Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The world smiles at me: Self-referential positivity bias when interpreting direction of attention

Recent research suggests that eye-gaze direction modulates perceived emotional expression. Here we explore the extent to which emotion affects interpretation of attention direction. We captured three-dimensional face models of 8 actors expressing happy, fearful, angry and neutral emotions. From these 3D models 9 views were extracted (0°, 2°, 4°, 6°, 8° to the left and right). These stimuli were randomly presented for 150 ms. Using a forced-choice paradigm 28 participants judged for each face whether or not it was attending to them. Two conditions were tested: either the whole face was visible, or the eyes were covered. In both conditions happy faces elicited most “attending-to-me” answers. Thus, emotional expression has a more general effect than an influence on gaze direction: emotion affects interpretation of attention direction. We interpret these results as a self-referential positivity bias, suggesting a general preference to associate a happy face with the self.
Paclitaxel is effective in relapsed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective study of 66 patients at a single institution

The standard first-line treatment of recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is cisplatin-based chemotherapy, but taxanes can also be beneficial after progression or in patients not eligible for cisplatin. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate paclitaxel in this population. We reviewed 66 patients who were treated with paclitaxel at a single institution (Lyon, France) between January 2003 and November 2008. Paclitaxel was administered as first, second or more line of treatment; alone or in combination with carboplatin or cetuximab; every 3 weeks (175 mg/m2) or weekly (80 mg/m2). Forty-six (70%) patients received paclitaxel as first-line therapy after relapse and 26 (39%) patients as monotherapy. The objective response rate was 30% [95% confidence interval (CI): 20–43%]; 37% (95% CI: 23–52%) in the first line after relapse, and 20% (95% CI: 4–48%) in the second line. Rates were 19% (95% CI: 7–39%) after monotherapy and 36% (95% CI: 20–55%) after combination with carboplatin. Two of the six patients receiving cetuximab had a partial response. The overall survival of all patients was 7.2 months (95% CI: 5.2–8.8). Paclitaxel can be used in symptomatic patients. Although no improvement of overall survival can be expected, paclitaxel treatment is safe and achieves interesting response rates.
Emotion is not just an alarm bell—it's the whole tootin' fire truck

Science is a human endeavour. The boundaries of scientific and academic disciplines, as well as the way they identify their object of study, are products of social and historical processes and current beliefs. In some disciplines, such as physics or the life sciences, sophisticated research tools, such as particle accelerators or scanning tunnelling microscopes, make the collection of empirical data possible that are far removed from personal experience, for example, because the object of study is unimaginable small or large and might extend only over the tiniest sliver of time or over millions of years. One consequence is that, in these contexts, explanations and models tend to be less influenced by folk concepts*they are simply too far removed from subjective experience and direct insight. In contrast, psychology is still very much affected by the link of everyday subjective experience and scientific observation. This is not only a fact, it is also a feature of psychological science, as the subjective experience is one of the facets modern psychology tries to understand and relate to mental processes, and, more recently, to neural activity. There are likely few domains within psychology where the influence of subjective experience on scientific observation is more evident than in the study of emotion*a state of affairs that, at times, has been characterised as confusing and, at other times, as confused. Apparently, serious disagreements exist concerning affective key concepts. I have (optimistically) argued in the past (e.g., Kappas, 2002) that some of the purported difficulties of agreeing on common definitions of emotion are mainly due to practical issues of interpreting brief definitions out of context. Hence, while overviews, such as Kleinginna and Kleinginna (1981), reinforced the spectre of a field divided and splintered, there should be in reality considerable overlap in a procedural understanding of emotion when trying to integrate accounts of different emotion theorists. Yet, more recent attempts to assess the coherence of the scientific understanding of emotion (e.g., Izard, 2010) demonstrate still considerable diversity regarding
Attentional capture by emotional faces is contingent on attentional control settings

Attentional capture by schematic emotional faces was investigated in two experiments using the flanker task devised by Eriksen and Eriksen (1974). In Experiment 1, participants were presented with a central target (a schematic face that was either positive or negative) flanked by two identical distractors, one on either side (schematic faces that were positive, negative, or neutral). The objective was to identify the central target as quickly as possible. The impact of the flankers depended on their emotional expression. Consistent with a threat advantage hypothesis (negative faces are processed faster and attract more processing resources), responses to positive faces were slower when these were flanked by (response incompatible) negative faces as compared with positive or neutral faces, whereas responses to negative faces were unaffected by the identity of the flankers. Experiment 2 was a standard flanker task with letter stimuli except that the task-neutral flankers were schematic faces that were either positive, negative, or emotionally neutral. In this case, in which faces and emotional expressions were to be ignored, performance seemed entirely unaffected by the faces. This result suggests that attentional capture by emotional faces is contingent on attentional control settings.
Emotion regulation and risk taking: Predicting risky choice in deliberative decision making

Only very recently has research demonstrated that experimentally induced emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) affect risky choice (e.g., Heilman et al., 2010). However, it is unknown whether this effect also operates via habitual use of emotion regulation strategies in risky choice involving deliberative decision making. We investigated the role of habitual use of emotion regulation strategies in risky choice using the “cold” deliberative version of the Columbia Card Task (CCT; Figner et al., 2009). Fifty-three participants completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ; Gross & John, 2003) and—one month later—the CCT and the PANAS. Greater habitual cognitive reappraisal use was related to increased risk taking, accompanied by decreased sensitivity to changes in probability and loss amount. Greater habitual expressive suppression use was related to decreased risk taking. The results show that habitual use of reappraisal and suppression strategies predict risk taking when decisions involve predominantly cognitive-deliberative processes.
Atheroma volume by intravascular ultrasound as a surrogate for clinical end points.

Large-scale clinical studies have proven that primary and secondary prevention are effective methods in reducing myocardial infarction, stroke, and overall mortality. An unresolved issue is the optimal levels of lipids and blood pressure to achieve these goals (1,2). National treatment guidelines have progressively lowered thresholds for treatment initiation and target levels (3,4). Although the recent trend has been that “lower is better,” the ideal targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and blood pressure, and the interaction between these 2 parameters, have not been clearly deﬁned. In this issue of the Journal , Chhatriwalla et al. (5) attempt to clarify the relationship between levels of LDL-C and systolic blood pressure and their effects on coronary plaque progression. The study incorporated 3,437 patients with established coronary artery disease who were enrolled in 7 clinical trials that were stratiﬁed into 4 groups according to blood pressure and LDL-C levels. Changes in atheroma burden were monitored by serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), which was performed at baseline and at 18 to 24 months with the use of standard parameters. The subgroup with very low LDL-C ( (cid:1) 70 mg/dl) and normal systolic blood pressure (SBP) ( (cid:1) 120 mm Hg) displayed the least progression in percent atheroma volume (PAV) and total atheroma volume (TAV) (p (cid:1) 0.001 for trend). This group also displayed more frequent plaque regression (p (cid:1) 0.01) compared with other subgroups. In patients with SBP (cid:2) 120 mm Hg, very low LDL-C was still associated with less progression of PAV, whereas in the group with LDL-C (cid:2) 70 mg/dl, normal SBP was not associated with less progression of PAV or TAV. These observations suggest
Novel components of the Apicomplexan moving junction reveal conserved and coccidia‐restricted elements

Apicomplexan parasites generally invade their host cells by anchoring the parasite to the host membrane through a structure called the moving junction (MJ). This MJ is also believed to sieve host proteins from the nascent parasitophorous vacuole membrane, which likely protects the pathogen from lysosomal destruction. Previously identified constituents of the Toxoplasma MJ have orthologues in Plasmodium, indicating a conserved structure throughout the Apicomplexa. We report here two novel MJ proteins, RON5 and RON8. While RON5 is conserved in Plasmodium, RON8 appears restricted to the coccidia. RON8, which is likely essential, co‐immunoprecipitates RON5 and known MJ proteins from extracellular parasites, indicating that a preformed complex exists within the parasites. Upon secretion, we show that RON8 within the MJ localizes to the cytoplasmic face of the host plasma membrane. To examine interactions between RON8 and the host cell, we expressed RON8 in mammalian cells and show that it targets to its site of action at the periphery in a manner dependent on the C‐terminal portion of the protein. The discovery of RON5 and RON8 provides new insight into conserved and unique elements of the MJ, furthering our understanding of how the MJ contributes to the intricate mechanism of Apicomplexan invasion.
Quality attributes of recombinant therapeutic proteins: An assessment of impact on safety and efficacy as part of a quality by design development approach

Quality by Design (QbD) is a new approach to the development of recombinant therapeutic protein products that promotes a better understanding of the product and its manufacturing process. The first step in the QbD approach consists in identifying the critical quality attributes (CQA), i.e., those quality attributes of the product that have an impact on its clinical efficacy or safety. CQAs are identified through a science‐based risk assessment taking into consideration a combination of clinical and nonclinical data obtained with the molecule or other similar molecules or platform products, as well as the published literature. The purpose of this article is to perform a comprehensive review of the published literature, supporting an assessment of the impact on safety and efficacy of the quality attributes commonly encountered in recombinant therapeutic proteins, more specifically those produced in mammalian cell expression systems. Quality attributes generally observed in biopharmaceutical proteins including product‐related impurities and substances, process‐related impurities, product attributes, and contaminants are evaluated one by one for their impact on biological activity, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity, and overall safety/toxicity. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 2012
The flagellum–mitogen‐activated protein kinase connection in Trypanosomatids: a key sensory role in parasite signalling and development?

Trypanosomatid parasites are the causative agents of severe human diseases such as sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and leishmaniases. These microorganisms are transmitted via different insect vectors and hence are confronted to changing environments during their infectious cycle in which they activate specific and complex patterns of differentiation. Several studies in Trypanosoma brucei and in different subspecies of Leishmania have shed light on the role of mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinases in these processes. Surprisingly, several MAP kinases turned out to be involved in the control of flagellum length in the promastigote stage of Leishmania. Recently, a sensory function has been recognized for cilia and flagella in unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes. This review aims to stimulate discussions on the possibility that the Trypanosomatid flagellum could act as a sensory organ through the MAP kinase pathway, with the objective to encourage investigation of this new hypothesis through a series of proposed experimental approaches.
Conformational changes and cleavage; are these responsible for the tau aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease?

In the past, post-translational modifications of tau protein, such as phosphorylation, cleavage and conformational changes, have long been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, the accurate role and relationship between these pathological modifications during tau aggregation remains under extensive study. We had proposed a chronological model of tau pathological processing during Alzheimer´s disease, in which phosphorylation and cleavage could lead to conformational changes causing aggregation and therefore, cell toxicity. We discuss this issue and review in vitro and in situ evidence that supports the relevance of tau modifications that cause its pathological conformations and toxic aggregation. Thus, we offer a brief discussion regarding conformational change and cleavage as future clinical targets.
Dual infection system identifies a crucial role for PKA‐mediated serine phosphorylation of the EPEC‐Tir‐injected effector protein in regulating Rac1 function

Many Gram‐negative pathogenic bacteria possess type‐III or type‐IV secretion systems to inject ‘effector’ proteins directly into host cells to modulate cellular processes in their favour. A common target is the actin‐cytoskeleton linked to the delivery of a single (CagA) effector by Helicobacter pylori and multiple effectors by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) respectively. Here we report co‐infection as a powerful strategy for defining effector protein function and mechanisms by which they modulate cellular responses. This is exemplified by our finding that EPEC inhibits H. pylori‐induced AGS cell elongation, a disease‐related event linked to Rac1 activation. While this inhibitory process is dependent on the translocated Intimin receptor, Tir, and the outer‐membrane protein, Intimin, it unexpectedly revealed evidence for Tir signalling independent of Intimin interaction and tyrosine phosphorylation of Tir. Furthermore, the work defined a long awaited role for protein kinase A (PKA)‐mediated phosphorylation of Tir at serine‐434 and serine‐463. Our data are consistent with a model whereby EPEC activates PKA for Tir phosphorylation. Activated PKA then phosphorylates Rac1 at serine‐71 associated with reduced GTP‐load and inhibited cell elongation. Thus, the co‐infection approach is a powerful strategy for defining novel effector function with important implications for characterizing mechanisms and regulatory signalling pathways in bacterial pathogenesis.
Co-Morbidities in Children with Cerebral Palsy Undergoing Early Spine Fusion for Scoliosis

Introduction: Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) may have multisystem involvement the occurrence of which increases with severity of involvement. Scoliosis is also found to be more prevalent in severely involved children with CP. Aims: This study aimed to describe co-morbidities in children with CP undergoing early spine fusion for scoliosis. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with CP Scoliosis between 1989 and 206 who were <10 years at spine fusion was done. Demographics, mental status, pre-operative weight and height and body-mass index (BMI), curve characteristics, geographic pattern of involvement and GMFCS level were reported. Co-morbidities were broadly categorized as those involving central nervous system, gastrointestinal system and respiratory system. Results: 42 patients (24 male and 18 female) with mean age of 8.1 ±1.6 years at surgery were identified. The mean preoperative weight, height, and BMI were 22 ±6.8 kilograms, 115 ±11.8 centimeters and 16 ±3.7 respectively. All patients were mentally retarded and quadriplegic. GMFCS level was V in 40 patients and IV in 2 patients. The mean Cobb angle was 83.4° ±18.3° and pelvic tilt was 18° ±10°. Seizure disorder and GER were present in 98% and 69% of patients respectively. 88% patients had gastrostomy-tube for feeding. 31% patients were tracheostomized; 46% of them were ventilator dependent. Asthma/ reactive airway disease, restrictive lung disease and obstructive respiratory disease/ sleep apnea were present in 29%, 17% and 5% of patients respectively. 19% patients had recurrent aspiration pneumonitis. Conclusion: Our study showed that children with CP Scoliosis progressing to surgical range before 10 years of age are severely involved with co-morbidities encompassing multiple organsystems. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/jonmc.v3i1. 10049 Journal of Nobel Medical College Vol.3(1) 2014; 22-26
Role of the NF‐κB transcription pathway in the haemozoin‐ and 15‐HETE‐mediated activation of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 in human adherent monocytes

Haemozoin (HZ, malarial pigment) is a crystalline ferriprotoporphyrin IX polymer derived from undigested host haemoglobin haem, present in late stages of Plasmodium falciparum‐parasitized RBCs and in residual bodies shed after schizogony. It was shown previously that phagocytosed HZ or HZ‐containing trophozoites increased monocyte matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) activity and enhanced production of MMP‐9‐related cytokines TNF and IL‐1beta. Here we show that in human monocytes the HZ/trophozoite phagocytosis effects and their recapitulation by 15(S,R)‐hydroxy‐6,8,11,13‐eicosatetraenoic acid (15‐HETE), a potent lipoperoxidation derivative generated by HZ from arachidonic acid via haem catalysis, were mediated via activation of NF‐κB transcription pathway. After phagocytosis of HZ/trophozoites or treatment with 15‐HETE, the NF‐κB complex migrated to the nuclear fraction while the inhibitory cytosolic IκBalpha protein was phosphorylated and degraded. All HZ/trophozoite/15‐HETE effects on MMP‐9 activity and TNF/IL‐1beta production were abrogated by quercetin, artemisinin and parthenolide, inhibitors of IκBalpha phosphorylation and subsequent degradation, NF‐κB nuclear translocation, and NF‐κB‐p65 binding to DNA respectively. In conclusion, enhanced activation of MMP‐9, and release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL‐1beta, a triad of effects involved in malaria pathogenesis, elicited in human monocytes by trophozoite and HZ phagocytosis and recapitulated by 15‐HETE, appear to be causally connected to persisting activation of the NF‐κB system.
Display of Clostridium cellulovorans xylose isomerase on the cell surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its direct application to xylose fermentation

Xylose isomerase (XI) is a key enzyme in the conversion of d‐xylose, which is a major component of lignocellulosic biomass, to d‐xylulose. Genomic analysis of the bacterium Clostridium cellulovorans revealed the presence of XI‐related genes. In this study, XI derived from C. cellulovorans was produced and displayed using the yeast cell‐surface display system, and the xylose assimilation and fermentation properties of this XI‐displaying yeast were examined. XI‐displaying yeast grew well in medium containing xylose as the sole carbon source and directly produced ethanol from xylose under anaerobic conditions. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 29: 346–351, 2013
Endocytosis and toxicity of clostridial binary toxins depend on a clathrin‐independent pathway regulated by Rho‐GDI

Clostridial binary toxins, such as Clostridium perfringens Iota and Clostridium botulinum C2, are composed of a binding protein (Ib and C2II respectively) that recognizes distinct membrane receptors and mediates internalization of a catalytic protein (Ia and C2‐I respectively) with ADP‐ribosyltransferase activity that disrupts the actin cytoskeleton. We show here that the endocytic pathway followed by these toxins is independent of clathrin but requires the activity of dynamin and is regulated by Rho‐GDI. This endocytic pathway is similar to a recently characterized clathrin‐independent pathway followed by the interleukin‐2 (IL2) receptor. We found indeed that Ib and C2II colocalized intracellularly with the IL2 receptor but not the transferrin receptor after different times of endocytosis. Accordingly, the intracellular effects of Iota and C2 on the cytoskeleton were inhibited by inactivation of dynamin or by Rho‐GDI whereas inhibitors of clathrin‐dependent endocytosis had no protective effect.
Acquisition of thermotolerant yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by breeding via stepwise adaptation

A thermotolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strain, YK60‐1, was bred from a parental strain, MT8‐1, via stepwise adaptation. YK60‐1 grew at 40°C, a temperature at which MT8‐1 could not grow at all. YK60‐1 exhibited faster growth than MT8‐1 at 30°C. To investigate the mechanisms how MT8‐1 acquired thermotolerance, DNA microarray analysis was performed. The analysis revealed the induction of stress‐responsive genes such as those encoding heat shock proteins and trehalose biosynthetic enzymes in YK60‐1. Furthermore, nontargeting metabolome analysis showed that YK60‐1 accumulated more trehalose, a metabolite that contributes to stress tolerance in yeast, than MT8‐1. In conclusion, S. cerevisiae MT8‐1 acquired thermotolerance by induction of specific stress‐responsive genes and enhanced intracellular trehalose levels. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 29:1116–1123, 2013
Embodied mood regulation: the impact of body posture on mood recovery, negative thoughts, and mood-congruent recall

ABSTRACT Previous work has shown that a stooped posture may activate negative mood. Extending this work, the present experiments examine how stooped body posture influences recovery from pre-existing negative mood. In Experiment 1 (n = 229), participants were randomly assigned to receive either a negative or neutral mood induction, after which participants were instructed to take either a stooped, straight, or control posture while writing down their thoughts. Stooped posture (compared to straight or control postures) led to less mood recovery in the negative mood condition, and more negative mood in the neutral mood condition. Furthermore, stooped posture led to more negative thoughts overall compared to straight or control postures. In Experiment 2 (n = 122), all participants underwent a negative mood induction, after which half received cognitive reappraisal instructions and half received no instructions. Mood-congruent cognitions were assessed through autobiographical memory recall. Again, stooped (compared to straight) position led to less mood recovery. Notably, this was independent of regulation instruction. These findings demonstrate for the first time that posture plays an important role in recovering from negative mood.