Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction caused by unprotected left main stem thrombosis

Background: There is a paucity of data on outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) caused by left main stem (LMS) thrombosis. Objectives: We sought to determine (i) the clinical features, (ii) correlates of early mortality, and (iii) long‐term outcomes in contemporary patients undergoing primary PCI for unprotected LMS thrombosis. Methods: From 1,115 consecutive primary PCI cases at two tertiary referral centers between January 2004 and September 2007, 28 cases (2.5%) with unprotected LMS culprit lesions were identified. Data were obtained from review of institutional databases, folder audit, telephone survey of patients, and independent review of angiograms. Results: The mean age of patients was 68 ± 14 years. Males comprised 76%, and 21% had diabetes. Significant morbidity was noted at presentation: shock in 18 (62%), pulmonary oedema in 15 (52%), and cardiac arrest in 10 (35%) patients, respectively. Lesion location was ostial in 7 (25%), body in 8 (29%), and distal in 13 (46%) patients, respectively. Angiographic success was achieved in 24 patients (83%). Stents were deployed in 27 patients (96%); drug‐eluting stents in 11 patients (39%). No patient required in‐hospital CABG. Cumulative in‐hospital mortality was 36%. Univariate predictors of in‐hospital mortality included shock, preceding cardiac arrest, and angiographic failure (all P < 0.05). At a mean follow‐up of 26 ± 12 months in hospital survivors, there were two TVR (elective CABGs), one death, and no reinfarctions. Conclusion: We report a lower than previously reported in‐hospital mortality of 36% in contemporary patients undergoing primary PCI for unprotected LMS thrombosis. Long‐term outcomes in hospital survivors appear favorable. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Four Probe Electrical Resistance Characterization of Carbon Fiber and Carbon Nanotube Buckypaper Composites

In this work, the electrical resistance of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and carbon nanotube buckypaper (BP) composites has been studied. The specimens were prepared according to three different layup configurations. Three 16-ply unidirectional carbon fiber (CF) composites IM7/977-3 [0]16T, or CF16, were prepared and used as the baseline for the study. Additional specimens were prepared with the addition of 4 and 7 layers of BP. Experimental measurements of the electrical resistance have been performed using two methods. In the first method, six probes were attached to the top and bottom of the specimens and measurements were performed using the traditional 4-probe electrical resistance method (i.e. the electrodes span the entire width of the specimen) for composite laminates. The second method was based on a modification of the four-point probe method of the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) K7194. Results were analyzed in order to observe the effects of the highly conductive buckypaper on the overall resistance of the composite laminates as well as to illuminate any trends between the number of BP layers added and the resulting changes to electrical resistance. The specimens with layers of BP were found to have lower resistance compared to the specimens with no BP. Moreover, as the number of BP layers increased from 4 to 7, the resistance continued to decrease. These results demonstrated two significant findings. First, the current not only flowed through the top CF layer but penetrated through the thickness, as evidenced by the lower resistance measured on the specimens with BP. Second, the decrease in resistance between the specimens with 4 and 7 layers of BP measured by the traditional 4-probe electrical resistance method was greater than predicted by finite element analysis (FEA) due to nonlinear edge effects. The method based on the JIS K7194 was found to reduce the influence of edge and geometry effects on resistance.
Understanding TR Binding to pMHC Complexes: How Does a TR Scan Many pMHC Complexes yet Preferentially Bind to One

Understanding the basis of the binding of a T cell receptor (TR) to the peptide-MHC (pMHC) complex is essential due to the vital role it plays in adaptive immune response. We describe the use of computed binding (free) energy (BE), TR paratope, pMHC epitope, molecular surface electrostatic potential (MSEP) and calculated TR docking angle (θ) to analyse 61 TR/pMHC crystallographic structures to comprehend TR/pMHC interaction. In doing so, we have successfully demonstrated a novel/rational approach for θ calculation, obtained a linear correlation between BE and θ without any “codon” or amino acid preference, provided an explanation for TR ability to scan many pMHC ligands yet specifically bind one, proposed a mechanism for pMHC recognition by TR leading to T cell activation and illustrated the importance of the peptide in determining TR specificity, challenging the “germline bias” theory.
Correcting the Normalization Shift of Redundant Binary Representations

An important problem in the realization of floating-point subtraction is the identification of the position of the first nonzero digit in a radix-represented number, since the significand usually is to be represented left-normalized in the part of the word(s) allocated for representing its value. There are well-known log-time algorithms for determining this position for numbers in nonredundant representations, which may also be applied to suitably (linear-time) transformed redundant representations. However, due to the redundancy in the latter case, the position thus determined may need a correction by one. When determination of the shift amount is to be performed in parallel with conversion to nonredundant representation (the subtraction), it must be performed on the redundant representation. This is also the case when the significand is to be retained in a redundant representation until the final rounding. This paper presents an improved algorithm for determining the need for a correction of the normalization shift amount, which can be run in parallel with the algorithm finding the "approximate" position.
802 . 15 . 4 : a wireless communication technology for large-scale ubiquitous computing applications

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have been attracting increasing interest for supporting a new generation of ubiquitous computing systems with great potential for many applications such as surveillance, environmental monitoring, health care monitoring or home automation. However, the communication paradigms in WSNs differ from the ones associated to traditional wireless networks, triggering the need for new communication protocols. In this context, the IEEE 802.15. 4 protocol presents some potentially interesting features for supporting large-scale ubiquitous computing applications, namely power-efficiency, timeliness and scalability. Nevertheless, when addressing applications with (soft/hard) timing requirements some inherent paradoxes emerge, such as power-efficiency versus timeliness. Consequently, there is the need of engineering solutions for an efficient deployment of IEEE 802.15. 4 in such scenarios. In this paper, we present some of the most important results on the IEEE 802.15. 4 protocol that have been achieved within the context of wireless sensor networks. The paper outlines the most relevant characteristics of the IEEE 802.15. 4 protocol and presents the most important research challenges regarding time-sensitive WSN-based applications. Then, it presents some timing performance analysis that unveils some directions for resolving the previously mentioned paradoxes.
Effects of Acutely Induced Hypertension in Cats on Pial Arteriolar Caliber, Local Cerebral Blood Flow, and the Blood‐Brain Barrier

Acute hypertension was induced in 19 anesthetized cats by the intravenous administration of angiotensin. The caliber of pial arteries was measured by a television image-splitting tech nique and local cerebral Mood flow by the hydrogen clearance technique. As the blood pressure was increased, pial arterioles constricted and cerebral blood flow remained relatively constant, showing that autoregulation of cerebral blood flow was intact. At mean arterial pressures of more than 170 mm Hg arteriolar dilation appeared. In smaller arterioles (initial diameter less than 100 μm) a segmental dilation (the "sausage-string" phenomenon) frequently preceded uniform dilation. This arteriolar dilation was associated with a marked increase in local cerebral blood flow indicating that the upper level of autoregulation had been breached. In no cat was vasospasm or a decrease in Mood flow observed during induced hypertension. Hypertension also caused dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier since, in 17 out of 19 of the cats examined, there was extravasation of protein-bound Evans blue into brain tissue. In only one of the 19 cats subjected to neuropatbological analysis was ischemic brain damage identified and this was restricted to minimal ischemic cell change. The results indicate that severe, induced hyperten sion in cats produces cerebral arteriolar dilation, an increase of cere bral blood flow, and dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier. These observations may be of importance in understanding the pathogenesis of hypertensive encephalopathy.
Shannon capacity and eigen-beamforming for space dispersive multipath MIMO channels

This paper considers the information transfer capacity of a space dispersive multipath channel with multiple antenna at the transmitter and receiver. The Shannon capacity is evaluated for such multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels with multi-dimensional space-time modulation. Assuming a non-fading environment and a known channel at the transmitter and receiver, we derive the Shannon capacity under a transmit average power constraint. It is shown that the signal structure achieving capacity corresponds to eigen-beamforming. Capacity is shown to increase with the number of signal propagation paths. The effect of the space-time modulation format on the information-theoretic capacity is also pointed out.
Parabens enable suspension growth of MCF‐10A immortalized, non‐transformed human breast epithelial cells

Parabens (alkyl esters of p‐hydroxybenzoic acid) are used extensively as preservatives in consumer products, and intact esters have been measured in several human tissues. Concerns of a potential link between parabens and breast cancer have been raised, but mechanistic studies have centred on their oestrogenic activity and little attention has been paid to any carcinogenic properties. In the present study, we report that parabens can induce anchorage‐independent growth of MCF‐10A immortalized but non‐transformed human breast epithelial cells, a property closely related to transformation and a predictor of tumour growth in vivo. In semi‐solid methocel suspension culture, MCF‐10A cells produced very few colonies and only of a small size but the addition of 5 × 10‐4 M methylparaben, 10–5 M n‐propylparaben or 10–5 M n‐butylparaben resulted in a greater number of colonies per dish (P < 0.05 in each case) and an increased average colony size (P < 0.001 in each case). Dose‐responses showed that concentrations as low as 10–6 M methylparaben, 10–7 M n‐propylparaben and 10–7 M n‐butylparaben could increase colony numbers (P = 0.016, P = 0.010, P = 0.008, respectively): comparison with a recent measurement of paraben concentrations in human breast tissue samples from 40 mastectomies (Barr et al., 2012) showed that 22/40 of the patients had at least one of the parabens at the site of the primary tumour at or above these concentrations. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report that parabens can induce a transformed phenotype in human breast epithelial cells in vitro, and further investigation is now justified into a potential link between parabens and breast carcinogenesis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling Representation of Videos for Anomaly Detection using Deep Learning: A Review

This review article surveys the current progresses made toward video-based anomaly detection. We address the most fundamental aspect for video anomaly detection, that is, video feature representation. Much research works have been done in finding the right representation to perform anomaly detection in video streams accurately with an acceptable false alarm rate. However, this is very challenging due to large variations in environment and human movement, and high space-time complexity due to huge dimensionality of video data. The weakly supervised nature of deep learning algorithms can help in learning representations from the video data itself instead of manually designing the right feature for specific scenes. In this paper, we would like to review the existing methods of modeling video representations using deep learning techniques for the task of anomaly detection and action recognition.
Coupling Fine-Scale Root and Canopy Structure Using Ground-Based Remote Sensing

Ecosystem physical structure, defined by the quantity and spatial distribution of biomass, influences a range of ecosystem functions. Remote sensing tools permit the non-destructive characterization of canopy and root features, potentially providing opportunities to link above- and belowground structure at fine spatial resolution in functionally meaningful ways. To test this possibility, we employed ground-based portable canopy LiDAR (PCL) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) along co-located transects in forested sites spanning multiple stages of ecosystem development and, consequently, of structural complexity. We examined canopy and root structural data for coherence (i.e., correlation in the frequency of spatial variation) at multiple spatial scales ≤10 m within each site using wavelet analysis. Forest sites varied substantially in vertical canopy and root structure, with leaf area index and root mass more becoming even vertically as forests aged. In all sites, above- and belowground structure, characterized as mean maximum canopy height and root mass, exhibited significant coherence at a scale of 3.5–4 m, and results suggest that the scale of coherence may increase with stand age. Our findings demonstrate that canopy and root structure are linked at characteristic spatial scales, which provides the basis to optimize scales of observation. Our study highlights the potential, and limitations, for fusing LiDAR and radar technologies to quantitatively couple above- and belowground ecosystem structure.
Female philopatry and male‐biased dispersal in a direct‐developing salamander, Plethodon cinereus

The local resource competition hypothesis and the local mate competition hypothesis were developed based on avian and mammalian systems to explain sex‐biased dispersal. Most avian species show a female bias in dispersal, ostensibly due to resource defence, and most mammals show a male bias, ostensibly due to male–male competition. These findings confound phylogeny with mating strategy; little is known about sex‐biased dispersal in other taxa. Resource defence and male–male competition are both intense in Plethodon cinereus, a direct‐developing salamander, so we tested whether sex‐biased dispersal in this amphibian is consistent with the local resource competition hypothesis (female‐biased) or the local mate competition hypothesis (male‐biased). Using fine‐scale genetic spatial autocorrelation analyses, we found that females were philopatric, showing significant positive genetic structure in the shortest distance classes, with stronger patterns apparent when only territorial females were tested. Males showed no spatial genetic structure over the shortest distances. Mark–recapture observations of P. cinereus over 5 years were consistent with the genetic data: males dispersed farther than females during natal dispersal and 44% of females were recaptured within 1 m of their juvenile locations. We conclude that, in this population of a direct‐developing amphibian, females are philopatric and dispersal is male‐biased, consistent with the local mate competition hypothesis.
Sentence diagrams: their evaluation and combination

The purpose of our work is to explore the possibility of using sentence diagrams produced by schoolchildren as training data for automatic syntactic analysis. We have implemented a sentence diagram editor that schoolchildren can use to practice morphology and syntax. We collect their diagrams, combine them into a single diagram for each sentence and transform them into a form suitable for training a particular syntactic parser. In this study, the object language is Czech, where sentence diagrams are part of elementary school curriculum, and the target format is the annotation scheme of the Prague Dependency Treebank. We mainly focus on the evaluation of individual diagrams and on their combination into a merged better version.
Effects of pedaling on the high frequency components of HRV during exercise

The aim of our study was to prove the existence of a spectral peak at the pedaling frequency in the heart rate spectra, during exercise test on the cycloergometer, and to describe its characteristics. This was done by studying four young healthy volunteers (2M/2F, 18-22 yrs) while pedaling on a cycloergometer with incremental workloads, by mean of a 3-lead ECG and a 7 TV-camera optoelectronic device for recording pedal movements and respiratory movements of the thorax. A clear spectral peak in the HRV spectrum at the pedaling frequency appeared for certain workloads in all subjects. The power of this peak represented a significant fraction of the power of the respiratory peak. Since the overall displacement of the chest was the same regardless of the work load, we can exclude that the spectral peak at the pedaling frequency is due to a motion artifact, and we can rather hypothesize that it is related to the muscle pump mechanism.
Mature coconut water exhibits antidiabetic and antithrombotic potential via L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in alloxan induced diabetic rats

Abstract Background: The aims of the present study were to assess whether the antidiabetic activity of mature coconut water (MCW) is mediated through L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in diabetic rats, and to study the effects of MCW on blood coagulation. Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by injecting them with alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight). MCW (4 mL/100 g body weight) and L-arginine (7.5 mg/100 g body weight) was given orally for 45 days. L-NAME was given at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg body weight. Concentrations of blood glucose, plasma insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), L-arginine, urine volume and urinary creatinine levels, activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and arginase as well as the abnormalities in hemostasis and thrombosis were measured in all the experimental groups. Results: Treatment with MCW and L-arginine reduced the concentration of blood glucose and HbA1c in diabetic rats. MCW and L-arginine treatment exhibited significant antithrombotic activity in diabetic rats, which was evident from the reduced levels of WBC, platelets, fibrin, and fibrinogen. MCW and L-arginine treatment prolonged the prothrombin time in diabetic rats and reduced the activity of Factor V. In addition to this, the activity of nitric oxide synthase, liver and plasma arginine content, and urinary nitrite were higher in MCW-treated diabetic rats whereas L-NAME treatment inhibited the beneficial effects induced by MCW and arginine. Conclusions: The results clearly indicate that L-arginine is a major factor responsible for the antidiabetic and antithrombotic potential of coconut water, and is mediated through the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway.
Localization of skin features on the hand and wrist from small image patches

Skin-based biometrics rely on the distinctiveness of skin patterns across individuals for identification. In this paper, we investigate whether small image patches of the skin can be localized on a user's body, determining not “who? ” instead “where? ” Applying techniques from biometrics and computer vision, we introduce a hierarchical classifier that estimates a location from the image texture and refines the estimate with keypoint matching and geometric verification. To evaluate our approach, we collected 10,198 close-up images of 17 hand and wrist locations across 30 participants. Within-person algorithmic experiments demonstrate that an individual's own skin features can be used to localize their skin surface image patches with an F1 score of 96.5%. As secondary analyses, we assess the effects of training set size and between-person classification. We close with a discussion of the strengths and limitations of our approach and evaluation methods as well as implications for future applications using a wearable camera to support touch-based, location-specific taps and gestures on the surface of the skin.
Keys for microRNA expression profiling of single rat hypothalamic nuclei and multiplex sequencing strategies

• What is the topic of this review? We sought to establish a high number of microRNA expression profiles of individual hypothalamic nuclei of single rats. • What advances does it highlight? This can be achieved at a cost compatible with laboratory finance by using tagged cDNA libraries constructed from purified small RNAs and a multiplex sequencing strategy.
Production of biologically safe and mechanically improved reduced graphene oxide/hydroxyapatite composites

As research trends included the improvement of the mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite (HA) for biological applications, HA was reinforced with different concentrations of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) in HA. In this context, graphene oxide was synthesized using the chemical exfoliation method and reduced using an environmentally safe and green method. As a green method, RGO was obtained using Melissa officinalis (melisa) extract and used as a second phase combination to the HA structure. RGO–HA composites with different concentrations of RGO in HA (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0% wt.) were prepared using the liquid precipitation method. Then they were pelleted and sintered. Characterization studies were carried out using UV–vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), zetasizer (ZS), x-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. The mechanical properties of the composites were analyzed using a universal testing machine. Compared to pure HA, the compressive strength values of composites were increased significantly with the increase in RGO content. The optimum increase was observed for the RGO–HA (1%) composite, which was 3.2 times higher than the pure HA sample. Therefore, the RGO–HA (1%) composite was chosen as the best composition, and its cytotoxic and proliferative effects were examined using a minimum essential media elution test and a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The results showed that RGO–HA (1%) composites are biocompatible and even though they are proliferative at concentrations lower than 25%.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Increases Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Function in INS-1 Rat Insulinoma Cells

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a gut-derived incretin hormone that increases glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. Since mitochondrial function is crucial to insulin secretion, we hypothesized that GLP-1 may increase mitochondrial biogenesis in pancreatic β-cells. We treated INS-1 rat insulinoma cells with GLP-1 or exendin-4 for 48 hours and measured mitochondrial mass and function. Both GLP-1 and exendin-4 increased mitochondrial mass by approximately 20%. The mitochondria/cytosol ratio was increased from 7.60±3.12% to 10.53±2.70% by exendin-4. In addition, GLP-1 increased the mitochondrial membrane potential and oxygen consumption. Proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α expression was increased approximately 2-fold by GLP-1 treatment. In conclusion, the present study presents evidence for a new mechanism of action by which GLP-1 improves pancreatic β-cell function via enhanced mitochondrial mass and performance.