Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early Experience with Dobutamine Stress Testing and Cardiac Cine‐tomographic Imaging in the Elderly: Antianginal Effects of Nifedipine‐GITS

Objective: To determine the effects of nifedipine‐GITS (GITS = gastrointestinal transport system) on angina and cardiovascular responses to stress‐dobutamine infusion, we used ultrafast cine‐computed tomography (CT) to assess regional wall motion, myocardial perfusion, and indices of ventricular filling and emptying.
Studies with Brugia pahangi 7. Changes in lymphatics of injected cats

Abstract Histological and gross changes in the lymphatics of cats singly or repeatedly infected with Brugia pahangi were studied chronologically over a period of 5 years. Lymphatic dilatation occurred within 2 weeks of injection and an initial acute inflammatory reaction in the lymphatic wall and lumen was followed by chronic inflammation within 4 months. In some long-term repeatedly infected cats, the lymphatics became non-functional fibrous cords and conditions of oedema and early elephantiasis, similar to those seen in early human filariasis, were produced. The main points of contention in the study of filariasis which were cluciaated in this system were: (1) that living worms cause lymphatic damage, not exacerbated by their death; (2) that lymphatic damage is not progressive after a certain peak of reaction is reached, except in repeatedly challenged animals; (3) that microfilariae do not appear to cause lymphatic damage.
The enterotoxin plasmids of Escherichia coli.

The genetic and molecular nature of the Ent plasmids that determine enterotoxin biosynthesis in strains of Escherichia coli isolated from man and domestic animals has been investigated. At least one transmissible plasmid was present in 90% of 96 toxigenic strains compared with 36% of 204 nontoxigenic strains. Ent plasmids were demonstrated in 17% of the toxigenic strains and often appeared to be selftransmissible. A single Ent plasmid was isolated from 15 enterotoxigenic strains by conjugation experiments. The class of Ent plasmids that determines the production of both heat-stable and heat-labile enterotoxins was homogeneous and consisted of a single DNA species with an approximate molecular weight of 6.0 x 107 daltons. The class of Ent plasmids that codes for heat-stable enterotoxins only was heterogeneous and consisted of a single species of DNA that ranged in size from 2.1 to 8.0 x 107 daltons.
Cholinergic manipulation alters stimulus‐evoked metabolic activity in cat somatosensory cortex

The role of acetylcholine (ACh) in cerebral cortical activity has recently been reevaluated. It now seems clear that this neurotransmitter increases the magnitude of cortical responses. Although substantial information has been gathered regarding the role of ACh in sensory information processing, little is known about the participation of ACh in the organization of maps in the cerebral cortex. To address this issue, we used 2 methods to manipulate the supply of ACh in the somatosensory cortex of cats: (1) unilateral neurotoxic lesions of the basal forebrain and (2) unilateral topical applications of the cholinergic antagonist, atropine. For each experimental condition, the animal received an injection of 2‐deoxyglucose (2DG) while identical somatic stimuli were delivered to the right and left forepaws. In the somatosensory cortex, the 2DG uptake most often occurred in the form of patches that extended from layer II to IV. When the patches were reconstructed into 2‐dimensional maps of activity throughout the somatosensory cortex, they formed strips that ran in the rostrocaudal direction. The reconstructed maps revealed that the 2DG patterns in ACh‐depleted and the normal cortex were similar in their overall topographic distribution. Depletion or antagonism of ACh, however, caused the stimulus‐evoked metabolic label to be reduced in dimension and density. Measurements of background activity levels were obtained by using (1) cytochrome oxidase histochemistry or (2) metabolic activity values in regions of somatosensory cortex that were not specifically stimulated. This analysis indicated that background values in the ACh‐depleted hemispheres were not different from those in the normal hemispheres. The absence of ACh therefore appears to reduce the cortical response to stimulation, while background activity values do not change. These observations indicate that ACh plays a significant role in the processing of sensory information and the organization of somatosensory cortical maps.
Ethanol enhances agonist-induced fast desensitization in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

The reversible decline of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor's response to acetylcholine during prolonged exposure to acetylcholine is known as desensitization. Here, we studied ethanol's modulation of fast agonist-induced desensitization of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in postsynaptic membrane vesicles from Torpedo using a fast kinetic technique: pulsed quenched flow. Preincubation of the vesicles with various concentrations of acetylcholine at 4 degrees C for times ranging from 80 ms to 1.5 s caused fast desensitization, which was revealed as a decreased 86Rb+ influx when the vesicles were subsequently briefly exposed to a saturating concentration of acetylcholine in 86RbCl. Acetylcholine-induced fast desensitization had a maximum observed rate, kdmax, of 6.8 s-1, a half-effect concentration, KD, of 157 microM, and a Hill coefficient of 1.4. Increasing the ethanol concentration up to 1.0 M causes a linear increase in kdmax, such that 1.0 M ethanol doubles the rate. Ethanol (1 M) also decreased KD 10-fold without changing the Hill coefficient. We consider a modified sequential model to interpret our data. Two acetylcholine molecules bind sequentially to the receptor's resting state to form a pre-open (closed) state, which then opens and, at very high acetylcholine concentrations, is inhibited. A priori fast desensitization might occur from any of these acetylcholine-occupied states. If we assume fast desensitization to occur solely from the pre-open state, our data predict an excessively large action of ethanol on the fast desensitization rate constant (> 200-fold increase in the desensitization rate constant at 1 M ethanol). When we assume fast desensitization to occur from all states, ethanol is seen to have two actions. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
What Does Recovery From Schizophrenia Mean? Perceptions of Long-Term Patients

Background: The study investigated the meaning of recovery to eight people with chronic schizophrenia. Method: A qualitative methodology was used based on a 3-hour focus group. The material was transcribed and analysed into 18 subcategories and 4 categories; namely recovery as a multi-dimensional construct, the relationship of medication to recovery, a sense of hopelessness and helplessness about recovery, factors that promoted recovery. Discussion: Respondents believed that full recovery could not be said to have been achieved until they stopped medication and had a steady job. The support and care of family and friends were also vital, although sometimes problematic. Independent living has a different meaning in Chinese culture. Conclusions: Further research directions are suggested as well as ways to change attitudes to the inclusion of medication in recovery.
A Review of Physician Turnover: Rates, Causes, and Consequences

To assess current knowledge about physician turnover, this article reviews the available literature regarding the rates, causes, and consequences of physicians' leaving a practice. Reported rates of turnover vary widely, both because of differences in reporting methods and by type of healthcare organization and provider. A common contributor to turnover is a mismatch between physicians' expectations and organizational culture or rules, although greater understanding of ways to assess and to predict such mismatch is needed. The costs and consequences of physician turnover are substantial and may include: (a) financial consequences, (b) effects on patient satisfaction, and (c) effects on the organization or practice as a whole, related to the experience of other healthcare providers, and effects on institutional public relations. Our review suggests that greater attention to physician turnover is needed to clarify its frequency and predictors, and strategies to lessen its occurrence.
Fetal loss rate associated with cordocentesis at midgestation.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the risk of fetal loss attributable to cordocentesis at midgestation. STUDY DESIGN A cohort study was conducted during the period 1989-1999. Women undergoing cordocentesis between 16 and 24 weeks' gestation with singleton pregnancies without obvious fetal anomaly were recruited into the study group. The control subjects were selected prospectively on a one-to-one basis with strict matching for maternal age, parity, gestational age at recruitment, and socioeconomic status. Both groups were prospectively followed up until delivery. RESULTS A total of 1281 women with successful cordocentesis and their matched control subjects were recruited to the study. After exclusion of some pairs because of loss to follow-up or fetal malformations or severe disease necessitating termination of pregnancy, 1020 matched pairs were available to be compared with respect to fetal loss rate and pregnancy outcomes. The fetal loss rate was significantly higher among the study group (3.2% vs. 1.8%; P <.05, McNemar test). However, there were no significant differences in other obstetric complications between the study and control groups. CONCLUSION The incremental fetal loss rate associated with cordocentesis at midgestation was about 1.4%.
Towards a computational model for first impressions generation

This paper presents a plan towards a computational model of first impressions generation and its integration in an embodied conversational agent (ECA). The goal is to endow an ECA with the ability to manage the impressions elicited in the user by adapting its behaviour in order to impact the interaction. Our approach starts from studying first impressions mechanisms in human-human interaction, with the goal of investigating whether the same processes occur in the interaction with a virtual agent. We present results obtained from the analysis of a corpus of natural human-human interactions, and our future steps intended to build the impression generation and the adaptation modules for the computational model of the agent.
A study on electrical stress induced by electrostatic discharge on wearable devices

In recent years, wearable devices such as smartphones are widely used. However, in real environment wearable devices are used, ESD occurrence conditions are considered to be different from previous test methods because wearable devices are usually held by users in their body. In this study, we measured electrical stress induced by ESD from a charged human's fingertip to grounded objects on wearable devices held in charged human. From experimental results, shapes of the induced voltage waveforms, their durations, and amplitudes are quite different between each antenna. Especially, the durations of the induced voltage waveforms are changed between ten nanosecond order and hundred microsecond order. This means that electrical stress induced by ESD on wearable devices is very various and it depends on circuit structure.
Persistence of attenuated rev genes in a human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected asymptomatic individual

With the goal of examining the functional diversity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) env genes within the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of an asymptomatic individual, we substituted four complete env genes into the replication-competent NL4-3 provirus. Despite encoding full-length open reading frames for gp120 and gp41 and the second coding exon of tat and rev, each chimera was replication defective. Site-directed mutagenesis of codon 78 in the Rev activation domain (from a hitherto unique Ile to the subtype B consensus Leu) partially restored infectivity for two of three chimeras tested. Similarly, mutagenesis of rev codon 78 of NL4-3 from Leu to Ile partially attenuated this virus. Ile-78 was found in all 13 clones examined from samples taken from this asymptomatic subject 4.5 years after infection, including 9 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and 4 from a virus isolate, as well as 4 additional clones each from peripheral blood mononuclear cells sampled 37 and 51 months later. We next examined conservation of the Rev activation domain within and among long-term survivors (LTS) and patients with AIDS, as well as T-cell-line-adapted strains of HIV-1. Putative attenuating mutations were found in a minority of sequences from all five LTS and two of four patients with AIDS. Of the 11 T-cell-line-adapted viruses examined, none had these changes. Among and within LTS virus population had marginally higher levels of diversity in Rev than in Env; patients with AIDS had similar levels of diversity in the two reading frames; and T-cell-line-adapted viruses had higher levels of diversity in Env. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that asymptomatic individuals harbor attenuated variants of HIV-1 which correlate with and contribute to their lack of disease progression.
Cost-effectiveness of digital photographic screening for retinopathy of prematurity in the United Kingdom

Objectives: To compare the cost-effectiveness of alternative methods of screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the United Kingdom, including the existing method of indirect ophthalmoscopy by ophthalmologists and digital photographic screening by nurses. Methods: A decision tree model was used to compare five screening modalities for the UK population of preterm babies, using a health service perspective. Data were taken from published sources, observation at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and expert judgment. Results: We estimated that use of standard digital cameras by nurses in NICUs would cost more than current methods (£371 compared with £321 per baby screened). However, a specialist nurse visiting units with a portable camera would be cheaper (£172 per baby). These estimates rely on nurses capturing and interpreting the images, with suitable training and supervision. Alternatively, nurses could capture the images then transmit them to a central unit for interpretation by ophthalmologists, although we estimate that this would be rather more expensive (£390 and £201, respectively, for NICU and visiting nurses). Sensitivity analysis was used to examine the robustness of estimates. Conclusions: It is likely that there is an opportunity to improve the efficiency of the ROP screening program. We estimate that screening by specialist nurses trained in image capture and interpretation using portable digital cameras is a cost-effective alternative to the current program of direct visualization by ophthalmologists. This option would require the development of a suitable portable machine. Direct comparative research is strongly needed to establish the accuracy of the various screening options.
microRNA-206 in Rat Medial Prefrontal Cortex Regulates BDNF Expression and Alcohol Drinking

Escalation of voluntary alcohol consumption is a hallmark of alcoholism, but its neural substrates remain unknown. In rats, escalation occurs following prolonged exposure to cycles of alcohol intoxication, and is associated with persistent, wide-ranging changes in gene expression within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Here, we examined whether induction of microRNA (miR) 206 in mPFC contributes to escalated alcohol consumption. Following up on a microarray screen, quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qPCR) confirmed that a history of dependence results in persistent (>3weeks) up-regulation of miR-206 expression in the mPFC, but not in the ventral tegmental area, amygdala, or nucleus accumbens. Viral-mediated overexpression of miR-206 in the mPFC of nondependent rats reproduced the escalation of alcohol self-administration seen following a history of dependence and significantly inhibited BDNF expression. Bioinformatic analysis identified three conserved target sites for miR-206 in the 3′-UTR of the rat BDNF transcript. Accordingly, BDNF was downregulated in post-dependent rats on microarray analysis, and this was confirmed by qPCR. In vitro, BDNF expression was repressed by miR-206 but not miR-9 in a 3′-UTR reporter assay, confirming BDNF as a functional target of miR-206. Mutation analysis showed that repression was dependent on the presence of all three miR-206 target sites in the BDNF 3′-UTR. Inhibition of miR-206 expression in differentiated rat cortical primary neurons significantly increased secreted levels of BDNF. In conclusion, recruitment of miR-206 in the mPFC contributes to escalated alcohol consumption following a history of dependence, with BDNF as a possible mediator of its action.
The applicability of a speech-in-noise screening test in occupational hearing conservation

Abstract Objective: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the most reported occupational health disease in the Netherlands. The internet-based speech-in-noise test Earcheck (Albrecht et al, 2005; Leensen et al, 2011b) is designed to detect beginning NIHL and can be a valuable tool in occupational hearing health surveillance. The aim of this study is to investigate the validity of Earcheck compared to regular screening audiometry. Design: Subjects performed online Earcheck tests at home. The results are compared to a pure-tone screening audiogram obtained during regular occupational health examination. A subgroup performed the measurements twice to assess test-retest reliability. Study sample: Two hundred and forty-nine male construction employees who recently had a periodic occupational health examination participated. Results: An average learning effect of −1.6 dB was found, that reduced with increasing test number. The test-retest variability was 1.6 dB. Sensitivity to detect beginning NIHL was 68%, with a specificity of 71%. Conclusions: Although sensitivity and specificity values are only moderate, the broad internet application still promises a valuable addition to current practice. The relatively high learning effect indicates that more reliable results can be obtained after a longer test session. When this is put into practice some improvement in sensitivity and specificity may be expected as well.
Contact force identification using the subharmonic resonance of a contact-mode atomic force microscopy

We propose a step-by-step experimental procedure for characterization of the nonlinear contact stiffness on surfaces using contact-mode atomic force microscopy. Our approach directly estimates the first-, second-, and third-order coefficients of the contact stiffness. It neither uses nor requires the underlying assumptions of the Hertzian contact theory. We use a primary resonance excitation of the probe to estimate the linear coefficient of the contact stiffness. We use the method of multiple scales to obtain closed-form expressions approximating the response of the probe to a subharmonic resonance excitation of order one-half. We utilize these expressions and higher-order spectral measurements to independently estimate the quadratic and cubic coefficients of the contact stiffness.
Desflurane Inhibits U Wave in Electrocardiogram

Background: Volatile anesthetics inhibit cardiac transmembrane ionic currents and intracellular ionic activity and exert antiarrhythmic actions. Among electrocardiogram (ECG) waveforms, the effect of volatile anesthetics on U wave has never been studied. The aim of the present observational study was to evaluate the possible effect of desflurane on U wave in anesthetized patients. Methods: Pen-operative ECG tracings (lead Ⅱ) were recorded and analyzed from 24 gynecologic patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), class 1). Anesthesia was routinely induced with thiopental, fentanyl and succinylcholine and maintained with desflurane (1 to 1.5 minimal alveolar concentration (MAC)) and O2. U wave amplitude (U(subscript amp) was manually measured from amplified ECG records. Results: Discernible U wave in 24 patients varied in amplitude (64±24μV). U wave was three times larger when heart rate increased to maximum during tracheal intubation. Similarly, U(subscript amp) was augmented (285%±58% of the control) in extrasystolic beats elicited by tracheal intubation. Desflurane (1 to 1.5 MAC) significantly and reversibly suppressed U(subscript amp)(a decrease by 60±24μV, n=24, p＜0.05). Conclusions: The suppressive effect of desflurane on U(subscript amp) might be explained by its inhibitory effects on transmembrane ionic currents, intracellular calcium load and delayed afterdepolarizations. Our results support a contributory role of afterpotentials in the genesis of U wave.
ASSOCIATION OF THE ANTIDIABETIC EFFECTS OF BROMOCRIPTINE WITH A SHIFT IN THE DAILY RHYTHM OF MONOAMINE METABOLISM WITHIN THE SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEI OF THE SYRIAN HAMSTER

Bromocriptine, a dopamine D2 agonist, inhibits seasonal fattening and improves seasonal insulin resistance in Syrian hamsters. Alterations in daily rhythms of neuroendocrine activities are involved in the regulation of seasonal metabolic changes. Changes in circadian neuroendocrine activities that regulate metabolism are believed to be modulated by central circadian oscillators within the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of seasonal animals. We examined the association of metabolic responses to bromocriptine with its effects on the daily rhythms of metabolic hormones and daily monoamine profiles within the SCN, a primary circadian pacemaker known to regulate metabolism, in Syrian hamsters. Obese glucose-intolerant male Syrian hamsters (body weight [BW] 185 ± 10 g) held on 14h daily photoperiods were treated at light onset with bromocriptine (800 μg/animal/day, ip) or vehicle for 2 weeks. Animals were then subjected to a glucose tolerance test (GTT) (3 g/kg BW, ip). Different subsets of animals (n = 6) from each treatment group were sacrificed at 0h/24h, 5h, 10h, 15h, or 20h after light onset for analyses of SCN monoamines, plasma insulin, prolactin, cortisol, thyroxin (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), glucose, and free fatty acids (FFAs). Compared with control values, bromocriptine treatment significantly reduced weight gain (14.9 vs. −2.9 g, p <. 01) and the areas under the GTT glucose and insulin curves by 29% and 48%, respectively (p <. 05). Basal plasma insulin concentration was markedly reduced throughout the day in bromocriptine-treated animals without influencing plasma glucose levels. Bromocriptine reduced the daily peak in FFA by 26% during the late light span(p <. 05). Bromocriptine significantly shifted the daily plasma cortisol peak from the early dark to the light period of the day, reduced the plasma prolactin (mean 1.8 vs. 39.4 ng/dL) and T4 throughout the day (mean 1.6 vs. 3.8 μg/dL), and selectively reduced T3 during the dark period of the day (p <. 01). Concurrently, bromocriptine treatment significantly reduced SCN dopamine turnover during the light period and shifted daily peaks of SCN serotonin and 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) content by 12h from the light to the dark period of the day (p <. 05). This was confirmed by a further in vivo microdialysis study in which bromocriptine increased SCN extracellular 5-HIAA of glucose-intolerant hamsters during the dark phase (47% increase, p <. 05) toward levels observed in normal glucose-tolerant hamsters. Thus, bromocriptine-induced resetting of daily patterns of SCN neurotransmitter metabolism is associated with the effects of bromocriptine on attenuation of the obese insulin-resistant and glucose-intolerant condition. A large body of corroborating evidence suggests that such bromocriptine-induced changes in SCN monoamine metabolism may be functional in its effects on metabolism. (Chronobiology International, 17(2), 155–172, 2000)