Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Initial experiences with the Impella device in patients with cardiogenic shock - Impella support for cardiogenic shock.

BACKGROUND We planned a study to assess the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of the Impella micro-axial blood pump in patients with cardiogenic shock. METHODS From January 2001 to September 2002 inclusive, 16 patients in cardiogenic shock (maximal inotropic support and with IABP in 11 cases) underwent left ventricle unloading with the Impella pump. 6 were placed via the femoral artery (patients in the coronary care unit) and 10 directly through the aorta (postcardiotomy heart failure). In three patients, the device was used in combination with ECMO. Mean age was 60 years (range 43 - 75), 11 were male. RESULTS A stable pump flow of 4.24 +/- 0.28 l/min was reached (3.3 +/- 1.9 l/min in patients with ECMO and Impella). Mean blood pressure before Impella) support was 57.4 +/- 13 mmHg, which increased to 74.9 +/- 13 mmHg after 6 hours and 80.6 +/- 17 mmHg (p = 0.003) after 24 hours. Cardiac output increased from 4.1 +/- 1.3 l/min to 5.5 +/- 1.3 (p = 0.003) and 5.9 +/-1.9 l/min (p = 0.01) at 6 and 24 hours. Mean pulmonary wedge pressure decreased from 29 +/- 10 mmHg to 17 +/- 5 mmHg and 18 +/- 7 mmHg at 6 (p = 0.04) and 24 hours. Blood lactate levels decreased significantly after 6 hours of support (from 2.7 +/- 1 to 1.3 +/- 0.5 mmol/l, p = 0.004). Device-related complications included three sensor failures (no clinical action), one pump displacement (replacement) and six incidences of haemolysis (peak free plasma haemoglobin > 100 mg/dl, no clinical action). Eleven patients (68 %) were weaned, six (37 %) survived. CONCLUSIONS Left ventricular unloading with the Impella pump via the transthoracic or femoral approach is feasible and safe. Support led to a decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, increase in cardiac output and mean blood pressure, and improved organ perfusion in patients with severe cardiogenic shock.
Cognitive Slippage in Schizotypic Individuals

The Miers and Raulin Cognitive Slippage Scale was used to assess subtle thought disorder, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was used to assess cognitive performance in deviantly high scorers on the Perceptual Aberration and Magical Ideation Scales (N = 63), high scorers on the revised Social Anhedonia Scale (N = 62), and in control subjects (N = 83). Results indicate that schizotypic individuals are more likely to report greater cognitive slippage and less likely to achieve as many WCST categories as controls. Individuals with both positive and negative symptoms of schizotypy reported higher levels of cognitive slippage than those individuals reporting only negative schizotypy. Additionally, the results confirm the presence of an especially high-risk group of psychosis-prone individuals, namely, those individuals with deviant scores on the revised Social Anhedonia Scale who possess additional indicators of schizotypy.
Harmonic power filters for oil drilling rigs: A case study

Increased use of variable frequency drives in industry has given rise to power quality problems. This paper addresses the power quality problems especially the harmonics problems in modern oil drilling rigs with AC drives. These power systems are isolated one, with local generator supplying the loads. Some of the operating constraints like harsh operating conditions and limited space have direct effect on the choice of the filters. This paper discusses the various solutions to mitigate the harmonic problems for the drilling rigs. These solutions are evaluated based on practical constraints such as performance, space, system modifications, size, reliability, maintenance, cost and THD.
Utilization of the Mayo risk score in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis receiving ursodeoxycholic acid.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is an effective therapy for most patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). During the management of these treated patients, a number of clinically important issues arose including which patients might be candidates for combined therapy, which patients require endoscopy for variceal bleeding, and how survival can be predicted during treatment. Our aims were: 1) to identify factors associated with a suboptimal response to UDCA in patients with PBC; 2) to define a simple, non-invasive method to predict those PBC patients most apt to have esophageal varices; and 3) to determine the reliability of the Mayo survival model in predicting the course of UDCA treated patients. METHODS We analyzed the prospectively collected data of 180 patients, who we continue to follow, with PBC who participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of UDCA. RESULTS After six months of UDCA therapy, patients with serum alkaline phosphatase levels less than twice normal (p < 0.04), and/or a Mayo risk score < 4.5 (p < 0.04) were more likely to respond favorably to treatment over a two year period. The Mayo risk score was the single risk factor independently predictive of development of varices (p < 0.01); 93% of patients who developed varices had a Mayo risk score > or = 4. The Mayo survival model, recalculated after 6 months on UDCA therapy accurately predicted patient survival. CONCLUSIONS Suboptimal responders to UDCA can be identified by assessment of serum alkaline phosphatase levels, and/or Mayo risk score. A Mayo risk score above 4 helps in selecting patients for endoscopic surveillance for varices and the Mayo survival model accurately predicts the clinical course in patients with PBC receiving UDCA.
Magnetic anisotropy of Gd(0001)/W(110) monolayers.

The uniaxial magnetic anisotropy of Gd(0001) monolayers and of an 80-A\r{} epitaxial film on W(110) is determined near ${T}_{c}$. Our magnetic resonance technique determines the effective magnetization in absolute magnetic-field units and is sensitive to the crystalline anisotropy below and above the Curie temperature. We find a temperature-dependent uniaxial anisotropy in the monolayer which favors alignment of the magnetization normal to the surface and is up to ten times larger than the bulk anisotropy. The dipolar shape anisotropy, however, dominates and the magnetization lies in the basal plane, i.e., the film plane. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the shape anisotropy of a monolayer depends on the lattice type. Summations of the dipolar fields on a square [bcc (100)] and a hexagonal lattice yield a 31% and 6% reduction of the shape anisotropy, respectively, when compared with the calculation for a homogeneous thin film with demagnetization one factor ${N}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$=1.
Foods, and Food and Drug Combinations, Responsible for Head and Neck Pain

The literature has been reviewed to uncover the existence of head and neck pain syndromes caused by foods and food and drug combinations. Knowledge of the etiology of such syndromes may help in their treatment. At least twenty-five syndromes have been described. These include those induced by coloring and flavoring agents, alcoholic products, chocolate, coffee and tea, foods containing tyramine, vitamins, minerals, pesticides, and several others. Where possible, the active ingredients and the minimal amounts responsible for the induction of pain have been identified.
Characterization of in vitro cultured bone marrow and adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells and their ability to express neurotrophic factors

MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) have attracted attention as a promising tool for regenerative medicine and transplantation therapy. MSCs exert neuroprotective effects by secreting a number of factors in vitro and in vivo. Similar characteristics are found in ADSCs (adipose‐derived stem cells) and BMSCs (bone marrow stromal cells). Multipotent capability, easy accessibility and rapid proliferation of ADSCs have been established. Our main objective was to compare cell viability, growth rate, expression of neurotrophic factors and nestin genes in ADSCs and BMSCs. Cell doubling time and proliferation rate indicate that ADSCs has a higher proliferation rate than BMSCs. ADSCs and BMSCs express a similar pattern of CD71 and CD90 markers. Nestin immunostaining showed that ADSCs and BMSCs are immunopositive. The expression of neurotrophic factors genes in ADSCs proved similar to that of BMSCs genes. Thus adipose tissue stem cells with a high proliferation rate can express nestin and neurotrophic factor genes. Therefore ADSCs may be useful in future cell replacement therapies and help improve neurodegenerative diseases.
Acquisition of Aerial Light Fields

Since its inception in computer graphics community light field has drawn a lot of attention and interest. By densly sampling the plenoptic function light fields present an alternative way to represent and produce a faithful reconstruction of 3D scenes. But acquisition of densely sampled light fields require camera arrays, robotic arms or newly developed plenoptic cameras. The light fields captured using the existential technologies are limited to scenes containing limited complexity. In this paper we propose to use unmanned aerial vehicle for acquisition of larger unstructured aerial light fields. We aim to capture light fields of larger objects and scenes which are not possible by traditional light field acquisition setup. We combine the data from IMU and state estimated using homography with a Kalman filter framework. Frames which gives a minimum error (approximation of free form camera surface to traditional parameterization) are selected as perspective images of light fields. Rendering algorithm is devised to support the unstructured camera surface and to avoid rebinning of image data.
Soft-Material Robotics

There has been a boost of research activities in robotics using soft materials in the past ten years. It is expected that the use and control of soft materials can help realize robotic systems that are safer, cheaper, and more adaptable than the level that the conventional rigid-material robots can achieve. Contrary to a number of existing review and position papers on soft-material robotics, which mostly present case studies and/or discuss trends and challenges, the review focuses on the fundamentals of the research field. First, it gives a definition of softmaterial robotics and introduces its history, which dates back to the late 1970s. Second, it provides characterization of soft-materials, actuators and sensing elements. Third, it presents two general approaches to mathematical modelling of kinematics of soft-material robots; that is, piecewise constant curvature approximation and variable curvature approach, as well as their related statics and dynamics. Fourth, it summarizes control methods that have been used for soft-material robots and other continuum robots in both model-based fashion and model-free fashion. Lastly, applications or potential usage of soft-material robots are described related to wearable robots, medical robots, grasping and manipulation.
Multi-frame super-resolution for long range captured iris polar image

In this study, a framework is proposed to super-resolve the long range captured iris polar images. In this study, modified diamond search and enhanced total variation algorithms are proposed to super-resolve the long range captured iris polar multi-frame images. The framework is tested on Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Automation (CASIA) long range iris database by comparing and analysing the structural similarity index matrix, peak signal-to-noise ratio, visual information fidelity in pixel domain, and execution time of proposed algorithms with Yang and Nguyen state-of-the-art algorithms. The results demonstrate that the proposed framework is well suited for super-resolution of iris images captured at a long distance.
Active HSF1 Significantly Suppresses Polyglutamine Aggregate Formation in Cellular and Mouse Models*

Polyglutamine diseases are inherited neurodegenerative diseases characterized by misfolding and aggregation of proteins possessing expanded polyglutamine repeats. As overexpression of some heat shock protein (Hsp) suppresses polyglutamine aggregates and cell death, it is assumed that combined overexpression of Hsps will suppress that more effectively. Here, we examined the impact of active forms of heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1), which induces a set of Hsps, on polyglutamine inclusion formation and disease progression. We found that active HSF1 suppressed polyglutamine inclusion formation more significantly than any combination of Hsps in culture cells, possibly by regulating expression of unknown genes, as well as major Hsps. We crossed R6/2 Huntington disease mice with transgenic mice expressing an active HSF1 (HSF1Tg). Analysis of the skeletal muscle revealed that the polyglutamine inclusion formation and its weight loss were improved in R6/2/HSF1Tg mice. Unexpectedly, the life span of R6/2/HSF1Tg mice was significantly improved, although active HSF1 is not expressed in the brain. These results indicated that active HSF1 has a strong inhibitory effect on polyglutamine aggregate formation in vivo and in vitro.
The difference of manipulability indexes in IC and IANC model

We consider the problem of manipulability of social choice rules in impartial anonymous and neutral culture model (IANC). We derive some properties of anonymous and neutral equivalence classes in order to evaluate maximal difference of Kelly’s index in impartial culture (IC) and IANC model. The value of Kelly’s index was calculated in IANC and compared with the same index in IC model. Using the results of theoretical study, we analyze how the relative manipulability of social choice rules changes in these probabilistic models.
Stereo image coding using multiscale recurrent patterns

A stereo image coding method using multiscale recurrent patterns is proposed. The method relies on the matching of recurrent patterns. The input image is segmented in variable-sized blocks. Each segment is coded by making use of contractions, expansions and displacements of elements of a dictionary. The segmentation is ruled by a rate distortion criterion and the dictionary is updated with the concatenation of previously coded elements. The novelty of this work is the absence of the disparity map in the stereo image coding process. That is, the burden of its calculation, the pre-and post-processing phases, the generation of the error images, as well as their coding and transmission are not necessary. In brief, the proposed method cuts off the load of the whole disparity estimation process yet presenting high-quality results at the decoder end.
Optimum quantization for signal processing and error correction in NAND flash memory

Conventional error correction employing hard-decision decoding algorithms is not sufficient to correct all the bit errors in high density NAND flash memory. Recently, signal processing algorithms as well as soft-decision error correction are widely studied for improving error correcting performance. However, these techniques demand many memory sensing operations and, as a result, can lead to long sensing latency and high access energy. In this paper, we present optimum memory sensing schemes needed for estimation of threshold voltage distribution, cell-to-cell interference cancellation, and soft-decision error correction of NAND flash memory. We show the error performance improvement with each of these algorithms using simulated NAND flash memory.
MicroRNA-183-96-182 Cluster Regulates Bovine Granulosa Cell Proliferation and Cell Cycle Transition by Coordinately Targeting FOXO11

ABSTRACT Large-scale expression profiling of micro-RNAs (miRNAs) in bovine granulosa cells from dominant and subordinate follicles on Day 19 of the estrous cycle revealed enriched micro-RNA-183-96-182 cluster miRNAs in preovulatory dominant follicles that coordinately regulate the forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) gene. However, little is known about the role of this cluster in bovine granulosa cell function. We used an in vitro granulosa cell culture model to investigate this role. Granulosa cells aspirated from small growing follicles (3–5 mm in diameter) were cultured in Dulbecco modified Eagle medium/F-12 medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum and transfected with locked nucleic acid-based miRNA mimics, inhibitors, and corresponding negative controls. Overexpression of the miRNA cluster resulted in suppression of FOXO1 mRNA and protein, whereas inhibition of the cluster increased expression of FOXO1 mRNA. Overexpression also increased the relative rate of cell proliferation, whereas inhibition slowed it down. Similarly, the proportion of cells under G0/G1 arrest declined, whereas the ratio of cells in S phase increased in response to miR-183-96-182 overexpression. Selective knockdown of FOXO1 mRNA using anti-FOXO1 small interfering RNA increased the rate of granulosa cell proliferation, decreased the proportion of cells under G0/G1 arrest, and increased the proportion of cells in the S phase of cell cycle. Our data suggest that miR-183-96-182 cluster miRNAs promote proliferation and G1/S transition of bovine granulosa cells by coordinately targeting FOXO1, suggesting a critical role in granulosa cell function. MicroRNA-183-96-182 cluster regulates bovine granulosa cell function by targeting FOXO1 gene.
Applications of Medipix2 single photon detectors at the ANKA synchrotron facility

Medipix2 single photon-counting pixel detectors are nowadays confirmed as a valuable concept in different X-ray analysis and imaging techniques using either X-ray tubes or synchrotron sources. Recently, the detector pool of the ANKA synchrotron source was equipped with a set of these detectors. In this work we describe the main results obtained by applying Medipix2 single photon counting detectors to synchrotron radiation methods. The results were obtained at the TopoTomo beamline whose X-ray tuneability in energy and flux allows a detailed characterization of different sensor materials, the energy calibration of detector arrays and the application of different imaging methods.
Prevalence and risk factors for forced or coerced sex among school-going youth: national cross-sectional studies in 10 southern African countries in 2003 and 2007

Objectives To study prevalence at two time points and risk factors for experience of forced or coerced sex among school-going youth in 10 southern African countries. Design Cross-sectional surveys, by facilitated self-administered questionnaire, of in-school youth in 2003 and 2007. Setting Schools serving representative communities in eight countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe) in 2003 and with Tanzania and South Africa added in 2007. Participants Students aged 11–16 years present in the school classes. Main outcome measures Experience of forced or coerced sex, perpetration of forced sex. Results In 2007, 19.6% (4432/25 840) of female students and 21.1% (4080/21 613) of male students aged 11–16 years reported they had experienced forced or coerced sex. Rates among 16-year-olds were 28.8% in females and 25.4% in males. Comparing the same schools in eight countries, in an analysis age standardised on the 2007 Botswana male sample, there was no significant decrease between 2003 and 2007 among females in any country and inconsistent changes among males. In multilevel analysis using generalised linear mixed model, individual-level risk factors for forced sex among female students were age over 13 years and insufficient food in the household; school-level factors were a lower proportion of students knowing about child rights and higher proportions experiencing or perpetrating forced sex; and community-level factors were a higher proportion of adults in favour of transactional sex and a higher rate of intimate partner violence. Male risk factors were similar. Some 4.7% of female students and 11.7% of male students reported they had perpetrated forced sex. Experience of forced sex was strongly associated with perpetration and other risk factors for perpetration were similar to those for victimisation. Conclusions Forced or coerced sex remained common among female and male youth in 2007. Experience of sexual abuse in childhood is recognised to increase the risk of HIV infection. The association the authors found between forced sex and school-level factors suggests preventive interventions in schools could help to tackle the HIV epidemic in southern Africa.
A Qualitative Exploration of the Nature of Domestic Violence in Pregnancy

This article presents a small, qualitative study of 16 women who had experienced domestic violence in the previous 12 months. The violence was perpetrated by a current or former partner in all but one case. Ten of the 16 women had experienced domestic violence during their recent pregnancy, of whom four women had also been assaulted in at least one previous pregnancy. Three women had been assaulted by their partners in a previous pregnancy but not during their recent pregnancy, and three had experienced domestic violence outside of pregnancy only. Some women reported increased feelings of insecurity, jealousy, and possessiveness in their partner during their pregnancy. Abuse within the relationship centered around the arrival and care of the new baby: financial worries, the woman's lessening physical and emotional availability during pregnancy, the lack of practical and emotional support from the male partner, and doubts about paternity.
Plant Regeneration from Petioles of Kiwifruit Microshoots

A simple and reliable protocol for plant regeneration from petioles of micropropagated plants of kiwifruit [Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev) Liang and Ferguson, var. deliciosa 'Hayward'] is described. Morphogenic callus was initiated by culturing petioles taken from in vitro-propagated plants. From the media tested, Cheng's K(h) medium plus 0.1 μM IAA, 4.5 μM zeatin, and 2% sucrose was the best for callus induction, maintenance, and shoot bud formation and development. Bases of developed shoots were immersed in 5 mM IBA for 15 seconds ; subsequent culture in half-strength K(h) basal medium achieved 82% rooting. Regenerated plantlets were successfully transplanted to soil with 97% survival. Chemical names used : indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) ; indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) ; 2-methyl-4-(1H-purin-6-ylamino)-2-buten-1-ol (zeatin).
Imprinting of CCR9 on CD4 T Cells Requires IL-4 Signaling on Mesenteric Lymph Node Dendritic Cells1

It has recently been shown that IL-4 can educate dendritic cells (DC) to differentially affect T cell effector activity. In this study, we show that IL-4 can also act upon DC to instruct naive T cells to express the gut-associated homing receptor CCR9. Thus, effector T cells generated after coculture with mesenteric lymph node (MLN)-DC show a higher expression of CCR9 when activated in the presence of IL-4. In contrast, IL-4 had no effect on CCR9 expression when naive T cells were polyclonally activated in the absence of MLN-DC, suggesting that the effect of IL-4 on CCR9 expression passed through DC. Indeed, T cells activated by MLN-DC from IL-4Rα−/− mice showed a much lower CCR9 expression and a greatly reduced migration to the small intestine than T cells activated by wild-type MLN-DC even in the presence of IL-4. Consistent with the finding that the vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid (RA) induces gut-homing molecules on T cells, we further demonstrate that IL-4 up-regulated retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 mRNA on MLN-DC, a critical enzyme involved in the synthesis of RA. Moreover, LE135, a RA receptor antagonist, blocked the increased expression of CCR9 driven by IL-4-treated MLN-DC. Thus, besides the direct effect of RA on T cell gut tropism, our results show that the induction of a gut-homing phenotype on CD4+ T cells is also influenced by the effect of IL-4 on gut-associated DC.