Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Remifentanil protects uterus against ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of remifentanil as an antioxidant and analyze the histopathologic, biochemical changes in experimental ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) exposed rat uteri. METHODS Wistar albino rats were assigned to three groups (n = 7). 2h period of ischemia was followed by 1h of reperfusion in the I/R and the I/R-remifentanil groups. After ischemia, no drug was administered in the sham and I/R groups. In the I/R-remifentanil group, remifentanil infusion (2 μg/kg/min) was started in the ischemia period, and continued until the end of reperfusion. After the ischemic and reperfusion period, the ischemic uterine horns were removed surgically for biochemical and histopathologic examination. Tissue damage scores (endometrial epithelial glandular leukocytosis, degeneration, and endometrial stromal changes) were examined. Malondialdehyde levels and catalase, superoxide dismutase enzyme activities in tissue were measured. RESULTS We found significantly lower epithelial leukocytosis and cell degeneration in the I/R-remifentanil group (p<0.05). Remifentanil administration significantly decreased concentrations of malondialdehyde, and increased catalase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Remifentanil appears to protect the uterine tissue against ischemia-reperfusion and can be used safely in uterus transplantation.
Microglia/macrophage‐specific protein Iba1 binds to fimbrin and enhances its actin‐bundling activity

Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) is a microglia/macrophage‐specific calcium‐binding protein. Iba1 has the actin‐bundling activity and participates in membrane ruffling and phagocytosis in activated microglia. In order to understand the Iba1‐related intracellular signalling pathway in greater detail, we employed a yeast two‐hybrid screen to isolate an Iba1‐interacting molecule and identified another actin‐bundling protein, L‐fimbrin. In response to stimulation, L‐fimbrin accumulated and co‐localized with Iba1 in membrane ruffles induced by M‐CSF‐stimulation and phagocytic cups formed by IgG‐opsonized beads in microglial cell line MG5. L‐fimbrin was shown to associate with Iba1 in cell lysate of COS‐7 expressing L‐fimbrin and Iba1. By using purified proteins, direct binding of Iba1 to L‐fimbrin was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation, glutathione S‐transferase pull‐down assays and ligand overlay assays. The binding of Iba1 was also found to increase the actin‐bundling activity of L‐fimbrin. These results indicate that Iba1 forms complexes with L‐fimbrin in membrane ruffles and phagocytic cups, and suggest that Iba1 co‐operates with L‐fimbrin in modulating actin reorganization to facilitate cell migration and phagocytosis by microglia.
Persistent nonproductive infection of Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B lymphocytes by human immunodeficiency virus type 1

We have studied the interaction of different strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) with an Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B-lymphocyte line, X50-7. Previously we found that some HIV-1 strains replicated rapidly and were exclusively cytolytic; others induced persistent noncytopathic infection associated with continued shedding of extracellular virus (K. Dahl, K. Martin, and G. Miller, J. Virol. 61:1602-1608, 1987). We now describe a third form of cell-virus relationship in which infection by strain IIIB is maintained in a highly cell-associated state in a small subpopulation (less than 2%) of X50-7 cells. Neither viral subcomponents nor infectious virus was detectable in culture supernatants; however, the carrier lines were fusogenic and HIV-1 could be recovered following prolonged cocultivation with susceptible cells. In these chronic carrier cultures, virions were not seen budding at the cell surface, but a few were found within cytoplasmic vesicles. HIV-1 infection of first- and second-generation cell subclones of the carrier cell line rapidly evolved from a productive to a cell-associated state. There were low levels of HIV DNA, and RNA in the fusogenic secondary clones, but most clones lacked HIV-1 DNA, failed to express HIV-1 RNA, and exhibited no properties associated with HIV-1 infection. The experiments indicate that HIV-1 can be sequestered in human B lymphocytes. The cell cloning experiments introduce the possibility that the HIV-1 provirus may be lost from some lymphocytes.
Does governance quality promote innovation in sub-Saharan Africa? An empirical study across 37 countries

ABSTRACT This inquiry examines the effect of quality of governance institutions on innovation in 37 sub-Saharan African countries for the period 1996–2016. The empirical analysis followed the instrumental variables regression technique. The motivation for using this estimation technique is to provide special focus to the issue of endogeneity by estimating IV general methods of moment’s model. The following general findings are presented. First, governance quality does, in fact, appear to promote innovativeness. Second, for all governance indicators, the effect of the quality of governance institutions follows two channels: directly and indirectly through its positive impact on human capital development. The empirical findings suggest that countries with better quality of governance infrastructure are able to promote innovation in better ways. That is, the results do support theories that argue in favour of the development of governance quality and the improvement of human capital infrastructure to foster the national innovation system. These results are found to be robust across alternative empirical specifications tested.
cAMP increases the rate of GABAA receptor desensitization in chick cortical neurons

During prolonged application of GABA to cultured neurons from the chick embryo cerebrum, whole‐cell voltage‐clamp recordings show a decline in GABA‐gated chloride currents due to desensitization. At a holding potential of –60 mV, desensitization can normally be described as a single exponential process with a time constant (τ) of 7–10 sec at a GABA concentration of 100 μM. After exposure to 50 μM forskolin, the peak amplitude of the GABA‐induced currents declined and a fast component of desensitization (τ = 0.92 sec) appeared, whereas the slow component was essentially unchanged. This effect of forskolin was reversible after washing. Similar, although less robust effects were produced by incubation with 8‐Br‐cAMP, but not by 1,9‐dideoxyforskolin. The desensitization process could also be measured by the GABA‐dependent uptake of 36Cl− into the cultured neurons. A 20‐sec incubation with 10 μM GABA in physiological saline produced a 29% inhibition of subsequent GABA‐gated 36Cl− uptake in the presence of 40 mM K+. This inhibition was increased to 64% by the addition of 100 μM forskolin to the preincubation medium. This effect of forskolin was prevented by 100 μM 2′,5′‐dideoxyadenosine, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase. A similar acceleration of desensitization was produced by 0.5 mM 8‐Br‐cAMP or by 0.5 mM isobutylmethylxanthine, but these compounds themselves failed to produce desensitization in the absence of exogenous GABA. In the presence of GABA, cAMP analogs were effective in the order 8‐(4‐chlorophenylthio)‐cAMP > 8‐Br‐cAMP > N6, 02 ‐dibutyryl‐cAMP. The results suggest that a cAMP‐dependent phosphorylation converts the GABA receptor into a more rapidly desensitizing form.
Preexisting atrial fibrillation and cardiac complications after liver transplantation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and it is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and all‐cause mortality. Our aim was to determine the impact of preexisting AF on patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT). A retrospective case‐control study was performed. Records from patients who underwent LT between January 2005 and December 2008 at Mayo Clinic Florida were reviewed. Patients with preexisting AF were identified and matched to patients who did not have a diagnosis of AF. Thirty‐two of 717 LT recipients (4.5%) had AF before LT. These patients were compared to a control group of 63 LT recipients. Pre‐LT left ventricular hypertrophy (P = 0.03), a history of congestive heart failure (P = 0.04), and a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (P = 0.03) were significantly more prevalent in patients with AF versus controls. Intraoperative adverse cardiac events (P = 0.02) and AF‐related adverse postoperative events (P < 0.001) were more common in the recipients with known AF. Six patients with paroxysmal AF (19%) developed chronic/persistent AF postoperatively. Graft survival and patient survival were similar in the groups. Although patients with AF had a higher incidence of intraoperative cardiac events, a higher cardiovascular morbidity rate, and a complicated postoperative course, this did not affect overall graft and patient survival. Liver Transpl 21:314–320, 2015. © 2014 AASLD.
Cardiac Risk Assessment, Morbidity Prediction, and Outcome in the Vascular Intensive Care Unit

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the predictive value of the Lee revised cardiac risk index (RCRI) for a standard vascular intensive care unit (ICU) population as well as assessing the utility of transthoracic echocardiography and the impact of prior coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary revascularization on patient outcome. Design: This is a retrospective review of prospectively maintained Vascubase and prospectively collected ICU data. Materials and Methods: Data from 363 consecutive vascular ICU admissions were collected. Findings were used to calculate the RCRI, which was then correlated with patient outcomes. All patients were on optimal medical therapy (OMT) in the form of cardioselective β-blocker, aspirin, statin, and folic acid. Results: There was no relationship found between a reduced ejection fraction and patient outcome. Mortality was significantly increased for patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as identified on echo (14.9% vs 6.5%, P = .028). The overall complication rates were significantly elevated for patients with valvular dysfunction. Discrimination for the RCRI on receiver–operating characteristic analysis was poor, with an area under the receiver–operating characteristic curve of . 621. Model calibration was reasonable with an Hosmer-Lemeshow Ĉ statistic of 2.726 (P = .256). Of those with known CAD, 41.22% of the patients receiving best medical treatment developed acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to 35.3% of those who previously underwent percutaneous cardiac intervention and 23.5% of those who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting. There was 3-fold increase in major adverse clinical events in patients with troponin rise and LVH. Conclusions: The RCRI’s discriminatory capacity is low, and this raises difficulties in assessing cardiac risk in patients undergoing vascular intervention. The AMI is highest in the OMT group without prior cardiac intervention, which mandates protocols to identify patients requiring cardiac intervention prior to vascular procedures.
Indole Glucosinolate Biosynthesis Limits Phenylpropanoid Accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana

The ref5-1 mutant and its suppressors reveal that an intermediate in indole glucosinolate biosynthesis impacts the early steps of phenylpropanoid metabolism, an interaction that requires the Mediator complex. Plants produce an array of metabolites (including lignin monomers and soluble UV-protective metabolites) from phenylalanine through the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway. A subset of plants, including many related to Arabidopsis thaliana, synthesizes glucosinolates, nitrogen- and sulfur-containing secondary metabolites that serve as components of a plant defense system that deters herbivores and pathogens. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis thaliana reduced epidermal fluorescence5 (ref5-1) mutant, identified in a screen for plants with defects in soluble phenylpropanoid accumulation, has a missense mutation in CYP83B1 and displays defects in glucosinolate biosynthesis and in phenylpropanoid accumulation. CYP79B2 and CYP79B3 are responsible for the production of the CYP83B1 substrate indole-3-acetaldoxime (IAOx), and we found that the phenylpropanoid content of cyp79b2 cyp79b3 and ref5-1 cyp79b2 cyp79b3 plants is increased compared with the wild type. These data suggest that levels of IAOx or a subsequent metabolite negatively influence phenylpropanoid accumulation in ref5 and more importantly that this crosstalk is relevant in the wild type. Additional biochemical and genetic evidence indicates that this inhibition impacts the early steps of the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway and restoration of phenylpropanoid accumulation in a ref5-1 med5a/b triple mutant suggests that the function of the Mediator complex is required for the crosstalk.
Effect of the Gulf War on infant and child mortality in Iraq.

BACKGROUND Increased malnutrition and morbidity among Iraqi children after the onset of the Persian Gulf war have been reported by several fact-finding missions. The magnitude of the effect of the war and the economic embargo on child mortality remains uncertain, however. METHODS We conducted a survey of 271 clusters of 25 to 30 households each, chosen as a representative sample of the Iraqi population. The households were selected and the interviews conducted by an international team of public health professionals independent of Iraqi authorities. In each household all women 15 to 49 years of age were interviewed, and the dates of birth and death of all children born on or after January 1, 1985, were recorded. RESULTS The study population included 16,076 children, 768 of whom died during the period surveyed (January 1, 1985, to August 31, 1991). The age-adjusted relative mortality for the period after the war began, as compared with the period before the war, was 3.2 (95 percent confidence interval, 2.8 to 3.7). No material change in the relative risk was observed after adjustment for region of residence, maternal education, and maternal age. The increase in mortality after the onset of the war was higher among children 1 to less than 12 months old (relative risk, 4.1; 95 percent confidence interval, 3.3 to 5.2) and among those 12 to less than 60 months old (relative risk, 3.8; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.6 to 5.4) than among those less than 1 month old (relative risk, 1.8; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.4 to 2.4). The association between the war and mortality was stronger in northern Iraq (relative risk, 5.3) and southern Iraq (relative risk, 3.4) than in the central areas (relative risk, 1.9) or in Baghdad (relative risk, 1.7). CONCLUSIONS These results provide strong evidence that the Gulf war and trade sanctions caused a threefold increase in mortality among Iraqi children under five years of age. We estimate that more than 46,900 children died between January and August 1991.
Polymerase Exchange During Okazaki Fragment Synthesis Observed in Living Cells

Dynamic Replication In all organisms, DNA replication involves a multiprotein complex called the replisome. Active Escherichia coli replisomes contain three copies of DNA polymerase III (Pol III). Lia et al. (p. 328, published online 22 December) used single-molecule spectroscopy to probe the dynamics of single proteins during E. coli replication in vivo. The results confirmed the presence of three Pol III molecules in the active replisome, with regular exchange of one of these Pol III's with one from the pool. Coordination with single-stranded DNA content suggests the Pol III that performs lagging-strand synthesis is exchanged so that a new Pol III is used for the synthesis of each Okazaki fragment. Single-molecule microscopy suggests that a new core polymerase is used to synthesize each Okazaki fragment. DNA replication machineries have been studied extensively, but the kinetics of action of their components remains largely unknown. We report a study of DNA synthesis during replication in living Escherichia coli cells. Using single-molecule microscopy, we observed repetitive fluorescence bursts of single polymerase IIIs (Pol IIIs), indicating polymerase exchange at the replication fork. Fluctuations in the amount of DNA-bound single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) reflect different speeds for the leading- and lagging-strand DNA polymerases. Coincidence analyses of Pol III and SSB fluctuations show that they correspond to the lagging-strand synthesis and suggest the use of a new Pol III for each Okazaki fragment. Based on exchanges involving two Pol IIIs, we propose that the third polymerase in the replisome is involved in lagging-strand synthesis.
Entrepreneurial approaches to the internationalisation of Portugal’s hotel industry

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess motivational factors in the internationalisation of Portuguese hotel firms. Design/methodology/approach The epistemological approach that supports the development of this study is based on a deductive strategy. A comprehensive multi-case study was performed in which theoretical propositions were tested prior to further development. Findings The results of this study reveal that the internationalisation process of Portuguese hotel companies was triggered by managers’ entrepreneurial attitudes and international vision that in themselves embraced a combination of particular resources and competencies. Research limitations/implications Noteworthy are study’s contributions to international entrepreneurship as an individual act within existing social networks established by managers and the management team as a result of previous business experiences. The impact of this overall entrepreneurial profile on firms’ behaviour is also of interest. Limitations of the study relate to its cross-sectional nature and the number of interviewees. Originality/value The integration of economic paradigms with behaviour theories and the resource-based view to understand how and why Portuguese hotel companies engage in international endeavours is a major contribution of this study.
Localization of a Radiation Source by a Formation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

This thesis deals with cooperative use of multiple unmanned helicopters for localization of ionizing radiation sources. This novel approach was made possible by combining a unique, lightweight particle detector Timepix, and an equally unique system for stabilization of a group of unmanned helicopters developed by the Multi-Robot Systems research group at the Department of Cybernetics at FEE CTU. The Czech Technical University also contributes to the development of Timepix via the Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics. Helicopters are equipped with these detectors and used in an active searching for an unknown radiation source. Two methods for localization of the source were designed. The first approach is fairly simple and uses a single helicopter, while the second is much more complex and uses a formation of three helicopters. Since it was not possible to deploy the necessary ammounts of radioactive material in laboratories, a simulation enviroment was created with the use of avaliable data, to simulate a radiation source as well as the particle detector. Both localization methods were successfuly tested in this simulator and also with the use of real helicopters of the research group Multi-Robot Systems.
Gender Differences in mRNA Expression of ATP-Binding Cassette Efflux and Bile Acid Transporters in Kidney, Liver, and Intestine of 5/6 Nephrectomized Rats

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters including multidrug resistance proteins (Mdr), multidrug resistance-associated proteins (Mrp), and breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp/Abcg2) play major roles in tissue defense. Abcg5/g8 is essential in cholesterol efflux. The present study was aimed at elucidating alteration in expression of these transporters and bile-acid transporters during chronic kidney disease (CKD) and underlying molecular mechanisms. Seven weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx), mRNA expression of 16 aforementioned transporters in kidney, liver, jejunum, and large intestine of male and female Nx rats was quantified with the branched DNA signal amplification assay. In Nx males, intestinal expression of all the transporters remained unchanged; hepatic expression of most transporters was not altered, except increases in Mdr1a, Mrp3, and Abcg8. In male remnant kidneys, kidney-predominant transporter Abcg2 decreased and correlated with CKD severity, whereas Mdr1b, Mrp3, and ileal bile-acid transporter increased and correlated with CKD severity. Such changes were largely absent in Nx females. Renal alterations of these transporters correlated with increases of cytokines and/or decreases of nuclear receptors such as estrogen receptor α and glucocorticoid receptor. Renal protein expression of Mrp2 increased, whereas that of Mrp4 remained unchanged in both genders of Nx rats. Treatment of rat proximal tubule NRK-52E cells with interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 increased Mrp3 mRNA expression. In conclusion, during CKD, renal expression of many ABC transporters was altered at the transcriptional level, whereas hepatic mRNA expression of most ABC transporters remained unchanged. Down-regulation of steroid hormone receptors and increase of inflammatory cytokines may contribute to alteration of transporter gene expression in kidney during CKD.
SELECTION FOR PHENOTYPIC DIVERGENCE BETWEEN DIPLOID AND AUTOTETRAPLOID HEUCHERA GROSSULARIIFOLIA

Abstract Much of the diversity of flowering plants is associated with genomic duplication through polyploidy. Little is known, however, about the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for the diversification of novel polyploid lineages. We evaluated the possibility that divergence is driven by natural selection by estimating the strength of phenotypic selection acting on three floral traits in sympatric populations of diploid and autotetraploid Heuchera grossulariifolia over three years. Our results demonstrate consistent directional selection for increasing scape length and floral display in both diploid and tetraploid populations. In contrast, selection acting on flowering phenology varied across year and ploidy. Specifically, selection was found to favor late-flowering diploids in 2001 and 2002 but early-flowering tetraploids in 2003. We investigated the mechanistic basis of divergent selection for flowering phenology in 2003 by estimating the relationship between plant flowering phenology and the probability of intercytotype pollinator movement. The results demonstrated that less divergent tetraploids were significantly more likely to experience intercytotype flights than were more divergent tetraploids. This result is consistent with the pattern of phenotypic selection observed. Taken together, our results suggest that divergence of polyploids and their diploid progenitors may be driven by a process analogous to reinforcement whereby selection favors phenotypes that reduce the probability of intercytotype matings with reduced fertility.
Optimal Path Planning With Spatial-Temporal Mobility Modeling for Individual-Based Emergency Guiding

This paper proposes an individual-based framework for emergency guiding. The spatial-temporal mobility of all people is modeled to determine a dedicated path that provides the shortest evacuation time for each person. According to our review of relevant research, this is the first optimal solution without using time-expanded graphs, and corridor capacities and lengths, exit capacities, concurrent motion, and distribution of people are considered to minimize evacuation time. We prove that the proposed path planning algorithm is optimal and analyze its time and space complexity. The proposed framework can be used to estimate the evacuation time for each person accurately and evenly distribute evacuation load among exits to achieve the most efficient load balance. In the proposed framework, the congestion in all corridors and exits can be alleviated to maximally reduce the total evacuation time. Simulation results show that our approach outperforms existing schemes, and can be used to determine an optimal escape path for each person and, thus, achieve the shortest total evacuation time.