Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of melatonin on mechanisms involved in hypertension using human umbilical vein endothelial cells

ABSTRACT Changes in diurnal rhythmicity in blood pressure (BP) are associated with hypertension and consequent cardiovascular damage. The involvement of diurnal rhythmicity as a pathogenic factor in hypertension is not fully understood. Since the hormone melatonin (MLT) regulates circadian rhythm, it was also of interest to determine whether this hormone played a role in hypertension-related alterations in circadian rhythm. Thus the aim of this study was to examine the mechanisms underlying MLT-mediated antihypertension. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated with MLT under 25 kPa pressure to simulate hypertension. Vasoactive substances including endothelin (ET), angiotensin II (Ang II), nitric oxide (NO), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were measured using ELISA assays. Results showed that MLT produced a significant decrease in ET at 18 and 24 h and Ang II at 18 h after treatment. In contrast, MLT significantly elevated NO levels and eNOS activity at 6, 12, 18, and 24 h, indicating that these oxidant indicators may be more sensitive to MLT-induced actions. Gene chip analysis identified 121 upregulated and 214 downregulated genes at 6 h after MLT treatment, predominantly involved in DNA replication, cell cycle regulation, amino acid metabolism, and cell cycle pathway. At 18 h, 63 upregulated and 94 downregulated genes involved in circadian entrainment, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway involved in NO synthesis, as well as secretion of renin and insulin, which are associated with BP regulation. Data suggest that the circadian antihypertensive effects of MLT might be associated with decrease in ET and Ang II, accompanied by rise in NO and eNOS and that NO and eNOS appear to be early bioindicators of hormonal effect.
Emergency medical epidemiology in Assam, India

Background: Assam, with its capital in Dispur has one of the highest rates of infant and maternal mortality in India. Being under both tribal and hilly regions, it has lacked adequate healthcare and emergency services. We therefore aimed to conduct a cross-sectional survey of medical emergencies and identify various types of emergencies presenting to emergency departments, prior to launching emergency services across the state. Materials and Methods: On a prospective basis and using a stratified random sampling design, all emergencies presenting to the three government hospitals in Guwahati, Assam, which handle 90% of all emergencies currently, were studied on specially designed datasheets in order to collect data. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) were placed in the Casualty of the medical colleges and recorded all emergencies on the datasheet. The collected data was then analysed for stratification and mapping of emergencies. In addition, retrospective data for a period of 15 days was collected from the emergency case registers of all three hospitals and the adjoining district civil hospitals, in order to give a wider perspective of the nature of emergencies. Results: A total of 2169 emergencies were recorded over a seven-day prospective and fifteen-day retrospective period. Guwahati Medical College Hospital attended to majority of emergencies (42%), which were mainly of the nature of pregnancies (22.7%), accidents (12.2%) or assaults (15.4%) and fever related. Maximum emergencies also presented from the border districts, and occurred among young males in the age group of 19-45 years. Males were also more prone to accidents and assaults, while females presented with pregnancies as emergencies. Conclusion: Potential emergency services need to target young pregnant females. Law and order needs to be also tightened in order to curb accidents and assaults among young males.
Efficient Hardware Looping Units for FPGAs

Looping operations impose a significant bottleneck to achieving better computational efficiency for embedded applications. To confront this problem in embedded computation either in the form of programmable processors or FSMD (Finite-State Machine with Datapath) architectures, the use of customized loop controllers has been suggested. In this paper, a thorough examination of zero-cycle overhead loop controllers applicable to perfect loop nests operating on multi-dimensional data is presented. The design of such loop controllers is formalized by the introduction of a hardware algorithm that fully automates this task for the spectrum of behavioral as well as generated register-transfer level architectures. The presented algorithm would prove beneficial in the field of high-level synthesis of architectures for data-intensive processing. It is also shown that the proposed loop controllers can be efficiently utilized for supporting generalized loop structures such as imperfect loop nests. The performance characteristics (cycle time, chip area) of the proposed architectures have been evaluated for FPGA target implementations. It is shown that maximum clock frequencies of above 230MHz with low logic footprints of about 1.4% of the overall logic resources can be achieved for supporting up to 8 nested loops with 16-bit indices on a modestly-sized Xilinx Virtex-5 device.
Campaigning in Heterogeneous Social Networks: Optimal Control of SI Information Epidemics

We study the optimal control problem of maximizing the spread of an information epidemic on a social network. Information propagation is modeled as a susceptible-infected (SI) process, and the campaign budget is fixed. Direct recruitment and word-of-mouth incentives are the two strategies to accelerate information spreading (controls). We allow for multiple controls depending on the degree of the nodes/individuals. The solution optimally allocates the scarce resource over the campaign duration and the degree class groups. We study the impact of the degree distribution of the network on the controls and present results for Erdös-Rényi and scale-free networks. Results show that more resource is allocated to high-degree nodes in the case of scale-free networks, but medium-degree nodes in the case of Erdös-Rényi networks. We study the effects of various model parameters on the optimal strategy and quantify the improvement offered by the optimal strategy over the static and bang-bang control strategies. The effect of the time-varying spreading rate on the controls is explored as the interest level of the population in the subject of the campaign may change over time. We show the existence of a solution to the formulated optimal control problem, which has nonlinear isoperimetric constraints, using novel techniques that is general and can be used in other similar optimal control problems. This work may be of interest to political, social awareness, or crowdfunding campaigners and product marketing managers, and with some modifications may be used for mitigating biological epidemics.
A comparison of rural versus urban trauma care

Objective: We compared the survival of trauma patients in urban versus rural settings after the implementation of a novel rural non-trauma center alternative care model called the Model Rural Trauma Project (MRTP). Materials and Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study of all trauma patients brought to eight rural northern California hospitals and two southern California urban trauma centers over a one-year period (1995-1996). Trauma patients with an injury severity score (ISS) of >10 were included in the study. We used logistic regression to assess disparities in odds of survival while controlling for Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) parameters. Results: A total of 1,122 trauma patients met criteria for this study, with 336 (30%) from the rural setting. The urban population was more seriously injured with a higher median ISS (17 urban and 14 rural) and a lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (GCS 14 urban and 15 rural). Patients in urban trauma centers were more likely to suffer penetrating trauma (25% urban versus 9% rural). After correcting for differences in patient population, the mortality associated with being treated in a rural hospital (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.39 to 1.39) was not significantly different than an urban trauma center. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that rural and urban trauma patients are inherently different. The rural system utilized in this study, with low volume and high blunt trauma rates, can effectively care for its population of trauma patients with an enhanced, committed trauma system, which allows for expeditious movement of patients toward definitive care.
In silicio identification of glycosyl‐phosphatidylinositol‐anchored plasma‐membrane and cell wall proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Use of the Von Heijne algorithm allowed the identification of 686 open reading frames (ORFs) in the genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that encode proteins with a potential N‐terminal signal sequence for entering the secretory pathway. On further analysis, 51 of these proteins contain a potential glycosyl‐phosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐attachment signal. Seven additional ORFs were found to belong to this group. Upon examination of the possible GPI‐attachment sites, it was found that in yeast the most probable amino acids for GPI‐attachment are asparagine and glycine.
Minimizing blood loss during hepatectomy: A literature review

There are numerous techniques surgeons employ to reduce blood loss during partial hepatectomy. In this literature review, prospective studies from the last 20 years are examined to determine the techniques that are best supported by the literature. Some of the techniques include vascular control, multiple parenchymal transection techniques, various hemostatic agents, low central venous pressure, and hemodilution. The strategies supported most convincingly by the literature include low CVP and total hepatic inflow occlusion. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 109:81–88. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The N-Terminal Domain of GluD2 (GluRδ2) Recruits Presynaptic Terminals and Regulates Synaptogenesis in the Cerebellum In Vivo

The δ2 glutamate receptor (GluRδ2; GluD2), which is predominantly expressed on postsynaptic sites at parallel fiber (PF)–Purkinje cell synapses in the cerebellum, plays two crucial roles in the cerebellum: the formation of PF synapses and the regulation of long-term depression (LTD), a form of synaptic plasticity underlying motor learning. Although the induction of LTD and motor learning absolutely require signaling via the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain of GluD2, the mechanisms by which GluD2 regulates PF synaptogenesis have remained unclear. Here, we examined the role of the extracellular N-terminal domain (NTD) of GluD2 on PF synaptogenesis by injecting Sindbis virus carrying wild-type (GluD2wt) or mutant GluD2 into the subarachnoid supracerebellar space of GluD2-null mice. Remarkably, the expression of GluD2wt, but not of a mutant GluD2 lacking the NTD (GluD2ΔNTD), rapidly induced PF synapse formation and rescued gross motor dyscoordination in adult GluD2-null mice just 1 d after injection. In addition, although the kainate receptor GluR6 (GluK2) did not induce PF synaptogenesis, a chimeric GluK2 that contained the NTD of GluD2 (GluD2NTD–GluK2) did. Similarly, GluD2wt and GluD2NTD–GluK2, but not GluD2ΔNTD, induced synaptogenesis in heterologous cells in vitro. In contrast, LTD was restored in GluD2-null Purkinje cells expressing a mutant GluD2 lacking the NTD. These results indicate that the NTD of GluD2 is necessary and sufficient for the function of GluD2 in the regulation of PF–Purkinje cell synaptogenesis. Furthermore, our results suggest that GluD2 differently regulates PF synaptogenesis and cerebellar LTD through the extracellular NTD and the cytoplasmic C-terminal end, respectively.
Males Do Not Reduce the Fitness of Their Female Co-Twins in Contemporary Samples

Abstract Lummaa et al. (2007) presented historical data collected from twins born in Finland between 1734 and 1888 which suggested that females (N = 31) born as part of an opposite sex (OS) twin pair were 25% less likely to reproduce than female twins (N = 35) born as part of a same sex (SS) pair. They hypothesized that this reduction in fitness was due to masculinization of the female fetus via prenatal effects of the hormones of a male fetus. Because such masculinization would presumably take place in modern populations as well, it would seem important to establish to what degree it does so, and if so, whether reproduction is affected. We therefore address the question of reproduction differences in individual female twins from same-sex (N = 1979) and opposite-sex (N = 913) dizygotic pairs in studies carried out in Australia, the Netherlands, and the United States. In all three samples, there were no differences in the number of children or age of first pregnancies in women from same sex pairs compared to those from opposite sex pairs. Similarly, there were no differences in psychological femininity between women from pairs of the same or opposite sex.
Progesterone resistance in endometriosis: origins, consequences and interventions

Endometriosis is a common cause of pelvic pain and affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age. Aberrant progesterone signaling in the endometrium plays a significant role in impaired decidualization and establishment of ectopic endometrial implants. Eutopic endometrial cells from women with endometriosis fail to downregulate genes needed for decidualization, such as those involved in cell cycle regulation, leading to unbridled proliferation. Several causes of progesterone resistance in the endometrium have been postulated, including congenital “preconditioning”, whereby the in utero environment renders infants susceptible to neonatal uterine bleeding and endometriosis. Progesterone action is crucial to decreasing inflammation in the endometrium, and deviant progesterone signaling results in a proinflammatory phenotype. Conversely, chronic inflammation can induce a progesterone‐resistant state. Repetitive retrograde endometrial shedding begets chronic peritoneal inflammation, which further exacerbates progesterone resistance. Genetic causes of progesterone resistance include progesterone receptor gene polymorphisms, altered microRNA expression, and epigenetic modifications to progesterone receptors and their targets. Environmental toxins such as dioxin play a possible role in the genesis of endometriosis by permitting an inflammatory milieu. A consequence of impaired progesterone action is that hormonal therapy is rendered ineffective for a subset of women with endometriosis. Synthetic progestins, such as dienogest, may overcome this phenomenon by increasing progesterone receptor expression and decreasing proinflammatory cytokines. Other modalities include high dose depot formulations of progestins, medicated intrauterine devices and the likely advent of oral GnRH antagonists. Unearthing root causes of progesterone inaction in endometriosis will aid in the development of novel therapeutics geared toward prevention and treatment.
All request shapes non-contiguous submesh allocation strategy for 2D mesh multicomputer

Contiguous sub-mesh allocation usually suffers from the degrading effects of processor fragmentation as it requires that the processors that are allocated to a job request should be contiguous and have the same topology as the network connecting these processors. In non-contiguous allocation, the size and shape constraint affects on the system performance in terms of parameters such as job turnaround time and system utilization. Most recent non-contiguous allocation strategies suggested for 2D mesh multiconputers change the orientation of the job request when allocation fails for the original job request, and hence the system performance is improved. To generalize this restricted rotation, we propose in this paper, a new noncontiguous allocation strategy for 2D mesh multicomputers, referred to as All Request Shapes Greedy Available Busy List (ARSGABL for short), which considers all possible request shapes when attempting allocation for a job request. ARSGABL depends on the non-contiguous allocation strategy proposed in [20] for selecting an allocation sub-mesh. Results from extensive simulations under a variety of system loads and different job sizes confirm that the ARSGABL strategy improves system performance in terms of the average turnaround times of jobs.
Oral anticoagulation and risk of death: a medical record linkage study

Abstract Objective: To study how mortality varies with different degrees of anticoagulation reflected by the international normalised ratio (INR). Design: Record linkage analysis with death hazard estimated as a continuous function of INR. Data sources: 46 anticoagulation clinics in Sweden with computerised medical records. Subjects: Records for 42 451 patients, 3533 deaths, and 1.25 million INR measurements. Main outcome measures: Mortality from all causes and from intracranial haemorrhage. Results: Mortality from all causes of death was strongly related to level of INR. Minimum risk of death was attained at 2.2 INR for all patients and 2.3 INR for patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses. A high INR was associated with an excess mortality: with an increase of 1 unit of INR above 2.5, the risks of death from cerebral bleeding (149 deaths) and from any cause were about doubled. Among patients with an INR of 3.0, 1069 deaths occurred within 7 weeks; if the risk coincided with that with an INR of 2.9, the expected number of deaths would have been 569. Thus at least 500 deaths were associated with a high INR value, but not necessarily caused by the treatment. Conclusions: The excess mortality associated with high INR values supports the use of less intensive treatment and a small therapeutic window, with INR close to 2.2-2.3 irrespective of the indication for anticoagulant treatment. More preventive actions should be taken to avoid episodes of high INR. What is already known on this topic The optimal degree of anticoagulation (expressed as the international normalised ratio (INR)) for different indications is still unclear, but the increased risk of death due to bleeding at high INR values is well known What this study adds This large study of medical records from anticoagulation clinics in Sweden confirmed the substantial excess mortality at high INR values and indicated optimal treatment to be in a small therapeutic window with INR close to 2.2-2.3, irrespective of the indication for anticoagulant treatment
Effects of head-up tilting on baroreceptor control in subjects with different tolerances to orthostatic stress.

During orthostatic stress, an increase in peripheral vascular resistance normally results in arterial blood pressure being well maintained, despite a decrease in cardiac output. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the sensitivity of the carotid baroreceptor reflex was increased during orthostatic stress and whether failure to develop this increase was associated with poor orthostatic tolerance. Three groups of subjects were studied: asymptomatic controls; patients investigated for suspected posturally related syncope but who had normal responses to an orthostatic stress test (normal patients); and patients who were shown to have low orthostatic tolerance (early fainters). We determined responses of R-R interval and forearm vascular resistance (mean arterial pressure/brachial artery velocity by Doppler ultrasonography) to the loading and unloading of carotid baroreceptors by application of pressures of -30 and +30 mmHg to a chamber fitted over the neck. Responses were determined after 20 min of supine rest and after 10 min of head-up tilt at 60 degrees. Responses of cardiac interval were not significantly different between the three groups, and they were not altered by the postural change. Vascular responses also did not differ between the groups during supine rest. However, in healthy volunteers and in normal patients, responses to both neck suction and pressure were significantly enhanced during head-up tilt. In controls, responses to suction were increased by tilt from 0.04+/-0.1 to -1.01+/-0.2%. mmHg(-1) (means+/-S.E.M.; P<0.001) and those to neck pressure from -0.6+/-0.3 to -3.1+/-1.1%. mmHg(-1) (P<0.05). In the normal patients, the corresponding changes were: during suction, from -0.2+/-0.1 to -0.7+/-0.1%. mmHg(-1) (P<0.05); during pressure, from -0.7+/-0.1 to -1.5+/-0.3%. mmHg(-1) (P<0.05). In contrast, in patients with low orthostatic tolerance, posture had no effect on the reflex (neck suction, from -0.3+/-0.1 to -0.3+/-0.1%.mmHg(-1); neck pressure, from -1.0+/-0.3 to -0.9+/-0.2%. mmHg(-1)). We suggest that an increase in the sensitivity of the carotid baroreceptor/vascular resistance reflex may be important in the maintenance of blood pressure during orthostatic stress, and that failure of this to occur in patients with posturally related syncope may go some way towards explaining their poor orthostatic tolerance.
Consistently high estimates for the proportion of human exposure to malaria vector populations occurring indoors in rural Africa

Background Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) are highly effective tools for controlling malaria transmission in Africa because the most important vectors, from the Anopheles gambiae complex and the A. funestus group, usually prefer biting humans indoors at night. Methods Matched surveys of mosquito and human behaviour from six rural sites in Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Zambia, and Kenya, with ITN use ranging from 0.2% to 82.5%, were used to calculate the proportion of human exposure to An. gambiae sensu lato and An. funestus s.l. that occurs indoors (πi), as an indicator of the upper limit of personal protection that indoor vector control measures can provide. This quantity was also estimated through use of a simplified binary analysis (πiB) so that the proportions of mosquitoes caught indoors (Pi), and between the first and last hours at which most people are indoors (Pfl) could also be calculated as underlying indicators of feeding by mosquitoes indoors or at night, respectively. Results The vast majority of human exposure to Anopheles bites occurred indoors (πiB = 0.79–1.00). Neither An. gambiae s.l. nor An. funestus s.l. strongly preferred feeding indoors (Pi = 0.40–0.63 and 0.22–0.69, respectively), but they overwhelmingly preferred feeding at times when most humans were indoors (Pfl = 0.78–1.00 and 0.86–1.00, respectively). Conclusions These quantitative summaries of behavioural interactions between humans and mosquitoes constitute a remarkably consistent benchmark with which future observations of vector behaviour can be compared. Longitudinal monitoring of these quantities is vital to evaluate the effectiveness of ITNs and IRS and the need for complementary measures that target vectors outdoors.