Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vecuronium neuromuscular blockade at the diaphragm, the orbicularis oculi, and adductor pollicis muscles.

To determine the relationship among diaphragm, orbicularis oculi, and adductor pollicis blockade, train-of-four stimulation was applied to the phrenic, facial, and ulnar nerves in 16 adult patients anesthetized with alfentanil-propofol-oxygen. Vecuronium 0.04 or 0.07 mg/kg was given. The response of the adductor pollicis was measured with a force transducer, and that of the other muscles by electromyography (EMG). No statistically significant differences were detected with either dose in the intensity of maximum blockade measured at the three muscles. With 0.04 mg/kg, the first response (T1) in the train-of-four was decreased (mean +/- SEM) 78 +/- 8, 62 +/- 11, and 84 +/- 3% for the diaphragm, orbicularis oculi, and adductor pollicis, respectively. Corresponding values after 0.07 mg/kg were 95 +/- 3, 82 +/- 11, and 95 +/- 2%, respectively. However, onset time was longer at the adductor pollicis than at the diaphragm, and the orbicularis oculi onset time approached that of the diaphragm. With 0.04 mg/kg, time to maximum diaphragmatic blockade was 2.9 +/- 0.3 min, compared with 3.7 +/- 0.6 min at the orbicularis oculi (no significant difference [NS]) and 6.6 +/- 0.4 min at the adductor pollicis (P less than 0.001). With vecuronium 0.07 mg/kg the values were 2.2 +/- 0.3, 3.4 +/- 0.5 (P = 0.024), and 6.3 +/- 0.6 (P less than 0.001), respectively. Time to 75% T1 recovery was similar at the diaphragm and the orbicularis oculi, but significantly longer at the adductor pollicis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Demographic and socioeconomic correlates of powder cocaine and crack use among high school seniors in the United States

Abstract Objectives: Rates of powder cocaine and crack use have fluctuated among adolescents over recent decades. Little attention has been paid to recent trends, particularly regarding differences between users of powder cocaine and crack—two forms of the substance that are commonly reported together as “cocaine” use, despite having different effects and rates of adverse outcomes. Methods: We examined data from nationally representative samples of high school seniors who participated in the Monitoring the Future study during years 2005–2011 (weighted N = 65 717). Results: Many demographic and socioeconomic variables were similarly correlated with lifetime use of powder cocaine and crack. Income of >$50/week from job increased the odds for use, and income of >$50/week from sources other than a job more than doubled the odds for use. High religiosity, high parent education, identifying as black, and residing with one or two parents reduced odds for use. Hispanic students were at higher odds for use of crack and females were at lower odds for using powder cocaine. Among cocaine users, residing with one or two parents lowered odds for using both forms, and more religious students and Hispanics were at higher odds for crack-only use. Conclusions: Those interested in preventing initiation and adverse consequences of cocaine use should take into account the overlapping, yet different risk profiles of powder cocaine and crack users when developing programming. This is particularly important when considering differences in legal consequences for these pharmacologically similar forms of cocaine.
Tribological testing of skin products: gender, age, and ethnicity on the volar forearm

Background/purpose: Few studies have focused on the simultaneous measurement of the friction and electrical properties of skin. This work investigates the feasibility of using these measurements to differentiate between the effects of chemicals commonly applied to the skin. In addition, this study also compares the condition of the skin and its response to application of chemicals across gender, ethnicity, and age at the volar forearm.
Minimally Invasive Treatment Combined With Cytokine-induced Killer Cells Therapy Lower the Short-term Recurrence Rates of Hepatocellular Carcinomas

The recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after minimally invasive therapy is frequent. Adoptive immunotherapy is thought to be an effective method to lower recurrence and metastasis rates of malignant tumors. Therefore, 85 HCC patients after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation therapy were randomized to immunotherapy group and no adjuvant therapy group. Autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells were transfused via hepatic artery to the patients. The alteration of levels of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of patients was examined by flow cytometry. All patients were screened by computed tomography every 2 months to observe the tumor recurrent conditions. After CIK cell infusions, the percentages of CD3+, CD4+, CD56+, CD3+CD56+ cells, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio increased from 68.6±11.0%, 31.1±9.0%, 15.6±7.9%, 5.2±3.1%, and 1.1±0.5 to 70.7±10.1%, 33.5±8.0%, 18.4±9.4%, 5.9±2.8%, and 1.3±0.7, respectively (P<0.05); whereas the percentage of CD8+ cells decreased from 31.1±7.8% to 28.6±8.3% (P<0.05). The 1-year and 18-month recurrence rates of the study group were 8.9% and 15.6%, compared with 30.0% and 40.0% of the control group (both P value <0.05). The data suggest that CIK cell transfusion is an effective treatment. It can boost the immunologic function in HCC patients and plays an important role in reducing the recurrence rate of HCC.
Default Network Connectivity Is Linked to Memory Status in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract Memory impairment affects 50% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Altered resting-state functional connectivity (FC) has been observed in the default network (DN) of MS patients. No study to date has examined the association of DN FC to its behavioral concomitant, memory. The approach of the present study represents a methodological shift allowing straightforward interpretation of FC alterations in MS, as it presupposes specificity of a network to its paired cognitive function. We examined FC from fMRI collected during rest in the DN of 43 MS patients with and without memory-impairment. Memory-intact patients showed increased DN FC relative to memory-impaired patients. There were no regions of higher FC in memory-impaired patients. DN FC was positively correlated with memory function, such that higher FC was associated with better memory performance. Results were unchanged after controlling for cognitive efficiency, supporting specificity of the DN to memory and not cognitive status more generally. These findings support DN FC as a marker of memory function in MS patients that can be targeted by future treatment interventions. Pairing a functional network with its behavioral concomitant represents a straightforward method for interpreting FC alterations in patients with MS. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–8)
Leveraging abscisic acid receptors for efficient water use in Arabidopsis

Significance Water is the major limiting factor for plant productivity in the field, and current water use in agriculture is not sustainable. Under water limitations, plants can ameliorate the carbon for water exchange leading to higher water use efficiencies. The plant hormone abscisic acid is activated in response to drought and regulates the water status and acclimation responses. Here we show in the model species Arabidopsis that abscisic acid receptors can be explored to constitutively increase the water use efficiency without impinging on growth potential. The finding may support future efforts to generate “more crop per drop” required for a more sustainable water use in agriculture. Plant growth requires the influx of atmospheric CO2 through stomatal pores, and this carbon uptake for photosynthesis is inherently associated with a large efflux of water vapor. Under water deficit, plants reduce transpiration and are able to improve carbon for water exchange leading to higher water use efficiency (WUE). Whether increased WUE can be achieved without trade-offs in plant growth is debated. The signals mediating the WUE response under water deficit are not fully elucidated but involve the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA). ABA is perceived by a family of related receptors known to mediate acclimation responses and to reduce transpiration. We now show that enhanced stimulation of ABA signaling via distinct ABA receptors can result in plants constitutively growing at high WUE in the model species Arabidopsis. WUE was assessed by three independent approaches involving gravimetric analyses, 13C discrimination studies of shoots and derived cellulose fractions, and by gas exchange measurements of whole plants and individual leaves. Plants expressing the ABA receptors RCAR6/PYL12 combined up to 40% increased WUE with high growth rates, i.e., are water productive. Water productivity was associated with maintenance of net carbon assimilation by compensatory increases of leaf CO2 gradients, thereby sustaining biomass acquisition. Leaf surface temperatures and growth potentials of plants growing under well-watered conditions were found to be reliable indicators for water productivity. The study shows that ABA receptors can be explored to generate more plant biomass per water transpired, which is a prime goal for a more sustainable water use in agriculture.
Technology Driven Curriculum for 21st Century Higher Education Students in Africa

The book consists of novel and empirical research in broad areas of technology and curriculum in selected African countries. The central theme of the book is technology and the higher education curriculum. The book consists of case studies from selected African countries, namely, Lesotho; Namibia; Kenya; South Africa; Zimbabwe; Tanzania and Nigeria. These studies confirm that in this contemporary digital era, educational technology is playing an increasingly important role. It has become so ubiquitous and fundamental in the teaching and learning. Higher education sectors across the continent are increasingly compelled to use educational technology to keep up with needs of 21st century students who want to be afforded opportunities to be able to learn in real time, anytime, and on their own terms using opportunities for creative innovation made possible by new information and communication technologies.
Correlation between parameters of self-monitoring of blood glucose and the perception of health-related quality of life in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate how different parameters of short-term glycemic control would correlate with the perception of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Subjects and methods A total of 50 T1D patients aged 18 to 50 years were evaluated with the questionnaires Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale and Diabetes Quality of Life (DQOL) measure after 30 days of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). Glycemic control was evaluated using glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), mean glucose levels (MGL) in the prior month’s data from SMBG (Accu-Check 360o), number of hypoglycemic episodes (< 70 mg/dL and < 50 mg/dL), and glycemic variability (GV). Results PAID correlated positively with MGL (r = 0.52; p < 0.001) and HbA1c (r = 0.36; p < 0.0097), but not with GV (r = 0.17; p = 0.23) or number of hypoglycemic episodes (r = 0.15; p = 0.17 for glucose < 70 mg/dL and r = 0.02; p = 0.85 for glucose < 50 mg/dL). After multiple linear regression, only MGL remained independently related to PAID scores. DQOL scores had a positive correlation with MGL (r = 0.45; p = 0.001), but not with HbA1c (r = 0.23; p = 0.09), GV (r = 0.20; p = 0.16), or number of hypoglycemic episodes (r = 0.06 p = 0.68). Conclusion In T1D patients, MGL, but not HbA1c or number hypoglycemic episodes, was the glycemic control parameter that best correlated with short-term perception of HRQoL.
Focal adhesion kinase is required for endothelin‐induced cell cycle progression of cultured astrocytes

When the brain is damaged, astrocytes often cause hyperplasia resulting in glial scar formation at the injured sites. Endothelins (ETs) have been shown to be involved in the pathophysiologic responses of astrocytes, including proliferation. In this study, we examined the mechanisms underlying the ET‐induced astrocytic G1/S‐phase cell cycle transition by focusing on focal adhesion kinase (FAK). A transient transfection with wild‐type FAK was followed by an increase in bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into cultured rat astrocytes. The increases in BrdU incorporation induced by 100 nM ET‐1 were not found in astrocytes transfected with dominant‐negative FAK mutants (FRNK and dC14‐FAK). The increases in BrdU incorporation induced by 10 nM phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) were not affected by the FAK mutants. Wild‐type FAK did not induce stress fiber formation in cultured astrocytes. The dominant negative FAK mutant dC14‐FAK did not prevent ET‐induced astrocytic stress fiber formation. These results suggest that FAK mediated the astrocytic G1/S cell cycle transition induced by ET‐1 downstream of the cytoskeletal actin reorganization. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular Taxonomy of Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Using Disease-Associated Genes

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective loss of upper and lower motor neurons. Despite intensive research, the origin and progression of ALS remain largely unknown, suggesting that the traditional clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies might not be adequate to completely capture the molecular complexity underlying the disease. In our previous work, comprehensive genomic profiling of 41 motor cortex samples enabled to discriminate control from sporadic ALS patients and segregated these latter into two distinct subgroups, each associated with different deregulated genes and pathways. Interestingly, some deregulated genes in sporadic ALS were previously associated with familiar ALS, indicating shared pathogenic mechanisms between the two forms of disease. In this, we performed cluster analysis on the same whole-genome expression profiles using a restricted (203) subset of genes extensively implicated in monogenic forms of ALS. Surprisingly, this short and unbiased gene list was sufficiently representative to allow the accurate separation of SALS patients from controls and the stratification of SALS patients into two molecularly distinct subgroups. Overall, our findings support the existence of a molecular taxonomy for ALS and represent a further step toward the establishment of a molecular-based diagnosis and patient-tailored therapies.
Low-dose Nicotine Exposure Induced the Oxidative Damage of Reproductive Organs and Altered the Sperm Characteristics of Adolescent Male Rats.

Background Nicotine is a major toxic and hazardous component of cigarette smoke, and it has been widely used in nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). This study was aimed to investigate the effects of chronic low-dose nicotine on sperm characteristics and reproductive organ integrity in adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods Twelve rats were equally divided into two groups. Group I received normal saline, and group II received 0.6 mg/kg body weight nicotine intraperitoneally for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the experimental period, sperm was collected for sperm characteristic evaluation, and the testes and prostate were isolated for biochemical and morphological analysis. The effects of nicotine on the body and reproductive organ weights of the animals were evaluated. Results Chronic nicotine treatment significantly (P < 0.05) altered the sperm count, motility, viability, and morphology, and remarkably increased the malondialdehyde (P < 0.001) and advanced oxidation protein product (P < 0.05) levels in the testes and prostate of nicotine-treated group compared to control group. Moreover, nicotine caused a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the superoxide dismutase activity of the testes. No significant differences were observed in the reduced glutathione level in both of the testes and prostate of nicotine group compared with control group. Nicotine also induced histopathological alteration in the testes. Conclusion A low-dose nicotine exposure at 0.6 mg/kg caused detrimental effects on sperm characteristics and induced oxidative stress in the testes and prostate.
Inhibition of KDM6 activity during murine ESC differentiation induces DNA damage

ABSTRACT Pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are characterised by their capacity to self-renew indefinitely while maintaining the potential to differentiate into all cell types of an adult organism. Both the undifferentiated and differentiated states are defined by specific gene expression programs that are regulated at the chromatin level. Here, we have analysed the contribution of the H3K27me2- and H3K27me23-specific demethylases KDM6A and KDM6B to murine ESC differentiation by employing the GSK-J4 inhibitor, which is specific for KDM6 proteins, and by targeted gene knockout (KO) and knockdown. We observe that inhibition of the H3K27 demethylase activity induces DNA damage along with activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) and cell death in differentiating but not in undifferentiated ESCs. Laser microirradiation experiments revealed that the H3K27me3 mark, but not the KDM6B protein, colocalise with γH2AX-positive sites of DNA damage in differentiating ESCs. Lack of H3K27me3 attenuates the GSK-J4-induced DDR in differentiating Eed-KO ESCs. Collectively, our findings indicate that differentiating ESCs depend on KDM6 and that the H3K27me3 demethylase activity is crucially involved in DDR and survival of differentiating ESCs. Summary: KDM6-specific H3K27me3 demethylase activity is crucially involved in the DNA damage response and survival of differentiating ESCs.
Specificity and efficiency of reporter expression in adult neural progenitors vary substantially among nestin‐CreERT2 lines

Transgenic lines expressing a controllable form of Cre recombinase have become valuable tools for manipulating gene expression in adult neural progenitors and their progeny. Neural progenitors express several proteins that distinguish them from mature neurons, and the promoters for these genes have been co‐opted to produce selective transgene expression within this population. To date, nine CreERT2 transgenic lines have been designed using the nestin promoter; however, only a subset are capable of eliciting expression within both neurogenic zones of the adult brain. Here we compare three such nestin‐CreERT2 lines to evaluate specificity of expression and efficiency of recombination. Each line was examined by using three different Cre reporter strains that varied in sensitivity. We found that all three nestin‐CreERT2 strains induced reporter expression within the main neurogenic areas, albeit to varying degrees depending on the reporter. Unexpectedly, we found that two of the three lines induced substantial reporter expression outside of neurogenic areas. These lines produced strong labeling in cerebellar granule neurons, with additional expression in the cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and thalamus. Reporter expression in the third nestin‐CreERT2 line was considerably more specific, but was also less efficient, labeling a smaller percentage of the target population than the other two drivers. Our findings suggest that each nestin‐CreERT2 line may best serve different experimental needs, depending on whether specificity or efficiency is of greatest concern. Our study further demonstrates that each new pair of driver and responder lines should be evaluated independently, as both components can significantly influence the resulting expression pattern. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:1191–1208, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Experiences of Low German-Speaking Mennonite Men in Alternative Education Programs in Southwestern Ontario

The tradition of leaving high school and finding full-time employment after grade 8 has put Low German-speaking (LGS) Mennonites in rural Southwestern Ontario in a vulnerable economic position. Consequently, alternative education programs have been developed by Ontario public school boards in areas containing high numbers of LGS Mennonites. The programs strive to keep LGS Mennonite youth in school by creating spaces where primarily male LGS Mennonite students feel more comfortable and can pursue a high school diploma while maintaining their religious beliefs, cultural identity, and work responsibilities. This article draws from qualitative interview data and open-ended survey responses to explore perceptions of LGS Mennonite men’s experiences in alternative education programs, and it highlights factors that caused the men to avoid or leave the programs. This article offers recommendations on how to strengthen the programs to increase the number of LGS Mennonite students attending them. It emphasizes the importance of LGS Mennonite students receiving strong messages from educators that their language, culture, and religious beliefs are valued even if that means separating the youth from Canadian society rather than integrating them on equal terms to minimize their marginalization.
Cast treatment and intramedullary locking nailing for simple and spiral wedge tibial shaft fractures--a cost benefit analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the relative costs of treating simple and spiral wedge (requiring closed reduction under anaesthesia) tibial shaft fractures in a plaster cast or with intramedullary locking nail. MATERIAL AND METHODS The material consisted of 26 fractures treated in a plaster cast and 51 fractures treated with an intramedullary locking nail. The costs caused by the direct costs (treatment, hospitalisation, and outpatient appointments) as well as indirect costs (lost productivity) were taken into account. Costs caused by complications were also included in the analysis. RESULTS Mean direct costs per patient were FIM 22920 and FIM 26952 and mean overall costs per patient were FIM 120486 and FIM 82224 in plaster cast and intramedullary locking nailing groups, respectively (FIM 1 = USD 0.19). The higher mean overall costs of the plaster cast group were attributable to the longer sick leave periods in this group (218 days in plaster cast group and 124 in intramedullary nailing group). CONCLUSION Plaster cast treatment of simple and spiral wedge tibial shaft fractures requiring closed reduction under anaesthesia is more expensive to society than operative treatment with intramedullary locking nail.