Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of life in patients with Barrett's esophagus undergoing surveillance

OBJECTIVES:Practice guidelines recommend surveillance for Barrett's esophagus (BE) because of the risk of esophageal cancer. The quality of life of patients undergoing surveillance is unknown. The objectives of this study were to develop a new utility instrument to measure quality of life of patients undergoing BE surveillance and determine if Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia (QOLRD) scores correlate with utility ratings.METHODS:Fifteen patients were administered 16 scenarios describing possible BE surveillance outcomes. Each scenario was rated from 0 (equivalent to being dead) to 10 (equivalent to being in perfect health). Each patient also completed the QOLRD, a validated instrument. A t test was performed to compare the QOLRD means with published means. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was calculated for the median QOLRD score and the median utility rating.RESULTS:QOLRD means ranged from 5.80 to 6.65 (previously published means 4.3–5.4). Lower scores denoted a worsened quality of life. The difference was significant (p < 0.001). The correlation coefficient of median QOLRD score (6.8) and median utility rating (4.0) was 0.10 (p = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS:This population of BE patients had significantly higher QOLRD scores than a previously published population referred for endoscopy. Quality of life using the utility measure was reduced. The utility measure did not correlate with the disease-specific instrument, suggesting that the concerns of patients undergoing surveillance are distinct from their reflux symptoms.
Effects of Landscape Design on Urban Microclimate and Thermal Comfort in Tropical Climate

A climate-responsive landscape design can create a more livable urban microclimate with adequate human comfortability. This paper aims to quantitatively investigate the effects of landscape design elements of pavement materials, greenery, and water bodies on urban microclimate and thermal comfort in a high-rise residential area in the tropic climate of Singapore. A comprehensive field measurement is undertaken to obtain real data on microclimate parameters for calibration of the microclimate-modeling software ENVI-met 4.0. With the calibrated ENVI-met, seven urban landscape scenarios are simulated and their effects on thermal comfort as measured by physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) are evaluated. It is found that the maximum improvement of PET reduction with suggested landscape designs is about 12°C, and high-albedo pavement materials and water bodies are not effective in reducing heat stress in hot and humid climate conditions. The combination of shade trees over grass is the most effective landscape strategy for cooling the microclimate. The findings from the paper can equip urban designers with knowledge and techniques to mitigate urban heat stress.
The PP1‐R6 protein phosphatase holoenzyme is involved in the glucose‐induced dephosphorylation and inactivation of AMP‐activated protein kinase, a key regulator of insulin secretion, in MIN6 β cells

Mammalian AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that acts as a sensor of cellular energy status. It is activated by phosphorylation of the catalytic subunit on Thr172. The main objective of this study was the identification of a phosphatase involved in the regulation of AMPK activity. Mouse MIN6 β cells were used to study the glucose‐induced regulation of the phosphorylation of AMPK. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology was used to deplete putative phosphatase candidate genes that could affect AMPK regulation. The effect of the siRNAs used in the study was compared with the effect observed using a negative control siRNA. A protein phosphatase complex composed of the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase‐1 (PP1) and the regulatory subunit R6 participates in the glucose‐induced dephos‐phorylation of AMPK. R6 interacts physically with the β ‐subunit of the AMPK complex and recruits PP1 to dephosphorylate the catalytic α‐subunit on Thr172. siRNA depletion of R6 decreases glucose‐induced insulin secretion due to the presence of a constitutively active AMPK complex. The characterization of the PP1‐R6 complex identifies this holoenzyme as a possible target for therapeutic intervention with the aim of regulating the activity of AMPK in pancreatic β cells. — Garcia‐Haro, L. , Garcia‐Gimeno, M. A. , Neumann, D. , Beullens, M. , Bollen, M. , Sanz, P. The PP1‐R6 protein phosphatase holoenzyme is involved in the glucose‐induced dephosphorylation and inactivation of AMP‐activated protein kinase, a key regulator of insulin secretion, in MIN6 β cells. FASEB J. 24, 5080–5091 (2010). www.fasebj. org
Gut Microbiome Response to Sucralose and Its Potential Role in Inducing Liver Inflammation in Mice

Sucralose is the most widely used artificial sweetener, and its health effects have been highly debated over the years. In particular, previous studies have shown that sucralose consumption can alter the gut microbiota. The gut microbiome plays a key role in processes related to host health, such as food digestion and fermentation, immune cell development, and enteric nervous system regulation. Inflammation is one of the most common effects associated with gut microbiome dysbiosis, which has been linked to a series of human diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the structural and functional effects of sucralose on the gut microbiota and associated inflammation in the host. In this study, C57BL/6 male mice received sucralose in their drinking water for 6 months. The difference in gut microbiota composition and metabolites between control and sucralose-treated mice was determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, functional gene enrichment analysis and metabolomics. Inflammatory gene expression in tissues was analyzed by RT-PCR. Alterations in bacterial genera showed that sucralose affects the gut microbiota and its developmental dynamics. Enrichment of bacterial pro-inflammatory genes and disruption in fecal metabolites suggest that 6-month sucralose consumption at the human acceptable daily intake (ADI) may increase the risk of developing tissue inflammation by disrupting the gut microbiota, which is supported by elevated pro-inflammatory gene expression in the liver of sucralose-treated mice. Our results highlight the role of sucralose-gut microbiome interaction in regulating host health-related processes, particularly chronic inflammation.
Disposition into Adipose Tissue Determines Accumulation and Elimination Kinetics of the Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein Inhibitor Anacetrapib in Mice

The cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor anacetrapib exhibits a long terminal half-life (t½) in humans; however, the dispositional mechanisms that lead to this long t½ are still being elucidated. As it is hypothesized that disposition into adipose tissue and binding to CETP might play a role, we sought to delineate the relative importance of these factors using a preclinical animal model. A multiple-dose pharmacokinetic study was conducted in C57BL6 wild-type (WT) lean, WT diet-induced obese (DIO), natural flanking region (NFR) CETP-transgenic lean, and NFR-DIO mice. Mice were dosed orally with 10 mg/kg anacetrapib daily for 42 days. Drug concentrations in blood, brown and white adipose tissue, liver, and brain were measured up to 35 weeks postdose. During dosing, a 3- to 9-fold accumulation in 72-hour postdose blood concentrations of anacetrapib was observed. Drug concentrations in white adipose tissue accumulated ∼20- to 40-fold, whereas 10- to 17-fold accumulation occurred in brown adipose and approximately 4-fold in liver. Brain levels were very low (<0.1 μM), and a trend of accumulation was not seen. The presence of CETP as well as adiposity seems to play a role in determining the blood concentrations of anacetrapib. The highest blood concentrations were observed in NFR DIO mice, whereas the lowest concentrations were seen in WT lean mice. In adipose and liver tissue, higher concentrations were seen in DIO mice, irrespective of the presence of CETP. This finding suggests that white adipose tissue serves as a potential depot and that disposition into adipose tissue governs the long-term kinetics of anacetrapib in vivo.
Hybridization and population structure of the Culex pipiens complex in the islands of Macaronesia

The Culex pipiens complex includes two widespread mosquito vector species, Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus. The distribution of these species varies in latitude, with the former being present in temperate regions and the latter in tropical and subtropical regions. However, their distribution range overlaps in certain areas and interspecific hybridization has been documented. Genetic introgression between these species may have epidemiological repercussions for West Nile virus (WNV) transmission. Bayesian clustering analysis based on multilocus genotypes of 12 microsatellites was used to determine levels of hybridization between these two species in Macaronesian islands, the only contact zone described in West Africa. The distribution of the two species reflects both the islands' biogeography and historical aspects of human colonization. Madeira Island displayed a homogenous population of Cx. pipiens, whereas Cape Verde showed a more intriguing scenario with extensive hybridization. In the islands of Brava and Santiago, only Cx. quinquefasciatus was found, while in Fogo and Maio high hybrid rates (∼40%) between the two species were detected. Within the admixed populations, second-generation hybrids (∼50%) were identified suggesting a lack of isolation mechanisms. The observed levels of hybridization may locally potentiate the transmission to humans of zoonotic arboviruses such as WNV.
The phase transition in the uniformly grown random graph has infinite order

The aim of this paper is to study the emergence of the giant component in the uniformly grown random graph Gn(c), 0 < c < 1, the graph on the set[n] = {1, 2, …, n} in which each possible edge ij is present with probability c/ max{i, j}, independently of all other edges. Equivalently, we may start with the random graph Gn(1) with vertex set[n], where each vertex j is joined to each “earlier” vertex i < j with probability 1/j, independently of all other choices. The graph Gn(c) is formed by the open bonds in the bond percolation on Gn(1) in which a bond is open with probability c. The model Gn(c) is the finite version of a model proposed by Dubins in 1984, and is also closely related to a random graph process defined by Callaway, Hopcroft, Kleinberg, Newman, and Strogatz Phys Rev E 64 (2001), 041902 . Results of Kalikow and Weiss Israel J Math 62 (1988), 257–268 and Shepp Israel J Math 67 (1989), 23–33 imply that the percolation threshold is at c = 1/4. The main result of this paper is that for c = 1/4 + ϵ, ϵ > 0, the giant component in Gn(c) has order exp(−Θ(1/√ϵ)) n. In particular, the phase transition in the bond percolation on Gn(1) has infinite order. Using nonrigorous methods, Dorogovtsev, Mendes, and Samukhin Phys Rev E 64 (2001), 066110 showed that an even more precise result is likely to hold. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg. , 2005
Mycoflora of Activated Sludge with MBRs in Berlin, Germany

Thirty six samples from each (aerobic and anoxic) activated sludge were collected from two wastewater treatment plants with MBRs in Berlin, Germany. The samples were prepared for count and definition of fungal isolates; these isolates were purified by conventional techniques and identified by microscopic examination. Sixty tow species belonging to 28 genera were isolated from activated sludge samples under aerobic conditions (28 genera and 58 species) and anoxic conditions (26 genera and 52 species). The obtained data show that, Aspergillus was found at 94.4% followed by Penicillium 61.1 %, Fusarium (61.1 %), Trichoderma (44.4 %) and Geotrichum candidum (41.6 %) species were the most prevalent in all activated sludge samples. The study confirmed that fungi can thrive in activated sludge and sporulation, but isolated in different numbers depending on the effect of aeration system. Some fungal species in our study are saprophytic, and other a pathogenic to plants and animals. Keywords—Activated sludge, membrane bioreactors, aerobic, anoxic conditions, fungi
Brightfield Proximity Ligation Assay Reveals Both Canonical and Mixed Transforming Growth Factor-β/Bone Morphogenetic Protein Smad Signaling Complexes in Tissue Sections

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is an important regulator of cellular homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. Canonical TGF-β signaling occurs through Smad2/3–Smad4 complexes; however, recent in vitro studies suggest that elevated levels of TGF-β may activate a novel mixed Smad complex (Smad2/3-Smad1/5/9), which is required for some of the pro-oncogenic activities of TGF-β. To determine if mixed Smad complexes are evident in vivo, we developed antibodies that can be used with a proximity ligation assay to detect either canonical or mixed Smad complexes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. We demonstrate high expression of mixed Smad complexes in the tissues from mice genetically engineered to express high levels of TGF-β1. Mixed Smad complexes were also prominent in 15–16 day gestation mouse embryos and in breast cancer xenografts, suggesting important roles in embryonic development and tumorigenesis. In contrast, mixed Smad complexes were expressed at extremely low levels in normal adult mouse tissue, where canonical complexes were correspondingly higher. We show that this methodology can be used in archival patient samples and tissue microarrays, and we have developed an algorithm to quantitate the brightfield read-out. These methods will allow quantitative analysis of cell type-specific Smad signaling pathways in physiological and pathological processes.
Shift Work and Inter‐Individual Differences in Sleep and Sleepiness

Inter‐individual differences in tolerance for shift work have been studied primarily in terms of external factors affecting alertness on the job or the ability to rest and sleep while at home. However, there is increasing evidence that neurobiological factors play a role as well, particularly the major processes involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. These include a sleep homeostatic process seeking to balance wakefulness and sleep and a circadian process seeking to promote wakefulness during the day and sleep during the night. Shift work is associated with a temporal misalignment of these two endogenous processes. During nightwork, this misalignment makes it difficult to stay awake during the nightshift and sleep during the day. However, inter‐individual variability in the processes involved in sleep/wake regulation is substantial. Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of inter‐individual differences in vulnerability to cognitive deficits from sleep loss. Moreover, these inter‐individual differences were shown to constitute a trait. Interestingly, self‐evaluations of sleepiness did not correspond well with the trait inter‐individual variability in objective levels of performance impairment during sleep deprivation. Perhaps because of this discrepancy, in operational settings, the inter‐individual differences in vulnerability to sleep loss do not appear to be limited due to self‐selection mechanisms. Indeed, even among a highly select group of active‐duty jet fighter pilots flying a series of simulated night missions, systematic inter‐individual differences in performance impairment from sleep loss were still observed. There are significant personal and economic consequences to human error and accidents caused by performance deficits due to sleep loss. It is important, therefore, to study the inter‐individual differences in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness in the work environment so that cognitive impairment during shift work may be better anticipated and prevented.
Determinants of blood loss during primary burn excision.

BACKGROUND Excisional therapy for burn wounds is frequently associated with large operative blood losses. Our objective was to identify patient and operative factors that affect surgical blood loss and determine strategies to minimize hemorrhage. METHODS Data from 92 consecutive pediatric patients with severe burns (>40% total body surface area) were evaluated. Patient demographics, burn characteristics, operative factors, and clinical course variables were correlated with blood loss. Blood loss at the time of initial total burn excision was determined by a standardized, previously validated method. Data were analyzed sequentially and cumulatively through univariate and cross-sectional multivariate linear regression. RESULTS Demographic factors that correlated with increased blood loss were older age, male sex, and larger body size. Area of full-thickness (third-degree) burn correlated with blood loss, whereas total burn size did not. High wound bacteria counts (derived from quantitative tissue cultures), total wound area excised, and operative time were the strongest predictors of the volume of operative hemorrhage. Blood loss increased with delay to primary burn excision at a maximum at 5 to 12 days after burn injury. CONCLUSIONS Early definitive surgical therapy before extensive bacterial colonization and rapid operative excision is a strategy that may decrease operative hemorrhage and transfusion requirements during burn surgical procedures.
Humpback whale song theme recognition tool

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Humpback whale song theme recognition tool Julie Patris, Franck Malige, D. Djokic, Renata Sousa-Lima, Hervé Glotin
Pronounced heritable variation and limited phenotypic plasticity in visual pigments and opsin expression of threespine stickleback photoreceptors

SUMMARY Vertebrate colour vision is mediated by the differential expression of visual pigment proteins (opsins) in retinal cone photoreceptors. Many species alter opsin expression during life, either as part of development or as a result of changes in habitat. The latter, a result of phenotypic plasticity, appears common among fishes, but its cellular origin and ecological significance are unknown. Here, we used adult threespine stickleback fish from different photic regimes to investigate heritable variability and phenotypic plasticity in opsin expression. Fish from clear waters had double cones that expressed long (LWS) and middle (RH2) wavelength opsins, one per double cone member. In contrast, fish from red light-shifted lakes had double cones that were >95% LWS/LWS pairs. All fish had single cones that predominantly expressed a short wavelength (SWS2) opsin but ultraviolet cones, expressing a SWS1 opsin, were present throughout the retina. Fish from red light-shifted lakes, when transferred to clear waters, had a ∼2% increase in RH2/LWS double cones, though double cone density remained constant. Comparison of visual pigment absorbance and light transmission in the environment indicated that the opsin complements of double cones maximized sensitivity to the background light, whereas single cones had visual pigments that were spectrally offset from the dominant background wavelengths. Our results indicate that phenotypic plasticity in opsin expression is minor in sticklebacks and of questionable functional significance.
Diffusion tensor imaging observation in Pott's spine with or without neurological deficit

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is based upon the phenomenon of water diffusion known as “Brownian motion. ” DTI can detect changes in compressed spinal cord earlier than magnetic resonance imaging and is more sensitive to subtle pathological changes of the spinal cord. DTI observation in compressed and noncompressed spinal cord in tuberculosis (TB) spine is not described. This study presents observations in Pott’s spine patients with or without neural deficit. Materials and Methods: Thirty consecutive cases ofTB spine with mean age of 32.1 years of either sexes with paradiscal lesion, with/without paraplegia divided into two groups: Group A: ( n = 15) without paraplegia and group B: ( n = 15) with paraplegia were evaluated by DTI. The average fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values were calculated at 3 different sites, above the lesion (SOL)/normal, at the lesion and below SOL for both groups and mean was compared. Visual impression of tractography was done to document changes in spinal tracts. Results: The mean canal encroachment in group Awas 39.60% and group B 44.4% (insignificant). Group Amean FA values above SOL, at the lesion and below SOL were 0.608 ± 0.09, 0.554 ± 0.14, and 0.501 ± 0.16 respectively. For group B mean FA values above SOL, at the lesion and below SOL were 0.628 ± 0.09, 0.614 ± 0.12 and 0.487 ± 0.15 respectively. There was a significant difference in mean FA above the SOL as compared to the mean FA at and below SOL. P value above versus below the SOL was statistically significant for both groups (0.04), but P value for at versus below the SOL (0.01) was statistically significant only in group B. On tractography, disruption of fibertract at SOL was found in 14/15 (93.3%) cases of group Aand 14/15 cases (93.3%) of group B (6/6 grade 4, 3/3 grade 3 and 5/6 grade 2 paraplegic cases). Conclusion: The FA and MD above the lesion were same as reported for healthy volunteer hence can be taken as control. FA increases, and MD decreases at SOL in severe grade of paraplegia because of epidural collection while in milder grade, both decrease. In group A (without neurological deficit), mean FA and MD in patients with and without canal encroachment was similar. On tractography, both groups A and B (with or without neurological deficit) showed disruption of fiber tract at SOL and thickness of distally traced spinal cord was appreciably less than the upper cord. FA and MD could not differentiate between various grades of paraplegia. Although the number of patients in each group are small.
Finding Maximum k-Cliques Faster Using Lazy Global Domination

A clique in a graph is a set of vertices, each of which is adjacent to every other vertex in this set. A k-clique relaxes this requirement, requiring vertices to be within a distance k of each other, rather than directly adjacent. In theory, a maximum clique algorithm can easily be adapted to solve the maximum k-clique problem, although large sparse k-clique graphs reduce to large dense clique graphs, which can be computationally challenging. We adapt a state of the art maximum clique algorithm to show that this reduction is in fact useful in practice, and introduce a lazy global domination rule which sometimes vastly reduces the search space. We include experimental results for a range of real-world and benchmark graphs, and a detailed look at random graphs. We also use thread-parallel search to solve some harder instances.