Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lung-protective ventilation in abdominal surgery

Purpose of reviewTo provide the most recent and relevant clinical evidence regarding the use of prophylactic lung-protective mechanical ventilation in abdominal surgery. Recent findingsEvidence is accumulating, suggesting an association between intraoperative mechanical ventilation strategy and postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Nonprotective ventilator settings, especially high tidal volume (>10–12 ml/kg), very low level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP, <5 cm H2O), or no PEEP, may cause alveolar overdistension and repetitive tidal recruitment leading to ventilator-associated lung injury in patients with healthy lungs. Stimulated by the previous findings in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, the use of lower tidal volume ventilation is becoming increasingly more common in the operating room. However, lowering tidal volume, though important, is only part of the overall multifaceted approach of lung-protective mechanical ventilation. Recent data provide compelling evidence that prophylactic lung-protective mechanical ventilation using lower tidal volume (6–8 ml/kg of predicted body weight), moderate PEEP (6–8 cm H2O), and recruitment maneuvers is associated with improved functional or physiological and clinical postoperative outcome in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. SummaryThe use of prophylactic lung-protective ventilation can help in improving the postoperative outcome.
EFFECT OF ANTITHROMBIN III SUPPLEMENTATION ON INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE SEPSIS

Antithrombin III (AT III) is an important inhibitor of thrombin activity, as well as of many other proteases of the coagulation system. AT III administration showed beneficial effects on septic multiple organ dysfunction in clinical and experimental studies. It was the aim of this study to determine whether continuous long-term AT III supplementation alters the systemic inflammatory response in patients with severe sepsis. In a prospective study, 29 surgical patients with severe sepsis were randomly assigned to receive either conventional intensive care treatment (n = 15, control group) or additional AT III supplementation to achieve a plasma AT III activity > 120% during a 14 day study period (n = 14, AT III group). Plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 and of the circulating soluble adhesion molecules slCAM-1 and sE-selectin, as well as of PMN elastase, were determined daily. Additionally, total leukocyte count and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured daily, and body temperature was registered. Compared to control patients, a down-regulation of plasma IL-6 was observed in the AT III group (p ≤ .01). AT III supplementation prevented the continuous increase in slCAM-1 plasma concentration observed in control patients and led to a significant fall in soluble sE-selectin and CRP concentration (p ≤ .01). This fall corresponded to a down-regulation of body temperature over time (p ≤ .01). There was no AT III effect on IL-8, PMN-elastase concentration, or total leukocyte count. Our results show that long-term AT III supplementation attenuates the systemic inflammatory response in patients with severe sepsis. The down-regulation of IL-6 may also explain the fall in endothelium-derived adhesion molecules and may represent the molecular basis by which AT III exerts its beneficial effects on organ function.
Excitatory Amino Acid Agonist‐Antagonist Interactions at 2‐Amino‐4‐Phosphonobutyric Acid‐Sensitive Quisqualate Receptors Coupled to Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis in Slices of Rat Hippocampus

Abstract: Studies were carried out to define the relative affinities and intrinsic activities of excitatory amino acid agonists that activate receptor sites coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis in brain. Slices of rat hippocampus were prelabeled with myo‐[3H]inositol, and agonist stimulation was indexed by measuring the accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate ([3H]IP) in the presence of Li+. It was observed that ibotenic (IBO) and quisqualic (QUIS) acids both elicit highly significant, concentration‐dependent stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Whereas maximal stimulation by IBO (10−3M) was four‐ to fivefold over basal values, the maximal effect of QUIS (10−4M) was less (about twofold). Based on the relative concentrations required for 50% maximal stimulation, QUIS was 20 times more potent than IBO. Stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by either IBO or QUIS was additive to the effects of nonexcitatory amino acid agonists (carbachol and norepinephrine) in this tissue. However, the stimulatory effects of IBO plus QUIS were not additive. At ≥ 10−4M, QUIS significantly inhibited phosphoinositide hydrolysis by a maximal stimulatory concentration of IBO (10−3M) to a level observed with QUIS alone. Other excitatory amino acid agonists, including kainate, N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate, and α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), had no stimulatory effects at concentrations as high as 10−3M. The d,l or l forms of 2‐amino‐4‐phosphonobutyric acid (AP4), but not d‐AP4, significantly enhanced [3H]IP levels to ∼135% of basal values. d,l‐AP4 and l‐AP4 also inhibited stimulation by either IBO or QUIS, but relative inhibition of QUIS effects was quantitatively less than that of IBO effects. These studies indicate that IBO represents a full agonist at these “AP4‐sensitive QUIS receptors” coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis in brain. QUIS is a partial agonist with the highest affinity for the receptor, and l‐AP4 represents a partial agonist with relatively weak intrinsic activity. Furthermore, this receptor effect is not mediated at “QUIS” receptor sites that are activated by AMPA.
A BCI-based environmental controller for the motion-disabled

With the development of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, researchers are now attempting to put current BCI techniques into practical application. This paper presents an environmental controller using a BCI technique based on steady-state visual evoked potential. The system is composed of a stimulator, a digital signal processor, and a trainable infrared remote-controller. The attractive features of this system include noninvasive signal recording, little training requirement, and a high information transfer rate. Our test results have shown that this system can distinguish at least 48 targets and provide a transfer rate up to 68 b/min. The system has been applied to the control of an electric apparatus successfully.
Central antinociception induced by µ‐opioid receptor agonist morphine, but not δ‐ or κ‐, is mediated by cannabinoid CB1 receptor

Background and purpose: It has been demonstrated that cannabinoids evoke the release of endogenous opioids to produce antinociception; however, no information exists regarding the participation of cannabinoids in the antinociceptive mechanisms of opioids. The aim of the present study was to determine whether endocannabinoids are involved in central antinociception induced by activation of µ‐, δ‐ and κ‐opioid receptors.
Syringe possession arrests are associated with receptive syringe sharing in two Mexico-US border cities.

AIMS To identify factors associated with receptive syringe sharing among injection drug users (IDUs) and elucidate the association between syringe possession arrests and syringe sharing. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Baja California and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. PARTICIPANTS IDUs in Tijuana (n = 222) and Ciudad Juarez (n = 206) were recruited using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). IDUs were > or = 18 years and had injected illicit drugs in the past month. MEASUREMENTS An interviewer-administered survey was used to collect quantitative data on socio-demographic, behavioral and contextual characteristics, including self-reported syringe sharing and arrests for syringe possession. Associations with receptive syringe sharing were investigated using logistic regression with RDS adjustment. FINDINGS Overall, 48% of participants reported ever being arrested for carrying an unused/sterile syringe, even though syringe purchase and possession is legal in Mexico. Arrest for possessing unused/sterile syringes was associated independently with receptive syringe sharing [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26, 3.35], as was injecting in a shooting gallery (AOR = 3.60; 95% CI: 2.21, 5.87), injecting in the street (AOR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.18, 3.54) and injecting methamphetamine (AOR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.41, 5.47) or cocaine (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.15, 3.36). More than half of participants (57%) had been arrested for possessing a used syringe; in a second model, arrest for used syringe possession was also associated independently with receptive sharing (AOR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.76, 4.69). CONCLUSIONS We documented high levels of syringe-related arrests in two Mexican-US border cities and an independent association between these arrests and risky injection practices. Public health collaborations with law enforcement to modify the risk environment in which drug use occurs are essential to facilitate safer injection practices.
Potentially functional polymorphisms in aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases genes are associated with breast cancer risk in a Chinese population

Aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are responsible for cellular protein synthesis and cell viability involving in various process of tumorigenesis. We hypothesized that genetic variants in core ARSs genes may play an important role in the development of breast cancer. Thus, we conducted a case–control study including 1064 breast cancer cases and 1073 cancer‐free controls to evaluate the associations of 28 potentially functional polymorphisms in 12 core ARSs genes (AARS, CARS, EPRS, HARS, KARS, LARS, MARS, QARS, RARS, VARS, WARS, and YARS) with breast cancer risk. We found significant associations with the risk of breast cancer for rs34087264 in AARS [odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–1.31], rs801186 in HARS (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.08–1.54), rs193466 in RARS (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.02–1.35), and rs2273802 in WARS (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.01–1.30). We further observed significant interactions between rs2273802 and age at the first live birth (P = 0.041), and between rs801186 and age on breast cancer risk (P = 0.018). Combined analysis of these four SNPs showed a significant allele‐dosage association between the number of risk alleles and breast cancer risk (Ptrend = 2.00 × 10−4). Compared with individuals with “0–2” risk alleles, those carrying “3,” “4,” or “5 or more” risk alleles had a 1.32 (95% CI = 1.07–1.64), 1.48 (95% CI = 1.45–1.91), or 1.60 folds (95% CI = 1.06–2.41) risk of breast cancer, respectively. These findings indicate that genetic variants in core ARSs genes may modify the individual susceptibility to breast cancer in Chinese population. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Site-directed Mutagenesis of the Yeast PMA1 H+-ATPase STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ROLE OF CYSTEINE RESIDUES (*)

The yeast plasma-membrane H+-ATPase contains nine cysteines, three in presumed transmembrane segments (Cys-148, Cys-312, and Cys-867) and the rest in hydrophilic regions thought to be exposed at the cytoplasmic surface (Cys-221, Cys-376, Cys-409, Cys-472, Cys-532, and Cys-569). To gather new functional and structural information, we have studied the yeast ATPase by cysteine mutagenesis. It proved possible to replace seven of the nine cysteines by alanine, one at a time, without any significant decrease in ATP hydrolysis or ATP-dependent proton pumping. In the remaining two cases (Cys-409 and Cys-472), there were small but reproducible effects; the results clearly indicated, however, that no single Cys is required for activity and that, if a disulfide bridge is formed in the yeast ATPase, it does not play an obligatory structural or functional role. Next, multiple mutants were constructed to ask how many Cys residues could be replaced simultaneously while leaving a fully functional enzyme. After substitution of all “membrane” Cys (Cys-148, Cys-312, and Cys-867) together with two non-conserved Cys located in hydrophilic regions (Cys-221 and Cys-569), there were no significant abnormalities in expression (87%) or activity (89% ATP hydrolysis/93% H+ pumping) of the mutant protein. Replacement of two additional cysteines (Cys-376 near the phosphorylation site and Cys-532, in or near the ATP-binding site) caused a drop in expression (to 54%), although the corrected hydrolytic and H+ pumping activities were still normal. When Cys-472 was also mutated, the corrected activity fell to 44% hydrolysis/47% pumping; finally, substitution of Cys-409 to give a “cysteine-free” ATPase led to a very poorly expressed and poorly active enzyme. Brief exposure of the “one-cysteine” and “two-cysteine” ATPases to trypsin revealed a normal pattern of degradation, but there was a slight impairment in the ability of vanadate to protect against proteolysis. Thus, although single Cys replacements are tolerated well by the yeast ATPase, multiple replacements are progressively more harmful, suggesting that they cause small but additive perturbations of protein folding.
Detection of ambulatory ischaemia is not of practical clinical value in the routine management of patients with stable angina. A long-term follow-up study.

It has been reported that medically treated patients with stable angina and positive exercise test for ischaemia have an adverse 1-2 year outlook if they are shown also to have transient, and predominantly silent, ischaemic episodes detected by ambulatory ST segment monitoring during their daily activities: it has been suggested that this investigation could be used to identify patients more likely to benefit from early investigation and treatment. We assessed the long-term (up to 65 months) prognostic significance of transient ischaemic episodes during daily activities in 172 patients routinely attending cardiac outpatients with medically treated stable angina who had undergone exercise testing and 48 h of ambulatory ST segment monitoring between February 1988 and August 1989 for this purpose. A positive exercise test for ischaemia was not a prerequisite for inclusion. One hundred and four patients (60.5%) had a positive exercise test for ischaemia and 72 (42%) had transient ischaemia during daily activities (63 had both tests positive). Over a median 50-month follow-up period 54 patients suffered at least one cardiac event (primary event: cardiac death n = 7; non-fatal myocardial infarction n = 11; unstable angina n = 18; elective CABG/PTCA n = 18). Two further patients suffered non-cardiac death. Cardiac events, either objective (cardiac death or non-fatal myocardial infarction) or subjective (unstable angina or revascularisation) were no more likely to occur in those with transient ischaemia during daily life when compared with those without, at follow-up times up to 65 months. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Meta-analysis of longitudinal studies of cognition in bipolar disorder: comparison with healthy controls and schizophrenia

Background Bipolar disorder (BP) is associated with significant cognitive impairment. Recent evidence suggests that cognitive deficits are already evident after first-episode mania. However, it is not clear whether BP is associated with further decline in cognitive functions in individuals with established illness. Aim of this meta-analytic review was to examine longitudinal neurocognitive changes in BP and to compare trajectory of cognitive deficits in BP with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Methods Electronic databases were searched for the studies published between January 1987 and November 2016. In total 22 reports were included in the current meta-analysis. The main analysis assessed the longitudinal change in cognition in 643 patients with BP. Further analyses were conducted in studies investigating cognitive changes in BP along with healthy controls (459 BP and 367 healthy controls) and schizophrenia (172 BP and 168 schizophrenia). Results There was no cognitive decline overtime neither in short-term (mean duration = 1.5 years) nor in long-term (mean duration = 5.5 years) follow-up studies in BP. In contrast, there was evidence for modest improvements in task performance in memory and working memory at follow-up. The trajectory of cognitive functioning in BP was not significantly different from changes in schizophrenia and healthy controls. Conclusions Together with the findings in early BP and individuals at genetic risk for BP, current findings suggest that neurodevelopmental factors might play a significant role in cognitive deficits in BP and do not support the notion of progressive cognitive decline in most patients with BP.
Lockups and the Market for Corporate Control

This paper analyzes the effect of lockups on the market for corporate control. We demonstrate that lockups can affect the outcome of bidding contests and that judicial leniency toward lockups would have detrimental effects on the disciplinary influence of the takeover threat and on the number of value-enhancing acquisitions that occur. Scholarship to date on lockups has argued that lockups are generally ineffective in allowing target managers to influence who acquires a target firm. Accordingly, scholars who have taken this position have advocated leniency in judicial review of lockups. We explain that this prior analysis has failed to take full account of the impact that the legal treatment of lockups has on the ex ante willingness of potential bidders to enter an auction, and thus fails to take full account of the ultimate influence a lockup can have on who acquires a target. We then examine the proper legal treatment of lockups from the perspectives of shareholder wealth maximization and social wealth maximization, and we propose an alternative to the current legal standard.
Nerve growth factor increases connexin43 phosphorylation and gap junctional intercellular communication

The function of gap junctions is regulated by the phosphorylation state of their connexin subunits. Numerous growth factors are known to regulate connexin phosphorylation; however, the effect of nerve growth factor on gap junction function is not understood. The phosphorylation of connexin subunits is a key event during many aspects of the lifecycle of a connexin, including open/close states, assembly/trafficking, and degradation, and thus affects the functionality of the channel. PC12 cells infected with connexin43 (Cx43) retrovirus were used as a neuronal model to characterize the signal transduction pathways activated by nerve growth factor (NGF) that potentially affect the functional state of Cx43. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that Cx43 and the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), ERK‐1/2, were phosphorylated in response to TrkA activation via NGF and that phosphorylation could be prevented by treatment with the MEK‐1/2 inhibitor U0126. The effects of NGF on gap junction intercellular communication were examined by monitoring fluorescence recovery after photobleaching PC12‐Cx43 cells preloaded with calcein. Fluorescence recovery in the photobleached area increased after NGF treatment and decreased when pretreated with the MEK‐1/2 inhibitor U0126. These data are the first to show a direct signaling link between neurotrophins and the phosphorylation of connexin proteins through the MAPK pathway resulting in increased gap junctional intercellular communication. Neurotrophic regulation of connexin activity provides a novel mechanism of regulating intercellular communication between neurons during nervous system development and repair. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of a multichannel taste sensor chip for a portable taste sensor

The purpose of this study is the development of a multichannel taste sensor chip for use in a portable taste sensor. The chip comprises a set of Ti/Ag patterned electrodes with lipid/polymer membranes and a reference electrode. The electrodes are formed on a polycarbonate substrate, which is attached to a polycarbonate sheet by double-sided adhesive tape (polyimide). The polycarbonate sheet has a number of holes in it that give access to the electrodes thus forming multichannel taste sensing sites. A sensor chip was fabricated and evaluated for its performance in tasting samples with basic tastes. The reference electrode did not interact with the basic taste samples, thus providing a stable potential. The outputs from the sensor chip for the various taste samples were at the same levels as those from a conventional taste sensor, indicating that this new taste sensor could provide the key element in the development of a portable taste sensor.
Predicting septic shock outcomes in a database with missing data using fuzzy modeling: Influence of pre-processing techniques on real-world data-based classification

Real-world databases often contain missing data and existing correction algorithms deliver varying performance. Also, most modeling techniques are not suitable to deal with them automatically. In this study we examine different approaches to predicting septic shock in the presence of missing data. Some preprocessing techniques for managing missing data include disregarding data, or replacing it with information that by design introduces bias. In this study, we show that predictive performance improves by employing a minimum pre-processing technique, the Zero-Order-Hold (ZOH) method, by applying a Fuzzy C-Means clustering technique based on the partial distance calculation strategy (FCM-PDS) and by computing the final classification regarding the samples from each patient. Performance improvements continue to occur where up to approximately 60% of the data is missing, though for higher percentage the classification performance still is statistically improved. We further validate this approach by making comparisons with previous studies.
Let there be light: zebrafish neurobiology and the optogenetic revolution

Abstract Optogenetics has revolutionized the toolbox arsenal that neuroscientists now possess to investigate neuronal circuit function in intact and living animals. With a combination of light emitting ‘sensors’ and light activated ‘actuators’, we can monitor and control neuronal activity with minimal perturbation and unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. Zebrafish neuronal circuits represent an ideal system to apply an optogenetic based analysis owing to its transparency, relatively small size and amenability to genetic manipulation. In this review, we describe some of the most recent advances in the development and applications of optogenetic sensors (i.e., genetically encoded calcium indicators and voltage sensors) and actuators (i.e., light activated ion channels and ion pumps). We focus mostly on the tools that have already been successfully applied in zebrafish and on those that show the greatest potential for the future. We also describe crucial technical aspects to implement optogenetics in zebrafish including strategies to drive a high level of transgene expression in defined neuronal populations, and recent optical advances that allow the precise spatiotemporal control of sample illumination.
Trace norm regularized canonical correlation analysis

Canonical correlation analysis(CCA) is a popular technique that works for finding the correlation between two sets of variables. However, CCA faces the problem of small sample size in dealing with high dimensional data. Several approaches have been proposed to overcome this issue, but the resulting transformation matrix fails to extract shared structures among data samples. In this paper, we propose trace norm regularized CCA(SRCCA) that not only tackles the problem of small sample size but also uncover the underlying structures between target classes. Specifically, our formulation characterizes the intrinsic dimensionality of a transformation matrix owing to the appealing property of trace norm. Evaluations over public data sets deliver the effectiveness of our algorithm.