On Generalised Inflations of Right Modular Groupoids

We prove that if a right modular groupoid U is cancellative or has a left identity then a right modular generalised inflation of U is an inflation of U

An unexpected complication of a percutaneous coronary angioplasty

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is characterized by transient ventricular dysfunction, classically in its apical and mid segments in the absence of coronary lesions, and is often observed after intense stressful events and occasionally associated to an acute medical illness. We describe a case of TCM associated with coronary artery disease and triggered by a percutaneous coronary angioplasty. This case highlights the concept that a medical procedure can lead, in certain conditions, to TCM and provides new interesting insights on the pathophysiology of coronary syndromes

The dialectics of english dominance

The Hegemony of English across the world cannot be overstated (Macedo, Dendrinos & Gounari 2016). More and more nations are encouraging, if not mandating through compulsory education requirements, that their citizens learn English (Xue & Zuo 2013). This demand for English is rising even among countries who have few native speakers of English. Importantly, making any language learning a national project carries a critical message about that language and its power. Robert Philipson (2011) points out that this growing demand and compulsory establishment of English (through schooling) can be nothing less than linguistic imperialism, with the World Bank re-introducing the historical colonial order. Nations are clamoring to learn English as quickly as possible in the hopes that doing so will boost their competitive edge on the global market (McCormick 2013). Indeed, there is evidence that English proficiency elevates the status and power of specific nations and provides individuals greater access to jobs and resources, but as Anna Odrowaz-Coates shows, in the case of Portugal and Poland, this will not happen without a significant cost to the national identity and to the identities of the people and their families and communities

Myocardial metabolism evaluation and ketones utilization in the failing human heart

Background: Under normal circumstances, free fatty acids (FFAs) are the predominant energetic substrate of the heart. In experimental and end-stage models of heart failure (HF) a quantitative switch from a predominance of FFAs utilization to the more energy favourable ketone bodies has been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the heart substrates utilization in mild to moderate human HF. Methods: β-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, triacyclglycerols, glucose and FFAs concentrations in arterial, coronary sinus (CS), and central venous beds were measured after an overnight fast to derive myocardial substrates utilization in HF patients and controls scheduled for cardiac device implanting procedures. Results: A total of 15 HF patients and 11 controls were enrolled. Arterial and CS metabolites concentration were similar between the groups. A significant reduction in the myocardial FFAs extraction was showed in HF patients compared to controls (HF 0.07 +- 0.23 mmol/L vs non-HF 0.25 +- 0.16 mmol/L, p=0.03), together with an inverse association between FFAs and neurohormonal and echocardiographic HF hallmarks. Opposite, β-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, triacyclglycerols and glucose extractions were relatively unchanged between groups. The net cardiac extraction of β-hydroxybutyrate was directly associated to HF duration. When diabetic and non-diabetic patients were compared among HF population, the results were substantially similar, with a slight trend in reduction of FFAs net extraction (HF 0.03 +- 0.30 mmol/L vs non-HF 0.26 +- 0.12 mmol/L, p=0.09). Conclusions: In our study ketone bodies utilization was unchanged between mild to moderate HF patients and controls. We showed a reduced myocardial FFAs extraction consistent with a downregulation of beta-oxidation in the failing heart in HF population. Future studies are needed to clarify mechanisms that regulate the metabolic switch and its timing