Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender variations in cardiovascular responses to Cold Pressor Test in Normal subjects

Abnormal Cold Pressor Response [CPT] is one of the important characteristic of autonomic dysfunction as well as future development of hypertension. Appropriate identification and intervention at early stages can prevent cardiovascular related morbidity and mortality. With this background we tried to identify if any abnormal response to Cold Pressor Test [CPT] in normal subjects. This test was carried on 60 healthy I MBBS 30 males and 30 females students aged between 19 – 25 years. Standard Mercury Sphygmomanometer was used to determine Blood pressure SBP and DBP. Heart Rates [HR] were recorded before and after the Cold Pressor Test [CPT]. The Cold Pressor Test [CPT] was performed following Hines–Brown’s method, with subjects immersing their left hand in 4°C water for 1 min and values were recorded in appropriate format. In males the Mean SBP was found to be 118.96 ± 5.86 and in females the values were 121.14 ± 7.0 before the start of the test. The mean values of SBP during CPT were 129.41 ± 6.04 for males and 135.5 ± 4.14 for females, the calculated p values were found to be < 0.05 and were found to be significant. The mean value of DBP in males before test were 83.86 ± 8.02 and females were 84.53 ± 6.51 The mean values of DBP during CPT in males 96.53 ± 8.58 and in female were 95.9 ± 7.29. Basal Heart Rate mean values in males were 79.95 ± 8.06 and for females it was 84.5 ± 6.75. Maximum Heart Rates recorded during application of Cold Pressor Test [CPT] for males were 110.05 ± 10.9 and for females it was 118.86 ± 15.5 the calculated p values were significant. In the present study it was found that the response to CPT by both male and female varies. Whereas the females showed significant increase in SBP and heart Rate as compared to male counterparts. We also found that there were more numbers of hyperreactors to CPT in male as compared to females. This shows that CPT is a simple yet effective tool in monitoring vascular hyperreactivity and future development of hypertension in both genders.
The Effects of Restraint Stress on Anxiety-Like Behavior in Adolescent and Adult Male Sprague-Dawley Rats: An Examination of the Effects of Early- Life Stress on the Development of Psychopathologies

Several lines of research on human and rodent subjects have demonstrated that early-life stress results in multiple negative outcomes, including increased incidence of psychopathologies. The current study sought to further the research on adolescent versus adult rats on anxiety-like reactions to chronic stress. The purpose of the current study was to assess whether 7 days of chronic restraint stress (20 minutes/day) results in higher anxiety-like profiles on the elevated plus maze and increased stress-induced neuroendocrine adaptations in adolescent versus adult rats. This type of research is critical for the prevention and treatment of psychopathologies stemming from early-life stress/maltreatment. There were no significant differences in anxiety-like behavior on the elevated plus maze or between age groups on neuroendocrine measures of stress. However, non-significant trends were observed in the anticipated directions, such that adolescent stressed rats spent less time on the open arms of the elevated plus maze. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
The relationships between muscle, external, internal and joint mechanical work during normal walking

SUMMARY Muscle mechanical work is an important biomechanical quantity in human movement analyses and has been estimated using different quantities including external, internal and joint work. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationships between these traditionally used estimates of mechanical work in human walking and to assess whether they can be used as accurate estimates of musculotendon and/or muscle fiber work. A muscle-actuated forward dynamics walking simulation was generated to quantify each of the mechanical work measures. Total joint work (i.e. the time integral of absolute joint power over a full gait cycle) was found to underestimate total musculotendon work due to agonist–antagonist co-contractions, despite the effect of biarticular muscle work and passive joint work, which acted to decrease the underestimation. We did find that when the net passive joint work over the gait cycle is negligible, net joint work (i.e. the time integral of net joint power) was comparable to the net musculotendon work (and net muscle fiber work because net tendon work is zero over a complete gait cycle). Thus, during walking conditions when passive joint work is negligible, net joint work may be used as an estimate of net muscle work. Neither total external nor total internal work (nor their sum) provided a reasonable estimate of total musculotendon work. We conclude that joint work is limited in its ability to estimate musculotendon work, and that external and internal work should not be used as an estimation of musculotendon work.
Effects of dabigatran on the cellular and protein phase of coagulation in patients with coronary artery disease on dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel

Summary There is growing interest in understanding the effects of adding an oral anticoagulant in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and clopidogrel represent the most broadly utilised oral anticoagulant and P2Y12 receptor inhibitor, respectively. However, VKAs can interfere with clopidogrel metabolism via the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system which in turn may result in an increase in platelet reactivity. Dabigatran is a direct acting (anti-II) oral anticoagulant which does not interfere with CYP and has favourable safety and efficacy profiles compared with VKAs. The pharmacodynamic (PD) effects on platelet reactivity and clot kinetic of adjunctive dabigatran therapy in patients on DAPT are poorly explored. In this prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled PD study, patients (n=30) on maintenance DAPT with aspirin and clopidogrel were randomised to either dabigatran 150 mg bid or placebo for seven days. PD testing was performed before and after treatment using four different assays exploring multiple pathways of platelet aggregation and fibrin clot kinetics: light transmittance aggregometry (LTA), multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA), kaolin-activated thromboelastography (TEG) and turbidimetric assays. There were no differences in multiple measures of platelet reactivity investigating purinergic and non-purinergic signaling pathways assessed by LTA, MEA and TEG platelet mapping. Dabigatran significantly increased parameters related to thrombin activity and thrombus generation, and delayed fibrin clot formation, without affecting clot structure or fibrinolysis. In conclusion, in patients on DAPT with aspirin and clopidogrel, adjunctive dabigatran therapy is not associated with modulation of profiles of platelet reactivity as determined by several assays assessing multiple platelet signalling pathways. However, dabigatran significantly interferes with parameters related to thrombin activity and delays fibrin clot formation.
Tactile resonance sensors in medicine

Tactile sensors in general are used for measuring the physical parameters associated with contact between sensor and object. Tactile resonance sensors in particular are based on the principle of measuring the frequency shift, Δf, defined as the difference between a freely vibrating sensor resonance frequency and the resonance frequency measured when the sensor makes contact to an object. Δf is therefore related to the acoustic impedance of the object and can be used to characterize its material properties. In medicine, tactile resonance sensor systems have been developed for the detection of cancer, human ovum fertility, eye pressure and oedema. In 1992 a Japanese research group published a paper presenting a unique phase shift circuit to facilitate resonance measurements. In this review we summarize the current state-of-the-art of tactile resonance sensors in medicine based on the phase shift circuit and discuss the relevance of the measured parameters for clinical diagnosis. Future trends and applications enabled by this technology are also predicted.
An Approach for Replanning of Web Service Workflows

The dynamic composition of Web Services to workflows at runtime is a major challenge in the emerging field of Serviceoriented computing. At this, preferences and constraints defined by the user have to be considered, e.g. executing a workflow with the cheapest Web Services, but not exceeding a given execution time. Due to the volatile nature of the Web Service environment the actual runtime behavior of Web Services may deviate from the one estimated in the planning phase. Thus, replanning mechanisms are crucial for adapting a workflow to the real behavior ensuring that its execution remains feasible, valid and optimal subject to the preferences and constraints defined by the user. Replanning mechanisms have to perform in real-time not to create further delay to the workflow execution. Thus, in this paper, we introduce a heuristic based replanning mechanism.
Effect of tilting on turbulent convection: cylindrical samples with aspect ratio $\Gamma = 0. 50$

Abstract We report measurements of the properties of turbulent thermal convection of a fluid with a Prandtl number $\mathit{Pr}= 4. 38$ in a cylindrical cell with an aspect ratio $\Gamma = 0. 50$. The rotational symmetry was broken by a small tilt of the sample axis relative to gravity. Measurements of the heat transport (as expressed by the Nusselt number Nu), as well as properties of the large-scale circulation (LSC) obtained from temperature measurements along the sidewall, are presented. In contradistinction to similar experiments using containers of aspect ratio $\Gamma = 1. 00$ (Ahlers et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 557, 2006b, pp. 347–367) and $\Gamma = 0. 50$ (Chillà et al., Eur. Phys. J. B, vol. 40, 2004, pp. 223–227; Sun, Xi & Xia, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 95, 2005, p. 074502; Roche et al., New J. Phys., vol. 12, 2010, p. 085014), we see a very small increase of the heat transport for tilt angles up to about 0.1 rad. Based on measurements of properties of the LSC we explain this increase by a stabilization of the single-roll state (SRS) of the LSC and a destabilization of the double-roll state (DRS) (it is known from previous work that the SRS has a slightly larger heat transport than the DRS). Quantitative measurements of the strength and the orientation of the LSC show that its azimuthal diffusion is suppressed with increasing tilt whereas the torsional oscillation becomes more pronounced and its frequency increases.
Effects of sleep fragmentation on glucose metabolism in normal subjects.

BACKGROUND Sleep disorders are increasingly associated with insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Whether the metabolic toll imposed by sleep-related disorders is caused by poor-quality sleep or due to other confounding factors is not known. The objective of this study was to examine whether experimental sleep fragmentation across all sleep stages would alter glucose metabolism, adrenocortical function, and sympathovagal balance. METHODS Sleep was experimentally fragmented across all stages in 11 healthy, normal volunteers for two nights using auditory and mechanical stimuli. Primary outcomes included insulin sensitivity (S(I)), glucose effectiveness (S(G)), and insulin secretion, as determined by the intravenous glucose tolerance test. Secondary outcomes included measures of sympathovagal balance and serum levels of inflammatory markers, adipokines, and cortisol. RESULTS Following two nights of sleep fragmentation, S(I) decreased from 5.02 to 3.76 (mU/L)(-1)min(-1) (P < .0001). S(G), which is the ability of glucose to mobilize itself independent of an insulin response, also decreased from 2.73 x 10(-2) min(-1) to 2.16 x 10(-2) min(-1) (P < .01). Sleep fragmentation led to an increase in morning cortisol levels and a shift in sympathovagal balance toward an increase in sympathetic nervous system activity. Markers of systemic inflammation and serum adipokines were unchanged with sleep fragmentation. CONCLUSIONS Fragmentation of sleep across all stages is associated with a decrease in S(I) and S(G). Increases in sympathetic nervous system and adrenocortical activity likely mediate the adverse metabolic effects of poor sleep quality.
A mutually assured destruction mechanism attenuates light signaling in Arabidopsis

Emerging from the shade into the light As a growing seedling emerges into the light, it needs to shift its developmental program to grow toward the light. Signaling components that flip the switch from growth in the shade to growth in the light include phytochromes, which are sensitive to red light, and transcription factors that drive the shade-adapted pattern of development. Ni et al. now show how phosphorylation sets these signaling partners up for destruction. The signaling established by red light invokes photomorphogenesis by promoting the destruction of the photoreceptor and its signaling partner. Science, this issue p. 1160 Phytochrome and its partner transcription factor go to their doom together in response to a change in light quality. After light-induced nuclear translocation, phytochrome photoreceptors interact with and induce rapid phosphorylation and degradation of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, such as PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 3 (PIF3), to regulate gene expression. Concomitantly, this interaction triggers feedback reduction of phytochrome B (phyB) levels. Light-induced phosphorylation of PIF3 is necessary for the degradation of both proteins. We report that this PIF3 phosphorylation induces, and is necessary for, recruitment of LRB [Light-Response Bric-a-Brack/Tramtrack/Broad (BTB)] E3 ubiquitin ligases to the PIF3-phyB complex. The recruited LRBs promote concurrent polyubiqutination and degradation of both PIF3 and phyB in vivo. These data reveal a linked signal-transmission and attenuation mechanism involving mutually assured destruction of the receptor and its immediate signaling partner.
Effect of suplatast tosilate on goblet cell metaplasia in patients with asthma

Background: Goblet cell metaplasia is a pathologic characteristic of asthma, associated with excess mucus secretion. Interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐13 plays an important role in mucus hypersecretion. Suplatast tosilate (suplatast), an antiallergic agent, is a Th2 cytokine inhibitor that suppresses the synthesis of IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐13, and eosinophilic airway inflammation.
Experience With Iterative Reconstruction Techniques for Abdominopelvic Computed Tomography in Morbidly and Super Obese Patients

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) images reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms in morbidly and super obese patients. Materials and Methods One hundred eighty-seven abdominopelvic CT examinations in portal venous phase were performed between February 2015 and February 2016 in 182 patients (mean age = 52 years, mean body mass index = 45.5). One hundred fourteen of 187 examinations were reconstructed using IR and 73 examinations were processed using FBP. Patients were further stratified based on body mass index. Sixty CT scans were reviewed by a single reader for image quality, image noise, and artifacts. Objective noise and attenuation were also determined. Size-specific dose estimate and CT dose index volume were compared and statistically analyzed. Results A diagnostic interpretation was rendered for all 187 examinations. A single-reader review of 60 cases showed greater diagnostic acceptability for IR when compared with FBP (image quality = 4.2 and 3.8 [P = 0.035], noise = 1.5 and 1.6 [P = 0.692], artifact = 1.4 and 1.5 [P = 0.759], respectively). For all examinations, the IR group had lower objective image noise (IR = 9.3 and FBP = 14.3; P < 0.001) and higher contrast-to-noise ratio (IR = 17.2 and FBP = 11.7; P < 0.001) without increase in radiation dose (size-specific dose estimate [IR = 15.1, FBP = 16.5 mGy; P = 0.045] and CT dose index volume [IR = 17.6, FBP = 18 mGy; P = 0.62]). Conclusions In morbidly and super obese patients, diagnostic quality images could be reliably generated with minimal artifacts and noise using newer generation scanners integrated with IR without increasing radiation dose.
Further Experimental Studies of Dynamic Propositions in Psychoanalysis: On the Function and Meaning of Regressive Thinking

HIS PAPER WILL CONCERN ITSELF with a particular kind of ego disturbance, regressive thinking. I am referring here to thinkT ing that is unrealistic, illogical, or loose, which alternately has been referred to in the psychoanalytic and psychiatric literature as primary process thinking, pathological thinking, archaic thinking, etc. It is most frequently associated with the “thought disorder” of the schizophrenic and it has been from such patients that most of our data have been collected, and it is thus for them that the views to be presented most directly pertain. However, since this disturbance also can be found in the so-called borderline cases and even in neurotics, though less extensively and without the breakdown in reality testing that characterizes its occurrence in schizophrenia, the formulation to be presented may turn out to hold for regressive thinking per se, regardIess of the diagnosis of the patient manifesting it. Also, as shall be discussed at the end of the paper, there is reason to believe that this same formulation has relevance for the understanding of certain other ego disturbances, those which, like regressive thinking, can be understood to involve a breakdown of ego boundaries.
Performance and Capacity Comparison of Two New Lgwp Refrigerants Alternative to R410a in Residential Air Conditioning Applications

Energy conservation is the core reason for the increasing interest in high performance low global warming potential (LGWP) refrigerants. Several researchers pioneered new refrigerants that have zero ozone depletion potential and GWP less than 500. This paper presents a study that breaks new ground on LGWP developmental refrigerants and focuses on heat pump systems for residential applications. An R410A 17.6 kW (5 ton) heat pump split unit commercially available off-the-shelf for US ducted HVAC application, was retrofitted with two new developmental refrigerants that have GWP ranging from 300 to 500, which is significantly lower than that of R410A. The two new refrigerants are still in the R&D stage and are referred throughout this paper as DR-4 and DR-5. The experiments were conducted in a large scale psychometric chamber at Oklahoma State University and the refrigerant cycle pressures and temperatures were measured at design and off-design conditions with outdoor temperature ranging from -8C (17F) to 46C (115F). Very high outdoor temperatures of 43C (110F) and 46C (115F) were also considered in order to assess the characteristics of the new LGWP refrigerants at extreme high temperature ambient conditions. The findings for this work showed that DR-5 had up to 4% higher capacity and up to 22% higher COP, while DR-4 showed up to 16% higher COP but 30% lower capacity in comparison with R410A. The experimental results showed that the thermal expansion valve could be further optimized for the new refrigerants. Adjustments were made to maximize the COP of the unit while preserving the cooling capacity and data showed that the COP of DR-4 could be augmented by an additional 6% with respect to drop-in tests. The experimental data discussed in this paper are part of a broader campaign on LGWP refrigerants performance in heat pump systems. The data serve to provide some guidance to the industry and regulatory agencies for the need of future research and developmental work on the next generation of high performance LGWP refrigerants.
Wild band edges: The role of bandgap grading and band-edge fluctuations in high-efficiency chalcogenide devices

Band-edge effects - including grading, electrostatic fluctuations, bandgap fluctuations, and band tails - affect chalcogenide device efficiency. These effects now require more careful consideration as efficiencies increase beyond 20%. Several aspects of the relationships between band-edge phenomena and device performance for NREL absorbers are examined. For Cu(In, Ga)Se2 devices, recent increases in diffusion length imply changes to the optimum bandgap profile. The origin, impact, and modification of electrostatic and bandgap fluctuations are also discussed. The application of the same principles to devices based on CdTe, kesterites, and emerging absorbers (Cu2SnS3, CuSbS2), considering differences in materials properties, is examined.
The status of radiology in the Arab world. First world report.

Shortly after the discovery of X-rays by the German physicist Wilhelm C. Roentgen in November 1895, the first X-ray apparatus was installed in 1898 in Beirut at the Prussian Hospital affiliated since 1887 with the Medical School of the Syrian Protestant College founded in 1867 (later American University of Beirut in 1920). The first chest radiographs were produced after a long exposure time in 1900 by the Reverend Pere Maurice Collangettes at the Faculte Francaise de Medecine (FFM) in Beirut and by Dr. Arthur Bacon and Mr. Brahim Youssef Succar, the first Lebanese X-ray technologist, at the X-ray laboratory of Prussian Hospital. In Sudan, the first X-ray was performed in 1898 during the British invasion battle of Omdurman. The first Lebanese specialized roentgenologist was Dr. Toufic Hajjar who trained in Paris from 1910 to 1912, returned to Lebanon as chief of the X-ray laboratory at the American University Hospital, built in 1905 (later American University of Beirut Medical Center in 1970). He stayed for two years and then left to Egypt. Subsequently, Dr. Naadir Qadduwra (MD 1921 from Syrian Protestant College) who specialized in roentgenology in France and Germany (1921-1923) came back and opened a private office in Beirut [1]. In neighboring Damascus the X-ray facilities were limited and operated by physicians and surgeons like Dr. Nazmi Khani. In 1943, just before Syria’s independence from France, the first trained roentgenologist, Dr. Muayyad Azm, started practicing at the University Teaching Hospital ; but it wasn’t until 1950 after Dr. Wahid Sawwaf had finished a full residency training in the United States that the modernization and expansion of facilities started, spearheaded by the building of new teaching hospitals and the Watani Hospital. In Aleppo, Dr. Tahsin Masri is credited with the establishment of the first radiological clinic. The first Saudi Arabian radiologist was Dr. Mohamad Khalid Kashogi who graduated from Damascus School of Medsicine in 1921 in Syria, and certified as specialist from University of Paris in 1932. In 1933, he installed in the “Holy city of Mecca” the first X-ray machine in Saudi Arabia. Information on the history of radiological services in other Arab countries is not available. In the last three decades modern imaging has found its way into the radiological practice throughout the region with increasing subspecialization. Interventional radiology, a specialty that started in academic centers like the American University of Beirut in the early 1970s, has expanded extensively and enjoy a protected status in some countries like Kuwait but face the same challenges from other specialties just like in other parts of the world.