Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic significance of combined fibrinogen concentration and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer

Objective: Cancer-associated inflammation and coagulation cascades play vital roles in cancer progression and survival. In this study, we investigated the significance of the combination of preoperative fibrinogen and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 589 patients with NSCLC who underwent surgery. The univariate and multivariate Cox survival analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic indicators, including the combination of fibrinogen and NLR (F-NLR). The cut-off values for fibrinogen, NLR, and clinical laboratory variables were defined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. According to the ROC curve, the recommended cut-off values for fibrinogen and the NLR were 3.48 g/L and 2.30, respectively. Patients with both a high NLR (≥ 2.30) and hyperfibrinogenemia (≥ 3.48 g/L) were given a score of 2, whereas those with one or neither were scored as 1 or 0, respectively. Results: Our results showed that F-NLR was an independent prognostic indicator for disease-free survival (DFS) [hazard ratio (HR), 1.466; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.243–1.730; P < 0.001] and overall survival (OS) (HR, 1.512; 95% CI, 1.283–1.783; P < 0.001). The five-year OS rates were 66.1%, 53.5%, and 33.3% for the F-NLR = 0, F-NLR = 1, and F-NLR = 2, respectively ( P < 0.001). Correspondingly, their five-year DFS rates were 62.2%, 50.3%, and 30.4%, respectively ( P < 0.001). In the subgroup analyses of the pathological stages, the F-NLR level was significantly correlated with DFS and OS in stage I and IIIA cancers. Conclusions: Preoperative F-NLR score can be used as a valuable prognostic marker for patients with resectable early-stage NSCLC.
Reduction of Uterine Perfusion Pressure Induced Redistribution of Endothelin Receptor Type-B Between the Intima and Media Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

Background/Aims: Studies have shown that a change in endothelin receptor expression in the artery is related to pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). However, the mechanism underlying this change remains unclear. Methods: To test whether the distribution of endothelin receptor type-A (ETAR) and type-B (ETBR) plays an important role in PIH, a reduction of uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model was used to mimic some of the features of PIH; the resulting variable endothelin receptor expression was investigated in the media and intima of the aorta. Single vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were isolated from RUPP and normal pregnant (NP) rats to study the effect of ETAR and ETBR in smooth muscle cells. Results: Compared with NP rats, RUPP rats had a significant redistribution of ETBR expression in the intima and media, while there was no significant difference in ETAR expression between the two groups. ETBR upregulation in VSMCs enhanced cellular contraction and contributed to PIH. The TNF-α plasma levels in RUPP rats were two-fold higher than those of NP rats, which upregulated the expression of ETBR in VSMCS through the NF-κB pathways in RUPP rats. Conclusion: Redistribution of ETBR between the media and intima played an important role in the pathogenesis of PIH.
Dispersal ability rather than ecological tolerance drives differences in range size between lentic and lotic water beetles (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)

Aim In aquatic ecosystems, standing (lentic) and running (lotic) waters differ fundamentally in their stability and persistence, shaping the comparative population genetic structure, geographical range size and speciation rates of lentic versus lotic lineages. While the drivers of this pattern remain incompletely understood, the suite of traits making up the ability of a species to establish new populations is instrumental in determining such differences. Here we explore the degree to which the association between habitat type and geographical range size results from differences in dispersal ability or fundamental niche breadth in the members of the Enochrus bicolor complex, an aquatic beetle clade with species across the lentic–lotic divide.
A Common Ca2+-Driven Interdomain Module Governs Eukaryotic NCX Regulation

Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) proteins mediate Ca2+-fluxes across the cell membrane to maintain Ca2+ homeostasis in many cell types. Eukaryotic NCX contains Ca2+-binding regulatory domains, CBD1 and CBD2. Ca2+ binding to a primary sensor (Ca3-Ca4 sites) on CBD1 activates mammalian NCXs, whereas CALX, a Drosophila NCX ortholog, displays an inhibitory response to regulatory Ca2+. To further elucidate the underlying regulatory mechanisms, we determined the 2.7 Å crystal structure of mammalian CBD12-E454K, a two-domain construct that retains wild-type properties. In conjunction with stopped-flow kinetics and SAXS (small-angle X-ray scattering) analyses of CBD12 mutants, we show that Ca2+ binding to Ca3-Ca4 sites tethers the domains via a network of interdomain salt-bridges. This Ca2+-driven interdomain switch controls slow dissociation of “occluded” Ca2+ from the primary sensor and thus dictates Ca2+ sensing dynamics. In the Ca2+-bound conformation, the interdomain angle of CBD12 is very similar in NCX and CALX, meaning that the interdomain distances cannot account for regulatory diversity in NCX and CALX. Since the two-domain interface is nearly identical among eukaryotic NCXs, including CALX, we suggest that the Ca2+-driven interdomain switch described here represents a general mechanism for initial conduction of regulatory signals in NCX variants.
Guidelines for endoscopic management of non‐variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (JGES) has compiled a set of guidelines for endoscopic management of non‐variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding using evidence‐based methods. The major cause of non‐variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding is peptic gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding. As a result, these guidelines mainly focus on peptic gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding, although bleeding from other causes is also overviewed. From the epidemiological aspect, in recent years in Japan, bleeding from drug‐related ulcers has become predominant in comparison with bleeding from Helicobacter pylori (HP)‐related ulcers, owing to an increase in the aging population and coverage of HP eradication therapy by national health insurance. As for treatment, endoscopic hemostasis, in which there are a variety of methods, is considered to be the first‐line treatment for bleeding from almost all causes. It is very important to precisely evaluate the severity of the patient's condition and stabilize the patient's vital signs with intensive care for successful endoscopic hemostasis. Additionally, use of antisecretory agents is recommended to prevent rebleeding after endoscopic hemostasis, especially for gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding. Eighteen statements with evidence and recommendation levels have been made by the JGES committee of these guidelines according to evidence obtained from clinical research studies. However, some of the statements that are supported by a low level of evidence must be confirmed by further clinical research.
Leukotriene B4, an activation product of mast cells, is a chemoattractant for their progenitors

Mast cells are tissue-resident cells with important functions in allergy and inflammation. Pluripotential hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow give rise to committed mast cell progenitors that transit via the blood to tissues throughout the body, where they mature. Knowledge is limited about the factors that release mast cell progenitors from the bone marrow or recruit them to remote tissues. Mouse femoral bone marrow cells were cultured with IL-3 for 2 wk and a range of chemotactic agents were tested on the c-kit+ population. Cells were remarkably refractory and no chemotaxis was induced by any chemokines tested. However, supernatants from activated mature mast cells induced pronounced chemotaxis, with the active principle identified as leukotriene (LT) B4. Other activation products were inactive. LTB4 was highly chemotactic for 2-wk-old cells, but not mature cells, correlating with a loss of mRNA for the LTB4 receptor, BLT1. Immature cells also accumulated in vivo in response to intradermally injected LTB4. Furthermore, LTB4 was highly potent in attracting mast cell progenitors from freshly isolated bone marrow cell suspensions. Finally, LTB4 was a potent chemoattractant for human cord blood–derived immature, but not mature, mast cells. These results suggest an autocrine role for LTB4 in regulating tissue mast cell numbers.
Lag time structure of cardiovascular deaths attributed to ambient air pollutants in Ahvaz, Iran, 2008-2015.

OBJECTIVES There are few studies about the association between breathing polluted air and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and cardiac death in the Middle East. This study aimed to investigate the relation between air pollutants and cardiovascular mortality (based on ICD-10) in Ahvaz. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this ecological study, the data about cardiovascular disease mortality and air pollutants from March 2008 until March 2015 was inquired from the Ahvaz City Authority and the Khuzestan Province Environmental Protection Agency. The quasi-Poisson, second degree polynomial constrained, distributed lag model; using single and cumulative lag structures, adjusted by trend, seasonality, temperature, relative humidity, weekdays and holidays was used for the data analysis purposes. RESULTS Findings indicated a direct significant relation between an interquartile range (IQR) increase in ozone and cardiovascular deaths among men after 3 days' lag. There was also a significant relation between an IQR increase in particulate matter below 10 μm and cardiovascular deaths for all people, over 60 years old and under 18 years old after 3 and 13 days' lags. There was a significant relation between an IQR increase in nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, and cardiovascular deaths in the case of under 18-year-olds (in the lag 11) and over 60-year-olds (in the lag 9), respectively. We finally found a significant association between an IQR increase in sulfur dioxide and cardiovascular deaths in the case of men, under 18-year-olds and from 18- to 60-year-olds in the lag 9, 0, and 11, respectively (p-values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS It appears that air pollution is significantly associated with cardiovascular deaths in Ahvaz City. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(4):459-473.
Quantitative Assessment of Dry Eye Parameters After Müller's Muscle-Conjunctival Resection.

PURPOSE Müller's muscle-conjunctival resection (MMCR) is a highly effective technique to correct upper eyelid ptosis. However, several authorities have raised concerns about the possibility of postoperative ocular surface dryness. This study was performed to assess the impact of MMCR on clinically meaningful parameters of the ocular surface. METHODS In adult patients, tear break-up time, lipid layer thickness, and osmolarity were measured via direct observation, interferometry, and impedance measurements before surgery and 3 months after surgery in patients who underwent MMCR. Statistical analysis was performed via a dedicated software package. RESULTS Fifteen eyes of 14 patients were included in the study. Mean pre- and postoperative tear break-up times were 12.71 ± 2.20 and 12.43 ± 2.41 seconds, respectively (p = 0.1648). Preoperatively, the mean lipid layer thickness measurement was 91.00 ± 7.02 nm, whereas the mean postoperative value was 88.86 ± 21.36 nm (p = 0.6613). The mean preoperative tear osmolarity measured 291.4 ± 8.86 mOsm/l, and the mean postoperative measurement was 289.86 ± 9.74 mOsm/l (p = 0.2652). CONCLUSIONS MMCR does not appear to change clinically meaningful ocular surface disease parameters, and postoperative dryness did not result from this procedure. In appropriately selected patients, MMCR can be safely performed without increased concerns regarding postoperative dry eye disease.
An Overview of The Available Methods for Morphological Scoring of Pre-Implantation Embryos in In Vitro Fertilization

Assessment of embryo quality in order to choose the embryos that most likely result in pregnancy is the critical goal in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The current trend in human in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF/ET) protocols is to decrease the rate of multiple pregnancies after multiple embryo transfer with maintaining the pregnancy rate at admissible levels (according to laboratory standards). Assessment of morphological feathers as a reliable non-invasive method that provides valuable information in prediction of IVF/intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome has been frequently proposed in recent years. This article describes the current status of morphological embryo evaluation at different pre-implantation stages.
Quality of Water Quality Data — Consistency of the Results of Chemical Analyses and Sources of Uncertainty

Water quality has several aspects and brings together professionals with different back‐ grounds, which have diverse roles, participate and contribute in their own way and look at water quality issues from different perspectives. One of possible distinctions of roles is that on one side we have the providers of results of chemical analyses and on the other the users of these results. The providers, analytical chemists, have a good understanding of an analytical process, knowledge on the abilities and limitations of analytical methods and expertise in using them. The users of results, water quality experts and hydro-geologists have proficiency in analysing and explaining results within a wider context, drawing conclusions on the water quality, recognising trends and processes within a water body.
Predation upon Diadema aff. antillarum in barren grounds in the Canary Islands

SUMMARY: Experimental studies were carried out to determine the effects of predation on populations of the sea urchin Diadema aff. antillarum in barren grounds at the Canary Islands. The studied urchin populations were dominated by small to medium sized individuals (24-38 mm) and were variable in space. Tethering experiments showed that predation rates on D. aff. antillarum were very low and no differences were found between sites. Predation was found to be most intense on juveniles ( 40 mm were not preyed upon whatsoever. We have experimentally demonstrated that there is an absolute predator ‘escape size’ of around 40 mm for D. aff. antillarum individuals in barren grounds. Predation rates obtained for juveniles show that a sufficient number may escape predation and sustain the adult population, maintaining the urchin barren habitat. Recruitment and topographic complexity, rather than predation, seem to determine the structure of urchin populations in barren grounds. We conclude that predation in fished barren grounds of the Canarian Archipelago is not of sufficient magnitude to substantially alter dense urchin populations and cause community-level effects.
Time–frequency representation of autoionization dynamics in helium

Autoionization, which results from the interference between direct photoionization and photoexcitation to a discrete state decaying to the continuum by configuration interaction, is a well known example of the important role of electron correlation in light–matter interaction. Information on this process can be obtained by studying the spectral, or equivalently, temporal complex amplitude of the ionized electron wave packet. Using an energy-resolved interferometric technique, we measure the spectral amplitude and phase of autoionized wave packets emitted via the sp2+ and sp3+ resonances in helium. These measurements allow us to reconstruct the corresponding temporal profiles by Fourier transform. In addition, applying various time–frequency representations, we observe the build-up of the wave packets in the continuum, monitor the instantaneous frequencies emitted at any time and disentangle the dynamics of the direct and resonant ionization channels.
mTOR Pathway Activation Following Resistance Exercise with Vibration in Human Subjects

mTOR Pathway Activation Following Resistance Exercise with Vibration in Human Subjects Michael G. Leavitt Department of Exercise Sciences, BYU Master of Science Functional adaptations in human skeletal muscle following a period of resistance exercise are the result of regular activation of cellular signaling pathways that elevate muscle protein synthesis. It has been reported that the addition of whole body vibration (WBV) to a resistance exercise program enhances performance. Such improvements in muscle function may be the result of increased activation of cellular signaling pathways associated with muscle growth. Purpose: We have investigated whether an acute bout of resistance exercise in combination with WBV results in a greater activation of the mTOR signaling pathway compared to resistance exercise alone. Methods: Eight untrained college-age males (23 ± 2 yrs, 179 ± 1 cm, 75.0 ± 2.5 kg, and 12.6 ± 1.8% body fat) performed unilateral leg press exercises with (Vbx) and without (RT) vibration. Muscle samples were obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle pre-exercise (baseline) and one-hour following the bout of resistance exercise. Muscle tissue samples were analyzed for phosphorylated levels of mTOR, p70S6K, and 4E-BP1 proteins. Results: One-hour following the resistance exercise bout there were no differences between phosphorylated levels of mTOR or 4E-BP1 in Vbx or RT (p > 0.05). Levels of phosphorylated p70S6K were increased at the one-hour post-exercise time-point in both Vbx (baseline: 504 ± 286 OD; post: 5039 ± 2351 OD, p 0.05). Conclusion: Vibration does not augment acute activation of the mTOR signaling pathway in human skeletal muscle suggesting that performance benefits resulting from combining resistance exercise and vibration may not be the result of an enhanced cellular growth response.
The Multi-Agent Rendezvous Problem. Part 2: The Asynchronous Case

This paper is concerned with the collective behavior of a group of $n>1$ mobile autonomous agents, labelled $1$ through $n$, which can all move in the plane. Each agent is able to continuously track the positions of all other agents currently within its “sensing region,” where by an agent's sensing region we mean a closed disk of positive radius $r$ centered at the agent's current position. The multi-agent rendezvous problem is to devise “local” control strategies, one for each agent, which without any active communication between agents cause all members of the group to eventually rendezvous at a single unspecified location. This paper describes a family of unsynchronized strategies for solving the problem. Correctness is established appealing to the concept of “analytic synchronization. ”
Memory and Executive Functioning in 12-Year-Old Children With a History of Institutional Rearing.

We examined visual recognition memory and executive functioning (spatial working memory [SWM], spatial planning, rule learning, and attention shifting) in 12-year-olds (n = 150) who participated in the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, a randomized controlled trial of foster care for institutionally reared children. Similar to prior reports at 8 years of age, institutionally reared children showed significant deficits in visual recognition memory and SWM. Deficits in attention shifting and rule learning were also apparent at this time point. These data suggest that early experiences continue to shape the development of memory, learning, and executive functioning processes in preadolescence, which may explain broader cognitive and learning difficulties commonly associated with severe early life neglect.
Designing safer composite helmets to reduce rotational accelerations during oblique impacts

Oblique impact is the most common accident situation that occupants in traffic accidents or athletes in professional sports experience. During oblique impact, the human head is subjected to a combination of linear and rotational accelerations. Rotational movement is known to be responsible for traumatic brain injuries. In this article, composite foam with a column/matrix composite configuration is proposed for head protection applications to replace single-layer uniform foam, to better attenuate rotational movement of the head during oblique impacts. The ability of composite foam in the mitigation of rotational head movement is studied by performing finite element (FE) simulations of oblique impact on flat and helmet shape specimens. The performance of composite foam with respect to parameters such as compliance of the matrix foam and the number, size and cross-sectional shape of the foam columns is explored in detail, and subsequently an optimized structure is proposed. The simulation results show that using composite foam instead of single-layer foam, the rotational acceleration and velocity of the headform can be significantly reduced. The parametric study indicates that using a more compliant matrix foam and by increasing the number of columns in the composite foam configuration, the rotation can be further mitigated. This was confirmed by experimental results. The simulation results were also analyzed based on global head injury criteria such as head injury criterion, rotational injury criterion, brain injury criterion and generalized acceleration model for brain injury threshold which further confirmed the superior performance of composite foam versus single-layer homogeneous expanded polystyrene foam. The findings of simulations give invaluable information for design of protective helmets or, for instance, headliners for the automotive industry.
A Model of Distraction using new Architectural Mechanisms to Manage Multiple Goals

Cognitive models assume a one-to-one correspondence between task and goals. We argue that modeling a task by combining multiple goals has several advantages: a task can be constructed from components that are reused from other tasks, and it enables modeling thought processes that compete with or support regular task performance. To achieve this, we updated the PRIMs architecture (a derivative of ACT-R) with the capacity for parallel goals that have different activation levels. We use this extension to model visual distraction in two experiments. The model provides explanations for the finding that distraction increases with task difficulty in a memory task, but decreases with task difficulty in a visual search task.
DEFINABILITY IN THE LATTICE OF

In this paper we study first-order definability in the lattice of equational theories of commutative semigroups. In a series of papers, J. Ježek, solving problems posed by A. Tarski and R. McKenzie, has proved, in particular, that each equational theory is first-order definable in the lattice of equational theories of a given type, up to automorphism, and that such lattices have no automorphisms besides the obvious syntactically defined ones (with exceptions for special unary types). He has proved also that the most important classes of theories of a given type are so definable. In a later paper, Ježek and McKenzie have “almost proved” the same facts for the lattice of equational theories of semigroups. There were good reasons to believe that the same can be proved for the lattice of equational theories of commutative semigroups. In this paper, however, we show that the case of commutative semigroups is different.