Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Principal Component Analysis Based Feature Extraction Approach to Identify Circulating microRNA Biomarkers

The discovery and characterization of blood-based disease biomarkers are clinically important because blood collection is easy and involves relatively little stress for the patient. However, blood generally reflects not only targeted diseases, but also the whole body status of patients. Thus, the selection of biomarkers may be difficult. In this study, we considered miRNAs as biomarker candidates for several reasons. First, since miRNAs were discovered relatively recently, they have not yet been tested extensively. Second, since the number of miRNAs is relatively limited, selection is expected to be easy. Third, since they are known to play critical roles in a wide range of biological processes, their expression may be disease specific. We applied a newly proposed method to select combinations of miRNAs that discriminate between healthy controls and each of 14 diseases that include 5 cancers. A new feature selection method is based on principal component analysis. Namely this method does not require knowledge of whether each sample was derived from a disease patient or a healthy control. Using this method, we found that hsa-miR-425, hsa-miR-15b, hsa-miR-185, hsa-miR-92a, hsa-miR-140-3p, hsa-miR-320a, hsa-miR-486-5p, hsa-miR-16, hsa-miR-191, hsa-miR-106b, hsa-miR-19b, and hsa-miR-30d were potential biomarkers; combinations of 10 of these miRNAs allowed us to discriminate each disease included in this study from healthy controls. These 12 miRNAs are significantly up- or downregulated in most cancers and other diseases, albeit in a cancer- or disease-specific combinatory manner. Therefore, these 12 miRNAs were also previously reported to be cancer- and disease-related miRNAs. Many disease-specific KEGG pathways were also significantly enriched by target genes of up−/downregulated miRNAs within several combinations of 10 miRNAs among these 12 miRNAs. We also selected miRNAs that could discriminate one disease from another or from healthy controls. These miRNAs were found to be largely overlapped with miRNAs that discriminate each disease from healthy controls.
Cinnamic Acid and Its Derivatives: Mechanisms for Prevention and Management of Diabetes and Its Complications

With recent insight into the development of dietary supplements and functional foods, search of effective phytochemical compounds and their mechanisms involved in prevention and management of diabetes and its complications are now being assessed. Cinnamic acid and its derivatives occur naturally in high levels of plant-based foods. Among various biological activities, cinnamic acid and its derivatives are associated with a beneficial influence on diabetes and its complications. The aim of the review is to summarize the potential mechanisms of these compounds for prevention and management of diabetes and its complications. Based on several in vitro studies and animal models, cinnamic acid and its derivatives act on different mechanism of actions, including stimulation of insulin secretion, improvement of pancreatic β-cell functionality, inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis, enhanced glucose uptake, increased insulin signaling pathway, delay of carbohydrate digestion and glucose absorption, and inhibition of protein glycation and insulin fibrillation. However, due to the limited intestinal absorption being a result of low bioavailability of cinnamic acid and its derivatives, current improvement efforts with entrapping into solid and liquid particles are highlighted. Further human clinical studies are needed to clarify the effects of cinnamic acid and its derivatives in diabetic patients.
Supply Chain Forecasting Model Using Computational Intelligence Techniques

Nowadays, supply chain is more complex with the advance of technology. One of the important tasks in supply chain management is product demand forecasting as it provide initial figure for various plan to work on, for example, production, inventory, personnel. The complexity of supply chain makes the traditional techniques become less appropriate. This paper propose an applica- tion of Artificial neural network (ANN) and Support vector regression (SVR) to forecast product demand. A case study of an arm coil of a hard disk from a hard disk drive part manufacturing was used to demonstrate the proposed techniques.
Review and comparison of ROC curve estimators for a time‐dependent outcome with marker‐dependent censoring

To quantify the ability of a marker to predict the onset of a clinical outcome in the future, time‐dependent estimators of sensitivity, specificity, and ROC curve have been proposed accounting for censoring of the outcome. In this paper, we review these estimators, recall their assumptions about the censoring mechanism and highlight their relationships and properties. A simulation study shows that marker‐dependent censoring can lead to important biases for the ROC estimators not adapted to this case. A slight modification of the inverse probability of censoring weighting estimators proposed by Uno et al. (2007) and Hung and Chiang (2010a) performs as well as the nearest neighbor estimator of Heagerty et al. (2000) in the simulation study and has interesting practical properties. Finally, the estimators were used to evaluate abilities of a marker combining age and a cognitive test to predict dementia in the elderly. Data were obtained from the French PAQUID cohort. The censoring appears clearly marker‐dependent leading to appreciable differences between ROC curves estimated with the different methods.
Assessment of spatial inhomogeneities in intima media thickness along an arterial segment using its dynamic behavior.

To assess locally deviating structural and mechanical properties of arterial walls, the spatial variance in end-diastolic intima media thickness (IMT) and the change in IMT during the cardiac cycle (DeltaIMT) were determined along a short segment of the common carotid artery (15.86 mm), at 16 positions simultaneously. Intrasubject spatial inhomogeneities along the artery were revealed by a spatial variance significantly larger than the temporal variance over several beats. If differences between positions were confirmed, the extent of the inhomogeneity was obtained by comparison of IMT and DeltaIMT at each position with their spatial medians +/- the least-significant difference. Because no intersubject comparisons were necessary, a single session of several measurements was sufficient to assess inhomogeneities in the arterial wall properties of a subject, making the method independent of biological variability between subjects. The method was evaluated on 47 presumed healthy subjects (age range 21-75 yr). In 22 subjects, spatial inhomogeneities in DeltaIMT occurred (P < 0.05). In young subjects, DeltaIMT was locally decreased, i.e., in systole inhomogeneities were less compressed than their surrounding tissue. In older subjects, DeltaIMT was locally increased, i.e., the inhomogeneity was locally more compressed than its surrounding wall tissue.
A population-based longitudinal study of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, IQ and subsequent risk of psychotic experiences in adolescence

Background. Schizophrenia has a neurodevelopmental component to its origin, and may share overlapping pathogenic mechanisms with childhood neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs). Nevertheless, longitudinal studies of psychotic outcomes among individuals with NDs are limited. We report a population-based prospective study of six common childhood NDs, subsequent neurocognitive performance and the risk of psychotic experiences (PEs) in early adolescence. Method. PEs were assessed by semi-structured interviews at age 13 years. IQ and working memory were measured between ages 9 and 11 years. The presence of six NDs (autism spectrum, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, dysorthographia, dyscalculia) was determined from parent-completed questionnaires at age 9 years. Linear regression calculated the mean difference in cognitive scores between children with and without NDs. Associations between NDs and PEs were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs); effects of cognitive deficits were examined. Potential confounders included age, gender, father's social class, ethnicity and maternal education. Results. Out of 8220 children, 487 (5.9%) were reported to have NDs at age 9 years. Children with, compared with those without, NDs performed worse on all cognitive measures; the adjusted mean difference in total IQ was 6.84 (95% CI 5.00–8.69). The association between total IQ and NDs was linear (p < 0.0001). The risk of PEs was higher in those with, compared with those without, NDs; the adjusted OR for definite PEs was 1.76 (95% CI 1.11–2.79). IQ (but not working memory) deficit partly explained this association. Conclusions. Higher risk of PEs in early adolescence among individuals with childhood ND is consistent with the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia.
Variation Characteristics of Different Fractions of Dissolved Organic Matter in Landfill Leachate During UV-TiO2 Photocatalytic Degradation

Fractionation was performed to investigate the variation characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in leachate during UV-TiO2 photocatalytic treatment process. Experimental results showed that the leachate from Erfeishan landfill with low COD was relatively steady after long-time natural environmental evolution. DOM dominating the main organic component of the leachate was up to 90% of TOC. Biodegradation was comparatively poor due to low BOD/COD (0.09) as an index meaning that the main component was refractory organics in the leachate. DOM in the leachate was separated into six fractions: hydrophobic acid (HOA), hydrophobic base (HOB), hydrophobic neutral (HON), hydrophilic acid (HIA), hydrophilic base (HIB), and hydrophilic neutral (HIN). The content of different DOM fractions were in descending order as: HOA >; HON >; HIA >; HIN >; HOB >; HIB. The photocatalytic removal efficiency of COD was up to 60%, more than 74% for DOC, respectively. BOD/COD continued to increase from initial 0.09 to about 0.39 during the whole photocatalytic treatment process, which indicated that biodegradation ability of leachate was improved by photocatalysis. The DOM content was reduced sharply after photocatalytic treatment. However, the HIA fraction kept almost steady in all treatment samples, the HOA fraction changed slowly in 24 h, and changed obviously after 36 h treatment, the HIB fraction increased slowly in 36 h,and decreased obviously after 36 h, and the HOB fraction decreased sharply in 6 h, increased from 6 h to 24 h, after 24h decreased,. The other two fractions (HON and HIN) decreased steadily during all treatment process. The predominant fraction in the raw leachate was HOA (30.5% of DOC), while the dominant fraction in the final effluent was HIA (69.4% of DOC).
Relative importance of genetic effects in rheumatoid arthritis: historical cohort study of Danish nationwide twin population

Abstract Objective: To determine the relative importance of environmental and genetic effects in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Design: Historical cohort study with record linkage between a twin registry and the Danish discharge registry as well as the Danish national registry of deaths used to estimate completeness. Setting: Two population based nationwide twin birth cohorts. Participants: 37 338 twins were sent a questionnaire about rheumatic diseases. Self reported rheumatoid arthritis was verified by clinical examination and from medical records. Main outcome measures: The probandwise concordance rate of rheumatoid arthritis in monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Results: The response rate was 84.7%. Rheumatoid arthritis was verified in 13 monozygotic and 36 dizygotic twins. There were no concordant monozygotic twin pairs and two concordant dizygotic twin pairs. Based on capture-recapture methods the probability of ascertainment was 78.3%. The probandwise concordance rate was 0 (95% confidence interval 0 to 24.7) in monozygotic twins and 8.8 (1.9 to 23.7) in dizygotic twins. Conclusion: Genes are of minor importance in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. What is already known on this topic Rheumatoid arthritis is a multifactorial disease determined by both genetic and environmental factors Previous twin studies have shown a higher concordance for rheumatoid arthritis in monozygotic than in dizygotic twins, but the results have been biased in favour of genetic effects What this paper adds As concordance for rheumatoid arthritis in this study was no more common in monozygotic twins than in dizygotic twins environmental effects may be more important than genetic effects in the development of rheumatoid arthritis
A Dehiscent Superior Semicircular Canal May Be Plugged and Resurfaced Via the Transmastoid Route

Objective: To evaluate the results obtained in treating superior semicircular canal dehiscence by plugging and resurfacing the defect via the transmastoid approach. Patients: Six patients (30-70 yr old) who had disabling semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome underwent surgery. Intervention: After a wide mastoidectomy and skeletonization of the semicircular canals, a shell of bone covering the middle fossa lateral to the superior semicircular canal was removed. The exposed dura was gently retracted and the canal skeletonized. Bone dust mixed with fibrine glue and bone wax were pressed to plug the dehiscent portion of the canal, and a slice of cortical bone was inserted to resurface it. Main Outcome Measure: Recovery from vestibular and auditory symptoms was evaluated. Results: No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. Patients experienced an immediate relief of symptoms attributable to the dehiscence. Conclusion: A superior semicircular canal dehiscence may be plugged and resurfaced via the transmastoid approach, thus avoiding the more invasive middle fossa craniotomy.
Experimentally Guided Computational Model Discovers Important Elements for Social Behavior in Myxobacteria

Identifying essential factors in cellular interactions and organized movement of cells is important in predicting behavioral phenotypes exhibited by many bacterial cells. We chose to study Myxococcus xanthus, a soil bacterium whose individual cell behavior changes while in groups, leading to spontaneous formation of aggregation center during the early stage of fruiting body development. In this paper, we develop a cell-based computational model that solely relies on experimentally determined parameters to investigate minimal elements required to produce the observed social behaviors in M. xanthus. The model verifies previously known essential parameters and identifies one novel parameter, the active turning, which we define as the ability and tendency of a cell to turn to a certain angle without the presence of any obvious external factors. The simulation is able to produce both gliding pattern and spontaneous aggregation center formation as observed in experiments. The model is tested against several known M. xanthus mutants and our modification of parameter values relevant for the individual mutants produces good phenotypic agreements. This outcome indicates the strong predictive potential of our model for the social behaviors of uncharacterized mutants and their expected phenotypes during development.
The evaluation and treatment of gastrointestinal disease in children with cystinosis receiving cysteamine.

OBJECTIVES Cysteamine prevents organ damage in children with cystinosis, but may cause gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. In this study we evaluated the nature of GI disease, and the value of omeprazole in controlling GI symptoms in these children. STUDY DESIGN Upper GI disease was evaluated with endoscopy, gastrin levels, and acid secretion studies after oral administration of cysteamine, before and after 16 weeks of therapy with omeprazole. A symptom score was devised. RESULTS Eleven children (mean age, 5.7 years) were studied. After cysteamine ingestion, before and after omeprazole therapy, the mean maximum acid output was significantly higher than the mean basal acid output. The maximum acid output was measured within 60 minutes of cysteamine ingestion and was reduced by omeprazole therapy (P<.01). The mean peak gastrin level was 30 minutes postcysteamine and was higher than baseline (P<.01). The initial mean symptom score (maximum score, 14) was 6.9 and fell to 0.7 (P<.0001) after 16 weeks of omeprazole therapy. At endoscopy, two children had diffuse gastric nodularity, and nearly all had cystine crystal deposits. CONCLUSIONS GI symptoms in children with cystinosis receiving cysteamine are often acid-mediated and improve with omeprazole. Cystine crystals were detected in the GI tract and may signify inadequate treatment with cysteamine.
Scattered data estimation on medical images for cranioplasty applications

Cranioplasty is a surgical operation to repair hole or defects on skull. 3 dimensional computed tomography (CT) images are used for automatic determination of the shape of implant which is used for repairing defect. The designing implant by mathematical model and manufacturing it before operation lowers the operation cost. In this paper, previous studies are examined, applications are realized by radial basis functions (RBF) and insufficient sections of previous studies are revealed.
Pressure Derivative Studies of a Laterally Infinite Reservoir with a Horizontal Well

Dimensionless pressure derivatives of a laterally infinite reservoir drained with a horizontal well are studied. The effect of anisotropy on the derivative response is also studied. It is revealed that anisotropy mainly affects the start of the late radial flow regime, and for cases where LD is small (<0.5), affects the end of the first radial flow regime. Time criteria equations were also developed to delineate flow periods and have been shown to give good results for the range 0.00005 ≤ rwD ≤ 0.01 and 0.1 ≤ LD ≤ 100.
Stability and thermal conductivity enhancement of carbon nanotube nanofluid using gum arabic

This experimental study reports on the stability and thermal conductivity enhancement of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanofluids with and without gum arabic (GA). The stability of CNT in the presence of GA dispersant in water is systematically investigated by taking into account the combined effect of various parameters, such as sonication time, temperature, dispersant and particle concentration. The concentrations of CNT and GA have been varied from 0.01 to 0.1 wt% and from 0.25 to 5 wt%, respectively, and the sonication time has been varied in between 1 and 24 h. The stability of nanofluid is measured in terms of CNT concentration as a function of sediment time using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Thermal conductivity of CNT nanofluids is measured using KD-2 prothermal conductivity meter from 25 to 60°C. Optimum GA concentration is obtained for the entire range of CNT concentration and 1–2.5 wt% of GA is found to be sufficient to stabilise all CNT range in water. Rapid sedimentation of CNTs is observed at higher GA concentration and sonication time. CNT in aqueous suspensions show strong tendency to aggregation and networking into clusters. Stability and thermal conductivity enhancement of CNT nanofluids have been presented to provide a heat transport medium capable of achieving high heat conductivity. Increase in CNT concentrations resulted in the non-linear thermal conductivity enhancement. More than 100–250% enhancement in thermal conductivity is observed for the range of CNT concentration and temperature.
Enhanced Survival Using the Distally Based Sural Artery Interpolation Flap

The reverse sural artery flap is frequently used for reconstruction of the distal third of the leg, ankle, and heel. The major disadvantage of the flap is compression of the pedicle within the subcutaneous tunnel and venous congestion. Others have cited a decrease in this problem by harvesting a midline cuff of gastrocnemius muscle, including more subcutaneous tissue and using a wider-than-usual pedicle. We describe an interpolation flap technique of simply avoiding a subcutaneous tunnel and exteriorizing the pedicle with no other alterations to flap design or elevation techniques. Seven distally based reverse sural artery flaps were performed on ambulatory patients between 2001 and 2002. Venous congestion did not occur in any of the flaps. All patients were ambulatory after surgery and did not require the use of a custom shoe. We conclude that transferring the flap in 2 stages without the use of a tunnel improves the reliability of the flap and eliminates venous congestion.
Melanoma cells and normal melanocytes share antigens recognized by HLA- A2-restricted cytotoxic T cell clones from melanoma patients

HLA-A2-restricted, CD3+, CD8+, alpha/beta+ cytotoxic T cell (CTL) clones were isolated from peripheral blood (PBL) or tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) of two HLA-A2+ melanoma patients (9742 and 5810), to evaluate the possible recognition of autologous melanoma and of allogeneic HLA-A2-matched normal melanocytes. These CTL clones lysed not only fresh and cultured autologous melanoma cells, but also allogeneic HLA-A2+, but not HLA-A2-, normal melanocytes. The lysis of autologous neoplastic cells and of melanocytes could be inhibited by an anti-HLA-A2 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Lysis of the normal melanocytes was not dependent on the presence of human or fetal calf serum in the culture medium. HLA-A2-restricted CTL clones recognized not only proliferating melanocytes cultured in complete melanocyte medium, but also melanocytes made quiescent by culture for up to 6 d in a basal medium devoid of exogenous factors such as phorbol ester (O- tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate [TPA]), epidermal growth factor, insulin, and pituitary extracts. Analysis of specificity of four CTL clones (A75, A83, A94, and 119) from patient 9742, performed on a panel of 39 targets, indicated that the three HLA-A2-restricted CTL (A75, A83, and A94) lysed all but one of nine allogeneic melanomas expressing the HLA-A2 molecule with no reactivity on nine HLA-A2- allogeneic melanomas. Only a few instances of borderline reactivity were seen by the same effectors on 21 targets of nonmelanocyte lineage, including 12 carcinomas of different histology, four Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells (lymphoblastoid cell lines [LCL]), including the autologous LCL, four lines of normal fibroblasts, and normal kidney cells. Lack of reactivity on allogeneic targets of nonmelanocyte lineage occurred in spite of expression of HLA-A2 on 14 of these targets as determined by conventional tissue typing and cytofluorimetric analysis with four different anti-HLA-A2 mAb. These data indicate that tissue-related antigens can be expressed on normal and neoplastic cells of the melanocyte lineage and can be recognized in association with HLA-A2 by CTL clones from melanoma patients.