013), and familial psychiatric history (13.4% vs. 31.7%, p=0.008) compared to those with a single visit. Conclusion Among Korean adolescents, the number of ED visits and repetition of ED visits for self-harm is on the rise. For adolescents presenting to ED with self-harm, the history of psychiatric treatment/admission, child abuse, and familial psychiatric history should be properly obtained to identify the risk for multiple ED visits.
TESTS OF ECOLOGICAL, PHENOTYPIC, AND GENETIC CORRELATES OF EXTRA-PAIR PATERNITY IN THE HOUSE SPARROW

Abstract We performed a two-year study of extra-pair paternity in the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) to test a suite of hypotheses relating to ecological factors associated with breeding conditions and parental phenotypes and genotypes. Extra-pair fertilizations (EPFs) accounted for 45 of 419 (11%) nestlings and occurred in 33 of 126 (26%) broods. EPFs were not correlated with breeding synchrony or breeding density, although they were significantly more common toward the end of each breeding season. Body size and the size of the bib, a secondary sexual character, were no different between males that were cuckolded and those that achieved full paternity in their nests. Older males were cuckolded as frequently as yearlings, and there was no difference between males that were cuckolded and those that were not with regard to two measures of individual genetic diversity. There was no evidence that females sought EPFs to avoid inbreeding, since EPFs were equally likely to be present among pairs that were closely related and those that were only distantly related, and females were equally related to their extra-pair mates as they were to their within-pair mates. Furthermore, extra-pair sires did not possess alleles that were rare in the population. In sum, despite a substantial sample size, we found few correlates of extra-pair paternity in House Sparrows.
Two Beta-Phosphorylamide Compounds as Ligands for Sm3+, Eu3+, and Tb3+: X-ray Crystallography and Luminescence Properties

This paper describes the synthesis of two beta-phosphorylamide ligands and their coordination chemistry with the Ln ions Tb3+, Eu3+, and Sm3+. Both the ligands and Ln complexes were characterized by IR, NMR, MS, and X-ray crystallography. The luminescence properties of the Tb3+ and Eu3+ complexes were also characterized, including the acquisition of lifetime decay curves. In the solid state, the Tb3+ and Sm3+ ligand complexes were found to have a 2:2 stoichiometry when analyzed by X-ray diffraction. In these structures, the Ln ion was bound by both oxygen atoms of each beta-phosphorylamide moiety of the ligands. The Tb3+ and Eu3+ complexes were modestly emissive as solutions in acetonitrile, with lifetime values that fell within typical ranges.
Valoración de dos métodos de tinción en ensayos de

Cell staining methods are commonly used for estimating extracts or compounds’ potential cytotoxic activity when prospecting for indirect quantitative measurement of cell growth and viability. This work compared the sulphorhodamine B (SRB) staining method, which is a terminal cell density measuring assay, and the resazurin method, a cell proliferation assay which is supposed to be less toxic for the cell. The methods were compared in terms of percentage survival by evaluating MCF-7, MKN-45 and SiHa cell line sensitivity to three synthetic compounds using a 48-hour treatment period and doxorubicin HCl (a drug used in cancer treatment) as reference activity. A correlation test using the data obtained from the assays showed that there was no significant difference between the methods in the conditions used here.
Effect of climate and density on individual and population growth of roe deer Capreolus capreolus at northern latitudes: the Lier valley, Norway

Abstract The growth of individuals and populations can be affected by both density-dependent and density-independent factors. Severe environmental conditions typically affect young and very old individuals more than prime-aged individuals, so that limiting factors such as climate and density frequently interact with the sex- and age-structure of the population. For roe deer Capreolus capreolus explicit analyses of growth rates of individuals and populations at northern latitudes are rare. In this article, we present the first analysis of a 17-year record of body weight data (N = 286) and harvest statistics (a proxy for population size) from the Lier valley, Norway. We tested whether climate (winter and spring) and population density affected individual body weight in autumn and the growth rate of the population as indicated by harvest statistics. We found that population growth rate in the Lier valley was negatively affected by increasing snow depth during winter. There was also a tendency for body weight to be lower after snowy than after less snowy winters. We found no significant effect of spring temperature or population density, though parameter estimates of both were negative. Our findings provide quantitative data supporting the ‘common knowledge’ that winter is the critical period for roe deer at northern latitudes, and that population density is unlikely to be a regulating factor in most inland areas of Norway with today's low population densities.
N-Acetylaspartate (NAA) and N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) promote growth and inhibit differentiation of glioma stem-like cells.

DOI 10.1074/jbc.A113. 487553 N-Acetylaspartate (NAA) and N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) promote growth and inhibit differentiation of glioma stem-like cells. Patrick M. Long, John R. Moffett, Aryan M. A. Namboodiri, Mariano S. Viapiano, Sean E. Lawler, and Diane M. Jaworski PAGE 26194: An image of thewrong blot was used in the original version of Fig. 3D. TheNAAGpanel of Fig. 3D,D1 contained the sameASPAblot as theNAA panel in Fig. 3D,D1. The correct ASPA blot for the NAAG panel is provided. The actin blot and densitometry in Fig. 3D,D1 and the blots and data presented in Fig. 3D, D2 are correct. This correction does not change the interpretation of the results or conclusions. THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY VOL. 288, NO. 44, pp. 31916 –31917, November 1, 2013 © 2013 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc. Published in the U.S.A.
Double Optimization of Rivastigmine-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLC) for Nose-to-Brain Delivery Using the Quality by Design (QbD) Approach: Formulation Variables and Instrumental Parameters

Rivastigmine is a drug commonly used in the management of Alzheimer’s disease that shows bioavailability problems. To overcome this, the use of nanosystems, such as nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), administered through alternative routes seems promising. In this work, we performed a double optimization of a rivastigmine-loaded NLC formulation for direct drug delivery from the nose to the brain using the quality by design (QbD) approach, whereby the quality target product profile (QTPP) was the requisite for nose to brain delivery. The experiments started with the optimization of the formulation variables (or critical material attributes—CMAs) using a central composite design. The rivastigmine-loaded NLC formulations with the best critical quality attributes (CQAs) of particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), and encapsulation efficiency (EE) were selected for the second optimization, which was related to the production methods (ultrasound technique and high-pressure homogenization). The most suitable instrumental parameters for the production of NLC were analyzed through a Box–Behnken design, with the same CQAs being evaluated for the first optimization. For the second part of the optimization studies, were selected two rivastigmine-loaded NLC formulations: one produced by ultrasound technique and the other by the high-pressure homogenization (HPH) method. Afterwards, the pH and osmolarity of these formulations were adjusted to the physiological nasal mucosa values and in vitro drug release studies were performed. The results of the first part of the optimization showed that the most adequate ratios of lipids and surfactants were 7.49:1.94 and 4.5:0.5 (%, w/w), respectively. From the second part of the optimization, the results for the particle size, PDI, ZP, and EE of the rivastigmine-loaded NLC formulations produced by ultrasound technique and HPH method were, respectively, 114.0 ± 1.9 nm and 109.0 ± 0.9 nm; 0.221 ± 0.003 and 0.196 ± 0.007; −30.6 ± 0.3 mV and −30.5 ± 0.3 mV; 97.0 ± 0.5% and 97.2 ± 0.3%. Herein, the HPH was selected as the most suitable production method, although the ultrasound technique has also shown effectiveness. In addition, no significant changes in CQAs were observed after 90 days of storage of the formulations at different temperatures. In vitro studies showed that the release of rivastigmine followed a non-Fickian mechanism, with an initial fast drug release followed by a prolonged release over 48 h. This study has optimized a rivastigmine-loaded NLC formulation produced by the HPH method for nose-to-brain delivery of rivastigmine. The next step is for in vitro and in vivo experiments to demonstrate preclinical efficacy and safety. QbD was demonstrated to be a useful approach for the optimization of NLC formulations for which specific physicochemical requisites can be identified.
When the killing has been done: Exploring associations of personality with third-party judgment and punishment of homicides in moral dilemma scenarios

Killing people is universally considered reprehensible and evokes in observers a need to punish perpetrators. Here, we explored how observers’ personality is associated with their cognitive, emotional, and punishing reactions towards perpetrators using data from 1,004 participants who responded to a set of fifteen third-party perspective moral dilemmas. Among those, four scenarios (architect, life boat, footbridge, smother for dollars) describing deliberate killings were compared to investigate the role of the content features “motive for killing” (selfish vs. utilitarian) and “evitability of victims’ death”. Participants’ moral appropriateness ratings, emotions towards perpetrators, and assigned punishments revealed complex scenario-personality interactions. Trait psychopathy was associated with harsher punishments in all scenarios but also with less concern about killing in general, an increased moral appreciation of utilitarian motives for killing, and a reduced concern about the killing of avoidable victims. Need for cognition was associated with considering a utilitarian motive for killing as a mitigating factor, while intuitive/authority-obedient thinking was linked to a strong focus on avoidability of harm as an aggravating factor when assigning punishments. Other-oriented empathy, trait anxiety, and justice sensitivity did not account for differences in third-party punishments. Our explorative findings highlight the importance of inter-individual differences for moral decision making and sense of justice.
Interaction between Metabolic Genetic Risk Score and Dietary Fatty Acid Intake on Central Obesity in a Ghanaian Population

Obesity is a multifactorial condition arising from the interaction between genetic and lifestyle factors. We aimed to assess the impact of lifestyle and genetic factors on obesity-related traits in 302 healthy Ghanaian adults. Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed using a 3 day repeated 24 h dietary recall and global physical activity questionnaire, respectively. Twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to construct 4-SNP, 8-SNP and 12-SNP genetic risk scores (GRSs). The 4-SNP GRS showed significant interactions with dietary fat intakes on waist circumference (WC) (Total fat, Pinteraction = 0.01; saturated fatty acids (SFA), Pinteraction = 0.02; polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), Pinteraction = 0.01 and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), Pinteraction = 0.01). Among individuals with higher intakes of total fat (>47 g/d), SFA (>14 g/d), PUFA (>16 g/d) and MUFA (>16 g/d), individuals with ≥3 risk alleles had a significantly higher WC compared to those with <3 risk alleles. This is the first study of its kind in this population, suggesting that a higher consumption of dietary fatty acid may have the potential to increase the genetic susceptibility of becoming centrally obese. These results support the general dietary recommendations to decrease the intakes of total fat and SFA, to reduce the risk of obesity, particularly in individuals with a higher genetic predisposition to central obesity.
Growth Substances in Fruit Setting and Development

Nitsch (112), in his review of this subject in 1953, pointed out that fruit setting and growth were obviously under a control mechanism and presented the evidence for auxin originating in the seed as being the key factor involved. In summarizing the advancement of knowledge in this field for the interven­ ing period, Leopold (74), in 1958, concluded that "fruit setting by growth regulators is a function of their auxin activity. " However, since auxin had been found to be effective in setting only a limited number of fruits, he sug­ gested that in general an additional factor might be required, a growth stimu­ lant of the type Steward & Simmonds (150) isolated from parthenocarpic banana fruits. Since 1958, knowledge concerning naturally occurring growth substances has advanced rapidly and much pertinent material has appeared in many reviews (16, 75, 91, 92, 102, 124, 151, 156, 164) and in several books (4, 48, 70, 135). Currently, two general classes of substances that stimulate growth are recognized in addition to the auxins; the gibberellins (124) and the kinins (102). In addition, there is a very heterogeneous group of sub­ stances termed "inhibitors" (11) that suppresses growth. All of these would appear to be involved in the control of plant growth in general, including that of fruits. The objective of this review is to summarize the present status of growth substances in fruits and to attempt to frame a rational concept of some aspects of their relationship to the physiology of fruit setting and growth. This discussion, therefore, will be limited primarily to growth and development of the fruit from the time of anthesis to maturity.