Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Storage and Microencapsulation of Islets for Transplantation 1

Microencapsulation is an effective means of immunoisolation for pancreatic islet transplants. However, the process of isolating, purifying, encapsulating, and transplanting islets in a single day is labor intensive and difficult for routine use. There is an apparent need for reliable methods of islet storage, and cryopreservation has emerged as an attractive system of islet banking. While studies have shown that cryopreserved islets are viable when tested unencapsulated after thawing, it is not clear if the combination of freezing and encapsulation would affect islet function. The purpose of the present study was to determine the in vitro function of cryopreserved islets following thawing and microencapsulation. Islets were isolated from the pancreata of Sprague-Dawley rats and cryopreserved under liquid nitrogen for either 1 week or 1 month, following an overnight culture at 37CC. Upon thawing, the islets were tested either unencapsulated or after encapsulation in polylysine–alginate membrane. In all experiments islets were preperifused for 1 h at 37°C with a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer containing 3.3 mM (60 mg/dl) glucose and maintained at pH 7.4 by continuous gassing with 95% air/5% CO2. Following basal effluent sample collection on ice, the glucose concentration was raised to 16.7 mM (300 mg/dl). It was found that, within 10 min of high glucose stimulation, an average of twofold increase in insulin secretion (p < 0.01) was obtained in islets within or without microcapsules. We conclude that islets cryopreserved for 1 month prior to thawing and microencapsulation retained functional viability as determined in in vitro experiments.
Discerning nonstationarity from nonlinearity in seizure-free and preseizure EEG recordings from epilepsy patients

A number of recent studies indicate that nonlinear electroencephalogram (EEG) analyses allow one to define a state predictive of an impending epileptic seizure. In this paper, we combine a method for detecting nonlinear determinism with a novel test for stationarity to characterize EEG recordings from both the seizure-free interval and the preseizure phase. We discuss differences between these periods, particularly an increased occurrence of stationary, nonlinear segments prior to seizures. These differences seem most prominent for recording sites within the seizure-generating area and for EEG segments less than one minute's length.
THE POTASSIUM-ACTIVATED HYPERPOLARIZATION OF SYMPATHETIC GANGLION CELL MEMBRANES IN BULLFROGS

In bullfrog sympathetic ganglia, the potassium-activated hyperpolarization, which was produced when the external solution was changed from the potassium-free Ringer solution to the Ringer solution (containing 2 mM KCI), was recorded by means of the sucrose-gap method and intracellular microelectrodes and analysed in order to clarify its electrogenesis. The potassium-activated hyperpolarization of ganglion cells was completely blocked by ouabain (2×10-6 M) and markedly depressed by lowering temperature of external solution. The amplitude of hyperpolarization was also markedly reduced in the sodium-free lithium solution. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) (5 mM) augmented the amplitude of the hyperpolarization. All these results supported the concept that the potassium-activated hyperpolarization was generated by an activation of the electrogenic sodiumpump.
BCI2000: a general-purpose brain-computer interface (BCI) system

Many laboratories have begun to develop brain-computer interface (BCI) systems that provide communication and control capabilities to people with severe motor disabilities. Further progress and realization of practical applications depends on systematic evaluations and comparisons of different brain signals, recording methods, processing algorithms, output formats, and operating protocols. However, the typical BCI system is designed specifically for one particular BCI method and is, therefore, not suited to the systematic studies that are essential for continued progress. In response to this problem, we have developed a documented general-purpose BCI research and development platform called BCI2000. BCI2000 can incorporate alone or in combination any brain signals, signal processing methods, output devices, and operating protocols. This report is intended to describe to investigators, biomedical engineers, and computer scientists the concepts that the BCI2000 system is based upon and gives examples of successful BCI implementations using this system. To date, we have used BCI2000 to create BCI systems for a variety of brain signals, processing methods, and applications. The data show that these systems function well in online operation and that BCI2000 satisfies the stringent real-time requirements of BCI systems. By substantially reducing labor and cost, BCI2000 facilitates the implementation of different BCI systems and other psychophysiological experiments. It is available with full documentation and free of charge for research or educational purposes and is currently being used in a variety of studies by many research groups.
Automatic classification of heartbeats using ECG morphology and heartbeat interval features

A method for the automatic processing of the electrocardiogram (ECG) for the classification of heartbeats is presented. The method allocates manually detected heartbeats to one of the five beat classes recommended by ANSI/AAMI EC57:1998 standard, i.e., normal beat, ventricular ectopic beat (VEB), supraventricular ectopic beat (SVEB), fusion of a normal and a VEB, or unknown beat type. Data was obtained from the 44 nonpacemaker recordings of the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database. The data was split into two datasets with each dataset containing approximately 50 000 beats from 22 recordings. The first dataset was used to select a classifier configuration from candidate configurations. Twelve configurations processing feature sets derived from two ECG leads were compared. Feature sets were based on ECG morphology, heartbeat intervals, and RR-intervals. All configurations adopted a statistical classifier model utilizing supervised learning. The second dataset was used to provide an independent performance assessment of the selected configuration. This assessment resulted in a sensitivity of 75.9%, a positive predictivity of 38.5%, and a false positive rate of 4.7% for the SVEB class. For the VEB class, the sensitivity was 77.7%, the positive predictivity was 81.9%, and the false positive rate was 1.2%. These results are an improvement on previously reported results for automated heartbeat classification systems.
A 2-D ECG compression method based on wavelet transform and modified SPIHT

A two-dimensional (2-D) wavelet-based electrocardiogram (ECG) data compression method is presented which employs a modified set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) algorithm. This modified SPIHT algorithm utilizes further the redundancy among medium- and high-frequency subbands of the wavelet coefficients and the proposed 2-D approach utilizes the fact that ECG signals generally show redundancy between adjacent beats and between adjacent samples. An ECG signal is cut and aligned to form a 2-D data array, and then 2-D wavelet transform and the modified SPIHT can be applied. Records selected from the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database are tested. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves high compression ratio with relatively low distortion and is effective for various kinds of ECG morphologies.
Universal newborn screening for haemoglobinopathies in Guadeloupe (French West Indies): A 27-year experience

Objectives In Guadeloupe, an island in the French West Indies, a universal newborn screening programme for sickle cell disease and other abnormal haemoglobins was initiated in 1984. In 1990, a comprehensive sickle cell centre was established to carry on the management programme. We here report the main results from the newborn screening programme from 1984 to 2010, and consider how the establishment of the sickle cell centre affected the programme. Methods All blood samples were screened for the haemoglobinopathies using two reference methods in a single reference diagnosis laboratory. DNA analyses were also performed for confirmatory tests and analysis of the globin gene status. Results Between 1 January 1984 and 31 December 2010, 178,428 newborns were screened at birth, and 585 children were diagnosed with major sickle cell syndromes (ie. an overall incidence of 1 in 304 births). Sickle cell anaemia (haemoglobin SS disease) was the most frequently observed (1 in 575 births), followed by haemoglobin SC disease (1 in 771 births) and haemoglobin Sβ-thalassemia disease (1 in 4,243 births). Some other rare haemoglobin variants were also detected, the most common being HbDPunjab. The establishment of a comprehensive sickle cell centre resulted in a significant improvement in the screening coverage (p < 0.001) and a significant reduction of the delay between diagnosis and the first medical visit (p < 0.001). Conclusion The universal screening programme has made it possible to establish the incidence of the major sickle cell syndromes in Guadeloupe, and the management centre has improved its efficiency.
Developing early intervention services in the NHS: A survey to guide workforce and training needs

AIMS AND METHOD We conducted a questionnaire study to establish the incidence, specialist staff availability, treatment provision and socio-demographic profile of patients with first-episode psychosis referred to all adult and child and adolescent community mental health teams in south and west London. RESULTS All 39 teams completed the questionnaire, identifying 295 cases of first-episode psychosis (annual incidence 21/100 000/year) referred in the year 2000. Teams manage to engage most patients with first-episode psychosis. A total of 73% of cases of first-episode psychosis were on some form of Care Programme Approach. However, many teams did not have adequately trained staff to provide psychosocial interventions. Even where such staff were available, care was focused mainly on monitoring medication and risk assessment, with only half the teams providing psycho-educational programmes and only a quarter offering individual cognitive-behavioural therapy to those with first-episode psychosis.
Borrelia, Strains, Vectors, Human and Animal Borreliosis

Relapsing fever, described by Hippocrates in Thasos as "ardent fever" still occurs either in louse-borne epidemics or sporadically as tick-borne disease in almost every country in the world and yet its literature is confused and replete with contradictory reports and misinformation. Doctor Felsenfeld has brought order out of this confusion in his monograph on Borrelia , the etiological agent not only for human borreliosis but for disease in domestic animals and in birds. Certain strains of Bor - relia also attack the mucous membranes of man as the familiar "Vincent's angina. " The book is almost entirely devoted to a study of human borreliosis (relapsing fever), which it approaches in sections on the microbiology of the innumerable species, their epidemiology, pathology, clinical picture, diagnosis, and treatment. Finally, a 20-minute rapid staining method for treponemataceae in frozen sections is described and 749 references are appended. The various species of Borrelia responsible for relapsing fever
Clinicopathological differences between interval and screen-detected breast cancers diagnosed within a screening programme in Northern Portugal

Objective To evaluate clinicopathological differences between screen-detected (SD) and interval (IC) breast cancers diagnosed in women enrolled in an organized breast screening programme in 2000--2007. Setting Breast Cancer Screening Programme of the north region of Portugal. Methods Using data from the screening programme and from the population-based North Region Cancer Registry, SD and IC were identified. Information on screening history, age, date of diagnosis, tumour size, histological type and grade, lymph node status, tumour stage, biomarkers, and treatment was obtained from the cancer registry and from clinical and pathological reports. Association between mode of detection and these clinicopathological characteristics was estimated by unconditional logistic regression. Results A total of 442 SD and 112 IC were identified in women aged 50--69. Compared with SD, IC were diagnosed in younger women (60.0 ± 5.8 years and 58.4 ± 6.0 years, respectively), were larger (tumour size >20 mm: 60.2% versus 25.1%), lobular (6.3% versus 16.1%), with a higher differentiation grade (grade 3: 17.7% versus 38.9%), had more lymph node metastases, more advanced stage, and oestrogen receptor (ER) negative (12.9% versus 29.0%) and progesterone negative, and HER2 positive. After multivariable analysis, compared with SD, IC were more likely to be larger than 20 mm, lobular, of grade 3 and negative for ER. Conclusion Our results are consistent with other studies. IC’s have a more aggressive biology than SDs. Our findings did not show any unexpected pattern requiring changes to our screening procedures, but continuous identification and characterization of IC is advisable.
A comparison of 1-D models of cardiac pacemaker heterogeneity

In this paper, we investigate the role of sinoatrial node (SAN) cellular heterogeneity in two key aspects of normal cardiac pacemaker function: frequency entrainment of the SAN, and propagation of excitation into the atrial tissue. Using detailed ionic models of electrical activity in SAN and atrial myocytes, we have formulated a number of one-dimensional models of SAN heterogeneity based on discrete-region (in which central and peripheral SAN type cell are separated into discrete regions), gradient and mosaic models of SAN organization. Each of the different models were assessed on their ability to achieve frequency entrainment of the SAN and activation of the adjoining atrial tissue in the presence of both uniform and linearly increasing conductivity profiles. Simulation results suggest that the gradient model of SAN heterogeneity, in which cells display a smooth variation in membrane properties from the center to the periphery of the SAN, produces action potential waveshapes and a site of earliest activation consistent with experimental observations in the intact SAN. The gradient model also achieves frequency entrainment of the SAN more easily than other models of SAN heterogeneity. Based on these results, we conclude that the gradient model of SAN heterogeneity, in the presence of a uniform conductivity profile, is the most likely model of SAN organization.
An effective and efficient compression algorithm for ECG signals with irregular periods

This paper presents an effective and efficient preprocessing algorithm for two-dimensional (2-D) electrocardiogram (ECG) compression to better compress irregular ECG signals by exploiting their inter-and intra-beat correlations. To better reveal the correlation structure, we first convert the ECG signal into a proper 2-D representation, or image. This involves a few steps including QRS detection and alignment, period sorting, and length equalization. The resulting 2-D ECG representation is then ready to be compressed by an appropriate image compression algorithm. We choose the state-of-the-art JPEG2000 for its high efficiency and flexibility. In this way, the proposed algorithm is shown to outperform some existing arts in the literature by simultaneously achieving high compression ratio (CR), low percent root mean squared difference (PRD), low maximum error (MaxErr), and low standard derivation of errors (StdErr). In particular, because the proposed period sorting method rearranges the detected heartbeats into a smoother image that is easier to compress, this algorithm is insensitive to irregular ECG periods. Thus either the irregular ECG signals or the QRS false-detection cases can be better compressed. This is a significant improvement over existing 2-D ECG compression methods. Moreover, this algorithm is not tied exclusively to JPEG2000. It can also be combined with other 2-D preprocessing methods or appropriate codecs to enhance the compression performance in irregular ECG cases.
Anatomy of the anterior spinal artery in pigs

The anatomy of the anterior spinal artery in pigs was studied to determine whether or not the artery was continuous, as it is humans, or discontinuous. Six porcine carcasses were embalmed, and 24 hr later injected with pigmented latex through the thoracic aorta. The spinal column was removed, and the spinal cord was dissected with analysis of the anterior spinal artery. In all cases, the artery was continuous, and perfused by 18 ± 3 medullary arteries. The pig would thus be suitable as a model for the study of human diseases in which the anatomy of the anterior spinal artery is a factor. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Osteoclast Development in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Influence of the Bisphosphonate on Its Development

※통신저자:김 성 수 강원도 강릉시 사천면 방동리 415번지 울산대학교 의과대학 강릉아산병원 류마티스내과학교실 Tel:033) 6103126, Fax:033) 6418130, Email: drkiss@Korea.com This study was supported in part by a research grant from the MSGP of MSD Korea. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of MSD Korea. The Osteoclast Development in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Influence of the Bisphosphonate on Its Development
Interval cancers in a guaiac-based colorectal cancer screening programme: Consequences on sensitivity

Objective To evaluate interval cancers in the population-based colorectal cancer screening programme of Stockholm/Gotland, Sweden. Methods From 2008, individuals aged 60–69 were invited to colorectal cancer screening using biennial guaiac-based faecal occult blood test (Hemoccult®). Interval cancers, defined as colorectal cancer among participants not diagnosed by the screening programme but registered in the Swedish cancer register, were evaluated by cross-checking the screening histories for all cancers in the region 2008–2012. Results Of 203,848 individuals from nine different birth cohorts who participated (∼60%), 4530 (2.2%) tested positive. All invited individuals were followed up for 24 months after invitation. The cancer register reported 557 colorectal cancer, 219 (39.3%) screen-detected cancers and 338 (60.7%) interval cancers, generating both test- and episode sensitivities of approximately 40% and an interval cancer-rate of 17.1/10,000 tests. Among individuals with positive tests without colorectal cancer diagnosed at work-up colonoscopy, 37 interval cancers (10.9%) occurred. There was statistically significant lower sensitivity in women, ranging 22.4–32.2%, compared with 43.2–52.0% in men. Age-group and tumour location were not strongly correlated to screen-detected cancer rates. The programme sensitivity increased by year (20.3–25.0%), with successively more colorectal cancers diagnosed within the expanding programme (11.6–16.2%). Conclusion Interval cancer is a quality indicator of a screening programme. As the interval cancer-rate determined in a well-organized population-based screening programme was actually higher than the screen-detected cancer rate, a change to a more sensitive screening test is indicated. The lower screen-detected cancers among women, and compliance and quality of work-up colonoscopies also need attention.
Learning, Decisions and Transformation in Critical Care Nursing Practice

Critical care nurses are key providers in a high acuity environment. This qualitative research study explored ethical decision making in a critical care practice setting. Fifteen critical care nurses with varying experience and education levels were purposively sampled to assure the representativeness of the data. The theoretical concepts of experiential learning, perspective transformation, reflection-in-action and principle-based ethics were used as a framework for eliciting information from the participants. A new model of focused reflection in ethical decision making was developed. Findings showed that having a role model or mentor to help guide the ethical decision-making process was critical for focused ethical discourse and the decision making.
An Efficient Metadynamics-Based Protocol To Model the Binding Affinity and the Transition State Ensemble of G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Ligands

A generally applicable metadynamics scheme for predicting the free energy profile of ligand binding to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is described. A common and effective collective variable (CV) has been defined using the ideally placed and highly conserved Trp6.48 as a reference point for ligand-GPCR distance measurement and the common orientation of GPCRs in the cell membrane. Using this single CV together with well-tempered multiple-walker metadynamics with a funnel-like boundary allows an efficient exploration of the entire ligand binding path from the extracellular medium to the orthosteric binding site, including vestibule and intermediate sites. The protocol can be used with X-ray structures or high-quality homology models (based on a high-quality template and after thorough refinement) for the receptor and is universally applicable to agonists, antagonists, and partial and reverse agonists. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) in predicted binding free energies for 12 diverse ligands in five receptors (a total of 23 data points) is surprisingly small (less than 1 kcal mol-1). The RMSEs for simulations that use receptor X-ray structures and homology models are very similar.
Effect of Fluoride Ingestion on the Size of the Cusp of Carabelli during Tooth Formation

The cusps of Carabelli, on the upper molar teeth of man, are variable in occurrence, as exemplified by Dietz,' who found them present on first molar teeth in 72.3 per cent of 747 casts from Army personnel. Dietz' also found them to be generally present on both teeth and in approximately the same size. Meredith and Hixon2 have succinctly reviewed the literature on size, frequency, and bilaterality of the cusp. For their studies of 100 casts, they had agreement in placement in four categories of size for 73 sets, with a discrepancy in two categories for only one set. They found cusps to be present in 84 of the casts. As to morphology of teeth related to nutrition during formation of teeth, Cox and Levin3 found a higher rate of fusion of minor cusps to form major cusps in rats from mothers on a synthetic ration than from mothers on a 100 per cent meat diet. Cox and Hagan4 found higher rates of occurrence of pits in second human deciduous molar teeth than in first molars and surmised, on the basis of the above observations of Cox and Levin,3 that this was the result of better nutrition during the formation of the first molars. Norvold and Armstrong5 provided water with 20 p.p.m. F for rats during pregnancy and lactation, and 0.1 mg. fluorine was given daily to each suckling rat for the first 21 days of life. In 11 of the 26 rats of this group, "the mesio-buccal cusp of the upper third molar was missing. In none of the other 165 animals employed in this study was this cusp found to be absent. " Paynter and Grainger6 found smaller upper first molar teeth in rats born to and nursed by mothers on rations deficient in vitamin A or with abnormally high phosphate content or when their water contained 12 p.p.m. sodium fluoride. They found the smaller size of the teeth from vitamin A deficiency to be related to the smaller size of these animals, but the high phosphate or fluoride rations were directly causative of smaller size. As to the form of the teeth, the depth of the mesial fissures of the tooth was less, and the angulation of the sides of this fissure was greater in the young from mothers maintained on the high-phosphate diet for 10 weeks prior to mating. One of us (G. J. C.) has failed to find the cusp of Carabelli in four persons with severe mottled enamel, and its absence has been reported in two other cases.7 This,