Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CRITICAL CARE ISSUES FOR THE NEPHROLOGIST: Electrolyte Disturbances in the Intensive Care Unit

The development of many electrolyte disturbances in the ICU can be prevented by attention to the use of intravenous fluids and nutrition. Hyponatremia is a relative contraindication to the use of hypotonic intravenous fluids and hypernatremia calls for the administration of water. Formulae have been devised to guide the therapy of severe hyponatremia and hypernatremia. All formulae regard the patient as a closed system, and none takes into account ongoing fluid losses that are highly variable between patients. Thus, therapy of severe hyponatremia and hypernatremia must be closely monitored with serial electrolyte measurements. The significance of hypocalcemia in the critically ill is controversial. Hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypomagnesemia should be corrected.
GDNF Family Ligands Trigger Indirect Neuroprotective Signaling in Retinal Glial Cells

ABSTRACT Apoptotic cell death of photoreceptors is the final event leading to blindness in the heterogeneous group of inherited retinal degenerations. GDNF (glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor) was found to rescue photoreceptor function and survival very effectively in an animal model of retinal degeneration (M. Frasson, S. Picaud, T. Leveillard, M. Simonutti, S. Mohand-Said, H. Dreyfus, D. Hicks, and J. Sahel, Investig. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 40:2724-2734, 1999). However, the cellular mechanism of GDNF action remained unresolved. We show here that in porcine retina, GDNF receptors GFRα-1 and RET are expressed on retinal Mueller glial cells (RMG) but not on photoreceptors. Additionally, RMG express the receptors for the GDNF family members artemin and neurturin (GFRα-2 and GFRα-3). We further investigated GDNF-, artemin-, and neurturin-induced signaling in isolated primary RMG and demonstrate three intracellular cascades, which are activated in vitro: MEK/ERK, stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK), and PKB/AKT pathways with different kinetics in dependence on stimulating GFL. We correlate the findings to intact porcine retina, where GDNF induces phosphorylation of ERK in the perinuclear region of RMG located in the inner nuclear layer. GDNF signaling resulted in transcriptional upregulation of FGF-2, which in turn was found to support photoreceptor survival in an in vitro assay. We provide here a detailed model of GDNF-induced signaling in mammalian retina and propose that the GDNF-induced rescue effect on mutated photoreceptors is an indirect effect mediated by retinal Mueller glial cells.
Is Hormonally Regulated andGene Family , Is Expressed in Prostate and Breast Tissues , Is a New Member of the Human Kallikrein KLK-L 1 Prostase

By using the positional candidate gene approach, we were able to identify a novel serine protease gene that maps to chromosome 19q13.3– q13.4. Screening of expressed sequence tags allowed us to establish the expression of the gene and delineate its genomic organization (GenBank accession no. AF135023). We named this gene KLK-L1. Another group, by using a subtraction hybridization method, cloned the same gene and named it prostase (GenBank accession nos. AF113140 and AF113141). Here, we describe the precise mapping and localization of the prostase/ KLK-L1 gene between the known genes KLK2 (human glandular kallikrein) and zyme(also known as protease M/neurosin). The direction of transcription of prostase/KLK-L1 is the same as that ofzymebut opposite to that of KLK2 and prostate-specific antigen genes. Contrary to the initial impression, prostase/KLK-L1is expressed at high levels not only in prostate tissue but also in testis, mammary gland, adrenals, uterus, thyroid, and salivary glands. We have further demonstrated within vitro experiments with the breast carcinoma cell line BT-474 that this gene is expressed and that its expression is up-regulated by androgens and progestins. On the basis of information on other genes that are localized in the same region (prostate-specific antigen, KLK2, zyme, andnormal epithelial cell specific-1gene), we speculate that prostase/ KLK-L1 may be involved in the pathogenesis and/or progression of prostate, breast, and possibly other malignancies.
The influence of the exocyclic amino group characteristic of GC base pairs on molecular recognition of specific nucleotide sequences in DNA by Berenil and DAPI

The expedient of preparing homologous DNA samples substituted with inosine for guanosine residues, 2,6‐diaminopurine (DAP) for adenine residues, or both, has been used to investigate the role of the purine 2‐amino group in determining the preferred binding sites for the drugs berenil [1,3‐bis(4‐phenylamidinium) triazene] and DAPI (4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenyl indole) on DNA. The selectivity of these two minor groove binders for AT‐rich sequences is seen to be radically altered in the substituted DNA molecules. Neither berenil nor DAPI bind to DAP‐substituted DNA where all purine residues bear a 2‐amino group. By contrast, they bind to AT‐rich, IC‐rich and even mixed sequences of the inosine DNA where all purine residues lack the 2‐amino group. With the inosine and DAP double substituted DNA, both berenil and DAPI bind preferentially to IC‐rich clusters instead of their canonical tracts endowed with an extra 2‐amino group through substitution with DAP. These results establish that the location of the purine 2‐amino group represents a critical determinant for recognition of DNA nucleotide sequences by the two drugs. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Semi-automatic abdominal aortic aneurysms geometry assessment based on 3D ultrasound

This paper presents a new approach for improving the surveillance of the size of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Use of 3D ultrasound imaging combined with semi-automatic quantification provides automatic selection of the optimal plane for diameter measurement. Quantification parameters are defined to characterize the aneurysm with more accuracy. Volume imaging also provides 3D visualization of the AAA geometry and CT-like multi-planar reconstructions. Multiple volume registrations are proposed to overcome limited field of view issues. Quantification results show good correlation with 2D reference measurements and obtained Pearson correlation coefficients are significant for 30 patients.
Autoencoder Asset Pricing Models

Abstract We propose a new latent factor conditional asset pricing model. Like Kelly, Pruitt, and Su (KPS, 2019), our model allows for latent factors and factor exposures that depend on covariates such as asset characteristics. But, unlike the linearity assumption of KPS, we model factor exposures as a flexible nonlinear function of covariates. Our model retrofits the workhorse unsupervised dimension reduction device from the machine learning literature – autoencoder neural networks – to incorporate information from covariates along with returns themselves. This delivers estimates of nonlinear conditional exposures and the associated latent factors. Furthermore, our machine learning framework imposes the economic restriction of no-arbitrage. Our autoencoder asset pricing model delivers out-of-sample pricing errors that are far smaller (and generally insignificant) compared to other leading factor models.
The rat as a model for pigs: comparative values for the digestibility of NSP and other macronutrients

The present investigation was undertaken to study whether conventional male Wistar rats could be used as a model for pigs with regard to total tract digestibilities of NSP and macronutrients and whether nebacitin-treated rats could be used as a model for small intestinal digestibility in pigs. Nineteen experimental diets prepared from different fractions of wheat and oats, and which all had been evaluated in experiments with ileal cannulated pigs, were used for the present study. There was a close relationship between the total tract digestibilities of organic matter in the two species. The same was the case with regard to the digestibility of total NSP and arabinoxylans, but the values were on average 6 % lower in rats than in pigs. On average, there were no significant differences between rats and pigs with regard to faecal protein digestibility. However, protein in oat-based diets was significantly better digested in the rat than the pig. The digestibility of fat was consistently higher in rats than in pigs, with the biggest difference being found in oat-based diets, in which most of the fat was locked in cell structures. For the wheat-based diets, in which a large proportion of the fat was present as added fat, there was a greater similarity between the two species. In nebacitin-treated rats the digestibility of organic matter, starch, protein and fat was negatively related to the dietary level of NSP, but this model could not be used to predict the small intestinal digestibility of NSP and macronutrients in ileal-cannulated pigs.
The association of urine metals and metal mixtures with cardiovascular incidence in an adult population from Spain: the Hortega Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND The association of low-level exposure to metals and metal mixtures with cardiovascular incidence in the general population has rarely been studied. We flexibly evaluated the association of urinary metals and metal mixtures concentrations with cardiovascular diseases in a representative sample of a general population from Spain. METHODS Urine antimony (Sb), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn) were measured in 1171 adults without clinical cardiovascular diseases, who participated in the Hortega Study. Cox proportional hazard models were used for evaluating the association between single metals and cardiovascular incidence. We used a Probit extension of Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR-P) to handle metal mixtures in a survival setting. RESULTS In single-metal models, the hazard ratios [confidence intervals (CIs)] of cardiovascular incidence, comparing the 80th to the 20th percentiles of metal distributions, were 1.35 (1.06, 1.72) for Cu, 1.43 (1.07, 1.90) for Zn, 1.51 (1.13, 2.03) for Sb, 1.46 (1.13, 1.88) for Cd, 1.64 (1.05, 2.58) for Cr and 1.31 (1.01, 1.71) for V. BKMR-P analysis was confirmatory of these findings, supporting that Cu, Zn, Sb, Cd, Cr and V are related to cardiovascular incidence in the presence of the other metals. Cd and Sb showed the highest posterior inclusion probabilities. CONCLUSIONS Urine Cu, Zn, Sb, Cd, Cr and V were independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk at levels relevant for the general population of Spain. Urine metals in the mixture were also jointly associated with cardiovascular incidence, with Cd and Sb being the most important components of the mixture.
Targeted treatments in colorectal cancer: state of the art and future perspectives

Targeted treatments have generated a lot of hope and hype in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumours. Indeed, the introduction of targeted treatments particularly for colorectal cancer has resulted in substantial improvements in tumour response and progression-free survival of patients. However, it is not fully understood how these agents act in patients, and the preclinical models are not appropriate to predict clinical efficacy. Here the current state of targeted treatments in colorectal cancer is reviewed, focusing on antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and antiangiogenic strategies, describing how these agents fit into the therapeutic algorithm of this disease and discussing current understanding of the mechanism of action, biomarkers as well as future therapeutic strategies targeting multiple signalling pathways in colorectal cancer.
EXERCISE PERFORMANCE AND VENTILATORY EFFICIENCY IN PATIENTS WITH MILD AND MODERATE LIVER CIRRHOSIS

1 The impact of ventilatory efficiency on reduced exercise capacity and recovery oxygen kinetics has not been addressed in cirrhotic patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate exercise performance and ventilatory efficiency in patients with mild and moderate liver cirrhosis (LC). 2 Nineteen male non‐hypoxic patients with LC (age 51.3 ± 9.1 years; body mass index (BMI) 25.6 ± 3.6 kg/m2) classified by the Child‐Pugh score as class A (n = 7) and class B (n = 12) and 19 age‐ and BMI‐matched controls participated in the study. Subjects undertook maximal incremental exercise testing on a treadmill using the Bruce protocol. 3 Patients with LC showed a reduced diffusion capacity (DL,CO%) compared with controls (74.6 ± 15.2 vs 95.6 ± 12.9%, respectively; P < 0.001), but a comparable volume standardized diffusion coefficient (1.33 ± 0.22 vs 1.45 ± 0.18 mmol/min per kPa per L, respectively; P = 0.74). Patients with LC had a significantly lower exercise capacity compared with controls (VO2max 23.8 ± 3.8 vs 30.6 ± 4.4 mL/min per kg, respectively; P < 0.001). Recovery oxygen kinetics were also impaired in LC patients compared with controls (104.6 ± 19.3 vs 84.4 ± 22.7 s, respectively; P = 0.012). The chronotropic index was significantly lower in the LC group compared with controls (0.67 ± 0.19 vs 0.82 ± 0.17, respectively; P = 0.030) and LC patients showed higher ventilatory equivalents (30.4 ± 3.8 vs 26.3 ± 2.3, respectively; P < 0.001) and lower oxygen uptake efficiency slope values (2187 ± 445 vs 2745 ± 473 mL/min per log10L, respectively; P < 0.001) compared with controls, which is indicative of decreased ventilatory efficiency. Patients with LC also had a higher standardized maximal exercise perception score (SMEPS) compared with controls (0.62 ± 0.18 vs 0.46 ± 0.15, respectively; P = 0.011). Moderate negative correlations were found between Child‐Pugh score and VO2max% (r = –0.496; P = 0.031). 4 In conclusion, patients with mild and moderate LC have reduced exercise capacity, which correlates with Child‐Pugh score, as well as reduced chronotropic index and prolonged recovery oxygen uptake kinetics. The results suggest worsened ventilatory efficiency during exercise and cardiopulmonary reasons for the higher SMEPS in these patients.
First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. V. Physical Origin of the Asymmetric Ring

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has mapped the central compact radio source of the elliptical galaxy M87 at 1.3 mm with unprecedented angular resolution. Here we consider the physical implications of the asymmetric ring seen in the 2017 EHT data. To this end, we construct a large library of models based on general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations and synthetic images produced by general relativistic ray tracing. We compare the observed visibilities with this library and confirm that the asymmetric ring is consistent with earlier predictions of strong gravitational lensing of synchrotron emission from a hot plasma orbiting near the black hole event horizon. The ring radius and ring asymmetry depend on black hole mass and spin, respectively, and both are therefore expected to be stable when observed in future EHT campaigns. Overall, the observed image is consistent with expectations for the shadow of a spinning Kerr black hole as predicted by general relativity. If the black hole spin and M87's large scale jet are aligned, then the black hole spin vector is pointed away from Earth. Models in our library of non-spinning black holes are inconsistent with the observations as they do not produce sufficiently powerful jets. At the same time, in those models that produce a sufficiently powerful jet, the latter is powered by extraction of black hole spin energy through mechanisms akin to the Blandford-Znajek process. We briefly consider alternatives to a black hole for the central compact object. Analysis of existing EHT polarization data and data taken simultaneously at other wavelengths will soon enable new tests of the GRMHD models, as will future EHT campaigns at 230 and 345 GHz.
Indications for repositioning of blow-out fractures of the orbital floor based on new objective criteria - tissue protrusion volumometry.

BACKGROUND AND AIM The otolaryngologist often meets with fractures of the orbital floor. The most serious complication is diplopia, arising as a result of herniation of the orbital contents, with or without fixation of the inferior rectus muscle. The aim of our work was to create a mathematical model to calculate the volume of prolapsed soft tissue of the orbit in blow-out fractures, as a factor in deciding on the need for surgical treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a retrospective study (2007-2013), we evaluated 80 patients with blow-out fractures, divided into two equal groups: 40 conservatively treated and 40 surgically treated patients. We created the model by measuring the fracture lines and herniation of the orbital soft tissues in the coronal and sagittal sections from CT images, equivalent to half the volume of a rotating ellipsoid. RESULTS According to the proposed model, posterior and anterior fractures with a prolapse volume above 500 mm3, and anteroposterior fractures with a volume over 1400 mm3, are indicated for surgery. CONCLUSION The volume of prolapsed soft tissue relative to the location of the fracture is the main indicator for selecting the best treatment procedure immediately after injury.
An Improved Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows

Vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW) is of crucial importance in today's industries, accounting for a significant portion of many distribution and transportation systems. In this paper, we present a computational-efficient VRPTW algorithm, which is based on the principles of particle swarm optimization (PSO). PSO follows a collaborative population-based search, which models over the social behavior of bird flocking and fish schooling. PSO system combines local search methods (through self experience) with global search methods (through neighboring experience), attempting to balance exploration and exploitation. We discuss the adaptation and implementation of the PSO search strategy to VRPTW and provide a numerical experiment to show the effectiveness of the heuristic. Experimental results indicate that the new PSO algorithm can effectively and quickly get optimal resolution of VRPTW.
Obesity, Hypertrichosis and Sex Steroids: Are these Factors Related to the Pilonidal Sinus Disease?

Objectives: Pilonidal sinus disease causes chronic inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous fatty tissue, and it commonly localises in the sacrococcygeal region. This study evaluated the effects of hypertrichosis, family history, obesity and sex steroids in 298 patients with pilonidal sinus disease. Methods: The medical records of 618 patients treated at the General Surgery Clinic of Malatya State Hospital for primary pilonidal sinus disease between January 2014 and December 2017 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Female sex and family histories of pilonidal sinus disease and hypertrichosis were significantly higher in patients with than without hypertrichosis (p=0.030, p=0.035, p<0.001). The mean progesterone level was significantly lower in female patients with hypertrichosis than female patients without hypertrichosis (p=0.003). Conclusion: Being overweight or obese, having an occupation that requires long-time sitting and having a family history predisposed to developing pilonidal sinus disease.
De Novo Pericentric Inversion of Chromosome 9 in Congenital Anomaly

Purpose The pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 is one of the most common structural balanced chromosomal variations and has been found in both normal populations and patients with various abnormal phenotypes and diseases. The aim of this study was to re-evaluate the clinical impact of inv(9)(p11q13). Materials and Methods We studied the karyotypes of 431 neonates with congenital anomalies at the Pediatric Clinic in Ajou University Hospital between 2004 and 2008 and retrospectively reviewed their clinical data. Results Chromosomal aberrations were detected in 60 patients (13.9%). The most common type of structural abnormality was inv(9)(p11q13), found in eight patients. Clinical investigation revealed that all eight cases with inv(9)(p11q13) had various congenital anomalies including: polydactyly, club foot, microtia, deafness, asymmetric face, giant Meckel's diverticulum, duodenal diaphragm, small bowel malrotation, pulmonary stenosis, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, and intrauterine growth restriction. The cytogenetic analysis of parents showed that all of the cases were de novo heterozygous inv(9)(p11q13). Conclusion Since our results indicate that the incidence of inv(9)(p11q13) in patients with congenital anomalies was not significantly different from the normal population, inv(9)(p11q13) does not appear to be pathogenic with regard to the congenital anomalies. Some other, to date unknown, causes of the anomalies remain to be identified.
Effect of carprofen, etodolac, meloxicam, or butorphanol in dogs with induced acute synovitis.

OBJECTIVE To compare the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of single doses of carprofen, etodolac, meloxicam, and butorphanol in dogs with induced acute synovitis (acute pain model) via kinetic gait analysis and orthopedic evaluation and examine measurement of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration as an indicator of treatment efficacy. ANIMALS 12 Beagles and 6 additional Beagles that were used only in serum CRP analyses. PROCEDURE Acute synovitis was induced in right stifle joints of dogs via intra-articular injection of monosodium urate solution. Treatments included butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg, i.v.), carprofen (4 mg/kg, PO), etodolac (17 mg/kg, PO), or meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg, PO); control dogs received no treatment. The procedure was repeated (3-week intervals) until all dogs received all treatments including control treatment. Lameness was assessed on a biomechanical force platform and via orthopedic evaluations of the stifle joints; blood was collected to monitor serum CRP concentration. RESULTS Compared with control dogs, treated dogs had significantly different vertical ground reaction forces and weight-bearing scores. Greatest improvement in lameness was observed in carprofen-treated dogs. Etodolac had the fastest onset of action. Compared with butorphanol treatment, only carprofen and etodolac were associated with significantly lower pain scores. An increase in serum CRP concentration was detected after intra-articular injection in all dogs; this change was similar among groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Carprofen, etodolac, and meloxicam had greater efficacy than butorphanol in relief of acute pain. Carprofen was most effective overall. In this acute pain model, serum CRP analysis was not useful to assess drug efficacy.
Modeling of a pneumatic actuator through long pneumatic lines for teleoperation purpose

This paper presents the modeling of a pneumatic system devoted to a teleoperation application. The study deals with the specific problem of the additional dynamics introduced by the air hose length when the servovalves are located far from the pneumatic cylinder. The physical modeling of each component of the system leads to either a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) or a set of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). We show that a classical expansion around a working point provides a model consisting of a finite set of ODEs. A second aspect of this work relates to the use of this model within a bilateral teleoperation scheme. In order to design a two-channel teleoperation controller, a model reduction is required. Simulation results show the efficiency of our approach in terms of both robustness with respect to modeling errors and transparency, whether in free space or in contact motion.