Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interaction Between Volatile Anesthetics and Hypoxia in Porcine Tracheal Smooth Muscle

We investigated the direct interaction between the volatile anesthetics, isoflurane and sevoflurane, and hypoxia in porcine tracheal smooth muscle in vitro by simultaneously measuring muscle tension and intracellular concentration of free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). Muscle tension was measured by using an isometric transducer, and [Ca2+]i was measured by using fura-2, an indicator of Ca2+. Under the condition of bubbling with 95% O2/5% CO2, [Ca2+]i was increased by 1 &mgr;M carbachol with a concomitant contraction. Volatile anesthetics significantly inhibited both carbachol-induced muscle contraction and increase in [Ca2+]i. Hypoxia bubbled with 95% N2/5% CO2 inhibited the muscle contraction by 30% with an increase in [Ca2+]i by 20%. Exposure to hypoxia substantially enhanced the inhibitory effects of these anesthetics on carbachol-induced muscle contraction, whereas the decreases in [Ca2+]i were significantly prevented by hypoxia. Under Ca2+-free conditions, hypoxia significantly decreased the muscle contraction by 20%; however, it still increased [Ca2+]i by 15%. Exposure to the anesthetics significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect of hypoxia on the muscle contraction; however, it appeared to have little effect on [Ca2+]i. Hypoxia inhibits airway smooth muscle contraction independently of intracellular Ca2+, and it substantially potentiates the inhibitory effects of volatile anesthetics on airway smooth muscle contraction. Implications Hypoxia inhibits agonist-induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction with an increase in free Ca2+ [Ca2+]i, which comes from intracellular Ca2+ stores. Hypoxia also potentiates the inhibitory effect of volatile anesthetics on airway smooth muscle contraction. Conversely, there is a possibility that the treatment of asthmatic patients with oxygen partially attenuates the inhibitory effect of volatile anesthetics on airway smooth muscle contractility.
Microarchitectural abnormalities are more severe in postmenopausal women with vertebral compared to nonvertebral fractures.

BACKGROUND Abnormal bone microarchitecture predisposes postmenopausal women to fragility fractures. Whether women with vertebral fractures have worse microarchitecture than those with nonvertebral fractures is unknown. METHODS Postmenopausal women with a history of low trauma vertebral fracture (n=30) and nonvertebral fracture (n=73) and controls (n=120) had areal bone mineral density of lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, 1/3 radius, and ultradistal radius measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Trabecular and cortical volumetric bone mineral density and microarchitecture were measured by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography of the distal radius and tibia. Finite element analysis estimated whole bone stiffness. RESULTS Mean age of subjects was 68±7 yr. Groups were similar with respect to age, race, and body mass index. Mean T-scores did not differ from controls at any site except the ultradistal radius (vertebral fracture, 0.6 sd lower; nonvertebral fracture, 0.4 sd lower). Compared to controls, women with vertebral fractures had lower total, cortical, and trabecular volumetric density, lower cortical thickness, trabecular number and thickness, greater trabecular separation and network heterogeneity, and lower stiffness at both radius and tibia. Differences between women with nonvertebral fractures and controls were similar but less pronounced. Compared to women with nonvertebral fractures, women with vertebral fractures had lower total and trabecular density, lower cortical thickness and trabecular number, and greater trabecular separation and heterogeneity at the tibia. Whole bone stiffness tended to be lower (P=0.06). Differences between fracture groups at the radius were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Women with vertebral fractures have more severe trabecular and cortical microarchitectural deterioration than those with nonvertebral fractures, particularly at the tibia.
RECENT STUDIES ON MECHANISMS IN PHOTOIMMUNOLOGY

Photoimmunology is a specialized discipline of biomedical research that investigates the interaction of various forms of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation with the immune system. Interest in this area began in the mid 1970's when it was observed, using experimental animal models, that UVB exposure produced selective defects in immunological function, and that these defects played a major role in facilitating the growth of UV-induced skin tumors (Kripke, 1974; Spellman et al., 1977). Further investigation has shown that UVB also modulates the immune response to contact sensitizing agents (previously reviewed by Morison, 1984), to host tissue in graft vs host disease (Glazier et a/. , 1984), and to certain microorganisms such as Herpes simplex virus, type I [Howie et al. 1986), Herpes simplex virus, type I1 (Hayashi and Aurelian 1986) and Leishmania major promastigotes (Giannini, 1986). The use of photosensitizers as therapeutic agents for medical diseases was also of importance in generating interest in photoimmunology. Psoralens are involved in the 'classical' systemic PIJVAt therapy, which has proven efficacious in psoriasis as well as in a number of immunological diseases that involve the skin (Gupta and Anderson, 1987). The use of PUVA in clinical situations prompted research into the immunological alterations associated with this form of photochemotherapy. In addition to psoralens, porphyrins, such as hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) and dihematoporphyrin ether (DHE) are now being employed as photosensitizing agents for the diagnosis and treatment of various malignancies in a modality known as photodynamic therapy (Dougherty, 1987). While photodynamic ther-
Dextran Sulphates Protect Porcine Arterial Endothelial Cells from Free Radical Injury

1 The ability of dextran sulphate to protect cultured porcine arterial endothelial cells injured by addition of xanthine and xanthine oxidase (X/XO) or hydrogen peroxide to cell medium was examined using a variety of drug preparations. Cell damage was assessed by determining cell viability (by trypan blue exclusion) and release of lactate dehydrogenase into the medium. 2 Dextran sulphates of average molecular weight (Mr) 5000, 8000 (hydrogenated or unhydrogenated) at 0.05, 0.5, 5 and 50 μg ml-1 medium, added 24 h prior to X/XO, protected cells, whereas dextran sulphate Mr 500,000 was protective only at 0.5 μg ml-1. 3 None of the dextran sulphates used showed any toxic effect on cells in concentrations up to 500 μg ml-1 medium. 4 When the duration of pretreatment with dextran sulphate Mr 8000 was varied, 6 h was required for a protective effect on cells damaged by X/XO, which was enhanced with durations of 16 and 24 h. 5 Dextran sulphates had a similar protective effect on cells damaged by hydrogen peroxide. 6 This study suggests that dextran sulphates may prevent conditions resulting from free radical injury.
Import Penetration and Price-Cost Margins in Indian Manufacturing Industries

An econometric analysis of the impact of import liberalization on price-cost margins in Indian industries in the post-reform period is carried out using firm-level data for eight manufacturing industries for the period 1991-92 through 2001-02. Price-cost margins are regressed on refined measures of import competition and some other explanatory variables. The results show a negative effect of import penetration on the profitability of Indian manufacturing firms in the 1990s. On the basis of the econometric results, together with the observed upward trends of import penetration ratios during the period, the paper concludes that the trade liberalization since 1991 in India has decreased the profitability of domestic firms. Moreover, we show that the profit reducing effect of import penetration is smaller for firms with larger market shares. This result is in contrast with earlier empirical studies, but in line with the recent theoretical work (e.g., Melitz, 2003).
The Influence of pH on Hydrolysis and Acidogenesis of Kitchen Wastes in Two-phase Anaerobic Digestion

Batch and semi-continuous experiments were carried out to determine the effect of pH on hydrolysis and acidogenesis of kitchen wastes in the two-phase anaerobic digestion. The results of the batch experiment showed pH adjustment could improve both hydrolysis and acidogenesis rates of kitchen wastes. Compared with pH at 5, 9 and 11, pH 7 provided an optimum working condition for anaerobic digestion of kitchen wastes. At pH 7, about 86% of the total organic carbon (TOC) and 82% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) were solubilized and the maximum volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration of 36g l−1 was achieved on the fourth day. The total VFA yield was 0.27 g (g total solid (TS))−1, which almost doubled the yield without pH adjustment (0.15 g (g TS)−1). The acidified products with lower concentration of lactic acid were more favorable to the subsequent methanogenesis. At pH 7, most of the protein was degraded into ammonia nitrogen (NH4 +-N), resulting in additional buffer of acidified liquid. According to this, a novel method of pH adjustment applying NH4 +-N buffer was established. The semi-continuous experiment indicated that adjusting pH to 7 in the acidogenic stage in the two-phase anaerobic digestion process would increase both TS loading rate (16g l−1 d−1) and recovery of biological energy (520 ml methane (CH4) (g TS)−1).
Photodissociation and recombination of carbonmonoxy cytochrome oxidase: dynamics from picoseconds to kiloseconds.

The kinetics of the flash-induced photodissociation and rebinding of carbon monoxide in cytochrome aa3-CO have been studied by time-resolved infrared (TRIR) and transient ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy at room temperature and by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy at low temperature. The binding of photodissociated CO to CuB+ at room temperature is conclusively established by the TRIR absorption at 2061 cm-1 due to the C-O stretching mode of the CuB(+)-CO complex. These measurements yield a first-order rate constant of (4.7 +/- 0.6) x 10(5) s-1 (t1/2 = 1.5 +/- 0.2 microseconds) for the dissociation of CO from the CuB(+)-CO complex into solution. The rate of rebinding of flash-photodissociated CO to cytochrome a(3)2+ exhibits saturation kinetics at [CO] > 1 mM due to a preequilibrium between CO in solution and the CuB(+)-CO complex (K1 = 87 M-1), followed by transfer of CO to cytochrome a(3)2+ (k2 = 1030 s-1). The CO transfer from CuB to Fe alpha 3 was followed by CO-FTIR between 158 and 179 K and by UV-vis at room temperature. The activation parameters over the temperature range 140-300 K are delta H++ = 10.0 kcal mol-1 and delta S++ = -12.0 cal mol-1 K-1. The value of delta H++ is temperature independent over this range; i.e., delta Cp++ = 0 for CO transfer. Rapid events following photodissociation and preceding rebinding of CO to cytochrome a(3)2+ were observed. An increase in the alpha-band of cytochrome a3 near 615 nm (t1/2 ca. 6 ps) follows the initial femtosecond time-scale events accompanying photodissociation. Subsequently, a decrease is observed in the alpha-band absorbance (t1/2 approximately 1 microsecond) to a value typical of unliganded cytochrome a3. This latter absorbance change appears to occur simultaneously with the loss of CO by CuB+. We ascribe these observations to structural changes at the cytochrome a3 induced by the formation and dissociation of the CuB(+)-CO complex. We suggest that the picosecond binding of photodissociated CO to CuB triggers the release of a ligand L from CuB. We infer that L then binds to cytochrome a3 on the distal side and that this process is directly responsible for the observed alpha-band absorbance changes. We have previously suggested that the transfer of L produces a transient five-coordinate high-spin cytochrome a3 species where the proximal histidine has been replaced by L. When CO binds to the enzyme from solution, these processes are reversed. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A 26-year follow-up study of heavy drinking trajectories from adolescence to mid-adulthood and adult disadvantage.

AIMS The aim of the study was to identify heavy drinking trajectories from age 16 to 42 years and to examine their associations with health, social, employment and economic disadvantage in mid-adulthood. METHODS Finnish cohort study's participants who were 16 years old in 1983 were followed up at age 22, 32 and 42 (n = 1334). Heavy drinking was assessed at every study phase and based on these measurements trajectories of heavy drinking were identified. The trajectory groups were then examined as predictors of disadvantage at age 42. RESULTS Five distinct heavy drinking trajectories were identified: moderate (35%), steady low (22%), decreasing (9%), increasing (11%) and steady high (23%). Frequencies of the trajectory groups differed by gender. Using the moderate trajectory as a reference category, women in the steady high trajectory had an increased risk of experiencing almost all disadvantages at age 42. In men, increasing and steady high groups had an increased risk for experiencing health and economic disadvantage. CONCLUSION Steady high female drinkers and steady high and increasing male drinkers had the highest risk for disadvantage in mid-adulthood. By identifying heavy drinking trajectories from adolescence to mid-adulthood we can better predict long-term consequences of heavy alcohol use and plan prevention and intervention programmes.
Introduction to "This is Watson"

In 2007, IBM Research took on the grand challenge of building a computer system that could compete with champions at the game of Jeopardy! ™. In 2011, the open-domain question-answering (QA) system, dubbed Watson, beat the two highest ranked players in a nationally televised two-game Jeopardy! match. This paper provides a brief history of the events and ideas that positioned our team to take on the Jeopardy! challenge, build Watson, IBM Watson™, and ultimately triumph. It describes both the nature of the QA challenge represented by Jeopardy! and our overarching technical approach. The main body of this paper provides a narrative of the DeepQA processing pipeline to introduce the articles in this special issue and put them in context of the overall system. Finally, this paper summarizes our main results, describing how the system, as a holistic combination of many diverse algorithmic techniques, performed at champion levels, and it briefly discusses the team's future research plans.
Exploring variables of transaction costs in Brazilian automotive supply chains

– The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the “automaker‐supplier” relationships that exist in a supply chain of the Brazilian automotive sector, based on assumptions and variables of transaction cost economics (TCE). , – The paper explored case studies carried out at an automotive engine manufacturer and six of its suppliers, applying semistructured interviews. , – The findings indicate that automakers seek to utilize a form of hybrid relationship with their suppliers, which sometimes resembles competition and at other times cooperation; asset specificity tends to be greater in the first‐tier of the supply chain; and asset specificity seems to be mediated by aspects such as the amount of production destined to the manufacturer, the objective of maximizing return on previous investments, and the configuration of higher value‐added supply operations. , – The results corroborate that close, long‐lasting, and trustful relationships tend to reduce transaction costs and improve performance, but in some cases, “latent competition” may also lead to reduced costs; managers should not undervalue the self‐reinforcing effects of asset specificity in a context of shared investments; and business strategy should guide every decision made inside supply chains in order to align supply and operations priorities. , – Considering the deep restructuring process that Brazilian automotive industry has experienced, this paper brings its contribution in using TCE tools to analyze relationships inside an engine‐producing supply chain, dealing with the links between TCE and supply chain management.
Lexical Plasticity in Early Bilinguals Does Not Alter Phoneme Categories: I. Neurodynamical Modeling

Sebastin-Galls et al. [The influence of initial exposure on lexical representation: Comparing early and simultaneous bilinguals. Journal of Memory and Language, 52, 240255, 2005] contrasted highly proficient early Spanish-Catalan and Catalan-Spanish bilinguals, using Catalan materials in a lexical decision task (LDT). They constructed two types of experimental pseudowords, substituting Catalan phoneme /e/ for Catalan //, or vice versa. Catalan-dominant bilinguals showed a performance asymmetry across experimental conditions, making more mistakes for ///e/ changes, than for /e/// ones. This was considered evidence of a developed acceptance of mispronounced Catalan //-words, caused by exposure to a bilingual environment where mispronunciations by Spanish-dominant bilinguals using their /e/-category abound. Although this indicated modified or added lexical representations, an open issue is whether such lexical information also modifies phoneme categories. We address this using a biophysically realistic neurodynamic model, describing neural activity at the synaptic and spiking levels. We construct a network of pools of neurons, representing phonemic and lexical processing. Carefully analyzing the dependency of network dynamics on connection strengths, by first exploring parameter space under steady-state assumptions (mean-field scans), then running spiking simulations, we investigate the neural substrate role in a representative LDT. We also simulate a phoneme discrimination task to address whether lexical changes affect the phonemic level. We find that the same network configuration which displays asymmetry in the LDT shows equal performance discriminating the two modeled phonemes. Thus, we predicted that the Catalan-dominant bilinguals do not alter their phoneme categories, although showing signs of having stored a new word variation in the lexicon. To explore this prediction, a syllable discrimination task involving the /e/-// contrast was set up, using Catalan-dominants displaying performance asymmetry in a repetition of the original LDT. Discrimination task results support the prediction, showing that these subjects discriminate both categories equally well. We conclude that subjects often exposed to dialectal word variations can store these in their lexicons, without altering their phoneme representations.
Return to work after lumbar disc surgery is related to the length of preoperative sick leave.

INTRODUCTION Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is associated with high morbidity and significant socio-economic impact as the majority of the patients are of working age. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of length of sick leave on the return-to-work rate after lumbar disc herniation surgery. METHODS This was a single-centre study of LDH patients who underwent surgery from 18 May 2009 through 28 November 2014. Data were collected prospectively from the DaneSpine database. Questions in DaneSpine include preoperative length of sick leave and working status one year post-operatively. RESULTS A total of 678 patients were included and 72% of the patients had returned to work one year after their surgery. The rate of patients returning to work decreases significantly with the length of preoperative sick leave. Among the patients who were on sick leave prior to their surgery, 83% returned to work if surgically treated within three months. In contrast, only 50% of those whose sick leave exceeded three months returned to work. CONCLUSION The present analysis suggests that the return-to-work rate after lumbar disc herniation surgery is affected by the length of sick leave. FUNDING none. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered with the Danish Data Protection Agency.
American Society of Clinical Oncology 1998 update of recommended breast cancer surveillance guidelines.

OBJECTIVE To determine an effective, evidence-based, postoperative surveillance strategy for the detection and treatment of recurrent breast cancer. Tests are recommended only if they have an impact on the outcomes specified by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for clinical practice guidelines. POTENTIAL INTERVENTION All tests described in the literature for postoperative monitoring were considered. In addition, the data were critically evaluated to determine the optimal frequency of monitoring. OUTCOME Outcomes of interest include overall and disease-free survival, quality of life, toxicity reduction, and secondarily cost-effectiveness. EVIDENCE A search was performed to determine all relevant articles published over the past 20 years on the efficacy of surveillance testing for breast cancer recurrence. These publications comprised both retrospective and prospective studies. VALUES Levels of evidence and guideline grades were rated by a standard process. More weight was given to studies that tested a hypothesis directly relating testing to one of the primary outcomes in a randomized design. BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS The possible consequences of false-positive and -negative tests were considered in evaluating a preference for one of two tests providing similar information. Cost alone was not a determining factor. RECOMMENDATIONS The attached guidelines and text summarize the updated recommendations of the ASCO breast cancer expert panel. Data are sufficient to recommend monthly breast self-examination, annual mammography of the preserved and contralateral breast, and a careful history and physical examination every 3 to 6 months for 3 years, then every 6 to 12 months for 2 years, then annually. Data are not sufficient to recommend routine bone scans, chest radiographs, hematologic blood counts, tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, cancer antigen [CA] 15-5, and CA 27.29), liver ultrasonograms, or computed tomography scans. VALIDATION The recommendations of the breast cancer expert panel were evaluated and supported by the ASCO Health Services Research Committee reviewers and the ASCO Board of Directors.