Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comprehensive evaluation of the toxicology of the “Deli” cast sheet process used in experimental cigarettes

Abstract Context: Manufacture of cigarettes results in tobacco by-products, some of which can be processed and added back to cigarettes. Such additions (known as reconstituted tobacco or reconstituted leaf) have been shown to reduce tar yields. A new process (termed “Deli” cast sheet) is a potential refinement of the reconstitution process. Objective: Compare toxicity of smoke from experimental cigarettes made with reconstituted leaf with that from cigarettes made with Deli cast sheet. Materials and methods: Analytical chemistry, Salmonella mutagenicity and cytotoxicity assays were used to evaluate the composition biological activity of mainstream smoke from experimental cigarettes made with Deli cast sheet or with reconstituted leaf. The effect of different amounts of guar and propylene glycol in Deli cast sheet was also evaluated. Results: Small increases in the amount of nitrogen oxides were found as a result of inclusion of the Deli cast sheet when compared with reconstituted leaf; no differences in cytotoxicity or mutagenicity were found. Conclusion: The Deli process neither significantly modified chemical composition of smoke nor affected its biological activity, as measured by the mutagenicity and cytotoxicity assays used here.
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF COMBINATIVE PIXEL-LEVEL IMAGE FUSION BASED ON AN ABSOLUTE FEATURE MEASUREMENT

In this paper, a new metric for evaluating the performance of the combi- native pixel-level image fusion is defined based on an image feature measurement, i.e. phase congruency and its moments, which provide an absolute measurement of image features. By comparing the local cross-correlation of corresponding feature maps of input images and fused output, the quality of the fused result is assessed without a reference. The experimental results on multi-focused image pairs demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach. Keywords: Image fusion, Phase congruency, Feature measurement
Evolutionary dynamics of R2 retroelement and insertion inheritance in the genome of bisexual and parthenogenetic Bacillus rossius populations (Insecta Phasmida)

Theoretical and empirical studies have shown differential management of transposable elements in organisms with different reproductive strategies. To investigate this issue, we analysed the R2 retroelement structure and variability in parthenogenetic and bisexual populations of Bacillus rossius stick insects, as well as insertions inheritance in the offspring of parthenogenetic isolates and of crosses. The B. rossius genome hosts a functional (R2Brfun) and a degenerate (R2Brdeg) element, their presence correlating with neither reproductive strategies nor population distribution. The median‐joining network method indicated that R2Brfun duplicates through a multiple source model, while R2Brdeg is apparently still duplicating via a master gene model. Offspring analyses showed that unisexual and bisexual offspring have a similar number of R2Br‐occupied sites. Multiple or recent shifts from gonochoric to parthenogenetic reproduction may explain the observed data. Moreover, insertion frequency spectra show that higher‐frequency insertions in unisexual offspring significantly outnumber those in bisexual offspring. This suggests that unisexual offspring eliminate insertions with lower efficiency. A comparison with simulated insertion frequencies shows that inherited insertions in unisexual and bisexual offspring are significantly different from the expectation. On the whole, different mechanisms of R2 elimination in unisexual vs bisexual offspring and a complex interplay between recombination effectiveness, natural selection and time can explain the observed data.
Worldwide patterns of bronchodilator responsiveness: results from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study

Rationale Criteria for a clinically significant bronchodilator response (BDR) are mainly based on studies in patients with obstructive lung diseases. Little is known about the BDR in healthy general populations, and even less about the worldwide patterns. Methods 10 360 adults aged 40 years and older from 14 countries in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia participated in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Spirometry was used before and after an inhaled bronchodilator to determine the distribution of the BDR in population-based samples of healthy non-smokers and individuals with airflow obstruction. Results In 3922 healthy never smokers, the weighted pooled estimate of the 95th percentiles (95% CI) for bronchodilator response were 284 ml (263 to 305) absolute change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s from baseline (ΔFEV1); 12.0% (11.2% to 12.8%) change relative to initial value (%ΔFEV1i); and 10.0% (9.5% to 10.5%) change relative to predicted value (%ΔFEV1p). The corresponding mean changes in forced vital capacity (FVC) were 322 ml (271 to 373) absolute change from baseline (ΔFVC); 10.5% (8.9% to 12.0%) change relative to initial value (ΔFVCi); and 9.2% (7.9% to 10.5%) change relative to predicted value (ΔFVCp). The proportion who exceeded the above threshold values in the subgroup with spirometrically defined Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage 2 and higher (FEV1/FVC <0.7 and FEV1% predicted <80%) were 11.1%, 30.8% and 12.9% respectively for the FEV1-based thresholds and 22.6%, 28.6% and 22.1% respectively for the FVC-based thresholds. Conclusions The results provide reference values for bronchodilator responses worldwide that confirm guideline estimates for a clinically significant level of BDR in bronchodilator testing.
Modelling Chemotactic Motion of Cells in Biological Tissues

Developmental processes in biology are underlined by proliferation, differentiation and migration of cells. The latter two are interlinked since cellular differentiation is governed by the dynamics of morphogens which, in turn, is affected by the movement of cells. Mutual effects of morphogenetic and cell movement patterns are enhanced when the movement is due to chemotactic response of cells to the morphogens. In this study we introduce a mathematical model to analyse how this interplay can result in a steady movement of cells in a tissue and associated formation of travelling waves in a concentration field of morphogen. Using the model we have identified four chemotactic scenarios for migration of single cell or homogeneous group of cells in a tissue. Such a migration can take place if moving cells are (1) repelled by a chemical produced by themselves or (2) attracted by a chemical produced by the surrounding cells in a tissue. Furthermore, the group of cells can also move if cells in surrounding tissue are (3) repelled by a chemical produced by moving cells or (4) attracted by a chemical produced by surrounding cells themselves. The proposed mechanisms can underlie migration of cells during embryonic development as well as spread of metastatic cells.
Dental Arch Form Analysis in Gujarati Males and Females having Normal Occlusion

Aim: To analyze and determine maxillary and mandibular arch form of Gujarati (Indian) adults with normal occlusions. Materials and methods: Fifty seven study models of untreated individuals were examined. Six measurements of both the arches were taken, and five independent ratios were determined. Character and shape of both the arches were studied and compared using various statistical analyses for males and females between both the arches. Results: As moving from anterior to posterior, both the arches diverge proportionally, except in second molar area where slight convergence toward midline was noted. Females had proportionally narrower arch dimensions than those for males. Five arch forms were determined according to relative deviations of various ratio combinations, and all subjects were classified for mandibular arch form by nonhierarchical stepwise method.
Attachment, cognitive, and motor development in adopted children: short-term outcomes after international adoption.

OBJECTIVE To examine infant attachment and developmental functioning shortly after international adoption. METHODS At 14 months, infant-mother attachment and mental (MDI) and psychomotor (PDI) development were assessed in 70 internationally adopted children. Mean age at arrival was 5.5 months, mean stay in the adoptive family 8.7 months. RESULTS Adopted children's MDI and PDI did not deviate from normative scores. Also, their secure-insecure attachment distribution was comparable with that of normative groups. However, more adoptees were disorganized attached (36 vs. 15% in normative groups). Temporary residence in a foster home in the country of origin before adoption was related to higher MDI and PDI, whereas disorganized attachment in the adoptive family was related to lower MDI and PDI scores. CONCLUSIONS The majority of internationally adopted children form secure attachment relationships and function at normative developmental levels shortly after adoption. Residence in a foster family before adoption may partly prevent developmental delays.
Inhibition of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus RNA Synthesis by Thiosemicarbazone Derived from 5,6-Dimethoxy-1-Indanone

ABSTRACT In the present work, we described the activity of the thiosemicarbazone derived from 5,6-dimethoxy-1-indanone (TSC), which we previously characterized as a new compound that inhibits bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection. We showed that TSC acts at a point of time that coincides with the onset of viral RNA synthesis and that it inhibits the activity of BVDV replication complexes (RCs). Moreover, we have selected five BVDV mutants that turned out to be highly resistant to TSC but still susceptible to ribavirin (RBV). Four of these resistant mutants carried an N264D mutation in the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). The remaining mutant showed an A392E mutation within the same protein. Some of these mutants replicated slower than the wild-type (wt) virus in the absence of TSC, whereas others showed a partial reversion to the wt phenotype over several passages in the absence of the compound. The docking of TSC in the crystal structure of the BVDV RdRp revealed a close contact between the indane ring of the compound and several residues within the fingers domain of the enzyme, some hydrophobic contacts, and hydrogen bonds with the thiosemicarbazone group. Finally, in the mutated RdRp from resistant BVDV, these interactions with TSC could not be achieved. Interestingly, TSC inhibited BVDV replication in cell culture synergistically with RBV. In conclusion, TSC emerges as a new nonnucleoside inhibitor of BVDV RdRp that is synergistic with RBV, a feature that turns it into a potential compound to be evaluated against hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in diabetes: clinical impact, assessment, diagnosis, and management

The Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy (CAN) Subcommittee of the Toronto Consensus Panel on Diabetic Neuropathy worked to update CAN guidelines, with regard to epidemiology, clinical impact, diagnosis, usefulness of CAN testing, and management. CAN is the impairment of cardiovascular autonomic control in the setting of diabetes after exclusion of other causes. The prevalence of confirmed CAN is around 20%, and increases up to 65% with age and diabetes duration. Established risk factors for CAN are glycaemic control in type 1 and a combination of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obesity, and glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes. CAN is a risk marker of mortality and cardiovascular morbidity, and possibly a progression promoter of diabetic nephropathy. Criteria for CAN diagnosis and staging are: (1) one abnormal cardiovagal test result identifies possible or early CAN; (2) at least two abnormal cardiovagal test results are required for definite or confirmed CAN; and (3) the presence of orthostatic hypotension in addition to abnormal heart rate test results identifies severe or advanced CAN. Progressive stages of CAN are associated with increasingly worse prognosis. CAN assessment is relevant in clinical practice for (1) diagnosis of CAN clinical forms, (2) detection and tailored treatment of CAN clinical correlates (e.g. tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension, non‐dipping, QT interval prolongation), (3) risk stratification for diabetic complications and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and (4) modulation of targets of diabetes therapy. Evidence on the cost‐effectiveness of CAN testing is lacking. Apart from the preventive role of intensive glycaemic control in type 1 diabetes, recommendations cannot be made for most therapeutic approaches to CAN. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decentralized Collaborative Learning of Personalized Models over Networks

We consider a set of learning agents in a col-laborative peer-to-peer network, where each agent learns a personalized model according to its own learning objective. The question addressed in this paper is: how can agents improve upon their locally trained model by communicating with other agents that have similar objectives? We introduce and analyze two asynchronous gossip algorithms running in a fully decentralized manner. Our first approach , inspired from label propagation, aims to smooth pre-trained local models over the network while accounting for the confidence that each agent has in its initial model. In our second approach, agents jointly learn and propagate their model by making iterative updates based on both their local dataset and the behavior of their neighbors. Our algorithm to optimize this challenging objective in a decentralized way is based on ADMM.
The Psoas Compartment Block for Hip Surgery: The Past, Present, and Future

A posterior lumbar plexus block or psoas compartment block (PCB) is an effective locoregional anesthetic technique for analgesia and anesthesia of the entire lower extremity including the hip. Since the first description in the early seventies, this technique has been modified based on advanced knowledge of the anatomical localization of the lumbar plexus and the improvement of technical equipment. This paper provides an overview of the history, clinical efficacy, and risk profile of the PCB focused on hip surgery. Current status and future expectations are discussed.
Behavioral control, the medial prefrontal cortex, and resilience

The degree of control that an organism has over a stressor potently modulates the impact of the stressor, with uncontrollable stressors producing a constellation of outcomes that do not occur if the stressor is behaviorally controllable. It has generally been assumed that this occurs because uncontrollability actively potentiates the effects of stressors. Here it will be suggested that in addition, or instead, the presence of control actively inhibits the impact of stressors. At least in part this occurs because (i) the presence of control is detected by regions of the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (mPFCv); and (ii) detection of control activates mPFCv output to stress-responsive brain stem and limbic structures that actively inhibit stress-induced activation of these structures, Furthermore, an initial experience with control over stress alters the mPFCv response to subsequent stressors so that mPFCv output is activated even if the subsequent stressor is uncontrollable, thereby making the organism resilient. The general implications of these results for understanding resilience in the face of adversity are discussed.
Prenatal Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Benzo[a]pyrene–DNA Adducts, and Genomic DNA Methylation in Cord Blood

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic environmental pollutants generated during incomplete combustion. After exposure and during metabolism, PAHs can form reactive epoxides that can covalently bind to DNA. These PAH–DNA adducts are established markers of cancer risk. PAH exposure has been associated with epigenetic alterations, including genomic cytosine methylation. Both global hypomethylation and hypermethylation of specific genes have been associated with cancer and other diseases in humans. Experimental evidence suggests that PAH–DNA adduct formation may preferentially target methylated genomic regions. Early embryonic development may be a particularly susceptible period for PAH exposure, resulting in both increased PAH–DNA adducts and altered DNA methylation. Objective: We explored whether prenatal exposure to PAHs is associated with genomic DNA methylation in cord blood and whether methylation levels are associated with the presence of detectable PAH–DNA adducts. Methods: In a longitudinal cohort study of nonsmoking women in New York City, we measured PAH exposure during pregnancy using personal air monitors, assessed PAH internal dose using prenatal urinary metabolites (in a subset), and quantified benzo[a]pyrene–DNA adducts and genomic DNA methylation in cord blood DNA among 164 participants. Results: Prenatal PAH exposure was associated with lower global methylation in umbilical cord white blood cells (p = 0.05), but global methylation levels were positively associated with the presence of detectable adducts in cord blood (p = 0.01). Conclusions: These observations suggest that PAH exposure was adequate to alter global methylation in our study population. Additional epidemiologic studies that can measure site-specific cytosine methylation and adduct formation will improve our ability to understand this complex molecular pathway in vivo.
Subtype-Specific Differences in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase Connection Subdomain of CRF01_AE Are Associated with Higher Levels of Resistance to 3′-Azido-3′-Deoxythymidine

ABSTRACT We previously shown that mutations in the connection (CN) subdomain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype B reverse transcriptase (RT) increase 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) resistance in the context of thymidine analog mutations (TAMs) by affecting the balance between polymerization and RNase H activity. To determine whether this balance affects drug resistance in other HIV-1 subtypes, recombinant subtype CRF01_AE was analyzed. Interestingly, CRF01_AE containing TAMs exhibited 64-fold higher AZT resistance relative to wild-type B, whereas AZT resistance of subtype B containing the same TAMs was 13-fold higher, which in turn correlated with higher levels of AZT-monophosphate (AZTMP) excision on both RNA and DNA templates. The high level of AZT resistance exhibited by CRF01_AE was primarily associated with the T400 residue in wild-type subtype AE CN subdomain. An A400T substitution in subtype B enhanced AZT resistance, increased AZTMP excision on both RNA and DNA templates, and reduced RNase H cleavage. Replacing the T400 residue in CRF01_AE with alanine restored AZT sensitivity and reduced AZTMP excision on both RNA and DNA templates, suggesting that the T400 residue increases AZT resistance in CRF01_AE at least in part by directly increasing the efficiency of AZTMP excision. These results show for the first time that CRF01_AE exhibits higher levels of AZT resistance in the presence of TAMs and that this resistance is primarily associated with T400. Our results also show that mixing the RT polymerase, CN, and RNase H domains from different subtypes can underestimate AZT resistance levels, and they emphasize the need to develop subtype-specific genotypic and phenotypic assays to provide more accurate estimates of clinical drug resistance.
Moist vs dry baroclinic instability in a simplified two-layer atmospheric model with condensation and latent heat release

We undertake a detailed analysis of the influence of water vapor condensation and latent heat release upon the evolution of the baroclinic instability. We work within the framework of a two-layer rotating shallow water model with moisture coupled to dynamics through mass exchange between the layers due to condensation/precipitation. The model embodies all known in literature models of this kind as specific limits. It is fully nonlinear and ageostrophic. The reference state is a baroclinic Bickley jet. We first study its “dry” linear instability, and then use the most unstable mode to initialize high-resolution numerical simulations of the life-cycle of the instability in non-precipitating (moisture being a passive tracer) and precipitating cases. A new-generation well-balanced finite-volume scheme is used in these simulations. The evolution in the non-precipitating case follows the standard cyclonic wave-breaking life-cycle of the baroclinic instability, which is reproduced with a high fidelity. In the precipitating case, the onset of condensation significantly increases the growth rate of the baroclinic instability at the initial stages due to production of available potential energy by the latent heat release. Condensation occurs in frontal regions and wraps up around the cyclone, which is consistent with the moist cyclogenesis theory and observations. Condensation induces a clear-cut cyclone-anticyclone asymmetry. We explain the underlying mechanism and show how it modifies the equilibration of the flow at the late stages of the saturation of the instability. In spite of significant differences in the evolution, only weak differences in various norms of the perturbations remain between precipitating and non-precipitating cases at the end of the saturation process.
Agreement between 95th percentile pressure based on a 7-night auto-adjusting positive airway pressure trial vs. equation-based predictions in sleep apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES to analyze the agreement between effective CPAP-determined on the basis of a 7-night auto-adjusting positive airway pressure (APAP) trial at home with that obtained through 5 different predictive equations. METHODS Data were collected from consecutive CPAP-naive patients with OSA who underwent a 7-night non-attended home-setting APAP trial. The 95th percentile APAP pressure was considered as the effective CPAP and also as the reference variable against which the equation-based predictions were compared. All patients fulfilled the following criteria: residual respiratory disturbances index (RDI) < 10 events/h, average air leak < 0.4 L/sec and > 4 h of use per night during the APAP trial. RESULTS A total of 100 consecutive patients (70 men) with the following characteristics were included: mean age 49 +/- 11 years, body mass index 34 +/- 4 kg/m2, diagnostic Epworth Sleepiness Scale score 14 +/- 7, diagnostic RDI 56 +/- 28 events/h, 95th percentile APAP 11 +/- 2 cm H2O, hours of use per night 6.2 +/- 1.3, and residual RDI 5 +/- 2 events/h. A poor level of agreement between the 95th percentile pressure and the pressures obtained through 5 predictive equations was observed (the intra-class correlation coefficient ranged from 0.17 to 0.32). CONCLUSIONS The disagreement observed between the effective CPAP determined through a 7-night APAP trial and the pressures obtained by the predictive equations suggest that long-term CPAP prescriptions based on predictive equations may be improper.