Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using stop signals to reduce impulsive choices for palatable unhealthy foods.

OBJECTIVE Exposure to palatable foods in the environment can trigger impulsive reactions to obtain them, which may lead to unhealthy food choices and eating behaviour. Two studies tested the fundamental question whether impulsive unhealthy food choices can be altered by means of linking unhealthy palatable foods to behavioural stop signals. DESIGN Study 1 adopted a 2 (signal condition: stop signal vs. control) by 2 (appetite: low vs. high) between-subjects design. Study 2 adopted a 2 (signal condition: stop signal vs. control) between-subjects design with frequency to consume unhealthy palatable foods as a continuous factor. METHODS Participants performed a task in which behavioural stop signals were either consistently (or not) presented in close temporal proximity to unhealthy palatable snack foods. Next, participants were given the opportunity to select snacks that they would like to consume. RESULTS Two studies showed that participants were less likely to select unhealthy palatable foods that had been presented near stop signals, and that they selected healthy foods instead. Importantly, this reduction in choices for palatable foods was especially observed when participants' appetite was relatively high (Study 1), or when this food was part of their habit to frequently consume this food (Study 2). CONCLUSION These findings show that a short stop signal intervention in which palatable foods are presented in close temporal proximity of stop signals can reduce palatable food choices by modifying an impulsive determinant of eating behaviour. STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTION What is already known on this subject? Exposure to unhealthy palatable foods in the environment can lead to impulsive food choices. People's habits towards unhealthy palatable foods and their current state of appetite are important determinants of such impulsive food choices. This impulsive behaviour is hard to change. What this study add? Linking unhealthy palatable foods to behavioural stop signals reduces choices for these foods, and increases healthy food choices. This effect is particularly strong when people's food choices are driven by their current state of appetite or habits. Behavioural stop signals foster healthy eating behaviour by modifying an impulsive determinant of behaviour.
Temperature Drives Epidemics in a Zooplankton-Fungus Disease System: A Trait-Driven Approach Points to Transmission via Host Foraging

Climatic warming will likely have idiosyncratic impacts on infectious diseases, causing some to increase while others decrease or shift geographically. A mechanistic framework could better predict these different temperature-disease outcomes. However, such a framework remains challenging to develop, due to the nonlinear and (sometimes) opposing thermal responses of different host and parasite traits and due to the difficulty of validating model predictions with observations and experiments. We address these challenges in a zooplankton-fungus (Daphnia dentifera–Metschnikowia bicuspidata) system. We test the hypothesis that warmer temperatures promote disease spread and produce larger epidemics. In lakes, epidemics that start earlier and warmer in autumn grow much larger. In a mesocosm experiment, warmer temperatures produced larger epidemics. A mechanistic model parameterized with trait assays revealed that this pattern arose primarily from the temperature dependence of transmission rate (β), governed by the increasing foraging (and, hence, parasite exposure) rate of hosts (f). In the trait assays, parasite production seemed sufficiently responsive to shape epidemics as well; however, this trait proved too thermally insensitive in the mesocosm experiment and lake survey to matter much. Thus, in warmer environments, increased foraging of hosts raised transmission rate, yielding bigger epidemics through a potentially general, exposure-based mechanism for ectotherms. This mechanistic approach highlights how a trait-based framework will enhance predictive insight into responses of infectious disease to a warmer world.
Uncoupled angiogenesis and osteogenesis in nicotine‐compromised bone healing

Nicotine is the main chemical component responsible for tobacco addiction. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of nicotine on angiogenesis and osteogenesis and the associated expression of angiogenic and osteogenic mediators during bone healing. Forty‐eight adult New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to a nicotine group and a control group. Nicotine pellets (1.5 g, 60‐day time release) or placebo pellets were implanted in the neck subcutaneous tissue. The nicotine or placebo exposure time for all the animals was 7 weeks. Unilateral mandibular distraction osteogenesis was performed. Eight animals in each group were euthanized on day 5, day 11 of active distraction, and week 1 of consolidation, respectively. The mandibular samples were subjected to radiographic, histologic, immunohistochemical, and real‐time reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction examinations. Nicotine exposure upregulated the expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1α and vascular endothelial growth factor and enhanced angiogenesis but inhibited the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and impaired bone healing. The results indicate that nicotine decouples angiogenesis and osteogenesis in this rabbit model of distraction osteogenesis, and the enhanced angiogenesis cannot compensate for the adverse effects of nicotine on bone healing. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Comparative Evolution of an Archetypal Adaptive Radiation: Innovation and Opportunity in Anolis Lizards

Adaptive radiation is a widely recognized pattern of evolution wherein substantial phenotypic change accompanies rapid speciation. Adaptive radiation may be triggered by environmental opportunities resulting from dispersal to new areas or via the evolution of traits, called key innovations, that allow for invasion of new niches. Species sampling is a known source of bias in many comparative analyses, yet classic adaptive radiations have not been studied comparatively with comprehensively sampled phylogenies. In this study, we use unprecedented comprehensive phylogenetic sampling of Anolis lizard species to examine comparative evolution in this well-studied adaptive radiation. We compare adaptive radiation models within Anolis and in the Anolis clade and a potential sister lineage, the Corytophanidae. We find evidence for island (i.e., opportunity) effects and no evidence for trait (i.e., key innovation) effects causing accelerated body size evolution within Anolis. However, island effects are scale dependent: when Anolis and Corytophanidae are analyzed together, no island effect is evident. We find no evidence for an island effect on speciation rate and tenuous evidence for greater speciation rate due to trait effects. These results suggest the need for precision in treatments of classic adaptive radiations such as Anolis and further refinement of the concept of adaptive radiation.
Springback of Friction Stir Welded Sheets Made of Aluminium Grades during V-Bending: An Experimental Study

The main aim of the present work is to study the effect of shoulder diameter, rotational speed, and welding speed on the springback performance of friction stir welded sheets. The friction stir welded sheets are made by welding 6061T6 to 5052H32, and 6061T6 to 6061T6. The springback has been evaluated after V-bending of welded sheets, involving pure bending. The relation between springback and weld zone properties like yield strength, Young’s modulus, yield strength to Young’s modulus ratio, and strain hardening exponent is identified. It is found that, with increase in shoulder diameter, rotational speed, and welding speed, the springback of friction stir welded sheets has reduced, and is independent of the material combinations. The relation between springback and weld properties change coincides with existing knowledge about springback. The friction stir welded sheets show better springback performance as compared to 6061T6 base material, but inferior to 5052H32 base material. By reducing the punch nose radius, the springback of friction stir welded sheets can be minimized. It is also concluded that, by proper tailoring of Al grades, and by alteration of weld zone properties through friction stir welding, the springback of friction stir welded sheets can be reduced considerably.
Effects of iron deficiency anemia and its treatment on fibroblast growth factor 23 and phosphate homeostasis in women

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is an osteocyte‐derived hormone that regulates phosphate and vitamin D homeostasis. Through unknown mechanisms, certain intravenous iron preparations induce acute, reversible increases in circulating FGF23 levels that lower serum phosphate in association with inappropriately low levels of calcitriol, similar to genetic diseases of primary FGF23 excess. In contrast, studies in wild‐type mice suggest that iron deficiency stimulates fgf23 transcription but does not result in hypophosphatemia because FGF23 is cleaved within osteocytes by an unknown catabolic system. We tested the association of iron deficiency anemia with C‐terminal FGF23 (cFGF23) and intact FGF23 (iFGF23) levels in 55 women with a history of heavy uterine bleeding, and assessed the longitudinal biochemical response over 35 days to equivalent doses of randomly‐assigned, intravenous elemental iron in the form of ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) or iron dextran. Iron deficiency was associated with markedly elevated cFGF23 (807.8 ± 123.9 relative units [RU]/mL) but normal iFGF23 (28.5 ± 1.1 pg/mL) levels at baseline. Within 24 hours of iron administration, cFGF23 levels fell by approximately 80% in both groups. In contrast, iFGF23 transiently increased in the FCM group alone, and was followed by a transient, asymptomatic reduction in serum phosphate <2.0 mg/dL in 10 women in the FCM group compared to none in the iron dextran group. Reduced serum phosphate was accompanied by increased urinary fractional excretion of phosphate, decreased calcitriol levels, and increased parathyroid hormone levels. These findings suggest that iron deficiency increases cFGF23 levels, and that certain iron preparations temporarily increase iFGF23 levels. We propose that intravenous iron lowers cFGF23 in humans by reducing fgf23 transcription as it does in mice, whereas carbohydrate moieties in certain iron preparations may simultaneously inhibit FGF23 degradation in osteocytes leading to transient increases in iFGF23 and reduced serum phosphate.
Single‐ and Multiple‐Dose Randomized Studies of Blosozumab, a Monoclonal Antibody Against Sclerostin, in Healthy Postmenopausal Women

Two clinical studies were conducted to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of single and multiple doses (intravenous [iv] and subcutaneous [sc]) of blosozumab in postmenopausal women, including prior/current bisphosphonate (BP) users. In these phase 1, randomized, subject‐ and investigator‐blind, placebo‐controlled studies, subjects received escalating doses of blosozumab: single iv doses up to 750 mg, single sc doses of 150 mg, multiple iv doses up to 750 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W) for 8 weeks, multiple sc doses up to 270 mg Q2W for 8 weeks, or placebo. Six subjects were randomized to each dose in the single‐dose study (12 to placebo) and up to 12 subjects to each arm in the multiple‐dose study. Blosozumab was well tolerated with no safety concerns identified after single or multiple administrations up to 750 mg. Dose‐dependent responses were observed in sclerostin, N‐terminal propeptide of procollagen type 1, bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, C‐terminal fragment of type 1 collagen, and bone mineral density (BMD) after single and multiple (up to 5) administrations of blosozumab. There was up to a 3.41% (p = 0.002) and up to a 7.71% (p < 0.001) change from baseline in lumbar spine BMD at day 85 after single or multiple administrations of blosozumab, respectively. Prior BP use did not appear to have a clear impact on the effects of single doses of blosozumab when considering bone biomarker and BMD responses. Antibodies to blosozumab were detected by a screening assay, but no patterns with regard to dose or route of administration and no clear impact on blosozumab exposure or PD responses were identified. In summary, blosozumab was well tolerated and exhibited anabolic effects on bone. These findings support further investigation of blosozumab as a potential anabolic therapy for osteoporosis. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Response to “Calcium Supplements Increase Risk of Myocardial Infarction”

Joshua R Lewis, Simone Radavelli‐Bagatini, Lars Rejnmark, Jian Sheng Chen, Judy M Simpson, Joan M Lappe, Leif Mosekilde, Ross L Prentice, and Richard L Prince University of Western Australia School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Unit, Perth, Australia Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, THG, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark Institute of Bone and Joint Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
Growth hormone (GH) activity is associated with increased serum oestradiol and reduced Anti‐Müllerian Hormone in healthy male volunteers treated with GH and a GH antagonist

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) receptors are present on pituitary gonadotrophs and on testicular Leydig and Sertoli cells. Thus, the GH/IGF‐I system may modulate the pituitary‐gonadal axis in males. This is a randomized cross‐over study. Eight healthy male volunteers (mean age 35, range 29–46 years) were treated with GH for 3 weeks (1st week 0.01, 2nd week 0.02, 3rd week 0.03 mg/day/kg) or a GH receptor antagonist (Pegvisomant) (1st week 10, last 2 weeks 15 mg/day), separated by 8 weeks of washout. Before and after the two treatment periods, concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle‐stimulating hormone, testosterone, oestradiol, sex hormone–binding globulin, inhibin B and Anti‐Müllerian Hormone (AMH) were measured. During GH treatment, IGF‐I increased [(median (IQR)] 166 (162–235) vs. 702 (572–875) μg/L, p < 0.001) together with oestradiol [(mean ± SD) 78 ± 23 vs. 111 ± 30 pm, p = 0.019], and the oestradiol/testosterone ratio (p = 0.003). By contrast, AMH (42 ± 14 vs. 32 ± 7 pm, p = 0.018), Inhibin B (211 (146–226) vs. 176 (129–204) ng/L, p = 0.059) and LH (3.8 ± 1.5 vs. 3.2 ± 1.2 U/L, p = 0.096) decreased. During pegvisomant treatment IGF‐I (204 (160–290) vs. 106 (97–157) μg/L, p = 0.001) and oestradiol (86 ± 28 vs. 79 ± 25 pm, p = 0.060) decreased. No significant changes or trends in the other reproductive hormones occurred during the two treatment regimens. GH/IGF‐I activity was positively associated with serum oestradiol, suggesting that GH/IGF‐I stimulates aromatase activity in vivo. As a novel observation, we found that high GH activity was associated with reduced levels of the Sertoli cell marker AMH. Further studies are needed to evaluate possible effects of GH on Sertoli cell function and/or spermatogenesis.
Outcome of microdissection TESE compared with conventional TESE in non‐obstructive azoospermia: a systematic review

Retrieval of spermatozoa is unfortunately still only successful in a subset of patients suffering from non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA) by conventional testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Microdissection TESE may have some theoretical benefits over conventional TESE, but uncertainty exists about its superiority. The objective of this systematic review was therefore to compare the efficacy and safety of microTESE with conventional TESE in men with NOA. The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis statement. Literature was searched for studies comparing outcome of conventional TESE with microdissection TESE. Primary outcome was sperm retrieval rate (SRR). Secondary outcomes were clinical predictors of sperm retrieval as well as complication rate. Of 62 articles, a total of seven studies were included in the final analysis. Overall SRR was significantly higher in the microTESE group in comparison with conventional TESE in five of these studies. Overall sperm retrieval ranged from 16.7 to 45% in the conventional TESE vs. 42.9 to 63% in the microTESE group. A sub‐analysis of the SRR according to testicular histology was available in four of the selected articles. MicroTESE in men with Sertoli cell only syndrome and hypospermatogenesis carried a small but significant more favourable outcome according to, respectively, two and one of the studies. Correlation of serum follicle stimulating hormone and testicular volume with positive outcome was variable. Fewer complications were observed on ultrasound examination after microTESE procedure. Clinical randomized studies comparing microTESE with conventional TESE in NOA are still lacking to date. Pseudo‐randomized prospective data, however, show more favourable sperm retrieval in NOA for microTESE, especially in histological patterns of patchy spermatogenesis such as Sertoli cell only syndrome. However, in patients with uniform histological patterns such as maturation arrest outcome of microTESE seems less favourable.
Single‐nucleotide polymorphism, rs1799941 in the Sex Hormone‐Binding Globulin (SHBG) gene, related to both serum testosterone and SHBG levels and the risk of myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes, cancer and mortality in men: the Tromsø Study

Low testosterone levels are associated with metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk factor, and have been shown to predict type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), myocardial infarction (MI) and all‐cause mortality. It is not known if these associations are causal or not. Recently, it has been shown that the serum testosterone levels are associated with single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and we therefore studied the associations between one of these SNPs, rs1799941 on the Sex Hormone‐Binding Globulin (SHBG) gene, and MI, T2DM, cancer and death. DNA was prepared from men who participated in the fourth survey of the Tromsø Study in 1994–1995 and who were registered with the endpoints MI, T2DM, cancer or death and a randomly selected control group. For mortality, the observation time was set from 1994, and for the other endpoints from birth. The endpoint data were completed up to 2010–2013. Genetic analyses were successfully performed in 5309 men, of whom 1454 were registered with MI, 638 with T2DM, 1534 with cancer and in 2226 who had died. Men with the minor homozygote genotype had significantly higher levels of total testosterone (14.7%) and SHBG (24.7%) compared with men with the major homozygote genotype, whereas free testosterone levels did not differ significantly between the genotypes. The SNP rs1799941 was not significantly associated with MI, T2DM, cancer or mortality. Thus, our result does not support a causal relationship between total testosterone and SHBG and MI, T2DM, cancer or mortality, suggesting that low testosterone more likely is a marker of poor health.
The role of AMG-531 in the treatment of thrombocytopenia in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and myelodysplastic syndromes

Thrombocytopenia can be seen in a variety of disease states, including immune mediated thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The most concerning complication is the development of hemorrhagic complications that may contribute to patient morbidity and mortality. The ligand thrombopoeitin (TPO) and its interaction with its receptor (c-mpl) are important in platelet production. Thrombopoietic agonists can help in the management of thrombocytopenia related to these conditions. Amgen Megakaryopoiesis Protein 531 (AMG-531) (Romiplostim) is a recombinant TPO with a peptide fragment that shares no sequence homology with endogenous TPO, preventing the production of neutralizing antibodies. Recent studies have shown that it is effective in raising platelet counts, and is well tolerated in ITP and MDS patients. In this review, we discuss thrombopoiesis regulation by TPO; the chemistry, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of AMG-531 in animals and humans; the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to thrombocytopenia in ITP and MDS; and clinical trials demonstrating its efficacy in treating thrombocytopenia.
Are the High Hip Fracture Rates Among Norwegian Women Explained by Impaired Bone Material Properties?

Hip fracture rates in Norway rank among the highest in the world, more than double that of Spanish women. Previous studies were unable to demonstrate significant differences between the two populations with respect to bone mass or calcium metabolism. In order to test whether the difference in fracture propensity between both populations could be explained by differences in bone material quality we assessed bone material strength using microindentation in 42 Norwegian and 46 Spanish women with normal BMD values, without clinical or morphometric vertebral fractures, no clinical or laboratory signs of secondary osteoporosis, and without use of drugs with known influence on bone metabolism. Bone material properties were assessed by microindentation of the thick cortex of the mid tibia following local anesthesia of the area using the Osteoprobe device (Active Life Scientific, Santa Barbara, CA, USA). Indentation distance was standardized against a calibration phantom of methylmethacrylate and results, as percentage of this reference value, expressed as bone material strength index units (BMSi). We found that the bone material properties reflected in the BMSi value of Norwegian women was significantly inferior when compared to Spanish women (77 ± 7.1 versus 80.7 ± 7.8, p < 0.001). Total hip BMD was significantly higher in Norwegian women (1.218 g/cm2 versus 0.938 g/cm2, p < 0.001) but regression analysis revealed that indentation values did not vary with BMD r2 = 0.03 or age r2 = 0.04. In conclusion Norwegian women show impaired bone material properties, higher bone mass, and were taller than Spanish women. The increased height will increase the impact on bone after falls, and impaired bone material properties may further enhance the risk fracture after such falls. These ethnic differences in bone material properties may partly explain the higher propensity for fracture in Norwegian women. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
How nurse practitioners make decisions regarding coronary heart disease risk: a social judgment analysis.

PURPOSE Understanding how nurse practitioners use clinical decision skills in practice has the potential to guide education programs to ensure safe, competent, and high quality advanced nursing practice. This study used the lens of social judgment theory to examine the clinical decision making of 60 nurse practitioners. METHODS A three-group pretest-posttest comparison design was used to evaluate how much insight nurse practitioners had into their clinical decision-making process. FINDINGS Nurse practitioners had modest insight into their clinical decision-making process. CONCLUSION Self-insight has implications for enhancing nurses' decision making, improving education, and fostering agreement among advanced practice nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Self-insight has implications for developing professional decision making and promoting appropriate educational opportunities for advanced practice nurses.