Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Propofol Activates GABAA Receptor‐Chloride Ionophore Complex in Dissociated Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons of the Rat

BackgroundThe molecular mechanism of propofol anesthesia has been related to facilitation of the inhibitory neu-rotransmission mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In the current study, the authors examined the direct actions of propofol on the acutely dissociated mammalian central neurons. MethodsHippocampal pyramidal neurons were dissociated after enzymatic treatment of the brain slices of the rat. Single neurons were voltage-clamped using the whole cell configuration of the patch clamp technique, and drugs were applied with a rapid drug-application system. ResultsIn the pyramidal neurons voltage-clamped at −60 mV, propofol evoked a transmembrane inward current, which desensitized at high concentrations of the anesthetic. The peak amplitude of the current increased sigmoidally with increasing doses of propofol applied. A least-squares fitting gave a dissociation constant of 1.2 × 10-5 M and a Hill coefficient of 1.8, thereby indicating that clinical concentrations of propofol evoke the current, and that the anesthetic cooperatively activates the channel. The threshold concentration was less than 10-6 M. The reversal potential for the current shifted according to the chloride equilibrium potential predicted by the Nernst equation, indicating that the current was carried by chloride ions. Bicuculline and strychnine suppressed the current in a concentration-dependent manner, in which the former was almost 40-fold more potent than the latter. The propofol-induced current cross-desensitized with the GABA-induced current, but no such interaction was observed with the glycine-induced current. Ro15–1788 (10-6 M), an allosteric benzodiazepine antagonist, had no effect on the response. Diazepam (10-6 M) enhanced the propofol-induced current, but pentobarbital (10-6 M and 3 × 10-5 M) did not affect the current. ConclusionsPropofol at clinically relevant concentrations directly activates the GABAA receptor-chloride lonophore complex in the mammalian central neurons and, hence, increases the chloride conductance, which may contribute to anesthesia produced by the agent. The desensitization of the GABAA receptor in the presence of high concentrations of propofol may result in a suppression of the GABAA inhibitory system.
Characterization of intervertebral disc degeneration by high‐resolution magic angle spinning (HR‐MAS) spectroscopy

The goal of this study was to determine the ability of high‐resolution magic angle spinning (HR‐MAS) NMR spectroscopy to distinguish different stages of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). 17 discs were removed from human cadavers and analyzed them using 1D and 2D (total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY)) 1H HR‐MAS spectroscopy, and T1 and T2 relaxation time measurements to determine the chemical composition and changes in chemical environment of discs with increasing levels of degeneration (Thompson grade). Among the significant findings were that spectra were very similar for samples taken from annular and nuclear regions of discs, and that visually apparent changes were observed in the spectra of the annular and nuclear samples from discs with increasing Thompson grade. Area ratios of the N‐acetyl to choline (Cho) regions, and Cho to carbohydrate (Carb) regions of the spectra allowed us to discriminate between discs of increasing Thompson grade with minimal overlap of individual ratios. Changes in T1 and T2 relaxation times of the chemical constituents of disc spectra were not significantly correlated to the degree of degeneration. The results of this study support the feasibility of using in vivo spectroscopy for detecting chemical changes associated with disc degeneration. Magn Reson Med 53:519–527, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Natural history of the iliac arteries after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and suitability of ectatic iliac arteries as a distal sealing zone.

PURPOSE To investigate the natural history of dilated common iliac arteries (CIA) exposed to pulsatile blood flow after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) and the suitability of ectatic iliac arteries as sealing zones using flared iliac limbs. METHODS Follow-up computed tomograms of 102 CIAs in 60 EVAR patients were investigated. Diameter changes in CIAs < or =16 mm (group 1) were compared with changes in vessels where a dilated segment >16 mm in diameter continued to be exposed to pulsatile blood flow (group 2). Within group 2, cases in which the stent terminated proximal to the dilated artery segment (2a) were compared with those that had been treated with a flared limb (2b). RESULTS The mean CIA diameter increased by 1.0+/-1.0 mm in group 1 (p<0.001 versus immediately after EVAR) and by 1.5+/-1.7 mm in group 2 (p<0.001 versus immediately after EVAR) within an average follow-up of 43.6+/-18.0 months. Diameter increase was more pronounced in dilated CIAs (p=0.048), and it was not significantly different between groups 2a and 2b (p=0.188). No late distal type I endoleak or stent-graft migration associated with CIA ectasia was observed. CONCLUSION Dilatation of the CIA is significant after EVAR, and it is more pronounced in ectatic iliac arteries. Although ectatic iliac arteries appear to be suitable sealing zones in the short term, continued follow-up is mandatory.
Neuroimmunoendocrine Regulation of the Prion Protein in Neutrophils*

Background: Prion protein (PrPC) modulates inflammation, and prion diseases affect neutrophil numbers and functions, but the regulation of PrPC in neutrophils is unknown. Results: Inflammation and stress massively up-regulated PrPC in neutrophils via glucocorticoids and TGF-β. Conclusion: We show a novel pathway of regulation of PrPC, with functional consequences for neutrophils. Significance: Systemic control of the expression and function of PrPC broadly modulates cellular physiology and pathology. The prion protein (PrPC) is a cell surface protein expressed mainly in the nervous system. In addition to the role of its abnormal conformer in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, normal PrPC may be implicated in other degenerative conditions often associated with inflammation. PrPC is also present in cells of hematopoietic origin, including T cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages, and it has been shown to modulate their functions. Here, we investigated the impact of inflammation and stress on the expression and function of PrPC in neutrophils, a cell type critically involved in both acute and chronic inflammation. We found that systemic injection of LPS induced transcription and translation of PrPC in mouse neutrophils. Up-regulation of PrPC was dependent on the serum content of TGF-β and glucocorticoids (GC), which, in turn, are contingent on the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in response to systemic inflammation. GC and TGF-β, either alone or in combination, directly up-regulated PrPC in neutrophils, and accordingly, the blockade of GC receptors in vivo curtailed the LPS-induced increase in the content of PrPC. Moreover, GC also mediated up-regulation of PrPC in neutrophils following noninflammatory restraint stress. Finally, neutrophils with up-regulated PrPC presented enhanced peroxide-dependent cytotoxicity to endothelial cells. The data demonstrate a novel interplay of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems upon both the expression and function of PrPC in neutrophils, which may have a broad impact upon the physiology and pathology of various organs and systems.
PASOR: A Packet Salvaging Model for Opportunistic Routing Protocols

Opportunistic Routing (OR) protocols are known as a promising research area with the aim of delivering data packets to their destination more reliably. Security of such protocols, however, is still an open, and challenging research problem. In this paper, we propose an enhancement on OR protocols which benefits from an appropriate candidate coordination mechanism, and assists in salvaging data packets that are dropped by malicious nodes. More precisely, an analytical approach is proposed using Discrete-Time Markov Chain (DTMC) to model a packet salvaging mechanism in an OR-based wireless network, while malicious nodes attempt in degrading the network performance. The proposed model demonstrates how back-up candidates in the candidate set can help in salvaging dropped packets by supervising the behavior of other peers in the candidate set. Different network parameters including packet delivery, drop, salvage, and direct-delivery ratio are then extracted from the introduced model. Furthermore, the model is applied on a well-known OR protocol and is evaluated using both analytical approach, and network simulations. Evaluation results represent that the introduced model can dramatically boost the performance of a wireless network by delivering greater number of packets to their destination compared to a baseline protocol.
Cardiovascular effects of I/D angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in healthy subjects. Findings after follow-up of six years

Background — An increasing number of studies with conflicting results regarding the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene deletion polymorphism and cardiovascular disease has recently been published. The present prospective long-term study was conducted to evaluate whether the DD genotype could also be associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension in healthy subjects over 6 years of follow-up.We also investigated the effects of the ACE-I/D genotypes on diastolic function by echocardiography in healthy subjects without any risk factors and any events after 6 years of follow-up. Methods — Population: 684 healthy volunteers (aged 25-55 years) normotensive and free of cardiovascular diseases, with acceptable echocardiographic window were enrolled. All subjects had to have a normal electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (ECHO) at entry.All subjects have undergone a complete physical examination, 12-lead ECG and ECHO; DNA analysis and serum cholesterol have been performed on venous blood samples. All subjects underwent a clinical evaluation each year for the 6-year duration of the study. In addition, 275 subjects without any risk factors underwent an ECHO every year of the follow-up, to check the influence of genotypes on myocardial diastolic performances. Results — All 684 subjects completed 6 years of follow-up.We obtained 3 genetically distinct groups: 1) the ACE-DD group (n = 225, 80 F/145 M, mean age 43.4 ± 7.6 years) with 42 hypertensive subjects (18.3%), 5 heart failure (HF) subjects and 6 subjects with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). There was no association between family history, smoking habit, hypercholesterolaemia and events. 2) the ACE-ID group (n = 335, 116 F/219 M, mean age 43.6 ± 7 years) with16 hypertensive subjects (4.7%) and 3 subjects with ACS. 3) the ACE-II group (n = 124, 45 F/79 M, mean age 42.5 ± 6.9 years) with 2 hypertensive subjects (1.6%) and 1 HF subject.The incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular events, was significantly higher in the ACE-DD (53 cases, 23%) than in the ACE-ID and ACE-II groups (20 and 3 cases, 5.9% and 2.4%, respectively), p = 0.0001. The higher incidence of hypertension was observed in the older age groups (36-45 and 46-55 years) with ACE-DD and ACE-ID genotypes. Moreover, ACE-DD significantly and early affected myocardial diastolic properties in the total group examined, also when stratified for age. There was a reduction of E/A ratio and it was more evident in subjects aged 36-45 and 46-55 years, p = 0.0001. Conclusion — Our data suggest that ACE-DD polymorphism is associated with a higher incidence of hypertension in baseline healthy subjects, irrespective of other risk factors, and appears to affect the diastolic function. These effects were apparent predominantly in the older age groups.
Going Beyond Telecenters to Foster the Digital Inclusion of Older People in Brazil: Lessons Learned from a Rapid Ethnographical Study

Telecenters take on a prominent role within the current information and communications technology (ICT) ecosystem in Brazil. They are seen by a great many as a key means to foster the digital inclusion of the older population in the country. This paper draws upon a rapid ethnographic study conducted with 78 older people in a center that teaches computer classes to seniors in Brazil. The results show that providing older people with technological infrastructures is not enough to strengthen their digital inclusion if their basic and non-instrumental needs are not taken into consideration in defining educational activities to be carried out in public centers. Participants’ basic needs when it comes to interacting with ICT, such as coping with accessibility issues, were dynamic, whilst non-instrumental needs, fulfilled by using these technologies, such as interacting with relevant others, remained fairly constant throughout the study. Drawing on the results of the study, strategies for fostering the digital inclusion and well-being of older people in Brazil that go beyond telecenters are suggested.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Related to Sodium Intake and Reduction Among Adult Consumers in the United States

Purpose. To describe the prevalence and determinants of sodium-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among U.S. adults Design. A cross-sectional survey was used. Setting. The study was set in the United States in 2012. Subjects. Participants were 6122 U.S. adults. Measures. Sodium-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were measured. Analysis. Chi-squared tests were used to determine differences in sodium-related knowledge, attitude, and behaviors by respondent characteristics; multiple logistic regression was used to examine associations between selected respondent characteristics and health professional advice, reported action, or knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (adjusted for all other respondent characteristics). Results. About three-fourths of respondents answered eating too much sodium is “somewhat” or “very” harmful to their health. Twenty-six percent reported receiving health professional advice, and 45% reported taking action to reduce their sodium intake. The prevalence of reported action was highest among adults receiving advice, those with hypertension, blacks, and those aged ≥65 years. Sixty-two percent who reported action agreed that most of their sodium comes from processed or restaurant foods. Of those reporting action, the most common tactics to reduce sodium intake were checking nutrition labels, using other spices than salt, and choosing low-sodium foods; requesting lower-sodium options when eating out was the least common tactic. Conclusion. Results suggest almost half of adults overall and the vast majority of those receiving health professional advice are taking some action to watch or reduce sodium intake. Although a substantial proportion report using recommended tactics to lower intake, many are not using the most effective tactics. In order to reach the general population, health communication messages could be simpler and focus on the most effective tactics to reduce sodium intake. Furthermore, health professionals can help reduce sodium intake by discussing the benefits of sodium reduction and tactics to do so, regardless of a hypertension diagnosis.
Staff attitudes towards working with drug users: development of the Drug Problems Perceptions Questionnaire.

AIM To evaluate the psychometric properties of an adaptation of the Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perceptions Questionnaire to measure the attitudes of staff to working with drug users (the DDPPQ). DESIGN Postal survey: a questionnaire was mailed to participants on two occasions. SETTING A large urban National Health Service (NHS) mental health service. PARTICIPANTS A stratified random sample of medical staff, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and nurses (n = 672) who work within generic mental health, adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and alcohol and drug services. Response rate at Time 1 was 56% and 68% at Time 2. MEASUREMENTS A structured demographic questionnaire; individual item and total scores for the DDPPQ administered on two occasions 4 weeks apart; data relating to the content validity of the instrument. FINDINGS A principal component analysis confirmed the DDPPQ's construct validity and participants confirmed its content validity. Following analysis of the instrument's test-retest reliability and its principal component structure it was reduced to a 20-item scale. Its five subscales related to role adequacy, role support, job satisfaction, role-specific self-esteem and role legitimacy. CONCLUSION The refined DDPPQ was shown to be a valid and reliable tool which can be used to measure attitudes of people in relation to working with drug users.
Microgenomics: Identification of new expression profiles via small and single‐cell sample analyses

Since the sequencing of the human genome has been finished, microgenomics has been booming, employing highly sophisticated, high‐throughput platforms. But these mainly chip‐based methods can only generate biologically relevant data if the samples investigated consist of homogenous cell populations, in which no unwanted cells of different specificity and/or developmental stage obscure the results.
Introduction to Reconfiguration

Reconfiguration is concerned with relationships among solutions to a problem instance, where the reconfiguration of one solution to another is a sequence of steps such that each step produces an intermediate feasible solution. The solution space can be represented as a reconfiguration graph, where two vertices representing solutions are adjacent if one can be formed from the other in a single step. Work in the area encompasses both structural questions (Is the reconfiguration graph connected? ) and algorithmic ones (How can one find the shortest sequence of steps between two solutions? ) This survey discusses techniques, results, and future directions in the area.
The function of TONNEAU1 in moss reveals ancient mechanisms of division plane specification and cell elongation in land plants

The preprophase band (PPB) is a transient ring of microtubules that forms before mitosis in land plants, and delineates the cytokinetic division plane established at telophase. It is one of the few derived traits specific to embryophytes, in which it is involved in the spatial control of cell division. Here we show that loss of function of Physcomitrella patens PpTON1 strongly affects development of the moss gametophore, phenocopying the developmental syndrome observed in Arabidopsis ton1 mutants: mutant leafy shoots display random orientation of cell division and severe defects in cell elongation, which are correlated with absence of PPB formation and disorganization of the cortical microtubule array in interphase cells. In hypomorphic Ppton1 alleles, PPB are still formed, whereas elongation defects are observed, showing the dual function of TON1 in organizing cortical arrays of microtubules during both interphase and premitosis. Ppton1 mutation has no impact on development of the protonema, which is consistent with the documented absence of PPB formation at this stage, apart from alteration of the gravitropic response, uncovering a new function of TON1 proteins in plants. Successful reciprocal cross-complementation between Physcomitrella and Arabidopsis shows conservation of TON1 function during land plant evolution. These results establish the essential role of the PPB in division plane specification in a basal land plant lineage, and provide new information on the function of TON1. They point to an ancient mechanism of cytoskeletal control of division plane positioning and cell elongation in land plants.
Increased HTLV‐I proviral load and preferential expansion of HTLV‐I tax‐specific CD8+ T cells in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with HAM/TSP

To date, high human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I proviral load in patients with human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I‐associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis has been reported and is thought to be related to the pathogenesis of human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I‐associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. However, the proviral load in cerebrospinal fluid has not been well investigated. We measured human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I proviral load in cerebrospinal fluid cells from human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I‐associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis patients using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan). Human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I proviral load in cerebrospinal fluid cells were significantly higher than that of the matched peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and a high ratio of human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I proviral load in cerebrospinal fluid cells to peripheral blood mononuclear cells were observed in patients with short duration of illness. Human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I Tax‐specific CD8+ T cells, as detected by peptide‐loaded HLA tetramers, accumulated in cerebrospinal fluid compared with that in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, while the frequency of cytomegalovirus‐specific CD8+ T cells in cerebrospinal fluid was reduced. These observations suggest that accumulation of both human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I‐infected cells and preferential expansion of human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I‐specific CD8+ cells in cerebrospinal fluid may play a role in the pathogenesis of human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I‐associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.
Guided Labeling using Convolutional Neural Networks

Over the last couple of years, deep learning and especially convolutional neural networks have become one of the work horses of computer vision. One limiting factor for the applicability of supervised deep learning to more areas is the need for large, manually labeled datasets. In this paper we propose an easy to implement method we call guided labeling, which automatically determines which samples from an unlabeled dataset should be labeled. We show that using this procedure, the amount of samples that need to be labeled is reduced considerably in comparison to labeling images arbitrarily.
Between-Session Reliability of Four Hop Tests and the Agility T-Test

Munro, AG and Herrington, LC. Between-session reliability of four hop tests and the agility T-test. J Strength Cond Res 25(5): 1470-1477, 2011-The purposes of this study were firstly to investigate whether learning affects were present in the administration of 4 hop tests and the Agility T-test and secondly to assess the between-session reliability of these tests. Twenty-two recreational athletes (11 women: age 22.3 ± 3.7 years, height 167.7 ± 6.2 cm, weight 59.2 ± 6.9 kg and 11 men: age 22.8 ± 3.1 years, height 179.8 ± 4 cm, weight 79.6 ± 10 kg) took part in the study. The subjects performed 6 repetitions of each hop test and 4 repetitions of the Agility T-test once a week over a period of 3 weeks. Distances were normalized to leg length and presented as a percentage value for the single, triple and crossover hop. Results showed that there were significant differences in scores between genders and that learning affects were present in all tests. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.76 to 0.92 for the hop tests and 0.82 to 0.96 for the Agility T-test. The results indicated that the hop and Agility T-tests are reliable tests for use with subjects in a clinical or team sport environment. The error measurement statistics presented could be of help to practitioners to determine whether changes in individuals' scores in the hop and Agility T-tests are because of a true change in performance or measurement error. Of most importance was the fact that all subjects achieved at least 90% limb symmetry index on all 4 hop tests. Therefore, we recommend that a minimum limb symmetry value of 90%, rather than previously recommended 85%, should be adopted during rehabilitation and conditioning.