Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Central nervous system regulation of mammalian hibernation: implications for metabolic suppression and ischemia tolerance

Torpor during hibernation defines the nadir of mammalian metabolism where whole animal rates of metabolism are decreased to as low as 2% of basal metabolic rate. This capacity to decrease profoundly the metabolic demand of organs and tissues has the potential to translate into novel therapies for the treatment of ischemia associated with stroke, cardiac arrest or trauma where delivery of oxygen and nutrients fails to meet demand. If metabolic demand could be arrested in a regulated way, cell and tissue injury could be attenuated. Metabolic suppression achieved during hibernation is regulated, in part, by the central nervous system through indirect and possibly direct means. In this study, we review recent evidence for mechanisms of central nervous system control of torpor in hibernating rodents including evidence of a permissive, hibernation protein complex, a role for A1 adenosine receptors, mu opiate receptors, glutamate and thyrotropin‐releasing hormone. Central sites for regulation of torpor include the hippocampus, hypothalamus and nuclei of the autonomic nervous system. In addition, we discuss evidence that hibernation phenotypes can be translated to non‐hibernating species by H2S and 3‐iodothyronamine with the caveat that the hypothermia, bradycardia, and metabolic suppression induced by these compounds may or may not be identical to mechanisms employed in true hibernation.
Evaluating the gain of directional antennas in linear VANETs using stochastic geometry

Maximizing the throughput of point-to-point communication has been the crux of wireless networks. In IEEE 802.11 networks, the first and prominent wireless technology, the model of point-to-point communication is still applicable today: the transmissions are between the wireless nodes and the access point, which usually serves as a gateway to the Internet. But this model is not well suited to more recent wireless systems such as Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and Vehicular Ad Hoc NETworks (VANETs). In such networks, a very significant part of communication is between one node and its neighbors and simultaneous transmissions or, in other words spatial reuse, is required to insure good performance. When we consider communication from one node to its neighbor, an important metric is the density of successful simultaneous transmissions. Several studies such as [1], [2] have shown how this density of transmissions can be improved in Aloha or in CSMA networks. The aim of this paper is to show that the use of directional antennas can greatly improve the performance of the network in our neighbor-to-neighbor communication model because interference is greatly reduced. The model we build here allows a quantitative study of the performance and the improvement obtained with directional antennas to be be achieved. The study of Aloha (slotted and non-slotted) is very easy to accomplish and leads to closed formulas for the density of successful transmissions. The study of CSMA is more complex. We use a Matern selection process to mimic the behavior of CSMA in a random pattern of nodes distributed as a Poisson Point Process (PPP): each node receives a random mark and the nodes that have the smallest mark in their neighborhood are elected for transmission. Previous studies, such as [2], show that in CSMA networks, the density of successful transmissions is greatly influenced by the carrier sense detection threshold, which is one of the main parameters of CSMA. In this study we will assume that the carrier sense detection threshold is optimized to obtain the best performance of the CSMA network and our evaluations are performed under this condition. Our analytical models and our computation show that using directional antennas can lead to an improvement of up to more than 100% in the density of throughput compared to the normal use of unidirectional antennas.
The Acid–Base Balance and Gender in Inflammation: A Mini-Review

In humans, acid–base balance is crucial to cell homeostasis. Acidosis is observed in numerous inflammatory processes, primarily acute conditions such as sepsis, trauma, or acute respiratory distress where females tend to exhibit better prognosis compared with males. The mechanisms underlying these gender-dependent differences are multiple, probably involving hormonal and genetic factors, particularly the X chromosome. Although pH influences multiple immunological functions, gender differences in acid–base balance have been poorly investigated. In this review, we provide an update on gender differences in human susceptibility to inflammatory diseases. We additionally discuss the potential impact of acid–base balance on the gender bias of the inflammatory response in view of our recent observation that girls present higher neutrophilic inflammation and lower pH with a trend toward better prognosis in severe sepsis. We also highlight the potent role played by endothelial cells in gender differences of inflammation through activation of proton-sensing G protein-coupled receptors.
Cyanobacterial diversity inSalar deHuasco , a highaltitude saline wetland in northernChile : an example ofgeographical dispersion ?

The diversity of Cyanobacteria in water and sediment samples from four representative sites of the Salar de Huasco was examined using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and analysis of clone libraries of 16S rRNA gene PCR products. Salar de Huasco is a high altitude (3800 m altitude) saline wetland located in the Chilean Altiplano. We analyzed samples from a tributary stream (H0) and three shallow lagoons (H1, H4, H6) that contrasted in their physicochemical conditions and associated biota. Seventy-eight phylotypes were identified in a total of 268 clonal sequences deriving from seven clone libraries of water and sediment samples. Oscillatoriales were frequently found in water samples from sites H0, H1 and H4 and in sediment samples from sites H1 and H4. Pleurocapsales were found only at site H0, while Chroococcales were recovered from sediment samples of sites H0 and H1, and from water samples of site H1. Nostocales were found in sediment samples from sites H1 and H4, and water samples from site H1 and were largely represented by sequences highly similar to Nodularia spumigena. We suggest that cyanobacterial communities from Salar de Huasco are unique – they include sequences related to others previously described from the Antarctic, along with others from diverse, but less extreme environments.
Low-Rate DDoS Attacks Detection and Traceback by Using New Information Metrics

A low-rate distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack has significant ability of concealing its traffic because it is very much like normal traffic. It has the capacity to elude the current anomaly-based detection schemes. An information metric can quantify the differences of network traffic with various probability distributions. In this paper, we innovatively propose using two new information metrics such as the generalized entropy metric and the information distance metric to detect low-rate DDoS attacks by measuring the difference between legitimate traffic and attack traffic. The proposed generalized entropy metric can detect attacks several hops earlier (three hops earlier while the order α = 10 ) than the traditional Shannon metric. The proposed information distance metric outperforms (six hops earlier while the order α = 10) the popular Kullback-Leibler divergence approach as it can clearly enlarge the adjudication distance and then obtain the optimal detection sensitivity. The experimental results show that the proposed information metrics can effectively detect low-rate DDoS attacks and clearly reduce the false positive rate. Furthermore, the proposed IP traceback algorithm can find all attacks as well as attackers from their own local area networks (LANs) and discard attack traffic.
When fasted is not empty: a retrospective cohort study of gastric content in fasted surgical patients†

Background Perioperative aspiration leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Point-of-care gastric ultrasound is an emerging tool to assess gastric content at the bedside. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of baseline gastric content on fasted elective surgical patients. The primary outcome was the incidence of full stomach (solid content or >1.5 ml kg−1 of clear fluid). Secondary outcomes included: gastric volume distribution (entire cohort, each antral grade); the association between gastric fullness, fasting intervals, and co-morbidities; anaesthetic management changes and incidence of aspiration. Results We identified 538 patients. Thirty-two patients (6.2%) presented with a full stomach. Nine of these (1.7%) had solid content and 23 (4.5%) had clear fluid >1.5 ml kg−1. An empty stomach was documented in 480 (89.8%) patients. The examination was inconclusive in the remaining 20 patients (5.0%). As expected, increasing antral grade was correlated with larger antral cross-sectional area and higher gastric volume (P<0.001). Of the 32 patients with a full stomach, only six had a documented risk factor for prolonged gastric emptying. The anaesthetic management was changed in all nine patients with solid content. No aspiration was reported. Conclusions This retrospective cohort study suggests that a small proportion of elective surgical patients may present with a full stomach despite the recommended duration of fasting. Further research is needed to establish the clinical implications of these findings in the elective setting. At present, the clinical role of gastric ultrasound continues to be for the evaluation of gastric contents to guide management when the risk of aspiration is uncertain or unknown.
Sudden cardiac death

Introduction Sudden cardiac arrest continues to be the leading cause of death in the industrialized world. Sources of data Original papers, reviews and guidelines. Areas of agreement Community programs for lay bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillation improve outcomes. Post-arrest care, including targeted temperature management (TTM) combined with early coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention, is helpful for those suffering cardiac arrest during an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Areas of controversy (1) The optimal approach to encourage lay bystanders to assist with resuscitation efforts. (2) Whether TTM combined with early coronary angiography is cost effective for those without ST elevation on their post-arrest ECG is unknown. Growing points Increasing data show that chest compression-only CPR is preferred by lay rescuers and improves local survival rates. Areas timely for developing research Randomized clinical trials are underway to examine the utility of early coronary angiography in the treatment of post-arrest patients without ST-segment elevation.
Anticancer potential of leaf and leaf-derived callus extracts of Aerva javanica against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

Background: Aerva javanica is an exotic and medicinal plant in India. Aim of the Study: The main goal of this study was to evaluate the antiproliferative properties of leaf and leaf-derived callus extracts against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Methods: The plant parts were sequentially extracted with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol. The extract was concentrated to yield the crude extract, which was tested for anticancer potentials. The anticancer potential of cytotoxic extracts was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and DNA fragmentation assays in human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7). Results: All the tested extracts showed significant antiproliferative activities in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The inhibitory concentration of extract was tested against target cell line, and the results show in vitro leaf of A. javanica has higher inhibitory effect against the tested cancer cells at lower concentration (about 11.89 and 22.45 μg/ml) followed by other samples extracts. Conclusion: The results of the present study conclude in vitro plant sample having more potent anticancer property and support the need of further studies to isolate potential anticancer drug with cancer cell-specific cytotoxicity.
E-Cigarettes: Implications for Health Promotion in the Asian Pacific Region

Since their introduction to the United States in 2007, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) use has grown exponentially. This rapid growth in e-cigarette use has been heralded by some as a potential important public health measure that could ultimately replace tobacco cigarettes, while others recommend a cautionary approach until there is clear evidence they will not become “new tobacco” bringing a possible myriad of other problems. E-cigarettes may have real benefits, however they do expose users and those nearby to organic compounds, solvents and particulate matter, with there being limited data relating to their health impact. It is unclear as to whether this relatively new device has the potential to exacerbate nicotine addictions, or play a part in reducing harm and smoking cessation. The fundamental requirement of public health practice is to do no harm and from the inconclusive evidence we have to date on e-cigarettes, it appears a cautious approach is warranted. This commentary reviews evidence that supports a cautious approach to e-cigarette availability in Australia and the Asian Pacific region.
Succinyl-CoA Synthetase: New Antigen Candidate of Bartonella bacilliformis

Background Bartonella bacilliformis is the causative agent of Carrion’s disease, a neglected illness with mortality rates of 40–85% in the absence of treatment. The lack of a diagnostic technique to overcome misdiagnosis and treat asymptomatic carriers is of note. This study aimed to identify new B. bacilliformis antigenic candidates that could lead to a new diagnostic tool able to be implemented in endemic rural areas. Methodology/Principal Findings Blood (n = 198) and serum (n = 177) samples were collected in northern Peru. Clinical data were recorded. Specific 16S rRNA amplification by RT-PCR, IFA and ELISA for IgM/IgG with whole cells as antigens was done. Western blot analysis and N-terminal amino acid sequencing detected seroreactive proteins. ELISAs for IgM/IgG for the antigenic candidates were performed. Of the population 33.3% reported at least one symptom compatible with Carrion’s disease; 25.4% (IFA), 27.1% (ELISA-IgG), 33.9% (ELISA-IgM) and 38.9% (RT-PCR) of samples were positive. Four proteins were considered potential antigenic candidates, including two new antigenic candidates, succinyl-CoA synthetase subunit α (SCS-α) and succinyl-CoA synthetase subunit β (SCS-β). On Western blot both Pap31 and SCS-α interacted with IgM, while GroEL and SCS-β interacted with IgG. The presence of specific antibodies against the antigenic candidates varied from 34.5% (IgG against SCS-α) to 97.2% (IgM against Pap31). Conclusions/Significance RT-PCR and the high levels of positivity for specific ELISAs demonstrate high levels of B. bacilliformis exposure and asymptomatic carriers among inhabitants. The new antigens identified might be used as a new rapid diagnostic tool to diagnose acute Carrion’s disease and identify asymptomatic carriers.
Multicore SIMD ASIP for Next-Generation Sequencing and Alignment Biochip Platforms

Targeting the development of new biochip platforms capable of autonomously sequencing and aligning biological sequences, a new multicore processing structure is proposed in this manuscript. This multicore structure makes use of a shared memory model and multiple instantiations of a novel application-specific instruction-set processor (ASIP) to simultaneously exploit both fine and coarse-grained parallelism and to achieve high performance levels at low-power consumption. The proposed ASIP is built by extending the instruction set architecture of a synthesizable processor, including both general and special-purpose single-instruction multiple-data instructions. This allows an efficient exploitation of fine-grained parallelism on the alignment of biological sequences, achieving over 30× speedup when compared with sequential algorithmic implementations. The complete system was prototyped on different field-programmable gate array platforms and synthesized with a 90-nm CMOS process technology. Experimental results demonstrate that the multicore structure scales almost linearly with the number of instantiated cores, achieving performances similar to a quad-core Intel Core i7 3820 processor, while using 25× less energy.
Clopidogrel reloading for patients with acute myocardial infarction already on clopidogrel therapy

Aims We sought to determine the association of clopidogrel reloading with in-hospital bleeding and mortality in contemporary practice. Methods and results We examined clopidogrel reloading for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients on pre-admission clopidogrel therapy in the ACTION Registry-GWTG from 2009 to 2014. We used inverse probability weighted propensity adjustment to compare in-hospital mortality and major bleeding risks between patients reloaded in the first 24 h with ≥300 mg of clopidogrel vs. those continued on a maintenance (<300 mg) dose. Among the 12 366 patients on pre-admission clopidogrel therapy who were admitted with STEMI, 9369 (75.8%) received a loading dose. Of 39 158 patients with NSTEMI, 10 144 (25.9%) were reloaded. Reloaded patients were younger, had fewer comorbid conditions, and were more likely to be treated with primary PCI (STEMI) or an early invasive strategy (NSTEMI). Risks of major bleeding were not significantly different between patients with and without reloading, whether presenting with STEMI (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.85-1.13) or NSTEMI (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.90-1.11). Among STEMI patients, clopidogrel reloading was associated with lower risks of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66-0.96), however no significant mortality difference was observed among NSTEMI patients (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.93-1.37). Conclusion Clopidogrel reloading occurs frequently among MI patients who are on pre-admission clopidogrel therapy, particularly among STEMI patients. We did not observe increased bleeding or mortality risk with clopidogrel reloading, and therefore reloading could be safe for most MI patients.
Broadband matching of nuclear quadrupole resonance detector using non-Foster circuits

A new class of nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) detector based on non-Foster circuits (NFCs) is introduced. NQR is a solid-state radio frequency spectroscopic technique, allowing the detection of different substances based on their spectral profiles. Recently, non-Foster circuits have received significant interest for broadband impedance matching of small antennas; this principle will be used to develop highly matched, broadband antennas, which will allow very quick NQR detection from 1 MHz to 6 MHz.
Evaluating the Influence of Chromatic and Luminance Stimuli on SSVEPs from Behind-the-Ears and Occipital Areas

This work presents a study of chromatic and luminance stimuli in low-, medium-, and high-frequency stimulation to evoke steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) in the behind-the-ears area. Twelve healthy subjects participated in this study. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was measured on occipital (Oz) and left and right temporal (TP9 and TP10) areas. The SSVEP was evaluated in terms of amplitude, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and detection accuracy using power spectral density analysis (PSDA), canonical correlation analysis (CCA), and temporally local multivariate synchronization index (TMSI) methods. It was found that stimuli based on suitable color and luminance elicited stronger SSVEP in the behind-the-ears area, and that the response of the SSVEP was related to the flickering frequency and the color of the stimuli. Thus, green-red stimulus elicited the highest SSVEP in medium-frequency range, and green-blue stimulus elicited the highest SSVEP in high-frequency range, reaching detection accuracy rates higher than 80%. These findings will aid in the development of more comfortable, accurate and stable BCIs with electrodes positioned on the behind-the-ears (hairless) areas.
A Robust Planning Framework for Cognitive Robots

A cognitive robot should construct a plan to attain its goals. While it executes the actions in its plan, it may face several failures due to both internal and external issues. We present a taxonomy to classify these failures that may be encountered during the execution of cognitive tasks. The taxonomy presents a wide range of failure types. To recover from most of these failures presented in this taxonomy, we propose a Robust Planning Framework for cognitive robots. Our framework combines planning, reasoning and learning procedures into each other for robust execution of cognitive tasks. Failures can be detected and handled by reasoning and replanning, respectively. The framework also facilitates learning new hypotheses incrementally based on experience. It can successfully detect and recover from temporary failures on a selected set of actions executed by a Pioneer3DX robot. It has been shown that our preliminary results for hypothesis learning in failure scenarios are promising.
Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT): rationale, program overview and cross‐site evaluation

AIMS Since 2003, the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA, CSAT) has awarded 32 Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) grants to states, territories and tribal organizations to enhance services for persons with, or at risk for, substance use disorders. The grants supported an expansion of the continuum of care to include screening, brief intervention, brief treatment and referral to treatment in general medical and community settings. This paper describes the SAMHSA SBIRT program in the context of the scientific research that motivated its development, as well as the two cross-site evaluations that are the subject of subsequent papers in this Supplement. METHODS A narrative review of research evidence pertaining to SBIRT and of the cross-site evaluation design that made it possible to determine whether the SAMHSA SBIRT grant program achieved its intended aims. The 11 programs within the two cohorts of grant recipients that were the subject of the cross-site evaluations are described in terms of SBIRT service components, performance sites, providers, management structure/activities and patient/client characteristics. CONCLUSION The US SAMHSA SBIRT program is an effective way to introduce a variety of new services that extend the continuum of care for substance-involved individuals, ranging from early intervention with non-dependent substance users to referral of more serious cases to specialized substance abuse treatment.