Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for noradrenergic‐purinergic cotransmission in the hepatic artery of the rabbit

1 Transmural electrical field stimulation produced a transient contraction of the isolated hepatic artery of the rabbit that was frequency‐dependent up to 64 Hz. A contraction was rarely evoked at a stimulation frequency of less than 8 Hz and never at 4 Hz or less. All contractions were abolished in the presence of tetrodotoxin. 2 Neurogenic contractions were partially inhibited by prazosin. After desensitization of the P2X‐purinoceptor with α,β‐methylene ATP, contractions in response to electrical stimulation were significantly reduced at all frequencies tested (4–64 Hz). In most cases, contractions were abolished by a combination of both drugs. 3 In vessels treated with 6‐hydroxydopamine, no nerve‐mediated contractile responses were observed. 4 In arteries from reserpine‐treated rabbits, nerve stimulation evoked contractions that were resistant to prazosin. After desentization of the P2X‐purinoceptor with α,β‐methylene ATP, no neurogenic contractile response remained. 5 The tissue contracted to exogenously applied noradrenaline and α,β‐methylene ATP. There was an increase in sensitivity to noradrenaline in 6‐hydroxydopamine‐treated vessels compared with control vessels, but no difference in potency to α,β‐methylene ATP was detected. The potency of noradrenaline and α,β‐methylene ATP was not significantly affected by reserpine treatment. 6 In control tissues, fluorescence histochemistry demonstrated the presence of noradrenergic nerve fibres. Noradrenaline‐containing nerves were not observed in 6‐hydroxydopamine‐treated or reserpine‐treated vessels. 7 It is concluded that noradrenaline and ATP are cotransmitters in the sympathetic nerves supplying the hepatic artery of the rabbit. In contrast to other vessels, the hepatic artery requires a relatively high frequency of stimulation to evoke contractions and the purinergic component is not frequency‐dependent. The significance of this finding in terms of the physiological demands of blood flow to the liver are discussed.
Análisis psicológico conductual de las estrategias de autocontrol implicadas en el consumo de alcohol

El principal objetivo de este articulo es el analisis psicologico, desde una perspectiva conductual, de las diferentes estrategias de autocontrol implicadas en los distintos abordajes terapeuticos (abstinencia total, bebida controlada y reduccion de danos y riesgos) en el abuso y dependencia del alcohol. Este analisis teorico y de reflexion clinica se realiza atendiendo a recientes investigaciones sobre el Aprendizaje animal y humano, aplicado a la practica clinica de la adiccion al alcohol. Sugerimos la necesidad de una mayor flexibilidad respecto a la inclusion de las diferentes alternativas en el tratamiento, teniendo en cuenta los objetivos terapeuticos del propio paciente. Por otra parte, asumimos que la bebida controlada y las intervenciones en reduccion de danos y riesgos parten de los mismos principios, en cuanto a la modificacion de los parametros de respuesta de consumo y conductas asociadas, aunque tengan diferente finalidad: el consumo moderado y controlado en un caso y la reduccion de danos y riesgos en otro.
Prevalence and Determinants of Hypertension among Iranian Adults, Birjand, Iran

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a major cause of noncommunicable diseases. In this study, we report the prevalence rate of HTN in Birjand population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1286 individuals in Birjand in 2014. Individuals with systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg were considered as hypertensive. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Among the 1286 participants, 659 were women (51.2%). Prevalence of HTN was 20.1% (10.3% systolic HTN and 6.9% diastolic HTN). Prevalence self-reported HTN was 12.3%. SBP and DBP means were higher in men (P < 0.001). Mean scores of SBP and DBP increased by aging and body mass index (P < 0.001). Diabetic individuals had higher SBP scores (P < 0.001). Dyslipidemic patients had greater SBP and DBP (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Prevalence of HTN in our study is high. About one-fifth of the participants had HTN. In addition, BP is higher in men, elderly, and diabetic individual. Therefore, it is necessary to control BP regularly in different groups in society.
Ultra Low Power short range radios: Covering the last mile of the IoT

Short Range Radios are predicted to realize a paradigm change by 2020, similar to the revolution of mobile communication, in the nineties. These radios provide the last mile wireless connectivity between “things” and the Internet. They connect your new wearable devices to your smart phone, or enable smart energy monitoring and control in your home. In this paper, we analyze the power breakdown of such new consumer devices operating from small, advanced batteries. It is shown that the wireless connectivity has a dominant impact on the overall power budget of these devices. Today, short range radios with Ultra-Low Power (ULP) consumption, in the range of a few mW, are reported. It is shown that future small and flexible sensor nodes need wireless connectivity at sub-mW “U2LP” consumption. An overview of state-of-the-art short range transceivers reveals promising architectures and circuits to reach the U2LP target.
Analysis of Cardiovascular Phenotype and Genotype-Phenotype Correlation in Individuals With a JAG1 Mutation and/or Alagille Syndrome

Background—Cardiovascular anomalies are among the most common features of Alagille syndrome (AGS). Mutations of JAG1 are found in most individuals with AGS. This study was undertaken to determine the spectrum of cardiovascular phenotypes associated with a JAG1 mutation and/or AGS, investigate potential genotype-phenotype correlations, and begin to correlate clinical outcome with genetic pathogenesis. Methods and Results—We reviewed the records of 200 individuals with a JAG1 mutation or AGS. A total of 187 (94%) subjects had evidence of cardiovascular involvement. Cardiovascular anomalies were identified by imaging in 150 subjects (75%), and 37 (19%) had a peripheral pulmonary stenosis murmur with either a normal echocardiogram or no imaging study. Of the 150 subjects with anomalies confirmed by imaging, right-sided anomalies were present in 123 and left-sided anomalies in 22, with both in 12. Seventeen subjects had other anomalies. The most common abnormality was stenosis/hypoplasia of the branch pulmonary arteries (PAs), which was documented by imaging (n=111) or inferred from a peripheral pulmonary stenosis murmur (n=41) in 76% of subjects. Tetralogy of Fallot was present in 23 subjects and was accompanied by pulmonary atresia in 8. Branch PA phenotype differed between individuals with and without a JAG1 mutation. Among subjects with a JAG1 mutation, there was no correlation between the type or location of mutation and the frequency or type of cardiovascular anomaly. Conclusions—More than 90% of individuals with a JAG1 mutation or AGS have cardiovascular anomalies, with branch PA stenosis the most common abnormality. Cardiovascular phenotype does not correlate with the type or location of JAG1 mutation.
Bone mineral density among postmenopausal Saudi women.

OBJECTIVE Osteoporosis is reported to be common among postmenopausal Saudi women. The reported incidence varies between 50-60%. Different machines were used to reach these conclusions. At present it is believed that dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is the most accurate method to diagnose osteoporosis. This study was conducted to measure bone mineral density (BMD) measurement of lumbar spine and the upper femur of Saudi postmenopausal women attending orthopedic clinic with unrelated complaints. METHODS This study comprises of 256 patients attending orthopedic clinics at the King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January 2002 and June 2003. The data gathered was age, duration of menopause, height and weight for body mass index (BMI) calculation. Women with secondary osteoporosis were excluded from the study. Patients' orthopedic complaints were also recorded in the database. Bone mineral density measurements were carried out using Hologic total body DEXA machine. The data were analyzed using SPSS package. RESULTS The data of 256 patients was available for analysis. The average age of patients screened was 57.62 years (49-76) SD +/- 6.71. The BMI was 21.3-42.9 Kg/m2 (SD +/- 5.34). The BMD of the lumbar spine was 0.785 gm/cm2 (0.527-1.023) SD +/-0.142 and that of the hip region was 0.764 gm/cm2 (0. 500-1.069) SD +/- 0.149. As per the WHO classification 59 women (23%) were classified as normal with T score of -0.82, 78 (30.5%) as osteopenic with T score -2.5 and 119 (46.7%) as osteoporosis with T score -3.58. When the BMD of the hip was analyzed 62 (24.2%) were normal T score -1.0, 81 (31.6%) as osteopenic, T score -2.5 and 113 (44.1%) as osteoporotic, with a T score of -3.1. On the basis of analysis of the lumbar spine 190 (74.2%) had increased risk of fracture as compared to the analysis of hip 59% were at increased risk of fracture. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that postmenopausal Saudi women suffer from osteoporosis and osteopenia higher than those from other parts of the country. Necessary steps are needed so as to avoid osteoporosis and its complications which could end up in epidemic proportions.
Intersubjectivit chez le nourrisson: recherche, thorie et application clinique

Nous passons en revue les publications des trente dernieres annees sur l’emergence et le developpement de la conscience « de soi et de l’autre » au cours de la petite enfance, nous examinons les motivations et les emotions trouvees chez le nourrisson et leur importance pour la pratique clinique de la sante mentale chez l’enfant. Il existe un penchant historique marque pour une conception reductrice des facultes de communication et de cognition du nourrisson, decrivant le nouveau-ne comme « un organisme biologique » sans vrais pouvoirs psychologiques, tels que l’intention et les emotions – un organisme qui n’acquiert la « conscience de soi » que par l’apprentissage, et seulement guide par l’intelligence de l’adulte. Bien que ce point de vue mecaniste soit encore dominant en psychologie et surtout en matiere de psychologie infantile, il existe une autre perspective. En examinant l’evidence scientifique de la nature et de l’activite des motivations humaines et surtout de leur « etat initial » a la naissance nous nous concentrons sur le concept de « l’intersubjectivite innee », et nous suivons l’histoire de son emergence en recherche developpementale.Le developpement normal chez l’enfant de la motricite, de l’emotion, de la perception, de l’attention selective, de l’apprentissage et de la memoire, ainsi que de toute reconnaissance sociale entre personnes d’une meme communaute, depend de l’existence de la conscience mutuelle de deux esprits humains. L’autoregulation biologique de l’etat interne du nourrisson et sa determination consciente a interagir avec un monde culturel changeant sont maintenues et meme intensifiees a travers l’engagement actif avec l’autre, s’il est syntone. Les impulsions du « sens de soi noyau », coherent, intentionnel et conscient du nouveau-ne (Stern, 2000) sont etayees lors de la communication. La conscience du soi-de l’autre lors de la communication permet l’apprentissage culturel et le langage, par le biais de l’intelligence cooperative et imitative. Le nourrisson contribue enormement a cet evenement progressif et developpemental.Le lien entre l’intersubjectivite innee du nourrisson et la question de la sante mentale chez l’enfant est mis en evidence lors de l’examen de troubles cliniques specifiques. De plus en plus, on constate que la croissance du cerveau de l’enfant et sa sante mentale sont dependants de l’efficacite avec laquelle le nourrisson recherche et repond aux soins humains syntones des la naissance. Nous revoyons des publications recentes sur les effets de la depression maternelle post-natale, la prematurite du nouveau-ne, l’autisme, l’hyperactivite, les troubles specifiques du langage, les deficits centraux auditifs et les troubles neuro-developpementaux en general, et nous commentons sur l’efficacite des interventions qui visent a promouvoir la communication intersubjective innee quand celle-ci ne se developpe pas normalement.
AN ATTEMPT TO FORMALIZE WORD SENSE DISAMBIGUATION: MAXIMIZING EFFICIENCY BY MINIMIZING COMPUTATIONAL COSTS

This paper presents an algorithm based on collocational data for word sense disambiguation (WSD). The aim of this algorithm is to maximize efficiency by minimizing (1) computational costs and (2) linguistic tagging/annotation. The formalization of our WSD algorithm is based on discriminant function analysis (DFA). This statistical technique allows us to parameterize each collocational item with its meaning, using just bare text. The parameterized data allow us to classify cases (sentences with an ambiguous word) into the values of a categorical dependent (each of the meanings of the ambiguous word). To evaluate the validity and efficiency of our WSD algorithm, we previously hand sense-tagged all the sentences containing ambiguous words and then cross-validated the hand sense-tagged data with the automatic WSD performance. Finally, we present the global results of our algorithm after applying it to a limited set of words in both languages: Spanish and English, highlighting the points we consider relevant for further analysis.
Alkaloids Profiling of Fumaria capreolata by Analytical Platforms Based on the Hyphenation of Gas Chromatography and Liquid Chromatography with Quadrupole-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Two analytical platforms, gas chromatography (GC) coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and reversed-phase ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to diode array (DAD) and QTOF detection, were applied in order to study the alkaloid profile of Fumaria capreolata. The use of these mass analyzers enabled tentatively identifying the alkaloids by matching their accurate mass signals and suggested molecular formulae with those previously reported in libraries and databases. Moreover, the proposed structures were corroborated by studying their fragmentation pattern obtained by both platforms. In this way, 8 and 26 isoquinoline alkaloids were characterized using GC-QTOF-MS and RP-UHPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS, respectively, and they belonged to the following subclasses: protoberberine, protopine, aporphine, benzophenanthridine, spirobenzylisoquinoline, morphinandienone, and benzylisoquinoline. Moreover, the latter analytical method was selected to determine at 280 nm the concentration of protopine (9.6 ± 0.7 mg/g), a potential active compound of the extract. In conclusion, although GC-MS has been commonly used for the analysis of this type of phytochemicals, RP-UHPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS provided essential complementary information. This analytical method can be applied for the quality control of phytopharmaceuticals containing Fumaria extracts currently found in the market.
Ocean Acidification-Induced Food Quality Deterioration Constrains Trophic Transfer

Our present understanding of ocean acidification (OA) impacts on marine organisms caused by rapidly rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration is almost entirely limited to single species responses. OA consequences for food web interactions are, however, still unknown. Indirect OA effects can be expected for consumers by changing the nutritional quality of their prey. We used a laboratory experiment to test potential OA effects on algal fatty acid (FA) composition and resulting copepod growth. We show that elevated CO2 significantly changed the FA concentration and composition of the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana, which constrained growth and reproduction of the copepod Acartia tonsa. A significant decline in both total FAs (28.1 to 17.4 fg cell−1) and the ratio of long-chain polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (PUFA:SFA) of food algae cultured under elevated (750 µatm) compared to present day (380 µatm) pCO2 was directly translated to copepods. The proportion of total essential FAs declined almost tenfold in copepods and the contribution of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) tripled at high CO2. This rapid and reversible CO2-dependent shift in FA concentration and composition caused a decrease in both copepod somatic growth and egg production from 34 to 5 eggs female−1 day−1. Because the diatom-copepod link supports some of the most productive ecosystems in the world, our study demonstrates that OA can have far-reaching consequences for ocean food webs by changing the nutritional quality of essential macromolecules in primary producers that cascade up the food web.
A Motivação dos Estudantes no Ensino Superior: Um Estudo Comparativo

Este ensaio compara estudantes do primeiro ano dos cursos de Desporto e Psicologia, acerca da motivacao, no que respeita a escolha do curso e a motivacao para estudar, em duas instituicoes de ensino superior da cidade de Coimbra, o Instituto Superior Miguel Torga (ISMT) e a Faculdade de Ciencias de Desporto e Educacao Fisica (FCDEF) da Universidade de Coimbra. A primeira e uma instituicao privada e a segunda uma instituicao publica. Os resultados demonstram, porem, que a diferenca publico/ privado nao e significativa como uma diferenca de motivacao. Um fator mais importante, em termos de motivacao, e o genero. Desporto e ainda uma licenciatura maioritariamente masculina, enquanto os estudantes de Psicologia nesta amostra nao expressam a mesma conotacao acerca do seu curso como 'feminino'. Desta forma, o 'genero do curso', por assim dizer, tem um impacto mais forte nos estudantes de Desporto, como fator de motivacao, do que entre os alunos de Psicologia. College Students' Motivation: A Comparative Study This is a comparative study on student motivation regarding the choice of courses and motivation to learn. The sample is constituted by Sports and Psychology first-year undergraduate students in two Coimbra higher education institutions, Miguel Torga Institute (Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, ISMT) and Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education of University of Coimbra (Faculdade de Ciencias de Desporto e Educacao Fisica da Universidade de Coimbra, FCDEF). The former is a private and the latter a public institution. The results demonstrate though that the private/public difference is not significant as a motivation difference. A more important factor in terms of motivation is gender. Sports is still a mainly masculine undergraduate course, while the Psychology students in this sample, although consisting mainly of female students, do not express the same connotation of their course as 'female'. In this way, the 'gender of the course', so to speak, has a stronger impact on Sports students, as a motivation factor, than among Psychology students. Keywords: Motivation, college students, Sports, Psychology, course choice, study method, gender.
High Resolution Systematic Digital Histological Quantification of Cardiac Fibrosis and Adipose Tissue in Phospholamban p.Arg14del Mutation Associated Cardiomyopathy

Myocardial fibrosis can lead to heart failure and act as a substrate for cardiac arrhythmias. In dilated cardiomyopathy diffuse interstitial reactive fibrosis can be observed, whereas arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is characterized by fibrofatty replacement in predominantly the right ventricle. The p.Arg14del mutation in the phospholamban (PLN) gene has been associated with dilated cardiomyopathy and recently also with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Aim of the present study is to determine the exact pattern of fibrosis and fatty replacement in PLN p.Arg14del mutation positive patients, with a novel method for high resolution systematic digital histological quantification of fibrosis and fatty tissue in cardiac tissue. Transversal mid-ventricular slices (n = 8) from whole hearts were collected from patients with the PLN p.Arg14del mutation (age 48±16 years; 4 (50%) male). An in-house developed open source MATLAB script was used for digital analysis of Masson's trichrome stained slides (http://sourceforge.net/projects/fibroquant/). Slides were divided into trabecular, inner and outer compact myocardium. Per region the percentage of connective tissue, cardiomyocytes and fatty tissue was quantified. In PLN p.Arg14del mutation associated cardiomyopathy, myocardial fibrosis is predominantly present in the left posterolateral wall and to a lesser extent in the right ventricular wall, whereas fatty changes are more pronounced in the right ventricular wall. No difference in distribution pattern of fibrosis and adipocytes was observed between patients with a clinical predominantly dilated and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy phenotype. In the future, this novel method for quantifying fibrosis and fatty tissue can be used to assess cardiac fibrosis and fatty tissue in animal models and a broad range of human cardiomyopathies.
Heat-Killed Trypanosoma cruzi Induces Acute Cardiac Damage and Polyantigenic Autoimmunity

Chagas heart disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a potentially fatal cardiomyopathy often associated with cardiac autoimmunity. T. cruzi infection induces the development of autoimmunity to a number of antigens via molecular mimicry and other mechanisms, but the genesis and pathogenic potential of this autoimmune response has not been fully elucidated. To determine whether exposure to T. cruzi antigens alone in the absence of active infection is sufficient to induce autoimmunity, we immunized A/J mice with heat-killed T. cruzi (HKTC) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant, and compared the resulting immune response to that induced by infection with live T. cruzi. We found that HKTC immunization is capable of inducing acute cardiac damage, as evidenced by elevated serum cardiac troponin I, and that this damage is associated with the generation of polyantigenic humoral and cell-mediated autoimmunity with similar antigen specificity to that induced by infection with T. cruzi. However, while significant and preferential production of Th1 and Th17-associated cytokines, accompanied by myocarditis, develops in T. cruzi-infected mice, HKTC-immunized mice produce lower levels of these cytokines, do not develop Th1-skewed immunity, and lack tissue inflammation. These results demonstrate that exposure to parasite antigen alone is sufficient to induce autoimmunity and cardiac damage, yet additional immune factors, including a dominant Th1/Th17 immune response, are likely required to induce cardiac inflammation.
Perceptions of accounting

Perceptions of accounting can have a powerful impact on how students learn and on the outcomes of their learning. This impact is often negative. Students may enter their studies with stereotypical views of accounting as being dull, boring and associated with mathematics and rigid techniques which suggests a process of rote-learning and poor understanding. A constructivist view of learning acknowledges the importance of these perceptions. Learning is seen to be a active process of ‘meaning-making’ whereby what one already ‘knows’ about accounting has to be worked with to come to new understandings. This process involves a focus on the subjectivity inherent within accounting and the need for critical thinking and moral reasoning. This chapter investigates the nature of students’ perceptions of accounting, the difficulties inherent in changing what are often deeply-held beliefs and how perceptions may be changed through changes in learning environments and further research.