Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transient Horner’s syndrome during lumbar epidural anaesthesia

Epidural analgesia is a common procedure during labour. Neurological complications during pregnancy and labour in particular can indicate serious underlying pathology that may require urgent intervention to prevent permanent damage. The development of Horner’s syndrome may, for instance indicate a variety of acute neurological conditions including carotid dissection. We describe a patient who developed Horner’s syndrome during epidural anaesthesia. We discuss possible causes and emphasize that this may have a benign aetiology and following a careful clinical evaluation, may not require any investigation.
Renal vascular endothelial function in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND Basal nitric oxide (NO) activity has a pivotal role in the regulation of glomerular hemodynamics, and in animal experiments, its alteration has been associated with morphological changes characteristic of diabetic nephropathy. STUDY DESIGN Prospective observational-study during a mean follow-up of 2.1 years. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 66 hypertensive patients (aged 30 to 80 years) with type 2 diabetes and estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) greater than 80 mL/min/1.73 m(2) with normoalbuminuria or microalbuminuria. PREDICTOR Mean arterial pressure during follow-up during treatment with telmisartan or ramipril for 9 weeks, followed by treatment according to the discretion of the individual primary care physician. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS Renal vascular resistance, renal plasma flow, GFR, and change in renal plasma flow in response to infusion of the NO synthase inhibitor N-monomethyl-L-arginine as an indicator of basal NO activity in the renal vasculature. RESULTS 50 of 66 patients could be reexamined. At follow-up, mean arterial pressure decreased from 106 +/- 9.1 to 100 +/- 11 mm Hg (P < 0.001). Body mass index and hemoglobin A(1c) levels were unaltered. Renal vascular resistance decreased (from 128 +/- 44 to 103 +/- 30 mm Hg/mL/min/1.73 m(2); P < 0.001), renal plasma flow increased (from 490 +/- 133 to 589 +/- 154 mL/min/1.73 m(2); P < 0.001), and GFR did not change (113 +/- 22 versus 116 +/- 26 mL/min/1.73 m(2); P = 0.4) during follow-up. The decrease in renal plasma flow in response to N-monomethyl-l-arginine infusion was more pronounced at follow-up (-56.7 +/- 39 versus -73.4 +/- 48 mL/min/1.73 m(2); P = 0.02), indicating improved basal NO activity. After adjustment for possible confounders, patients with a marked decrease in mean arterial pressure showed more improved basal NO activity during follow-up than those with a less pronounced decrease in mean arterial pressure (P = 0.04). LIMITATIONS Patients were treated according to the discretion of the individual primary care physician. CONCLUSIONS During follow-up, renal vascular resistance, renal plasma flow, and renal endothelial function (indicated by basal NO activity) improved. Better blood pressure control was associated with improved endothelial function of the renal vasculature, thereby potentially mediating the changes in renal hemodynamics.
The association between venous structural alterations and biomechanical weakness in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are associated with generalized arterial dilation, torturosity, and altered matrix composition, which suggests a generalized systemic weakness throughout the entire vasculature. The aim of this study was to determine whether this phenomenon was present in the venous tissue of patients with AAA. METHODS A segment of inferior mesenteric vein was harvested from patients who underwent aneurysm repair (n = 11) or colectomy for diverticulosis (n = 11; control). Matrix composition of the vessel was determined with stereology, and dimensions were measured with a computerized image analysis system. Stress-strain measurements were calculated with elongation of inferior mesenteric vein tissue with a tensile-testing machine. RESULTS Histologic examination results showed fragmentation of elastin fibers within the medial layer of venous tissue obtained from patients with AAA. The medial elastin content in tissue from patients with aneurysms was 19.4%, compared with 26.8% in the control group (P =.018). Mechanical test results revealed a significant reduction in the tensile strength from 2.885 MPa in the control group to 1.405 MPa in the AAA group (P =.007). This reduction corresponded with a significant reduction of 59% in the stiffness of the vessel, with the mean Young's modulus of elasticity in the AAA group being 2.72 MPa, compared with 5.361 MPa in the control group (P =.0005). CONCLUSION Reduction in tensile strength and stiffness in venous tissue from patients with AAA was associated with disruption and reduction of the elastin content of the vein wall. These changes are analogous to those observed in the arterial aneurysmal wall and confirm the systemic nature of this disorder.
Produtividade de cultivares de cenoura sob diferentes densidades de plantio

Com o objetivo de avaliar o desempenho produtivo de tres cultivares de cenoura sob diferentes espacamentos, realizou-se um experimento na Horta do Departamento de Ciencias Vegetais da UFERSA, Mossoro, RN. Este experimento foi delineado em esquema fatorial 6 x 3 em blocos casualizados completos com tres repeticoes. O primeiro fator constituido pelos espacamentos: 20x4 cm, 20x6 cm, 20x8 cm, 15x4 cm, 15x6 cm e 15x8 cm, e o segundo pelos cultivares: Alvorada, Brasilia e Esplanada. As caracteristicas avaliadas foram: altura de plantas, massa de materia seca da parte aerea e de raizes, produtividade total e comercial de raizes, massa media de raizes comerciais e produtividade de raizes classificadas. Nao houve interacao entre os fatores espacamentos de plantio e cultivares para nenhuma das caracteristicas avaliadas. O cultivar Brasilia apresentou maior altura de plantas em relacao ao Alvorada, e em relacao aos espacamentos utilizados nao houve diferenca significativa. O cultivar Brasilia foi mais produtivo que o Alvorada e Esplanada. O aumento da populacao de plantas aumentou a produtividade total e comercial de raizes, porem diminuiu a massa media de raizes comerciais. A medida que se aumentou a populacao de plantas houve um decrescimo no percentual de raizes medias e longas, e um incremento do percentual de raizes curtas.
Leaky LMS algorithm: MSE analysis for Gaussian data

Despite the widespread usage of the leaky LMS algorithm, there has been no detailed study of its performance. This paper presents an analytical treatment of the mean-square error (MSE) performance for the leaky LMS adaptive algorithm for Gaussian input data. The common independence assumption regarding W(n) and X(n) is also used. Exact expressions that completely characterize the second moment of the coefficient vector and algorithm steady-state excess MSE are developed. Rigorous conditions for MSE convergence are also established. Analytical results are compared with simulation and are shown to agree well.
The Role of the Musculocutaneous and Radial Nerves in Elbow Flexion and Forearm Supination: A Biomechanical Study

The intention of this prospective study was to evaluate the role of the musculocutaneous and radial nerves in elbow flexion and forearm supination. The study included 29 patients having loco-regional anaesthesia for minor hand surgery. Elbow flexion and forearm supination forces were evaluated before and after an isolated musculocutaneous nerve block in one group and an isolated radial nerve block in another group. The results showed that the biceps tendon is responsible for 47% of the forearm supination force and the combination of brachioradialis and the supinator for 64% of this force. It showed also that the musculocutaneous and radial nerves contribute by 42% and 27.5%, respectively, to the flexion force of the elbow. These results are intended to help surgeons in decision making when treating chronic biceps tendon rupture, in repair of traumatic brachial plexus neuropathy and in using tendon transfers, such as the Steindler transfer, around the elbow.
wingless signaling regulates the maintenance of ovarian somatic stem cells in Drosophila

Identifying the signals involved in maintaining stem cells is critical to understanding stem cell biology and to using stem cells in future regenerative medicine. In the Drosophila ovary, Hedgehog is the only known signal for maintaining somatic stem cells (SSCs). Here we report that Wingless (Wg) signaling is also essential for SSC maintenance in the Drosophila ovary. Wg is expressed in terminal filament and cap cells, a few cells away from SSCs. Downregulation of Wg signaling in SSCs through removal of positive regulators of Wg signaling, dishevelled and armadillo, results in rapid SSC loss. Constitutive Wg signaling in SSCs through the removal of its negative regulators, Axin and shaggy, also causes SSC loss. Also, constitutive wg signaling causes over-proliferation and abnormal differentiation of somatic follicle cells. This work demonstrates that wg signaling regulates SSC maintenance and that its constitutive signaling influences follicle cell proliferation and differentiation. In mammals, constitutive β-catenin causes over-proliferation and abnormal differentiation of skin cells, resulting in skin cancer formation. Possibly, mechanisms regulating proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells, including epithelial stem cells, is conserved from Drosophila to man.
UNUSUAL CENTRAL ENGINE ACTIVITY IN THE DOUBLE BURST GRB 110709B

The double burst, GRB 110709B, triggered the Swift/Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) twice at 21:32:39 UT and 21:43:45 UT, respectively, on 2011 July 9. This is the first time we observed a gamma-ray burst (GRB) with two BAT triggers. In this paper, we present simultaneous Swift and Konus-WIND observations of this unusual GRB and its afterglow. If the two events originated from the same physical progenitor, their different time-dependent spectral evolution suggests they must belong to different episodes of the central engine, which may be a magnetar-to-BH accretion system.
Educación ambiental escolar y comunitaria en el nivel medio superior, Puebla-Tlaxcala, México

El presente trabajo muestra que a traves de programas ambientales (pa), conformados por un conjunto de acciones concretas y viables, disenados y ejecutados por estudiantes del nivel medio superior, se pueden mitigar problemas ambientales de la escuela-comunidad, asi como desarrollar conocimientos, valores, habilidades y competencias en los jovenes para conservar su ambiente. Tambien describe como se organizan los educandos para llevar a cabo las acciones ambientales y la satisfaccion que sienten por haberlas realizado. Concluye que los pa son una herramienta de gran importancia y de utilidad que se deben disenar y aplicar en las instituciones educativas para mitigar el deterioro ambiental en la escuela y en la comunidad
The ARCHITECT galectin-3 assay: comparison with other automated and manual assays for the measurement of circulating galectin-3 levels in heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a common disease and affects millions of patients worldwide. Diagnosis, risk assessment and treatment of HF are difficult and therefore there is a need for additional tools to improve clinical performance. Biomarkers may be helpful in this respect. Galectin-3 is a relatively new biomarker that has been shown to have strong associations with the development of HF. Galectin-3 plays a role in inflammation and fibrosis, which are key elements in the pathophysiology of HF. Circulating plasma or serum galectin-3 levels have strong associations with the severity of HF and may be used to prognosticate or risk-stratify HF patients. Currently, there are several commercially available assays that can measure circulating galectin-3. This article describes the role galectin-3 plays in HF and its prognostic consequences. We will summarize the technical specifications of various manual and automated galectin-3 assays, which may help in HF management.
Influence of season, environment and feeding habits on the enzymatic activity of peptidase and β-glucosidase in the gastrointestinal tract of two Siluriformes fishes (Teleostei)

The enzymatic activities involved in the digestion of proteins and carbohydrates were compared among three organs of the digestive track of two Siluriformes fish species, and between two areas: a reservoir, and an area downriver of it. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that the digestive organs of species with varied feeding habits have different enzymatic activities, and that the enzymatic activity differs among seasons and environmental conditions. The iliophagous/herbivorous species Hypostomus auroguttatus Kner, 1854 had higher trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like peptidase and β-glucosidase activity in the intestine when compared with the omnivorous species Pimelodus maculatus Lacepede, 1803, whereas the latter had more hepatic trypsin-like activity than the former. The peak of activity of the three enzymes in H. auroguttatus was recorded in the winter and spring. On the other hand, P. maculatus tended to have the more prominent peptidase and β-glucosidase activity in the summer, and the smallest in the winter. The intestine of H. auroguttatus had higher enzymatic (trypsin, chymotrypsin and β-glucosidase) activity than the stomach and the liver. For P. maculatus, the highest β-glucosidase activity was found in the liver. The enzymatic activity of H. aurogutattus did not differ between lotic and lentic systems, whereas P. maculatus had comparatively higher stomach and hepatic trypsin levels and hepatic chymotrypsin-like activities in the reservoir than down in the river. These findings indicate that, in H. auroguttatus, most digestive activity occurs in the intestine, which is long and adapted for the digestion of bottom-river vegetable matter and detritus. The seasons and the type of the system (lentic vs. lotic) seem to affect the enzymatic activity for these two species differently, a likely consequence of their different lifestyles.
The incidence of postoperative pain.

THE pains of mankind are always with us and postoperative pain, in particular, is something which each of us must at some time treat, or endure. Innumerable publications bear evidence to the inadequacy of our methods of management and a glance into any hospital reveals the complacency with which we abandon our postoperative patients to "the houseman's cautiously administered opiate" and "the tearing discomfort which accompanies their suppressed and quite ineffectual bouts of coughing" (Editorial, 1953). Despite many claims for new methods of treatment the actual incidence, severity and persistence of postoperative pain are very little discussed. So much is this so that most hospital doctors have almost no insight into the natural history of the condition they are expected to relieve. Bonica (1953) and Keats (1956) both discussed the occurrence of postoperative pain in a general way and referred to some factors which may modify it. Papper, Brodie and Rovenstine (1952) also published a study of postoperative pain but they were principally interested in its possibilities as a testing ground for new analgesics and they studied only 149 patients. Beecher and his colleagues (Denton and Beecher, 1949) have also used postoperative pain for the comparison of analgesic drugs.
The Effect of Soybean Meal Treated with Formaldehyde on Amount of Protected Protein in the Rumen and Absorption of Amino Acid from Small Intestines

This study was conducted to determine the effects of soybean meal (SBM) treated with formaldehyde on rumen fermentation pattern, microbial protein synthesis, amount of by-pass protein, and amino acid absorption from small intestines. Four 1-year-old rams with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas were fed 800 g of dry clover plus a concentrate mixture containing 100 g of SBM treated with 0%, 0.3%, 0.6%, and 0.9% formaldehyde. The amount of crude protein passed through the duodenum was not affected by the formaldehyde treatment; however, the amount of microbial protein decreased in rams fed with SBM treated with both 0.3% and 0.6% formaldehyde (P < 0.05). Digestibility of acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in the duodenum and ileum did not differ by treatments. In the rams fed SBM treated with both 0.3% and 0.6% formaldehyde, absorbability of arginine, histidine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, and valine (essential amino acids), as well as alanine and aspartic acid (non-essential amino acids) significantly increased, whereas tyrosine absorbability notably decreased (P < 0.05). Formaldehyde treatment increased the absorbability of other essential amino acids (leucine and valine) and non-essential amino acids (serine and tyrosine) in the ileum (P < 0.05). Increasing the percentage of formaldehyde linearly increased total essential amino acid absorption in the duodenum (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 0.3% and 0.6% formaldehyde treatment enhanced the bioavailability of protein in SBM.
Synthetic LXR ligand inhibits the development of atherosclerosis in mice

The nuclear receptors LXRα and LXRβ have been implicated in the control of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism in multiple cell types. Activation of these receptors stimulates cholesterol efflux in macrophages, promotes bile acid synthesis in liver, and inhibits intestinal cholesterol absorption, actions that would collectively be expected to reduce atherosclerotic risk. However, synthetic LXR ligands have also been shown to induce lipogenesis and hypertriglyceridemia in mice, raising questions as to the net effects of these compounds on the development of cardiovascular disease. We demonstrate here that the nonsteroidal LXR agonist GW3965 has potent antiatherogenic activity in two different murine models. In LDLR−/− mice, GW3965 reduced lesion area by 53% in males and 34% in females. A similar reduction of 47% was observed in male apoE−/− mice. Long-term (12-week) treatment with LXR agonist had differential effects on plasma lipid profiles in LDLR−/− and apoE−/− mice. GW3965 induced expression of ATP-binding cassettes A1 and G1 in modified low-density lipoprotein-loaded macrophages in vitro as well as in the aortas of hyperlipidemic mice, suggesting that direct actions of LXR ligands on vascular gene expression are likely to contribute to their antiatherogenic effects. These observations provide direct evidence for an atheroprotective effect of LXR agonists and support their further evaluation as potential modulators of human cardiovascular disease.
Efficient PCS call setup protocols

Increasing demand for wireless mobile communications, coupled with limited network resources, has motivated investigation into alternative efficient mobility management solutions. We consider wireless PCS call setup protocols. We propose a lightweight location lookup protocol, which significantly reduces the network signaling and setup delay during call setup. As an alternative, we consider a reverse connection setup protocol that also performs efficient call setup, while minimizing the cost of failed call attempts. The two protocols have different advantages, in particular when combined with location management techniques including HLR/VLR, HLR/VLR with partial replication, and HLR/VLR with caching. We study the combinations of call setup protocols with location management techniques and compare their performance to find the most efficient call setup schemes. Both analytical and simulation results are presented.
Relationship of OPAC users' satisfaction with their demographic characteristics, computer skills, user education, user assistance and user-friendly OPAC

Purpose – The main aim of this paper is to identify whether user demographic characteristics, computer skills, user education, user assistance and user-friendly OPAC (online public access catalog) have an impact on their satisfaction in the context of users in an Indian university setting. Design/methodology/approach – The survey method was utilized and a questionnaire was designed to collect data. The study is based on a sample of the 384 questionnaires from the three universities located in the Union Territory of Chandigarh and Punjab State. To analyze the data collected, SPSS package (version 14.0) was used, and also to produce requisite cross-tabulations. Chi-square testing was performed to determine the association of user satisfaction with the variables covered in the study. Findings – The findings highlighted that overall there was a low degree of satisfaction among the users. With the exception of academic majors, in general, there were no significant differences between satisfaction and user demo.
Health Awareness of Rural Adolescent Girls: An Intervention Study

Abstract Adolescent girls of age 13 to 19 years constitute nearly 66 million of population in India. The lives of these girls are characterized by limited education, lack of knowledge pertaining to social as well as health aspects and also limited influence on decisions affecting their lives. Thus, awareness is one major factor for development of this group of population because of the fact that these adolescent girls would be the future housewives. A study was undertaken to see the awareness of adolescent girls regarding health aspects through an intervention study. The study adopted a pretest - post test design with an intervention for a specific period. A total of 112 adolescent girls in the age group of 14 to 18 years were selected randomly from government schools of five villages in two blocks of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The tools for assessment consisted of socio-economic status scale and a general awareness scale. The sample group was pretested on their level of general awareness which focused specifically on health aspects. An intervention package was developed on the aspects of health including general health, reproductive and child health, environmental health and nutritional aspects. The intervention was given for nine months to the girls though lectures, discussions and demonstrations. Post testing was done on the girls after the period of intervention. Results showed that the knowledge of girls regarding health aspects improved significantly after intervention. There was a considerable increase in the awareness levels of girls with regard to knowledge of health problems, environmental health, nutritional awareness and reproductive and child health. Thus informative and educable intervention seem to have a positive effect on awareness levels which would eventually encourage expansion of knowledge and positive health habits.
Cardio-oesophageal reflex in humans as a mechanism for "linked angina'.

The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that oesophageal acid stimulation reduces coronary blood flow in humans as a result of the presence of a cardio-oesophageal reflex which may provide a mechanism for "linked angina'. We studied the effect of oesophageal acid stimulation on coronary blood flow in 35 syndrome X patients and 24 heart transplant patients. A fine tube was positioned into the patient's distal oesophagus. An intracoronary Doppler catheter was positioned in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery for coronary blood flow measurements. Oesophageal instillation of 0.1 M hydrochloric acid was performed (60 ml over 5 min) and the measurements were repeated. The coronary blood flow was significantly reduced by acid oesophageal stimulation in the syndrome X group [pre-acid 78.9 +/- 36.4 ml. min-1, post-acid 50.8 +/- 32.9 ml.min-1 (P = 0.0001)]. However, coronary blood flow in the heart transplant group, in whom the heart is denervated, was unaffected by acid infusion. We conclude that oesophageal acid stimulation can produce angina and significantly reduce coronary blood flow in humans. The lack of any significant effect in the heart transplant group, in whom the heart is denervated, suggests a neural reflex.