Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anti-Emetic Effect of Midazolam Added to Morphine Patient-Controlled Analgesia After Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

Nausea and vomiting are frequent adverse effects of patient-controlled analgesia with opioids. This study was designed to compare the effect of midazolam to that of ondansetron for prevention of nausea and vomiting during morphine patient-controlled analgesia. In a randomised, double-blind, prospective trial, 90 patients were allocated to one of three groups of 30 each, to receive one of three patient-controlled analgesia regimens to manage postoperative pain: a combination of midazolam and morphine (group M), a mixture of ondansetron and morphine (group O) or morphine alone (group C). Patients were assessed for the incidence of nausea and vomiting, the degree of sedation (awake, mild, moderate, deep) and other side-effects during the first 24 hours after the operation. The frequency of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in groups M (27%) and O (37%) compared with group C (70%) (P <0.05). The incidence of mild sedation in group M was significantly higher than that in groups O or C (P <0.05). We conclude that midazolam is as effective as ondansetron in preventing opioid-induced nausea and vomiting following total abdominal hysterectomy and has acceptable side-effects.
Impact of the Lung Allocation Score on Survival Beyond 1 Year

Implementation of the lung allocation score (LAS) in 2005 led to transplantation of older and sicker patients without altering 1‐year survival. However, long‐term survival has not been assessed and emphasizing the 1‐year survival metric may actually sustain 1‐year survival while not reflecting worsening longer‐term survival. Therefore, we assessed overall and conditional 1‐year survival; and the effect of crossing the 1‐year threshold on hazard of death in three temporal cohorts: historical (1995–2000), pre‐LAS (2001–2005) and post‐LAS (2005–2010). One‐year survival post‐LAS remained similar to pre‐LAS (83.1% vs. 82.1%) and better than historical controls (75%). Overall survival in the pre‐ and post‐LAS cohorts was also similar. However, long‐term survival among patients surviving beyond 1 year was worse than pre‐LAS and similar to historical controls. Also, the hazard of death increased significantly in months 13 (1.44, 95% CI 1.10–1.87) and 14 (1.43, 95% CI 1.09–1.87) post‐LAS but not in the other cohorts. While implementation of the LAS has not reduced overall survival, decreased survival among patients surviving beyond 1 year in the post‐LAS cohort and the increased mortality occurring immediately after 1 year suggest a potential negative long‐term effect of the LAS and an unintended consequence of increased emphasis on the 1‐year survival metric.
TRPA1 is functionally co-expressed with TRPV1 in cardiac muscle: Co-localization at z-discs, costameres and intercalated discs

ABSTRACT Transient receptor potential channels of the ankyrin subtype-1 (TRPA1) and vanilloid subtype-1 (TRPV1) are structurally related, non-selective cation channels that show a high permeability to calcium. Previous studies indicate that TRP channels play a prominent role in the regulation of cardiovascular dynamics and homeostasis, but also contribute to the pathophysiology of many diseases and disorders within the cardiovascular system. However, no studies to date have identified the functional expression and/or intracellular localization of TRPA1 in primary adult mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes (CMs). Although TRPV1 has been implicated in the regulation of cardiac function, there is a paucity of information regarding functional expression and localization of TRPV1 in adult CMs. Our current studies demonstrate that TRPA1 and TRPV1 ion channels are co-expressed at the protein level in CMs and both channels are expressed throughout the endocardium, myocardium and epicardium. Moreover, immunocytochemical localization demonstrates that both channels predominantly colocalize at the Z-discs, costameres and intercalated discs. Furthermore, specific TRPA1 and TRPV1 agonists elicit dose-dependent, transient rises in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) that are abolished in CMs obtained from TRPA1−/− and TRPV1−/− mice. Similarly, we observed a dose-dependent attenuation of the TRPA1 and TRPV1 agonist-induced increase in [Ca2+]i when WT CMs were pretreated with increasing concentrations of selective TRPA1 or TRPV1 channel antagonists. In summary, these findings demonstrate functional expression and the precise ultrastructural localization of TRPA1 and TRPV1 ion channels in freshly isolated mouse CMs. Crosstalk between TRPA1 and TRPV1 may be important in mediating cellular signaling events in cardiac muscle.
Diversity and Activity of Free-Living Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria and Total Bacteria in Organic and Conventionally Managed Soils

ABSTRACT Agricultural soils are heterogeneous environments in which conditions affecting microbial growth and diversity fluctuate widely in space and time. In this study, the molecular ecology of the total bacterial and free-living nitrogen-fixing communities in soils from the Nafferton Factorial Systems Comparison (NFSC) study in northeast England were examined. The field experiment was factorial in design, with organic versus conventional crop rotation, crop protection, and fertility management factors. Soils were sampled on three dates (March, June, and September) in 2007. Total RNA was extracted from all soil samples and reverse transcribed. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were used to analyze nifH and 16S rRNA genes in order to study free-living diazotrophs and the total bacterial community, respectively. Crop rotation was shown to have a significant effect on total bacterial diversity (and that of free-living N fixers) (P ≤ 0.001). On all three dates, nifH activity was higher in the conventional crop rotation. In contrast, qPCR analysis of free-living N fixers indicated significantly higher levels of activity in conventionally fertilized plots in June (P = 0.0324) and in plots with organic crop protection in September (P = 0.0143). To our knowledge, the effects of organic and conventional farming systems on free-living diazotrophs have never been studied. An increased understanding of the impacts of management practices on free-living N fixers could allow modifications in soil management practices to optimize the activity of these organisms.
Identification of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Deamidase of the Bacterial Pyridine Nucleotide Cycle Reveals a Novel Broadly Conserved Amidohydrolase Family*

The pyridine nucleotide cycle is a network of salvage and recycling routes maintaining homeostasis of NAD(P) cofactor pool in the cell. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) deamidase (EC 3.5.1.42), one of the key enzymes of the bacterial pyridine nucleotide cycle, was originally described in Enterobacteria, but the corresponding gene eluded identification for over 30 years. A genomics-based reconstruction of NAD metabolism across hundreds of bacterial species suggested that NMN deamidase reaction is the only possible way of nicotinamide salvage in the marine bacterium Shewanella oneidensis. This prediction was verified via purification of native NMN deamidase from S. oneidensis followed by the identification of the respective gene, termed pncC. Enzymatic characterization of the PncC protein, as well as phenotype analysis of deletion mutants, confirmed its proposed biochemical and physiological function in S. oneidensis. Of the three PncC homologs present in Escherichia coli, NMN deamidase activity was confirmed only for the recombinant purified product of the ygaD gene. A comparative analysis at the level of sequence and three-dimensional structure, which is available for one of the PncC family member, shows no homology with any previously described amidohydrolases. Multiple alignment analysis of functional and nonfunctional PncC homologs, together with NMN docking experiments, allowed us to tentatively identify the active site area and conserved residues therein. An observed broad phylogenomic distribution of predicted functional PncCs in the bacterial kingdom is consistent with a possible role in detoxification of NMN, resulting from NAD utilization by DNA ligase.
Estimation of Multi-Mycotoxin Contamination in South African Compound Feeds

A total of 92 commercial compound feeds from South Africa were investigated for various mycotoxins. The data reveal the highest incidence of feed contamination for fumonisins (FB) (range: 104–2999 µg/kg) followed by deoxynivalenol (DON) (range: 124–2352 µg/kg) and zearalenone (ZEA) (range: 30–610 µg/kg). The incidence of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins (AF)-contaminated samples were generally low, i.e., 4% and 30% of samples with levels ranging between 6.4 and 17.1 µg/kg (mean: 9.9 µg/kg) for OTA and 0.2 to 71.8 µg/kg (mean: 9.0 µg/kg) for AF. No samples contained T-2 toxin or HT-2 toxin. However, all samples analyzed were contaminated with at least one mycotoxin with a majority containing several mycotoxins. In particular, 3 of 4 positive samples mainly cattle feeds that had relatively high contents of OTA (ranging from 7 to 17.1 µg/kg) also contained high amounts of AF (>27.5 µg/kg) together with FB, DON and ZEA. Apart from a few samples, the levels of mycotoxins may be regarded as safe for livestock production in South Africa. However, the persistent co-occurrence of mycotoxins in samples, especially those at high concentrations, i.e., AF and OTA, together with other mycotoxins studied, may elicit synergistic or additive effects in animals. This should raise concern as multiple contaminations may pose a risk to livestock production and health.
A Novel Role of Complement Factor C1q in Augmenting the Presentation of Antigen Captured in Immune Complexes to CD8+ T Lymphocytes1

Ag-IgG immune complexes (IC) are efficiently taken up, and Ag-derived peptides are subsequently processed and presented by APC. In vitro experiments indicate that IgG Fc Receptors (FcγR) facilitate the efficient uptake of IC by dendritic cells. Previous experiments showed that the cross-presentation of Ag-derived peptides after s.c. administration of IC is FcγR-dependent. To study the role of different FcγR and complement in MHC class I Ag presentation after i.v. administration, we used mice deficient for FcγRs and complement components. These mice were injected with CFSE-labeled OVA-specific CD8+ T cells followed by administration of IC composed of OVA and rabbit anti-OVA IgG i.v. to measure MHC class I presentation of OVA-derived peptides. The Ag presentation was partly reduced in FcRγ-chain-deficient mice, but not affected in FcγRI/II/III-deficient mice, complement factor C3-deficient mice, or FcγRI/II/III × C3-deficient mice. Importantly, CD8+ T cell proliferation was significantly reduced in mice deficient for C1q. This proliferation could be restored when IC were incubated with purified human C1q before injection. Likewise, purified C1q could strongly enhance the uptake and presentation of IC by dendritic cells in vitro. Heat inactivation abrogated the C1q-mediated uptake of IC. In addition, in vivo uptake of OVA-IC in the spleen was significantly reduced in C1q-deficient mice compared with wild-type mice. Together, these results indicate a novel function of C1q, which is present in high levels in the bloodstream, by directly enhancing the uptake and MHC class I presentation of Ag captured in IC by APC to CD8+ T cells.
Factor Structures of the Neurocognitive Assessments and Familial Analysis in First-Episode Schizophrenia Patients, Their Relatives and Controls

Objectives: Schizophrenia patients have a wide range of cognitive deficits. To explore the structure of these deficits and index their psychometric properties in order to define the major separable factors, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on a series of neuropsychological test results in a sample of Han Chinese first-episode schizophrenia patients, their relatives and controls without mental illness. Methods: The factors derived from the composite sample were tested with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in each of the subsamples. The heritability of each factor was estimated by using the mixed linear model in order to determine whether the common factor scores describe the familiarity of the data. Results: A six-factor model of general mental activity, sort and shift, attention and anti-interference, logical memory, reasoning and problem-solving/executive function, and visual reproduction were extracted and confirmed on EFA and CFA. There was a hierarchy in cognitive performance deficits in relatives depending on their relatedness to probands. Patients performed more poorly than siblings/offspring in general mental activity, sort and shift, attention and anti-interference, logical memory, planning and problem-solving, but not in visual reproduction. The logical memory domain was found to be significantly heritable (h2=0.34), and reasoning and problem-solving had a marginal heritability of around 0.19. Conclusions: Generalized cognitive deficit accounts for the majority of the overall variance of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Estimates of heritability were modest. The present results also support the hypothesis that neurocognitive deficits of schizophrenia are familial and could serve as endophenotypes, especially logical memory, which is the most heritable.
Plasma interleukin-18 levels are a biomarker of innate immune responses that predict and characterize tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome

Background: Tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) is a substantial problem in HIV/TB coinfected patients commencing antiretroviral therapy (ART). The immunopathogenesis of TB-IRIS includes increased production of proinflammatory chemokines and cytokines, including interleukin-18, which is a signature cytokine of the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat pyrin containing protein-3 inflammasome. We compared plasma levels of interleukin-18 and other biomarkers of monocyte/macrophage activation in the prediction and characterization of TB-IRIS. Methods: Biomarkers were assayed pre-ART and during TB-IRIS, or equivalent time-point, in a case–control study of Malaysian HIV patients with paradoxical or unmasking TB-IRIS (n = 15), TB no IRIS (n = 14), and no TB or IRIS (n = 15). Findings for interleukin-18 were verified in another cohort of patients with paradoxical TB-IRIS (n = 26) and their controls (n = 22) from India. Results: Interleukin-18 was higher in TB-IRIS patients pre-ART and during the event in both Malaysian patients (P < 0.0001) and Indian patients (P < 0.01). CXCL10 was higher pre-ART (P < 0.001), mainly in paradoxical TB-IRIS patients, and during TB-IRIS (P < 0.001), whereas CXCL8 was only higher during TB-IRIS (P < 0.001). Soluble(s) CD14 was increased in all patients with HIV/TB coinfection pre-ART and during TB-IRIS or equivalent time-point, compared with patients without TB. In contrast, interferon-&ggr; was lower before and during TB-IRIS. By receiver operating curve analysis, CXCL10, and/or interleukin-18 pre-ART were predictive of TB-IRIS. Conclusion: Plasma interleukin-18 levels pre-ART are candidate biomarkers for predicting paradoxical and unmasking TB-IRIS and should be investigated for risk stratification and elucidation of disease pathogenesis.
Thyroid Isthmus Length and Iodine Turnover as Predictors of Successful Radioactive Iodine Therapy in Patients with Graves' Disease

Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy is an effective treatment option for Graves' disease. However, predicting treatment failures after RAI therapy remains controversial. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the success rate of RAI therapy for treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism. Thyroid functional outcome, pre-RAI ultrasonographic features, and clinical parameters were evaluated retrospectively in 98 patients followed up for at least 12 months after RAI (mean RAI dose was 11.7 ± 1.8 mCi). Hypothyroidism was achieved in 59 patients (60.2%), and euthyroidism in 16 patients (16.3%), while 23 patients (23.5%) remained hyperthyroid. Age, sex, body mass index, pre-RAI thyroid function, or thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin levels were not associated with treatment outcome. Length of thyroid isthmus (p = 0.028) and 2- to 24-hour iodine uptake ratios (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with treatment failure, which was defined as a persistent hyperthyroid status after RAI therapy. Patients with a longer isthmus had a higher risk of remaining hyperthyroid, with a threshold for isthmus length of 5.2 mm, with a sensitivity of 69.6% and specificity of 70.3% for treatment success. Measuring the length of the thyroid isthmus can be a simple and useful way to predict RAI treatment outcome.
Localization of Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein 1 to Caveolae in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes in Response to Insulin Treatment*

The insulin-induced translocation of low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) from intracellular membranes to the cell surface in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was differentiation-dependent and did not occur in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts. Prompted by findings that the plasma membrane of 3T3-L1 adipocytes was rich in caveolae, we determined whether LRP1 became caveolae-associated upon insulin stimulation. The caveolae domain was isolated by the well characterized detergent solubilization and sucrose density ultracentrifugation methodology. Under basal conditions, only a trace amount of LRP1 was caveolae-associated despite the markedly elevated caveolin-1 and caveolae after adipocytic cell differentiation. Upon insulin treatment, the amount of LRP1 associated with caveolae was increased by 4-fold within 10 min, which was blocked completely by pretreatment with wortmannin prior to insulin. The caveolar localization of LRP1 in adipocytes was specific to insulin; treatment with platelet-derived growth factor-bb isoform did not promote but rather decreased caveolar localization of LRP1 below basal levels. The insulin-induced caveolar localization of LRP1 was also observed in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts where translocation of LRP1 from intracellular membranes to the cell surface was absent, suggesting that association of LRP1 with caveolae was achieved, at least in part, through lateral transmigration along the plane of plasma membranes. Immunocytochemistry studies revealed partial co-localization of LRP1 (either endogenous LRP1 or an epitope-tagged minireceptor) with caveolin-1 in cells treated with insulin, which was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation of LRP1 with caveolin-1 in cells treated with insulin but not platelet-derived growth factor-bb. These results suggest that the localization of LRP1 to caveolae responds selectively to extracellular signals.
Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity: A Preliminary Investigation of Reliability and Construct Validity

The present study presents preliminary evidence regarding the reliability and validity of the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI). The MIBI consists of 7 subscales representing 3 stable dimensions of African American racial identity (Centrality, Ideology, and Regard). Responses to the MIBI were collected from 474 African American college students from a predominantly African American university (n = 185) and a predominantly White university (n = 289). As the result of factor analysis, a revised 51 -item scale was developed. Evidence was found for 6 subscales. The Public Regard subscale was dropped because of poor internal consistency. Interscale correlations suggest that the MIBI is internally valid. Relationships among the MIBF subscales and race-related behavior suggest that the instrument has external validity. Descriptive statistics for the revised MIBI are provided for the entire sample as well as by school. Racial identity is one of the most heavily researched aspects of African Americans' psychological lives. Racial identity has been associated with a number of phenomena including selfesteem (Hughes & Demo, 1989; Parham & Helms, 1985; Row
The Blockchain Anomaly

Most popular blockchain solutions rely on proof-of-work to guarantee that participants reach consensus on a unique block per index of the chain. As consensus is impossible in the general case, it seems that these blockchain systems require messages are delivered fast and no participant mines faster than the crowd. To date, no experimental settings have however been proposed to demonstrate this hypothesis. In this paper, we identify conditions under which these blockchain systems fail to ensure consensus and present a reproducible execution on our Ethereum private chain. To this end, we introduce the Blockchain Anomaly, the impossibility for the blockchain to guarantee that a committed transaction is not abortable. This anomaly may translate into dramatic consequences for the user of proof-of-work blockchains. Named after the infamous Paxos anomaly, this anomaly makes dependent transactions, like “Bob sends money to Carole after he received money from Alice” impossible and may lead to double spending. We also explain how the anomaly differs from a 51-percent attack and how one could avoid it by adapting the Ethereum implementation or by exploiting smart contracts.
Rational and Irrational Bubbles: an Experiment

This paper proposes a theory of rational bubbles in an economy with finite trading opportunities. Bubbles arise because agents are never sure to be last in the market sequence. This theory is used to design an experimental setting in which bubbles can be made rational or irrational by varying one parameter. This complements the experimental literature on irrational bubbles initiated by Smith, Suchanek and Williams (1988). Our experimental results suggest that it is pretty difficult to coordinate on rational bubbles even in an environment where irrational bubbles flourish. Maximum likelihood estimations show that these results can be reconciled within the context of Camerer, Ho, and Chong (2004)'s cognitive hierarchy model, and Mc Kelvey and Palfrey (1995)'s quantal response equilibrium.
A Model of High-Frequency Ripples in the Hippocampus Based on Synaptic Coupling Plus Axon–Axon Gap Junctions between Pyramidal Neurons

So-called 200 Hz ripples occur as transient EEG oscillations superimposed on physiological sharp waves in a number of limbic regions of the rat, either awake or anesthetized. In CA1, ripples have maximum amplitude in stratum pyramidale. Many pyramidal cells fail to fire during a ripple, or fire infrequently, superimposed on the sharp wave-associated depolarization, whereas interneurons can fire at high frequencies, possibly as fast as the ripple itself. Recently, we have predicted that networks of pyramidal cells, interconnected by axon–axon gap junctions and without interconnecting chemical synapses, can generate coherent population oscillations at >100 Hz. Here, we show that such networks, to which interneurons have been added along with chemical synaptic interactions between respective cell types, can generate population ripples superimposed on afferent input-induced intracellular depolarizations. During simulated ripples, interneurons fire at high rates, whereas pyramidal cells fire at lower rates. The model oscillation is generated by the electrically coupled pyramidal cell axons, which then phasically excite interneurons at ripple frequency. The oscillation occurs transiently because rippling can express itself only when axons and cells are sufficiently depolarized. Our model predicts the occurrence of spikelets (fast prepotentials) in some pyramidal cells during sharp waves.