Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A structured approach to native mitral valve infective endocarditis: Is repair better than replacement?

Abstract OBJECTIVES Mitral valve repair in native active infective endocarditis is technically challenging. The survival benefit over valve replacement is poorly established and possibly absent because of the high risk of repair failure and reoperation. In this study, we explore the results of our structured approach in these patients. METHODS Between January 2000 and January 2017, 149 patients underwent surgery for native mitral infective endocarditis. Among them, 97 (66%) patients underwent valve repair and 52 (34%) underwent valve replacement. Our structured approach consisted of early surgery, radical resection of infected tissue, liberal use of prosthetic materials and ‘patch’ repair techniques. A critical assessment of expected repair durability was made intraoperatively and repair was not performed if concerns of long-term durability existed. To study the effects of valve repair on overall survival, landmark analysis was performed. RESULTS In-hospital mortality was 15.4% (14 repair vs 9 replacement patients; P = 0.642). There were no residual infective endocarditis cases or early reoperations. On Cox proportional hazards analysis, valve replacement was not inferior to repair within 1-year post-surgery [hazard ratio (HR) 1.134, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.504–2.540; P = 0.76]. Beyond 1 year post-surgery, replacement was associated with decreased survival (HR 2.534, 95% CI 1.002–6.406; P = 0.049). There were no differences in freedom from recurrent infective endocarditis (P = 0.47) and mitral valve reintervention (P = 0.52). CONCLUSIONS Active mitral valve endocarditis remains a complex disease with significant early and late morbidity and mortality. A structured approach allows valve repair in two-thirds of patients. Clinical results could be improved by focussing on early surgery, prior to extensive valve destruction, to enable durable repairs and improve late outcomes.
Generalized Catalan Numbers and Generalized Hankel Transformations Marc Chamberland and Christopher French Department of Mathematics and Statistics Grinnell College Grinnell , IA 50112 USA chamberl

so that an is the sum of the n th and n + 1 Catalan numbers. Then the Hankel transform of {a0, a1, a2, . } begins 2, 5, 13, 34, . Layman first conjectured in the On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences ([4], see sequence A001906) that this sequence consists of every other Fibonacci number, and subsequently Cvetković, Rajković and Ivković [2] proved this conjecture. The current paper arose out of an attempt to understand and generalize this result.
Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness Independently Predicts Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY Epicardial fat tissue (EAT) is associated with coronary as well as aortic valve calcification. The study aim was to determine whether EAT thickness is different in patients with and without aortic valve stenosis (AVS). METHODS A cohort of 200 consecutive patients with severe AVS and 200 matched patients without AVS were included retrospectively in the study. EAT thickness was quantified, using transthoracic echocardiography, as the space between the epicardial wall of the myocardium and the visceral layer of the pericardium. Unadjusted and risk factor-adjusted logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association of EAT thickness with the presence of AVS. RESULTS Overall, 400 patients (182 males, 218 females; mean age 79.6 ± 6.5 years) were included in the study. EAT thickness was significantly higher in patients with severe AVS (7.4 ± 0.3 mm versus 5.8 ± 0.2 mm; p <0.0001 for patients with and without AVS, respectively). In logistic regression analysis, an increase in EAT by one standard deviation was associated with a two-fold increased occurrence of AVS (OR [95%CI]: 2.10 [1.65-2.68]; p <0.0001). Associations remained stable upon adjustment for age, gender and traditional cardiovascular risk factors (2.08 [1.59-2.72]; p <0.0001). Body mass index (BMI) -specific subgroup analysis showed that the link between EAT and AVS was independent of BMI (1.78 [1.15-2.75], 2.62 [1.71- 4.02], and 2.22 [1.36- 3.62], for BMI <25 kg/m2, 25-30 kg/m2, and >30kg/ m2, respectively). EAT, in addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, significantly improved the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (from 0.70 to 0.76; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS EAT thickness is significantly associated with severe AVS, independent of traditional risk factors. While further studies are needed to confirm these results, the present findings support the hypothesis that EAT may influence sclerosis of the aortic valve.
Cross-sectional study of oral mucosal conditions among a central Amazonian Indian community, Brazil.

BACKGROUND A cross-sectional study on the oral mucosal conditions among the Waimiri Atroari Indians from central Amazonia, Brazil, has been conducted. These Indians keep their traditional way of life and are free from habits such as smoking, alcohol drinking, and use of pacifiers. METHODS Clinical examinations of a representative, randomly selected sample of patients during routine dental treatment, following ethical procedures recommended by Brazilian laws were made. RESULTS Out of 922 individuals, 587 were examined, among which 52.57% of the children up to 12 years old and 73.44% of patients aged 13 years or older presented at least one oral mucosal condition. The conditions more frequently observed were, in decreasing order of prevalence: fissured tongue, focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH), lesions of traumatic origin, geographic tongue, Fordyce's spots, and candidiasis. Only one case of leukoplakia was identified. CONCLUSIONS Conditions observed among theses Indians were essentially the same that have been described in other populations around the world, except for FEH, which, as a characteristic lesion of Indians, had high prevalence (20.95%). The lesions observed were related to the way of life of this specific population.
EGR-2 Is Not Required for In Vivo CD4 T Cell Mediated Immune Responses

Background The zinc finger transcription factor EGR-2 has been shown to play an important role in the induction of T cell anergy and the regulation of peripheral T cell tolerance. In vitro, a prior study has show that T cells deficient in EGR-2 are hyperproliferative to IL-2 and produce elevated levels of the effector cytokine IFN-γ. EGR-2 deficient mice have increased levels of CD44high T cells in peripheral lymphoid organs, and with age, develop autoimmune-like features. Principal Findings Here we show that despite increased numbers of cells bearing an activated CD44highCD62Llow phenotype, T cells from young healthy EGR-2 deficient mice have normal proliferative and cytokine responses, and the mice themselves mount normal immune responses against minor histocompatibility antigens, and the pathogens Toxoplasma gondii and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Conclusions Our results indicate that EGR-2 is not required to mount normal acute in vivo immune responses against foreign antigens, and suggest instead that it may serve to regulate the response to chronic antigenic exposure, such as that which occurs to autoantigens.
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Profiles of Patients with Gender Identity Disorder Requesting Sex Reassignment Surgery

Background: Gender identity disorder (GID) is a distressing disorder characterized by a persistent unhappiness with one's own sex and a desire to be of the opposite sex as well as seeking sex reassignment surgery for the same. The aim of the study was to assess the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) profiles in patients with GID and examine differences in the profiles based on original gender of the patients. Methodology: Twenty-seven patients with GID that fulfilled the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Text Revision criteria for the same were participants of the study. They were administered the MMPI-2 and the scores across various scales were statistically analyzed. Before analysis, the sample was divided into groups according to gender, i.e., male-to-female and female-to-male patients who were requesting sex reassignment surgery. Results: No significant elevation of scores on any of the scales was noted in keeping with the fact that patients with GID usually demonstrate minimal psychopathology. All patients showed elevation on at least one subscale other than the masculinity-femininity subscale. No differences across gender were noted indicating that gender was probably not a determinant of psychopathology in GID. Conclusions: MMPI-2 profiles in patients with GID failed to reveal major psychopathology though the MMPI still remains a useful tool in the assessment of this population.
Fear of novelty in infant rats predicts adult corticosterone dynamics and an early death

Individuals who are fearful of novelty have a larger hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response than do nonfearful individuals. We hypothesized that a fearful behavioral style emerging early in life would be associated with life-long altered adrenal activity. Because there is ample physiological evidence both costs and benefits of adrenal activation, we determined whether such a stable emotional-neuroendocrine trait was associated with differential morbidity and mortality. To conduct such lifespan work, we studied a relatively short-lived mammal: the Norway rat. We first established that an animal's hesitation or willingness to explore a novel environment (“neophobia” and “neophilia,” respectively) is an identifiable and stable behavioral trait in young-adult males and that neophobia, compared with neophilia, was associated with a greater glucocorticoid response to novelty. Second, we were able to detect behavioral differences among infant rats within a family, and this behavioral disposition at infancy predicted the magnitude of the glucocorticoid response in late middle age. Males identified as neophobic during infancy died sooner than their less fearful brothers. Although both types of males died with similar pathologies (tumors), neophobic males were 60% more likely to die at any point in time. This lifespan study identifies an emotional trait in infancy that predicts an early death and an associated neuroendocrine trait in adulthood that is a potential mechanism underlying the relationship between behavioral style and longevity.
Fast-Forward on the Green Road to Open Access: The Case Against Mixing Up Green and Gold

This is a critique of Jean-Claude Guedon's "The 'Green' and 'Gold' Roads to Open Access: The Case for Mixing and Matching"(Serials Review 30(4) 2004). J-CG thinks that what needs to be self-archived is unpublished papers (preprints), and that peer review then somehow needs to be added, in order to make the preprints into validated publications. But what needs to be self-archived is peer-reviewed, published postprints. Those have already been validated. JC-G is mixing up Gold OA (OA journal publishing) and Green OA (OA self-archiving of non-OA journal articles).
Acute regulation of mouse AE2 anion exchanger requires isoform‐specific amino acid residues from most of the transmembrane domain

The widely expressed anion exchanger polypeptide AE2/SLC4A2 is acutely inhibited by acidic intracellular (pHi), by acidic extracellular pH (pHo), and by the calmodulin inhibitor, calmidazolium, whereas it is acutely activated by NH4+. The homologous erythroid/kidney AE1/SLC4A1 polypeptide is insensitive to these regulators. Each of these AE2 regulatory responses requires the presence of AE2's C‐terminal transmembrane domain (TMD). We have now measured 36Cl− efflux from Xenopus oocytes expressing bi‐ or tripartite AE2–AE1 chimeras to define TMD subregions in which AE2‐specific sequences contribute to acute regulation. The chimeric AE polypeptides were all functional at pHo 7.4, with the sole exception of AE2(1‐920)/AE1(613‐811)/AE2(1120‐1237). Reciprocal exchanges of the large third extracellular loops were without effect. AE2 regulation by pHi, pHo and NH4+ was retained after substitution of C‐terminal AE2 amino acids 1120–1237 (including the putative second re‐entrant loop, two TM spans and the cytoplasmic tail) with the corresponding AE1 sequence. In contrast, the presence of this AE2 C‐terminal sequence was both necessary and sufficient for inhibition by calmidazolium. All other tested TMD substitutions abolished AE2 pHi sensitivity, abolished or severely attenuated sensitivity to pHo and removed sensitivity to NH4+. Loss of AE2 pHi sensitivity was not rescued by co‐expression of a complementary AE2 sequence within separate full‐length chimeras or AE2 subdomains. Thus, normal regulation of AE2 by pH and other ligands requires AE2‐specific sequence from most regions of the AE2 TMD, with the exceptions of the third extracellular loop and a short C‐terminal sequence. We conclude that the individual TMD amino acid residues previously identified as influencing acute regulation of AE2 exert that influence within a regulatory structure requiring essential contributions from multiple regions of the AE2 TMD.
Chapter 12 Remote sensing and GIS applications in agrometeorology

Remote sensing is the science and art of obtaining information about an object through the analysis of data acquired by a device that is not in contact with the object (Lillesand and Keifer, 1994). Remotely sensed data can be of many forms, including variations in force distribution, acoustic wave distribution or electromagnetic energy distributions and can be obtained from a variety of platforms, including satellite, airplanes, remotely pilot vehicles, handheld radiometers or even bucket trucks. They may be gathered by different devices, including sensors, film camera, digital cameras, video recorders. Our eyes acquire data on variations in electromagnetic radiations. Instruments capable of measuring electromagnetic radiation are called sensors. Sensors can be differentiated in two main groups: Passive sensors: without their own source of radiation. They are sensitive only to radiation from a natural origin. Active sensors: which have a built in source of radiation. Examples are Radar (Radio detection and ranging) and Lidar (Light detection and ranging) systems. This can be analogue (photography) or digital (multispectral scanning, thermography, radar). The elements of a digital image are called resolution cells (during the data acquisition) or pixels (after the image creation). The implementation of remote sensing data by the user requires some knowledge about the technical capabilities of the various sensor systems. The technical capabilities of the sensor systems can be listed in three resolutions: • Spatial resolution: concerns the size of the resolution cell on the ground in the direction of the flight and across. The size of the pixel determines the smallest detectable terrain feature. • Spectral resolution: concerns the number, location in the electromagnetic spectrum and bandwidth of the specific wavelength bands or spectral bands. This resolution differs between sensors and largely determines their potential use. • Temporal resolution: concerns the time lapse between two successive images of the same area. This primarily determined by the platform used, and secondly by the atmospheric conditions. Remote Sensing provides spatial coverage by measurement of reflected, emitted and backscattered radiation, across a wide range of wavebands, from the earth's surface and surrounding atmosphere. Remote Sensing-based spatial coverage was measured by reflected and emitted electromagnetic radiation from the earth's surface and surrounding atmosphere. Remote sensed data of the land surface is possible across a wide range of wavebands, from the ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS), near infrared (NIR), short wave infrared (SWIR), mid-infrared (MIR), thermal infrared (TIR), and microwave (MV) regions of the electromagnetic …
Body composition analysis and changes in airways function in obese adults after hypocaloric diet.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine the relationship between weight-loss and pulmonary function indexes, focusing on forced expiratory flows (ie, FEV(1), forced expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity [FEF(50)], forced expiratory flow at 75% of vital capacity, and forced expiratory flow at 25 to 75% of vital capacity [FEF(25--75)]). Specifically, to determine the effect of losses in total and segmental fat mass (FM) and of modifications in lean body mass, after restricted hypocaloric diet, on pulmonary function among obese adults. DESIGN Cross-sectional, observational. SETTINGS Human Physiology Division, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, "Tor Vergata" University, Rome, Italy. PATIENTS Thirty obese adults (mean [+/- SD] baseline body mass index [BMI], 32.25 +/- 3.99 kg/m(2)), without significant obstructive airway disease, were selected from among participants in a weight-loss program. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Anthropometric, body composition (BC), and respiratory parameters of all participants were measured before and after weight loss. Total and segmental lean body and FM were obtained by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Dynamic spirometric tests and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) were performed. The BC parameters (ie, body weight [BW], BMI, the sum skinfold thicknesses, thoracic inhalation circumference, thoracic expiration circumference, total FM, and trunk FM [FMtrunk]) were significantly decreased (p < or = .0001) after a hypocaloric diet. The mean vital capacity, FEV(1), FEF(50), FEF(25-75), expiratory reserve volume, and MVV significantly increased (p < or = 0.05) with weight loss. The correlation coefficient for Delta FEF(25--75) (r = 0.20) was numerically higher than Delta FEF(50) and Delta FEV(1) (r = 0.14 and r = 0.08, respectively) for the BW loss. Moreover, the correlation coefficient for Delta FEF(25--75) (r = 0.45) was significantly higher (p < or = 0.02) than those for Delta FEF(50) and Delta FEV(1) (r = 0.38 and r = 0.15, respectively) for FMtrunk loss. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that a decrease in total and upper body fat obtained by restricted diet was not accompanied by a decrease in ventilatory muscle mass. FMtrunk loss was found to have improved airflow limitation, which can be correlated to peripheral airways function.
Fully Formatted Pdf and Full Text (html) Versions Will Be Made Available Soon. Pupil Dilation Betrays the Timing of Decisions

The notion of "mind-reading" by carefully observing another individual's physiological responses has recently become commonplace in popular culture, particularly in the context of brain imaging. The question remains, however, whether outwardly accessible physiological signals indeed betray a decision before a person voluntarily reports it. In one experiment we asked observers to push a button at any time during a 10-second period (" immediate overt response "). In a series of three additional experiments observers were asked to select one number from five sequentially presented digits but concealed their decision until the trial's end (" covert choice "). In these experiments observers either had to choose the digit themselves under conditions of reward and no reward, or were instructed which digit to select via an external cue provided at the time of the digit presentation. In all cases pupil dilation alone predicted the choice (timing of button response or chosen digit, respectively). Consideration of the average pupil-dilation responses, across all experiments, showed that this prediction of timing was distinct from a general arousal or reward-anticipation response. Furthermore, the pupil dilation appeared to reflect the post-decisional consolidation of the selected outcome rather than the pre-decisional cognitive appraisal component of the decision. Given the tight link between pupil dilation and norepinephrine levels during constant illumination, our results have implications beyond the tantalizing mind-reading speculations. These findings suggest that similar noradrenergic mechanisms may underlie the consolidation of both overt and covert decisions.
The LLUNATIC Data-Cleaning Framework

Data-cleaning (or data-repairing) is considered a crucial problem in many database-related tasks. It consists in making a database consistent with respect to a set of given constraints. In recent years, repairing methods have been proposed for several classes of constraints. However, these methods rely on ad hoc decisions and tend to hard-code the strategy to repair conflicting values. As a consequence, there is currently no general algorithm to solve database repairing problems that involve different kinds of constraints and different strategies to select preferred values. In this paper we develop a uniform framework to solve this problem. We propose a new semantics for repairs, and a chase-based algorithm to compute minimal solutions. We implemented the framework in a DBMS-based prototype, and we report experimental results that confirm its good scalability and superior quality in computing repairs.
SLEEP AND TREATMENT OUTCOME IN POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER: RESULTS FROM AN EFFECTIVENESS STUDY

Most patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suffer from sleep problems. Concerns have been raised about possible detrimental effects of sleep problems on the efficacy of psychological treatments for PTSD. In this study, we investigated the relation of session‐to‐session changes in PTSD symptoms and sleep, and tested whether sleep problems predicted poorer short‐ and long‐term treatment outcome.
Structure and alleged functions of avian pineals.

The pineal is structurally very diverse among the avian species that have been examined. In some birds, especially owls, the pineal is virtually absent. Sympathetic innervation is provided by projections from the superior cervical ganglia. Several cell types are present in the pineal body, among which are large cells, associated with lamellar bodies, that are commonly considered to be abortive or vestigial photoreceptors. Diurnal cycles of serotonin and melatonin content of the pineal are responsive to photoperiod, and there is a small amount of evidence that the avian pineal may serve as a pacemaker for diurnal rhythms of activity. Pinealectomy indicates a role for this body in controlling gonadal function, but the evidence is not consistent. Indole amines may be the mediators of this presumed endocrine role, but the supporting evidence is not very convincing.
Gerenciamento do protocolo de dor torácica no setor de emergência

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a adesao dos plantonistas da emergencia na aplicacao de um protocolo de dor toracica e o impacto no indice de mortalidade por infarto agudo do miocardio. ME TODOS: Estudo retrospectivo, realizado de maio de 2016 ate maio de 2017. Os dados foram obtidos por relatorios do sistema TASY e mostram todas as admissoes por queixa de dor toracica, segundo a CID10. Estas admissoes foram tabuladas em planilha Excel. RESULTADOS: Dos 1.657 pacientes com entrada na emergencia clinica por queixa de dor toracica, 471 apresentavam sindrome coronariana. Na amostra, 67,39% dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino, com media de idade de 59,72 anos. Destes, 92 (19,96%) foram diagnosticados com infarto agudo do miocardio, 30 (28,26%) apresentavam supradesnivelamento do segmento ST e 62 (71,74%) foram diagnosticados como infarto agudo do miocardio sem supradesnivelamento do segmento ST. Todos os casos que necessitaram de angioplastia tiveram o procedimento executado dentro do prazo estabelecido pelas diretrizes internacionais. Receberam aspirina profilatica 469 (99,57%) pacientes. A mortalidade dos pacientes internados com infarto agudo do miocardio foi de 2,17%. CONCLUSAO: O gerenciamento deste protocolo permite mapear o processo, bem como verificar eficacia, pontos fortes e fracos, e os riscos.