Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High prevalence of COPD in atherosclerosis patients

Atherosclerosis and COPD are both systemic inflammatory diseases that may influence each other. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of COPD in patients with cerebral and/or peripheral artery disease and to assess factors associated with the presence of COPD. Following the diagnosis of cerebral and/or peripheral artery disease by means of duplex sonography, 166 consecutive patients underwent body plethysmography with capillary blood gas analysis. Thereafter, blood tests with determination of different parameters such as lipid profile, inflammatory and coagulation markers were conducted in remaining 136 patients who fulfilled inclusion criteria of the study. Thirty-six out of 136 patients suffered from COPD, mostly in early stages of the disease. Residual volume indicating emphysema was increased (162.9%±55.9% vs 124.5%±37.0%, p<0.05) and diffusion capacity was decreased (55.1%±19.5% vs 75.3%±18.6%, p<0.05) in COPD patients vs non-COPD group. In capillary blood gas analysis, COPD patients had lower partial pressure of oxygen (70.9±11.5 vs 75.2±11.0 mmHg, p<0.05) and higher partial pressure of carbon dioxide (36.8±7.5 vs 34.4±4.4 mmHg, p<0.05) compared with non-COPD individuals. Presence of COPD was associated with predominance of diabetes mellitus, interleukin-8-related systemic neutrophilic inflammation and anemia. In conclusion, COPD is highly prevalent in patients with atherosclerotic artery disease.
Prophylactic Application of an Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

The use of prophylactic intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in off pump coronary artery surgery (OPCAB) debated and not well established. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether prophylactic IABP improves the early outcome in hemodynamically stable, high-risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). From January 2013 to March 2014, 80 high risk patients underwent CABG. Of these 45 received prophylactic IABP. The remaining 35 patients underwent operation without preoperative insertion of the device. Results of the study shows that patients in the IABP group had a significantly shorter duration of IABP support (18.9 ±5.9 vs. 46.7±8.9 hours, p < 0.0001), shorter duration of inotropic drug treatment (28.9 ± 8.6 vs. 68.6 ± 6.5 hours, p < 0.0001), shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (13.4 ± 6.4 vs. 29.8 ± 8.2 hours, p < 0.0001), shorter length of intensive care unit stay (41.5 ± 7.8 vs. 111.6 ± 15.9 hours, p<0.0001. This study shows that prophylactic IABP treatment for hemodynamically stable highrisk patients undergoing CABG may improve postoperative course.
Effect of dietary acidification on growth performance and caecal characteristics in rabbits.

The present work aimed to evaluate whether the addition of organic acids to feed could improve growth performance and caecal characteristics, and modify the equilibrium of caecal microbiota population in growing rabbits. For this purpose, 216 rabbits, weaned at 30 d of age, were divided into four experimental groups. Control group (C) was given the basal diet without any additive, while Antibiotic group (A) rabbits were fed the same diet with antibiotics until 55 d of age. The other two experimental groups were T1 (containing a commercial organic acid product characterized by a blend of formic acid, lactic acid and essential oil from rosemary, thyme and cinnamon) and T2 (included only formic and lactic acid). At 30, 55 and 84 d of age the caecum weight, caecal content characteristics in terms of pH, ammonia and volatile fatty acids (VFA), and caecal microbiota composition were determined in 10 rabbits per group. Between 55 and 84 d of age the daily weight gain of T1 and T2 groups were higher (34.0 and 34.5 g/d; P<0.05) than those found in C and A groups (31.2 and 31.2 g/d); in the same period, animals fed T1 and T2 diets showed also a significantly lower feed conversion rate (P<0.01). Before 55 days, T2 group presented significantly lower feed conversion ratio than those of the other groups, suggesting a positive effect of acidification during the weaning period, even if this effect was not significant in animals fed the diet T1. Rabbits given T2 diet had a significantly higher VFA concentration and a lower pH in the caecum in comparison with the other experimental groups, probably due to a higher fermentative activity; also VFA molar proportions were significantly affected by the treatments, with a lower acetate concentration in T2 and A groups, perhaps associated with changes occurred in composition of commensal intestinal microflora, not determined in our study. The data of microbial analysis at 55 days of age showed significantly lower aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria counts of C group, while the other bacteriological traits were similar among treatments. The mortality of animals fed the diet supplemented with essential oils (T1) was significantly lower than that of rabbits given T2 diet, including only formic and lactic acid, but not different from that of C and A treatments. In conclusion, in our trial formic acid, lactic acid and essential oils inclusion to the diet stimulated weight gain and increased feed conversion rate in the second phase of fattening, without reducing mortality when enteric disease occurred.
Capping protein regulatory cycle driven by CARMIL and V-1 may promote actin network assembly at protruding edges

Significance Assembly of actin filaments near the plasma membrane drives extension of the cell edge as it migrates. Cells recruit a protein machine called the Arp2/3 complex to the leading edge to initiate actin filament branches that grow and push on the membrane. Equally important, capping protein (CP) binds to and terminates polymerization of the fast-growing end of the filament. Like other aspects of actin assembly, CP is subject to regulation. Specifically, the protein V-1/myotrophin inactivates CP, while capping protein Arp2/3 myosin I linker (CARMIL) proteins moderately inhibit CP. We describe how CARMIL and V-1 cooperate in a cycle of reactions to regulate CP and promote assembly of the actin network by the Arp2/3 complex. Although capping protein (CP) terminates actin filament elongation, it promotes Arp2/3-dependent actin network assembly and accelerates actin-based motility both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, capping protein Arp2/3 myosin I linker (CARMIL) antagonizes CP by reducing its affinity for the barbed end and by uncapping CP-capped filaments, whereas the protein V-1/myotrophin sequesters CP in an inactive complex. Previous work showed that CARMIL can readily retrieve CP from the CP:V-1 complex, thereby converting inactive CP into a version with moderate affinity for the barbed end. Here we further clarify the mechanism of this exchange reaction, and we demonstrate that the CP:CARMIL complex created by complex exchange slows the rate of barbed-end elongation by rapidly associating with, and dissociating from, the barbed end. Importantly, the cellular concentrations of V-1 and CP determined here argue that most CP is sequestered by V-1 at steady state in vivo. Finally, we show that CARMIL is recruited to the plasma membrane and only at cell edges undergoing active protrusion. Assuming that CARMIL is active only at this location, our data argue that a large pool of freely diffusing, inactive CP (CP:V-1) feeds, via CARMIL-driven complex exchange, the formation of weak-capping complexes (CP:CARMIL) at the plasma membrane of protruding edges. In vivo, therefore, CARMIL should promote Arp2/3-dependent actin network assembly at the leading edge by promoting barbed-end capping there.
Green Bank Telescope Observations of the Eclipse of Pulsar “A” in the Double Pulsar Binary PSR J0737–3039

We report on the first Green Bank Telescope observations at 427, 820, and 1400 MHz of the newly discovered, highly inclined, and relativistic double pulsar binary. We focus on the brief eclipse of PSR J0737-3039A, the faster pulsar, when it passes behind PSR J0737-3039B. We measure a frequency-averaged eclipse duration of 26.6 ± 0.6 s or 0.00301 ± 0.00008 in orbital phase. The eclipse duration is found to be significantly dependent on radio frequency, with eclipses longer at lower frequencies. Specifically, eclipse duration is well fitted by a linear function having slope (-4.52 ± 0.03) × 10-7 orbits MHz-1. We also detect significant asymmetry in the eclipse. Eclipse ingress takes 3.51 ± 0.99 times longer than egress, independent of radio frequency. In addition, the eclipse lasts (40 ± 7) × 10-5 in orbital phase longer after conjunction, also independent of frequency. We detect significant emission from the pulsar on short timescales during eclipse in some orbits. We discuss these results in the context of a model in which the eclipsing material is a shock-heated plasma layer within the slower PSR J0737-3039B's light cylinder, where the relativistic pressure of the faster pulsar's wind confines the magnetosphere of the slower pulsar.
Molecular and cellular aspects of protein misfolding and disease

Proteins are essential elements for life. They are building blocks of all organisms and the operators of cellular functions. Humans produce a repertoire of at least 30,000 different proteins, each with a different role. Each protein has its own unique sequence and shape (native conformation) to fulfill its specific function. The appearance of incorrectly shaped (misfolded) proteins occurs on exposure to environmental changes. Protein misfolding and the subsequent aggregation is associated with various, often highly debilitating, diseases for which no sufficient cure is available yet. In the first part of this review we summarize the structural composition of proteins and the current knowledge of underlying forces that lead proteins to lose their native structure. In the second and third parts we describe the molecular and cellular mechanisms that are associated with protein misfolding in disease. Finally, in the last part we portray recent efforts to develop treatments for protein misfolding diseases. —Herczenik, E. , and Gebbink, M. F. B. G. Molecular and cellular aspects of protein misfolding and disease. FASEB J. 22, 2115–2133 (2008)
Extraordinary Transmission surfaces as superstrate

In this work we explore in the microwave regime the modification of the radiation pattern of a commercial horn antenna when 1 and 4 stacked subwavelength hole arrays are placed as a superstrate. We report a clear enhancement of the E-plane while the H-plane remains almost unaltered when either 1 or 4 layers are inserted. We link the results with the current density excited in the output face of the perforated structure along with the backward propagation supported by the extraordinary transmission metamaterial.
On the paradoxical decrease of self-reported cognitive failures with age

The science of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) often relies on self-report. This is a cause for concern because subjective methods are inherently susceptible to bias. Here, we present, examine and discuss a puzzling association between age and self-reported cognitive failures as assessed with Broadbent's Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ). Despite many well-established age-associated forms of cognitive decline, older persons actually report almost equivalent, or even less, cognitive failures on the CFQ than younger persons. Our present analysis indicates that this paradox may be resolved through the fact that people show age-related learning/adaptation/compensation and by the observation that the CFQ measures peoples' beliefs with respect to an individually idiosyncratic reference. Yet, at the heart of the paradox may be the idea that people cannot remember their own cognitive failures, pointing to even greater concerns with all forms of subjective self-report and its use in HF/E. Practitioner Summary: Scientists and practitioners often try to understand and improve human performance with the help of self-report questionnaires. Our paper discusses the validity of self-reported errors measured with the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ). We look to resolve the curious paradox that older persons tend to report fewer failures than younger persons do.
Responses of neurons in and near the thalamic ventrobasal complex of the rat to stimulation of uterus, cervix, vagina, colon, and skin.

1. Previous studies in the rat and other species have shown that neurons in and near the ventrobasal complex (VB) can be activated by various visceral as well as somatic stimuli. 2. This study examined the responses of 84 single neurons in and near the rostral 2/3 of VB in 19 adult female rats in estrus to mechanical stimulation of the skin (brush, pressure, noxious pinch) and 4 different visceral stimuli, as follows: distension of both uterine horns, mechanical probing of the vagina, gentle pressure against the cervix, and distension of the colon. The rats were studied while under moderate gaseous anesthesia (33% O2-67% N2O + 0.5% halothane) and paralyzed (pancuronium bromide). 3. Of 77 neurons tested with both somatic and visceral stimuli, 70 were responsive to one type and/or the other. Responses to somatic stimuli were immediate with brief afterdischarges to the pinch stimuli. In contrast, responses to visceral stimuli were delayed an average of 9 s with long afterdischarges averaging 2 min. Most viscerally responsive neurons (74%) had somatic receptive fields, often (44%) to noxious pinch. 4. Of the 70 responsive neurons, 43 (61%) responded to 1 or more of the 4 visceral stimuli, primarily with excitation. Most of these 43 neurons (71%) were responsive to uterine distension, whereas fewer responded to stimulation of the cervix (45%), vagina (29%), or colon (34%). 5. Viscerally responsive neurons were preferentially located in regions bordering or near VB. Only 6 of 22 neurons within the core of VB (27%) responded to visceral stimuli, in contrast with 37 of 48 neurons bordering or near VB (77%). 6. The six viscerally responsive neurons within VB all had somatic receptive fields located primarily on the caudal part of the body and were responsive to only one or two of the four visceral stimuli, usually the uterus. The 37 viscerally responsive neurons bordering or near VB were of 3 types. Neurons of the first type (n = 15) were scattered throughout the areas bordering VB and responded to both somatic and visceral stimuli much like VB neurons, except that they showed more visceral convergence. Neurons of the second type (n = 11) were concentrated at the rostral and dorsal borders of VB and responded only to visceral stimuli, mainly the uterus. Neurons of the third type (n = 11) were concentrated ventrally and had very complex, long-lasting and history-dependent response characteristics to both visceral and somatic stimuli. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
BIM curriculum design in architecture, engineering, and construction education: a systematic review

In the past several years, Building Information Modeling (BIM) adoption has grown significantly in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. In response to this trend, the industry and academia realized that BIM education in university curricula is an important requirement for satisfying educational demands of the industry, and a notable body of research has reported strategies AEC programs implemented to incorporate BIM in their curricula. However, no study has comprehensively reviewed and synthesized the research on strategies adopted by educators. To bridge this gap in the literature, this paper presents a systematic review of research on BIM curriculum design in AEC education. The authors report on the trends of research on BIM curriculum design (e.g. methods, timelines, and contexts) as well as a synthesis of implemented pedagogical strategies with detailed discussions on their implications and effectiveness across different studies and contexts. These strategies address a variety of important pedagogical issues such as enrolment of students, optional or required BIM use, important competencies and skills, tutoring methods, industry engagement, designing assignments, and assessment methods and criteria. This synthesis shows that designing pedagogical strategies for BIM education is complex and challenging, and AEC programs need to make trade-offs between advantages and disadvantages associated with these strategies. The results also highlight the need for more diverse research designs and settings to bridge the gaps identified in BIM curriculum research to date. Finally, the authors present a literature-based framework of BIM curriculum design strategies as well as a set of recommendations that can be used BIM educators and researchers as a guide for designing or assessing their BIM curricula in future research.
Antagonism of synaptic potentials in ventral horn neurones by 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione: a study in the rat spinal cord in vitro

1 The rat spinal cord in vitro has been used to assess the effect of 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX) on the dorsal root evoked extracellular ventral root reflex (DR‐VRR) and the intracellular excitatory postsynaptic potential (e.p.s.p.) in ventral horn neurones and motoneurones. 2 CNQX (1–5 μm) produces a selective and dose‐dependent reduction in the amplitude of the monosynaptic component of the DR‐VRR recorded from lumbar spinal segments. 3 With low intensity dorsal root stimulation CNQX selectively attenuates the amplitude of the short latency intracellular e.p.s.p. (70% reduction, P < 0.005) and its rise‐time (75%, P < 0.01) without affecting the half‐time to decay. 4 When high intensity stimulation is used CNQX significantly attenuates the amplitude of the e.p.s.p. (56%, P < 0.005), rise‐time (76%, P < 0.01) and abolishes the short latency spike. In addition longer latency synaptic components are attenuated and the half‐time to decay significantly reduced (47%, P < 0.005). 5 The results with CNQX are compared to d‐aminophosphonovalerate and discussed in relation to the recruitment of low versus high threshold afferents. The data supports an involvement of non‐NMDA receptors in transmission through both mono‐ and polysynaptic pathways in the ventral horn.
From Active Reading to Active Dialogue: An Investigation of Annotation-Enhanced Online Discussion Forums

Our research aims to improve online discussion forums. The authors identify typical problems in on-line discussion that create difficulties for learners and describe a pedagogical approach emphasizing the importance of moderating in dealing with these problems. The usual design of discussion forums in learning management systems is not helpful but can be improved by specific add-ons. The authors describe a software add-on to the Moodle discussion forum called Marginalia that was designed to implement our preferred pedagogy. They focus on annotation, aiding the retrieval of archived material, helping participants build upon one another’s ideas, and encouraging participants to write “weaving” messages that connect ideas and summarize the discourse. Preliminary studies of this software found a number of uses, some of them unexpected. The chapter concludes with an analysis of two trial classes employing Marginalia.
Apnoea following immunisation in premature infants

Editor—Slack and Schapira1 are correct in drawing attention to a problem that is recognised and documented but not fully addressed or understood. Their suggestion that further studies are required to determine the optimum timing of immunisation for extremely preterm infants is sound (even though the adequate immunological response of these babies to vaccinations is well documented). However they state that the presumed cause of the apnoeas is the pertussis component, with neither reference nor explanation of why they think this is the case. As the four antigens are given simultaneously it is not possible to identify the culprit. The American studies quoted2 3 could not identify whether one or a combination of antigens was …
Infection susceptibility and immune senescence with advancing age replicated in accelerated aging Lmna Dhe mice

Aging confers increased susceptibility to common pathogens including influenza A virus. Despite shared vulnerability to infection with advancing age in humans and rodents, the relatively long time required for immune senescence to take hold practically restricts the use of naturally aged mice to investigate aging‐induced immunological shifts. Here, we show accelerated aging LmnaDhe mice with spontaneous mutation in the nuclear scaffolding protein, lamin A, replicate infection susceptibility, and substantial immune cell shifts that occur with advancing age. Naturally aged (≥20 month) and 2‐ to 3‐month‐old LmnaDhe mice share near identically increased influenza A susceptibility compared with age‐matched LmnaWT control mice. Increased mortality and higher viral burden after influenza infection in LmnaDhe mice parallel reduced accumulation of lung alveolar macrophage cells, systemic expansion of immune suppressive Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, and skewed immune dominance among viral‐specific CD8+ T cells similar to the immunological phenotype of naturally aged mice. Thus, aging‐induced infection susceptibility and immune senescence are replicated in accelerated aging LmnaDhe mice.
Nondiabetic Renal Disease in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Clinicopathological Study

Background: The prevalence of nondiabetic renal disease (NDRD) among type 2 diabetics varies widely depending on the populations being studied and the selection criteria. Also, for patients found to have NDRD different predicting factors have been identified by different studies. Objectives: To determine: (i) Frequency and spectrum of NDRD in type 2 diabetics with atypical clinical renal disease, in our set up and (ii) common clinical markers that are associated with NDRD in our local population. Materials and Methods: Ninety-three type 2 diabetic patients with atypical clinical renal disease who had undergone renal biopsy to rule out NDRD were recruited. Patients were grouped into Group 1 with isolated NDRD, Group 2 with NDRD superimposed on diabetic nephropathy (DN), and Group 3 with isolated DN; and their clinical and biochemical parameters were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Chi-square tests of statistical significance. Results: 68.8% of the patients had NDRD with or without concurrent DN. Patients with isolated NDRD had shorter duration of diabetes compared to the other groups. Absence of retinopathy and presence of microscopic hematuria and active urinary sediment had positive predictive value of 79.24, 81, and 100%, respectively, for NDRD in type 2 diabetics. Chronic interstitial nephritis was the commonest NDRD and membranous glomerulonephritis was the commonest glomerular NDRD in our setup. Interpretation and Conclusions: The frequency of NDRD in type 2 diabetics with atypical clinical renal disease is high in our setup thereby making the renal biopsy procedure imperative to rule out the same. Shorter duration of diabetes, absence of retinopathy, presence of microscopic hematuria, and active urinary sediment are markers associated with NDRD in type 2 diabetes with clinical renal disease.
Biclustering ARTMAP collaborative filtering recommender system

Collaborative filtering provides recommendations based on the behavior of each user combined with behavior of users with similar interests. Recommender systems are becoming widespread, helping people choose movies, books, and things to buy. In this study, we examine the use of Biclustering ARTMAP to build a collaborative filtering recommendation system. We introduce a novel modification to how the Biclustering ARTMAP algorithm computes the item-cluster similarity, and a way to adapt it for the prediction of user ratings. We apply the algorithm to the MovieLens 100k dataset, and find that it achieves promising performance compared to other collaborative filtering techniques.