Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of the autonomic nervous system in cardioprotection by remote preconditioning in isoflurane-anaesthetized dogs.

AIMS Remote ischaemic preconditioning (rIPC) protects cardiac and non-cardiac tissues against ischaemic injury. Although there is increased demand to investigate its potential clinical applicability, fundamental mechanisms responsible for rIPC-mediated protection remain unresolved. We examined in isoflurane-anaesthetized dogs whether an intact cardiac nervous system was necessary to mediate rIPC protection against ischaemic injury. METHODS AND RESULTS Dogs were randomly allocated to six groups: 1, control (CON, no-rIPC); 2, rIPC (4 × 5 min renal artery occlusion/reperfusion); 3, autonomic ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium (HEX, no-rIPC; 20 mg/kg iv); 4, HEX + rIPC; 5, cardiac decentralization by surgical ablation of extracardiac nerves (DCN, no-rIPC); and 6, DCN + rIPC. All dogs underwent 60 min coronary occlusion and 180 min reperfusion; cardiac haemodynamic parameters were monitored. Regional blood flow (microspheres) in the heart and kidneys was assessed. Necrotic tissue was visualized using triphenyltetrazolium staining and related to anatomic risk zone size (area at risk; P = NS between groups) and coronary collateral blood flow. Infarct size (% AAR) was 29 ± 5 (mean ± 1 SD) in CON and 15 ± 4 in rIPC dogs (P = 0.001 vs. CON); 24 ± 3 in HEX vs. 12 ± 2 in HEX + rIPC (P = 0.001 vs. HEX); and 20 ± 2 in DCN vs. 12 ± 4 in DCN + rIPC (P = 0.001 vs. DCN). In CON dogs, infarct size was inversely related to coronary collateral flow; this relation was shifted downwards in all groups pre-treated with rIPC. CONCLUSION We report robust myocardial protection by rIPC against ischaemic injury in canines that was not abrogated by either pharmacological or surgical decentralization of cardiac nerves.
Contribution of bone marrow-derived pericyte precursor cells to corneal vasculogenesis.

PURPOSE Bone-marrow (BM)-derived hematopoietic precursor cells are thought to participate in the growth of blood vessels during postnatal vasculogenesis. In this investigation, multichannel laser scanning confocal microscopy and quantitative image analysis were used to study the fate of BM-derived hematopoietic precursor cells in corneal neovascularization. METHODS A BM-reconstituted mouse model was used in which the BM from enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive mice was transplanted into C57BL/6 mice. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was used to induce corneal neovascularization in mice. The vasculogenic potential of adult BM-derived cells and their progeny were tested in this in vivo model. Seventy-two histologic sections selected by systematic random sampling from four mice were immunostained and imaged with a confocal microscope and analyzed with image-analysis software. RESULTS BM-derived endothelial cells did not contribute to bFGF-induced neovascularization in the cornea. BM-derived periendothelial vascular mural cells (pericytes) were detected at sites of neovascularization, whereas endothelial cells of blood vessels originated from preexisting blood vessels in limbal capillaries. Fifty three percent of all neovascular pericytes originated from BM, and 47% of them originated from preexisting corneoscleral limbus capillaries. Ninety-six percent and 92% of BM-derived pericytes also expressed CD45 and CD11b, respectively, suggesting their hematopoietic origin from the BM. CONCLUSIONS Pericytes of new corneal vessels have a dual source: BM and preexisting limbal capillaries. These findings establish BM as a significant effector organ in corneal disorders associated with neovascularization.
Role of MEK‐ERK pathway in morphine‐induced conditioned place preference in ventral tegmental area of rats

A major goal of research on drug addiction is to develop the effective treatments to deal with the long‐term behavioral disorders especially reinstatement induced by the addictive drugs such as opiates, cocaine, and cannabinoid. The molecular mechanisms underlying these substance‐related disorders remain unclear so far. Here we used the model of morphine‐induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats to mimic the progress of drug‐taking, withdrawal and relapse in human. The tissue of ventral tegmental area (VTA), one of the most important brain structures associated with abused drug‐related disorders, was taken and two‐dimensional electrophoresis (2‐DE) was performed to analyze and compare the changes of protein expression patterns during the different stages of morphine‐induced CPP. First, we found that there were 80 proteins identified to be changed in the process of morphine‐induced CPP. Furthermore, as the mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MAPKK1) was increased significantly in the stages of establishment and reinstatement, we confirmed the change of activated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) by Western blotting in VTA tissue and cultured cell. The results demonstrated that the activated MEK‐ERK pathway by chronic morphine treatment in VTA was involved in morphine‐induced reinstatement. Moreover, inhibition of MEK‐ERK pathway by infusion the MEK inhibitor U0126 in VTA blocked the establishment of morphine‐induced CPP. The present study found significant changes in a group of protein expressions in VTA during morphine‐induced CPP and further confirmed the role of MEK‐ERK cell signaling pathway of VTA in morphine addiction. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acute carbon tetrachloride feeding induces damage of large but not small cholangiocytes from BDL rat liver.

Bile duct damage and/or loss is limited to a range of duct sizes in cholangiopathies. We tested the hypothesis that CCl4damages only large ducts. CCl4 or mineral oil was given to bile duct-ligated (BDL) rats, and 1, 2, and 7 days later small and large cholangiocytes were purified and evaluated for apoptosis, proliferation, and secretion. In situ, we measured apoptosis by morphometric and TUNEL analysis and the number of small and large ducts by morphometry. Two days after CCl4 administration, we found an increased number of small ducts and reduced number of large ducts. In vitro apoptosis was observed only in large cholangiocytes, and this was accompanied by loss of proliferation and secretion in large cholangiocytes and loss of choleretic effect of secretin. Small cholangiocytes de novo express the secretin receptor gene and secretin-induced cAMP response. Consistent with damage of large ducts, we detected cytochrome P-4502E1 (which CCl4 converts to its radicals) only in large cholangiocytes. CCl4induces selective apoptosis of large ducts associated with loss of large cholangiocyte proliferation and secretion.
Martensitic Phase Transformation in TRIP‐Steel/Mg‐PSZ Honeycomb Composite Materials on Mechanical Load

Composite materials have been in focus of scientific studies since decades. Metal‐matrix composites have received extensive attention in the last years. The combination of a metastable austenitic TRIP‐steel with magnesia partially stabilized zirconia is presented in this study. The stress induced martensitic phase transformation in both components leads to advantageous mechanical behavior. Raised compression strength as well as increased specific energy absorption on plastic deformation offers a range of structural and crash‐absorption applications. Samples with zirconia additions are reinforced by volume increase during tetragonal‐monoclinic phase transformation at compressive strains below 35%. The microstructure and phase evolution of partially stabilized zirconia as well as steel has been investigated by EBSD with purpose to correlate mechanical properties with phase evolution.
Tbx5 is dispensable for forelimb outgrowth

Tbx5 is essential for initiation of the forelimb, and its deletion in mice results in the failure of forelimb formation. Misexpression of dominant-negative forms of Tbx5 results in limb truncations, suggesting Tbx5 is also required for forelimb outgrowth. Here we show that Tbx5 is expressed throughout the limb mesenchyme in progenitors of cartilage, tendon and muscle. Using a tamoxifeninducible Cre transgenic line, we map the time frame during which Tbx5 is required for limb development. We show that deletion of Tbx5 subsequent to limb initiation does not impair limb outgrowth. Furthermore, we distinguish two distinct phases of limb development: a Tbx5-dependent limb initiation phase, followed by a Tbx5-independent limb outgrowth phase. In humans, mutations in the T-box transcription factor TBX5 are associated with the dominant disorder Holt-Oram syndrome (HOS), which is characterised by malformations in the forelimb and heart. Our results demonstrate a short temporal requirement for Tbx5 during early limb development, and suggest that the defects found in HOS arise as a result of disrupted TBX5 function during this narrow time window.
Conjunctival impression cytology in computer users.

INTRODUCTION It is known that the computer users develop the features of dry eye. OBJECTIVE To study the cytological changes in the conjunctiva using conjunctival impression cytology in computer users and a control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen eyes of computer users who had used computers for more than one year and ten eyes of an age-and-sex matched control group (those who had not used computers) were studied by conjunctival impression cytology. RESULTS Conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) results in the control group were of stage 0 and stage I while the computer user group showed CIC results between stages II to stage IV. Among the computer users, the majority ( > 90 %) showed stage III and stage IV changes. CONCLUSION We found that those who used computers daily for long hours developed more CIC changes than those who worked at the computer for a shorter daily duration.
Detailed numerical simulations of flame propagation in coal-dust clouds

A detailed numerical study was conducted to understand the transient flame propagation process in coal-dust clouds. The model includes detailed chemistry for the gas-phase combustion; devolatilisation kinetics; full coupling between the gas and solid phases; and radiative heat transfer. Furthermore, it solves the gas- and particle-phase momentum equations for the two-phase dynamics. The results show that the flame-speed oscillation phenomenon, which in a previous study was observed for carbon-dust clouds, was not observed for high-volatile coal dust. This is because for high-volatile dusts, such as coal, surface reactions have little impact on flame propagation, which is in fact dominated by volatile combustion. The flame speed largely depends on the devolatilisation rate. For the same reason, neither radiative emission nor absorption is important in high-volatile dust flames because of the much shorter timescale of volatile combustion. The flame structure can be divided into five zones: unburned, preheat, devolatilisation, reaction (gas phase), and post-reaction. Lastly, flame speeds increase when particle size decreases, mainly because the heat released from volatile combustion can be more effectively transported to smaller particles through conduction and convection. This will raise their temperatures more quickly and more profoundly and result in a faster devolatilisation rate and thus faster flame speed.
Normal vision can compensate for the loss of the circadian clock

Circadian clocks are thought to be essential for timing the daily activity of animals, and consequently increase fitness. This view was recently challenged for clock-less fruit flies and mice that exhibited astonishingly normal activity rhythms under outdoor conditions. Compensatory mechanisms appear to enable even clock mutants to live a normal life in nature. Here, we show that gradual daily increases/decreases of light in the laboratory suffice to provoke normally timed sharp morning (M) and evening (E) activity peaks in clock-less flies. We also show that the compound eyes, but not Cryptochrome (CRY), mediate the precise timing of M and E peaks under natural-like conditions, as CRY-less flies do and eyeless flies do not show these sharp peaks independently of a functional clock. Nevertheless, the circadian clock appears critical for anticipating dusk, as well as for inhibiting sharp activity peaks during midnight. Clock-less flies only increase E activity after dusk and not before the beginning of dusk, and respond strongly to twilight exposure in the middle of the night. Furthermore, the circadian clock responds to natural-like light cycles, by slightly broadening Timeless (TIM) abundance in the clock neurons, and this effect is mediated by CRY.
Increase in FLAIR Signal of the Fluid Within the Resection Cavity as Early Recurrence Marker: Also Valid for Brain Metastases?

Abstract Purpose Increase in FLAIR signal of the fluid within the resection cavity is described as a highly specific and early sign for tumor recurrence in gliomas. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of FLAIR signal increase in partially or completely resected brain metastases. Materials and Methods 209 cases of surgery for brain metastases were assessed. 41 cases with at least two follow-up MRIs were retrospectively included in this study. Quantitative and qualitative assessment of the FLAIR signal intensity of the fluid within the resection cavity was performed in the MRI examination at recurrent disease/last contact and in the previous MRI examination. Results 3 of 6 cases with local tumor recurrence showed a FLAIR signal increase (sensitivity 50.0 %, specificity 100.0 %). In one case, this sign was observed even about 3 months before tumor recurrence. The specificity of FLAIR signal increase for overall tumor recurrence (local and distant) was also 100.0 %, but with a lower sensitivity of 13.0 %. Quantitative analysis showed significant differences for signal intensity of the resection cavity as well as for the change of signal intensity of the resection cavity in cases with or without local tumor recurrence. Conclusion An increase in FLAIR signal of the fluid within the resection cavity might be a highly specific and early sign of local tumor recurrence/tumor progression also for brain metastases. Key points: An increase in FLAIR signal intensity of the fluid within the resection cavity is also observed in previously resected brain metastases. The pathophysiology of this sign might be due to a cell-proliferative process. Citation Format Bette S, Gempt J, Wiestler B et al. Increase of the FLAIR Signal of the Fluid within the Resection Cavity as Early Recurrence Marker: Also Valid for Brain Metastases? Fortschr Röntgenstr 2017; 189: 63 – 70
Which features of primary care affect unscheduled secondary care use? A systematic review

Objectives To conduct a systematic review to identify studies that describe factors and interventions at primary care practice level that impact on levels of utilisation of unscheduled secondary care. Setting Observational studies at primary care practice level. Participants Studies included people of any age of either sex living in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries with any health condition. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome measure was unscheduled secondary care as measured by emergency department attendance and emergency hospital admissions. Results 48 papers were identified describing potential influencing features on emergency department visits (n=24 studies) and emergency admissions (n=22 studies). Patient factors associated with both outcomes were increased age, reduced socioeconomic status, lower educational attainment, chronic disease and multimorbidity. Features of primary care affecting unscheduled secondary care were more complex. Being able to see the same healthcare professional reduced unscheduled secondary care. Generally, better access was associated with reduced unscheduled care in the USA. Proximity to healthcare provision influenced patterns of use. Evidence relating to quality of care was limited and mixed. Conclusions The majority of research was from different healthcare systems and limited in the extent to which it can inform policy. However, there is evidence that continuity of care is associated with reduced emergency department attendance and emergency hospital admissions.
Evaluation of Long-Term Creep Strength of ASME Grades 91, 92, and 122 Type Steels

Creep rupture data of ASME Grades 91, 92 and 122 type steels have been collected and long-term creep rupture strength of the steels has been evaluated. Similar study was conducted by the SHC committee in 2004 and 2005, therefore, the evaluation of long-term creep rupture strength was conducted with emphasis on the long-term creep rupture data obtained after the previous study. Creep rupture strength was analyzed by means of region splitting analysis method in consideration of 50% of 0.2% offset yield strength, in the same way as the previous study. Almost the same results were obtained on base metal of Grade 92 as the previous study, however, evaluated 100,000 hours creep rupture strength of base metal of Grades 91 and 122 were lower than the previous results. For Grades 91 and 122 type steels, moreover, creep rupture strength of the plate steel were lower than those of pipe and forging steels. Tendency to decrease with increase in nickel content was observed on long-term creep rupture strength of tube steel of Grade 91 at 600°C. According to the evaluation of long-term creep strength of the steels, allowable tensile stress was reviewed and proposed revision was concluded.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Infants’ expectations about gestures and actions in third-party interactions

We investigated 14-month-old infants’ expectations toward a third party addressee of communicative gestures and an instrumental action. Infants’ eye movements were tracked as they observed a person (the Gesturer) point, direct a palm-up request gesture, or reach toward an object, and another person (the Addressee) respond by grasping it. Infants’ looking patterns indicate that when the Gesturer pointed or used the palm-up request, infants anticipated that the Addressee would give the object to the Gesturer, suggesting that they ascribed a motive of request to the gestures. In contrast, when the Gesturer reached for the object, and in a control condition where no action took place, the infants did not anticipate the Addressee’s response. The results demonstrate that infants’ recognition of communicative gestures extends to others’ interactions, and that infants can anticipate how third-party addressees will respond to others’ gestures.
Tails of tuning curves of auditory-nerve fibers.

Bekesy's interest in improving telephone communication led him eventually to make observations on the mechanical properties of the basilar membrane. For apical parts of the membrane he obtained resonance curves with steep high‐frequency slopes and gradual low‐frequency slopes. Tuning curves for auditory‐nerve fibers in anesthetized cats also show significant low‐frequency tails. Even fibers with high characteristic frequencies (CF) respond to tones throughout a wide range of low and middle frequencies. For low‐frequency tones at moderate and high stimulus levels the responses of high‐CF fibers tend to be time‐locked either to the same phase of the stimulus or to a phase that differs by a half cycle. For complex stimuli such as speech, which contains many low‐frequency components, these fibers behave as broadly tuned elements, discharging with time patterns that are principally determined by the temporal characteristics of the acoustic waveform. Results of experiments using low‐ and high‐frequency masking .
Evaluation of compatibility in SAN/EPDM blends by determination of the adhesion parameters

A series of various types (different structures) of ethylene-polypropylene-diene-graft-polystyrene (EPDM-g-PS) copolymers were synthesized and their surface property variations were studied using surface analysis techniques such as surface contact angle measurement. Pre-synthesized graft copolymers were added (5 phr) in styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN)/ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) blends composition of 95/5 and 90/10. The adhesion parameters at the interface, that is work of adhesion, the interfacial energy and the coefficient of wetting were calculated and correlated to the differential scanning measurements measurements and SEM micrographs in order to study the effect of graft copolymers on compatibility of SAN/EPDM blends. It is obvious that depending of the graft copolymer’s structure, various interactions between the components in the blend will be established, resulting in better adhesion which implicates improvement of compatibility in blends. Also, from the results, it can be seen that differences in structures of the added compatibilizer are clearly reflected in the adhesion parameters results, making this an acceptable method to determine whether two polymers are compatible. Morphology of the blends with the graft copolymers is significantly finer and the dispersed size is more uniformly distributed in comparison to the neat SAN/EPDM blend. The conditions of the optimal adhesion parameters with compatibilizer location at the interface, predicting by the thermodynamical models, correlated well with the improvement of the morphology and thermal measurements.
Application of Different Mixing Systems for the Batch Cultivation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Part I: Experimental Investigations and Modelling

Experimental investigations in different mixing conditions (impulse and vibromixing) in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae batch cultivation are presented in this paper. The investigation is carried out in a 5 l laboratory bioreactor (working volume 3 l). Mathematical models of the process for the two mixing systems are developed. The obtained results have shown that the models are adequate and will be used for process optimisation for the two mixing systems.