Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of N-nitrosodimethylamine metabolism in rats by ether anesthesia.

Short-term exposure to diethyl ether strongly inhibits the metabolism of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Twenty-six 6-week-old male Fischer 344 rats were exposed to ether vapor until their righting reflex was lost (approximately 2 min). The animals were removed from the ether and NDMA was immediately administered by i.v. bolus injection at a dose of 300 microgram/kg via a cannula surgically inserted 20 h earlier. A second group of 28 rats received injections of NDMA in an identical manner but without ether exposure. In the unanesthetized animals blood levels of NDMA declined with a half-life of 11 min; by contrast essentially constant blood levels of NDMA were observed in ether-treated animals for 120 min after removal from the anesthetic. The apparent total systemic clearance for the 5-h experiment was reduced from 43 ml/min/kg without ether to 5 ml/min/kg with ether. Diethyl ether has been found previously to inhibit the metabolism of other drugs requiring oxidative metabolism but the suppression of clearance documented here appears to be unusually pronounced. It is recommended that ether's potential for altering metabolic rates be carefully considered when planning or interpreting animal experiments.
Online Discriminative Structured Output SVM Learning for Multi-Target Tracking

In this letter, we propose an online discriminative learning method for feature combination during multi-target tracking. Previous works utilize offline learned weights for fusion of multiple features, which is not always effective for different tracking contexts. Our work aims to update the weights adaptively in online tracking. We formulate the feature combination problem in data association using structured output SVM, and solve it by online learning algorithm. The constraints of discriminative appearance affinity are integrated to discriminate positive associations from disturbing ones, which makes association more reliable. By comparison with five state-of-the-art methods, our proposed online tracking approach outperforms the other online methods, and is competitive with the global optimal ones.
Diabetes & Women’s Health (DWH) Study: an observational study of long-term health consequences of gestational diabetes, their determinants and underlying mechanisms in the USA and Denmark

Purpose Women who experience gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at exceptionally high-risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) later in life. However, limited information is available about genetic and environmental factors that are implicated in the progression from GDM to T2DM. Participants The Diabetes & Women’s Health (DWH) Study applied a hybrid design, which combined new prospective data collection with existing data in two prospective cohorts, the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) and the Nurses’ Health Study II (NHS II). In total, the DWH Study identified 7759 women with a GDM diagnosis from both cohorts; 4457 women participated in the DWH Study data collection, which included two cycles of follow-up from 2012 to 2014 and 2014 to 2016. Findings to date Progression from GDM to T2DM was high. In the NHS II group, by 2013, 23.1% (n=846/3667) developed T2DM. In the DNBC group, at cycle 1 (2012–2014), the progression rate was even higher: 27.2% (n=215/790) had developed T2DM. Furthermore, we have shown that women who had GDM experienced a significantly greater risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, as well as early stages of glomerular hyperfiltration and renal damage. Moreover, the DWH Study findings have shown that healthful diet and lifestyle factors and weight control were related to a lower risk of T2DM, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Future plans Primary data collection for the DWH Study is complete and investigators are currently investigating interactions of the abovementioned modifiable factors with T2DM genetic susceptibility in determining the risk of progression from GDM to T2DM. Findings from ongoing work will provide further insights for identifying more precise prevention strategies for T2DM and comorbidities in this high-risk population. Future work will examine novel biomarkers of health and disease in this cohort.
The fate of gonococci in polymorphonuclear leucocytes: an electron microscopic study of the natural disease.

Abstract The fate of gonococci in polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) from men with acute gonorrhoea was studied using the electronmicroscope to look for ultrastructural damage in the bacteria. Our observations demonstrate that PMN degranulate normally into vacuoles containing gonococci and that obviously degenerate forms were present in older vacuoles. Morphologically intact gonococci were common in vacuoles containing evidence of recent degranulation suggesting that these organisms had only recently been phagocytosed. When urethral pus was suspended in tissue culture medium containing 1 μg/ml penicillin there were no “persisters” presumably because the intracellular organisms were killed by the PMN. Timed in vitro experiments using a proven virulent gonococcus demonstrated that gonococci degenerate within 30 to 60 min after phagocytosis.
Analysis of methyl DNA adducts and metabolites in BEAS-2B cells induced by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone

Abstract The tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen. It is metabolically activated by P450 enzymes to intermediate methylate and pyridyloxobutylate DNA, resulting in the formation of DNA adduct that is critical for the carcinogenicity of NNK. To directly and objectively examine the DNA adduct formation profiles without the complexity of factors in vivo, in the present study, five kinds of methyl DNA adducts were first identified in the incubation model of NNK established with human lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). The level of methyl DNA adducts and metabolites of NNK were quantitatively analyzed, respectively. With the increase of exposure time and dose, the level of methyl DNA adducts and metabolites increased. Furthermore, with the changes of the activity of P450 enzymes, which is the main enzyme regulating the α-hydroxylation of NNK, we found the levels of both methyl adducts and metabolites formed via α-hydroxylation in experimental groups showed the same trend compared with those in control group, while the metabolites formed via other pathways changed in the opposite trend. The result proves that the methyl adducts induced by NNK generate via α-hydroxylation pathway in BEAS-2B cells.
Resolution of Nonlinear Magnetostatic Problems With a Volume Integral Method Using the Magnetic Scalar Potential

An integral method using the magnetic scalar potential to solve nonlinear magnetostatic problems is developed. This method uses the range interactions between magnetizable elements and it is particularly well suited to compute field in the air domain which do not need to be meshed. The collocation and Galerkin approaches are presented and compared to solve the nonlinear magnetostatic equation. Both methods need the construction of full interaction matrices which may be computed with analytical formulae. A Newton-Raphson method, in which the interaction matrix must be built at each solver iteration, is used to solve the nonlinear formulation. A modified fixed point scheme, in which the interaction matrix is built only once, is also proposed. 3-D numerical examples are given and results of the different methods are compared.
Revisiting Temporal Evolution of Cu-Rich Precipitates in Fe–Cu Alloy: Correlative Small Angle Neutron Scattering and Atom-Probe Tomography Studies

Abstract Binary Fe–Cu alloys are effective prototypes for investigating radiation-induced formation and growth of nanometric Cu-rich precipitates (CRPs) in nuclear reactor pressure vessels. In this report, the temporal evolution of CRPs during thermal aging of Fe–Cu binary alloys has been investigated by using complementary techniques such as atom probe tomography (APT) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). We report a detailed quantitative evolution of a rarely observed morphological transformation of Cu precipitates from spherical to ellipsoid with a significant change (approximately two times) in aspect ratio, an effect known to be associated with the 9R-3R structural transition of the precipitates. It is demonstrated through APT that the precipitates remain spherical up to 8 h, however, they subsequently convert to oblate ellipsoid upon further aging. SANS analysis also detected signs of this morphological transition in reciprocal space. Furthermore, SANS quantifies evolution of the precipitates and corroborates well with the APT results. Interestingly, the power-law exponent of the temporal evolution for mean size and number density agree reasonably well with the Lifshitz–Slyozov–Wagner model, in spite of the complex morphological evolution of the precipitates.
Frequency stability enhancement for low inertia systems using synthetic inertia of wind power

High-level integration of renewable energy sources in power system leads to the displacement of conventional generators and consequently challenges in power system frequency stability are introduced. To mitigate the negative impact of significant wind power penetration in the grid on the frequency stability, this paper proposes supplementary control methods to implement synthetic inertia for doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) based wind energy system during frequency excursions. Different control strategies and activation schemes are analyzed and implemented on the Western Danish renewable-based system using-real time digital simulator (RTDS) to propose the best one for the synthetic inertia controller. From the comparative simulation results, it can be concluded that the method using a combination of both the frequency deviation and derivative as input signals, and the under-frequency trigger provides the best dynamic response in term of the system frequency stability improvement.
Endoscopic assisted powered adenoidectomy versus conventional adenoidectomy – a randomised controlled trial

Abstract Objective To compare endoscopic assisted powered adenoidectomy with conventional curettage adenoidectomy. Methods A randomised controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Fifty patients with a symptom complex pertaining to adenoid hypertrophy and requiring adenoidectomy were chosen and divided into 2 groups of 25 each. Patients in group A underwent conventional curettage adenoidectomy and those in group B underwent endoscopic assisted powered adenoidectomy. Comparison was based on the parameters of surgical time, intra-operative bleeding, post-operative pain and completeness of adenoid removal. Results The surgical time was significantly longer with the powered instrument. Mean blood loss was greater in the powered group, but was statistically insignificant. The powered procedure fared significantly better, with lower pain scores and more instances of complete tissue resection. Conclusion A curved microdebrider blade can be used safely and precisely for adenoidectomy under endoscopic vision. It enables complete resection of adenoid tissue. This method also proves to be an excellent teaching aid.
Predicting 1‐Year Mortality in Older Hospitalized Patients: External Validation of the HOMR Model

Accurate prognostic information can enable patients and physicians to make better healthcare decisions. The Hospital‐patient One‐year Mortality Risk (HOMR) model accurately predicted mortality risk (concordance [C] statistic = .92) in adult hospitalized patients in a recent study in North America. We evaluated the performance of the HOMR model in a population of older inpatients in a large teaching hospital in Ireland.
Supplementary nutrients for prevention of vascular calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease

Vascular calcification (VC) and malnutrition associated with cardiovascular disease are common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) treated with dialysis. VC, which reflects vascular aging, and malnutrition are also encountered in the non-CKD elderly population. This similarity of clinical findings suggests that the progression of CKD is related to aging and the existence of a causal relationship between VC and malnutrition. To retard renal progression, a low- or very-low-protein diet is usually recommended for CKD patients. Dietary education may induce malnutrition and deficiency of important nutrients, such as vitamins K and D. Menaquinone-7, a type of vitamin K2, is under investigation for inhibiting VC in elderly patients without CKD, as well as for prevention of VC in patients with CKD. Nutritional vitamin D, such as cholecalciferol, may be considered to decrease the required dose of active vitamin D, which increases the risk of VC due to increased calcium and phosphate loads. Omega-3 fatty acids are important nutrients and their ability to inhibit VC needs to be evaluated in clinical trials. This review focuses on the ability of supplementary nutrients to prevent VC in patients with CKD, in whom dietary restriction is essential.
Quantification of residual disease in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients on interferon-alpha therapy by competitive polymerase chain reaction.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) induces cytogenetic responses of variable degree in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). We sought to establish the relationship between BCR-ABL transcript numbers measured by competitive 2-step reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cytogenetic status in CML patients treated with IFN-alpha. A total of 250 peripheral blood and 55 bone marrow samples with 127 Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) and 6 Ph-/BCR-ABL+ CML patients were investigated. Twenty-one patients were studied at diagnosis with IFN-alpha, 24 had a complete cytogenetic response, 21 a partial response, 12 a minor response, 26 no response, and 23 were unknown. Using nested RT-PCR, all 305 samples were positive for BCR-ABL transcripts. To standardize results for variability in RNA and cDNA quantity and quality, we quantified total ABL transcripts in each sample as internal control. The validity of ABL as internal control was shown by comparison with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase transcript levels in 145 samples. The median BCR-ABL transcript numbers (and BCR-ABL/ABL ratios expressed as percentages) were 400/micrograms RNA (O.04%) in complete responders, 20,500/micrograms RNA (7.1%) in partial responders, 170,000/micrograms RNA (21.0%) in minor responders, and 430,000/micrograms RNA (58.7%) in nonresponders (P < .001). The cytogenetic results correlated with the BCR-ABL transcript numbers (r = .82; P < .001) and BCR-ABL/ABL ratios (r = .84; P < .001). Grouping the ratios BCR-ABL/ABL as less than 2%, 2% to 14% and greater than 14% to compare with cytogenetic complete response, partial response, and minor/nonresponse, the concordance between the two methods was 82% (chi2 P< .0001). We conclude that quantitative PCR with internal controls is as sensitive and reliable method for monitoring patients on IFN-alpha and reduces the need for repeated marrow investigations.
Strongly correlated quantum walks with a 12-qubit superconducting processor

Quantum walks on a superconducting circuit Quantum walks generate large-scale quantum superposed states. This allows for classically unavailable applications, such as simulating many-body quantum systems, and also yields quantum algorithms exponentially faster than classical computation. Yan et al. demonstrate quantum walks of one and two strongly correlated microwave photons in a one-dimensional array of 12 superconducting qubits with short-range interactions. The scalability of the superconducting platform could lead to large-scale implementations and the quantum simulation of complex systems. Science, this issue p. 753 Quantum walks are demonstrated on a superconducting circuit. Quantum walks are the quantum analogs of classical random walks, which allow for the simulation of large-scale quantum many-body systems and the realization of universal quantum computation without time-dependent control. We experimentally demonstrate quantum walks of one and two strongly correlated microwave photons in a one-dimensional array of 12 superconducting qubits with short-range interactions. First, in one-photon quantum walks, we observed the propagation of the density and correlation of the quasiparticle excitation of the superconducting qubit and quantum entanglement between qubit pairs. Second, when implementing two-photon quantum walks by exciting two superconducting qubits, we observed the fermionization of strongly interacting photons from the measured time-dependent long-range anticorrelations, representing the antibunching of photons with attractive interactions. The demonstration of quantum walks on a quantum processor, using superconducting qubits as artificial atoms and tomographic readout, paves the way to quantum simulation of many-body phenomena and universal quantum computation.
Ceramide synthase inhibition by fumonisins: a perfect storm of perturbed sphingolipid metabolism, signaling, and disease[S]

Fumonisins are mycotoxins that cause diseases of plants and, when consumed by animals, can damage liver, kidney, lung, brain, and other organs, alter immune function, and cause developmental defects and cancer. They structurally resemble sphingolipids (SLs), and studies nearly 30 years ago discovered that the most prevalent fumonisin [fumonisin B1 (FB1)] potently inhibits ceramide synthases (CerSs), enzymes that use fatty acyl-CoAs to N-acylate sphinganine (Sa), sphingosine (So), and other sphingoid bases. CerS inhibition by FB1 triggers a “perfect storm” of perturbations in structural and signaling SLs that include: reduced formation of dihydroceramides, ceramides, and complex SLs; elevated Sa and So and their 1-phosphates, novel 1-deoxy-sphingoid bases; and alteration of additional lipid metabolites from interrelated pathways. Moreover, because the initial enzyme of sphingoid base biosynthesis remains active (sometimes with increased activity), the impact is multiplied by the continued production of damaging metabolites. Evidence from many studies, including characterization of knockout mice for specific CerSs and analyses of human blood (which found that FB1 intake is associated with elevated Sa 1-phosphate), has consistently pointed to CerS as the proximate target of FB1. It is also apparent that the changes in multiple bioactive lipids and related biologic processes account for the ensuing spectrum of animal and plant disease. Thus, the diseases caused by fumonisins can be categorized as “sphingolipidoses” (in these cases, due to defective SL biosynthesis), and the lessons learned about the consequences of CerS inhibition should be borne in mind when contemplating other naturally occurring and synthetic compounds (and genetic manipulations) that interfere with SL metabolism. Graphical Abstract
Reliability of Teams’ Game-Related Statistics in Basketball: Number of Games Required and Minimal Detectable Change

ABSTRACT In basketball, game-related statistics are the most common measure of performance. However, the literature assessing their reliability is scarce. Purpose: Analyze the number of games required to obtain a good relative and absolute reliability of teams’ game-related statistics. Method: A total of 884 games from the 2015–2016 to 2017–2018 seasons of the Spanish men’s professional league were analyzed using all games and clustered by scoring difference. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for each variable. The number of games required to detect a change and to achieve good relative reliability was calculated using minimal detectable change and Spearman-Brown prophecy formula respectively. Results: Using all games, the results showed that the minimal number of games required in each group was 30 to detect a medium change (d > .5), 187 for a small change (d > .2), and 100 for good relative reliability (ICC ≥ .75). Using balanced and unbalanced games, the minimal number of games required in each group was respectively 31 and 30 to detect a medium change (d > .5), 190 and 188 for a small change (d > .2), and 191 and 121 for good relative reliability (ICC ≥ .75). Conclusions: The sample needs to consist of at least 30 games in each group to detect a medium size change, and at least 190 games to detect a small size change. To be able to rank teams with good reliability, at least 100 games are required when including both balanced and unbalanced games.
Semi-heterogeneous Dual Nickel/Photocatalysis using Carbon Nitrides: Esterification of Carboxylic Acids with Aryl Halides.

Cross-coupling reactions mediated by dual nickel/photocatalysis are synthetically attractive but rely mainly on expensive, non-recyclable noble-metal complexes as photocatalysts. Heterogeneous semiconductors, which are commonly used for artificial photosynthesis and wastewater treatment, are a sustainable alternative. Graphitic carbon nitrides, a class of metal-free polymers that can be easily prepared from bulk chemicals, are heterogeneous semiconductors with high potential for photocatalytic organic transformations. Here, we demonstrate that graphitic carbon nitrides in combination with nickel catalysis can induce selective C-O cross-couplings of carboxylic acids with aryl halides, yielding the respective aryl esters in excellent yield and selectivity. The heterogeneous organic photocatalyst exhibits a broad substrate scope, is able to harvest green light, and can be recycled multiple times. In situ FTIR was used to track the reaction progress to study this transformation at different irradiation wavelengths and reaction scales.
Detection and diagnosis of herpes simplex virus infection in adults with acute liver failure

Disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection may lead to acute liver failure (ALF) and the need for emergency liver transplantation (LT). The primary aim of this study was to determine the utility of HSV serological testing and HSV DNA testing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis and management of indeterminate, pregnancy‐related, and known HSV‐related ALF. Stored sera obtained on study day 1 or 2 from patients enrolled in the United States ALF Study Group with indeterminate (n = 51), pregnancy‐related (n = 12), and HSV‐related (n = 4) ALF were screened for HSV DNA by PCR and serology. While 7 of the indeterminate and pregnant patients had positive anti‐HSV immunoglobulin M, none had detectable HSV DNA. The 4 known HSV cases all had high‐titer HSV DNA on presentation (range: 3.5 to 36 × 108 copies/mL). Two HSV patients underwent LT but developed posttransplant extrahepatic HSV infection despite suppression of HSV DNA with acyclovir treatment, and one of them eventually died. The 2 other fulminant HSV patients died within 48 hours of presentation. In conclusion, serum HSV DNA indicative of occult HSV infection was not detected in 51 indeterminate and 12 pregnancy‐related ALF patients. The 4 patients with known HSV‐related ALF all had high HSV DNA levels at presentation, and despite the rapid use of antiviral therapy and emergency LT, substantial morbidity and mortality were encountered, highlighting the poor prognosis with severe disseminated HSV infection. Liver Transpl 14:1498–1504, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.