Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wavelet-based markers of ventricular fibrillation in optimizing human cardiac resuscitation

During cardiac resuscitation from ventricular fibrillation (VF) it would be helpful if we could monitor and predict the optimal state of the heart to be shocked into a perfusing rhythm. Real-time feedback of this state to the emergency medical staff (EMS) could improve the survival rate after resuscitation. In this paper, using real world out-of-the-hospital human VF data obtained during resuscitation by EMS personnel, we present the results of applying wavelet markers in predicting the shock outcomes. We also performed comparative analysis of 5 existing techniques (spectral and correlation based approaches) against the proposed wavelet markers. A database of 29 human VF tracings was extracted from the defibrillator recordings collected by the EMS personnel and was used to validate the waveform markers. The results obtained by the comparison of the wavelet based features with other spectral, and correlation-based features indicates that the proposed wavelet features perform well with an overall accuracy of 79.3% in predicting the shock outcomes and hence demonstrate potential to provide near real-time feedback to EMS personnel in optimizing resuscitation outcomes.
How Are We Measuring Resilience Following Childhood Maltreatment? Is the Research Adequate and Consistent? What is the Impact on Research, Practice, and Policy?

The authors review the literature on resilience following childhood maltreatment and describe how variation in the measurement of outcomes at various developmental stages affects research findings, practice implications, and policy recommendations. Although the 21 studies reviewed considered competent functioning in similar domains as evidence of resilience following maltreatment, few provided prevalence estimates for specific indicators or across domains of functioning. Using the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW), the authors explored different ways of operationalizing resilience. The number of children demonstrating competence following maltreatment varied greatly by the indicators used; furthermore, competence in one domain (behavioral, emotional, or educational) did not guarantee competence in another. About one in five children were functioning poorly in all three domains. Because findings vary according to the operational definition of resilience, researchers must use caution in conceptualizing their analytic variables and interpreting findings. Furthermore, given the lack of cross-domain competence, services to maltreated children and their families should be comprehensive.
Platelet Control of Fibrin Distribution and Microelasticity in Thrombus Formation Under Flow

Objective— Platelet- and fibrin-dependent thrombus formation is regulated by blood flow and exposure of collagen and tissue factor. However, interactions between these blood-borne and vascular components are not well understood. Approach and Results— Here, we developed a method to assess whole-blood thrombus formation on microspots with defined amounts of collagen and tissue factor, allowing determination of the mechanical properties and intrathrombus composition. Confining the collagen content resulted in diminished platelet deposition and fibrin formation at high shear flow conditions, but this effect was compensated by a larger thrombus size and increased accumulation of fibrin in the luminal regions of the thrombi at the expense of the base regions. These thrombi were more dependent on tissue factor–triggered thrombin generation. Microforce nanoindentation analysis revealed a significantly increased microelasticity of thrombi with luminal-oriented fibrin. At a low shear rate, fibrin fibers tended to luminally cover the thrombi, again resulting in a higher microelasticity. Studies with blood from patients with distinct hemostatic insufficiencies indicated an impairment in the formation of a platelet–fibrin thrombus in the cases of dilutional coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, Scott syndrome, and hemophilia B. Conclusions— Taken together, our data indicate that (1) thrombin increases the platelet thrombus volume; (2) tissue factor drives the formation of fibrin outside of the platelet thrombus; (3) limitation of platelet adhesion redirects fibrin from bottom to top of the thrombus; (4) a lower shear rate promotes thrombus coverage with fibrin; (5) the fibrin distribution pattern determines thrombus microelasticity; and (6) the thrombus-forming process is reduced in patients with diverse hemostatic defects.
CO+ in M82: A Consequence of Irradiation by X-Rays

Based on its strong CO+ emission, it is argued that the M82 starburst galaxy is exposed to a combination of FUV and X-ray radiation. The latter is likely to be the result of the starburst superwind, which leads to diffuse thermal emission, and a compact hard source (but not an AGN). Although a photon-dominated region (FUV) component is clearly present in the nucleus of M82, and capable of forming CO+, only X-ray irradiated gas of density 103-105 cm-3 can reproduce the large, ~(1-4) × 1013 cm-2, columns of CO+ that are observed toward the prototypical starburst M82. The total X-ray luminosity produced by M82 is weak, ~1041 ergs s-1, but this is sufficient to drive the formation of CO+.
Evidence of macroscopically entangled protons in a mixed isotope crystal of KHpD1−pCO3

We examine whether protons and deuterons in a crystal of KH0.76D0. 24CO3 at 300 K are particles or matter waves. The neutron scattering function measured over a broad range of reciprocal space reveals the enhanced diffraction pattern anticipated for antisymmetrized macroscopic states for protons (fermions). These features exclude a statistical distribution of protons and deuterons. Raman spectra are consistent with a mixture of KHCO3 and KDCO3 sublattices whose isomorphous structures are independent of the isotope content. We propose a theoretical framework for decoherence-free proton and deuteron states.
Gender differences in the link between depression and cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVES Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in women costing more than 500,000 lives each year in the United States alone. Major depression in healthy subjects increases cardiovascular mortality in both men and women. The presence of major depression in patients with recent acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or unstable angina more than doubles the risk of cardiac death in both men and women. In the presence of depression, lack of social integration has an additive effect on cardiac events. Depression is more prevalent in women with coronary heart disease (CHD) than in men. Psychologic counseling as well as cognitive behavioral treatment in women post-AMI seems to adversely affect prognosis, whereas it has neutral effects in men. Pharmacologic treatment of depression with serotonin reuptake inhibitors is safe in men and women post-AMI and is particularly effective in patients with recurrent depression. Whether effective treatment of depression lowers cardiac mortality remains to be proven.
The Lactate-Proton Symport of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Is Encoded by JEN1

ABSTRACT A mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae deficient in the lactate-proton symport was isolated. Transformation of the mutant with a yeast genomic library allowed the isolation of the geneJEN1 that restored lactate transport. Disruption ofJEN1 abolished uptake of lactate. The results indicate that, under the experimental conditions tested, no other monocarboxylate permease is able to efficiently transport lactate inS. cerevisiae.
Multiple-goal Reinforcement Learning with Modular Sarsa(0)

We present a new algorithm, GM-Sarsa(0), for finding approximate solutions to multiple-goal reinforcement learning problems that are modeled as composite Markov decision processes. According to our formulation different sub-goals are modeled as MDPs that are coupled by the requirement that they share actions. Existing reinforcement learning algorithms address similar problem formulations by first finding optimal policies for the component MDPs, and then merging these into a policy for the composite task. The problem with such methods is that policies that are optimized separately may or may not perform well when they are merged into a composite solution. Instead of searching for optimal policies for the component MDPs in isolation, our approach finds good policies in the context of the composite task.
Need for recovery in the working population: Description and associations with fatigue and psychological distress

This study examined the concept of need for recovery, that is the need to recuperate from work-induced fatigue, experienced after a day of work. The study explored the relationship between need for recovery from work, prolonged fatigue, and psychological distress in the working population. A cross-sectional study was carried out. Data of the Maastricht Cohort Study on fatigue at work were used (n = 12,095). Some degree of need for recovery was found in nearly all employees. Need for recovery from work was associated with demographic, work-related, and health factors. Principal Components Analysis revealed obvious separation between need for recovery items and both fatigue items and psychological distress items, supporting the notion that need for recovery, fatigue, and psychological distress represent different underlying concepts. Although need for recovery, fatigue, and psychological distress were frequently comorbid, they also clearly occurred as separate entities.
Puerarin Attenuates Anoxia/Reoxygenation Injury Through Enhancing Bcl-2 Associated Athanogene 3 Expression, a Modulator of Apoptosis and Autophagy

Background Puerarin has protective effects on ischemia-reperfusion injury, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully revealed. This study explored the effect of puerarin on the expression of Bcl-2 associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) in an in vitro model of anoxia/reoxygenation injury (A/RI) in neonate rat primary cardiomyocytes and the functions of BAG3 in A/RI. Material/Methods BAG3 expression in cardiomyocytes with or without puerarin pre-treatment was quantified using qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The effects of BAG3 on A/RI were studied by measuring the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphate kinase (CPK), the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). The effects of BAG3 on autophagy and apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes after A/RI were further studied. Results Puerarin significantly promoted BAG3 expression in the rat primary cardiomyocytes after A/RI. Enforced BAG3 expression presented similar effects as puerarin pre-treatment in attenuating A/RI in terms of CPK, LDH, MDA, SOD, GSH-Px, ROS generation, and cell viability. BAG3 overexpression significantly stimulated autophagy in cardiomyocytes after A/RI, which presented protective effects on A/RI in terms of cell viability and apoptosis. Autophagy inhibition partly abrogated the protective effects of BAG3. Conclusions Puerarin can directly increase BAG3 transcription and translation in cardiomyocytes after A/RI. The elevated BAG3 expression presents protective effects on A/RI at least through enhancing autophagy and reducing apoptosis, which is a novel protective mechanism of puerarin in ARI.
An Indecent Proposal: The Dual Functions of Indirect Speech

People often use indirect speech, for example, when trying to bribe a police officer by asking whether there might be "a way to take care of things without all the paperwork. " Recent game theoretic accounts suggest that a speaker uses indirect speech to reduce public accountability for socially risky behaviors. The present studies examine a secondary function of indirect speech use: increasing the perceived moral permissibility of an action. Participants report that indirect speech is associated with reduced accountability for unethical behavior, as well as increased moral permissibility and increased likelihood of unethical behavior. Importantly, moral permissibility was a stronger mediator of the effect of indirect speech on likelihood of action, for judgments of one's own versus others' unethical action. In sum, the motorist who bribes the police officer with winks and nudges may not only avoid public punishment but also maintain the sense that his actions are morally permissible.
Co-loading or pre-loading for prevention of hypotension after spinal anaesthesia! a therapeutic dilemma

Neuraxial blockade such as spinal anaesthesia can cause severe hypotension due to pharmacological sympathectomy resulting in potential deleterious consequences for the patient. Prevention of this spinal anaesthesia induced hypotension is of utmost importance especially in pregnant population as the life of mother as well as fetus is at risk. Several techniques and methodologies have been adopted for the prevention of this neuraxial hypotension with varying degree of success. The administration of intravenous fluids to optimize the blood volume during sympathectomy has been the most popular and widely used as the first line of therapy among these techniques. The intravenous fluids can be used both before and during the administration of spinal anaesthesia, the techniques appropriately named as pre-loading and co-loading respectively. Numerous research studies and available literary evidence suggests that both of these techniques can be equally effective in prevention of hypotension. The use of colloids has been observed to be more effective for pre-loading due to their longer half-life in the intravascular compartment. However, it has also been suggested that no technique is efficient in preventing the hypotension alone and has to be coupled with judicious use of vasopressors.
Activation of Hippocampal Adenosine A3 Receptors Produces a Desensitization of A1 Receptor-Mediated Responses in Rat Hippocampus

The adenosine A3 receptor is expressed in brain, but the consequences of activation of this receptor on electrophysiological activity are unknown. We have characterized the actions of a selective adenosine A3 receptor agonist, 2-chloro-N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5′-N-methyluronamide (Cl-IB-MECA), and a selective A3 receptor antagonist, 3-ethyl-5-benzyl-2-methyl-4-phenylethynyl-6-phenyl-1,4-(±)-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (MRS 1191), in brain slices from rat hippocampus. In the CA1 region, activation of A3 receptors had no direct effects on synaptically evoked excitatory responses, long-term potentiation, or synaptic facilitation. However, activation of A3 receptors with Cl-IB-MECA antagonized the adenosine A1receptor-mediated inhibition of excitatory neurotransmission. The effects of Cl-IB-MECA were blocked by pretreatment with MRS 1191, which by itself had no effect on A1 receptor-mediated responses. The presynaptic inhibitory effects of baclofen and carbachol, mediated via GABAB and muscarinic receptors, respectively, were unaffected by Cl-IB-MECA. The maximal response to adenosine was unchanged, suggesting that the primary effect of Cl-IB-MECA was to reduce the affinity of adenosine for the receptor rather than to uncouple it. Similar effects could be demonstrated after brief superfusion with high concentrations of adenosine itself. Under normal conditions, endogenous adenosine in brain is unlikely to affect the sensitivity of A1 receptors via this mechanism. However, when brain concentrations of adenosine are elevated (e.g., during hypoxia, ischemia, or seizures), activation of A3 receptors and subsequent heterologous desensitization of A1 receptors could occur, which might limit the cerebroprotective effects of adenosine under these conditions.
An investigation into the use of a structured clinical operative test for the assessment of a clinical skill.

AIM This study was designed to investigate the level of agreement between a group of assessors observing students undertaking a structured clinical operative test. METHOD 3 assessors agreed a series of criteria to assess the performance of undergraduate students in the recording of a dental impression. Guidelines for assessing whether the students adequately performed in relation to each criteria were also agreed. Following preliminary validation between the assessors, 2 assessors independently scored the performance of each student by reference to the agreed criteria, and the levels of agreement between assessors were compared. The 3 assessors worked in pairs with each other on three groups of students who were in the early stages of their clinical course. RESULTS A total of 39 clinical dental students were assessed in the recording of a dental impression. The 3 pairs of assessors had satisfactory levels of agreement in the study with similar judgements being made on 90% or more of the 12 criteria assessed. Some differences existed between the pairs of assessors. Certain criteria were more easily judged than others and this was reflected in the level of agreement seen. For over 90% of the criteria, positive assessments were made by each of the 3 assessors, and although there were minor variations between the pairs of assessors, this may have reflected the ability of the groups of students studied. CONCLUSION The study showed that different assessors were generally able to make agreed judgements on performance criteria in a structured clinical operative test. In setting up performance assessment it is necessary to have close collaboration between assessors to make clearly defined criteria so that judgements are not too subjective. Furthermore, for the assessment of more complex clinical skills, great care is needed in assembling criteria that can be used reproducibly, and sufficient preparation time for the assessors is critical.
Expression of Tn, sialosyl-Tn, and T antigens in human colon cancer.

Mucin glycoproteins are major secretory products of the colon and contain O-linked oligosaccharides synthesized on a polypeptide backbone. The initial step in the synthesis of O-linked oligosaccharides is the addition of N-acetylgalactosamine to serine or threonine residues forming the Tn antigen. This substance can then receive additional carbohydrate residues such as sialic acid to form sialosyl-Tn antigen, or galactose to form T antigen. In the colon, the T antigen is an oncodevelopmental cancer-associated antigen but little is known about Tn and sialosyl-Tn expression. The present comparative immunohistochemical study was performed to analyze the expression of these antigens in fetal, normal adult, and malignant colorectal tissues with an aim toward elucidating whether Tn and sialosyl-Tn are also oncodevelopmental colon cancer-associated antigens and to gain insight into the earliest steps of mucin glycosylation in colonocytes. We used three reagents to detect Tn antigen (two monoclonal antibodies ETn1.01 and CU-1, and one lectin Vicia villosa), two reagents to detect sialosyl-Tn (monoclonal antibodies TKH2 and B72.3) and one to detect T antigen (monoclonal antibody AH9-16). Except for occasional reactivity with VVA and CU-1, cells of normal colonic mucosa did not express Tn, sialosyl-Tn, or T antigens. However, in the transitional mucosa immediately adjacent to cancer, all three antigens were expressed (ranging from 35 to 67% of cases depending upon the reagent). In colon cancers, the percentage of cases expressing each antigen were as follows: Tn 72-81%, sialosyl-Tn 93-96%, and T 71%. Unlike T antigen, which was preferentially expressed by moderately well- and well-differentiated adenocarcinomas, both Tn and sialosyl-Tn antigens were expressed by most histological subsets of colon cancers, including poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas and mucinous (colloid and signet ring cell type) carcinomas. The majority of cancers expressed both Tn and sialosyl-Tn, usually in association with T antigen. Only one cancer lacked all three antigens. Fetal colonic mucosal cells expressed all three antigens, particularly in goblet cell mucin. These results indicate that like T antigen, Tn and sialosyl-Tn are oncodevelopmental cancer-associated antigens in the colon. Moreover, Tn and sialosyl-Tn antigens appear to be useful markers of poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas and mucinous carcinomas: two histological subsets that often fail to express other cancer-associated antigens and that are often associated with a poor clinical outcome. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Object-Based Dynamic Protocol Recovery for Multi-Threading Programs

A protocol defines the sequencing constraints for the operations that can be applied to an object. Quante introduced a protocol recovery technique that is able to extract protocols from existing software by means of dynamic analysis. This approach represents the behavior as object process graphs (OPG). OPGs are a projection of the control flow graph reduced to the operations relevant to an individual object. The protocol is inferred from a set of OPGs. The extraction was designed to handle sequential programs only. As multi-core architectures and, hence, multi-threading becomes more and more common in nowadays programming, it is necessary to extend reverse engineering techniques for multi-threaded programs. In this paper, we extend Quante's approach to protocol reconstruction for programs with multiple threads. We are formalizing this process using concepts from automata theory, namely, product and shuffle automata. We present a naive approach to combine these concepts and a combined approach. Our evaluation for realistic Java programs demonstrates the scalability of the combined approach and the combinatorial explosion of the naive approach.
Impact of KRAS variant rs61764370 on breast cancer morbidity.

UNLABELLED Low-penetrance gene variants and their combinations are topical study objects in breast cancer pathogenesis. Single nucleotide polymorphism rs61764370, localized in 3՛ UTR of KRAS gene, plays an important role in the development and progression of several cancers. The aim of our study was to determine the KRAS variant impact on breast cancer morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS 2214 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 861 healthy controls were screened for KRAS variant by RFLP method. Available clinical data were collected and processed using statistical analysis methods. Results of present study suggest the KRAS variant impact on breast cancer development risk in premenopausal women, but it has no effect on breast cancer prognosis. We did not observe any KRAS variant effect on breast cancer patient 10-year disease-specific survival rates.
Medicaid policy changes in mental health care and their effect on mental health outcomes

In recent years, Medicaid has experienced a dramatic increase in spending on prescription drugs in general and psychotropic medications in particular. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of increased Medicaid spending on psychotropic drugs on improving the mental health and well-being of participants at the population level. Specifically, we study the effect on outcomes that are strongly correlated with mood disorders, including depression and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder, controlling for concomitant increases in Medicaid eligibility thresholds and expansion into managed care for mental health services. Knowledge of the effects of changes in the Medicaid program is crucial to policymakers as they consider implementing and expanding mental health services. Our results show that increased spending on antidepressants and stimulants are associated with improvements in some outcomes, but not in others.