Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inflammation-Associated Autophagy-Related Programmed Necrotic Death of Human Neutrophils Characterized by Organelle Fusion Events

The most common form of neutrophil death, under both physiological and inflammatory conditions, is apoptosis. In this study, we report a novel form of programmed necrotic cell death, associated with cytoplasmic organelle fusion events, that occurs in neutrophils exposed to GM-CSF and other inflammatory cytokines upon ligation of CD44. Strikingly, this type of neutrophil death requires PI3K activation, a signaling event usually involved in cellular survival pathways. In the death pathway reported in this study, PI3K is required for the generation of reactive oxygen species, which somehow trigger the generation of large cytoplasmic vacuoles, generated by the fusion of CD44-containing endosomes with autophagosomes and secondary, but not primary, granules. Neutrophils demonstrating vacuolization undergo rapid cell death that depends on receptor-interacting protein 1 kinase activity and papain family protease(s), but not caspases, that are most likely activated and released, respectively, during or as a consequence of organelle fusion. Vacuolized neutrophils are present in infectious and autoimmune diseases under in vivo conditions. Moreover, isolated neutrophils from such patients are highly sensitive toward CD44-mediated PI3K activation, reactive oxygen species production, and cell death, suggesting that the newly described autophagy-related form of programmed neutrophil necrosis plays an important role in inflammatory responses.
Skin temperature response to unilateral training measured with infrared thermography

This study aimed to identify the skin temperature (Tsk) behavior to understand the acute cross-effect after unilateral training of lower-limbs. Seventeen healthy young men (weight, 75.2±5.5 kg; height, 1.8±0.1 m; age, 22.5±1.6 years) were divided into two groups: high-trained (n=8) and low-trained (n=9). All participants performed: (a) one-repetition maximum (1RM) testing protocol on the leg press, (b) a unilateral training protocol (4×10 repetitions at 70% of 1RM for leg press and 4×10 repetitions at 50% of 1RM for knee extension). Pre- and posttraining thermal images were recorded. The main results showed that independent of the limb (exercised vs. nonexercised), differences between low- and high-trained were observed for all regions of interest (ROI) except for the anterior knee: posttraining, 30-min and 60-min posttraining in nonexercised limb. The increase of contralateral Tsk was more than 50% on the ROIs corresponding to the exercises muscles 30-min post-training in low-trained but was not so high in high-trained (P<0.05). Low-trained subjects incremented more the Tsk than high-trained in both legs after exercise. In conclusion, we observed an acute contralateral Tsk effect to unilateral training on the Tsk of the nonexercised limb, reliant on the training level of the subject.
Microfabricated Retarding Potential Analyzers With Enforced Aperture Alignment for Improved Ion Energy Measurements in Plasmas

We report novel retarding potential analyzers (RPAs) intended to measure the ion energy distribution of cold, high-density plasmas (λD > 50 μm, i.e., Te/ni ≥ 5.25 × 10-13 K·m-3, e.g., Te ~ 2 eV and ni ~ 5 × 1016 m-3; total pressure ~40 mTorr). By scaling down the electrode apertures and electrode separation, densely packing apertures in each electrode, and enforcing interelectrode aperture alignment, the sensor measures ion energy distribution with larger signal-to-noise ratio and resolution compared with a conventional RPA. Two implementations are demonstrated, i.e., a hybrid retarding potential analyzer (RPA) with microfabricated grids and precision-machined housing, and a fully microfabricated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) RPA with deflection springs that enforce aperture alignment across the electrode grid stack. Using an ion source, the MEMS RPA generated data with an order of magnitude larger signal and one third the peak width compared with the data from a conventional RPA. Unlike the conventional RPA, the hybrid and MEMS RPAs were able to measure the ion energy distribution of high-density plasma from a helicon source over a wide range of power levels; however, the MEMS RPA generated data with larger signal strength and resolution, with as much as a 200-fold increase in signal strength and less than half the full width at half maximum, compared with the data from the hybrid RPA. The hybrid RPA and MEMS RPA plasma data are consistent with measurements from an independent double Langmuir probe installed in the facility.
Turnover in top management and de-escalation of commitment

ABSTRACT We explore how de-escalation of commitment is linked to top management turnover and economic changes at the firm. Escalation of commitment occurs when managers continue investment in a project after receiving negative information. A major determinant of escalation is the personal responsibility effect in that managers are more likely to escalate commitment to a failing project if they were responsible for the original investments. Prior studies suggest that a change in top management facilitates de-escalation of commitment as incoming managers who do not have such commitment are able to stop investments that are discovered to be failing. Our empirical analysis based on a sample of over 3,300 firms for the period from 1992 to 2016 demonstrates the link between specific top management turnover types and economic changes at the firm consistent with the de-escalation of commitment.
[Changes in intraocular pressure during anesthesia with intratracheal intubation or laryngeal mask].

OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA), and the tracheal tube (TT) insertion on intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in eye surgery. STUDY DESIGN Prospective non-randomized study. PATIENTS Eighty patients scheduled for eye surgery under general anaesthesia were allocated into either a LMA group (n = 37) or a TT group (n = 43). METHODS After induction of anaesthesia with propofol, vecuronium and phenoperidine, either a TT or a LMA were inserted. IOP, heart rate (HP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured before (TO) and after induction (T1), after TT or LMA insertion (20 s:T2, 6 min:T3), and before extubation (T4). RESULTS The HR, MAP and IOP increased significantly at T2 (compared to T1 but not to T0) in the TT group, for a short time, whereas no significant changes occurred in the LMA group. CONCLUSION LMA insertion does not elicit significant haemodynamic or IOP changes. Conversely, the TT increases HR, MAP and IOP. These changes can be deleterious in case of emergency surgery for perforating eye injuries. The LMA can be recommended as an alternative to TT in eye surgery, provided security rules are followed, because of the risk of displacement of LMA during surgery.
Use of Inhaled Nitric Oxide in Preterm Infants

Nitric oxide, an important signaling molecule with multiple regulatory effects throughout the body, is an important tool for the treatment of full-term and late-preterm infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and hypoxemic respiratory failure. Several randomized controlled trials have evaluated its role in the management of preterm infants ≤34 weeks’ gestational age with varying results. The purpose of this clinical report is to summarize the existing evidence for the use of inhaled nitric oxide in preterm infants and provide guidance regarding its use in this population.
Localization of the Arabidopsis histidine phosphotransfer proteins is independent of cytokinin

Cytokinins are a class of mitogenic plant hormones that influence shoot and root growth, vascular and photomorphogenic development, leaf senescence, and many other aspects of plant growth and development. The Arabidopsis histidine phosphotransfer proteins (AHPs) play an important role in cytokinin signaling by bridging the perception of cytokinins by plasma-membrane receptors to the activation of cytokinin-responsive transcription factors. Based on previous microscopic observations, a model was developed in which the AHPs were thought to relocalize from the cytosol into the nucleus in response to exogenous cytokinin. However, analysis and quantification of the intracellular distribution of AHPs in both protoplasts and intact transgenic plants revealed that the subcellular localization of the AHPs is persistently nucleo-cytosolic and non-responsive to the state of the cytokinin response pathway. Here, we review and extend these findings and discuss their implications.
The vagus regulates histamine mobilization from rat stomach ECL cells by controlling their sensitivity to gastrin

The ECL cells in the oxyntic mucosa secrete histamine in response to gastrin, stimulating parietal cells to produce acid. Do they also operate under nervous control? The present study examines histamine mobilization from rat stomach ECL cells in situ in response to acute vagal excitation and to food or gastrin following vagal or sympathetic denervation. Applying the technique of microdialysis, we monitored the release of histamine by radioimmunoassay. Microdialysis probes were placed in the submucosa on either side of the stomach, 3 days before experiments. The rats were awake during microdialysis except when subjected to electrical vagal stimulation. One‐sided electrical vagal stimulation raised serum gastrin and mobilized gastric histamine. However, gastrin receptor blockade prevented the histamine mobilization, indicating that circulating gastrin accounts for the response. Vagal excitation by hypoglycaemia (insulin) or pylorus ligation did not mobilize either gastrin or histamine. The histamine response to food was almost abolished by gastrin receptor blockade, and it was halved on the denervated side after unilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. While the histamine response to a near‐maximally effective dose of gastrin was unaffected by vagotomy, the response to low gastrin doses was reduced significantly. Abdominal ganglionic sympathectomy failed to affect the histamine response to either food or gastrin. In conclusion, gastrin is responsible for most of the food‐evoked mobilization of ECL‐cell histamine. The histamine response to electrical vagal stimulation reflects the effect of circulating gastrin rather than a direct action of the vagus on the ECL cells. Vagal denervation was accompanied by an impaired histamine response to food intake, probably reflecting the right‐ward shift of the serum gastrin concentration–histamine response curve. The results suggest that the vagus controls the sensitivity of the ECL cells to gastrin.
Apatinib to combat EGFR-TKI resistance in an advanced non-small cell lung cancer patient with unknown EGFR status: a case report

Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common pathological pattern of lung cancer. During the past decades, a number of targeted agents have been explored to treat advanced lung adenocarcinoma. In the present clinical practice, antagonists of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-directed therapies are widely used. In the former category, the agent erlotinib (tyrosine kinase inhibitor) has shown obvious advantages over cytotoxic therapy. Anti-VEGF therapy bevacizumab used for lung adenocarcinoma was recommended in NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) as first-line therapy. Similarly, apatinib is speculated to response by selectively inhibiting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. The patient with unknown EGFR status benefited 5-month progressive free survival (PFS) from erlotinib, and then another 5.1-month PFS with combined treatment of apatinib, which suggested a new option for lung adenocarcinoma. However, when dabigatran was used to cancer-related venous thromboembolism during apatinib therapy, extensive subcutaneous bleeding occurred, warning us against the risks of bleeding. Besides, hypertension and anorexia were observed, causing dosage adjustment.
California's Electricity Crisis

This paper discusses the political, regulatory and economic factors that led to California's electricity crisis in 2000 and 2001. It begins with a discussion of the origins of California's electricity restructuring and competition programs. It then discusses the structure of the wholesale and retail markets and associated transition institutions created in 1996-98 and the performance of these institutions during their first two years of operation. The discussion of the electricity crisis is then conveniently broken down into three phases: (a) May 2000 through September 2000, (b) October 2000 through December 2000, January 2001 to the June 2001. Each phase is discussed in turn. The paper concludes with a discussion of lessons about electricity market liberalization gained from the recent experience in California.
Biosorption of Milk Substrates onto Anaerobic Flocculent and Granular Sludge

Experiments were performed for adsorption of milk‐based substrates onto anaerobic biomass at 35 °C. The influence of two parameters was studied, namely, the type of biomass (flocculent or granular) and the sludge adaptation to the substrate. It was found that flocculent sludge presented an adsorption capacity roughly 3 times higher than that of granular sludge. The adsorption data fit well with the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Apparently, short‐term sludge adaptation is not influential on the adsorption behavior. On the other hand, long‐term adapted sludge showed a higher adsorption capacity than nonadapted sludge, which probably is an indirect effect of different microbial populations. These results suggest that the role of adsorption in the anaerobic treatment of complex substrates containing fat cannot be overlooked, especially for flocculent sludge systems, since organic matter accumulation could cause process failure due to biomass washout.
Freezing of buffy coat–derived, leukoreduced platelet concentrates in 6 percent dimethyl sulfoxide

BACKGROUND: There has recently been renewed interest in freezing platelets (PLTs) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for the treatment of major traumatic injuries, especially in military situations. This study examined PLTs that were frozen in small volumes of 6 percent DMSO at −80°C.
Multipoint inverse airfoil design method based on conformal mapping

A method of multipoint inverse airfoil design for incompressible potential flow is presented. Multipoint design is handled by dividing the airfoil into a number of desired segments. For each segment, the velocity distribution is prescribed together with an angle of attack at which the prescribed velocity distribution is to be achieved. In this manner, multipoint design objectives can be taken into account in the initial specification of the velocity distribution. In order for the multipoint inverse airfoil design problem to be well posed, three integral constraints and several conditions arise that must be satisfied
COMPARISON OF ISOFLURANE AND SEVOFLURANE FOR SHORT-TERM ANESTHESIA IN MEERKATS (SURICATA SURICATTA)—ARE THERE BENEFITS THAT OUTWEIGH COSTS?

Abstract Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) are routinely anesthetized with isoflurane in zoo and field settings. Twenty healthy adult meerkats of mixed age and sex held in the Zoological Society of London's collection were anesthetized with 4% isoflurane by face mask for routine health examinations. The procedure was repeated 5 mo later in the same group of animals utilizing sevoflurane at 5% for induction, and again 3 mo later with sevoflurane at 6.5% for induction to approximate equipotency with isoflurane. The speed and quality of induction and recovery were compared between the two volatile anesthetic agents. There was no statistically significant difference in the speed of induction across any of the anesthetic regimes. There was a significant difference in recovery times between isoflurane and 6.5% sevoflurane (427 ± 218 and 253 ± 65 sec, respectively [mean ± SD]). Under the conditions of this study, sevoflurane at 6.5% induction dose resulted in better quality induction and recovery than sevoflurane at 5% induction or isoflurane. The mean heart and respiratory rates during anesthesia were higher using 5% sevoflurane for induction but there was no significant difference in either rate between isoflurane and sevoflurane used at a 6.5% induction dose. This study suggests that sevoflurane at a dose of 6.5% for induction and 4% for maintenance is a safe and effective anesthetic agent in healthy adult meerkats. Rapid return to normal behavior after anesthesia is important in all zoo species but particularly so in animals with a complex social and hierarchical structure such as meerkats. For this species, the advantage afforded by the speed of recovery with sevoflurane may offset the cost in certain circumstances.
Comparative analysis of gene expression profiles in intact and damaged regions of human osteoarthritic cartilage.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the differences in gene expression profiles of chondrocytes in intact and damaged regions of cartilage from the same knee joint of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHODS We compared messenger RNA expression profiles in regions of intact and damaged cartilage (classified according to the Mankin scale) obtained from patients with knee OA. Five pairs of intact and damaged regions of OA cartilage were evaluated by oligonucleotide array analysis using a double in vitro transcription amplification technique. The microarray data were confirmed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and were compared with previously published data. RESULTS About 1,500 transcripts, which corresponded to 8% of the expressed transcripts, showed > or = 2-fold differences in expression between the cartilage tissue pairs. Approximately 10% of these transcripts (n = 151) were commonly expressed in the 5 patient samples. Accordingly, 114 genes (35 genes expressed in intact > damaged; 79 genes expressed in intact < damaged) were selected. The expression of some genes related to the wound-healing process, including cell proliferation and interstitial collagen synthesis, was higher in damaged regions than in intact regions, similar to the findings for genes that inhibit matrix degradation. Comparisons of the real-time quantitative PCR data with the previously reported data support the validity of our microarray data. CONCLUSION Differences between intact and damaged regions of OA cartilage exhibited a similar pattern among the 5 patients examined, indicating the presence of common mechanisms that contribute to cartilage destruction. Elucidation of this mechanism is important for the development of effective treatments for OA.
The Socio-Economic Determiners of Recycling: An Analysis on European Countries Through a Macro Perspective

The growing economies and the increase in urbanization have increased the process of waste production. Recycling of the wastes resulting from economic processes through certain operations would both decrease the amount of wastes and the need for area to store them and minimize the demand for virgin resources in production. This study aims to examine the socio-economic factors that are effective on recycling from macro perspective. Therefore, a Panel Data Analysis was conducted with data of 31 European Economic Area (EEA) countries concerning the period from 2004 to 2014. In the model used in the analysis, the recycling rate is represented by the packaging waste recycling rate. As an independent variable, Education, Income, R & D expenditures, Resources and Agricultural sector added values were used. As a result of the analyses conducted in this research it was determined that education and amount of resources are in a positive relationship with recycling rate while income levels and the agriculture sector are in a negative relationship with the recycling rate.
Carotid blood flow during REM sleep.

OBJECTIVE The present study was aimed at directly appraising, in the rabbit, the decrease in common carotid blood flow, the occurrence of which during REM sleep was indirectly suggested by previous studies of preoptic-hypothalamic temperature changes during sleep. METHODS In 5 unrestrained male rabbits, polygraphic recordings of electroencephalography, electromyography, ear pinna temperature (degree C), common carotid mean and peak blood flow (mL/min), and heart rate (beats/min) were carried out across ultradian wake-sleep cycles. In each cycle, epochs of 60 seconds were selected for analysis at the end of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, at the beginning and end of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and at the beginning of the subsequent period of wakefulness. The time basis of measurements within each epoch was a 5-second period (5x12 = 60 seconds). The mean values of the cardiovascular variables in such epochs of 5 animals underwent nonparametric statistical analysis of their changes across epochs. CONCLUSION A conspicuous decrease in common carotid blood flow is a constant feature of REM sleep in rabbits during several months of recording. This decrease is the result of a marked depression of both peak flow and heart rate. In spite of the unstable systemic hemodynamic conditions revealed by this study, several independent functional and morphologic factors concur to increase the vertebral blood supply to the brain during REM sleep. This increase raises preoptic-hypothalamic temperature, since vertebral artery blood is warmer than carotid artery blood.
Depth versus breadth: Exploring variation and performance differences among internationalising new ventures

Despite the wealth of studies on international entrepreneurship that have emerged over recent years, a need exists to further explore variation among internationalising new ventures. In this article, we develop and test a framework suggesting that a new venture’s depth and breadth of internationalisation can be traded off in multiple ways to minimise risk. Through a cluster analysis, we identify four configurations commonly exhibited by internationalising new ventures, which we classify as follows: (1) home regional dabblers, (2) home regional committed, (3) host regional focused and (4) global balanced. Implications for firm-level drivers and performance are discussed.
No Evidence of Sustained Myocardial Injury Following an Ironman Distance Triathlon

We aimed to determine whether an Ironman distance triathlon resulted in sustained myocardial injury detected by electrocardiography, biochemical markers or echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. Electrocardiograms, blood for analysis of creatine kinase (CK) and its MB fraction, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and echocardiograms were obtained in 15 male athletes prior to and at a mean of 4.7 days after competing in the Australian Ironman Triathlon. Regional wall motion scores, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and mitral inflow parameters were determined from the echocardiograms by a blinded investigator. Levels of cTnI were undetectable in all athletes and total CK was mildly elevated in 7/15 athletes prior to the event. Baseline wall motion, ejection fraction and diastolic filling were normal in all athletes. CK levels were increased post-race (p < 0.05) with a mean post-race level of 451U/l. Levels of cTnI were undetectable post-race in 14 athletes with a level of 0.9 microg/l recorded in one athlete, although all were within the laboratory's normal range for the assay. Mitral inflow parameters and LVEF did not change post-race and regional wall motion was normal in 14 of 15 athletes. Regional wall motion abnormalities detected in 1 athlete had resolved by 25 days post-race. These findings indicate that ultraendurance exercise does not result in sustained myocardial injury in this group of elite athletes.