Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The pioneering work of George Mines on cardiac arrhythmias: groundbreaking ideas that remain influential in contemporary cardiac electrophysiology

George Mines was a pioneering physiologist who, despite an extremely short period of professional activity and only primitive experimental methodology, succeeded in formulating concepts that continue to be of great influence today. Here, we review some of his most important discoveries and their impact on contemporary concepts and clinical practice. Mines’ greatest contribution was his conceptualization and characterization of circus movement reentry. His observations and ideas about the basis for cardiac reentrant activity underlie how we understand and manage a wide range of important clinical rhythm disturbances today. The notions he introduced regarding the influence of premature extrastimuli on reentry (termination, resetting and entrainment) are central to contemporary assessment of arrhythmia mechanisms in clinical electrophysiology laboratories and modern device therapy of cardiac tachyarrhythmias. Refinements of his model of reentry have led to sophisticated biophysical theories of the mechanisms underlying cardiac fibrillation. His seminal observations on the influence of electrolyte derangements and autonomic tone on the heart are relevant to our understanding of the physiology and pharmacology of arrhythmias caused by cardiac pathology. In this era of advanced technology, it is important to appreciate that ideas of lasting impact come from great minds and do not necessarily require great tools.
A cost-effectiveness model of genetic testing for the evaluation of families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background Traditional management of families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) involves periodic lifetime clinical screening of family members, an approach that does not identify all gene carriers owing to incomplete penetrance and significant clinical heterogeneity. Limitations in availability and cost have meant genetic testing is not part of routine clinical management for many HCM families. Objective To determine the cost-effectiveness of the addition of genetic testing to HCM family management, compared with clinical screening alone. Methods A probabilistic Markov decision model was used to determine cost per quality-adjusted life-year and cost for each life-year gained when genetic testing is included in the management of Australian families with HCM, compared with the conventional approach of periodic clinical screening alone. Results The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was $A785 (£510 or €587) per quality-adjusted life-year gained, and $A12 720 (£8261 or €9509) per additional life-year gained making genetic testing a very cost-effective strategy. Sensitivity analyses showed that the cost of proband genetic testing was an important variable. As the cost of proband genetic testing decreased, the ICER decreased and was cost saving when the cost fell below $A248 (£161 or €185). In addition, the mutation identification rate was also important in reducing the overall ICER, although even at the upper limits, the ICER still fell well within accepted willingness to pay bounds. Conclusions The addition of genetic testing to the management of HCM families is cost-effective in comparison with the conventional approach of regular clinical screening. This has important implications for the evaluation of families with HCM, and suggests that all should have access to specialised cardiac genetic clinics that can offer genetic testing.
Evaluation of the transient transmitted field into a rectangular enclosure by marching-on-in-degree approach

In this paper a time-domain (TD) method-of moments (TD-MoM) technique is applied to evaluate the transient penetrated electric field through a rectangular aperture in a perfect electric conductor (PEC) rectangular enclosure. Solution technique is the marching-on-in-degree (MOD) method that calculates the unknown surface electric currents on the enclosure surface. Since the structure is resonant, mathematical considerations should be taken into account in the included integrations. The incident wave is assumed to be a Gaussian plane wave. In addition to checking the convergence of the technique, cases of normally and obliquely illuminations are studied. Also, shielding effectiveness is demonstrated in frequency domain. The method is validated by CST.
Clinical applicability of single‐tube multiplex reverse‐transcriptase PCR in dengue virus diagnosis and serotyping

This study has evaluated the clinical applicability of a single‐tube multiplex RT‐ PCR as compared with a two‐step nested RT‐PCR for the diagnosis as well as serotyping of dengue virus in patient's samples. Seventy‐six acute phase blood samples collected from clinically suspected dengue patients during the 2008 outbreak were subjected to two‐step nested RT‐PCR and single‐tube multiplex RT‐PCR for dengue diagnosis and serotyping. Of the 76 samples, 17 (22.4%) were positive for dengue viral RNA. Single dengue virus infection was found in 16 cases and 1 had concurrent infection with two serotypes (3&1). Dengue serotype 3 was the predominant serotype (70.5%), followed by serotype 1 (23.5%). Single‐tube multiplex PCR had concordant result with that of two‐step nested RT‐PCR including the one with concomitant infection. This study reveals the predominance of dengue serotype 3 in North India in addition to the co‐circulation of multiple serotypes and concomitant infection. The rapid and accurate diagnostic capability of single‐tube multiplex RT‐PCR used in the study appears to be promising enough to be commonly used for dengue viral detection as well as serotyping. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 25:76–78, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antibody‐induced engagement of β2 integrins in human neutrophils causes a rapid redistribution of cytoskeletal proteins, Src‐family tyrosine kinases, and p72syk that precedes de novo actin polymerization

β2 Integrins mediate rearrangement of the cytoskeleton and activation of selective cell functions in neutrophils. To elucidate early events following β2 integrin ligation, we analyzed redistribution of cytoskeletal and signaling proteins as a consequence of antibody‐induced integrin clustering. Incubation of neutrophils on surface‐bound anti‐β2 subunit antibodies induced a very rapid (within 1 min) redistribution of the cytoskeletal proteins talin, α‐actinin, and paxillin, and the tyrosine kinases p58c‐fgr, p53/56lyn, and p72syk to a cell fraction insoluble in Triton X‐100. Cytoskeletal and signaling proteins redistribution preceded de novo actin polymerization because cytochalasin B did not inhibit this redistribution. Antibody engagement of all the three distinct β2 integrins (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c) expressed by neutrophils induced redistribution of cytoskeletal proteins and tyrosine kinases. Several tyrosine phosphorylated proteins were also rapidly redistributed as a consequence of β2 integrin engagement and this was not affected by blocking de novo actin polymerization with cytochalasin B. In addition, genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase activities which strongly reduced protein tyrosine phosphorylation, had no effect on redistribution of cytoskeletal proteins, Src‐family kinases, and p72syk. These findings suggest that integrin‐dependent cytoskeleton rearrangement in neutrophils occurs in at least two distinct steps and nucleation of some cytoskeletal proteins together with tyrosine kinases precedes rearrangement of the actin‐based cytoskeleton and tyrosine kinases activation. On the basis of these and previous findings we propose a model explaining mechanisms of integrin signaling in neutrophils. J. Leukoc. Biol. 64: 401–408; 1998.
Primary biliary cirrhosis-specific autoantibodies in first degree relatives of Greek primary biliary cirrhosis patients.

AIM To determine the prevalence and significance of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)-specific autoantibodies in first-degree relatives (FDRs) of Greek PBC patients. METHODS The presence of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) and PBC-specific antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were determined using indirect immunofluorescence assays, dot-blot assays, and molecularly based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 101 asymptomatic for liver-related symptoms FDRs of 44 PBC patients. In order to specify our results, the same investigation was performed in 40 healthy controls and in a disease control group consisting of 40 asymptomatic for liver-related symptoms FDRs of patients with other autoimmune liver diseases namely, autoimmune hepatitis-1 or primary sclerosing cholangitis (AIH-1/PSC). RESULTS AMA positivity was observed in 19 (only 4 with abnormal liver function tests) FDRs of PBC patients and none of the healthy controls. The prevalence of AMA was significantly higher in FDRs of PBC patients than in AIH-1/PSC FDRs and healthy controls [18.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 12%-28.1% vs 2.5%, 95% CI: 0.1%-14.7%, P = 0.01; 18.8%, 95% CI: 12%-28.1% vs 0%, 95% CI: 0%-10.9%, P = 0.003, respectively]. PBC-specific ANA positivity was observed in only one FDR from a PSC patient. Multivariate analysis showed that having a proband with PBC independently associated with AMA positivity (odds ratio: 11.24, 95% CI: 1.27-25.34, P = 0.03) whereas among the investigated comorbidities and risk factors, a positive past history for urinary tract infections (UTI) was also independently associated with AMA detection in FDRs of PBC patients (odds ratio: 3.92, 95% CI: 1.25-12.35, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION In FDRs of Greek PBC patients, AMA prevalence is significantly increased and independently associated with past UTI. PBC-specific ANA were not detected in anyone of PBC FDRs.
Separable Sequent Calculus for First-order Classical Logic ( Work in Progress )

This paper presents Separable Sequent Calculus as an extension of Gentzen’s first-order classical sequent calculus with Herband-style structural rules (subformula contraction and weakening). Every proof can be transformed into separated form, in which all logical rules precede all structural rules, a result in the spirit of Gentzen’s midsequent theorem or sharpened Hauptsatz (where all propositional rules precede all quantifier rules), and Herbrand’s theorem. Every separated proof has a direct graph-theoretic semantics as a combinatorial proof. Since a standard Gentzen proof is a special case of a separable proof, every Gentzen proof has a combinatorial proof semantics via its separated form. The semantics identifies sequent proofs which differ by rule transpositions (such as pushing a contraction below a weakening). Since combinatorial proofs can be verified in polynomial time (conjectured linear time), they constitute a syntax in their own right, arguably a canonical abstraction of sequent calculus modulo inessential rule transposition.
Clinical consequences of hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a positive strand RNA virus that belongs to the Hepacivirinae genus within the Flaviviridae family. HCV infection has a wide spectrum of cellular tropism and clinical presentations. This has major impacts in terms of pathogenesis and diagnosis. Consequently, a wide range of clinical consequences characterises this viral infection, including asymptomatic chronic carriage, acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and extrahepatic manifestations. The latter are commonly observed and may represent the first sign of the disease. A better knowledge of the pathobiology of HCV and its clinical consequences will be important for developing better treatment strategies to cure HCV infection and extrahepatic manifestations. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of selecting different contrasts in phonological therapy

Previous research indicates that the extent of progress made by children with phonological disorders depends upon the nature of the word pairs contrasted in therapy. For example, phonemes that differ maximally in terms of place, manner, voicing and sound class (e.g., fan – man) in comparison to therapy where the word pairs presented differ minimally (e.g., fan – van). To investigate the implications of target selection within a typical clinical context (as opposed to a rigorous research setting) eight speech-language pathologists implemented intervention with appropriate children from their caseloads. Nineteen children each received 6 hours of therapy over one school term. They were randomly allocated to two groups. One group (of nine children) received intervention based on a traditional minimal pair approach, targeting homonymy as well as distinctive feature contrast. The other group (ten children) received intervention targeting contrasts differing across a range of distinctive features. Children made considerable progress in therapy in terms of speech accuracy and number of error patterns suppressed. However, there was no difference between the progress of the two groups. Follow-up assessment of 14 of the 19 children indicated maintenance of progress by both groups. Reasons for the lack of difference between the groups in the current study are considered and clinical implications are drawn.
Noise performances of 0.13 /spl mu/m CMOS technologies for detector front-end applications

Submicron CMOS technologies provide well-established solutions to the implementation of low noise front-end electronics for a wide range of detector applications. In recent years high performance mixed signal circuits were fabricated in 0.35 mum and 0.25 mum processes. Presently the IC designers' effort is gradually shifting to 0.13 mum technologies, following the trend of commercial silicon foundries. Since commercial CMOS processes maintain a steady trend in device scaling, it is essential to monitor the impact of these technological advances on the noise parameters of the devices. To estimate the noise limits of a front-end system in the 0.13 mum node, this work presents the results of noise measurements carried out on NMOS and PMOS devices in two commercial processes from different foundries. The behavior of the 1/f and white noise terms is studied as a function of the device polarity and of the gate length and width to account for different detector requirements. The study is focused on low current density applications where devices are biased in weak or moderate inversion. Data obtained from the measurements provide a powerful tool to model noise parameters and establish front-end design criteria in a 0.13 mum CMOS process
Monitoring airborne biotic contaminants in the indoor environment of pig and poultry confinement buildings.

Given the growing concerns over human and animal health issues related to confined animal feeding operations, an in-depth examination is required to monitor for airborne bacteria and associated antibiotic resistance genes. Our 16S rRNA-based pyrosequencing revealed that the airborne microbial community skewed towards a higher abundance of Firmicutes (> 59.2%) and Bacteroidetes (4.2-31.4%) within the confinement buildings, while the office environment was predominated by Proteobacteria (55.2%). Furthermore, bioaerosols in the confinement buildings were sporadically associated with genera of potential pathogens, and these genera were more frequently observed in the bioaerosols of pig and layer hen confinement than the turkey confinement buildings and office environment. High abundances of tetracycline resistance genes (9.55 × 10(2) to 1.69 × 10(6) copies ng(-1) DNA) were also detected in the bioaerosols sampled from confinement buildings. Bacterial lineages present in the poultry bioaerosols clustered apart from those present in the pig bioaerosols and among the different phases of pig production, suggesting that different livestock as well as production phase were associated with a distinct airborne microbial community. By understanding the diversity of biotic contaminants associated with the different confinement buildings, this study facilitates the implementation of better management strategies to minimize potential health impacts on both livestock and humans working in this environment.
On the Modeling and Simulation of Friction

Two new models for "slip-stick" friction are presented. One, called the "bristle model," is an approximation designed to capture the physical phenomenon of sticking. This model is relatively inefficent numerically. The other model, called the "reset integrator model," does not capture the details of the sticking phenomenon, but is numerically efficient and exhibits behavior similar to the model proposed by Karnopp in 1985. All three of these models are preferable to the classical model which poorly represents the friction force at zero velocity. Simulation experiments show that the new models and the Karnopp model give similar results in two examples. In a closed-loop example, the classical model predicts a limit cycle which is not observed in the laboratory. The new models and the Karnopp model, on the other hand, agree with the experimental observation.
Detecting impairment: Sensitive cognitive measures of dose-related acute alcohol intoxication

The cognitive impairment that results from acute alcohol intoxication is associated with considerable safety risks. Other psychoactive substances, such as medications, pose a similar risk to road and workplace safety. However, there is currently no legal limit for operating vehicles or working while experiencing drug-related impairment. The current study sought to identify a brief cognitive task sensitive to a meaningful degree of impairment from acute alcohol intoxication to potentially stand as a reference from which to quantify impairment from other similar substances. A placebo-controlled single-blind crossover design was employed to determine the relative sensitivity of four commonly-administered cognitive tasks (Compensatory Tracking Task, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Brief Stop Signal Task and Inspection Time Task) to alcohol-related impairment in male social drinkers at ~0.05% ascending breath alcohol concentration (BrAC), ~0.08% peak BrAC and 0.05% descending BrAC. The Inspection Time Task was identified as the most sensitive task, detecting a medium to large magnitude increase in impairment (g ≈ 0.60) at 0.05% ascending and descending BrAC, and a large magnitude effect size (g = 0.80) at 0.08% peak BrAC. The remaining tasks failed to demonstrate sensitivity to dose-dependent and limb-dependent changes in alcohol-induced impairment. The Inspection Time Task was deemed the most sensitive task for screening alcohol-related impairment based on the present results. Confirmation of equivalence with other drug-related impairment and sensitivity to alcohol-induced impairment in real-world settings should be established in future research.
Fast Linearized Bregman Method for Compressed Sensing

In this paper, a fast and efficient signal reconstruction algorithm for solving the basis pursuit (BP) problem in compressed sensing (CS) is proposed. This fast linearized Bregman method (FLBM), which is inspired by the fast method of Beck et al., is based on the fact that the linearized Bregman method (LBM) is equivalent to a gradient descent method when applied to a certain formulation. The LBM requires O(1/e)? iterations to obtain an e-optimal solution while the FLBM reduces this iteration complexity to O(1/√e) and requiring almost the same computational effort on each iteration. Our experimental results show that the FLBM can be faster than some other existing signal reconstruction methods.
Doppler spectrum and performance of E-SDM systems in indoor time-varying MIMO channels

MIMO measurement campaigns were conducted in indoor environments. Based on the measured data, this paper examines the channel auto-correlation and Doppler spectrum in a case where a receiver is moving with respect to a fixed transmitter in the propagation environments with static scatterers. The bit error rate (BER) performance of 4 times 4 MIMO eigenbeam-space division multiplexing(E-SDM) system was evaluated in time-varying fading environments.
Practice Parameter

The Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology is charged with developing guidelines for neurologists for diagnostic procedures, treatment modalities, and clinical disorders. The selection of topics for which practice parameters are developed is based on the prevalence, frequency of use, economic impact, membership need, controversy, urgency, external constraints, and resources required. Based upon the quality of the evidence, the Quality Standards Subcommittee determines whether the parameter is a standard, guideline, or option. By training and knowledge, neurologists and neurosurgeons are qualified to develop and disseminate guidelines for managing the athlete who suffers a concussion in sports. Questions addressed during neurologic or neurosurgical consultation for sports-related concussion require advice to the patient that is guided by neuroscience and the consensus of experts, rather than local lore and individual opinion. Most importantly, consultation to prevent catastrophic outcome and cumulative neurobehavioral deficits from repeated concussions can best be provided by the well-informed physician. This practice parameter is based on a background paper [1] written by James P. Kelly, MD, and Jay H. Rosenberg, MD, and on sports concussion guidelines published by the Colorado Medical Society. [2] This practice parameter for the management of concussion in sports is not intended to justify boxing as a legitimate sport, nor should it be construed to conflict with the official stance of the American Academy of Neurology, which has called for a ban on boxing. Concussion, a common consequence of trauma to the head in contact sports, can also occur from collisions or falls in all forms of athletic activity. Close observation and assessment of the injured athlete could be critical to the prevention of catastrophic brain injury [3-5] and cumulative neuropsychological deficits. [6-8] Repeated concussions can cause cumulative brain injury in an individual injured over months or years. The problem faced by the …
VDAC1 Is a Transplasma Membrane NADH-Ferricyanide Reductase*

Porin isoform 1 or VDAC (voltage-dependent anion-selective channel) 1 is the predominant protein in the outer mitochondrial membrane. We demonstrated previously that a plasma membrane NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity becomes up-regulated upon mitochondrial perturbation, and therefore suggested that it functions as a cellular redox sensor. VDAC1 is known to be expressed in the plasma membrane; however, its function there remained a mystery. Here we show that VDAC1, when expressed in the plasma membrane, functions as a NADH-ferricyanide reductase. VDAC1 preparations purified from both plasma membrane and mitochondria fractions exhibit NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity, which can be immunoprecipitated with poly- and monoclonal antibodies directed against VDAC(1). Transfecting cells with pl-VDAC1-GFP, which carries an N-terminal signal peptide, directs VDAC1 to the plasma membrane, as shown by confocal microscopy and FACS analysis, and significantly increases the plasma membrane NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity of the transfected cells. This novel enzymatic activity of the well known VDAC1 molecule may provide an explanation for its role in the plasma membrane. Our data suggest that a major function of VDAC1 in the plasma membrane is that of a NADH(-ferricyanide) reductase that may be involved in the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis.
Mitochondrial transcription

The structure of the mitochondrial transcription termination factor (MTERF1) provides novel insight into the mechanism of binding, recognition of the termination sequence and the conformational changes involved in mediating termination. Besides its functional implications, this structure provides a framework to understand the consequences of numerous diseases associated with mitochondrial DNA mutations.