Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitric oxide inhibition in rats improves blood pressure and renal function during hypovolemic shock.

We have examined the systemic and renal hemodynamic effects of nitric oxide (NO) inhibition with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) in normotensive rats as well as in rats with hypovolemic shock induced by hemorrhage. L-NMMA increased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) from 114 +/- 4 to 130 +/- 6 mmHg (P less than 0.05) in the nonhemorrhaged rats and from 61 +/- 3 to 89 +/- 3 mmHg (P less than 0.05) in the hypovolemic animals. The absolute increase in MAP was greater in the hypovolemic (31 +/- 3 mmHg) than in the nonhemorrhaged (15 +/- 2 mmHg) rats (P less than 0.05). An excess of L-arginine reversed the increase in MAP induced by L-NMMA in both groups. In the normotensive rats the increase in blood pressure was associated with an elevation in renal vascular resistance (RVR; from 6.5 +/- 0.7 to 8.2 +/- 0.9 mmHg.ml-1.min-1, P less than 0.05) so that renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were unchanged. In contrast, in the hypotensive rats, the marked increase in MAP induced by L-NMMA infusion was not associated with a significant increase in RVR. As a result L-NMMA increased both RPF (from 6.0 +/- 0.4 to 7.8 +/- 0.4 ml/min, P less than 0.05) as well as GFR (from 1.7 +/- 0.2 to 2.5 +/- 0.2 ml/min, P less than 0.05). We conclude that NO is produced and modulates peripheral resistance in normotensive rats as well as in rats with hypovolemic shock. In the hypovolemic rats NO inhibition substantially improves RPF and GFR. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Fume formation from spatter oxidation during arc welding

Abstract Spatter and fume formation rates during arc welding both increase and decrease in a similar manner as welding parameters change. Previously, this fume–spatter relationship has been attributed to evaporation of the spatter caused by oxidation. In this work, a simulated spatter oxidation test did not detect significant fume formation, but high speed videography showed fume trails behind large spatter droplets. Heat balance calculations show that only spatter droplets larger than a few millimeters evaporate and produce fume in significant amounts. Since most spatter particles are smaller than 2 mm, it is not likely that evaporation from spatter contributes significantly to fume. It is proposed that the correlation between spatter and welding fume is instead related to how the temperature of the welding surface affects formation rates of both spatter and fume.
Organic dual-wavelength distributed feedback laser empowered by dye-doped holography

An organic dual-wavelength distributed feedback (DFB) laser empowered by a dye-doped holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) grating is reported for the first time. The dual-wavelength laser operates at 586.6 nm and 670.2 nm simultaneously in one laser beam via the seventh and eighth Bragg orders of a one dimensional (1D) HPDLC grating with a special period. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate the mechanism of our dual-wavelength DFB laser and investigate the threshold and spectral properties of the output laser. Our organic dual-wavelength DFB laser shows the advantages of simple configuration, one-step fabrication, cost-effectiveness and the potential application to be integrated in all optical networks.
Antibiotic Utilization Strategies to Limit Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is now being recognized as a major factor determining morbidity, mortality, and cost in the intensive care unit (ICU). Various strategies to limit its spread have evolved with our understanding and are based on four basic principles: infection prevention, infection eradication, containment of resistant species, and optimization of antibiotic utilization. The optimization of antibiotic utilization, at its most basic level, is the appropriate use of antibiotics and the limitation of unnecessary antibiotic administration/exposure consisting of appropriate diagnosis, acquiring appropriate culture and sensitivity data, implementing the most appropriate treatment, selecting appropriate antibiotics, and dosing appropriately. In addition various antibiotic utilization strategies including antibiotic utilization guidelines, formulary restriction, and antibiotic cycling or rotation have evolved from our understanding of the impact of changes in antibiotic utilization on subsequent antibiotic susceptibility patterns. These strategies can be utilized as a part of a multidisciplinary approach to limit the appearance and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in our ICUs.
Functional Dyspepsia: Advances in Diagnosis and Therapy

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common but under-recognized syndrome comprising bothersome recurrent postprandial fullness, early satiety, or epigastric pain/burning. Epidemiologically, there are two clinically distinct FD syndromes (although these often overlap clinically): postprandial distress syndrome (PDS; comprising early satiety or meal-related fullness) and epigastric pain syndrome. Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease overlap with FD more than expected by chance; a subset has pathological acid reflux. The pre-test probability of FD in a patient who presents with classical FD symptoms and no alarm features is high, approximately 0.7. Coexistent heartburn should not lead to the exclusion of FD as a diagnosis. One of the most exciting observations in FD has been the consistent finding of increased duodenal eosinophilia, notably in PDS. Small bowel homing T cells, signaling intestinal inflammation, and increased cytokines have been detected in the circulation, and elevated tumor necrosis factor-α levels have been significantly correlated with increased anxiety. Postinfectious gastroenteritis is a risk factor for FD. Therapeutic options remain limited and provide only symptomatic benefit in most cases. Only one therapy is known to change the natural history of FD–Helicobacter pylori eradication. Treatment of duodenal eosinophilia is under investigation.
Foot Measurement Strategies for Fitting Athletes

Last development in the shoe industry has historically been a craft practiced by skilled artisans. Although satisfactory fit has been established over the years for the general population, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to evaluate if the fit is “optimal” for a specific group of athletes. Two development projects, supported by case studies, are reported which demonstrate improvements in the traditional approach to last design, and the resulting fit for shoes built on the lasts.
Intra-articular surgery for degenerative arthritis of the knee. A report of the work of the late K. H. Pridie.

1. The technique of the intra-articular surgery employed by the late Mr K. H. Pridie for osteoarthritis of the knee is described. 2. The results of sixty-two operations in sixty patients are analysed. The results in forty-eight knees (77 per cent) were pleasing to the patient. Forty knees (64 per cent) were rated as good at review. 3. The operation is most suitable for relatively active healthy people whose disability warrants a comparatively painful operation and lengthy rehabilitation. 4. The operation was most successful for relieving pain and improving stability. Functional improvement was less. 5. Results were remarkably permanent. The knees showed little tendency towards further deterioration. 6. Most of the bad results were associated with removal of the patella. A possible technical reason for this has been discussed.
Early- and late-state subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: chemical shift imaging and single-voxel MR spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, progressive, inflammatory neurodegenerative disease. Our aim was to determine the metabolic abnormalities of brain in early- and late-stage SSPE by using MR spectroscopy and to assess areas of involvement in the early stages when MR imaging findings were normal. METHODS Children with stage II (n = 3) or III (n = 3) SSPE and 10 healthy, age-matched children underwent MR imaging, multivoxel MR spectroscopy, and short-echo single-voxel MR spectroscopy (SVS). Areas of involvement in the brain were determined with chemical shift imaging. For SVS, 2 x 2 x 2-cm voxels were placed in the frontal subcortical white matter (FSWM) and parieto-occipital white matter (POWM). N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr), choline (Cho)/Cr, myo-inositol (Ins)/Cr, and NAA/Cho ratios were calculated. RESULTS Comparisons of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, Ins/Cr and NAA/Cho ratios between patients and control subjects showed significant differences in FSWM and POWM (P <.01). In patients with SSPE, NAA/Cr ratios in POWM were significantly less than those in FSWM (P <.01). NAA/Cr ratios in patients with stage II SSPE and those in the control group were not significantly different; this may reflect the absence of neuronal loss. Decreased NAA/Cr, increased Cho/Cr and Ins/Cr ratios, and increased lactate and lipid peaks were found in patients with stage III SSPE. CONCLUSION MR spectroscopy showed findings suggestive of inflammation in stage II and findings of demyelination, gliosis, cellular necrosis, and anaerobic metabolism in stage III. MR spectroscopy could be a promising technique for early diagnosis and treatment planning in cases of SSPE.
Effects of Renal Sympathetic Denervation on Blood Pressure, Sleep Apnea Course, and Glycemic Control in Patients With Resistant Hypertension and Sleep Apnea

Percutaneous renal sympathetic denervation by radiofrequency energy has been reported to reduce blood pressure (BP) by the reduction of renal sympathetic efferent and afferent signaling. We evaluated the effects of this procedure on BP and sleep apnea severity in patients with resistant hypertension and sleep apnea. We studied 10 patients with refractory hypertension and sleep apnea (7 men and 3 women; median age: 49.5 years) who underwent renal denervation and completed 3-month and 6-month follow-up evaluations, including polysomnography and selected blood chemistries, and BP measurements. Antihypertensive regimens were not changed during the 6 months of follow-up. Three and 6 months after the denervation, decreases in office systolic and diastolic BPs were observed (median: −34/−13 mm Hg for systolic and diastolic BPs at 6 months; both P<0.01). Significant decreases were also observed in plasma glucose concentration 2 hours after glucose administration (median: 7.0 versus 6.4 mmol/L; P=0.05) and in hemoglobin A1C level (median: 6.1% versus 5.6%; P<0.05) at 6 months, as well as a decrease in apnea-hypopnea index at 6 months after renal denervation (median: 16.3 versus 4.5 events per hour; P=0.059). In conclusion, catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation lowered BP in patients with refractory hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea, which was accompanied by improvement of sleep apnea severity. Interestingly, there are also accompanying improvements in glucose tolerance. Renal sympathetic denervation may conceivably be a potentially useful option for patients with comorbid refractory hypertension, glucose intolerance, and obstructive sleep apnea, although further studies are needed to confirm these proof-of-concept data.
Update-Efficiency and Local Repairability Limits for Capacity Approaching Codes

Motivated by distributed storage applications, we investigate the degree to which capacity achieving codes can be efficiently updated when a single information symbol changes, and the degree to which such codes can be efficiently repaired when a single encoded symbol is lost. Specifically, we first develop conditions under which optimum error-correction and update-efficiency are possible. We establish that the number of encoded bits that should change in response to a change in a single information bit must scale logarithmically in the block-length of the code, if we are to achieve any nontrivial rate with vanishing probability of error over the binary erasure or binary symmetric channels. Moreover, we show that there exist capacity-achieving codes with this scaling. With respect to local repairability, we develop tight upper and lower bounds on the number of remaining encoded bits that are needed to recover a single lost encoded bit. In particular, we show that when the rate of an optimal code is ε below capacity, the maximum number of codeword symbols required to recover one lost symbol must scale as log1/ε. Several variations on-and extensions of-these results are also developed, including to the problem of rate-distortion coding.
The clinically approved drugs amiodarone, dronedarone and verapamil inhibit filovirus cell entry

Objectives Filoviruses such as Ebola virus and Marburg virus cause a severe haemorrhagic fever syndrome in humans for which there is no specific treatment. Since filoviruses use a complex route of cell entry that depends on numerous cellular factors, we hypothesized that there may be drugs already approved for human use for other indications that interfere with signal transduction or other cellular processes required for their entry and hence have anti-filoviral properties. Methods We used authentic filoviruses and lentiviral particles pseudotyped with filoviral glycoproteins to identify and characterize such compounds. Results We discovered that amiodarone, a multi-ion channel inhibitor and adrenoceptor antagonist, is a potent inhibitor of filovirus cell entry at concentrations that are routinely reached in human serum during anti-arrhythmic therapy. A similar effect was observed with the amiodarone-related agent dronedarone and the L-type calcium channel blocker verapamil. Inhibition by amiodarone was concentration dependent and similarly affected pseudoviruses as well as authentic filoviruses. Inhibition of filovirus entry was observed with most but not all cell types tested and was accentuated by the pre-treatment of cells, indicating a host cell-directed mechanism of action. The New World arenavirus Guanarito was also inhibited by amiodarone while the Old World arenavirus Lassa and members of the Rhabdoviridae (vesicular stomatitis virus) and Bunyaviridae (Hantaan) families were largely resistant. Conclusions The ion channel blockers amiodarone, dronedarone and verapamil inhibit filoviral cell entry.
Power control based on interference pricing in hybrid D2D and cellular networks

Device-to-device (D2D) communications can be underlaid with a cellular infrastructure to increase resource utilization, improve user throughput and extend battery lifetime of user equipment. This paper studies a hybrid D2D and cellular system where D2D transmissions are controlled by the cellular base transceiver stations (BTSs) and use the cellular uplink resource blocks. A two-layer power control algorithm is proposed for the uplink based on interference prices. With inter-cell updates, BTS's alert interferers in other cells and restrain local users' transmit powers according to the interference alerts from neighboring cells; with intra-cell updates, each cell maximizes its sum utility by adjusting the target received power spectral density of cellular users and D2D transmit powers. The proposed algorithm coordinates the D2D and cellular subsystems to maximize the utility of an individual cell, and also coordinates power assignments across cells to maximize the total system utility. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm achieves high total rate and maintains low interference-over-thermal levels.
Functional SmpB-Ribosome Interactions Require tmRNA*

Small protein B (SmpB) is a requisite component of the transfer messenger RNA (tmRNA)-mediated bacterial translational quality control system known as trans-translation. The initial binding of tmRNA and its subsequent accommodation into the ribosomal A-site are activities intimately linked to SmpB protein function. From a mechanistic perspective, two key unanswered questions that require further investigation are: 1) what constitutes a stalled ribosome recognition complex and 2) does SmpB pre-bind ribosomes to recruit tmRNA. We have assessed, both in vivo and in vitro, the nature and stability of free SmpB interactions with stalled ribosomes and examined whether these interactions are functionally relevant. We present evidence to demonstrate that interaction of free SmpB with ribosomes is salt sensitive and significantly more labile than interaction of the SmpB·tmRNA complex with ribosomes. Upon dissociation of 70 S ribosomes SmpB partitions primarily with tmRNA rather than ribosomal subunits. This finding is consistent with biochemical and structural data demonstrating that tmRNA is the high-affinity binding partner of SmpB. Moreover, we show that under normal physiological conditions roughly similar numbers of SmpB and tmRNA molecules are present in cells. Our investigations also reveal that upon induction of a nonstop mRNA, SmpB is enriched in stalled ribosome fractions only in the presence of tmRNA. Based on these findings, we conclude that SmpB does not pre-bind stalled ribosome and that functional SmpB-stalled ribosome interactions require tmRNA. We propose that a 1:1:1 complex of SmpB·tmRNA·EF-Tu(GTP) recognizes and binds a stalled ribosome to initiate trans-translation.
A pixel-based approach to template-based monocular 3D reconstruction of deformable surfaces

Most of the previous work on template-based deformable 3D surface reconstruction using a single view is feature-based. We propose a pixel-based formulation in a variational framework; the unknown is the surface function. The color discrepancy between the template and the deformed images is formalized as a functional of the surface function. The main difficulty in such a formulation arises when the surface self-occludes which induces discontinuities in the discrepancy measure at the self-occlusion boundary. Based on previous work on 3D rigid surface reconstruction, we rigorously formalize the visibility as a continuous functional of the surface function. It is derived in the template for visible/self-occluded regions in the deformed image. The gradient of the color discrepancy is computed with respect to the surface function. The minimization smoothly updates the surface function to fit the self-occlusion boundary. Gradient descent is initialized from feature-based 3D reconstruction. Our experimental results on simulated and real data show that during the minimization of the color discrepancy, the self-occlusion boundary of the reconstructed surface moves to its correct location in the image. We show quantitatively that in the template image, the accuracy of visible/self-occluded areas is improved to a significant extent.
Towards cooperative localization of an acoustic pinger

This paper tackles the problem of localization of an acoustic pinger by a team of cooperative marine robots. A pinger, whose location is unknown, intermittently emits an acoustic ping which is sensed by hydrophones mounted on marine robots. In addition to position, the instant of emission is unknown. A team of robots carrying a total of four hydrophones is therefore (theoretically) required to estimate the position without ambiguity. The precision of the estimate and the uncertainty critically depend on the position of the hydrophones. In order to obtain the best possible estimation, we explore the possibility of using a cooperative method that leads the robots to points where the overall observability is improved.
APPL Proteins FRET at the BAR: Direct Observation of APPL1 and APPL2 BAR Domain-Mediated Interactions on Cell Membranes Using FRET Microscopy

Background Human APPL1 and APPL2 are homologous RAB5 effectors whose binding partners include a diverse set of transmembrane receptors, signaling proteins, and phosphoinositides. APPL proteins associate dynamically with endosomal membranes and are proposed to function in endosome-mediated signaling pathways linking the cell surface to the cell nucleus. APPL proteins contain an N-terminal Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domain, a central pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, and a C-terminal phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain. Previous structural and biochemical studies have shown that the APPL BAR domains mediate homotypic and heterotypic APPL-APPL interactions and that the APPL1 BAR domain forms crescent-shaped dimers. Although previous studies have shown that APPL minimal BAR domains associate with curved cell membranes, direct interaction between APPL BAR domains on cell membranes in vivo has not been reported. Methodology Herein, we used a laser-scanning confocal microscope equipped with a spectral detector to carry out fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments with cyan fluorescent protein/yellow fluorescent protein (CFP/YFP) FRET donor/acceptor pairs to examine interactions between APPL minimal BAR domains at the subcellular level. This comprehensive approach enabled us to evaluate FRET levels in a single cell using three methods: sensitized emission, standard acceptor photobleaching, and sequential acceptor photobleaching. We also analyzed emission spectra to address an outstanding controversy regarding the use of CFP donor/YFP acceptor pairs in FRET acceptor photobleaching experiments, based on reports that photobleaching of YFP converts it into a CFP-like species. Conclusions All three methods consistently showed significant FRET between APPL minimal BAR domain FRET pairs, indicating that they interact directly in a homotypic (i.e., APPL1-APPL1 and APPL2-APPL2) and heterotypic (i.e., APPL1-APPL2) manner on curved cell membranes. Furthermore, the results of our experiments did not show photoconversion of YFP into a CFP-like species following photobleaching, supporting the use of CFP donor/YFP acceptor FRET pairs in acceptor photobleaching studies.
Development and Physico-Chemical Characterization of a Shea Butter-Containing Lipid Nutrition Supplement for Sub-Saharan Africa

Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) are used to prevent and treat moderate and severe acute malnutrition, a leading cause of mortality in children-under-five. The physical and chemical changes of two new LNS products were evaluated before and after accelerated shelf life testing (ASLT) according to protocols suggested by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Doctors without Borders and compared against USAID’s A-20 paste as a control. LNS formulas containing Shea butter from the Shea nut tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), a common fat source in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, with and without flax-seed oil, as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, were developed. LNS formulas were batched (0.8 kg) in a wet grinder, sealed under nitrogen in three-layer mini-pouches (20 g), and underwent ASLT at 40 ± 2 °C for six months with sampling every eight weeks. At each time point, water activity, moisture, peroxide value, oil separation, vitamin C content, and hardness were evaluated. Results showed comparable stability among all formulas with an increase in Aw (p < 0.05) but no change in vitamin C, oil separation, or peroxide value. Addition of Shea butter improved the LNS’s hardness, which remained stable over time. Modifying fat profile in LNS can improve its texture and essential fatty acid content without affecting its storage stability.