Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Upper mantle compressional velocity structure beneath the West Mediterranean Basin

P waveforms of regional crustal earthquakes have been modeled to obtain an upper mantle compressional velocity model for the West Mediterranean Basin. Data come from long-period stations of the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network and broadband stations located in the Iberian Peninsula. Synthetic waveforms have first been computed for published velocity models corresponding to different tectonic provinces and obtained with analogous techniques. A model that strongly improves the fits to the data is then derived. The proposed model is characterized by a 100-km-thick lid overlaying a not very pronounced low-velocity zone and a 3% discontinuity at 368 km where an increase of the velocity gradient also occurs. These features could be explained either as a deflection of the olivine-to-spinel phase transition, regionally detected at about 395 km, resulting from the lower temperature produced by the subduction of the African plate, or as being due to the presence below 300 km depth of a layer of silicate melt, producing a strong reflection from its bottom, and a more usual depth for the olivine-spinel transition. In both cases the occurrence of relatively low velocities beneath 300 km is interpreted as being caused by the presence of melt associated with the northward dipping subduction of the African plate.
Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Signaling to Akt Promotes Keratinocyte Differentiation Versus Death*

Signaling pathways regulating the differentiation program of epidermal cells overlap widely with those activated during apoptosis. How differentiating cells remain protected from premature death, however, is still poorly defined. We show here that the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway is activated at early stages of mouse keratinocyte differentiation both in culture and in the intact epidermis in vivo. Expression of active Akt in keratinocytes promotes growth arrest and differentiation, whereas pharmacological blockade of PI3K inhibits the expression of “late” differentiation markers and leads to death of cells that would otherwise differentiate. Mechanistically, the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in keratinocyte differentiation depends on the activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor and Src families of tyrosine kinases and the engagement of E-cadherin-mediated adhesion. During this process, PI3K associates increasingly with cadherin-catenin protein complexes bearing tyrosine phosphorylated YXXM motifs. Thus, the PI3K signaling pathway regulates the choice between epidermal cell differentiation and death at the cross-talk between tyrosine kinases and cadherin-associated catenins.
Suppression of activity in the forelimb motor cortex temporarily enlarges forelimb representation in the homotopic cortex in adult rats

After forelimb motor cortex (FMC) damage, the unaffected homotopic motor cortex showed plastic changes. The present experiments were designed to clarify the electrophysiological nature of these interhemispheric effects. To this end, the output reorganization of the FMC was investigated after homotopic area activity was suppressed in adult rats. FMC output was compared after lidocaine‐induced inactivation (L‐group) or quinolinic acid‐induced lesion (Q‐group) of the contralateral homotopic cortex. In the Q‐group of animals, FMC mapping was performed, respectively, 3 days (Q3D group) and 2 weeks (Q2W group) after cortical lesion. In each animal, FMC output was assessed by mapping movements induced by intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) in both hemispheres (hemisphere ipsilateral and contralateral to injections). The findings demonstrated that in the L‐group, the size of forelimb representation was 42.2% higher than in the control group (P < 0.0001). The percentage of dual forelimb–vibrissa movement sites significantly increased over the controls (P < 0.0005). The dual‐movement sites occupied a strip of the map along the rostrocaudal border between the forelimb and vibrissa representations. This form of interhemispheric diaschisis had completely reversed, with the recovery of the baseline map, 3 days after the lesion in the contralateral FMC. This restored forelimb map showed no ICMS‐induced changes 2 weeks after the lesion in the contralateral FMC. The present results suggest that the FMCs in the two hemispheres interact continuously through predominantly inhibitory influences that preserve the forelimb representation and the border vs. vibrissa representation.
IL-27 Regulates Homeostasis of the Intestinal CD4+ Effector T Cell Pool and Limits Intestinal Inflammation in a Murine Model of Colitis1

IL-27 limits CD4+ TH17 cell development in vitro and during inflammatory responses in the CNS. However, whether IL-27-IL-27R interactions regulate the homeostasis or function of CD4+ T cell populations in the intestine is unknown. To test this, we examined CD4+ T cell populations in the intestine of wild-type and IL-27R−/− mice. Naive IL-27R−/− mice exhibited a selective decrease in the frequency of IFN-γ producing CD4+ TH1 cells and an increase in the frequency of TH17 cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissues. Associated with elevated expression of IL-17A, IL-27R−/− mice exhibited earlier onset and significantly increased severity of clinical disease compared with wild-type controls in a murine model of intestinal inflammation. Rag−/−/IL-27R−/− mice were also more susceptible than Rag−/− mice to development of dextran sodium sulfate-induced intestinal inflammation, indicating an additional role for IL-27-IL-27R in the regulation of innate immune cell function. Consistent with this, IL-27 inhibited proinflammatory cytokine production by activated neutrophils. Collectively, these data identify a role for IL-27-IL-27R interaction in controlling the homeostasis of the intestinal T cell pool and in limiting intestinal inflammation through regulation of innate and adaptive immune cell function.
Patient survival after renal transplantation III: the effects of statins.

BACKGROUND Kidney transplant recipients have high cardiovascular risk and an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile, which frequently includes hyperlipidemia. Although the use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) is associated with improved survival in the general population, the effects of these drugs on the survival of kidney transplant recipients have not been established. METHODS In this study, we determined which factors were associated with the use of statins in a population of 1,574 adult, kidney allograft recipients, transplanted in one institution. A risk factor analysis of patient survival was done with a primary focus on the possible relationship between statin use and survival. RESULTS The percent of patients treated with statins increased progressively from 1982 to 1996. Statins were used significantly more often in whites (30%) than in blacks (20%, P = 0.001) and in older individuals. These differences in statin use were not due to differences in lipid levels among the patient groups. As expected, the group of patients treated with statins had significantly higher serum lipid levels than untreated patients. Patient survival was significantly better in patients treated with statins than in untreated patients. That relationship became apparent, however, only after controlling for three additional factors: recipient age, transplant year, and serum cholesterol levels. In a multivariable Cox survival model, patient survival was associated significantly with statin use (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.76; confidence interval [CI], 0.6 to 0.96; P = 0.02), recipient age (HR = 1.05; CI, 1.04 to 1.06; P < 0.0001), and transplant year (HR = 1.05; CI, 1.01 to 1.08; P = 0.001). The serum cholesterol level was not associated significantly with patient survival in this model, but cholesterol significantly modified the relationship between statin use and patient survival. CONCLUSIONS Renal transplant recipients treated with statins have a 24% better survival than patients who do not receive these drugs.
Avaliação do Conhecimento de Intensivistas sobre Morte Encefálica* Evaluation of Intensivists' Knowledge on Brain Death

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS : A falha ou atraso no diagnostico de morte encefalica resulta na ocupa-cao desnecessaria de um leito hospitalar, em perdas emocionais e fi nanceiras e na indisponibilidade de orgaos para transplante. O medico intensivista tem fundamental papel nesse diagnostico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o conhecimento sobre morte encefalica entre os intensivistas. METODO: Estudo transversal em 15 unidades de te-rapia intensiva (UTI) em oito hospitais da cidade de Porto Alegre, Brasil. RESULTADOS: Duzentos e quarenta e seis intensi-vistas foram entrevistados em uma amostra conse-cutiva entre abril e dezembro de 2005. Encontrou-se prevalencia de desconhecimento do conceito de morte encefalica de 17%. Vinte por cento dos entre-vistados desconheciam a necessidade legal de exa-me complementar para o seu diagnostico. Quarenta
REVISIÓN ANATÓMICA E HISTOLÓGICA DEL SENO CORONARIO

El seno coronario (SC), tradicionalmente considerado simplemente una gran vena cardiaca, es mostrado, de acuerdo a sus caracteristicas anatomicas, como una verdadera camara cardiaca: endocardio, miocardio estriado, epicardio y un sistema de conduccion especifico. Fueron disecados 14 corazones humanos, utilizando aumento optico. Imagenes de alta resolucion fueron obtenidas con una camara digital. Los datos fueron analizados con softwares especializados. Hallazgos macroscopicos: 1) Existencia de musculo cardiaco estriado formando la pared del SC sobre su circunferencia, 2) Conecciones musculares atriales-SC. 3) Fasciculos musculares atrio-senocoronarios no descritos. Dos tractos musculares conectan el SC al atrio derecho (AD), (uno antero-superior o septal, y otro postero-inferior o atrial) fueron tambien descubiertos. Hallazgos microscopicos: 1) Fibras miocardicas estriadas en la capa media. 2) Un grupo de celulas similares a las celulas P del nodo sinoatrial, ademas de un amplio numero de celulas tipo Purkinje. Grupos numerosos de neuronas ganglionares fueron identificados en el epicardio. En relacion a la funcion de transporte venoso, el SC es una discreta estructura, en forma de camara, situada en el surco posterior izquierdo (surco atrioventricular) y no en la pared del atrio o del ventriculo. Los hallazgos sugieren que el fasciculo de Bachmann's , el fasciculo atrio-senocoronario, la musculatura del seno coronario y el atrio derecho pueden ser, todos, parte del sistema de conduccion cardiaco y contribuir a la genesis de las arritmias cardiacas. Por lo tanto el SC es una pequena camara cardiaca que se une a las otras cuatro camaras a nivel de la cruz cardiaca
Salivary cortisol levels in children of low-income women with high depressive symptomatology

Abstract Children (N = 324 boys, 315 girls) between the ages of 2.5 and 6 (mean age = 3.63) were identified in a house to house survey in low-income areas (income <20th percentile nationally) of urban Mexico. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression Scale was administered to mothers of all children. Salivary cortisol samples were taken in children as a measure of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) system activity at time of arrival (baseline, Time 0), 25 min after arrival (Time 1), and 50 min after arrival (Time 2). Between Time 0 and Time 1, children were administered several cognitive tests. Results of hierarchical linear modeling analyses revealed that higher levels of maternal depressive symptoms were associated with lower baseline cortisol levels in their children (p < .05), while controlling for age, gender, and time since awakening. Higher levels of maternal depressive symptoms were associated with less of an increase in salivary cortisol to the arrival of the experimenters and subsequent cognitive testing (p < .05). All results were moderated by gender, with enhanced cortisol response in girls and no response in boys. These results suggest that among very low-income families, high maternal depressive symptoms are associated with hypoactivity of the HPA system in children, particularly boys.
Quantitative Changes in Gimap3 and Gimap5 Expression Modify Mitochondrial DNA Segregation in Mice

Mammalian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a high-copy maternally inherited genome essential for aerobic energy metabolism. Mutations in mtDNA can lead to heteroplasmy, the co-occurence of two different mtDNA variants in the same cell, which can segregate in a tissue-specific manner affecting the onset and severity of mitochondrial dysfunction. To investigate mechanisms regulating mtDNA segregation we use a heteroplasmic mouse model with two polymorphic neutral mtDNA haplotypes (NZB and BALB) that displays tissue-specific and age-dependent selection for mtDNA haplotypes. In the hematopoietic compartment there is selection for the BALB mtDNA haplotype, a phenotype that can be modified by allelic variants of Gimap3. Gimap3 is a tail-anchored member of the GTPase of the immunity-associated protein (Gimap) family of protein scaffolds important for leukocyte development and survival. Here we show how the expression of two murine Gimap3 alleles from Mus musculus domesticus and M. m. castaneus differentially affect mtDNA segregation. The castaneus allele has incorporated a uORF (upstream open reading frame) in-frame with the Gimap3 mRNA that impairs translation and imparts a negative effect on the steady-state protein abundance. We found that quantitative changes in the expression of Gimap3 and the paralogue Gimap5, which encodes a lysosomal protein, affect mtDNA segregation in the mouse hematopoietic tissues. We also show that Gimap3 localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and not mitochondria as previously reported. Collectively these data show that the abundance of protein scaffolds on the endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes are important to the segregation of the mitochondrial genome in the mouse hematopoietic compartment.
A Secure and Efficient Authentication Technique for Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks

Vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) are under active development, thanks in part to recent advances in wireless communication and networking technologies. The most fundamental part in VANETs is to enable message authentications between vehicles and roadside units. Message authentication using proxy vehicles has been proposed to reduce the computational overhead of roadside units significantly. In this message authentication scheme, proxy vehicles that verify multiple messages at the same time improve roadside units’ efficiency. In this paper, first we show that the only proxy-based authentication scheme (PBAS) presented for this goal by Liu et al. cannot guarantee message authenticity, and also it is not resistant against impersonation and modification attacks and false acceptance of batched invalid signatures. Next, we propose a new identity-based message authentication scheme using proxy vehicles (ID-MAP). Then, to guarantee that it can satisfy the message authentication requirement, existential unforgeability of underlying signature against adaptively chosen-message and identity attack is proved under elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem in the random oracle model. It should be highlighted that ID-MAP not only is more efficient than PBAS since it is pairing-free and identity-based, and also it does not use map-to-point hash functions, but also it satisfies security and privacy requirements of VANETs. Furthermore, analysis shows that the required time to verify 3000 messages in ID-MAP is reduced by 76% compared to that of PBAS.
Electroanalytical Sensor Technology

The subject of electrochemical sensors is broad, spanning many aspects of physical and analytical chemistry, materials science, biochemistry, solid-state physics, device fabrication, electrical engineering, and even statistical analysis. Thus, the field of electrochemical sensors cannot be dealt with holistically in a single chapter. Here, we will focus on electrochemical sensor technology from an analytical perspective, where the rigours of sensor behaviour will be discussed as they relate to the quality of the quantitative information that can be derived. The definition of analytical chemistry was given by the Federation of European Chemical Societies (FECS) in 1993 [1] and adopted by IUPAC:
Characterization of Purine Receptors in Mouse Thoracic Aorta

The contracting and relaxing effects of purines and UTP were investigated on rings of mouse thoracic aorta in vitro. UTP, ATPγS, and &agr;-β-Methyleneadenosine 5′triphosphate contracted rings with and without endothelium. On the contrary, adenosine, AMP, ADP, ATP, and 2-(methylthio)adenosine 5′-diphosphate had no effect on relaxed rings. When rings were tonically contracted by U46619 a thromboxane A2 analogue, ATP, ADP, ATPγS, 2-(methylthio)adenosine 5′-diphosphate, and UTP caused endothelium-dependent but not independent relaxations. I conclude that ATP acts on P2Y2 and P2Y1 receptors on the endothelial cells to cause endothelium-dependent relaxation. In this tissue, the relaxing effect of ATP dominates by endothelium–dependent ways when aorta rings are contracted by a stable thromboxane A2 analog. However receptors mediating contraction in response to purines and pyrimidines are present on smooth muscle cells. Indeed, the stimulation of P2Y receptors by UTP as well as the activation of P2X family receptors by ATPγS causes a contraction. The potential contractile effect of ATP seems masked by its hydrolysis by ectonucleotidases.
THE EFFECT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP ON ECONOMY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

This paper discusses the evolution and current development of principles and practice of entrepreneurship in Nigeria. It also examines the effect of entrepreneurship in fostering economic growth and development. The methodology adopted was the narrativetextual case study (NTCS) method, which is preferred because of the absence of sequential data related to entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria. However, interviews were also conducted. We used simple percentages, graph and chart in analyzing and interpreting the collated secondary data. We found that Nigeria’s economy has continued to grow over the last decade- with the real GDP growth rate hovering around 7%. It was also found that entrepreneurship can enhance economic growth and development primarily by generating employment and foster the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises in Nigeria. We recommend that there should be proper policy coordination and policy stability; reforms in the educational curriculum to prepare students for self-reliance; and fixing the power sector-Nigeria’s basic infrastructure. When we have flourishing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), gainful employment will be created, wealth created will be distributed evenly and economy is developed.
Helicobacter pylori in gastroduodenal diseases.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and disease association of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in dyspeptic patients in southwest Nigeria. SETTING Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-lfe, Nigeria. METHODS Consecutive dyspeptic patients for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy from January 1996 to March 1997 were investigated for H. pylori in gastric biopsy by histopathology and culture. Patients without gastroduodenal ulcerations or neoplastic lesions constituted the nonulcer dyspeptic (NUD) group. RESULTS 138 (92 males, 46 females) patients aged 4.5-85 years [mean (7) = 45+/-SD 17.8 years] who had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were analyzed for presence of H. pylori. Eighty-three had histopathology alone, while 55 others had both histology and culture. Endoscopic diagnosis included duodenal ulcer (DU) (n=35, 23%); gastric ulcer (n=4, 3%); gastric cancer (n=14, 9%); NUD, including gastritis (n=49, 32%); duodenitis (n=47, 31%); and normal (n=16, 11%). Overall, H. pylori was positive in 107 of 138 (77.5%) patients. There was a significant association of H. pylori with DU and NUD (p<0.000). Three-quarters of cases of normal endoscopy harbored H. pylori. The finding of 80% and 85% H. pylori in gastritis and duodenitis, respectively, was of interest. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that DU and NUD were the main clinical expressions of H. pylori infection in southwest Nigerian dyspeptic patients similar to what is found in developed nations. Of note is the high incidence of H. pylori in endoscopically normal patients.
Preventing Delayed Gastric Emptying After Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

To the Editor: We read with great interest the article by Eshuis and colleagues published in the January 2014 issue of Annals of Surgery. The authors compared antecolic versus retrocolic gastroenteric reconstruction after pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PpPD) in a well-powered multicenter randomized controlled trial. They showed that the route of gastroenteric reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) does not influence the postoperative incidence of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) or other complications. They stated that the mechanisms of DGE should be investigated further and suggested that studies on gastroenterological motility and the results of a trial on pylorus resection versus pylorus preservation should be considered in view of a multidisciplinary approach for the prevention of DGE. The pathogenesis of DGE remains unclear, but apart from an indirect impact through postoperative complications, PD influences the prevalence of postoperative DGE directly through ‘‘demolitive effects’’ and ‘‘reconstructive effects. ’’ The demolitive step of such a procedure leads to hormonal alterations (ie, postoperative decrease in plasma motilin stimulation after duodenal resection) and vascular and neural alterations (ie, devascularization and denervation of the pylorus in PpPD with subsequent pylorospasm), which promote DGE. The reconstructive step may affect the prevalence of DGE through the route of gastroenteric or duodenoenteric reconstruction (ie, antecolic or retrocolic) and type of the reconstructive technique (Billroth I or Billroth II), which have been considered to be relevant for DGE. With regard to the prevention of DGE, we experienced that pylorus resection
Self-belief does make a difference: A reciprocal effects model of the causal ordering of physical self-concept and gymnastics performance

Abstract A large body of research in support of the reciprocal effects model of causal ordering demonstrates that prior academic self-concept predicts subsequent academic achievement beyond what can be explained in terms of prior achievement. Here we evaluate the generalizability of this support for the reciprocal effects model to a physical activity context in which achievement is reflected in gymnastics skills on a standardized gymnastics performance test evaluated by expert judges. Based on the responses of 376 adolescents collected at the start (T1) and end (T2) of a gymnastics training programme, there is support for a reciprocal effects model in which there are significant paths leading from both T1 gymnastics self-concept to T2 gymnastics skills and from T1 gymnastics skills to T2 self-concept. Although there were gender and age effects (girls and older participants had better gymnastics skills, boys had higher self-concepts), multiple group structural equation models indicated that support for the reciprocal effects model generalized over responses by boys and girls. In summary, self-concept and performance are both determinants and consequences of each other.