Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The usefulness of brain natriuretic peptide in simple congenital heart disease – a systematic review

Abstract Brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide are two well-established markers for cardiac failure in acquired heart disease. Nevertheless, the clinical utility of these markers in patients with congenital heart disease remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of these markers in patients with congenital heart disease. A PubMed and EMBASE literature search was executed with focus on the most common simple congenital heart defects, atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect. Data on brain natriuretic peptide measurement, cardiac function parameters, and follow-up were collected. In patients with atrial or ventricular septal defect, brain natriuretic peptide levels were mildly increased when compared with healthy age-matched controls. Shunt severity and pulmonary artery pressure correlated strongly with natriuretic peptide levels. A clear association between brain natriuretic peptide and functional class was demonstrated. After closure of the defect, a rise in brain natriuretic peptide levels in the first hours to days was observed. After longer follow-up, natriuretic peptide levels decreased and became comparable to pre-procedural values. In conclusion, this systematic review shows that brain natriuretic peptide levels are mildly increased in patients with unrepaired and repaired atrial or ventricular septal defect. Brain natriuretic peptide measurement might be a useful additional tool in the diagnostic work-up of patients with atrial or ventricular septal defect. Further investigation in a larger, prospective study with long-term follow-up is warranted to elucidate the true prognostic value of natriuretic peptides in patients with simple congenital heart disease.
Clinical impact of in-stent late loss after drug-eluting coronary stent implantation.

AIMS Controversy exists about the clinical significance of in-stent late loss (ISLL) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. We sought to clarify whether ISLL after DES implantation is related to a potential clinical impact. METHODS AND RESULTS We included in a meta-regression analysis 21 trials (8641 patients) that randomly compared DES with bare-metal stents (BMS). We evaluated the relationship between angiographic behaviour of DES and the clinical impact of using DES instead of BMS in each trial using meta-regression techniques, weighting by the number of patients included in each trial. Mean ISLL in patients allocated to DES and DeltaISLL (difference in ISLL in patients allocated to BMS and DES) were used as angiographic parameters of efficacy of DES. The number of patients needed to be treated (NNT) to prevent one target lesion revascularization (TLR) was used to quantify the clinical impact of using DES instead of BMS. There was a significant relationship between mean ISLL in patients allocated to DES and the clinical benefit of using DES instead of BMS, as measured with the NNT for TLR: NNT for TLR = 6.2 + 18.4 [ISLL-DES] (R = 0.62; P = 0.007). Therefore, a 0.1 mm increase in mean ISLL-DES was associated with a 1.8 increase in NNT for TLR. There was also a significant association between the degree of inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia of DES in comparison with BMS with the NNT for TLR: NNT for TLR = 17.1-11.8 [DeltaISLL] (R = 0.61; P = 0.008). Therefore, a 0.1 mm reduction in ISLL by using DES instead of BMS was associated with a 1.2 decrease in mean NNT for TLR. CONCLUSION There is a strong and significant association between the degree of inhibition of neointimal formation with the use of DES and the clinical impact of using DES instead of BMS.
The effect of chemical pretreatment of sediment upon foraminiferal‐based proxies

Paleoceanographic studies routinely combine different foraminiferal proxies (i.e., weight, abundance, trace metal, and stable isotope measurements) into a cohesive narrative. The application of chemical treatment to disaggregate ocean sediments in the most efficient way to isolate the fossils of foraminifera from the other sediment components is dictated by the time available and the material used. Yet few studies have aimed to test both the physical and geochemical effects associated with such practices. In this study, we use samples with different sedimentological characteristics (i.e., varying percentages of CaCO3 and of terrigenous material) to test the impact upon these proxies of three processing methods and a control: (1) no chemicals (contol run); (2) soaking in sodium hexametaphosphate (Calgon®); (3) soaking in hydrogen peroxide; and (4) soaking in a sodium pyrophosphate. The samples were analyzed for faunal abundance, shell weight, stable isotope (δ18O, δ13C), and trace metal (Mg/Ca) geochemistry for four species of planktonic foraminifera (Globigerina bulloides, Globigerinoides ruber, Globorotalia inflata, and Globorotalia menardii). Results show that apart from the Calgon® solution, the values of faunal abundance, shell weight, Mg/Ca, and stable isotopes are similar irrespective of the cleaning treatment utilised and therefore warrant cross‐comparison of results obtained with different preparation techniques. The use of Calgon® in pretreatment shows statistically different values for only foraminiferal shell weight.
Strategic Allocation of Attention Reduces Temporally Predictable Stimulus Conflict

Humans are able to continuously monitor environmental situations and adjust their behavioral strategies to optimize performance. Here we investigate the behavioral and brain adjustments that occur when conflicting stimulus elements are, or are not, temporally predictable. ERPs were collected while manual response variants of the Stroop task were performed in which the SOAs between the relevant color and irrelevant word stimulus components were either randomly intermixed or held constant within each experimental run. Results indicated that the size of both the neural and behavioral effects of stimulus incongruency varied with the temporal arrangement of the stimulus components, such that the random-SOA arrangements produced the greatest incongruency effects at the earliest irrelevant first SOA (−200 msec) and the constant-SOA arrangements produced the greatest effects with simultaneous presentation. These differences in conflict processing were accompanied by rapid (∼150 msec) modulations of the sensory ERPs to the irrelevant distractor components when they occurred consistently first. These effects suggest that individuals are able to strategically allocate attention in time to mitigate the influence of a temporally predictable distractor. As these adjustments are instantiated by the participants without instruction, they reveal a form of rapid strategic learning for dealing with temporally predictable stimulus incongruency.
The New Generation of Massive Open Online Course (MOOCS) and Entrepreneurship Education

Learners all over the world, including rising entrepreneurs, have increased educational opportunities due to the internet’s affordance of connectivity. This study examines the rapid shift and evolution in online education by Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC). We focus on what is being called xMOOCs, the second generation, providers of free, worldwide online courses from the world’s most renowned professors and universities. The implications of MOOCs on higher and entrepreneurial education are explored and effective strategies for future implementation are discussed.
Brain glutamate levels measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with bipolar disorder: a meta‐analysis

Gigante AD, Bond DJ, Lafer B, Lam RW, Young LT, Yatham LN. Brain glutamate levels measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with bipolar disorder: a meta‐analysis. Bipolar Disord 2012: 14: 478–487. © 2012 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Older people's involvement in activities related to meals in nursing homes.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore how residents in nursing homes perceive their participation in activities related to food and meals, and possible factors influencing their involvement. BACKGROUND Eating and drinking are fundamental human needs and consequently essential parts of nursing and nursing care. Therefore and as part of nursing care, encouraging older people in nursing homes to engage in different mealtime activities could be one way to increase participation in activities of daily living and more optimal nutrition status among older people. DESIGN A cross-sectional survey design was used. METHODS A total of 204 residents (88%) in one Norwegian county agreed to participate and completed a face-to-face interview questionnaire about food and meal experiences. Descriptive and comparative statistics was used. RESULTS Close to 30% of the residents were vulnerable to malnourishment. None of the residents were involved in menu planning, and more than 90% did not participate in food preparation or setting/clearing tables. Ten per cent were able to choose where they could eat and 5% when they could eat. Older persons living in nursing homes with more than 80 residents and those younger than 65 years of age participated the most, while older people with poor appetites were able to choose more often where they wanted to eat, compared to those with a healthy appetite. CONCLUSION The residents in this study appeared to be vulnerable to malnourishment. The results indicated that they only to a limited extent were involved in activities concerning food and meals at the nursing homes. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Management and nurses should focus on residents' eating and drinking, which are essentials of nursing care. The residents should be asked whether they would like to participate in different mealtime activities. Further, a person-centred care approach that facilitates activities concerning food and meals should be promoted.
The Genetics of Pituitary Adenomas

Cancer is considered a disease of the genome since the development of the vast majority of the human neoplasias is due to the accumulation of gene mutations. Indeed, the vast majority of tumours occur due to a considerable number of mutations that human cells accumulate during lifetime. Approximately 380 genes, representing about 1% of all human genes, have been implicated via mutation in tumorigenesis (Futreal et al., 2004). Most (90%), of these mutations are somatic, whereas germline mutations are a minority (20%). Some mutations may be both somatic and germline (10%) (Futreal et al., 2004). Pituitary adenomas (PA) are one of the most frequent intracranial tumours with a prevalence of clinically-apparent tumours close to one in 1,000 of the general population and are the third most common intracranial tumour type after meningiomas and gliomas (Scheithauer et al., 2006). The majority of pituitary adenomas are sporadic and only a small subset (5% of all pituitary tumours) are familial, and often occur as component of familial endocrine-related tumour syndromes. Despite their benign nature, PA can cause significant morbidity because of hormonal hyper-secretion, or compressive effects to surrounding tissues. For example, GH-producing adenomas are associated with a GH excess that leads to gigantism or acromegaly, depending on whether the excessive GH occurs prior or not to epiphyseal-plate closure, respectively. In addition, if the pituitary mass overgrows, it can impinge upon the optic chiasm interfering with vision or generally results in headache due to the increased pressure on the surrounding brain structures. Therefore, molecular understanding of pituitary adenoma formation is essential for the development of medical therapies and the treatment of post-operative recurrences.
Palaeolandforms and Volcanic Impact on the Environment of Prehistoric Cuicuilco, Southern Mexico City

Abstract The Pedregal lava field covers an area of 80 km2 in the southern Basin of Mexico and includes the Cuicuilco archaeological site. Cuicuilco is considered an early urban centre in the Basin of Mexico, constructed during the Late Preclassic (a few centuries BC) and abandoned at the beginning of the first millenium AD. Three new radiocarbon ages, together with reinterpretation of previous ages and detailed analyses of the slopes of the Cuicuilco's "pyramid", support the hypothesis that Cuicuilco was abandoned long before the Xitli eruption. Xitli lavas followed several river valleys, damming some and causing them to silt up (Magdalena, Xocotitla, Puente Volado and Chicuautitla Rivers), subsequently deflecting the old drainage from Lake Xochimilco to Lake Texcoco. Upper and lower piedmont and river landscapes are reconstructed on the basis of soil characteristics and lithostratigraphic units. Palaeolandforms suggest an agricultural environment prior to the Xitli eruption.
Delineation of Concentration Ranges and Longitudinal Changes of Human Plasma Protein Variants

Human protein diversity arises as a result of alternative splicing, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and posttranslational modifications. Because of these processes, each protein can exists as multiple variants in vivo. Tailored strategies are needed to study these protein variants and understand their role in health and disease. In this work we utilized quantitative mass spectrometric immunoassays to determine the protein variants concentration of beta-2-microglobulin, cystatin C, retinol binding protein, and transthyretin, in a population of 500 healthy individuals. Additionally, we determined the longitudinal concentration changes for the protein variants from four individuals over a 6 month period. Along with the native forms of the four proteins, 13 posttranslationally modified variants and 7 SNP-derived variants were detected and their concentration determined. Correlations of the variants concentration with geographical origin, gender, and age of the individuals were also examined. This work represents an important step toward building a catalog of protein variants concentrations and examining their longitudinal changes.
Relationship between the Magnitude of Intraocular Pressure during an Episode of Acute Elevation and Retinal Damage Four Weeks later in Rats

Purpose To determine relationship between the magnitude of intraocular pressure (IOP) during a fixed-duration episode of acute elevation and the loss of retinal function and structure 4 weeks later in rats. Methods Unilateral elevation of IOP (105 minutes) was achieved manometrically in adult Brown Norway rats (9 groups; n = 4 to 8 each, 10–100 mm Hg and sham control). Full-field ERGs were recorded simultaneously from treated and control eyes 4 weeks after IOP elevation. Scotopic ERG stimuli were white flashes (−6.04 to 2.72 log cd.s.m−2). Photopic ERGs were recorded (1.22 to 2.72 log cd.s.m−2) after 15 min of light adaptation (150 cd/m2). Relative amplitude (treated/control, %) of ERG components versus IOP was described with a cummulative normal function. Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer density was determined post mortem by histology. Results All ERG components failed to recover completely normal amplitudes by 4 weeks after the insult if IOP was 70 mmHg or greater during the episode. There was no ERG recovery at all if IOP was 100 mmHg. Outer retinal (photoreceptor) function demonstrated the least sensitivity to prior acute IOP elevation. ERG components reflecting inner retinal function were correlated with post mortem RGC layer density. Conclusions Retinal function recovers after IOP normalization, such that it requires a level of acute IOP elevation approximately 10 mmHg higher to cause a pattern of permanent dysfunction similar to that observed during the acute event. There is a ‘threshold’ for permanent retinal functional loss in the rat at an IOP between 60 and 70 mmHg if sustained for 105 minutes or more.
The effect of non-Fickian diffusion into surrounding rocks on contaminant transport in a fractured porous aquifer

Solute transport in a fractured porous confined aquifer is modelled by using an equation with a fractional-in-time derivative of order γ, which may vary from 0 to 1. Accounting for non-Fickian diffusion into the surrounding rock mass, which is modelled by a fractional spatial derivative of order α, leads to the introduction of an additional fractional-in-time derivative of order α/(1+α) in the equation for solute transport. Closed-form solutions for solute concentrations in the aquifer and surrounding rocks are obtained for an arbitrary time-dependent source of contamination located at the inlet of the aquifer. Based on these solutions, different regimes of contaminant transport in aquifers with various physical properties are modelled and analysed.
Observations on visual perception after disconnexion of the cerebral hemispheres in man.

INTRODUCTION IN earlier reports we have outlined some of the functional effects produced in man by surgical disconnexion of the cerebral hemispheres as effected by a complete transection of the corpus callosum and the anterior and hippocampal commissures, with separation of the massa intermedia (Gazzaniga et ah, Yidl, 1963). The observations were based on a case operated by Drs. Philip Vogel and Joseph Bogen at the White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles (Bogen and Vogel, 1962). The present paper in the main is an account of some of the further findings obtained to date in the same person in tests directed principally at visual functions and also reports confirmatory findings on a second case similarly operated. The tests were aimed at determining the extent and kinds of interaction, if any, between the perceptual and mnemonic activities of the separated hemispheres, at detecting differences in performance capacity of the right and left visual half systems and at revealing the degree of lateralization in motor responses to right and left visual field stimuli. Tests concerned more specifically with language and with motor control will be reported separately.
Energy exchange over young sea ice in the central Arctic

A simple model of heat transport through young sea ice is combined with climatological data on air temperatures and incoming radiation in the central Arctic to predict how each component of the surface heat balance is affected by changes in ice thickness. Results indicate that during the cold months the net heat input to the atmosphere from ice in the 0- to 0.4-m range is between 1 and 2 orders of magnitude larger than that from perennial ice. Once the ice exceeds a meter in thickness, there is little change in any of the heat fluxes as the ice thickens. Although both the amount of absorbed shortwave radiation and the emitted longwave radiation depend on ice thickness, it is the turbulent fluxes which undergo the largest changes. The rate of heat exchange over thin ice is shown to be extremely sensitive to snow depth and assumed boundary layer temperatures. It is concluded that with the present ice thickness distribution in the central Arctic, total heat input to the atmospheric boundary layer from regions of young ice is equal to or greater than that from regions of open water or thick ice.
Geochronology and Tectonic Implications of the "Proterozoic" Seluohe Group at the Northern Margin of the North China Craton

The Seluohe Group in southern Jilin Province, northeastern China, is traditionally considered to be Mesoproterozoic in age and to represent a Grenville collisional belt at the northern margin of the North China craton, related to the assembly of the Rodinia supercontinent. Investigations indicate that this group is comprised of volcanic and sedimentary rocks that underwent amphibolite- to greenschist-facies metamorphism and intensive deformation. Zircon U-Pb ages indicate that the gneiss and amphibolites were formed in the Archean and underwent amphibolite metamorphism at ~2.5 Ga. However, rhyolite was erupted at 264 ± 10 Ma and andesites formed during the Late Jurassic at 169-162 Ma. These age data indicate that the Seluohe Group is composed by Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic volcanic rocks, with minor Archean metamorphic rocks. They are not a "group" in the stratigraphic sense, but represent a tectonic mélange. Interestingly, no Proterozoic rocks have been identified. Inherited zircons from volcanic rocks (rhyolite, andesite) and granitic gneiss provide no evidence of a Grenvillian collision. Therefore, the new geochronological data do not support the traditional view that Proterozoic tectono-magmatic events affected the northern margin of the North China craton; hence the conclusion that it took part in the formation and evolution of Rodinia during the Proterozoic is questioned. Ar-Ar mineral ages suggest that the Archean metamorphic rocks were later deformed at ~ 160 Ma, establishing a Jurassic deformational event in the area.
Regulation of Apelin and Its Receptor Expression in Adipose Tissues of Obesity Rats with Hypertension and Cultured 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

The apelin/APJ system has been implicated in obesity-related hypertension. We investigated the mechanism responsible for the pathogenesis of obesity-related hypertension with a special focus on the crosstalk between AngII/its type 1 receptor (AT1R) signaling and apelin/APJ expression. Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fat (obesity-related hypertension, OH) or normal-fat diet (NF) for 15 weeks were randomly assigned to one of two groups and administered vehicle or perindopril for 4 weeks. Compared to the NF rats, the OH rats showed lower levels of plasma apelin and apelin/APJ mRNAs of perirenal adipose tissues, and these changes were restored by perindopril. Administration of the AT1R antagonist olmesartan resulted in the restoration of the reduction of apelin and APJ expressions induced by AngII for 48 h in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Among several inhibitors for extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) PD98059, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) SB203580 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) LY294002, the latter showed an additive effect on AngII-mediated inhibitory effects. In addition, the levels of p-Akt, p-ERK and p38MAPK proteins were decreased by long-term treatment with AngII (120 min), and these changes were restored by Olmesartan. Apelin/APJ appears to be impaired in obesity-related hypertension. The AngII inhibition-mediated beneficial effects are likely attributable, at least in part, to restoration of p38/ERK-dependent apelin/APJ expression in diet-induced obesity-related hypertension.