Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of uraemia on the duration of arrhythmias in the context of cardioprotective ischaemic conditioning strategies

Background Sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease. Ischaemic conditioning strategies confer profound myocardial protection and, in the absence of uraemia, have been reported to reduce myocardial dysrhythmias. Recent data confirms that ischaemic conditioning can protect the uraemic heart. However, the effect of uraemia on myocardial arrhythmogenesis in the context of ischaemia-reperfusion injury and whether ischaemic conditioning can modulate this is unknown. Objective We investigated the effect of underling chronic uraemia on the duration of arrhythmias in the context of cardioprotective ischaemic conditioning strategies. Methods We examined the effect of chronic uraemia on arrhythmias occurring in the context of myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury and the ability of ischaemic preconditioning (IPC), remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) and ischaemic postconditioning (iPOST) to suppress arrhythmogenesis in uraemic and non-uraemic animals. Results IPC led to a reduction in the frequency and duration of arrhythmias occurring during ischaemia and reperfusion. Neither RIPC nor iPOST affected the duration or frequency of ischaemic or reperfusion arrhythmias. Underlying uraemia did not alter the frequency or duration of ischaemic arrhythmias in any of the experiments however it was associated with a reduction in reperfusion arrhythmia duration in the IPC and iPOST experiments. Conclusions These studies demonstrate that underlying chronic uraemia does not reduce the threshold for arrhythmia timing or duration resulting from myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion and underlying uraemia did not alter the effects of these cardioprotective ischaemic conditioning strategies in the context of arrhythmia duration. Summary This novel work in a rodent model of chronic uraemia establishes that underlying uraemia does not increase the susceptibility to myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion induced arrhythmias. When compared with the non-uraemic heart, the uraemic heart has a similar response to the effects of ischaemic conditioning strategies in terms of their effect on arrhythmia timing and duration.
Ceftiofur-Resistant Salmonella Strains Isolated from Dairy Farms Represent Multiple Widely Distributed Subtypes That Evolved by Independent Horizontal Gene Transfer

ABSTRACT Salmonella is the leading cause of known food-borne bacterial infections in the United States, with an incidence rate of approximately 15 cases per 100,000 people. The rise of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella subtypes, including the appearance of subtypes resistant to ceftriaxone, represents a particular concern. Ceftriaxone is used to treat invasive cases of Salmonella in children and is closely related to ceftiofur, an antibiotic commonly used to treat diseases of cattle. In order to develop a better understanding of the evolution and transmission of ceftiofur resistance in Salmonella, we characterized ceftiofur-resistant and -sensitive Salmonella isolates from seven New York dairy farms. A total of 39 isolates from these seven farms were analyzed for evolutionary relatedness (by DNA sequencing of the Salmonella genes fimA, manB, and mdh), antibiotic resistance profiles, and the presence of blaCMY-2, a beta-lactamase gene associated with resistance to cephalosporins. Our data indicate that (i) resistance to ceftriaxone and ceftiofur was highly correlated with the presence of blaCMY-2; (ii) ceftiofur-resistant Salmonella strains were geographically widespread, as shown by their isolation from farms located throughout New York State; (iii) ceftiofur-resistant Salmonella strains isolated from farms represent multiple distinct subtypes and evolutionary lineages, as determined by serotyping, DNA sequence typing, and antimicrobial-resistance profiles; and (iv) ceftiofur-resistant Salmonella strains evolved by multiple independent acquisitions of an identical blaCMY-2 allele and by clonal spread of ceftiofur-resistant subtypes.
Dual-band validation of on-site coding receiver using ultra-wideband antenna array at C, X and Ku-bands

Ultra-wideband (UWB) transceivers with digital beamforming are essential for realizing cognitive and software defined radios. Concurrently, advances in digital technology and signal processing have drastically reduced digital beamforming complexity. For example, a new on-site coding receiver (OSCR) architecture was proposed to significantly reduce hardware requirement for digital beamforming using code division multiplexing (CDM). As a result, a single analog-to-digital converter (ADC) can be used for a group of antenna elements. Initial design and verification of the OSCR was done at L-band. But its functionality can be extended at higher frequency, including C, X and Ku-bands. In this paper, we present a 4-channel high frequency dual-band OSCR implementation and validation. Specifically, measurements are performed in the anechoic chamber using an UWB array operating at 4-18 GHz, to estimate the phase of incoming signals and for direction finding. It is verified that on-site coding has minimal or no phase error and degradation in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
Un acercamiento a la reutilización en ingeniería de software

El reuso es por defecto la estrategia de resolucion de problemas en la mayoria de las actividades del ser humano. Los cientificos cognitivos coinciden en afirmar que lo primero que hacemos cuando enfrentamos un problema es determinar si este ha sido resuelto antes; en caso contrario, buscamos nuestro espacio mental problemas analogos que ya se han resuelto y adaptamos su solucion al problema actual; cuando ninguna de las anteriores situaciones se cumple, utilizamos entonces las habilidades del conocimiento general analitico para resolucion de problemas (Mili, 1995).
Understanding Health Constraints Among Rural-to-Urban Migrants in China

The main purpose of this article is to examine the understanding and experience of health and health care among rural-to-urban migrants in China, and to explain the impact of the internal factors of migrants themselves and the external factors of their social environment. Understanding the perceptions and consciousness of health issues among migrants is crucial to prevention, intervention, and other health-related measures for the migrant population in China, but this has rarely been explored in studies. On the basis of a case study of a migrant community in Beijing, I explore the migrants’ understandings of health and health care and analyze factors in the social environment, including exclusion from the social system and the possibility of health participation, exclusion from social relation networks, obstructed channels of health maintenance, and exclusion of crowd psychology, which impact heavily on their health understanding and health behavior. I argue that the internal and the external factors are linked together closely and interact as reciprocal causation. However, the migrants should not be seen as primarily responsible, because their poor understanding of health mainly results from the socioeconomic environment in which they live and work.
Dynamic exercise imaging with an MR‐compatible stationary cycle within the general electric open magnet

Many cases of muscular ischemia do not manifest without increased metabolic demand. Hence, diagnosis of intermittent claudication often requires inducing physiologic challenge, such as by exercise. Cine phase‐contrast MRI can concurrently acquire cross‐sectional vascular anatomy and through‐plane blood velocities, enabling blood flow rate quantification. An MR‐compatible stationary cycle was designed, constructed, and tested for flow quantification in large arteries during lower‐limb exercise in a General Electric Signa SP 0.5 T open magnet. The cycle demonstrated smooth cycling during image acquisition, has freewheeling capability, is adjustable for subject size and strength, and can quantify workload. A healthy 59‐year‐old male was imaged at the supraceliac and infrarenal levels of the abdominal aorta at rest and during exercise. An exercise workload of 47.9 W was achieved. His heart rate increased from 52 to 78 bpm, supraceliac flow increased from 1.7 to 3.7 L/min, and infrarenal flow increased from 0.4 to 3.2 L/min from rest to exercise. Magn Reson Med 49:581–585, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of bacteriophage transposon Mu d1 to determine the orientation for three proC-linked phosphate-starvation-inducible (psi) genes in Escherichia coli K-12

We have previously used the bacteriophage transposon Mu d1 (which encodes the lacZY structural genes but without their promoter) to construct strains that have lacZY fused to phosphate-regulated promoters in Escherichia coli K-12. Among 18 identified phosphate-starvation-inducible (psi) genes, three (the phoA and two new genes: psiF and psiG) are closely linked to the proC region. The gene order (clockwise) is phoA psiF proC psiG phoB phoR. Using these mutants containing Mu d1 insertions, we devised and tested a new method to determine their orientation. In this procedure, mutants with deletions that are selectable by their ability to grow at 42 degrees C are tested for the presence of Mu d1 and of neighboring genes. Some difficulties arose during analysis of suspected deletion-containing strains derived from Mu d1 lysogens (which also contained a Tn5 element) that were caused by Mu d1 and transposon transpositions and other possible genome rearrangements. Nevertheless, we have shown that the phoA and psiF genes are transcribed clockwise and the psiG gene is transcribed counterclockwise towards proC. Because phoA, but not psiF, gene expression requires the phoB+ (positive regulator) gene product, the phoA and psiF genes do not constitute an operon. On the other hand, the psiG:lacZ fusion-bearing strain may have a fusion to the promoter-distal end of the phoB gene. This implies that phoB expression is phosphate regulated. We believe that this method may be useful in general to elucidate the direction of gene transcription.
The use of mass spectrometry for the proteomic analysis of glycosylation

Of all protein PTMs, glycosylation is by far the most common, and is a target for proteomic research. Glycosylation plays key roles in controlling various cellular processes and the modifications of the glycan structures in diseases highlight the clinical importance of this PTM. Glycosylation analysis remains a difficult task. MS, in combination with modern separation methodologies, is one of the most powerful and versatile techniques for the structural analysis of glycoconjugates. This review describes methodologies based on MS for detailed characterization of glycoconjugates in complex biological samples at the sensitivity required for proteomic work.
Amino Acid Requirements of Two Hyperthermophilic Archaeal Isolates from Deep-Sea Vents, Desulfurococcus Strain SY and Pyrococcus Strain GB-D

Two sulfur-dependent hyperthermophilic archaea, Desulfurococcus strain SY and Pyrococcus strain GB-D, which were isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal vents, utilized free amino acids and peptides obtained from various molecular size fractions of yeast extract. It was found that 11 amino acids were essential for growth. The metabolic products were acetate, i-butyrate, and i-valerate.
Sperm Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Mediates α7 Acetylcholine Receptor (AChR) Activation to Promote Fertilization

Background: The acrosome reaction is a process that allows sperm penetration into the egg and fertilization. Results: α7nAChR and EGFR interact with the egg zona pellucida leading to the acrosome reaction. Conclusion: The EGFR mediates the acrosome reaction induced by α7nAChR activation. Significance: This finding leads to a better understanding of the signaling that mediates fertilization. To attain fertilization the spermatozoon binds to the egg zona pellucida (ZP) via sperm receptor(s) and undergoes an acrosome reaction (AR). Several sperm receptors have been described in the literature; however, the identity of this receptor is not yet certain. In this study, we suggest that the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) might be a sperm receptor activated by ZP to induce epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated AR. We found that isolated ZP or α7 agonists induced the AR in sperm from WT but not α7-null spermatozoa, and the induced AR was inhibited by α7 or EGFR antagonists. Moreover, α7-null sperm showed very little binding to the egg, and microfluidic affinity in vitro assay clearly showed that α7nAChR, as well as EGFR, interacted with ZP3. Induction of EGFR activation and the AR by an α7 agonist was inhibited by a Src family kinase (SFK) inhibitor. In conclusion we suggest that activation of α7 by ZP leads to SFK-dependent EGFR activation, Ca2+ influx, and the acrosome reaction.
Biclustering of Gene Expression Data Using PSO-GA Hybrid

The biclustering of gene expression data is an important technology for biologists and the biclustering problem is proven to be NP-hard. In this paper, a hybrid evolutionary optimization algorithm based on particle swarm and Genetic algorithms is presented to solve the biclustering problem. Additionally, this paper gives a comparison between hybrid algorithm, GA, and PSO. Experiments show that our method can beat other methods.
The Congruence between a Firm's Competitive Strategy and Information Technology Leader's Rank and Role

Today's firms are faced with new competitive and technological challenges. As a consequence, many senior executives are looking for information technology (IT) leaders who not only can understand technology but also can comprehend technology's potential to affect business strategy. For the IT leaders, rising to such numerous, and often conflicting, challenges is not easy. Indeed, there is a higher than average corporate dismissal rate and shorter tenure for IT leaders compared with other top executives. Based on the responses from 213 IT leaders in the financial services industry, this study found that the rank and role of a firm's IT leader must be aligned with the firm's competitive strategy. The implications of the findings for the firms' executives, as well as researchers, are discussed in detail.
Cortical Color and the Cognitive Sciences

Back when researchers thought about the various forms that color vision could take, the focus was primarily on the retinal mechanisms. Since that time, research on human color vision has shifted from an interest in retinal mechanisms to cortical color processing. This has allowed color research to provide insight into questions that are not limited to early vision but extend to cognition. Direct cortical connections from higher-level areas to lower-level areas have been found throughout the brain. One of the classic questions in cognitive science is whether perception is influenced, and if so to what extent, by cognition and whether a clear distinction can be drawn between perception and cognition. Since perception is seen as providing justification for our beliefs about properties in the external world, these questions also have metaphysical and epistemological significance. The aim of this paper is to highlight some of the areas where research on color perception can shed new light on questions in the cognitive sciences. A further aim of the paper is to raise some questions about color research that are in dire need of further reflection and investigation.
A distance-based outlier detection method for rumor detection exploiting user behaviorial differences

Rumors can spread fast on Online Social Networks (OSN) which may cause serious public issues. Thus the detection of rumors on OSN has become a hot research topic in recent years. While most of the previous work proposed some supervised methods like classification to deal with the rumor detection problem, we view the rumors as outliers among the recent Weibos posted by a user and propose a novel outlier detection method to detect them. An improved PCA method is proposed to deal with both the categorical and numerical features used for detection and to preserve the most significant information that we are interested in. Then a distance-based outlier detection method is applied to detect the potential rumors. Experimental results show that our method can achieve a better F1 and time performance compared to previous work.
Computing Valid Inequalities for General Integer Programs using an Extension of Maximal Dual Feasible Functions to Negative Arguments

Dual feasible functions (DFFs) were used with much success to compute bounds for several combinatorial optimization problems and to derive valid inequalities for some linear integer programs. A major limitation of these functions is that their domain remains restricted to the set of positive arguments. To tackle more general linear integer problems, the extension of DFFs to negative arguments is essential. In this paper, we show how these functions can be generalized to this case. We explore the properties required for DFFs with negative arguments to be maximal, we analyze additional properties of these DFFs, we prove that many classical maximal DFFs cannot be extended in this way, and we present some non-trivial examples.
Expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 in the aqueous outflow pathway of porcine eyes with induced glaucoma.

PURPOSE To determine if the expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 (ELAM-1) in the trabecular meshwork system of the porcine eye, when subjected to experimental glaucoma, is increased as it does in human glaucoma. METHODS Immunohistochemistry using a specific mouse antihuman ELAM-1 antibody was performed on the trabecular meshwork system of five pigs. The episcleral veins of the left eyes were cauterized as reported elsewhere to induce glaucoma. Immunodetection of ELAM-1 was assayed in human trabecular meshwork samples obtained from trabeculectomy as a positive control. RESULTS Pig eyes exhibiting elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and damage to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) due to experimental glaucoma as reported elsewhere, were found to exhibit ELAM-1 immunoreactivity in their trabecular meshwork. CONCLUSIONS ELAM-1 protein, the first molecular marker for human glaucoma, can also be considered a candidate molecular marker of induced glaucoma in the pig model of experimental glaucoma. The results of our study further validated the pig eye as an animal model of glaucoma, since increased expression of ELAM-1, which has been found in the trabecular meshwork of human eyes with glaucoma, is also found in pig eyes subjected to experimental glaucoma via episcleral vein cauterization.
Identificação macroscópica de madeiras: guia prático e noções básicas para o seu reconhecimento.

O conteudo e apresentado em 9 capitulos: 1 - Apresentacao; 2 - Sumario; 3 - Introducao; 4 - Identificacao de madeiras: macro e microscopicas; 5 - Planos de corte ou de observacao; 6 - Caracteristicas para a identificacao macroscopica; 7 - Bases de dados na Internet; 8 - Lista dos principais acervos (xilotecas) no Pais; 9 - Referencias
IFIH 1 polymorphisms are significantly associated with type 1 diabetes and IFIH 1 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

with type 1 diabetes and IFIH1 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells Siyang Liu1,, Hongjie Wang1,, Yulan Jin1,, Robert Podolsky1,2, MV Prasad Linga Reddy1, Jennifer Pedersen1,2, Bruce Bode5, John Reed6, Dennis Steed6, Steve Anderson7, Ping Yang1, Andy Muir1,3, Leigh Steed1, Diane Hopkins1, Yihua Huang1,4, Sharad Purohit1, Cong-Yi Wang1,4, Andrea K. Steck8, Annalisa Montemari1, George Eisenbarth8, Marian Rewers8 and Jin-Xiong She1,4,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants altered in their sensitivity to the effect of iron on toxin A or elastase yields

Iron affects yields of toxin A, alkaline protease, elastase, pyochelin, and pyoverdin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mutants of P. aeruginosa PAO1 resistant to the effect of iron on toxin (toxC) or elastase (elaC) yields were isolated. Two types of mutants were isolated: iron transport and iron regulatory mutants. The toxC regulatory mutants produced toxin A in medium containing iron; however, yields of elastase and alkaline protease remained sensitive to regulation by iron. The elaC regulatory mutants were resistant to the effect of iron on elastase yields, but toxin A and alkaline protease yields were decreased by iron, analogous to the parent strain. These data suggest that toxin A, elastase, and alkaline protease yields can be independently regulated by iron.
Identification of the Capsular Polysaccharides in Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolates by PCR and Agglutination Tests

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. The predominance of two capsular polysaccharides, types 5 and 8, on the surface of clinical isolates led to the development of a conjugate vaccine (StaphVAX) based on capsular polysaccharides types 5 and 8 conjugated to a carrier protein. We have studied the capsular phenotypes and genotypes of 195 isolates representative of all clinical syndromes that encompassed both hospital and community-acquired infections. These isolates were mainly detected in France between January 2001 and December 2004. In this population, most of clinical isolates (87%) expressed either capsular polysaccharide type 5 (42%) or 8 (45%), whereas 13% were nontypeable by the serotyping method with antibodies specific to capsular polysaccharide type 5 or 8. These 26 nontypeable strains were further serotyped and were demonstrated to express the cell wall surface antigen 336, a polyribitol phosphate N-acetylglucosamine, which resembles cell wall teichoic acid. Among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, we found a predominance of serotype 5 for 64% of strains, whereas MSSA isolates were predominantly capsular serotype 8 (60%). All S. aureus clinical isolates included in the present study have been investigated by PCR method, demonstrating that all isolates carried either the cap5 or the cap8 locus.
Reducing the Frequency of Acute Otitis Media by Individualized Care

Objective: We sought to determine if use of more stringent diagnostic criteria for acute otitis media (AOM) than currently advocated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, tympanocentesis and pathogen-specific antibiotic treatment (individualized care) would result in reducing the incidence of recurrent AOM and consequent tympanostomy tube surgery. Methods: A 5-year longitudinal, prospective study in Rochester, NY, was conducted from July 2006 to July 2011 involving 254 individualized care children. When this individualized care group developed symptoms of AOM, strict diagnostic criteria were applied and a tympanocentesis was performed. Pathogen resistance to empiric high-dose amoxicillin/clavulanate (80 mg/kg of amoxicillin component) caused a change in antibiotic to an optimized choice. Legacy controls (n = 208) were diagnosed with the same diagnostic criteria by the same physicians as the individualized care group and received the same empiric amoxicillin/clavulanate (80 mg/kg of amoxicillin component) but no tympanocentesis or change in antibiotic. Community control children (n = 1020) were diagnosed according to current American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines and treated with high-dose amoxicillin (80 mg/kg) without tympanocentesis as guideline recommended. Results: 5.9% of children of the individualized care group compared with 14.4% of Legacy controls and 27.3% of community controls became otitis prone, defined as 3 episodes of AOM within a 6-month time span or 4 AOM episodes within a 12-month time span (P < 0.0001). 2.4% of the individualized care group compared with 6.3% of Legacy controls, and 14.8% of community controls received tympanostomy tubes (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Individualized care of AOM significantly reduces the frequency of AOM and tympanostomy tube surgery. Use of strict diagnostic criteria for AOM and empiric antibiotic treatment using evidence-based knowledge of circulating otopathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility profile also produces improved outcomes.