Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between no-reflow phenomenon and serotonin levels in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous intervention.

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to investigate the effects of serotonin, which is a severe vasoconstrictor agent, on the occurrence of no-reflow phenomenon. METHODS In this cross-sectional controlled study, 40 patients, admitted to our clinic with chest pain in the first 12 hours and underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention because of acute myocardial infarction were enrolled. Patients with TIMI 0 grade basal flow and normal post-procedure flow were included in group 1 and patients with flow grade TIMI < or =were enrolled in group 2. To measure the serotonin levels, blood samples were collected from the coronary ostium before the procedure. RESULTS In group 1, there were 25 patients (20 males, 5 females) and the mean age was 58+/-11 years; in group 2 there were 15 patients (13 males, 2 females) and the mean age was 62+/-8 years. The mean serotonin level in platelet in group 1 was 476+/-208 ng/109 platelet and in group 2-542+/-273 ng/109 platelet. The difference was not statistically significant (p=0.39). When we compared the serum serotonin levels, it was 41.4+/-40.8 ng/ml for group 1, but 66.7+/-45.7 ng/ml for group 2. Although the serum serotonin levels were higher in group 2, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.07). CONCLUSION There was no effect of serotonin level in the development of no-reflow, in patients to whom primary coronary percutaneous intervention was applied.
Cloning and functional characterization of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa rhlC gene that encodes rhamnosyltransferase 2, an enzyme responsible for di‐rhamnolipid biosynthesis

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen capable of producing a wide variety of virulence factors, including extracellular rhamnolipids and lipopolysaccharide. Rhamnolipids are tenso‐active glycolipids containing one (mono‐rhamnolipid) or two (di‐rhamnolipid) l‐rhamnose molecules. Rhamnosyltransferase 1 (RhlAB) catalyses the synthesis of mono‐rhamnolipid from dTDP‐l‐rhamnose and β‐hydroxydecanoyl‐β‐hydroxydecanoate, whereas di‐rhamnolipid is produced from mono‐rhamnolipid and dTDP‐l‐rhamnose. We report here the molecular characterization of rhlC, a gene encoding the rhamnosyltransferase involved in di‐rhamnolipid (l‐rhamnose‐l‐rhamnose‐β‐hydroxydecanoyl‐β‐hydroxydecanoate) production in P. aeruginosa. RhlC is a protein consisting of 325 amino acids with a molecular mass of 35.9 kDa. It contains consensus motifs that are found in other glycosyltransferases involved in the transfer of l‐rhamnose to nascent polymer chains. To verify the biological function of RhlC, a chromosomal mutant, RTII‐2, was generated by insertional mutagenesis and allelic replacement. This mutant was unable to produce di‐rhamnolipid, whereas mono‐rhamnolipid was unaffected. In contrast, a null rhlA mutant (PAO1‐rhlA) was incapable of producing both mono‐ and di‐rhamnolipid. Complementation of mutant RTII‐2 with plasmid pRTII‐26 containing rhlC restored the level of di‐rhamnolipid production in the recombinant to a level similar to that of the wild‐type strain PAO1. The rhlC gene was located in an operon with an upstream gene (PA1131) of unknown function. A σ54‐type promoter for the PA1131–rhlC operon was identified, and a single transcriptional start site was mapped. Expression of the PA1131–rhlC operon was dependent on the P. aeruginosa rhl quorum‐sensing system, and a well‐conserved lux box was identified in the promoter region. The genetic regulation of rhlC by RpoN and RhlR was in agreement with the observed increasing RhlC rhamnosyltransferase activity during the stationary phase of growth. This is the first report of a rhamnosyltransferase gene responsible for the biosynthesis of di‐rhamnolipid.
The antidepressant‐like effect of chronic guanosine treatment is associated with increased hippocampal neuronal differentiation

Guanosine is a purine nucleoside that occurs naturally in the central nervous system, exerting trophic effects. Given its neuroprotective properties, the potential of guanosine as an antidepressant has been recently examined. Within this context, the present study sought to investigate the effects of chronic treatment with guanosine on the tail suspension test (TST), open field test and adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Swiss mice were administered guanosine for 21 days (5 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and subsequently submitted to the TST and open‐field test. Following behavioural testing, animals were killed and the brains were processed for immunohistochemical analyses of hippocampal cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Animals treated with guanosine showed a reduction in immobility time in the TST without alterations in locomotor activity, confirming the antidepressant‐like effect of this compound. Quantitative microscopic analysis did not reveal significant alterations in the numbers of Ki‐67‐ and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)‐positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of guanosine‐treated mice. However, guanosine treatment resulted in a significant increase in the number of immature neurons, as assessed by immunohistochemistry for the neurogenic differentiation protein. Interestingly, this effect was localized to the ventral hippocampal DG, a functionally distinct region of this structure known to regulate emotional and motivational behaviours. Taken together, our results suggest that the antidepressant‐like effect of chronic guanosine treatment is associated with an increase in neuronal differentiation, reinforcing the notion that this nucleoside may be an endogenous mood modulator.
Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary edema: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary edema by meta-analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic search was conducted through the following databases: Cochrane, PubMed, EMBASE and Ovid MEDLINE. Prospective cohort and prospective case-control studies that reported sensitivity and specificity of lung ultrasound in diagnosis of acute pulmonary edema were selected. An independent review of citations was carried out for inclusion and data extraction. Quality assessment was conducted using the QUADAS-2 tool. Sensitivity and specificity were taken from the studied articles and then calculated with the contingency tables. A total of 984 articles were identified but only eight studies (1301 patients) were included in this meta-analysis. One study was a case-control study and seven studies were prospective cohort study. RESULTS The overall sensitivity of ultrasound for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary edema is 97% (95% CI: 96%-98%) and the overall specificity was 98% (95% CI: 97%-99%). CONCLUSION The diagnostic test accuracy suggests that lung ultrasound using B-lines is a useful and reliable diagnostic tool for critically illpatients with acute pulmonary edema.
Redox Biology in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (2013 Grover Conference Series)

Through detailed interrogation of the molecular pathways that contribute to the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the separate but related processes of oxidative stress and cellular metabolic dysfunction have emerged as being critical pathogenic mechanisms that are as yet relatively untargeted therapeutically. In this review, we have attempted to summarize some of the important existing studies, to point out areas of overlap between oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction, and to do so under the unifying heading of redox biology. We discuss the importance of precision in assessing oxidant signaling versus oxidant injury and why this distinction matters. We endeavor to advance the discussion of carbon-substrate metabolism beyond a focus on glucose and its fate in the cell to encompass other carbon substrates and some of the murkiness surrounding our understanding of how they are handled in different cell types. Finally, we try to bring these ideas together at the level of the mitochondrion and to point out some additional points of possible cognitive dissonance that warrant further experimental probing. The body of beautiful science regarding the molecular and cellular details of redox biology in PAH points to a future that includes clinically useful therapies that target these pathways. To fully realize the potential of these future interventions, we hope that some of the issues raised in this review can be addressed proactively.
A Modeling Study of the Micro-finance Ýmpact on the Economic Performance of Micro-enterprises and the Well-being of Borrowers in Morocco: Case of Tangier-Tetouan - Al Hoceima Region

This paper aims to study the impact of microfinance on the performance of micro-enterprises and the well-being of borrowers. From a methodological point of view, we have opted for an econometric study based on a multiple linear regression model realized on a sample of 200 Microcredit beneficiaries from two reference institutions in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al-Hoceima region. The results of this research indicate that micro-credits positively and partially influence the economic performance of micro-enterprises and the well-being of beneficiaries. The linear regression model shows that the economic performance of micro-enterprises is explained by two variables, namely: profit and savings while social performance (well-being of beneficiaries) is explained by two endogenous variables namely: improving the level of schooling of children, as well as improving food.
Efficiency Enhancement of a Cantilever-Based Vibration Energy Harvester

Extracting energy from ambient vibration to power wireless sensor nodes has been an attractive area of research, particularly in the automotive monitoring field. This article reports the design, analysis and testing of a vibration energy harvesting device based on a miniature asymmetric air-spaced cantilever. The developed design offers high power density, and delivers electric power that is sufficient to support most wireless sensor nodes for structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. The optimized design underwent three evolutionary steps, starting from a simple cantilever design, going through an air-spaced cantilever, and ending up with an optimized air-spaced geometry with boosted power density level. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used as an initial tool to compare the three geometries' stiffness (K), output open-circuit voltage (Vave), and average normal strain in the piezoelectric transducer (εave) that directly affect its output voltage. Experimental tests were also carried out in order to examine the energy harvesting level in each of the three designs. The experimental results show how to boost the power output level in a thin air-spaced cantilever beam for energy within the same space envelope. The developed thin air-spaced cantilever (8.37 cm3), has a maximum power output of 2.05 mW (H = 29.29 μJ/cycle).
Exit, Cohesion, and Consensus: Social Psychological Moderators of Consensus among Adolescent Peer Groups

Virtually all social diffusion work relies on a common formal basis, which predicts that consensus will develop among a connected population as the result of diffusion. In spite of the popularity of social diffusion models that predict consensus, few empirical studies examine consensus, or a clustering of attitudes, directly. The empirical studies that do examine consensus either focus on the coordinating role of strict hierarchies, or on the results of online experiments, and do not consider how consensus occurs among groups in situ. This study uses longitudinal data on adolescent social networks to show how meso-level social structures, such as informal peer groups, moderate the process of consensus formation. Using a novel method for controlling for selection into a group, I find that centralized peer groups, meaning groups with clear leaders, have very low levels of consensus, while cohesive peer groups, meaning groups where more ties hold the members of the group together, have very high levels of consensus. This finding is robust to two different measures of cohesion and consensus. This suggests that consensus occurs either through central leaders’ enforcement or through diffusion of attitudes, but that central leaders have limited ability to enforce when people can leave the group easily.
Future sexual medicine physiological treatment targets.

INTRODUCTION Sexual function in men and women incorporates physiologic processes and regulation of the central and peripheral nervous systems, the vascular system, and the endocrine system. There is need for state-of-the-art information as there is an evolving research understanding of the underlying molecular biological factors and mechanisms governing sexual physiologic functions. AIM To develop an evidence-based, state-of-the-art consensus report on the current knowledge of the major cellular and molecular targets of biologic systems responsible for sexual physiologic function. METHODS State-of-the-art knowledge representing the opinions of seven experts from four countries was developed in a consensus process over a 2-year period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Expert opinion was based on the grading of evidence-based medical literature, widespread internal committee discussion, public presentation, and debate. RESULTS Scientific investigation in this field is needed to increase knowledge and foster development of the future line of treatments for all forms of biological-based sexual dysfunction. This article addresses the current knowledge of the major cellular and molecular targets of biological systems responsible for sexual physiologic function. Future treatment targets include growth factor therapy, gene therapy, stem and cell-based therapies, and regenerative medicine. CONCLUSIONS Scientific discovery is critically important for developing new and increasingly effective treatments in sexual medicine. Broad physiologic directions should be vigorously explored and considered for future management of sexual disorders.
The role of emotions in UV protection intentions and behaviors

Two studies examined the role of emotions, relative to cognitions, in predicting sun protection intentions and practices. In Study 1, 106 females were assessed for baseline sun protection, ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure-related cognitions (perceived susceptibility to skin damage, self-efficacy for regular sunscreen use, perceived costs of sun protection use, perceived rewards of tanning), anticipated negative mood following future risky UV behavior, and future sun protection intentions. Self-reported sun protection behavior was then assessed in the same participants five weeks later. The results of Study 1 demonstrated that the extent to which participants’ expected to experience negative feelings if they engaged in future risky UV behavior predicted their intentions to sun protect and their subsequent sun protection behaviors independent of their UV radiation exposure-related cognitions. In Study 2, in addition to the assessments collected in Study 1, participants were exposed to an appearance-based intervention that included visual images of their existing skin damage and were then assessed for their emotional reactions to the intervention. The results replicated those of Study 1 and, in addition, showed that negative emotional reactions to the intervention predicted future sun protection intentions and self-reported behaviors at follow-up, independent of the various cognitive factors that are central to prominent models of health behavior. These studies provide preliminary support for the development of expanded health behavior models that incorporate anticipated and experienced emotions.
A TEST OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET IN INDONESIA

We test whether the Indonesian foreign exchange market is efficient. Since empiricalevidence has been inconclusive, we employ a new generalized autoregressiveconditional heteroskedasticity–based unit root test to examine the Efficient MarketHypothesis (EMH). The advantages of this model are that it accommodates twoendogenous structural breaks and heteroskedasticity. Tests that account for structuralbreaks reject the EMH in only 29% of cases. When we accommodate both structuralbreaks and heteroskedasticity, we find the EMH is rejected in 50% of cases. Finally, weexamine the half-life of exchange rates and find that 71% of rates revert to equilibriumwithin a month.
Validation of Modelflow Estimates of Cardiac Output in Hemodialysis Patients

Volume‐clamp technology (e.g. Finometer) has become a popular method of collecting continuous, non‐invasive, hemodynamic information during hemodialysis. There is minimal data validating the technique in this patient group. A gold standard cardiac output measurement can be obtained using ultrasound dilution in patients with arterio‐venous fistulae. Continuous cardiac output was measured in 124 hemodialysis sessions in 27 patients using a volume‐clamp device (Finometer PRO). Ultrasound dilution measurement was first taken at baseline (Transonic HD03), then used to calibrate the Finometer. Ultrasound dilution measurement was repeated 2 h into hemodialysis to assess drift following calibration. Pearson’s correlation and Bland–Altman statistics, modified for repeated measures, were used to assess agreement between methods. Linear mixed models were constructed to identify factors that could explain session‐level and patient‐level variation in agreement. For baseline cardiac output before calibration, agreement between volume‐clamp and ultrasound dilution measurements was poor, at 25 ± 75% (correlation 0.26, P < 0.001). There was significant variation in agreement between patients, with age, peripheral vascular disease and hemodialysis vintage contributing to poorer agreement. For cardiac output 2 h after calibration, agreement was −5.2 ± 57.5% (correlation 0.6, P < 0.001). Dynamic changes in blood pressure and fluid balance during hemodialysis resulted in greater drift over time after calibration. There was a large error, both random and systematic, in volume‐clamp estimates of absolute, pre‐calibration cardiac output in this prevalent hemodialysis population. There was minimal bias and reasonable correlation for cardiac output 2 h post‐calibration, but limits of agreement remained too wide to meet current clinical standards.
A Two-Stage Framework for Computing Entity Relatedness in Wikipedia

Introducing a new dataset with human judgments of entity relatedness, we present a thorough study of all entity relatedness measures in recent literature based on Wikipedia as the knowledge graph. No clear dominance is seen between measures based on textual similarity and graph proximity. Some of the better measures involve expensive global graph computations. We then propose a new, space-efficient, computationally lightweight, two-stage framework for relatedness computation. In the first stage, a small weighted subgraph is dynamically grown around the two query entities; in the second stage, relatedness is derived based on computations on this subgraph. Our system shows better agreement with human judgment than existing proposals both on the new dataset and on an established one. We also plug our relatedness algorithm into a state-of-the-art entity linker and observe an increase in its accuracy and robustness.
Impact of Agricultural Reform in the Western Hemisphere and the European Union on Latin America: Bright Prospects or Distant Illusions?

Over the last decade, Latin America has made progress in agricultural liberalization in a two-tier reform process: at the multilateral level and at the regional level. On the multilateral front, the Uruguay Round Agreement in Agriculture made significant progress as agriculture was brought under the disciplines of GATT for the first time. At the regional level, integration in the region has liberalized agriculture progressively within blocs. Despite these achievements, agriculture is still the most protected sector in the world economy, especially in industrialized countries. The paper examines the costs for Latin America of the continued high protection in agriculture by developed countries, and the gains from reform and liberalization in the sector, using a multi-region, multi-sector comparative static CGE model with trade-linked externalities and scale economies. Two scenarios are examined: a Western Hemisphere liberalization and a liberalization between Mercosur and the EU, that can be considered a proxy of the formation of a free trade area in agriculture delivered by the ongoing talks along the Western Hemisphere for a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), and between Mercosur and the EU. The model considers the three pillars of agricultural policy distorting world prices and restricting trade flows—tariffs, domestic support and export subsidies—and simulates their elimination individually and simultaneously. The results show that, for Latin American countries, tariffs are the most trade-restrictive policy measure, while the elimination of domestic support has small positive effects on exports. The elimination of export subsidies hardly affects Latin American exports. Protectionism in developed countries depresses world prices of agriculture in which Latin American has strong exports competitiveness. For Mercosur, full liberalization with the European Union generates greater trade gains than hemispheric liberalization.
An Adjusted Calculation Model Allows for Reduced Protamine Doses without Increasing Blood Loss in Cardiac Surgery

Abstract Background Heparin dosage for anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is commonly calculated based on the patient's body weight. The protamine–heparin ratio used for heparin reversal varies widely among institutions (0.7–1.3 mg protamine/100 IU heparin). Excess protamine may impair coagulation. With an empirically developed algorithm, the HeProCalc program, heparin, and protamine doses are calculated during the procedure. The primary aim was to investigate whether HeProCalc-based dosage of heparin could reduce protamine use compared with traditional dosages. The secondary aim was to investigate whether HeProCalc-based dosage of protamine affected postoperative bleeding. Patients and Methods We consecutively randomized 40 patients into two groups. In the control group, traditional heparin and protamine doses, based on body weight alone, were given. In the treatment group, the HeProCalc program was used, which calculated the initial heparin bolus dose from weight, height, and baseline activated clotting time and the protamine dose at termination of CPB. Results We analyzed the results from 37 patients, after exclusion of three patients. Equal doses of heparin were given in both groups, whereas significantly lower mean doses of protamine were given in the treatment group versus control group (211 ± 56 vs. 330 ± 61 mg, p < 0.001). Postoperative bleeding was less in the HeProCalc group (280 ± 229 mL) as compared with the control group (649 ± 279 mL). However, this difference was not found statistically significant (p = 0.074). Conclusion HeProCalc-based dosage of heparin and protamine allowed for reduced protamine use after CPB compared with when conventional calculations were used. Furthermore, HeProCalc-based regimen for heparin reversal suggested less postoperative bleeding, although the difference between the groups was not statistically significant.