Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transcatheter closure of postsurgical residual ventricular septal defects: early and mid-term results.

Background: The incidence of residual ventricular septal defects (VSDs) after surgery is 5–25%. Redo surgery is associated with higher risks. Methods: Between January 2000 to December 2008, 170 patients underwent percutaneous VSD closure in our centre: 22(16M) of these had 23 closures for residual VSDs. Median age was 32.5 yrs (1.4–79). All patients had echocardiographic signs of left ventricle volume overload (Qp/Qs ≥ 1.5). Nine patients had previous VSD closure, 6 tetralogy of Fallot repair, and 7, other procedures. There were 15 muscular, 6 perimembranous and 2 apical VSDs. Results: Amplatzer VSD devices were used in all. Median VSD size was 8 mm (4.3–16). Median fluoroscopy time was 33 minutes (15–130). There were three adverse events: 1 ventricular fibrillation requiring DC cardioversion; 1 transient complete atrio-ventricular block reverting to sinus rhythm at 24-hours; one patient had transient atrial flutter during the procedure. All procedures were successful; no additional procedures were required. Trivial residual shunts were seen in 3 patients at follow-up. There were no late events. One patient experienced arrhythmic death 5-yrs after procedure. One patient was reoperated due to dehiscence of VSD patch 2-yrs after the second successful percutaneous closure. Conclusions: Transcatheter closure of postsurgical residual VSD is safe and efficacious management option and obviates the need for further surgery and by-pass. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reward-period Activity in Primate Dorsolateral Prefrontal and Orbitofrontal Neurons Is Affected by Reward Schedules

Reward-period activity observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is thought to represent the detection of reward delivery. To investigate whether this activity plays the same role in these areas, we examined this activity under different reward schedules and whether the reward schedule has similar effects on this activity in each of these areas. A monkey performed an oculomotor delayed-response (ODR) task under two reward schedules. In the ODR-1 schedule, the monkey received a large amount of reward only after four successful trials, whereas in the ODR-2 schedule, it received a small amount of reward after every successful trial. Although reward-period activity was observed in both areas, more neurons exhibited this activity in the OFC. Reward-period activity was modulated by the proximity to reward delivery in both areas and this feature was observed more frequently in the OFC. The onset time of this activity also gradually advanced depending on the proximity to reward delivery. Moreover, many OFC neurons with this activity responded to free reward delivery. These results indicate that reward-period activity in the OFC represents the detection of reward delivery and that the gradual change in the magnitude and the onset time of this activity represents the expectation of reward delivery. Similar features of reward-period activity were observed in DLPFC neurons, although a significant number of DLPFC neurons did not respond to free reward delivery and no advance was observed in the onset time of this activity. These results suggest that reward-period activity in the DLPFC participates in whether or not correct performance was achieved. Thus, although similar reward-period activity was observed in both areas, the activity in the OFC represents the detection of reward delivery and is affected by the monkey's motivational state, whereas that in the DLPFC seems to participate in monitoring whether or not the necessary performance is achieved.
Bioaccumulation of triclocarban in Lumbriculus variegatus

The antimicrobial triclocarban (TCC) has been detected in streams and municipal biosolids throughout the United States. In addition, TCC and potential TCC transformation products have been detected at high levels (ppm range) in sediments near major cities in the United States. Previous work has suggested that TCC is relatively stable in these environments, thereby raising concerns about the potential for bioaccumulation in sediment‐dwelling organisms. Bioaccumulation of TCC from sediments was assessed using the freshwater oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus. Worms were exposed to TCC in sediment spiked to 22.4 ppm to simulate the upper bound of environmental concentrations. Uptake from laboratory‐spiked sediment was examined over 56 d for TCC and 4,4′‐dichlorocarbanilide (DCC), a chemical impurity in and potential transformation product of TCC. The clearance of TCC from worms placed in clean sediment was also examined over 21 d after an initial 35‐d exposure to TCC in laboratory‐spiked sediment. Concentrations of TCC and DCC were monitored in the worms, sediment, and the overlying water using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Experimental data were fitted using a standard biodynamic model to generate uptake and elimination rate constants for TCC in L. variegatus. These rate constants were used to estimate steady‐state lipid (lip)– and organic carbon (OC)– normalized biota‐sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) for TCC and DCC of 2.2 ± 0.2 and 0.3 ± 0.1 g OC/g lip (goc/glip), respectively. Alternatively, directly measured BSAFs for TCC and DCC after 56 d of exposure were 1.6 ± 0.6 and 0.5 ± 0.2 goc/glip, respectively. Loss of TCC from pre‐exposed worms followed first‐order kinetics, and the fitted elimination rate constant was identical to that determined from the uptake portion of the present study. Overall, study observations indicate that TCC bioaccumulates from sediments in a manner that is consistent with the traditional hydrophobic organic contaminant paradigm.
The Multidimensional Aspects of Sleep Spindles and Their Relationship to Word-Pair Memory Consolidation.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Several studies proposed a link between sleep spindles and sleep dependent memory consolidation in declarative learning tasks. In addition to these state-like aspects of sleep spindles, they have also trait-like characteristics, i.e., were related to general cognitive performance, an important distinction that has often been neglected in correlative studies. Furthermore, from the multitude of different sleep spindle measures, often just one specific aspect was analyzed. Thus, we aimed at taking multidimensional aspects of sleep spindles into account when exploring their relationship to word-pair memory consolidation. DESIGN Each subject underwent 2 study nights with all-night high-density electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings. Sleep spindles were automatically detected in all EEG channels. Subjects were trained and tested on a word-pair learning task in the evening, and retested in the morning to assess sleep related memory consolidation (overnight retention). Trait-like aspects refer to the mean of both nights and state-like aspects were calculated as the difference between night 1 and night 2. SETTING Sleep laboratory. PARTICIPANTS Twenty healthy male subjects (age: 23.3 ± 2.1 y). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Overnight retention was negatively correlated with trait-like aspects of fast sleep spindle density and positively with slow spindle density on a global level. In contrast, state-like aspects were observed for integrated slow spindle activity, which was positively related to the differences in overnight retention in specific regions. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate the importance of a multidimensional approach when investigating the relationship between sleep spindles and memory consolidation and thereby provide a more complete picture explaining divergent findings in the literature.
2-(N-Phenylmethanesulfonamido)ethyl 1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate

In the title compound, C14H16N2O4S, the ethoxycarbonyl group is nearly planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0067 Å, and is almost coplanar with the pyrrole ring [dihedral angle = 5.81 (15)°], whereas it is inclined at a dihedral angle of 61.90 (13)° to the phenyl ring. The dihedral angle between the pyrrole and phenyl rings is 56.15 (13)°. In the crystal, centrosymmetrically related molecules are linked into dimers by pairs of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming rings of R 2 2(10) graph-set motif. The dimers are further connected by weak intermolecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯π interactions, forming layers parallel to the bc plane.
Analysis of the load sharing characteristics of the series-parallel connected interleaved LLC resonant converter

Based on the fundamental approximation equivalent circuit of a single cell LLC resonant converter, this paper has developed the equivalent circuit of the interleaved LLC resonant converter, with its primary side connected in series and its secondary side connected in parallel. The load sharing characteristics of the series-parallel connected interleaved LLC converter is then analyzed and a current sharing mathematical model is developed to illustrate the current sharing principles. A case example of a 300/12-18V, 2.5kW, 500kHz interleaved LLC resonant converter is designed and simulated to verify the proposed load sharing model. The established model's error analysis is conducted and the developed model is proved to have relatively high precision in current continuous mode and satisfactory precision in current discontinuous mode. The Monte Carlo analysis is executed to get an overall review of current sharing among different frequencies and the Worst Case analysis is executed to reveal the sensitivity of different influencing factors. The paper provides innovative and valuable references for the dimensioning of series-parallel connected interleaved LLC resonant converters.
Comparison of global and mode of action-based models for aquatic toxicity

The ability to estimate aquatic toxicity is a critical need for ecological risk assessment and chemical regulation. The consensus in the literature is that mode of action (MOA) based toxicity models yield the most toxicologically meaningful and, theoretically, the most accurate results. In this study, a two-step prediction methodology was developed to estimate acute aquatic toxicity from molecular structure. In the first step, one-against-the-rest linear discriminant analysis (LDA) models were used to predict the MOA. The LDA models were able to predict the MOA with 85.8–88.8% accuracy for broad and specific MOAs, respectively. In the second step, a multiple linear regression (MLR) model corresponding to the predicted MOA was used to predict the acute aquatic toxicity value. The MOA-based approach was found to yield similar external prediction accuracy (r2 = 0.529–0.632) to a single global MLR model (r2 = 0.551–0.562) fit to the entire training set. Overall, the global hierarchical clustering approach yielded a higher combination of accuracy and prediction coverage (r2 = 0.572, coverage = 99.3%) than the other approaches. Utilizing multiple two-dimensional chemical descriptors in MLR models yielded comparable results to using only the octanol–water partition coefficient (log Kow).
Price Clustering of Chinese IPOs: The Impact of Regulation, Cultural Factors, and Negotiation

ABSTRACT During June 2009–May 2012, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) suspended window guidance that limits issue prices. Using this regime change as a natural experiment, we test the combined effects of regulation, culture, and negotiation on price clustering of Chinese IPOs. The proportion of IPOs priced on round number 0 increases from 42.58% during sample periods with window guidance to 79.81% during sample period without window guidance, a level similar to that reported in developed markets . Moreover, we document a connection between whole CNY pricing of Chinese IPOs and several uncertainty measures including a unique uncertainty proxy defined as the time gap between the IPO date and the listing date. Second to the round number 0, issuing firms favour number 8 that associates with fortune, particularly during sample periods with window guidance. Our findings that price restrictions limit the power of negotiations but not the influence of cultural factors contributing to the understanding of price formation process.
The Commitment of Packaging Industry in the Framework of the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy

European Commission is strongly committed into issues related to plastic materials production and plastic waste management. While the Circular Economy Package has set targets generally referred to recycling rates, the European Strategy for plastics in a circular economy (and related action plan), fosters sustainability along the entire plastic value chain: from primary producers to converters, brand owners and retailers to waste collectors and recyclers. The Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (more commonly known as Directive on Single-Use-Plastics, waiting for publication in the Official Journal of the European Union) rules targets on ten plastic products most often found as littering on global beaches, directly affecting plastic industry and, consequently, market. Policy makers and industrial stakeholders are called upon to collaborate. The article aims to illustrate interactions between European Commission and all plastic value chain stakeholders on implementing measures to reach ambitious targets pursued by the recent European policy. The study shows how European Commission has robustly worked to regulate production and consumption patterns on plastic carrier bags and packaging (including food packaging) thus facilitating the achievement of specific targets provided by the recent Directive. However, additional provisions concerning market restriction have been introduced; industrial stakeholders carried on a prompt response by promoting the creation of alliances, join venture and association, as well as a more integrated plastic value chain. On the base of this purpose, a virtuous example of a closed supply chain is presented.
The deletion of TonB-dependent receptor genes is part of the genome reduction process that occurs during adaptation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the cystic fibrosis lung.

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are the main cause of morbidity among patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) due to persistent lung inflammation caused by interaction between this bacterium and the immune system. Longitudinal studies of clonally related isolates of a dominant CF clone have indicated that genome reduction frequently occurs during adaptation of P. aeruginosa in the CF lung. In this study, we have evaluated the P. aeruginosa population structure of patients attending the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel) CF reference center using a combination of genotyping methods. Although the UZ Brussel P. aeruginosa CF population is characterized by the absence of a dominant CF clone, some potential interpatient transmissions could be detected. Interestingly, one of these clones showed deletion of the alternative type I ferripyoverdine receptor gene fpvB. Furthermore, we found that several other TonB-dependent receptors are deleted as well. The genome of one potentially transmissible CF clone was sequenced, revealing large deleted regions including all type III secretion system genes and several virulence genes. Remarkably, a large number of deleted genes are shared between the P. aeruginosa CF clone described in this study and isolates belonging to the dominant Copenhagen CF DK2 clone, suggesting parallel evolution.
Serum lipoproteins in overweight/obese postmenopausal women: a one-year exercise trial.

INTRODUCTION This analysis was conducted to study the effect of a 1-yr moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program on serum lipoproteins among overweight/obese postmenopausal women. METHODS We randomized 173 sedentary (VO2max = 20.2 mL.kg(-1). min(-1)), overweight/obese women (body mass index (BMI) 25.0-42.0 kg.m(-2) or body fat > 33% if BMI 24.0-25.0) aged 50-75 yr, not using hormone therapy, living in the Seattle area, to an exercise intervention or stretching control group. The exercise intervention included facility and home-based exercise (45 min, 5 d.wk(-1) of moderate-intensity sports or recreational exercise). Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were determined by chemical assay; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was then calculated. RESULTS Of the 173 women, 170 (98.3%) completed the study with exercisers averaging 176 (SD 91) min.wk(-1) of moderate- to vigorous-intensity (60%-75% HRmax) exercise, expending approximately 3828 kJ.wk(-1) (SD 2053). Exercisers, compared with stretchers, significantly increased their VO2max (+11%, P<0.001) and lost more body weight (-1.4 kg, P < 0.05), DEXA-% total body fat (-1.0, P < 0.005), L4-5 computed tomography intraabdominal fat (-8.6 cm2, P < 0.05) and subcutaneous abdominal fat (-28.8 cm2, P < 0.005) after 12 months. Mean (SD) baseline lipoprotein levels for TC, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides were 231 (39), 152 (39), 52 (12), and 135 (65) mg.dL(-1), respectively. We observed no significant change in serum lipoprotein levels among exercisers compared with stretchers at either 3 or 12 months postrandomization. We did not observe a statistically significant effect of exercise on serum lipoproteins in subgroups that changed their intraabdominal and subcutaneous fat, percent total body fat, or VO2max the most, or that adhered to the exercise regimen the most over 1 yr. CONCLUSION It appears that a year long moderate-intensity exercise program alone does not significantly alter serum lipoprotein levels among overweight/obese postmenopausal women.
Immunodominance Among EBV-Derived Epitopes Restricted by HLA-B27 Does Not Correlate with Epitope Abundance in EBV-Transformed B-Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines1

Using synthetic peptides, the HLA-B27-restricted CTL response to EBV in asymptomatic virus carriers has been mapped to four epitope regions in EBV latent cycle Ags. One of these peptide-defined epitopes (RRIYDLIEL) tends to be immunodominant and is recognized in the context of all three B27 subtypes studied, B*2702, B*2704, and B*2705. The other peptide-defined epitopes induce responses only in the context of one subtype, the immunogenic combinations being RRARSLSAERY/B*2702, RRRWRRLTV/B*2704, and FRKAQIQGL/B*2705. We used immunoaffinity chromatography to isolate the naturally presented viral peptides associated with these MHC class I molecules on the surface of EBV-transformed B-LCL. Using CTL reconstitution assays in conjunction with mass spectrometry, we established that the naturally processed and presented peptides are identical with the previously identified synthetic sequences. Despite the subtype-specific immunogenicity of three of the four epitopes, all four epitope peptides were found in association with each of the three different HLA-B27 subtypes. Indeed, those peptides that failed to induce a response in the context of a particular HLA-B27 subtype were frequently presented at greater abundance by that subtype than were the immunogenic peptides. Furthermore, among the peptides that did induce a response, immunodominance did not correlate with epitope abundance; in fact the immunodominant RRIYDLIEL epitope was least abundant, being present at less than one copy per cell. The relationship of this unexpected finding to the persistence of EBV is discussed.
Training of education experts in Ukraine: experimental interdisciplinary program

This article presents training of education experts in Ukraine through the providing interdisciplinary program; analysis of experts training in the field of education abroad. It determines the notion of "expert" and "expertise" their content for peer education activities. Here is shown the results of a pilot study conducted in Ukraine to determine the educational community views on the necessity to provide special experts’ training in the field of education and to determine their place in the Ukrainian system of education. Here is discussed the content of the first in Ukraine interdisciplinary Master's program "Expert activities in providing quality of education".
Bacterial flora concurrent with Helicobacter pylori in the stomach of patients with upper gastrointestinal diseases.

AIM To investigate the non-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterial flora concurrent with H. pylori infection. METHODS A total of 103 gastric biopsy specimens from H. pylori positive patients were selected for bacterial culture. All the non-H. pylori bacterial isolates were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). RESULTS A total of 201 non-H. pylori bacterial isolates were cultivated from 67 (65.0%) of the 103 gastric samples, including 153 isolates identified successfully at species level and 48 at genus level by MALDI-TOF MS. The dominant species were Streptococcus, Neisseria, Rothia and Staphylococcus, which differed from the predominantly acid resistant species reported previously in healthy volunteers. The prevalence of non-H. pylori bacteria was higher in non-ulcer dyspepsia group than in gastric ulcer group (100% vs 42.9%, P < 0.001). Six bacterial species with urease activity (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus aureus, Brevibacterium spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae) were also isolated. CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence of the non-H. pylori bacteria concurrent with H. pylori infection, and the non-H. pylori bacteria may also play important as-yet-undiscovered roles in the pathogenesis of stomach disorders.
Aging of the immune system: Focus on inflammation and vaccination

Major advances in preventing, delaying, or curing individual pathologies are responsible for an increasingly long life span in the developed parts of our planet, and indeed reaching eight to nine decades of life is nowadays extremely frequent. However, medical and sanitary advances have not prevented or delayed the underlying cause of the disparate pathologies occurring in the elderly: aging itself. The identification of the basis of the aging processes that drives the multiple pathologies and loss of function typical of older individuals is a major challenge in current aging research. Among the possible causes, an impairment of the immune system plays a major role, and indeed numerous studies have described immunological changes which occur with age. Far from the intention of being exhaustive, this review will focus on recent advances and views on the role that modifications of cell signalling and remodelling of the immune response play during human aging and longevity, paying particular attention to phenomena which are linked to the so called inflammaging process, such as dysregulation of innate immunity, altered T‐cell or B‐cell maturation and differentiation, as well as to the implications of immune aging for vaccination strategies in the elderly.
Academic Mobility and Academic Migration Issues: the Case of Ukrainian Higher Education

The article demonstrates the globalization and regional dimension of the problems of academic mobility as well as academic migration at the Ukrainian education environment. The authors’ approach is based on the fact that the dialectics of globalization and regionalization has a signiﬁcant inﬂuence on the essence of the processes of academic mobility and academic migration. The theoretical study and analysis of educational policy have demonstrated the need for harmonization of these processes taking into account current geopolitical challenges. The authors have explored the “order of the day” of problems related to academic mobility and academic migration, taking into account current geopolitical challenges, trying to identify the perspective directions of study of this problem.