Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drosophila non-muscle myosin II motor activity determines the rate of tissue folding

Non-muscle cell contractility is critical for tissues to adopt shape changes. Although, the non-muscle myosin II holoenzyme (myosin) is a molecular motor that powers contraction of actin cytoskeleton networks, recent studies have questioned the importance of myosin motor activity cell and tissue shape changes. Here, combining the biochemical analysis of enzymatic and motile properties for purified myosin mutants with in vivo measurements of apical constriction for the same mutants, we show that in vivo constriction rate scales with myosin motor activity. We show that so-called phosphomimetic mutants of the Drosophila regulatory light chain (RLC) do not mimic the phosphorylated RLC state in vitro. The defect in the myosin motor activity in these mutants is evident in developing Drosophila embryos where tissue recoil following laser ablation is decreased compared to wild-type tissue. Overall, our data highlights that myosin activity is required for rapid cell contraction and tissue folding in developing Drosophila embryos. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.20828. 001
Does the use of tumour necrosis factor antagonist therapy in poor prognosis, undifferentiated arthritis prevent progression to rheumatoid arthritis?

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapy to produce remission and prevent progression to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients with poor prognosis undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis (UA). Methods: Patients with UA of <12 months’ duration and having relapsed after a single parenteral corticosteroid injection were recruited into a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of infliximab or placebo monotherapy administered at weeks 0, 2, 6 and 14. Methotrexate was added at week 14 if no clinical response (raised C-reactive protein (CRP) and clinical synovitis) was achieved. Standard outcomes were collected at baseline, infusion visits and weeks 26 and 52. The primary outcome was clinical remission at week 26. Results: 17 patients were randomised (10 infliximab, 7 placebo) all with poor prognostic features. At week 14, the infliximab group had greater improvements in CRP and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) but by week 26 there was just a trend favouring infliximab for early morning stiffness, tender joint score, swollen joint score and HAQ; there was no significant difference in 28 joint count Disease Activity Score between the two groups. Furthermore, only three patients were in clinical remission (two infliximab, one placebo). By week 52, 100% patients in the infliximab group and 71% (5/7) patients in the placebo group had developed RA. Conclusions: In poor prognosis UA, a short course of TNF antagonist therapy provided modest short-term relief but did not prevent the development of RA. Patients with UA with a poor prognosis relapsing after corticosteroid have a high risk of evolving to RA and are suitable candidates for interventional treatment.
Robotics and Virtual Reality: A Perfect Marriage for Motor Control Research and Rehabilitation

This article's goal is to outline the motivations, progress, and future objectives for the development of a state-of-the-art device that allows humans to visualize and feel synthetic objects superimposed on the physical world. The programming flexibility of these devices allows for a variety of scientific questions to be answered in psychology, neurophysiology, rehabilitation, haptics, and automatic control. The benefits are most probable in rehabilitation of brain-injured patients, for whom the costs are high, therapist time is limited, and repetitive practice of movements has been shown to be beneficial. Moreover, beyond simple therapy that guides, strengthens, or stretches, the technology affords a variety of exciting potential techniques that can combine our knowledge of the nervous system with the tireless, precise, and swift capabilities of a robot. Because this is a prototype, the system will also guide new experimental methods by probing the levels of quality that are necessary for future design cycles and related technology. Very important to the project is the early and intimate involvement of therapists and other clinicians in the design of software and its user interface. Inevitably, it should also lead the way to new modes of practice and to the commercialization of haptic/graphic systems.
Elimination of the Cyanobacterial Hepatotoxin Microcystin from the freshwater Pulmonate Snail Lymnaea stagnalis jugularis (SAY)

It has been suggested that little to no microcystin (MC), a cyanobacterial hepatotoxin, accumulates within freshwater pulmonate snails because the toxin is associated primarily with undigested gut contents that are eliminated from the animal via egestion. To test this, Lymnaea stagnalis exposed to MC-containing cyanobacteria were placed into toxin-free environments and sampled over short (24 h at 21° C) and long (30 d at 22 and 10° C) time periods. Within 8 h after being removed from exposure to microcystin-containing phytoplankton, the gizzard and cecal string fractions of the feces were eliminated, accounting for 57% of the initial MC concentration. However, detectable concentrations remained beyond 24 h, likely in association with the digestive-gland contents, which can be retained up to 100 h. Long-term MC loss was biphasic at two ambient temperatures. The greatest change (fast phase) occurred over the first 3 d after exposure. By 6 d, the cumulative MC loss from L. stagnalis was 80 and 95% at 10 and 22° C, respectively. Toxin loss over this period was attributed to egestion of indigestible cells/colonies from gizzard and cecum, as well as elimination of unassimilated MC-laden fragments and vacuolate excretion of residues from the digestive gland. The fast-phase depuration rate constant was significantly higher at 22 than at 10° C, indicating an influence of ambient temperature on the rate of toxin loss from pulmonate snails. Depuration continued at slower rates until 30 d, when most (97.5 and 99.5% at 10 and 22° C, respectively) of the initial MC was eliminated.
Structural reforms in DSGE models: a case for sensitivity analyses

In a standard DSGE model of the Euro Area derived from the Smets and Wouters core model and comparable to most institutional models (ECB, EC, IMF, etc.), we shed new light on a popular exercise: pro-competitive (structural) reforms evaluation. First, we provide with a detailed analysis of the underlying mechanisms, insisting on the importance of the households consumption-leisure arbitrage. We then proceed to a quantitative sensitivity analysis. We show that the simple redefinition of households utility can lead to additional gains or losses of a few percentage points in output following goods or labour markets pro-competitive reforms. In addition, welfare analyses show that policy recommendations for structural reforms are less clear-cut than those solely based on output gains. Introducing non Ricardian agents allows stylized yet informative inequality analyses showing that goods market reforms reduce inequalities while labour market reforms are neutral. In all, our results advocate for the extensive use of sensitivity analyses in that class of models when used for quantitative policy purposes.
Culturally Responsive Peace Education: A Case Study at One Urban Latino K-8 Catholic School.

This paper presents a case study of a yearlong research-based peace education program at one urban K-8 private Catholic school situated in a community plagued by structural violence in an enclave of a large Midwestern city. To frame the analysis, the author employs concepts central to culturally responsive pedagogy (including cultural competence, funds of knowledge, reshaping the curriculum, and activism) in order to highlight some of the unique challenges involved in implementing a peace education program in a diverse, urban environment.
Poly[hydrazin-1-ium [diaquabis(μ4-pyridazine-3,6-dicarboxylato)trilithate] monohydrate]

The structure of the title compound, {(N(2)H(5))[Li(3)(C(6)H(2)N(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)]·H(2)O}(n), is composed of mol-ecular dimers, each built up of two symmetry-related Li(I) ions with distorted trigonal-bipyramidal coordinations bridged by two deprotonated ligand mol-ecules via their N,O-bonding sites. Doubly solvated Li(I) ions with a distorted tetra-hedral geometry link adjacent dimers, forming a polymer generated by bridging bidentate carboxyl-ato O atoms to Li(I) ions in adjacent dimers, forming anionic layers parallel to the ac plane with monoprotonated hydrazinium cations and crystal water mol-ecules positioned between them. The layers are held together by an extended system of hydrogen bonds in which the hydrazinium cations and coordinated and crystal water mol-ecules act as donors and carboxyl-ate O atoms act as acceptors.
The Belief in Goal Self-Competence Scale (BiGSS) - exploring a new way to support individual goal pursuit and document occupational therapy outcomes in paediatric practice.

AIM The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) is an outcome measure of clients' self perceptions of performance and satisfaction with occupational performance and is widely used in paediatric research. The aim of this study was to explore how a new outcome measure, the Belief in Goal Self-Competence Scale (BiGSS), was perceived by paediatric occupational therapists to compliment the COPM as a way of documenting client confidence in goal pursuit. METHODS Two hundred and forty-one occupational therapists participated in an online survey through paediatric listserv groups and professional networks. Therapists' views about goal setting and the utility of the BiGSS were analysed descriptively and open ended questions were analysed thematically. RESULTS Overall, goal setting was viewed as a highly important aspect of therapy (n = 221, 90.7%) although only 22% (n = 52) of respondents indicated using formal goal setting tools. For the subset of respondents who frequently used the COPM (n = 101, 42%) almost all (97.87%) indicated that they would find the BiGSS to be moderately or highly useful to their current practice. Suggestions for improvement of the measure involved wording and formatting. CONCLUSION This study supports existing evidence that goal setting is highly valued by occupational therapists, however, formal tools are not always used. There was preliminary support for a measure such as the BiGSS as a means of documenting children's and families confidence in goal pursuit.
Millimetre-wave all symmetric edge-coupled bandpass filter

The design of an all symmetric edge-coupled bandpass filter (BPF) at Ka band is presented. Effects of manufacturing tolerances on the design of the edge-coupled bandpass filter are investigated. Consequently, a procedure is devised for a first pass design of such filters. The open-end effect in the half-wavelength resonator section is compensated with the round-ended corners rather than decrementing the lengths in a conventional way. The widths of all the half-wavelength resonators are set equal to avoid discontinuities in the interior of the filter. The fabrication tolerances are compensated in the design prior to manufacturing. The filter is realized on a ceramic filled soft substrate with dielectric constant of 6.2. An in-house customized through-reflect-line (TRL) calibration kit is produced to obtain the de-embedded measured results at the device plane. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulated results. The insertion loss is 3 dB, passband variation is less than 1 dB and the filter exhibits 3dB bandwidth of 3.8 GHz.
Protective effects of (2E)-3-[5-(2,3-dimethoxy-6-methyl-1,4- benzoquinoyl)]-2-nonyl-2-propenoic acid on endotoxin-mediated hepatitis in mice.

E3330 [(2E)-3-[5-(2,3-dimethoxy-6-methyl-1,4-benzoquinoyl)]-2-nonyl-2- propenoic acid] is a newly synthesized hepatoprotective quinone derivative. We examined the protective effects and possible mechanism of action of E3330 in three different endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide)-induced murine hepatitis models, in which tumor necrosis factor is suggested to play a critical role in the pathogenesis. One of these models was induced by i.v. injection of lipopolysaccharide in combination with D-galactosamine to mice. Oral pretreatment with E3330 improved the survival rate and attenuated the increase in plasma aminotransferase activities of the survivors. The other two models were induced by i.v. injection of lipopolysaccharide or a mixture of D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide in Propionibacterium acnes-primed mice. In both of these models, tumor necrosis factor was detected in the plasma within 3 hr of the injection. Oral pretreatment with E3330 attenuated the elevation of plasma tumor necrosis factor activity and protected mice from liver injury. Furthermore, E3330 inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor from cultured Propionibacterium acnes-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages on stimulation with lipopolysaccharide in vitro. These findings suggest that the inhibition by E3330 of tumor necrosis factor production is the major mechanism of the protective effect of E3330 in these endotoxin-mediated hepatitis models in mice.
Longterm corticosteroid use after liver transplantation for autoimmune hepatitis is safe and associated with a lower incidence of recurrent disease

Patients transplanted for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are at risk of recurrent disease. Our current practice is to maintain long‐term low‐dose corticosteroids with additional immunosuppressive agents. This study describes the implications on patients' outcomes, sepsis, and osteoporosis. We collected data on patients transplanted between January 1999 and October 2014 in a single center who survived for more than 6 months. AIH recurrence was diagnosed by a combination of histology, raised immunoglobulin G levels, and exclusion of other etiologies. Sepsis was defined as any infection that resulted in significant morbidity or mortality. Osteoporosis was defined as a bone densitometry T score of less than −2.0 or evidence of osteoporosis‐related fractures. Outcomes were assessed using Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis methods. Seventy‐three AIH patients underwent liver transplantation with a median follow‐up of 94 months (interquartile range, 55‐144). The cohort was mainly Caucasian (78%), female (79%), with type 1 AIH (90%), and a mean age of 43 ± 15 years. Overall survival was 92%, 90%, 86%, and 73%, and regraft‐free survival was 86%, 81%, 78%, and 64% at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Five patients developed AIH recurrence, giving recurrence rates of 0%, 4%, 6%, and 11% at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Pneumonia was the most common infection, but gastroenteritis and cholangitis were the most recurrent. Freedom from sepsis was 91%, 82%, 80%, and 63%, and freedom from osteoporosis was 100%, 94%, 82%, and 58% at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Longterm low‐dose corticosteroid in combination with other immunosuppressive agents seems to reduce AIH recurrence without jeopardizing patient and graft survival. Sepsis and osteoporosis did not occur more often compared to the published literature on liver transplant recipients. Liver Transpl 22:34‐41, 2016. © 2015 AASLD.
Importance of the temporary portocaval shunt during adult living donor liver transplantation

Adult living donor liver transplantation (aLDLT) is associated with surgical risks for the donor and with the possibility of small‐for‐size syndrome (SFSS) for the recipient, with both events being of great importance. An excessively small liver graft entails a relative increase in the portal blood flow during reperfusion, and this factor predisposes the recipient to an increased risk of SFSS in the postoperative period, although other causes related to recipient, graft, and technical factors have also been reported. A hemodynamic monitoring protocol was used for 45 consecutive aLDLT recipients. After various hemodynamic parameters before reperfusion were analyzed, a significant correlation between the temporary portocaval shunt flow during the anhepatic phase and the portal vein flow (PVF) after reperfusion of the graft (R2 = 0.3, P < 0.001) was found, and so was a correlation between the native liver portal pressure and PVF after reperfusion (R2 = 0.21, P = 0.007). The identification of patients at risk for excessive portal hyperflow will allow its modulation before reperfusion. This could favor the use of smaller grafts and ultimately lead to a reduction in donor complications because it would allow more limited hepatectomies to be performed. Liver Transpl 19:174–183, 2013. © 2012 AASLD.
Local government, political decentralisation and resilience to natural hazard-associated disasters

ABSTRACT Natural hazards affect development and can cause significant and long-term suffering for those affected. Research has shown that sustained long-term disaster preparedness combined with appropriate response and recovery are needed to deliver effective risk reductions. However, as the newly agreed Sendai framework recognises, this knowledge has not been translated into action. This research aims to contribute to our understanding of how to deliver longer term and sustained risk reduction by evaluating the role of political decentralisation in disaster outcomes. Specifically, we investigate whether countries which devolve power to the local level experience reduced numbers of people affected by storms and earthquakes, and have lower economic damage. Using regression analysis and cross-country data from 1950 to 2006, we find that, in relation to both storms and earthquakes, greater transfers of political power to subnational tiers of government reduce hazard impacts on the population. The downside is that more politically decentralised countries, which are usually wealthier countries, can increase the direct economic losses associated with a natural hazard impact after the storm or earthquake than those which are more centralised. However, overall, it seems advantageous to give subnational governments more authority and autonomy in storm and earthquake risk planning.
Regulation of CRE‐mediated transcription in mouse brain by amphetamine

Previous work has demonstrated that acute and chronic administration of amphetamine causes phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB, the cAMP response element (CRE) binding protein, in striatum, a brain region important for the behavioral actions of the drug. To determine whether such phosphorylation is associated with changes in CREB transcriptional activity, we mapped β‐galactosidase (β‐gal) expression in a CRE‐LacZ transgenic mouse, in which the β‐gal reporter is downstream of CRE sequences, following acute or chronic amphetamine administration. We found that acute amphetamine induced β‐gal expression in a relatively small number of brain regions, including nucleus accumbens (ventral striatum), amygdala, ventral tegmental area, and locus coeruleus. Chronic amphetamine generally produced greater changes in CRE‐mediated transcription in most brain regions and induced CRE‐transcription in several regions unaffected by acute drug exposure. Interestingly, amphetamine regulation of CRE activity differed dramatically between males and females. In nucleus accumbens, β‐gal expression colocalized predominantly with dynorphinergic neurons after acute amphetamine administration, while chronic administration induced β‐gal expression in both dynorphinergic and enkephalinergic neurons. In ventral tegmental area, acute and chronic amphetamine induced β‐gal expression mainly in dopaminergic neurons, while induction in the locus coeruleus occurred mainly in nonnoradrenergic neurons. This study identifies several brain regions where CRE‐mediated transcription may play a key role in the development of neuronal plasticity associated with amphetamine administration. Synapse 48:10–17, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Adenine nucleotides inhibit proliferation of the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line LXF‐289 by activation of nuclear factor κB1 and mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways

Extracellular nucleotides have a profound role in the regulation of the proliferation of diseased tissue. We studied how extracellular nucleotides regulate the proliferation of LXF‐289 cells, the adenocarcinoma‐derived cell line from human lung bronchial tumor. ATP and ADP strongly inhibited LXF‐289 cell proliferation. The nucleotide potency profile was ATP = ADP = ATPγS > > UTP, UDP, whereas α,β‐methylene‐ATP, β,γ‐methylene‐ATP, 2′,3′‐O‐(4‐benzoylbenzoyl)‐ATP, AMP and UMP were inactive. The nucleotide potency profile and the total blockade of the ATP‐mediated inhibitory effect by the phospholipase C inhibitor U‐73122 clearly show that P2Y receptors, but not P2X receptors, control LXF‐289 cell proliferation. Treatment of proliferating LXF‐289 cells with 100 µm ATP or ADP induced significant reduction of cell number and massive accumulation of cells in the S phase. Arrest in S phase is also indicated by the enhancement of the antiproliferative effect of ATP by coapplication of the cytostatic drugs cisplatin, paclitaxel and etoposide. Inhibition of LXF‐289 cell proliferation by ATP was completely reversed by inhibitors of extracellular signal related kinase‐activating kinase/extracellular signal related kinase 1/2 (PD98059, U0126), p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (SB203508), phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (wortmannin), and nuclear factor κB1 (SN50). Western blot analysis revealed transient activation of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase, extracellular signal‐related kinase 1/2, and nuclear factor κB1 and possibly new formation of p50 from its precursor p105. ATP‐induced attenuation of LXF‐289 cell proliferation was accompanied by transient translocation of p50 nuclear factor κB1 and extracellular signal‐related kinase 1/2 to the nucleus in a similar time period. In summary, inhibition of LXF‐289 cell proliferation is mediated via P2Y receptors by activation of multiple mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways and nuclear factor κB1, arresting the cells in the S phase.
Identification of effective factors and study of their impact on consumer acceptance of e-tourism in Iran

E-Commerce is growing rapidly and so is its major part, e-tourism. Although it is important to enhance its technology, but there is a necessity to understand the behavior of its consumer first. This study aims to identify fundamental factors influencing consumer acceptance of e-tourism websites in Iran. The theoretical background of the study is based on Technology Acceptance Model. We investigated the effect of Task Technology Fit, playfulness, trust and computer self-efficacy, as additional factors, on user acceptance of e-tourism websites. Our empirical findings from analyses of a survey data indicate that “attitude” toward use has the most effect on intention to use e-tourism. The result of this study enhanced our knowledge about critical success factors which influence e-tourism acceptance. Our findings help tourism operators, web developers and researchers to better understand consumer's behavior in e-tourism context.