Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of chronic and subacute exposure to lead on the levels of prolactin, leptin, osteopontin, and follistatin in humans

This study was designed to determine the levels of prolactin, leptin, osteopontin, and follistatin in workers chronically and subacutely exposed to lead compounds. The examined population consisted of three groups. The first group was composed of 56 male workers who were chronically exposed to lead for 13.38 ± 10.38 years. The second group served as a control group and consisted of 24 male administrative workers, while the third group included 32 male workers exposed to lead for 40 ± 3 days. The levels of leptin, osteopontin, and prolactin were significantly lower in the group of workers chronically exposed to lead than in the control group by 42%, 26%, and 41%, respectively. The levels of follistatin did not differ between those groups. The levels of all measured hormones did not change after a short-term exposure to lead compared to baseline. Chronic lead exposure is associated with significantly decreased level of prolactin, leptin, and osteopontin. Lead-induced changes in the levels of these hormones may disturb many functions of the human body, including the immune response, metabolism, reproduction, and bone turnover.
Muscle Functional Morphology in Paleobiology: The Past, Present, and Future of “Paleomyology”

Our knowledge of muscle anatomy and physiology in vertebrates has increased dramatically over the last two‐hundred years. Today, much is understood about how muscles contract and about the functional meaning of muscular variation at multiple scales. Progress in muscle anatomy has profited from the availability of broad comparative samples, advances in microscopy have permitted comparisons at increasingly finer scales, and progress in muscle physiology has profited from many carefully designed and executed experiments. Several avenues of future work are promising. In particular, muscle ontogeny (growth and development) is poorly understood for many vertebrate groups. We consider which types of advances in muscle functional morphology are of use to paleobiologists. These are only a modest subset for muscle anatomy and a very small subset for muscle physiology. The relationship between muscle and bone – spatially and mechanically—is critical to any future advances in “paleomyology”. Anat Rec, 301:538–555, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ExtremeWeather: A large-scale climate dataset for semi-supervised detection, localization, and understanding of extreme weather events

Then detection and identification of extreme weather events in large-scale climate simulations is an important problem for risk management, informing governmental policy decisions and advancing our basic understanding of the climate system. Recent work has shown that fully supervised convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can yield acceptable accuracy for classifying well-known types of extreme weather events when large amounts of labeled data are available. However, many different types of spatially localized climate patterns are of interest including hurricanes, extra-tropical cyclones, weather fronts, and blocking events among others. Existing labeled data for these patterns can be incomplete in various ways, such as covering only certain years or geographic areas and having false negatives. This type of climate data therefore poses a number of interesting machine learning challenges. We present a multichannel spatiotemporal CNN architecture for semi-supervised bounding box prediction and exploratory data analysis. We demonstrate that our approach is able to leverage temporal information and unlabeled data to improve the localization of extreme weather events. Further, we explore the representations learned by our model in order to better understand this important data. We present a dataset, ExtremeWeather, to encourage machine learning research in this area and to help facilitate further work in understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change. The dataset is available at this http URL and the code is available at this https URL.
Ab-initio study of substitutional doping of Mg in In0.5Ga0.5N

We investigate the impact of substitutional magnesium (Mg) doping on the electrical properties of bulk In0.5Ga0.5N through first principle based density functional theory calculations. Based on binding energy calculations, we explicitly show that In is the most favorable site for substitutional doping of Mg in In0 5Ga0 5N, as expected. We also calculate the electrical properties like electronic dispersion, binding energy, density of states (DOS), projected DOS, band gap variation and charge carrier's effective masses for intrinsic and Mg doped In0 5Ga0 5N; via self-consistent and non-self-consistent calculations. We show that Mg doping converts intrinsic In0 5Ga0.5N into a p-type material, which can potentially be useful for solar cell applications, LEDs and nanocolumn applications.
Hemangiomas of the Nasal Tip Treated with Propranolol

Background: Infantile hemangioma is the most common tumor of infancy. There are recent reports of the efficacy of propranolol in the treatment of these hemangiomas. Nasal tip hemangiomas pose a particularly sensitive concern aesthetically and functionally. The treatment of nasal tip hemangiomas is controversial. We assessed the effect of propranolol therapy in hemangiomas of the nasal tip. Objectives: To evaluate the response of nasal tip hemangiomas to systemic propranolol. Methods: During 2008-2010 ten infant with nasal tip hemangiomas presented to our tertiary care center. All underwent comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team and were then treated with oral propranolol at 2 mg/kg/day, with continuous clinical follow-up until age 14-16 months, or in older infants until the proliferative phase resolved. Results: Eight patients demonstrated good clinical improvement. Two patients had partial improvement. One patient discontinued treatment due to wheezing. Three patients had mild sleep disturbance which did not warrant discontinuation of treatment. No rebound was noticed after cessation of treatment. Limitations: Children presented by referral at variable ages. It is possible that routine initiation of propranolol in neonates at the first sign of nasal hemangioma may reduce the required treatment duration or dose. Conclusions: Early treatment of hemangiomas of the nasal tip with propranolol prevents lesion proliferation, reduces lesion volume, and prevents nasal and facial deformation. Propranolol appears to be a safe and effective treatment. Its efficacy and safety profiles, relative to other accepted therapies, suggest that it should be considered as the first-line treatment when intervention is required.
Odorous Compounds from Poultry Manure Induce DNA Damage, Nuclear Changes, and Decrease Cell Membrane Integrity in Chicken Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Animal breeding and management of organic wastes pose a serious problem to the health of livestock and workers, as well as the nearby residents. The aim of the present study was to determine the mechanisms of toxicity of selected common odorous compounds from poultry manure, including ammonia, dimethylamine (DMA), trimethylamine (TMA), butyric acid, phenol, and indole. We measured their genotoxic and cytotoxic activity in the model chicken cell line (LMH), in vitro, by comet assay and lactate dehydrogenase assay, respectively. We also made microscopic observations of any morphological changes in these cells by DAPI staining. Four compounds, namely ammonia, DMA, TMA, and butyric acid increased DNA damage in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05), reaching genotoxicity as high as 73.2 ± 1.9%. Phenol and indole induced extensive DNA damage independent of the concentration used. Ammonia, DMA, and TMA caused a dose-dependent release of lactate dehydrogenase (p < 0.05). The IC50 values were 0.02%, 0.05%, and 0.1% for DMA, ammonia and TMA, respectively. These compounds also induced nuclear morphological changes, such as chromatin condensation, shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation (apoptotic bodies), and chromatin lysis. Our study exhibited the damaging effects of odorous compounds in chick LMH cell line.
Effects of Robot-Assisted Therapy for the Upper Limb After Stroke

Background. Robot technology for poststroke rehabilitation is developing rapidly. A number of new randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the effects of robot-assisted therapy for the paretic upper limb (RT-UL). Objective. To systematically review the effects of poststroke RT-UL on measures of motor control of the paretic arm, muscle strength and tone, upper limb capacity, and basic activities of daily living (ADL) in comparison with nonrobotic treatment. Methods. Relevant RCTs were identified in electronic searches. Meta-analyses were performed for measures of motor control (eg, Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the arm; FMA arm), muscle strength and tone, upper limb capacity, and basic ADL. Subgroup analyses were applied for the number of joints involved, robot type, timing poststroke, and treatment contrast. Results. Forty-four RCTs (N = 1362) were included. No serious adverse events were reported. Meta-analyses of 38 trials (N = 1206) showed significant but small improvements in motor control (~2 points FMA arm) and muscle strength of the paretic arm and a negative effect on muscle tone. No effects were found for upper limb capacity and basic ADL. Shoulder/elbow robotics showed small but significant effects on motor control and muscle strength, while elbow/wrist robotics had small but significant effects on motor control. Conclusions. RT-UL allows patients to increase the number of repetitions and hence intensity of practice poststroke, and appears to be a safe therapy. Effects on motor control are small and specific to the joints targeted by RT-UL, whereas no generalization is found to improvements in upper limb capacity. The impact of RT-UL started in the first weeks poststroke remains unclear. These limited findings could mainly be related to poor understanding of robot-induced motor learning as well as inadequate designing of RT-UL trials, by not applying an appropriate selection of stroke patients with a potential to recovery at baseline as well as the lack of fixed timing of baseline assessments and using an insufficient treatment contrast early poststroke.
Molecular Mediators of Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels from the preexisting vasculature, is a key component in numerous physiologic and pathologic responses and has broad impact in many medical and surgical specialties. In this review, we discuss the key cellular steps that lead to the neovascularization of tissues and highlight the main molecular mechanisms and mediators in this process. We include discussions on proteolytic enzymes, cell-matrix interactions, and pertinent cell signaling pathways and end with a survey of the mechanisms that lead to the stabilization and maturation of neovasculatures.
Prognostic Factors and Visual Outcome for Fireworks-Related Burns During Spring Festival in South China

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and the visual results of fireworks-related ocular burn injuries and to determine the prognostic factors. The authors conducted a prospective observational study of 53 eyes of 46 consecutive patients with fireworks-related ocular injury who visited Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center during the Spring Festival in Southern China. Eyes were graded using an ocular trauma classification system, which included age of the patient. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 5 months. Best-corrected visual acuity at the last follow-up was considered the final visual outcome. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 13.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). Results of statistical tests were considered statistically significant for P < . 05. Almost all patients (89.1%) were male with a mean age of 14.3 ± 8.5 years. There was preponderance of young patients, with 63.0% (29) of the patients being younger than 15 years. In addition to their ocular injuries, 23 patients (50.0%) also had eyelid and/or facial burns. The most common initial anterior segment injuries were open-globe injuries (42, 79.3%), conjunctival burns (16, 30.2%), and foreign bodies (18, 34.0%). Others were traumatic cataract, lens subluxation and dislocation, and vitreous hemorrhage. Management after first aid included pars plana vitrectomy (9, 17.0%), aspiration of cataract (18, 34.0%), retinal reattachment (8, 15.1%), and enucleation. Amniotic membrane grafts were used in 11 patients (20.8%) with serious conjunctiva burns and corneal contusions and abrasions who were thought to have a good prognosis. Fireworks-related ocular injuries included a variety of clinical manifestations. Examinations such as B scan, optical coherence tomography, and ultrasound biomicroscopy helped to make a correct diagnosis and plan further treatment. Fireworks-related ocular injuries commonly affect young male subjects of Southern China. Visual outcomes were frequently poor and visually devastating. Laws should be passed to forbid the personal use of fireworks in China, and public education on the sale and use of fireworks should be increased.
Promoter mutations and cellular distribution of telomerase in non-clear cell and clear cell hepatocellular carcinoma

Reactivation of telomerase is a critical step in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we identified the frequency of mutations in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter was 34% in non-clear cell HCC (NCCHCC, n = 259) and 26.3% in clear cell HCC (CCHCC, n = 57). The mutations were independently associated with poor recurrence-free survival of HCCs. Interestingly immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a higher positive rate of TERT cytoplasmic localization (95%) than nuclear localization (64%) in HCCs. In NCCHCCs, the mutations correlated with higher TERT nuclear expression and increased telomere-dependent telomerase activity. Higher cytoplasmic expression was found in adjacent tissues compared to tumor tissues, and was associated with tumor well-differentiation and lower level of α-fetoprotein. NCCHCCs with low nuclear as well as high cytoplasmic expression correlated with better prognosis. In CCHCCs, elevated TERT cytoplasmic expression was observed in CCHCCs harboring mutations. Higher TERT cytoplasmic expression was found in tumor tissues compared to adjacent tissues, and was associated with multiple numbers of tumors and poor prognosis of CCHCCs. In conclusion, mutations in TERT promoter disclose the significance of both nuclear and cytoplasmic TERT in HCC. Cytoplasmic TERT should also be considered when determining prognosis and treatment of HCCs.
A Mechanical Descriptor of Human Locomotion and its Application to Multi-Contact Walking in Humanoids

This work aims at experimentally identifying a new mechanical descriptor of human locomotion and demonstrating that it can be exploited for the generation of multi-contact motions for humanoids. For this purpose, an experimental setup was built on which five different experiments were carried out by 15 human volunteers. Experimental results show that the distance between the center of mass and the so-called central axis of the external contact wrench significantly varies as a function of locomotion phases and environmental constraints. This finding is combined with a theoretical reasoning in mechanics in order to exhibit how this distance is linked to the whole body's angular acceleration and thus constitutes an interesting parameter to control. Finally, we illustrate the relevance of this result for humanoid robot motion generation by embedding the minimization of the distance between the center of mass and the central axis of the external contact wrench in an optimal control formulation in order to generate multi-contact locomotion in simulation.
Frequency of Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia among infected blood donors with a potential association between parasite lineage and transfusion transmission

Trypanosoma cruzi is endemic to the Americas where it demonstrates multiple lineages over a vast geographic range (i.e., United States to Argentina). These lineages possess divergent geographic and biologic characteristics, including variations in disease manifestations. Herein, we report the frequency of parasitemia among seropositive US blood donors and the potential association between parasite lineage and transfusion transmission.
Store‐operated calcium entry is required for sustained contraction and Ca2+ oscillations of airway smooth muscle

Airway hyper‐responsiveness in asthma is driven by excessive contraction of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). Agonist‐induced Ca2+ oscillations underlie this contraction of ASMCs and the magnitude of this contraction is proportional to the Ca2+ oscillation frequency. Sustained contraction and Ca2+ oscillations require an influx of extracellular Ca2+, although the mechanisms and pathways mediating this Ca2+ influx during agonist‐induced ASMC contraction are not well defined. By inhibiting store‐operated calcium entry (SOCE) or voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs), we show that SOCE, rather than Ca2+ influx via VGCCs, provides the major Ca2+ entry pathway into ASMCs to sustain ASMCs contraction and Ca2+ oscillations. SOCE may therefore serve as a potential target for new bronchodilators to reduce airway hyper‐responsiveness in asthma.
Antimicrobial Resistance Rates of Enterobacter spp.: A Seven-Year Surveillance Study

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the trends of antimicrobial resistance of Enterobacter spp. over time in a Saudi Arabian hospital. Materials and Methods: This is an in vitro surveillance study of the antibiotic susceptibility pattern among Enterobacter spp. recovered from outpatient and nosocomial isolates over a 7-year period from 2000 to 2006. Only a single isolate per patient was included. Results: A total of 1,394 nonrepetitive isolates were analyzed during the study period. Enterobactercloacae and Enterobacteraerogenes constituted 60 and 33% of the isolates, respectively. Overall, there was no statistically significant increase in the resistance rates over time for the outpatient and nosocomial isolates of Enterobacter. For E.cloacae, nosocomial isolates were statistically more resistant than outpatient isolates to ceftriaxone (17.5 vs. 5.5%), ciprofloxacin (9.5 vs. 4.7%), ticarcillin (42.8 vs. 25.4%) and ticarcillin-clavulanic acid (23 vs. 9.3%). For E.aerogenes, the nosocomial isolates were also more resistant to ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin than the outpatient isolates (9.2 vs. 2.4% and 9.6 vs. 3%, respectively). In addition, nosocomial isolates of E.aerogenes were more resistant to piperacillin (25 vs. 15.6%) and ticarcillin-clavulanic acid (32 vs. 10.2%) than outpatient isolates. The most active antimicrobial agents were imipenem, amikacin and gentamicin against Enterobacter. Resistance rate to ≥3 classes of antibiotics was present in 2.5% of nosocomial and 1.7% of outpatient isolates (p = 0.78). Conclusion: The resistance rate for the outpatient and nosocomial isolates of Enterobacter had remained relatively stable over the study period. The most active antimicrobial agents were imipenem, amikacin and gentamicin.
Antimicrobial Monomers for Polymeric Dental Restoratives: Cytotoxicity and Physicochemical Properties

A trend for the next generation of polymeric dental restoratives is to incorporate multifunctional capabilities to regulate microbial growth and remineralize tooth surfaces. Polymerizable 2-(methacryloyloxy)-N-(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-aminium bromide (IDMA1) and N,N′-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2,2′-diylbis(methylene))bis(2-(methacryloyloxy)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-aminium) bromide (IDMA2), intended for utilization in bi-functional antimicrobial and remineralizing composites, were synthesized, purified with an ethanol-diethyl ether-hexane solvent system, and validated by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. When incorporated into light-curable urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA)/polyethylene glycol-extended UDMA (PEG-U)/ethyl 2-(hydroxymethyl)acrylate (EHMA) (assigned UPE) resins, IDMAs did not affect the overall resins’ hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance (water contact angle: 60.8–65.5°). The attained degrees of vinyl conversion (DVC) were consistently higher in both IDMA-containing copolymers and their amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) composites (up to 5% and 20%, respectively) reaching 92.5% in IDMA2 formulations. Notably, these high DVCs values were attained without an excessive increase in polymerization stress. The observed reduction in biaxial flexure strength of UPE-IDMA ACP composites should not prevent further evaluation of these materials as multifunctional Class V restoratives. In direct contact with human gingival fibroblasts, at biologically relevant concentrations, IDMAs did not adversely affect cell viability or their metabolic activity. Ion release from the composites was indicative of their strong remineralization potential. The above, early-phase biocompatibility and physicochemical tests justify further evaluation of these experimental materials to identify formulation(s) suitable for clinical testing. Successful completion is expected to yield a new class of restoratives with well-controlled bio-function, which will physicochemically, mechanically, and biologically outperform the conventional Class V restoratives.
Hierarchical Imitation and Reinforcement Learning

We study how to effectively leverage expert feedback to learn sequential decision-making policies. We focus on problems with sparse rewards and long time horizons, which typically pose significant challenges in reinforcement learning. We propose an algorithmic framework, called hierarchical guidance, that leverages the hierarchical structure of the underlying problem to integrate different modes of expert interaction. Our framework can incorporate different combinations of imitation learning (IL) and reinforcement learning (RL) at different levels, leading to dramatic reductions in both expert effort and cost of exploration. Using long-horizon benchmarks, including Montezuma's Revenge, we demonstrate that our approach can learn significantly faster than hierarchical RL, and be significantly more label-efficient than standard IL. We also theoretically analyze labeling cost for certain instantiations of our framework.