Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concealed Sinus Node Dysfunction and Paradoxical Effect of Atropine during Arrhythmia Diagnostic Pharmacological Testing

A 78-year-old male patient presented with repetitive fainting episodes. His electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm with persistent ventricular bigeminy. Concealed sinus node dysfunction (SND) with consecutive bradycardia-induced ventricular hyperexcitability was suspected. Pharmacological testing with atropine resulted in accelerated junctional rhythm along with nearly total disappearance of the ventricular ectopy. The diagnosis of SND was retained, a dual chamber pacemaker was implanted, and consequently, ventricular hyperexcitability disappeared. The junctional rhythm was a paradoxical effect of atropine, and many explanations were provided. Discussion was made accordingly taking into account relevant data from the literature.
Geometric separator theorems and applications

We find a large number of "geometric separator theorems" such as: I: Given N disjoint isooriented squares in the plane, there exists a rectangle with /spl les/2N/3 squares inside, /spl les/2N/3 squares outside, and /spl les/(4+0(1))/spl radic/N partly in & out. II: There exists a rectangle that is crossed by the minimal spanning tree of N sites in the plane at /spl les/(4/spl middot/3/sup 1/4/+0(1))/spl radic/N points, having /spl les/2N/3 sites inside and outside. These theorems yield a large number of applications, such as subexponential algorithms for traveling salesman tour and rectilinear Steiner minimal tree in R/sup d/, new point location algorithms, and new upper and lower bound proofs for "planar separator theorems".
Dietary Pattern and Its Association with the Prevalence of Obesity and Related Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Chinese Children

Background The association of dietary pattern with chronic diseases has been investigated widely in western countries. However, information is quite limited among children in China. Our study is aimed to identify the dietary patterns of Chinese children and examine their association with obesity and related cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods A total of 5267 children were selected using multistage random sampling from 30 primary schools of 5 provincial capital cities in China. Dietary intake was derived from 24 hour dietary recall for three consecutive days. Anthropometric measurements, glucose and lipid profiles were obtained. Factor analysis combined with cluster analysis was used for identifying major dietary patterns. The associations of dietary patterns with obesity and related cardiometabolic risk factors were examined by logistic regression analysis. Results Three mutually exclusive dietary patterns were identified, which were labeled as the healthy dietary pattern, the transitive dietary pattern, and the Western dietary pattern. Compared with children of the healthy dietary pattern, the multiple-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval (CI)) of obesity were 1.11 (0.89–1.38) for children with the transitive dietary pattern and 1.80 (1.15–2.81) for children with the Western dietary pattern, which was 1.31 (95%CI 1.09–1.56) and 1.71 (95%CI: 1.13–2.56), respectively, for abdominal obesity. The Western dietary pattern was associated with significantly higher concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<.001), triglycerides (P<.001), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.0435) and fasting glucose (P = 0.0082) and a lower concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.0023), as compared with the healthy dietary pattern. Conclusions The Western dietary pattern characterized by red meat, eggs, refined grain and products, was positively associated with odds of obesity, the levels of plasma glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, and was inversely associated with the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Interaction in an IVR Museum of Color

IVR (Immersive Virtual Reality) environments naturally suggest hands-on approaches to learning, but the success of such virtual “direct experience” depends heavily on the design of interface and interaction techniques. Although IVR may suggest ease of use and obvious, transparent interface designs, the opposite is, unfortunately, true: IVR presents surprisingly difficult interface challenges and the study of interface and interaction design for educational IVR use is just beginning. In this paper we discuss three issues that we encountered in the creation of an IVR-based educational project: the use of architectural spaces for structuring a sequence of modules, the trade-offs between metaphor fidelity and convenience, and the use of IVR to interact with visualizations of abstract concepts.
Isoform-Specific Regulation of the Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger in Rat Astrocytes and Neurons by PKA

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger is a major transporter of Ca2+ in neurons and glial cells. The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger gene NCX1 expresses tissue-specific isoforms of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, and the isoforms have been examined here quantitatively using primary cultures of astrocytes and neurons. We present a PCR-based quantitative method, quantitative end-labeled reverse transcription-PCR (QERT-PCR), to determine the relative amounts of the NCX1 isoforms present in these cells. Six exons (A, B, C, D, E, and F) are alternatively spliced to produce the known NCX1 isoforms. Three exon B-containing isoforms (BDEF, BDF, and BD) are the predominant transcripts in primary rat cortical astrocytes and in C6 glioma cells. In contrast, exon A-containing isoforms (ADF and AD) are the predominant transcripts in primary rat hippocampal neurons. Functional differences between full-length constructs of NCX1 containing either the astrocyte isoform BD or the neuron isoform AD were examined in a Xenopusoocyte expression system. Although both isoforms function normally, the activity of the AD isoform can be increased 39% by activation of protein kinase A (PKA), whereas that of the BD isoform is not affected. We conclude that specific NCX1 isoforms are expressed in distinct patterns in astrocytes and neurons. Furthermore, the activity of a neuronal (but not glial) isoform of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger can be altered by the activation of the PKA pathway.
The Strategic Manipulation of Linguistic Complexity: A Test of Two Models of Lying

To what degree is complex language driven by personal cognitive factors versus strategic self-presentation? Studies teasing apart these two influences on complexity are hard to design and evidence bearing on the question is not abundant. To fill this gap, the present studies explored two models relevant to a form of communication full of strategic implications: deception. The cognitive strain model suggests that because lies are cognitively draining, deception will generally reduce complexity, whereas the strategic model expects the liar to adjust complexity up or down depending on the perceived benefits. Three studies tested differential predictions from these models by scoring different forms of linguistic complexity (dialectical and elaborative) for deceptive communications in real-world and experimental contexts. Results from these studies support the value of a strategic model of the effect of lying on complex language, thus suggesting that people strategically manipulate the complexity of their language to accomplish specific goals.
Microvascular Coronary Artery Spasm Presents Distinctive Clinical Features With Endothelial Dysfunction as Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Background Angina without significant stenosis, or nonobstructive coronary artery disease, attracts clinical attention. Microvascular coronary artery spasm (microvascular CAS) can cause nonobstructive coronary artery disease. We investigated the clinical features of microvascular CAS and the therapeutic efficacy of calcium channel blockers. Methods and Results Three hundred seventy consecutive, stable patients with suspected angina presenting nonobstructive coronary arteries (<50% diameter) in coronary angiography were investigated with the intracoronary acetylcholine provocation test, with simultaneous measurements of transcardiac lactate production and of changes in the quantitative coronary blood flow. We diagnosed microvascular CAS according to lactate production and a decrease in coronary blood flow without epicardial vasospasm during the acetylcholine provocation test. We prospectively followed up the patients with calcium channel blockers for microvascular coronary artery disease. We identified 50 patients with microvascular CAS who demonstrated significant impairment of the endothelium-dependent vascular response, which was assessed by coronary blood flow during the acetylcholine provocation test. Administration of isosorbide dinitrate normalized the abnormal coronary flow pattern in the patients with microvascular CAS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that female sex, a lower body mass index, minor–borderline ischemic electrocardiogram findings at rest, limited–baseline diastolic-to-systolic velocity ratio, and attenuated adenosine triphosphate–induced coronary flow reserve were independently correlated with the presence of microvascular CAS. Receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis revealed that the aforementioned 5-variable model showed good correlation with the presence of microvascular CAS (area under the curve: 0.820). No patients with microvascular CAS treated with calcium channel blockers developed cardiovascular events over 47.8±27.5 months. Conclusions Microvascular CAS causes distinctive clinical features and endothelial dysfunction that are important to recognize as nonobstructive coronary artery disease so that optimal care with calcium channel blockers can be provided. Clinical Trial Registration URL: www.umin. ac.jp/ctr. Unique identifier: UMIN000003839.
Concept adjustment for description logics

There exist a handful of natural language processing and machine learning approaches for extracting Description Logic concept definitions from natural language texts. Typically, for a single target concept several textual sentences are used, from which candidate concept descriptions are obtained. These candidate descriptions may have confidence values associated with them. In a final step, the candidates need to be combined into a single concept, in the easiest case by selecting a relevant subset and taking its conjunction. However, concept descriptions generated in this manner can contain false information, which is harmful when added to a formal knowledge base. In this paper, we claim that this can be improved by considering formal constraints that the target concept needs to satisfy. We first formalize a reasoning problem for the selection of relevant candidates and examine its computational complexity. Then, we show how it can be reduced to SAT, yielding a practical algorithm for its solution. Furthermore, we describe two ways to construct formal constraints, one is automatic and the other interactive. Applying this approach to the SNOMED CT ontology construction scenario, we show that the proposed framework brings a visible benefit for SNOMED CT development.
On the Existence and Constructions of Vectorial Boolean Bent Functions

Recently, one of the hot topics on vectorial Boolean bent functions is to construct vectorial Boolean bent functions in the form Tr m(P (x)) from Boolean bent functions in the form Tr 1 (P (x)), where P (x) ∈ F2n [x]. This paper first presents three constructions of vectorial Boolean bent functions in the form Tr m(P (x)), where two of them give answers to two open problems proposed by Pasalic et al. and Muratović-Ribić et al. respectively. The main results in this paper are the existence and constructions of several kinds of vectorial Boolean bent functions in the form Tr m(P (x)).
High risk of adverse events in hospitalised hip fracture patients of 65 years and older: results of a retrospective record review study

Objectives Hip fracture patients of 65 years and older are a complex patient group who often suffer from complications and difficult rehabilitation with disappointing results. It is unknown to what extent suboptimal hospital care contributes to these poor outcomes. This study reports on the scale, preventability, causes and prevention strategies of adverse events in patients, aged 65 years and older, admitted to the hospital with a primary diagnosis of hip fracture. Design, setting and outcome measures A retrospective record review study was conducted of 616 hip fracture patients (≥65 years) admitted to surgical or orthopaedic departments in four Dutch hospitals in 2007. Experienced physician reviewers determined the presence and preventability of adverse events, causes and prevention strategies using a structured review form. The main outcome measures were frequency of adverse events and preventable adverse events in hospitalised hip fracture patients of 65 years and older, and strategies to prevent them in the future. Results 114 (19%) of the 616 patients in the study experienced one or more adverse events; 49 of these were preventable. The majority of the adverse events (70%) was related to the surgical procedure and many resulted in an intervention or additional treatment (67%). Human causes contributed to 53% of the adverse events, followed by patient-related factors (39%). Training and close monitoring of quality of care and the health professional's performance were the most often selected strategies to prevent these adverse events in the future. Conclusions The high percentage of preventable adverse events found in this study shows that care for older hospitalised hip fracture patients should be improved. More training and quality assurance is required to provide safer care and to reduce the number of preventable adverse events in this vulnerable patient group.
The professional developmental needs of higher education-based teacher educators: an international comparative needs analysis

Abstract A universal lack of attention to the professional learning needs of teacher educators is the driver for this study, which considers the most effective ways to support the professional learning of higher education-based teacher educators. At a time when many industrialised countries are engaged in systemic educational reform, this study provides an international and comparative needs analysis through a survey of 1158 higher education-based teacher educators in the countries participating in the International Forum for Teacher Educator Development: Belgium, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK. Our results suggest that while teacher educators are only moderately satisfied with their professional development experiences, a strong desire exists for further professional learning. This desire, influenced by their professional context, relates to their current beliefs concerning ‘best practice’ in teacher education, the academic skills required to further their professional careers and knowledge of the curriculum associated with their fields of expertise.
Implementation of the boundary integral method for electromagnetic scattering problems with geometrical discontinuities

The boundary integral method is used to solve scattering by perfect electric conducting or perfect dielectric bodies. This paper deals with different aspects of the modeling: frequency domain and time domain formulations, computing, solver. Methods allowing the treatment of geometrical discontinuity for all kinds of mesh are specially discussed. Validation of the formulations is carried by comparison with other codes.
A Structural Model of the Human α7 Nicotinic Receptor in an Open Conformation

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchRs) are ligand-gated ion channels that regulate chemical transmission at the neuromuscular junction. Structural information is available at low resolution from open and closed forms of an eukaryotic receptor, and at high resolution from other members of the same structural family, two prokaryotic orthologs and an eukaryotic GluCl channel. Structures of human channels however are still lacking. Homology modeling and Molecular Dynamics simulations are valuable tools to predict structures of unknown proteins, however, for the case of human nAchRs, they have been unsuccessful in providing a stable open structure so far. This is due to different problems with the template structures: on one side the homology with prokaryotic species is too low, while on the other the open eukaryotic GluCl proved itself unstable in several MD studies and collapsed to a dehydrated, non-conductive conformation, even when bound to an agonist. Aim of this work is to obtain, by a mixing of state-of-the-art homology and simulation techniques, a plausible prediction of the structure (still unknown) of the open state of human α7 nAChR complexed with epibatidine, from which it is possible to start structural and functional test studies. To prevent channel closure we employ a restraint that keeps the transmembrane pore open, and obtain in this way a stable, hydrated conformation. To further validate this conformation, we run four long, unbiased simulations starting from configurations chosen at random along the restrained trajectory. The channel remains stable and hydrated over the whole runs. This allows to assess the stability of the putative open conformation over a cumulative time of 1 μs, 800 ns of which are of unbiased simulation. Mostly based on the analysis of pore hydration and size, we suggest that the obtained structure has reasonable chances to be (at least one of the possible) structures of the channel in the open conformation.
Cerebrovascular Reactivity and Cognitive Decline in Patients With Alzheimer Disease

Background and Purpose— The aim of this study was to explore the possible contribution of alterations in cerebral hemodynamics to the evolution of cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Method— Fifty-three patients with AD were investigated. The evolution of cognitive decline over 12 months was evaluated by means of changes in Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and AD Assessment Scale for Cognition (ADAS-Cog) scores. Demographic characteristics, vascular risk profile, pharmacological treatment, and presence of white matter lesions were assessed at entry. Further, a basal evaluation of cerebrovascular reactivity to hypercapnia was measured with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography using the breath-holding index (BHI). Results— Of all the variables considered, both MMSE and ADAS-Cog changes had the highest correlation with BHI, followed by age and diabetes. After subdividing both cognitive measures reductions into bigger and smaller-than-average decline (2 points for MMSE; 5 points for ADAS-Cog), multiple logistic regression indicated BHI as the sole significant predictor of cognitive decline. Conclusions— These results show an association between impaired cerebral microvessels functionality and unfavorable evolution of cognitive function in patients with AD. Further research is needed to fully establish whether altered cerebral hemodynamics may be considered an independent factor in sustaining cognitive decline progression or an effect of pathological processes involved in AD.
Improving Particle Swarm Optimization by hybridization of stochastic search heuristics and Self-Organized Criticality

The objective of this thesis is to investigate how to improve Particle Swarm Optimization by hybridization of stochastic search heuristics and by a Self-Organized Criticality extension. The thesis will describe two hybrid models extending Particle Swarm Optimization with two aspects from Evolutionary Algorithms, recombination via breeding and gene flow restriction via subpopulations. A further hybrid combining Particle Swarm Optimization with Genetic Algorithms and Hill-Climbing using an individual based Life-Cycle stage transition scheme will also be investigated. The thesis will also describe how to improve the search of Particle Swarm Optimization using Self-Organized Criticality to add diversity and control parameters. The results presented in this thesis show the potential of Particle Swarm Optimization hybrids and extensions. Hybridizing the Particle Swarm Optimization with a Genetic Algorithm inspired crossover operator increased the reliability in multimodal optimization but also enables the incorporation of domain knowledge, previously not possible in Particle Swarm Optimization. Generally Particle Swarm Optimization has a good convergence and with the Self-Organized Criticality extension described the convergence is even faster without compromising an as good final result. With faster convergence one can reach the precision requirement of a given search problem much faster reducing the number of objective function evaluations. Problem dependent performance is a major drawback in most stochastic search algorithms. Hybridizing Particle Swarm Optimization, Genetic Algorithms and Hill-Climbing using a simple self-adaptive transition scheme diminishes this drawback.
How does the use of mobile phones by 16-24 year old socially excluded women affect their capabilities?

This research looks at the impact of mobile phone use on the lives and opportunities of 16-24 year-old socially excluded women, using a novel, cross-disciplinary framework of the capability approach and affordances. Fieldwork took the form of semi-structured interviews in 2013-14 with 30 women between the ages of 16-24, and four youth workers. The instrumental affordances of mobile phones are examined to understand whether they provide a means to address issues relating to work, health, education and housing. The impact of the maintenance and communicative affordances of mobile phones on women’s lives and relationships is also critically examined. The fieldwork showed that respondents were making limited use of instrumental affordances to address issues of social exclusion. Poverty impacted on women’s mobile phone use: they lacked funds to repair their phones and experienced intermittent connectivity. Respondents were often paying a high proportion of their income for their mobile phones, going over call limits and breaking contracts. Mobile phones were contributing to a ‘digitally gendered’ identity, including technology-facilitated sexual harassment and gendered communicative practices. Economic and social circumstances meant that half of respondents were reliant on these devices for their Internet connection, and thus for a wide range of instrumental purposes. This demonstrates the value of research on women’s use of mobile phones that is alive not just to gendered technology use, but also to structural issues of class and poverty. This study shows the strength of cross-disciplinary approaches to studies on the social effects of inequalities of access to digital tools, particularly in the use of theories from the field of human computer interaction to ‘materialise’ understanding of the relationship between social and digital exclusion. It also makes a significant contribution to knowledge on the use of mobile phones by socially excluded young women in the UK.
Genome-wide view of natural antisense transcripts in Arabidopsis thaliana

Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are endogenous transcripts that can form double-stranded RNA structures. Many protein-coding genes (PCs) and non-protein-coding genes (NPCs) tend to form cis-NATs and trans-NATs, respectively. In this work, we identified 4,080 cis-NATs and 2,491 trans-NATs genome-widely in Arabidopsis. Of these, 5,385 NAT-siRNAs were detected from the small RNA sequencing data. NAT-siRNAs are typically 21nt, and are processed by Dicer-like 1 (DCL1)/DCL2 and RDR6 and function in epigenetically activated situations, or 24nt, suggesting these are processed by DCL3 and RDR2 and function in environment stress. NAT-siRNAs are significantly derived from PC/PC pairs of trans-NATs and NPC/NPC pairs of cis-NATs. Furthermore, NAT pair genes typically have similar pattern of epigenetic status. Cis-NATs tend to be marked by euchromatic modifications, whereas trans-NATs tend to be marked by heterochromatic modifications.