Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developmental increase in postsynaptic alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4 isoxazolepropionic acid receptor compartmentalization at the calyx of held synapse

The pattern of expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluR) subunits 1–4 in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) has been reported to change during development. The aim of this study was to compare the distribution of the GluR1–4 subunits in the MNTB at postnatal day (P) 9, before high‐frequency signal transmission in the auditory system has developed, with that observed in mature adult rats. GluR1–4 subunits were studied by preembedding and postembedding immunocytochemical methods. Increased levels of GluR1, 2/3, and 4 associated with development were evident only at postsynaptic sites of MNTB principal cell bodies receiving calyces of Held synapses, whereas receptor density at nonsynaptic sites was found to remain unaltered. Taken together, the expression pattern of GluR subunits and the density of immunoparticles in postsynaptic specializations are indicative of a compartmentalization of alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4 isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) subunits upon development. These developmental changes provide a morphological basis for establishment of the postsynaptic properties needed for high‐frequency synaptic transmission of auditory signals to MNTB principal neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 495:624–634, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diversifying selection on MHC class I in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are the most polymorphic loci known in vertebrates. Two main hypotheses have been put forward to explain the maintenance of MHC diversity: pathogen‐mediated selection and MHC‐based mate choice. Host–parasite interactions can maintain MHC diversity via frequency‐dependent selection, heterozygote advantage, and diversifying selection (spatially and/or temporally heterogeneous selection). In this study, we wished to investigate the nature of selection acting on the MHC class I across spatially structured populations of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in France. To infer the nature of the selection, we compared patterns of population differentiation based on two types of molecular markers: MHC class I and microsatellites. This allowed us to test whether the observed differentiation at MHC genes merely reflects demographic and/or stochastic processes. At the global scale, diversifying selection seems to be the main factor maintaining MHC diversity in the house sparrow. We found that (i) overall population differentiation at MHC was stronger than for microsatellites, (ii) MHC marker showed significant isolation by distance. In addition, the slope of the regression of FST on geographical distance was significantly steeper for MHC than for microsatellites due to a stronger pairwise differentiation between populations located at large geographical distances. These results are in agreement with the hypothesis that spatially heterogeneous selective pressures maintain different MHC alleles at local scales, possibly resulting in local adaptation.
Geofence Index: A Performance Estimator for the Reliability of Proactive Location-Based Services

An ever-increasing number of today's mobile applications take advantage of location-based services (LBS) in order to proactively notify mobile users about location-dependent content or to execute location-dependent actions once the user enters or leaves a dedicated zone. The proactive LBS are thereby responsible to track the user's position energy-efficiently in the background and to continuously match the position against a set of zones for which geo-triggered actions are defined, better known as geofences. Unfortunately, proactive LBS suffer from a highly erratic reliability. Sometimes, location-dependent actions are not triggered although a user entered a geofence while in other situations location-dependent actions are executed even though a user did not enter any geofence. The reasons are manifold, ranging from an imprecise positioning technique over a lack of cellular network coverage to an inadequate configuration. This paper discusses the technical and environmental factors that have an influence on the reliability of proactive LBS. To make the reliability predictable, it introduces an estimator for the probability that a location-dependent action - as defined for a given geofence - gets triggered by a proactive LBS in case a user crosses the respective geofence. As a proof-of-concept, a prototypical implementation of the estimator is presented together with the outcome of comparing the computed estimations against the real world experiences with an exemplary proactive LBS.
Nurse Practitioners' Treatment of Febrile Infants in Utah: Comparison to Physician Practice Nationally

Purpose To determine nurse practitioners' (NPs') knowledge of published guidelines involving the treatment of infants with fever without a source and to compare the practice of NPs in Utah to physicians nationally. Data Sources Using a comparative descriptive design, a survey was sent to 450 NPs in Utah replicating the methodology of a 1998 survey of physicians. The NPs were asked about their evaluation decisions and management strategies for various ages of infants/toddlers with fever without a source. Conclusions The practice decisions of NPs in Utah and physicians nationally were similar. Family NPs' clinical decisions aligned more closely with family practice medical doctors and pediatric NPs' with pediatricians. Overall, the younger the patient, the more likely were NPs to order labs and antibiotics or to hospitalize/refer to a physician. The fact that management decisions were not based upon existing protocols may account for the practice variation seen among NPs. Implications for Practice Management of a febrile infant is a common clinical scenario for the primary care provider. Although evidence‐based protocols exist, the treatment of febrile infants remains controversial. Overall, NPs' evaluation and management of these infants were not shown to differ from physicians. Further studies are needed to determine why clinical guidelines are not being followed.
Preferential radiosensitization in p53-mutated human tumour cell lines by pentoxifylline-mediated disruption of the G2/M checkpoint control

Purpose : There is evidence that the duration of the G2/M delay following irradiation is correlated with cell survival. We studied the radiosensitizing potential of pentoxifylline (PTX) and the PTX-mediated modulation of cell-cycle progression dependent on the p53 status of various human tumour cell lines. Materials and methods : The cellular radiosensitivity of human MCF-7 (wild-type p53) and HT-29 (p53-defective) tumour cells, which were exposed to PTX (2 mM) immediately after γ-irradiation was determined by colony forming assay. The influence on cell cycle progression after irradiation (6 Gy) was assessed by flow cytometric analysis using p53 wild-type MCF-7 and HPR600 cells, and p53-defective HT-29 and WiDr cells. Results : Clonogenic survival assays up to 8 Gy demonstrated that p53-defective HT-29 cells (sensitizer enhancement ratio [SER]=1.54) were sensitized by PTX (2 mM) to a significantly higher degree than p53 wild-type MCF-7 (SER=1.14) cells. Exposure of irradiated (6 Gy) cells to PTX (2 mM) resulted in abrogation of the radiation-induced G2/M arrest in the p53-defective HT-29 and WiDr cells, whereas the p53 wild-type-expressing MCF-7 and HPR600 cells showed less significant impairment of the G2/M checkpoint. In HT-29 cells, the rate of transition into mitosis was even higher than in the sham-treated control cells. G2/M abrogation was accompanied by an increase of apoptosis only in HPR600 cells. Conclusions : Since PTX was less effective in cells expressing intact p53, the application of PTX suggests a promising strategy of pharmacological disruption of the G2/M checkpoint control by which preferentially radiation-resistant tumours with defective p53 function might be rendered more sensitive to ionizing radiation.
Intercellular Electrical Communication in the Heart: A New, Active Role for the Intercalated Disk

Abstract Cardiac conduction is the propagation of electrical excitation through the heart and is responsible for triggering individual myocytes to contract in synchrony. Canonically, this process has been thought to occur electrotonically, by means of direct flow of ions from cell to cell. The intercalated disk (ID), the site of contact between adjacent myocytes, has been viewed as a structure composed of mechanical junctions that stabilize the apposition of cell membranes and gap junctions which constitute low resistance pathways between cells. However, emerging evidence suggests a more active role for structures within the ID in mediating intercellular electrical communication by means of non-canonical ephaptic mechanisms. This review will discuss the role of the ID in the context of the canonical, electrotonic view of conduction and highlight new, emerging possibilities of its playing a more active role in ephaptic coupling between cardiac myocytes.
The effect of genetic factors for longevity: a comparison of identical and fraternal twins in the Swedish Twin Registry.

BACKGROUND The relative importance of genetic influences on longevity was studied on data from the population-based Swedish Twin Registry. METHODS A sample of 3,656 identical and 6,849 like-sexed fraternal twin pairs was studied regarding mortality rates and within-pair similarity for age at death. Genetic and environmental contributions to variation in longevity, expressed by integrated mortality rates, were estimated from a subsample of 1,734 twin pairs reared together and 130 twin pairs reared apart from the cohorts born 1886 to 1900. RESULTS The intraclass correlation coefficients suggested that the genetic effect was small, and, for males, perhaps absent. Among pairs in which both twins died relatively young and among pairs in which both twins lived until very old age, the variance in age at death seemed to have no genetic component. Model fitting procedures based on twins reared apart and twins reared together indicated that most of the variance in longevity was explained by environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS Over the total age range examined, a maximum of around one third of the variance in longevity is attributable to genetic factors, and almost all of the remaining variance is due to nonshared, individual specific environmental factors. The evidence that genetic factors play a minor role depending upon age at death merits further examination.
Optimal first coil selection to avoid aneurysmal recanalization in endovascular intracranial aneurysmal coiling

Background Aneurysmal recanalization is a problem with endovascular coiling and one of its risk factors is the low volume embolization ratio (VER). The first coil VER (1st VER) is believed to be critical for obtaining a high VER. The main objective of this study was to evaluate factors potentially useful for selecting the optimal 1st VER for endovascular coiling. Methods 609 initial saccular aneurysmal treatments performed between January 2010 and December 2014 at our institution were included in this retrospective study. Attempted procedures, retreatment cases, intraoperative rupture cases, and stent-assisted coiling cases were excluded. Age, sex, aneurysm location, ruptured aneurysm, aneurysm shape, neck size, maximum aneurysm size, dome-to-neck ratio, aneurysm volume, procedure, immediate Raymond scale score, 1st VER, and VER between the recanalization groups and non-recanalization groups were compared. Results The factors related to recanalization were ruptured aneurysms, neck width, maximum aneurysm size, aneurysm volume, procedure, 1st VER, and VER. The cut-off values for aneurysm recanalization were a 1st VER of 10.0% and a VER of 33.0%. The maximum average VER of normal size aneurysms was found in the groups with a 1st VER of 17.5–20.0%. Conclusions 1st VER was found to be a helpful index for estimating aneurysmal recanalization after coil embolization. The target 1st VER was 17.5–20.0% for obtaining a higher VER and avoiding recanalization.
Drugs for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting.

BACKGROUND Drugs can prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting, but their relative efficacies and side effects have not been compared within one systematic review. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review was to assess the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting by drugs and the development of any side effects. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2004), MEDLINE (January 1966 to May 2004), EMBASE (January 1985 to May 2004), CINAHL (1982 to May 2004), AMED (1985 to May 2004), SIGLE (to May 2004), ISI WOS (to May 2004), LILAC (to May 2004) and INGENTA bibliographies. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomized controlled trials that compared a drug with placebo or another drug, or compared doses or timing of administration, that reported postoperative nausea or vomiting as an outcome. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted outcome data. MAIN RESULTS We included 737 studies involving 103,237 people. Compared to placebo, eight drugs prevented postoperative nausea and vomiting: droperidol, metoclopramide, ondansetron, tropisetron, dolasetron, dexamethasone, cyclizine and granisetron. Publication bias makes evidence for differences among these drugs unreliable. The relative risks (RR) versus placebo varied between 0.60 and 0.80, depending upon the drug and outcome. Evidence for side effects was sparse: droperidol was sedative (RR 1.32) and headache was more common after ondansetron (RR 1.16). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Either nausea or vomiting is reported to affect, at most, 80 out of 100 people after surgery. If all 100 of these people are given one of the listed drugs, about 28 would benefit and 72 would not. Nausea and vomiting are usually less common and, therefore, drugs are less useful. For 100 people, of whom 30 would vomit or feel sick after surgery if given placebo, 10 people would benefit from a drug and 90 would not. Between one to five patients out of every 100 people may experience a mild side effect, such as sedation or headache, when given an antiemetic drug. Collaborative research should focus on determining whether antiemetic drugs cause more severe, probably rare, side effects. Further comparison of the antiemetic effect of one drug versus another is not a research priority.
Pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND In patients with metastatic breast cancer that is positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), progression-free survival was significantly improved after first-line therapy with pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel, as compared with placebo, trastuzumab, and docetaxel. Overall survival was significantly improved with pertuzumab in an interim analysis without the median being reached. We report final prespecified overall survival results with a median follow-up of 50 months. METHODS We randomly assigned patients with metastatic breast cancer who had not received previous chemotherapy or anti-HER2 therapy for their metastatic disease to receive the pertuzumab combination or the placebo combination. The secondary end points of overall survival, investigator-assessed progression-free survival, independently assessed duration of response, and safety are reported. Sensitivity analyses were adjusted for patients who crossed over from placebo to pertuzumab after the interim analysis. RESULTS The median overall survival was 56.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.3 to not reached) in the group receiving the pertuzumab combination, as compared with 40.8 months (95% CI, 35.8 to 48.3) in the group receiving the placebo combination (hazard ratio favoring the pertuzumab group, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.84; P<0.001), a difference of 15.7 months. This analysis was not adjusted for crossover to the pertuzumab group and is therefore conservative. Results of sensitivity analyses after adjustment for crossover were consistent. Median progression-free survival as assessed by investigators improved by 6.3 months in the pertuzumab group (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.80). Pertuzumab extended the median duration of response by 7.7 months, as independently assessed. Most adverse events occurred during the administration of docetaxel in the two groups, with long-term cardiac safety maintained. CONCLUSIONS In patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, the addition of pertuzumab to trastuzumab and docetaxel, as compared with the addition of placebo, significantly improved the median overall survival to 56.5 months and extended the results of previous analyses showing the efficacy of this drug combination. (Funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche and Genentech; CLEOPATRA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00567190.).
Exploring Chinese Outbound Tourist Shopping: A Social Practice Framework

Chinese tourist shopping reflects the new consumer culture in contemporary China, but remains underexplored in the tourism literature despite its importance to many destinations. The present study applies social practice theory to tourist shopping research with the aim of exploring the key features of Chinese tourist shopping in Australia. Tourist shopping as a social practice is the basic unit of analysis, while tourists are decentralized as carriers of this practice. This study employed a qualitative methodology to analyze shopping-related posts in 40 travel blogs from two Chinese online travel communities. The findings show that tourist shopping practice consists of four interconnected elements: materials, competences, meanings, and settings—with utilitarian products purchased in large quantities and maintaining guanxi emerging as unique features of the Chinese tourist shopping practices. The article concludes with a discussion of the potential of social practice theory to enhance theoretical approaches in this area.
Angiotensin II Increases Catecholamine Release from Bovine Adrenal Medulla but Does Not Enhance That Evoked by K+ Depolarization or by Carbachol

: The effect of angiotensin II on catecholamine release from bovine adrenal medulla has been investigated. In retrogradely perfused, isolated bovine adrenal glands, angiotensin II increased basal efflux of catecholamines, but the presence of angiotensin II did not increase the release of catecholamines evoked either by bolus injections of the secretogogue carbachol or by depolarization with a perfusing solution containing a raised concentration of K+. In chromaffin cells maintained in primary tissue culture, angiotensin II increased 3H release from cells preloaded with [3H]‐noradrenaline but did not enhance the release evoked by carbachol or by depolarization with K+. The increase in 3H release evoked by angiotensin II from chromaffin cells in tissue culture was inhibited by its analogue antagonist Sar1,Ala8‐angiotensin II (saralasin) and was entirely dependent on the presence of Ca2+ in the experimental medium. These findings suggest that, in the chromaffin cells of the bovine adrenal medulla, angiotensin II acts on specific receptors to cause a calcium‐dependent catecholamine release but triggers no additional response that acts synergistically with depolarizing or nicotinic stimuli to augment catecholamine release.
Peritoneal tumor: MR imaging with dilute oral barium and intravenous gadolinium-containing contrast agents compared with unenhanced MR imaging and CT.

PURPOSE To compare fat-suppressed, gadolinium-enhanced, breath-hold magnetic resonance (MR) imaging after administration of dilute oral barium solution with unenhanced MR imaging and computed tomography (CT) in the detection of peritoneal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 24 patients in whom peritoneal tumor was known or suspected, double-contrast MR imaging and CT were performed prospectively. MR imaging included T1-weighted, fast spin-echo T2-weighted, and immediate and delayed gadolinium-enhanced, breath-hold, fast multiplanar sequences with fat saturation. Helical and conventional dynamic CT were performed with intravenously and orally administered contrast media. MR images and CT scans were reviewed independently and prospectively by different pairs of radiologists for presence of peritoneal tumor in 17 anatomic sites. Imaging findings were compared with surgical and histopathologic results. RESULTS Of the 24 patients, 18 had peritoneal tumor confirmed at surgery. Detection of tumor sites was superior with double-contrast MR images (mean sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, 84%, 87%, and 86%, respectively) compared with CT scans (mean sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, 54%, 91%, and 74%, respectively). Double-contrast MR imaging enabled better detection of carcinomatosis and tumors less than 1 cm in diameter (75%-80%) than CT (22%-33%; P < .0001). CONCLUSION Double-contrast MR imaging demonstrated more peritoneal tumors than CT or unenhanced spin-echo MR imaging.
Coplanar Waveguide (CPW) Loaded With an Electromagnetic Bandgap (EBG) Structure: Modeling and Application to Displacement Sensor

In this paper, a microwave displacement sensor that is based on electromagnetic bandgap structure is proposed. The periodic air holes realized in a silicon substrate cause bandgap in the transmission response of coplanar waveguide (CPW) line printed on this substrate. The proposed sensor consists of a CPW line loaded by periodic air holes along the transmission line and another periodic substrate that is located on the top of this CPW line. If the upper substrate is moved along the line, the maximum insertion loss will change, and therefore, a displacement sensor based on notch in the transmission coefficient is realized. The distance dynamic range of this sensor is limited by half of the period of the air holes. Moreover, the sensitivity of the sensor for a specific period depends on the number of unit cells. The sensitivity is ~4 dB/100 μm with 2.5-mm linear dynamic range (corresponding to 62-dB variation in maximum insertion loss) for ten unit cells with a period of 5 mm. The response of the sensor is almost independent of temperature, and the sensor needs a simple fixed frequency circuit to measure the displacement. The transmission line model of the sensor is also presented and discussed.
The role of support antecedents in nurses' intentions to quit: the case of Australia.

AIMS The study used Social Exchange Theory as a lens to examine associations between nurses' support antecedents (supervisor-nurse relationships and perceived organizational support) and their job attitudes (job satisfaction, organizational commitment and engagement). BACKGROUND Similar to many other westernized countries, there is a shortage of nurses working as nurses in Australia. The attrition of nurses from the workplace continues to be a challenge for many countries, with resultant calls for improved retention rates. DESIGN The design employed in this study was a Survey. METHODS A self-report survey of 1600 nurses employed in five private sector hospitals throughout Australia was completed during 2010-2011, resulting in 510 completed surveys. RESULTS A mediation path model was developed to test the hypotheses and results of Partial Least Squares analysis showed that both support antecedents (supervisor-nurse relationships and perceived organizational support) positively led to engagement and job satisfaction. Subsequently, nurses more satisfied with their jobs were also more committed to their organizations, ultimately leading to lower intentions to quit. In addition, job satisfaction was found to mediate the relationships between organizational commitment and turnover intentions, plus between supervisor-subordinate relationships and turnover intentions. CONCLUSION In the context of a shortage of nurses and higher than average turnover rates, the findings suggest that it is important to improve nurses' job satisfaction and organizational commitment to improve retention. However, the findings also suggest that workplace relationships and organizational management are currently far from ideal.