Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and the femoral-to-radial arterial pressure gradient.

OBJECTIVES To determine the femoral-to-radial arterial pressure gradient, as well as the factors associated with them, in patients receiving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest. DESIGN Retrospective automated hemodynamic record review. SETTING University hospital. PARTICIPANTS Patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The automated hemodynamic records of 54 consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest were reviewed, comparing the femoral and radial arterial pressures throughout the intraoperative period. In 20 of the patients, the hemodynamic data from the first 16 postoperative hours were also studied. Forty-one of 54 (76%) of the patients exhibited a mean arterial gradient of at least 10 mmHg either during or after CPB, femoral being higher. Clinically significant gradients were noted throughout the CPB period and the post-CPB period in these patients. In the 54 patients studied, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) gradient was 32 +/- 19 mmHg after CPB (95% confidence limits 28.2 mmHg, 39.0 mmHg), and the mean arterial pressure (MAP) gradient was 6.3 +/- 4.9 mmHg (95% confidence limits 5.5 mmHg, 8.6 mmHg). The duration of clinically significant SBP (>10 mmHg) and MAP (>5 mmHg) gradients in the postoperative period were 5.2 +/- 5.7 hours and 5.8 +/- 7.2 hours, respectively. Advanced age correlated with high post-CPB pressure gradients in this population and was associated with prolonged postoperative resolution of the gradients. CONCLUSIONS The femoral-to-radial arterial pressure gradients, particularly systolic, after CPB, were greater and of longer duration in these patients undergoing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest than gradients previously reported for routine CPB. Central arterial pressure monitoring is recommended for patients undergoing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, being valuable both for intraoperative and postoperative care.
Intravitreal and Orbital Floor Triamcinolone Acetonide Injections in Noninfectious Uveitis: A Comparative Study

Purpose: To compare the effect of orbital floor (OFTA) or intravitreal (IVTA) administration of triamcinolone acetonide on visual acuity and chronic cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients with uveitis. Methods: Retrospective study of patients suffering from chronic noninfectious uveitis in whom CME (n = 97) did not respond to systemic corticosteroids and/or immunosuppression combined with acetazolamide. Patients received a single injection of either IVTA (n = 48, group 1) or OFTA (n = 49, group 2). Best-corrected visual acuity, macular edema (fluorescein angiography), uveitis activity, ocular hypertension, and cataract formation were analyzed over the course of 1 year. Results: Improvement in visual acuity (≥2 lines, LogMAR) was noted in 50% (IVTA) and 34% (OFTA) after 3 months (p = 0.23), and in 18% (IVTA) and 20% (OFTA) after 12 months. CME improved in 100% (IVTA) and 76% (OFTA) of the eyes within the first month postoperatively (p = 0.36). Macular edema was reduced in 100% (group 1) and 20% (group 2) after 3 months (p < 0.01). At 1 year, cataract progression was noted in 68% (IVTA) and 27% (OFTA) (p < 0.01). Increased intraocular pressure (>21 mm Hg) was detected in 21% (IVTA) and 0% (OFTA) at 4 weeks (p < 0.01) after injection. Conclusion: Uveitic CME and visual acuity not responding to systemic immunosuppression and acetazolamide may improve after an IVTA and OFTA injection. The effect is mostly transient. While the IVTA injections were more effective for improving CME, ocular hypertension and cataracts developed more often.
Formation of cytoskeletal elements during mouse embryogenesis. III. Primary mesenchymal cells and the first appearance of vimentin filaments.

The cytoskeletal composition of the 'primitive streak' stage of mouse embryos, i.e. at late day 8 ('day 8.5') of gestation, has been examined by electron microscopy, using thin sections of fixed and embedded embryos, and by immunofluorescence microscopy, using cryostat sections of frozen embryos. At this stage primary mesenchymal cells are observed in the posterior part of the embryo which seem to migrate toward the anterior region. For most of the embryo, these mesenchymal cells are separated from the embryonic ectoderm by a continuous basal lamina. Frequently mesenchymal cells form cytoplasmic projections many of which make contact with this basal lamina, with surfaces of proximal endoderm cells, or with other mesenchymal cells. Primary mesenchymal cells contain sparse individual intermediate-sized filaments (IF), but closely packed IF bundles as they occur as tonofibrils in both embryonic epithelia, ectoderm and proximal endoderm, have not been found. Mesenchymal cells also can form junctions of the fascia adhaerens-type but appear to be devoid of desmosomes. Antibodies to cytokeratins reveal strong fibrillar fluorescence in cells of the proximal endoderm and weak, predominantly subapical staining in embryonic ectoderm. Correspondingly, antibodies to desmoplakins, the major proteins of the desmosomal plaque, show punctate fluorescence in both embryonic epithelia. These epithelial cells are not significantly stained with antibodies to other IF proteins such as vimentin and desmin. However, antibodies to vimentin show positive fluorescence, often in fibrillar tangles, in primary mesenchymal cells which in turn are negative with cytokeratin and desmin antibodies. This first detection of expression of vimentin in embryogenesis has been confirmed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of cytoskeletal proteins from 35S-methionine-labelled embryos. The observations indicate that during embryogenesis synthesis of vimentin occurs, for the first time, in the primitive streak stage and is restricted to the primary mesenchymal cells. Concomitantly, these cells cease to produce cytokeratins and desmoplakin. Possible mechanisms effective in this rapid change from epithelial to mesenchymal character, i.e. from cytokeratin IF to vimentin IF, are discussed.
Proton-translocating transhydrogenase from photosynthetic bacteria.

Transhydrogenase uses the proton-motive force across a membrane to drive the reduction of NADP+ by NADH. It is found in the inner mitochondrial membrane of animal cells and in the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria, including many photosynthetic bacteria. The enzyme has three components: dI, which binds NADH, and dIII, which binds NADP+, protrude from the membrane, whereas dII spans the membrane. Within this organization, the polypeptide arrangement varies among species. The Rhodospirillum (Rsp.) rubrum transhydrogenase was the first to be shown to have a dissociable dI component, a finding that opened up a new approach in studies on the kinetics and the structure of the enzyme. A complex of dI and dIII from Rsp. rubrum transhydrogenase catalyzes very fast hydride transfer from NADH to NADP+. Crystal structures of the complex show how the dihydronicotinamide ring of the NADH and the nicotinamide ring of the NADP+ are brought together to effect this redox reaction. They also indicate that the dihydronicotinamide ring of the NADH can move within its binding site. This is thought to gate the hydride-transfer reaction and thus prevent a slip in the coupling mechanism. Short polypeptide loops in dI and dIII are seen to bind and to position the (dihydro)nicotinamide rings. Longer loops regulate nucleotide and solvent access to the hydride-transfer site. Asymmetry in the structure of the dI-dIII complex suggests that the intact enzyme may operate by an alternating-site mechanism in which one monomer runs 180° out-of-phase with the other.
2.05 Peta-bit/s super-nyquist-WDM SDM transmission using 9.8-km 6-mode 19-core fiber in full C band

We demonstrate ultra-dense SDM transmission of 360-channel Super-Nyquist-WDM DP-QPSK signals over 9.8-km 6-mode 19-core fiber, achieving the record fiber capacity of 2.05 Pbit/s (360WDM×114SDM×50Gbit/s) with the highest aggregate spectral efficiency of 456 bit/s/Hz.
Foetal heart rate variability frequency characteristics with respect to uterine contractions

Monitoring foetal health is important to appropriately plan pregnancy management and delivery. Cardiotocography (CTG) is one of the most employed diagnostic techniques. Because CTG interpretation still lacks of complete reliability, new methods of interpretation and parameters are necessary to further support physicians’ decisions. To this aim, indexes related to variability of foetal heart rate (FHRV) are particularly studied. Frequency components of FHRV and their modifications can be analysed by applying a time-frequency approach, which allows for a distinct understanding of the spectral components related to foetal reactions to internal and external stimuli and their change over time. Being uterine contractions (UC) strong stimuli for the foetus and his autonomic nervous system (ANS), it is worth exploring the FHRV response to UC. This study analysed modifications of FHRV frequency characteristics with respect to 108 UC (relative to 35 healthy foetuses). Results showed a statistically significant (t-test, p < 0.01) power increase of the FHRV in both LF and HF bands in correspondence of the contractions. Moreover, we observed a shift to higher values of the maximum frequency contained in the signal corresponding to the power increase. Such modifications of the FHRV power spectrum can be a sign of ANS reaction and therefore represent additional, objective information about foetal reactivity and health during labour.
Effect of persistent follicles on early embryonic losses in beef cows.

Low doses of progestogens in regimens for synchronization of estrus result in persistent follicles (PF) and reduced conception rates in cattle. The effects of PF on recovery of oocytes/embryos, fertilization, and embryonic development were examined in beef cows. To produce PF, cows received a used Controlled Internal Drug Releasing device on Days 4 through 13 after pretreatment estrus (Day 0) and two injections of 20 mg prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha, i.m. , 12 h apart on Day 6 (PF; n = 20). Control cows received only PGF2 alpha on Day 6 so they would ovulate growing follicles (GF; n = 22). With this model, the largest (dominant) follicle from the first wave of follicular development was being ovulated in cows in each group. Cows were observed for estrus twice daily and were then mated to highly fertile bulls. Follicular development was monitored by ultrasonography on alternate days from Day 2 until estrus and then daily until apparent ovulation. Jugular blood samples were collected every other day from Day 2 through 6 days after mating at posttreatment estrus, when uteri were flushed nonsurgically. The ovulatory follicle, which was followed retrospectively and had been observed longer (14 +/- 1 vs. 8 +/- 1 days), was larger in PF (17.2 +/- 0.5 mm) than in GF (14.5 +/- 0.6 mm; p < 0.01). Mean estradiol-17 beta (E2) in jugular plasma during the 6 days before estrus was higher in PF than in GF (5.7 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.4 pg/ml; p < 0.01). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Robot Navigation Control Based on Monocular Images: An Image Processing Algorithm for Obstacle Avoidance Decisions

This paper covers the use of monocular vision to control autonomous navigation for a robot in a dynamically changing environment. The solution focused on using colour segmentation against a selected floor plane to distinctly separate obstacles from traversable space: this is then supplemented with canny edge detection to separate similarly coloured boundaries to the floor plane. The resulting binary map (where white identifies an obstacle-free area and black identifies an obstacle) could then be processed by fuzzy logic or neural networks to control the robot’s next movements. Findings show that the algorithm performed strongly on solid coloured carpets, wooden, and concrete floors but had difficulty in separating colours in multicoloured floor types such as patterned carpets.
Epithelial Bmpr1a regulates differentiation and proliferation in postnatal hair follicles and is essential for tooth development

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is thought to perform multiple functions in the regulation of skin appendage morphogenesis and the postnatal growth of hair follicles. However, definitive genetic evidence for these roles has been lacking. Here, we show that Cre-mediated mutation of the gene encoding BMP receptor 1A in the surface epithelium and its derivatives causes arrest of tooth morphogenesis and lack of external hair. The hair shaft and hair follicle inner root sheath (IRS) fail to differentiate, and expression of the known transcriptional regulators of follicular differentiation Msx1, Msx2, Foxn1 and Gata3 is markedly downregulated or absent in mutant follicles. Lef1 expression is maintained, but nuclearβ -catenin is absent from the epithelium of severely affected mutant follicles, indicating that activation of the WNT pathway lies downstream of BMPR1A signaling in postnatal follicles. Mutant hair follicles fail to undergo programmed regression, and instead continue to proliferate, producing follicular cysts and matricomas. These results provide definitive genetic evidence that epithelial Bmpr1a is required for completion of tooth morphogenesis, and regulates terminal differentiation and proliferation in postnatal hair follicles.
Associations between prebreeding serum micronutrient concentrations and pregnancy outcome in beef cows.

OBJECTIVE To determine associations between serum concentrations of copper, molybdenum, selenium, vitamin A, and vitamin E measured in beef cows at the start of the community pasture breeding season and pregnancy status at the end of the season. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. ANIMALS 771 beef cows from 39 cow-calf herds. PROCEDURES Serum micronutrient concentrations were measured in samples collected from cows on arrival at 5 different community pastures in Saskatchewan, Canada, in May 2008. Cows were palpated transrectally to determine pregnancy status in October 2008. Herd owners and professional herd managers were surveyed to collect individual data for cows (age, calving date, and history of exposure to bulls before the start of the breeding season) and information on herd and breeding management. Associations between animal-, herd-, and pasture-level variables and pregnancy status were examined. RESULTS Serum concentrations of selenium, molybdenum, vitamin A, and vitamin E were not associated with pregnancy status after accounting for prebreeding body condition score, age, and calving-to-breeding interval. Serum copper concentrations were more commonly assessed as below adequate than were other micronutrients. Decreased serum copper concentrations were associated with increased odds of nonpregnancy in cows < 10 years of age. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Prebreeding micronutrient supplementation programs should be carefully managed in herds with poor reproductive performance in areas known to be copper deficient, and evaluation of serum copper concentrations from a subset of cows should be considered before the start of the breeding season.
Changes in the blood biochemical and haematological profile of neonatal calves with age

Fourteen calves were used to investigate the changes from birth to 83 days of age in the concentrations of serum albumin, alkaline phosphatase, beta-hydroxybutyrate, plasma cortisol, serum creatine kinase, creatinine, iron, plasma fibrinogen, serum gamma-glutamyl transferase, plasma glucose, haptoglobin, serum non-esterified fatty acids, total protein, transferrin, triglycerides, urea and gamma globulin; the haematological variables measured were: basophils, eosinophils, haematocrit, haemoglobin, lymphocytes, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, mean cell volume, monocytes, band neutrophils, neutrophils, platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells. The changes are presented as a series of graphs and the values are discussed in relation to the published reference ranges for adult cattle. Two populations of calves were identified which gave rise to a bimodal distribution for some of the variables. Differences in haematocrit, haemoglobin and red blood cell counts were apparent at birth, with raised values for these measurements being associated with an increased white blood cell and neutrophil count between three and 27 days of age.
Role of Heme Oxygenase in the Protection Afforded Skeletal Muscle During Ischemic Tolerance

Objective: Ischemic tolerance (IT) is known to improve resistance to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)‐induced injury; however, the mechanisms remain unknown. The authors hypothesized that induction of heme oxygenase (HO), a heat shock protein, would provide anti‐inflammatory benefits during IT, thereby preventing leukocyte‐derived I/R injury.
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Outer Membrane Channel Protein CpnT Confers Susceptibility to Toxic Molecules

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, is protected from toxic solutes by an effective outer membrane permeability barrier. Recently, we showed that the outer membrane channel protein CpnT is required for efficient nutrient uptake by M. tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG. In this study, we found that the cpnT mutant of M. bovis BCG is more resistant than the wild type to a large number of drugs and antibiotics, including rifampin, ethambutol, clarithromycin, tetracycline, and ampicillin, by 8- to 32-fold. Furthermore, the cpnT mutant of M. bovis BCG was 100-fold more resistant to nitric oxide, a major bactericidal agent required to control M. tuberculosis infections in mice. Thus, CpnT constitutes the first outer membrane susceptibility factor in slow-growing mycobacteria. The dual functions of CpnT in uptake of nutrients and mediating susceptibility to toxic molecules are reflected in macrophage infection experiments: while loss of CpnT was detrimental for M. bovis BCG in macrophages that enable bacterial replication, presumably due to inadequate nutrient uptake, it conferred a survival advantage in macrophages that mount a strong bactericidal response. Importantly, the cpnT gene showed a significantly higher density of nonsynonymous mutations in drug-resistant clinical M. tuberculosis strains, indicating that CpnT is under selective pressure in human tuberculosis and/or during chemotherapy. Our results indicate that the CpnT channel constitutes an outer membrane gateway controlling the influx of nutrients and toxic molecules into slow-growing mycobacteria. This study revealed that reducing protein-mediated outer membrane permeability might constitute a new drug resistance mechanism in slow-growing mycobacteria.
Contractile properties of adjacent segments of single human muscle fibers

A comparison of the contractile properties of adjacent segments of single human muscle fibers may help to explain the interaction among nuclear domains within the myofiber. Biopsy samples were obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle of 20 healthy untrained women (age 18–79 years). Single fibers (n = 38) were dissected and cut into halves (segments A and B). Segment diameter and depth were measured using an image analysis system. Maximal force (Po) was recorded during activation with calcium (pCa 4.5). Maximal unloaded shortening velocity (Vo) was calculated using the slack test. Myosin heavy chain (MyHC) expression was determined using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE). A significant difference (∼7%) in Po was seen between adjacent segments expressing type I MyHC that could not be attributed to differences in fiber size. Significant differences were observed in Vo even after adjusting for fiber type. A positive correlation was seen in Po (concordance coefficient Rho_C = 0.803) and Vo (Rho_C = 0.690) between segments, but concordance was less than perfect in both cases. Possible explanations for nonuniformity of contractile properties include random variations in physiological systems or variability of protein expression among nuclear domains. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 1319–1326, 2001
Electronic support groups for breast carcinoma

A recent Pew Charitable Trust study found that 52,000,000 individuals used the Internet to obtain health/medical information. Clinical trials of face‐to‐face breast carcinoma support groups show evidence of 1) improvement in quality of life, 2) reduction of psychologic symptoms, 3) improvement in coping responses, and 4) a reduction in pain. To the authors' knowledge, a few studies published to date have investigated Internet‐delivered electronic support groups (ESGs) for cancer. The most sophisticated is the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS) program, which provides integrated information, referral, and a newsgroup‐based social support program. However, to the authors' knowledge, no studies published to date have examined the impact of a breast carcinoma ESG in a clinical trial.
Multi-sensor switching strategy for automotive longitudinal control

In this paper we propose and explore a novel multi-sensor switching strategy for automotive longitudinal control. The proposed strategy selects, at each instant of time, the sensor (belonging to a collection of sensors) that provides the best closed loop performance, as measured by a control-performance criterion. It is assumed that each sensor has an associated feedback controller that has been designed such that the sensor-controller pair stabilises the closed loop system under normal operation conditions. Stability of the switching system under normal (fault-free) operation conditions is established in the main result of this paper. In addition, a simulation example illustrates that the proposed switching system is able to maintain performance levels close to the desirable ones, and to preserve stability, even under the occurrence of severe faults in some of the sensors
Three-dimensional upper limb movement decoding from EEG signals

A brain-computer interface (BCI) can be used to control a limb neuroprosthesis in patients. In particular, decoding trajectory of upper limb with motor imagery (MI) can support motor rehabilitation using a wearable robotic arm. Recent research shows the possibility of decoding hand movement trajectory from electroencephalography (EEG) signals. However, such studies are insufficient to apply motor rehabilitation, which are only considered hand movement trajectory. Although disabilities patients take correct hand movement, sometimes wrong elbow movement can be taken in motor rehabilitation. In this study, we explore to decode velocity of both hand and elbow at the same time from EEG signals when subjects move upper limb. The result shows feasibility toward controlling robotic arm.
Monitoring for a decidable fragment of MTL-R

Abstract. Temporal logics targeting real-time systems are traditionally undecidable. Based on a restricted fragment of MTLR , we propose a new approach for the runtime verification of hard real-time systems. The novelty of our technique is that it is based on incremental evaluation, allowing us to e↵ectively treat duration properties (which play a crucial role in real-time systems). We describe the two levels of operation of our approach: o✏ine simplification by quantifier removal techniques; and online evaluation of a three-valued interpretation for formulas of our fragment. Our experiments show the applicability of this mechanism as well as the validity of the provided complexity results.