Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The preexcitation index: an aid in determining the mechanism of supraventricular tachycardia and localizing accessory pathways.

In this study we sought to determine whether characteristics of ventricular-induced atrial preexcitation during reciprocating tachycardia could help differentiate atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentry from orthodromic AV reentry using an accessory pathway and to identify the site of accessory pathways in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Fifty-five patients with orthodromic AV reciprocating tachycardia and 22 patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia were studied with standard electrophysiologic techniques. There were 24 left free wall, 23 posterior septal, seven anterior septal, and one right free wall accessory pathways. Progressively premature right ventricular complexes (V2) were introduced during reciprocating tachycardia (V1V1). The V1V1 interval during tachycardia minus the longest V1V2 at which atrial preexcitation occurred defined a preexcitation index (PI). Atrial preexcitation occurred in 49 of 55 (89%) patients with AV reentry compared with only three of 22 (14%) patients with AV nodal reentry (p less than .001). In the three patients with AV nodal reentry who demonstrated atrial preexcitation, the PI was distinct from that of the septal pathways and was in the upper range of values for left free wall pathways. The percentage of tachycardias demonstrating atrial preexcitation was not different between the free wall and septal pathways, but His bundle activation was visible at the time of atrial preexcitation in only six of 17 (35%) left free wall compared with 13 of 16 (81%) posterior septal and seven of seven (100%) anterior septal pathways (p less than .05 free wall vs posterior or anterior septal). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Excitonic quantum interference in a quantum dot chain with rings

We demonstrate excitonic quantum interference in a closely spaced quantum dot chain with nanorings. In the resonant dipole–dipole interaction model with direct diagonalization method, we have found a peculiar feature that the excitation of specified quantum dots in the chain is completely inhibited, depending on the orientational configuration of the transition dipole moments and specified initial preparation of the excitation. In practice, these excited states facilitating quantum interference can provide a conceptual basis for quantum interference devices of excitonic hopping.
IBEnt : Chemical Entity Mentions in Patents using ChEBI

This article presents our approach to the CEMP task of BioCreative V.5, which consisted in using our system, IBEnt, to identify chemical entity mentions in patents through machine learning and semantic similarity techniques. The features used combine the results of a CRF classifier, two lexical matching methods (FiGO and MER) and semantic similarity measures on ChEBI ontology. We also tested the usage of MER by itself, without the machine learning approach. Combining these techniques, we submitted 5 runs for evaluation. We obtained better results using the machine learning approach with lexical and semantic similarity features. The best F-score obtained was 0.8541, while the MER system obtained 0.5967.
Liver Is the Site of Splanchnic Cortisol Production in Obese Nondiabetic Humans

OBJECTIVE—To determine the contribution of liver and viscera to splanchnic cortisol production in humans. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—D4 cortisol was infused intravenously; arterial, portal venous, and hepatic venous blood was sampled; and liver and visceral fat were biopsied in subjects undergoing bariatric surgery. RESULTS—Ratios of arterial and portal vein D4 cortisol/cortisoltotal (0.06 ± 0.01 vs. 0.06 ± 0.01) and D4 cortisol/D3 cortisol (1.80 ± 0.14 vs. 1.84 ± 0.14) did not differ, indicating that no visceral cortisol production or conversion of D4 cortisol to D3 cortisol via 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD-1) occurred. Conversely, ratios of both D4 cortisol to cortisoltotal (0.05 ± 0.01; P < 0.05) and D4 cortisol to D3 cortisol (1.33 ± 0.11; P < 0.001) were lower in the hepatic vein than in the portal vein, indicating production of both cortisol and D3 cortisol by the liver. The viscera did not produce either cortisol (−8.1 ± 2.6 μg/min) or D3 cortisol (−0.2 ± 0.1 μg/min). In contrast, the liver produced both cortisol (22.7 ± 3.90 μg/min) and D3 cortisol (1.9 ± 0.4 μg/min) and accounted for all splanchnic cortisol and D3 cortisol production. Additionally, 11β-HSD-1 mRNA was approximately ninefold higher (P < 0.01) in liver than in visceral fat. Although 11β-HSD-2 gene expression was very low in visceral fat, the viscera released cortisone (P < 0.001) and D3 cortisone (P < 0.01) into the portal vein. CONCLUSIONS—The liver accounts for all splanchnic cortisol production in obese nondiabetic humans. In contrast, the viscera releases cortisone into the portal vein, thereby providing substrate for intrahepatic cortisol production.
Antihypertensive and Laxative Effects by Pharmacological Inhibition of Sodium-Proton-Exchanger Subtype 3–Mediated Sodium Absorption in the Gut

High intestinal sodium absorption is one mechanism of hypertension and constipation. The sodium-proton-exchanger subtype 3 (NHE3) is an important mediator of sodium absorption in the gut. SAR218034 (SAR) is an orally nonabsorbable specific NHE3 inhibitor. The effect of SAR (1 mg/kg per day in chow) on feces sodium excretion, systolic blood pressure via tail cuff, and gene expression of NHE3 in the gut were studied in senescent lean hypertensive rats (spontaneously hypertensive rats-lean, loaded with NaCl 0.7% in drinking water) and in hypertensive, obese, and hyperinsulinemic rats (spontaneously hypertensive rats-obese, not loaded with NaCl). In spontaneously hypertensive rats-lean, inhibition of intestinal NHE3 by SAR increased feces sodium excretion and reduced urinary sodium excretion, whereas absolute sodium balance and serum sodium concentration were not changed. This suggests reduced intestinal sodium absorption in SAR-treated animals and was associated with increased feces water content (58% versus 42% in placebo treated animals; P=0.0001) and reduction in systolic blood pressure from 222±7 to 198±2 mm Hg (P=0.0001). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition by ramipril plus NHE3 inhibition resulted in an additive blood pressure–lowering effect. In spontaneously hypertensive rats-obese, SAR lowered systolic blood pressure but did not modify serum insulin or cholesterol levels. Gene expression of NHE3 was upregulated in the ileum and colon but not in the jejunum of SAR-treated rats. Reduction of intestinal sodium absorption by selective NHE3 inhibition in the gut reduces high blood pressure and increases feces water excretion. Intestinal NHE3 blockade could be a new treatment strategy for elderly patients suffering from high blood pressure and constipation.
Representing dynamic binary trees succinctly

We introduce a new updatable representation of binary trees. The structure requires the information theoretic minimum 2<i>n</i> + <i>&Ogr;</i>(<i>n</i>) bits and supports basic navigational operations in constant time and subtree size in <i>&Ogr;</i>(lg <i>n</i>). In contrast to the linear update costs of previously proposed succinct representations, our representation supports updates in <i>&Ogr;</i>(lg<sup>2</sup> <i>n</i>) amortized time.
Robust adaptive backstepping speed controller design for a series DC motor

A robust adaptive backstepping technique is proposed in this paper to solve the speed-tracking problem of a series DC motor for improving transient response. The parameters of DC motor are considered as unknown and the external disturbances are incorporated into the dynamical model. The proposed controller is designed in such a way that it is adaptive to the unknown parameters of series DC motor and robust to external disturbances. The unknown parameters are estimated through the adaptation laws and the convergences of these adaptation laws are obtained through the negative semi-definiteness of control Lyapunov functions (CLFs). The proposed controller not only provides robustness property against external disturbances but also overcomes the over-parameterization problem which usually appears in some conventional adaptive methods. Finally, the performance of the proposed controller is tested on a MATLAB simulation model. The performance of the proposed scheme is compared with that of an existing backstepping controller where the external disturbances are neglected. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller in terms of rejecting external disturbances.
Gerbes, M5-Brane Anomalies and E 8 Gauge Theory

Abelian gerbes and twisted bundles describe the topology of the NS 3-form gauge field strength H. We review how they have been usefully applied to study and resolve global anomalies in open string theory. Abelian 2-gerbes and twisted nonabelian gerbes describe the topology of the 4-form field strength G of M-theory. We show that twisted nonabelian gerbes are relevant in the study and resolution of global anomalies of multiple coinciding M5-branes. Global anomalies for one M5-brane have been studied by Witten and by Diaconescu, Freed and Moore. The structure and the differential geometry of twisted nonabelian gerbes (i.e. modules for 2-gerbes) is defined and studied. The nonabelian 2-form gauge potential living on multiple coinciding M5-branes arises as curving (curvature) of twisted nonabelian gerbes. The nonabelian group is in general E8, the central extension of the E8 loop group. The twist is in general necessary to cancel global anomalies due to the nontriviality of the 11-dimensional 4-form field strength G and due to the possible torsion present in the cycles the M5-branes wrap. Our description of M5-branes global anomalies leads to the D4-branes one upon compactification of M-theory to Type IIA theory.
Definitions of breastfeeding: call for the development and use of consistent definitions in research and peer-reviewed literature.

BACKGROUND There has been a significant increase in the number of published peer-reviewed articles on breastfeeding over the last two decades. However, in part because of the lack of clear or consistent definitions used in these publications, generalization and comparison of findings have been difficult, and interpretation of findings is often limited. This study was undertaken to examine this issue by assessing if and what definitions of breastfeeding have been used in a variety of relevant journals and the source of those definitions. MATERIALS AND METHODS An iterative systematic approach was used to select articles for review from major breastfeeding and health-related journals. Articles were reviewed for use of breastfeeding terminology, descriptors (e.g., exclusive, partial), and full definitions. Descriptive analysis was carried out using Excel (Microsoft(®), Redmond, WA). A flow chart was developed to examine sources of definitions in use. FINDINGS Descriptors are seen 68% of the time, and full definitions are only offered in slightly more than a quarter (28%) of the articles. Among those journals that are primarily dedicated to breastfeeding research, 43-64% included descriptors, and 20-29% included definition of the descriptor. The pediatric journal included a high percentage with descriptors (77%), but only 18% were defined further. Among the other journals, there was a wide range (0-60%) with descriptors but fewer providing definitions. Only 26 articles offered a definition, and of these, 21 articles included a citation. Most derived from the Interagency Group for Action on Breastfeeding and World Health Organization definitional schemas. DISCUSSION There remains a need by journals for increased requirement of inclusion of breastfeeding definitions and by researchers of attention to their use. For this to occur, there must first be the reconfirmation and/or development of a set of consistently utilized definitions that are applicable for the study of behaviors, support interventions, and health outcomes for both the mother and of the child. Therefore, an inclusionary international Working Group Process Approach is recommended, similar to that used in 1988, with confirmation and dissemination by all major organizations and agencies.
Clustering in the membership embedding space

In several applications of data mining to high-dimensional data, clustering techniques developed for low-to-moderate sized problems obtain unsatisfactory results. This is an aspect of the curse of dimensionality issue. A traditional approach is based on representing the data in a suitable similarity space instead of the original high-dimensional attribute space. In this paper, we propose a solution to this problem using the projection of data onto a so-called membership embedding space obtained by using the memberships of data points on fuzzy sets centred on some prototypes. This approach can increase the efficiency of the popular fuzzy C-means method in the presence of high-dimensional datasets, as we show in an experimental comparison. We also present a constructive method for prototypes selection based on simulated annealing that is viable for semi-supervised clustering problems.
Teaching with Love: A Feminist Approach to Early Childhood Education. Rethinking Childhood: Volume 1.

Teachers commonly talk about loving their students, yet no effort has been made to explore the powerful educational potential inherent in these loving feelings. Teaching with Love breaks new ground by paying careful, scholarly attention to the nature, the scope, the dimensions, and the variety of teacherly love. In a highly readable narrative that builds on the feminist notion of an ethic of care and draws from the fields of psychology and women's studies, this book examines and analyzes the experiences of two primary grade teachers as they set about trying to create and enact a vision of early childhood education centered around loving relationships.
Retelling everyday emotional events: Condensation, distancing, and closure

Narratives of emotional experiences are widely assumed to reflect how well the speaker has coped with them. Some cross-sectional studies have suggested that well-being and absence of psychopathology correlate with more elaborate and coherent narratives of negative events. Other studies, on the other hand, suggest that retelling and coping render narratives shorter, more cognitive, and explicitly evaluative. To test this latter hypothesis, 30 young women narrated five events eliciting anger, sadness, anxiety, pride and happiness from the past week, and retold the same events three months later. After three months, narratives contained fewer attempts to solve the complication, and evaluations became more global and impersonal. Negative narratives were framed better and re-evaluated positively. Unexpectedly, narrative clauses did not decrease, nor did evaluations shift from past to present. Ways to better differentiate effects of memory and retelling from mere effects of coping are suggested.
Role of ISKpn7 and Deletions in blaKPC Gene Expression

ABSTRACT The carbapenemase-encoding blaKPC gene, which is rapidly spreading in Gram-negative rods, is located on a Tn3-based transposon, Tn4401, which carries a polymorphic region giving rise to five isoforms (a, b, c, d, and e) that is located immediately upstream of the blaKPC gene and thus likely involved in its expression. Using 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5′RACE), we identified three potential promoter sequences (P1, P2, and P3) upstream of the blaKPC gene, of which only P1 (absent from isoforms c and d) and P2 (present in all isoforms, with a −35 box located inside the right inverted repeat of ISKpn7) were shown to be true promoters involved in expression. One representative of each different promoter combination of Tn4401, i.e., P2 alone (isoform c), P1-P2 (isoform a), and P1-P2-P3 (isoform b), was cloned into an Escherichia coli plasmid vector. Using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), the highest level of expression was obtained with isoform a (P1 and P2), which is also the most commonly encountered form in enterobacterial clinical isolates, followed by isoforms b (P1, P2, and P3) and c (P2 only). These differences in expression led to slight differences in MIC values of carbapenems. In silico analysis of the DNA sequence of isoform b revealed a stem-loop structure that is likely responsible for strong stops observed in 5′RACE experiments and for decreased expression compared to that with isoform a (P1 and P2). In addition, such structures could also be at the origin for the deletions observed in isoforms a and c. Taken together, these results indicate that the P1 and P2 promoters both contribute to the expression of the blaKPC gene and that the construct with the highest level of expression is that possessing isoform a, which is also the most commonly encountered form in clinical isolates.
An architecture for tailoring cooperative multi-user displays

A range of architectures have emerged which support realtime cooperative user interfaces. These architectures have tended to centralise the management of the interface and thus provide only limited support for user-centred development and interface tailoring. This paper considers the problems associated with the development of tailorable cooperative interfaces and proposes an architecture which allows such interfaces to be developed using an incremental, user-centred approach. The architecture presented in this paper has emerged within the context of a project investigating cooperative interface development for UK air traffic control. We conclude that the architecture is equally applicable to other Command and Control domains, where a shared information space forms the focus for the work taking place.
STRAIN MEASUREMENT IN A SPECIMEN SUBJECTED TO OUT-OF-PLANE MOVEMENT: Using an Open-Source Digital Image Correlation-Based Tool

Niranjan Desai did his PhD from the University of Louisville and is an Assistant Professor in the department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University Northwest. His areas of interest include structural health monitoring and nonlinear dynamic analysis. Thomas Pfauth earned a BS degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in electrical engineering in May 2017. Areas of interest include mechanics of materials, fluid dynamics, and ballistics.
An Empirical Examination of the Impact of Salesperson Empathy and Professionalism and Merchandise Salability on Retail Buyers' Evaluations

This paper examines the impact of two salesperson ability-related characteristics on successful sales interactions in the context of selling to retail apparel buyers. The study followed a 2 × 2 × 2 between-groups factorial design using scenarios to manipulate salesperson empathy, salesperson professionalism, and merchandise salability at two levels each. The study explores the impact of these factors, along with several retail buyer demographics, on retail buyer's likelihood of listening to future sales presentations and placing an order. The results support the importance of both salesperson empathy and professionalism and also identify an important professionalism by empathy interaction. Suggestions are provided for additional research.
Separating spatial search and efficiency rates as components of predation risk

Predation risk is an important driver of ecosystems, and local spatial variation in risk can have population-level consequences by affecting multiple components of the predation process. I use resource selection and proportional hazard time-to-event modelling to assess the spatial drivers of two key components of risk—the search rate (i.e. aggregative response) and predation efficiency rate (i.e. functional response)—imposed by wolves (Canis lupus) in a multi-prey system. In my study area, both components of risk increased according to topographic variation, but anthropogenic features affected only the search rate. Predicted models of the cumulative hazard, or risk of a kill, underlying wolf search paths validated well with broad-scale variation in kill rates, suggesting that spatial hazard models provide a means of scaling up from local heterogeneity in predation risk to population-level dynamics in predator–prey systems. Additionally, I estimated an integrated model of relative spatial predation risk as the product of the search and efficiency rates, combining the distinct contributions of spatial heterogeneity to each component of risk.
Islet amyloid polypeptide tonally inhibits b-, a-, and d-cell secretion in isolated rat pancreatic islets

FENG WANG,1 THOMAS E. ADRIAN,3 GUNILLA T. WESTERMARK,2 XIANZHONG DING,3 THOMAS GASSLANDER,2 AND JOHAN PERMERT1 1Department of Surgery, Karolinska Institute at Huddinge University Hospital, Huddinge 14186; 2Department of Biomedicine and Surgery, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping 58185, Sweden; and 3Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska 68178
Upconversion and anti-Stokes processes with f and d ions in solids.

Before the 1960s, all anti-Stokes emissions, which were known to exist, involved emission energies in excess of excitation energies by only a few kT. They were linked to thermal population of energy states above excitation states by such an energy amount. It was the well-known case of anti-Stokes emission for the so-called thermal bands or in the Raman effect for the well-known anti-Stokes sidebands. Thermoluminescence, where traps are emptied by excitation energies of the order of kT, also constituted a field of anti-Stokes emission of its own. Superexcitation, i.e., raising an already excited electron to an even higher level by excited-state absorption (ESA), was also known but with very weak emissions. These types of well-known anti-Stokes processes have been reviewed in classical textbooks on luminescence.1 All fluorescence light emitters usually follow the well-known principle of the Stokes law which simply states that excitation photons are at a higher energy than emitted ones or, in other words, that output photon energy is weaker than input photon energy. This, in a sense, is an indirect statement that efficiency cannot be larger than 1. This principle is
Functionally Reduced Sensorimotor Connections Form with Normal Specificity Despite Abnormal Muscle Spindle Development: The Role of Spindle-Derived Neurotrophin 3

The mechanisms controlling the formation of synaptic connections between muscle spindle afferents and spinal motor neurons are believed to be regulated by factors originating from muscle spindles. Here, we find that the connections form with appropriate specificity in mice with abnormal spindle development caused by the conditional elimination of the neuregulin1 receptor ErbB2 from muscle precursors. However, despite a modest (∼30%) decrease in the number of afferent terminals on motor neuron somata, the amplitude of afferent-evoked synaptic potentials recorded in motor neurons was reduced by ∼80%, suggesting that many of the connections that form are functionally silent. The selective elimination of neurotrophin 3 (NT3) from muscle spindles had no effect on the amplitude of afferent-evoked ventral root potentials until the second postnatal week, revealing a late role for spindle-derived NT3 in the functional maintenance of the connections. These findings indicate that spindle-derived factors regulate the strength of the connections but not their initial formation or their specificity.