Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis on Low- and Standard-Dose Regimes of Alteplase Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Efficacy and Safety

Objective: This study analyzed the efficacy and safety of low-dose and standard-dose alteplase intravenous thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: Patients with AIS who underwent intravenous alteplase thrombolysis from July 2012 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed and correspondingly divided into low-dose (0.6–0.89 mg/kg) group and standard-dose group (0.9 mg/kg) according to alteplase dosage. The clinical outcome was evaluated by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days after onset. The safety index was the mortality at 90 days after onset and the incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) within 7 days. Results: A total of 1,486 patients were included (1,115 cases in low-dose group and 371 cases in standard-dose group). There were no significant differences in baseline data between the 2 groups. As mRS, good outcome rate as well as mortality rate in both groups had no significant difference (36.1 vs. 37.6%; χ2 = 10.882, p = 0.890; 5.5 vs. 7.3%; χ2 = 2.163, p = 0.076), but the incidence of SICH in low-dose group was significantly lower than that of the standard-dose group (2.2 vs. 5.9%; χ2 = 3.157, p = 0.001). Conclusion: The efficacy of low-dose alteplase intravenous thrombolytic therapy for AIS was equivalent to the standard-dose regimen but with higher safety.
Consciousness is more than meets the eye: a call for a multisensory study of subjective experience†

Abstract Over the last 30 years, our understanding of the neurocognitive bases of consciousness has improved, mostly through studies employing vision. While studying consciousness in the visual modality presents clear advantages, we believe that a comprehensive scientific account of subjective experience must not neglect other exteroceptive and interoceptive signals as well as the role of multisensory interactions for perceptual and self-consciousness. Here, we briefly review four distinct lines of work which converge in documenting how multisensory signals are processed across several levels and contents of consciousness. Namely, how multisensory interactions occur when consciousness is prevented because of perceptual manipulations (i.e. subliminal stimuli) or because of low vigilance states (i.e. sleep, anesthesia), how interactions between exteroceptive and interoceptive signals give rise to bodily self-consciousness, and how multisensory signals are combined to form metacognitive judgments. By describing the interactions between multisensory signals at the perceptual, cognitive, and metacognitive levels, we illustrate how stepping out the visual comfort zone may help in deriving refined accounts of consciousness, and may allow cancelling out idiosyncrasies of each sense to delineate supramodal mechanisms involved during consciousness.
Variation in the Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Composition of Plants and Soil along a Precipitation Gradient in Northern China

Water availability is the most influential factor affecting plant carbon (δ 13C) and nitrogen (δ 15N) isotope composition in arid and semi-arid environments. However, there are potential differences among locations and/or species in the sensitivity of plant δ 13C and δ 15N to variation in precipitation, which are important for using stable isotope signatures to extract paleo-vegetation and paleo-climate information. We measured δ 13C and δ 15N of plant and soil organic matter (SOM) samples collected from 64 locations across a precipitation gradient with an isotherm in northern China. δ 13C and δ 15N for both C3 and C4 plants decreased significantly with increasing mean annual precipitation (MAP). The sensitivity of δ 13C to MAP in C3 plants (-0.6±0.07‰/100 mm) was twice as high as that in C4 plants (−0.3±0.08‰/100 mm). Species differences in the sensitivity of plant δ 13C and δ 15N to MAP were not observed among three main dominant plants. SOM became depleted in 13C with increasing MAP, while no significant correlations existed between δ 15N of SOM and MAP. We conclude that water availability is the primary environmental factor controlling the variability of plant δ 13C and δ 15N and soil δ 13C in the studied arid and semi-arid regions. Carbon isotope composition is useful for tracing environmental precipitation changes. Plant nitrogen isotope composition can reflect relative openness of ecosystem nitrogen cycling.
MINISYMPOSIUM : MR TECHNIQUES IN PEDIATRIC RADIOLOGY Gadolinium-based contrast agents in pediatric magnetic resonance imaging

Gadolinium-based contrast agents can increase the accuracy and expediency of an MRI examination. However the benefits of a contrast-enhanced scan must be carefully weighed against the well-documented risks associated with administration of exogenous contrast media. The purpose of this review is to discuss commercially available gadoliniumbased contrast agents (GBCAs) in the context of pediatric radiology. We discuss the chemistry, regulatory status, safety and clinical applications, with particular emphasis on imaging of the blood vessels, heart, hepatobiliary tree and central nervous system.We also discuss non-GBCAMRI contrast agents that are less frequently used or not commercially available.
Neumann Boundary Controllability of the Korteweg-de Vries Equation on a Bounded Domain

In this paper we study boundary controllability of the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation posed on a finite domain $(0,L)$ with the Neumann boundary conditions: u_t+u_x+uu_x+u_{xxx}=0 in (0,L)x(0,T), u_{xx}(0,t)=0, u_x(L,t)=h(t), u_{xx}(L,t)=0 in (0,T), u(x,0)=u_0(x) in (0,L). We show that the associated linearized system u_t+(1+\beta)u_x+u_{xxx}=0 in (0,L)x(0,T), u_{xx}(0,t)=0, u_x(L,t)=h(t), u_{xx}(L,t)=0 in (0,T), u(x,0)=u_0(x) in (0,L) is exactly controllable if and only if the length $L$ of the spatial domain $(0,L)$ does not equal to $-1$ or does not belong to set R_{\beta}:={\frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{3(1+\beta)}}\sqrt{k^{2}+kl+l^{2}}:k,l\in\mathbb{N}^{\ast}}\cup{\frac{k\pi}{\sqrt{1+\beta}}:k\in\mathbb{N}^{\ast}} and the nonlinear system is locally exactly controllable around a constant steady state $\beta$ if the associated linear system is exactly controllable.
Arterial Stiffness and Central Hemodynamics in Thyroidectomized Patients on Long-Term Substitution Therapy with Levothyroxine.

BACKGROUND Long-term levothyroxine (LT4) therapy targeting thyrotropin (TSH) suppression in hypothyroid patients treated for thyroid cancer has been associated with increased arterial stiffness and increased cardiovascular mortality. However, most patients with hypothyroidism receive LT4 therapy targeting TSH in the reference range. The long-term vascular effects of this strategy have never been evaluated. METHODS Arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics were studied in 30 thyroidectomized patients (Mage = 54.5 ± 10.2 years; 80% female) on long-term (median = 11 years; range 3-41 years) LT4 replacement therapy targeting TSH in the reference range and 30 sex- and age-matched controls. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and central hemodynamics by pulse wave analysis using the SphygmoCor system. RESULTS TSH levels were comparable in patients and controls (median = 1.99 × 10(3) IU/L [range 0.24-5.64 × 10(3) IU/L] vs. median = 2.13 × 10(3) IU/L [range 0.59-5.63 × 10(3) IU/L]; p = 0.69), but patients had higher plasma thyroxine and lower plasma triiodothyronine levels than controls (median = 108 nmol/L [range 84-149 nmol/L] vs. 86 nmol/L [range 59-141 nmol/L]; p < 0.001 and median = 1.49 nmol/L [range 1.00-2.37 nmol/L] vs. 1.62 nmol/L [range 1.18-2.09 nmol/L]; p = 0.04, respectively). PWV was not significantly higher in patients compared to controls (8.2 ± 1.9 vs. 7.9 ± 1.9 m/s, p = 0.69). Similarly, no group differences were observed in central systolic/diastolic blood pressure (120 ± 16 mmHg vs. 119 ± 12 mmHg, p = 0.77; and 80 ± 11 mmHg vs. 80 ± 10 mmHg, p = 0.98, respectively), the augmentation index (28 ± 13% vs. 29 ± 8%, p = 0.72), or the pulse pressure amplification ratio (129 ± 17% vs. 124 ± 13%, p = 0.18). CONCLUSION Despite subtle differences in plasma levels of thyroid hormones, long-term LT4 replacement therapy targeting TSH in the reference range does not seem to cause adverse effects on arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics.
Successful management of severe red blood cell alloimmunization in pregnancy with a combination of therapeutic plasma exchange, intravenous immune globulin, and intrauterine transfusion

Antibodies to Rhesus and Kell antigens have been associated with severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) necessitating intrauterine transfusion (IUT) of red blood cells (RBCs). We report a case series of five women with severe HDFN secondary to maternal RBC alloimmunization who were successfully managed with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), intravenous immune globulin (IVIG), and IUT.
Functional characterization of 21 CYP3A4 variants on amiodarone metabolism in vitro

Abstract 1. Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) is an important member of the cytochrome P450 enzyme superfamily, with 33 allelic variants reported previously. Genetic polymorphisms of CYP3A4 can produce a significant effect on the efficacy and safety of some drugs, so the purpose of this study was to clarify the catalytic characteristics of 22 CYP3A4 allelic isoforms, including 6 novel variants in Han Chinese population, on the oxidative metabolism of amiodarone in vitro. 2. Wild-type CYP3A4*1 and other variants expressed by insect cells system were incubated respectively with 10–500 μM substrate for 40 min at 37 °C and terminated at −80 °C immediately. Then these samples were treated as required and detected with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry used to analyze its major metabolite desethylamiodarone. 3. Among the 21 CYP3A4 variants, compared with the wild-type, the intrinsic clearance values (Vmax/Km) of two variants were apparently decreased (11.07 and 2.67% relative clearance) while twelve variants revealed markedly increased values (155.20∼435.96%), and the remaining of seven variants exhibited no significant changes in enzyme activity. 4. This is the first time report describing all these infrequent alleles for amiodarone metabolism, which can provide fundamental data for further clinical studies on CYP3A4 alleles.
FRP Reinforcing Bars in Reinforced Concrete Members

The paper presents a preliminary experimental study on the behavior of concrete members reinforced with FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) reinforcing bars, in which both the bending capacity and bond strength of FRP-reinforced concrete specimens were tested. Flexural behavior was studied by testing 6 simply supported FRP-reinforced beams to failure under third-point loading, while bond strength was investigatged by conducting 24 pullout tests. Experimental results showed that the FRP-reinforced beams behaved in the same manner as would be expected in beams reinforced with steel bars. Also, strength design methods for steel-reinforced beams adequately predict ultimate moment capacity of FRP-reinforced beams. These and other findings are presented and discussed.
The Impact of Economic Crises on Communicable Disease Transmission and Control: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

There is concern among public health professionals that the current economic downturn, initiated by the financial crisis that started in 2007, could precipitate the transmission of infectious diseases while also limiting capacity for control. Although studies have reviewed the potential effects of economic downturns on overall health, to our knowledge such an analysis has yet to be done focusing on infectious diseases. We performed a systematic literature review of studies examining changes in infectious disease burden subsequent to periods of crisis. The review identified 230 studies of which 37 met our inclusion criteria. Of these, 30 found evidence of worse infectious disease outcomes during recession, often resulting from higher rates of infectious contact under poorer living circumstances, worsened access to therapy, or poorer retention in treatment. The remaining studies found either reductions in infectious disease or no significant effect. Using the paradigm of the “SIR” (susceptible-infected-recovered) model of infectious disease transmission, we examined the implications of these findings for infectious disease transmission and control. Key susceptible groups include infants and the elderly. We identified certain high-risk groups, including migrants, homeless persons, and prison populations, as particularly vulnerable conduits of epidemics during situations of economic duress. We also observed that the long-term impacts of crises on infectious disease are not inevitable: considerable evidence suggests that the magnitude of effect depends critically on budgetary responses by governments. Like other emergencies and natural disasters, preparedness for financial crises should include consideration of consequences for communicable disease control.
Sequencing and Analysis of Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze Chloroplast Genome Revealed the Rare Simultaneous Contraction and Expansion of the Inverted Repeat Region in Angiosperm

Ban-Lan-Gen, the root tissues derived from several morphologically indistinguishable plant species, have been used widely in traditional Chinese medicines for numerous years. The identification of reliable markers to distinguish various source plant species is critical for the effective and safe use of products containing Ban-Lan-Gen. Here, we analyzed and characterized the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze to identify high-resolution markers for the species determination of Southern Ban-Lan-Gen. Total DNA was extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing. The cp genome was then assembled, and the gaps were filled using PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. Genome annotation was conducted using CpGAVAS web server. The genome was 144,133 bp in length, presenting a typical quadripartite structure of large (LSC; 91,666 bp) and small (SSC; 17,328 bp) single-copy regions separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs; 17,811 bp). The genome encodes 113 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding, 30 transfer RNA, and 4 ribosomal RNA genes. A total of 20 tandem, 2 forward, and 6 palindromic repeats were detected in the genome. A phylogenetic analysis based on 65 protein-coding genes showed that S. cusia was closely related to Andrographis paniculata and Ruellia breedlovei, which belong to the same family, Acanthaceae. One interesting feature is that the IR regions apparently undergo simultaneous contraction and expansion, resulting in the presence of single copies of rps19, rpl2, rpl23, and ycf2 in the LSC region and the duplication of psbA and trnH genes in the IRs. This study provides the first complete cp genome in the genus Strobilanthes, containing critical information for the classification of various Strobilanthes species in the future. This study also provides the foundation for precisely determining the plant sources of Ban-Lan-Gen.
Evaluation of various sources of magnesium fertiliser for correction of acute magnesium deficiency in oil palm.

All fertilisers evaluated greatly improved the visual appearance of Mg deficient palms. A significant decline in the number of fronds displaying new symptoms occurs as early as four to six months after treatment (MAT). By 16 MAT, majority of treated palms exhibit only light symptoms of Mg deficiency. Statistically, no significant differences were recorded between the various fertiliser types in raising leaf Mg levels and reducing the severity and emergence of new Mg deficiency symptoms. However, when based on palm vegetative growth improvement, kieserite still elicited the best responses and exhibited a higher relative agronomic efficiency (RAE) over the other five Mg fertilisers.
Crystal Structures of Histone and p53 Methyltransferase SmyD2 Reveal a Conformational Flexibility of the Autoinhibitory C-Terminal Domain

SmyD2 belongs to a new class of chromatin regulators that control gene expression in heart development and tumorigenesis. Besides methylation of histone H3 K4, SmyD2 can methylate non-histone targets including p53 and the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor. The methyltransferase activity of SmyD proteins has been proposed to be regulated by autoinhibition via the intra- and interdomain bending of the conserved C-terminal domain (CTD). However, there has been no direct evidence of a conformational change in the CTD. Here, we report two crystal structures of SmyD2 bound either to the cofactor product S-adenosylhomocysteine or to the inhibitor sinefungin. SmyD2 has a two-lobed structure with the active site located at the bottom of a deep crevice formed between the CTD and the catalytic domain. By extensive engagement with the methyltransferase domain, the CTD stabilizes the autoinhibited conformation of SmyD2 and restricts access to the catalytic site. Unexpectedly, despite that the two SmyD2 structures are highly superimposable, significant differences are observed in the first two helices of the CTDs: the two helices bend outwards and move away from the catalytic domain to generate a less closed conformation in the sinefungin-bound structure. Although the overall fold of the individual domains is structurally conserved among SmyD proteins, SmyD2 appear to be a conformational “intermediate” between a close form of SmyD3 and an open form of SmyD1. In addition, the structures reveal that the CTD is structurally similar to tetratricopeptide repeats (TPR), a motif through which many cochaperones bind to the heat shock protein Hsp90. Our results thus provide the first evidence for the intradomain flexibility of the TPR-like CTD, which may be important for the activation of SmyD proteins by Hsp90.
Comparison of Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Model Performances on Carboquinone Derivatives

Quantitative structure-activity relationship (qSAR) models are used to understand how the structure and activity of chemical compounds relate. In the present study, 37 carboquinone derivatives were evaluated and two different qSAR models were developed using members of the Molecular Descriptors Family (MDF) and the Molecular Descriptors Family on Vertices (MDFV). The usual parameters of regression models and the following estimators were defined and calculated in order to analyze the validity and to compare the models: Akaike? s information criteria (three parameters), Schwarz (or Bayesian) information criterion, Amemiya prediction criterion, Hannan-Quinn criterion, Kubinyi function, Steiger's Z test, and Akaike's weights. The MDF and MDFV models proved to have the same estimation ability of the goodness-of-fit according to Steiger's Z test. The MDFV model proved to be the best model for the considered carboquinone derivatives according to the defined information and prediction criteria, Kubinyi function, and Akaike's weights.
Premating Reproductive Barriers between Hybridising Cricket Species Differing in Their Degree of Polyandry

Understanding speciation hinges on understanding how reproductive barriers arise between incompletely isolated populations. Despite their crucial role in speciation, prezygotic barriers are relatively poorly understood and hard to predict. We use two closely related cricket species, Gryllus bimaculatus and G. campestris, to experimentally investigate premating barriers during three sequential mate choice steps. Furthermore, we experimentally show a significant difference in polyandry levels between the two species and subsequently test the hypothesis that females of the more polyandrous species, G. bimaculatus, will be less discriminating against heterospecific males and hence hybridise more readily. During close-range mating behaviour experiments, males showed relatively weak species discrimination but females discriminated very strongly. In line with our predictions, this discrimination is asymmetric, with the more polyandrous G. bimaculatus mating heterospecifically and G. campestris females never mating heterospecifically. Our study shows clear differences in the strength of reproductive isolation during the mate choice process depending on sex and species, which may have important consequences for the evolution of reproductive barriers.
Fabrication of Titanium-Niobium-Zirconium-Tantalium Alloy (TNZT) Bioimplant Components with Controllable Porosity by Spark Plasma Sintering

Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) is used to fabricate Titanium-Niobium-Zirconium-Tantalum alloy (TNZT) powder—based bioimplant components with controllable porosity. The developed densification maps show the effects of final SPS temperature, pressure, holding time, and initial particle size on final sample relative density. Correlations between the final sample density and mechanical properties of the fabricated TNZT components are also investigated and microstructural analysis of the processed material is conducted. A densification model is proposed and used to calculate the TNZT alloy creep activation energy. The obtained experimental data can be utilized for the optimized fabrication of TNZT components with specific microstructural and mechanical properties suitable for biomedical applications.
A Branch-and-Cut Algorithm for the Elementary Shortest Path Problem with a Capacity Constraint

This paper introduces a branch-and-cut algorithm for the elementary shortest path problem with a capacity constraint which appears as a subproblem in several column generation based algorithms, e.g., in the classical Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition of the capacitated vehicle routing problem. A mathematical model and valid inequalities are presented. Furthermore, a new family of inequalities denoted the generalized capacity inequalities are introduced. Experimental results are performed on a set of benchmark instances generated from well known benchmark instances for the capacitated vehicle routing problem. Until now, label algorithms have been the dominant solution method for this problem but experimental results show that the branch-and-cut algorithm clearly outperforms on all the generated instances. Secondly, it can be concluded that although the generalized capacity inequalities drastically improves the lower bound the high separation time makes their usefulness questionable in their current form.
The complete mitogenome of purple mottled shore crab Cyclograpsus granulosus H. Milne-Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsoidea)

Abstract The mitochondrial genome sequence of the purple mottled shore crab, Cyclograpsus granulosus, is documented (GenBank accession number: LN624373), which makes it the third for genera of the superfamily Grapsoidea. Cyclograpsus granulosus has a mitogenome of 16,300 bp consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal subunit genes, 22 transfer RNAs and a non-coding AT-rich region. The base composition of the C. granulosus mitogenome is 36.15% for T, 19.54% for C, 33.14% for A and 11.17% for G, with an AT bias of 69.29%. The mitogenome gene order is atypical for the brachyuran crabs, but is identical to species of the genus Eriocheir from the same family.