Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of secretagogues on net and unidirectional liquid fluxes across porcine bronchial airways.

Rates of liquid secretion and absorption across the bronchopulmonary airways are important for regulating airway surface liquid volume and maintaining mucociliary transport. The current study demonstrates the feasibility of measuring not just net liquid movements but unidirectional liquid movements across isolated intact bronchi from swine. Airways were liquid filled to assess both net liquid movements, and, in the presence of NPPB to selectively inhibit secretion, unidirectional absorption. Unidirectional liquid secretion rates were determined by subtraction. For comparison, net liquid movements were assessed in air-filled airways in parallel. In the absence of secretagogues, unidirectional absorption was observed (4.63 +/- 0.53 microl.cm(-2). h(-1)) with little unidirectional secretion (1.42 +/- 0.36 microl.cm(-2). h(-1)). ACh, substance P (SP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) all induced unidirectional secretion (10.64 +/- 1.52 microl.cm(-2). h(-1), 14.16 +/- 1.39 microl.cm(-2). h(-1), and 4.25 +/- 0.25 microl.cm(-2). h(-1), respectively) without affecting unidirectional absorption. Net liquid secretion in air-filled airways was close to that in liquid-filled airways except with VIP. VIP induced net secretion in air-filled airways (4.44 +/- 1.26 microl.cm(-2). h(-1)), but negligible net change in liquid movement occurred in liquid-filled airways. This effect was likely to have been caused by the higher solid content of the VIP-induced mucous liquid (3.98 +/- 0.26%) compared with the ACh- and SP-induced liquid (2.06 +/- 0.07% and 2.15 +/- 0.07%, respectively). We conclude that this technique allows important quantitative distinctions to be made between liquid secretion and absorption in intact bronchial airways.
In vivo imaging of basement membrane movement: ECM patterning shapes Hydra polyps

Growth and morphogenesis during embryonic development, asexual reproduction and regeneration require extensive remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). We used the simple metazoan Hydra to examine the fate of ECM during tissue morphogenesis and asexual budding. In growing Hydra, epithelial cells constantly move towards the extremities of the animal and into outgrowing buds. It is not known, whether these tissue movements involve epithelial migration relative to the underlying matrix or whether cells and ECM are displaced as a composite structure. Furthermore, it is unclear, how the ECM is remodeled to adapt to the shape of developing buds and tentacles. To address these questions, we used a new in vivo labeling technique for Hydra collagen-1 and laminin, and tracked the fate of ECM in all body regions of the animal. Our results reveal that Hydra ‘tissue movements’ are largely displacements of epithelial cells together with associated ECM. By contrast, during the evagination of buds and tentacles, extensive movement of epithelial cells relative to the matrix is observed, together with local ECM remodeling. These findings provide new insights into the nature of growth and morphogenesis in epithelial tissues.
Institutional checks and corruption: The effect of formal agenda access on governance

Legislative checks give whoever wields them influence over policy making. It is argued in this article that this influence implies the ability not only to affect legislative content, but also to direct public resources toward private ends. Rational politicians should use access to checks to make themselves better off – for example, by biasing policy toward private interests or creating opportunities to draw directly from the public till. Disincentives exist only to the extent that those able to observe or block corruption do not themselves benefit from it. Political opponents thus can use checks to stymie each other, but legislative checks controlled by political allies create conditions for collusion and corruption. Testing this claim against data from a sample of 84 countries, the results presented in this article show strong support for the hypothesised relationship between institutional checks and corruption.
Student Preferences for Room Attributes at University Halls of Residence: An Application of the Willingness to Pay Technique

This paper aims to identify student preferences for room attributes at university halls of residence. A sample of 152 students at one university in the UK indicated their willingness to pay (WTP) to upgrade various elements of their room and living area. The results indicate that students are willing to pay most for attributes affecting their privacy, followed by convenience-related attributes. Differences between students were found based on their gender and where they spent most of their life. Some implications for the management of halls of residence are presented. In addition, issues concerning the format of questions posed in hospitality research are discussed.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to ischemic heart disease

Background: A number of studies had reported the association between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-&agr;) gene polymorphisms and ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk. However, the results remained controversial. Therefore, we performed a systematic review with multiple meta-analyses to provide the more precise estimations of the relationship. Methods: We systematically searched electronic databases (PubMed, the Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang and ChongQing VIP Database) for relevant studies published up to February 2017. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for assessing the association. The present meta-analysis was performed using STATA 12.0 software. Results: In total, 45 articles with 17,375 cases and 15,375 controls involved were included. Pooled ORs revealed a significant association between TNF-&agr; −308G/A gene polymorphism and IHD (A vs. G: OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.10–1.35; (AA + GA) vs. GG: OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.03–1.36; (AA vs. (GA+GG): OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.08–1.75)), indicating that the TNF-&agr; −308A allele might be an important risk factor for IHD. No association between other TNF-&agr; gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to IHD were observed. No publication bias were found. Sensitivity analyses indicated that our results were stable. Conclusion: The present study indicated a possible association between the TNF-&agr; −308G/A gene polymorphism and IHD risk. However, evidence was limited to confirm the role of TNF-&agr; −238G/A, −857C/T, −863C/A, −1031T/C and other TNF-&agr; gene polymorphisms in the risk of IHD.
Measuring Misalignment: Latest Estimates for the Chinese Yuan

Acknowledgments: Paper prepared for The US-Sino Currency Dispute: New Insights from Economics, Politics and Law (VoxEU), edited by Simon Evenett. The views expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of institutions with which the authors are, or have been, associated.
Physical-Layer Network Coding and Information Combining for the Multiple-Access Relay Network

We propose a new linear physical-layer network coding and information combining scheme for the K-user fading multiple-access relay network (MARN), which consists of K users, one relay and one destination. The relay and the destination are connected via a rate-constraint backhaul link. In the proposed scheme, the K users transmit signals simultaneously. The relay and the destination receive the superimposed signals distorted by fading and noise. The relay reconstructs L linear combinations of the K users' messages, referred to as L network coded (NC) messages, and forwards them to the destination. The destination then attempts to recover all K users' messages by combining its received signals and the NC messages obtained from the relay. We develop an explicit expression on the selection of the coefficients of the NC messages at the relay that minimizes the end-to-end error probability at a high signal to noise ratio. We demonstrate that our proposed scheme outperforms the benchmark scheme significantly in an MARN.
DETERMINANTS OF REAL EXCHANGE RATE IN ETHIOPIA

Real exchange rate has direct effects on trade particularly on international trade and has indirect effects on productions and employments, so it is crucial to understand the factors which determine its variations. This study analyses the main determinants of the real exchange rate and the dynamic adjustment of the real exchange rate following shocks to those determinants using yearly Ethiopian time series data covering the period 1971 to 2010. It begins with a review of literatures on Exchange rate, real exchange rate, determinants of the real exchange rate and provides an updated background on the exchange rate system in Ethiopia. An empirical model linking the real exchange rate to its theoretical determinants is then specified. This study had employed the cointegration and vector autoregression (VAR) analysis with impulse response and variance decomposition analyses to provide robust long run effects and short run dynamic effects on the real exchange rate. Share of investment, foreign exchange reserve, capital inflow and government consumption of non-tradable goods were the variable that have been found to have a long run relationship with the real exchange rate. The estimate of the speed of adjustment coefficient found in this study indicates that about a third of the variation in the real exchange rate from its equilibrium level is corrected within a year. The regression result of VECM reveals that terms of trade, nominal exchange rate, and one period lag of capital flow were the variables significantly affects the real exchange rate in the short run. However, the impulse response and variance decomposition analysis shows a better picture of the short run dynamics. The their analysis provided evidence that the Shocks to terms of trade, nominal exchange rate, capital inflow and share of investment have persistent effects on the real exchange rate in the short run. In general the regression results of both long run and short run models mostly suggest that the fluctuations of real exchange rates are predominantly responses to monetary policies shocks rather than fiscal policy shocks.
Girls' activity levels and lesson contexts in middle school PE: TAAG baseline.

PURPOSE To assess girls' physical activity (PA) in middle school physical education (PE) as it relates to field site, lesson context and location, teacher gender, and class composition. METHODS We observed girls' PA levels, lesson contexts, and activity promotion by teachers in 431 lessons in 36 schools from six field sites participating in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls. Interobserver reliabilities exceeded 90% for all three categories. Data were analyzed using mixed-model ANOVA with controls for clustering effects by field site and school. RESULTS Mean lesson length was 37.3 (+/-9.4) min. Time (13.9+/-7.0 min) and proportion of lessons (37.9+/-18.5%) spent in moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and time (4.8+/-4.2 min) and proportion of lessons (13.1+/-11.7%) in vigorous PA (VPA) differed by field site (P<0.004). Lesson time for instructional contexts differed by field site, with overall proportions as follows: game play (27.3%), management (26.1%), fitness activities (19.7%), skill drills (12.1%), knowledge (10.6%), and free play (4.4%). Coed classes were 7.9 min longer than girls-only classes (P=0.03). Although 27 s shorter, outdoor lessons were more intense (MVPA%=45.7 vs 33.7% of lesson, P<0.001) and provided 4.0 more MVPA minutes (P<0.001). MVPA, VPA, and lesson contexts did not differ by teacher gender. There was little direct promotion of PA by teachers during lessons. CONCLUSIONS Substantial variation in the conduct of PE exists. Proportion of lesson time girls spent accruing MVPA (i.e., 37.9%) fell short of the Healthy People 2010 objective of 50%. Numerous possibilities exist for improving girls' PA in PE.
Molecular mechanisms whereby immunomodulatory drugs activate natural killer cells: clinical application

Thalidomide and immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), which target multiple myeloma (MM) cells and the bone marrow microenvironment, can overcome drug resistance. These agents also have immunomodulatory effects. Specifically, we have reported that thalidomide increased serum interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) levels and natural killer (NK) cell numbers in the peripheral blood of responding MM patients. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms whereby IMiDs augment NK cell cytotoxicity. NK cytotoxicity and antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured with IMiDs were examined in the presence or absence of anti‐IL‐2 antibody, ciclosporin A or depletion of CD56‐positive cells. IMiDs‐induced signalling pathways, triggering IL‐2 transcription in T cells, were also delineated. IMiDs facilitated the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor of activated T cells‐2 and activator protein‐1 via activation of phosphoinositide‐3 kinase signalling, with resultant IL‐2 secretion. IMiDs enhanced both NK cell cytotoxicity and ADCC induced by triggering IL‐2 production from T cells. These studies defined the mechanisms whereby IMiDs trigger NK cell‐mediated tumour‐cell lysis, further supporting their therapeutic use in MM.
High Fat Diet Decreases Neuronal Activation in the Brain Induced by Resistin and Leptin

Resistin and leptin are adipokines which act in the brain to regulate metabolic and cardiovascular functions which in some instances are similar, suggesting activation of some common brain pathways. High-fat feeding can reduce the number of activated neurons observed following the central administration of leptin in animals, but the effects on resistin are unknown. The present work compared the distribution of neurons in the brain that are activated by centrally administered resistin, or leptin alone, and, in combination, in rats fed a high fat (HFD) compared to a normal chow diet (ND). Immunohistochemistry for the protein, Fos, was used as a marker of activated neurons. The key findings are (i) following resistin or leptin, either alone or combined, in rats fed the HFD, there were no significant increases in the number of activated neurons in the paraventricular and arcuate nuclei, and in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). This contrasted with observations in rats fed a normal chow diet; (ii) in the OVLT and MnPO of HFD rats there were significantly less activated neurons compared to ND following the combined administration of resistin and leptin; (iii) In the PAG, RVMM, and NTS of HFD rats there were significantly less activated neurons compared to ND following resistin. The results suggest that the sensitivity to resistin in the brain was reduced in rats fed a HFD. This has similarities with leptin but there were instances where there was reduced sensitivity to resistin with no significant effects following leptin. This suggests diet influences neuronal effects of resistin.
Melatonin protects against ischemic heart failure in rats

Ischemic injury, which occurs as a result of sympathetic hyperactivity, plays an important role in heart failure. Melatonin is thought to have antiatherogenic, antioxidant, and vasodilatory effects. In this study, we investigated whether melatonin protects against ischemic heart failure (HF). In Wistar albino rats, HF was induced by left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery ligation and rats were treated with either vehicle or melatonin (10 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. At the end of this period, echocardiographic measurements were recorded and the rats were decapitated to obtain plasma and cardiac tissue samples. Lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lysosomal enzymes (β‐D‐glucuronidase, β‐galactosidase, β‐D‐N‐acetyl‐glucosaminidase, acid phosphatase, and cathepsin‐D) were studied in plasma samples, while malondialdehyde and glutathione levels and Na+, K+‐ATPase, caspase‐3 and myeloperoxidase activities were determined in the cardiac samples. Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) and caveolin‐3 levels in cardiac tissues were evaluated using Western blot analyses. Furthermore, caveolin‐3 levels were also determined by histological analyses. In the vehicle‐treated HF group, cardiotoxicity resulted in decreased cardiac Na+, K+‐ATPase and SERCA activities, GSH contents and caveolin‐3 levels, while plasma LDH, CK, and lysosomal enzyme activities and cardiac MDA and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities were found to be increased. On the other hand, melatonin treatment reversed all the functional and biochemical changes. The present results demonstrate that Mel ameliorates ischemic heart failure in rats. These observations highlight that melatonin is a promising supplement for improving defense mechanisms in the heart against oxidative stress caused by heart failure.
An evaluation of patient outcomes before and after trauma center designation using Trauma and Injury Severity Score analysis.

In June 1990, the Ministry of Health designated 11 hospitals throughout Ontario to be lead hospitals in trauma care. An integral part of a trauma system is the evaluation of care, in particular, outcome of the trauma patients. The Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) methodology, which offers a standard approach for evaluating outcomes for different populations of trauma patients, was used to determine if there was an improvement in outcomes after the designation of trauma centers of patients involved in motor vehicle crashes (ICD-9-CM, E810.0-825.9), with an Injury Severity Score > 12 for two 12-month periods: one predesignation (1989/1990) and one postdesignation (1992/1993). The Revised Trauma Score, Injury Severity Score, age, and outcome were calculated or abstracted from the hospital chart of each patient at the trauma center. The probability of survival of each patient, the z- and W-statistics of both years were calculated. A measurable improvement was shown in z-statistics between the 2 years from z = -0.40 predesignation to z = +0.72 postdesignation. When the bias introduced by patients intubated before arrival at the trauma center being excluded from TRISS analysis was removed, using a TRISS-like (as per Offner et al: J. Trauma 32:32, 1992) logistic regression equation that allows analysis of intubated patients, the improvement was even greater, with z = +1.34 predesignation and z = +2.97 postdesignation. Only the statistically significant z-score of the postdesignated year required the W-score to be calculated, W = +5.60. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A cryptic mitochondrial targeting motif in Atg4D links caspase cleavage with mitochondrial import and oxidative stress

The Atg4 cysteine proteases play crucial roles in the processing of Atg8 proteins during autophagy, but their regulation during cellular stress and differentiation remains poorly understood. We have found that two Atg4 family members—Atg4C and Atg4D—contain cryptic mitochondrial targeting sequences immediately downstream of their canonical (DEVD) caspase cleavage sites. Consequently, caspase-cleaved Atg4D (ΔN63 Atg4D) localizes to the mitochondrial matrix when expressed in mammalian cells, where it undergoes further processing to a ~42 kDa mitochondrial form. Interestingly, caspase cleavage is not needed for Atg4D mitochondrial import, because ~42 kDa mitochondrial Atg4D is observed in cells treated with caspase inhibitors and in cells expressing caspase-resistant Atg4D (DEVA63). Using HeLa cell lines stably expressing ΔN63 Atg4D, we showed that mitochondrial Atg4D sensitizes cells to cell death in the presence of the mitochondrial uncoupler, CCCP, and that mitochondrial cristae are less extensive in these cells. We further showed that the organization of mitochondrial cristae is altered during the mitochondrial clearance phase in differentiating primary human erythroblasts stably expressing ΔN63 Atg4D, and that these cells have elevated levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) during late stages of erythropoiesis. Together these data suggest that the import of Atg4D during cellular stress and differentiation may play important roles in the regulation of mitochondrial physiology, ROS, mitophagy and cell viability.
Long-term administration of vasopressin can cause Ménière’s disease in mice

Abstract Conclusion: A new murine model of Ménière’s disease has been developed, based on long-term administration of vasopressin. Induction of vestibular dysfunction in the present animal model can cause additional stress, by reducing inner ear blood flow. Latanoprost, a selective agonist for the FP prostanoid receptor, may become a new remedy for Ménière’s disease. Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a more suitable animal model, with a closer resemblance to the pathophysiological process in Ménière’s disease. Methods: Adult CBA/J or ICR mice were treated by subcutaneous injection of vasopressin for 5 days up to 8 weeks. Morphological analyses were performed of the cochlea, vestibular end organs and endolymphatic sac. The effect of latanoprost on the development of endolymphatic hydrops was also examined. Results: All experimental animals showed mild to moderate endolymphatic hydrops, increasing in severity as the vasopressin treatment was prolonged. Animals treated with vasopressin for 8 weeks showed severe endolymphatic hydrops with partial loss of outer hair cells and spiral ganglion cells. These animals also had a reversible vestibular dysfunction following intratympanic injection of epinephrine. Latanoprost inhibited the development of endolymphatic hydrops caused by vasopressin.
Aftercare services for patients with severe mental disorder: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Although evidences emphasize on the importance of aftercare programs to achieve continuity of care, different studies have revealed controversial results about the outcome. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of aftercare program on outcome measures of patients with severe mental disorders. Materials and Methods: Of a total 123 eligible patients with severe mental disorders, 61 patients were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 62 patients to the control group. The interventions included follow-up phone calls, home visits, and psychoeducation for families. Assessments were performed on hospital admission, discharge and the following 3rd, 6th and 12th month. Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHO-QOL) were used. Data were analyzed through Chi square, t-test, Mann-Whitney-U, and Repeated Measures Analysis of Co-Variance. Results: Mean of the HDRS scores revealed significant difference between the two groups when HDRS scores on the admission day were controlled (P = 0.028). The level of functioning was significantly different between the two groups based on the sequential assessments of GAF (P = 0.040). One year after the onset of trial, the number of psychiatric readmissions were significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.036). Conclusion: Readmission rates could be reduced by aftercare services, through the first year, after discharge of patients with severe mental disorders. On the other hand, higher levels of functioning would be expected after one year.