Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pain and pulmonary function following laparoscopic and abdominal hysterectomy, a randomized study

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate pain and pulmonary function the first two days after abdominal and laparoscopic hysterectomy. METHODS Women scheduled for abdominal hysterectomy were prospectively randomized to either laparoscopic (n=20) or abdominal (n=20) hysterectomy. Analgesics were self-administered by the patients by means of a programable infusion pump containing morphine. Postoperative pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale. Oxygen saturation was measured with an oxymeter. Pulmonary function was assessed using a peak flow meter measuring peak expiratory flow and a vitalograph measuring forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second. RESULTS Pain scores were lower after laparoscopic hysterectomy at the first (p<0.05) and second postoperative day (p<0.01). Lung function was impaired on days 1 and 2 postoperatively, measured as peak expiratory flow, forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second, in both groups compared to the preoperative values. The patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy had less impairment of lung function measured by peak expiratory flow (p<0.01), forced vital capacity (p<0.05) and forced expiratory volume in one second (p<0.05) the first postoperative day compared to the patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. The second postoperative day differences between the groups remained for peak expiratory flow (p<0.05) and forced expiratory volume in one second (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic hysterectomy results in less pain and less impairment of respiratory function compared to abdominal hysterectomy.
Impact of alcohol use on inhibitory control (and vice versa) during adolescence and young adulthood: a review.

AIMS Adolescence is usually the time when individuals first drink alcohol and this has been associated with relatively weak or immature inhibitory control. This review examines the changes on brain development and inhibitory function that take place during adolescence and youth as well as the relationship between inhibitory control and alcohol use at this early age. METHODS Narrative review of the chief studies related to (a) the development of inhibitory control during adolescence, (b) the deficits in the inhibitory ability in alcohol use disorders and (c) the effects of acute alcohol intake and binge drinking on inhibitory control in adolescents and young adults. RESULTS Inhibitory control processes are developing during adolescence and youth. Poor inhibitory functions may predispose the individual to alcohol misuse. Likewise, acute and binge alcohol drinking may impair the inhibitory control and compromise the ability to prevent or stop behaviour related to alcohol use. CONCLUSION Poor inhibitory control can be both the cause and the consequence of excessive alcohol use. Adolescence and young adulthood may be a particularly vulnerable period due to (a) the weak or immature inhibitory functioning typical of this stage may contribute to the inability of the individual to control alcohol use and (b) alcohol consumption per se may alter or interrupt the proper development of inhibitory control leading to a reduced ability to regulate alcohol intake. Further longitudinal research is needed to evaluate the interaction between inhibitory control dysfunction and alcohol use in both situations.
Changes in IP3 and cytosolic Ca2+ in response to sugars and non‐sugar sweeteners in transduction of sweet taste in the rat.

1. The transduction pathways of sweet‐sensitive cells in rat circumvallate (CV) taste buds were investigated with assays for inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) and with Ca2+ imaging. Stimulation with the non‐sugar sweeteners SC‐45647 and saccharin rapidly increased the cellular content of IP3 by 400 pmol (mg protein)‐1, while sucrose had a much smaller effect on IP3. As shown previously, sucrose, but not saccharin, increased the content of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) of this preparation. 2. Stimulation of isolated CV taste buds with SC‐45647 increased the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) by 56.7 +/‐ 3.2 nM (n = 181). Due to the non‐confocality of the measuring system, these concentrations are underestimates. The increase in [Ca2+]i did not require the presence of extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that the Ca2+ release was from intracellular stores. 3. Individual cells responding to the non‐sugar sweeteners with Ca2+ release also responded to sucrose and to forskolin with an increase in [Ca2+]i. Such cells did not respond to the bitter tastant denatonium chloride. 4. Responses to sucrose were abolished by lowering the Ca2+ concentration of the stimulus solution, indicating Ca2+ uptake from the extracellular medium. 5. The responses of sweet‐sensitive cells to forskolin were also abolished when Ca2+ ions were omitted from the stimulus solution. They were partially inhibited by the presence of Co2+, Ni2+, D600 (methoxyverapamil) and amiloride, indicating multiple pathways of Ca2+ uptake activated by cAMP. 6. In conclusion, a sweet‐sensitive cell of the rat responds to sucrose with an increase in cAMP and Ca2+ uptake, but to non‐sugar sweeteners with an increase in IP3 and Ca2+ release. The increase in [Ca2+]i, common to both pathways, is presumably required for synaptic exocytosis and for signal termination.
Image-Based 384-Well High-Throughput Screening Method for the Discovery of Skyllamycins A to C as Biofilm Inhibitors and Inducers of Biofilm Detachment in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT To date, most antibiotics have primarily been developed to target bacteria in the planktonic state. However, biofilm formation allows bacteria to develop tolerance to antibiotics and provides a mechanism to evade innate immune systems. Therefore, there is a significant need to identify small molecules to prevent biofilm formation and, more importantly, to disperse or eradicate preattached biofilms, which are a major source of bacterial persistence in nosocomial infections. We now present a modular high-throughput 384-well image-based screening platform to identify Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm inhibitors and dispersal agents. Biofilm coverage measurements were accomplished using non-z-stack epifluorescence microscopy to image a constitutively expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged strain of P. aeruginosa and quantified using an automated image analysis script. Using the redox-sensitive dye XTT, bacterial cellular metabolic activity was measured in conjunction with biofilm coverage to differentiate between classical antibiotics and nonantibiotic biofilm inhibitors/dispersers. By measuring biofilm coverage and cellular activity, this screen identifies compounds that eradicate biofilms through mechanisms that are disparate from traditional antibiotic-mediated biofilm clearance. Screening of 312 natural-product prefractions identified the cyclic depsipeptide natural products skyllamycins B and C as nonantibiotic biofilm inhibitors with 50% effective concentrations (EC50s) of 30 and 60 μM, respectively. Codosing experiments of skyllamycin B and azithromycin, an antibiotic unable to clear preattached biofilms, demonstrated that, in combination, these compounds were able to eliminate surface-associated biofilms and depress cellular metabolic activity. The skyllamycins represent the first known class of cyclic depsipeptide biofilm inhibitors/dispersers.
Stream-Centric Stereo Matching and View Synthesis: A High-Speed Approach on GPUs

In this paper, we propose a real-time image-based rendering (IBR) system. It is specifically designed for photorealistic view synthesis at high-speed on the graphics processing unit (GPU). We steer the proposed IBR system design with two high-level ideas. First, for cost-effective IBR, as long as the synthesized views look visually plausible, the estimated disparity and occlusion need not be correct. Hence, we jointly optimize stereo matching and view synthesis for a favorable end-to-end performance. Second, for great real-time acceleration on GPUs, all functional modules need be shaped at an early design stage, fitting the massively parallel streaming architecture of GPUs. Based on these two guidelines, we first propose a stream-centric local stereo matching algorithm. The key idea is to construct a versatile set of variable support patterns in a highly efficient manner, and then an optimal local support pattern is selected to approximate varying image structures adaptively. Next, a low-complexity adaptive view synthesis technique is proposed. It efficiently tackles visual artifacts in synthesized images, using a novel photometric outlier detection and handling scheme. We evaluated both the disparity estimation accuracy and novel view synthesis quality of the proposed approach, based on the benchmark Middlebury stereo datasets. The experiments show that our local stereo method produces consistently reliable disparity estimates for both homogeneous regions and depth discontinuities, outperforming several previous GPU-based local methods. More importantly, visually plausible intermediate views are generated by our IBR approach at high-speed on the GPU. With stereo matching and view synthesis completely running on an NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT graphics card, the proposed IBR system reaches about 100 f/s for 450times375 stereo images with 60 disparity levels.
Molecular Analysis and Expression of bap Gene in Biofilm-Forming Multi-Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

BACKGROUND Acinetobacter baumannii is commonly resistant to nearly all antibiotics due to presence of antibiotic resistance genes and biofilm formation. In this study we determined the presence of certain antibiotic-resistance genes associated with biofilm production and the influence of low iron concentration on expression of the biofilm-associated protein gene (bap) in development of biofilm among multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii (MDRAB). METHODS Sixty-five MDRAB isolates from clinical samples were collected. Molecular typing was carried out by random amplified polymorphism DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Biofilm formation was assayed by the microtiter method. RESULTS The sequence of bap was determined and deposited in the GenBank database (accession no. KR080550.1). Expression of bap in the presence of low iron was analyzed by relative quantitative real time PCR (rqRT-PCR). Nearly half of the isolates belonged to RAPD-types A and B remaining were either small clusters or singleton. The results of biofilm formation revealed that 23 (35.4%), 18 (27.7%), 13 (20%), and 11 (16.9%) of the isolates had strong, moderate, weak, and no biofilm activities, respectively. ompA and csuE genes were detected in all, while bap and blaPER-1 were detected in 43 (66%) and 42 (64%) of the isolates that showed strong and moderate biofilm activities (p ≤ 0.05), respectively. Analysis of bap expression by rqRT-PCR revealed five isolates with four-fold bap overexpression in the presence of low iron concentration (20 µM). CONCLUSION The results suggest that bap overexpression may influence biofilm formation in presence of low iron concentration.
The neurobiology of addiction

Substance and alcohol use disorders impose large health and economic burdens on individuals, families, communities, and society. Neither prevention nor treatment efforts are effective in all individuals. Results are often modest. Advances in neuroscience and addiction research have helped to describe the neurobiological changes that occur when a person transitions from recreational substance use to a substance use disorder or addiction. Understanding both the drivers and consequences of substance use in vulnerable populations, including those whose brains are still maturing, has revealed behavioral and biological characteristics that can increase risks of addiction. These findings are particularly timely, as law‐ and policymakers are tasked to reverse the ongoing opioid epidemic, as more states legalize marijuana, as new products including electronic cigarettes and newly designed abused substances enter the legal and illegal markets, and as “deaths of despair” from alcohol and drug misuse continue.
The role of habitat choice in micro‐evolutionary dynamics: An experimental study on the Mediterranean killifish Aphanius fasciatus (Cyprinodontidae)

Abstract Habitat choice is defined as a nonrandom distribution of genotypes in different microhabitats. Therefore, it could exert a great impact on the genetic variance of natural populations by promoting genetic divergence, local adaptation, and may even lead to sympatric speciation. Despite this potential role in micro‐ and macro‐evolutionary processes, there is little empirical evidence that the various genotypes within a population may differ in habitat choice‐related behaviors. Here, we tested whether habitat choice may have contributed to genetic divergence within a local population of the Mediterranean killifish Aphanius fasciatus, which emerged between groups inhabiting microhabitats with different oxygen concentrations during previous field studies. In a first experiment, we studied the distribution of individuals in conditions of hypoxia and normoxia to test whether they had a different ability to shy away from a hypoxic environment; in a second experiment, we analyzed the individual behavior of fish separately in the two conditions, to verify whether they showed peculiar behavioral responses linked to a possible differential distribution. We then analyzed the six allozyme loci, whose allelic and genotypic frequencies were significantly divergent in the previous studies. In the first test, we found that the distribution of the two homozygote genotypes of the glucose‐6‐phosphate isomerase‐1 locus (GPI‐1) was significantly different between the hypoxic and the normoxic conditions. During the second test, all individuals were more active in hypoxic conditions, but the two GPI‐1 homozygotes showed a significant difference in time spent performing surface breathing, which was consistent with their distribution observed in the first experiment. These results provide evidence that individual behavioral traits, related to genetic features, may lead to a nonrandom distribution of genotypes in heterogeneous although contiguous microhabitats and, consequently, that habitat choice can play a significant role in driving the micro‐evolutionary dynamics of this species.
Increased circulating levels of testosterone and corticosterone in southern toads, Bufo terrestris, exposed to coal combustion waste.

This study describes an interrenal stress response in adult toads, Bufo terrestris, after exposure to coal combustion waste (characterized by a variety of trace elements). In the first portion of this study, free-ranging male toads captured at the coal ash polluted site exhibited significantly higher circulating levels of corticosterone (B) in both June/July and August than conspecifics captured at uncontaminated sites. In addition, both calling and noncalling males from the polluted site had higher B levels than conspecifics engaged in the same behaviors at reference sites. Testosterone levels were elevated in toads from the polluted site, regardless of capture month or behavioral state, suggesting altered androgen production, utilization, and/or clearance. In the second portion of this study, male toads from reference sites were transplanted to enclosures at the polluted site or an uncontaminated site. Toads held at the polluted site exhibited significant increases in B after 10 days of exposure compared to toads held at the reference site. B levels remained significantly elevated in toads transplanted to the polluted site after 12 weeks. We hypothesize that high concentrations of various trace elements in the polluted site are responsible for these hormonal responses.
Digital control of boost PFC converters operating in both continuous and discontinuous conduction mode

Whereas power factor correction (PFC) converters for the lower power range (< 250W) use discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) operation, PFC converters for higher power are commonly designed for continuous conduction mode. Nevertheless, at light load, DCM will appear close to the crossover of the line voltage, causing the converter to switch between both conduction modes. As a result of this switching during a line period, the converter dynamics change abruptly, yielding input current distortion. The control scheme, presented in this paper, exploits the advantages of digital control by employing duty-ratio feedforward, in order to diminish this source of input current distortion.
Contact laser vaporization techniques for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Contact laser applications for the relief of bladder outlet obstruction caused by an enlarged prostate are different from the noncontact Nd:YAG laser methods. The noncontact techniques rely on coagulation necrosis or high power-density vaporization. The pure contact Nd:YAG laser allows cutting, coagulation, and vaporization of tissue with minimal penetration beyond the contact surface. In the contact laser prostatectomy technique, the laser probe directly touches and vaporizes the prostatic tissue. This results in immediate removal of the obstructing tissue, in a manner similar to the standard electrosurgical transurethral resection (TURP), and offers the patient the potential for decreased catheter time and a more rapid resolution of symptoms. Our initial experience suggests that the contact technique (contact laser ablation of the prostate or CLAP) may be better suited for the smaller prostate gland (i.e., less than 20-30 g). For prostates larger than 30 g, a newly described procedure known as coagulation and hemostatic resection of the prostate (CHRP) can be used. This method combines initial noncontact coagulation of the prostate with vaporization of a channel. The goal of CHRP is to allow more rapid removal of the catheter with a continued improvement in urine flow secondary to the coagulation effects. The contact laser is specifically designed to vaporize tissue such as the prostate and allows immediate observation of a TUR defect. Improvements in the delivery system and in the size of the contact laser probes have made CLAP a useful modality for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Influence of Ventricular Fibrillation Duration on Defibrillation Energy in Dogs Using Bidirectional Pulse Discharges

The automatic implantable defibrillator device typically discharges 5–30 seconds after detection of ventricular fibrillation. To investigate the importance of the duration of ventricular fibrillation on defibrillation, the effects of ventricular fibrillation durations of 5, 15, and 30 seconds on the energy requirements for successful internal defibrillation were compared in 15 dosed chest dogs with internal electrodes. The electrode configuration utilized a transvenous right heart catheter with two electrodes and a precordial subcutaneous patch electrode, with a single bidirectional pulse discharged between the distal catheter electrode and the proximal catheter and patch electrodes. Curves of energy vs. percentage of successful defibrillation were constructed and logistic regression was used to derive 90% and 50% successful energy doses (ED90 and ED50). The mean ventricular fibrillation activation interval just prior to defibrillation was determined from discrete RV endocardial electrograms. Four dogs died during testing, all because of inability to defibrillate after 30 s of ventricular fibrillation. In the remaining 11 dogs, the ED90 increased from (mean ± SD) 27 ± 13J at 5 s to 41 ± 14J at 30 s (p < .01). The mean ventricular fibrillation activation interval decreased from 107 ± 21 ms at 5 s to 95 ± 18 ms at 30 s (p < .01). In conclusion, the energy required for internal defibrillation in dogs using this electrode configuration increases with longer durations of ventricular fibrillation, and is associated with more rapid ventricular fibrillation activation intervals.
Worked examples for sound object-oriented pedagogy: a "killer" workshop

The Killer Examples workshops are highly interactive workshops, held annually at OOPSLA since 2002. The workshop goals are to bring together educators and developers to share their object-oriented expertise, and provide a forum for discussion of teaching techniques and pedagogical goals. The theme of last year's workshop was process in the pedagogy of object orientation; the theme of this year's workshop is pedagogically sound examples for object orientation: examples which are structured to support student learning. The workshop solicits examples which can be used in the teaching of object orientation. Submitters present their examples at the workshop; participants in the workshop will critique the examples and actively engage in refining the examples in a way that they support a clear and sound pedagogy. The workshop accepts walk-ins if space permits and walk-ins are determined to have adequate interest and background in the workshop theme to contribute positively to the discussions.
Assessment of Maternal Vascular Remodeling During Pregnancy in the Mouse Uterus

The placenta mediates the exchange of factors such as gases and nutrients between mother and fetus and has specific demands for supply of blood from the maternal circulation. The maternal uterine vasculature needs to adapt to this temporary demand and the success of this arterial remodeling process has implications for fetal growth. Cells of the maternal immune system, especially natural killer (NK) cells, play a critical role in this process. Here we describe a method to assess the degree of remodeling of maternal spiral arteries during mouse pregnancy. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections are scanned and the size of the vessels analysed. As a complementary validation method, we also present a qualitative assessment for the success of the remodeling process by immunohistochemical detection of smooth muscle actin (SMA), which normally disappears from within the arterial vascular media at mid-gestation. Together, these methods enable determination of an important parameter of the pregnancy phenotype. These results can be combined with other endpoints of mouse pregnancy to provide insight into the mechanisms underlying pregnancy-related complications.
Immunolocalization of collagen type I and laminin in the uterus on days 5 to 8 of embryo implantation in the rat

This study investigated the immunohistochemical distribution of collagen type I and laminin during remodeling of the uterine extracellular matrix in response to embryo implantation in the rat. Collagen type I was found to be virtually absent around the embryo on the evening of day 5 of pregnancy. On days 6 to 8 of pregnancy the areas of primary and secondary decidualized tissue contained very little collagen in contrast to the outer nondecidualized stroma and myometrial tissues in which the staining patterns did not appear to alter. Day 8 of pregnancy was also notable for the appearance of collagen type I at the site of the developing placenta. Localization of laminin corresponded to areas of basement membrane and was associated with the redistribution of blood vasculature during implantation. By day 7 laminin staining was diminished in the basal areas of the lumenal epithelium around the implanting embryo. Laminin was also located in a punctate fashion at the margins of the primary decidual cells on day 6 of pregnancy, but by days 7 and 8 this staining pattern was no longer evident. This study has provided further evidence for a decline in a major fibrillar collagen during natural decidualization and also revealed a localized and transient expression of laminin in association with the differentiation of cells during primary decidual formation. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.