Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reverse remodeling in the perspective of decision making for mitral valve repair with the MitraClip.

Degenerative and functional mitral regurgitation (MR) constitute 2 separate disease entities. Although the pathophysiological problem is directly addressed by a successful intervention on the valve in the first case, the underlying ventricular disease persists in the latter. Article see p 1667 Indications for surgery in MR are well defined for degenerative MR, in which relief of the valve lesion leads to relief of left ventricular volume overload. The timing of surgery is based on symptoms, left ventricular size and function, atrial fibrillation, and pulmonary hypertension.1,2 When following these criteria, surgery is associated with symptomatic improvement and a survival benefit. Nevertheless, up to 50% of patients, particularly the elderly and those who present with comorbidities or reduced ventricular function, are denied surgery despite having a clear indication for intervention.3 Criteria for surgical intervention are less well defined in functional MR, in which the valve is structurally normal and regurgitation is caused by an imbalance between closing and tethering forces related to a ventricular pathology4 that is not entirely corrected by the relief of MR. From surgical experience, it is known that valve intervention leads to an initial reduction of MR, although the recurrence rate is high and a survival benefit has not been demonstrated so far.5 Furthermore, the surgical …
Cyclooxygenase‐Dependent Formation of the Isoprostane 8‐EPI Prostaglandin F2α a

Isoprostanes are a family of prostaglandin (PG) isomers formed in an enzyme-independent manner. They circulate in plasma and are excreted in urine. One of them, 8-epi PGF2 alpha is a vasoconstrictor and mitogen, effects which are prevented by thromboxane antagonists. Given that 8-epi PGF2 alpha may be formed by cyclooxygenase (COX) (Corey, E. J., Shih, C., Shig, N-Y., and Shimoji, K. (1984) Tetrahedron Letts. 44, 5013-5016; Hecker, M. , Ullrich, V. , Fischer, C. , and Meese, C.O. (1987) Eur J. Biochem. 169, 113-123) and that this might confound its use as an index of free radical generation, we sought to characterize the mechanism of its formation by human platelets. Activation of platelets by threshold concentrations of collagen, thrombin, and arachidonic acid resulted in formation of 8-epi PGF2 alpha coincident with that of the COX product, thromboxane, and the 12 lipoxygenase product, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, as detected by selected ion monitoring assays using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effect appeared selective for 8-epi PGF2 alpha among the F2 isoprostanes. Pretreatment of platelets with aspirin or indomethacin abolished 8-epi PGF2 alpha formation. COX-independent activation of platelets by high doses of collagen or thrombin, by the phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or the prostaglandin endoperoxide analog, U 46619 was not associated with 8-epi PGF2 alpha formation. Confirmation of the nature of the material formed by platelet COX as 8-epi PGF2 alpha included its cochromatography over three highly resolving high performance liquid chromatography systems, identification by electron impact mass spectrometry, and its formation by partially purified COX. Inhibition of platelet thromboxane formation was associated with augmented 8-epi PGF2 alpha formation. A major component of 8-epi PGF2 alpha formed in serum by healthy volunteers was shown to be sensitive to inhibition by aspirin ex vivo. In addition to its generation by free radical catalyzed mechanisms, 8-epi PGF2 alpha may be formed as a PG by human platelets. Given that activation of platelet COX characterizes many of the human syndromes which are putatively associated with free radical generation, assessment of the contribution of this pathway is relevant to the use of 8-epi PGF2 alpha as an index of lipid peroxidation in vivo.
Whitepaper of NEWS 2009 Machine Transliteration Shared Task

Transliteration is defined as phonetic translation of names across languages. Transliteration of Named Entities (NEs) is necessary in many applications, such as machine translation, corpus alignment, cross-language IR, information extraction and automatic lexicon acquisition. All such systems call for high-performance transliteration, which is the focus of the shared task in the NEWS 2009 workshop. The objective of the shared task is to promote machine transliteration research by providing a common benchmarking platform for the community to evaluate the state-of-the-art technologies.
Localization of Marginal Zone Macrophages Is Regulated by C-C Chemokine Ligands 21/191

The marginal zone (MZ) of the spleen is an important site for the capture of blood-borne pathogens and a gateway for lymphocytes entering the white pulp. We have recently reported that Leishmania donovani infection results in a remarkably selective loss of MZ macrophages (MZM) from the MZ. To understand the basis of this observation, we have investigated how MZM maintain their anatomical distribution in the steady state in uninfected mice. We now report that plt/plt mice, which lack functional CCL19 and CCL21, have significantly reduced numbers of MZM compared with normal C57BL/6 (B6) mice. Similarly, in B6.CD45. 1→plt/plt chimeras, donor-derived MZM were rare compared with the number observed in reciprocal plt/plt→B6.CD45. 1 chimeras. Moreover, we show that administration of pertussis toxin, an inhibitor of chemokine receptor signaling, to B6 mice results in exit of MZM from the MZ, that MZM can migrate in response to CCL19 and CCL21 in vitro, and that MZM colocalize with CD31+CCL21+ endothelial cells. Collectively, these data indicate that CCL21 and, to a lesser extent, CCL19 play significant roles in the distinctive localization of MZM within the splenic MZ. Deficiency of CCL19 and CCL21, as also previously observed in mice infected with L. donovani, may thus account for the selective loss of MZM seen during this infection.
Influence of filler type and loading on cure characteristics and vulcanisate properties of SBR compounds with a novel mixed vulcanisation system

In the present work, the influences of filler type and content on cure characteristics, mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties, and heat aging resistance of filled styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds cured with a mixed vulcanisation system were assessed. A new mixed curing system was developed to obtain vulcanisates with excellent mechanical properties and heat aging resistance compared to those with a commercial EV cure system. The results show that filler has stronger effect on scorch time, cure time and cure rate index with the EV system than with the mixed curing system. The torque difference of filled SBR compounds depends on the filler content. With mixed vulcanisation, it is easier to control the conditions during moulding when the formulation is altered, particularly with a change in filler content. The mixed vulcanisation gave overall improved mechanical properties, heat build-up and heat aging resistance compared to the EV system, even though reinforcing fillers were used in the SBR compounds.
Molecular systematics of Xenocyprinae (teleostei: cyprinidae): taxonomy, biogeography, and coevolution of a special group restricted in East Asia.

We surveyed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation in the subfamily Xenocyprinae from China and used these data to estimate intraspecific, interspecific, and intergeneric phylogeny and assess biogeographic scenarios underlying the geographic structure of lineages. We sequenced 1140 bp of cytochrome b from 30 individuals of Xenocyprinae and one putative outgroup (Myxocypris asiaticus) and also sequenced 297 bp of ND4L, 1380 bp of ND4, 68 bp of tRNA(His), and 69 bp of tRNA(Ser) from 17 individuals of Xenocyprinae and the outgroup (M. asiaticus). We detected high levels of nucleotide variation among populations, species, and genera. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that Distoechodon hupeinensis might be transferred to the genus Xenocypris, the taxonomic status of the genus Plagiognathops might be preserved, and species of Xenocypris and Plagiognathops form a monophyletic group that is sister to the genus Distoechodon and Pseudobrama. The introgressive hybridization might occur among the populations of X. argentea and X. davidi, causing the two species to not be separated by mtDNA patterns according to their species identification, and the process and direction of hybridization are discussed. The spatial distributions of mtDNA lineages among populations of Xenocypris were compatible with the major geographic region, which indicated that the relationship between Hubei + Hunan and Fujian is closer than that between Hubei + Hunan and Sichuan. From a perspective of parasite investigation, our data suggested that the fauna of Hexamita in Xenocyprinae could be used to infer the phylogeny of their hosts.
Mediating Effects of Supply Chain Integration: From IT Capability to Firm Performance

While information technology (IT) has been increasingly embedded in firms’ supply chain processes, the underlying mechanisms of how IT capability improves firm performance remain unclear. Drawing upon resource-based view and theory of swift and even flow, this study examines how IT capability (i.e., internally-focused IT capability, externally-focused IT capability, and IT business spanning capability) influences firm performance through supply chain integration (SCI) (i.e., internal and external integration). Using data collected from 222 firms in China, we find performance impacts of different IT capability are mediated by different SCI. Specifically, internal integration mediates the impact of internally-focused IT capability and external integration mediates the impact of externally-focused IT capability, while both internal and external integration mediate the impact of IT business spanning capability. We also find IT business spanning capability positively moderates the impact of internally-focused IT capability on internal integration. Theoretical contributions and implications of this research are also discussed.
Interleukin-10 induces E-selectin on small and large blood vessel endothelial cells

In vitro, expression of E-selectin is largely restricted to endothelial cells activated by inflammatory cytokines. Under activated conditions, cytokines such as interleukin (IL) 10, released by keratinocytes in large quantities, may also increase the expression of E-selectin on the dermal microvasculature. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of E-selectin on cultured human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC) isolated from neonatal foreskins when exposed to IL-10. Expression of E-selectin was determined by immunofluorescence microscopy, FACS analysis, an HL-60 cell-binding assay, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. For comparison with large blood vessel cells, the expression of E-selectin on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was also determined in parallel by FACS and reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis under identical conditions. These studies demonstrate that IL- 10 induces the expression of E-selectin on both HDMEC and HUVEC and that the level of expression of HDMEC is comparable with that induced by IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. When HL-60 cells are incubated with HDMEC pretreated with IL-10, a consistent increase in adherence of HL-60 to endothelial cells is observed. This adherence was found to be mediated by L-selectin. PCR analysis and the quantification of E-selectin cDNA by a novel, highly sensitive and specific PCR- immunoassay demonstrate the induction of E-selectin mRNA at the transcriptional level. The induction of the expression of E-selectin by IL-10 on HDMEC may provide additional insights into the pathogenic mechanism of neutrophil accumulation at the site of inflammation in inflammatory skin diseases.
Activity Regulates Functional Connectivity from the Vomeronasal Organ to the Accessory Olfactory Bulb

The mammalian accessory olfactory system is specialized for the detection of chemicals that identify kin and conspecifics. Vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs) residing in the vomeronasal organ project axons to the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), where they form synapses with principal neurons known as mitral cells. The organization of this projection is quite precise and is believed to be essential for appropriate function of this system. However, how this precise connectivity is established is unknown. We show here that in mice the vomeronasal duct is open at birth, allowing external chemical stimuli access to sensory neurons, and that these sensory neurons are capable of releasing neurotransmitter to downstream neurons as early as the first postnatal day (P). Using major histocompatibility complex class I peptides to activate a selective subset of VSNs during the first few postnatal days of development, we show that increased activity results in exuberant VSN axonal projections and a delay in axonal coalescence into well defined glomeruli in the AOB. Finally, we show that mitral cell dendritic refinement occurs just after the coalescence of presynaptic axons. Such a mechanism may allow the formation of precise connectivity with specific glomeruli that receive input from sensory neurons expressing the same receptor type.
Kinematics and geometrical study of the Be stars 48 Persei and ψ Persei with the VEGA/CHARA interferometer

Context. Five different physical processes might be responsible for the formation of decretion disks around Be stars: fast rotation of the star, stellar pulsations, binarity, stellar winds, and magnetic fields. Our observations indicate that fast rotation seems to produce a disk in Keplerian rotation, at least in the specific case of the two stars observed. We do not know if this observational result is a generality or not. Aims. We measure the size, orientation, shape, and kinematics of the disks around 2 Be stars, namely 48 Per and ψ Per. Methods. We used the VEGA/CHARA interferometer with a spectral resolution of 5000 to obtain spectrally dispersed visibility modulus and phases within the Hα emission line. Results. We were able to estimate the disk extension in the continuum and in the Hα line, as well as flattening, for both stars. Both stars rotate at nearly a critical rotation, but while the disk of 48 Per seems to be in Keplerian rotation, our preliminary data suggest that the disk of ψ Per is possibly faster than Keplerian, similarly to what has been found for κ CMa with observations carried out in the near-IR. However, more data is needed to confirm the fast rotation of the disk. Conclusions. Assuming a simple uniform disk model for the stellar photosphere in the continuum and a Gaussian brightness distribution in the line emission region, we obtain a ratio of the disk diameter over the photospheric diameter of 8 for 48 Per and 11 for and ψ Per. We also found that the major axis of 48 Per is parallel to the polarization angle and not perpendicular to it as previously observed for many Be stars, including ψ Per. This might be due to the optical thickness of the disk, which is also responsible for the incoherent scattering of a non negligible part of the Hα line emission. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this effect has been measured in a Be star.
Technological Strategies to Preserve Burrata Cheese Quality

Burrata cheese is a very perishable product due to microbial proliferation and undesirable sensory changes. In this work, a step-by-step optimization approach was used to design proper processing and packaging conditions for burrata in brine. In particular, four different steps were carried out to extend its shelf life. Different headspace gas compositions (MAP-1 30:70 CO2:N2; MAP-2 50:50 CO2:N2 and MAP-3 65:35 CO2:N2) were firstly tested. To further promote product preservation, a coating was also optimized. Then, antimicrobial compounds in the filling of the burrata cheese (lysozyme and Na2-EDTA) and later in the coating (enzymatic complex and silver nanoparticles) were analyzed. To evaluate the quality of the samples, in each step headspace gas composition, microbial population, and pH and sensory attributes were monitored during storage at 8 ± 1 °C. The results highlight that the antimicrobial compounds in the stracciatella, coating with silver nanoparticles, and packaging under MAP-3 represent effective conditions to guarantee product preservation, moving burrata shelf life from three days (control sample) to ten days.
The Spy in the Sandbox - Practical Cache Attacks in Javascript

We present the first micro-architectural side-channel attack which runs entirely in the browser. In contrast to other works in this genre, this attack does not require the attacker to install any software on the victim’s machine ‐ to facilitate the attack, the victim needs only to browse to an untrusted webpage with attacker-controlled content. This makes the attack model highly scalable and extremely relevant and practical to today’s web, especially since most desktop browsers currently accessing the Internet are vulnerable to this attack. Our attack, which is an extension of the last-level cache attacks of Yarom et al. [23], allows a remote adversary recover information belonging to other processes, other users and even other virtual machines running on the same physical host as the victim web browser. We describe the fundamentals behind our attack, evaluate its performance using a high bandwidth covert channel and finally use it to construct a system-wide mouse/network activity logger. Defending against this attack is possible, but the required countermeasures can exact an impractical cost on other benign uses of the web browser and of the computer.
Real-Time Tree Foliage Estimation Using a Ground Laser Scanner

The optimization of most pesticide and fertilizer applications is based on overall grove conditions. In this work we propose a measurement system based on a ground laser scanner to estimate the volume of the trees and then extrapolate their foliage surface in real-time. Tests with pear trees demonstrated that the relation between the volume and the foliage can be interpreted as linear with a coefficient of correlation (R) of 0.81 and the foliar surface can be estimated with an average error less than 5%
Limited Efficacy of #-Conopeptides , Vc 1 . 1 and RgIA , to Inhibit Sensory Neuron CaV Current Minimal CaV Current Effect by Vc 1 . 1 and RgIA

Andrew B. Wright, Yohei Norimatsu, J. Michael McIntosh and Keith S. Elmslie The Baker Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, at Still University of Health Sciences, Kirksville, MO 2 Department of Physiology, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, at Still University of Health Sciences, Kirksville, MO 3 George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Departments of Psychiatry and Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84148
Improved Sampling for Diagnostic Reasoning in Bayesian Networks

Bayesian networks offer great potential for use in automating large scale diagnostic reasoning tasks. Gibbs sampling is the main technique used to perform diagnostic reasoning in large richly interconnected Bayesian networks. Unfortunately Gibbs sampling can take an excessive time to generate a representative sample. In this paper we describe and test a number of heuristic strategies for improving sampling in noisy-or Bayesian networks. The strategies include Monte Carlo Markov chain sampling techniques other than Gibbs sampling. Emphasis is put on strategies that can be implemented in distributed systems.
Statins and myocardial remodelling: cell and molecular pathways

The advent of statins has revolutionised the treatment of patients with raised plasma cholesterol and increased cardiovascular risk. However, the beneficial effects of this class of drugs are far greater than would be expected from lowering of cholesterol alone, and they appear to offer cardiovascular protection at multiple levels, primarily as a result of their pleiotropic activity. Indeed, their favourable effects on the heart seem to be mediated in part through reduced prenylation and subsequent inhibition of small GTPases, particularly those of the Rho family. Such statin-mediated effects are manifested by reduced onset of heart failure and improvements in cardiac dysfunction and remodelling in heart failure patients. Experimental studies have shown that statins mediate their effects on the two major resident cell types of the heart–cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts–and thus facilitate improvement of adverse remodelling of ischaemic or non-ischaemic aetiology. This review examines evidence for the cellular effects of statins in the heart, and discusses the underlying molecular mechanisms at the level of the cardiomyocyte (hypertrophy, cell death and contractile function) and the cardiac fibroblast (differentiation, proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix synthesis). The prospects for future therapies and ongoing clinical trials are also summarised.
Alibi Routing

There are several mechanisms by which users can gain insight into where their packets have gone, but no mechanisms allow users undeniable proof that their packets did not traverse certain parts of the world while on their way to or from another host. This paper introduces the problem of finding "proofs of avoidance": evidence that the paths taken by a packet and its response avoided a user-specified set of "forbidden" geographic regions. Proving that something did not happen is often intractable, but we demonstrate a low-overhead proof structure built around the idea of what we call "alibis": relays with particular timing constraints that, when upheld, would make it impossible to traverse both the relay and the forbidden regions. We present Alibi Routing, a peer-to-peer overlay routing system for finding alibis securely and efficiently. One of the primary distinguishing characteristics of Alibi Routing is that it does not require knowledge of--or modifications to--the Internet's routing hardware or policies. Rather, Alibi Routing is able to derive its proofs of avoidance from user-provided GPS coordinates and speed of light propagation delays. Using a PlanetLab deployment and larger-scale simulations, we evaluate Alibi Routing to demonstrate that many source-destination pairs can avoid countries of their choosing with little latency inflation. We also identify when Alibi Routing does not work: it has difficulty avoiding regions that users are very close to (or, of course, inside of).