Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epithelial cadherin disassociates from the lateral plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells throughout pregnancy in a marsupial

The uterine luminal epithelium is the first site of contact between fetal and maternal tissues during therian pregnancy and must undergo specialised changes for implantation of the blastocyst to be successful. These changes, collectively termed the plasma membrane transformation (PMT), allow the blastocyst to attach to the uterine epithelium preceding the formation of a placenta. There are similarities in the morphological and molecular changes occurring in live‐bearing eutherian species during the PMT studied so far. Similar cellular remodelling occurs in a marsupial species, the fat‐tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata), despite the divergence of marsupials from eutherian mammals over 130 mya, which resulted in the evolution of distinct reproductive strategies. Adhesion molecules along the lateral plasma membrane of uterine epithelium provide a barrier to invasion by the embryo. We thus characterised the presence and change in distribution of epithelial cadherin (E‐cadherin) in uterine epithelium from non‐pregnant fat‐tailed dunnarts and compared it to dunnarts in early‐, mid‐ and late‐stage pregnancy. E‐cadherin staining is localised to the lateral plasma membrane in uterine epithelium from non‐pregnant and early‐stage pregnant dunnarts. The E‐cadherin staining is cytoplasmic in epithelium from uteri of mid‐ and late‐stage pregnant dunnarts. This loss of localised staining suggests that the adherens junction dissociates from the lateral plasma membrane, allowing for invasion between the epithelial cells by the blastocyst. As the changes during pregnancy to cadherin were similar in the laboratory rat with highly invasive (haemochorial) placentation, a live‐bearing lizard species with non‐invasive (epitheliochorial) placentation and a marsupial, the fat‐tailed dunnart, which has invasive (endotheliochorial) placentation, we suggest that the molecular mechanisms allowing for successful pregnancy are conserved among mammals during the early stages of pregnancy regardless of placental invasiveness.
Odds and associated factors for thrombosis development among Lebanese COVID-19 patients: a case–control retrospective study

ABSTRACT Background Thromboembolism is reported to be up to 27% in COVID-19 patients due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Dysregulated systemic inflammation and various patient traits play a vital role in thrombosis progression. Purpose To assess odds and associated factors for thrombosis development among Lebanese COVID-19 patients. Methods This was a case–control retrospective study conducted in January–May 2021. Patients infected with COVID-19 and developed thrombosis were classified as cases and patients who were thrombosis-free identified as control. A questionnaire assessed socio-demographics, clinical parameters, and WHO COVID-19 disease severity. Results Among 267 patients, 26 (9.7%) developed thrombosis and the majority of thrombosis 34.6% was myocardial infarction, and the least (3.8%) was for catheter-related thrombosis. Results showed that the risk of thrombosis development is higher in patients with previous thromboembolic event (OR = 9.160) and previous intake of anti-hypertensive medications at home (OR = 3.116). However, females (OR = 0.330; CI: 0.118–0.925), intake of anticoagulants during hospital admission (OR = 0.126; CI: 0.053–0.300) and non-severe COVID-19 were at lower thrombosis risk (OR = 0.273). Patients who developed thromboembolic events had longer hospital stay (OR = 0.077). Conclusion Patients with COVID-19 and thromboembolism were at higher risk of mortality as compared to patients with COVID-19 but without thromboembolism. The use of anticoagulants significantly reduced the risk for thromboembolism.
Applying a soft-robotic glove as assistive device and training tool with games to support hand function after stroke: Preliminary results on feasibility and potential clinical impact

Recent technological developments regarding wearable soft-robotic devices extend beyond the current application of rehabilitation robotics and enable unobtrusive support of the arms and hands during daily activities. In this light, the HandinMind (HiM) system was developed, comprising a soft-robotic, grip supporting glove with an added computer gaming environment. The present study aims to gain first insight into the feasibility of clinical application of the HiM system and its potential impact. In order to do so, both the direct influence of the HiM system on hand function as assistive device and its therapeutic potential, of either assistive or therapeutic use, were explored. A pilot randomized clinical trial was combined with a cross-sectional measurement (comparing performance with and without glove) at baseline in 5 chronic stroke patients, to investigate both the direct assistive and potential therapeutic effects of the HiM system. Extended use of the soft-robotic glove as assistive device at home or with dedicated gaming exercises in a clinical setting was applicable and feasible. A positive assistive effect of the soft-robotic glove was proposed for pinch strength and functional task performance ‘lifting full cans’ in most of the five participants. A potential therapeutic impact was suggested with predominantly improved hand strength in both participants with assistive use, and faster functional task performance in both participants with therapeutic application.
Anticoagulation for heart failure in sinus rhythm.

BACKGROUND Patients with chronic heart failure (heart failure) are at risk of thromboembolic events, including stroke, pulmonary embolism and peripheral arterial embolism, whilst coronary ischaemic events also contribute to the progression of heart failure. Long-term oral anticoagulation is established in certain groups, including patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation but there is wide variation in the indications and use of oral anticoagulation in the broader heart failure population. OBJECTIVES To determine whether long-term oral anticoagulation reduces total deaths and/or major thromboembolic events in patients with heart failure, when compared to placebo. SEARCH STRATEGY Reference lists of papers resulting from this search, electronic database searching (MEDLINE, EMBASE, DARE), and abstracts from national and international cardiovascular meetings were studied to identify unpublished studies. Relevant authors of these studies were contacted to obtain further data. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oral anticoagulants with control or placebo. Non-randomised studies were included as they may help in assessing side-effects. Duration of treatment at least 1 month, adults with heart failure due to any underlying cause. Inclusion decisions were duplicated, disagreement resolved by discussion or a third party. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Data were collected by two reviewers independently and where appropriate data from RCTs were meta-analysed. MAIN RESULTS One recent pilot RCT compared warfarin, aspirin and no antithrombotic therapy, but no definitive data have yet been published. Three small prospective studies of warfarin in heart failure were also identified, but were over 50 years old with methods not considered reliable by modern standards. Anticoagulation was more efficacious than control for the reduction of all cause death (odds ratio 0.64 95% CI 0.45,0.90) and the reduction of cardiovascular events (0.26 95% CI 0.16, 0.43). Four retrospective non-randomised cohort analyses and three small observational studies of oral anticoagulation in heart failure included differing populations of heart failure patients and reported contradictory results. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS Evidence from the RCTs and observational studies found a reduction in mortality and cardiovascular events with anticoagulants compared to control. This evidence needs to be interpreted with caution. Although oral anticoagulation is indicated in certain groups of patients with heart failure (eg atrial fibrillation), the data available does not support its routine use in heart failure patients who remain in sinus rhythm. A large randomised trial of warfarin in heart failure patients in sinus rhythm is currently in progress data from which will be useful addition to this story.
Combined Inhibition of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (Dinaciclib) and AKT (MK-2206) Blocks Pancreatic Tumor Growth and Metastases in Patient-Derived Xenograft Models

KRAS is activated by mutation in the vast majority of cases of pancreatic cancer; unfortunately, therapeutic attempts to inhibit KRAS directly have been unsuccessful. Our previous studies showed that inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) reduces pancreatic cancer growth and progression, through blockage of the centrally important RAL effector pathway, downstream of KRAS. In the current study, the therapeutic effects of combining the CDK inhibitor dinaciclib (SCH727965; MK-7965) with the pan-AKT inhibitor MK-2206 were evaluated using orthotopic and subcutaneous patient-derived human pancreatic cancer xenograft models. The combination of dinaciclib (20 mg/kg, i.p., three times a week) and MK-2206 (60 mg/kg, orally, three times a week) dramatically blocked tumor growth and metastasis in all eight pancreatic cancer models examined. Remarkably, several complete responses were induced by the combination treatment of dinaciclib and MK-2206. The striking results obtained in these models demonstrate that the combination of dinaciclib with the pan-AKT inhibitor MK-2206 is promising for therapeutic evaluation in pancreatic cancer, and strongly suggest that blocking RAL in combination with other effector pathways downstream from KRAS may provide increased efficacy in pancreatic cancer. Based on these data, an NCI–CTEP-approved multicenter phase I clinical trial for pancreatic cancer of the combination of dinaciclib and MK-2206 (NCT01783171) has now been opened. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(7); 1532–9. ©2015 AACR.
Relay selection with channel probing for geographical forwarding in WSNs

In a large wireless sensor network (WSN) with sleep-wake cycling nodes, we are interested in the local decision problem faced by a node that has “custody” of a packet and has to choose one among a set of next-hop relay nodes. Each of the relays is associated with a “reward” that summarizes the cost/benefit of forwarding the packet through that relay. We seek a locally optimal solution to this problem, the idea being that such a solution, if adopted by every node, could provide a reasonable local heuristic for the end-to-end forwarding problem. Towards this end, we propose a local forwarding problem where the relays wake-up at random times, at which instants they reveal the probability distributions of their rewards. To determine a relay's exact reward, the source has to further probe the relay, incurring a probing cost. Thus, at each relay wake-up instant, the forwarding node, given the reward value of an already probed relay and the reward distribution of an unprobed relay, has to decide whether to stop (and forward the packet to the probed relay), continue waiting for further relays to wake-up, or probe the unprobed relay. We formulate this local forwarding problem as a Markov decision process (MDP) and obtain some interesting structural results on the optimal policy. Our problem can be considered as a new variant of the asset selling problem studied in the operations research literature.
Restorative effect of bean ferritin iron on low hemoglobin level in premenopausal women with menstruation-induced anemia: A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled intergroup trial

Background: Recently, bean ferritin has been attracting considerable attention as a new source of iron, that is available to vegetarians. Although high rates of iron absorption and bioavailability from this protein have been reported, clinical data on its efficacy remain scarce. Objective: In this study, we administered bean ferritin iron to premenopausal Japanese women for nine weeks, starting immediately after menstruation, to evaluate their recovery from low hemoglobin levels as one sign of anemia. Methods: Participants in the test supplement group received an iron intake of 5 mg from one capsule containing bean extract (SloIron®) for five weeks, which was increased to 10 mg (i.e., two capsules) from the 6th to the 9th week. The study evaluated the change in hemoglobin levels as the primary endpoint, and hematocrit, red blood cell count, serum iron, MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin), MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), serum ferritin, TSAT (TIBC), serum zinc, serum copper, anemia symptoms questionnaire, OSA sleep inventory, and the anti-fatigue questionnaire as the secondary endpoints. Results: Our results showed a significant difference (P=0.03) in the change in hemoglobin levels between the groups after nine weeks of intake, confirming the restorative effect of bean ferritin on low hemoglobin levels caused by menstruation. Moreover, a significant difference (P=0.01) was observed in the amount of change in MCHC between the two groups after five weeks of intake, and after nine weeks of intake, a significant difference in the change in both MCH (P=0.02) and MCHC (P<0.01) was observed between the groups. A significant difference (P=0.03) was observed in the change in serum ferritin levels after nine weeks of intake. Conclusion: The study confirmed that iron supplementation from bean ferritin is an effective treatment for low hemoglobin and low ferritin levels caused by menstruation. Keywords: Ferritin, Bean ferritin, Menstruation, Serum iron, Hemoglobin
Steering of aggregating magnetic microparticles using propulsion gradients coils in an MRI Scanner

Upgraded gradient coils can effectively enhance the MRI steering of magnetic microparticles in a branching channel. Applications of this method include MRI targeting of magnetic embolization agents for oncologic therapy. A magnetic suspension of Fe3O4 magnetic particles was injected inside a y‐shaped microfluidic channel. Magnetic gradients of 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mT/m were applied to the magnetic particles perpendicularly to the flow by a custom‐built gradient coil inside a 1.5‐T MRI scanner. Measurement of the steering ratio was performed both by video analyses and quantification of the mass of the particles collected at each outlet of the microfluidic channel, using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Magnetic particles steering ratios of 0.99 and 0.75 were reached with 400 mT/m gradient amplitude and measured by video analyses and atomic absorption spectroscopy, respectively. Experimental data shows that the steering ratio increases with higher magnetic gradients. Moreover, theory suggests that larger particles (or aggregates), higher magnetizations, and lower flows can also be used to improve the steering ratio. The technological limitation of the approach is that an MRI gradient amplitude increase to a few hundred milliteslas per meter is needed. A simple analytical method based on magnetophoretic velocity predictions and geometric considerations is proposed for steering ratio calculation. Magn Reson Med 63:1336–1345, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
DYNAMIC CONE PENETRATION TEST TO ASSESS THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE SUBGRADE SOIL

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationships between penetration resistance, dry density, moisture content, and resilient modulus of subgrade soils. The Dynamic Cone Penetration Tests (DCPTs) were conducted at eight sites. The nuclear gage and sand cone methods were used to estimate the dry density and moisture content of the subgrade soils. Disturbed soil samples were collected in the field. Atterberg limits and sieve analysis tests were conducted in the laboratory. For selected sites, laboratory DCPTs were performed in a 12-in. (30.5-cm) mold along the compaction curves, and unconfined compression tests were conducted on 2.8-in. (7.1-cm) samples. The contours of laboratory penetration index with respect to dry density and moisture content were developed. Based on this information, the relationships between laboratory penetration index, unconfined compression test results and resilient modulus were found. Based on the field test results and unconfined compression test results, the relationship between field penetration index, dry density, moisture content, and resilient modulus for sandy lean clay was also found for select soil types. A framework for further development of such correlations for different soil types is now in place, which should facilitate future research.
An empirical exploration of phase resetting for robust biped locomotion with dynamical movement primitives

We propose a framework for learning biped locomotion using dynamical movement primitives based on nonlinear oscillators. In our previous work, we suggested dynamical movement primitives as a central pattern generator (CPG) to learn biped locomotion from demonstration. We introduced an adaptation algorithm for the frequency of the oscillators based on phase resetting at the instance of heel strike and entrainment between the phase oscillator and mechanical system using feedback from the environment. In this paper, we empirically explore the role of phase resetting in the proposed algorithm for robust biped locomotion. We demonstrate that phase resetting contributes to robustness against external perturbations and environmental changes by numerical simulations and experiments with a physical biped robot.
Associations of the CYP7A1 Gene Polymorphisms Located in the Promoter and Enhancer Regions with the Risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome, Plasma Cholesterol, and the Incidence of Diabetes

Cholesterol-7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of bile salts, and its activity can contribute to determining cholesterol levels and, consequently, the risk of developing coronary atherosclerotic disease. We evaluated whether seven (rs3808607 G/T, rs9297994 G/A, rs10504255 A/G, rs8192870 G/T, rs2081687 C/T, rs1457043 C/T, and rs10107182 C/T) polymorphisms located in the promoter and enhancer regions of the CYP7A1 gene, which have not been sufficiently explored, are candidates of risk markers of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Mexican population. These polymorphisms were determined in a group of 1317 patients with ACS and 1046 control subjects. The results showed that, under different inheritance models, the alleles rs9297994 G, rs10504255 G, rs8192870 T, rs2081687 T, and rs10107182 C were significantly associated with an increased risk of ACS (pC < 0.05). In addition, the incidence of dyslipidemia among patients with ACS, notably high total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, and low HDL-cholesterol plasma levels, were more frequent in carriers of the same five risk alleles associated with ACS (p < 0.05). There was also an unexpected increased incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients with ACS who are homozygous for the rs2081687 T, rs9297944 G, rs10504255 G, and rs10107182 C alleles of the CYP7A1 gene, suggesting that such gene variants enhance the development of coronary complications in patients with diabetes (p < 0.05). In summary, our study demonstrated that five polymorphisms situated in the promoter and enhancer regions of the CYP7A1 gene are associated with the risk of ACS and higher incidences of dyslipidemia and T2DM in Mexican patients with ACS.
SCHS: Smart Cluster Head Selection Scheme for Clustering Algorithms in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks are energy constraint networks. Energy efficiency, to prolong the network for a longer time is critical issue for wireless sensor network protocols. Clustering protocols are energy efficient approaches to extend the lifetime of network. Intra-cluster communication is the main driving factor for energy efficiency of clustering protocols. Intra-cluster energy consumption depends upon the position of cluster head in the cluster. Wrongly positioned clusters head make cluster more energy consuming. In this paper, a simple and efficient cluster head selection scheme is proposed, named Smart Cluster Head Selection (SCHS). It can be implemented with any distributed clustering approach. In SCHS, the area is divided into two parts: border area and inner area. Only inner area nodes are eligible for cluster head role. SCHS reduces the intra-cluster communication distance hence improves the energy efficiency of cluster. The simulation results show that SCHS has significant improvement over LEACH in terms of lifetime of network and data units gathered at base station.
Unusual Starch Degradation Pathway via Cyclodextrins in the Hyperthermophilic Sulfate-Reducing Archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus Strain 7324

ABSTRACT The hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus strain 7324 has been shown to grow on starch and sulfate and thus represents the first sulfate reducer able to degrade polymeric sugars. The enzymes involved in starch degradation to glucose 6-phosphate were studied. In extracts of starch-grown cells the activities of the classical starch degradation enzymes, α-amylase and amylopullulanase, could not be detected. Instead, evidence is presented here that A. fulgidus utilizes an unusual pathway of starch degradation involving cyclodextrins as intermediates. The pathway comprises the combined action of an extracellular cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) converting starch to cyclodextrins and the intracellular conversion of cyclodextrins to glucose 6-phosphate via cyclodextrinase (CDase), maltodextrin phosphorylase (Mal-P), and phosphoglucomutase (PGM). These enzymes, which are all induced after growth on starch, were characterized. CGTase catalyzed the conversion of starch to mainly β-cyclodextrin. The gene encoding CGTase was cloned and sequenced and showed highest similarity to a glucanotransferase from Thermococcus litoralis. After transport of the cyclodextrins into the cell by a transport system to be defined, these molecules are linearized via a CDase, catalyzing exclusively the ring opening of the cyclodextrins to the respective maltooligodextrins. These are degraded by a Mal-P to glucose 1-phosphate. Finally, PGM catalyzes the conversion of glucose 1-phosphate to glucose 6-phosphate, which is further degraded to pyruvate via the modified Embden-Meyerhof pathway.
An Image Denoising Algorithm with an Adaptive Window

Mihcak et al. proposed a low complexity but powerful image denoising algorithm LAWML based on the decimated wavelet transform (DWT). The shortcoming of LAWML is to determine the global optimal neighboring window size by experimenting. We improve on LAWML using Stein's unbiased risk estimate(SURE). Our method can automatically estimate an optimal neighboring window for every wavelet subband. Its denoising performance also surpasses LAWML because the subband adaptive window is superior to the global window. Furthermore, our method on the DWT is extended to on the dual-tree complex wavelet transform (DT-CWT). Experimental results indicate that our method (DT-CWT) delivers the comparable or better performance than some of the already published state-of-the-art denoising algorithms.