Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistics on the use of cardiac electronic devices and interventional electrophysiological procedures in Africa from 2011 to 2016: report of the Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) Cardiac Arrhythmias and Pacing Task Forces

Abstract Aims To provide comprehensive information on the access and use of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) and catheter ablation procedures in Africa. Methods and results The Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) collected data on invasive management of cardiac arrhythmias from 2011 to 2016 from 31 African countries. A specific template was completed by physicians, and additional information obtained from industry. Information on health care systems, demographics, economics, procedure rates, and specific training programs was collected. Considerable heterogeneity in the access to arrhythmia care was observed across Africa. Eight of the 31 countries surveyed (26%) did not perform pacemaker implantations. The median pacemaker implantation rate was 2.66 per million population per country (range: 0.14–233 per million population). Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy were performed in 12/31 (39%) and 15/31 (48%) countries respectively, mostly by visiting teams. Electrophysiological studies, including complex catheter ablations were performed in all countries from Maghreb, but only one sub-Saharan African country (South Africa). Marked variation in cost (up to 1000-fold) was observed across countries with an inverse correlation between implant rates and the procedure fees standardized to the gross domestic product per capita. Lack of economic resources and facilities, high cost of procedures, deficiency of trained physicians, and non-existent fellowship programs were the main drivers of under-utilization of interventional cardiac arrhythmia care. Conclusion There is limited access to CIED and ablation procedures in Africa. A quarter of countries did not have pacemaker implantation services, and catheter ablations were only available in one country in sub-Saharan Africa.
Manipulative Approaches to Testing Adaptive Plasticity: Phytochrome‐Mediated Shade‐Avoidance Responses in Plants

Phenotypic plasticity is often assumed to be adaptive, but this hypothesis has rarely been tested. To support the hypothesis, it is necessary to demonstrate that the phenotype induced in each relevant environment confers high fitness in that environment, relative to alternative phenotypes. Unfortunately, such tests are difficult to perform because plasticity prevents the expression of "inappropriate" phenotypes within each environment. Genetic and physiological manipulation can be used very effectively to extend the range of phenotypes within environments and thus provide powerful tools for testing the adaptive plasticity hypothesis. The expression of specific genes involved in cue perception or signal transduction can be altered by mutation or the introduction of transgenes, thus altering the plastic response of an organism to environmental cues. It is also possible to alter the cue itself or to manipulate the developmental response physiologically so as to obtain alternative phenotypes. The relative fitness of these alternative phenotypes can then be measured in each relevant environment. However, these techniques will be most useful when combined with techniques such as phenotypic selection analysis to identify the specific traits under selection in natural populations. We illustrate these approaches using phytochrome‐mediated “shade avoidance” responses in plants as a model system. We review the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying these responses, illustrate how genetic manipulation can elucidate their adaptive value, and discuss the use of physiological manipulation to measure natural selection on plasticity in the wild.
International comparison of bank fraud reimbursement: customer perceptions and contractual terms

We set out to investigate how customers comprehend bank terms and conditions (TC in some cases they differ by product type, and advice can even be contradictory. While many banks allow customers to write PINs down as long as they are disguised and not kept with the card, 20% of banks do not allow PINs to be written down at all, and a handful do not allow PINs to be shared between accounts. We test our findings on 151 participants in Germany, the US and UK. They mostly agree: only 35% fully understand the T&Cs, and 28% find that sections are unclear. There are strong regional variations: Germans find their T&Cs particularly hard to understand, but Americans assume harsher T&Cs than they actually are, and tend to be reassured when they actually read them.
Study of closed-loop high-resolution sigma-delta for a MEMS accelerometer

In this paper, a high-resolution Sigma-Delta (ΣΔ) modulator in a standard 0.5 μm CMOS technology for a MEMS accelerometer is presented. The digital output is attained by the interface circuit based on a low-noise front-end charge-amplifier and a back-end forth-order Sigma-Delta modulator. The low-noise front-end detection circuit is proposed with correlated double sampling (CDS) technique to eliminate the 1/f noise and offset of operational amplifier. The capacitance compensation array is used for rejecting the sensor element mechanical offset. The lead compensator circuit is to ensure the stability of the high-order closed-loop system. The interface is fabricated in a standard 0.5 μm CMOS process and the active circuit area is about 8mm2. The MEMS accelerometer system consumes 25mW from a single 7V supply at a sampling frequency of 250 kHz. The ΣΔ modulator can achieve an effective number of bits 20.30 bits and an average noise floor in low-frequency range of 140 dB.
In Response to Risks and Pitfalls of Epidural Injections during Management of Lumbar Disc Herniation: Few Comments

Received April 1, 2015. Accepted April 3, 2015. Correspondence to: Laxmaiah Manchikanti Pain Management Center of Paducah, Paducah, and University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 2831, Lone Oak Road, Paducah, Kentucky 42003, USA Tel: +1-270-554-9412, Fax: +1-270-554-8987, E-mail: drlm@thepainmd.com This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Copyright c The Korean Pain Society, 2015 LETTERS TO EDITORS
Stretch-dependent activation and desensitization of mitogen-activated protein kinase in carotid arteries.

Arterial smooth muscle stretch is an important physiological modulator of vascular function. To identify intracellular processes altered during muscle stretch, we found previously that extracellular signal-regulated kinase-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity increased in response to the application of mechanical loads. In the present study, stretch-dependent activation of MAPK in porcine carotid arteries was investigated as was the phosphorylation of the thin filament-binding protein caldesmon, which is known to be a substrate for the kinase in fully differentiated smooth muscle. MAPK activity was 67 pmol ⋅ min-1 ⋅ mg protein-1 in unloaded muscle strips immediately after attachment to force transducers and 139 pmol ⋅ min-1 ⋅ mg protein-1 within 30 s of muscle stretch. When muscle strips were continually stretched, MAPK activity remained elevated for ∼2 h and then decreased over 16 h to 16 pmol ⋅ min-1 ⋅ mg protein-1. When muscle strips were stretched and then unloaded, MAPK activity decreased within 1 h to the level present in the muscle before the stretch. These effects of muscle stretch on MAPK activity were additive to the effects of KCl or phorbol ester stimulation and were partially inhibited by reducing extracellular Ca2+. Eliminating extracellular Ca2+ had no effect on phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu)-dependent contractions or MAPK activity; however, KCl-dependent contractions and MAPK activity were completely abolished by this procedure. An antibody specific for detecting caldesmon phosphorylated by MAPK, vs. protein kinase C (PKC), was developed and used to assess relative caldesmon phosphorylation in unstimulated and PDBu-stimulated muscle strips. In all cases investigated, the level of MAPK activity correlated with phosphocaldesmon immunoreactivity. Because arterial MAPK activity is regulated by PKC- and stretch-dependent mechanisms, these data are consistent with a role for MAPK and the subsequent phosphorylation of caldesmon as mediators in the stretch activation of vascular smooth muscle.
Tunable surface plasmon resonance frequency of Au-Ag bimetallic asymmetric structure thin films in the UV and IR region

Au/ZnO/Ag sandwich structure films were fabricated by DC magnetron sputter at room temperature. The tunability of the surface plasmon resonance wavelength was realized by varying the thickness of ZnO thin film. The effects of ZnO layer on the optical properties of Au/ZnO/Au thin films were investigated by optical absorption and Raman scattering measurements. It has been found that both the surface plasmon resonance frequency and SERS can be controlled by adjusting the thickness of ZnO layer due to the coupling of metal and semiconductor.
ATP-dependent regulation of inwardly rectifying K+ current in bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Inwardly rectifying K+ current ( I Kir) in freshly isolated bovine retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells was studied in the whole cell recording configuration of the patch-clamp technique. When cells were dialyzed with pipette solution containing no ATP, I Kir ran down completely in <10 min [half time ( t 1/2) = 1.9 min]. In contrast, dialysis with 2 mM ATP sustained I Kir for 10 min or more. Rundown was also prevented with 4 mM GTP or ADP. When 0.5 mM ATP was used, I Kir ran down by ∼71%. Mg2+ was a critical cofactor because rundown occurred when the pipette solution contained 4 mM ATP but no Mg2+( t 1/2 = 1.8 min). I Kir also ran down when the pipette solution contained 4 mM Mg2+ + 4 mM 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate ( t 1/2 = 2.7 min) or 4 mM adenosine 5'- O-(3-thiotriphosphate) ( t 1/2 = 1.9 min), nonhydrolyzable and poorly hydrolyzable ATP analogs, respectively. We conclude that the sustained activity of I Kirin bovine RPE requires intracellular MgATP and that the underlying mechanism may involve ATP hydrolysis.
Association of VEGF and VDR gene- gene and gene- smoking interaction on risk of multiple myeloma in Chinese Han population

Aims To investigate the association of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and additional gene- gene and gene- smoking interaction with multiple myeloma (MM) risk in Chinese population. Methods Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was used to screen the best interaction combination among SNPs and smoking. Logistic regression was performed to investigate association between 6 SNPs within VEGF and VDR gene, additional gene- gene and gene- smoking interaction on MM risk. Results MM risk is significantly higher in carriers with the rs699947- A allele within VEGF gene than those with CC genotype (CA+ AA versus CC), adjusted OR (95%CI) =1.72 (1.19-2.33), and higher in carriers with rs2228570- T allele within VDR gene than those with CC genotype (CT+ TT versus CC), adjusted OR (95%CI) = 1.68 (1.26-2.17). We also found a significant two-locus model (p=0.0010) involving rs699947 and rs2228570, and a significant two-locus model (p=0.0107) involving rs2228570 andsmoking. Participants with rs699947- CA+AA and rs2228570- CT+TT genotype had the highest MM risk, compared to participants with rs699947- CC and rs2228570- CC genotype, OR (95%CI) = 3.12 (1.82 -4.61). Smokers with rs2228570- CT+TT genotype had the highest MM risk, compared to never- smokers with rs2228570- CC genotype, OR (95%CI) = 3.27 (1.74-4.86). Conclusions We found that the A allele of rs699947 within VEGF and T allele of rs2228570 within VDR gene, interaction between rs699947 and rs2228570, rs2228570 andsmoking were all associated with increased MM risk.
Discovering parallel pattern candidates in Erlang

The ParaPhrase Refactoring Tool for Erlang PaRTE provides automatic, comprehensive and reliable pattern candidate discovery to locate parallelisable components in Erlang programs. It uses semi-automatic and semantics-preserving program transformations to reshape source code and to introduce high level parallel patterns that can be mapped adaptively to the available hardware resources. This paper describes the main PaRTE tools and demonstrates that significant parallel speedups can be obtained.
Variability and Global Distribution of Subgenotypes of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a globally-distributed agent responsible for numerous clinical syndromes that lead to major economic losses. Two species, BVDV-1 and BVDV-2, discriminated on the basis of genetic and antigenic differences, are classified in the genus Pestivirus within the Flaviviridae family and distributed on all of the continents. BVDV-1 can be segregated into at least twenty-one subgenotypes (1a–1u), while four subgenotypes have been described for BVDV-2 (2a–2d). With respect to published sequences, the number of virus isolates described for BVDV-1 (88.2%) is considerably higher than for BVDV-2 (11.8%). The most frequently-reported BVDV-1 subgenotype are 1b, followed by 1a and 1c. The highest number of various BVDV subgenotypes has been documented in European countries, indicating greater genetic diversity of the virus on this continent. Current segregation of BVDV field isolates and the designation of subgenotypes are not harmonized. While the species BVDV-1 and BVDV-2 can be clearly differentiated independently from the portion of the genome being compared, analysis of different genomic regions can result in inconsistent assignment of some BVDV isolates to defined subgenotypes. To avoid non-conformities the authors recommend the development of a harmonized system for subdivision of BVDV isolates into defined subgenotypes.
Anterior cingulate cortex supports effort allocation towards a qualitatively preferred option

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is known to be involved in effortful choice, yet its role in cost‐benefit evaluation of qualitatively different rewards (more/less preferred), beyond magnitude differences (larger/smaller), is poorly understood. Selecting between qualitatively different options is a decision type commonly faced by humans. Here, we assessed the role of ACC on a task that has primarily been used to probe striatal function in motivation. Rats were trained to stable performance on a progressive ratio schedule for sucrose pellets and were then given sham surgeries (control) or excitotoxic NMDA lesions of ACC. Subsequently, a choice was introduced: chow was concurrently available while animals could work for the preferred sucrose pellets. ACC lesions produced a significant decrease in lever presses for sucrose pellets compared to control, whereas chow consumption was unaffected. Lesions had no effect on sucrose pellet preference when both options were freely available. When laboratory chow was not concurrently available, ACC‐lesioned rats exhibited similar lever pressing as controls. During a test under specific satiety for sucrose pellets, ACC‐lesioned rats also showed intact devaluation effects. The effects of ACC lesions in our task are not mediated by decreased appetite, a change in food preference, a failure to update value or a learning deficit. Taken together, we found that ACC lesions decreased effort for a qualitatively preferred option. These results are discussed with reference to effects of striatal manipulations and our recent report of a role for basolateral amygdala in effortful choice.
Dissecting the proton transport pathway in electrogenic Na+/H+ antiporters

Significance Cells express transporters that strictly exchange protons for sodium ions to regulate many fundamental processes, such as intracellular pH and cell volume. The bacterial Na+/H+ exchangers typically use the energy stored in membrane potentials, whereas the mammalian transporters do not. The energetic difference stems from the ability of the bacterial proteins to transport multiple protons in exchange for one sodium ion. The mechanism for how this is achieved, however, has remained elusive. Here, using purified components in synthetic membranes, we have compared the energetics and kinetics of the bacterial exchanger NapA to the human exchanger NHA2, which has been linked to insulin secretion. Remarkably, the judicial placement of a transmembrane embedded lysine is the key for harnessing a membrane potential. Sodium/proton exchangers of the SLC9 family mediate the transport of protons in exchange for sodium to help regulate intracellular pH, sodium levels, and cell volume. In electrogenic Na+/H+ antiporters, it has been assumed that two ion-binding aspartate residues transport the two protons that are later exchanged for one sodium ion. However, here we show that we can switch the antiport activity of the bacterial Na+/H+ antiporter NapA from being electrogenic to electroneutral by the mutation of a single lysine residue (K305). Electroneutral lysine mutants show similar ion affinities when driven by ΔpH, but no longer respond to either an electrochemical potential (Ψ) or could generate one when driven by ion gradients. We further show that the exchange activity of the human Na+/H+ exchanger NHA2 (SLC9B2) is electroneutral, despite harboring the two conserved aspartic acid residues found in NapA and other bacterial homologues. Consistently, the equivalent residue to K305 in human NHA2 has been replaced with arginine, which is a mutation that makes NapA electroneutral. We conclude that a transmembrane embedded lysine residue is essential for electrogenic transport in Na+/H+ antiporters.
In vivo murine left ventricular pressure-volume relations by miniaturized conductance micromanometry.

The mouse is the species of choice for creating genetically engineered models of human disease. To study detailed systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) chamber mechanics in mice in vivo, we developed a miniaturized conductance-manometer system. α-Chloralose-urethan-anesthetized animals were instrumented with a two-electrode pressure-volume catheter advanced via the LV apex to the aortic root. Custom electronics provided time-varying conductances related to cavity volume. Baseline hemodynamics were similar to values in conscious animals: 634 ± 14 beats/min, 112 ± 4 mmHg, 5.3 ± 0.8 mmHg, and 11,777 ± 732 mmHg/s for heart rate, end-systolic and end-diastolic pressures, and maximum first derivative of ventricular pressure with respect to time (dP/d t max), respectively. Catheter stroke volume during preload reduction by inferior vena caval occlusion correlated with that by ultrasound aortic flow probe ( r 2 = 0.98). This maneuver yielded end-systolic elastances of 79 ± 21 mmHg/μl, preload-recruitable stroke work of 82 ± 5.6 mmHg, and slope of dP/d t max-end-diastolic volume relation of 699 ± 100 mmHg ⋅ s-1 ⋅ μl-1, and these relations varied predictably with acute inotropic interventions. The control normalized time-varying elastance curve was similar to human data, further supporting comparable chamber mechanics between species. This novel approach should greatly help assess cardiovascular function in the blood-perfused murine heart.
Endothelin-1 increases rat distal tubule acidification in vivo.

Because endothelin receptor inhibition blunts increased distal tubule acidification induced by dietary acid, we examined whether endothelin-1 (ET-1) increases acidification of in vivo perfused distal tubules of anesthetized rats. ET-1 was infused intra-aortically (1.4 pmol ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1) into control animals and into those with increased distal tubule HCO3 secretion induced by drinking 80 mM NaHCO3 solution for 7-10 days. ET-1 increased distal tubule acidification in both control and NaHCO3 animals. Increased acidification in control animals was mediated by increased distal tubule H+ secretion (23.7 ± 2.2 vs. 18.7 ± 1.7 pmol ⋅ mm-1 ⋅ min-1, P < 0.05) with no changes in HCO3 secretion. By contrast, ET-1 increased distal tubule acidification in NaHCO3 animals predominantly by decreasing HCO3 secretion (-9.5 ± 1.0 vs. -18.7 ± 1.8 pmol ⋅ mm-1 ⋅ min-1, P < 0.001) with less influence on H+ secretion. When indomethacin was infused (83 μg ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1) to inhibit synthesis of prostacyclin, an agent previously shown to increase HCO3 secretion in the distal tubule, ET-1 increased distal tubule H+ secretion in both control (24.3 ± 2.2 vs. 15.7 ± 1.6 pmol ⋅ mm-1 ⋅ min-1, P < 0.02) and NaHCO3 (20.0 ± 2.0 vs. 13.6 ± 1.4 pmol ⋅ mm-1 ⋅ min-1, P < 0.05) without affecting HCO3 secretion. The data show that ET-1 increases distal tubule acidification in vivo and can do so by increasing H+ secretion and by decreasing HCO3 secretion when the latter is augmented by dietary NaHCO3.
Effects of different frequencies of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in stroke patients with non-fluent aphasia: a randomized, sham-controlled study

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied at different frequencies to the contra-lesional hemisphere to optimize the treatment of post-stroke non-fluent aphasia. Method: Patients with post-stroke non-fluent aphasia were divided randomly into four groups: a high-frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS) group (10 Hz), a low-frequency rTMS (LF-rTMS) group (1 Hz), a sham stimulation group, and a control group. All groups received the standard treatment (consisting of drug therapy, conventional physical exercises, and speech training); in the HF-rTMS and LF-rTMS, this was supplemented with magnetic stimulation that targeted the mirror area within the right hemispheric Broca’s area. Patients’ language ability was assessed prior to, immediately after, and at 2 months post-treatment by the Chinese version of the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB). Results: When measured immediately post-treatment, as well as at 2 months post-treatment, the LF-rTMS group exhibited a more marked improvement than the HF-rTMS group in spontaneous speech, auditory comprehension, and aphasia quotients (AQ). Compared to the control group, the HF-rTMS cohort exhibited significant improvement at 2-months post-treatment in repetition and AQ. Conclusions: LF-rTMS and HF-rTMS are both beneficial to the recovery of linguistic function in patients with post-stroke non-fluent aphasia. LF-rTMS produced immediate benefits that persisted long-term, while HF-rTMS only produced long-term benefits. In addition, the benefits produced with LF-rTMS were more marked than those produced by HF-rTMS.