Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuroinflammation and postoperative cognitive dysfunction: can anaesthesia be therapeutic?

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is an important complication of major surgery that predisposes to an increased risk of perioperative mortality and premature unemployment [1–5]. Although first recognized following cardiac surgery, in which 20–40% of patients are affected, long-term POCD also occurs after noncardiac surgery affecting more than 10% of patients greater than 60 years old [2]. In cardiac surgery, hypoperfusion, cerebral embolism, atrial fibrillation, previous cerebral injury or impairment of cognition as well as the systemic inflammatory response have been implicated in the development of POCD [5]. Risk factors for noncardiac surgical POCD include increasing age, duration of anaesthesia, previous cerebrovascular injury [3], paucity of higher education, a second operation, postoperative respiratory complications and infections [2]. Despite differing cited causes, both forms of POCD involve surgical stimulation, with incipient neuroinflammatory consequences [6], in an elderly patient; known risk factors such as cerebrovascular injury [3] or further operations and infective complications [2] could predispose to, or exacerbate, a cognitive vulnerability to neuroinflammation. In a previously published issue of the European Journal of Anaesthesiology, Zhu et al. [7] provided fascinating preliminary evidence that myocardial ischaemia may contribute to the development of impaired cognitive function, via neuroinflammation, in an animal model of cardiac POCD.
Microarray Profiling of Antibody Responses against Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Postchallenge Convergence of Reactivities Independent of Host Histocompatibility Type and Vaccine Regimen

ABSTRACT We developed antigen microarrays to profile the breadth, strength, and kinetics of epitope-specific antiviral antibody responses in vaccine trials with a simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) model for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. These arrays contained 430 distinct proteins and overlapping peptides spanning the SHIV proteome. In macaques vaccinated with three different DNA and/or recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (rMVA) vaccines encoding Gag-Pol or Gag-Pol-Env, these arrays distinguished vaccinated from challenged macaques, identified three novel viral epitopes, and predicted survival. Following viral challenge, anti-SHIV antibody responses ultimately converged to target eight immunodominant B-cell regions in Env regardless of vaccine regimen, host histocompatibility type, and divergent T-cell specificities. After challenge, responses to nonimmunodominant epitopes were transient, while responses to dominant epitopes were gained. These data suggest that the functional diversity of anti-SHIV B-cell responses is highly limited in the presence of persisting antigen.
RIP1-Dependent and Independent Effects of Necrostatin-1 in Necrosis and T Cell Activation

Background Programmed necrosis/necroptosis is an emerging form of cell death that plays important roles in mammalian development and the immune system. The pro-necrotic kinases in the receptor interacting protein (RIP) family are crucial mediators of programmed necrosis. Recent advances in necrosis research have been greatly aided by the identification of chemical inhibitors that block programmed necrosis. Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) and its derivatives were previously shown to target the pro-necrotic kinase RIP1/RIPK1. The protective effect conferred by Nec-1 and its derivatives in many experimental model systems was often attributed to the inhibition of RIP1 function. Methodology/Principal Findings We compared the effect of Nec-1 and siRNA-mediated silencing of RIP1 in the murine fibrosarcoma cell line L929. Treatment of L929 cells with the pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk or exogenous TNF induces necrosis. Strikingly, we found that siRNA-mediated silencing of RIP1 inhibited zVAD-fmk induced necrosis, but not TNF-induced necrosis. TNF-induced cell death in RIP1 knocked down L929 cells was inhibited by Nec-1, but not the caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk. We found that PKA-C§ expression, but not Jnk or Erk activation, was moderately inhibited by Nec-1. Moreover, we found that Nec-1 inhibits proximal T cell receptor signaling independent of RIP1, leading to inhibition of T cell proliferation. Conclusions/Significance Our results reveal that besides RIP1, Nec-1 also targets other factors crucial for necrosis induction in L929 cells. In addition, high doses of Nec-1 inhibit other signal transduction pathways such as that for T cell receptor activation. These results highlight the importance to independently validate results obtained using Nec-1 with other approaches such as siRNA-mediated gene silencing. We propose that some of the previous published results obtained using Nec-1 should be re-evaluated in light of our findings.
Estimating spatial variability in soil moisture with a simplified dynamic model

Observed spatial variability of soil moisture in the field may be due to several factors. Topographic effects, soil heterogeneity, and spatial variability in precipitation and vegetation may induce variability in measured soil moisture. Scaling theory has been suggested as a promising tool for describing soil heterogeneity and, consequently, a portion of spatial variability of measured soil moisture. We investigate the appropriateness of ascribing soil moisture variability to heterogeneity of soil properties through the use of a model of soil moisture dynamics and scaling theory. The model, termed a wetting front model, is a simplified representation of water movement in soils. The model conceptually depicts the moisture profile as discrete blocks of soil moisture separated by sharp fronts. Probabilistic simulations were run with input data appropriate to watersheds R-5 and R-7 at Chickasha, Oklahoma. Results from the simulations indicate that variability due to soil heterogeneity remains relatively constant through time with only slight increases during redistribution following infiltration. A comparison of simulated and observed soil moisture integrated from the surface to the 15-cm depth shows that heterogeneity in soil hydraulic properties may account for approximately 75% of observed standard deviation.
Ewing's sarcoma of the bone: ESMO clinical recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

Patients with radiological findings suggesting a bone sarcoma should be referred without prior biopsy to a center with particular bone sarcoma experience. Ewing’s sarcoma is often associated with a large soft tissue component. Histological diagnosis is made by needle biopsy or open surgical biopsy. The Ewing family of tumors (ES) includes classical Ewing’s sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor, and these are treated identically. ES are rare tumors arising in the bone marrow from primitive neural elements and constitute 10% of bone sarcomas. ES can be distinguished immunohistochemically from other pediatric ‘blue tumors’ by expression of the MIC2 gene. Detection of certain translocations involving the EWS gene, most commonly t(11;22)(q24;q12), but also t(21;22)(q22;q12) and others, by cytogenetics or PCR is diagnostic (present in >90%).
The management of postnatal depression

At least one in ten women experiences depression in the weeks or months after the birth of a baby. While many recover spontaneously within a few months, one-third to one-half still have features of depression 6 months after delivery, and some go on to develop a chronic or recurrent mood disorder.1,2 Depression in the early postnatal months can have important effects on the mother and her baby, and on other family relationships.3 Here, we discuss the management of postnatal depression, concentrating on the treatment of women with non-psychotic illness.
Strontium ranelate: long-term efficacy against vertebral, nonvertebral and hip fractures in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis

Osteoporosis treatments need to combine an unequivocally demonstrated reduction of fractures, at various skeletal sites, long-term safety, and a user-friendly profile, optimizing therapeutic adherence. Strontium ranelate is the first compound to simultaneously decrease bone resorption and stimulate bone formation. Its antifracture efficacy, at various skeletal sites, has been established up to 8 years, through studies of the highest methodological standards. Increases in bone mineral density, observed after 1 year of treatment, are predictive of the long-term fracture efficacy, hence suggesting, for the first time in osteoporosis, that bone densitometry can be used as a monitoring tool for both efficacy and compliance. Owing to a positive benefit/risk ratio, strontium ranelate may now be considered as a first-line treatment in the management of osteoporosis.
High-Purity Distillation

Distillation is one of the most common separation techniques in chemical manufacturing. This multi-input, multi-output staged separation process is strongly interactive, as determined by the singular value decomposition of a linear dynamic model of the system. Process dynamics associated with the low-gain direction are critical to the design of high-performance controllers for high-purity distillation but are difficult to estimate from conventional experimental test signals for identification. As a result, high-purity distillation columns are considered challenging cases for multivariable system identification and robust control system design. High-purity distillation is a challenging process application for system identification because of its nonlinear and strongly interactive dynamics. This article has described several constrained-optimization-based formulations for multisine input signal design that allow users to simultaneously specify the essential frequency- and time-domain properties of these signals. Because constraints are explicitly part of the design procedure, the approach is useful for accomplishing plant-friendly identification testing in the process industries. The problem formulations were evaluated for a highly nonlinear methanol-ethanol distillation column. Introducing directional sinusoids in the multisine signal, applying a closed-loop signal design, and minimizing an objective function based on Weyl's theorem enhanced the information content of the low-gain direction in the identification experiment.
Wound Healing of Nasal Mucosa in a Rat

Background Postoperative wound healing of the nasal mucosa is a highly organized process. However, this process still has not been fully understood. The present study aimed to establish a wound healing model in a rat and describe histomorphological changes of the nasal mucosa after mechanical injury. Methods Unilateral wound in the nasal cavity was induced using the brushing technique in 4-week-old, Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental rats were divided into five groups (n = 7 for each group). Animals were killed 1 hour and 2, 5, 14, and 28 days after injury. The histological sections were examined for inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet, and ciliated cell formation in hematoxylin and eosin staining. The subepithelial and epithelial thicknesses were measured and expressed as the subepithelial thickness index (STI) and epithelial thickness index (ETI). Fibrosis was evaluated by subepithelial fibrosis index (SFI) in Masson's trichrome–stained sections. Results Respiratory epithelial discontinuity and hemorrhage were observed 1 hour after injury. On day 2, edematous subepithelium and infiltration of neutrophils could be found on the injured site. Day 5 was characterized by the infiltration of monocytes and granulation tissue. SFI and ETI values increased significantly at day 14. Goblet cells and ciliated cells began to regenerate from day 14 and restored to near normal at day 28. Conclusion Using mechanical injury, the wound healing model of the nasal mucosa was established in a rat. The regeneration of respiratory mucosa was completed on day 28 after injury.
Image Compression Using the Discrete Cosine Transform

The discrete cosine transform (DCT) is a technique for converting a signal into elementary frequency components. It is widely used in image compression. Here we develop some simple functions to compute the DCT and to compress images. These functions illustrate the power of Mathematica in the prototyping of image processing algorithms. The rapid growth of digital imaging applications, including desktop publishing, multimedia, teleconferencing, and high-definition television (HDTV) has increased the need for effective and standardized image compression techniques. Among the emerging standards are JPEG, for compression of still images [Wallace 1991]; MPEG, for compression of motion video [Puri 1992]; and CCITT H.261 (also known as Px64), for compression of video telephony and teleconferencing. All three of these standards employ a basic technique known as the discrete cosine transform (DCT). Developed by Ahmed, Natarajan, and Rao [1974], the DCT is a close relative of the discrete Fourier transform (DFT). Its application to image compression was pioneered by Chen and Pratt [1984]. In this article, I will develop some simple functions to compute the DCT and show how it is used for image compression. We have used these functions in our laboratory to explore methods of optimizing image compression for the human viewer, using information about the human visual system [Watson 1993]. The goal of this paper is to illustrate the use of Mathematica in image processing and to provide the reader with the basic tools for further exploration of this subject.
The Laws of Returns under Competitive Conditions

AbstractA striking feature of the present position of economic science is the almost unanimous agreement at which economists have arrived regarding the theory of competitive value, which is inspired by the fundamental symmetry existing between the forces of demand and those of supply, and is based upon the assumption that the essential causes determining the price of particular commodities may be simplified and grouped together so as to be represented by a pair of intersecting curves of collective demand and supply. This state of things is in such marked contrast with the controversies on the theory of value by which political economy was characterised during the past century, that it might almost be thought that from these clashes of thought the spark of an ultimate truth had at length been struck…
Activation of PPAR‐α in streptozotocin‐induced diabetes is essential for resistance against acetaminophen toxicity

Diabetic (DB) mice exhibit significant resistance to hepatotoxicants. The role of peroxisome proliferator receptor (PPAR)‐α activation in diabetes, in protection against lethal acetaminophen (APAP) challenge, was investigated. Upon treatment with APAP (600 mg/kg, i.p., a LD100 dose in wild‐type [WT] non‐DB mice), WT‐DB mice showed only 30% mortality and 40% less liver injury as measured by alanine aminotransferase and histopathology. In contrast, diabetes in PPAR knockout (PPAR‐α−/−) mice failed to protect against APAP toxicity, suggesting the importance of PPAR‐α in diabetes‐induced protection. S‐phase DNA synthesis and PCNA immunohistochemical staining after injury showed early and robust tissue repair in WT‐DB mice, but not in the PPAR‐α−/−‐DB mice. Microarray analyses were performed on livers from non‐DB and DB (WT and PPAR‐α−/−) mice at 0 and 12 h after APAP. Microarray data were confirmed via real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis of several genes, including stress response, immediate early genes, DNA damage, heat shock proteins, and cell cycle regulators, followed by Western analyses of selected proteins. Gel shift assays revealed higher activation of nuclear factor‐κB in WT‐DB mice after APAP treatment. These findings suggest PPAR‐α activation as a hepatoprotective adaptive response mediating protection against APAP in diabetes.
Surgery for Aneurysms of the Aortic Root: A 30-Year Experience

Background—This study evaluated long-term results of aortic root replacement and valve-preserving aortic root reconstruction for patients with aneurysms involving the aortic root. Methods and Results—Two-hundred three patients aged 53±16 years (mean±SD; 153 male, 50 female) underwent elective or urgent aortic root surgery from 1971 to 2000 for an aortic root aneurysm: 149 patients underwent a composite valve conduit reconstruction, and 54 patients underwent valve-preserving aortic root reconstruction. Fifty patients had Marfan syndrome. In-hospital and 30-day mortality was 4.0% (8/203) overall: for a composite valve conduit procedure, the corresponding value was 4.0% (6/149) and for valve-preserving procedure, 3.7% (2/54) (P=NS). Morbidity included 3 strokes (1%), 10 perioperative myocardial infarctions (5%), and 8 reoperations for bleeding (4%). Actuarial survival at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years was 93% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 88% to 97%), 79% (95% CI = 71% to 87%), 67% (95% CI = 57% to 79%), and 52% (95% CI = 36% to 69%), respectively. Freedom from reoperation was 72% (95% CI = 54% to 86%) at 20 years. Complications with anticoagulation occurred in 29 patients; with valve thrombosis, in 2; and with hemorrhage, in 27 (4 life threatening and 23 minor). Freedom from thromboembolism was 91% (95% CI = 77% to 98%) at 20 years. Freedom from endocarditis was 99% (95% CI = 92% to 100%) at 20 years. Multivariate analysis revealed preoperative mitral valve regurgitation (+3 to 4) and older age to be significant predictors of late death (P≤0.005), and Marfan syndrome, initial valve-preserving aortic root reconstruction, and need for a concomitant procedure at initial operation to be significant predictors of the need for reoperation (P≤0.01). Conclusions—Aortic root replacement for aortic root aneurysms can be done with low morbidity and mortality. Composite valve conduit reconstruction resulted in a durable result. There were few serious complications related to the need for long-term anticoagulation or a prosthetic valve. Reoperation was most commonly required because of failure of the aortic valve when a valve-preserving aortic root reconstruction was performed or for other cardiac or aortic disease elsewhere.
Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of diversely substituted spirooxindole derivatives

A series of novel spirooxindole derivatives have been synthesized from isatin, malononitrile, and cyclic 1,3- dicarbonylcompounds through a highly efficient and green one-pot multicomponent reaction using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as catalyst in ethanol under reflux condition. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial studies showed that all the target compounds processing good antibacterial and antifungal activities.
Remobilization of selected metal ions from Nile sediment (Egypt) according to sequential extraction and metal–EDTA complex

River sediments are basic components of our environment, providing nutrients for living organisms and serving as sinks for deleterious chemical species. The metal contents may be remobilized and released back into waters with changes in environmental conditions, thus affecting living organisms and human activities. This paper aims to determine the effect of a synthetic anthropogenic chelating agent (EDTA) as industrial discharges on the remobilization of several metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in River Nile sediments (at Aswan and Mansoura cities) under different concentrations and pH values, and to investigate the influence of metal–EDTA complexes on this remobilization. For these purposes, sequential extraction and experiments on the effect of pH and metal EDTA complex were carried out on the two representative sediment samples south and north of the River Nile in Egypt. The results of sequential extraction show that most of metal contents present in the residual form (Cu, 11.36–72.34%; Pb, 29.64–66.67%; and Zn, 43.76–50.09% at Aswan and Mansoura, respectively). Non-residual fractions which may be available for the remobilization by EDTA represented anthropogenic (industrial, agriculture, and domestic discharges) and lithiopogenic (metals bound to Fe and Mn oxides) sources. A clear increase was detected for Cu and Zn remobilization from the increase in EDTA concentrations, in contrast, Cd independent of the EDTA concentration and slight influence on Pb content. The remobilization of metals as a function of pH exhibited. The metals were greatly remobilized under the complexing action of EDTA, showing that some of these elements were adsorbed on the sediments. The remobilization rate of metals was dependent upon the added metal–EDTA complex (with the exchange rate being in the order Ca–EDTA>Zn–EDTA>Cd–EDTA>Cu–EDTA>Pb–EDTA), due to the stability constant of the metal–EDTA complex. The results of these experiments showed that heavy metals are greatly remobilized under the complexing action of EDTA when it is present in excess, so all precautions should be taken to prevent any wastewater containing EDTA or any chelating agents discharging directly or indirectly via the River Nile stream because most EDTA remains in the aquatic phase. The ability of this portion to remobilize metals from sediments should be taken into account.
Optimizing models for remotely estimating primary production in Antarctic coastal waters

Primary productivity and associated biogeochemical fluxes within the Southern Ocean are globally significant, sensitive to change and poorly known compared to temperate marine ecosystems. We present seasonal time series data of chlorophyll a, primary productivity and in-water irradiance measured in the coastal waters of the Western Antarctica Peninsula and build upon existing models to provide a more optimum parameterization for the estimation of primary productivity in Antarctic coastal waters. These and other data provide strong evidence that bio-optical characteristics and phytoplankton productivity in Antarctic waters are different from temperate waters. For these waters we show that over 60% of the variability in primary production can be explained by the surface chlorophyll a concentration alone, a characteristic, which lends itself to remote sensing models. If chlorophyll a concentrations are accurately determined, then the largest source of error (13–18%) results from estimates of the photoadaptive variable (PBopt). Further, the overall magnitude of PBopt is low (median 1.09 mg C mg chl−1 h−1) for these data compared to other regions and generally fits that expected for a cold water system. However, the variability of PBopt over the course of a season (0.4 to 3 mg C mg chl−1 h−1) is not consistently correlated with other possible environmental parameters, such as chlorophyll, sea surface temperature, incident irradiance, day length, salinity, or taxonomic composition. Nonetheless, by tuning a standard depth-integrated primary productivity model to fit representative PBopt values and the relatively uniform chlorophyll-normalized production profile found in these waters, we can improve the model to account for approximately 72–73% variability in primary production both for our data as well as for independent historic Antarctic data.
Polysomnographic findings after adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea in obese and non‐obese children: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Use of polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard of diagnosis and measurement of treatment effectiveness for paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Although adenotonsillectomy (T&A) is effective in diminishing the apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI), a meta‐analysis of postoperative changes for all other PSG parameters and outcome comparisons between obese and non‐obese children following T&A have never been conducted.