Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate (IP3)-Mediated Ca2+ Release Evoked by Metabotropic Agonists and Backpropagating Action Potentials in Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

We examined the properties of [Ca2+]i changes that were evoked by backpropagating action potentials in pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices from the rat. In the presence of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonists t-ACPD, DHPG, or CHPG, spikes caused Ca2+ waves that initiated in the proximal apical dendrites and spread over this region and in the soma. Consistent with previously described synaptic responses (Nakamura et al., 1999a), pharmacological experiments established that the waves were attributable to Ca2+ release from internal stores mediated by the synergistic effect of receptor-mobilized inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and spike-evoked Ca2+. The amplitude of the changes reached several micromoles per liter when detected with the low-affinity indicators fura-6F, fura-2-FF, or furaptra. Repetitive brief spike trains at 30–60 sec intervals generated increases of constant amplitude. However, trains at intervals of 10–20 sec evoked smaller increases, suggesting that the stores take 20–30 sec to refill. Release evoked by mGluR agonists was blocked by MCPG, AIDA, 4-CPG, MPEP, and LY367385, a profile consistent with the primacy of group I receptors. At threshold agonist concentrations the release was evoked only in the dendrites; threshold antagonist concentrations were effective only in the soma. Carbachol and 5-HT evoked release with the same spatial distribution ast-ACPD, suggesting that the distribution of neurotransmitter receptors was not responsible for the restricted range of regenerative release. Intracellular BAPTA and EGTA were approximately equally effective in blocking release. Extracellular Cd2+ blocked release, but no single selective Ca2+ channel blocker prevented release. These results suggest that IP3 receptors are not associated closely with specific Ca2+ channels and are not close to each other.
Black/White Differences in Very Low Birth Weight Neonatal Mortality Rates Among New York City Hospitals

OBJECTIVE. We sought to determine whether differences in the hospitals at which black and white infants are born contribute to black/white disparities in very low birth weight neonatal mortality rates in New York City. METHODS. We performed a population-based cohort study using New York City vital statistics records on all live births and deaths of infants weighing 500 to 1499 g who were born in 45 hospitals between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2001 (N = 11 781). We measured very low birth weight risk-adjusted neonatal mortality rates for each New York City hospital and assessed differences in the distributions of non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white very low birth weight births among these hospitals. RESULTS. Risk-adjusted neonatal mortality rates for very low birth weight infants in New York City hospitals ranged from 9.6 to 27.2 deaths per 1000 births. White very low birth weight infants were more likely to be born in the lowest mortality tertile of hospitals (49%), compared with black very low birth weight infants (29%). We estimated that, if black women delivered in the same hospitals as white women, then black very low birth weight mortality rates would be reduced by 6.7 deaths per 1000 very low birth weight births, removing 34.5% of the black/white disparity in very low birth weight neonatal mortality rates in New York City. Volume of very low birth weight deliveries was modestly associated with very low birth weight mortality rates but explained little of the racial disparity. CONCLUSION. Black very low birth weight infants more likely to be born in New York City hospitals with higher risk-adjusted neonatal mortality rates than were very low birth weight infants, contributing substantially to black-white disparities.
Relationship between Severity of Lumbar Disc Disease and Disability Scores in Sciatica Patients

OBJECTIVE To study the association between the clinical examination and the radiological assessment of lumbar disc disease in patients with sciatica. METHODS The study included 394 consecutive sciatica patients. The patients’ disabilities were evaluated by a visual analog pain scale, the Prolo functional-economic rating scale, the modified Roland-Morris disability questionnaire, and the health-related quality of life short form (SF-36) questionnaire. Radiological imaging findings were independently classified according to the Modic criteria into five groups of increasing severity of disc disease. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to determine which scores were significant independent predictors of a severe disc disease (extrusion or sequestration). RESULTS Of these patients, 9.6% had no disc disease, 3.3% had a bulging, 11.4% had a protrusion, 68.5% had an extrusion, and 7.1% had a disc sequestration. Statistically significant positive linear associations with the severity of disc disease were found for the leg pain scale, the Roland-Morris and Prolo disability scales, and the SF-36 scores related to physical functioning, physical role, and bodily pain (all P < 0.005). A poor (<5) Prolo score (odds ratio, 2.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.74–4.87), a higher leg pain score (odds ratio, 1.16 per centimeter increase; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.27), and a lower low back pain score (odds ratio, 0.90 per centimeter decrease; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.98) were retained in the multivariate logistic model as independent predictors of severe disc disease. CONCLUSION The positive correlation between disability status and imaging findings validates both assessment methods. Routine use of disability scores brings a useful contribution to the assessment of sciatica patients.
THE PRESSURE AND INTERSTITIAL RESISTANCE PREVAILING IN THE NORMAL AND EDEMATOUS SKIN OF ANIMALS AND MAN

Means have been described for the study of pressure conditions in normal and pathological skin of living human beings and mice. The true pressure in normal skin cannot be measured directly by any of the means hitherto described, because there is insufficient free fluid to make manometric determinations. However, for practical purposes, the intracutaneous pressure has been approximately estimated by introducing into skin exceedingly small amounts of a relatively unabsorbable fluid, a mixture of Locke's solution and a vital dye, and then finding the least pressure required to overcome the resistance of the skin to the passage of this fluid through it at the lowest rate measurable with accuracy by the apparatus at hand. In the present paper measurements of this pressure have been termed the interstitial resistance. In normal skin the interstitial pressure, as estimated by measurements of the interstitial resistance, is low, slightly less, on the average, than 1.7 cm. of water in the skin of the mouse, and less than 3.1 cm. of water in human skin. It remains unchanged in states of active hyperemia. In edematous skin the interstitial pressure can be directly measured by determination of the edema fluid pressure. It has been compared with determinations of the interstitial resistance and found to be only 0.5 cm. of water lower in both the mouse and man. Under the conditions of our experiments, in skin rendered slowly edematous by the introduction of irritant chemicals or their topical application, little rise in pressure took place. On the other hand, in rapidly forming edema of the skin the edema fluid pressure and the intradermal interstitial resistance rose and became great enough to hinder materially the further escape of fluid from the blood vessels. The edema fluid pressure rose in proportion to the rapidity with which the edema formed. When a rapidly formed edema subsided, the edema fluid pressure and interstitial resistance fell, but if inflammation and induration followed later, the interstitial resistance became high again. As these conditions subsided the interstitial resistance fell, at times to normal levels, even in the presence of edema. In mouse skin injured by squeezing according to a standard procedure, with result in pronounced edema, the intradermal interstitial resistance rose within a few hours to levels of 10 to 15 cm. of water. In those instances in which the injury progressed to induration, the interstitial resistance rose to such high levels that it seemed impossible that fluid could continue to escape from the capillaries. Such a state of affairs may be of great importance in determining whether necrosis follows trauma.
Chairman of the board: demographics effects on role pursuit

Purpose – This paper aims to undertake a study of national configurational demographics in order to determine the spread of understanding of the chairman's role, performance and contribution.Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative methodology, exploratory in nature through in‐depth interviews and workshop discussion involving 103 UK, US and Australian participants, was undertaken.Findings – The role of chairman is considered as having a distinct effect on board dynamics, role and contribution and the monitoring and support of management. Nine demographic factors are identified as affecting the manner in which the role of chairman is exercised in the UK, USA and Australia.Research limitations/implications – The findings of this qualitative exploratory study need to be integrated into a quantitative empirical survey in order to ascertain the validity of the results to date.Practical implications – The two key conclusions highlight the requirement for governance due diligence, examining the financial and c.
Long-term Anterior and Posterior Topographic Analysis of the Cornea After Deep Lamellar Endothelial Keratoplasty

Purpose: To analyze the 2-year topographic response of the cornea to deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK). Methods: The Orbscan topographies of 24 eyes that underwent DLEK for corneal decompensation were retrospectively analyzed. Twelve eyes received a large-incision DLEK technique and 12 eyes received a small-incision DLEK. All the preoperative and postoperative corneal raw data were imported into a custom software program, which computed the average composite corneal maps and difference maps for both study groups to evaluate the corneal response to the surgery. The software delineated 2 concentric zones of the cornea to characterize the regional response after the surgery: the central and peripheral regions. Results: At 2 years after surgery, no significant changes (<0.41 diopters; analysis of variance, P > 0.05) in the central topography configuration were measured in comparison with the preoperative state after DLEK procedures. On the other hand, a significant increase (P < 0.01) in the mean tangential curvature and astigmatic power of the anterior corneal periphery was measured after surgery, with higher changes after large-incision DLEK. No significant differences in the average curvature profile of the posterior corneal interface were measured after DLEK procedures (<0.40, P > 0.05) in comparison with the preoperative state. Conclusions: DLEK provides stable central corneal topography, with minimal changes in curvature and astigmatic power in the years after surgery. Moreover, the donor posterior cornea shows to maintain its vitality and integrity in the long-term postoperative period, with curvature values similar to the original posterior corneal interface.
Overcritical state in superconducting round wires sheathed by iron

Magnetic measurements carried out on MgB2 superconducting round wires have shown that the critical current density Jc(Ba) in wires sheathed by iron can be significantly higher than that in the same bare (unsheathed) wires over a wide applied magnetic field Ba range. The magnetic behavior is, however, strongly dependent on the magnetic history of the sheathed wires, as well as on the wire orientation with respect to the direction of the applied field. The behavior observed can be explained by magnetic interaction between the soft magnetic sheath and superconducting core, which can result in a redistribution of supercurrents in the flux filled superconductor. A phenomenological model explaining the observed behavior is proposed.
Effect of a Matrix Therapy Agent on Corneal Epithelial Healing After Standard Collagen Cross-linking in Patients With Keratoconus: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Corneal abrasions are frequent after standard (epithelium-off [epi-off]) corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in patients with progressive keratoconus. A new matrix therapy agent (ReGeneraTing Agent [RGTA]) has been developed to promote corneal wound healing. Objective To assess the effect of the new type of matrix therapy agent on corneal wound healing after epi-off CXL in patients with keratoconus. Design, Setting, and Participants This double-masked randomized clinical trial enrolled 40 patients with keratoconus undergoing epi-off CXL from July 18, 2014, to October 21, 2015, when the last follow-up was completed. The analysis of the intention-to-treat population was performed at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology in cooperation with the Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry of the Medical University of Vienna. Interventions Patients were randomized to receive the matrix therapy agent or hyaluronic acid-containing eyedrops, 0.1%, every other day starting immediately after surgery. The size of the corneal defect was measured using ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) and slitlamp photography (SLP) with fluorescein staining. Main Outcomes and Measures Corneal wound healing rate, defined as the size of the defect over time. Results Among the 40 patients undergoing epi-off CXL (31 men; 9 women; mean [SD] age, 31 [10] years), wound healing was significantly faster in the matrix therapy agent group compared with the hyaluronic acid group (4.4 vs 6.1 days; mean difference, 1.7 days; 95% CI, 0.25-3.15 days; P = .008). The defect size was smaller in the matrix therapy agent group than in the hyaluronic acid group as measured with OCT (12.4 vs 23.9 mm2; mean difference, 11.6 mm2; 95% CI, 0.8-23.5 mm2; P = .045) and SLP (11.9 vs 23.5 mm2; mean difference, 11. 6 mm2; 95% CI, 1.3-22.9 mm2; P = .03). A correlation between the defect size measured with OCT and SLP was found (r = 0.89; P < .001). No ocular or serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions and Relevance Use of a new matrix therapy agent appears to improve corneal wound healing after CXL in patients with keratoconus. Monitoring of corneal wound healing using ultrahigh-resolution OCT might be an attractive alternative to SLP because OCT provides an objective and 3-dimensional evaluation of the corneal defect. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02119039.
Using case study research as a rigorous form of inquiry.

AIM To describe how case study research (CSR) was used inductively as an all-encompassing theoretical framework to examine learning in the workplace. BACKGROUND Case study research is a method with strong philosophical underpinnings which provides a framework for exploratory research in real-life settings ( Yin 2009 ). DATA SOURCES A study of five students' experiences of learning in healthcare environments to explore real-life contexts over the course of two years. The study was rich with empirical data, offering a pragmatic framework for learning in the workplace. REVIEW METHODS Observations, interviews and documents were used. DISCUSSION As a result of using CSR, the findings were analysed systematically and rigorously. Using multiple methods verified data and strengthened the significance of the findings. CONCLUSIONS This paper focuses on the strengths of using the CSR methodology. CSR embraces qualitative research methods in a rigorous and systematic manner. CSR has been applied to one example of research, addressing each step of the research protocol to use CSR to its full potential. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE/RESEARCH CSR enables real-life settings to be studied systematically and rigorously, offering examples of practice in nursing and education.
Graded Exposure for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: A Pilot Study

Background and Purpose: Fear-avoidance beliefs in older adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) can lead to disability. Graded exposure-based active physical therapy could be an option to enhance physical ability in older patients with CLBP. The purpose of this study was to develop a standardized graded exposure treatment according to the fear-avoidance model of musculoskeletal pain for older patients with CLBP and to examine its effectiveness and feasibility in the German health care system. Methods: The study represents a phase I/phase II trial of a complex intervention. Taking a first step into the hierarchy of growing empirical evidence, a prospective 1-factor observational study was conducted with repeated measurements 1 week before and within 2 weeks after the intervention. Three physical therapists, who completed an introductory workshop, provided the treatment in the form of individual therapies. Sixteen participants 65 years or older with CLBP and perceived physical limitations were recruited. Four patient-reported outcome measures and semistructured interviews were conducted. The primary outcome was physical ability measured with the Hanover Functional Ability Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were the numerical pain rating scale, and an age-specific and adapted 11-item short-form of the Patient Anxiety Symptom Scale, the KVS-D 65+, which quantified catastrophizing and avoidance beliefs. Fear of falling was measured with the Falls Efficacy Scale-International. For the analysis, Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired samples and an &agr; level of . 05 were chosen. For the qualitative evaluation, semistructured interviews were conducted with the patients and physical therapists explored indicators of feasibility such as demands, acceptability, satisfaction, adaptation needs, and implementation. For content analysis, codes were primarily derived deductively and complemented by inductively derived new themes. Results: A significant increase in physical ability after the treatment was observed with an effect size (ES) of 0.95 (P = .008). With regard to secondary outcomes, there was a statistically significant decrease in pain intensity (P = .029) and a reduction in catastrophizing (ES = 0.91; P = .021) and avoidance beliefs (ES = 1.37; P = .001). The interviews revealed good acceptance and satisfaction of the treatment by the patients and physical therapists. Conclusion: On the whole, the treatment appears effective and feasible. Apart from the benefits achieved by the participants, the study provides a basis for designing future studies at a higher level of evidence.
Peptide Folding: When Simulation Meets Experiment

Mol. dynamics simulation studies on the folding of beta-peptides H-beta3-HVal-beta3-HAla-beta3-HLeu-(S,S)-beta3-HAla(alphaMe)-beta3-HVal-beta3-HAla-beta3-HLeu-OH and H-beta2-HVal-beta3-HAla-beta2-HLeu-beta3-HVal-beta2-HAla-beta3-HLeu-OH were carried out. Despite the small differences in sequence between the two peptides studied, the simulations correctly predict a left-handed 31-helical fold for the beta-heptapeptide and a right-handed helical fold for the beta-hexapeptide.
A Corpus of Annotated Revisions for Studying Argumentative Writing

This paper presents ArgRewrite, a corpus of between-draft revisions of argumentative essays. Drafts are manually aligned at the sentence level, and the writer’s purpose for each revision is annotated with categories analogous to those used in argument mining and discourse analysis. The corpus should enable advanced research in writing comparison and revision analysis, as demonstrated via our own studies of student revision behavior and of automatic revision purpose prediction.
CD52 over-expression affects rituximab-associated complement-mediated cytotoxicity but not antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity: Preclinical evidence that targeting CD52 with alemtuzumab may reverse acquired resistance to rituximab in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

In an attempt to define mechanisms by which B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) may escape rituximab immunotherapy, we developed several rituximab-resistant cell lines (RRCL) generated from the rituximab-sensitive cell lines (RSCL) Raji and RL. Rituximab resistance was associated with CD20 downregulation and upregulation of CD52 and the complement inhibitory proteins (CIPs) CD55 and CD59. No significant alemtuzumab-associated complement-mediated cell lysis (CMC) or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) was demonstrated in RSCL. In contrast, in vitro exposure of RRCL to alemtuzumab resulted in a significant degree of CMC and ADCC. Of note, in vitro blocking of CD52 with anti-CD52 F(ab’)2 fractions in RRCL improved rituximab-associated CMC as compared to unblocked RRCL. Our current data provides a basis for further evaluation of alemtuzumab-based clinical trials for patients with rituximab-resistant NHL.
Influence of soil properties and test conditions on sorption and desorption of testosterone

In this study, batch sorption and desorption experiments were conducted for testosterone using four agricultural soils and five clay minerals. Significant differences in sorption behavior were observed between abiotic and biotic systems. The Freundlich sorption coefficient Kf (µg per g)/(µg per mL) ranged from 8.53 to 74.46 for soils and from 35.28 to 1243 for clays. The maximum sorption capacity (µg per g) of soils ranged from 25.25 to 440.61 for soils and 168.46 to 499.84 for clays. Correlation of sorption model parameters with soil properties indicated that both clay content and soil organic matter are important variables in predicting testosterone sorption behavior. Observed testosterone desorption from agricultural soils ranged from approximately 14 to 100 percent after 3 desorption cycles, and the desorption percentage decreased as the initial testosterone concentration decreased. Temperature, ionic strength, the water/soil ratio and soil depth were determined to influence sorption and desorption of testosterone. Desorption significantly increase with the soil depth and with the increase in the water to soil ratio. Temperature had an inverse effect on the sorption capacity of the soils tested. Thermodynamic calculations showed that the enthalpy change of the soils tested were the range of 12.9-20.7 kJ per mol, indicating weak interaction between testosterone and soil. Our results suggest that additional studies on how soil particles with different size fractions affect hormones fate and transport are needed in order to determine the potential risk of testosterone leaching or runoff.
Phaeocystidibacter marisrubri sp. nov., a member of the family Cryomorphaceae isolated from Red Sea sediment.

Strain G18(T), a Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, motile, non-fermentative, yellow-pigmented bacterium, was isolated from Red Sea sediment. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain G18(T) was most closely related to Phaeocystidibacter luteus PG2S01(T) with 95.3% similarity. Growth of strain G18(T) occurred at 10-42 °C (optimum 28-37 °C), pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum pH 6.0-8.0) and in the presence of 0.5-10% NaCl (optimum 2-5%). The major fatty acids of strain G18(T) were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified aminolipids, phospholipids and other lipids. The predominant quinone was menaquinone 6 (MK-6). The G+C content of the genomic DNA from strain G18(T) was 39.0 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic properties, strain G18(T) represents a novel species of the genus Phaeocystidibacter, for which the name Phaeocystidibacter marisrubri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is G18(T) ( = CGMCC 1.14954(T)= JCM 30614(T)).