Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of hypoxia on the pharmacological responsiveness of isolated coronary artery rings from the sheep

1 The effects of low oxygen tension on tone and on the responsiveness to contractile and relaxant agents were examined on circumflex coronary artery rings isolated from sheep. 2 When artery rings (2–2.5 mm o.d.) were set at their optimal resting tension, introduction of hypoxia (0% O2) caused a sustained contraction which was reversible on washing with oxygenated Krebs solution. In precontracted (40 mm KCl) arteries, hypoxia caused a similar response except that it was preceded by a transient relaxation. 3 The hypoxia‐induced contraction was potentiated by the combination of phentolamine (1 μm) and propranolol (1 μm), markedly reduced by verapamil (10 μm) and either abolished or reduced by indomethacin (1 μm). Indomethacin itself caused a contraction. 4 Under hypoxic conditions, the contractile effects of U46619 (a stable thromboxane analogue) and 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) and the vasodilator effects of noradrenaline, iloprost (a prostacyclin mimetic) and adenosine were markedly potentiated. In contrast, vasoconstriction to potassium or acetylcholine was depressed. 5 Changing the gases from 95% O2 to 12% O2 had no significant effect on the contractile effects of U46619. However, the maximum contractile effect of U46619 was significantly enhanced by changing the gases from 12% O2 to 0% O2. 6 Rings from a smaller branch (0.6–1.3 mm o.d.) of the circumflex coronary artery of the sheep, in the presence of hypoxia, exhibited qualitatively similar changes in the responsiveness to U46619, 5‐HT and adenosine to those observed in the large artery. However, the effect of potassium was potentiated rather than depressed. 7 It is concluded that hypoxia‐induced contraction may involve a modified release of cyclo‐oxygenase products and be partly dependent upon the availability of extracellular calcium. 8 The change in the responsiveness of coronary arteries, under hypoxia, to both constrictor and dilator mediators may have clinical relevance to myocardial ischaemia and angina pectoris.
Transforming Practice Organizations to Foster Lifelong Learning and Commitment to Medical Professionalism

Practice organizations will increasingly engage in activities that are the functional equivalents of continuing medical education. The authors maintain that if these activities are properly structured within practice organizations, they can become powerful engines of socialization to enhance physicians' lifelong learning and commitment to medical professionalism. They propose that this promise can be realized if new or reformed practice organizations combine education and service delivery and institutionalize processes of individual and collective reflection. The resulting “institutions of reflective practice” would be ones of collegial, experiential, reflective lifelong learning concerning the technical and normative aspects of medical work. They would extend recent methods of medical education such as problem-based learning into the practice setting and draw on extant methods used in complex organizations to maximize the advantages and minimize the disadvantages that practice organizations typically present for adult learning. As such, these institutions would balance the potentially conflicting organizational needs for, on the one hand, (1) self-direction, risk taking, and creativity; (2) specialization; and (3) collegiality; and, on the other hand, (4) organizational structure, (5) coordination of division of labor, and (6) hierarchy. Overall, this institutionalization of reflective practice would enrich practice with education and education with practice, and accomplish the ideals of what the authors call “responsive medical professionalism. ” The medical profession would both contribute and be responsive to social values, and medical work would be valued intrinsically and as central to practitioners' self-identity and as a contribution to the public good.
Qui est diabétique? Le patient selon les médias et les experts

Qui est le patient? Est-il encore le sujet passif (celui ou celle qui supporte, qui endure la maladie, dans le sens etymologique du mot) ou un sujet actif dans la quete de la guerison, tel que prescrit par les differentes approches de l’ empowerment de l’usager ? Ou est-il devenu le « consommateur eclaire » des produits et des services therapeutiques? L’objectif de ce papier est d’explorer les reponses a ces questions depuis le point de vue de deux acteurs qui faconnent les perceptions publiques sur la sante et la maladie, c’est-a-dire les medias et les experts (particulierement les cliniciens). Un cas en particulier nous servira de terrain pour mieux saisir les enjeux de la representation du patient, celui de diabete. Topique majeur des discours medicaux et mediatiques, le diabete est devenu un sujet « hyper communique ». Notre analyse repose sur l’analyse des discours mediatiques et experts au Canada a partir d’une demarche qualitative. Le portrait du patient qui emerge dans ces discours sera le resultat d’une lecture des representations explicites et implicites qui se degagent de ceux-ci. Ces discours sur le patient diabetique, tels que vehicules par les medias et les experts, definissent des roles et des relations entre les acteurs des systemes de sante, surtout la facon dont les acteurs communiquent et interagissent. Cette recherche montre que les discours sur le patient vehiculent a la fois des representations hautement encadrees, dans lesquelles le patient est surtout un consommateur, et des representations plus disruptives dans lesquelles le patient est un acteur constamment appele a agir et reagir dans un environnement de surinformation.
Expression of fibronectin and tenascin‐C mRNA by myofibroblasts, vascular cells and epithelial cells in human colon adenomas and carcinomas

To understand the mechanisms of tissue remodeling during cancer progression, it is important to know the type of cells that actively express extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Twenty‐nine adenocarcinomas, 5 adenomas and non‐neoplastic mucosa samples were therefore investigated to determine their fibronectin (FN) and tenascin‐C (TN‐C) expression using in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemical staining. In the non‐neoplastic mucosa, no mRNA signals were found. Two of the adenomas demonstrated positive signals in peri‐cryptal cells and the vessels. In the cancers, TN‐C and FN mRNAs were found in 86% and 96% of the total cases, respectively. The signals were mainly detected in myofibroblasts, labeled with α‐smooth muscle actin, in the cancer stroma. TN‐C mRNA‐positive cells were often observed in localized areas, such as in cancer stroma associated with invading edges and/or in host tissues surrounding the invading cancer front, but rarely in the center of the tumors. FN mRNA‐positive cells were more widely spread throughout the cancer stroma, although they were also frequently observed at invading edges. Vascular cells in cancer tissues were also labeled. In 10 specimens, cancer cells themselves expressed FN and/or TN‐C mRNA. Comparison with histo‐pathological findings revealed positive relationships between the degree of mRNA expression of FN and TN‐C and the depth of invasion as well as the frequency of metastasis to lymph nodes. The expression of FN and TN‐C by myofibroblasts, vascular cells and cancer cells could be important for the remodeling process of neoplastic tissues during cancer development and progression. Int. J. Cancer 73:10–15, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Bayesian methodological framework for accommodating interannual variability of nutrient loading with the SPARROW model

Regression‐type, hybrid empirical/process‐based models (e.g., SPARROW, PolFlow) have assumed a prominent role in efforts to estimate the sources and transport of nutrient pollution at river basin scales. However, almost no attempts have been made to explicitly accommodate interannual nutrient loading variability in their structure, despite empirical and theoretical evidence indicating that the associated source/sink processes are quite variable at annual timescales. In this study, we present two methodological approaches to accommodate interannual variability with the Spatially Referenced Regressions on Watershed attributes (SPARROW) nonlinear regression model. The first strategy uses the SPARROW model to estimate a static baseline load and climatic variables (e.g., precipitation) to drive the interannual variability. The second approach allows the source/sink processes within the SPARROW model to vary at annual timescales using dynamic parameter estimation techniques akin to those used in dynamic linear models. Model parameterization is founded upon Bayesian inference techniques that explicitly consider calibration data and model uncertainty. Our case study is the Hamilton Harbor watershed, a mixed agricultural and urban residential area located at the western end of Lake Ontario, Canada. Our analysis suggests that dynamic parameter estimation is the more parsimonious of the two strategies tested and can offer insights into the temporal structural changes associated with watershed functioning. Consistent with empirical and theoretical work, model estimated annual in‐stream attenuation rates varied inversely with annual discharge. Estimated phosphorus source areas were concentrated near the receiving water body during years of high in‐stream attenuation and dispersed along the main stems of the streams during years of low attenuation, suggesting that nutrient source areas are subject to interannual variability.
Detection of human papillomaviruses 16-18 in cervical cells by molecular hybridization: relationship with morphonuclear cell image analyses.

Forty-one Feulgen-stained cervical imprint smears were analyzed by means of the SAMBA 200 cell image processor in order to quantitatively score human papillomavirus (HPV) 16-18-induced morphonuclear modifications as assessed by morphometric, densitometric, and textural parameters. Molecular hybridization technology using 16 and 18 type specific genetic probes made it possible to divide our series into three groups: Group 1, containing noninfected smears; Group 2, containing "suspicious", i.e., borderline positive, smears; and Group 3, those related to infected patients. Our results show that nuclei from infected smears are much more hyperchromatic and bigger than those arising from noninfected smears. This quantitative description of HPV 16-18-induced chromatin modifications enabled us to create preliminary data banks which could lead to an objective and reproducible grading of unknown cases. This approach is now being prospectively assessed on a large series of cases because the value of the current study is limited until the data bank is tested against unknown specimens with a broader spectrum of HPV infection.
Situation Based Framework for Testing Methods and Metrics

There are many methods to test the software; the problem is to select an appropriate method from wide range of testing methods as well as to select measurement methods for assessing the testing effort. The purpose of this work is to create a situational method from method base of testing methods and testing metrics. Situational method engineering focuses on construction of new advanced development methods from parts of existing methods, called method fragments. Our proposed framework is based on testing methods and metrics to adapt the testing phase according to situation. Situations are created out of project characteristics and testing levels. We have collected all the testing methods / techniques and test metrics into SME repository, this repository will help developers for selecting a suitable method(s) by taking into account the project characteristics, and that selected method is called the situational method. The proposed framework can be automated to facilitate the new (novice) software developer for selecting a suitable method from variety of testing methods and testing metrics.
Serotonergic impairment and memory deficits in adolescent rats after binge exposure of methylone

Methylone is a cathinone derivative that has recently emerged as a designer drug of abuse in Europe and the USA. Studies on the acute and long-term neurotoxicity of cathinones are starting to be conducted. We investigated the neurochemical/enzymatic changes indicative of neurotoxicity after methylone administration (4 × 20 mg/kg, subcutaneously, per day with 3 h intervals) to adolescent rats, to model human recreational use. In addition, we studied the effect of methylone on spatial learning ad memory using the Morris water maze paradigm. Our experiments were carried out at a high ambient temperature to simulate the hot conditions found in dance clubs where the drug is consumed. We observed a hyperthermic response to methylone that reached a peak 30 min after each dose. We determined a serotonergic impairment in methylone-treated rats, especially in the frontal cortex, where it was accompanied by astrogliosis. Some serotonergic alterations were also present in the hippocampus and striatum. No significant neurotoxic effect on the dopaminergic system was identified. Methylone-treated animals only displayed impairments in the probe trial of the Morris water maze, which concerns reference memory, while the spatial learning process seemed to be preserved.
Pronator syndrome due to thickened bicipital aponeurosis.

consistent with the hypothesis that dural arteriovenous fistula can be due to a malformation, as may be the case in the present observation. Indeed, the persistence of a trigeminal artery provides some indirect evidence that a structural defect may have predisposed to the disruption of the middle meningeal artery following a traumatic accident, which would have had little effect on a normal artery.
A language for hierarchical data parallel design-space exploration on GPUs

Abstract Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) offer potential for very high performance; they are also rapidly evolving. Obsidian is an embedded language (in Haskell) for implementing high performance kernels to be run on GPUs. We would like to have our cake and eat it too; we want to raise the level of abstraction beyond CUDA code and still give the programmer control over the details relevant to kernel performance. To that end, Obsidian provides array representations that guarantee elimination of intermediate arrays while also using the type system to model the hierarchy of the GPU. Operations are compiled very differently depending on what level of the GPU they target, and as a result, the user is gently constrained to write code that matches the capabilities of the GPU. Thus, we implement not Nested Data Parallelism, but a more limited form that we call Hierarchical Data Parallelism. We walk through case-studies that demonstrate how to use Obsidian for rapid design exploration or auto-tuning, resulting in performance that compares well to the hand-tuned kernels used in Accelerate and NVIDIA Thrust.
Regulation of innate immunity by the molecular machinery of macroautophagy

Innate immune responses are the first line of defence for an organism to restrict invading pathogens. They fulfil two main functions, namely detection of the pathogen to successively alarm the appropriate components of the immune system and early inhibition of the infection to prevent demise of the infected organism before a more tailored immune response, usually mediated by the adaptive immune system, can be mounted. Autophagy and phagocytosis, modified by the autophagic core machinery, contribute to these functions by regulating pathogen detection, influencing the production of innate immune mediators and directly restricting intracellular and extracellular pathogens as an effector mechanism of innate immunity. These aspects of the involvement of mainly macroautophagy in innate immune responses will be discussed in this review.
Interleukin-1α Stimulates the Differentiation of Melanocytes but Inhibits the Proliferation of Melanoblasts from Neonatal Mouse Epidermis

Abstract Interleukin (IL)-1α is one of the important cytokines involved in regulating immunological reactions in the mouse skin. However, it is not known whether IL-1α regulates the proliferation and differentiation of mouse epidermal melanocytes. In this study, to investigate the role of IL-1α in the regulation of the proliferation and differentiation of mouse epidermal melanocytes, IL-1α was supplemented to serum-free primary cultures of epidermal cell suspensions from the initiation of the primary culture (keratinocytes and melanoblasts-melanocytes) as well as to pure cultures of melanoblasts-melanocytes (keratinocyte-depleted cultures, after 14 days), and its effect was tested. IL-1α inhibited the proliferation of undifferentiated melanoblasts irrespective of the presence or absence of keratinocytes, whereas the cytokine inhibited the proliferation of differentiated melanocytes only in the presence of keratinocytes. Moreover, IL-1α induced the differentiation of melanocytes and, in addition, stimulated tyrosinase activity, melanin synthesis, and dendritogenesis of melanocytes irrespective of the presence or absence of keratinocytes. These results suggest that IL-1α is involved in inhibiting the proliferation of neonatal murine epidermal melanoblasts and in stimulating the differentiation, melanogenesis, and dendritogenesis of melanocytes. The results also suggest that IL-1α inhibits the proliferation of differentiated melanocytes in cooperation with keratinocyte-derived factors.
Wearable augmented reality display for wellness

A concept of mobile augmented reality (AR) use for wellness data is explored. We are especially interested in using aesthetic wearables as AR markers for augmented reality applications. A focus group based user study, and a concept design and prototype of a mobile AR based wellness wearable interface is presented. The work extends the research body on wellness wearables in an under-explored design direction.
NF‐κB and innate immunity in ischemic stroke

Acute cerebral ischemia elicits an innate immune response that leads to a cascade of events that culminates in necrotic death of neurons and injury to their supportive structures in the neurovascular unit. Indeed, clinical studies have shown a close relationship between elevated levels of inflammatory markers and the risk for ischemic stroke. However, the signaling pathways that link these events are not well understood. A central regulator of inflammatory response is the transcription factor, nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB). The activation of NF‐κB is required for the transcriptional induction of many proinflammatory mediators involved in innate immunity, such as cellular adhesion molecules, cytokines, and growth factors. Therefore, factors that modulate the activity of NF‐κB could potentially regulate inflammatory processes in ischemic stroke. Here, we review the relationship between NF‐κB and ischemic stroke, its role in the neurovascular unit, and discuss some animal models that suggest that this relationship is causal.
Cryptographic Voting Protocols: A short Overwiev

Cryptographic voting systems are trying to ensure privacy, security and veriability to the electronic voting systems. They try to guarantee these traits independent of the used software. As those protocols rely on another set of hardware, the hole system needs to be evaluated. In this paper i will discuss the schemes of Andrew Ne and David Chaum based on the paper from Karlof, Sastry and Wagner [2]. It also contains a small motivation why the DRE systems are not sucient and alternatives like cryptographic voting protocols are needed. Several weaknesses have been discovered in the analysis, most of them hard to solve. They are all induced by the underspecication of the protocols, as they have not described how the most vital parts of the protocols should be implemented, they are just described as black boxes. Karlof has hopes for the voting protocols if they specify the rest of the system, even though he does not propose the use already. In contrast to them, i highly doubt they will be capable reaching their goal of becoming a secure, software independent system. With new specications, new problems will occur and all proposes of Karlof induced new weaknesses or a rollback to the paper based system. So in my opinion cryptographic voting protocols were aiming for a good but kind of unreachable target and there has to be found a way to trust at least one vital part of an election to ensure security for the hole election.
Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Left Lateral Accessory Pathways Via the Coronary Sinus

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to describe a new technique for catheter ablation of left lateral accessory pathways (APs) by radiofrequency energy applied at the epicardium through the coronary sinus wall using a unipolar configuration. Methods and ResultsIn an overall group of 212 patients with left lateral APs, multiple endocardial ablation attempts of the AP were unsuccessful in eight patients. The mean±SD cumulative duration of previous attempts was 12±9 hours, using DC shocks and/or radiofrequency energy applied both at the atrial and/or ventricular AP insertions. Epicardial AP insertion was determined by bipolar and unipolar unfiltered distal electrograms by scanning the coronary sinus with a steerable 6F or 7F catheter with a 4-mm distal electrode. The local atrial to ventricular electrogram amplitude ratio was 03–1.6. At the ablation site, the catheter tip was slightly deflected toward the annulus to increase both the ventricular component of electrograms and contact with the epicardium. In four patients, epicardial electrogram timings were earlier than endocardial ones. The AP was ablated in seven of the eight patients with 20–30 W applied for 10–60 seconds. No complications occurred except a marked nonspecific pain during radiofrequency energy application; however, the catheter remained adherent to the coronary sinus wall, and its withdrawal was performed during a new radiofrequency application to decrease the risk of coronary sinus rupture. After ablation, echocardiograms, coronary artery angiograms, and levophase coronary sinus angiograms showed no abnormality in all patients except two who had a probable mural thrombus in the coronary sinus. AP conduction remained abolished for 1–10 months of follow-up in seven patients. ConclusionsRadiofrequency catheter ablation of left lateral APs can be achieved effectively and relatively safely via the mid or distal coronary sinus when endocardial approaches are unsuccessful.