Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of aortic root dilation and cardiovascular function in tetralogy of Fallot

The aortic root dilation in tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a long‐term clinical problem, because a severely dilated aorta can lead to aortic regurgitation, dissection, or rupture, which can be fatal, necessitating surgical intervention. The details of the mechanism of aortic root dilation, however, are unclear. We have shown that aortic stiffness is increased in patients with repaired TOF, and may mirror the histological abnormality of elastic fiber disruption and matrix expansion. This aortic stiffness is related closely to the aortic dilation, indicating that aortic stiffness may be a predictor of outcome of aortic dilation. Furthermore, the aortic volume overload is a very important determinant of aortic diameter in TOF patients before corrective surgery. In addition, a chromosomal abnormality and the transforming growth factor‐β signaling pathway, a major contributor to aortic dilation in Marfan syndrome, also affect this mechanism. In this way, aortic dilation in TOF patients is suggested to be a multifactorial disorder. The aim of this review was therefore to clarify the mechanism of aortic dilation in TOF, focusing on recent research findings. Studies linking histopathology, mechanical properties, molecular/cellular physiology, and clinical manifestations of aortic dilation facilitate appropriate treatment intervention and improvement of long‐term prognosis of TOF.
Singing the Blues: A Literature Review of the Effects of Music on Postnatal Depression

Postnatal depression, also known as postpartum depression, is not a new condition, but has been well documented for decades, as have the treatments. The most common treatments for postnatal depression include pharmacological, psychological, psychosocial, relaxation and other holistic methods and may be used individually or in various combinations. Recently, the western world has come to acknowledge and use more traditional or complementary and alternative styles of therapy. These specifically include massage, meditation and yoga, and music therapy. Music has become more popular as more research defines its power over the body, both physically and mentally. It is anticipated with the right information any woman, no matter her location, could use this powerful tool to alleviate the symptoms of postnatal depression. This would also save further distress of separation from family and other support networks as well as reduce financial burdens when seeking care. A literature review was conducted to determine if this relatively new intervention in western society has been used and to determine what the outcomes have been. Currently, no research has been conducted which relates to the use of music as an intervention for women with postnatal depression, particularly those in rural areas.
The Limit of Photoreceptor Sensitivity

Detection threshold in cone photoreceptors requires the simultaneous absorption of several photons because single photon photocurrent is small in amplitude and does not exceed intrinsic fluctuations in the outer segment dark current (dark noise). To understand the mechanisms that limit light sensitivity, we characterized the molecular origin of dark noise in intact, isolated bass single cones. Dark noise is caused by continuous fluctuations in the cytoplasmic concentrations of both cGMP and Ca2+ that arise from the activity in darkness of both guanylate cyclase (GC), the enzyme that synthesizes cGMP, and phosphodiesterase (PDE), the enzyme that hydrolyzes it. In cones loaded with high concentration Ca2+ buffering agents, we demonstrate that variation in cGMP levels arise from fluctuations in the mean PDE enzymatic activity. The rates of PDE activation and inactivation determine the quantitative characteristics of the dark noise power density spectrum. We developed a mathematical model based on the dynamics of PDE activity that accurately predicts this power spectrum. Analysis of the experimental data with the theoretical model allows us to determine the rates of PDE activation and deactivation in the intact photoreceptor. In fish cones, the mean lifetime of active PDE at room temperature is ∼55 ms. In nonmammalian rods, in contrast, active PDE lifetime is ∼555 ms. This remarkable difference helps explain why cones are noisier than rods and why cone photocurrents are smaller in peak amplitude and faster in time course than those in rods. Both these features make cones less light sensitive than rods.
BluePyOpt: Leveraging Open Source Software and Cloud Infrastructure to Optimise Model Parameters in Neuroscience

At many scales in neuroscience, appropriate mathematical models take the form of complex dynamical systems. Parameterizing such models to conform to the multitude of available experimental constraints is a global non-linear optimisation problem with a complex fitness landscape, requiring numerical techniques to find suitable approximate solutions. Stochastic optimisation approaches, such as evolutionary algorithms, have been shown to be effective, but often the setting up of such optimisations and the choice of a specific search algorithm and its parameters is non-trivial, requiring domain-specific expertise. Here we describe BluePyOpt, a Python package targeted at the broad neuroscience community to simplify this task. BluePyOpt is an extensible framework for data-driven model parameter optimisation that wraps and standardizes several existing open-source tools. It simplifies the task of creating and sharing these optimisations, and the associated techniques and knowledge. This is achieved by abstracting the optimisation and evaluation tasks into various reusable and flexible discrete elements according to established best-practices. Further, BluePyOpt provides methods for setting up both small- and large-scale optimisations on a variety of platforms, ranging from laptops to Linux clusters and cloud-based compute infrastructures. The versatility of the BluePyOpt framework is demonstrated by working through three representative neuroscience specific use cases.
Manufacture of Radio Frequency Micromachined Switches with Annealing

The fabrication and characterization of a radio frequency (RF) micromachined switch with annealing were presented. The structure of the RF switch consists of a membrane, coplanar waveguide (CPW) lines, and eight springs. The RF switch is manufactured using the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process. The switch requires a post-process to release the membrane and springs. The post-process uses a wet etching to remove the sacrificial silicon dioxide layer, and to obtain the suspended structures of the switch. In order to improve the residual stress of the switch, an annealing process is applied to the switch, and the membrane obtains an excellent flatness. The finite element method (FEM) software CoventorWare is utilized to simulate the stress and displacement of the RF switch. Experimental results show that the RF switch has an insertion loss of 0.9 dB at 35 GHz and an isolation of 21 dB at 39 GHz. The actuation voltage of the switch is 14 V.
Observed Southern Ocean Cloud Properties and Shortwave Reflection. Part II: Phase Changes and Low Cloud Feedback*

AbstractClimate models produce an increase in cloud optical depth in midlatitudes associated with climate warming, but the magnitude of this increase and its impact on reflected solar radiation vary from model to model. Transition from ice to liquid in midlatitude clouds is thought to be one mechanism for producing increased cloud optical depth. Here observations of cloud properties are used from a suite of remote sensing instruments to estimate the effect of conversion of ice to liquid associated with warming on reflected solar radiation in the latitude band from 40° to 60°S. The calculated increase in upwelling shortwave radiation (SW↑) is found to be important and of comparable magnitude to the increase in SW↑ associated with warming-induced increases of optical depth in climate models. The region where the authors' estimate increases SW↑ extends farther equatorward than the region where optical depth increases with warming in models. This difference is likely caused by other mechanisms at work in the .
Talents in Two Places: Case Studies of High Ability Students with Learning Disabilities Who Have Achieved. Research Monograph 95114.

During the last decade, increasing attention has been given to the perplexing problem of high ability students who also have learning disabilities. Although the literature has addressed this topic, problems still exist regarding the identification and provision of support services and programs for this population. To investigate how well high ability students with learning disabilities succeed in academic environments, The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented at The University of Connecticut studied twelve young adults with disabilities who were successful at the college level. Extensive interviews with these young adults and their parents, as well as a thorough review of available school records, provided a fascinating portrait of the challenges and problems faced by high ability students with learning disabilities. The majority of participants in this study were identified as having a learning disability later in their academic careers. This is consistent with previous findings in the literature which suggest that the high abilities of these students may mask certain manifestations of learning disabilities. The mixed academic achievements of these students hindered their early identification as having a learning disability and prevented several students from inclusion in a gifted education program despite high IQ test scores. Three students in this study were nominated for gifted programs, but did not receive services because they had low test scores in some areas. Reports of positive school experiences primarily centered around individual teacher support. Both students and parents recalled specific teachers who became interested in the student or made appropriate academic accommodations during their educational experience such as: providing extra time on tests, providing instruction in learning strategies, taking time to listen, and challenging the student in ways others had not. Students reported negative school experiences and difficulties which are typically associated with learning disabilities such as social problems, difficulty with teachers, and frustration with certain academic areas. These students generally stated that their talents were not addressed by the school system they attended. Some also indicated that having a learning disability was considered by school personnel as synonymous with below average ability. Parents often reported that school systems simply "did not know what to
Time-Domain Passivity Control of Haptic Interfaces with Tunable Damping Hardware

We describe a time-domain passivity control methodology that uses programmable eddy current viscous dampers to prevent a user from extracting energy from a haptic interface. A passivity observer monitors the energy flow of the virtual environment, and damping hardware is used to remove any energy contributions from the virtual environment that violate passivity constraints. Experiments illustrate that the programmable physical damper method improves the performance of a haptic device that has minimal inherent dissipation
The greening of Marxism

When the ecological movement emerged in the 1960s, it warned that continued consumerism and growth would lead to ecological catastrophe. This "green" philosophy represented a challenge to the basic tenets of Marxism, which traditionally ignored issues of ecological sustainability. Tracing the history of the integration of ecological understanding with Marxist philosophy, The Greening of Marxism explores the influence of green politics on Marxism, examines the new politics emerging from these movements, and shows how red-green alliances can transform the political landscape.
PhotoMesa: a zoomable image browser using quantum treemaps and bubblemaps

PhotoMesa is a zoomable image browser that uses a novel treemap algorithm to present large numbers of images grouped by directory, or other available metadata. It uses a new interaction technique for zoomable user interfaces designed for novices and family use that makes it straightforward to navigate through the space of images, and impossible to get lost.PhotoMesa groups images using one of two new algorithms that lay out groups of objects in a 2D space-filling manner. Quantum treemaps are designed for laying out images or other objects of indivisible (quantum) size. They are a variation on existing treemap algorithms in that they guarantee that every generated rectangle will have a width and height that are an integral multiple of an input object size. Bubblemaps also fill space with groups of quantum-sized objects, but generate non-rectangular blobs, and utilize space more efficiently.
Investigation of Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activity of Standardized Curcuma xanthorrhiza Rhizome in Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatic Damaged Rats

Curcuma xanthorrhiza (CX) has been used for centuries in traditional system of medicine to treat several diseases such as hepatitis, liver complaints, and diabetes. It has been consumed as food supplement and “jamu” as a remedy for hepatitis. Hence, CX was further explored for its potential as a functional food for liver related diseases. As such, initiative was taken to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of CX rhizome. Antioxidant activity of the standardized CX fractions was determined using in vitro assays. Hepatoprotective assay was conducted against carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced hepatic damage in rats at doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg of hexane fraction. Highest antioxidant activity was found in hexane fraction. In the case of hepatoprotective activity, CX hexane fraction showed significant improvement in terms of a biochemical liver function, antioxidative liver enzymes, and lipid peroxidation activity. Good recovery was observed in the treated hepatic tissues histologically. Hence, the results concluded that CX hexane fraction possessed prominent hepatoprotective activities which might be due to its in vitro antioxidant activity. These findings also support the use of CX as a functional food for hepatitis remedy in traditional medicinal system.
Analgesic Efficacy and Side Effects of Intrathecal Morphine Versus Intrathecal Nalbuphine in Patients Undergoing Posterior Lumbar Inter-Body Fusion Surgery

Study Objective: To compare the efficacy of lumbar intrathecal (IT) nalbuphine versus intrathecal (IT) morphine in a dose of 0.3 mg/kg in providing analgesia following general anesthesia among patients undergoing posterior lumber interbody fusion (PLIF). Design: Prospective, randomized, double blinded, study. Setting: Assiut University Hospitals, Egypt. Patients: 80 patients with ASA class 1 or 2, patients with lumber stenosis <5 levels. Interventions: Before induction of general anesthesia, intrathecal morphine or nalbuphine was administered. Postoperative analgesia was assessed by visual analog score (VAS) and other scales to assist the adverse effects of both drugs. Measurements and Main Results: There was significant difference as regard analgesic efficacy which was more effective among morphine group than nalbuphine. There were significantly more frequently side effects (pruritus, nausea & vomiting and urinary retention. Conclusion: IT morphine provides effective analgesia but more side effects than IT nalbuphine.
Essays on the Dynamics of Latvian Exchange Rates

The thesis examines empirically the sustainability of the Latvian lats' peg to SDR. It aims at identifying fundamental and non-fundamentals risk factors, and the changing structure of the risks that have been instrumental in inducing exchange rate instability. Following the unobserved components model (see Pagan [1996]), the exchange rate is decomposed into a permanent and transitory parts, and risks to the peg's sustainability are investigated via analysing dynamics of each part separately. The risks arising from the deviation of the permanent part from the underlying equilibrium rate driven by economic fundamentals are investigated using the Behavioural Equilibrium Exchange Rate framework, see Clark and MacDonald [1999]. Econometric modelling is based on the system cointegration method of Johansen [1988, 1995] and single-equation methods of two-step Engle-Granger [1987] and Banerjee et al [1993]. Dynamics of three alternative measures of the real effective exchange rates vis-a-vis Latvia's nine major trade partners are investigated using a quarterly data set. For the transitory part, the destabilising impact of foreign shocks is investigated in two steps. Firstly, we adopt Masson's [1998] framework to categorise shocks into monsoonal effects, spillovers, pure contagion. We study susceptibility to foreign currency shocks and assess the relative importance of trade and financial linkages to propagate such shocks using monthly data. The theoretical framework is a standard intertemporal cost minimisation theory. Quadratic cost function is linked to an autoregressive-distributed-lags model, which forms a generic econometric model for our investigation. Secondly, we study the credibility of the peg, the intervention policy of the Bank of Latvia, and the susceptibility to foreign currency, interest rate and market risk shocks using daily data. The theoretical framework is based on the target zone literature developing from Krugman [1991]. The method of empirical target zone modelling is based on Bekaert and Gray [1998]. Unlike Bekaert and Gray, we: (i) do not use a jump specification; (ii) measure the intensity of mean reversion and conditional volatility separately on the strong and weak sides of the currency band; (iii) propose a simple ad hoc method to test for non-linearity. The external susceptibility is analysed by implanting foreign shock variables into the target zone model. Disparity in market response arising from the size of a shock is modelled. Econometric models are augmented by the FIGARCH( 1 ,d, 1) conditional volatility model of Baillie et al [1996].
RETINAL PATHOLOGIC CHANGES IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Purpose To describe the ocular pathologic changes in multiple sclerosis (MS), with attention to its effects on the uveal tract and retinal veins. Methods Cases of 26 patients with MS and 3 patients with neuromyelitis optica were reviewed; retinal trypsin digestion was performed on remaining wet tissue for 20 of these patients. Eyes were specifically examined for inflammation of the retinal vessels, uveal tract, retina, optic nerve, and pars plana. Specimens were also examined for atrophy of the optic nerve, ganglion cell, and nerve fiber layers. Results Atrophy of the nerve fiber and ganglion cell layers was present in 73% of the cases with MS and correlated with optic nerve atrophy; choroiditis was present in 11.5%; bilateral cyclitis without other foci of inflammation was present in 1 case; and retinal phlebitis was present in 20% (most of which were only identified after trypsin digestion). Optic nerve inflammation was present in two of the patients with neuromyelitis optica. Conclusion Uveitis and retinal phlebitis are manifestations of MS. Trypsin digestion with microscopic examination is a sensitive method of testing for phlebitis, which may explain why the frequency found in this series is higher than in others. These lesions are similar to the perivenular cuffing that occurs in the central nervous system in MS.
The LINC and NPC relationship – it's complicated!

ABSTRACT The genetic information of eukaryotic cells is enclosed within a double-layered nuclear envelope, which comprises an inner and outer nuclear membrane. Several transmembrane proteins locate to the nuclear envelope; however, only two integral protein complexes span the nuclear envelope and connect the inside of the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The nuclear pore complex (NPC) acts as a gateway for molecular exchange between the interior of the nucleus and the cytoplasm, whereas so-called LINC complexes physically link the nucleoskeleton and the cytoskeleton. In this Commentary, we will discuss recent studies that have established direct functional associations between these two complexes. The assembly of NPCs and their even distribution throughout the nuclear envelope is dependent on components of the LINC complex. Additionally, LINC complex formation is dependent on the successful localization of inner nuclear membrane components of LINC complexes and their transport through the NPC. Furthermore, the architecture of the nuclear envelope depends on both protein complexes. Finally, we will present recent evidence showing that LINC complexes can affect nucleo-cytoplasmic transport through the NPC, further highlighting the importance of understanding the associations of these essential complexes at the nuclear envelope. Summary: In this Commentary, we review for the first time, the functional associations of two integral members of the nuclear envelope, namely the linkers of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton, and nuclear pore complexes.
Design of magneto-optical system for imaging of magnetic flux created during a conductor–superconductor phase transition

According to the Kibble–Zurek model, flux lines are spontaneously created during a fast conductor–superconductor phase transition. The model predicts both the spatial density and the correlations of the flux array. We present the design of a magneto-optical system with a projected single-flux-line resolution. Such a system can allow detailed measurements of the distribution of flux created spontaneously during a conductor–superconductor phase transition.
The Effect of Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Achilles Tendon Ruptures

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures in rabbits. Methods: The study included 14 New Zealand albino rabbits that were divided randomly into 2 groups, A and B, each containing seven rabbits. On day zero, all 28 Achilles tendons were tenotomized and repaired. In group A, the tendons were injected with PRP post surgery whereas those in group B were left untreated. On day 28, the right tendons in both groups were examined histopathologically via both light and electron microscopy, and the left tendons were subjected to biomechanical testing. Results: The histological and biomechanical findings in group A were better than those in group B, but the difference was not significant. Conclusion: PRP had no effect on the healing process 28 days post Achilles tendon rupture.