Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Characterizes Endothelial Dysfunction in Preeclampsia? -The Action of NO and the Production of Prostacyclin is Reduced, While EDHF is Preserved in Omental Resistance Arteries in Preeclamptic Women

Vascular endothelial cells release vasorelaxing factors (endothelium-derived relaxing factor; EDRF), such as nitric oxide (NO), prostacyclin and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), and these play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone, vascular permeability and blood coagulation, thus helping to maintain circulatory homeostasis. Preeclampsia is characterized by marked increases in peripheral vascular resistance and vascular permeability together with a disturbance of blood coagulation. It has been suggested that an abnormality in the role played by EDRF in resistance arteries may be involved in the pathogenesis and/or development of preeclampsia. In vitro investigation of characteristic changes in preeclampsia using vascular strips of omental resistance artery obtained from preeclamptic women, revealed that; 1) the action of endothelial NO is reduced not due to decrease in the production of NO in the endothelium but rather to reduced action of guanosine-3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP; a second messenger of NO) itself and/or downstream of cGMP, 2) reduced production of prostacyclin in endothelium and, 3) reservation of EDHF action. Taken together, it was suggested that EDHF might compensate for both the reduced action of endothelial NO and the reduced production of prostacyclin in resistance arteries. In this review the new observation of functional changes in endothelium seen in preeclampsia is important information of obstetricians.
Surveillance sensor systems using CMOS imagers

Surveillance sensors are being applied in factory automation systems, traffic control, entrapment protection, automotive safety systems and in other applications where information about the occupancy of a scene is required. In order to detect object motion several methods exploiting distinct physical phenomena, e.g. passive infrared sensors or active microwave sensors, have been realized. When comparing all of the applicable methods, the electro-optical approach performs very well with respect to the spatial resolution of the monitored area. Therefore, electro-optical sensors are able to provide additional information, e.g. to predict the direction of motion, or to localize and identify objects. However, convenient image processing systems using CCD sensors for image acquisition and DSP or /spl mu/P boards for signal processing and classification are not well suited for dedicated, powerful and cost-effective optical sensor solutions. In contrast to this mainstream approach CMOS based imaging technologies offer novel solutions in both the design and applications of electro-optical surveillance sensors. This contribution discusses CMOS imager operating principles and describes certain architectures and applications for passive and active surveillance sensors. The capabilities for realizing on-chip motion detection and range sensing using fast shutter devices are illustrated. We conclude with a discussion of the status of CMOS surveillance sensors and suggest trends for future applications.
Performance evaluation of the VF graph matching algorithm

The paper discusses the performance of a graph matching algorithm tailored for dealing with large graphs in computer vision without using information about the topology of the graphs to be matched. The algorithm, presented in more detail in other papers (and publicly available on the WWW as VF), is now discussed with reference to its computational complexity and memory requirements. The performance analysis is carried out by theoretically characterizing the matching time and the required memory in the best and worst cases. The theoretical analysis is completed by tests on a database of graphs randomly generated. The algorithm is compared with the one proposed by Ullmann (1976): experimental results confirmed the theoretical expectations, highlighting the overall efficiency of the algorithm. Some results obtained by researchers who recently used the algorithm in application domains requiring a massive use of graph matching techniques are finally reported.
Insulin Pumps and Remote Software Updates

This article discusses the future direction of insulin pump technology and its relationship to the software update process. A user needs analysis revealed that respondents wanted an insulin pump software update process to function much in the same way as smartphone updates. Users of insulin pumps have the same expectations as with other ubiquitous technology such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. The development of a software update system within a regulated environment that meets the needs of insulin pump users by allowing optional software updates that provide access to pump improvements, feature additions, or access to algorithms that provide therapy-changing technologies is a new way forward for the management of a complicated disease that affects more than 450,000 people using insulin pumps in the United States.
Fertility and Education: What Do We Really Know?

Current research on the relationship between education and fertility is reviewed, and a model relating intervening variables to fertility is developed. The evidence indicates that education may increase or decrease individual fertility. The decrease is greater for the education of women than of men and is greater in urban than in rural areas. However, education is more likely to increase fertility in countries with the lowest level of female literacy. Probably, this increase occurs as a result of improved health, better nutrition, and the abandonment of traditional patterns of lactation and postpartum abstinence, education increases the ability to have live births. In societies with higher average levels of female literacy, education lowers the demand for children by altering perceptions of costs and benefits. In addition, once the biological supply of children exceeds the demand for them, high levels of education enable couples to limit their fertility more efficiently through access to contraceptive knowledge and improved ability to communicate with each other. Several issues require further research. Statistical tables and figues are provided.
Patient-Controlled Analgesia: Comparison of Morphine to Dexmedetomidine plus Morphine in Patients Undergoing Laminectomy

The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic effect of patient-controlled morphine with that of patient-controlled morphine plus dexmedetomidine on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laminectomy. Ethics committee of the institute approved this study, and after a written informed consent obtained from each participant, 64 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status I and II, scheduled for laminectomy were recruited for this prospective, randomized controlled study. A standardized load morphine dose of 0.15 mg/kg was given to all patients. Patients were randomized into 2 groups postoperatively. The settings were IV morphine, bolus dose 0.02 mg/kg, with a lock out time of 15 minutes in group morphine (n=32). The settings were bolus dose 0.02 mg/kg and 0.1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine with a lock out time of 15 minutes in group morphine plus dexmedetomidine (n=32). Hemodynamic variables, pain scores, and sedation scores were recorded postoperatively. No differences were detected in the demographic data, hemodynamic variables, and pain scores. Total morphine consumption was 46.37±12.05 mg in group morphine and 16.03±8.55 mg in group morphine plus dexmedetomidine. Sedation scores were significantly higher in group morphine plus dexmedetomidine after the first hour. Using morphine or morphine plus dexmedetomidine in patient-controlled analgesia provided effective postoperative analgesia. In the morphine plus dexmedetomidine group, postoperative morphine consumption was lesser than that of the group with only morphine. This result may be explained as a synergistic effect of dexmedetomidine with the analgesic action of morphine.
A Digital Ecosystem of Diabetes Data and Technology

The management of type 1 diabetes (T1D) ideally involves regimented measurement of various health signals; constant interpretation of diverse kinds of data; and consistent cohesion between patients, caregivers, and health care professionals (HCPs). In the context of myriad factors that influence blood glucose dynamics for each individual patient (eg, medication, activity, diet, stress, sleep quality, hormones, environment), such coordination of self-management and clinical care is a great challenge, amplified by the routine unavailability of many types of data thought to be useful in diabetes decision-making. While much remains to be understood about the physiology of diabetes and blood glucose dynamics at the level of the individual, recent and emerging medical and consumer technologies are helping the diabetes community to take great strides toward truly personalized, real-time, data-driven management of this chronic disease. This review describes “connected” technologies—such as smartphone apps, and wearable devices and sensors—which comprise part of a new digital ecosystem of data-driven tools that can link patients and their care teams for precision management of diabetes. These connected technologies are rich sources of physiologic, behavioral, and contextual data that can be integrated and analyzed in “the cloud” for research into personal models of glycemic dynamics, and employed in a multitude of applications for mobile health (mHealth) and telemedicine in diabetes care.
A Novel Subnucleocapsid Nanoplatform for Mucosal Vaccination against Influenza Virus That Targets the Ectodomain of Matrix Protein 2

ABSTRACT In this study, subnucleocapsid nanorings formed by the recombinant nucleoprotein (N) of the respiratory syncytial virus were evaluated as a platform to anchor heterologous antigens. The ectodomain of the influenza virus A matrix protein 2 (M2e) is highly conserved and elicits protective antibodies when it is linked to an immunogenic carrier, making it a promising target to develop universal influenza vaccines. In this context, one or three M2e copies were genetically linked to the C terminus of N to produce N-M2e and N-3M2e chimeric recombinant nanorings. Mice were immunized intranasally with N-M2e or N-3M2e or with M2e or 3M2e control peptides. N-3M2e-vaccinated mice showed the strongest mucosal and systemic antibody responses. These mice presented a reduced viral load and minor weight loss, and all survived upon challenge with influenza virus A/PR8/34 (H1N1) (PR8). We compared the intranasal route to the subcutaneous route of N-3M2e immunization. Only the intranasal route induced a strong local IgA response and led to the protection of mice upon challenge. Finally, we demonstrated that the induction of anti-M2e antibodies by N-3M2e is not impaired by preexisting anti-N immunity. Overall, these results show that the N nanoring is a potent carrier for mucosal delivery of vaccinal antigens.
Mobile CPU power/performance benchmarking and process technology co-optimization

The form factor of mobile devices and their associated thermal dissipation characteristics present practical limits to SoC (and specifically CPU) power consumption. Multiple maximum temperature constraints interact with the thermal “time constant” of package and product to limit allowable die temperature. This can constrain maximum CPU frequency in real use cases. The co-design of product and process technology is required to maximize thermally constrained performance. Technology features, device Ieff/Ioff setpoints, and circuit design styles are all levers to optimize thermally constrained performance. A methodology for early prediction of product sensitivities to these levers is required to enable their definition sufficiently early in the development cycle of the technology node.
Immunodominance of Adenovirus-Derived CD8+ T Cell Epitopes Interferes with the Induction of Transgene-Specific Immunity in Adenovirus-Based Immunization

ABSTRACT Adenovirus (Ad)-based immunization is a popular approach in vaccine development, and Ad-based vectors are renowned for their potential to induce strong CD8+ T cell responses to the encoded transgene. Surprisingly, we previously found in the mouse Friend retrovirus (FV) model that Ad-based immunization did not induce CD8+ T cell responses to the FV Leader-Gag-derived immunodominant epitope GagL85–93. We show now that induction of GagL85–93-specific CD8+ T cells was highly effective when leader-Gag was delivered by plasmid DNA immunization, implying a role for Ad-derived epitopes in mediating unresponsiveness. By immunizing with DNA constructs encoding strings of GagL85–93 and the two Ad-derived epitopes DNA-binding protein418–426 (DBP418–426) and hexon486–494, we confirmed that Ad epitopes prevent induction of GagL85–93-specific CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, while DBP418–426 did not interfere with GagL85–93-specific CD8+ T cell induction, the H-2Dd-restricted hexon486–494 suppressed the CD8+ T cell response to the H-2Db-restricted GagL85–93 strongly in H-2b/d mice but not in H-2b/b mice. This finding indicates that competition occurs at the level of responding CD8+ T cells, and we could indeed demonstrate that coimmunization with an interleukin 2 (IL-2)-encoding plasmid restored GagL85–93-specific CD8+ T cell responses to epitope strings in the presence of hexon486–494. IL-2 codelivery did not restore GagL85–93 responsiveness in Ad-based immunization, however, likely due to the presence of further epitopes in the Ad vector. Our findings show that seemingly immunodominant transgene epitopes can be dominated by Ad-derived epitopes. These findings underline the importance of thorough characterization of vaccine vectors, and modifications of vectors or immunogens may be required to prevent impaired transgene-specific immune responses. IMPORTANCE Ad-based vectors are widely used in experimental preclinical and clinical immunization studies against numerous infectious agents, such as human immunodeficiency virus, Ebola virus, Plasmodium falciparum, or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Preexisting immunity to Ad-based vectors is widely recognized as a hindrance to the widespread use of Ad-based vectors for immunizations in humans; however, our data show that an immune response to Ad-derived T cell epitopes can also result in loss or impairment of transgene-specific immune responses in prenaive vaccinees due to immune competition. Our results highlight that seemingly immunodominant epitopes may be affected by dominance of vector-derived epitopes, and modifications of the vector design or the immunogens employed in immunization may lead to more effective vaccines.
Smarter Sole Survival: Will Neuropathic Patients at High Risk for Ulceration Use a Smart Insole-Based Foot Protection System?

Objective: This study examined adherence to alert-based cues for plantar pressure offloading in patients with diabetic foot disease. Method and Design: Participants (n = 17) with in diabetic foot remission (history of neuropathic ulceration) were instructed to wear a smart insole system (the SurroSense Rx, Orpyx Medical Technologies Inc, Calgary, Canada) over a three-month period. This device is designed to cue offloading to manage unprotected sustained plantar pressures in an effort to prevent foot ulceration. A successful response to an alert was defined as pressure offloading, which occurred within 20 minutes of the alert onset. Patient adherence, defined as daily hours of device wear, was determined using sensor data and patient questionnaires. Changes in these parameters were assessed monthly. Results: Patients demonstrating increased adherence over the course of the study received more alerts (0.82 ± 0.31 alerts/hour) than patients whose adherence did not improve (0.36 ± 0.46 alerts/hour, P = .156). By the final stages of the study, participants who had received at least one alert every two hours were more adherent with offloading than participants who received fewer alerts (52.5 ± 4.1% vs 24.7 ± 22.4%, P = .043). Furthermore, duration of time from alert generation to successful offloading was significantly greater in the group receiving fewer alerts. This was measured in the third month with an effect size Cohen’s d = 1.739, P = . 043. Conclusion: The results suggest a minimum number of alerts (one every two hours) is required for patients with diabetic neuropathy to optimally respond to offloading cues from a smart insole system.
Monolithic CMUT-on-CMOS integration for intravascular ultrasound applications

One of the most important promises of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) technology is integration with electronics. This approach is required to minimize the parasitic capacitances in the receive mode, especially in catheter-based volumetric imaging arrays, for which the elements must be small. Furthermore, optimization of the available silicon area and minimized number of connections occurs when the CMUTs are fabricated directly above the associated electronics. Here, we describe successful fabrication and performance evaluation of CMUT arrays for intravascular imaging on custom-designed CMOS receiver electronics from a commercial IC foundry. The CMUT-on-CMOS process starts with surface isolation and mechanical planarization of the CMOS electronics to reduce topography. The rest of the CMUT fabrication is achieved by modifying a low-temperature micromachining process through the addition of a single mask and developing a dry etching step to produce sloped sidewalls for simple and reliable CMUT-to-CMOS interconnection. This CMUT-to-CMOS interconnect method reduced the parasitic capacitance by a factor of 200 when compared with a standard wire-bonding method. Characterization experiments indicate that the CMUT-on-CMOS elements are uniform in frequency response and are similar to CMUTs simultaneously fabricated on standard silicon wafers without electronics integration. Ex- periments on a 1.6-mm-diameter dual-ring CMUT array with a center frequency of 15 MHz show that both the CMUTs and the integrated CMOS electronics are fully functional. The SNR measurements indicate that the performance is adequate for imaging chronic total occlusions located 1 cm from the CMUT array.
Inhibition of Reverse Transcriptase Activity Increases Stability of the HIV-1 Core

ABSTRACT Previous studies showed that HIV-1 reverse transcription occurs during or before uncoating, linking mechanistically reverse transcription with uncoating. Here we show that inhibition of reverse transcriptase (RT) during HIV-1 infection by pharmacologic or genetic means increased the stability of the HIV-1 core during infection. Interestingly, HIV-1 particles with increased core stability were resistant to the core-destabilizing effects of rhesus TRIM5α (TRIM5αrh). Collectively, this work implies that the surface of the HIV-1 core is dynamic and changes upon the ongoing processes within the core.
Fog Computing and Edge Computing Architectures for Processing Data From Diabetes Devices Connected to the Medical Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is generating an immense volume of data. With cloud computing, medical sensor and actuator data can be stored and analyzed remotely by distributed servers. The results can then be delivered via the Internet. The number of devices in IoT includes such wireless diabetes devices as blood glucose monitors, continuous glucose monitors, insulin pens, insulin pumps, and closed-loop systems. The cloud model for data storage and analysis is increasingly unable to process the data avalanche, and processing is being pushed out to the edge of the network closer to where the data-generating devices are. Fog computing and edge computing are two architectures for data handling that can offload data from the cloud, process it nearby the patient, and transmit information machine-to-machine or machine-to-human in milliseconds or seconds. Sensor data can be processed near the sensing and actuating devices with fog computing (with local nodes) and with edge computing (within the sensing devices). Compared to cloud computing, fog computing and edge computing offer five advantages: (1) greater data transmission speed, (2) less dependence on limited bandwidths, (3) greater privacy and security, (4) greater control over data generated in foreign countries where laws may limit use or permit unwanted governmental access, and (5) lower costs because more sensor-derived data are used locally and less data are transmitted remotely. Connected diabetes devices almost all use fog computing or edge computing because diabetes patients require a very rapid response to sensor input and cannot tolerate delays for cloud computing.
Dual Modulation of Type I Interferon Response by Bluetongue Virus

ABSTRACT Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus that causes an economically important disease in ruminants. BTV infection is a strong inducer of type I interferon (IFN-I) in multiple cell types. It has been shown recently that BTV and, more specifically, the nonstructural protein NS3 of BTV are able to modulate the IFN-I synthesis pathway. However, nothing is known about the ability of BTV to counteract IFN-I signaling. Here, we investigated the effect of BTV on the IFN-I response pathway and, more particularly, the Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription protein (STAT) signaling pathway. We found that BTV infection triggered the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in A549 cells. However, when BTV-infected cells were stimulated with external IFN-I, we showed that activation of the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) promoter and expression of ISGs were inhibited. We found that this inhibition involved two different mechanisms that were dependent on the time of infection. After overnight infection, BTV blocked specifically the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT1. This inhibition correlated with the redistribution of STAT1 in regions adjacent to the nucleus. At a later time point of infection, BTV was found to interfere with the activation of other key components of the JAK/STAT pathway and to induce the downregulation of JAK1 and TYK2 protein expression. Overall, our study indicates for the first time that BTV is able to interfere with the JAK/STAT pathway to modulate the IFN-I response. IMPORTANCE Bluetongue virus (BTV) causes a severe disease in ruminants and has an important impact on the livestock economy in areas of endemicity such as Africa. The emergence of strains, such as serotype 8 in Europe in 2006, can lead to important economic losses due to commercial restrictions and prophylactic measures. It has been known for many years that BTV is a strong inducer of type I interferon (IFN-I) in vitro and in vivo in multiple cell types. However, the ability of BTV to interact with the IFN-I system remains unclear. Here, we report that BTV is able to modulate the IFN-I response by interfering with the Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription protein (STAT) signaling pathway. These findings contribute to knowledge of how BTV infection interferes with the host's innate immune response and becomes pathogenic. This will also be important for the design of efficacious vaccine candidates.
Overexpression of synuclein‐γ in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Currently, pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer‐related death in the United States. Despite the advances in pancreatic carcinoma research, patients with this devastating disease have a very poor prognosis. To identify the gene expression profile of pancreatic carcinoma, an important step in the process of developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, the authors investigated the alteration of gene expression in this disease.