Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlation between high mobility group box 1 protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, and acute coronary syndrome

This study aims to investigate the relationships between the serum concentrations of High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) protein and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), coronary artery lesions, and cardiac function in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). We prospectively followed healthy controls (n=30) and patients with ACS (n=60) who underwent coronary angiography. Serum HMGB1 and TNF-α concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum concentrations of HMGB1 (33.22 ± 16.59 ng/ml in Acute Myocardial Infarction Group (AMIG) and 23.40 ± 12.17 ng/ml in Unstable Angina Pectoris Group (UAPG)) and TNF-α (10.68 ± 4.94 pg/ml in AMIG and 6.37 ± 3.53 pg/ml in UAPG) in patients with ACS prior to standard hospitalization were significantly higher than those of the control group (HMGB1: 12.23 ± 2.74 ng/ml; TNF-α: 2.13 ± 1.26 pg/ml) (p<0.01). The concentrations of HMGB1 (21.67 ± 13.00 ng/ml in AMIG and 18.71 ± 6.92 ng/ml in UAPG) and TNF-α (5.28 ± 3.09 pg/ml in AMIG and 3.71 ± 2.34 pg/ml in UAPG) in patients with ACS post-standardized hospitalization were lower than those prior to hospitalization (p<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between the serum concentration of HMGB1 and coronary artery lesion counts and severity as evaluated using the Gensini integral (r=0.525, p<0.01 and r=0.588, p<0.01, respectively), and a negative correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.488, p<0.01) in patients with ACS. Moreover, the serum concentration of TNF-α was positively correlated with that of HMGB1 (r=0.415, p<0.01). The serum concentrations of HMGB1 and TNF-α may be useful indicators to estimate the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with ACS.
Immunophenotyping of Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent Glioblastoma Defines Distinct Immune Exhaustion Profiles in Peripheral and Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes

Purpose: Immunotherapeutic treatment strategies for glioblastoma (GBM) are under investigation in clinical trials. However, our understanding of the immune phenotype of GBM-infiltrating T cells (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes; TILs) and changes during disease progression is limited. Deeper insight is urgently needed to therapeutically overcome tumor-induced immune exhaustion. Experimental Design: We used flow cytometry and cytokine assays to profile TILs and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from patients with GBM, comparing newly diagnosed or recurrent GBM to long-term survivors (LTS) and healthy donors. TCR sequencing was performed on paired samples of newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM. Results: We identified a clear immune signature of exhaustion and clonal restriction in the TILs of patients with GBM. Exhaustion of CD8+ TILs was defined by an increased prevalence of PD-1+, CD39+, Tim-3+, CD45RO+, HLA-DR+ marker expression, and exhibition of an effector-/transitional memory differentiation phenotype, whereas KLRG1 and CD57 were underrepresented. Immune signatures were similar in primary and recurrent tumors; however, restricted TCR repertoire clonality and a more activated memory phenotype were observed in TILs from recurrent tumors. Moreover, a reduced cytokine response to PHA stimulation in the blood compartment indicates a dysfunctional peripheral T-cell response in patients with GBM. LTS displayed a distinct profile, with abundant naïve and less exhausted CD8+ T cells. Conclusions: TILs and PBLs exhibit contrasting immune profiles, with a distinct exhaustion signature present in TILs. While the exhaustion profiles of primary and recurrent GBM are comparable, TCR sequencing demonstrated a contracted repertoire in recurrent GBM, concomitant with an increased frequency of activated memory T cells in recurrent tumors. Clin Cancer Res; 24(17); 4187–200. ©2018 AACR. See related commentary by Jackson and Lim, p. 4059
Dysphagia in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: practical recommendations to guide management

Abstract Purpose: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rapidly progressive neuromuscular disorder causing weakness of the skeletal, respiratory, cardiac and oropharyngeal muscles with up to one third of young men reporting difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). Recent studies on dysphagia in DMD clarify the pathophysiology of swallowing disorders and offer new tools for its assessment but little guidance is available for its management. This paper aims to provide a step-by-step algorithm to facilitate clinical decisions regarding dysphagia management in this patient population. Methods: This algorithm is based on 30 years of clinical experience with DMD in a specialised Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders (Inkendaal Rehabilitation Hospital, Belgium) and is supported by literature where available. Results: Dysphagia can worsen the condition of ageing patients with DMD. Apart from the difficulties of chewing and oral fragmentation of the food bolus, dysphagia is rather a consequence of an impairment in the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. By contrast with central neurologic disorders, dysphagia in DMD accompanies solid rather than liquid intake. Symptoms of dysphagia may not be clinically evident; however laryngeal food penetration, accumulation of food residue in the pharynx and/or true laryngeal food aspiration may occur. The prevalence of these issues in DMD is likely underestimated. Conclusions: There is little guidance available for clinicians to manage dysphagia and improve feeding for young men with DMD. This report aims to provide a clinical algorithm to facilitate the diagnosis of dysphagia, to identify the symptoms and to propose practical recommendations to treat dysphagia in the adult DMD population. Implications for Rehabilitation Little guidance is available for the management of dysphagia in Duchenne dystrophy. Food can penetrate the vestibule, accumulate as residue or cause aspiration. We propose recommendations and an algorithm to guide management of dysphagia. Penetration/residue accumulation: prohibit solid food and promote intake of fluids. Aspiration: if cough augmentation techniques are ineffective, consider tracheostomy.
Eslicarbazepine acetate in the treatment of adults with partial-onset epilepsy: an evidence-based review of efficacy, safety and place in therapy

Introduction Up to 30% of the patients diagnosed with epilepsy will continue suffering from seizures despite treatment with antiepileptic drugs, either in monotherapy or polytherapy. Hence, there remains the need to develop new effective and well-tolerated therapies. Aim The objective of this article was to review the evidence for the efficacy and safety of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) as adjunctive treatment in adult patients with focal onset seizures. Evidence review ESL is the newest, third-generation, single enantiomer member of the dibenzazepine family. Following oral administration, ESL is rapidly and extensively metabolized by hepatic first-pass hydrolysis to the active metabolite eslicarbazepine, which has linear, dose-proportional pharmacokinetics and low potential for drug-drug interactions. Eslicarbazepine works as a competitive blocker of the voltage gated sodium channels; unlike carbamazepine (CBZ) and oxcarbazepine (OXC), it has a lower affinity for the resting state of the channels, and reduces their availability by selectively enhancing slow inactivation. Efficacy and safety of ESL have been assessed in four randomized, Phase III clinical trials: the median relative reduction in standardized seizure frequency was 33.4% and 37.8% in the ESL 800 and 1,200 mg daily dose groups, and the responder rates were 33.8% and 43.1%, respectively. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) increased with raising the dosage (ESL 400 mg: 63.8%, ESL 800 mg: 67.0%, ESL 1,200 mg: 73.1%). The TEAEs were generally mild to moderate in intensity, and the most common were dizziness, somnolence, headache and nausea. Open-label studies confirmed the findings from the pivotal trials and demonstrated sustained therapeutic effect of ESL over time and improvement of tolerability profile in patients switching from OXC/CBZ. No unexpected safety signals emerged over >5 years of follow-up. Conclusion Once-daily adjunctive ESL at the doses of 800 and 1,200 mg was effective to reduce the seizure frequency and was fairly well tolerated in adults with focal onset epilepsy. Starting treatment at 400 mg/day, followed by 400 mg increments every 7–14 days, could provide the optimal balance of efficacy and tolerability.
Improved treatment and control of hypertension in Swedish primary care: results from the Swedish primary care cardiovascular database

Objective: To study temporal trends in hypertension treatment and control in Swedish primary care, in relation to clinical characteristics, comorbidity, and drug treatment. Materials and methods: Repeated cross-sectional analysis of 43 239 hypertensive patients attending primary care in 2001–2002 and of 62 407 patients in 2007–2008. Results: Mean blood pressure (BP) 2007–2008 was 143/79 mmHg in women and 142/81 mmHg in men. Cardiovascular comorbidity and diabetes were present in 13 and 15% of women, and in 18 and 20% of men. Overall BP reductions from 2001–2002 to 2007–2008 were 9.0/3.1 mmHg; greater in women than men, with advancing age, and in patients with comorbidity (all P < 0.001). Attainment of target BP (<140/90 mmHg) increased from 24 and 26% in women and men (2001–2002) to 37 and 37% (2007–2008; all P < 0.001). Most common drug classes in 2001–2002 were, in descending frequency, &bgr; blockers, diuretics, and calcium channel blockers (both sexes), and in 2007–2008 &bgr; blockers, diuretics, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in women, and &bgr; blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and diuretics in men. The number of drug classes/patient increased from 1.5 (2001–2002) to 1.8 (2007–2008; P < 0.001) but remained low (1.7) in those above target BP. Conclusion: BP control in hypertensive patients attending Swedish primary care has improved over 5–7 years, and more so in high-risk groups. There is, however, room for improvement. In uncontrolled hypertension the combination of several drug classes remain low.
Effects of maternal postpartum depression in a well-resourced sample: Early concurrent and long-term effects on infant cognitive, language, and motor development.

This study examined early and long-term effects of maternal postpartum depression on cognitive, language, and motor development in infants of clinically depressed mothers. Participants were 83 mothers and their full-term born children from the urban region of Copenhagen, Denmark. Of this group, 28 mothers were diagnosed with postnatal depression three to four months postpartum in a diagnostic interview. Cognitive, language, and motor development was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development third edition, when the infants were 4 and 13 months of age. We found that maternal postpartum depression was associated with poorer cognitive development at infant age four months, the effect size being large (Cohen's d = 0.8) and with similar effects for boys and girls. At 13 months of age infants of clinical mothers did not differ from infants of non-clinical mothers. At this time most (79%) of the clinical mothers were no longer, or not again, depressed. These results may indicate that maternal depression can have an acute, concurrent effect on infant cognitive development as early as at four months postpartum. At the same time, in the absence of other risk factors, this effect may not be enduring. The main weaknesses of the study include the relatively small sample size and that depression scores were only available for 35 of the non-clinical mothers at 13 months.
A 0.5erms− Temporal Noise CMOS Image Sensor With Gm-Cell-Based Pixel and Period-Controlled Variable Conversion Gain

A deep subelectron temporal noise CMOS image sensor (CIS) with a Gm-cell based pixel and a correlated-double charge-domain sampling technique has been developed for photon-starved imaging applications. With the proposed technique, the CIS, which is implemented in a standard 0.18-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> CIS process, features pixel-level amplification and achieves an input-referred noise of 0.5 e<sub>rms</sub><sup>−</sup> with a correlated double sampling period of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$5~ \mu \text{s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and a row read-out time of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$10~\mu \text{s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The proposed structure also realizes a variable conversion gain (CG) with a period-controlled method. This enables the read-out path CG and the noise-equivalent number of electrons to be programmable according to the application without any change in hardware. The experiments show that the measured CG can be tuned from <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$50~\mu \text{V}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>/e- to 1.6 mV/e- with a charging period from 100 ns to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4~\mu \text{s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The measured characteristics of the prototype CIS are in a good agreement with expectations, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.
The Effect of Illumination and Time of Day on Movements of Bobcats (Lynx rufus)

Understanding behavioral changes of prey and predators based on lunar illumination provides insight into important life history, behavioral ecology, and survival information. The objectives of this research were to determine if bobcat movement rates differed by period of day (dark, moon, crepuscular, day), lunar illumination (<10%, 10 - <50%, 50 - <90%, >90%), and moon phase (new, full). Bobcats had high movement rates during crepuscular and day periods and low movement rates during dark periods with highest nighttime rates at 10-<50% lunar illumination. Bobcats had highest movement rates during daytime when nighttime illumination was low (new moon) and higher movement rates during nighttime when lunar illumination was high (full moon). The behaviors we observed are consistent with prey availability being affected by light level and by limited vision by bobcats during darkness.
Pre-stressed piezoelectric actuator for micro and fine mechanical applications

In this thesis pre-stressed piezoelectric actuators for micro and fine mechanical applications have been developed. First, RAINBOW (Reduced And INternally Biased Oxide Wafer) and thick film actuators were manufactured and their electromechanical properties were characterised. In the second part, the novel pre-stressed piezoelectric actuator PRESTO (PRE-STressed electrOactive component by using a post-fired biasing layer) was developed and its electrical and electromechanical properties were measured. Commercial piezoelectric PZT 5A and PZT 5H discs were used in the RAINBOW and PRESTO actuators and PLZT paste for thick film actuators. The pre-stressing of the PRESTO actuators was based on the sintering shrinkage and different thermal expansion coefficient of the piezoelectric disc and passive material. Dielectric LTCC tape and AgPd paste were utilized as pre-stressing media and passive layer by using lamination and screen-printing, respectively. Different active and passive layer thicknesses and electrode materials were realized in order to obtain high displacements and good load bearing capability for actuators. The PRESTO actuators showed a significantly higher coercive electric field than their bulk counterparts, but a decreased remanent polarisation. The displacement as a function of load was measured under 0.3–3 N loads and electric fields up to ±0.75 MV/m. The highest displacement of 118 μm was obtained with a 250 μm thick PZT 5H actuator (Ø 25 mm) with LTCC tape (thickness ~96 μm) as the pre-stressing material. The corresponding actuator with AgPd pre-stressing material (thickness ~33 μm) produced 63 μm displacement. Additionally, PRESTO actuators were tested with a glued steel layer in a mechanical amplifier which obtained displacements up to 1.2 mm. Effective d31 coefficients of the PRESTO actuators were derived using an analysis based on unimorph model and measured displacement data. The actuators exhibited significantly enhanced effective d31 coefficients (d31eff = -690 pm/V and d31eff = -994 pm/V for PZT 5A and 5H, respectively) comparable to the RAINBOW actuators. Mass-producible PRESTO actuators with high displacement, moderate load bearing capabilities and integration possibilities can be utilised in various micro and fine mechanical devices e.g. dosing devices, electromechanical locks, regulators, positioners vibrators, speakers, adjusters, pumps, valves, relays, dispensers, micromanipulators, etc.
Vagally-Mediated Heart Rate Variability and Indices of Well-Being: Results of a Nationally Representative Study

Objective: High frequency (HF) heart rate variability (HRV) has long been accepted as an index of cardiac vagal control. Recent studies report relationships between HF-HRV and indices of positive and negative affect, personality traits and well-being but these studies generally are based on small and selective samples. Method: These relationships were examined using data from 967 participants in the second Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS II) study. Participants completed survey questionnaires on well-being and affect. HF-HRV was measured at rest. A hierarchical series of regression analyses examined relationships between these various indices and HF-HRV before and after adjustment for relevant demographic and biomedical factors. Results: Significant inverse relationships were found only between indices of negative affect and HF-HRV. Relationships between indices of psychological and hedonic well-being and positive affect failed to reach significance. Conclusions: These findings raise questions about relationships between cardiac parasympathetic modulation, emotion regulation, and indices of well-being.
On a prolonged interval between rectal cancer (chemo)radiotherapy and surgery

Abstract Preoperative radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is often required before rectal cancer surgery to obtain low local recurrence rates or, in locally advanced tumours, to radically remove the tumour. RT/CRT in tumours responding completely can allow an organ-preserving strategy. The time from the end of the RT/CRT to surgery or to the decision not to operate has been prolonged during recent years. After a brief review of the literature, the relevance of the time interval to surgery is discussed depending upon the indication for RT/CRT. In intermediate rectal cancers, where the aim is to decrease local recurrence rates without any need for down-sizing/-staging, short-course RT with immediate surgery is appropriate. In elderly patients at risk for surgical complications, surgery could be delayed 5–8 weeks. If CRT is used, surgery should be performed when the acute radiation reaction has subsided or after 5–6 weeks. In locally advanced tumours, where CRT is indicated, the optimal delay is 6–8 weeks. In patients not tolerating CRT, short-course RT with a 6–8-week delay is an alternative. If organ preservation is a goal, a first evaluation should preferably be carried out after about 6 weeks, with planned surgery for week 8 if the response is inadequate. In case the response is good, a new evaluation should be carried out after about 12 weeks, with a decision to start a ‘watch-and-wait’ programme or operate. Chemotherapy in the waiting period is an interesting option, and has been the subject of recent trials with promising results.
A pivotal prefix based filtering algorithm for string similarity search

We study the string similarity search problem with edit-distance constraints, which, given a set of data strings and a query string, finds the similar strings to the query. Existing algorithms use a signature-based framework. They first generate signatures for each string and then prune the dissimilar strings which have no common signatures to the query. However existing methods involve large numbers of signatures and many signatures are unnecessary. Reducing the number of signatures not only increases the pruning power but also decreases the filtering cost. To address this problem, we propose a novel pivotal prefix filter which significantly reduces the number of signatures. We prove the pivotal filter achieves larger pruning power and less filtering cost than state-of-the-art filters. We develop a dynamic programming method to select high-quality pivotal prefix signatures to prune dissimilar strings with non-consecutive errors to the query. We propose an alignment filter that considers the alignments between signatures to prune large numbers of dissimilar pairs with consecutive errors to the query. Experimental results on three real datasets show that our method achieves high performance and outperforms the state-of-the-art methods by an order of magnitude.
Corona-discharge-induced hydrophobicity loss and recovery of silicones

The effect of corona discharge on the hydrophobicity of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) used as high-voltage (HV) insulation and the subsequent recovery of hydrophobicity when exposure ceases is now a well-known phenomenon. Surface characterization studies have established that corona exposure in the laboratory forms a brittle, wettable, very thin silica-like layer on the surface of most PDMS elastomers, consistent with similar effects from radio-frequency plasma treatments. However, there is still considerable debate regarding the relative importance of the two major hydrophobic recovery mechanisms postulated, diffusion of low molecular weight (LMW) material and reorientation or overturn of treated chains in the surface region. This study used extracted PDMS and also PDMS with deliberately added LMW PDMS fluid. Contact angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to assess the effect of corona discharge voltage variation and aging at different temperatures. In all cases the familiar highly cross-linked silica-like layer is formed. Such a structure cannot readily reorient between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states implying that diffusion of LMW components is the key mechanism of hydrophobic recovery. These latest studies of PDMS systems, solvent extracted to be free of diffusible species, also shows hydrophobic recovery suggesting that LMW PDMS might be produced in-situ by depolymerization.