Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control and Coordination of Vasomotor Tone in the Microcirculation

The blood vascular system consists in a complex network of vessels that is mainly intended to provide oxygen and nutrients to all individual cells of peripheral tissues and help to dispose metabolic wastes. Several distinct functional compartments can be distinguished in the vascular network: arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules and veins. Conduit arteries (diameter, 1 to several millimeters) carry blood away from the heart through a divergent arborescence that reaches and penetrates into the tissues via the feed arteries (diameter, 100 to 500 μm) (Davis et al., 1986; Segal, 2000, 2005). These muscular vessels give rise to the arterioles (diameter, < l00 μm), which control and coordinate the blood flow distribution in such a way that each capillary is correctly supplied at the proper pressure (Mulvany, 1990; Segal, 2005). This part of the vascular network composed of arterioles, capillaries and venules is embedded within the organ irrigated and is called microcirculation (Davis et al., 1986; Segal, 2005; Lockhart et al., 2009). Finally, veins carry blood back to the heart through a convergent arborescence.
Genetic Relationships Between Parishes in the Ebro Delta Region (Spain) as Estimated by Migration Matrix and Surnames

ABSTRACT To determine whether there are preferential relationships among individuals from the different parishes of the Ebro River delta region, we analyzed the population relationships, taking into account both the birthplaces of the spouses and their surname frequencies. We used data from the 9,085 marriages recorded in the Ebro delta area between 1939 and 1995. Using each spouse's birthplace, we calculated the distances between the subject populations by means of the squared Euclidean distance. Also, from the surname frequencies in the marriages we obtained certain kinship measurements. In both analyses the results show a clear differentiation between the parish of Amposta and the rest of the parishes. This difference is mainly due to a greater number of marriages in which delta outsiders participated and can be related to the greater surname diversity and lesser endogamy observed in this population. On the other hand, if only endogamous marriages are taken into account, there is clearly a differentiation between the parishes from both banks of the river, with a strong homogeneity among the north-side parishes. We compared the distances obtained from the birthplaces, the kinship parameters obtained from the surnames, and two geographic distance matrixes by means of a Mantel test, and the results show a strong and significant correlation between them when all marriages are considered. If, on the other hand, only endogamous marriages are taken into account, the barrier effect of the river on the interparish relationships can be appreciated.
Severe valvular and aortic arch calcification in a patient with Gaucher's disease homozygous for the D409H mutation 1

Gaucher's disease is an autosomal recessive inherited defect of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase, which leads to glucocerebroside accumulation in the reticuloendothelial system. Homozygosity for the D409H mutation has been associated with cardiovascular valvular disease. We present a case of a 17‐year‐old Palestinian patient who presented with severe aortic and mitral valvular calcification, as well as calcification of the ascending aorta, the aortic arch and the ostia of his coronary arteries. The patient was confirmed to be homozygous for the D409H mutation in the glucocerebrosidase gene. The patient's enzyme assay for glucocerebrosidase activity was 5 nm/h/mg protein (normal 13–22 nm/h/mg). The patient presented with symptoms of dyspnea and chest pain. He had a 6‐year history of documented aortic valve calcification by echocardiogram after two of his older brothers died of congestive heart failure and severe valvular calcification. Cardiac catheterization showed a severely calcified aorta with almost no motion of the aortic valve leaflets and severe calcification of the mitral valve and the mitral valvular apparatus. The patient underwent extensive cardiac surgery with aortic and mitral valve replacements and intraoperative findings confirmed calcification of the entire aortic root. Electron microscopy of the valves confirmed the presence of Gaucher's cells. Enzyme therapy with imiglucerase was initiated. The patient is in stable condition, 20 months post‐operatively.
3,423 Emergency Tracheal Intubations at a University Hospital: Airway Outcomes and Complications

Background: There are limited outcome data regarding emergent nonoperative intubation. The current study was undertaken with a large observational dataset to evaluate the incidence of difficult intubation and complication rates and to determine predictors of complications in this setting. Methods: Adult nonoperating room emergent intubations at our tertiary care institution from December 5, 2001 to July 6, 2009 were reviewed. Prospectively defined data points included time of day, location, attending physician presence, number of attempts, direct laryngoscopy view, adjuvant use, medications, and complications. At our institution, a senior resident with at least 24 months of anesthesia training is the first responder for all emergent airway requests. The primary outcome was a composite airway complication variable that included aspiration, esophageal intubation, dental injury, or pneumothorax. Results: A total of 3,423 emergent nonoperating room airway management cases were identified. The incidence of difficult intubation was 10.3%. Complications occurred in 4.2%: aspiration, 2.8%; esophageal intubation, 1.3%; dental injury, 0.2%; and pneumothorax, 0.1%. A bougie introducer was used in 12.4% of cases. Among 2,284 intubations performed by residents, independent predictors of the composite complication outcome were as follows: three or more intubation attempts (odds ratio, 6.7; 95% CI, 3.2–14.2), grade III or IV view (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1–3.5), general care floor location (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2–3.0), and emergency department location (odds ratio, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.1–20.4). Conclusions: During emergent nonoperative intubation, specific clinical situations are associated with an increased risk of airway complication and may provide a starting point for allocation of experienced first responders.
Additive Depressant Effects of Amiodarone Given With Halothane in Isolated Hearts

The antidysrhythmic drug amiodarone may be given during general anesthesia. We examined the single and combined direct cardiac effects of amiodarone and halothane in the isolated guinea pig heart. Guinea pig hearts were isolated and perfused retrogradely through the aorta with oxygenated Krebs‐-Ringer solution at 37°C at constant pressure (55 mm Qy). Variables measured in 61 hearts included spontaneous heart rate (HR), atrioventricular conduction time (AVCT), isovolumetric left ventricular pressure (LVP), and coronary flow (CF). Amiodarone was administered as a single bolus into the retrogradely perfused aortic root and halothane was vaporized into the perfusing solution. Mean control values of pooled data before treatment were as follows: HR, 228 ± 4 (SEM) beats/min; AVCT (during atrial pacing at 240 beats/min), 82 ± 2 ms; LVP, 97 ± 4 mm Hg; and CF, 6.1 ± 0.2 mL · min−1 · g−1. Amiodarone, 100 μg and 200 μg, decreased HR by 8% ± 2% and 8% ± 2%, increased AVCT by 5 ± 2 and 15 ± 3 ms, decreased LVP by 22% ± 3% and 27% ± 3%, and increased CF by 20% ± 1% and 40% ± 2%, respectively; all these changes were sustained for 60 min and, except for HR, were dose dependent. Halothane, 0.5% and 1%, transiently and dose‐dependently decreased HR by 6% ± 2% and 12% ± 2%, increased AVCT by 4 ± 2 and 8 ± 2 ms, decreased LVP by 15% ± 3% and 31% ± 3%, and increased CF by 2% ± 1% and 6% ± 2%. In combination, the transient negative cardiac effects of halothane were statistically additive to the prolonged negative cardiac effects of amiodaroncs so that with 200 pg amiodarone plus 1% halothane, HR decreased by 26% ± 2%, AVCT increased by 24 ± 3 ms, LVP decreased by 58% ± 3%, and CF increased by 26% ± 2%. Our results indicate that halothane augments the cardiac depressant effects of amiodarone given as a single injection. Because the cardiac effects of a single injection of amiodarone are long‐lasting, its administration before or during exposure to halothane might result in cardiac depression that is not easily reversible.
Apolipoprotein epsilon4 advances appearance of psychosis in patients with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND Psychosis is one of the most serious complications of advanced parkinsonism, but many patients are spared. The genetic factors predisposing to psychosis are unclear. OBJECTIVES To assess the association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism and the development of psychosis in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS Eighty-seven patients with advanced PD were assessed. Psychosis was diagnosed in 50 patients who manifested paranoid delusions, hallucinations without insight, or disorders of perception. Time of onset of psychosis was retrieved from the medical records and caregivers' recall. APOE genotype was determined by restriction enzyme digests of amplified alleles. Cox models of logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to assess factors determining early development of psychosis. RESULTS APOE epsilon3/epsilon4 allele was carried by 20 patients (14 with psychosis), epsilon2/epsilon3 by 11 patients (10 with psychosis), epsilon3/epsilon3 by 55 patients (25 with psychosis) and epsilon2/epsilon4 by one patient who had psychosis. The mean age of onset of PD symptoms was 60.0 +/- 12.5 years. The mean duration of motor symptoms at the onset of psychosis was 7.3 +/- 4.3 years for the 15 patients harboring an APOE epsilon4 allele and 10.1 +/- 6.2 years among those who did not carry APOE epsilon4 (n = 35). The APOE epsilon4 allele was significantly associated with earlier onset of psychosis (P < 0.05) when the age of onset of motor symptoms and presence of dementia were included in the Cox regression model. Carrying the APOE epsilon4 allele was a significant risk factor for earlier appearance of psychosis with a hazard ratio of 3.24 (95% CI 1.62-6.46) while dementia by itself did not increase the risk. CONCLUSION Parkinson's disease patients who carry the APOE epsilon4 allele develop psychosis earlier.
The Peptidoglycan-Binding Protein FimV Promotes Assembly of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type IV Pilus Secretin

ABSTRACT The Pseudomonas aeruginosa inner membrane protein FimV is among several proteins of unknown function required for type IV pilus-mediated twitching motility, arising from extension and retraction of pili from their site of assembly in the inner membrane. The pili transit the periplasm and peptidoglycan (PG) layer, ultimately exiting the cell through the PilQ secretin. Although fimV mutants are nonmotile, they are susceptible to killing by pilus-specific bacteriophage, a hallmark of retractable surface pili. Here we show that levels of recoverable surface pili were markedly decreased in fimV pilT retraction-deficient mutants compared with levels in the pilT control, demonstrating that FimV acts at the level of pilus assembly. Levels of inner membrane assembly subcomplex proteins PilM/N/O/P were decreased in fimV mutants, but supplementation of these components in trans did not restore pilus assembly or motility. Loss of FimV dramatically reduced the levels of the PilQ secretin multimer through which pili exit the cell, in part due to decreased levels of PilQ monomers, while PilF pilotin levels were unchanged. Expression of pilQ in trans in the wild type or fimV mutants increased total PilQ monomer levels but did not alter secretin multimer levels or motility. PG pulldown assays showed that the N terminus of FimV bound PG in a LysM motif-dependent manner, and a mutant with an in-frame chromosomal deletion of the LysM motif had reduced motility, secretin levels, and surface piliation. Together, our data show that FimV's role in pilus assembly is to promote secretin formation and that this function depends upon its PG-binding domain.
Social recognition in ovariectomized and estradiol-treated female rats.

The behavioral phenomenon of social recognition has been extensively investigated in male rats. The present paper provides an insight into the recognition capacity of female rats studied throughout a sequence of hormonal states: after ovariectomy, after estradiol treatment, and several weeks after the termination of estradiol therapy. Investigatory behavior of the female oriented toward a juvenile male, 22-24 days old, was recorded during the 5-min exposure period. Reexposure was performed 30 or 120 min after the initial exposure. Reduction of the investigation time during reexposure to the same juvenile was used as a recognition criterion. It was found that: (a) Three weeks after ovariectomy, the investigation time of females was decreased upon reexposure to the same juvenile at 30 min. At this time point the investigation time of females reexposed to a novel juvenile was similar to that observed during the initial exposure. Both the same as well as a novel juvenile were thoroughly reinvestigated by females when 120 min elapsed between exposures. (b) Three weeks later, administration of estradiol dipropionate to ovariectomized animals (always 100 micrograms per animal at Days 10 and 3 before the testing) resulted in reduced investigation time during reexposure to the same juvenile at both 30 and 120 min. (c) Original time-response relations in the investigation appeared 6 weeks after the termination of estradiol treatment. These findings suggest that the presence of estradiol may be crucial for female recognition of males 120 min after a brief encounter. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Proliferating cell nuclear antigen, plasma fibronectin, and liver regeneration rate after seventy percent hepatectomy in normal and cirrhotic rats.

BACKGROUND The difference in liver regeneration rate in relation to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and plasma fibronectin level in the cirrhotic and control liver after 70% hepatectomy were examined in the rat. METHODS Liver cirrhosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of thioacetamide for 12 weeks; rats without thioacetamide administration served as controls. On the day before and days 1, 2, 3, and 7 after 70% hepatectomy, PCNA labeling index of hepatocyte, plasma fibronectin level, and percentage of the initial liver weight were determined. RESULTS Liver regeneration rate as expressed by percent of initial liver weight was impaired in the cirrhotic liver, and significantly lower regeneration rate was observed on days 3 and 7 after hepatectomy in the cirrhotic rats as compared with controls. PCNA labeling index was higher in the cirrhotic liver before hepatectomy. Little change of PNA labeling index was observed in the cirrhotic liver, although the index increased significantly in the control liver; significantly higher values were observed on days 1, 2, and 3, with the maximal value on day 2 after hepatectomy. The plasma fibronectin level was significantly lower in the cirrhotic rat before and after hepatectomy. CONCLUSIONS The results show that liver regeneration is impaired in the cirrhotic liver associated with little activation of PCNA and with lower plasma fibronectin level.
Bridging the gap between GLUE and formal statistical approaches: approximate Bayesian computation

In recent years, a strong debate has emerged in the hydrologic literature regarding how to properly treat nontra- ditional error residual distributions and quantify parameter and predictive uncertainty. Particularly, there is strong dis- agreement whether such uncertainty framework should have its roots within a proper statistical (Bayesian) context using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation techniques, or whether such a framework should be based on a quite dif- ferent philosophy and implement informal likelihood func- tions and simplistic search methods to summarize parame- ter and predictive distributions. This paper is a follow-up of our previous work published in Vrugt and Sadegh (2013) and demonstrates that approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) bridges the gap between formal and informal statis- tical model-data fitting approaches. The ABC methodology has recently emerged in the fields of biology and population genetics and relaxes the need for an explicit likelihood func- tion in favor of one or multiple different summary statistics that measure the distance of each model simulation to the data. This paper further studies the theoretical and numerical equivalence of formal and informal Bayesian approaches us- ing discharge and forcing data from different watersheds in the United States, in particular generalized likelihood uncer- tainty estimation (GLUE). We demonstrate that the limits of acceptability approach of GLUE is a special variant of ABC if each discharge observation of the calibration data set is used as a summary diagnostic.
Person Reidentification Using Deep Convnets With Multitask Learning

Person reidentification involves recognizing a person across nonoverlapping camera views, with different pose, illumination, and camera characteristics. We propose to tackle this problem by training a deep convolutional network to represent a person’s appearance as a low-dimensional feature vector that is invariant to common appearance variations encountered in the reidentification problem. Specifically, a Siamese network architecture is used to train a feature extraction network using pairs of similar and dissimilar images. We show that the use of a novel multitask learning objective is crucial for regularizing the network parameters in order to prevent overfitting due to the small size of the training data set. We complement the verification task, which is at the heart of reidentification, by training the network to jointly perform verification and identification and to recognize attributes related to the clothing and pose of the person in each image. In addition, we show that our proposed approach performs well even in the challenging cross-data set scenario, which may better reflect real-world expected performance.
EFFECT OF BIOFLAVONOID LESPEFLAN ON XANTHINE OXIDASE ACTIVITY IN MERCURY CHLORIDE TOXICITY

Summary Free radical production and oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms of tissue damage in heavy metal toxicity. Xanthine oxidase is an enzyme involved in catabolism of purine bases, adenine and guanine. Enzyme exists in two interconvertible forms, as xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase. Higher level of xanthine oxidase activity against xanthine dehydrogenase increases production of free radicals and lipid peroxidation level. Because of lot of information in literature about benefits of medical plants in health prevention the aim of the study was evaluation of the role of bioflavonoid Lespeflan on xanthine oxidase activity in the mechanisms of neurotoxicity of mercury chloride. We have studied the possible beneficial effects of bioflavonoid Lespeflan on free radical production and xanthine oxidase activity in acute mercury chloride toxicity. The experiment was performed on male Sprague Dawley rats. Results of the study show increased activity of xanthine oxidase and lipid peroxidation level in brain homogenate 24 hours after mercury chloride administration, (p<0.05). Pretreatment of animals by bioflavonoid Lespeflan significantly decreases enzyme activity, as well as lipid peroxidation level compared to control group. Obtained results indicate that increase of xanthine oxidase activity and free radical production may be a mechanism of mercury chloride toxicity. Bioflavonoid Lespeflan decreases xanthine oxidase activity and lipid preroxidation level. Therefore, we may conclude that bioflavonoid Lespeflan has beneficial effect in mercury chloride –induced neurotoxicity.
Zinc and Copper Accumulation and Distribution in the Tissues of Nine Crops: Implications for Phytoremediation

Field experiments were carried out near Krakow (Poland), between 1999 and 2001, with nine crops (red beet, field pumpkin, chicory, common bean, barley, white cabbage, maize, alfalfa, common parsnip) to determine zinc and copper accumulation and their distribution in the plants’ tissues. Based on the results, species suitable for phytoremediation were selected. Field pumpkin and red beet were characterized by the highest zinc accumulation, especially in the leaves (119.14 and 64.97 mg·kg -1 d. w. respectively). In the case of alfalfa, field pumpkin, and barley the maximum Cu content was found in the roots (35.81, 25.74, 15.92 mg·kg -1 d. w. respectively). The field pumpkin, chicory, and red beet were characterized by the highest zinc concentration ratios (shoots/roots): 2.8, 2.2, 2.0. Concentration ratios for copper were within the range: 0.1 (barley) – 1.4 (common parsnip).
Glycogen synthesis in muscle fibers during active recovery from intense exercise.

PURPOSE There is evidence that active recovery impairs glycogen repletion in skeletal muscles of fasted individuals. Our main goal was to examine the impact of active recovery on the glycogen stores of the different muscle fiber types. METHODS Eight endurance-trained individuals cycled for 2.5 min at 130% [OV0312]O(2peak) followed by a 30-s all-out cycling sprint. After exercise, the participants were subjected to either a passive recovery or an active recovery protocol that consisted of pedalling for 45 min at 40% [OV0312]O(2peak). RESULTS During active recovery, blood lactate and pH returned more rapidly toward preexercise levels than during passive recovery. In contrast, average muscle glycogen content remained at stable levels during active recovery (209 +/- 32 and 202 +/- 30 mmol.kg-1 at 0 and 45 min of recovery, respectively) but increased significantly in response to passive recovery (from 185 +/- 27 to 283 +/- 42 mmol.kg-1). The pattern of change in periodic acid-Schiff staining intensity across muscle fibers suggests that the impact of active recovery on average muscle glycogen content is different from that observed at the levels of the individual muscle fibers, with active recovery having no effect on glycogen resynthesis in Type II muscle fibers but causing glycogen breakdown in Type I muscle fibers. Although active recovery was also associated with higher plasma catecholamines and lower insulin levels, such an unfavorable hormonal environment had no effect on glycogen resynthesis in Type II muscle fibers. CONCLUSION Active recovery in comparison to passive recovery does not affect glycogen resynthesis in Type II muscle fibers despite being associated with an unfavorable hormonal environment but results in a marked glycogen mobilization in Type I muscle fibers.
A rationalization of an African concept of life, death and the hereafter

The Africans generally seem to have a common concept of life, death and the hereafter, which influences their lives and character greatly. An understanding of this African concept will enable the rest of the World (Non Africans), to improve relationship with Africans and vice versa. This is necessary because both camps have been involved in various forms of interactions, communications and commerce, and diplomatic contacts among others. This work attempts to construct, explain, critique and justify the African concept of life, death and the hereafter, in order to enhance this understanding, and consequently improve this relationship for the mutual benefits of both camps.