Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective effects of a selective neutrophil elastase inhibitor (sivelestat) on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute dysfunction of the pulmonary microcirculation

Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, sivelestat, on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through analysis of hemodynamic changes in the pulmonary microcirculation. Design:Randomized animal study. Setting:Medical school laboratory. Subjects:Twenty-seven Wistar rats (15 rats for microspectroscopic observations, 12 rats for measurements of neutrophil elastase activity and wet-to-dry ratio). Interventions:Thoracosternotomy was performed on male Wistar rats under continuous anesthesia and mechanical ventilation. Rats were divided into three groups (n = 5 each groups) on the basis of the reagent used: lipopolysaccharide group (100 &mgr;g/kg lipopolysaccharide intravenously), sivelestat group (10 mg/kg sivelestat; 100 &mgr;g/kg lipopolysaccharide intravenously), and control group (saline only, intravenously). Measurements and Main Results:We measured morphologic changes and hemodynamic variables, including tissue blood flow, erythrocyte velocity, erythrocyte count, thickness of interalveolar septa, and leukocyte adhesion in the pulmonary microcirculation, with a video-rate (33 msec/frame) dual-spot microspectroscopy system (DSMSS) and a laser-Doppler flowmeter. Blood-free wet-to-dry ratio and neutrophil elastase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, serum, and supernatant of lung homogenate were measured in another set of experiments (n = 4 for each group). Sixty minutes after lipopolysaccharide administration, severe thickening of the interalveolar septa was observed in the lipopolysaccharide but not the sivelestat group. In the lipopolysaccharide group, DSMSS measurements of erythrocyte velocity and hemoglobin oxygenation in single capillaries were decreased significantly (vs. control p < .05, vs. sivelestat p < .01), whereas tissue blood flow and erythrocyte velocity measurements from laser-Doppler flowmeter were increased significantly (vs. control p < .05, vs. sivelestat p < .01). The number of adherent leukocytes was increased significantly in the lipopolysaccharide group at 30, 45, and 60 mins after lipopolysaccharide administration (vs. control p < .01, vs. sivelestat p < .05). The number of adherent leukocytes did not increase in the sivelestat group. The wet-to-dry ratio was significantly higher in the lipopolysaccharide group than in control (p < .05) and sivelestat (p < .05) groups. Neutrophil elastase activities in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, serum, and lung tissue were all significantly lower in the sivelestat group than in the lipopolysaccharide group (p < .05). Conclusions:Lipopolysaccharide induces leukocyte adhesion in the pulmonary microcirculation, resulting in decreased tissue hemoglobin oxygen and alveolar and interstitial edema. The selective neutrophil elastase inhibitor sivelestat reduces neutrophil elastase activity and attenuates acute changes in the pulmonary microcirculation.
Bioimpedance spectroscopy tensor probe for anisotropic measurements

The tetrapolar electrode configuration used in bioimpedance suffers from negative sensitivity and is confounded by anisotropic tissue such as blood vessels or muscle and nerve fibres. Proposed is a circular array of electrodes to focus current directly underneath the probe and provide anisotropy information. It is shown that an implementation using 16 miniature electrodes is able to outperform the tetrapolar method in sensitivity and impedance estimation. The proposed method can also recover anisotropic conductivity tensors from experiments for the first time.
Low cost low loss waveguide-fed patch antenna array for automotive radar system

This paper presents a low cost high gain patch antenna array for automotive radar applications. A compact wide band (9.6GHz) low loss (0.5dB at 79GHz) micro-strip line to waveguide transition is also proposed for the antenna testing. The proposed antenna has a measured gain of 14.5dBi at 79GHz. The proposed antenna (including the transition) has been fabricated using a single dielectric layer PCB process with a total length of 35mm.
Glutamate metabolic pathways and retinal function

Glutamate is a major neurotransmitter in the CNS but is also a key metabolite intimately coupled to amino acid production/degradation. We consider the effect of inhibition of two key glutamate metabolic enzymes: glutamine synthetase (GS) and aspartate aminotransferase on retinal function assessed using the electroretinogram to consider photoreceptoral (a‐wave) and post‐receptoral (b‐wave) amplitudes. Quantitative immunocytochemistry was used to assess amino acid levels within photoreceptors, ganglion and Müller cells secondary to GS inhibition. Intravitreal injections of methionine sulfoximine reduced GS immunoreactivity in the rat retina. Additionally, glutamate and its precursor aspartate was reduced in photoreceptors and ganglion cells, but elevated in Müller cells. This reduction in neuronal glutamate was consistent with a deficit in neurotransmission (−75% b‐wave reduction). Exogenous glutamine supply completely restored the b‐wave, whereas other amino acid substrates (lactate, pyruvate, α‐ketoglutarate, and succinate) only partially restored the b‐wave (16–20%). Inhibition of the aminotranferases using aminooxyacetic acid had no effect on retinal function. However, aminooxyacetic acid application after methionine sulfoximine further reduced the b‐wave (from −75% to −92%). The above data suggest that de novo glutamate synthesis involving aspartate aminotransferase can partially sustain neurotransmission when glutamate recycling is impaired. We also show that altered glutamate homeostasis results in a greater change in amino acid distribution in ganglion cells compared with photoreceptors.
A Modelling System f o r Cornp lex Defo rma ble Bodies Suited to Animation and Collision Processing

The proposed methods provide good automatic positioning of the ‘skin’ after movements, and automatic deformation after collisions with rigid or deformable objects (dynamic or static). The response to collisions includes a feedback from the flesh to the skeleton, whose movement is adequately modified. Moreover, coating thc skeleton gives an easy solution to closed loop collisions and angle constraints control. Our model is modular and gives snmc high level control to the user.
Various types of homogenization for metamaterials

This work discusses the theoretical definition and practical application of different approaches to metamaterial homogenization. The categorization of the various approaches is based on the final objective of the homogenization procedure, i.e. on the specific metamaterial behavior that is required to be mimicked by the equivalent homogeneous medium. This behavior can be concerned with scattering properties, dispersion equation or the structure of the supported fields. Attention is focused on metamaterials realized by the superposition of identical periodic planar surfaces, for which numerical results are presented to illustrate the different homogenization approaches.
Harm reduction policies in Argentina: A critical view

Abstract The concept of ‘harm’ underpinning current drug harm reduction policies is most often limited to viral infections and other health consequences for drug users. This paper analyses harm reduction policies in Argentina, with the purpose of challenging and extending this narrow conception of harm to encompass all harms inflicted on drug users, in a context of criminalization of drug use and poverty. Faced with a steep rise in poverty, rapid changes in drug use practices, the quality and prices of drugs, and patterns of morbidity and mortality, Argentina has implemented harm reduction policies specifically for drug users who mostly live in the Greater Buenos Aires impoverished areas. These changes, as well as the Latin American tradition of social and health policies that focus on the collective, subjective, and political-economic aspects of harm, highlight some tensions between the individualistic, public health model structured in the North and its application in Argentina.
The Plastid Isoform of Triose Phosphate Isomerase Is Required for the Postgerminative Transition from Heterotrophic to Autotrophic Growth in Arabidopsis[W]

An Arabidopsis plastid triose phosphate isomerase mutant was reduced in transcript, protein, and activity, resulting in a severely stunted plant at the transition from heterotrophic to autotrophic growth. Accumulation of dihydroxyacetone phosphate and methylglyoxal to toxic levels is proposed as a cause of this phenotype, as exogenous application of these metabolites mimicked the phenotype. During postgerminative seedling establishment, reserves stored during seed filling are mobilized to provide energy and carbon for the growing seedling until autotrophic growth is possible. A plastid isoform of triose phosphate isomerase (pdTPI) plays a crucial role in this transition from heterotrophic to autotrophic growth. A T-DNA insertion in Arabidopsis thaliana pdTPI resulted in a fivefold reduction in transcript, reduced TPI activity, and a severely stunted and chlorotic seedling that accumulated dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), glycerol, and glycerol-3-phosphate. Methylglyoxal (MG), a by-product of DHAP, also accumulated in the pdtpi mutant. Wild-type seed sown in the presence of any of these four metabolites resulted in a phenocopy of this pdtpi mutant, although MG and DHAP were the most effective based upon dosage. These metabolites (except MG) are by-products of triacylglycerol mobilization and precursors for glycerolipid synthesis, suggesting that lipid metabolism may also be affected. Lipid profiling revealed lower monogalactosyl but higher digalactosyl lipids. It is unclear whether the change in lipid composition is a direct or indirect consequence of the pdtpi mutation, as ribulose-1,5-bis-phosphate carboxylase/oxygenase expression, chloroplast morphology, and starch synthesis are also defective in this mutant. We propose that DHAP and MG accumulation in developing plastids delays the transition from heterotrophic to autotrophic growth, possibly due to MG toxicity.
Transatlantic perspectives of trauma systems

The need for centralized management of acute trauma was evaluated in a 1‐year prospective study in Northern Ireland. All patients with an Injury Severity Score >15 who reached hospital alive were included. The sample population was approximately 1 million people. A total of 239 patients entered the study, of whom 74 died. An audit panel considered that 3–15 per cent of deaths were preventable. There was no significant difference in the preventable mortality rate between any hospital or groups of hospitals. There was a high level of consultant involvement, especially in small hospitals. A system in which patients with acute trauma bypass the nearest hospital to reach a trauma centre may be neither beneficial nor cost‐effective in Northern Ireland. Upgrading of the present system with stabilization of the patient and emergency surgery at the nearest hospital before transfer is recommended.
A scalable MIMO detection architecture with non-sorted multiple-candidate selection

In this paper, we propose a QR-based MIMO detection algorithm and its architecture based on a non-sorted multiple-candidate selection process. The proposed multiple-candidate selection process can mitigate the error propagation problem in the general QR-SIC detection, and therefore the detection probability is increased. This algorithm requires only 24% of the computational complexity of the V-BLAST, which is only slightly larger than that of the conventional QR-SIC algorithm. Besides, the proposed algorithm features high flexibility between the complexity and the performance, and it can even reach the performance of ML detection for the high performance system. Furthermore, the flexible selection approach requires no sorting operation like traditional K-best algorithm. Thus, a simple scalable VLSI architecture can be constructed for different MIMO configurations.
Binding of vascular anticoagulant a(VAC)a to Planar Phospholipid Bilayers

Vascular anticoagulant α (VACα, annexin V) is a member of the family of calcium and phospholipid binding proteins, the annexins. The binding properties of VACα to phospholipid bilayers were studied by ellipsometry. Adsorption was calcium-dependent and completely reversible upon calcium depletion. Three hypothetical binding mechanisms and the associated consequences for the physiological function are discussed
Preeclampsia in twin pregnancies: incidence and outcome.

OBJECTIVES To confirm the increased incidence of preeclampsia in twin pregnancy and to determine the relationship to zygosity and placentation; to consider the perinatal outcome of twin pregnancies in this condition. METHODS Retrospective study of all twin pregnancies (n = 2473) identified from the Aberdeen Maternity and Neonatal Databank to women resident in the Grampian Region of Scotland for the period 1950-1995. RESULTS The increased relative risk for gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia in twin pregnancies compared to singleton pregnancies has been confirmed as significant both in primiparas and multiparas with little variation in rates over the time period under review. Neither the sex of the offspring nor zygosity influences the incidence of hypertensive disease, whereas preeclampsia is more common in association with monochorionic placentation. As the birth weight was lower and placental weight greater in MzMc twins compared to either MzDc or DzDc, there was a higher placental index in such cases. No difference in the birth weights of individual twins, the difference in birth weights between the twins, placental weight, or placental index were found in relation to hypertensive disease. Gestation at delivery was earlier in normotensive twin pregnancies than in those women who developed a hypertensive problem. This leads to a higher perinatal death rate and lower survival rate for the babies in normotensive women with a twin pregnancy. CONCLUSION Although gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia all occur more commonly in twin pregnancy, this does not lead to significant growth retardation nor discordant fetal growth and a poor outcome for the twins. Although the incidence of preeclampsia is higher in twin pregnancies with monochorionic placentation, this does not seem to be mediated by deficiencies in placental development as assessed in this study.
"Nerve combing" for trigeminal neuralgia without vascular compression.

In the 1920s, Walter Dandy first reported the association of vascular compression and trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Then, in 1962, microvascular decompression (MVD) was reported by Gardner. The vascular compression hypothesis was further developed and popularized by Jannetta. It is a widely accepted surgical management with a high success rate of 80% during long-term follow-up and the fewest side effects. However, the absence of vascular compression in TN is well known and has been described in the literature in 3% to 17% of the cases. How to deal with the cases without vascular compression is a challenge for all neurosurgeons. In the present study, we present 10 cases with idiopathic TN without vascular contact at the root entry zone (REZ). All patients had satisfactory pain relief with ‘‘nerve combing. ’’
Global exponential stability analysis of Cohen-Grossberg neural networks

In this paper, we investigate the global exponential stability of the Cohen-Grossberg neural networks with time delays, we derive a general sufficient condition ensuring global stability of the neural networks by constructing a novel Lyapunov functional and carefully estimating its derivative. The main advantage of the proposed condition is the drop of the absolute symbol from the absolute values of the self feedback connection weights, thus improves some existing conditions. As a result, some stability conditions for the Cohen-Grossberg neural network without delays are also derived, which generalize and unify some previous results.
Long-Term Dehydrated Donor Lamella Survival in Anterior Keratoplasty: Keratocyte Migration and Repopulation of Corneal Stroma

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of host keratocytes to colonize the donor lamella transplanted without viable cells (dehydrated) in Descemetic (deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty) and in pre-Descemetic keratoplasty (excimer laser-assisted lamellar keratoplasty). Method: A total of 17 eyes (8 deep anterior lamellar keratoplasties and 9 excimer laser-assisted lamellar keratoplasties) were included in this observational retrospective study; patients underwent ophthalmic examinations, and histological staining was performed ex vivo on the graft in cases of failure. Results: In Descemetic keratoplasty, the long-term survival of the graft is compromised with the central corneal thickness decreasing; corneal pachymetry and in vivo and ex vivo keratocyte densities are significantly reduced (pachymetric reduction of −86 &mgr;m in the apex and −87 &mgr;m in the thinnest point; density cell reduction of 72% at a depth of 100 &mgr;m, 62% at a depth of 250 &mgr;m, and −66% at a depth of 400 &mgr;m). In pre-Descemetic keratoplasty, clinical complications, reduction of central thickness, or alterations of keratocyte density were not observed. Conclusions: In Descemetic keratoplasty, the migration of the host peripheral keratocytes does not seem enough to repopulate the donor graft, whereas in pre-Descemetic keratoplasty, long-term survival of the graft is good. Keratocyte repopulation was observed only by extensive contact between the donor and host parenchyma.
User experience of proactive audio-based social devices: a wizard-of-oz study

Social Devices (SDs) are mobile devices that are proactive in social settings and aim to encourage social interaction between co-located people. We conducted a study of people's reactions to SDs with an audio-based interface on a semi-functional prototype. Based on a Wizard-of-Oz simulation, two SDs proactively started talking to each other and to the participants, with an aim to involve the participants to the conversation. We present the resulted social interactions and reactions as well as the participants' opinions about speech-based proactive SDs. Overall, SDs created a collaborative social situation and triggered a broad variety of social interactions, ranging from grounding to lengthy conversations. Meanwhile, the novelty of the technology and its rather dominant social role often shifted the participants' attention from each other to the devices, thus hindering social interaction. We conclude with a discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of audio-based interaction and the social proactivity of technology.
Activity of MK-7655 combined with imipenem against Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

OBJECTIVES MK-7655 is a novel inhibitor of class A and C β-lactamases. We investigated its potential to protect imipenem. METHODS Chequerboard MICs were determined by CLSI agar dilution: (i) for Enterobacteriaceae with carbapenemases; (ii) for Enterobacteriaceae with carbapenem resistance contingent on combinations of impermeability together with an extended-spectrum β-lactamase or AmpC enzyme; and (iii) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other non-fermenters. RESULTS At a concentration of 4 mg/L, MK-7655 reduced imipenem MICs for Enterobacteriaceae with KPC carbapenemases from 16-64 mg/L to 0.12-1 mg/L. Synergy also was seen for Enterobacteriaceae with impermeability-mediated carbapenem resistance, with weaker synergy seen for isolates with the OXA-48 enzyme. On the other hand, MK-7655 failed to potentiate imipenem against Enterobacteriaceae with metallo-carbapenemases. In the case of P. aeruginosa, where endogenous AmpC confers slight protection versus imipenem, 4 mg/L MK-7655 reduced the MIC of imipenem for all isolates, except those with metallo-carbapenemases: the MICs of imipenem fell from 1-2 mg/L to 0.25-0.5 mg/L for imipenem-susceptible P. aeruginosa and from 16-64 mg/L to 1-4 mg/L for OprD-deficient strains. No potentiation was seen for chryseobacteria or for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. CONCLUSIONS MK-7655 potentiated imipenem against Enterobacteriaceae with KPC carbapenemases or combinations of β-lactamase and impermeability, but not those with metallo-carbapenemases. It augmented the activity of imipenem against P. aeruginosa in general and OprD mutants in particular.
Neural Maturational Delay as a Link in the Chain of Events Leading to SIDS

ABSTRACT: Although numerous etiological or triggering factors have been suggested in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the underlying mechanism of death is ultimately cardiac and/or respiratory in nature. As there is no evidence of lung or heart abnormalities, attention has focussed on the neural control of respiration and cardiac function. It is important to appreciate the methodological limitations involved in utilizing autopsy material and the criteria for selection of appropriate controls. This report reviews the pathological evidence for developmental delay in SIDS emphasizing delay of neural maturation of both myelination and synapses. Other abnormalities of the nervous system apparently associated with hypoxia-ischemia such as brainstem astrogliosis are also discussed. The occurrence of SIDS at a precise age together with our preliminary studies indicate that neural developmental delay is an important link in the chain of events leading to SIDS.
The Evolution of a Stratospheric Wave Packet

Abstract This work examines the extent to which a few basic concepts that apply to plane waves, for example, the refraction of waves up the gradient of the index of refraction, apply to stratospheric planetary waves. This is done by studying the relation between group velocity (Cg) and the wave activity velocity, which is defined as the Eliassen–Palm flux divided by the wave activity density (Va = F/A). It is shown that although in the limit of plane waves Va equals Cg, the two velocities are not equal for stratospheric waves, because of reflection, tunneling, and superposition. The use of conservation of wave activity to understand the spatial variations of wave structure is explored. This is done by defining a wave activity packet as part of the wave that moves with Va. Integral lines of Va are then used to keep track of the wave packet location and volume. In the idealized case of an almost-plane wave, conservation of wave activity leads to variations in the amplitude of the wave when it is refracted b.