Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE PULMONARY AND SYSTEMIC CIRCULATIONS IN CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

The application of cardiac catheterization to the study of the human circulation (Forssmann, 1929; Cournand and Ranges, 1941) provided a new technique for obtaining information about the pulmonary circulation and also for the study of the physiological effects of congenital heart disease (Bing et al., 1947a; Dexter et al., 1947b; Cournand et al., 1949). Extensive studies have been made in which the pulmonary circulation in congenital heart disease has been investigated and in particular the pulmonary blood flow and peripheral resistance have been evaluated (for instance Bing et al., 1947b.; Handelsman et al., 1948; Hickam, 1949; Wood, 1950). It has long been known, however, for the systemic circulation that the elasticity of the arterial walls in relation to their Windkessel (pressure reservoir) function is of great importance as well as the peripheral resistance (Frank, 1899 and 1926; Broemser and Ranke, 1930; Wezler and Boger, 1939). Cournand (1947) has recently pointed out that the same consideration applies to the pulmonary circulation but so far no quantitative estimations of the " elasticity resistance " in the pulmonary circulation have been presented. Cardiac catheterization used for the investigation of congenital heart disease yields data that may be used for the study of the systemic circulation as well as the pulmonary, so that it is possible to compare the effect of the cardiac abnormality on the two circulations although hitherto attention has usually been concentrated on the pulmonary circulation. Formulae that give mathematical expression to the arterial Windkessel function are available and some are applicable to the data obtained by catheterization studies in normal subjects or in those with many forms of acquired or congenital heart disease. These or other formulae applied to the analysis of the changes occurring in the two circulations are capable of yielding valuable results enabling these changes to be studied with greater precision. From cardiac catheterization studies made in patients with suspected or proven congenital heart disease we have been able to make such an analysis in a variety of conditions and have confirmed the importance of the elasticity resistance in the pulmonary arterial system and of the interrelationship of the various components that determine the arterial blood pressure.
A Comparison of Meal Replacements and Medication in Weight Maintenance after Weight Loss

Objective: To compare the use of meal replacements or medication during weight maintenance subsequent to weight loss using a very low-energy diet (VLED) in overweight or obese adults. Design: Participants followed a liquid VLED of 2177 kJ for 12 weeks followed by 4 weeks of re-orientation to solid foods. Participants were randomized at week 16 to receive either meal replacements or Orlistat both combined with a structured meal plan containing an energy value calculated to maintain weight loss. Subjects: Sixty-four women (age = 49.9 ± 10 y, weight = 101.6 ± 17.1 kg, height = 164.9 ± 6.0 cm, BMI = 36.7 ± 5.4 kg/m2) and 28 men (age = 53.7 ± 9.6 y, weight = 121.8 ± 16.0 kg, height = 178.7 ± 5.6 cm, BMI = 37.8 ± 4.9 kg/m2) completed a 1 year weight management program. Behavioral weight management clinics included topics on lifestyle, physical activity (PA), and nutrition. Participants met for 90 min weekly for 26 weeks, and then biweekly for the remaining 26 weeks. Outcomes: Minutes of PA, fruits and vegetables (FV), and pedometer steps were recorded on a daily basis and reported at each group meeting. Body weight was obtained at each group meeting. Results: During VLED, the MR group decreased body weight by 22.8 ± 6.1 kg and the Orlistat group decreased body weight by 22.3 ± 6.1 kg. During weight maintenance, there was no significant group by time interaction for body weight, PA, FV consumption, or pedometer steps. At week 16, the meal replacement group had a body weight of 85.4 ± 14.3 kg that increased to 88.1 ± 16.5 kg at 52 weeks (p < 0.05). At week 16, the Orlistat group had a body weight of 85.7 ± 17.9 kg that increased to 88.5 ± 20.3 kg at 52 weeks (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Subsequent to weight loss from a VLED, meal replacements and Orlistat treatments were both effective in maintaining weight significantly below baseline levels over a 52 week period of time. Meal replacements may be a viable alternative strategy to medications for weight maintenance.
A broadband wide beamwidth circulary polarized microstrip patch antenna with conformal radome for high-speed airborne communication

The paper presents a wide beamwidth broad bandwidth circularly polarized (CP) microstrip patch antenna covered with nozzle shaped conformal radome for airborne communication system. A wall shaped raised ground structure (RGS) is used around the stacked rectangular microstrip patch to widen the beamwidth. A material with very low dielectric constant is used to fill the space left between RGS and two layers of rectangular microstrip patch. Low dielectric constant makes the antenna less dependent on the finite size of ground plane or the host structure due to the absence of higher order modes of surface waves and retains the purity of broad radiation beam. In order to separate radiating patch from its feeding structure and for circular polarization (CP), a crossed slot aperture coupled technique is used. A nozzle shaped conformal radome is used to protect antenna from the environmental hazards and to reduce aerodynamic drag as well. It is observed that antenna provides excellent electrical and radiation characteristics. 10-dB Return loss bandwidth of 30%, 3-dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of 15%, realized gain of 6.2 dBiC, 3-dB beamwidth of 110° × 110° and 3-dB axial ratio beamwidth of 170° × 175° at center frequency of 9.45 GHz of X-band are observed.
Deep-level-noise spectroscopy of ion-implanted polysilicon thin films.

Noise measurements represent a new technique for the characterization of traps in polycrystalline silicon. Data of highly-boron-doped polysilicon thin films reveal that the noise can be decomposed into a small number of Lorentz spectra. Each of these Lorentzian curves corresponds to a specific trap in the space-charge regions of the grain boundaries. We therefore introduce deep-level-noise spectroscopy (DLNS) as a new quantitative tool for the analysis of bulk traps in polysilicon. DLNS is based on temperature-dependent noise measurements at different frequencies. Our quantitative analysis yields the energy position, the capture cross section, as well as the concentration of each trap.
Characteristics of Infradian and Circadian Rhythms in the Persistent Vegetative State

This retrospective study investigated the circadian and infradian characteristics of blood pressure and heart rate in 26 patients with traumatic head injury in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate were measured every hour for the first 240 h (10 days) following hospital admission. These data were analysed for the presence of circadian and infradian rhythms using the least-squares fit of the cosine function with the single cosinor method. Infradian rhythms were defined as biological rhythms with a period of approximately 7 days (circaseptan rhythms). All the patients studied had circadian and circaseptan rhythms of systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate. The amplitudes of all the circaseptan rhythms were significantly greater than those of the corresponding circadian rhythms. It was concluded that there was an altered association between circadian and infradian blood pressure and heart rate rhythms in patients in a PVS. Circadian and infradian rhythms were present, but the infradian rhythm had a greater amplitude than the circadian rhythm.
Comparison of laparoscopic saline infused to dry radio frequency ablation of renal tissue: evolution of histological infarct in the porcine model.

PURPOSE We investigated and compared the gross and histopathological features of radio frequency (RF) ablated renal tissue using saline infused RF ablation (RFA) vs dry RFA in a porcine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten porcine kidneys underwent laparoscopic RFA. The lower and upper poles of each right kidney were treated with 1 and 2 cycles of saline augmented (wet) RFA, respectively. The upper pole of each left kidney was RF ablated without saline infusion (dry RFA) and a control lesion was created in the lower pole. The animals were sacrificed immediately after ', 2 and 9 days after (subacute), and 14 and 21 days after (chronic) treatment, respectively. Gross pathological and histological changes caused by the different RF treatments were compared. RESULTS Mean time to attain target temperature was shorter with wet than with dry RFA. Grossly the lesion sizes achieved were larger using wet RFA but independent of the number of wet RFA treatment cycles. Gross lesion sizes decreased with time for each treatment modality. No histopathological differences were seen between the 2 RFA treatment modalities as well as between 1 vs 2 cycles of wet RFA. In the acute phase hematoxylin and eosin staining of ablated tissue revealed focal areas of alterations in renal tubular histology. However, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide staining of corresponding areas confirmed the lack of cellular viability except for glomeruli. In the subacute phase there were focal coagulation necrosis and thrombosed blood vessels. Within the necrotic areas the glomeruli were the last structures to lose viability. In the chronic phase fibrosis with decreased lesion size was seen. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide staining demonstrated that the cellular kill was permanent during the entire study period. CONCLUSIONS The effects of RFA of renal tissue has 2 phases, namely initial direct thermal ablation causing acute cell death and a later subacute phase causing subsequent infarction of the distal arterial vascular supply to the ablated region, resulting in more cell death and coagulative necrosis. Glomeruli are the last structures to lose viability in necrotic areas. Most importantly cellular death caused by RFA is permanent.
Utilizing CAN-Bus and smartphones to enforce safe and responsible driving

Road fatalities in Saudi Arabia are expected to reach an alarming rate of one death per hour in 2015. In this paper, we describe a framework for vehicular sensing that is directly aimed at instilling safe driving. The presented architecture utilizes access to vehicle's CAN-Bus through an OBD-II connector. The access is processed using both on-vehicle smartphone and in-the-cloud processing. Road conditions (e.g., potholes, speedbumps, slowdowns, etc.) are recognized and utilized to classify roads using a threshold-based engine. The proposed framework is designed with strong emphasis on extendability, and a service application providing drivers with Quailty of Road (QoR) status is demonstrated.
Women Entrepreneurs in India: Problems and Prospects

The emergence of entrepreneurs in agriculture and allied activities can propel our rural population into self-sustaining individuals, who in turn can catalyze the development of economy. The concepts of entrepreneur and entrepreneurship have been frequently applied to industrial sector. Agriculture, on the other hand, has largely been viewed as non-entrepreneurial traditional activity. For rural folk it is a way for life. Hence farmers were never visualized as business operators and farming as an enterprise. Not much has been developed to farmers into rational business, sensing individuals or in other words ‘entrepreneurs’. The genesis of entrepreneurship in agriculture and allied activities ,is quite recent. It is now being widely accepted that increase in production, productivity, of terms, farm diversification, innovation and development of farmers into self sustaining individuals follow inoculation of the entrepreneurial qualities among the farmers. Factors like liberalization of the economy have created the right ambience for growth of entrepreneurs in agriculture. It is estimated that presently women entrepreneurs comprise about 10% of the total entrepreneurs in India. The term “Women Entrepreneurship” mean, an act of business ownership and business creation that empowers women economically, increases their economic strength as well as position in society. Hence women-entrepreneurs have been making a considerable impact in all most all the segments of the economy which is more than 25 percent of all kinds of business . In India “Entrepreneurship” is very limited amongst women especially in the formal sector, which is less than 5 percent of all the business. The personality trait of women entrepreneurs includes Risk takers, opportunist, inventor, commercialiser, trader, innovator, flexible etc. There are various problems associated with women entrepreneurs such as problem of finances, family responsibilities, limited mobility factor and domination by male, old and outdated social outlook etc. This paper suggests various problems and future prospects of women entrepreneurs.
Enterprise Search – Suchmaschinen für Inhalte im Unternehmen

Ist ein zentraler Informationszugang wie im Internet auch in Unternehmen moglich? Im Beitrag werden die Anforderungen und Besonderheiten der Suche in Unternehmen vorgestellt. Anschliesend werden Suchansatze und Softwarearchitekturen von Suchmaschinen fur einen zentralen Informationszugang im Unternehmen vergleichend untersucht.
Picoliter‐volume aqueous droplets in oil: Electrochemical detection and yeast cell electroporation

An electrochemical detection method was introduced for aqueous droplet analysis in oil phase of microfluidic devices. This method is based on the electrochemical signal difference between aqueous and oil. Applying a low alternating current (AC) voltage to a couple of Au microelectrodes, this method can offer size information and ion concentration range from 0.02 mmol/L to 1 mol/L of tens of picoliter to nanoliter aqueous droplets. Alternatively, applying a relative high AC voltage (18 Vpp) at a frequency of 1 kHz leads to electroporation of yeast cells encapsulated into picoliter droplets. We believe that this simple technique is useful for a number of aqueous droplet‐based chemical and biological analyses as well as cell electroporation.
Association between left ventricular hypertrophy and changes in arterial stiffness during hypertensive treatment

Abstract Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) has been demonstrated as a parameter of arterial stiffness, which antihypertensive therapy may improve. However, little information is available about the factors affecting changes in arterial stiffness assessed by CAVI during antihypertensive therapy. We performed a study to examine the factors affecting changes in arterial stiffness assessed by CAVI during antihypertensive therapy. Eighty treated hypertensive patients (71 ± 10 years) were divided into two groups: 50 patients showing a decrease in CAVI (Group 1) and 30 patients showing an increase (Group 2) during observation (24 ± 11 months) of antihypertensive therapy. The groups did not differ in the rates of use of angiotensin II receptor blockers or calcium channel blockers. Age (Group 1: 67 ± 11 versus Group 2: 74 ± 8 years), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (Group 1: 103 ± 19 versus Group 2: 120 ± 24 g/m2) and systolic blood pressure (Group 1: 133 ± 17 versus Group 2: 144 ± 23 mm Hg) at the start of observation were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (p = 0.003, p = 0.001 and p = 0.027, respectively). The changes in CAVI during observation were correlated only with LVMI (r = 0.289, p = 0.009) at the start of observation for all 80 patients. It may be difficult to improve arterial stiffness assessed by CAVI during antihypertensive therapy in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.
A model for active and healthy ageing with a rare genetic disease: cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common life-limiting genetic condition in Caucasians, affects many organ systems. Specialised medical care, aggressive treatments [1] and proper nutrition both lengthen and improve quality of life for CF patients. Advances achieved over the last four decades have transformed CF from a fatal childhood disease to a long-term chronic condition. CF patients can now reach adulthood [2–5], although most of them still have a reduced life expectancy, and the adult population has passed from 44.55% in 2005 to 49.3% in 2010 (figure 1), the oldest patient being aged >80 years, from the 2010 European CF registry [6]. In the near future, even though CF paediatric care will remain crucial to assure the best growth for patients and transition to adulthood, CF centres may largely be considered as adult oriented [7], and we should, therefore, aim for the new concept of active and healthy ageing (AHA) in CF patients. Important controversies exist concerning the early- and long-term management of CF, which should be carefully considered when proposing a strategy for ageing well with CF [8]. Cystic fibrosis management today: an example of active and healthy ageing in patients suffering from a rare genetic disease http://ow.ly/V3JXt
Bone change after surgical treatment of mucous cyst at the interphalangeal joint of the great toe in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Digital mucous cysts are a type of benign cysts of the digits, typically located at the distal interphalangeal joints or in the proximal nail fold, which usually occur on the hands. The diagnosis of digital mucous cysts is relatively easy because of its light-transmitting property, but the treatment is often difficult because of complications including recurrence, infection, diminished range of motion, and nail deformity. We report a case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) showing good course after surgical treatment of mucous cyst at the interphalangeal joint of the great toe. In a case of RA, combination of synovectomy with surgical treatment of mucous cyst might be effective.
Association of β-blocker therapy with risks of adverse cardiovascular events and deaths in patients with ischemic heart disease undergoing noncardiac surgery: a Danish nationwide cohort study.

IMPORTANCE Clinical guidelines have been criticized for encouraging the use of β-blockers in noncardiac surgery despite weak evidence. Relevant clinical trials have been small and have not convincingly demonstrated an effect of β-blockers on hard end points (ie, perioperative myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death). OBJECTIVE To assess the association of β-blocker treatment with major cardiovascular adverse events (MACE) and all-cause mortality in patients with ischemic heart disease undergoing noncardiac surgery. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND EXPOSURE: Individuals with ischemic heart disease with or without heart failure (HF) and with and without a history of myocardial infarction undergoing noncardiac surgery between October 24, 2004, and December 31, 2009, were identified from nationwide Danish registries. Adjusted Cox regression models were used to calculate the 30-day risks of MACE (ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or cardiovascular death) and all-cause mortality associated with β-blocker therapy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Thirty-day risk of MACE and all-cause mortality. RESULTS Of 28,263 patients with ischemic heart disease undergoing surgery, 7990 (28.3%) had HF and 20,273 (71.7%) did not. β-Blockers were used in 4262 (53.3%) with and 7419 (36.6%) without HF. Overall, use of β-blockers was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.79-1.02) for MACE and 0.95 (0.85-1.06) for all-cause mortality. Among patients with HF, use of β-blockers was associated with a significantly lower risk of MACE (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.70-0.87) and all-cause mortality (0.80; 0.70-0.92), whereas among patients without HF, there was no significant association of β-blocker use with MACE (1.11; 0.92-1.33) or mortality (1.15; 0.98-1.35) (P < .001 for interactions). Among patients without HF, β-blockers were also associated with a lowered risk among those with a recent myocardial infarction (<2 years), with HRs of 0.54 (95% CI, 0.37-0.78) for MACE and 0.80 (0.53-1.21) for all-cause mortality (P < .02 for interactions between β-blockers and time period after myocardial infarction), but with no significant association in the remaining patients. Results were similar in propensity score-matched analyses. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among patients with ischemic heart disease undergoing noncardiac surgery, use of β-blockers was associated with lower risk of 30-day MACE and mortality only among those with HF or recent myocardial infarction.
The myocardial area at risk

Sudden occlusion of a coronary artery initiates an expanding array of functional, metabolic and structural abnormalities, ultimately leading to myocyte necrosis, which extends from the subendocardial to the subepicardial layers of the perfusion bed—what Reimer called the ‘wavefront phenomenon’. 1 In this setting, the myocardial area at risk (AAR) is defined as the myocardial tissue within the vascular territory that is distal to the culprit lesion of the infarct-related artery. If not timely reperfused, this area is at definite risk of ischaemic death. In humans, the portion of the AAR, that is irreversibly injured (ie, infarcted) ranges from 0% (aborted infarction) to as much as 88%. 2 The proportion of the AAR that ultimately survives—that is, the salvaged myocardium—is dependent on multiple factors, including time to reperfusion, ischaemic preconditioning, collateral flow, distal embolisation, reperfusion injury and microvascular dysfunction. Since the extent of myocardial salvage is an important determinant of final infarct size, the quantitative assessment of myocardial salvage offers tremendous potential to aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeted at reducing ischaemic/reperfusion injury in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (MI). The extent of myocardial salvage is defined as the difference between the total AAR and final infarct size. Therefore, in recent years there has been a renewed interest in techniques used for the assessment of the myocardial AAR in patients with acute MI. However, in contrast to myocardial delayed enhancement MRI (MDE-MRI), which represents a robust and validated technique that allows for an accurate assessment and detailed characterisation of the infarcted regions,3 quantification of the AAR still remains challenging. In animal studies, fluorescein staining and fluorescent microspheres are the reference standard for measuring the AAR.4–6 In humans, a commonly used technique is single-photon emission tomography, which requires …
An overview of CSCL methodologies

This study surveyed empirical CSCL papers published in seven leading journals of the field during 2005--2007 and analyzed methodologies of a random sample of 33 studies. The dominant features of CSCL research methodologies were descriptive studies in classroom settings with self-report/questionnaire that were quantitatively analyzed. Yet, studies were quite eclectic in their research method, adopting a variety of research design, data sources and analysis methods, leading to cross-over or hybrid methodologies. Studies of collaborative learning were carried out frequently both in experimental and descriptive studies in lab and classroom settings. Diverse data sources were collected and analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. New techniques for analyzing collaborative processes were also emerging. Still, it appears that the field needs to be more principled in its applications of design-based research. In addition, the field is in need of more diverse and systematic ways to analyze qualitative data in order to take a full advantage of the rich data afforded in CSCL research.