Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The use of levosimendan in shocked patients with compromised left ventricular function and requiring catecholamine support - A case series

Objective: Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer that improves cardiac contractility without increasing intracellular calcium level, hence energy demand. Theoretically, it is safer to use levosimendan than catecholamine in shocked patients who require inotrope support. Studies on the use of levosimendan in shocked patients are, however, limited. In this case series, we describe the pre- and post-infusion effects of levosimendan in shocked patients with reduced cardiac function and requiring catecholamine inotrope support. Design: A case-series report. Setting: The intensive care unit of a teaching hospital. Patients: Fifteen shocked patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and requiring catecholamine inotrope support were reviewed retrospectively. Intervention: 24 hour intravenous infusion of levosimendan with concomitant noradrenaline infusion. Results: In response to 24-h levosimendan infusion, the left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 25.7 ± 11.0% to 29.8 ± 8.6% (P = 0.0389), and the plasma B-type natriuretic peptide reduced from 993 ± 389 to 644 ± 408 pg/ml (P = 0.0015). The blood lactate also demonstrated a significant decrease. During infusion, the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was maintained above 65 mmHg by concomitant noradrenaline infusion. The noradrenaline dosages required to maintain the MAP were reduced at the end of infusion. No adverse event related to the drug was seen during the infusion. Conclusion: Levosimendan leads to an improvement in the hemodynamic status of the shocked patients with compromised left ventricular function. This improvement was reflected by an improvement in LVEF, the favorable changes in BNP and blood lactate levels. Levosimendan is safe to use and may present an alternative to catecholamine inotropes in the management of shocked patients with reduced cardiac function and requiring inotrope support.
Metabolic Activity of Red Nucleus and Its Correlation with Cerebral Cortex and Cerebellum: A Study Using a High-Resolution Semiconductor PET System

The red nucleus (RN) is a pair of small gray matter structures located in the midbrain and involved in muscle movement and cognitive functions. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the metabolism of human RN and its correlation to other brain regions. Methods: We developed a high-resolution semiconductor PET system to image small brain structures. Twenty patients without neurologic disorders underwent whole-brain scanning after injection of 400 MBq of 18F-FDG. The individual brain 18F-FDG PET images were spatially normalized to generate a surface projection map using a 3-dimensional stereotactic surface projection technique. The correlation between the RN and each voxel on the cerebral and cerebellar cortices was estimated with Pearson product-moment correlation analysis. Results: Both right and left RNs were visualized with higher uptake than that in the background midbrain. The maximum standardized uptake values of RN were 7.64 ± 1.92; these were higher than the values for the dentate nucleus but lower than those for the caudate nucleus, putamen, and thalamus. The voxel-by-voxel analysis demonstrated that the right RN was correlated more with ipsilateral association cortices than contralateral cortices, whereas the left RN was equally correlated with ipsilateral and contralateral cortices. The left RN showed a stronger correlation with the motor cortices and cerebellum than the right RN did. Conclusion: Although nonspecific background activity around RNs might have influenced the correlation patterns, these metabolic relationships suggested that RN cooperates with association cortices and limbic areas to conduct higher brain functions.
Right Heart Failure as “Sole” Presentation of Carcinoid Syndrome

Carcinoid tumors are rare neuroendocrine tumors that arise from neural crest amine precursor uptake decarboxylation cells. Most of carcinoid tumors originate in the midgut. The vasoactive secretory products of carcinoid tumor upon metastasis to liver reach systemic circulation as they bypass the metabolism by liver. 50% of patients with carcinoid syndrome eventually develop carcinoid heart disease. We here present a rare case of carcinoid tumor with metastasis to liver that solely presented with right heart failure. The patient did not have any symptoms of typical carcinoid syndrome features such as flushing, diarrhea, and bronchoconstriction.
Time for a separate psychosis caregiver service?

Informal caregivers of people with psychosis are a seriously neglected group. Around 2% of the adult general population will have a diagnosis of psychosis during their lifetime. Up to half of these people will have caregivers. Given that the over-16 population in the UK is around 49 million, and that one in 200 people has a psychotic disorder, around 245,000 people will be affected. This suggests, conservatively, that at any one time up to 120,000 people might be taking a primary role in caregiving for another adult with these kinds of mental health problems. Others in the family, such as siblings, children or grandparents, will frequently be involved as well, in what can be extremely difficult, demanding and sometimes lifelong roles. Carers in general are defined as ‘‘someone who without payment provides help or support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without their help’’ (www.carers.org). Caregivers of people with psychosis, have the added difficulties of shame, social isolation and stigma that are still attached to these diagnoses, especially if the service user has a forensic history. They may in addition feel they have not had a choice, but have become caregivers because someone else in the family has serious mental health problems. Even though these can be mutually rewarding relationships, many caregivers will have to deal with a range of unusual or bizarre symptoms, such as delusional thinking, suspicion, or voices, socially embarrassing problems, low motivation and dropping out of school, relationships, college or work. For some there will be crises involving the police and emergency services, perhaps in the middle of the night. At the beginning of such difficulties, caregivers can find themselves swept up into mental health systems, dealing with a wide range of clinical staff, and having to find out about diagnosis, prognosis, medication, sectioning and the law. Often with a first episode, caregivers may feel that things have not been going well, but have not considered a mental health problem, instead attributing problems to adolescent difficulties combined with too much cannabis. Other professionals such as teachers or GPs may agree with this for some time, as can the service user, who may really think there are no problems at all. This may result in caregivers dealing, by default, with a more protracted duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and eventually a more severe and more shocking presentation. As a result, we already know that caregiving roles in psychosis are associated with increased stress, exhaustion and distress, and contribute to carers’ own physical ill heath.
Personal characteristics as predictors of expatriate managers cross-cultural adjustment in Nigeria

Several researchers have extensively studied cross-cultural adjustment of expatriates and the reasons why many expatriates return home early due to dissatisfaction with their jobs or because they cannot adjust to a foreign culture. However, very little studies have investigated the influences of personal characteristics on expatriates' adjustments in general, and their adjustment in Nigeria in particular. Rather, most of the studies have focused on cross-cultural training to facilitate adjustment. Much of the literature seems to have overlooked possible effects of basic personal circumstances of expatriates. This study examines the relationship between the basic personal characteristics of expatriates and their extent of adjustment in Nigeria. The findings of this study reveal that several personal variables such as age, gender, children, and spouses' adjustment were significant predictors of the expatriates' socio-cultural and psychological adjustment.
Transparent Optical Networks with Time-Division Multiplexing (Invited Paper)

Most research efforts to date on optical networks have concentrated on wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) techniques where the information from different channels is routed via separate optical wavelengths. The data corresponding to a particular channel is selected at the destination node by a frequency filter. Optical time-division multiplexing (OTDM) has been considered as an alternative to WDM for future networks operating in excess of 10 Gb/s. Systems based on TDM techniques rely upon a synchronized clock frequency and timing to separate the multiplexed channels. Advances in device technologies have opened new opportunities for implementing OTDM in very high-speed long-haul transmission as well as networking. The multiterahertz bandwidth made available with the advent of optical fibers has spurred investigation and development of transparent all-optical networks that may overcome the bandwidth bottlenecks caused by electro-optic conversion. This paper presents an overview of current OTDM networks and their supporting technologies. A novel network architecture is introduced, aimed at offering both ultra-high speed (up to 100 Gb/s) and maximum parallelism for future terabit data communications. Our network architecture is based on several key state-of-the-art optical technologies that we have demonstrated.
Enhancing Scatterplots with Multi‐Dimensional Focal Blur

Scatterplots directly depict two dimensions of multi‐dimensional data points, discarding all other information. To visualize all data, these plots are extended to scatterplot matrices, which distribute the information of each data point over many plots. Problems arising from the resulting visual complexity are nowadays alleviated by concepts like filtering and focus and context. We present a method based on depth of field that contains both aspects and injects information from all dimensions into each scatterplot. Our approach is a natural generalization of the commonly known focus effects from optics. It is based on a multidimensional focus selection body. Points outside of this body are defocused depending on their distance. Our method allows for a continuous transition from data points in focus, over regions of blurry points providing contextual information, to visually filtered data. Our algorithm supports different focus selection bodies, blur kernels, and point shapes. We present an optimized GPU‐based implementation for interactive exploration and show the usefulness of our approach on several data sets.
The Normal Human Magnetocardiogram: II. A Multipole Analysis

This paper presents a multipole analysis of the QRS complex of the normal magnetocar-diogram (MCG) of six normal subjects. The multipole strengths up to the octupole term were determined from the measured distribution of the z-component of the cardiac magnetic field (the component perpendicular to the frontal plane). This equivalent magnetic multipole generator was found to represent the cardiac magnetic field with a minimum error of <10%. The dipolar term of the expansion was found to represent the field distribution with reasonable accuracy early during ventricular activation, whereas late during activation, the higher multipole terms were clearly more significant. CircRes 47:117-130, 1980
Key Factors behind Labour Market Marginalization of Young Immigrants

This article studies the transition from school to work among youth with low or medium-low competence level. Youth who have proceeded to higher education are excluded from the analyses. The youth have all participated in Norwegian upper secondary education, but many have not completed their schooling. The situation of youth of non-Western origin and ethnic Norwegian youth is compared. The effects of apprenticeship experience, qualifications and state dependence on the labour market situation are examined. State dependence is understood as the effect of unemployment experience at an early career stage on future labour market opportunities. The ethnic minority youth do not have the same probability of being employed as the ethnic majority youth with the same competence and grades level. The positive effect of apprenticeship experience was less important than what was expected. Although large effects of state dependence are found, this does not explain the immigrant youth’s higher rate of being without work.
Challenges of Social Capital Development in the University Science Incubator

University science incubators (USIs) are sites where new entrepreneurial firms can be nurtured from initial conception through to commercial viability, usually over a period of around three years. Evidence suggests that USIs are an effective support mechanism for new ventures originating from nearby universities through the provision of facilities, advice and ready access to entrepreneurial networks. In essence, a USI focuses on compensating for the resource deficits of inexperienced and newly founded firms to facilitate the development of both founder and business, with the overall aim of fostering a growth-oriented strategy. Little attention has been paid, however, to how USIs compensate for the resource deficit of social capital. This paper uses a qualitative social network approach to explore the challenges faced by graduate entrepreneurs when developing and managing their social capital in the context of a USI. The authors find that, in the start-up process, social capital is not static, but rather is in a state of ‘becoming’, adapting to the changing resource needs of the enterprise. Furthermore, graduate entrepreneurs face specific problems associated with the relational and cognitive dimensions of social capital. Thus, the paper offers insights into how the USI enables graduate entrepreneurs to address the challenges of social capital development and the consequent implications for theory and practice.
Unsupervised Multispectral Image Classification using Artificial Ants

Based on the existing works dealing on data clustering with artificial ants, we contribute in this paper to resolve a real clustering problem related on unsupervised multispectral image classification using ants approach, where classes are found without the a priori knowledge of the correct number of classes. Knowing that most of the unsupervised classification methods require the definition of a probable number of classes and an initial partition, the proposed ant-based approach is very interesting insofar for remotely sensed data over the whole of earth, it is not easy to obtain this a priori knowledge
Phosphatidylinositol-3,4-Bisphosphate and Its Binding Protein Lamellipodin Regulate Chemotaxis of Malignant B Lymphocytes

Cell migration is controlled by PI3Ks, which generate lipid messengers phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate [PI(3,4)P2] and consequently recruit pleckstrin homology (PH) domain–containing signaling proteins. PI3K inhibition impairs migration of normal and transformed B cells, an effect thought to partly underlie the therapeutic efficacy of PI3K inhibitors in treatment of B cell malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Although a number of studies have implicated phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate in cell migration, it remains unknown whether PI(3,4)P2 plays a distinct role. Using the PI(3,4)P2-specific phosphatase inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase, we investigate the impact of depleting PI(3,4)P2 on migration behavior of malignant B cells. We find that cells expressing wild-type, but not phosphatase dead, inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase show impaired SDF-induced PI(3,4)P2 responses and reduced migration in Transwell chamber assays. Moreover, PI(3,4)P2 depletion in primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells significantly impaired their migration capacity. PI(3,4)P2 depletion reduced both overall motility and migration directionality in the presence of a stable chemokine gradient. Within chemotaxing B cells, the PI(3,4)P2-binding cytoskeletal regulator lamellipodin (Lpd) was found to colocalize with PI(3,4)P2 on the plasma membrane via its PH domain. Overexpression and knockdown studies indicated that Lpd levels significantly impact migration capacity. Moreover, the ability of Lpd to promote directional migration of B cells in an SDF-1 gradient was dependent on its PI(3,4)P2-binding PH domain. These results demonstrate that PI(3,4)P2 plays a significant role in cell migration via binding to specific cytoskeletal regulators such as Lpd, and they suggest that impairment of PI(3,4)P2-dependent processes may contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of PI3K inhibitors in B cell malignancies.
Understanding Cross-National Differences in Risk Through a Localized Cultural Perspective

We examine cross-national differences in attitudes and decisions toward risk by comparing Chinese (collectivists), South Korean (collectivists, but with distinctive localized cultural norms), and Australian (individualists) undergraduate student samples from a balanced cross-cultural perspective. Individual evaluation revealed that risk was least favored by the Chinese students in their attitudes and choices, followed by the South Korean and Australian students. Unlike previous results from South Korean and Australian student samples that exhibited unique shifts toward risky choices indicative of group polarization, the Chinese students did not tend to take greater risks when making group versus individual decisions (i.e., risky shift). This was regardless of the group’s gender composition, although the pattern did vary according to financially oriented risk domains. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of each country’s indigenous sociocultural norms.
Comparison of Aerosol Classification Results from Airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) Measurements and the Calipso Vertical Feature Mask

Knowledge of the vertical profile, composition, concentration, and size of aerosols is required for assessing the direct impact of aerosols on radiation, the indirect effects of aerosols on clouds and precipitation, and attributing these effects to natural and anthropogenic aerosols. Because anthropogenic aerosols are predominantly submicrometer, fine mode fraction (FMF) retrievals from satellite have been used as a tool for deriving anthropogenic aerosols. Although column and profile satellite retrievals of FMF have been performed over the ocean, such retrievals have not yet been been done over land. Consequently, uncertainty in satellite estimates of the anthropogenic component of the aerosol direct radiative forcing is greatest over land, due in large part to uncertainties in the FMF. Satellite measurements have been used to detect and evaluate aerosol impacts on clouds; however, such efforts have been hampered by the difficulty in retrieving vertically-resolved cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentration, which is the most direct parameter linking aerosol and clouds. Recent studies have shown correlations between average satellite derived column aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and in situ measured CCN. However, these same studies, as well as others that use detailed airborne in situ measurements have noted that vertical variability of the aerosol distribution, impacts of relative humidity, and the presence of coarse mode aerosols such as dust introduce large uncertainties in such relations.
Involvement of cannabinoid receptor‐1 activation in mitochondrial depolarizing effect of lipopolysaccharide in human spermatozoa

Gram‐negative bacteria frequently involved in urogenital tract infections release the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS); its receptor, toll‐like receptor‐4 (TLR4), has been recently identified in human spermatozoa, and its direct activation has been suggested in mediating adverse effects of LPS on human spermatozoa. However, the underlying signal transduction remains to be clarified. In other cell types, LPS induces the generation of endocannabinoids, which are involved in mediating endotoxin effects. In human spermatozoa, which exhibit a completely functional endocannabinoid system, the activation of cannabinoid receptor‐1 (CB1) inhibited sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). In this study, we tested the hypothesis of a contribution of CB1 activation by sperm‐generated endocannabinoids in the adverse effects exerted by LPS on human spermatozoa. The exposure of motile sperm suspensions to E. coli LPS produced a significant decrease in sperm ΔΨm, assessed at flow cytometry with JC‐1, similar to that induced by Metanandamide (Met‐AEA), a non‐hydrolyzable analogue of the endocannabinoid AEA. The LPS‐induced inhibition of ΔΨm was prevented by the selective CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist, SR141716. However, the inhibition of ΔΨm induced by either LPS or Met‐AEA did not affect sperm motility. Consistent with this finding, the CB1‐mediated inhibition of ΔΨm was neither associated to mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species as evaluated by flow cytometry with MytoSox Red nor to apoptosis pathway activation as evaluated with cytoflorimetric assay for activated caspase‐9 and caspase‐3. Any oxidative genomic damage was also ruled out with the cytoflorimetric quantification of the oxidized base adduct 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine. In conclusion, E. coli LPS inhibited sperm ΔΨm through the activation of CB1, but this effect was not accompanied to the activation of mitochondrial dysfunction‐related apoptotic/oxidative mechanisms, which could affect sperm motility and genomic integrity.
Power , Delay , and Area Constrained Synthesis for Mixed Domino / Static Logic Optimization

Domino logic has proved to be a powerful alternative to conventional CMOS in high-performance IC design. Domino logic has many advantages, including fewer transistors, faster switching speeds, and no short-circuit or “glitching” power consumption. This paper addresses the synthesis for mixed domino/static logic to avoid large logic duplication due to the monotonic property of domino logic. We use an accurate timing and power estimation, which accounts for glitching and short-circuit power consumption. Our method gives the designer more flexibility to optimize the circuits with a mix of domino and static logic, and make the tradeoff among several design constraints, including area, delay, and power consumption. Experimental results show the advantages of the mixed domino/static logic. On average for circuits mapped for area optimization, power is reduced by 26% and delay is reduced by 23% without paying a large area overhead. For circuits original mapped for speed, area and delay, on average, remain the same, but power dissipation improves by 35%.