Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of left ventricular stroke volume variation to assess fluid responsiveness in patients with reduced cardiac function

ObjectiveStroke volume variation as measured by the analysis of the arterial pressure waveform enables prediction of volume responsiveness in ventilated patients with normal cardiac function. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of monitoring stroke volume variation to predict volume responsiveness and to assess changes in preload in patients with reduced left ventricular function after cardiac surgery. DesignProspective study. SettingUniversity hospital. PatientsFifteen mechanically ventilated patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction <0.35 (study group) and 15 patients with an ejection fraction >0.50 (control group) after coronary artery bypass grafting following admission to the intensive care unit. InterventionsVolume loading with 10 mL of hetastarch 6% times body mass index. If stroke volume index increased >5%, successive volume loading was performed until no further increase in stroke volume index was reached. Measurements and Main ResultsStroke volume variation, central venous pressure, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP), and left ventricular end-diastolic area index (LVEDAI) were measured at baseline and immediately after each volume loading step. In both groups, stroke volume variation at baseline correlated significantly with changes in stroke volume index caused by volume loading (p < .01). Further, changes in stroke volume variation as a result of volume loading correlated significantly with the concomitant changes in stroke volume index in both groups (p < .01). Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, in the study group areas under the curve for stroke volume variation, PAOP, central venous pressure, and LVEDAI did not differ significantly. In the control group, the area under the curve for stroke volume variation was statistically larger than for PAOP, central venous pressure, and LVEDAI. ConclusionsContinuous and real-time monitoring of stroke volume variation by pulse contour analysis can predict volume responsiveness and allows real-time assessment of the hemodynamic effect of volume expansion in patients with reduced left ventricular function after cardiac surgery.
Warming of the Southern Ocean Since the 1950s

Autonomous Lagrangian Circulation Explorer floats recorded temperatures in depths between 700 and 1100 meters in the Southern Ocean throughout the 1990s. These temperature records are systematically warmer than earlier hydrographic temperature measurements from the region, suggesting that mid-depth Southern Ocean temperatures have risen 0.17°C between the 1950s and the 1980s. This warming is faster than that of the global ocean and is concentrated within the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, where temperature rates of change are comparable to Southern Ocean atmospheric temperature increases.
Determinants of Susceptibility and Resistance to Feline Leukemia Virus Infection. I. Role of Macrophages

Abstract The role of autochthonous peritoneal feline macrophages (Mθ) in the age-related resistance of cats to feline leukemia virus (FeLV) was investigated by a study of the functional properties and FeLV susceptibility of Mθ from kittens and adult cats and the effect of hydrocortisone (HC) and silica on Mθ-FeLV interactions. Although the phagocytic functions of isolated Mθ from kittens and adults were equivalent, the mean FeLV susceptibility of Mθ from kittens was five times that of Mθ from adult cats, thus establishing a direct correlation between the age-related susceptibility of cats and Mθ from cats to FeLV. Mθ of viremic cats were found to be infected with FeLV in vivo; virus titers were slightly higher than those obtained after in vitro infection of Mθ. Mθ from cats that had experienced regressive FeLV infection were not significantly more resistant to FeLV infection in vitro than were Mθ from naive adult specific-pathogen-free cats. HC, which has been shown to enhance the in vivo FeLV susceptibility of cats, also enhanced the permissiveness of Mθ from cats to FeLV in vitro (600-fold for Mθ from adult cats and 200-fold for Mθ) from kittens. Mθ permissiveness to FeLV was highly sensitive to HC and occurred in Mθ infected in vivo or in vitro. In parallel with the effect of HC on the natural resistance of cats to FeLV, administration of silica before virus inoculation also markedly enhanced the FeLV susceptibility of adult cats. Silica was toxic for isolated Mθ but not for lymphocytes in vitro, and silica produced monocytopenia and neutrophilia, delayed skin allograft rejection, and augmented feline oncovirus-associated cell membrane antigen antibody responses in vivo. These experiments indicate that Mθ were linked to the natural resistance of cats to FeLV and that the temporary elimination of Mθ functions (e.g., by silica) and/or the conversion of the Mθ-FeLV relationship from a nonpermissive to a permissive state (e.g., by corticosteroids) resulted in failure of early virus containment, in persistent virus amplification in hemolymphatic tissues, and in subsequent FeLV-related proliferative or antiproliferative disease.
The Minisum Multipurpose Trip Location Problem on Networks

We investigate multipurpose trip location problems on networks with two different types of facilities and three groups of customers, two of which need only one type of service, while the third group needs both types of service in a single trip. The objective is to minimize the total weighted travel distance of all trips. We prove that there exists a dominating location set for the problem on a general network, propose a general binary programming model, and analyze the properties of optimal solutions on networks with simple topologies and one facility per type. We also investigate several heuristic approaches to the problem on general networks and present extensive computational experiments.
The ionic stoichiometry of the GLAST glutamate transporter in salamander retinal glia

Maintaining a low extracellular glutamate concentration in the central nervous system is important for terminating synaptic transmission and preventing excitotoxic cell death. The stoichiometry of the most abundant glutamate transporter, GLT‐1, predicts that a very low glutamate concentration, ∼2 nm, should be reached in the absence of glutamate release, yet microdialysis measurements give a value of ∼1 μm. If other glutamate transporters had a different stoichiometry, the predicted minimum glutamate concentration could be higher, for example if those transporters were driven by the cotransport of 2 Na+ (rather than of 3 Na+ as for GLT‐1). Here we investigated the ionic stoichiometry of the glutamate transporter GLAST, which is the major glutamate transporter expressed in the retina and cerebellum, is expressed in other adult brain areas at a lower level than GLT‐1, and is present throughout the brain early in development when expression of GLT‐1 is low. Glutamate transport by GLAST was found to be driven, as for GLT‐1, by the cotransport of 3 Na+ and 1 H+ and the counter‐transport of 1 K+, suggesting that the minimum extracellular glutamate concentration should be similar during development and in the adult brain. A less powerful accumulation of glutamate by GLAST than by GLT‐1 cannot be used to explain the high glutamate concentration measured by microdialysis.
Gene polymorphism in DNA repair genes XRCC1 and XRCC6 and association with colorectal cancer in Swedish patients

The DNA repair genes XRCC1 and XRCC6 have been proposed to participate in the pathological process of cancer by modulating the DNA repair capacity. This study evaluated the susceptibility of the single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) XRCC1 (rs25487, G > A) and XRCC6 (rs2267437, C > G) to colorectal cancer (CRC) and their association with clinical parameters in Swedish patients with CRC. Using the TaqMan system, these SNPs were screened in 452 patients and 464 controls. No significant difference in genotype distribution was found between the patients and controls, or any significant association with cancer‐specific or disease‐free survival in patients. However, we showed that the carriers of allele A in XRCC1 (rs25487, G > A) were connected with a higher risk of disseminated CRC (Odds Ratio = 1.64; 95% Confidence Interval = 1.12–2.41, p = 0.012).
Automatic Landmark Detection in 2D images: A tree-based approach with multiresolution pixel features

In this paper, we propose a new generic landmark detection method for 2D images. Our solution is based on the use of ensembles of Extremely Randomized Trees combined with simple pixel-based multi-resolution features. We apply our method on a novel dataset of microscopic zebrafish images. This method was also tested on datasets of cephalometric images during the Automatic Cephalometric X-Ray Landmark Detection Challenge 2014, where we were ranked first during the first phase, and second during the second phase.
Enhancing the performance of intelligent control systems in the face of higher levels of complexity and uncertainty

Modern advances in technology have led to more complex manufacturing processes whose success centres on the ability to control these processes with a very high level of accuracy. Plant complexity inevitably leads to poor models that exhibit a high degree of parametric or functional uncertainty. The situation becomes even more complex if the plant to be controlled is characterised by a multivalued function or even if it exhibits a number of modes of behaviour during its operation. Since an intelligent controller is expected to operate and guarantee the best performance where complexity and uncertainty coexist and interact, control engineers and theorists have recently developed new control techniques under the framework of intelligent control to enhance the performance of the controller for more complex and uncertain plants. These techniques are based on incorporating model uncertainty. The newly developed control algorithms for incorporating model uncertainty are proven to give more accurate control results under uncertain conditions. In this paper, we survey some approaches that appear to be promising for enhancing the performance of intelligent control systems in the face of higher levels of complexity and uncertainty.
Perfusion Augmentation in Acute Stroke Using Mechanical Counter-Pulsation–Phase IIa: Effect of External Counterpulsation on Middle Cerebral Artery Mean Flow Velocity in Five Healthy Subjects

Background and Purpose— External counterpulsation (ECP) improves coronary perfusion, increases left ventricular stroke volume similar to intraaortic balloon counterpulsation, and recruits arterial collaterals within ischemic territories. We sought to determine ECPs effect on middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow augmentation in normal controls as a first step to support future clinical trials in acute stroke. Methods— Healthy volunteers were recruited and screened for exclusions. Bilateral 2-MHz pulsed wave transcranial Doppler (TCD) probes were mounted by head frame, and baseline M1 MCA TCD measurements were obtained. ECP was then initiated using standard procedures for 30 minutes, and TCD readings were repeated at 5 and 20 minutes. Physiological correlates associated with ECP-TCD waveform morphology were identified, and measurable criteria for TCD assessment of ECP arterial mean flow velocity (MFV) augmentation were constructed. Results— Five subjects were enrolled in the study. Preprocedural M1 MCA TCD measurements were within normal limits. Onset of ECP counterpulsation produced an immediate change in TCD waveform configuration with the appearance of a second upstroke at the dicrotic notch, labeled peak diastolic augmented velocity (PDAV). Although end-diastolic velocities did not increase, both R-MCA and L-MCA PDAVs were significantly higher than baseline end-diastolic values (P<0.05 Wilcoxon rank-sum test) at 5 and 20 minutes. Augmented MFVs (aMFVs) were also significantly higher than baseline MFV in the R-MCA and L-MCA at both 5 and 20 minutes (P<0.05). Conclusions— ECP induces marked changes in cerebral arterial waveforms and augmented peak diastolic and mean MCA flow velocities on TCD in 5 healthy subjects.
Structures of proline-rich peptides bound to the ribosome reveal a common mechanism of protein synthesis inhibition

With bacterial resistance becoming a serious threat to global public health, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have become a promising area of focus in antibiotic research. AMPs are derived from a diverse range of species, from prokaryotes to humans, with a mechanism of action that often involves disruption of the bacterial cell membrane. Proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PrAMPs) are instead actively transported inside the bacterial cell where they bind and inactivate specific targets. Recently, it was reported that some PrAMPs, such as Bac71–35, oncocins and apidaecins, bind and inactivate the bacterial ribosome. Here we report the crystal structures of Bac71–35, Pyrrhocoricin, Metalnikowin and two oncocin derivatives, bound to the Thermus thermophilus 70S ribosome. Each of the PrAMPs blocks the peptide exit tunnel of the ribosome by simultaneously occupying three well characterized antibiotic-binding sites and interferes with the initiation step of translation, thereby revealing a common mechanism of action used by these PrAMPs to inactivate protein synthesis. Our study expands the repertoire of PrAMPs and provides a framework for designing new-generation therapeutics.
Neural stem cell mediated recovery is enhanced by Chondroitinase ABC pretreatment in chronic cervical spinal cord injury

Traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCIs) affect millions of people worldwide; the majority of whom are in the chronic phase of their injury. Unfortunately, most current treatments target the acute/subacute injury phase as the microenvironment of chronically injured cord consists of a well-established glial scar with inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) which acts as a potent barrier to regeneration. It has been shown that CSPGs can be degraded in vivo by intrathecal Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) to produce a more permissive environment for regeneration by endogenous cells or transplanted neural stem cells (NSCs) in the subacute phase of injury. Using a translationally-relevant clip-contusion model of cervical spinal cord injury in mice we sought to determine if ChABC pretreatment could modify the harsh chronic microenvironment to enhance subsequent regeneration by induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NSCs (iPS-NSC). Seven weeks after injury—during the chronic phase—we delivered ChABC by intrathecal osmotic pump for one week followed by intraparenchymal iPS-NSC transplant rostral and caudal to the injury epicenter. ChABC administration reduced chronic-injury scar and resulted in significantly improved iPSC-NSC survival with clear differentiation into all three neuroglial lineages. Neurons derived from transplanted cells also formed functional synapses with host circuits on patch clamp analysis. Furthermore, the combined treatment led to recovery in key functional muscle groups including forelimb grip strength and measures of forelimb/hindlimb locomotion assessed by Catwalk. This represents important proof-of-concept data that the chronically injured spinal cord can be ‘unlocked’ by ChABC pretreatment to produce a microenvironment conducive to regenerative iPS-NSC therapy.
Quantum dots exhibit less bioaccumulation than free cadmium and selenium in the earthworm Eisenia andrei

The present study addresses the bioaccumulation behavior of cadmium selenide quantum dots by Eisenia andrei earthworms in a terrestrial environment. Earthworms were exposed to quantum dot‐treated soil for up to 4 wk and analyzed for cadmium and selenium concentration using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results were compared with those from earthworms exposed to cadmium nitrate and selenious acid, as positive controls, and those exposed in untreated soil (negative control). Earthworms exposed to quantum dots showed significant bioaccumulation of cadmium and selenium (5.3‐ and 1.5‐fold higher concentration over negative controls, respectively) after 4 wk. Over the same 4 wk, positive control earthworms accumulated 9.2‐ and 2.2‐fold higher cadmium and selenium, respectively, than negative controls for a much more substantial final body burden of the 2 elements. The concentrations also increased with exposure time; cadmium concentrations increased from 3600 ± 310 ng/g to 8080 ± 660 ng/g, from 1 to 4 wk, suggesting that further bioaccumulation may take place with even longer exposure time. The molar ratio of cadmium to selenium in the quantum dot‐exposed worms (6.2) is closer to the ratios seen in positive control worms (7.2) than to the pure quantum dots (1.8), which implies that quantum dots are taken up predominantly in the degraded form. The results suggest that chemical modification of quantum dots to protect them from environmental degradation could potentially reduce bioaccumulation of the nanoparticles by earthworms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:1288–1294. © 2013 SETAC
Contralateral projections of thoracic respiratory interneurones in the cat.

1. Retrograde neuronal transport following small iontophoretic injections of horseradish peroxidase was used to investigate the location of neurones projecting to the thoracic ventral horn of the cat. 2. A concentration of labelled neurones was seen in the contralateral medial ventral horn at the immediately opposite rostrocaudal position. 3. The participation of respiratory interneurones in the projection was investigated by means of spike‐triggered averaging, as follows. 4. Spike trains of single interneurones whose firing patterns were related to the central respiratory cycle were recorded extracellularly in the thoracic ventral horn of anaesthetized, paralysed cats. Firing patterns were defined by the construction of cycle‐triggered histograms. 5. Spike‐triggered averaging of the signal from an extracellular tungsten microelectrode in the opposite ventral horn was performed to test for the presence of axonal, terminal or focal synaptic potentials. 6. At least one of these types of potential was found for 34/55 units. Terminal potentials were found for thirty‐one units, accompanied by focal synaptic potentials for twenty‐seven units. Potentials were found for units with all types of firing patterns. Units whose activity elicited these potentials were generally located in the medial half of the ventral horn. 7. We conclude that at least 60% of the respiratory interneurones project to the immediately opposite ventral horn.
Prognostics-Driven Optimal Control for Equipment Performing in Uncertain Environment

This paper discusses the problem of optimal control for systems performing in uncertain environments, where little information is available regarding the system dynamics. A reinforcement learning approach is proposed to tackle the problem. A particular method to incorporate Prognostics and Health Management information derived on the system of interest is proposed to improve the reinforcement learning routine. The ideas behind reinforcement learning-based search for optimal control strategies are outlined. A numerical example illustrating the benefits of using PHM information is given.
Exploring the policy selection of P2P VoD system — A simulation based research

The P2P-assisted video-on-demand (P2P VoD) service has achieved tremendous success among the Internet users. There are three core strategies in the P2P VoD system: the piece selection policy, the peer selection policy as well as the replica management policy. Different from the existing research works that only consider single policy optimization, we for the first time study the existing P2P VoD policies by using a simulation framework to understand the performance of different policy compositions. The simulation results indicate that when the bandwidth and storage resources are limited in the P2P VoD system, the composition of the sequential piece selection policy, the cascading peer selection policy and the proportional replica management policy has the best performance among all different policy compositions. However, when the bandwidth and storage resources are sufficient in the P2P VoD system, there will be little difference between different choices.
Interleukin‐6 and C‐reactive protein load in pre‐storage and post‐storage white blood cell‐filtered red blood cell transfusions in premature infants

Leukocyte contamination during blood transfusion can cause many adverse effects. Filtration can be performed either at bedside during the transfusion or as pre‐storage filtration. Pre‐storage filtration is superior to bedside filtration because leukocytes are removed prior to storage, thus preventing further adverse effects associated with the storage of these cells.
Linking Knowledge Management, Business Excellence and Innovation Performance

Performance Marianne Gloet Danny Samson University of Melbourne University of Melbourne marianne.gloet@unimelb.edu. au d.samson@unimelb.edu. au Abstract This research examined the extent to which the management of knowledge and the application of business excellence frameworks can contribute to innovation performance. A model of Knowledge Management (KM) and Business Excellence (BE) framed the study. Intensive case studies were conducted with six Australian service sector organizations that had won business excellence awards to determine the ways in which a business excellence framework can inform knowledge management practices that lead to sustained innovation performance. Analysis of the data revealed the manner in which the Australian Business Excellence Framework (ABEF) informed knowledge management practices and contributed to innovation in the six service sector organizations. Although the research is preliminary in nature, results indicate that principles of the ABEF shaped KM activities through fostering continuous improvement which in turn encouraged a stronger focus on incremental rather than radical forms of innovation.
Growth of measles virus in the lymphoid tissues of monkeys.

The lymphoid tissues of monkeys infected with wild measles virus were examined by light microscopy and the fluorescent antibody technique. There was a good correlation between distribution of viral antigen and giant cells, most of which were of the reticular type. A large amount of viral antigen was always detected in giant cells, which suggested that these cells might be formed as a result of growth of measles virus in situ. Major growth sites of measles virus were found to be as the spleen, lymph nodes, and tonsils. It also appeared that the thymus and cecum might be involved to a lesser extent than the other lymphoid organs. Evidence of growth of virus in the bone marrow was not obtained. The possibility that the reticular cells are a main target of growth of measles virus was considered.